In the motel in Bear Creek, Shelby came into the room, drying her hair after her shower, finding Tyler shirtless, checking out the marks on his back. He had been following the leads in his father's diary for weeks now, and had been checking a lead a little way from the tiny town. Unfortunately, the farmer whose land he had started digging on didn't take too kindly to the intrusion and let the fact be known with a shotgun filled with rock salt.
"Got to love Energem power." Tyler said as he saw the swelling and irritation was already starting to subside. He turned to see Shelby.
"You've got to love the fact that shotgun didn't have actual shot in it." Shelby responded. "Something tells me that even with Energem power you'd have a little trouble coming back from being blown in half."
As he retrieved his shirt, Tyler noticed Shelby staring at his chest. It wasn't as though he wasn't flattered, but he knew it was about more than his physique. He could tell it was down to the scar running down the middle of his chest, right between his pectorals. It was a surgical scar from when he'd had to have a transplant, before he had even met Shelby.
"It's hard to think this was so long ago." He commented. "Did I tell you it was the Corsairs who took me to the hospital...?"
"A few times." Shelby responded quietly. "Tyler...I'm really sorry to bring this up, but...you said your heart condition was hereditary..."
"Shelby..."
"I'm just saying...do you think it's possible that..."
"Do I think it's possible dad possibly just had a heart attack somewhere and hasn't been found?" He asked her. Sadly, it was a legitimate question, one that had been suggested to him before when his own heart condition had been diagnosed. "It's alright Shelby, people have asked before. My grandfather...dad's dad, he went with heart failure. I guess...I guess it is possible, but even if it is...even if that's all that happened, I really just want to know for sure."
Shelby didn't press the matter any further. She could understand Tyler wanting answers, and while it was obvious he was hoping for some kind of fairytale ending, it was clear that he was aware of the likelihood that it wasn't going to be good news. It wasn't what like she wanted that to be the end to Tyler's search, but it was at least comforting to think that Tyler faced the reality that he might find nothing more than confirmation that the legendary Dr Nevarro's epic adventures had just come to an end. She approached him as he went to get a shirt, stopping his hand.
"Shelby, we should go find something to eat..."
"Maybe later." She suggested, pulling him in for a kiss. There was a harsh knock on the door, interrupting them.
"We're fine, we don't want anything!" Shelby called through, before going to kiss him again. There was another knock on the door. This time, she lost her temper and stormed over.
"Damn it, can you not read? The sign says DO NOT..." She pulled open the door, finding the frame filled with an all-too-familiar, large frame. "...disturb? Um...d...dad?"
Mr Watkins stood, just staring at her, at which Shelby suddenly became aware of the fact she was wearing only a dressing gown. The fact that Tyler was standing only a little way away shirtless really didn't make the whole scene look any better. She quickly shooed Tyler into the bathroom, before returning to her father.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" He asked her. "I think considering you left without a conversation...or even a phone call that's the least you can do."
Shelby gestured her father into the room, looking to him as he stood before her with the same look on his face on the day he found her in the back garden, covered in mud, with the flower beds he'd paid a landscape gardener a fortune for in ruins as she explained she was looking for faucets (she was only five and had yet to learn how to say "fossils".)
"It was a last-minute decision." Shelby told him. "Tyler was going...I left you a note..."
"Oh, I got the note. It was very to the point." Mr Watkins said, nodding. "Shelby...YOU LEFT HOME WITHOUT A WORD!"
"Tyler was leaving, I needed to make a decision..."
"You walked out without telling us a thing! Your mother's been worried sick!" Mr Watkins snapped at her.
"How did you even find me?" She asked, before the penny dropped. She glared at him. "You cancelled my credit cards?"
"Since I gave you that card for emergencies only, and I paid the bills, is it really your credit card?" He asked her. "You never said where you were going. You haven't called, I needed to find you somehow."
"I'm an ADULT!" She reminded him.
"You're an adult?" He asked in a kind of sneering, patronising tone. "You walked out on a job without notice. You've left all those online courses you were SO passionate about unattended. You left home and didn't tell anyone where you were going or when you were going to be back."
"Dad, I know you're angry. You have a right to be." Shelby said, conceding the point, knowing she really couldn't defend it. "But I'm 18. Legally, I'm an adult and you can't tell me what to do."
"You're right, you're an adult and I can't force you to come home." Mr Watkins stated. "But as an adult, you also have to face the consequences of your actions. I have to imagine funds are starting to run low."
"Are you saying you're cutting me off?" Shelby asked him. Mr Watkins just looked at her sternly. "DAD!"
"That credit card of yours isn't worth much if I'm not paying for it." Mr Watkins reminded her. "And that allowance I paid into your bank account every month was for your education. Since you've left that behind..."
"Dad, please..."
"You're an adult, you can figure out these problems for yourself." He told her. "I'm in the parking lot. I'll be going home in half an hour. You do what you will."
With that, he left the room. As he did, Shelby just stared at the door as Tyler came into the room behind her, putting his arms around her.
"He can't think..." Shelby started to stammer. "He can't..."
"It's his money, he can do with it what he wants." Tyler reminded her. He'd never say that Shelby was spoiled, but he did acknowledge that she was a little bit privileged compared to the others. While all of them were on typical service-industry wages, Shelby's dad had given her an allowance each month to pursue her education that was quite generous. It would have been MORE generous if she was studying a field he believed in, to allow her to concentrate on her courses full-time. Without her wages or that allowance, her balance had to be drying up pretty quickly.
"It's fine, we'll...just need to get odd jobs." Shelby answered with as much confidence as she could. "Washing cars, waiting tables...whatever we can when we need it..."
"Shelby, no offence but...you kind of suck as a waitress." Tyler reminded her. "And the last time you offered to wash my jeep...I ended up having to take it to a car wash anyway."
"He can't tell me what to do!" Shelby snapped. Tyler just shook his head.
"Shelby, it's been great having you along for the ride but...maybe it's time you went home." Tyler suggested.
"You don't want me...?"
"I'd love you to stay, but...it's easier to support one person than two." Tyler said, trying to reason with her. "Besides, your help's more informational. Don't you think you could help me more if you had Kendall's lab behind you?"
"I...I guess that's a good point." Shelby reluctantly said as she looked away from him. The fact was, long before he met her, Tyler had already been travelling the country looking for his father. He was much more used to the 'roughing it' and 'living by his wits' thing than she was. Perhaps she could help him more from a distance if she had Kendall's equipment to help her search. Tyler just smiled at her.
"You know I'll miss you like crazy." He assured her.
"I'll keep in constant contact." Shelby assured him. Tyler just nodded.
"I know you will."
Outside, sitting in his car, Mr Watkins checked his watch, and realised his time had elapsed. He considered giving Shelby more time, but the one thing he'd learned in his business negotiations was that ultimatums were a dangerous gamble. He accepted that he had drawn a line in the sand, and now he couldn't go back on it. He was about to start the engine when he saw Shelby coming out, carrying her bag. He popped the trunk, allowing her to put her bag in, before getting into the passenger seat. She put on her seatbelt and crossed her arms, defiantly looking out of the window.
"Shelby?" He asked her. She didn't say a word. As he started the engine and pulled away, he doubted she would. It was a very long, quiet drive home.
Meanwhile, in Millport, Matt pulled up his truck outside the hardware store, at which he and Riley got out. Riley looked to Matt as he parked on a diagonal, blocking part of the street with the tailgate close to the door.
"You know, there are such things as parking laws." Riley reminded him. Matt just smiled.
"Yeah, and the nearest traffic cop is about...an hour's drive in that direction." Matt reminded him. To say Millport was out in the styx was an understatement. The streets weren't even asphalt, most of them were still dirt tracks. "Give me a shout if you see him coming."
"All I'm saying is that you're kind of blocking the street." Riley admonished his brother. Matt watched as a truck drove past, driving around him. He made a point of shielding his eyes to look up the street, and then down in the other direction. With a population that rarely made it out of double figures, traffic congestion wasn't exactly a huge issue. He looked back to Riley.
"Yeah, I can see I'm really causing a major tailback." He chuckled. "Tell you what, if it bothers you that much, why don't you help me load up and we can clear the way quicker?"
Riley just rolled his eyes as he followed Matt inside. Their mom had already called the order ahead, and so he was sure it would be waiting. As they got inside, the store keeper smiled brightly.
"Hey, do my eyes deceive me or is that our little college boy?" He declared, greeting Riley. The Green Ranger sighed. He didn't bother correcting people anymore. Leaving Millport was huge news, but the way people greeted him when he came back, anyone would think he'd become a world-leading scientist. It wasn't that people there were dumb or uneducated, but being kind of small and out the way, his home town wasn't much used to its sons leaving to pursue studies in much. The occasional local would go to college on a scholarship, but the majority came back a few years later to get jobs, while many skipped college altogether to get an early start in their family businesses.
"I'm doing good Mr Reynolds." Riley replied. "We're here for mom's order."
"I've almost bundled all the lumber, it's right out back." He told Matt, gesturing to him to follow. "The wire's just over there Riley, it's the roll closest to the register."
"Matt, do you have gloves?" Riley asked him. Matt and Mr Reynolds both just looked at him.
"Gloves?" Matt asked. Riley just nodded.
"You know...to protect my hands?" Riley responded. "You are asking me to handle wire."
Mr Reynolds just laughed hearing this.
"You've been away too long. You're becoming a city boy." He teased Riley. "You need to get him a few calluses. Next thing you'll tell me he uses moisturiser."
As they left, Riley just shook his head. He loved being back and seeing his family, but some things never changed. He didn't fit in here. He was never cut out to be a farmer, that was something he'd come to terms with long ago.
"There's nothing wrong with moisturising." Riley muttered under his breath, before going to get the wire. He looked to the roll of chicken wire that Mr Reynolds had prepared, and tried it out for weight, trying to figure out how best to lift it. It wasn't that heavy...well...it was, but with his Energem-enhanced strength he knew it wouldn't be too hard to move. He was trying to figure out how best to move it that wouldn't hurt his hands or snag his clothes.
"Hey Brainiac!" He heard an all-too-familiar voice behind him say. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as he heard this.
"Hi Burt." Riley responded as he stood up, turning around to see him. Not many of the kids in Millport really got him, and a number of them had bullied him at school. Burt was easily the most vocal. He seemed to take great joy back in the day besting Riley at virtually all the athletic pursuits in gym class. He always beat him in races, he always lifted more weights, and when it came to baseball, one of the few sports outside of fencing Riley genuinely cared about, Burt was always the star on the team. Riley had always trained hard, and as the school star, he used Burt as a bench-mark to measure his progress. He got close, but it was always irritating that Burt was always that little bit better than him, and delighted in rubbing his face in the fact. "What have you been up to? I thought you were going to the Earthquakes for a try-out."
"They only accept college students." Burt snorted. "As if I could be bothered with that snooze-fest."
Riley stifled a laugh. While Burt may have bested him by a little in athletics, there wasn't even a contest when it came to academics. While Riley was the top student by a large margin, he was sure Burt's High School diploma, presuming he even got one, could be more accurately described as a "certificate of attendance."*
"So, I heard you went to some fancy school in the city or something." Burt commented. "Back already?"
"Just visiting." Riley responded. "I'm going back soon. How about you?"
"Oh, you know, I'm still competing in all the major athletics competitions." Burt stated. "I heard about your tournament by the way. Three silvers? Isn't that like...first loser? I wouldn't know, I've never won a silver. For me it's gold all the way."
"Unless you're talking about the spelling bee." Riley muttered under his breath. He had to admit that remark stung. While he was proud of his achievement, winning three silver medals in his first tournament, Burt just had to remind him that he had been defeated...just as he had any time he competed against Burt. He just glared at Riley.
"What was that?" Burt snapped. Riley didn't bother to repeat himself, but Burt could guess that he had said something about his intellect. It was something that still annoyed Burt. He knew he wasn't the smartest guy in the world and was in no danger of being. He noticed the way Riley was eyeing up the roll of wire. "At least I don't need help moving a little chicken wire!"
Riley snorted, before grabbing the wire. He threw it over his shoulder to make a point, but in doing so overbalanced. He bumped into some shelves, spilling nails, varnish tins and other items onto the floor. Burt just laughed at the sight.
"Smooth move Brainiac." He teased him. Matt and Mr Reynolds came in.
"Hey, what gives?" Mr Reynolds asked. "Burt, didn't you offer to help him? I don't hire you for nothing!"
"Sorry dad." Burt answered. "He insisted on doing it himself."
"Well, just clean this up." Mr Reynolds answered. Matt handed over what he owed, before taking his lumber out to the truck. Riley steadied himself before following.
"See you around Brainiac!" Burt called after him. Riley got outside, dumping the wire in the truck. Matt just looked to him.
"Is he really still keeping that up?" Matt asked.
"Apparently so." Riley grumbled. Matt just shook his head.
"Seriously Riley, why do you even give a shit what he thinks?" Matt asked him. "When you're off building space ships or inventing clean energy or whatever it is you want to do, he'll be working in this store until his kids take it over!"
"I know." Riley responded, but Matt could see it still bothered him. He just patted Riley on the back.
"So, if he starts his routine again, just tell him to shove it and walk away." Matt reminded him.
"Maybe I'll do that if you visit Ms Morgan." Riley told him. Matt just wagged his finger at him.
"That was a cheap shot." Matt answered, knowing full well that Riley didn't mean it to be hurtful. "Come on, with all those snazzy powers you have now, we should finish this new coop in no time."
"You know, there are rules against us using our powers for personal gain." Riley told him. Matt just gestured to his illegally-parked truck.
"And I care about rules?" Matt teased him. "Come on."
With that, they drove off, heading back to the farm, hoping to get some lunch before they had to start.