A/N: This chapter is set during and after Test of Trust. Hopefully it's all alright, although like I said last chapter I've managed to muddle things up a bit. In this, Conner decides something about Trent.

Conner paced up and down, too angry and confused to stand still like the others. Mercer was Mesogog. And suddenly it all made sense: Trent's weird behaviour, his dad's 'illness'…Conner had been going mad trying to think of ways to give Trent confidence in himself as a ranger, when it had all been a lie! Just a way of distracting them from finding out the truth.

And Trent hadn't told him. Hadn't even tried. Instead, had promised that there would be no more secrets, that Conner could trust him.

Lies, all of it.

"I always knew Mercer wasn't exactly PTA material, but Mesogog? That's whack," said Ethan.

"I'll tell you what's whack," said Conner, stopping pacing to stand beside Ethan, facing Kira and Dr. O. "Trent not telling us. That's whack."

"Look, I'm as mad about this as you guys are," said Kira, though she didn't look it. "But don't you think we still owe Trent the chance to explain? I mean, maybe there's a really good reason he didn't tell us."

"Well, I hope there is," said Dr. O, as Conner turned away again. "Because if not, I have no choice but to ask Trent to surrender his morpher, and give up being a Power Ranger."

He walked away as a computer beeped across the room, leaving the three of them staring after him. Conner let his words ring in his ears: 'give up being a Power Ranger'. That would solve everything, wouldn't it? No more contact with Trent, no more chances for the other boy to lie again. Conner wouldn't have to worry about falling for anymore tricks if Trent wasn't there. But Kira looked close to tears. "Don't tell me you feel bad for Trent," he said.

"Yeah," said Ethan. "I mean, you want someone you don't trust running around with those powers?"

"Well, I just hate for it to end this way for Trent. I mean, if it were me, and I had to give back my powers, I don't know if I could handle it."

"Oh, now that is ironic," Conner told her. "I remember when you didn't want it to begin at all."

"Yeah right!"

"You gave your gem to me! Until Ethan complained, anyway."

"Well, like you could have been trusted to keep it safe. But you definitely didn't want it, Kira."

"Okay, I admit, at first I wasn't so into it, but…" she shrugged. "Everything's different now." She wandered over to sit down, Ethan following her. "I've changed. Being a ranger's changed all of us. I mean, look at you, Conner. You are in no way the same dumb jock that you were when we started."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Well, you know what I mean."

"And if he doesn't I do," said Ethan. "You have come a long way. After all, I remember you telling me you liked picking up girls in your spare time. The ones who, and I quote, 'smell really good, with the long hair and the make-up'."

"Okay, well…"

"Yeah," said Kira. "Like you'd even have talked to Trent – let alone thought about dating him – unless you were both rangers. You'd have just dismissed him as one of those strange, 'uncool' people, like me and Ethan."

"That's not true!" He would have still hung out with Trent. Maybe. And besides, wouldn't not meeting Trent have been a good thing?

"Oh yeah?" asked Kira.

"Yeah," said Ethan. "I mean, I don't know if you've noticed, but you've done your image serious harm. Hanging out with me, Kira, Trent, Krista…"

"But it's good," said Kira. "You used to be a jerk all the time, but now I can't remember the last time I had to hit you. And, seriously, I think you may have actually gotten more intelligent."

"Hey, I don't know if I'd go that far!"

Conner rolled his eyes. These were supposed to be his friends? "Okay, point made. But what about you, gamer-boy. You're not exactly Mr. Cyber-geek anymore."

Ethan, being Ethan, just grinned. "Yeah…I am pretty cool, aren't I?"

"Don't get carried away. But, it's definitely not embarrassing hanging out with you anymore."

"Okay, now who needs to learn how to give a compliment?" asked Kira.

"Nah, it's okay," Ethan said. "I speak Conner. But you know what still trips me up? Our teacher's a Power Ranger legend."

Kira nodded. "We owe him a lot."

"Yeah. We do."

"Are you guys forgetting who almost ended it for good?" asked Conner, the memory of Dr. O encased in golden amber springing back into his mind. And he could have been stuck like that. If Hayley hadn't found a cure…or if he hadn't woken from his coma…

Now it was Kira's turn to get up and pace. "He was under the gem's spell. It's different now."

"Yeah, now he forgets to tell us Mesogog is his dad." And who knew what else Trent had been hiding and lying about? "Glad he's changed."

"I made a promise!"

Conner sat up as Trent's voice echoed across to them, looking across the lab to where Trent was coming down the stairs, Dr. O behind him. Conner got up to meet him, Kira and Ethan following. "What about your promise to us?" he asked.

Trent jabbed a finger at him. "I never let my feelings get in the way of my ranger duties."

And what was that supposed to mean? That Conner had? If so, it had been because of Trent – and another reason Conner shouldn't trust him. He was about to respond, but Dr. O spoke first: "That may be true, Trent, but you put us in a difficult position. Conner may be right. I just don't know how we can ever trust you again."

Trent took a shaky breath, turning away from them all. Conner felt Ethan and Kira easing away from him, going to sit to one side. Dr. O followed their example, sitting facing them. Conner stayed standing.

"Tell me what I can do to make this right," Trent said, turning back. "I make no excuses for the harm I've caused, but, you know, things haven't been easy for me. We just moved here, I didn't know anyone – and then I find out my dad can disappear into flashes of green light and has some weird, evil lab! I didn't know what it meant, I didn't know what was going on – and I thought if I told you, you'd just think I was crazy. I didn't know about the Power Rangers, remember?"

"What, so you just ended up the White Ranger by accident?"

Trent looked at him, then back to the others. "I never meant to find the white dino gem. It found me. I tried to fight it, but the power was too strong. Conner, you should understand. You've told me what the Triassic power feels like, what the Battelizer's like – if that turned evil, could you resist it? And I tried to tell you. I just couldn't. By the time I realised what was happening it was too late."

Conner shook his head. "That's not the point. What happened before – that's over now. You've had plenty of time to tell us, time you've supposedly been one of us. In which you've supposedly been telling us the truth."

Dr. O nodded. "I have to admit, Trent, that's what I'm wondering too."

Trent just shrugged. "My dad made me promise. He's a good man. He took me in after my parents died, he's never made me feel unwelcome or unwanted. I owe him everything. Anton Mercer's the only family I have, I knew I couldn't break my promise to him – so I decided to join you until he was free of that mutant freak forever."

Conner wasn't convinced. Trent looked at him, then away again. "I freed myself," he said. "By destroying the evil clone of the White Ranger. And how many other monsters have I helped you destroy? I've never let the fact that my father was Mesogog affect me in a fight. Never. My father thought he could handle this on his own, and, so did I. I know now I was wrong."

"Anton Mercer was my friend," said Dr. O. "I understand your loyalty. The question now is, do they?"

From the look on Trent's face, he held almost no hope they would. "Being a ranger is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I don't want to lose that, trust me."

"Yeah, I've heard that one before," said Conner.

"So let me prove it."

An alarm beeped before Conner could ask how, drawing their attention to a screen now showing one of Mesogog's monsters: looking huger and nastier than ever. Dr. O stood up, walking across to stand beside Trent. "Here's your chance."

Conner couldn't believe it. "What? You're not seriously going to trust him?"

"Look at that thing," said Kira. "We have no choice."

"We always have a choice," said Ethan. He stood up and looked at Conner, and for a moment Conner thought it would be like it had been before: him and Ethan, united against the others. But then Ethan walked over to Trent, and Conner couldn't help the sense of betrayal that came when Ethan said, "And I choose that Trent come with us."

Conner watched as Kira got up too, leaving him on one side of the room while the others grouped around Trent. "Thank you," Trent said, to Ethan, and Ethan gave him a nod in return. "I won't let you down."

No choice, whatever Ethan said. Conner walked across, remembering Trent's words about not letting his feelings get in the way of his ranger duties. "I hope not," he told Trent, some part of him hoping that Trent would, just to give Conner another reason.

"Ready?" asked Dr. O.

"Ready!"

----

Dr. O and Trent hadn't reappeared from when the monster had thrown them into the water. But it didn't matter. Conner buzzed with the Triassic power, feeling the strength and confidence it brought pour through him, the power of the other rangers added to his own: blue, yellow, black…he didn't want white. Not white.

The monster. He needed to focus. Reaching out a hand, he twisted the air in a way that he barely understood. Behind him, the monster roared as they went flying up through the Earth's atmosphere, into space where there was nothing to interrupt the destruction.

"Just you and me!" he told the monster.

"You got it," said the monster in return. It didn't sound scared yet. It would learn. What had Kira been saying about needing Trent? Conner could take this thing all on his own.

Just the thought of Trent sent anger pouring through him, and for a moment he felt the Triassic power flicker. He paused, steadying himself, not used to doubt when in Triassic mode. But the part of the Triassic power that came from the White Ranger nagged at his mind. He didn't want it there. He didn't want Trent's help. Didn't need it. He tried to shove it away, block it out from his thoughts.

He swung with his sword. The monster didn't go flying back as usual instead absorbing the blows. Conner struck harder. What was wrong? He could almost feel the Triassic power fading. He clung to it harder. The White power forced itself into his mind, and with it the knowledge that Trent was good. But he didn't want to know. Trent had betrayed him. His next blow carried all his anger with it, but the monster reached up and caught his sword with ease.

"I don't think so," it said, and then lightening crackled out of nowhere. Conner could hear himself yelling, body wracked with pain. He fell, the air shimmered as he returned to Earth. When he hit the ground, the Triassic power had gone.

No. No. The Triassic power couldn't have been defeated. He tried to force himself up, to stand and face the monster. "That was a long way down."

He knees collapsed under him. The monster stood above him, gloating. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

Yells came from behind the monster. Dr. O, Kira and Ethan ran at it, sabers drawn. The monster turned, barely moving as it blasted energy at them, smashing them against the ground.

"No!" yelled Conner, body still refusing to do anything but make him want to cry out in pain. "Leave them alone!"

"Very well," said the monster, turning back to face him. "I'll destroy you."

He raised his arm, it's spike-covered surface glinting in the sunlight. Conner forced himself back, but then couldn't do anything but watch as it swung towards him. That thing had knocked him out of Triassic Power. It would destroy him. He closed his eyes, unable to watch it fy towards him.

"Not so fast!"

His eyes flew open, in time to see a white blur solidify in front of him, staggering with the force of the blow but catching the arm and holding it tight. Conner gaped up. He hadn't even seen Trent coming! Trent staggered again as the monster tried to free himself, and Conner drew his legs back to avoid tripping Trent.

"Step aside!" said the monster. "It's the Red Ranger I want."

But Trent just stood there, somehow holding the monster firm. "The rangers are a team," he said. "If you're going to destroy somebody, you better start with me."

"Woah," muttered Conner, feeling shaken not just by what had happened but the sincerity in Trent's voice. As he did, the monster finally managed to pull free, stumbling back from Trent.

"Now where's all the tough talk?" said Trent, hand going to pull free his Drago Sword. Conner pushed himself up, strength finally returning to his legs.

"I'm through talking," said the monster.

"Good," said Trent, holding up his Drago Sword. "Because so am I."

He disappeared into a white blur, striking the monster again and again. It spun, falling to the ground. The others reached Conner's side as it did, and Trent came to a halt before them. "All together, guys!"

Conner's Tyranno Staff appeared in his hand before Trent had finished talking. The monster staggered to its feet, and turned to face the Z-Rex Blaster. "Oh, boy."

"Ready!" cried Dr. O.

"Aim!" said Trent.

"Fire!" finished Conner, and watched as energy went spinning towards the monster, sending it slumping to the ground.

----

"Bro, you were awesome out there!"

Conner stood to one side, listening to Kira and Ethan congratulate Trent. And they were right: Trent had saved them. Not just saved them, Trent had saved him. And so far hadn't dropped the slightest hint that Conner should have done anything but expect it, just as if it was something he did every day.

In a way, it was. They worked as a team, helping each other. Didn't change the fact that this time Conner had screwed up and Trent been the one to save him. Or that the others now clearly felt more than ever that Trent was part of the team.

From across the lab, Trent's voice cut into his thoughts. "Thanks Dr. O. Like I said, I'm in this for good. I mean, that is if you'll have me."

"Well, I vote yes," said Kira.

"Me too," said Ethan.

"Conner?" asked Dr. O.

Conner sighed, then turned around to face them. It didn't matter, he reminded himself, how he felt about Trent. This was about more than that. "Just one question," he asked. "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, there's a very real chance you'll have to face Mesogog one day."

Trent winced at the thought, but still met his eyes. "If Mesogog wins, my father's lost forever. Mesogog has to be defeated. No matter what."

Conner nodded. "Then yes."

----

"Ethan!" Conner jogged after him as he walked away from Dr. O's house. "Wait up! I need to talk to you."

Ethan hesitated, and for a moment Conner thought he'd go on walking, but then he spun round. "What?"

"I just…" Conner hesitated, wondering how to phrase what he wanted to say, and in the end decided to just come out with it. "Are you still mad at me? Because sometimes you seem fine, but then sometimes…" He remembered the look Ethan had shot him on going to stand by Trent before the fight, and the betrayal he'd felt. "Sometimes it feels like you hate me."

Ethan made a noise of frustration, hissing breath between his teeth. "You don't get it, do you?"

"What?"

"Look, you know what I thought when I realised Trent hadn't even told you about his dad? I thought, good, maybe now he'll know what it feels like."

That was ridiculous. "Dude, that's not the same. What Trent did – "

"You're right. They're not the same." Ethan didn't look like he meant that in a good way. "Trent didn't tell us because he was scared about what would happen to his dad. The only person you were thinking about, was you! You didn't think about how it would make me feel, how it would make Trent feel…"

Conner guessed that answered the question of whether Ethan was still mad at him. Only now he wished he still didn't know. "That's not…" Not what? Not true? "It's just because…" Because what? Because he hadn't wanted Ethan to freak out and post the news on the internet? Because he hadn't wanted Ethan to stop being his friend? He couldn't say that.

Ethan just shook his head. "See, you can't even defend yourself."

"Well, I'm sorry! I've said I'm sorry, what more do you want? And, Ethan, you know…" What was it that Dr. O had said about attack being the best form of defence? "Maybe I was only thinking about myself, but you're doing the same now! This hasn't exactly been easy, you know. I mean, jeez, being gay is difficult and weird enough, without Trent going evil and then not and now this. And maybe I was a bad friend not to tell you, but friendship works two ways, you know."

Ethan didn't respond, just looked at him, arms folded and face unforgiving.

But then he turned away, staring off into the trees. "I just felt so stupid," he said. "Like I should have noticed. And…you were going through this massive thing, and you told Kira and Krista, but not me? Like I wasn't important enough to know."

"Dude, no." In a way it was easier, talking to Ethan's back. "It wasn't that."

Ethan shrugged. "Well…I don't know."

"What?"

"I don't know if I'm still mad at you! I mean, sometimes I like you, and then I remember and feel angry again. What do you want me to do?"

Not remembering would be nice. "Do you think you'll ever stop being angry?"

"Do you think you'll ever stop being annoying?"

"I thought you said I'd improved."

Ethan turned back to face him, mouth hinting at a smile. "Dude, you'll always be annoying."

"Very funny."

"Not really." He was silent for a while, staring at the ground. A clattering came from the house behind them: someone in the kitchen, Dr. O or Kira or Trent. Eventually, Ethan said, "You're my best friend. And I guess I felt like…I wasn't the same to you, if you didn't tell me something like that."

"Dude, you are."

"What about Trent? I mean, you're still going to be spending tons of time with him, aren't you?"

"Oh, come on. You can't think that after everything, I'd still…"

"I thought you'd forgiven him!"

Hopefully Trent didn't think the same. "We need him on the team, I know that. And I know he's a good ranger, and that we can trust him in battle." Though Conner would still be watching him closely if it ever did come to fighting Mesogog. "But, you know, he told me he wasn't keeping secrets. He told me…he told me so much, and now I find out it was all lies. I'm not angry at him, I get why, but…I just can't trust him again."

"You can't even try?"

"Well, see, the thing is? It seems like every time I turn round there's something else to forgive him for, a new reason I shouldn't trust him. And I think I'm maybe just going to take the hint."

"Are you going to tell him that?"

Conner looked back towards the house. "I'll tell him if he asks. But I think he'll probably guess for himself."

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews for the last chapter! The next chapter should be the last, and hopefully it won't take me too long to get finished.