Gaby, Gunn, Kane, Klezmi, and Silva are mine.
Rated PG-13 : sexuality; harsh language, strong violence.
"Jen? What time is it?" When she didn't answer Wes turned to pick up his watch from the night table. "It's three a.m. What's wrong?" Jen was sitting next to him in the bed, her arms wrapped around her knees. She was shivering. Wes sat up to look at her face.
"Sorry I woke you up."
"It's okay. What happened?"
"Oh... it's nothing. I had another dream."
"The same one?"
"Yes. Time Force headquarters, people running and shouting... us running to a timeship. Then... everything just blows up. And then nothing."
"Just a bad dream. Don't worry about it."
"Wes... this time it was more detailed. More real. I saw Captain Logan... I remember him a little, from the first dream, he's not in my reality. He told us to take the timeship. Come back, to this time. Stop it from happening..."
"Stop Conwing and Steelix, you mean?"
"I don't know. But we were wondering -- Lucas, Trip, Katie, and me -- why the Time Force in the original timeline didn't prevent Klezmi from changing history. Maybe that's what I'm dreaming about now. We tried to stop it, but something happened."
"Maybe. It kind of makes sense. But we're going to stop it now."
"Wes, I think I'm starting to remember things. Trip said it was like a double exposure in his mind -- it kind of feels like that. I remember a little about when we were here a few weeks ago."
He smiled. "That's good, isn't it? Maybe it means we're getting closer to changing things back."
"Maybe."
"Don't worry about it, try to get back to sleep." Wes yawned.
"You're right. Everything's going to be okay."
She lay back down with him. He draped an arm over her. Her eyes were still open, staring at the ceiling, when he closed his and sank back into exhausted sleep.
Wes woke, blinked in disorientation for a few moments, still confused every morning by the unfamiliar room. Then he remembered, and almost wished he hadn't. His father was still missing. But Jen was here... Turning to her side of the bed, he saw she was gone. A quick look told him she wasn't in the bathroom either. After a fast shower, he set out to find her.
The first place he looked was the right one. He remembered her fondness for early morning workouts, and headed for the gym. They were in the workout room he and Eric usually used. He stopped at the door and watched.
Eric and Jen were still warming up, apparently. Eric was looking normal again, they had used Jen's medical unit on him to cure the effects of the blaster shot he had taken. Jen was dressed in the workout clothes Wes had bought her. They circled, sparring lightly, watching each other, trying to feel out an untried opponent. Eric had the familiar, slightly mocking smile on his face that he used to annoy Wes, to throw him off. Jen's face was deadly serious.
She moved in, pressing an attack. Eric defended himself, blocking most of her blows and striking back, hitting her a couple of times, obviously pulling his punches. She stepped back.
"Don't hold back, just because I'm a woman. I want a real workout." Her voice was angry. The next moment she was moving back in, hitting hard, and getting through his defenses a couple of times. He deflected a kick and struck back, almost knocking her down.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Worry about yourself." She was back on the attack, hitting him again with a hard punch to the belly.
He fell back. "Maybe you want a real fight, but I don't," he snapped. "That hurt."
"Can't take it?" She started toward him again.
"Jen!" Wes called. He ran into the room and stepped between them. "That's enough. What's going on?"
"I'm trying to get a decent workout!" she exclaimed. "How are we going to beat someone like Klezmi if we don't work at it!" She pushed Wes and stepped past him.
Eric was already taking his gloves off. "No," he said firmly as she put up her hands again. "We're done. Whatever you need, it isn't a workout."
"We need to do this! We have to be ready for them!" She plunged forward, taking Eric by surprise, striking him in the chest and then pushing him hard enough to make him stagger.
"What are you, crazy? I'm not a punching bag, God damn it!" Eric stepped back, his face furious.
"Oh, damn." She seemed to deflate suddenly, her arms dropping. "I'm sorry." She blinked, obviously fighting tears, and turned away, her head bowed.
"Jen, it's okay," Wes said. "Isn't it, Eric?"
"Sure. You're scared, and you don't know what to do, and it makes you angry." They both turned to look at him in surprise. He smiled. "I'm not as insensitive as you think. And I might have felt that way once or twice."
Jen smiled hesitantly. "Thanks, Eric."
Wes smiled at him too, and dropped an arm over Jen's shoulders. "Are you okay?" he asked her. "Want to get some breakfast?"
"No. I just want to go back to the room. I... I guess I'm still tired."
"Sure. I'll take you back and get changed for work." He glanced back at Eric as they left, seeing concern on his face too.
Back in their room, Jen watched Wes as he changed into his Silver Guardian uniform. She smiled as he finished fastening the equipment harness.
"You look nice in that outfit. Very... manly."
"Thanks," he said with an answering smile. "How do you like the beret?"
"I always thought it was very attractive. On Eric." She laughed at the look on his face.
His expression became more serious. "Speaking of Eric, what was that all about?"
She sighed. "Just what he said. I'm scared. I guess I wanted to hit back at something. Even a friend." She looked up at him. "You two seem to have gotten close."
"Like brothers."
"I'm surprised."
"Believe me, so am I. Eric takes a little getting used to, but he's a good friend."
"I'm glad. He's certainly a good Ranger."
"Yeah. I've got to go. See if anything's come up." His face fell back into the unfamiliar lines of worry it had taken on in the last few days. He sighed. "It's so frustrating, Jen. Not having any way to find him. Not knowing what's happening to him."
"I wish I could help."
He put his arms around her, rubbing her back. "I know. But right now there's not much any of us can do, except wait. If we need help, I'll call."
"Okay."
"Just get some rest. If you need me, I left my office number on the table. You know the way to the cafeteria?"
"Yes. But I don't feel like staying in here all day. I think I'll take the vectorcycle and go for a ride, maybe go into town. Do some more shopping."
"Okay. You have enough money?"
She smiled. "Plenty. I'm starting to feel like a kept woman."
"You're worth it." He leaned forward to kiss her.
"Just call me on the morpher if anything happens."
"I will."
She gave him another smile. "Good luck, Wes. I hope something turns up soon."
Gaby leaned on her desk, propping her head on her hands. Across from her, Steve Miller grinned.
"Why did you ask me to do this again?"
"I told you yesterday. Because I'm curious."
"All of a sudden, you're curious about Kane."
She smiled. "That's right."
"Nothing to do with Eric…"
"Well…"
"Maybe it's not a bad idea, anyway."
"Have you found out anything yet?"
"Not yet. Give me another day." His expression became serious. "I know how you feel. I wish I could do more to help, too."
"Yeah. It's frustrating, not being able to do anything." She smiled. "Makes me wish I wasn't just an ordinary mortal."
"Yeah, I've wished that, too." He grinned again. "I bet half this city has wished they were Power Rangers."
"I can see it now. I'll be the Aqua Pinstriped Ranger, you can be Purple Day-Glo."
"I hate purple."
"Don't be picky, or I'll make you chartreuse." She watched his smile fade after a moment. "It's been four days now. Do you think there's any chance they'll find him?"
"Mr. Collins? I don't know. I'm more worried about Eric and Wes."
"What do you mean?"
"Conwing and Steelix almost killed them yesterday. Again."
"What?"
"No one told you?" After a look at her face he gave her a quick explanation, ending with, "That's what this is all about. They want Wes and Eric dead."
Gaby stared at her desktop. "Oh, God... I had no idea," she muttered.
"I just assumed..."
She was aware of Steve's sympathetic look and avoided his eyes. "That Eric had told me? I guess everyone did."
"He's had a lot on his mind."
"Yeah." She looked up at him again, forcing a smile. "Thanks for telling me. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
When the door closed she continued to stare at it. She was frightened and more worried than ever. She was also angry, at the situation, at the threat to people she cared about; but also a guiltily selfish anger at Eric, for not telling her, for not trusting her, for not including her in his life.
Wes looked across the lunchroom at Kane. "He's been nice to me."
"Of course he has. You're the boss's son. You're in charge while your father's missing."
"I still think you're exaggerating."
Wes and Eric were at lunch together, at their usual table, almost like old times. The topic was new; William Kane had come in, smiling and nodding at them on his way to his table, to Eric's obvious disgust. He was still steaming about a run-in he and Kane had had two days ago.
Eric scowled. "No one believes me. He acts nice to everyone else. But…" He lowered his voice. "I'm telling you, Wes. He hates me."
"Why?"
"How the hell should I know? I haven't done anything to him."
Wes gave him an ironic smile. "You probably gave him your usual charm."
Eric shot a glare at him. "Maybe I'm not the most polite person in the world. But I am capable of behaving myself. I gave him no reason for the way he's been acting. And if you don't believe me, you can go-"
"All right, all right. Sorry." Wes privately thought the truth was probably somewhere in between. Eric was perfectly able to act in a professional manner, when he wanted to. Unfortunately, sometimes he didn't want to. "I guess the two of you just got off on the wrong foot. Maybe he's just… sensitive."
Eric snorted faintly. "Sensitive, my ass." He stared in Kane's direction. If looks could kill, the blond man would have been a shriveled corpse. Fortunately, he was looking the other way.
"Look, we shouldn't be fighting among ourselves. Not now. Save your anger for the people who have Dad."
Eric turned back to look at him, his expression changing. "You're right. I'm sorry," he said after a pause. He was silent, his eyes rising to look across the room.
Wes turned and saw Gaby. She cast a glance at them before sitting at another table. He turned back to Eric. "You two having problems?"
Eric was picking at his lunch again. "Yeah."
"Want to talk about it?"
A shrug. "Nothing you could do. I guess I screwed up. Tried to start something I wasn't ready for."
"I don't think anyone really knows if they're ready. Sometimes you just have to try anyway."
"I don't know if it's worth it."
"You're scared, aren't you?"
Eric gave him a sharp look. "What are you talking about?"
"You're convinced it won't work. You probably think once she gets to know you, she'll run like hell. So you rejected her before she could reject you."
After a few seconds Eric said scornfully, "That's ridiculous."
"Yeah. But I think it's true. I know you better than you think."
"You don't even know what happened between us."
"Let me guess. You picked a fight with her."
Silence for a moment, Eric's face tight as he stared at his plate. "I didn't start it."
Wes smiled ironically. "Didn't you? You did the same thing with me, for months, when I was trying to make friends with you."
Eric looked at him, the irritation fading from his face. He sighed. "Maybe you're right. I thought I was ready to take a chance... but I guess not."
"It could be worth it. You won't know unless you try." A moment of sadness came over him.
"Maybe." A pause. "Do you think it's worth it for you and Jen?"
"Yes, I do. Even if we never see each other again, we've had times together that I wouldn't give up for anything. Maybe you could have the same thing with Gaby, if you'd be willing to risk it."
Eric frowned and stared at his lunch again for a few moments. "What's important now is your father, not my love life."
Wes sighed. "Do you still think we'll find him?"
"Of course I do."
"It's been four days now." Wes went on when Eric didn't answer. "In any kidnapping, I know the chances get worse the longer it goes on. And who knows what they're doing to him?"
"Wes, we'll find him. Like I said before, they won't hurt him while we're alive."
"I almost wish they'd come after us again. Maybe we could get one of them, make him tell us where Dad is."
"I'm sure they will. Soon. Wes -- we have to be careful. These guys are dangerous. They'll do anything to get at us."
Wes returned Eric's intense gaze, slightly surprised at the change in tone from his usual tough, confident front. "How can we be more careful than we're already being?"
"For one thing, don't take off by yourself, like you did when Conwing sent you that note."
"Oh. I was wondering when you'd get around to that."
"That was a stupid thing to do, and it almost got both of us killed."
"God…" Wes sighed again. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"They know you love your father. And they'll use that to get at you."
"Yeah. Well… I hope you take your own advice. Don't you go rushing off alone to save him either. And don't tell me you wouldn't do it."
Eric's face was serious, his eyes unhappy. "Maybe I would."
"Don't forget, we're a team." It was time for a change of subject. "Eric, I could use some advice."
"Yeah?"
"The next board meeting is coming up. If we haven't found Dad by then, I'll have to run it. We have to make a decision on that merger with Geneco. I need to do some reading, make sure I know what I'm talking about."
Eric shifted slightly. "Are you sure you want to? I mean, it's going to be hard to concentrate on business with everything that's going on."
"If I don't do it, I'll have to let Kane take over."
Eric's face twitched in anger, but he controlled it. "Maybe that would be better. Easier on you."
Wes leaned forward. "Eric -- I want to do this. Bio-Lab is so important to Dad… He and Mom built this company together. He loves it. All my life he's wanted me to take over some day."
"But you decided you didn't want to. And he accepted that."
"That's how I felt at the time. But now… The night before it happened, Dad told me I should think about whether I want to take over. Whether maybe he should make other plans. He was nice about it, but… I was surprised how much it hurt. Since then I've done some thinking, and now I know I want to at least try to get more involved -- show him I'm capable -- if I get the chance to show him… If he…" He stopped for a moment, his throat closing, Eric's sympathetic gaze on him. "I love this company too. I want to learn more about it. Make sure I can run it, if I have to."
"And you want me to help?"
"Yeah. You know a lot more than I do. I need you to point me in the right direction. Tell me what you think, what to read, maybe answer some questions."
Eric stared at him for a few seconds, his face blank, perhaps judging Wes's sincerity. "A lot of people would say you're crazy to come to someone like me. Uneducated. Not a real businessman." His lips lifted in something that was almost a smile. "Kane said I'm just a rent-a-cop."
"He did? He really is a jerk." Wes paused for a moment. "I know you. I trust your judgment. I trust you, a lot more than Kane or anyone else around here, except Dad."
Eric just looked at him for a few more seconds, his face wearing a controlled expression that Wes was sure masked something deeper. "Okay. I'll do whatever I can," he said finally. "But I expect you to do the hard work. I want you to learn this stuff for yourself, so you won't need me."
Wes smiled. "Of course. Thanks. But -- I hope I can count on you to share the decisions. Partner."
Eric stared at him again, only a few blinks betraying emotion. Then he leaned forward. "No problem. First of all, I don't like this merger with Geneco. We're not that desperate for money, and some of their terms are unreasonable..."
Gaby paused for a moment to watch him. Eric sat at his desk, the sun coming through the window outlining his shoulders with an edge of light. He had looked so tired and worried in the lunchroom, and still did; suddenly seeming vulnerable to her eyes, as he stopped reading a report to yawn and wipe a hand over his face. At her light tap on the door he looked up, the hint of a smile momentarily lightening his expression.
"Am I bothering you?" she asked.
"No. Come on in."
She stopped in the middle of the room to look at him. "I just heard about what happened yesterday. Are you all right?"
"Yeah. Sure, I'm fine."
"Good." She watched him for another moment, hesitating.
"Something on your mind?"
"Yes…"
"Well?" he prompted.
The words spilled out. "Why didn't you tell me you're in danger? That those mutants are here to kill you and Wes? That that's the whole reason they're here?"
He looked at her, eyebrows lifted in surprise. "I don't know… there's nothing you could have done about it anyway."
"And you didn't tell me you were attacked yesterday…"
"I haven't even seen you today, until now. I didn't know you'd be interested."
Hurt and anger flashed through her. "Jesus, Eric, now you think I don't care if you live or die?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You didn't think I'd be interested…" She shifted, agitated, trying to control her face, then looked up at him again. "I'd better go."
"Gaby, wait." He rounded the desk and took her arm to stop her. "What did I do?"
"Don't worry about it." She started to turn away again.
"Gaby… tell me what's wrong."
"Maybe this isn't the right time."
He grabbed her shoulders. "Tell me, damn it!"
She raised her face to him. "Do you care about me at all?"
He stared. "Of course I care."
"Would you want to know if I was in trouble?"
"Well, of course…"
Her hurt, and the fear for him that was behind it, drew the angry words out. "Well, I feel the same way about you. Maybe there's nothing I can do to help. I still want to know. I still care. How could you not even tell me?" She paused for a moment as he stared at her silently, something indefinable trying to break through the mask of his face. "You could have been killed yesterday... you still could be..." She felt tears rise in her eyes.
He blinked at her. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay." She bent her head and sniffled.
"Look, I know I don't say the right things or act the right way a lot of the time..." His voice was soft. "You should just tell me to go to hell, when I deserve it."
She looked up, seeing an unexpectedly open and exposed expression on his face. "I'd rather not." she said. "I don't like fighting."
"I don't want us to fight... I want..." She met his eyes, not moving as he slowly leaned forward, his face coming closer until he kissed her lightly. His lips were gentle against hers until her arms went around his body and suddenly she was kissing back, hard, demanding more, and so was he, holding her tightly, bending her body against his. She felt his hands clutch at her for a moment, almost hurting, before he loosened his grip and pressed her head against his shoulder. Both of them took a moment to catch their breath.
"I thought you didn't trust me," she said softly.
"Don't be silly. Of course I trust you." He paused as she felt him take a deep breath. "I guess I'm just not used to the idea of anyone really caring about me."
She tightened her arms around him. "Get used to it. Because I do care. And I'm not the only one." After another moment she stirred in his arms and moved back a step when he let go. "So… what now?"
"I don't know anymore," he said with a sigh. "Look, maybe when this is over, we could try it again."
"Maybe." She sighed, the anxiety returning. "Eric... I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Wes and I can handle it." That unfamiliar softness came into his face again.
"I hope so."
He smiled. "And maybe there is a way you can help..."