Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, only the plot and the circumstances.

A/N: Sorry for the really long hiatus (I hate that word!). Work is tough but now I'm back to finish this story and more importantly, push the plot where I want it to be. I thank you for bearing with me. This is a little different, so brace yourselves.

Enchantment Passing Through

Chapter Twenty One

Carter Grayson had always had a knack for the ominous, and since early age he could almost sense disasters heading his way. He remembered that heavy feeling in his stomach creeping at his intestines and turning his stomach over and over the week before Astronema's final attempt at taking over the Earth. A failed attempt but nonetheless, one the wreaked havoc and death throughout the Earth.

He was just a new training Cadet in the Firefighting Academy back then, but he remembered the pain and destruction all too well. It was hard for him to explain, but most of the time he allowed himself to rely upon this instinct, simply because it never failed him.

Ever since Dana announced that Kelsey and she were going to New York for New Year's Eve, Carter's stomach has been turning ominously. It's not like he could veto the decision, firstly because Captain Mitchell, Dana's father and his superior officer, didn't, and secondly, because Dana would never speak to him again or let alone look at him, if he even dared to say a word against said trip.

It was a delicate situation that he needed to handle now; Dana was too stubborn to listen, all she did ever since the day Kelsey asked her to accompany her, was to squeal, sing giddily and plan their trip loudly. Kelsey, on the other hand, seemed to be the more rational one of the two, at least concerning this specific trip, and he spent the better half of Christmas Eve contemplating at how to approach her. The trip was, after all, a gift from Nana Winslow.

The Rec room was cozy and well decorated and Carter was the first to arrive and place the presents he has gotten to his friends under the modest tree in the corner of the room. He was pleased with his early present buying habit that allowed him to get each of his friends exactly what he planned for them, of course he had shopped for the gifts in mid-October, but it was the most logical thing to do.

For a brief moment, Carter wondered how Ryan spent the holiday, so far away from him family, from the one woman he truly loved… what kind of life did Ryan lead, that was so worth of losing Kelsey? He wondered.

Ryan did love Kelsey. That Carter could tell with as much assurance as the sun rises in the east. Kelsey once told him 'it takes one to know one', referring to his own feelings to Dana, only in Kelsey's case, there was much more evidence to that; Ryan was not just in love with the yellow ranger, there was a deep sense of dedication in their relationship, and compassion that was never demonstrated by an evil minion. And Carter knew it by first hand.

It was in one of the evenings after Ryan was revealed to be the Titanium Ranger, that he appeared in one of Carter's evening jogs;

Red Ranger." Ryan was standing right in front of him, after appearing out of thin air;

Carter froze in mid step, huffing as he tried to catch his breath, arms immediately coming to a defense pose in front of his body, fully intending to morph be it needed.

"What are you doing here?" He spat. "Haven't you done enough?"

Carter couldn't hold back the animosity that sprung in his chest; that man in front of him was the destruction of Kelsey Winslow as he had known her, and that was unforgivable.

Carter paused for a moment. "You ruined her."

Ryan seemed to flinch under Carter's blaming gaze, the harsh lines in Ryan's face turned ashen with what seemed like grief.

"You completely broke her spirit." Carter continued, relentlessly. "You act as if you don't care about her. She's not your enemy and she loves you!"

It was cathartic to be able to tell it all to Ryan's face, to slam into him all of what Carter's witnessed in the last few days, as he tried to cheer Kelsey, to be there for her, while she was grieving her hopeless relationship with Ryan.

"I care about her, too." Ryan murmured, softly. It was strange how the edge of his voice disappeared once he was talking about Kelsey. "I would do anything to make her happy."

"Yeah, well, you could've fooled me." Carter shot at him. Sarcasm didn't befit him mostly, but he couldn't help himself from lashing out.

"I don't hate Kelsey." Ryan spoke sharply, without hesitating, and Carter was certain that it was true.

The sun was dying into Mariner Bay's ocean and the two rangers were still facing each other, standing face to face in tensed silence. Carter frowned considerably, unsure of how to continue after Ryan's declaration, or at least the love for Kelsey that Carter saw in his eyes. Ryan had black eyes, cruel and emotionless, but as Kelsey was the topic at hand, Carter couldn't help but notice how Ryan's eyes softened; the edge wasn't there any longer, and his eyes seemed glazed with emotions.

But Carter did not feel sorry for Ryan, not one bit. After all, who was the one trying to hurt Kelsey? Carter shook his head violently.

"You don't care about her, either, If you cared you'd - -"

"I'd do what? Lock her away in a basement, away from Lightspeed? I have considered this, but it will never happen. I cannot be the cause of her unhappiness. What Kelsey and I share is bigger than me or her, it's bigger than Diabolico and any of your Lightspeed ranger 'activities'."

Ryan was scornful now, defiant. He loved Kelsey so much and still he couldn't see what loving someone meant. It was all so confusing, what was love in Ryan's eyes? Did he even care that Kelsey was now a mere shadow of what she used to be?

"If you care about someone, you let them go when you see there are better opportunities for them out there. You refuse to let her go." Carter stated coolly. "You manipulate her agony and her guilt to your advantage in the battlefield. In the end, she is no more than a strategic weapon to you, isn't she?"

The words seemed bitter and painful in Carter's mouth. Unworthy to be uttered to another human being and still, they seemed to be the truth in this case. Love as the normal world knew it was not how Ryan Mitchell experienced it. If it wasn't utilitarian to him, it was not worth it, it seemed.

"I let her go!" Ryan screamed, his voice echoing around them, he seemed furious. "I let her go back to you and your stupid Aquabase, and do all of those things that keep us apart!"

His anger seemed to melt into deep sadness, as his voice quieted down and he swallowed hard before speaking again.

"I do not stand in her way anymore than I do you, Red Ranger. Kelsey fights the Titanium Ranger because she thinks it's the right thing to do, just like you. The fact that I am the Titanium Ranger does not stop her from doing just so." He snorted. "I wish that it had, but she's so good…" He shook his head, smiling painfully. "There is nothing I can do about it, she made her decision and I must respect her choices."

Carter felt genuinely sorry for Ryan now; loving her and not being able to be with her because Kelsey wanted, no, needed, to do the right thing, and they both paid the price. Only then Carter realized the meaning of Kelsey's words about seizing opportunities to be happy with your loved one.

"I only ask you this, Red Ranger: take care of Kelsey, make sure she is well nourished and looking after herself. Be the friend she needs."

"I am the friend she needs." Carter answered softly, slowly understanding the depth of Ryan's emotions.

"You are the strongest of them, support her, save her when she falls." Ryan countered, his chin rising in a proud gesture. "I will not see her suffering any more than she has to."

"You love her." Carter breathed, "You hate every one of us, but you love her."

"I do not love anyone."

"Do you even know what love means?" Carter was stunned at Ryan's ignorance.

"I have no heart, it doesn't matter to me."

"You can feel hate and pain and vengeance and you have no heart for love? You are a fool, Ryan." Carter countered, slightly taken aback at Ryan's obliviousness.

"Kelsey has made me her fool and that is something I cherish. Take care of her, Red Ranger."

And he disappeared.

Over the course of time and as long as Kelsey was struggling heavily with her withdrawal from Ryan, Carter was visited by him quite a lot. He realized Ryan must be stalking her to a certain extent since he was giving Carter pointers on her mood or what random dangerous game she decided to play.

Carter would go to her then, offering advice and giving the best support he knew to give. It was absurd how worrying for Kelsey made Ryan be a better person; forming a sort of friendship with his worst enemy, the red ranger, and then the last time Ryan came to visit him, he told Carter he was going away. Just a few days ago.

"I took a mission away from here," he said icily, "if I stayed here it will result in events that would make Kelsey unhappy with me. I told her I would go. Take care of her, Red Ranger and when she is sad, remind her that I am never too far away."

"Hi there, Respected Leader."

Carter broke out of his reverie and found himself still sitting near the tree. Rising on his feet, he welcomed Joel with a light grin. Joel was carrying a large green sack of presents, it appeared.

"Hey, need any help?" It did seem heavy.

"Nah, all good." Joel put the sack near the tree and patted Carter's shoulder. "You seem strange, Carter, what's up?"

"Dana and Kelsey are going on this trip and I'm not sure if that's the best idea right now." Carter said carefully, watching Joel closely as he led them to the couch.

"Look, with everything's that happened lately, Kelsey needs a break. It would do her good to be far from being a ranger." Joel spoke uncharacteristically slowly.

Carter opened his mouth and closed it, still thinking hard. It felt wrong to just let Kelsey and Dana to be so far away when chaos was just waiting to break loose.

"She's been improving, I know, but he," Joel said pointedly. "Has meant so much to her. She needs a change of scenery, do you get what I mean?"

"I understand." Carter answered, knowing Joel was right. "I just have this hunch that things are going to go downhill if they leave. They're nearly fifty percent of our team!"

"And they're people and it's just a few days' day trip. We can handle the city for a week, Carter." Joel seemed like he had enough of the topic. "Just think about Kelsey. I'm going to escort Ms. Fairweather, think about it." Carter watched as Joel rose on his feet and left the room.

Carter was thinking about Kelsey. And Dana. He wasn't sure they'd be safe in faraway New York City, anything could happen to them. They could be kidnapped by Diabolico, they could be hurt by a drunk driver, they could fall while ice skating and break something! There were endless possibilities and this ominous feeling did not let go of him.

"Carter."

His heart fluttered when he heard her delicate voice. Dana. He immediately rose on his feet and moved to help her to carry her bags.

"Under the tree?" He made sure.

"Yes, thanks." She smiled at him and he quickly approached the tree, gently placing the large bags under it before returning to her. She was wearing a pretty dress and a red Santa hat, which made him smile.

"What are you doing here all alone?" Her big blue eyes were focused on him wonderfully.

"I was just thinking." He replied with a small sigh, but then she reached out for him and hugged him, resting her head on her shoulder.

"What were you thinking of?"

He could smell her unique, sweet scent everywhere, her soft blonde hair spilling against his body. He was the only man with the privilege to wrap his arms around her and hold her tightly. The only man to be able to touch her inviting, soft skin and the only man to taste her addicting lips. He was so lucky.

"Your trip with Kelsey." He couldn't lie to her.

"What about it?"

"I don't think it's a good idea to go on that trip." He held his breath.

"What do you mean? Why not?" She pulled away from him, an accusing shadow slithering into her eyes, her lovely pink lips pouting dangerously.

"Dana, don't overrea – "

"Do not tell me not to overreact, Carter Grayson. Answer me."

"Last time I had this feeling, Astronema tried to take over the Earth, and now – "

"A feeling? You want Kelsey and I to cancel our trip over a feeling?" Dana screeched.

"Dana, I didn't say anything about – "

"You were insinuating!" She blamed, her beautiful face contorting with anger.

A sudden bang! Made both Carter and Dana look to the door, where Kelsey was standing with a few bags, smiling apologetically.

"Sorry, I'll just come back later." She breathed and started walking out when suddenly –

The alarms went off.

A/N2: I'll be happy to hear your opinion about the way this chapter was constructed.

I'm thinking of adding a few more Carter POV chapters, but it will depend on your reviews. Love, x