Oh hello *smiles sheepishly*. So it's been a while, eh? Unfortunately my stupidly busy job got even busier for the first few months of this year (I think my record was working 49hrs in 4 days - owch!) plus my laptop decided to die on me for no good reason. I was computer-less for two months and, while a lot of this chapter was thankfully backed up elsewhere, the chapters after this are still stranded on my dead laptop. They are recoverable - I'm just waiting for my friend to very kindly get my data off for me. Reminder folks, always *always* back up.
In good news - I've rotated posts so I'm not quite so busy, I have a lovely, gorgeous new computer thanks to a superbly well-timed tax rebate AND I have this new chapter for you all. Woop, woop!
The biggest, hugest thanks go to my amazing beta, RebelPaisley. She not only picks out my mistakes but also some plot holes, out-of-character behaviours and genuinely makes this story so much better. Show her some love by checking out her stories - they are joyous.
Thank you for sticking with me so far and I hope this chapter in some way makes up for the long time between postings. Enjoy!
~the real vampire~
25. Tori
I've fallen from grace
Took a blow to my face
I've loved and I've lost
I've loved and I've lost
Explosions… on the day you wake up
Needing somebody and you've learned
It's okay to be afraid
But it will never be the same
~Ellie Goulding
The night is clammy against my skin, the air that rushes past me as I streak through the empty streets of Blue Bay Harbor uncomfortably cool. The normal thrill that accompanies the sensation of speed is missing, replaced by a sickening sense of wrongness in the pit of my stomach.
"Hunter's in trouble."
Three little, innocuous words from Cam in the middle of the night, but those three words were enough to shock me into consciousness; the dregs of sleep I'd been desperately clinging to thrown off, instantly alert.
"Where?"
I was already out of bed and pulling on clothes before Cam had started giving me the address, heart thumping in my chest as adrenaline surged through me.
This is bad.
This is- It's bad. I can hear it in Cam's voice, the barely perceptible tightness belying the calm front he's projecting. He's worried.
I didn't recognise the address he gave me, but I didn't need to. The coordinates were downloaded to my morpher by the time I had my shoes on and then I was climbing out my bedroom window, dropping lightly onto the ground, baked hard by the day's heat; grass withered and pale yellow in the moonlight. I pause only long enough to take one, deep inhale of the salt-laden air and then I'm off, a blue glow surrounding me as I streak into town, trusting my morpher to get me where I need to be. To where Hunter should be.
But the intersection is deserted when I arrive, coming to a halt in sparks and silence. I barely have time to take in my surroundings - empty roads and boarded up buildings papered in peeling posters and dull streaks of spray paint; all cast in a weak orange light that pools at the base of the streetlamps and darkens the shadows - before red, yellow and green blurs streak into view, materialising into my teammates; expressions tired and serious in equal measure.
Our eyes meet - flickers of acknowledgement and greeting - but we don't speak. I don't know why, but it just doesn't feel like there's a need to. Not yet. We're all just… waiting.
A deeper shade of blue flashes into the street; Blake. Barefoot and haggard-looking, worry etched deeply across his face. His eyes are wide, and I can see the panic starting to set in as he sees that all of us have come straight away. That all of us have sprung out of bed and streaked across town – rules be damned – because something's happened. Something's happened to his brother.
Hunter's in trouble.
There's a fraction of silence, a moment of uncertainty, and then Shane's moving up to stand at Blake's side; voice firm and controlled as he asks Cam what's going on.
The rest of us turn as one to look at the green ranger, expectation hanging in the air. Cam runs a hand over his face – a gesture born of nervousness, one he always does when he's the focus of the group – and begins to explain, carefully and deliberately, about the failsafe built into our morphers. It's not what I'd expected him to say, but if he's starting with this, he must have good reason to. This is important; Cam wouldn't be telling us if it wasn't. The words that follow are a solid punch, laying thick over my chest and I'm finding it suddenly hard to draw a breath. "Hunter's alarm went off half an hour ago and I haven't been able to get in contact with him."
I can feel the panic welling up in me, a blinding fog drifting across my vision, fuzzy ringing in my ears dulling all other senses.
It's Shane that gives voice to my immediate fear; "Lothor?"
Thankfully Cam shakes his head. "Sensors haven't picked up any alien activity. No kelzaks, no strange energy readings; just Hunter's morpher."
The silence returns, heavy and foreboding. One by one our gazes are drawn to Blake. The younger Bradley has his eyes screwed shut, the harsh glare of the streetlight casting a sickly sheen over his face. I wonder if he's wishing he'll wake up, hoping this is all a bad dream, just like I am.
Wake up, and everything will be fine.
But I know better; I know this is real.
Perhaps sensing all our attention is now on him, Blake slowly opens his eyes. He glances around at us, body hunched in on himself, looking small and lost and afraid. Cam's voice is wonderfully calm as he asks him the question we've all been wanting to; just where Hunter was tonight.
The blond had left my house with a mutter about work, but I know he got fired from the bar so I'm curious to know where he'd actually gone. He hadn't mentioned anything about a new job. Then again, he hadn't been as excited about the offer from Josh as I thought he might have been, which would suggest he's already found something new. Which then raises the question, why didn't he tell me?
And ok, so I get that he didn't have to; I would have said we're definitely not at a 'confidences' stage in our relation- friendship yet, but…
He told me he cared about me.
He admitted he liked me, as more than a friend; admitted his feelings for me ran deeper than I'd imagined. If that's not trust, I'm not sure what is.
So why wouldn't he have mentioned a new job, if he trusts me?
Unless… Unless whatever it is, he's embarrassed about. Or ashamed. And to me, that only means one thing.
My heart sinks lower in my chest as I find myself considering the very real possibility that Hunter's new work is less-than-legal.
Hunter, what the hell have you gotten yourself into?
I drag my attention back to Blake just in time to hear him mumble that Hunter was at work, but there's something about the Thunder ninja's tone, a defensiveness, that makes me think he isn't being completely honest. It's subtle though, and it could just be worry for his brother leaking out, but I'm not convinced.
"Where?" I'm sure Shane's picked up on it too, as it comes out less of a question and more a demand.
"A bar called 'Reed's', I think."
I can't help but react to that, muscles twitching with surprise. I feel my fears have been confirmed; whatever Hunter's doing, it's not legal. And Blake will protect his brother's secret to his last breath. But as the navy ranger pushes on with what I assumed was a lie, I find myself reconsidering.
What if Blake doesn't know?
I used to think the brothers told each other everything, but if my conversations with Hunter have taught me anything about their dynamic, it's that the blond will go to any length to protect Blake. And if that means lying to him to give his little brother peace of mind, well, the answer is obvious.
But none of that's important right now. What's important is finding Hunter.
I force a breath down into my lungs, working the air past the tightness in my throat, loosening the muscles enough so that when I speak, I sound almost normal. My voice is calm and steady, despite the whirlwind of emotions surging under my skin, as I ask Cam, "This was the last location you had for him?"
I remember the last time I tried tracking Hunter's morpher, strolling through the sunlit woods to find him, uncaring that the tech hadn't been able to give me a more accurate location.
Now… Now I'm wishing the technology was better, as the Samurai replies, "Best pinpoint I could get. Three block radius; he can't be far."
I glance around at the empty streets, wishing with every part of me that any moment now I'm going to see a familiar broad figure making his way up the road towards us. That Hunter's going to appear, dragging his fingers through his unruly blond hair and giving us an embarrassed grin, apologising for worrying us all- Well, ok, maybe not that far, but at least being perturbed by the hassle he's caused us. Confused by us all rushing out here to look for him because he thinks we don't care about him.
But the intersection remains stubbornly deserted; the five of us the only people in sight.
"What is it, dude?"
Dustin's words catch my attention and I look at him to see he's focused on Blake; the navy ranger's gaze locked on a point behind me, expression frozen. I turn around just as the yellow ranger starts to move, walking over to the almost-empty parking lot outside one of the apartment blocks. I'm confused; not really understanding what it is they've seen, until Dustin returns cradling something in his arms.
It's a bag.
A backpack. Worn canvas and fraying straps but wholly unremarkable, except for one thing; it looks horribly familiar.
There's a moment of expectation, as if we're all holding our breath, waiting for Blake to say it. To confirm our worst fears. Then-
"Hunter's backpack. That's my brother's backpack." Blake's voice is weird, dazed and tremulous, and I guess the shock is starting to set in. The Thunder ninja stretches out his hands to Dustin, a faint tremble in his fingers as they brush against the backpack. His grip seems to strengthen, knuckles white as he clings tightly to the bag, and when he raises his head, I can see my own fear reflected back in his brown eyes.
Hunter's in trouble…
There's a moment of stillness, of inaction, and then Shane steps forward. "Okay, here's what we're going to do," he says; red ranger mode engaged. "We split up. Each take a road and search. Beep your morpher when you find him."
The words are barely out of Shane's mouth before Blake wheels around, striding purposefully up the nearest street, pace fast and frantic. I'm torn for a moment between going with him – because there's no way he's in a fit state to be alone right now – or covering one of the remaining streets by myself. To be alone with my own fear, so I don't have to hide it from the others.
I'm saved from making the decision by Cam; the Samurai exchanging only the briefest of looks with Shane before following Blake into the night.
The red ranger turns to Dustin and me, letting out a heavy sigh. Shane looks drawn, anxiety written across his face and his whole body screaming, 'I'm not prepared for this'. Beneath my worry, there's a trickle of anger building. Anger at the blond for adding something else - another weight - to Shane's shoulders. He won't admit it, but I know the taller man takes everything to heart. He's our leader, and everything which comes with that responsibility.
"You two okay to search on your own?" he asks, eyes lingering on my face for a fraction longer than I'd like.
I raise my chin, meeting his gaze fully, unflinching. "We'll be fine, Shane."
Dustin's nodding alongside me and a smile softens some of the lines around Shane's mouth. "Okay then. Keep in touch."
XxX
My footsteps echo loudly in the silence of the street, flip flops clacking across the uneven paving slabs and the breeze that follows me down the road making me shiver. I cross my arms over my chest, hands rubbing up and down my biceps; part an attempt to keep warm and part nervous energy as my gaze darts left to right, looking for any sign of Hunter.
I don't see any. I don't see any sign of anyone, not immediately. Then-
A splash of red on the sidewalk catches my eye, glinting dully in the glow of the nearest streetlight. At first I dismiss it as paint, but when I see another spot only a foot or so further on, something makes me pay attention to it. Something about its consistency, its texture; too smooth and translucent and… fresh. It takes another, stupidly long moment for my brain to realise what it is I'm seeing.
Blood.
Heart hammering in my chest, my eyes rake the sidewalk for more, searching for a trail. At first there's nothing and then there; a smudge of red on the brickwork, as if someone has grabbed at the wall for support and beyond that, the entrance to an alleyway.
The sick sense of dread in my stomach intensifies, breath caught in my throat as I peer around the corner, eyes taking a moment to adjust to the darkness. My ninja senses let it happen almost instantaneously, but even that doesn't feel quick enough as the gloom of the alley begins to form solid shapes; a couple of dustbins, some old cardboard propped against one side and there, at the bottom, a familiar figure…
I fly down the alley, finding myself at Hunter's side in seconds.
The blond is slumped against the wall, eyes shut and breathing shallow, his chest rising and falling with painful slowness. I think he might be unconscious, but as I reach out to touch him his eyes snap open, a wild look on his face as he jerks into alertness. Realisation - that it's just me and not… whoever he thought it was - dawns and he settles back down with a grunt. He gazes at me out of a face I hardly recognise, one eye is swollen so much it's almost shut, the whole left side of his face a mess of blood, from where I can't really say.
"Tori?"
"Yeah Hunter, it's me." I manage to give him a semblance of a smile, forcing reassurance into my voice as I tell him, "Try… try not to move, okay?"
"'m fine," he says, wincing as the motion of speaking pulls against the injuries on his face. "It's looks worse than it is. I think. I just…" He slumps back against the wall, his eyes flickering shut for a moment. When they reopen, he lets out a small huff. "They lied," he tells me, voice raspy. I give him a confused look and his lips twist up in the faintest attempt at a smile. "Ninjas aren't bullet-proof."
The chuckle that accompanies his words dissolves into a damp cough, pain etched across his face. My gaze leaves his; slowly, almost unwillingly, travelling downwards to where his hand is clutching at his side. For the first time I notice the red pooling between his fingers, soaking the material of his shirt a darker shade of black.
"It's fine," he says, but I barely hear him, transfixed on the sight of blood running from the wound. Suddenly there's gentle contact on my face, bringing me back to reality as he lifts my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. But despite the calm blueness, flashes of red still swim in front of my vision.
"I'm fine. It's just a scratch. Honest. Here-" He tries to struggle to his feet, another flare of pain darting over his face as he sways dangerously, knuckles white as he uses the wall for balance. "I just… need… to get to… Ops."
I slide an arm around his waist, pulling him in close to try and support his weight. His arm drapes over my shoulders, leaning heavily into me and I reach up to entwine my fingers with his as we slowly begin to make our way towards the main road.
We've only gone a few feet before Hunter falters, a gasp escaping his lips - from pain or a struggle to breathe I'm not sure - and then his eyes roll back into his head, his knees giving way and the entirety of his body weight drops solidly onto me, dragging us both down into a tangled heap against the alley wall. I lie trapped for a moment, his long limbs lying leadenly over me, head lolling against my shoulder and a warm dampness starting to seep into my shirt from where he's pressed to me.
Carefully, trying not to jar any of his injuries, I manage to extract myself from under him, scooting around so I can kneel at his side. His skin is white, almost translucent, lips pale beneath the streaks of red, eyes shut and his breathing-
There's a moment of panic as I don't see his chest rise immediately and a fresh wave of fear rolls through me. Desperately I pat his face, trying to avoid the worst of his injuries but I want- I need him to wake up.
"Hunter, Hunter. Come on, come back. Stay with me. Come on Hunter. Wake up." As time stretches out, my panic rises and I raise my morpher to my lips. "Cam, I've found him. He's hurt."
The response is immediate: "How bad?"
Hunter chooses that moment to stir, eyes blinking open, unfocused and confused, not really seeing.
"Hunter?" I'm leaning over him, hand cupping his cheek, gently moving his face towards me as his breath rasps out. His skin is horribly white, blood flecking the corners of his mouth, but he's alive. Relief surges through me as his expression clears and his gaze at last seems to sharpen on me. I sit back on my haunches, feeling strangely drained as the rush of adrenaline ebbs.
"Tori, how bad?" The Samurai's voice echoes from my wrist, reminding me he's waiting for my answer.
"Bad," I whisper, the word choking me. I inhale, a count of ten to release some of the tension and then, "He's been shot, Cam. Right side, just under his ribs. His face is pretty banged up too. I don't… I don't know if he's hurt anywhere else. He's pretty out of it."
"Where are you?" The voice echoing from my morpher is terse but that's the only emotion; everything else is just brusque practicality.
I reply in the same, remembering the path I took to get here even as I keep my eyes on Hunter, not daring to look away, in case he faints again. "Alleyway on Pacific - just past the junction with 27th."
There's silence on the other end and my gaze returns to Hunter. "Hey," I breathe, forcing a smile as I wait for Cam's answer. "You still with me?"
My earlier panic must have been obvious, because the blond frowns at me. "Sorry," he whispers, voice weak and rasping as he struggles into a half-sitting position. "Didn't mean… to scare you. Don't think… I should… move more though. Hurts." The effort of getting those few words out is written in the grimace on his face, and I'm left reeling, thrown off-balance by the blond daring to admit he isn't able to move, that he is hurting.
This is bad.
My morpher crackles back into life with a brief, to-the-point update, "Help is on its way."
"Cam and the others are on their way," I tell the blond, putting as much reassurance in my voice as I can. "Try not to move, okay?"
"Not goin' anywhere," he mutters, voice vague and somehow insubstantial as his eyes drift closed. I'm scared I'm losing him again.
I have to do something. Something more than just sit here, watching him fade away. I need to… stop the bleeding. That's like, First Aid 101. Even as ninjas, we don't have any more blood than a normal person and Hunter's lost… a lot.
Fear lends urgency to my actions as I tear a strip from his t-shirt; the material already damaged from the passage of the bullet and it rips easily. I fold it into a square and carefully, trying not to cause Hunter any more pain, slide it under his hand to cover the wound. I get the blond to press it against him as firmly as he can to try and staunch the bleeding. It's not much, but I hope it's enough until the others get here.
Why aren't they already here?
I gave Cam the location; all they'd need to do is ninja streak their butts over here. It shouldn't be taking them this long. Why is it taking them so long?
"Wait here," I whisper. "I'm just going to see if I can see the others." I make to stand, but Hunter lunges forward; the sudden movement eliciting a hiss from him even as his hand catches me, blood-slick fingers closing around my wrist.
"Don't- Please don't... leave me. Don't go." There's panic in his voice, breathing ragged and no trace of the self-control, of the complete assuredness he normally carries himself with.
As I look into his eyes I see that the shadow that normally haunts them, the ever-present barrier between him and the rest of the world, is gone. There's no facade, no mask; just Hunter. The real Hunter; the person behind all the bravado and cockiness, behind the broodiness, behind the wall. It's like I'm seeing him properly for the first time. Seeing how young he really is, seeing how much he hides. I see the fear in his eyes.
He's scared.
He's scared and in pain and the fear in his voice, the fear when he thinks I'm going to leave him - leave him like so many people in his life - wrenches at my heart.
I don't think about it, don't consider the consequences or even care about them, because in this moment I just need to let Hunter know he's not alone. That I'm here and I won't leave and I don't- I can't even consider the implications of this right now - what it means; I just act.
I press my lips against his, gently, carefully, trying to avoid his injuries, but there's a coppery tang on my tongue even so. The kiss is awkward at first, more just my lips touching his than an actual kiss, but then Hunter responds. This isn't the desperate longing of before; this is softer, tender, but somehow more. More deliberate. More important. More intimate.
"I'm here. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere," I whisper, forehead resting against his, closing my eyes and shutting out everything. Everything but him. "I won't leave you. I promise."
I feel a light touch against my face, his fingertips brushing my cheek tentatively. I open my eyes to see him looking at me with an odd expression. I can't place it, but it seems almost… wondering, or confused, or… I don't know.
Before I can think about it properly, the moment comes to an abrupt end; Hunter hisses in a short breath, hand dropping back to his side and oh, yeah, gunshot.
I lean back against the wall beside him, taking his other hand in mine and rubbing my thumb lightly over the back of it, keeping the contact as his eyes flicker shut. His knuckles are raw; skin split and starting to bruise. Whatever happened, he didn't go down without a fight. Hunter leans into me, his head coming to rest on my shoulder as what feels like an age passes.
A siren wails from the main street outside, blue light flashing and bouncing off the walls of the alleyway. I wait for it to pass, but instead it comes to a stop on the street outside, the noise shutting off abruptly, replaced with the slam of doors and the sound of footsteps. It takes me a stupidly long time to realise it's here for us - for Hunter.
Cam called an ambulance…
I'm forced to squint as I look into the glare from the lights, seeing dark indistinct shapes moving in its depth. Raising a hand to shield my eyes, the backlit figures materialise into two EMTs, striding towards us with purpose and relief-inducing expressions of calmness. "Someone's been shot?"
I find my fingers tightening on Hunter's hand. "Yes…"
Everything happens so fast after that, the EMTs politely but firmly ushering me to the side so they can work on Hunter and before I know it we're in the ambulance, the siren wailing once more as we speed through the streets of Blue Bay Harbor.
The journey to the hospital passes in a blur. I'm pushed aside, relegated to a seat away from Hunter as the EMT works on him. I want to reach out, to hold his hand, but I'm stopped before I've even begun to move by a glare from the blue-clad woman. I pull back, wrapping my arms around myself as a chill begins to set in, coldness filling up the space where adrenaline was.
All I can do it sit here. I've never felt so useless in my entire life.
We're met on arrival by a team of people dressed in scrubs, everyone moving with professional urgency. Hunter is whisked away from me completely, gurney wheeled through swing doors and all the noise, all the flurry of activity, goes with him, leaving me standing in silence.
I feel lost.
Then-
"Tori!"
I spin around to see the boys hurrying down the corridor towards me, the three of them coming to a sudden halt when they're still a little way aways. Their pause is momentary before the questions pour out, rapid and worried.
"Where's Hunter?" Blake demands, followed immediately by Dustin's, "Is he okay?"
"Are you okay?"
I give Shane the slightest of nods, whispering, "They took him." I gesture lamely in the direction the medics had wheeled Hunter. Blake makes to head that way, but is halted by the arrival of a thin woman holding a clipboard.
"You came in with the gunshot patient?" she asks, gaze moving from each of my teammates to rest on me.
"Yes-"
"I'm going to need some details," she says briskly, eyes piercing even behind the narrow spectacles she's wearing. "Name?"
I blink at her. "Mine or his?"
Dustin snorts, even though I didn't mean for it to be amusing. The woman frowns and I realise of course she was talking about Hunter. My head is swimming, thoughts sluggish, but I force myself to answer properly. "Hunter Bradley."
"Date of birth?"
She's still looking at me, waiting for me to answer, but I can't. I don't know.
I turn pleading eyes on Blake, Shane nudging him in the side and he pulls his gaze from the doors Hunter vanished through. "June 11th," he whispers.
The woman turns her full attention onto him, getting the answers she needs as she artfully steers him down another corridor, the rest of us following along behind. My legs are working on automatic, barely taking in the route until we at last come to a halt.
"You can wait here; someone will be along to let you know what's happening."
"When?" Shane demands, and I see he's keeping a firm hand on Blake's shoulder.
The woman blinks at the red ranger over her glasses, answering as if it was obvious, "When they can."
We're left alone; a morose huddle in the middle of what looks to be the reception area. Even at this time of night - morning, whatever - the place is busy; medical staff rushing around while ordinary people trickle through in a steady stream. I notice a few of them giving me strange looks as they pass by.
I wonder if I'm imagining it, if I'm being paranoid, but then Shane clears his throat, gaze sliding away from me as he says, "Uh, Tori? You might want to… wash up?"
I stare at him numbly for a moment, trying to work out what he means, and then I slowly glance down at myself to see blood – Hunter's blood – coating the front of my top, covering my hands and smeared up my arms; the vibrant red drying to a dull brown.
There's an awkwardness in my friends' eyes, Dustin looking queasy and Blake is white, lips pale and drawn in a tight line. He barely looks at me. Cam is the only one who meets my gaze, brown eyes soft behind his glasses and brotherly concern written over his face.
"Oh."
I should be reacting to this. I should be feeling… something. Disgust, sickness, anything. I just feel numb.
Dustin catches a nurse's arm as they pass. "Dude, is there somewhere my friend can wash?"
The nurse doesn't even blink at the state I'm in; just smiles and shows me to a room down the corridor; Dustin a silent shadow at my heels. My hand closes around the door handle and I pause, glancing sideways to find him watching me, worry and concern in his brown eyes.
"I just need… a moment," I whisper.
He nods, just the once. "I'll be right outside. If you need anything."
I give him a weak smile and slip inside the room. It's large and self-contained, and I close the door behind me with a faint feeling of relief. As if I can shut everything out and just… breathe.
I rest my head against the door for a long moment, palms pressed hard onto the wood, trying to gather myself before I turn and cross the tiled floor to the sink, twisting the tap on to send water swirling into the basin. There's a bar of soap on the side and I reach for it with fingers that feel stiff and awkward as they close around its smooth edges.
I work the soap into a lather; the foam turning pink in seconds as I scrub at the dried blood, rivulets of rust running down my arms and dripping into the sink. Bright red splashes contrasting sharply against the white porcelain.
It doesn't all wash off the first time, or the second. By the third rinse my arms are scrubbed pink, but they're clean. I can't say the same for my top. I carefully peel the t-shirt off over my head, the blood sticking it to my skin and pulling as it comes away. I let it slip through my fingers to lie in a crumpled heap on the tiled floor.
I look up, finally catching sight of myself in the mirror, and I barely recognise the woman staring back at me. Her eyes are wide, skin pale under the harsh fluorescent light, red smudges on her face and her pale bra is stained from where blood has soaked through her shirt. Soaked through my shirt.
So much blood.
Hunter's blood.
The first sob catches me unawares, erupting up from the very pit of my stomach in a choking, silent gasp. I cling to the sink for support, fingers digging into the cold porcelain as hot tears spill down my cheeks. I'm shaking, whole body trembling, and I have to resist the sudden, overwhelming urge to curl up into a ball on the floor.
I don't hear the door open, or the sound of footsteps on hard tile, but suddenly Dustin is there, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. I don't know how he knew this was the moment I needed him, but I am so very glad of his presence as I sob into his chest.
I allow myself this. Five minutes of tears. Five minutes of not being strong, of giving in to all my worst nightmares; letting it all out, crying until I feel wrung out and limp.
When the fit subsides, I straighten up, pulling myself back together little piece by little piece, forcing my fears back, until I'm calm once more. I move away from Dustin, taking a long, deep breath and managing to meet his eyes with a smile. It's small, only the tiniest movement of muscles, but it's firm and unwavering. I'm in control again.
There's a flicker of confusion in the brunette's eyes as he watches me carefully, as if trying to determine whether my breakdown is truly over. I hold his gaze a moment, to reassure him I'm good, and then I turn back to the basin, splashing my face with cold water to wash away the tears staining my cheeks.
I pick up my top from where I'd dropped it, but it's ruined; there's no way the blood will ever truly wash out and I don't- I don't want to remember. I hesitate, fingers curling into the material, and then-
"Here." I turn to see Dustin shucking off his overshirt, holding the checkered garment out to me and leaving him just in his yellow t-shirt.
A real smile, one filled with gratitude, finds its way onto my face as I take it from him. I draw it on like another layer of armour; the material still warm from his body. Balling my ruined shirt up, I drop it into the trash can, not even feeling a twinge of regret. I don't want to be reminded of tonight. I don't want to be reminded of Hunter slumped in the alleyway, or the fear in his eyes-
"Are you okay?" Dustin asks softly.
I raise my chin, giving him a nod. I need to be strong now. For Blake. For my team. And for Hunter.
XxX
I return from the bathroom, tears washed from my face and Dustin's shirt hanging loose around me, to find a standoff between the boys and a couple of police officers, expressions grim and a hum of tension in the air.
"He was attacked; why are you questioning me about his actions?" Blake exclaims as I approach. "Hunter wasn't doing anything wrong. Why aren't you out there finding the people who did this to him?"
"Well, given your reluctance to explain just where your brother was this evening, and considering his record-"
"You ran his name? What gives you the right-" Blake hisses, but the end of his sentence is overrode by Shane.
"What record?" The red ranger's mouth is set in a hard line as he turns his attention to the younger Bradley brother. "Hunter has a criminal record?"
Blake goes silent, closing his mouth stubbornly, half turning away from Shane and the officers.
The taller of the two frowns at the Thunder ninja. "Your brother has been shot," she says, a sharpness to her voice. "Witness statement from the apartment block puts him the company of known criminals and, given his brushes with the law in the past, it is not unreasonable for us to assume this was gang-related."
I feel my heart plummet; earlier fears springing back into life.
"I will ask you again," the officer continues, calm but with a hint of iron beneath. "Where was your brother tonight?"
"With me."
The deep rumble comes from behind us, and we turn to see a stocky, grey-haired man making his way over to our group, a wide-eyed, pale boy in tow.
"Frank," the shorter officer greets the newcomer with a degree of warmth that is unexpected, given his expression moments before when his colleague was questioning Blake. "You know something about this?"
"I do."
The man sighs heavily, and I notice the tiredness on his face, deep lines around his eyes and at the corners of his mouth. I'm not the only one watching him; the glances Shane and Cam are giving him are wary and appraising at the same time. And Blake… I can't place the look on Blake's face, but he too is focused intently on this stranger. Although he didn't look surprised by the man's name, and I wonder just how much of a stranger he actually is to him.
"Hunter was up at the Roadhouse until just after one AM. I got a whole bunch of eye-witnesses that'll say they saw him beat Julian Cortez in the last fight of the evening and then stayed drinking with them. I dropped him back in town myself. He's not involved in any gangs."
The relief the old man's words brings me is instant, a breath I didn't know I was holding finally being released, but then the content of the rest of his statement makes itself known, and I can see my shock and confusion mirrored on my teammates' faces.
Fight?
The officer is speaking again before any of us have a chance to; a slight shake of his head as he says, "Frank, I know what you're like with your pet projects; any chance you've made a mistake on this one? Tee's known to recruit some of the fighters. Get them on board with some of his… business ventures."
The tone of his voice leaves no one in any doubt on which side of the law these ventures fall.
"You know none of my lads get involved with the illegal side of things. Hunter ain't any different, whatever your records say." The pronouncement is firm, assured, and backed up by the older man steering the youth in front of him. "AJ?"
"It's my fault," the boy confesses, misery etched on his face. "Hunter- He was protecting me. I'm the one that Tee wanted and Hunter… He told me to run but I should have stayed. I should have helped him." He turns to us, looking young and scared, eyes almost pleading as he asks, "Is… Is he going to be okay?"
I know what answer wants, what answer we all want, but none of us can offer the reassurance he's after.
Hunter might not be ok-
No.
I can't- I can't think like that.
"Tee?" The tall officer gives AJ a sharp look. "You have evidence about Anthony Palmer?" Her tone softens, "Would you be willing to go on record with this?"
The teen shuffles his feet, gaze darting from the policewoman to Frank and onto the rest of us. I don't know who this Anthony is, but I can tell the redhead is terrified of him. His gaze returns to Frank - for reassurance I guess - and the man gives a small nod. "Yes," AJ whispers at last.
Frank and the police officers exchange looks and then the woman says, "I'll need to take your statement."
"I don't want to go to the station." The words tumble out in a rush. "He'll know and I- I want to know Hunter's okay. This is my fault. He saved me. I want to know he's gonna be okay."
Frank clears his throat, gaining the teen's attention. "The cafe'll be quiet this time of night."
With a nod to us, he takes AJ by the arm and steers him away, the officers following; Blake apparently let off the hook - by the police at least.
As soon as they've departed, all eyes turn to the navy ranger.
"Fighting?" The single word is accompanied by a raised eyebrow Cam, but I am impressed the Samurai has managed to keep his tone neutral, non-judgy.
I'm still just feeling relieved Hunter wasn't involved in anything illegal; that he ended up in this situation because he'd been protecting someone else - and isn't that exactly what I'd expect of him? Nothing else matters right now. But I can see disapproval on Cam and Shane's faces, and even Dustin looks perturbed.
"He wasn't meant to be fighting tonight. He was just out with friends, he said. He didn't need to fight again; he-" Blake seems to realise he's said too much, shutting his mouth sharply and averting his gaze towards his feet.
Shane rubs a hand over his face. "You mean this isn't the first time?"
There's a mix of resignation and disappointment in his words and I see Blake straighten up, brown eyes hardening. I can just tell that the next thing out of his mouth will either be untrue or plain rude. Maybe both. Whatever; it won't help right now.
I timidly reach out and gently rest my fingertips on the younger Bradley's wrist. Blake glances down and then meets my eyes. Comprehension crosses his face as he gets what I'm silently telling him.
No more lies.
"Hunter lost his job," he says with a huff, gaze fixed on a point somewhere in the distance, avoiding everyone's eyes. "Not Storm Chargers; the other one he had. It was a crappy job at a crappy bar but without it… We were screwed." He takes a breath. "And then he met that guy, Frank. He owns a gym and is a fight promoter for like, UFC-type fights. He offered Hunter one. A fight." There's defiance in his posture now as he continues, "It was good money. And we… we needed it. He promised me it wasn't illegal. But I didn't… I didn't know he was fighting again tonight, honest."
Shane opens his mouth to reply - whether to question Blake further or to tell him off, I'm not sure - but I shoot him a glare. Whatever our leader's thoughts are on this whole mess, now isn't the time to discuss it. Emotions are too strong, too raw, and someone will end up saying something they regret.
The Air ninja lets out a sigh instead, rubbing a hand over his short hair. "Okay," he says. "Just… okay."
He gives me a small smile; message received.
We lapse into a strange silence, an uneasy truce granted until… Well, until we know something. Until we know how Hunter is. I'm not sure how much time passes, but our peace is broken suddenly by a small group of people arriving in the reception, loudly asking to see Hunter. We're too far away to hear the receptionist's quiet answer, but the gesture he makes towards where we're standing is obvious and the three men begin to head our way.
I feel my muscles tense involuntarily. Beside me, the boys are shifting position too; bodies moving into subtle fighting stances, prepared for whatever might happen next.
"What do you want with Hunter?" Blake demands as they get near.
The fear he has for his brother is bubbling to the surface and now, denied the fight he was expecting with Shane, I can tell he's looking to lash out. To not have to think about the state Hunter is in, or have time to wonder if he's going to be ok, if he's going to-
Stop. It.
"We're his friends," the leader of the group - a tall, dark man wearing a rumpled shirt - says, meeting Blake's gaze without flinching, unfazed by the hostility radiated in his direction. The other two men, one a tall muscular blond with tattoos weaving up his arms and the other even taller, but much more slender, gather behind him. All three are athletic-looking, muscles tense beneath shirts and tops.
I can feel this turning into some sort of stand-off as the Thunder ninja retorts, "I'm his brother." He jabs a thumb at the rest of us. "They're his friends. Who the hell are you?"
At that moment Frank reappears, taking in the scene with one glance and then walking straight up to one of the other men, the tattooed blond. "Liam, glad you're here. Will you and Jensen take AJ back to your place tonight?" I turn my head to see the young man standing awkwardly; still pale and his eyes are rimmed red, cheeks tear-stained. He meets my gaze and I give him a small smile, which he doesn't return. "He's just given his statement to the police and I want him to be somewhere safe until Tee's been brought in."
The blond doesn't respond, eyes fixed firmly on Blake. It's the thin man that answers Frank after a pause, a hand coming to rest on his friend's shoulder. "That's fine. Come on, Liam. It's late and the kid looks exhausted."
There's something overly familiar, almost intimate, about his gesture. I reevaluate; partner, not friend.
Liam's shoulders slump, focus switching from the group and a sympathetic expression softens his face as he seems to see AJ properly for the first time. "C'mon kid," he grunts. "Home time."
"But I want to stay here," he whispers. "Hunter-"
"You can't do anything for him here, but Frank'll let us know once he hears anything." Liam glances over to the older man. "Right?"
Frank nods agreement. "Soon as I hear. Go get some rest." Reluctance clear to all, AJ allows himself to be led away, leaving Blake and the leader of the group facing off.
"Mike." There's warning in Frank's voice; the order to stand down as clear as if it had been from Shane.
"You're Mike?" Blake starts at that, recognition of some sort dawning. When the darker man nods, a slight smile finds its way onto the younger Bradley's face. "Hunter mentioned you. Said you were training together?"
"Yeah, we are."
There's a pause, and then Blake surprises me. "Thank you," he says. "For helping him, and for being here now. Hunter… He'll appreciate it."
And at that the spell is broken; muscles relaxing, expressions clearing, tension bleeding from the room and a wave of exhaustion washes over me. I sink into one of the hard plastic chairs that litter the waiting room, head dropping into my hands, elbows braced against my knees as I try and shut out the noise and harsh artificial lighting.
"You must be Tori." I turn my head to find Frank has dropped into the chair beside me, grey eyes kind and oddly calming.
I push a strand of hair out of my face, still damp from my attempt to clean up, and give him a small nod. "How did you know?" My voice sounds rough, even to my ears.
"Hunter mentioned you," Frank replies, offering nothing further. At any other time I'd be curious, interested in what Hunter had said about me, and why on earth he'd mentioned me at all to a complete stranger, but I'm too tired, too scared and too drained of emotion to pay his comment much notice.
Slowly the others congregate around us, soft chatter fading until a strange hush settles over our group, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Blake's hunched himself around Hunter's backpack, clinging to it as if it's the only thing keeping him afloat in rough seas. A part of me thinks I should be reaching out to him, to comfort him, but I can't make myself move. All I can do - all any of us can do - is wait.
And wait.
And wait.
At some point I notice there's a lessening in the harshness of the light, and I glance out the window to see the first streaks of gold brightening the sky, the grey dawn slowly morphing into colour.
"Hunter Bradley?" The words aren't loud, but they instantly draw everyone's attention. The speaker is a serious-looking woman dressed in blue, brown hair pulled up into a bun beneath a paper scrub-cap as she gives our group a searching look. . "You're here for Hunter Bradley?"
The reaction is immediate; we're all on our feet and surrounding her in a flash, voices clamouring as one for answers. "How is he?" / "Is he okay?" / "What's the prognosis?" / "Is he okay?"
The doctor holds up her hands to stem the flow of questions, waiting only until everyone falls silent before saying, "He's going to be fine." She gives a shake of her head. "He lost a lot of blood, but the bullet didn't hit anything major. He's a very lucky young man."
She continues with a run-down of his condition, but I don't hear any of it.
He's going to be fine…. Everything is going to be ok.
I find myself sitting back down in a chair, the unyielding plastic back pushing uncomfortably against my spine but I don't care. Hunter's going to be ok, and the relief is dizzying.
"Can we see him?" I hear Shane ask. Even though I know he's doing it for Blake's benefit more than anyone else's, I can't help but look up expectantly.
The doctor frowns, glancing around at our group. "He's just come out of very serious surgery," she warns. "Immediate family only at this time."
"Blake is his brother." My words sound far away, uneven and shaky, but my voice strengthens as all eyes turn to me. "Blake should see him; we can wait."
If the doctor is surprised that out of all of us, it is Blake who is Hunter's family, she doesn't show it. "Okay then." With a quick look at the rest of us, Blake peels away from our group. "We will also need to talk about insurance," I hear her say as they turn to leave.
"Speak to me about insurance," Cam interrupts.
The doctor gives him an appraising look over her shoulder and then nods. "I'll get someone to bring you down the paperwork."
Frank gives Mike a nudge. "I need to head home, else Nora will be wondering where I've been all night." With a lazy look at the rest of us, he smiles. "Hunter's in good hands; I just wanted to make sure he was going to be okay. Mike, I'll drop you off home. We both need sleep. We can visit Hunter when he's up for visitors."
If his gaze lingers on me with a strangely knowing look, I refuse to dwell on it.
And then it's just the four of us, the boys staring at each other, standing, while I'm still slumped in the chair, exhaustion turning my limbs to lead.
Dustin is the first to speak.
"What's the plan, boss?" he asks Shane, subdued compared to his normal exuberance.
The Air ninja looks lost, uncertain compared to his earlier decisiveness. This isn't a situation the red ranger has any experience with.
It's Cam who answers the brunette, brusque practicality infusing his tone. "I'll stay here and sort things out with the hospital. I'm assuming Hunter doesn't have insurance, so I'll use the Academy's. I've let my father know what's happened so that shouldn't be an issue. Dustin, you and Hunter have a shift at Storm Chargers today, right?" The Earth ninja nods, unsurprised that Cam knows this. "You should let Kelly know what's happened. Can't have Hunter losing another job. Shane- You and Tori take Blake back to his place. Make sure he gets cleaned up, change of clothes, that sort of thing. Then get yourselves sorted out. We can meet back here later."
Shane nods sharply, a flash of relief crossing his face. Cam has his back. Cam has all our backs. And the plan is a good one. Dustin heads off to Storm Chargers and the Samurai disappears to sort out the insurance, leaving Shane and me to wait for Blake.
"How are you holding up?" Shane asks once we're alone, dark eyes worried.
I open my mouth to say 'I'm fine', but there's a sudden lump in my throat, hotness pricking at my eyes and I bite down hard on my lip to stop the tears falling. Shane's in front of me in an instant, arms wrapping around me and holding me close. I press my nose against his chest, taking deep, shuddering breaths. I can feel his heart beating against his ribs and the familiar smell of him - of fresh air and sunshine - surrounds me, grounding me.
"Thank you," I whisper and Shane drops a kiss on the top of my head.
"You never have to thank me," he replies. "We're family."
XxX
The sun is fully up by the time we leave the hospital, Shane and I accompanying a silent Blake. We get a cab back to the Bradley's apartment; the Thunder ninja doesn't even make a token protest about Shane paying for it and I know he just wants to get home so he can get back to his brother as quickly as possible.
Blake leads the way through the dark corridors of their apartment block, but as we reach their front door he freezes, making no move to open it, keys dangling loose and almost forgotten from his fingers. At first I'm confused, but a glance over his shoulder reveals the reason; there's an orange letter taped to the door. Bold, black letters spell out two, simple yet terrifying words; 'Eviction Notice'.
Shane and I can only share a shocked glance as Blake reaches up with a trembling hand to pull it away from the wood. The silence is deafening. None of us know what to say.
At that moment a short man in a blue cap appears, a faint expression of worry hovering over his features. As he catches sight of him, the Thunder ninja's expression darkens, hands tightening into fists and crumpling the piece of paper as he rounds on the man.
"What the hell is this?"
The man looks completely taken back by the ferocity in the navy ranger's voice and holds up his hands as if to ward off the anger. "I'm sorry, but I told your brother last week if I didn't have the rent in hand by nine a.m. this morning you were going to have to go. This isn't my choice; it's come from higher up. I've let things slide but I can't anymore."
Blake gapes at him for a moment. "But… You should have had your money last week. Hunter said…" His voice goes suddenly small. "Hunter said he'd taken care of it."
I can see him trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together in his mind; Hunter fighting again last night when he'd said he wasn't, a failed promise to pay rent, another lie to his brother… Blake looks ill, a green tinge to his cheeks and I wonder if he might throw up.
The shorter man shakes his head. "He never had it last week. But he swore he'd have it today. I'm sorry, kid. I don't know what else to say. You ask your brother where the rent is. I really thought he'd come through with it today though." Those final words are said almost to himself.
"I can't ask Hunter where your stupid money is," Blake explodes at him and Shane has to grab his arm in warning. "My brother's in the hospital right now and you're kicking us out. Where the hell are we supposed to go? How can you do this?"
The man pulls the cap off his head and rubs a hand across his close-cropped hair. "I didn't know about your brother," he says, huffing out a breath. "I'm sorry. Is he okay?"
"Not that you care-" Blake starts, but is cut off by Shane answering the man for him, "He will be."
"Good. That's good." His gaze darts from Blake to Shane and back again. "I'm sorry, I can't- My hands are tied. I can give you until tomorrow to get your stuff together and try to find somewhere else, but that's as far as I can push it." He twists the cap in his hands and I get the feeling he really doesn't want to be doing this. "I know it doesn't help any," he adds awkwardly. "But I genuinely am sorry. If you need a hand with moving anything, let me know."
The Thunder ninja glares at him, but before he can open his mouth again, Shane once more speaks for him. "Thanks bro. We'll sort it."
The man nods and hesitates before heading back the way he came. Blake's still staring after him, hands balled into fists, forcing the red ranger to wrestle the keys from his grip. "Come on Blake; now isn't the time," he tells him calmly.
The shorter man doesn't seem to hear him.
As soon as the door's opened Blake storms into the apartment, a tornado of raw emotion. Bangs and thuds follow his progress inside, and I can only imagine the thunder ninja lashing out in anger and, probably, fear.
My head is whirling, spinning, trying to take in everything that's happened - that's happening. It's all so sudden, so fast. The numbness has returned, seeping through me, creeping down tired limbs, and I'm pretty sure I'm still in shock. Thinking is so difficult, foggy and uncertain, but beneath it there's… something, something that I can't focus on because I know if I do I won't be able to do anything, won't be able to function.
And I need to be able to function right now.
It's still there though, sending sharp, jabbing pain into my body whenever I'm even close to thinking about it, but I need-
I almost lost him…
I slam down those thoughts before they can push through the fragile barriers I've thrown up to let myself function.
I take a breath. I need to pull myself together, get a grip, for Blake if nothing else. I can't imagine what he must be going through right now. The whole existence he's crafted for himself in Blue Bay is being torn apart and I… I should comfort him. I need to be here for him. If he'll let me.
I take another breath and am just about to follow Blake into the apartment when Shane stops me, face serious. "Call Cam," he tells me.
I shoot him a confused look.
"I need-" -to be with Blake, is what I try to say, but am horrified by how unsteady my voice sounds.
The darker teen shakes his head gently and squeezes my arm. "I'll deal with Blake. You need to call Cam. Let him know what's happened and ask him what he wants us to do." His voice is firm, commanding, and a surge of gratitude rushes through me. It's not Shane speaking right now, but the red ranger issuing orders. Orders that must be followed. I can do that.
It's with a strange sense of relief – relief that I have a purpose – that I turn away from the apartment and pull out my phone, fingers dialing Cam's number automatically.
The Samurai picks up on the second ring. "Tori, is everything okay?"
"No- The Bradleys…" I swallow hard, willing my voice to stop trembling. "They're being evicted." And now I'm angry. I can feel it coursing through me; fury at the two brothers - at Hunter - for not telling me, for not telling anyone, for not letting us know how bad things had gotten. "Hunter hasn't paid the rent. He was given warnings and Blake didn't know and now… They have to be out of here by tomorrow. Shane said to call you. Shane said you'd know what to do."
Cam always knows what to do.
There's a pause on the other end of the line and I can just about hear Cam sigh. I can imagine him pushing his glasses up his nose; almost see the furrows on his brow as he considers this new problem we've thrown at him.
When he does reply, it's everything I expected from the Samurai; firm, clear and decisive, "We'll get them out today. Is it alright to use your van to transport their stuff? I've got a few things left to sort out here but I'll try to send Dustin over to give you guys a hand with packing."
"Yeah, sure," I find myself answering before my brain engages. When it catches up with events I add, "What are we going to do?"
Cam lets a breath and there's a touch of resignation in his voice as he speaks, "Something we should have probably done a while ago."
"What's that?" I feel my fingers tighten on my phone.
"Move the Bradleys into Ops."
XxX
"Where on earth have you been?"
The unexpected voice makes me jump, halting my attempt to sneak into my house through the back door. Mom's sitting at the kitchen table, hands cupping a mug and lips pulled tight as she frowns at me.
I freeze, mind racing as I try to come up with a suitable excuse - anything - but under my mom's steely gaze, I find myself drawing a blank. I can't even imagine what I must look like right now, with my hair scrunched up in a rough bun, and probable black marks under my eyes from lack of sleep and wearing an overly-large, clearly-male shirt…
"It's Dustin's shirt," I say quickly, but even as the words leave my mouth I realise it's a lame attempt at an explanation.
The furrows on mom's brow deepen. "I have been worried sick," she begins. "You weren't in your room this morning. Your board and van are still here so I know you haven't been surfing, and now you turn up looking like this-"
She waves a hand in my direction, encompassing all of me, and I'm still struggling to find any sort of explanation that'll make sense. Any lie to get rid of her suspicion.
But this time I can't. So I don't even try.
"I'm sorry," I whisper. "But I don't have time to explain."
I need to get back to Blake. Back to Hunter.
"Don't have time?" Mom's tone is incredulous, intonation rising, and I recognise the beginnings of a fight.
"I have to go," I say, turning away to head to my room.
Behind me I hear the sound of chair legs scraping against the tiled floor and mom's voice is whip-crack sharp. "Come back here, young lady. You are not leaving this kitchen until you tell me where you've been."
She's not quite yelling, not yet, but two pink spots have appeared on her cheeks and wisps of hair are escaping her bun.
"Mom-"
"No, Victoria. I've kept quiet for weeks now but don't think I haven't noticed. Something's going on. You're disappearing at all hours of the day and night with no explanation. Lying to me and your father. Skipping school. Oh yes, madam, they phoned me. You and Dustin and Shane, and Blake… Ever since Blake showed up, in fact. Is that it? Is this his influence?"
"No!" I exclaim, staring at her in shock. My thoughts are sluggish, a weird panic flooding in. I have no time for this… I don't know what to do.
She glares back at me, anger burning in blue eyes. "Then just what is it?"
"I'm a Power Ranger," I blurt out, and then cover my mouth with a hand in shock.
My mom blinks at me.
Then she drops heavily back onto her seat.
There's a long moment of nothing and then, "Okay."
I slowly take the chair opposite her, sitting down cautiously, trying to gauge her reaction. "... Okay?"
Mom gives me a small smile. "Well, it explains a lot. The disappearing acts… the fondness for certain colours…" She lets out a sigh. "You know, your father and I had suspicions. We did train at the Academy; we know the stories- the legend. And you, Shane and Dustin are so close; I guess we should have known." Her smile widens slightly. "I take it Blake's navy, and Hunter was wearing crimson yesterda- Tori, what's wrong?"
Wearing crimson… Crimson… Blood…
The tears are sudden, everything crashing down around me at once; memories of the alleyway vivid in my mind. I can almost smell the coppery scent of blood mingling with the stench of garbage. And then mom's beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders and I lean into her; her other hand smoothing my hair, shushing me gently as she used to do when I was small.
"It's okay. I'm here. You're okay," she breathes, repeating it until I begin to believe it. "Sweetie, what's happened?"
Between sobs, I find myself telling my mom everything; how the three of us became rangers, how we met the Bradleys, the truth about me sort-of, kind-of dating Blake and then kissing Hunter, the brothers' money problems and finding Hunter last night in the street, spending the night at the hospital… Everything, right up to the shock of finding out the brothers were being evicted and spending the last couple of hours packing the Bradley's pathetic possessions into cardboard boxes.
"So I need to get my van, so we can move Hunter and Blake into Ninja Ops," I finish, finally pausing to take a breath. "Mom, I'm so sorry for scaring you. And I'm sorry for not telling you about being a Ranger, but… I didn't want you and Dad to worry."
Not after Lily.
"Of course we're going to worry; we're your parents. But-" The smile she gives me is forced, not reaching her eyes "-You have to do this. I might not like it. Or understand why it has to be you, but it is and I am so very proud of you."
The hand resting on my knee gives it a comforting squeeze and I reach out to hug her, biting my lip from the words dancing on the tip of my tongue; I don't know why it has to be me, either.
"What happens now?" Mom asks, pulling away to look me in the eyes.
I scrub a hand over my face, trying to rid it of the tears still staining it, and take a breath; the first proper one I've been able to take since Cam woke me last night. Some of the tension that's been pulling heavy on my shoulders has eased.
The truth is out. I'm not lying to my parents anymore. Hunter is going to be ok. Everything is ok.
"We're going to move Hunter and Blake into the Academy. We have a... base. It has plenty of room. And it's free." I frown. "Not sure how well Hunter'll take it. He's funny about that sort of thing."
"And what about you and Hunter?" she asks, eyes crinkling at the corners. Her tone is light but gently probing.
I drag my fingers through my hair. "What about me and Hunter? We're friends."
Mom gives me a strange look. "But Hunter's not just a friend, is he?"
"... No," I confess, finally speaking aloud something I think I've known for a while now - perhaps since that day in the woods - but only truly realised last night. When I almost lost him. Maybe it was denial. Maybe I was still too hurt from our argument, even if I understood now why he'd acted the way he did. Maybe I just wasn't seeing what was right in front of my eyes. "No, he isn't. I don't- I don't know what we are. I don't know what I want us to be. What we should be. I can't explain it. I just…"
"Love him?" I jerk my head up to see my mom's lips quirk up in a smile. "I think I'm supposed to say you're too young, that it's normal to have strong feelings at your age that can be mistaken for love, but you're far from an ordinary teenager. You're out there saving the world and gods know what else. You're dealing with adult situations and your relationship with Hunter has been forged through very different circumstances. Besides, who am I to tell you what you're feeling isn't love?"
"I don't know what it is," I say, voice small and subdued.
"I think you do."
I shrug. "It doesn't matter; he doesn't think we can be together."
"Victoria Hanson!" Mom is giving me a scandalised look. "There is no way I brought you up to give in so easily. If you love him, you fight for him. If you're worried about Blake, that's a conversation you need to have with Blake. But hun, if he cares as much for his brother's happiness as his brother cares for him - and I'm sure he does - then Blake'll be okay."
"You really think so?"
There's a twinkle in her eyes as she smiles at me. "Only one way to find out."