Bad Days

Taylor stomped into the house. She spotted Eric in the kitchen already working on dinner. Without a word she stalked to the bedroom to change out of her uniform. Back in the living room, Eric was setting the table now. Taylor dropped onto the couch and turned on the TV, flipping through the channels. Once she heard the plates being set on the table, she got up, leaving the TV on some kind of reality show.

A muscle was twitching in Eric's jaw as Taylor sat down. He shot an annoyed look at the TV, but didn't say anything. Taylor made a face at the chicken, spinach and mash on the plates.

'I don't like spinach,' she pointed out, poking it with her fork.

'But it's on the list of vegetables we're both willing to eat and I do believe you were the one who bought it doing groceries,' Eric grumbled.

'Don't mean I feel like eating it today,' Taylor shot back.

'Shouldn't have bought it fresh then, it was about to turn.'

Taylor huffed, but started eating. Eric shrugged and focused on his own plate. Tension grew in his shoulders at Taylor's childish exaggeration of eating the spinach while in the background Paris Hilton's voice was grating his nerves coming from the TV. His knuckles had turned white around the cutlery by the time they finished eating.

'Could you get the laundry from the dryer and fold them while I take care of the dishes?' Eric asked as he gathered the empty plates.

'What do I look like, your maid?' Taylor snapped.

'It's a normal question,' Eric snapped back, dropping the dishes into the sink with more force than necessary. 'It's your clothes too.'

'I've worked all day and I don't need you getting on my case about food and chores!'

'And what do you think I've been doing all day? Poking my nose or something?' Eric demanded, turning to face her.

'It's not all about you, Eric!'

'Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot the world revolved around you and you have a monopoly on bad days.'

'I see how it is. Bye,' Taylor glared at him, grabbing some tennis shoes and her car keys before storming out of the house.

'Very mature!' Eric called after her and stalked to the remote to kill the TV before returning to the kitchen to do the dishes.

Once those were done, he turned his attention to the laundry. Clothes folded and placed in the closet, he dropped onto the couch with a beer and found some movie on TV to watch. By eleven he picked up his phone and called Taylor's number. Anger rose again when he heard it ringing and pulled it from between the couch pillows.

After a calming breath, Eric got up and went to bed. Taylor would be back when she had calmed down.

In Turtle Cove, Taylor parked her car in a remote spot and trudged up the hill in large, angry steps. A shadow swooping overhead with a friendly cry calmed her down a little.

'Hey buddy,' she greeted the Eagle when she reached the top. 'I've missed you. Maybe we can fly again tomorrow, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.'

The Eagle let out a soft cry in comfort and Taylor smiled, stroking his beak. She chuckled when she spotted the questioning gaze in his eye.

'Eric was being an ass and I needed to get away,' she explained.

The former ranger huffed at the gentle nudge she got from her zord, but relented after a moment.

'Okay, maybe I was being a little difficult too,' Taylor agreed.

She turned away from the Eagle and dropped down onto the grass, staring down at Turtle Cove. The Eagle settled by her, exactly like they had done just a few years ago when she first became a ranger. The city was peaceful and Taylor found her restlessness ebbing away.

'It just still scares me,' she finally whispers. 'I depended on myself for so long and now the idea of having to depend on just myself again terrifies me. Especially on when I'm not feeling comfortable in my own skin and I know just one look or touch from Eric could fix it. And I know I can do the same for him.'

The Eagle made a soft sound and Taylor snorted.

'I know you like him. I like him too. Hell, I've even gone as far as admitting I love him. I'll go home and make up with him in a little while. I'd just like to sit here with you a little bit longer.'

Taylor learned against the Eagle and together they kept watch over Turtle Cove.

Eric slammed his alarm off the moment it started beeping and rolled out of bed. He'd barely gotten a wink of sleep, being too acutely aware of the empty bed next to him. Though it was early morning, he was getting worried now. After only a moment's hesitation, he picked up his phone and dialled Cole's number.

'Hey Eric,' Cole's voice sounded tired, but suspiciously awake.

'Morning, Cole. I didn't wake you, did I?'

'No, I just got home. There was an emergency case at the animal shelter and I stayed overnight to provide care. Just got relieved so I could shower and get some sleep.'

'Is the animal going to make it?'

'Not sure yet, but things are looking brighter now he's made it through the night,' Cold answered. 'But I'm sure you're not calling because of that.'

'No, you're right,' Eric agreed. 'I was wondering if you had heard from Taylor?'

'Taylor? No, I haven't heard from her. Did something happen?'

'We had an argument over nothing last night and she stormed out,' Eric explained. 'She hadn't come home yet and I might be getting worried.'

'Have you tried calling her?'

'Yeah, she left her phone here.'

'Okay, let me check the guestroom for a moment, our couch is empty. But I don't think I spotted her car outside.'

Eric listened to the sounds of Cole walking up the stairs and quietly opening a door.

'No one's in the guestroom,' Cole informed. 'I could ask Alyssa if Taylor has been by?'

'No, don't. She'll just worry and stress over it. I'd hate for thing to go wrong on our account. If Taylor hasn't shown up by tonight, you can ask her. But for now, let's keep her worry free.'

'Okay, if you say so. Keep me posted.'

'I will,' Eric promised before cutting the connection.

He shot the empty bed one last took before starting his day.

Taylor blinked her eyes open, feeling stiff. She cursed when she realized she was still on the hilltop at Turtle Cove. The Eagle had provided her shelter to sleep with his wing and she was grateful for it, but it was never her intention to fall asleep.

'Thanks, buddy,' she told the Eagle as she got up and stretched.

He nodded at her and watched as she took at glance at her watch before patting down her pockets. Taylor cursed again and the Eagle cocked his head.

'No phone,' she explained. 'And I don't have time to go home before I have to report to work. Oh well.'

Taylor said goodbye to the Eagle and made her way back to her car. On base she got a spare uniform from her locker and quickly changed. Her first stop was at the hanger where her bird was. The mechanic on duty looked up and shook his head.

'The part hasn't come in yet, ma'am,' he reported, saluting her. 'And if it does, she won't be operational to fly today.'

'I'm sure they can find me a new mountain of paperwork to get through,' Taylor sighed, returning the salute.

'Sorry,' the mechanic provided, but Taylor waved it away as the left the hanger.

On her way to her office, she ran into the base commander. Taylor froze and saluted him. He returned the salute and asked for a report on her bird. As she relayed the information given to her, a spark of inspiration hit her.

'Sir, since I'm grounded yet another day. Could I possibly take the afternoon off?'

'I don't see why not.'

With a smile, Taylor made her way to her office, a plan forming as she walked.

Taylor frowned when she parked behind Eric's truck, but then she remembered he had plans with Wes sometime this week and probably got picked up. She collected the grocery bags from the back of her car and walked up to the house, whistling. She struggled a little getting her keys in due to her arms being full, but triumphantly kicked open the door.

The grocery bags fell to the floor when was swept up in Eric's arms.

'Why aren't you at work?' she demanded.

Eric quickly pulled back, the relieve that was on his face quickly hid itself behind a blank mask.

'I can do what I want with my days off,' he defended, folding his arms.

A soft smile crept up Taylor's lips.

'I didn't mean it like that,' she placated. 'You surprised me, because I didn't expect you to be home. Now I don't get to surprise you,' she explained, pointing at the groceries.

Eric raised and eyebrow at her, but dropped his arms again.

'I was going to cook you dinner as an apology for last night.'

'Go on.'

'My bird is grounded for maintenance and they need to replace a part that had to be ordered, but hasn't come in yet. So, I've been grounded for longer than I would've wanted to. And not being able to fly has been getting to me. You've been making me feel better at home, but I was so caught up in that, that I didn't pick up on you being in a bad mood too yesterday. I didn't realise that maybe it was my turn to take care of your mental health for a moment.'

'You make it sound like I needed a shrink,' Eric pointed out.

'Maybe you do, seeing as you're dating me,' Taylor joked. 'But you were clearly uncomfortable with something yesterday and I wasn't helping. So, sorry for being a bitch and worrying you?'

'Who said I was worried?'

Taylor raised an eyebrow at him and Eric relented.

'Fine, yes, I was worried. When you didn't come home last night and you left your phone so I couldn't reach you, I barely got a few hours of sleep all together because you weren't there.'

'I was with the Eagle,' Taylor explained. 'I never meant to fall asleep, but I did.'

'I'm glad you're back in one piece.'

Taylor smiled and stepped closer. 'Good, can we kiss and make up now? And then we can put away those groceries and you can tell me what was bothering you yesterday.'

Eric happily pulled her close again and crushed his lips to hers. Once oxygen became an issue Taylor pulled away, she gave Eric a quick peck on the lips before pulling out of his arms and turning to the groceries. Without a word, Eric helped her pick them up, shooting her a smile when he realised what she was planning to make.

When everything was put away, they settled on the couch and Taylor nuzzled close to Eric.

'So, what was up yesterday?' she asked.

'It doesn't matter,' Eric shrugged.

'It does to me, now spill,' Taylor demanded, poking his side.

'We had the first fitting of our monkey suits for Wes's wedding,' Eric shrugged and Taylor cringed.

'But the wedding is months away!'

'Turns out tailored suits take time to make,' Eric sighed. 'His old buddies were there too, the ones he asked to be ushers.'

'So, you go to be dressed up in a suit, being poked by needles and had to endure a bunch of snobs? No wonder you were in a bad mood yesterday. You endured worse in the span of a few hours than me being grounded for a few days.'

'And when Wes was away in the dressing room, the snobs started talking about his bachelor party. They've decided we're taking him golfing.'

'And you're the next Tiger Woods, Taylor giggled. 'Spending all your free time on the green.'

Eric rolled his eyes, but smiled. 'I'll play nice for Wes.'

'I have no doubt,' Taylor agreed, jumping up and grabbing hold or Eric's arm, pulling on it.

'What are you doing?'

'After such a horrible day yesterday, I believe the only remedy to truly make you feel better is sex,' Taylor explained.

Eric didn't need to be told twice and stood up, letting Taylor drag him to the bedroom.

Eric woke up in an empty bed, the room had darkened and the smell of dinner was waving in. He rolled over and saw it was 7 pm. He rolled out of bed and slipped on his jean and T-shirt that lay on the floor. Taylor turned to him with a smile when he walked into the living room.

'Why'd you let me sleep so long?' Eric asked, rubbing his face.

'You looked cute and you probably needed it after not sleeping last night. Plus, I got to have dinner ready and sort of still surprise you,' Taylor shrugged.

Eric laughed and walked over to wrap her in his arms. 'I love you.'

'Yeah? Moody tantrums and all?' Taylor teased.

'Moody tantrums make you you,' Eric promised. 'They might not be easy, but I'll take it. But I thought you were grilling steak?'

'It was done ten minutes ago and is being kept warm in the oven. Hungry?'

'Starving,' Eric nodded.