Hunter looked at his brother. There was nothing he could say to make him
feel better right now. Which bothered him. He was used to taking care of
Blake. If he had a problem, he'd help him through it. But now, now there
was nothing he could do. He sighed.
"Go talk to her." He suggested. Blake looked at him.
"Are you kidding? I can't." Blake said.
"Look, you're worried about her. You're feeling awful. Go talk to her for goodness sakes." Hunter said. Blake shook his head.
"No."
"Don't make me force you." He threatenend. Blake raised an eyebrow. "You know I will." Hunter added.
()()()()()
Tori threw her legs over the side of the bed, getting up slowly. She had to see Blake. Had to see if he was ok. Sucking up any pain that came to her, she slowly limped to the door.
"You should be resting." Came a voice as a body appeared in her path, blocking her exit. Tori looked up.
"Blake!" She exclaimed. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him. "You're alright." She smiled. Blake was somewhat shocked by her sudden contact. Why didn't she hate him? He thought she was somewhat forgiving on the island because they where the only one's there, so they had to speak to one another. But now? Now that they were back? Now that she could speak to anyone other then him?
"Yeah. I'm ok." He said gently. He felt somewhat dizzy at their proximity. He could feel her warmth. Feel her body against his. Smell her sweet scent. Her hair smelled like a mixture of jasmine and the ocean. He forced himself not to get sucked into how ever good it felt to be in her embrace. Tori pulled out of the hug and looked at him. In an instant, her fist flew across his face, getting him at the jaw, but not hurting him too much. He stepped back and looked at her. OK, perhaps he wasn't forgiven. "OK, I deserved that." He said.
"Ya damn right you did." Tori said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't you ever do that again." She said.
"Tor, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt yo-" Blake started. "I'm not talking about that." Tori said. "That's not my issue." Blake looked at her puzzeled.
"Then, what is?"
"Blake, I am not the president of the united states and you're not secret service. I don't need you taking a 'bullet' for me."
"But, that thing could've killed you." Blake said defensivly.
"So, you rathered it killed you?" Tori countered. Blake simply looked at her. Her face softened slightly and she looked into his eyes. "I'm serious. I didn't like seeing you hurt."
"Neither did I." He cut in. Tori looked at him. Blake sighed. "God, it made me so sick seeing what I had done to you." He said. Tori opened her mouth to say something, but Blake continued. "And, I know you're going to say it wasn't my fault. But, no matter how many times I try and tell myself that I wasn't thinking straight, I just can't convince myself. I hurt you." He said. Tori waited a second, to see if she could speak yet. She took a deep breath.
"First of all, just so you know, the other's all think Toxipod did all the damage." She stated.
"Hunter knows." Blake said.
"Oh." Tori said. She nodded, understanding that Blake didn't want to lie to his brother. "Well, Cam, Shane, Dustin and Sensei all think it was Toxipod." She said. "Anyway, second, I know it wasn't you. Atleast, not the Blake I know. I'm OK. I forgive you-no, actually I don't." Blake raised his eyes to hers. *Well, I guess I should've expected that.* He thought.
"Right." He said sadly. "I'll go then." He turned to leave.
"What? Wait." She grabbed his arm. "You didn't let me finish." She said. Blake turned to her, waiting. "Blake, I don't forgive you because there is absolutely nothing to forgive. Blake," she stared at him directly in the eyes, speaking slowly. "It wasn't your fault." Blake blinked. Everything was ok. The look in her eyes filled him with something. Reasurance, trust, and a feeling he wasn't sure he'd ever felt before. Was it love? Did he love Tori? More importantly, did Tori love him?
"OK." He said lamely, unsure of what else to say. Tori looked at him and smiled.
"Glad you see it my way." She said with a somewhat flirtatious twinkle in her eye. Blake couldn't help smile.
"Oh yeah, I guess it must be your powers of persuasion." He grinned. Tori laughed.
"Oh yeah, you should know by now, I always get my way." She said coyly. Blake smiled again. Just looking in her eyes made him forget his guilt and shame. All he could think about was the blonde beauty in his sight. Tori caught him staring at her. She felt somewhat self conscious and broke eye contact, looking down, shyly pulling a wisp of hair behind her ear. "What?" She asked. Blake broke out of the semi-trance-like state he had been in and blinked again, shaking his head.
"No-Nothing." He said. Tori made her way to the door. Blake put a hand on her arm. "Where are you going?"
"Out." She stated matter of factly. "I need some air, or, something. Maybe catch some waves."
"But I ran into Cam outside. He said you're supposed to be resting." Blake said.
"Well, I say I'm fine." Tori insisted. Blake gave her a look. "I am." She said.
"Come on," Blake said, gently leading her back to the bed. Tori spun out of his grasp.
"Blake, I'm fine." She sighed. A half smile formed on her lips. "I'll prove it to yah." She said, getting in a slight fighting stance.
"What?" Blake asked, raising his eyebrows. Tori grinned.
"C'mon." She said, poking his side. "You're not scared, are ya?" She challenged playfully. Blake smirked.
"You don't want to mess with me, girlie." He joked. Tori's grinned widened.
"I don't, huh?" She said, giving him another poke. "And why's that?" She continued poking at him. "Come on, you're not just gonna stand there, are ya?" Blake laughed.
"OK, you asked for it." He said. He grabbed her around the waist and began tickling her sides. Tori laughed. "Hey! No fair!" She said between giggles, trying to retaliate. The two collapsed on the floor together. Tori pinned Blake to the floor gently, the two still laughing.
"Give up?" She asked, panting.
"Never." Blake panted. He shifted his weight, causing them to turnover, with Blake now on top to the floor. "Give up?" He grinned.
Tori looked into his eyes. The two stopped laughing. They stayed there, looking at one another. Something kept them where they were, staring into each other's souls. Without even noticing, their faces slowly inched closer.
"I'm not hurting you, am I?" Blake breathed out. Tori's eyes fluttered at the feel of his cool breath on her lips.
"Uh, uh." Said Tori, not even managing to form actual words right now. Blake's eyes shifted down to her lips, then back up to her eyes. Their lips where just about to touch.
"Whoa!" Came Cam's voice. The two broke apart. Tori looked over Blake's shoulder to see Cam, Dustin, Shane and Hunter. Each looking rather amused at this.
"Uh, sorry, bro. If you two need time alone, ya gotta remember to put the 'do not disturb' sign up." Hunter grinned. Blake got off of Tori and sat up, glaring at his brother. Tori pushed herself up to a sitting position. Dustin wiped at an imaginary tear.
"Oh, Shane," he said in a weepy voice. "Our little Tori's all grown up."
"Yeah, getting horizontal with a guy already." Shane said in the same tone. "They grow up so fast, don't they?" The two burst out laughing. Tori narrowed her eyes. Blake got up. He took Tori's arm, helping her up. She looked at her two friends.
"Dustin, Shane." She said in a low, even tone. "I suggest you two either knock it off, or you'll be going to your next extreme sports competition in a full body cast." The two instantly stopped laughing. They had known Tori for a long time. And they knew that now was a time to be afraid of her. Very afraid.
"Yes ma'am." Dustin squeaked out.
"Uh, yeah, sorry." Shane said. Hunter grinned at the two guys.
"Whimps." He chuckled. Tori's head snapped towards him, glaring at him, and Hunter could've sworn he heard a low, angry growl come from out of her. Hunter's eyebrows shot up.
"Uh, dude, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Shane said.
"Yeah, please don't make her mad." Dustin said.
"I suggest you take their advice." Cam piped in.
"It's OK." Blake said. He placed a hand on Tori's shoulder. "Besides, killing them now couldn't be good for the whole 'you needing rest' thing." Tori looked at him. "I'll help you kill them later." He joked.
"Very funny." Hunter said. Tori sighed. She looked at Cam.
"Cam, is it ok if I just go home? I'm afraid that if I stay here, you'll be down two Wind Rangers and one Thunder Ranger." She said pointedly at Dustin, Shane and Hunter. Even Hunter had to cridge a little at that threat.
"Uh, yeah." Cam said.
"Thank you." Tori said. She walked out the room, shoving through Hunter and Dustin. "Move it." She said. She left Ninja Opts. Blake simply stood there smirking.
"Dude, she's scary." Hunter remarked.
"And she hits hard." Dustin said.
"Very." Shane said.
"She's absolutely amazing." Blake said softly.
"Go talk to her." He suggested. Blake looked at him.
"Are you kidding? I can't." Blake said.
"Look, you're worried about her. You're feeling awful. Go talk to her for goodness sakes." Hunter said. Blake shook his head.
"No."
"Don't make me force you." He threatenend. Blake raised an eyebrow. "You know I will." Hunter added.
()()()()()
Tori threw her legs over the side of the bed, getting up slowly. She had to see Blake. Had to see if he was ok. Sucking up any pain that came to her, she slowly limped to the door.
"You should be resting." Came a voice as a body appeared in her path, blocking her exit. Tori looked up.
"Blake!" She exclaimed. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him. "You're alright." She smiled. Blake was somewhat shocked by her sudden contact. Why didn't she hate him? He thought she was somewhat forgiving on the island because they where the only one's there, so they had to speak to one another. But now? Now that they were back? Now that she could speak to anyone other then him?
"Yeah. I'm ok." He said gently. He felt somewhat dizzy at their proximity. He could feel her warmth. Feel her body against his. Smell her sweet scent. Her hair smelled like a mixture of jasmine and the ocean. He forced himself not to get sucked into how ever good it felt to be in her embrace. Tori pulled out of the hug and looked at him. In an instant, her fist flew across his face, getting him at the jaw, but not hurting him too much. He stepped back and looked at her. OK, perhaps he wasn't forgiven. "OK, I deserved that." He said.
"Ya damn right you did." Tori said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Don't you ever do that again." She said.
"Tor, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt yo-" Blake started. "I'm not talking about that." Tori said. "That's not my issue." Blake looked at her puzzeled.
"Then, what is?"
"Blake, I am not the president of the united states and you're not secret service. I don't need you taking a 'bullet' for me."
"But, that thing could've killed you." Blake said defensivly.
"So, you rathered it killed you?" Tori countered. Blake simply looked at her. Her face softened slightly and she looked into his eyes. "I'm serious. I didn't like seeing you hurt."
"Neither did I." He cut in. Tori looked at him. Blake sighed. "God, it made me so sick seeing what I had done to you." He said. Tori opened her mouth to say something, but Blake continued. "And, I know you're going to say it wasn't my fault. But, no matter how many times I try and tell myself that I wasn't thinking straight, I just can't convince myself. I hurt you." He said. Tori waited a second, to see if she could speak yet. She took a deep breath.
"First of all, just so you know, the other's all think Toxipod did all the damage." She stated.
"Hunter knows." Blake said.
"Oh." Tori said. She nodded, understanding that Blake didn't want to lie to his brother. "Well, Cam, Shane, Dustin and Sensei all think it was Toxipod." She said. "Anyway, second, I know it wasn't you. Atleast, not the Blake I know. I'm OK. I forgive you-no, actually I don't." Blake raised his eyes to hers. *Well, I guess I should've expected that.* He thought.
"Right." He said sadly. "I'll go then." He turned to leave.
"What? Wait." She grabbed his arm. "You didn't let me finish." She said. Blake turned to her, waiting. "Blake, I don't forgive you because there is absolutely nothing to forgive. Blake," she stared at him directly in the eyes, speaking slowly. "It wasn't your fault." Blake blinked. Everything was ok. The look in her eyes filled him with something. Reasurance, trust, and a feeling he wasn't sure he'd ever felt before. Was it love? Did he love Tori? More importantly, did Tori love him?
"OK." He said lamely, unsure of what else to say. Tori looked at him and smiled.
"Glad you see it my way." She said with a somewhat flirtatious twinkle in her eye. Blake couldn't help smile.
"Oh yeah, I guess it must be your powers of persuasion." He grinned. Tori laughed.
"Oh yeah, you should know by now, I always get my way." She said coyly. Blake smiled again. Just looking in her eyes made him forget his guilt and shame. All he could think about was the blonde beauty in his sight. Tori caught him staring at her. She felt somewhat self conscious and broke eye contact, looking down, shyly pulling a wisp of hair behind her ear. "What?" She asked. Blake broke out of the semi-trance-like state he had been in and blinked again, shaking his head.
"No-Nothing." He said. Tori made her way to the door. Blake put a hand on her arm. "Where are you going?"
"Out." She stated matter of factly. "I need some air, or, something. Maybe catch some waves."
"But I ran into Cam outside. He said you're supposed to be resting." Blake said.
"Well, I say I'm fine." Tori insisted. Blake gave her a look. "I am." She said.
"Come on," Blake said, gently leading her back to the bed. Tori spun out of his grasp.
"Blake, I'm fine." She sighed. A half smile formed on her lips. "I'll prove it to yah." She said, getting in a slight fighting stance.
"What?" Blake asked, raising his eyebrows. Tori grinned.
"C'mon." She said, poking his side. "You're not scared, are ya?" She challenged playfully. Blake smirked.
"You don't want to mess with me, girlie." He joked. Tori's grinned widened.
"I don't, huh?" She said, giving him another poke. "And why's that?" She continued poking at him. "Come on, you're not just gonna stand there, are ya?" Blake laughed.
"OK, you asked for it." He said. He grabbed her around the waist and began tickling her sides. Tori laughed. "Hey! No fair!" She said between giggles, trying to retaliate. The two collapsed on the floor together. Tori pinned Blake to the floor gently, the two still laughing.
"Give up?" She asked, panting.
"Never." Blake panted. He shifted his weight, causing them to turnover, with Blake now on top to the floor. "Give up?" He grinned.
Tori looked into his eyes. The two stopped laughing. They stayed there, looking at one another. Something kept them where they were, staring into each other's souls. Without even noticing, their faces slowly inched closer.
"I'm not hurting you, am I?" Blake breathed out. Tori's eyes fluttered at the feel of his cool breath on her lips.
"Uh, uh." Said Tori, not even managing to form actual words right now. Blake's eyes shifted down to her lips, then back up to her eyes. Their lips where just about to touch.
"Whoa!" Came Cam's voice. The two broke apart. Tori looked over Blake's shoulder to see Cam, Dustin, Shane and Hunter. Each looking rather amused at this.
"Uh, sorry, bro. If you two need time alone, ya gotta remember to put the 'do not disturb' sign up." Hunter grinned. Blake got off of Tori and sat up, glaring at his brother. Tori pushed herself up to a sitting position. Dustin wiped at an imaginary tear.
"Oh, Shane," he said in a weepy voice. "Our little Tori's all grown up."
"Yeah, getting horizontal with a guy already." Shane said in the same tone. "They grow up so fast, don't they?" The two burst out laughing. Tori narrowed her eyes. Blake got up. He took Tori's arm, helping her up. She looked at her two friends.
"Dustin, Shane." She said in a low, even tone. "I suggest you two either knock it off, or you'll be going to your next extreme sports competition in a full body cast." The two instantly stopped laughing. They had known Tori for a long time. And they knew that now was a time to be afraid of her. Very afraid.
"Yes ma'am." Dustin squeaked out.
"Uh, yeah, sorry." Shane said. Hunter grinned at the two guys.
"Whimps." He chuckled. Tori's head snapped towards him, glaring at him, and Hunter could've sworn he heard a low, angry growl come from out of her. Hunter's eyebrows shot up.
"Uh, dude, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Shane said.
"Yeah, please don't make her mad." Dustin said.
"I suggest you take their advice." Cam piped in.
"It's OK." Blake said. He placed a hand on Tori's shoulder. "Besides, killing them now couldn't be good for the whole 'you needing rest' thing." Tori looked at him. "I'll help you kill them later." He joked.
"Very funny." Hunter said. Tori sighed. She looked at Cam.
"Cam, is it ok if I just go home? I'm afraid that if I stay here, you'll be down two Wind Rangers and one Thunder Ranger." She said pointedly at Dustin, Shane and Hunter. Even Hunter had to cridge a little at that threat.
"Uh, yeah." Cam said.
"Thank you." Tori said. She walked out the room, shoving through Hunter and Dustin. "Move it." She said. She left Ninja Opts. Blake simply stood there smirking.
"Dude, she's scary." Hunter remarked.
"And she hits hard." Dustin said.
"Very." Shane said.
"She's absolutely amazing." Blake said softly.