Disclaimer: Neither Power Rangers nor "The OC" belong to me. Ryan in this story is my original creation, adapted from the character Ryan Atwood on "The OC." Oh, and I don't own McDonald's either, duh!
Chapter 11: Uh-Oh, We're in Trouble
"Sophie, are you in here?" asked Bridge gloomily over the noise of clanking pipes coming from the single bathroom stall in SPD's main hallway.
"Come in!" called back Sophie. "I'm just doing a little hands-on work for the big bathroom piping redesign I offered to help Ryan with so he could stay with Syd while she got ready for her big date with Sky."
"Oh I forgot that way today," replied Bridge as he went to open the bathroom door. "Anyway, I'm glad you're around. I really need to talk. Man, I messed up big time…. AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" he screeched upon first finding Sophie inside.
Bridge about died from fright at seeing Sophie's face inside the bathroom. Her big, hazel eyes had always been hard for Bridge not to notice, but suddenly Sophie appeared to him as if she was all eyes and no face. The green ranger literally looked bug-eyed to Bridge, blinking rapidly as she regarded Bridge with genuine concern.
"That was some scream!" commented Sophie as she stared up at Bridge with wide-eyed worry. "You really are upset."
"No, not that!" gasped Bridge as he grasped his heart and tried to start breathing again. "No, I mean, of course, that, but what the heck happened to your face?!?"
"Ohhhhh," said Sophie slowly as Bridge saw recollection dawn in her over-sized eyes. "I forgot I still had my magnifying glasses on."
"Phew, you look back to normal," said Bridge with relief as Sophie removed the lenses. "I thought you had gotten some cyborg upgrade or some new ranger enhancement!"
"I'm sorry if I gave you a fright," apologized Sophie.
"Actually, you looked kinda funny now that I think about it," mused Bridge, starting to chuckle.
"Well, I'm glad you are laughing," said Sophie. "Hopefully, you're not so upset now about whatever it was that happened before."
"Right, no laughing," said Bridge, immediately growing back serious. "Sophie, this was really bad."
"SHIT!!" said Sophie, clearly upset as she regarded a piece of piping.
"Yeah, I know," said Bridge glumly.
"No, why the piping was blocked," explained Sophie. "There was this big piece of… But yeah, of course. You're situation, too. So, do you finally want to tell me what happened?"
"I was talking with Z and Ryan while they were waiting for Sam, and I accidentally blurted out that Sam was Ryan's brother when I didn't know the little guy was right there behind me," said Bridge; his voice riddled with guilt and frustration.
"Oh Bridge, I feel so sorry for all you," gasped Sophie. "I'm sure none of you intended or wanted for it to happen this way. Was Sam really upset?"
"Furious was more like it," sighed Bridge. "He took off, and now, Ryan and Z are running around trying to find him. And on top of all this, Z is livid at me for spilling the secret, especially 'cause she'd said two seconds earlier that Sam was on was his way. Sophie, she's so mad at me. What am I going to do to make things right with Z?"
"Can you screw me?" asked Sophie as bent over the blocked pipe.
"EXCUSE ME?!?" exclaimed Bridge in shock. "Sophie, I really like you, and you're really pretty, but somehow I don't think that will help things between Z and me about…"
"Bridge, screw me right now," demanded Sophie, not listening. "I need a screw this moment, so all this shit literally doesn't explode in our faces!!"
"Oh," said Bridge as his eyes widened in understanding. "Right," he added, taking a second to wonder at the metaphors of life as he passed her the requested part.
"Great, just in time," Sophie thanked him. "Now listen, you and Z have been together awhile now, and you both really like each other. I'm sure you two will be back to being buttery bosom boyfriend/girlfriend in no time."
"I know," said Bridge. "I'm really hoping Z and I can work things out."
"That stinks!" said Sophie angrily as she suddenly reached to plug her nose.
"But you just said you wanted Z and I to get back…" began Bridge confused.
"No, whatever is still wrong
with this piping," cried Sophie as she tried to fan away the horrible smell that was starting to spread.
"Oh boy, you're right!' said Bridge, sounding like a chipmunk as he pinched his nose."
"Bridge!" gasped Sophie; her laughter through her own plugged nose sounding like a pig snorting.
"Come on, let's get out of here," said Bridge, grabbing her hand.
"But the bathroom," protested Sophie. "It was my responsibility to fix…"
"Let's go find Z and the others," urged Bridge.
"You're right," gave in Sophie. "I'm using the temporary janitor power Ryan instilled me with to put this bathroom out of commission. This is one potty problem he and I are probably going to have to put our heads together on."
"Now, you would like that, wouldn't you?" Bridge grinned at her cheekily.
"Oh zip it," groaned Sophie. "Or I'll lock up the stinky bathroom. With you in it!
"Sam!" called Z desperately. "Where are you?"
"Sam!" Ryan also shouted pleadingly. "Please come back, so we can talk!"
"The park is Sam's favorite place in the world," said Z with frustration. "I thought for sure he would be here.
"We already searched all over the entire SPD base," said Ryan tiredly. "If my brother can stay undercover this well, he's going to make a great ranger one day."
"And the future can't be saved without our future Omega Ranger," said Z, gaining determination in her tone. "Come on, Ryan, we can find him!"
"The Omega Ranger?" the two suddenly heard a sinister voice ask. "Not if I get to him first!"
"Who are you?" demanded Ryan, spinning around and staring furiously at the heavily-armored monster who had spoken.
"Only the No. 1 most wanted criminal in the gallery," answered the dark gray creature with fire engine red eyes. "You might remember me from the time I fought alongside Morgana and Shortie against the rangers."
"It's Devastation," whispered Z in horror. "He's the first monster Sam defeated here in our time during the battle against Grumm."
"He's escaped?" asked Ryan angrily.
"And I'm back to exact my revenge on the Omega Ranger," laughed Devastation evilly, causing his long dreadlocks to rise up and down.
"You're 15 years too early," shouted Ryan, readying himself in fighting pose. "The Omega Ranger's already gone back to the future. But right now, I'll never let you hurt Sam!"
"Me either," echoed Z. "SPD EMERGENCY! SPD Yellow Ranger!"
"Wow, Sky a real, Italian meal that wasn't made from a machine," said Syd delightedly as they exited the restaurant. "I should get mad at you more often, so you can take me out more as payback."
"Be appreciative," smirked Sky, patting her affectionately on top of her blonde curls. "Z and I argued all the time when we used to train together in the mornings, and I never offered to take her out to dinner."
"The last dinner I had out before this was a few months ago was back when I first met Ryan, and he used to sit on the dumpsters all day to spy on Sam," recollected Syd. "He and I sat perched on the trash cans and ate McDonald's Happy Meals that I had bought him, so that he wouldn't stave to death."
"I always used to have to bring granola bars for Z when we worked out, because a lot of days we wouldn't have time to both shower and eat a sit-down breakfast before rounds started," remembered Sky as he opened the jeep door to get into the driver's seat.
"Speaking of things starting, I'm really glad we went to dinner together tonight," said Syd coyly, remaining by Sky as he sat down in the car seat. "I really like getting to know you."
"Even though we spent most of the time talking about our SPD work or our friends?" asked Sky, shooting up an eyebrow.
"Anything that's important to you is important to me," said Syd sweetly. "Because I care about you."
"Thanks," said Sky, moving to shut the driver's door.
Syd swiftly stopped its movement while at the same time moving in between Sky's legs. Her standing position paralleled to that his sitting in the jeep, leaving Syd's face at exact level as Sky's… only inches apart. Sky looked around rapidly from side to side, and then back at the parking break and passenger seat further behind. Syd looked around too, just to make sure there weren't other people in the parking lot around. She didn't get to take in the rest of Sky's reaction as she closed her eyes and moved in to kiss him.
Yet the attempted lip lock was halted as both heard their SPD morphers beep simultaneously.
"Why now?" groaned Syd quietly as she immediately tried to catch Sky's expression, but the red ranger as usual was already immediately 100 percent focused in work.
"What is it, Sir?" Sky asked Cruger through the SPD morpher, which also served the rangers as a communicator.
"Rangers, Cadet McFayden has gone missing," they heard Cruger answered.
"Have you checked the laundry shoot, 'cause I do remember me pushing, I mean, Ryan accidentally falling down there back when he first started the whole janitor gig," advised Syd in a teasing tone.
"I think Doggie means Sam, silly," hissed Sky, covering the receiver on his morpher.
"Sam missing, though, is not our only problem," continued Cruger.
"What do you mean, Sir?" asked Syd worriedly.
"A monster attacked Ryan and Z in the park," answered Cruger. "They've both been captured and taken hostage."
A/N: Will Ryan and Z be saved? Will Sam forgive his brother? And stick around next chapter for the story's BIGGEST SHOCKING SURPRISE that will be sure to make your jaw drop!
Thrills, spills and romantic chills coming up in "Guy of My Dreams!"
