I know you all probably thought that I had retreated back into the inky darkness that is lurking … but I'm here for real! I've had this story saved in my computer for awhile and realized that it had been so long since I had posted anything that I might as well put it out there for anyone who was interested.

Disclaimer- i do not own the Power Rangers because if i did SPD would still be around and then Chris Violette wouldn't have had to die in the first 20 minutes of Diary of the Dead ...

His gaze darted over the ever-present SPD manual to sneak another look. The moment his eyes left the page he was berating himself.

This is stupid Tate.

And ridiculous …and against regulation!

It needs to stop. Now.

You're a …well a Tate…so stop!

Why can't I stop?

While his eyes continued to stare his mind took him back …

"So what do you guys do for fun around here?" asked the newest member of B squad.

"Bring in thieves." And a smirk his only reply.

She smiled back at him with defiance taking the challenge as it was presented and as he would later learn with a fierceness that he couldn't help but admire.

"Hey Sky if you take a picture it would last longer." Jack Landors knew it was the oldest …well not even an insult, in the book. But it was worth it to see the Blue Ranger turn red.

Sky's body jerked back to reality pulling the book closer to his face in order to hide the blush creeping its way across his hard features. Even if Jack had known what had his teammate so enthralled it wouldn't have stopped the laughter now escaping his mouth at Sky's expense.

"What's so funny?" Z Delgado sauntered up to the pair sitting on the couch in the common room abandoning her conversation with Syd and the oh so subtle differences between the ten different shades of pink nail polish that she had laid out before her. In Z's world no matter how you looked at it they were all pink and therefore all equally hideous in her mind.

"Nothing I just caught Sky staring…"and then Jack realized he didn't know what at so he hazarded a guess "…at Syd."

If the couch didn't have a back Sky would have fallen out of it. As it was his grip on the SPD rules and regulations was threatening to tear the book in half. Quite the feat considering the volume nearly equaled the New Tech City phone book in thickness.

"Really…? Syd huh?" Z stood behind the couch resting her arms on the back and keeping a close eye on the Blue Ranger trying to glean what information she could from his rigid form. "Funny Sky I would have pictured you with someone, I dunno…less frilly?"

"Who said I was staring at Syd?" He muttered burying his face farther into regulation 58b-901. He realized almost instantly that it had been the wrong thing to say; now Jack was curious and when Jack became curious…

"Sooooo if it wasn't Syd who was it?" the Red Ranger had already abandoned his comic book and was now inching his way closer towards the Blue Ranger. This had all suddenly become much more interesting.

"Who said I was staring at anybody?" Sky shot one of his patented icy glares at his advancing teammate but without the desired effect. Jack was undeterred, he saw a huge crack in the Blue Rangers mask of constant indifference and went at it with a crow bar and evil glee.

"Well I'm just guessing it was a somebody because people don't usually get that kind of far off look looking at a something. Unless you count Bridge and his toaster of course." Jack was now sitting next to Sky and glancing up at the Yellow Ranger hovering over them stifling a laugh. In Z he had found his audience and so continued his assault.

"And if the Blue Ranger was staring at a someone well that would be big news since Sky is notorious for not only being considered one of the hottest guys at SPD, prior to my being here of course, but also the hardest to date, rebuffing all attempted advances to do so spawning numerous rumors as to why. What's the matter Sky never found a girl as interested in spending Friday night perusing the newest edition of the SPD rules and regulations as you?" Z was now laughing out loud while Sky's face continued to resemble Jacks uniform.

"That's none of your business Jack." The Blue Ranger growled. But the persistent Red Ranger refused to back down.

"So what your telling me is that the rumors about you and Bridge are true?" The next thing Jack saw was Sky's retreating form from the floor of the common room and a death glare from his best friend as she hurried to follow.

"Way to go Jack." The Pink Ranger glanced up from her polish mildly amused at the Red Ranger rubbing his injured jaw.

"Was it something I said?"

Now I already know what your thinking and yes there is more and I promise that I will finish this one … no really I mean it… why are you all staring at me like that?!