Chase flipped a burger, and then shrugged his shoulders, glancing to his girlfriend for a quick second in between.
"I doubt she's that worried about us," he said. Kendall leaned against the prep station, with a look of worry still on her face. She had come back to the museum after her lunch date with her mother, and hadn't been able to shake the fact that her mother had questioned Chase. She understood the number of bruises she constantly sported would look suspicious to anyone who didn't know her Ranger secret, but this had been the first time someone accused Chase of hitting her.
It made her a little ill just thinking of that. Chase, the man who had been nothing but kind, patient, and loving towards her, was under suspicion of something so disgusting.
"You told her there was nothing going on, right?" Chase asked and Kendall's expression changed to shock.
"Of course!" she answered swiftly.
"Good. You're a pretty straightforward person. I'm sure she believes you. I'm pretty sure I'm still good in her eyes."
"It's just... I'm starting to consider..."
"Telling? Kendall, it's your rule to keep us a secret."
"I did make that rule before any Ranger had family in town," Kendall reminded him. "Your mother was back home in New Zealand and... well, we both know Koda's situation."
"You enforced that rule for Tyler, Shelby and Riley."
"Tyler's father was missing and his mother lives out of town," Kendall said. "Riley's mother is also out of town. Only Shelby has parents living with her, and she's hardly ever at home."
Chase nodded his head to acknowledge her point. Shelby did rarely visit home, especially now that Kendall had offered her a full time position at the museum. The pink Ranger was now usually at the museum, in the lab, or with Tyler in his apartment. The few times she did go home probably weren't long enough for her parents to notice any real bruising. As well, Shelby had been somewhat of a klutz her whole life, often banging into things, especially as a waitress. And with her tomboy personality, her parents were likely used to seeing bruises here and there constantly.
"I visit my parents once a week. They're always at the museum picking Cammy up or dropping her off. It's getting really hard to hide everything from Bella."
"So you want to tell her?"
"I don't know," Kendall sighed.
"Well, your dad knows, Jeremy knows, Cammy knows. What's one more person?" Chase asked, then looked over at Kendall, "On the other hand, the more people you love know, the more targets Heckyl and Snide have to use against you. You've already made it clear you'll choose Cammy over the energems."
Kendall nodded. Chase made a good point. If she told her mother about her secret, she would have information that Heckyl or Snide could use.
"Then again," Chase continued his thought. "Your mother doesn't have to know anything to be used as bait. Knowing less might actually cost her."
Kendall groaned. She was hoping Chase would have an answer for her one way or the other, yet he seemed to be flopping back and forth. She crossed her arms.
"What if this was your mother?"
"I'd keep her out of it," Chase said. "Mum worries way too much. She'd get herself and me into trouble trying to keep me out of harm's way. It's too risky."
"That's what Jon said."
"That my mum's a worrier?"
"That Bella worries a lot," Kendall told Chase with a little sigh. "He said it would kill her."
"Then I guess you don't tell her," Chase suggested. "Let her go on thinking whatever she thinks, even if it's about me. I can handle it."
"She thinks that its work related right now," Kendall said. "At least, if she believed what I told her she does. But if I show up with anymore bruises, I just know..."
"Kendall, I know who I am. If her thinking I'm the bad guy keeps her safe and you happy..." Chase trailed off when he saw the way Kendall winced. Clearly, that lie wasn't sitting well with her. He put down his spatula and made his way over to her. "You've got my support, if you want to be a hypocrite."
"You're not helping."
"It's like you said, the rest of us don't have family in town. Your situation is different. If you want to tell your mother what's going on, I've got your back with the others."
"I don't know, Chase," Kendall said, shaking her head. "I really don't know what to do."
"You don't have to do anything right now," Chase told her just as her cell phone started to ring. "I mean, you can think about it for a bit. Nothing needs to happen just yet."
"I guess," Kendall agreed then answered her phone. There was a little surprise on her face when she heard her mother's voice. Then, suddenly, she bolted from the kitchen and Chase briefly heard her mentioning she would be at her parents as quickly as she could. Forgetting about the burgers he was responsible for, Chase went after her.
"Kendall, wait up," he called, ditching his apron at one of the tables and following Kendall out to the car. He was just able to jump into the passenger seat before Kendall took off. "What's happening?"
"Jeremy was airlifted to the hospital," Kendall told him. Chase frowned deeply.
"What?"
"I don't know," Kendall shook her head. "Bella just said some runners found him at the bottom of a ravine."
Chase held onto the seat belt as Kendall swerved through traffic.
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Dammit, Chase, I don't know!" Kendall shouted, having lost her temper with him quickly while at the same time honking her horn at the driver ahead of her who took an extra second at the green light before moving.
"Okay, okay," Chase conceded then gestured to the road. "I can get us to the airport in ten minutes."
"We're not going to the airport."
"But didn't Jeremy head home a week ago?"
"I don't fucking know what's happening, Chase!" Kendall shouted at him again. "He's here in Amber Beach. So unless you have a route that's faster than the one I'm fucking on, shut up and let me drive!"
Chase nodded his head and leaned back in his seat, content with staying silent for the rest of the trip.
