Notes: The Dino Bite Café is now on the second level for the purposes of this story. I like dynamic floor plans. Each chapter will advance the story regardless of time skips. Please let me know what you think so far!

Chapter 2: Bear Claws of Attraction

Tyler loved afternoon runs and having Koda along with his nigh-inexhaustible energy really kept him from slacking. Though he couldn't quite put his finger on just why Riley was so particularly keen on Tyler bringing Koda with him today:

'Please Tyler, Koda loves running with you!' Riley wheedles rooting through Kendall's van. 'Ms. Morgan has tons of work to do and I-... I've got stuff to take care of. Just for a couple of hours?'

'I dunno, Riley' responds Tyler 'I normally just like going by myself. It frees me up and helps me think. Is this it?'

'No, that's not it. It's a beige bag. It's not heavy, it's just hard to find back here. Anyway,' Riley pounces on Tyler and latches onto his shoulders 'PLEEEAAAAASSSSSEE? It's just a couple hours.'

Tyler, unused to Riley being so cuddly wasn't quite sure how to react "Well, I suppose I could take him along. Koda does bring out my best' he contemplates a moment then turns to Riley with a winning smile 'Alright, you win' 'Yay!' chirps Riley 'Oh, there it is!' he snatches up the beige toolkit apparently right next him. 'Thanks, Tyler!' and Riley bounds out down towards the base. 'Wait, what just happened?' Tyler puzzled aloud.

Shaking his head, he refocuses on the trail. Running gave him the freedom to let his mind wander, to let the cares of the world fall away, especially the looming worry that comes with a long lull in defending the earth from the forces of evil. It's been nearly two weeks since Snide's last attack and that would make ANY ranger nervous. There was a period when Sledge hadn't attacked for almost the ENTIRE Spring. The rangers were a wreck waiting for the next plot. But runs and training kept them on point.

As it grew darker, Tyler and Koda stopped over at a park bench. A roar of protest drew their eyes down to Koda's stomach. "Sorry, Tyler. Dinner time now?" Koda asked, slightly abashed. Tyler sighed in laughter and clapped an arm around his caveman companion. "Absolutely, buddy," Tyler replied "Let's see if we can rustle something up from the kitchen." Koda cheered as they jumped in Tyler's jeep.

As they neared the museum, they saw a parked limousine with the Royal Seal of Zandar. Koda's eyes lit up. "Phillip…here?" Plainly seeing Koda's excitement at seeing their friend again, Tyler turns to Koda "How about you go check the base and I'll go get food and meet you there?" he suggests. Koda immediately hops out and dashes to the entrance slide.

"I sure hope there's still some meat patties and Bronto Bread left. The delivery truck isn't in until Friday." Tyler muses aloud. As Tyler walks across the museum's courtyard and into the central atrium, he finds it oddly quiet, even for this time of evening. That is until-

"NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO-ssshhhhoot!"

Tyler looks up just in time to be beaned in the head by something "OW!" He shakes his head after a moment, looks around and picks up a small discus from the ground. No- wait- NOT a discus, as he inspects what in his hands appears to be- "Oh hey! A cookie!" he declares happily while dusting it off with his shirt. As he bites into it, Riley and Shelby's panicked voices call out, "TYLER?"

"Down here, guys!" Tyler shouts back, his mouth stuffed with cookie. "Just got back from my run!"

Riley rushes out to the balcony as Tyler bounds up the stairwell. "Is Koda with you?" Riley asks with wild, panicked eyes. "Naw, he went down to the base to find Phillip," Tyler answers still chewing. "We saw his limo out front. Are you OK? Was that just Heckyl screaming? Where did he go?"

"Oh, he- wasn't feeling well. He had to go home because… he got dizzy…and dropped…the…cookie you're just now eating…" Riley blanched. "Oh, did you bake these?" said Tyler. "They're REALLY good. Wait…is THAT why you wanted me to take Koda out on that run?" Riley nodded miserably. "Are YOU alright, Tyler? You don't feel strange or anything?"

"What are you talking about? I feel great!" laughs Tyler as he saunters over. Riley sighs a breath of relief too soon before Tyler suddenly pulls him in close. "Buuuuutt…since I DID successfully keep Koda away from your cookies…" he starts as his arm snakes around Riley waist "I think..." Tyler moves in dangerously close to the now wide-eyed and paralyzed Riley, his lips ghosting across Rileys shoulder, along his neck "I deserve…" and just faintly brushing his ear "another taste" he breathes intimately.

"Ummmm...uhhhh...ahhhh...well, Tyler, you see, about those cookies..." Riley stutters while trying desperately to wriggle free. Tyler was having none of this and held Riley fast against his body- his very firm body. His breath, hot and intimate against Riley's temple. "C'mon, Riley. Pleeeaaaaasssssee?"

Riley is a statue. A rigid, useless, useless statue of uselessness. Time slows to treacle as an eternity passes between breaths and his mind approaches lightspeed (with no rescue in sight- lolz). At this moment, he is now infinitely more frightened -and aroused- by Tyler than he ever had been of Heckyl minutes ago (frightened that is). Then again, he never noticed how suave and devastatingly charming Tyler could be- and this was certainly more attention he's gotten from Tyler than he ever has from Chase- curse that womanizing Kiwi.

He wonders if he just tilted his head slightly up and to the right, he could-

A loud *CLANG* startles Riley out of his stupor as time rights itself around him again. He suddenly looks down at a very unconscious Tyler and his eyes follow upward to a breathless saucepan-wielding Shelby standing over him. "It's a good thing Tyler took his time reaching for your cookies or else I would never have gotten the drop on him" pants Shelby. Riley immediately stares down at the open Tupperware of cookies in his left hand as he desperately controls his breathing. "Uhh…right! The cookies…"

"Well now what do we do?" says Shelby "The pantry! Let's lock him in there and find Ms. Morgan!" Riley rasps. "Hurry before he comes to!"

And so Riley drags his second unconscious friend of the night. "Wait," Shelby suddenly remembers after clicking the lock. "Didn't Tyler say Phillip was here? And Koda went down to the base so Ms. Morgan might be there too. Come on!"

The pair rushes down the stairs when Shelby screams and slips on the newly mopped floor. "Shelby!" Riley turns to help his fallen teammate up. "I'm OK! Just startled is all"

"May I?" a hand appears before Shelby "Lady Shelby, are you injured?" asks Ivan as Shelby pulls herself up. "No, I'm alright Ivan. Thank you." "I was taking a walk in the rear courtyard when I heard a commotion here and I rushed immediately"

"Everything's fine, Ivan," answers Riley. "Wait. No. NOTHING is fine. But thanks for helping Shelby up." He plops down onto a stone bench to rest a moment. Ivan beams at Riley "It was no trouble at all and – ooohhh – cookies! Don't mind if I do!"

"Wait, Ivan NO!"

Next up: Duel of the Cakes