Wes, Eric, and all other characters from Power Rangers belong to Disney/Saban. I am using them without permission, however I have not and don't expect to make money from this.
Anyone you don't recognize is mine.

Rated T: language, violence, sexual content including m/m sexual relationships.

A/N: This is a response to the Power Rangers Slash Write 22 challenge, a slash-oriented romance theme challenge. A link to the challenge site on LiveJournal is in my profile.

Anyone not familiar with Power Rangers SPD may wonder why the Sam and Mirloc storylines in previous chapters seem to wander off into nowhere - actually they wander into SPD the series and do not directly involve Wes and Eric, so are only mentioned in passing here. Not the best story-telling, maybe, so apologies for that.

Reviews are always appreciated.

Turns in the Road

Premonitions

- - -

Dark. It was dark out here in the steel and concrete canyons of downtown Silver Hills, dark and silent. He shivered in a thin, cool breeze and glanced up at the cold light of a full moon, floating so far overhead. The quiet was heavy with suspense as he crept to a corner and peered around, and then nodded to his partner. They continued the search. For what... he couldn't quite remember.

There, something was moving! Two glowing points of light watched them from a form that was only a deeper darkness in the shadows, outlined by a swirl of black. The lights moved, coming at them, and with a deep feeling of dread he realized they were eyes. Eyes he had seen before, somewhere.

"Watch out!"

But the warning was too late, as something slammed into him, driving out his breath in a gasp as his back hit a solid wall and he fell. The smell of blood filled his nostrils; he raised his head and stretched out a hand, helpless as his partner and lover screamed...

Eric woke suddenly and tried to move, but his muscles took a second to obey as he opened his eyes to the darkness of his own bedroom. A dimly-glimpsed movement startled him and he struck out with long-trained reflexes.

"Hey! Watch it, it's only me." Wes's voice, and Wes sitting up beside him, an arm still raised to block the punch Eric had aimed in his direction.

"Jesus..." Eric rubbed his face, trying to clear away the haze of sleep. "Sorry. Did I hurt you?"

"Nah. You're going to have to move faster than that to hurt me." Wes's tone was light and there seemed to be a smile on his shadowed face, but Eric thought he sensed something - not wrong, exactly, but off.

"What are you doing awake?" he asked. "What time is it, anyway?"

"Just after three." Wes's distance vision was still good enough to read the clock on their nightstand without glasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, Eric's was not. "You were muttering something in your sleep," Wes added after a moment.

"Yeah? What?"

"Just... muttering." Wes's voice became teasing. "Why? Were you dreaming about some hot-looking guy? Who was it?"

"Now you're dreaming," Eric grumbled, and rolled away onto his side. "C'mon, let's go back to sleep."

"You're no fun." But Wes spooned up behind him, an arm around Eric's waist, a kiss pressed on his shoulder.

It took longer than he liked for the warmth of Wes's body to dispel the last chilly remnants of a fading dream. For a moment Eric remembered that Wes had never really said what had waked him, and wondered why that seemed significant - but the thought was soon lost in sleep.

- - -

Wes tried to hide a yawn behind his hand, and then tried to turn the gesture into an innocent rub of his chin. Not that most of the Bio-Lab board members seated around the long conference room table noticed or cared - and Eric, of course, saw right through him and gave him a part-mocking, part-amused, part-irritated look.

And now Wes was trying to hide a smile, as the thought came to him of how many of these meetings he had sat through over the years. How many times had he yawned, inwardly or outwardly, while listening to someone drone on about stock values and mergers and product lines and consumer interest? There had been a time when he would show his boredom and not particularly care what anyone thought. Except Dad, of course. Now - now the heedless, carefree young man he had been was gone. He was the one at the head of the table now, and he had actually started to care about stock values, mergers, products, and consumers. Wes frowned slightly, feeling old, and felt Eric's eyes on him again.

No, today it wasn't boredom; the problem was the combination of an interrupted night's sleep and an inability to concentrate on the business at hand. That dream - Wes frowned again. He hadn't been able to fall asleep again for a while, despite Eric's reassuringly living, breathing presence beside him. He had been tempted to tell Eric about it, but that would have just kept both of them awake even longer. No, it had been just a dream, and not worth talking about. Besides, Eric would have just laughed at him for letting a nightmare wake him up.

At last the meeting broke up. Wes stood and stretched, grimacing at the stiffness in his back that sitting for long periods caused him these days. Maybe more time in the gym, or a daily walk - but he already had so little spare time.

Eric had stayed as the room emptied, eying Wes with his old critical expression. "Were we boring you?" he asked.

Wes chuckled. "Yeah, you always bore me. Come on, let's grab some lunch."

It turned into a working meal, as Wes had expected. They both had little spare time during the day, and both preferred to keep their personal life separate from Bio-Lab and not discuss business at home. Lunch together, when they could manage it, gave both of them a chance to catch up on each other's workday concerns. Although they had taken over the running of Bio-Lab as partners some division of labor and responsibility was inevitable, and it had been Wes who became more involved in the business and scientific aspects while Eric had stayed in charge of the Silver Guardians, which had grown to become a major component of the company.

"Got the latest report from SPD," Eric was saying, with the scowl he had been wearing for the last few weeks whenever the topic of their associates in Newtech City came up. "Cruger thinks things are heating up."

"Yeah? Do they need any help?"

Eric's tone was sarcastic. "If they do, we'll probably find out a month later in a status report, just like everything else."

It wasn't news to Wes that Eric was angry with Cruger, Kat Manx, and even with Sky. Wes wasn't too happy with that situation himself lately, to tell the truth. First they had found out a few months ago that a ten-year-old boy named Sam with the power of teleportation had turned up and been informally adopted by SPD - not from anyone directly concerned, but from Lyn Tate who had heard it from Sky. And that wasn't the worst of it. Still, he was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

"They're busy, Eric. Maybe it just never occurred to Doggie or Kat to tell us about Sam."

"Busy, huh?" Eric tapped his own chest. "I'm busy, too. So are you. But we both stuck our damn necks out trying to find that kid. And we kept on trying for years, even after his mother went back to her parents last year saying she didn't know where he was. But Cruger can't be bothered to tell us he turned up? And that he joined the team as an adult from the future? Not that I understand that one," he added with a note of disgust. "Damn time travel, anyway. Gives me a headache."

Wes basically agreed about Cruger, but didn't want to say so. "I know Lyn doesn't want Sam - young Sam, anyway - knowing about his father until he's older. I wonder if she ever told Sky that Sam is his cousin."

"Serve him right if she didn't."

"It's not Sky's fault. He didn't know we had any interest in Sam."

"But he knew we had an interest in Mirloc." Eric's mouth tightened and his brows contracted: the only signs of the hurt Wes knew was the real reason for his anger.

"That's not fair. Sky knew very little about his father's death, just like he never knew much about how he and Syd and Bridge got their powers. Cruger-"

"You're right, it's Cruger's fault more than anyone else's. Damn secretive bastard. The Sam thing - fine, whatever. But Mirloc - he killed Nick. And I find out he escaped and came back to Earth and that Sky recaptured him from a goddamn monthly status report. I shoulda been there. You too. We had the right to be there, or - or at least someone could have picked up the phone and called us about it."

"Hey, I don't like it either." Wes reached across the table and took Eric's hands - or rather his clenched fists - in his own, and gently tried to pry them open. "But at least Sky was the one who beat Mirloc in the end. He has a better right to avenge Nick's death than either of us."

"Well - yeah, I guess," Eric grumbled, hunching his shoulders in a stiff shrug.

Wes smiled. "Try to relax, honey. Remember your blood pressure."

"Very funny." But Eric's expression softened slightly and he curled his fingers around Wes's in a momentary caress before reaching for his fork and stabbing his potato.

Time for another change of subject, preferably one that got them away from SPD entirely. "Anything new on the Klein armored car robberies?" Wes asked. The Klein case had been of particular concern to Eric, he knew, since the thieves had managed to hijack two extremely valuable loads of precious metals without leaving any useable clues, resulting in considerable embarrassment to the Silver Hills police and the Silver Guardians.

"No. But we've agreed with the Klein management to plant a Guardian on every car from now on, riding shotgun. That way we've got someone on the spot."

"Hm. I don't like the idea of one Guardian trying to take on a whole gang."

Eric made an impatient gesture. "They won't. Their instructions are to escape if possible, resist only if feasible, and mainly - call for backup."

"The hijackers have been able to get away clean before the cops or the Guardians could reach them before. What makes you think we'll catch up to them now?"

Eric smiled grimly. "Because they'll be calling me. With the TF Eagle I can get there in minutes."

"You?" Wes frowned.

Eric's expression turned into a glare. "Don't even think about telling me I'm too old to go into action again. The Quantum Ranger still has plenty of fire left."

Wes shook his head and grinned. "Believe me, I know that. I was going to say I want to go too."

"Riding on the Eagle's wing?" Eric looked skeptical. "I dunno, it's not that easy to hang on at speed."

"Now who's calling who 'too old'?"

"Well... If we're together when the call comes, okay."

"Good." Wes took another bite of his hamburger and said around it, "Man, morphing again. Can't wait. I hope the suits'll still fit."

Eric smirked. "Yours won't if you keep stuffing your face like that."

Wes made a face at him and then got back to business. "Who do you have in charge of the operation?"

"I'm planning on promoting Kay Miller and letting her run it."

"Kay?" Steve Miller was their second-in-command of the Guardians, but the organization had grown beyond the abilities of Eric and Steve to run every part of it, and over the last years they had put several lieutenants in place. Steve's daughter Kay had followed in her father's footsteps, joined the Guardians, and become one of its most valuable officers. But if Eric was planning to promote her... "Just be sure she's the best qualified. I mean, it would be great to have a woman lieutenant, not to mention a lesbian, but under the - er - circumstances we could be accused of favoritism. Not to mention nepotism."

Eric's eyes turned hard. "All I care about is having the best person to get the job done, keep our people safe, and protect the city. If anyone wants to complain because we happen to promote a gay woman who happens to be Steve's daughter, they can go straight to-"

"Whoa," Wes interrupted, trying not to laugh. "If you're sure Kay's the right person for the job, I'm happy."

"Okay, then." Eric bit into his sandwich as if attacking it, taking a moment to calm down, and then another moment. He seemed almost hesitant as he continued, "Uh - I guess you heard Kay's getting married?"

"No." Wes looked up, surprised. "I knew she had a girlfriend. They're getting married?"

"Yeah. Next year." Eric seemed to be avoiding his eyes. "They'll probably invite us."

"Great! I love a good wedding." A thought struck Wes. "Do you want to go? Or not?"

"Why wouldn't I want to go?"

"Well, I - I realize you're not a big fan of marriage. And - and of gay marriage."

Eric shrugged and put down the sandwich. "It's okay for some people, I guess."

"Yeah, I think it's great. For Kay and her girlfriend, I mean."

"Yeah. But not for - for other people. Like us. I guess."

Eric poked half-heartedly at the food he had been wolfing a moment ago, still not looking up. Wes hardly noticed as he fought back an unexpectedly sharp pang of disappointment. It wasn't like he hadn't already known Eric didn't want marriage, but to hear the words - it bothered him, enough to make him realize that he had been hoping... But what was the point? Be happy with what we have, and that's plenty, he told himself, and hoisted a smile onto his face.

- - -

As it happened, they were together when the summons came in the form of Kay Miller's voice on Eric's cellphone, breathless but professional. "We're on our way," he said in reply, and snapped the phone shut.

"Who was it?" Wes's voice asked from behind him.

Eric turned. They had been having dinner when the phone rang, and he cast one regretful glance at the uneaten chicken parmesan on his plate. "That was Kay. They need us."

Their eyes met for a moment before Wes smiled. "Just like old times, huh?" he asked softly.

"Like old times."

- - -

Dusk had settled in and turned everything soft and dim as they flew over the highway north of Silver Hills. Eric took another glance at Wes and saw him apparently hanging onto his perch on the wing without difficulty. He allowed himself a moment of annoyance; he could have gone faster if he wasn't afraid of throwing Wes off. No point in thinking about that, though; he returned his attention to searching for any sign of the hijacked armored car. The distress signal the Guardian they had planted was transmitting was close; they must be almost on top of it.

"Look, that's got to be it!" Wes was pointing to a spot just ahead, and Eric saw it too now, the reinforced van pulled into a small thicket off the side of the road. Bringing Wes hadn't been a mistake after all; Eric knew he would probably have missed it.

No time to worry about his less-than-perfect eyesight - as they swooped over the car Eric called, "Now!" and retracted the cockpit cover of the Eagle, following Wes in a leap down to the ground. It was just as exhilarating as always - maybe more since it had been so long - going into battle, feeling the power of the suit, as if the last twenty-five years had been wiped away - if only for a few moments.

Eric took in the situation as he fell towards the ground: two men with hands up, one of them Guardian Jackson, surrounded by three men with guns. Faces turned up to them, pale against the darker ground, expressions of surprise just registering before he and Wes landed in their midst. Beside the car a darker shadow moved - but there was no time for a closer look as they plunged into the fight.

Three guns swiveled to aim at them. Eric chopped at one man's wrist with the side of his hand while throwing a sweeping kick at another, and saw both weapons go flying into the air. Wes had no trouble with the third; he grabbed his opponent's gun arm with one hand and punched him with the other. Eric backhanded one of men he had disarmed while Wes side-kicked the other. And as quickly as that, the three hijackers were lying in a groaning heap.

"Anyone hurt?" Wes asked. The driver and the Guardian both shook their heads.

"Commander, there's another one," Guardian Jackson said urgently. "I couldn't get a good look, but-"

"Get these guys handcuffed and call in," Eric interrupted. "Tell Lieutenant Miller the situation's under control. She should be here with backup in a few minutes. We'll find the other one."

"Yes, sir."

"I don't see anything," Wes muttered as they both took a look around. "The fourth guy must have bolted."

"Let's check the cargo," Eric said, and moved towards the back of the armored car.

"I didn't think this would be so easy," Wes commented as he followed.

"Are you complaining?" Eric reached up to pull the loading doors open.

Beside him, Wes smacked his fist into the palm of his other hand, and Eric could hear the grin in his voice. "I wouldn't mind more of a workout."

"If you're really looking for a challenge, I can promise I'll put up a better fight than my men did."

They both looked up at the unfamiliar voice speaking in an almost casual tone from the dark interior of the car. Eric could see a jumble of crates, some broken open, here and there the gleam of light off bars of metal as his helmet boosted the visibility. The gold, platinum, and other precious metals in this shipment, he realized.

But who had spoken? In the shadows at the back of the compartment, was that something darker moving? Eric blinked uncertainly with a sudden, puzzling sensation of déjà vu. "Who are you?" he called, hoping to locate the voice.

But it seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere. "I'm your worst nightmare."

Wes snorted. "Not very original, are you?"

Surprisingly, the voice was amused. "Ah, but it fits me better than it does some human in a mask and cape. I really am - Nightmare!"

Something definitely moved this time. Eric tensed as someone stepped from the shadows and stood for a moment, a tall man, long black hair flowing over his shoulders, a silver mask over half his face, his one good eye glaring while maniacal laughter rolled out around them.

"Ransik?" Wes gasped.

With a snarl their old enemy launched himself at them, leaping from the car to hit Wes feet first, sending him flying backwards to land hard on his back. Eric shook off the almost paralyzing shock of surprise and jumped forward, trying not to listen to the inner voice reminding him that this man had once beaten him without breaking a sweat, had once beaten Wes and all his Time Force teammates together, so what chance did two middle-aged, out-of-practice Rangers have?

A beam crackled past him and hit the mutant in a small shower of sparks. Jackson, trying to help. Wes was struggling to get up. Eric pivoted and side-kicked, ducked under a wild blow, half-turned and kicked out again. Ransik staggered; maybe he wasn't as strong as before, even though he didn't look any older. Eric drew the Quantum Defender and fired point-blank but Ransik knocked his arm aside at the last moment. Eric swung a punch and felt it connect with a jolt he felt all the way up his arm. Ransik went down but it wasn't enough; with a roar the mutant was up again, and flying at him--

--And Conwing hit him hard, rubbery white tentacles winding around his arms and chest. Eric yelled in shock and fear, felt the Defender drop from his fingers, struggled to free himself and fell to the ground with that leering, inhuman face right above his. He heard a shout and saw a flash and a blur of red. Wes, firing his Chronoblaster and kicking Conwing off and away. With an effort Eric rolled up and grabbed his weapon in suddenly trembling hands.

He saw Wes switch to Chronosabers and converted the Defender to sword mode, desperately wondering whether Freeze Mode would work - if Conwing went giant they were cooked - no Megazord, no Q-Rex, no guarantee the Mega Battle would still work... The two of them circled their opponent warily, with Jackson watching from a short distance, looking shaky but ready to back them up as best he could.

Conwing drew himself up and somehow in, his form becoming thinner and darker until he was only a shadow wrapped in the swirl of a black cloak which dissolved into dusky mist. And with the echo of mocking laughter he was gone.

They just stared for a few moments, the only sound their own harsh breathing. Finally Jackson asked, "What the hell was that?"

Eric tried to force calm into his voice. "I dunno. But I don't think it was Ransik. Or Conwing."

"Yeah, definitely not Ransik. It was - some kind of illusion," Wes said, his own voice tense and strained. "But that guy - Nightmare, I guess he calls himself - seems to be gone now."

"That's not all that's gone." It was the armored car driver, now standing in the open back doorway of the truck. "I don't know how, but the platinum from our shipment is missing."

- - -

"He teleported the stuff away," Wes said. "And then he left the same way."

The words hung heavily between them in the quiet of their living room. Being home should have been reassuring - but despite the hours that had passed since the fight on the highway Wes was still slightly on edge, almost expecting to see Ransik or Conwing or someone worse (if possible) pop out of thin air to attack them.

"Yeah," Eric said finally. "Which brings us back to - who was he? What was he? A leftover mutant? Or..."

"I don't think so. He's gotta be an alien. They do exist in other places than Newtech City."

"An alien criminal, here in Silver Hills. Great."

"We probably should contact Doggie Cruger," Wes said hesitantly.

"Why?" Eric's eyes narrowed. "They can't spare any of the SPD Rangers, and we don't need their help anyway. The only reason this character got away is because he caught us by surprise. Next time, we'll be ready for him."

Privately, Wes allowed himself a moment of doubt. But - they were both experienced Rangers and had fought tougher enemies than Nightmare was likely to be. And Eric had a point; SPD had their hands full at the moment with Gruumm intensifying his attacks on Newtech City. Besides - stiff and sore as Wes suspected he'd be in the morning, that fight had been the most exciting thing that had happened to him in years. Yeah, next time they'd know what to expect, and they'd come out on top, the same way they always did. But that would be a battle for another day, and there were other kinds of excitement he could think of at the moment.

Wes got to his feet and held a hand down to pull Eric up and into a hug and a lingering kiss. While their sex life had always been good, inevitably over the years they had fallen into routine and maybe even taken each other for granted sometimes - but tonight, after the shared danger, the fight at each other's sides, and with the prospect of more to come, all of the old thrill came flooding back as they touched.

"You know, you looked pretty hot in that suit," Wes murmured when their lips parted.

"Yeah? You weren't so bad yourself." Eric smirked. "We still got it, huh?"

"Sure do."

They kissed again, this time with more passion, letting it last and grow more intense until Eric stepped back, smoky-eyed, and said, "It's time for bed."

Wes grinned. "I hope you took your Viagra."

"Funny. Very funny."

- - -

TBC...