Well, it's been almost a year since I posted the first part to this story. I hadn't intended to write a second part, but apparently I wrote it. I recently found it in an old folder full of my high school papers, so I decided I might as well post it!
By the time that day's battle was over, Ziggy had forgotten about the injuries he had sustained while with the mafia. So when he demorphed, he was unprepared for the sudden rush of pain. His ribs and stomach felt like they were on fire and his injured arm throbbed mercilessly. He had other assorted bruises and cuts that now stung and ached and his wrists were rubbed raw where the ropes had been. Fortunately, Dillon was there next to him and caught him when he was overwhelmed.
"I knew it was a bad idea to let you go fight."
"Don't, Dillon. I needed to do this." Scott, Summer, and Flynn all gathered around.
"You okay there, Ziggy?'
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little roughed up." Dillon reached down and lifted Ziggy up, carrying him bridal style. "Wha… what are you doing, Dillon?"
"It's time to go back to the Garage and you are in no condition to walk anywhere." Once the Rangers got back to their base, Dillon took Ziggy back to the lab and situated him on the med table. The others followed and Doctor K came rushing up.
"What happened, Ziggy?" When Ziggy didn't answer, Dillon spoke up.
"Do you want me to tell them, Ziggy?" Ziggy sighed.
"No, I'll do it. You guys know about the charges and why I was arrested, right?" When the others all nodded, Ziggy continued. "Well, when you guys left to fight Ventrix and his newest monster, I was left alone. Two mafia men disguised themselves as prison guards and took me back to the mafia's headquarters where all the bosses and their men were waiting. They weren't too happy about me taking their truckload of medical supplies, especially once they found out that I'd given it away. Fortunately, Dillon was there to stop them before they got to make an example out of me." Ziggy shuddered as thoughts of what might have happened flashed through his mind. Dillon grabbed Ziggy's hand, interlacing their fingers and leaning in for a light kiss.
"Don't worry, Ziggy. I won't let them get you again, you're safe now." The other Rangers were happy that Ziggy had someone to take care of him. They had seen all the looks that passed between Dillon and Ziggy, the love and trust that both men needed. After a few more questions, the others left the room so Doctor K could do the check-up. Only Dillon stayed, holding Ziggy's hand as the younger man was poked, prodded, and analyzed. When the exam was over, she told them that Ziggy had both broken and bruised ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and multiple bruises and contusions.
"I'm going to set your shoulder and wrap your ribs and give you something for the pain. However, I see no reason why you should have to stay here. You can take him up to his room, Dillon, but if anything goes wrong I expect him down here, one way or another." After finally convincing the Doc that they would both follow her orders, Dillon led Ziggy upstairs to the room they shared, changing the younger man into night clothes and making sure he was comfortable before changing his own outfit and joining him in the large bed. Now that they were alone, Ziggy allowed the stresses of the day to catch up to him. Dillon held him close as he began to tremble.
"Shhh, Ziggy, let it all out. You're safe here." Soon the smaller boy began to cry in earnest as he realized just how close to dying he had ended up that day. If Dillon had not come back and found his cell empty, no one would have noticed him missing until it was far too late.
"Why did you come back, Dillon?
"What are you talking about, Ziggy?"
"Why did you come looking for me today? You left me in that prison cell and then showed up at Fresno Bob's place. Why were you there?"
"I went back to the prison looking for you, Ziggy. It just didn't feel right to leave you there. And when I found you missing I had Doctor K track your morpher."
"But why come back? I thought you hated me because I didn't tell you about my past. And I should have because I knew that I couldn't outrun them forever. But I was so afraid of how you would all react so I didn't say anything. And because of that, you had to find out in the worst way possible. I'm so sorry for that but I don't understand how you could get past that to come after me."
"Oh, Ziggy. Nothing will ever make me leave you. And nothing can make me hate you either. You did what you felt you had to do. I won't fault you for that. You may not have made the right choices but you did the best you could with the circumstances you were given. Yes, I wish you had told me sooner, but only because then I could have protected you and saved you from this pain. I love you, Ziggy. That's all that matters to me. We can work through everything else."
"Thank you, Dillon. I don't know what I would do without you. I really thought I was going to die today, without ever getting a chance to explain things to you. The thought that you would never know the truth, would always think I was just a dirty rotten thief and liar… that hurt so much. I'm so glad that you came for me."
"I'll always come for you, Ziggy. I love you."
"I love you too, Dillon." Those were the last words spoken for the rest of the night, as the two occupants of the room fell into a restful, healing sleep shortly after. When Doctor K peeked into the room to check on Ziggy, they were curled up tightly against each other, not an inch of space between them. Ziggy was safe there, wrapped in Dillon's embrace, the place where he would always be protected.
