Chapter 59: All of Me

Ashley was walking with Kimberly in the park watching the kids play with a smile on her face. "How did you sleep last night?" Kimberly asked. Ashley shrugged.

"The bed was a little big," she signed.

Kimberly sighed a little to see her signing so much again. "You really love him don't you?" Kimberly asked. Ashley bit her lower lip and she blinked her eyes to keep herself from being emotional.

"Love isn't the problem," Ashley signed, "I wish I completely understood this whole 'bonding of the souls'. The fact that I no longer have a single thought without him knowing, sometimes I don't even have to say anything he just KNOWS what I want."

"Well how horrible of him to know what you want," Kimberly quipped.

Ashley rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "I have a feeling what you don't like about it is the most is Andros knows maybe a little too much now?" Kimberly suggested gently. Ashley stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets. "Ah cutting all sort of communication now," she commented. Ashley closed her eyes and she stopped walking. "Hey…" Kimberly said gently as she rubbed Ashley's arms, "It's okay to be scared."

"Why?" Ashley signed, "Why is this so scary?"

"Because it's real," Kimberly replied, "And it hurts because it's real."

Ashley let out a deep breath. "Ashley, I WISH Tommy and I had a bond like you and Andros. Sometimes he irritates me because he'll forget a date night or I find his towel laying on the edge of the bed," Kimberly explained.

"He saw what happened that night," Ashley signed, cutting Kimberly off.

Kimberly's brown eyes grew wide when she saw Ashley's eyes water. "He saw how dad died," she signed, her hands shaking, "He saw it all."

"Oh sweetie…" Kimberly whispered.

"How could they have shown him that?" Ashley whispered, her hands shaking too much to sign, "How can they show him the most painful, rawest part of my life?"

"Because the enemy finds your worse fears and uses it as their weapon," Kimberly replied.

Ashley sniffled and Kimberly stroked her hair. "I can't even look at him knowing he saw what I really am," she said, "I'm a coward."

"Ashley you were eight-years-old," Kimberly answered, "No one expects an 8-year-old to do anything about that, a grown adult can't even do anything about it when it's happening. You weren't a coward; you were a child!"

A tear slid down her face. "Do you think Andros thinks less of you because of it?" Kimberly asked.

"Maybe," Ashley whispered.

"I promise you that he doesn't," Kimberly answered, "That man LOVES you."

"I got myself captured, I put my entire team in danger!" Ashley insisted, "Andros almost died because of me."

"I think Andros would jump in front of a bullet for you if it came down to that. Bond or no bond," Kimberly answered.

"But he shouldn't have to!" Ashley exclaimed quietly.

Ashley swallowed as she kicked at the ground. "Because, that's what I'm supposed to do, because him going in front of me means I lose him," she added. Kimberly saw her eyes water. "I never want to experience what life is like without him, Kim," Ashley told her. Kimberly reached up and wiped her tears from her cheeks.

"Sweetie, that's the strongest kind of love to ever have," Kimberly replied, "That's a love story that no movie or book could ever depict."

Ashley sniffled and lowered her head. "It's okay to worry, it's okay to be in your rawest form in front of him," Kimberly explained, "It's okay that he knows, because now he knows you better than anyone else, including me." Kimberly stroked her hair. "He experienced that with you, Ashley. He experienced what scarred you in so many ways and he now understands better than anyone else in this world. He felt your pain, your fear, he felt all of that," she continued. Kimberly held onto her hands. "You see that as a curse, but it's a gift, Ashley, because now someone really understands how you feel and can help you heal," she added.

"What if he can't handle it?" Ashley asked.

"Sweetie, he's still waiting for you. The question you have to ask yourself is, is your love worth fighting for? Is it worth everything?" Kimberly answered.

Ashley was silent, staring at her sister before they started walking back together to the apartment.

Andros was laying on the floor in the engine room levitating a ball above his head when Zhane walked in. "That looks comfortable?" Zhane asked. Andros threw the ball at his head. "Shit, come on," he answered.

"I'm not in the mood," Andros answered.

"Clearly," Zhane agreed.

Andros rolled his eyes. "Did you sleep in here?" Zhane asked.

"Why does it matter?" Andros asked as he stood up.

He winced as his back pinched. "You did sleep in here," Zhane concluded.

"So what?" Andros asked.

"You have a good bed you know," Zhane replied.

Andros shot him a glare. "Oh…" Zhane said slowly. Andros rolled his eyes and let out a deep breath. "She's going to come back," he insisted. Andros pulled his jacket on and went to pull his hair back in a ponytail. "You believe that right?" Zhane asked.

"I don't know what I believe, Zhane," Andros replied.

Zhane frowned as Andros grabbed his pillow and blanket off the floor. He left the engine room and Zhane watched him walk away with a heavy sigh, shaking his head slowly.

Andros walked by his room, opened the door, and threw his stuff inside before he continued towards the bridge.

The lift doors opened and Andros walked out onto the bridge. "Hey, Andros, we were looking for you," TJ commented.

"I wasn't far," Andros replied, "What did you find?"

"We've just scanned the next quadrant and we've started the next one," Cassie replied.

"Good," Andros told his team.

Andros sat down in his chair and went back to work while his team looked at each other. "Andros…" Cassie started to say.

"What?" Andros asked.

Cassie took a step forward. "Don't ask if I'm okay," he added quickly.

"We can try to talk to her?" Cassie suggested.

"She made up her mind," he answered, "None of us can change her mind, nor should we attempt to."

"She can't just leave," Carlos answered.

Andros turned around his chair. "And why is that?" he asked.

"She's one of us," TJ answered.

"She's a Ranger, she has responsibilities," Carlos insisted.

"She WAS a Ranger who was just strapped down and tortured for hours by the enemy," Andros answered.

"We took risks when we agreed to this," TJ said.

Andros stood up. "Even Power Rangers have their limits," he answered. He made his way over to the other computers to take a look at their scanner's progress.

"Did she leave because of what Psycho Yellow did to her or did she leave because she was freaked out by you?" Carlos asked.

Their leader swung around so fast they each went into a bit of a guard stance out of reflex. "What is that supposed to mean?" Andros demanded.

"That weird bond you tricked her into having," Carlos replied, "Where your minds were welded together."

"Are you suggesting I manipulated Ashley into bonding her soul with mine?" Andros asked as he walked closer to the Black Space Ranger.

"I'm not suggesting it, I'm SAYING it," Carlos replied, "Because of you Ashley's GONE!"

Zhane walked on the bridge just as Andros grabbed Carlos by his jacket and slammed him up against the nearest wall. "ANDROS!" TJ shouted, trying to pull him back. Andros shoved TJ backwards and then Carlos took advantage of the distraction, tackling Andros around his middle and they both were on the floor.

"BOTH OF YOU STOP!" Cassie shouted, trying to grab Carlos by his shoulder.

TJ moved just as fast and grabbed his girlfriend around her waist, pulling her back as Andros kneed Carlos in the side. The Red Ranger swung his team mate onto his back and then jumped to his feet. Carlos rolled back to his own feet and swung several punches at Andros's head. Andros dodged each punch before he swung out and his fist connected to Carlos's jaw.

Carlos felt his lip split and it only seemed to have enraged him more before he grabbed Andros's wrist and punched in back right in the face. "KNOCK IT OFF!" Zhane shouted as he grabbed Andros by his arms and TJ yanked Carlos backwards. "This is exactly what Astronema wants! If the Psychos won't rip you apart you'll do it to each other!" Zhane snapped.

Andros shoved Zhane off him. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He and Carlos were glaring at each other, but instead of saying anything, Andros went to leave. "Where are you going?" Cassie demanded.

"None of your business!" Andros answered angrily.

He left the bridge and TJ released Carlos. "What the hell did you say that for?" Zhane demanded.

"It is his fault Ashley's gone," Carlos answered.

"Ashley's reasons are her own, don't go throwing blame at Andros," Zhane snapped at him, "You're such a damn hothead you're going to get yourself killed."

The team stared at him and Zhane shook his head. "If you guys go after each other, you might as well just hand the Universe over to Dark Specter," he told them before leaving the bridge.

At the airport, Ashley had convinced Tommy and Kimberly to take her back to Angel Grove. They walked through the gate and Tommy glanced at her. "Where would you like me to take you?" he asked.

"Home," Ashley replied.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to NASADA? I'm sure you can contact the others from there," Tommy suggested.

Ashley shook her head slowly. "No, I'm not sure if I'm ready to do that yet," she signed. Tommy nodded in understanding and Kimberly reached for her sister's hand as they left the airport.

Andros made his way down to Earth and he was walking through the park along the lake. He had his hands stuffed in the leather jacket he had on and he could just feel the right side of his face bruising.

Andros let out a breath and closed his eyes when he suddenly felt something bounce off his leg. Opening his eyes and looking down, he saw a ball at his feet. "Sorry," a little voice said. Andros looked up as a little girl stood there nervously.

"It's okay," he assured her.

He crouched down and he picked up the ball before handing it to her. "Thank you!" she said as she took it ran back to the park. Andros stood back up and watched as she ran over to her waiting parents. The father waved to him and Andros waved back with a nod. He turned back to the lake and closed his eyes.

Suddenly, Andros felt a wave of warmth fill not just his head, but his body felt a tingle sensation move through him and it forced him to open his eyes again.

Ashley was sitting in Tommy's truck, staring out the window. "I don't get why you don't want me to take you to NASADA," Tommy commented.

"Trust me," Ashley signed anxiously.

Kimberly reached over and rested her hand on Ashley's. "You sure about this?" she asked. Ashley nodded her head slowly, but then she let out a gasp.

"Stop the truck!" she cried out.

The truck jerked as Tommy hit the brakes. "What?" he asked. Ashley ripped off her seatbelt and threw the door open. "Ashley!" Tommy called out as she jumped out. Tommy pulled the truck over and Kimberly got out first as Ashley ran down the hill. Kimberly just smirked and crossed her arms over her chest with a smile on her face.

Ashley let out a shriek as she nearly slid down the grassy hill. She pulled herself back up and she had the urge to just keep running. She couldn't stop. She was running back to the life she loved, her friends, her duty as a Power Ranger, and to him. To the one person who made her feel like everything was right in the universe even when it could be a complete mess. The one person in this world who never made her feel bad that she couldn't speak and the first person who made her feel comfortable enough TO speak. She hoped that opening her mind again it meant their bond was back together. She hoped she didn't destroy it. "ANDROS!" she called out. She saw him standing by the lake and her heart raced as she ran towards him.

Having heard someone call his name, Andros turned and saw her running straight for him. All he had enough time was for his arms to go out and she ran to him. He stumbled a few steps backwards, but he wrapped his arms as tightly as he possibly could. Ashley's arms were immediately around his neck, her breathing coming out in pants. "I'm sorry!" she was able to get out, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Andros hugged her even tighter.

"I'm sorry too," he answered.

Ashley got him to let go and she held onto his arms as she pulled back. "I'm sorry for everything, doubting not just who I am but US. I shouldn't have done that, what we have is…it's everything," she explained. Andros nodded in agreement.

"Absolutely," He replied.

Ashley swallowed. "You'll take me back?" she asked, her eyes shining with tears. Releasing his arms, she hugged him again as the tears fell. Andros hugged her around her waist as he lifted her up off the ground.

"I never let you go in the first place," he replied.

He set her back down on the ground and buried his face into her neck. "I love you, Ashley," he added, "More than anything."

"I love you too," she answered.

Andros pulled back and he kissed her. Ashley kissed him back and just melted in his arms. Pulling away, they were smiling at each other. Andros reached into his jacket and he pulled out her morpher and her communicator. "They're yours if you want them," he informed her. Removing her morpher, Ashley held it in her hands and she looked at Andros, who smiled at her. She took the morpher and wrapped it around her wrist. Andros removed the communicator from her hand and put it on for her. Ashley then noticed the bruise on his face. With a frown, she reached over and touched the bruise gently.

"You should see the other guy," Andros replied with a smirk.

Ashley frowned but he shook her head. "Don't worry about it," he insisted gently. Ashley held his hand and Andros smiled, taking her hand in his and he kissed her knuckles. He pulled her in close and Ashley rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes as they held each other close.