We all go as a team 11

Paula couldn't stop her tears as she stared out across the foggy lake. She'd messed everything up totally, nobody cared anymore. It'd be better if she just disappeared. They'd all be happier, no matter what they said. She laid down on the iced-over grass and let the tearflow go at full force. Finally sleep took hold on her body.

When she woke up, she found it hard to breathe. She gasped and went into a fit of coughing, fever inflaming her face. She was sick now, but she didn't care. She wanted to just let it kill her. Closing her eyes, she let slumber return.

XXXXXXXXX

Over the course of the next week she let the illness only worsen. She could barely move or talk, and she was dehydrated and miserable. But death was dabbing at her, and she wasn't sure if to let it happen too early or not. She never had to make that choice.

"Paula!" Rainy knelt to her, "oh my gosh…guys!"

Blackness took away the rest and replaced it with a voice.

Ah, Paula. So you got found, did you?

"Yes," she mumbled weakly to it.

Well, they must care. Not! They only need you for the MegaZord. You know that, don't you?

"Yes," she sighed sadly.

Don't be sad. I am just telling the truth, sweetheart. Accept destiny.

"Okay," she whispered, "you were right all along."

Weak and worthless is just who you are, my dear. Let them baby you and just go with it. But runaway and find something else to do but harass them ASAP. Got it, flower?

"Got it," she agreed.

When she woke up from the rest of her dreamless sleep, she found Tiffany and John at her aid.

"What were you thinking?" John ran the cloth over her warm forehead as Tiffany held up a spoon of red stuff.

"Drink up," she held it to the older teen's lips.

She did so weakly and felt a streak make it's way down her cheek.

"I want you to rest up," the Red Ranger spoke, "we'll talk about this when your feeling better, kay?"

"Don't be so hard on her," John advised, and the Gold Ranger fell back in shame. She was such a disgrace, the voice was so right.

But why tell them when what he told her was so true?

Closing her tired eyes, she fell back into slumber.

XXXXXXXXX

"I'm worried about her," John bit his lower lip outside of her room when they saw her sleeping.

"She's becoming depressed, I can see," he saw Tiffany's eyes look much older as she spoke now, "I can only blame myself."

"Don't beat yourself up, I'll help out if you desire it, but you don't need it," he kissed her cheek, "we just need to abide with her and held her through this."

"You act like you care more about her than me," her eyes filled with tears.

"Tiffy, I…" he realized it kinda did. He knew his girlfriend was under a lot of stress, and now…

"Whatever. Just…" she threw down her morpher and locked herself in her room, shutting him out from her tears…and everything else.