"WHAT?" everyone said together

"Kat has been having contractions since the beginning of your battle… she thought that it was false labor, but, according to Felix and the obstetrician, this is the real deal… she's going to have her baby" Sophie explained

"We're on our way, Sophie!" Cruger said

"Um, Commander, we're down a patrol jeep" Kathleen said

"That was you, Z and Syd… right?"

"Yes"

New arrangements were made and the rangers got on the patrol bikes and Cruger got on the Delta ATV

Kathleen rode with her husband, Z rode with Bridge and Syd rode with Jack.

The rangers arrived back at the Delta base and headed straight for the infirmary.

"Dr. Felix how is my mom?" Kathleen asked

"She's fine, but this baby probably won't be here for a little while yet…"

"So, basically, we've got some time on our hands."

"Yes, quite a bit of time" Felix said

"I'm going to check on Kat" Cruger walked off towards where Kat rested in a private room… he was stunned, she wasn't due for three days… then again it wasn't that horrible, three days, the baby would be fine.

Kathleen sighed and plopped in the nearest chair, her husband nearby to comfort her.

"Well, now what?" Jack asked

"Now… we wait…" Kathleen said

"What should we do?"

"Well, you can tell us about this alternate team of power rangers" Jack said to Z

"Okay, well… they aren't much different from you guys… only their yellow ranger is the one that wears gloves, not the green ranger" Z smiled, "the only one with powers is the yellow ranger, Jasmine and hers are strong!"

"Really?" Bridge asked

"Yeah, really" Z smiled "You guys don't know how glad I am to be home"

"And we're glad to have you home"

Three hours pass and the rangers had spread out after being told that they would be informed when the baby was born. Everyone, except Kathleen and Sky, went to the rec. room, they stayed in the infirmary to be near Kat and Cruger.

It had been too long since Kat's last pregnancy, she had forgotten how bad giving birth was… her son would be twenty-three or twenty-four by this time. It was a big stretch for her to recall what that had been like. Cruger held Kat's hand helplessly, there was little he could do for her and if there was anything he hated more than feeling helpless, he couldn't think of it at that moment.

He rubbed her spine with his free hand slowly to try and soothe her… he hated to see her in pain, but he was helpless to change this.

The hours passed like days and the two and a half more hours that passed before Kat's baby came were excruciating… in more ways than one. It seemed like an eternity for everyone involved, but no one more so than Kat… this was intense and there was no denying it was real.

The baby came late that evening… a baby boy, his name, Anthony Cruger.

Cruger stood looking at the new baby as he slept in the crib.

"You do know you can hold him," Felix said

Cruger picked up the fragile infant in his arms, Felix left, and Cruger sighed as he sat in a chair

"You don't know how lucky you are to be alive… no… you don't even know your own name yet" Cruger whispered to the infant that now rested in his arms "you are your mother's little miracle… so many told her that she couldn't have children or that she shouldn't, but here you are, healthy, full of energy and life… You, my son, have a bright future ahead of you… I promise you that" Cruger smiled as his son yawned

Cruger stood and walked into the room where Kat rested, Felix had asked him to take Anthony into his mother's room, there was a crib in there for him

"Kat?" Cruger called gently

"Hmm?" she replied drowsily

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, Doggie" she replied as he approached her bedside, "I see you're bonding with our son"

"Yes… I'm still finding it hard to believe that… I'm a father"

"Well, Doggie, believe it, because you will be for a while to come" Kat smiled "you can do this, don't worry… I'm sure this baby will be one of those boys that look up to his father… No, you know what, I know he will be… I know you Doggie, you'll give him all the reason in the world to look up to you."

Cruger looked between his wife's face and that of his new son and sighed as he reverted to human form… this had been the start of the whole deal, the thing that brought them together… If that accident hadn't occurred, he would have never gotten the chance to bond with Kat on the level that he had, and his son would have never been born.

Kat knew that blessing she had been handed when her son was born… she was lucky to get the chance to try to have another child, luckier still to be successful in having this baby boy. She had done everything right and this time she was given her son… it was a sign that she and Cruger had been meant to be parents… together.

Kat stayed in the infirmary and recovered a few days before going back into the base, but work was not suppose to be on her agenda just yet, but try keeping Kat Manx out of her lab, anyone who has will tell you it's darn near impossible.

That day Kat was sitting at the computer, working when Cruger walked in

"Commander, I tried to tell her that she shouldn't be working just yet, but she didn't listen to me" Sophie said "everything is up to date, I don't know what on Earth she found to do that I haven't already taken care of, I'm twenty minutes ahead of schedule"

"I'll talk with her"

Cruger walked up behind Kat and gently lifted her hands from her keyboard.

"Kat, I believe you aren't supposed to be working yet… I hope I don't have to lock you out of your lab again"

Kat had to laugh, she remembered the time after she hurt her back (A/N: reference to my story, "To Help a Friend")

"No, Doggie, you won't have to resort to that again" Kat smiled as Cruger let go of her wrists and she got up and turned to face him.

She then went to check on her baby boy… he was asleep at the moment, and seemed so peaceful. She couldn't hide that she was bonding tightly with her child, she knew he'd be okay… she wondered how one baby could rally that kind of support for one individual.

Meanwhile:

"Well, Katy, I have to say, it's been a long time since you've been here" Jack commented

"Yeah, Jack it has, but apparently, you haven't changed any… although, I was surprised to hear that Kathleen was married with two kids" Katy said

"We were all surprised when Kathleen and Sky said they were together" Jack smiled

"I'll bet you guys were" Katy sighed, "What have you been up to lately, Jack?"

"Me… not much… just trying to get by"

"As always" Katy smiled

"Well, well, is there something in the air here or what?" Jo asked

"What do you mean, Ma'am?" Jack asked

"Well, let's see, first Kathleen and Sky get married, then Cruger and Kat have a baby, and get married, I assume"

"Yes, Ma'am they are married" Jack confirmed

"Then I see you two together"

Jack was taking a sip of his soda when she said those words, he ended up spitting out the mouthful that he had at the moment.

"What?" he asked in shock

"We… we're just friends, Jo" Katy said

"I'll leave you to your conversation but remember… denial is not just a river in Egypt!"

"Joann Manx…"

"Whoa, Katy… she is out superior!" Jack said

"You're right… and you've got soda on your jacket!"

"Shut up!" Jack retorted

"Oh is that the best you can come up with, Landers?"

"Nope, I've got plenty more where that came from"

They began to play fight and Joann couldn't contain her laughter as she watched

'I knew it, they like each other!"

To Be Continued…