Unfortunately, Ninja Storm doesn't belong to me. Only the plot, and I'm not making any $$ off this. This is only so the angsty brooding Hunter muse will give me some peace. Oh, and I'm not sure if this will be a stand-alone fic, or the beginning of a series. Any suggestions/votes?

Dark Places

Hunter sat alone in Ninja Ops, looking around the place. Something inside of him can't believe he's here, and also says he shouldn't be either. He sat down, hard, in the middle of the floor, his mind suddenly flooded with memories. Images of him and Blake the last time they were here, the island, Lothor's ship…

"Hunter?" a voice said from behind.

In one fluid motion, Hunter jumped to his feet, whirled around and stood in a ninja fight stance. When he saw it was Cam, he sighed, calming down.

"Sorry 'bout that," Hunter mumbled, looking at his feet. "You startled me."

"Didn't mean to. You ok?" Cam asked, slightly relieved that his greeting wasn't déjà vu.

"If I said yeah, would you believe me?"

"Not with that greeting."

"My mind's in a dark place right now," Hunter whispered.

"Why?"

"Blake and I were raised to not only be good ninjas, but also to be good people. But I haven't been a good person lately. Between what I did to Dustin, you, your dad, then the Wind Rangers in general…and Blake. I hurt Blake. My own baby brother. I actually wanted to destroy him. That's the part that kills me. Sometimes, it feels like it's literally killing me."

Hunter sat on the floor again, his head between his knees. Not moving, he continued with, "I get sick every time I think about what I've done. How I've hurt good people and let everyone I care about down. I wonder if Sensei Omino knew what he was doing when he gave me the Crimson Thunder Ranger power."

Before Cam could come up with a response, Hunter was to his feet, running. Cam followed the Crimson Ranger. Turning the corner to the bathroom, Cam could see Hunter hunched over the toilet.

This can't be good, Cam thought, frowning.

Cam kneeled beside Hunter, a hand on the sick Ranger's shoulder. "Need anything?"

Hunter shook his head. Cam stayed with Hunter for a few minutes, until Hunter unsteadily stood up.

"I think I'm gonna go lie down," he said, his voice shaky.

So Hunter couldn't argue, Cam deftly slipped an arm around Hunter's waist while curling Hunter's arm around his shoulders.

"Let me help you," Cam said gently.

They walked slowly to the guestroom that Hunter and Blake were sharing. Cam stripped the bed down, then guided Hunter down. After it seemed that Hunter was asleep, although Cam knew it was an uneasy sleep, he left the room.

"Blake, I think you better get back here. Your brother needs you," Cam said, choosing his words carefully.