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.
[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 haven't got to read, we won't take offense with that. :)
CHAPTER ELEVEN!
Plan I- Intoxication.
"A little to the left." Dana directed Carter from where she stood behind him, her gaze fluttering from the banner he was putting up to where Kelsey and Joel were setting up the drinks table. Chad was on balloon duty with Angela and her father was overseeing the food. So far everything was running smoothly with Ryan still in his room napping.
"How about now?" Carter said looking back over his shoulder at her. She nodded and smiled, "Perfect." She placed a little check down on her list as he came down from the ladder and joined her side, "Oh! Did you get the cake from Luke?"
"Its in my car." He nodded down to the loading dock, "His friend made it, some German White chocolate thing with fresh berries and-" Dana stared at him blankly and he blushed, "She goes a bit over the top."
Dana shook her head with a wide grin, "When you get it just put it by the food."
"Why are Kelsey and Joel putting out alcohol?" The blonde cast a glance back, "For those who want it I suppose. Don't blame me, I didn't organise that part. Once the cake is out, everything is sorted." She closed her notepad and placed it down on the nearest table, "I'll get Ryan and then the show can begin."
"I'll go get the cake." Carter told her then kicked himself for announcing his action. She ignored him however, more concerned with the lie she would have to conjure up to get Ryan to the gallery.
She didn't know what she'd say even as she knocked on his door; however, she was aware he was awake from the noises she heard- it sounded like he was practising reading which brought a proud, almost maternal smile to her face. "Oh, hey Dana." "Hey, were you reading?" She asked in a small attempt to buy herself some time. Ryan looked down at his pillow and grabbed at his neck, "Trying."
Dana smiled at him and sat beside him on the bed, "Sounded like you're getting good at it." She reached for the pillow and pulled out the slim paperback. She studied the cover of 'Matilda', enjoying the bright colours. "I use to love this one," she opened the page and saw her name scribbled inside, "Stop sneaking about in my room Ryan. If you wanted a new book to read, I have a few I can lend you- or I can take you out some from the library." "I finished Aladdin and Peter Pan and Carter said Roald Dahl was a good way to go."
"It is," Dana placed it back, "You've been practising on your own?"
"Yeah... I do want to get better at stuff Sis." He stared down at his feet with disappointment clear in his tone.
Dana wrapped her arms around her brother, resting her cheek to his shoulder, "I know... And you're doing great." She took a moment longer in hugging him before she stood and held her hand to him, "Come with me, I have a surprise for you." He looked at her hand dubiously then glanced back up to her face, "Like what?" he let out, not hiding his doubt. "Like something you wait and see- it's not a surprise if I tell you Ryan." Dana said rolling her eyes, hand still held out. Ryan's eyebrows scrunched together a little more as he took her hand, stood up and followed her out of his room. "Close your eyes," she instructed. Ryan refused for a moment until Dana scowled. When all he could see was darkness, Dana started to walk and guided him. "I won't let you crash into anything." She said reassuringly but Ryan didn't fully trust her with that. She could be getting back at him for his meddling- wait, she didn't know it was him so how could she?
"Just tell me what it is."
"Don't you trust me?"
"Do you want me to answer that honestly?" "Droll. Come on Ry, you can trust me, I'm your sister."
"In some weird world isn't that why I shouldn't trust you?"
"Maybe but I think our sibling relationship falls into a different category- you know, after being apart so long." He shrugged and let her continue to lead him in silence. If his reasoning was right, they were in the corridor on their way to the loading docks.
"Did you get me a car?"
"I don't even have a car yet Ryan."
"I'm older."
"I can actually drive." She stopped suddenly, "Okay, we're here... A few more steps and stop! Okay, open your eyes." Ryan complied and was confused for a moment about why the lights were off before they suddenly turned off and he heard yells of 'Surprise!'. He froze, caught off guard. "What...?" Ryan mumbled, staring at the balloons and the colours. Dana wrapped her arms around her brother's neck and placed a kiss to his cheek which he instantly started to wipe off. "Happy late Birthday." She whispered and squeezed him.
"My birthday was a while ago- I tried to kill you, remember?"
"I know." Dana answered, "But we didn't get to celebrate it, and sixteen years without a birthday party is sad so, surprise!" She unwrapped her arms from around his neck and took a step around, speaking coyly to the floor, "Sorry it's not much."
"Day," Ryan said and she looked up at him. "I haven't celebrated my birthday in sixteen years." He said bluntly. "This...is more than I could ask for. Thanks." He finished quietly, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Ryan stumbled back as Dana suddenly attached herself to his torso, arms encircled around him. He stood there, straight as a board whilst she continued the rather one-sided hug.
Dana pulled back, a slight embarrassment colouring her face at the rejection, and forced a smile, "Angela's working on getting the speakers up so the music will play but for now, come and see your cake. Carter's friend made it for you."
"Cake?" Ryan's eye lit up, "As in cake with candles?"
Dana's expression dropped and she visibly face palmed, "Oh God!"
"What?" "I forgot the candles." She looked around and an idea hit her, "Go get a drink, I'll be back in ten minutes. Go mingle or something!" She bolted off towards the Loading Bay.
Ryan looked around, spotting that everyone now seemed to be gathered around the drinks table with- was that alcohol? Hadn't Joel told him that alcohol made people tell their biggest secrets? A smirk crossed his face; that gave him an idea.
He moved to the alcohol table, noticing that Joel and Kelsey seemed to be particularly generous on their measurements in a couple of cups. Ryan grabbed the nearest bottle, full of a clear liquid with a red and silver label with 'vodka' written on, two paper cups and the strongest tasting fruit juice he could see; grapefruit.
He poured about a quarter of a cup of vodka in the two glasses and then filled it with the juice. Now he had to just give it to his as Dana had to have rushed out to find candles, it would have to be Carter which made sense as he would probably be the one who would take the longest to feel the effects of the alcohol.
The Red walked past carrying a white, card box which he set down on the empty table a few feet away. Ryan grabbed the two spiked drinks and headed over.
"What's in the box?"
"The cake," Carter said and turned to face Ryan, "Dana said to make sure you didn't look in at it until she was back with candles."
"Are any stores even open right now?"
"I told her to go to the fire station and grab some."
"The Fire Station?"
"The boys there know who she is," Carter shrugged, "She just has to say I sent her, its nearer than driving around town like a maniac."
Ryan raised his eyebrows, "And what happens if a firefighter takes a liking to her?"
Carter furrowed his brow, "Is this like your stupid theory a few weeks back?"
The shorter man glared, "No." Then added rather pointedly, "And it wasn't stupid!"
"You mean if one of the firefighters asks her out?" A smile broke onto Carter's face, "They're not like that."
"As in?"
"As in they don't just-" Carter's expression dropped almost as quickly as if had spread making Ryan realise he had him.
"I'm just saying, she's single, some of them must be single... Apparently she's pretty and well known in town." Ryan handed Carter one of the two drinks, "And they're braver than you because they would ask her out, not make excuses."
Carter stared down to the drink, "What is this?"
"Grapefruit." Ryan answered earnestly, "So, how would you feel if she started dating one of them?"
"Who's dating who?" Kelsey bounded over and knocked into Carter, causing the drink to slip out of his hand and onto the floor, "I'm so sorry!" She said and grabbed a fistful of napkins to start cleaning up the floor, "Here," she passed Carter her drink, "Have mine. I grabbed the wrong mixer anyway- I grabbed lemonade instead of tonic water."
"Thanks?" Carter answered suspiciously and placed the drink down on the table, "And no one-"
"Dana and one of Carter's fire squad."
"Really?" Kelsey bolted up from where she was kneeling on the floor, surprise registered on her face, "She never told me!"
"No-"
"Yeah!"
"She isn't." Carter cut in, "It's something Ryan made up." He then turned to the Titanium, "If Dana chooses to go on a date with any of them, that is her choice. I know them well enough to know they're all respectable guys-" Well... Sort of. A couple preferred casual hook ups to a committed thing and some Carter would definitely not want involved personally with Dana.
"That's not what you're meant to say!" Ryan hissed to Carter.
"It's what I think." Carter retorted, "Excuse me." He walked over to Captain Mitchell, eager to get out of the conversation. Kelsey looked up at the table and groaned; he'd left his drink there.
When Dana rushed back in later, she shooed Ryan away from the cake and began to push the candles into the white chocolate icing. Her hands shaking with nerves which Carter noted from across the room, made an excuse to bow out of the conversation with Captain Mitchell and joined her.
"Here," he took the candles from her and began to arrange them, "You look terrified."
"Do I?" She asked, "I suppose. I just want him to really enjoy the party- but what is up with this cake? Its like a fruit carnival."
Carter chuckled, "Like I said, Luke's friend has a flare for fancy."
"Fancy is an understatement." She joked and began to clean up the cups from around the table, "But seeing as she did it for free I shouldn't complain."
"She's also pushing to make my wedding cake when I get married-"
"Someone is thinking far ahead."
Carter forced a smile and focused to keep his words from becoming tied, "I-it wasn't, at o-one point anyway."
Dana looked to him puzzled, "What do you mean?"
He kept his gaze turned away, "I don't really wa-want to talk ab-bout it. It's meant to be a ha-happy occasion."
"Sorry," she looked into a cup which was almost completely full, "Well, when she does at least you won't have to worry about it being too basic."
"Yeah," he managed a sincere smile, "And one less thing for the wedding bill."
"You could always ask Joel to officiate, another thing less to pay for- whose drink was this?"
Carter looked after he'd finished the last candle, "Mine. Kelsey made it and I don't trust her measurements."
"Great." She spied Joel walking past and handed him the cup, "Hey, do you want this? I don't like lemonade much."
Joel shrugged and took a sip then nodded approvingly, "Thanks."
Dana smiled sweetly back to him then turned to the cake covered in twenty candles, ignoring Carter staring at her in surprise.
"Really?"
"Well I couldn't keep it, my dad wouldn't be thrilled if I was underage drinking. Which reminds me, maybe keep Ryan's drinking discrete." She started to light the candles with a lighter, one that Carter recognised to be from the Firehouse, but caught her wrist on a flame and dropped the lighter as she whipped her hand back from the flame. She winced at the slight pain and Carter bit back a laugh as he fished the lighter out of the frosting.
"I got it," he told her as she fished an ice cube out of a drink to put on the burn then started to light the candles, "Isn't this Joey's?"
"Is that his name? About your height, dark, short hair?"
"Called you Doll?"
"Yeah! I thought that was weird."
"He calls every girl that when he's-" Carter pressed his lips into a tight line. When he's hitting on them.
"Well, he lent it to me when I realised I didn't have anything to light the candles with. I don't think its a good idea for a Firefighter to smoke considering the inhalation he already experiences."
"I've been trying to get him to quit."
"Anyway, can you take it back for me? He kept asking about going for a drink- if I go back he'll ask again and there's only so many ways to gently let someone down."
"Joey's nice." One of the only boys at the firehouse Carter could approve Dana dating seeing as Joey was basically Carter's closest friend there.
"I'm sure," Dana plopped the ice back in the drink and roughly dried her hands down her skirt, "But I don't know him."
"I think that's the aim of dating someone, you get to know them."
"If you're that keen on him, why don't you date him?"
"Because he's not my type, and I'm definitely not his."
"And what makes you think he might be mine? I think everything is simpler not to date right now anyway; Ryan's only just getting used to everything and to throw another new person into the mix- it might be too much."
Carter had to resist scoffing; seeing as Ryan was pushing to get himself and Dana to date, hard at that, he doubted Ryan would particularly mind Dana dating. It was just an excuse not to.
"I'm going to get Ryan," Dana walked away to find her brother.
Carter pocketed the lighter, pretending that he was completely nonchalant over the fact a colleague of his had shown interest in Dana. He'd have words with Joey- Dana was far too innocent for him.
"You look as white as a ghost," Kelsey's voice came from behind him as she shoved a cup into his hand, "Drink up."
He furrowed his brow at the cup, "Thanks." Now this was suspicious- why were Kelsey and Ryan adamant to keep handing him drinks? Unless...
When Dana appeared with her brother and father in tow, Carter registered she was holding a drink. He waited until the severely off-tune 'Happy Birthday' was being sung to lean down and whisper, "Who gave you that?"
"Joel, why?" She answered in hushed tones.
"Don't drink it," he stated, "They're trying to get us drunk."
Dana rolled her eyes and discreetly switched the cup Joel had put down with her own, "Two can play at that game." She said in a whisper to Carter then turned back to her brother just in time to catch him blowing out his candles.
It didn't take long for both Kelsey and Joel to feel the full extent of the drink swap Dana kept slyly doing. Everytime one of them handed her a drink, she managed to swap it with the other, likewise for most drinks Carter was handed. Within half an hour, Joel was hanging from Chad's neck, swaying with a balloon in his arms with his hat perched on top.
Kelsey was sat in a corner, looking a rather white shade of pale. Dana must have been feeling guilty about how it was affecting the Yellow as she was sat with her, encouraging her to drink water constantly and with a plate of sandwiches for her to eat to soak up the alcohol.
Carter watched the pair from where he stood with Ryan and Captain Mitchell. He supposed he couldn't stop Joey from asking Dana out, he wasn't exactly surprised; she was sweet, beautiful and caring, even when she was trying to get her own back on someone she stopped when they were in trouble- she was one of a kind. It's not like Joey was that bad either; he was definitely better than Carter had been before Lightspeed.
When the party seemed to be winding down, mainly due to Dana forcing Kelsey to go to bed after she threw up and Joel attempting to get everyone to line dance, Carter decided to head to the fire station. He'd loaded the Rover with left over food- under Dana's request- and some cake then headed over.
The squad had the engines out and were cleaning them down when Carter pulled up. They were too focused on cleaning to notice him, so Carter hit the siren to announce his arrival; they all startled into action but then confusion settled as the siren was different to their usual one. It was the tall brunette with his back to Carter who realised first.
"Well, well, well," he said and turned around to look at the Red, "Look who's back. How's the Lycra treating you?"
"Can't complain." Carter retorted and enveloped his friend in a hug before pulling back, "The girl who was here earlier sent me with some leftovers," he signalled to the backseat covered in tin foil platters, "And this," he dug the lighter out of his pocket and handed it to the brunette.
"And she couldn't deliver herself?"
"One of our team suddenly came over sick." Carter explained, "Something to do with ingesting her body weight in vodka."
"Now she sounds like the life of the party," Joey nodded approvingly and turned to the Fire Squad, "Don't know about you boys, but I'm starving so how about we get back to that after eating? Take those inside and dig in."
Carter couldn't help but chuckle as the men almost simultaneously threw their sponges into buckets in relief and dropped the hoses to trudge over to the Rover to grab the food. He shook hands with the ones who offered, ignoring the soapyness that came with each; he was glad to see them- he loved his team, but these guys were his brothers and he missed spending most days with them, even if it involved running into burning buildings.
"So," Carter began when it was just himself and Joey, who had apparently taken over Carter's role of the Squad leader since he left, left outside, "I heard someone was pushing for a drink with my colleague."
"'My colleague'," Joey mocked with his cheesy smile, "Look at you, all grown up and business like. Did she tell you then?"
"She mentioned it."
"Well, you can't exactly blame me, can you? I'm surprised you haven't asked her yourself."
Carter forced a laugh, not wanting to give anything away to his good friend, especially when he knew Joey would never let him live it down. "She's just a friend." He said before going on to explain, "Her father owns Lightspeed-"
Joey scoffed, "Her dad owns your ass."
"Not quite."
"He owns Lightspeed," he slung his arm around Carter's shoulders, "He owns your ass."
"Yeah, yeah." Carter grabbed a sponge from the floor and pushed it into Joey's broad chest, "Whatever keeps you happy. Anyway, she's nice. What did she say when you asked?"
"Well, she went very awkward and quiet, then she muttered something about having a boyfriend-"
"What?" Carter blurted which earned a suspiciously look from Joey.
"She told me she couldn't because she had a boyfriend- wait, did she lie to spare my feelings? Ouch, right in my ego-"
"No," Carter shook his head, "She wouldn't." Which meant she did have a boyfriend she was keeping quiet... Carter's mind went back to when the Rover broke down off the Highway. She'd been rescheduling a date- had that been-? But surely she would have told Kelsey or...
"You didn't know?" Joey asked and Carter shook his head. "Woah... You know, I had a suspicion it might have been you- 'cause you know, when you visit here you always seem to talk about her-"
"No I don't." Carter cut in defensively which caused Joey's smirk to grow.
"You do. Plus, I know you well enough to know your tells, I went to High School with you for Christ sake. Everyone has seen footage of your fights, it's not a coincidence that every fight, the first person you check on is her-"
"Not true."
"Though she doesn't strike me as your type-"
"Joe."
"Okay, okay." Joey held his hands up in surrender, "You don't like her, which is bull, but okay."
"I like her-"
"See-"
"Just not in the sense you're implying. Did you become in touch with your feelings since I left?"
"I'm just saying! If you had seen your face when I said she had a boyfriend then you'd think the same." Joey patted Carter's shoulder, "I'm sorry you had to find out from me, but if it's any consolation, clearly she's not keen on him that much, whoever it is."
Carter stifled an awkward cough, "I should get back to the base."
"Alright," Joey crossed his arms over his chest, "Good to see you again, you should visit more often."
"Okay Grandma." Carter joked as he climbed into the Rover, "See you around."
Why did it bother him so much that Dana had kept her boyfriend quiet? Was she ashamed of something? He didn't know how to process it all- other than not telling Kelsey or Joel who would surely blurt it out. That didn't explain the knot in Carter's stomach- normally he'd pan it down to anxiety, but this time it seemed different...
Could it be- was it jealousy? No, why would he be jealous? He wanted Dana to be happy.
But still, it was a questionable feeling.
[A/N]
SAM: Heeey guys, guess who's back? I'll give you a hint- it's not Zordon.
GREG: So! Today is Matchmaking Mishaps' SECOND BIRTHDAY! Aww, our baby is getting old now!
SAM: They grow ups so fast *wipes away a tear*
GREG: And speaking of growing up, Ryan's belated birthday party!
SAM: You know by now what we wanna know
GREG: If there is life on Mars?
SAM: Why is the moon made of cheese?
GREG: Why has Joey never been in any other chapters? I like Joey... I mean i'm bias because I invented him but~
SAM: Joey's cool.
GREG: Joey's the best... We will see more of Joey soon, even if I have to force it . .
SAM: And she will.
GREG: Mwuhahaha... Anyway, hope you liked this chapter!
SAM: Yup, hope you enjoyed it.
GREG: And I realise I said in the last chapter we'd try to update biweekly and it's been three weeks but we decided to push it out a bit so we could post on Matchmaking's birthday! We should have also posted B.O.A but again, anniversary!
SAM: So, kinda sorry but not really?
GREG: Yeah, basically that! But, if you're interested, Blade Of Aurora will be the next story to be updated!
SAM: Please check it out- this is all part of the SOAVERSE so see of you can spot the easter eggs!
GREG: Until next time guys! Thanks for reading! Fav, follow and review! :) Buh-bye!
SAM: Ciao!
