All he could think about was his wife and daughters who were left behind. How could be be so stupid?
He saw her every time he closed his eyes. Her long golden blonde hair and fierce blue eyes. How her face was still so beautiful even when she was angry. She'd told him to leave. He'd been stupid enough to listen.
If only he'd talked to her and not gotten mad. He didn't even remember what the argument was about. Just the yelling and him storming out.
It had been happening more and more frequently. They'd get into a fight. He'd leave. He'd come back, and everything would be fine again.
But he didn't come back that day. He stormed out of the kitchen, off the front porch, and got into his black SUV, parked between her yellow Mustang and their maroon truck.
He was only going to be gone for 20 minutes, maybe an hour. Long enough to clear his thoughts.
He turned on the radio.
"It's a slow fade."
It sure was. Slowly they fell in love and slowly they fell apart.
They were just too much alike. Too fiery. Too hot headed. Too stubborn. They were stupid to think it would work.
It was the end of the song that made him regret everything.
"People never crumble in a day.
Daddies never crumble in a day.
Families never crumble in a day."
This wasn't about him and Taylor alone. They had two amazing daughters together. Then and there, on that dirt road through the woods, he decided he'd fight.
He'd always been a fighter. Now instead of fighting against something, he was fighting for something. He was fighting for someone. He was fighting for his wife and daughters. He was fighting for Taylor, Sydney, and Michaela.
He turned the vehicle around and headed home. Suddenly, there was a weird car with a mouth that had spiked teeth on the road in front of him.
He should've plowed through it. His SUV was bigger, after all.
Unfortunately for him, it didn't. He crashed and was knocked out by the force of the impact and his head hitting the steering wheel.
The next thing he knew, he woke up here.
In this dark, damp cell.
Alone.
Slowly his friends joined him. First Trip, then Lucas, and finally Jen, Katie, and Wes all at the same time.
Eric opened his eyes and looked around the cramped cell.
Jen and Wes were curled up together as usual. He noticed that Jen's arm was bandaged and briefly wondered when that had happened before turning his attention to Wes. He wasn't quite sure if his best friend's hair was getting darker with age or with dirt.
Katie's curly hair was frizzier than he'd ever seen it, which didn't mean much, but still. The former yellow ranger had her green haired husband wrapped up in her arms as if letting go of him meant losing him, which very well might be true. Trip was whispering something to her. Trying to keep her hopes up, probably. Whatever the alien had said earned a giggle from her, so it seemed to be working.
It wasn't working for Lucas, however. He was staring down at his wedding band. That was one thing that didn't change in the future. Eric was positive Lucas was thinking about his pink haired wife.
The former Quantum Ranger was pulled out of his thoughts by the door creaking open.
In came his wife's old nemesis, Jindrax.
The Duke Org stalked right up to Eric and yanked him to his feet.
All the Quantum ranger could muster in protest was a weak groan.
Jindrax never brought anyone with him anymore. He knew the Time Force Rangers couldn't stop him.
It became a daily thing. Eric would be taken away from his team and chained to a wall in an empty room to be torchered. It was like the Org was beating him to get to Taylor. No. That's exactly what Jindrax was doing.
The Duke Org was different than he had been when he was fighting the Wild Force Rangers. He was quiet. Choosing to speak with his fists and knives rather than his mouth. Eric didn't know why.
Eric would be beaten for hours on end until Jindrax got tired.
Until Jindrax would leave and Eric was alone with his thoughts.
A/N
I've been on a bit of a Taylor/Eric kick lately, so this is what you get.
Also, Michaela is pronounced "Michael-a" not like "Mikayla" and they call her Michael.
Yes, I realize her name is Michael Myers, but I didn't want to change it and now it's a running joke with my best friend. You'll find out more about Eric and Taylor's daughters (as well as some more ranger kids) as the story progresses.
Until then, May the Power protect you.