Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai

Mitch was horror stricken.

"What do you mean you're quitting?" he asked Serena as he watched her pack up a box of her stuff from her office. In reality, the office didn't belong to her at all. James had offered to share his space with her. After their explosion the night before, Serena was sure he would want her gone regardless of whether or not she quit her job.

She didn't want to quit, but he had a point. The Nighlok knew who she was. They knew her name, they knew her family so it didn't matter if her friends and the people she cared for knew she was a Samurai or not; just being in their lives was dangerous enough. She couldn't do that. She couldn't do that to James, to the students, to anyone.

"Sorry, Mitch."

"Like, another school?" Mitch asked, "One you can help like you did ours?"

"Quitting, for good," Serena said. She reached for the pencil holder Mitch had bought her; on it was written #1 Teacher. He had bought it for her as a thank you for all she had done for him and the school. It wasn't much, especially when she wasn't actually a teacher, but she loved it.

Mitch snatched it away from her before she could pack it up, "You can't leave for good! You're too good."

"I appreciate that, Mitch, but…"

"Is your son okay?"

"He's fine."

"Your sister? Mike? Are you okay?"

"Everything's fine," Serena assured him just as the bell rang. She pointed to the door, "You don't want to be late for class."

"Will I see you at lunch?"

"No," Serena shook her head, "Mitch, I'm really sorry. I have to do this. Just keep up with your studies, don't let the bullies hold you back, and remember, practice makes perfect. Being a cheerleader requires a lot of discipline. Make me proud, alright, bud?"

"Yeah, whatever," Mitch lowered his head and tossed Serena her pencil holder, "I still mean that. Please change your mind."

Serena looked at the pencil holder with a sigh while Mitch walked off to class. She put it in her box and lifted all her things. She took a step towards the door and bumped into a desk. The entire box fell from her hands and everything scattered on the floor.

"It's genetic," she muttered as she knelt down to get her things. It was then she saw a hand helping her. She looked up at the owner, "James? I'm just heading…"

"About yesterday…"

"I get it," she said. "You were right. You don't have to pretend like you were wrong or anything. Everyone I meet eventually ends up in the hospital at least once. I don't want that to happen to you."

"Serena…"

Serena dumped the box again and got up, "You know what," she said as she picked up the pencil holder, "This is all I need. I'll just get out of your way."

"Serena!" James called after her as she ran for the door. He saw his class waiting for him in the gym but he couldn't let Serena leave. He knew where she lived, but she lived with six Power Rangers and he had broken her heart. He was going to try to avoid getting in their path.

"Laps!" he shouted to the class and followed Serena into the hallway, "Serena, wait…"

Serena turned around, "The homework club meets three times a week. Students tutor students you just need to keep an eye on the kids… or find someone who will keep an eye on them…"

"Serena…"

"I'm getting out, okay!" Serena shouted. She spun around, turning her back to James and wiped the tears, "You were right. I'm getting lost before I hurt someone else."

James grabbed her arm and forced her to face him, "Will you at least listen to me?"

"So you can yell at me about my bastard monster baby?" Serena shouted. James signalled for her to lower her voice. He tried to pull her into a hug to comfort her but naturally she pulled away, "Get off of me! I'm a menace…"

"Serena…"

"I forced my sister to take my place in the most dangerous job on the planet. I dated the man who openly wanted to murder Jayden and wouldn't let the others stand in his way. I dated him after he kidnapped and beat up my sister and all my other friends. I dated him after he murdered some poor man on the streets for no reason! I pissed off his wife who attacked my sister as revenge and had no problem targeting the rest of my family, or even my son! I don't want to put you or anyone else in my position!"

"I'm already there," James told her, "I might as well get the benefits."

Serena scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Benefits?"

"That came out wrong."

Serena turned away from James, "I'm doing what you want, okay…"

James chased after her and grabbed her arm again, "I'm sorry about the things I said. It was a lot to take in."

"Don't be sorry, you were right…"

"Serena…"

"Let me go…"

"No. Listen to me," James pulled on her arm to get her attention, "I was scared and angry and a little hurt… but you probably feel that way every day. I don't remember seeing a sign-up sheet around town asking for volunteers."

"I told you. It's a family thing…"

"I didn't choose to fall in love with a Power Ranger," James said. Serena looked up at him in complete shock. He didn't seem to realise what he had said. He continued, "And you never choose to be one. You said you trained your entire life for this, right up until you got sick… that's… a lot of time doing something that's… well… not normal."

Serena lowered her head, "You don't have to…"

"I'm freaking out, Serena," James admitted as he took her hands gently, "I mean, for starters, your ex-boyfriend sounds pretty intimidating."

"My little sister took care of him," Serena said.

"I might never get used to this danger thing," James said. "I'll probably sleep with a dozen locks on my bedroom door and the night light turned on… but you did kick ass with those monsters. I will be as safe as possible, right?"

Serena shook her head, "I have to go…"

James saw the tears welling up in her eyes. Only now did he realise how badly he had hurt her. During the night, he had come up with a few reasons why Serena had gotten a job and tried to blend into society. With everything she had to do to prepare to take over her mother's responsibility, she didn't get much normalcy in her life. She had attended school out in the country, but instead of her focus being on homework, she would study Samurai history. Instead of going out to parties and sleepovers, she would stay home and train. Getting a job, having a boyfriend, supporting her son; these were all things normal people did. Things a hardworking person like Serena deserved to have.

"I'm really scared, Serena. I… I don't do well when I'm tortured or beaten up and I don't want to die. Your son scares the shit out of me too… but please, I'm really, really sorry for the way I reacted. Please don't quit."

Serena pulled away from James, "Follow through with your consequences," she whispered, "that way the student know you're not messing around."

"Serena."

She turned away from him and walked down the hall to the main entrance. James followed her but saw she had brought some of the Rangers with her. Among the group was Emily.

As soon as James was spotted by the younger sibling, he saw Emily motion for Antonio and Jayden to take Serena to the car. James knew he was in trouble, but he was going to take it.

"Emily…"

"I preferred Dekker over you," Emily growled. "At least he was upfront about the fact that he was a monster."

"Look, I'm…"

"You can take your apology and shove it up your ass!" Emily screamed.

"I just…"

"She trusted you! I trusted you!"

"This isn't just some little secret…"

"Fine. Be mad at her. Whatever," Emily rolled her eyes, "but don't call my nephew a Nighlok bastard! Don't call my sister a Nighlok…"

"Emily," Jayden called as he stood in the doorway, "You don't want your voice to change permanently. Let's go."

"I'm sorry, Emily," James lowered his head. Emily looked ready to attack him but Jayden quickly pulled her away.

"Use your words, not your fists," he reminded her as he led her out of the school, "We're done here. Not everyone who finds out is going to be accepting."

As Jayden dragged Emily out of the school, James looked down at his shoes. He then felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Mitch holding up a bathroom pass.

"Before you say anything, I actually had to go," Mitch said. James just huffed.

"I have a class to get back to…"

"You broke up with her? Why?"

"It's complicated. It's adult stuff."

"Is it complicated because you make it complicated?" Mitch asked. "That's what Serena asked me when I told her about… she just told me that once."

"Serena did something, alright, Mitch. She did something and I reacted poorly."

"But you want her back?"

James looked at his hands, "Why not?"

Mitch rounded James and looked up, "Do you want her back?" he asked with a little more power. "Yes or no?"

"It's…"

"Yes or no?"

James nodded his head, "Yes."

"Then get her back."

"It's not that simple."

"It's not easy, but it's very simple."

"What?"

"The simplicity comes from the fact that you just need to get her back," Mitch shrugged, "but doing that will be a lot of work. If she's worth it, go after her. If she's not, don't torture her. I'll hurt you if you torture her."

"She's got a lot of little bodyguards," James muttered.

"Because she's a really good person," Mitch said, "She changed my life. She changed everyone's lives. I heard this school used to have a reputation for educating jailbirds. That's different now. Serena's the most awesome person I've ever met in my entire life. She deserves the best. So be a man and give it to her."

Mitch flashed the coach the bathroom pass again, "Now I have to pee. Make up your mind by lunch or don't go after her at all."