I want to thank my best friend Keenan for helping me write this. YOU ROCK!! :) ON WITH THE FIC!

"If either of you has an idea to get us out of this, I'm all ears!" Theo suggested.

"I was hoping YOU had an idea!" Casey answered.

"SOMEBODY come up with an idea before we're bug food!" Lily interrupted.

Just as the monster was about to launch its final attack, it gets picked up by the powerful talons of a flying silver spirit. Seeing Arachnikhan struggle in its grasp, the spirit drops the spider only for it to be caught and pounced on by the silhouette of a black feline. Even though the cat slashed furiously at Arachnikhan, it barely made a sound.

"What the..." Lily asked in shock.

"What was that?" Theo wanted to know too.

"It looked like an eagle!" Casey observed.

"And a...a panther?" Lily wondered.

Camille, who was also in disbelief of the current event, glowered at her servant.

"What are you waiting for? ATTACK!"

"BACK OFF!"

Two voices echoed through the air and those fighting looked up to see two forms standing on top of a building.

"Who's that?" Theo asked.

"SILENCE OF THE PANTHER! JUNGLE FURY BLACK RANGER!" The woman in black shouted with confidence.

"FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE! JUNGLE FURY SILVER RANGER!" Shouted the man in silver with the same amount of confidence.

After they both struck their poses, both rangers jumped down from the building to land between the three teens and their enemies. Camille was annoyed at the two interlopers.

"And just who do you think you are?" Camille asked seemingly unimpressed.

"The exterminators!" The Black Ranger answered.

"We're here to take care of their bug problem." The Silver ranger added.

"We'll just see about that! Give me your best shot!" Arachnikhan dared.

"Okay! CALL TO THE BEAST INSIDE! UNLEASH THE EAGLE!"

The spirit of the silver eagle flew majestically from his body and charged at Arachnikhan and started using its sharp talons to rip into the monster's exoskeleton.

"Want some more? CALL TO THE BEAST INSIDE! RELEASE THE PANTHER!"

The sleek, ebony spirit of the panther leapt from her form and charged after the spider as if it were prey. Its claws were as sharp as scalpels and wasted no time in tearing into Arachnikhan until it reverted to its second Rinshi form.

"RETREAT!" Shouted a cowardly Camille who vanished with her minion.

The two new rangers turned to face the three younger ones as soon as the coast was clear. The Black Ranger felt it was a good idea to disguise her voice just in case.

"Are you guys alright?"

"Yeah, thanks to you. Who are you?" Casey asked.

"We're friends. That's all we can say right now." The Silver Ranger answered.

"Well, thanks again for your help. We owe you one." Theo added.

"He's right, but we need to get going. Thanks again." Lily commented.

The three young rangers ran off leaving the other two to go back to the hospital. When the coast was clear, Keenan and Gwen powered down. After a few minutes of that...

"EW EW EW EW EW!! YUCK! I frickin' HATE spiders!!" Gwen shrieked. "Thank goodness I can't touch it when I'm wearing my ranger uniform!"

"You sure hid it from them well. I doubt they have a clue you were afraid of it." Keenan commented.

"And I deserve an Oscar for that performance! I mean WHY a spider? Why not a snake? I can handle a snake. I'll take NO legs over eight, hairy...creepy...scary legs anyday!" Gwen said shuddering.

"Well. in that case...you might wanna stay still." Keenan ordered.

"Why?" She asked keeping perfectly still.

Keenan grabbed a piece of paper, scooped up the tiny spider that had landed on her shoulder and set it on a leaf outside the window.

"That's why." He said plainly.

Gwen just looked at the little spider as it crawled away then at Keenan. She just let out a nervous chuckle before her eyes rolled backwards and she fainted dead away. All Keenan could do was roll his eyes at his unconscious friend.

Meanwhile, in the training room located above JKP, the three rangers were talking over each other trying to tell RJ what happened.

"Whoa, hold on! One at a time." RJ ordered with a chuckle.

Again, the three all spoke at once causing RJ to hold his hands up.

"Okay, okay. Let's try this. Theo, you go first."

"Do you know who those rangers were?"

"No, I don't. They're members of the Order of the Claw obviously, but I don't know who they are. I do remember stories of an eagle and a panther ranger, but nothing was mentioned about their identities."

"Wow. And I thought WE were the only Power Rangers right now. Do you think there might be others out there?" Casey asked.

"I wish I could answer that. This whole thing's got my zen working overtime. Maybe they'll show up again?"

"I hope so. We could use some more allies." Lily added.

"Well, we can talk about this more later. Right now, we need to get the place ready for the evening shift." RJ ordered much to the dismayed groans of his employees.

A little later, the evening shift was in full swing with the place packed. Casey ant the others couldn't think of anything except the new rangers who helped them earlier.

"Man, I can't stop thinking about them. Same costumes, same symbols..." Casey mused.

"I know. And those moves...wow!" Lily added.

As the dinner crowd enjoyed their food, a familiar face walked in. It was Gwen; she had her hair down and was wearing black jeans with a lilac top. She saw Casey and the gang and stopped by to say hello.

"Hey, guys. How's it going?"

"Gwen, hi. Things are going great." Casey said.

"Hi, Gwen. Welcome back." Fran added.

"Thanks, Fran."

"So what brings you here this evening?" Theo asked.

"Oh, the fact that I'm hungry and it's WAY too hot to cook." She answered with a chuckle.

"Tell me about it. Oh, I was watching the news this afternoon and I heard there were two new rangers!" Fran mentioned.

"Really?" Gwen asked pretending to be surprised.

"Yeah, oh, hang on. They're replaying the news report now. Let me turn it up."

Fran turned the volume up on the t.v. and the anchors were commenting on the latest Ocean Bluff news.

"And in today's news, those amazing heroes, the Power Rangers, manhandled the forces of evil with two new rangers on their side." The female anchor reported.

"As of yet, nobody knows who these new rangers are or where they came from, but one thing is certain, we're ALL glad they arrived." The male reporter commented.

"Awesome! So do you think they'll be back?" Gwen asked.

"I know they will. The Power Rangers have never let us down yet." Lily answered.

"So true. Well, I'll just get a table."

"Right this way." Theo said with a smile.

As he ushered Gwen to one of their best tables, RJ came out of the kitchen as he did when he first met the threesome from Pai Zhuq, with flour all over his face and clothes but this time he had some pasta hanging from his hat. He had no idea that his crush was in the restaurant and Casey couldn't pass up this opportunity.

"Um, RJ, you might want to change. Gwen's here." He said smirking.

"Okay, I'll go get the...e-excu-excuse me?" He stammered, doing a double take.

"He said Gwen's here...as in here right NOW!" Lily said giggling.

She nudged her head to where Theo was pulling Gwen's chair for her. RJ caught sight of her and he had the same silly grin he had the last time.

"She's really here."

He took one step before remembering where he was before. He looked down at himself and his eyes grew as wide as pizza pans.

"I can't let her see me like this! I'll be right back...DON'T LET HER LEAVE!"

RJ ran back up the stairs to clean up and the girls had to laugh at this.

"Looks like love is in the air." Fran sighed.

"And what would you like to order?" Theo asked with a fake Italian accent.

"The lasagne looks good, and a side salad." Gwen answered.

"Coming right up."

Gwen smiled at Theo and then at Fran who filled her glass with ice water. 15 minutes later, RJ walks back in, cleaned up and dressed casually, but nicely. He takes a deep breath and walks to Gwen's table.

"Hi, Gwen."

"RJ, hi."

"How are you this evening?" He asked fiddling with his fingers.

"Fine, just fine. Decided to stop in for dinner." She answered grinning.

"That's cool." He said looking around for a second.

"Wait, you're eating alone? I thought you'd be here with your boyfriend." RJ wondered aloud.

"Oh, I don't have one." She commented.

In the back, the four employees were watching everything from the sidelines, each one silently cheering their boss and friend on.

"Go for it, RJ." Theo whispered.

"See, that's not right. Nobody should eat alone. Would you like some company?" He asked with hope.

"I'd love some." She answered with a sweet smile.

"YES!" The four teens cheered quietly.

"Lily, better make that order for two." Casey quipped.

"I'm all over it."

She happily went to the back to prepare the double order. Meanwhile, at Dai Shi's lair...

Dai Shi was sitting on his throne, tapping his foot looking very displeased.

"Camille, tell me you didn't fail. Tell me two new rangers DIDN'T show up to their rescue. TELL ME YOU HAVE A PLAN TO FIX THIS!!"

"Not to worry, sire. I've got it covered." Camille said reassuringly.

"For your sake...YOU BETTER!" He said in a low growl.

"Anything for you, Master." She said bowing over and over as she left his sight. When she was alone, she worried about her future if she COULDN'T deliver her promise.

"I need to turn this around and fast."

Back at JKP...

Gwen and RJ were making small talk and enjoying each other's company while the order was being filled.

"So tell me...what is this fixation you have with bananas?" She asked with a slight giggle.

"I wouldn't call it a fixation, really."

"An obsession?"

"No, not that, either." He retorted with a slight smirk.

"An unhealthy attachment?"

"No." He said with a chuckle.

"A passionate love affair..."

"Let's go with unhealthy attachment." He laughed raising his hands in defeat.

Both were laughing and having a great time while the teens were getting their order ready.

"Oh, they look so cute together." Fran observed.

"Is it ready?" Theo asked.

"Right here. Lasagne and side salad times two." She said taking the order to the table.

"Here you go, guys. Enjoy."

"Thanks, Lily. This look yummy."

RJ watched as Gwen took the first bite.

"Mmm, it IS good." She commented.

"I'm glad you like it. It's my own recipe."

"Really?"

"Yeah, do you like it?"

"It's delicious." She said with a smile.

"Great."

They both ate their dinner happily as the teens watched them from the back. They were very pleased with the outcome.

"I think they're hitting it off." Casey said.

"I knew it. Look at RJ. I've never seen him so happy." Lily added.

"It's like a romance movie...but better." Fran added with a sigh.

The couple finish their meal and Gwen reached into her purse to pay the bill when...

"Please. It's on me." RJ said.

"I-I couldn't."

"What? What's wrong?"

"I don't want to put you out like this. You don't have to..."

"No, I want to. Please."

There was just something about RJ she couldn't say no to. Maybe it was those puppy-dog eyes he was giving her.

"Oh, okay. Thanks."She said smiling

"Just don't give me that puppy-dog look. I'll never refuse you anything if you keep looking at me like that." She thought to herself.

"I'd give you the moon if it meant you'd smile at me again." RJ thought to himself.

"You're quite welcome. May I walk you out?"

"I'd like that."

RJ walked around to help Gwen out of her chair like a gentleman and walked her out of the restaurant, much to the delight of his employees.

"Way to go, RJ." Casey whispered.

In the parking lot, RJ walks Gwen to her black Toyota Camry and opens the door for her.

"I had a nice time. Thank you so much." She said, getting into her car.

"It was my pleasure. Um...this might be sudden; I-I mean we just met and all, but...I was wondering..."

"Wondering what?"

"What are you doing this Friday?"

"Nothing. I'm free then. Why?"

"Would you like to go see a movie or something? My treat."

"Sounds like fun."

Inside, RJ was doing backflips.

"Cool, then it's a date. I'll pick you up at six."

"It's a date. See you later, RJ." She said as she drove off.

RJ was on cloud nine and when he walked back inside, he had a noticeable spring in his step.

"Whoo hoo!" He shouted.

"What happened?" Fran asked.

"I just asked Gwen out on a date...and she said YES!"

His friends congratulated him. They were rooting for him all the way.

"Nice job, RJ!" Theo congratulated.

"Way to go! We knew you could do it!" Lily added.

"Thanks, guys."

"So, what movie are you taking her to?" Casey asked.

"The Forbidden Kingdom with Jet Li and Jackie Chan."

"Awesome! But do you think she'll like that kind of movie?"

"I don't know how, but something tells me she will."

"Well, I know you two will have fun."

"Thanks. I want this date to be perfect."

She slowly walked past his employees and went up the stairs leaving the four chuckling.

"It's official. He's in love." Theo chuckled.

"I think it's sweet." Fran added.

"Well, it's getting late. The last customer is gone so let's clean up."

Everyone agreed and split up the chores so they can close sooner. Meanwhile, Gwen was entering her apartment and her thoughts immediately went back to her impromptu dinner date with RJ. He wasn't like any guy she's ever met. He was cute, he was funny, he was charming...

"And he's a nut!" She thought to herself. "Maybe that's what I like about him? Who knows. All I know is I have a date Friday with RJ. I HAVE to tell Keenan!"

End of CHAPTER TWO

There's more coming! Can you stand the suspense?! ;)