Matchmaking Mishaps

What do you do when two people are so blindly in love that neither are fully aware of it so refuse to take action? Take action into your own hands, just like Ryan knows all about… Or in which Carter conforms and Ryan just can't be asked anymore.

CarterXDana/SOAverse/Lightspeed Rescue/ Fluffy, awkwardness and amusement.

Disclaimer: We wish we owned it but all rights belong to Saban, we only own the plot. We also do not own any of the Gilmore Girls special guests in this chapter... SPOILERS!

[A/N] Ryan is OOC for entertainment purposes. If you don't like the changes, please don't flame. If you don't like it that much than you can not read, we won't take offense with that. :) Also, no flames in regards to Stars Hollow and Mariner Bay crossing over, it's just me being a fangirl, I'm aware they're on complete opposite sides of America!

CHAPTER 10!

Plan H- Horrible Backfire.

Dana sat quietly in the canteen, munching on her cereal whilst rereading a chapter on cancer cells. She'd be leaving soon enough for classes and this was the only quiet time she'd have. She was going to enjoy it while it lasted. It didn't prove to be very long as Ryan slid into the seat opposite her with his plate piled high with pancakes. Dana sighed and shut her book.

"You're up early." She noted with a small smile, "I'm surprised."

"Couldn't sleep." He narrowed his eyes as he studied her face, "Are you sunburnt?"

Her hand flew to her nose and attempted to cover it. "I- ye-yeah, the Rover broke down and-"

"Right." His attention then turned to her cereal, "Are you eating rabbit food? Why?"

"We can't all eat as much sugar as we want without any circumstances."

"Will you help me with my reading tonight?" Ryan asked as he attempted to shove a while pancake in his mouth, spitting bits in Dana's direction...

Gross.

"I can't, sorry, I kinda have a date tonight-"

"With Carter?!" Ryan almost choked from excitement until Dana shook her head.

She furrowed her brow, "Why would I be on a date with Carter?"

"You just- you use to go place with him a lot before."

"That's not dating Ry. Besides, it's a guy from my course." She told him and stood up, "Lemme get you a few napkins." As she walked off, leaving her cereal unattended, Ryan knew this was his chance.

Dana walked back over and he took the napkins she offered. As she was about to take a seat, her cell phone rang and she hovered, speaking into it. Kelsey walked in as Dana descended into rapid conversation and ran out, babbling about arteries and tendons.

Kelsey spotted the cereal and dived for the food before Ryan had a chance to stop her. "Wha?" She asked, mouth half full, and Ryan shook his head, resisting the urge to face palm. He was sure she'd be fine.

Now he had to look for another opening.

Dana flopped back into the Rover, completely exhausted from the assault course and evacuation training they had been doing all afternoon.

"Is anyone else really craving ice cream right now?" Kelsey asked as she settled in beside Chad, "'Cause, I could do with a sundae. Not one of those crappy ones you get from Gelat-jos."

"That's my Uncles shop." Joel called forward.

"Well, it sucks." Kelsey bluntly stated which made everyone stare round at her. The Yellow drained of colour and appeared almost mortified. "I didn't mean to... I didn't mean to say that."

"Are you okay Kels? You've been pretty... Funny all day." Dana asked with concern.

Kelsey jumped to the defence, "I have not."

"You've been really... Brutal."

"I don't know what you mean."

"'Wanna be cowboy.""

"'Wanna be Jackie Chan come mermaid'."

"'If you watched your elbow, you wouldn't punch like a girl, demon boy.'"

"'Gigantor.'"

"'Doctor Malibu Barbie.'" Dana finished after each of the Rangers chipped in, "Its not like you."

"Things keep slipping out, like I don't have control..." Kelsey looked to Chad, "it was me who broke your lamp. And Carter, Dana likes-" She covered her mouth quickly whilst Dana looked panicked.

"Okay...?" Carter furrowed his brow, "Are you drunk?" Kelsey shook her head, "Well... Okay. I think I can help with the sundae thing, I know a diner just outta town. We'll go there and you just... Cool down?"

Ryan slumped back in his chair. So the potion does work- But the wrong person?! He'd have to take the chance and try and spike Dana's ice cream.

The group walked into the diner and Carter led them over to a booth.

"Luke's Diner huh? How'd you come by it?" Joel asked, curious as he took in the interior.

Carter slid in beside Dana and passed the others a menu. "I use to come here as a kid with my parents. The owner is a pretty good friend of mine, gave me free meals for a bit until I had some money come through."

Joel looked toward the counter where a mid-height brunette boy, no older than seventeen at most, was pouring coffee out for another man. The boy had mastered the broody expression and wore dark clothes, clearly not fitting in with the vibe of the colourful diner.

"You shouldn't be friends with children."

Carter looked confused and cast a glance to the counter, "Oh, that's not the owner. That's his nephew, Jess." He turned back to the group, "He's kinda... Trouble." He nodded across the diner to a man in a backwards blue baseball cap and flannel shirt, putting plates down for a pair of elderly women, "That's Luke."

"And whose she?" Dana signalled outside where a woman with long dark, curled hair with porcelain skin in a red dress, leather jacket and knee high boots came bolting from her jeep to the entrance. She practically ran through the diner, throwing herself on a stool.

"Woah, what's the hurry? The bikers coming for you?" Jess remarked.

"Coffee. Suki didn't make coffee. I've had one cup today, not a nice cup." The woman overexaggerately panted, "Dying... Need coffee."

Jess leaned on the counter, holding the pot close teasingly, "Come on Lorelai, someone has to cut you off eventually. Like Luke and flannel, you have an addiction."

Lorelai narrowed her blue eyes, "I'll quit cold turkey tomorrow."

"How long have you been saying that for?"

"Luke!" The woman span in the chair, "he won't give me coffee!"

Luke was now at the Ranger's table, instead of addressing them, he was focused on the scene brewing at the counter.

"With reason. Have decaf."

Lorelai gasped, "Decaf?! Decaf?! That's taboo! Why would I want decaf?! That's like- like- like having pizza without the base; sure, toppings are great but how do you eat them with no foundation?! A house without windows! A sheep without wool! A cow without milk! A duck without- whatever ducks have!"

Luke groaned, "Jess... Just give the crazy lady what she wants, before my brain explodes."

"Ha!" Lorelai span to face the teen, "See!"

Jess placed a cup down and filled it, "I'm an impressionable teenager and you are teaching me about addiction-" he called out the next part to the Rangers, "I want to be good, but look what I'm surrounded by."

Kelsey smirked, "Dinner with a show, what a catch of a place Carter."

"Kelsey." Dana scorned, "Be nice."

"Lunatics. Mad house." Luke muttered under his breath, removing his pad and pen from his back pocket. "And now I'm serving all six Power Rangers," he looked to Carter, "You ever think this town is completely nuts?"

"All the time." The Red answered, "But I tend to ignore that thought."

"Oh really? The one fighting in lycra ignores the madness in this town? Anyway, what do you all want?"

"Just a coffee for me; didn't you say you were having trouble with your truck?"

"Sure, its out back." Luke tossed Carter his keys from his pocket.

Carter passed by the table with the two women, his arm being caught by the larger of the two.

"Is that you Carter? My, how broad you've gotten." The brunette's hand slid up to Carter's bicep, "Doesn't he Babette?"

"He does!" The husky voiced blonde answered, grabbing Carter's other hand, "How are you sugar? You doing okay? We don't see you here often."

"I've been busy with my new job." He answered.

"Of course, in those tight costumes of yours. You know, those remind me of the dancers on broadway."

Carter smiled, aware of his team watching him and biting back their laughter, "Miss Patty, you're so bad."

Miss Patty leaned up and lowered her voice, "Who are those friends of yours?"

"That's my team; Dana, Ryan, Kelsey, Joel and Chad."

Miss Patty's gaze set on Chad, "The one with the intense brown eyes that say 'I've seen a lot, I've been through a lot'-"

"You mean Chad?"

"Chad," She pressed her hand to her heart, "He looks exactly like my fourth husband- or was it my fifth... You know, it could even be the one in between."

"You had a husband in between?"

"No, my lover."

"Well, Chad's probably not your sort- sorry Patty."

"Oh you tease." She tapped his hand flirtaciously.

Babette focused on Dana, "Is the blonde your new girlfriend Carter? Have you been hiding her from us?"

Carter's cheeks burned a bright pink and he stuttered nervously, "N-n-no, that's Dana-"

"You sat down next to her really quick sugar, are you tryna stop the tall, blond, dark stud?"

"That's her brother-"

"Oh..." The pair sounded disappointed, "Right."

"Dana's just a friend- anyway, I should go see the truck." He prised his arms from their grip, "I'll introduce you two to them all later if you're still here."

"Alright sugar." Carter sped out the building so fast that Jess and Luke scoffed in unison, "Such a sweet boy, handsome but nervous." Babette summarised, "He needs a good girlfriend."

"You know, I think I have a picture of him- visual aids to show young girls I meet when I talk about him. Maybe I should resort back to that."

"Miss Patty, leave the boy be!" Luke called over as he returned his attention to the table of Rangers, "And the rest of you? What do you want?"

"Your nephews number."

Everyone turned to Kelsey with surprised expressions.

"What?"

"What he's cute?" Kelsey answered, "Anyway, its not for me, it's for the blonde because she needs to get over Car-" Dana sharply kicked the Raven haired woman in the shin, "Ouch!"

She turned to Luke with a sweet smile, "Coffee and cherry pie would be great thanks. Is it okay to go out and help Carter? He's bound to cut his fingers open."

"Go ahead. Just mind the potatoes by the back-door."

"Why are there potatoes by the back-door?" She naively asked which earned a look from Luke that suggested it was the most obvious answer in the world.

"Where else would you keep potatoes?"

Dana furrowed her brow, "Okay..." She stood and headed out the path Carter had just taken, leaving the rest to place their orders. Ryan reached into his pocket, double checking the vial was still present; he had one last shot at this...

The drinks were brought up first, mainly because the coffee was in a pot at the percolator. Luke brought up three coffees, a herbal tea and two sodas before he moved back over to the woman at the counter- who was still muttering about decaffeinated coffee.

Ryan zoned out on the conversation that the other three were having and looked to the counter where the nephew was openly glaring at him. He kept staring back until the nephew conceded and looked away. He fingered the vial in his pocket, keeping an eye on his teammates whilst casually moving his sister's mug closer. He pulled the glass vial out and slipped off the lid, swiftly pouring its metallic contents into the coffee. Faint wisps of silver floated up before promptly disappearing, leaving behind no trace of the shiny liquid.

Ryan leant back in his chair, ready to watch his beautiful plan unfold when his slice of pie was dumped down in front of him. He followed the arm, which happened to belong to Jess who was scowling at him.

"So what? She turn you down in favour of the big guy so you decide to Roofie her?" The teen sharply spoke.

"Huh?" Ryan tilted his head, "Turn me- what's a Roofie?"

"Spike her drink? Do you do that to all the girls, or just the blondes? Pattern of a serial killer."

"What?"

"The girl, just walked out." Jess pointed the coffee pot to the door, "Blonde, my height. The one you're trying to drug."

" She's my sister-"

"Gross dude. You know that's more illegal than what you're tryna do now?"

"You don't know what you're talking about kid." Joel spoke calmly.

Jess scoffed, "Sure I don't cowboy. I saw it with my own eyes."

Slowly, everyone's attention in the establishment (other than Lorelai's and Luke's who were in a midst of an argument over turkey burgers and their place in society) had turned to Jess and Ryan. Ryan's nerves were growing- he'd spiked the drink so subtly!

"I didn't do anything..." He lied.

"Sure, and do you know in my spare time, I moonlight as a good ol' dandy fifties kid. Gee wilickers sir, that's a mighty fine lie you're tryna spin." He snatched the cup back from the table just as Ryan leaped to move it away from him, "You're sick, you know that?"

"Hey!" Kelsey barked, "Don't say that!"

"But I'm not ill-"

At this point, Dana and Carter re-entered the establishment, Dana being stopped by Babette and Miss Patty whilst Carter returned to the table. The pair began to bombard her with questions and, Dana being Dana, was incapable of rudely walking away and nervously and coyly answered their many questions.

"Woah." Carter sat down in the booth, "What's wrong Jess?"

"Him." Jess grunted, "Keep him under a chain. Ever do that here again and you'll regret it." He returned to the counter, putting the cup down and headed into the kitchen. Lorelai grabbed the cup, mistakenly believing it was for her; she drained it, not knowing what Ryan had slipped in there.

"What happened?" Carter asked, taking up his own coffee.

"That kid just randomly came over here accusing Ryan of roofieing Dana's drink." Joel explained, casting a glare in Jess' direction, "Damn punk."

Carter's gaze dropped to his own coffee before setting on Ryan with a scowl, "Did you spike mine as well?"

"No." Ryan answered earnestly.

"But you spiked Dana's drink?"

"You believe the punk?" Joel asked aggressively to which Carter raised his hand to silence him.

"Did you?"

"With nothing that would hurt her..."

The table groaned in unison and Ryan shrank back in his seat a bit.

"With what Ryan?"

"Just a... Truth thing."

Dana had finally managed to get away from the two women and had returned to the table, not hearing any of Ryan's confession. She sat down next to Carter, leaving such little space between them his attention turned to her. She signalled for him to lean down so she could whisper something to which he obliged.

"Those two ladies were about to try and hook me up with this guy called Dean- they had his picture and everything, and yours actually- and they were gonna try and hook you up with this girl... So, please don't kill me, but I told them we were dating just so they would stop-"

"Thanks." Carter whispered back, even though he had initially told them that they weren't dating, "What stage?"

"Really early stages." She retorted, "Why's everyone yelling at Ryan?"

"He spiked your drink."

"He did what?!" Dana tore her gaze to Ryan, "Why would you spike my drink?!"

"It was only a truth thing!"

Chad's mind clicked into gear, "Did you spike Kelsey?"

"No... Well, not intentionally. I spiked Dana's cereal when she went to get me napkins and then, well Dana ran out droning down the phone about arteries and stuff and Kelsey saw the cereal-"

"That's really disgusting for the record Kels." Joel told the brunette whose anger was flushing through her face.

"So you're the one who always steals my food!" Dana furrowed her brow at the Yellow.

"I didn't have time to get some myself!"

"Why would you want to spike me with a truth potion?" Dana asked her brother, "What do you think I'm lying about?"

"I don't think you're lying about anything! I just think you're hiding something."

"And what am I hiding Ryan?!" Her eyes narrowed down to slits, challenging him into laying his cards on the table. He could out them both, here and then; he likes you, you like him! It was so simple! But if he did that, he'd be the bad guy.

Ryan looked down at his pie, pushing it about the plate with his fork.

"I seriously can't believe you Ryan." She forced herself up sharply and stormed out of the shop, slamming the door behind her which caused the bell to echo out.

"Wo-ah." Lorelai spoke from the counter, "Someone's PMS-ing."

Jess stared at the blue eyed woman, "PMS-ing?"

"C'mon, you're eighteen and you don't know what that means, you are thicker than I thought." Luke stopped walking back to the kitchen with the empty plates and looked between the pair, waiting for Jess to explode.

"No, I know what it means. I just didn't take you to be like that. But by chance, are you PMS-ing?"

Carter watched out of the window as Dana crossed the road, heading in the direction that he thought was the library.

He looked to Joel, "Can you go with her? She's in the sort of state Demon's love."

"You got it." Joel hopped over the back of the booth and jogged out the store, calling out to Dana as he went.

"I don't know what you deem acceptable Demon boy, but-"

"Kelsey." Carter hissed, "You don't talk. Right now you're being so blunt. Stay silent."

Kelsey glared at him, "Oh please, if it was any other member of the team, you wouldn't be so concerned."

"What do you mean?" He stared the Yellow down, but unfortunately Kelsey was rifled up on anger with Ryan and truth potion.

"I'm saying you'd turn a blind eye if it was Joel, Chad or me, but because it's Dana you're concerned!"

"That's not true. I'd care if it was any of us."

"But you care more because it's her. Everyone sees the way you look at her, just get it out the way and fuc-" Chad covered Kelsey's mouth before the last word escaped her lips, everyone in the establishment was staring. Kelsey even looked embarrassed at what she had said.

"Hey Luke!" Lorelai called back, "Got any duct tape there for blabber lips? And for the record, flannel went out of style- though your butt, so perky and cute!"

Carter cut Kelsey down with a glare, "That's not true. I don't think about Dana any different to what I think about any of you." He looked back to Ryan, "Where did Dana's coffee go?"

Ryan's sterling blue eyes slowly moved across to Lorelai, "She drank it."

"Then we better go." Carter threw down a fistful of notes and stood, "Gotta run Luke, emergency. Money's on the table."

The others followed suit as he all but ran to the Rover and had started the engine before the others had even put their belts on.
"Lorelai and truth would cause the end of the world." He explained as he began to pull out of the parking lot, "Luke's gonna have a field day with that one."

Joel skidded to a halt as he caught sight of the blonde doubled over on the park bench, with her head in hands. As he approached, he could hear her cussing under her breath which did make him smile as he had yet to hear her swear but also made him soften as he sat beside her.

"That's not like you." He told her and patted her back gently, "You kiss your dad with that mouth?"

"Joel." She scorned with a sideways glare, "Just go away." He caught a glimpse of something in her eyes- was that fear?

"No can do, 'cause I'm a little worried about you... So come on, talk to me."

"No offence Joel, you're not my go-to guy to talk to."

"Some taken, but your go-to is busy defusing a situation between Kelsey and Ryan so-"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Just 'cause I joke about doesn't mean I don't understand things, or that I don't care." He leant forward onto his knees, wringing out his hands in front of him, "I do care."

Dana picked her head up from her hands and took a deep, shakey sigh before she turned to look Joel dead in the eye. "What if he's still helping the demons?"

"Ryan?"

"Yeah. He's always acting- well, strange... And this whole truth spiking thing... What if it was to get some information to send to the demons? He can't get to Dad but he can with me..."

"You can't think like that." Joel told her sympathetically, "If you do, then you'll end up hating him. Don't you think that if he was still working for them, he'd have done this months ago?"

She bit her lip in consideration and nodded, "I suppose so. It's always there in the back of my mind though- I wouldn't think after fourteen years he'd be able to ditch the Demons who brought him up."

"They had been lying to him. In some messed up way, Ryan might believe he's helping you with something. You got a secret?"

"Not anything he knows about."

"You think."

Dana broke into a small smile and corrected herself, "I think."

"C'mon, it's gonna get dark soon." Joel stood up and dug his hands into his pant's pockets, "The streets of Mariner Bay are not safe place for a young lady at night."

"I think I can handle myself." Dana also stood and the pair began to cut through the park, passing the last of families playing in the park, "I think you might be right."

"I always am- but about what?"

"Ryan thinking he's helping."

"Oh that. That's a no brainer really. In his whacked out mind, it adds up." Joel wrapped his arm around Dana's shoulders, "Now, let the Sky Cowboy walk you home, it's an honour really."

Dana giggled and pulled Joel's stretson down to cover his eyes, "For who? You or me?"

"Well, me obviously, until you did that." He adjusted his hat with a playful glare, "Now it's your honour. I also gotta ask," they started down the main road, "I found a note in the garbage in the Rec-Room from Carter, to your Dad... Wanna explain why he was so forward and filthy? I didn't have Carter down as that type."

"It's a long story."

[A/N]:

GREG: Hey guys! Sam's back now but she's so jetlagged she asked me to do the Author's Note on my own... Which actually fits because I think I wrote this chapter on my own anyway :0 can't exactly remember because it was written before the summer!

We're going to try and post bi-weekly again, not necessarily our big stories but at least one shots to try and be better than last year... Oh! Speaking of which!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY YOUR YEAR BE FULL OF LOVE, HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS! :)

So, anyway! Thank you for reading! And yes... The characters in the diner are from Gilmore Girls... I'm a big fangirl. I'm also aware that Stars Hollow is no where near where Mariner Bay is (seeing as Stars Hollow is in Connecticut and I'm sure Mariner Bay is meant to be in California) but I was desperate to combine the character together and Sam finally relented. I just think all the personalities will go great! So, don't be angry that it's not canon, it's just me being a fangirl.

CarterLovesDana;

I agree, I think they needed to talk it out! I'm glad you liked it!

Dash Master 48;

I know we responded to you via inbox, but I'm just highlighting it for other readers :)

We would love to respond to more reviews but the truth is we don't really get many and the ones we do get either aren't really reviews or we leave it too long to respond to. We're hoping we might start getting more reviews, like suggestions, constructive criticism or anything, soon but in the mean time it's just difficult. We hope you understand! :)

Mysterious Guest Reviewer;

Hey! Thank you so much! You're too sweet! :) Dana and Carter are mine too! Sam's added them to her top list now too which I wholeheartedly think is down to me forcing it on her! We saw your suggestion and we are really interested in taking it up! I think Eric and Taylor would make a great one! We did have a one shot in our 12 Days of Christmas which had a little TaylorXEric (I think it's Chapter 12, it's Wes' party) if you wanna have a little preview of what we're planning!

So! Thank you for reading! We'd love you to review or fave/ follow ;) do you guys think I captured the Gilmore cast well?

See you really soon! Sam says hey too!