Author's note: This fic runs paralell to Slavery. It's mostly readable on its' own, but it will definitely make more sense if you've read that one first.

Chapter One

The house is too empty and too quiet.

It's ridiculous. The Rangers never leave except to fight. Even Antonio is living here now, sleeping on a futon in Jayden's room though there's a perfectly good guest room. And Jayden wasn't exactly the loudest of them anyway. His absence shouldn't make such a difference.

Maybe it's the Rangers themselves. They're like ghosts, drifting from room to room. Training goes on, but even Kevin has little enthusiasm. Emily does not play her flute. Mia does not cook. Mike hasn't touched a video game or pulled a prank since this started. Antonio is much as he always was, but it's a mask, and a brittle one.

He doesn't know how to help them. He's been in touch with Lauren's mentor, but he fears calling her. She isn't yet ready, and worse, bringing her here would tell the Rangers that he has given up on Jayden, on his return.

He knows he should. Whatever may happen tomorrow, today Jayden is firmly in the grip of the Nighlok. His oaths demand he do whatever it takes to protect the world.

"Mentor?"

He doesn't turn. Antonio comes to join him, standing by the bench.

"Penny for them," he says finally.

"I'm afraid I'd be cheating you."

"I'll risk it, if you want."

Ji shakes his head. "I doubt it's anything you haven't thought of."

Antonio's gaze drops to the Lion Zord in Ji's hand. It's been dormant since Jayden's disappearance, but Mentor never lets it go. "He's coming back."

"I truly hope so."

"I know it."

He watches the gate for a moment. "Am I a coward, Antonio?"

"Excuse me?"

"Jayden comes to the city almost every day. I don't face him. I don't try to bring him home. You and the others do, but I cannot do it. I cannot face him as he is now."

"He did try to kill you last time," Antonio points out. Ji nods. Jayden's fury had been truly terrifying; none of them had walked away unscathed, but his true target had been Ji. He's still recovering, slower to move than he once was, stiff and sore.

That was early in this whole terrible ordeal, when Jayden was still only nominally under Master Xandred's control, before Xandred hit on whatever combination he's using now to make him obey.

"He tried to kill you, too," Ji reminds him.

Antonio rubs his knee unconsciously. "Ranger healing. It wasn't as bad for me."

"I am a better teacher than I thought," Ji agrees dryly. "Antonio..."

"Don't tell me anything Jayden will regret when he comes back, Mentor."

Ji laughs softly. "You know his secret."

"I know he has a secret," Antonio corrects him. "It isn't hard to tell, all that lurking around whispering and looking significantly at each other you two have been doing. Let him have his secret. It doesn't matter."

"You're a good friend, Antonio. Don't give up on him."

"Never." It has the weight of an oath and Ji nods solemnly, accepting it.

"Now." Antonio lightens his tone. "Come inside. You haven't eaten today, and I cooked."

"Thank you, Antonio, but I'm not hungry."

"I don't care. Everyone eats. You're our mentor, and we need you to be able to ment."

He laughs softly. "I have to be able to ment?"

"Don't make me get Emily out here."

"All right," he surrenders, rising to his feet. Antonio watches through narrowed eyes but makes no move to help him, and he appreciates the sop to his independence. "Antonio, I'm very pleased you're here. I know I was – unwelcoming – at first, but you have proved yourself in very difficult circumstances, and I am proud to call you a Ranger."

"I'm proud to be one," Antonio tells him. "Now come on. I told Emily to come after me if I was more than ten minutes out here."

Ji smiles and allows himself to be drawn back inside to join the team.