AN: So, I've decided this story starts sometime around the events of "Tongue and Cheek" and everything after that is AU. I don't know why it took me so long to figure that out. I'm actually gonna try and keep the timeline pretty stable, but you know how that goes. Feed the author!

It was the chiming of their morphers that finally caused their lips to break apart. Breathless and flushed and really angry at being interrupted, Cam could only pout as Hunter brought his morpher to the lips that Cam really wanted to keep kissing.

Hunter winked at him. Cam watched his lips move, and damn him if Hunter didn't look good with his lips swollen like that and his face burning as red as his uniform. "Go for Hunter." Cam moved closer and began kissing Hunter's neck again, and he thought he felt Hunter stifle a giggle.

"Hunter, it is good to hear from you." Sensei's voice came over his morpher instead of Cybercam, and Cam frowned into Hunter's neck. "Is Cameron with you, by any chance?"

Hunter nudged him, and Cam bit his neck in return. Hey! Hunter yelped at him. Are you here?

Will it look bad? Cam asked halfheartedly.

Probably. Hunter said honestly.

Cam sighed. He really didn't have any other option but to answer. "Right here, dad."

"Ah, good." His father sounded indignant. Not to anyone else, but in that way that Cam knew he was upset because it was carefully masked by false relief. "Then you both won't mind helping your teammates fight Lothor before you return to being irresponsible and negligent of your duties as rangers, will you?"

"I dunno," Hunter deadpanned. "Is it urgent?"

Cam promptly smacked him in the stomach, and Hunter let out a startled 'Oaf!' before dissolving into giggles. "Where are they?"

Cam barely heard his father answer as Hunter reached back up to kiss him. Cam really hoped his fathers keen hearing couldn't make out the sound of their lips smacking together, even as gentle as it was.

Hunter was the one who pulled away to answer. "We'll be right there." He cut off the transmission and returned to kissing Cam.

You, Cam decided, are going to be getting me into a lot of trouble.

Yup, Hunter answered cheerfully. Then he pulled away to whisper against Cam's lips. "But don't worry. I'll be getting you out of it, too."

Hunter stood and hauled Cam up before he even knew what was happening. Cam shook his head to clear it -it was startling how foggy it became in Hunters presence- and Hunter grabbed his hand as they headed for the exit.

"Wait!" Cam stopped and yanked his hand away, turned back towards the box.

"What?" Hunter wanted to know. He hadn't moved.

"We have to get what we came for." Cam pulled out the jewelry box Hunter had found a few days prior and opened it. There, in the velvet lining, was the silver necklace from their dreams.

Cam pulled it out, the chain cold against his skin. He held it out to Hunter.

"I think this belongs to you." He told him, and Hunter reached out gingerly to take it from him.

He studied it for a moment before smiling and pulling it on. It hung low on his neck, and Cam reached over and tucked it into his shirt. Hunter caught his hand, and the tiniest jolt of electricity shot through them both.

"All of my mother's things are at my grandmothers. We'll have to go over there once we finish with Lothor, see if we can find yours." He said gently.

"Speaking of Lothor…" Cam admonished, and Hunter let his hand go, nodding. Putting the box back where it was, Cam followed Hunter out the door, where they streaked away to help their friends.

When they got there, the battle was in full swing. They morphed at the same time, each going off in different directions. Cam made quick work of the Kelzacks, while Hunter joined his brother in fighting some sort of fish monster.

Dustin was battling Marah not far away, and Shane and Tori were taking on Kapri. It shouldn't have been as difficult of a battle as it turned out to be.

He was knocking out the last Kelzack when Hunter sent a warning through his mind and he narrowly dodged a stray energy discharge. He was suddenly very grateful that the person watching his back and the person inside his head were one in the same.

He joined them in attacking the fish monster, whose tentacles sent all of them flying backwards. Kapri and Marah were still occupying the winds, so Cam and the thunders continued their assault on the fish monster.

It wasn't going so bad until Lothor beamed down. He'd never done that before, and it made Cam nervous. Along with his nieces, he started attacking the winds, and they were no match for him. Dustin was down first, and Tori and Shane rushed to help him.

Cam dodged another tentacle and felt the wind get knocked out of him as Hunter and Blake got knocked back down instead. Disadvantage to being inside Hunter's head: Cam felt everything he did. He stumbled as he fought off the attacks of the tentacle wielding fish monster and he ended up on his back, expecting a blow to come down on top of him.

It never did. Hunter came to his rescue just in time, and he forced the fish monster back and hauled Cam to his feet.

We've got to get better at this whole give and take thing, Hunter told him, and Cam couldn't help the wry grin that spread across his face under his helmet.

Lothor pulled the fish monster back and the rangers finally had a chance to regroup. It was only a moment, but all six of them together stood a better chance than two groups of three.

It was Kapri who attacked first, going straight for Shane. Tori cut her off with a vicious kick, and the two of them sent her flying backwards. Marah headed for Cam this time, and he fended her off easily. The rest of them handled the fish monster, and Lothor sat back, watching from a far with a quizzical look. Apparently, something didn't make sense to him and he wasn't going to keep attacking until it did. That was just fine with Cam.

It was Blake who dealt the final blow to the fish monster. It collapsed as Blake hefted his Thunder staff and his attached Antler over his shoulder, and he, Hunter and Dustin returned to help the others.

Lothor began firing energy blasts at them all from a far, and they were incredibly hard to deflect and harder to dodge. Hunter forced Marah into the way of one, and she was more than slightly displeased. She disappeared in a puff of purple smoke, and Hunter called out a rambunctious remark that Cam never got the chance to enjoy.

Before he'd even finished tossing the energy blast that had scorched Marah, Lothor had tossed another one at Hunter. He was engulfed in the yellow light, and Cam panicked.

"Hunter!" He called. Lothor was laughing maniacally, his energy blast still going.

All right, Hunter's voice ghosted across his mind. Not hurt.

Sure enough, when Lothor stopped his blast Hunter stood up, untouched. He made a show of brushing himself off and asked a shocked Lothor, "Is that all you got?"

Lothor fired at him again. This time his aim was slightly off and the rest of the rangers could see Hunter put up his arm to block. The energy went completely around him.

"That's bizarre." Kapri's voice interrupted from behind him, and they all turned to look at her. Tori lunged for her and Kapri screamed, jumping back. "Uncle! Could you maybe try shooting the ones who aren't mysteriously protected from your uber terrific powers?"

Unfortunately for them, Lothor took her advice. Kapri disappeared in a puff of pink smoke and they were left to face Lothor on his own. He was outnumbered now, and he couldn't even touch Hunter.

They had already won.

Lothor continued to fire bolts of energy at them angrily, yelling and shouting with each one. While the rest of the rangers had to dodged and block, Hunter advanced easily. He got right up to Lothor and stopped his energy blasts and the rest of the rangers rushed forward. Cam expected Lothor to retreat at any moment, but he seemed fixated on Hunter and his newly developed ability to be impervious to Lothor's attacks.

He let out a cry of frustration and knocked them all backward with a stomp on the ground. Hunter fell as well, so apparently it was only the energy blasts that couldn't touch him. Standing up beside him, Cam almost didn't register the energy blast coming straight for them.

Quick, give me your hand! Hunter shouted at him.

Cam had a feeling it wasn't going to work that way, but he didn't have enough time to get away. Trusting Hunter blindly, Cam reached out and clasped his hand a second before the blast hit them.

Apparently, it worked that way. The energy went around them like they were shielded, and it gave Hunter time to tell him, We can do it together.

Somehow Cam knew exactly what he meant, and they lifted their hands at the same time. A bolt of white energy shot forward from both of them, cutting through Lothor's energy beam and knocking the evil overlord to the ground.

The silence that followed was shocked, and no snappy remarks were made as Lothor rose shakily back to his feet. He gave them a startled look before disappearing entirely.

Cam had seen that look once before. In the past, when Kiya Watanabe had figured out who Cam really was, just before he'd been banished. Whatever had just flickered across Lothor's face, Cam only knew it couldn't be good for them.

They waited, but he never sent the fish monster back for a zord battle.

"The hell?" Blake was the first to question as they demorphed back at ops.

Hunter shrugged, looking unperturbed.

Oh, yeah, that's a great strategy, Cam chided gently. Hunter just grinned cheekily, and Cam rolled his eyes and headed for his computer.

"I don't know what you did, man, but it was kick ass!" Dustin hooted, clapping Hunter on the shoulder.

"Yeah dude, did you see the look on Lothor's face?" Shane cheered, and Tori laughed right along with them. Blake was the only one who didn't look amused.

"Puzzling, indeed." Sensei's habitat cart came zooming over to them, and his father used Hunter's head to bounce over to Cam's computer. "I suppose your newly acquired ability comes with a good explanation as to why you and Cameron missed training today, without so much as a note?"

Hunter caught Cam's eye, and Cam saw him raise an eyebrow. Tell him?

Cam gave him a long look, and tried not to think loudly. He knew they should, knew Hunter wanted to, and he hated lying to his teammates. But it was still Hunter. And he still couldn't bring himself to say it.

I don't think he'd believe us if we did. "That's where we were, dad. Tracking down a lead to fight Lothor. It all happened kind of fast, so we didn't really have time to tell anyone."

Sensei looked between the two of them, as though able to tell they weren't telling the truth but unable to prove it.

"Well, whatever you did, can we get some more of it? Cause I'm a little tired of getting my hair singed." Tori put in sourly from the side. Hunter gave her a token grin.

"Tell us, then. What did you find that allowed you to defeat Lothor with such ease?" Sensei inquired. Hunter and Cam shared another quick look.

How are we going to explain this without telling them everything? Hunter wanted to know.

Be vague? Cam suggested, and Hunter rolled his eyes. No, really. Better vague then crazy.

Maybe you'd better do the explaining, Hunter advised. Anything I say tends to sound crazy these days. Especially when it involves you.

"What?" Cam was about to answer when Shane interrupted. When they looked at him he gave them each an expectant look. "You're just looking at each other."

Hunter cleared his throat abruptly. Tugging the necklace out from underneath his training uniform, he held it up for them to see. "I'm not sure, but maybe it has something to do with this?"

The little silver necklace glinted in the dim light, and Cam gulped. Sure enough, Sensei turned to him quizzically.

"Cameron? Would I be mistaken in assuming that necklace once belonged to your mother?" Sensei asked gently. Cam stared his father down evenly, well aware of the intent looks currently directed at them.

"No, dad. That necklace belonged to Hunter's mother." Cam caught Hunter's eye in time to feel the chime of satisfaction in his head. They weren't lying. They just weren't being completely truthful, either.

Sensei looked at him. "I see." He replied in a tone that clearly said he didn't.

"I don't get it." Dustin said suddenly. "Why would your mom's necklace protect you?"

Hunter looked puzzled. "Yeah… haven't quite figured that part out yet." Hunter admitted. "No worries, though. Give Cam the rest of the day, I'm sure he'll have it figured out."

Cam's lips twitched. "Your confidence in me is overwhelming."

Hunter just grinned, and didn't deign to reply.

"So… no chance of getting any more of them, then?" Shane asked cheekily, and Tori swatted at him.

Hunter and Cam shared a look. "One," they said in unison, and everyone instantly looked confused.

Before anyone could say anything, Sensei's stern voice interrupted. "You are all dismissed for the day. I wish to speak with Cameron and Hunter alone." His little guinea pig back was turned on all of them, and Cam felt the chime of worry from Hunter. A knot was growing in his own stomach.

The winds left without a word, giving all of them sympathetic looks as they did so. Blake stood looking at his brother for several seconds, before following the winds out of ninja ops.

Cam and Hunter waited, but Sensei didn't say anything.

You think he knows? Hunter wondered. He sounded hopeful. Cam almost shook his head, but stopped himself just in time.

I don't know. He seems upset. Cam braced himself for whatever words would finally come out of his father's mouth, and he could feel Hunter doing the same.

"I don't know exactly what you're playing at," Kanoi Watanabe's voice was startlingly calm. "But be assured, secrets kept from a Ninjetti Master don't remain secrets for long.

"I had wished to believe that your teamwork skills were improving, Cameron. However you have shown me today that both you and Hunter are in need of much more work. You left your teammates 'hanging' today, out in the battlefield and before, during training. I am displeased with your newfound lack of responsibility-"

"All due respect, Sensei," Hunter interrupted calmly. He could do the calm, serene Ninja as well as Cam's father could. "I think what we were doing had equal importance to the team."

Sensei remained quiet. "Yes, so it would seem. However, there is one thing your necklace does not explain." With his cane, Sensei reached out and tapped a button on Cam's computer.

The image that popped up on the viewing screen was of them from only moments before. Caught in Lothor's energy discharge, holding hands in a way that had felt most natural at the time but now looked quite awkward and discharging their own radiant light back at Lothor. They watched as Lothor's beam split apart and their beam knocked him flat on his back. Sensei stopped the playback just as their own white energy beam stopped shooting from their fingers.

"I have heard of enchanted charms that offer protection, but never in all my years have I seen such a display of shared power. And I assure you, nowhere on the face of this earth is there a charm which would enable such a thing."

There was silence as neither Cam nor Hunter offered an explanation, and Sensei sighed.

"I have never lied to you Cameron. I would have hoped you would have shown the same courtesy to me." Sensei finally turned to face them, his face hard. "Whatever it is you've gotten yourselves into, I will not offer my help again. This is your chance."

Cam and Hunter shared a look. Hunter crossed his arms stubbornly over his chest, and Cam gave him a tiny nod.

"We're fine, dad." Cam told him.

"Thanks for the offer." Hunter finished.

Sensei looked between them once more. "Right." He hopped back down to the habitat card, gave them a cold look before zooming down the hallway and added, "Clean up your own mess."

"How can he expect us to be open with him when he comes off all condescending and holier-than-thou?" Hunter wanted to know as he and Cam trudged up the stairs to the portal.

"It's just the way he is." Cam muttered. He really didn't feel well about the way things had gone with his father, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

"Maybe we should have told him." Hunter suggested in a tone that said he was only saying it because it had to be said.

"Right, and tell him what, Hunter?" Cam scolded. "That our mothers gave each other enchanted necklaces when we were kids and never told him about it, and that we somehow awoke this bond that's got us completely twisted around and now we find out that we have really unnatural powers that no one, including us, can explain, and-" Hunter caught his hand in a comforting way, and Cam couldn't help the comfort that washed over him at Hunters touch.

I'm sorry. Hunter told him. I didn't mean to cause such a problem with you and your dad.

Cam sighed. The problem was already there. Forget about it.

We'll figure it out. Hunter squeezed his hand and dropped it, and Cam sighed again at the lost of contact. He didn't realize why Hunter had dropped his hand until a moment later when he saw the others in front of them. Coming up the steps and out of Ninja Ops they shouldn't have been surprised to see the rest of the team waiting for them.

"So how much trouble are you guys in for ditching practice this morning?" Shane grinned at them, while Tori looked sympathetic and Dustin looked confused. Blake was looking at the ground apart from them, his arms crossed.

Hunter managed to shrug it off. "Pfft, we just got a stern lecture about our responsibilities."

"He was pretty upset when you guys weren't there," Tori mentioned. "Looks like you got off easy."

It didn't even take them sharing a commiserating look to know just how wrong she was.

After some childish banter that Cam really wasn't interested in, the winds decided to head home for the day. They began walking away, probably expecting Blake and Hunter to follow, and when they didn't everyone looked at them.

It was Blake who stood unchanged, even when Hunter had made an effort to start walking.

"Bro?" Hunter questioned. "You coming?"

Blake looked up from the ground and right at Hunter, and something in his face set off a warning bell in Cam's head.

"Mom's necklace?" He asked quietly.

Hunter sighed and reached out to put a hand on Blake's shoulder. "Blake, it's complicated."

Blake shrugged his hand off with a wince and turned, pushing through the winds and heading down the road.

"Blake, wait!" Hunter began to go after him, but Tori laid a hand on his chest to stop him.

"Hunter… maybe I'd better go after him?" She suggested. Hunter looked furious.

"He's my brother!" Hunter reminded, but Cam sent him a warning in his head.

Who maybe needs to calm down before you go and lie to him? He said it as gently as he could, but Hunter tossed a hurt look over his shoulder at him. He did back off and nod at Tori though, who sprinted off after Blake.

Even with Hunter fuming and the others looking strangely confused, Cam's mind was buzzing with new questions. How much did his father know about what was going on? What had happened when he and Hunter had unleashed that energy blast? What did Lothor think had happened? And more importantly, had Miko Watanabe really kept what happened that day in the park a secret from her husband?