Can't Let Go
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers.
pinkrangerfan: I'm happy they're back together too.
JasonLeeScottFan: Wow! How'd you know? Lol! Oh the medical bay. I thought that would be entertaining.
sunflowerlily: Lol at freaks! But they kinda are aren't they.
M.C.V.C: Thanks for the review!
CJS: Lmao at 'did the nasty'! I laugh everytime I read that. Here's the next chapter, aptly titled if I might add.
Chapter 14: No more waiting
Andros's room
This feels right. Andros thought and sighed contentedly at the feel of Ashley in his arms. He didn't understand how he went so long without her touch. He felt her shift and held her closer. Sometime in the night they had cautiously snuck to his room.
Ashley woke with a smile on her face. She'd nearly forgotten how intense a lover Andros was. "Good morning." She said as she met his eyes and smiled.
"Good morning." He returned her smile.
"What time is it?" Ashley asked lazily.
"Almost nine."
Ashley sighed and sat up, holding the blanket to her chest. "We'd better get up. I'm hungry anyway. We should go get breakfast."
Andros grinned mischievously and wrapped his arms around her bare waist. "I think we have time for a shower."
She laughed softly. "I guess this means your feeling better." She turned and kissed him. "And a shower sounds nice."
"Good." Andros said standing and pulling Ashley with him. "I think you left some clothes in here from before we broke up."
"Why didn't you give them back?" When he only shrugged shyly, Ashley didn't push. It still amazed her how Andros could openly invite her to take a shower with him, but became shy when asked why he kept her things. "Come on." She grabbed his hand and led him to the shower.
Food Hall
Ashley and Andros sat at the table enjoying their breakfast when TJ walked in. "Hey Teej." Ashley called.
"Hi Ashley, Andros." TJ grinned. His hands were behind his back.
"What are you hiding?" Andros asked hesitantly.
TJ pulled a yellow and red polka dotted bra from behind his back and watched Andros and Ashley's eyes widen and their faces turn redder than the dots on the bra. "Oh this?" He held the undergarment between his thumb and pointer finger. "I found this earlier this morning."
Ashley jumped from her seat and snatched it from TJ's hand. "Have you seen Cassie and Carlos?" Ashley asked trying to change the subject.
TJ put a hand to his chin as if in thought. "I saw them around 8 o'clock…last night." He looked from Ashley to Andros. "My guess is they were doing what you two were." Andros groaned in embarrassment, causing TJ to laugh. "Just one question." TJ started. "The med bay? Andros's room was right down the hall."
"Well when the moment strikes…" She trailed off.
"Ashley!" Andros called in outrage as an attempt to mask his embarrassment.
Ashley simply laughed at him and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "I'm sorry." She kissed his forehead. You can keep this if you want. She thought to Andros and pressed her bra into his hand. If it was possible for someone to die of embarrassment, she was pretty sure Andros would be done for. But he didn't give it back.
TJ sighed. "I need a life."
Just then DECA's alarm sounded. "Rangers, there is a disturbance on Earth."
TJ rolled his eyes. "Ask and you shall receive."
"I guess this means the waiting is over." Andros stood grateful for the distraction "DECA, contact Carlos and Cassie and have them meet us there."
"Affirmative."
"You guys ready?" He asked. TJ and Ashley nodded. "Let's Rocket!"
Earth
"Carlos, Cassie!" Ashley called as she saw the morphed pink and black rangers coming their way. The five stood side by side.
"Have you guys seen anything?" Andros asked.
"No." Carlos responded. "What do you think DECA sensed?"
Just then an explosion erupted in front of the five rangers sending them flying in different directions. Before they could regain their composure, five dark figures in their respective colors stood in front of each ranger and the battle ensued.
Andros quickly realized that he didn't stand a chance against this enemy. It seemed to know all of his moves and anticipated everything he was about to do. And a quick glance around told him that the others weren't doing so well either.
Ashley managed to block a punch but left her midsection open for a kick. She groaned and stumbled back, catching herself before she fell. Andros, we have got to get out of here. She focused her thoughts on the red ranger, as she managed to dodge another blow. We can't keep fighting like this. Before Andros had a chance to respond, Cassie's voice filled the air around them.
"Carlos!" The other rangers looked over just in time to see a demorphed Carlos fall to the ground. Cassie managed to get away from her attacker. She pulled out her Satellite Stunner and fired at the menacing figure about to finish off Carlos. Since she was the only one able to at the moment, she contacted the megaship. "DECA get us out of here now!"
The five rangers were teleported back to the megaship.
Medical Bay
"He's gonna be okay Cassie." Ashley wrapped her arm around her distraught friend's shoulder. "You saved his life."
Cassie reached out a hand and softly stroked Carlos's forehead. "I've never been so scared in my life. I thought I had lost him." She hadn't realized how much Carlos had meant to her until that moment. She wiped a stray tear from her eye.
"I'll leave you alone." Ashley released her friend and headed towards the bridge where TJ and Andros waited.
Cassie pulled up a stool and sat next to Carlos's bed. She leaned over and kissed his cheek before whispering in his ear. "I love you."
Bridge
"How is he?" TJ asked Ashley as soon as she stepped into the room.
"Carlos will be fine. Cassie's with him now." She answered "How are you two?"
"A little banged up, but not too bad." TJ responded.
"Andros?" Ashley called.
"I'll be fine." He sat brooding in his seat. He was understandably upset about the battle, but what hurt him the most was knowing that it was his sister that had ordered the attack on him and his team.
"That wasn't Karone." Ashley stated. "That was Astronema." She made her way over to Andros and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "We will find a way to get Karone back."
Andros closed his eyes and leaned into her embrace. "I hope you're right."
She kissed his cheek. "I am."
"Incoming transmission from the dark fortress." DECA alerted them.
Andros sighed and Ashley let him go. "Play transmission."
Astronema along with the five dark figures filled the screen. "Hello rangers." She smirked.
"What do you want Astronema?" TJ sneered.
"I just wanted to see how you enjoyed meeting my psycho rangers." She gestured to the five just behind her. "They know your every move… and your every weakness. And you'll be seeing them again very soon." The transmission ended.
"That's what Ecliptor was doing." Andros started. "He scanned our minds to find out how we fight. They must have downloaded the information into the psychos."
"That explains why they anticipated everything we threw at them." TJ commented.
"And now we have a bigger problem." Ashley stated. "They were already stronger than us when we were evenly matched, but now Carlos won't be able to fight anytime soon."
"And we're out numbered." Andros sighed.
Ashley looked from Andros to TJ. "Guys, we're gonna need some help." She paused. "We need Zhane."
(A/N: Yay Zhane! I know you guys missed him. I did too. Please read and review.)
(A/N 2: Sorry for the delay, but I've been busy. I won't be updating anymore this week. I got projects and exams coming up, but on the bright side I have Spring Break next week, so I'll be updating as I go. Yay!)