Never Let Go

Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Summary: Sequel to "Can't Let Go." Read that first. After tragedy strikes, can Ashley and Andros find their way back to each other.

(A/N: I'm pretty sure I made up Holsting's. You'll understand what I mean when you start reading.)

Pinkrangerfan: Well those are happy thoughts. Too bad this chapter isn't.

Vampire's Heartache: Lol. Honestly, in this story I don't care for the relationship either, but it's necessary. I figured the passing out thing was a natural reaction. Lol!

JasonLeeScottFan: Thanks! There are more shocks to come. Be prepared, not all are good.

Emily bradit: You'll find out now. Here's the next chapter!

Chapter 6: Sickness

Taurus

Zavier could only stare at the empty space in front of him as Rikai and Sondria filled him in on what was going on. "So this is what you're telling me," He started. "Rikai is really someone named Andros and you managed to get in touch with this Karone woman who is supposedly Andros's sister and you invited her here."

"That's pretty much it." Rikai could feel his father getting angry and trying to suppress it. "If you doubt Karone, we can always get aunt Trinity to do a DNA test."

"We will definitely be doing that."

"I can't explain it, but I know she's my sister."

"How do you know?" Zavier snapped.

Rikai felt his expression turn dark as he snapped back. "The same way I know that Ashley is on Earth not KO-35 and that I know my place is with her and my child, not here."

All the energy drained out of Zavier. He paled as he looked to his wife and back to Rikai. "Child?" When Rikai only glared he looked to his wife again.

"Apparently this Ashley was pregnant with Andros's child before the Voyager accident. She had a daughter."

"My daughter." Rikai emphasized.

"How do we know it's yours? It could easily be someone else's." Zavier stated building up steam again. "You really think she would wait that long?"

"You are impossible!" Rikai walked out of the room and was very aware that Zavier and Sondria were following him. He grabbed his jacket off the coat rack in the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Zavier called.

"As away from you as possible."

"Rikai wait." Sondria cried. "You can't leave. This is your home."

Rikai only stared for a minute. "I'll be at a hotel until Karone gets here." He turned and walked out of the door. He walked passed his vehicle and walked cross the street when he heard them.

"Trenton stop!" Zavier called as Trenton ran from him.

"Rikai wait for me." Trenton called as he ran towards his big brother.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Trenton was running into the street with an oversized truck speeding towards him.

Rikai ran even though he knew that he knew he wouldn't get to Trenton in time. He closed his eyes and fell to his knees at the curb as the truck sped by. Through the haze and his own tears he could hear Zavier and Sondria scream.

"Rikai?"

The tiny, slightly frightened, voice froze Rikai in place. "Trenton?" He raised his head and looked across the street. Sondria and Zavier were staring in total shock at something floating above the street.

Big blue eyes were terrified as they focused on Rikai. "Can you get me down now?"

Rikai slowly walked towards his little brother and reached out for him. Trenton drifted down until he was securely in Rikai's arms. "Are you okay?"

Before Trenton could respond, Sondria and Zavier ran to them and pulled Trenton from Rikai. Trenton struggled as his mother kissed every inch of his face and quickly ran him into the house.

Zavier finally looked at Rikai, but his eyes were filled with hurt, confusion…and fear. "How did you…"

"I don't know. It just happened. Dad." Rikai felt his heart break when his father took a step away from him.

Zavier seemed to realize his mistake, but it was too late. Rikai was running from him.

Earth

Ashley woke up in tears.

"Ashley, are you okay? What happened?" Zhane asked wrapping his arms around her.

She fought to catch her breath. "I don't know. I feel like my heart is breaking." She turned and cried into Zhane's shoulder. She didn't know where the emotions were coming from, but she felt like she was losing everything all over again. And to top things of, Ava started wailing with equal force.

"It's okay." Zhane kissed her forehead. "I'll get her."

"Thank you." Ashley whispered. She wrapped her arms around herself when Zhane left. She didn't know what came over her, but apparently it was affecting Ava as well.

Ashley toyed with the ring on her left hand and quickly remembered that it wasn't the same. She looked at the silver ring with the yellow diamond in the center and couldn't help but feel longing, longing for what was taken from her.

She'd finally taken Andros's ring off when Zhane presented her with his. It felt wrong to keep holding on to Andros when Zhane was right there and offering her the world. Sometimes she forgot that Zhane's world had crashed too when Andros died. Zhane couldn't be with the one he wanted either, but instead of dwelling on it, Zhane put everything he had into Ashley and Ava as a way to cope.

"Ashley!"

Her attention was quickly brought to Zhane when he rushed into the room holding the still crying Ava. "What happened?" Ashley jumped from the bed and grabbed her child.

"She's got a fever and I couldn't calm her down."

"The ear thermometer is in the bathroom." Ashley stated as she tried to soothe Ava.

Zhane came back quickly and handed her the thermometer.

Ashley quickly took it and gently placed the tip in Ava's ear. "Oh my god. It's 103. We need to get her to a hospital now!"

Taurus

Karone had lied. It had only taken her about 5 hours to get to Taurus, especially when she told DECA why she was going.

She figured she would need the day to prepare herself for a let down. This could all be a cruel joke someone was playing on her. And the utter despair she was feeling didn't help much.

She approached the counter at the hotel and asked for a room with silent tears falling down her face. The nice clerk handed her the key card and just as Karone was about to walk away, she heard an all too familiar voice.

"I need a room please."

The voice shook slightly but Karone would have recognized it anywhere. She turned and saw him. "Andros?"

He turned around and slowly moved towards her. Andros. That was his name. He couldn't adjust to it before, but it sounded right coming from her. His sister. "Karone?"

She threw herself into his arms and he caught her easily. "It's you. It's really you." She cried.

"I don't know if you'll be as happy after what I tell you." He whispered.

"You're my brother. Nothing could change how I feel." She looked around at the attention they had drawn. "Let's go to my room. We can talk there."

She grabbed his hand and made a beeline for the elevator. They rode it to the fourth floor and quickly entered the hotel room. She hugged him again. "I still can't believe it."

He felt another part of himself awakening now that she was here, but there was still something on his mind. He pulled her to the sofa and they sat. "Something happened today." He took a deep breath. "I pulled my little brother from in front of a moving truck a few hours ago."

"But wh-"

"I did it with my mind." He said before she could finish. When he finally looked up, she was smiling.

"Is that all?" She held her hand out to the bowl of fruit on the table and slowly brought the fruit towards them. "It's common where we come from. It's more of an anomaly if you don't have telekinesis."

He released the breath he'd been holding. He'd spent the last hours wondering around the city trying to figure out what was wrong with him. "That's good to know."

"We also have some telepathic ability. We can sense other people's emotions, but with the four of us it's a lot stronger."

"You mean me, you, Zhane and Ashley?"

Karone deflated at the mention of those names. There was something else she had to tell him.

"What's wrong? Ashley's okay right?"

"She's fine." She looked him in the eye. "You have to remember that they still think you're dead."

"Just tell me what happened please." He pleaded.

"Ashley and Zhane got back together after I left." She blurted out. She watched the sadness creep into his eyes. "But you're back. This changes everything. They wouldn't stay together if they knew you were alive. And maybe Zhane and I would still have a chance." She added more to herself than to her brother.

"You really think so?"

"Absolutely. Ashley loves you. She never stopped." She assured him and stood. "I think we need to go see your other family and explain everything to them."

He stood with her. "They probably think I'm a freak."

"If they think that, then they're not worth it."

He nodded solemnly. But then his breath caught and he doubled over in pain.

"Andros!" Karone kneeled beside him.

"Something's wrong." He groaned as the pain subsided and he struggled to catch his breath.

"Where's the nearest hospital?"

"It's not me." He stated as he began to breath more easily.

Karone's link started ringing but she ignored it. "We still need to get you to a doctor."

"Answer it." He said pointing to the link clipped to her side.

"That can wait. You-"

"Answer it!" He yelled.

Karone winced and reached for her link. "What is it?"

"Karone, thank god." Ashley's voice filled Karone's ear.

She instantly knew something wasn't right. "What's wrong?"

"It's Ava. She was running a fever. We brought her to the hospital. They told us she was something called Holsting's Syndrome."

Karone's blood froze. This can't be happening. "What phase is she in?"

"She just entered phase two." Ashley tried to catch her breath. "They said the virus is native to KO-35 and the only antivirus is there."

Karone knew all about it. She'd been helping in some of the hospitals when she first heard about the virus. Children with Karovan parents were automatically vaccinated, but Ava had been born on Earth and Holsting's was 100% fatal after Phase 4. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Don't worry Ashley, she'll be okay."

"Please hurry."

Karone ended the call and all but pulled Andros to his feet. "We have to go now."

"What's wrong? Is it Ashley?" He asked panicked.

"No." Karone's voice hardened. It was all she could do to keep from crying. "It's Ava. If we don't make it to KO-35 and to Earth in time, your daughter's going to die."

(A/N 2: Even more drama. Tell me what you think.)