Michael got back into the home he had been granted at the barracks, throwing his rucksack onto the floor just inside the front door, reaching to the stack of mail that had been left on his doorstep. Having been off-site behind enemy lines for six months, the pile was quite large. A huge smile came to his lips as he sat on the edge of the bed, looking out the one with the earliest date and opened it. Only one person wrote to him, and he was always glad to hear from her.
"You know you should pack away your kit first." Jeremy chuckled as he arrived at his house next door. "Some of your socks will be evolving into a new life-form by now."
"I don't care." He replied, holding up the stack of letters. "I get to read my mail from Lily."
"You know you're probably the only guy I know who gets that excited about his mail when it isn't his girlfriend writing." Jeremy remarked as his wife, Megan joined him on the path.
"How is she?" Megan asked.
"She says she hates school." Michael sighed. "She says I should quit the forces and come and collect her or she'll run away."
"Well since you have other letters there you know she didn't carry that threat out." Megan assured him.
"She says that the teachers are really strict and one of the other kids is a real jerk." Michael told her. "I wish I didn't have to wait six months at a time to hear from her. I'm sure by the time I reach the last letter in this pile she'll probably love school and have a boyfriend for me to hate."
"Probably the guy she thought was a jerk." Megan chuckled. She came over to her friend, touching his shoulder gently. She knew how much it hurt him to leave Lily and how much he missed her. He talked about her often. She and Jeremy swore that even if they hadn't seen all of the pictures she sent him, they could have picked her out of a line-up despite never having met her. Michael had described her inch-for-inch several times.
"Michael, we all miss out on things." Jeremy said sympathetically to his superior. "If you remember rightly, I went out on our last mission when Megan was pregnant and came back to a screaming poo machine."
"I suppose you're right." Michael responded. He knew this was just a part of his job, but it didn't make it any easier that his daughter was usually thousands of miles away. "How is Jack by the way?"
"He's getting big." Megan responded. "And he's looking forward to seeing his daddy."
"I think that's a hint." Jeremy stated. "I'll crank up the barbecue later, fancy coming around?"
"I get the offer of burgers after six months of c-rations?" Michael chirped cheerfully. "What do you think? Of course I'll be there."
"I'll just stick some beer on..."
"It's already on ice." Megan told them. "And I've got a fresh propane tank."
"I knew there was a reason I married you." Jeremy said cheerfully, throwing his wife over his shoulder. Megan shrieked and laughed cheerfully as he grabbed his kit bag and carried her inside. "See you soon."
Michael headed inside and closed the door, making his way to the couch and opening the second letter. This one had a photo, so he put the letter aside and looked at the picture fondly, running his fingers across it with a little regret. Even in the year since he had left her at the boarding school she had grown considerably. She seemed to have her arm around a small, Asian looking kid. He knew he'd probably hear about him in the letter, but he was glad she had a friend. The smiles on their faces showed that at least she seemed to be on good terms with this guy, and anyone making being so far away from him easier was a good thing.
He felt a few tears starting to form and put the photo aside, wiping his eyes with his palms, before looking to the picture of his beloved wife on the wall.
"I'm doing the right thing aren't I Lisa?" He asked the picture, hoping for some kind of confirmation. Unfortunately the picture didn't provide that comfort. It never had, no matter how many times he asked.
Back in the apartment, Megan noticed Michael's eyelids twitching slightly and his fingers flexing.
"Is he waking up?" She asked hopefully.
"I wish I could tell you different, but no." He responded. "He's in REM."
"You mean he's dreaming?" Megan asked. RJ nodded.
"He's thinking about something." He told her. "All we can do now is wait and hope."
Lily and Megan came to his side, willing him to come round. Michael was going to have to do this alone. They both worried as a few whimpers escaped his lips. Whatever he was thinking about, it wasn't pleasant.
Megan was happily putting beers on ice in preparation for Jeremy's return as Jack played with his toys. She was interrupted as the knock came on the door. She smiled as she heard this, knowing he had come home and a little early by the sounds of it. She made her way to the door, but was startled to find Michael there.
Michael's leg was broken in four places, and he had only just come out of the medic's office. He knew he should be resting, but there was something more important right now. He was Jeremy and Megan's best friend, and so it seemed only right to him that he be the one to break the news. He couldn't just leave it to the commanding officer. Despite the pain in his leg and the exhaustion of using crutches so soon after coming back from the mission, this was more painful. He didn't need to say anything; the tears in his eyes already informed Megan what he was there to say.
"We came under heavy fire." He began weakly. He handed her Jeremy's dog tags as her own tears started to fall. Dropping one of his crutches, he gestured her in for a one-armed hug and held her closely. Megan buried her face in his chest and wept for her husband. She had only been married for three years, and now she was already a widow. Michael held her tightly.
"I'll take care of everything." He assured her, his voice cracking as he thought about his fallen friend. "I promise I'll take care of everything."
Back in the apartment, it was beginning to get late. Neither Lily nor Megan wanted to leave Michael's side, so they hadn't gone for dinner when it was served. RJ brought them in a pizza.
"Thank you." Megan whispered, accepting the dish. "Michael always loved pizza. Pepperoni's his favourite."
"I'll gladly make him one when he comes round." RJ assured her. "Until then, eat up. Making yourselves ill isn't going to help matters."
"I just feel so helpless." Lily muttered. "I wish there was something I could do."
"You're doing the most valuable thing you can." RJ assured her. "Being here is the best medicine he could be getting."
Michael's lips twitched slightly into a smile.
"He's thinking about something." Megan told them. "He likes it. I hope it helps bring him back."
"Anything that gives him strength is sure to help." RJ told them.
In his mind, Michael revisited that glorious day. He rushed into the delivery room, finding Megan there, struggling painfully.
"You're doing great sweetheart." He yelled encouragingly, taking her hand.
"You took your bloody time!" She shrieked at the contraction came painfully. Obviously the whole thing about the second one being easier was a complete myth. She was suffering badly because of their child.
"Megan, the only way I could have got here faster was to jump out the plane." He explained. "I only landed fifteen minutes ago."
"Shut up you aaaaarrrrggghhhhhhh!" She screamed. The doctor overseeing the delivery observed her dutifully.
"The baby's crowning." He informed her. "It won't be much longer. Push!"
Megan did as she was told and began pushing. The incredible pain seemed to last for hours, but eventually it was all over. She slumped wearily into the pillow, all but completely spent.
"It's a girl." The doctor announced, presenting the newborn to its parents. "Congratulations."
"We have a little girl." Michael cooed as he looked fondly at the little bundle in his arms. "I still can't think there's anything better than this."
"She's beautiful." Megan commented. "We've done great."
Back in the apartment, Megan was pacing the room nervously as she and Lily awaited any signs of responsiveness from her husband.
"I wish I knew what he was thinking about." Lily thought aloud. "If we could just see what he was thinking about, maybe we could try and bring him out of this."
"Knowing him, he's trying to look for why this is his fault." Megan sighed. "Your dad always did take everything as his personal responsibility."
"I didn't want to reveal my identity." Lily sobbed as her tears began again. "If we'd just morphed, if I had been paying attention, if I hadn't gotten hurt..."
"Lily, you can't blame yourself." Megan interrupted her.
"He only used his mandrill spirit to save me." She replied. "If I hadn't..."
"Lily, your dad knew the risks." Megan reiterated. "He didn't think twice about it. You're one of the most precious things in the world to him."
"He is to me too." Lily stated. "I know I've been hurt by him, but I love him. More than anything else, I'm proud of him."
She grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm so proud he's my dad."
In his mind, Michael re-lived the battle with Dai Shi. He had dared to attack his little girl. No one would dare touch any member of his family. He was so close to breaking point when Lily and her friends revealed their secret.
"I can't believe my little girl's a Power Ranger." He thought to himself. "She fought for me. RJ fought for me. I've been so wrong about them. I owe them an apology. One I'll give them in person!"
Michael stirred slowly and awoke, causing Lily and Megan to jump. He was still weak, and the room seemed to be spinning, but he had regained consciousness. He looked over to Lily, observing her thoughtfully.
"You're proud of me?" He asked.
"You heard that?" Lily asked in return.
"I heard everything." He informed her. "I'm so proud of you."
"Yeah, the Ranger thing." Lily replied. "I kind of figured..."
"No." He interrupted, bringing his hand up to her face, touching her cheek. "I'm proud to have you as a daughter."
"We have a lot to talk about." Lily stated, sniffing back some tears.
"I suppose we do." He replied. "But first, there's someone missing."
"Who?" Lily asked.
"My future son-in-law." He replied weakly. "I think this is something the whole family should be in on."
