Time Force belongs to Disney/Saban. I am using it without permission, but I am not and don't expect to make money from this.
Rated PG: a little minor language.
This is for a fanfiction challenge/exercise which Panache calls 'Five Things that Never Happened' fics. In her words, shamelessly stolen from her own A/N:
Chose a theme (death, love, AUs etc.) and write a series of five vignettes on the theme (i.e. Five Ways Tommy Never Died, Five Conversations Zordon and Alpha Never Had, whatever). These vignettes aren't necessarily linear or even occurring in the same universe, it's just a chance to play in a microcosm.
Panache and Dagmar have stories on this theme going. Check them out too!
Takes place sometime soon after 'Quantum Secrets'. I confess, the basic idea is stolen from an episode of Timeranger, but only the basic idea. Kindly take a moment to review!
Five Nice Things Eric Never Did
Strength
- - -
Smile. Be nice, Katie repeated to herself as she rang the front door bell of a modest house in one of the poorer suburbs of Silver Hills. Smile. She suited action to thoughts and planted a big bright grin on her face as the door opened, revealing a square, harsh, part Asian face which began to scowl the moment its owner saw her.
Eric stared at her for a moment and then craned his neck to look behind her. "Where are the others?" he asked.
"There's no one else. Just me," Katie answered, keeping her smile firmly in place. He didn't even have the manners to say hello.
"You?" Eric's gaze returned, and scanned her from head to foot and back again. With a faint smirk he said, "I told Jen I needed some heavy lifting done."
"And that's what you'll get. Odd jobs are our specialty!"
It had caused some consternation when Jen had gotten a call from Eric on the 'Nick of Time' number, wanting to hire them as if he was just another customer. Which was exactly how Jen had said to treat him. Just another customer. Katie knew she had to do this job and get paid; the overdue bills hanging over 'Nick of Time' wouldn't allow them to turn down any offer of work, even from Eric, not if they didn't want to choose between utilities and eating.
"Heavy lifting," he repeated slowly, as if she was hard of hearing. "I expected Wes and Lucas to show up. Maybe Trip too."
"But you got me." It was getting harder to maintain The Smile.
Again those dark eyes raked over her. "You're a girl."
"Are you always this observant?" No, not good. Besides her strength, there was another reason she had been chosen for this job. Eric would just pick a fight with Wes or Jen. He'd bully poor Trip, and Lucas would probably pick a fight with him. Katie was the only one Jen figured might get through it without at least an argument. She sighed and held up her hands. "Sorry. Look, I can do your heavy lifting, I promise. You don't have to pay if you're not satisfied."
"Well... okay." Eric sounded doubtful, but he finally moved out of the way to let her in. "But if you pull a muscle or break a nail, don't blame me."
"I think you'll be surprised."
Katie stepped inside and waited for Eric to lead the way through a small but immaculately neat and clean living room, past a kitchen, and into what she assumed was a guest room or study. A packing crate, two trunks, a large suitcase, two armchairs and a loveseat upholstered in an unlikely shade of flowered violet were gathered in the center of the room.
Eric waved at them. "I want to store all this stuff in the attic."
"Okay, no problem. Where are the stairs?"
The stairs pulled down from a large trapdoor in the hallway ceiling. Between them they got the steps lowered into place, and Katie satisfied herself that they were solid and strong enough and that the opening was big enough for the chairs and loveseat. "Okay," she said. "You hold the stairs to make sure they're steady, and I'll take the stuff up."
"I'll have to do most of the lifting," he said. At least this time his eyes didn't examine her in that insulting way.
"No need." She sighed as he looked both skeptical and stubborn. "I'd better show you."
Back in the spare room she circled behind one of the armchairs, took a second to get a good grip, lifted and balanced it on one outstretched hand, watching to make sure it didn't hit the ceiling as she lifted it over her head. When she looked down again, the expression on Eric's face almost made her drop the chair. She lowered it to the floor and then gave in, laughing out loud.
"How the hell did you do that?" Eric exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, shouldn't laugh," Katie gasped, and promptly burst into another fit of giggles. "But you should see your face!"
"I'm glad you think I'm so funny, but I don't see pretty girls lifting a hundred pounds like it was a feather every day!"
"I'm not your everyday girl. And I don't think it weighs more than ninety pounds." Had Eric just called her pretty? Eric? Must have been a slip of the tongue. But maybe that was why she felt like explaining. "I'm from the future, remember? My parents had me genetically modified for extra strength. I can lift a car over my head."
"Oh." Eric was eyeing her again, this time with a wary respect. "I didn't know."
"No reason you should have." Katie shrugged and remembered to put her smile back. It was easier now. "I don't really like to talk about it. Being different and all."
"I see." Eric's face had gone back to its usual cool mask, but there was just a flicker of something more in his eyes.
"Well, I should get moving, shouldn't I?" Katie grabbed the chair again. "Interesting color choice," she remarked.
"Came with the house. I don't like them. Didn't want to just throw them away."
"Makes sense." Katie followed him back to the hallway. Eric was actually having something resembling a normal conversation. With her. The guys were never going to believe it.
- - -
It took over an hour to get everything into the attic and arranged the way Eric wanted it. Katie gave him some advice about ventilation, insisted on putting the dust covers on the furniture herself, and on sweeping up in the spare room. 'Just part of doing a good job,' she said, and he nodded with what she thought was an approving expression.
And he surprised her again, as they stowed the stairs back into their place in the ceiling. "Want something to drink?" Eric asked, a little hesitantly. "I've got soda. Juice. Water, of course. Or I could make coffee."
"Maybe a little water. Thanks."
They stood in the kitchen, Eric fidgeting while Katie sipped her water and tried not to be obviously checking out his home. Neat and clean, like the living room, but with no real impression of its owner's personality. Or maybe that was his personality - bare and stripped down to essentials. No room for excess baggage, like friendship, on his journey through life. One thing didn't fit, though - the birdcage hanging in a corner, with two cheerfully chirping small birds inside. Katie raised a brow but decided not to comment.
As she put down the glass, Eric reached into a pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Jen said I should pay whatever I thought it was worth," he said abruptly, and held it out. "Is that enough?"
Katie took it. The envelope wasn't sealed and she glanced inside, surprised to see more than she had expected. In fact - quickly she riffled through the money and then turned accusing eyes up to Eric. "This is... this is exactly what we need to pay off our bills!" she exclaimed.
"Is it?" But there was a hint of self-satisfaction in Eric's bland look.
"Wait a minute! Did you know we're having money problems? Did you find out from Mr. Collins or something?"
"It's my job to know things." Eric's fingers touched his morpher before he straightened with a decisive air. "You did the work, and I paid. Now if you don't mind..."
Eric's way of making up for taking the Quantum Morpher? Or was he just - trying to help in his own way? Katie decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and allowed herself to be led back to the front of the house. She stepped outside, blinking in the sunlight, turning just in time to catch Eric's eye as he started to close the door behind her. "Thank you," she said.
He didn't answer, except for the faintest of nods and the even fainter hint of a smile, but Katie found a grin on her own face as she started for the street.
- - -