Standing on her own two feet again felt a little strange for Syd, given that she had spent the last few days in a sleep like state in a bed, her body that was normally so limber now was stiff and ached in places that she didn't even know where possible. Looking at her reflection in her bedroom mirror the blonde rang her fingers though her curls, separating a few of them so they stood out a bit more she caught sight of her roommate laying on her bed flicking though a trashy magazine and tapping her toes along to the music that pumped though her headphones.
"You know you could mess with those curls for hours and you would still be a princess" Using the nickname that she had acquired for her friend a long time again, Z seemed to have more spark in her eyes as now the word had more meaning behind it even if Sydney was yet to really understand it.
Turning herself around so she was now facing her lounging friend, Syd tilted her head to one side in question as she wondered what had gotten the yellow ranger talking all of a sudden as she had been quiet for most of the afternoon, but to be fair she and Syd had spent the night talking about all the things that Syd had missed while she had been under the spell.
Running her fingers though her hair one last time Syd sat down onto her bed and shifted herself back until she was able to rest herself against the wall. "Do you think the Cruger will let me off 'medical rest' and allow me to take up active ranger status any time soon?"
"Wouldn't bank on it happening in the next day or so, not unless you cleared Dr Felix and Kat's tests this morning, you know they are not going to let this just slide, you where unresponsive for days Syd. I don't think anyone will forget that in a hurry" Throwing her music magazine to the edge of the bed and taking her headphone off her head, Z pushed herself upwards until she was mirroring the way the Sydney was sitting just opposite her.
Leaning her head back against the wall the pink ranger sighed as she knew that for a while she would be treated as if she was fragile but she wouldn't break, she knew her own limits and how far she could push herself. "I know, it's just I feel useless not being able to do any actual work, I'll even do paperwork if it meant I could get back faster" Laughing gently as there was really only one ranger who 'enjoyed' paperwork and even he was treating her as if she was made of glass since she had been allowed to leave the infirmary.
"Come on, let's go see what the others are up too" Nodding her head towards Syd as she pulled herself up from her bed, Z opened the doors that separated the bedroom into the hall and the main living space for the cadets. Spotting Jack seated on the larger couch with a large bowel of popcorn beside him he seem oblivious to the world around him as he had Bridge watched some old Bruce Lee film that was projecting from RIC. That took care of two out the three boys, now there was just the case of the broody blue ranger who Syd hadn't seen since lunch.
Not entering the common area, Sydney made the short trip from the main space until she came till the door that she knew very well. Activating the doors to open Syd was a little surprised to see that the ranger she was looking was seated on his bed holding his fathers treasured helmet between his hands, his fingers sliding over the protective casing that should have been enough to keep his father safe. "Sky?"
Leaning her hip against the frame of the door, Sydney gestured towards the item that Sky was holding onto, she knew that he had heard her voice as he had lifted his shoulders slightly at the sound of her but he didn't take his eyes off the helmet. Not even as he felt Syd sit down next to him and placed her hand against his arm softly as her eyes looked towards every dent and mark that she knew that Sky knew off by heart.
"Cruger said I was just like him, unable to see what was right in front of him the whole time" His hands moved over the helmet a few more times before he placed the red and silver item onto his nightstand next to the picture of his and his father. Huffing out a small breath as his shook his head as he looked towards the pink ranger that was seated next to him and gently turned himself slightly so that he was able to see the woman who he had feelings for. "You, you Syd have always been right in front of me and I almost didn't see it. How could I miss a whole step and only see it when it was pointed out to me"
Syd looked a little confused at Sky's words but at the same time they were the words that she had been waiting to hear from him so long now, she wasn't even sure he was capable of saying them in the first place.
"Somehow I had no idea I was falling in love with you until I was in love with you, Sydney Drew" Sky smiled a slightly boyish, similar to the one he had worn when he had tipped the water over her head, it all seemed like another lifetime ago now. How driven he had been to be nothing but Red Ranger, how brooding he could be over the simplest of matters, he couldn't believe that he had let it consume his life so much.
Leaning herself in slightly, Syd gently placed her lips against Sky's as for this moment in time actions spoke louder than words and she needed her actions she show Sky just how she felt. For a moment it was just the two of them and that was all that was important. Slowly bringing herself back from the kiss, Syd smiled as the two of them rested their foreheads together just taking it all in. "I love you Schuyler" The use of his full name made the blue ranger smile as he placed his fingertips against her cheek and gently moved them against her skin.
"Z said something while I was out that I can't help but laugh at now" Hearing the words in her head for a moment, Syd let a bright smile form on her face as she then told Sky about Z's comments about her being sleeping beauty.
"For years people have been calling me the princess of S.P.D, little did I know that one day it would have such a different meaning" Pushing a few strange of blonde hair out from her eyes as they were now sitting upright and just enjoying each other's company now that they were free to do so without breaking S.P.D rules. "Z called me 'Sleeping Beauty' when I was out, I always say myself more like Cinderella, only I was cleaning up the city and not a mansion" Laughing sweetly as she slid her fingers around her curls slightly as for a moment she pictured herself as the famous story princess, only instead of glass slippers she wore combat boots.
"ALL RANGERS REPORT TO THE COMAND CENTER" Hearing Kat's voice over the intercom speakers, all five rangers groaned from their various places, all standing up and starting the hurry towards the main hub of the S.P.D. Corridors becoming burrs as they rounded the corners and came into the hub. Almost crashing into each other at they came to a stop before the control panels, with all rangers now in the center they looked around at the one thing that was missing, there was no alerts on the screens, only Commander Cruger standing behind his desk with his hands behind his back, his eyes stern as he looked towards his 5 rangers as if they had started the war themselves instead of being the heros of the war.
"Rangers" Watching as his rangers jumped at the bark of words, the large blue dog looked each one of his rangers in the eye, making them wish they could sudden just vanish into thin air. "This last week has been a trial of my patience one that I do NOT wish to repeat in my career again. Some of you acted without thinking while others in a manner that I do NOT expect from Power Rangers" Scolding those who stood before him, Commander Cruger stood silent for a moment before he slowly stepped down from his desk and walked over to stand before the rangers and in front of him, standing in just in front of Dr Manx just watching as his words sunk into his rangers minds. Watching as Jack and Z looked in surprised as they had already been debriefed over the incidents that had taken place. Bridge, Syd and Sky looked more as they were waiting for the real punishment to start having received incidents like this in their younger years as cadets and were almost having flashbacks.
Letting them stand in his wrath long enough the Commander let his paws come from behind his back and come to rest at his sides about to feel the energy that was now in the command center. "And it is because of these actions….that you saved a fellow rangers life, for your service to your fellow rangers, Cadet Drew came to Commander Birdie and myself and recommended that her fellow Rangers be nominated for the S.P.D Medal of Bravery. It didn't take much convincing from your fellow ranger and the rest of S.P.D to agree with me" Watching as 4 heads suddenly pulled up and looks of shock suddenly turned towards the petite blonde in the room, a million questions suddenly flying around towards both Syd and the Commander.
"Alright alright, guys I know you have questions but one at a time. Commander Birdie will arrive in 3 days' time for the presentation. Syd asked that this be kept a surprise for all of you" Given that the pink ranger had been bombarded with question Dr Manx allowed her voice to be heard before Sydney was swamped given that she was already being engulfed by her friends.
"Guys, guys you don't have to smother me, I get it, you're thankful" Laughing as she managed to bring her hands out from the encircle of arms that had crashed around her, Syd shook her head softly as she looked at each one of her team mates and friends. "You guys deserved this, if it wasn't for the 'recklessness'" Rolling her eyes as she didn't think that it was that bad when she looked at things they had done in the past. "I'd still be sleeping beauty"
Listening as the others laughed with only two of the rangers really understanding the reference, while the others remained clueless only causing more laughter from Sky, Z and Syd.
"I'll fill you in later, I promise" Syd smiled as the rangers where dismissed from the control center before Commander Cruger called for her to halt. "Cadet Drew, as of tomorrow morning you are back on active ranger duty, you passed they medical examination with flying colours" Nodding towards the pink ranger, Commander Cruger smiled as he watched the doors close behind the rangers leaving them free for the day.
"I always knew they were going to be pains in my side" Chuckling softly as he walked over to his desk and sat back down, the large blue do watched as Dr Manx took her place at the control panels and started typing.
"That we can agree on, but you have to admit, faults or not, they are still the best damn squad YOU have ever seen. Them being 'pains in your sides' is just something that you are going to have put up with if you want the best" Having a sly smile on her lips as she looked sideways towards the commander, the woman hummed slightly as she did her best not to laugh as she knew very well how the rangers could be, but she also knew the other side of them, sides that were starting to open up and become clearer every day. Sides that she knew would be on display over the next coming days, sides she was looking forward to seeing from the Power Rangers.