Hayley got back to her dad's apartment, but unlike when she was at her mom's, she didn't really need to worry about sneaking back in. Her dad had a very laisse faire attitude to life in general and he had a somewhat chaotic timetable himself so one of the benefits of it being his turn to have her was that she had a lot more freedom to come and go. She was, if anything, a little surprised that he had actually gotten home first. That said, that was only the first surprise.

Coming in, she could smell something cooking. Her dad ate, but to call what he ate cooking was somewhat subjective in many instances. As she closed the door though, she could definitely smell something and it most definitely wasn't microwaved TV dinners or Ramen Noodles. More than that, it actually smelled pretty damn good!

"Ah, you're back, I was just about to call and see if you wanted me to leave a plate out for you!" She heard Aaron calling through from the kitchen. "Come on in, I'll fix you up a plate, we can eat together!"

"Sure thing dad." She replied, putting her bag aside and heading through to the kitchen. When she got there, she found Aaron standing over a couple of pots, beginning to portion out some food. She furrowed her brows. "Dad, are you…did you lose weight?"

"Well, I suppose I have. Why did you not believe me that I've been working out more?" He asked her. She just nodded gently.

"To be honest…no I didn't." She replied.

"Well, I don't claim to be any danger to the Mr Universe throne, but I'm definitely feeling the benefits." He told her.

"Yeah, it…it definitely shows!" She responded. She'd only seen him briefly the previous night, between arriving late and being tired she had more or less gone straight to her bed with her dinner. She hadn't really paid much attention to her dad when she got in, but she was starting to wonder how she had missed it. He still was a little on the heavy side for someone his height and age, but it looked like he was easily down a good ten, perhaps fifteen pounds from the last time she'd seen him.

"What can I say? I just made a couple of little changes for the better." He told her, handing her a plate. "A little exercise here, a little better food there and it pretty quickly adds up. Beef Stroganoff!"

"Beef…wait…you made this?" She asked him.

"Why is that so hard to believe?" He asked her.

"No offence but, you weren't always particularly picky about food." She reminded him. "I once caught you sniffing a three-day-old sub before eating it."

"Well, we're never too old to learn to treat ourselves a little better are we?" He asked her, dishing up his own plate. He and Hayley headed through to the living room, sitting by the small folding table. Aaron sat and watched Hayley for a little while expectantly, it took her a moment to realise he was waiting for her to try it. She took a small amount of rice and beef, popping it into her mouth. "Well, what do you think?"

"Dad, this is…this is incredible!" She commented, her eyes growing wide. "I didn't know you could…where did you learn to do this?"

"Oh, I just picked it up." He told her as she started eating. He ate a little bit himself, but was still watching her, wondering how to bring up the next part. "So…do you have anything planned for the weekend?"

"I'm sorry?" She asked him.

"Well, it's been a while, I thought maybe we could spend a day together." He told her. He saw the way she was looking at him. "I mean…I could arrange something at the aquarium, you could bring your friends along! I could make a day of it!"

"Thanks dad, but we kind of already have plans." Hayley told him a little regretfully. "I'm not really too into it, but Levi kind of talked us all into going to some fishing contest at the lake."

"Fishing contest?" He asked.

"Yeah, Levi said he misses fishing at the lake near his old farm and there's some stupid contest that they have every year here to catch some so-called 'local legend' fish. Cruiser or something."

"Well, that sounds perfect! I could come along with you!" He suggested. Hayley looked to him.

"Really?" He asked her.

"Well, why not?" He asked her enthusiastically. "I mean, who better to help you catch something like that than Summer Cove's foremost expert on aquatic life? Besides, it's about time I met these new friends I keep hearing so much about."

"Well, as long as you're sure." She said. Aaron could sense she was a little reluctant to have her friends meet her dad, but then what teenager wasn't a little bit embarrassed by their parents? She'd feel comfortable around her friends and after a fun day maybe she might be a little more receptive to his news. It would also give him an opportunity to try out the latest upgrade settings of his drone in a more controlled setting.

"I'm sure dear." He told her with a huge smile on his face as he continued eating. "So, have you seen these Power Rangers I keep hearing so much about?"

"Oh, they pop up from time to time." Hayley responded. "But…uh…usually when they do I just try to keep my head down."

"That's probably for the best." Aaron answered. "That's my girl."

Over at the Romero farm, Brody and Dane ate in silence. Redbot didn't eat, so he just sat in the corner reading a book. Brody was still a little sore after the battle but he was happy enough with the way things turned out. However, after he came back and the team de-briefed before going their separate ways, it wasn't too difficult to notice that Dane hadn't said much of anything. Redbot understood enough about tension to know better than to get involved and just sat, reading his book.

"Pass the sauce please?" Brody asked. Dane took the ketchup bottle and slid it across to Brody. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Dane replied in a more mechanical, almost automatic way than felt sincere. Brody looked to him and then concentrated once more on his meal. They continued to eat in silence for a little longer before finally Dane spoke.

"So, that was…some battle today." He said, giving something of an assessment of things. Brody expected his dad to weigh in. He was grateful for any and all feedback, it was one of the reasons he and his friends got together after each battle to discuss how things went. It gave them an important forum to discuss what worked and what didn't work. Where mistakes were made that could have been potentially costly and how to ensure they weren't made again and also to figure out what could be improved on to make future battles easier and shape how they trained from then on. Dane was their sensei now. Since it was now his job to train them, it would only be natural for him to have ideas about what they could focus on.

"Yeah, it really was." Brody agreed. "Psycho Green might not work for Odious, but him getting involved was a real game-changer. We lucked out that other monster attacked him."

"Yeah, that was a lucky stroke." Dane agreed.

"We can't always rely on the bad guys turning on each other." Brody stated. "Splitting up isn't always a good plan, but we needed to…"

"What were you thinking?" Dane demanded. Redbot just looked between them both, before wordlessly getting up and leaving the room, taking his book with him. Brody just stared at him.

"Well, we had a couple of objectives to deal with at once." Brody continued. "Preston was the only one who could use the spell and Sarah's the fastest so sending them after the spell sheet…"

"You know what I'm talking about!" Dane said harshly. Brody could have predicted his dad wouldn't be happy about this. Not only had Brody gone against his explicit instructions in his fight with Levi, but when Dane wouldn't let up about it he had muted his dad's communications link. It was a move that was bound to upset him. "I told you that you needed…"

"I know what you told me dad!" Brody interrupted him. "I heard you the first time."

"Brody, do you think I liked giving you that order?" Dane asked him. "Brody, the teachings of ninjutsu are very clear about…"

"I know about the teachings of ninjutsu dad, I've read all the same texts you have!" Brody argued.

"Then perhaps you might like to explain why you ignored one of the most straightforward rules of engagement." Dane suggested. "Brody, no offence against your friends, they're all fine students and each of them is strong in their own right, but you and Levi have been training a lot longer than any of them has. You were the one that was most likely to be a match for Levi, never mind Psycho Green. What do you think could have happened if anything had happened to you?"

"Nothing did happen to me dad!" Brody reminded him. "Preston cast the spell…"

"And if he had been one second slower Levi would have killed you!" Dane reminded him. "Brody, you can't have restraint when your life is in danger! You can't hold back when the enemy in front of you isn't! I don't care if it's one of your friends, your brother, even if it's me! Your enemies will throw everything and anything they can at you and the only way…"

"And one of the rules of ninjutsu is that there are no rules that apply to every situation." Brody said sternly as he stood his ground. "Dad, you may be a ninja master and it's great that you're going to help us, but the fact is that when we're in battle it's us that is there, not you! I made a judgement call…"

"You made a STUPID call that almost got you killed!" Dane yelled at him. "I didn't want to see either of my sons harmed, but you were in control, Levi wasn't. He would have killed you without hesitation! You at least could have made the decision to…I don't know…break a leg or take out his arms or…something! I'm not saying I expected you to kill him…"

"But if that's what it would have taken?" Brody asked. Dane was silent at that point. He didn't want to say out loud that when push came to shove, that might have been the choice Brody needed to make. "I made a judgement call. I believed in my team enough to give them some time."

"I almost cost you everything!" Dane reiterated.

"Well it didn't dad!" Brody shouted as he grabbed his plate and got up from the table, heading to the kitchen. "And even if it did, it was my call to make!"

"I'm your sensei…"

"EXACTLY dad, you're the sensei!" Brody yelled, tossing his plate into the sink. "And I'm the Red Ranger! You might not like that and at times I sure as hell don't either, but that's where we are! In the field the decisions are mine to make and if they don't line up with the decisions you want me to make and I have to wear the consequences well then that's just the way things are!"

"Where are you going?" Dane asked as Brody headed for the door.

"I'm going to the lake." Brody told him. "I'm going for a swim to clear my head."

"We're not done talking…"

"Well I am!" Brody interrupted him, slamming the door as he left. Dane just sat back in his chair. He wished he hadn't gotten so angry at Brody. He just wanted him to understand the danger he put himself and the team in with his reluctance to do what he needed to. Today it worked out, but on another day, Brody's unwillingness to act might have cost more than just his own life. He picked up his fork, stabbing into his meal as he continued eating.

Back at the Marx house, Spike and Laura got back after driving around, searching in vain for Trevor. By now Laura was getting quite frantic.

"Alright, is there anyone we can call? Anyone he might have wanted to contact?" Spike asked her.

"Pretty much all of Trevor's friends are at the precinct." She told him, wracking her mind, trying to think of something she hadn't considered yet. "If he'd called one of them they'd have called it in as soon as we announced it on the radio."

"What about Hayley?" Spike asked. "Do you think she might have seen him?"

"No, I doubt it. She's with Aaron." She reminded him. Just then, they got into the living room, finding Trevor standing in the middle of the room. Laura immediately ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. He returned in kind.

"Laura, where have you been?" He asked. "You're meant to be resting, I was about to call the precinct!"

"We were out looking for you!" Spike told him. Trevor looked to Spike, and then to Laura.

"Looking for me?" He asked.

"Trevor, Spike…Spike told me about the suspension." Laura told him sympathetically. She was still far from happy with the fact that he hadn't told her about it, but right now having her husband back, safe and sound, she was willing to let the secrecy go for not.

"You did what?" Trevor asked.

"The boy spoke to your wife?" Psycho Green asked him. "Why would he do that?" Spike held up his hands defensively.

"I didn't know that you hadn't told her!" Spike said hurriedly.

"A likely tale!" Psycho Green whispered. "It was none of his business what you told your wife!"

"I just came around to give you the good news. Gary had some outstanding warrants and a bit of contraband on him, so the department managed to cut him a deal. He's not filing a complaint with the department."

"He's not filing the complaint?" Trevor asked. Spike just sighed and nodded.

"It turns out he had way more to worry about on his record than you do." Spike informed him. "He'll have to do some anger management, no doubt some community service…"

"Another slap on the wrist and no doubt he will do the same thing again, or find another victim!" Psycho Green taunted him. "At least my way it would have ended for good! It's hard to raise your hands to someone when you no longer have hands!"

"I know it's not ideal, but we can keep an eye out for him in our area." Spike assured him. "I doubt he'll be back again after that anyway, but if he does, we can make sure it'll stick."

"You shouldn't have told her…"

"He didn't tell me, not deliberately at least." Laura assured him. "Look, I know that something's been bothering you lately. I know that a lot has happened to us and…I guess I might not have made things much easier."

"Laura, you did absolutely nothing wrong." Trevor answered.

"Trevor, whatever's going on, whatever you're going through, we're in this together." She reminded him. "Whatever you need, we'll do it."

"I'll help out too, where I can." Spike agreed. Trevor sat on the couch, holding his head in his hands.

"I guess I've…let things build up a little." He told them.

"Maybe you should arrange some time with the department therapist?" Spike suggested, earning himself a nasty glare from Laura. "Not…that I'm saying you need it or anything but…they have those services for a reason and if things are getting on top of you…"

"Spike!"

"No, I…think that might be an idea." Trevor responded. "Maybe I have let things build up too much. Maybe I should talk to someone."

"Whatever you think will help." Laura answered, holding him tightly.

Over in Millport, Brody got to the local lake sometime after sun down. It was a beautiful, still night, and the waters of the lake rolled lazily, making the whole place look peaceful. This was what Brody remembered from his time as a kid, and it was just the thing he was sure would help him relax.

He stopped by a tree, beginning to get undressed. He waded out into the lake until he was waist deep, before diving in and beginning to swim. The water was brisk, bracing but not quite uncomfortable, and quite soothing to his injuries. He and Aiden had been encouraged to swim when they were younger. It was great exercise and with the lakes and creeks around, Dane also saw the wisdom in them learning how to keep themselves safe from the inherent dangers in their own back yard. Brody had definitely missed swimming on the Warrior Dome. It wasn't as though the slaves had many amenities like that. The closest they had was the sludge tank where much of the liquid waste would gather before being jettisoned into space at a convenient location. Funnily enough, no one was really queueing up around the block to swim in what was largely made up of the accumulated waste of the entire ship's population.

He understood his dad only wanted to protect him, and he appreciated his input. He was glad that his dad was back, not just because it meant he had his family once again but also because, while he had been able to teach the Rangers a lot on his own, it wasn't as though he was the legendary Dane Romero. He had stepped aside to let Dane take care of the training, knowing he had a wealth of knowledge and experience that he didn't. He knew that much of his own training and concepts came from his contact with the Ninja Steel, enhancing his skills and his capacity to learn and create new disciplines, but he did worry that by missing out on real experience the Rangers would be sold short in their lessons, something which could cost them in the field.

He did, though, still feel angry about his dad screaming at him over open comms about his fight with Aiden. His whole team could hear what was going on, and a part of him felt slighted. How would the team take him seriously in the field as leader if his dad was cutting him off at the ankles over the radio? He couldn't help but wonder if perhaps there was a reason the Wind Ninja Academy only had one sensei of each style and one headmaster.

He was distracted for a moment as he saw something flash by one of the banks. He pretended not to notice and continued to swim, finding a spot where he could get his feet to the bottom of the lake. He put his keen senses to work, trying to figure out what he had noticed. Again he saw something of a glint by one of the banks. He locked onto the location and ducked down, diving under the surface.

Over on the bank, the intruder was watching, looking for Brody. He had seen him duck down into the water, but he hadn't seen him come up yet. He kept his eyes on the lake, trying to figure out where he was going to come up. How long had it been now? How long could Brody hold his breath underwater? He craned his neck to look out, even for some signs of disturbance in the water. Had something happened? Was he in trouble? He started to head out towards the edge of the water, but getting near the waters' edge, he was suddenly grabbed from behind and pulled back, his feet being swept from under him.

"Looking for someone?" Brody asked, dropping down knee-first onto the intruder's ribcage, pinning him down. He saw the face and was completely confused. "Burt?"

"Get off me!" Burt coughed, winded by the attack. Brody adjusted his position, allowing him to breathe at least while still keeping him pinned.

"What are you doing here Burt?" Brody asked.

"It's a lake! It's not like you own it!" Burt protested. It was then that Brody noticed something in his hand. He grabbed Burt's hand, twisting his wrist, forcing him to release it. It was a cell phone, which on closer inspection was on camera mode. Brody opened the photos, and noticed something of an obvious theme. There were a lot of pictures, and all of them were of him! Various pictures of him in and around the farm since he had arrived.

"What the hell?" Brody asked. His distraction had given Burt enough room to wriggle out though, shoving Brody off him. He took off, running away at a pretty incredible pace. Brody doubted he'd catch him even if he was wearing shoes and didn't have to try and run across rocky ground barefoot. He'd heard Burt was a local marathon runner.

As Burt disappeared though, Brody looked back to the phone that Burt had left behind. He started scratching his head.