Due to popular demand (and the fact that I wanted to write more about the amazing JF series anyway) here is the follow-up to Sight Beyond Sight. Time for the usual disclaimers.
Legal: I do not own Power Rangers or the associated names, places, events etc. Any of the events, places etc. not covered by the above rights are to be considered non-canon and purely the creation of the author.
Rating: T – there will be mild adult themes, language and violence.
Timeline: Takes place immediately following the events of Sight Beyond Sight. I'd prefer it if that story was read first for background, otherwise many of the references will not be understood.
The tests at the hospital took a few hours, far longer than Lily or RJ would have liked, since they just wanted to spend some time with each other, but the doctors wanted to confirm exactly how much of Lily's eyesight had returned. She'd spent more time looking at seeing-eye puzzles, eye charts and lights than she'd ever care to repeat, but at least they had confirmed their initial findings that her eyesight had completely returned.
RJ pulled up outside the restaurant in the van and killed the engine. He reached across, gently placing a hand on her thigh, squeezing it gently. She turned towards him, giving him that same warm smile that made his heart skip a beat any time he saw it. Her beautiful, brown eyes shone brightly, reflecting the pale light of the nearby street lamps. It was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. Without thinking, he leant over, placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"I could get used to that." She replied with a grin. "Do we have to go in right away?"
"The guys have been coping with the evening rush without me and Fran." He told her regretfully. Nothing would have made him happier than just sitting there with her, but he had kind of left them in the lurch. "I guess I really should go in and help."
"Are you sure you're fit to?" She asked with a small pout. "I mean Master Finn did beat you up pretty bad, I'm sure I could make you feel better."
RJ thought about this for a second. Blowing off the last of the evening service to spend time with her was a tempting proposition. However, his sense of duty overcame the temptation. He'd relied on the others so much during the last couple of weeks. Theo had missed out on so much free time with Fran since they got together, he owed him big, and Casey had been working like a Trojan to keep everything ticking over in RJ's enforced absence.
"I'm sorry Lily," he said regretfully, "I kind of owe them. I'll make it up to you later."
"You better." She replied, playfully shoving him a little. Getting out of the car and locking up, they made their way into the restaurant; they were greeted by the sight of Casey and Theo sitting in one of the booths, quietly sipping sodas.
"I see you coped with the rush." RJ commented, seeing them relaxing.
"Lily!" They both called out, rushing over to her, almost crushing the life out of her with tight, enthusiastic hugs. "How did everything go?"
"Let me breathe and maybe I'll be able to tell you." She gasped as they finally released her. "My vision's 20/20. It's like the accident never happened."
"You're kidding!" Theo yelled with excitement as they both bear-hugged her again. "Lily, that's great!"
"Great, now all I have to do is recover from the shattered vertebrae." She remarked sarcastically. "Thanks guys, it's really glad that you're here. It's great to see you again!"
"I think this calls for a celebration." RJ stated. "Casey, fire up the ovens, I'll..."
His words tailed off as he saw a familiar face enter the room. Lily stared in disbelief at the new arrival. They both shot to confront her, shifting into a guarding stance as Camille came into the room. Casey threw himself between Camille and her two opponents, spreading his arms wide defensively.
"It's alright, she means no harm." He rushed out, hoping to prevent them attacking her. "She's here to help out, that's how we got the restaurant cleared out so fast without Fran."
"Uh Casey, that's Camille." Lily whispered. "You know, Dai Shi's right-hand lizard?"
"Chameleon." Camille corrected her, holding her hands up submissively. "He's telling the truth, I won't attack, I promise."
"Like that means a lot coming from you." Lily snapped aggressively, only for Casey to move in her way.
"She's telling the truth, I trust her." Casey told her.
"Hold it Lily, take it easy." RJ implored his girlfriend. Lily still wasn't sure, but she trusted RJ's judgement, and so she backed down reluctantly. "Camille, could you wait in the kitchen for a second?"
Camille turned and headed into the kitchen without protest. She knew the Rangers had no reason to trust her, yet she already owed them, especially Casey. He'd agreed to take care of her while she figured out what she was going to do next, he had released her from Dai Shi's restraining bracelet, and now he was stopping his friends from attacking her. She wasn't planning on making any moves against them. She went into the kitchen and awaited the invitation to return, or the order to leave patiently.
Back in the restaurant, RJ folded his arms in front of himself as he looked at Casey and Theo thoughtfully. "So, which of you is planning to explain what the situation is?" He asked. "Why exactly is Camille wearing one of our uniforms, and why is she here?"
"She kind of worked here tonight." Casey explained. RJ's eyebrows almost disappeared beneath his hair line as he said this.
"Say what now?" He asked, totally bemused.
Casey gestured to the booth, inviting his friends to sit back down as he prepared to explain. "After I destroyed that bracelet that Dai Shi was using to hurt her, she ran off and started squatting at the old manor house where she took you RJ."
"So how did she end up working here?" Lily asked, keeping an eye on the kitchen door. It was understandable that she didn't feel comfortable having Camille in the restaurant. She had already kidnapped RJ and tried to lure her into a trap once. She wasn't going to allow her to manipulate them again.
"She doesn't exactly have a bank account." Casey told her. "She was hungry, and she needed help. Rather than go back to Dai Shi, she came here and asked for help. I agreed to bring her some supplies every now and again."
"So you gave her a job and a home here without asking?" RJ asked him. "Did you really think that was a great move?"
"I didn't give her a job or a home. She's still living in the manor house." Casey informed them. "All I did was offer to help her out with some food while she figured out what she wanted to do next. She actually came to the restaurant to help on her own; she really helped us out of a tight spot. We were getting pretty mobbed without Fran until she showed up."
"I still don't trust her." Lily remarked. "Is having her around here really such a great idea?"
"She isn't going to fight us." Casey told her. "But she isn't going to fight Dai Shi either. She can't face that. She's no threat to us, I'm sure of it." He shifted a little closer. "She doesn't have anywhere else to go. If we don't help her, she's sure to end up back with Dai Shi. At least this way we have one less enemy to worry about."
RJ considered Casey's logic, finding himself unable to find a fault in it. As long as they were careful not to make themselves vulnerable around her, it made sense to give her an alternative to going back to him and end up being an enemy again. "Call her through." RJ instructed his cub. Casey made his way through to the kitchen, finding Camille sitting in the corner like a scolded schoolchild, waiting for instructions. He squatted down in front of her, looking into her eyes.
"RJ wants to talk to you." He told her. "Come on."
He straightened up, before offering his hand to help her up. Camille smiled as he did this, reminding herself about the difference in the way he treated her to the way she was used to being treated. Casey didn't hurt her the way he had. He had treated her with a kindness that she had rarely felt. He had no reason to help her, if anything he had many reasons to take the first opportunity to destroy her, however, he had gone out of his way to help her in her hour of need. He had even gone so far as to stand up to his friends for her, even when he couldn't be sure of her intentions himself, hell, even she didn't know right now. Reaching out, she took his hand, feeling his soft, gentle grip as he hauled her back up gently. She looked into his eyes, finding a warmth there that had been absent from the gaze of the man she was trying to escape, the man that despite his faults, his treatment of her, she still loved. They made their way slowly through to the restaurant.
"Camille, sit down if you'd like." RJ greeted her, gesturing to a chair. She took a seat as she awaited his judgement.
"You can understand us being sceptical as to your motives, so I'd like to lay a few ground rules." RJ told her. "We may occasionally have to discuss sensitive Ranger business, so upstairs in the back room is off limits."
Camille looked at the floor and nodded to indicate that she understood.
"Secondly, you will continue to live in the manor house until such time as a more permanent solution can be found. You will only come into the restaurant for your shifts. Is that understood?" Again, Camille nodded. He turned to look at Casey. "Casey will bring you some groceries every couple of days."
"Thank you." She whispered in return. They were keeping her at arm's length, and she couldn't blame them, but things were looking up. At least she wasn't going to have to fend for herself. It had been so long since she had been by herself she wasn't sure she'd be able to cope.
"Casey, take her back to the manor house." RJ commanded, gesturing to the door. Casey and Camille left the room, leaving Theo with RJ and Lily.
"You know, if you called Fran, I'm sure she'd love to spend time with you." RJ suggested.
"But I thought we were going to celebrate Lily..." He tailed off as Lily put her arms around RJ and looked at Theo, giving a curt nod in the direction of the door. "You know, I'm sure you're right. I think Fran would like a bit of time to ourselves."
"There's no need to hurry back." RJ told him as he collected his jacket and cell phone. "We'll be just fine."
Theo left the restaurant, leaving RJ and Lily alone with each other. RJ pulled her across onto his lap, causing her to yelp before she began giggling. "I believe you said you could make me feel better." HE said cheekily. Lily stared up at him with a bright smile.
"I will." She told him, placing a hand behind his head and pulling him in close.
Back in the dark fortress, Dai Shi felt an unusual sensation in his chest. He had felt it since Camille had left to battle the Rangers a couple of days ago. Without her there, he only had Carnisoar and Jellica for company, and they weren't really all that great as company. They were merely there to train him in the use of his evil energies, and were not exactly very sociable. The Renshi beasts could talk, but they were generally idiots, and not terribly interesting company. Camille had always been his closest counsel. She regularly advised him, and she followed him faithfully for millennia.
Making his way down the corridor, he passed by her empty bedchamber, feeling a slight sense of disappointment as he realised that, yet again, her bed had not been slept in. She was the only one of his underlings whose advice and opinions he could trust, and he was certainly the only one he had any real regard for. The others were there for use as warriors, or as cannon fodder as the situation fit, but this was the first time the loss of a minion had concerned him in the slightest. She would no longer be by his side to comfort him following his defeats in training by the dark overlords. She would no longer defend him against their attacks when he got into trouble.
Looking at her discarded possessions, he felt that strange tight sensation in his chest again. It troubled him. It affected his heartbeat; it made it difficult to breathe. Was he coming down with something? He couldn't remember the last time he'd fallen ill. His power was so strong that most venoms and viruses simply had no effect on him, so why was he feeling this way?
He finally made his way into the throne chamber, finding Jellica and Carnisoar there waiting for him. Jellica was sitting on the throne, rapping her fingers on the arm rest, while Carnisoar paced the room impatiently. Dai Shi knew exactly why they weren't happy. They had summoned him some time ago, yet in his digression of thought to the loss of Camille, he had taken a lot longer to get to them than he had intended to.
"We are not accustomed to being kept waiting." Carnisoar snarled, launching into an attack. Dai Shi was barely able to power up into his armoured mode in time to block the attack.
"Remember that it was I who revived YOU!" Dai Shi roared defiantly in response, surging towards Carnisoar. The sky overlord's fury unleashed itself in a devastating strike which sent Dai Shi sprawling to the ground and smashing him out of his armoured mode.
"You would do well to remember that you revived us to help you train." He sneered over Dai Shi's fallen body. "I'm beginning to wonder whether or not we're wasting our time!"
"He has potential that much is clear." Jellica. "It's just a shame he keeps surrounding himself with weak underlings and incompetent monsters."
"I don't notice any of your creatures having any great success." He replied, hauling himself back to his feet.
"Mind your tongue!" She hissed, snapping to her feet from the throne. Dai Shi prepared to defend himself against both overlords as they advanced. "I suppose you have a better plan?"
"Well, matching them with brute force doesn't seem to work." He remarked. "Every time we throw a monster at them that's too powerful, they somehow end up getting more power and becoming even harder to defeat."
"Are you suggesting we stop attacking them?" Carnisoar quizzed him. "I suppose we should surrender."
"Far from it." He replied. "I'm just suggesting that perhaps subtlety and subterfuge will be more powerful tools."
"You're starting to sound like that weakling Camille." Jellica sneered. "Where is she anyway? Did the Rangers finally destroy her? I suppose it saves me doing it."
Dai Shi felt the unpleasant tightness in his chest again at the mention of Camille's name. What was happening to him? Why was he thinking about her so much? Why was he getting this feeling when he thought about her? Had the destruction of the restraining bracelet somehow given him a mystical connection to her? No one had ever destroyed one of those bracelets before, he didn't know if there was some side effect. His next words surprised even him.
"Camille lives." He announced. "She has given me wise counsel for many years. She is a master of subterfuge. I'm sure if she returned to us she could be of great use to us."
"Please, you can't even control her." Carnisoar said dismissively. "We both saw your pathetic attempt to keep her under control with the bracelet."
"Perhaps control is not what we need." He suggested. "Control means we tell her what to do. That stifles her creative mind and curtails her ability to form her own plans." He turned away from the overlords and made his way from the throne room. He thought hard about how he could get her to come back. Finding her would be no problem, he'd known her for thousands of years, he could easily predict her movements. The real challenge would be getting her to return and stay with him. The bracelet had failed miserably, and he knew why. After it had hurt her so many times, having it destroyed was such sweet release that she was bound to run. He had managed to get her to stay with him for thousands of years before the bracelet. Rather than force her to stay, it had achieved the opposite effect. It had actually driven her away. Now it was time to get her back, and he knew just how to do it.
Camille and Casey arrived in the manor house shortly after dark, making their way inside. Camille led him inside to the main sitting room. Casey looked around the old house, taking in the decor.
"Not bad." He remarked, hoping not to sound sarcastic. He knew they couldn't yet allow her to stay with them; it was still too soon to allow her that level of access to them and their home. However, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her. There was no power and no heating in the abandoned building. Camille shed some light in the room by lighting a few candles. Casey could see that she had uncovered most of the furniture. At least she appeared to have comfortable surroundings. "How are you going to cook the supplies I bring you?"
"The stove is a wood-fuelled range cooker." She informed him. "I can usually find something to burn."
"I'm sure we can find you somewhere else." He informed her, coming over and touching her shoulder softly. Camille felt his touch and smiled. She felt safe around him, she knew he'd never hurt her intentionally if he didn't have to. Stroking the dressing on her injured wrist, she shrunk a little away from him, feeling her cheeks becoming a little warm.
"It's not so bad; the bedroom has plenty of blankets and a comfortable mattress, so it's still comfortable." She informed him. "It might not be the bedchamber in Dai Shi's fortress, but it's warm and dry. Besides, it's not like I can exactly afford rent on an apartment."
Casey had to concede the point; it wasn't as if they could afford to put her up anywhere. He didn't feel good about leaving her here, but at least she was safe. "I'll bring some stuff to make it a little more comfortable." He told her, stroking her back reassuringly. "Lily and Fran probably have some old clothes they can lend you, and I'm sure I could rustle up some more cushions and candles."
"Thank you." She breathed turning into him as she felt his touch, throwing her arms around him. Casey was a little stunned by her reaction, but found himself returning the gesture. Warm tears leaked down Camille's face as he held her in his arms. She couldn't contain herself in her gratitude over Casey's generosity. He had given her more in a few days than most had given her in her entire life. She felt an unusual sensation, one she hadn't felt in a long time, she actually felt happy. Casey pushed her away a little after a long hug, easing himself from her grasp.
"I have to go." He informed her gently. "I'll be back tomorrow with some more supplies."
"Thanks you." She replied quietly, turning away from him. She knew he wasn't going to do anything to hurt her, but his hug was so warm and genuine, it had made her feel amazing, him leaving was bound to make her feel disappointed. She couldn't help but feel a little hurt at being pushed from his grasp, it brought back horrible memories of how her relationship with Dai Shi had slowly transcended from one of intimate passion to one of passive neglect. "I'll come to the restaurant tomorrow morning."
Casey touched her shoulder once more, before leaving wordlessly. He had felt a shift in her mood, and knew something was playing on her mind, but he didn't know what to say or do about it. It troubled him to leave her like this, but at least she was safe. He turned back thoughtfully once more as he got outside, surveying her new home. It wasn't ideal, but at the moment it was the best they could do. As he walked away, he never even noticed the dark figure of Dai Shi appearing down the street.
Camille was preparing for bed, lost in her thoughts. The red Ranger had already done so much for her, what more could she expect? It wasn't as though she had done anything to deserve anything more from him or anyone. She was a pathetic specimen, totally reliant on the kindness of others. She wasn't strong and independent like Casey, or...
She stopped in her tracks as she found her thought straying back to him. She knew he had hurt her more times than she could remember, but she still couldn't help feeling for him. She had been with him, loved him for too long to just shrug off her feelings for him. As her mind was distracted, she never even noticed him enter the room.
"Camille." He began, causing her to jump. She turned around, watching him enter, her heart pounding furiously in a mixture of fear and excitement at his return. Dai Shi approached her slowly, and reached out a hand. She flinched away from him, expecting an attack, though
instead, he placed his hand tenderly against her face, stroking her cheek. Camille closed her eyes and felt that same shiver down her spine she had felt the first time she'd met him in the woods all those years ago. "I came to say I'm sorry."
"You're sorry..." She croaked, barely able to concentrate at his touch. He pulled his hand from her face. Camille opened her eyes to find a most surprising sight. The man she loved was on his knees before her, his head hung low in shame. He was actually submissive before her.
"I have treated you badly." He admitted, with an uncharacteristic note of sadness in his voice. "Since you've been gone, I've felt the pain of your absence in my heart, and it is more agonising than any attack I've ever endured. I know I've not been good to you too much across the years, I know you have no reason to come back, but please, give me another chance."
Camille felt breathless at the display. Dai Shi had never made himself vulnerable in her presence before. He had always remained aloof and empowered around her, but now she was seeing a side she hadn't seen in a long time, the tenderness in him.
"But...but what about everything that's happened?" She asked. "You were going to allow the Rangers to destroy me."
"I had already formed a plan to save you." He told her, getting up and making his way towards her. "I never should have put you in harm's way, it wasn't fair, but when I saw the way you spared the Red Ranger I...I just lost control. It hurt me so much that I couldn't think straight."
"You put that bracelet on me." She reminded him tearfully. "You've hurt me so many times before..."
"It was all because I was afraid." He told her, moving around behind her, and wrapping his arms around her waist. The warmth of his body pressed against hers made her knees weaken as he spoke. "I love you so much. I know my anger sometimes gets the best of me, I know my frustration at my own failures has lead me to take it out on you, but I promise that from now on, I will take out my anger in other ways. I promise I'll try to change."
"Why did you hurt me so much that day?" She breathed, her eyes closing as the sparks flew up and down her spine at his touch. Her heart pounded in her chest, threatening to explode. She truly was back to those early days at the temple with him, the days when he showed her nothing but kindness. She felt it becoming harder and harder to resist his words.
"It felt like you chose the Red Ranger over me." He whispered in her ear as he gently kissed her neck. "I was terrified I was going to lose you."
A couple of warm tears began to run down her face as she heard this. All her horrible thoughts and fears had proven unfounded. He did love her. He stepped back a little, and placed a necklace around her neck. Camille glanced down at it, noting that it was a ring on a length of leather thong.
"I know it will take you a while to decide, I don't expect or want you to make a decision now." He explained as she swept her hair clear to allow him to tie the thong behind her neck. "I'll leave you to make the decision yourself. I will never harm you again regardless of your choice, I swear. If you want me to come for you, just put the ring on your finger."
Dai Shi kissed her gently on the cheek, before teleporting back to the fortress. Camille climbed into her bed, pulling the covers over herself and began playing with the ring thoughtfully. Her brain was like a swirling fog of confusion. She remembered how much Dai Shi had hurt her over the years; she remembered his cruelty in explicit detail, but her mind played to his tenderness, his charm and his passion, the very reasons she'd fallen for him in the first place. He had missed her, he had felt pain at her absence, and he had begged her to forgive him. Was it really true? Had the threat of losing her really been what was needed to get him to change and treat her right? Her heart told her that she longed to return to him. Flit forced himself through her mouth.
"You're not buying that bull..." He was cut off in his protest as Camille wrapped her tongue around him and forced him back inside. She didn't want to hear it; he was only going to tell her to stay away from him. She needed to think carefully about both sides of the decision. She tried to go to sleep, preparing for her day of contemplation tomorrow. She needed her shift at Jungle Karma to see which life she preferred. This was a decision that tore at every part of her heart and her mind. On one hand, the Rangers had shown her kindness and compassion at a time when she needed it the most.
On the other hand, the man she loved wanted her back, and appeared to have genuinely changed. How could she just turn her back on that without giving it some consideration?