Author's note: Dominic, thanks for the review. I didn't mean for Merrick and Tara to be in love; as far as I'm concerned, Merrick's in love with Shayla. Tara, on the other hand…well, read the chapter after this one, in a week or so, and see what you think then. Anyway, like I told Niki, I have an AU where Merrick and Tara are in love; you just can't have it yet.
Part of this chapter, and actually pretty much the whole story, works on the basis that Merrick's senses are stronger than anyone else's; his hearing, especially, is focused on here.
Chapter 3: Adjustments
"Merrick?"
Tara's voice woke him easily and he sat up. "What is it?"
"It's almost dawn, Merrick. What do you need?"
"My flute. It is on the chest by the door." She rose to her feet, her hand leaving his arm.
"Got it…anything else?"
"No."
"Good." She hesitated. "Can you get to the Animarium without seeing it?"
"I hope so."
"So do I, Merrick." Her hand tucked under his elbow. "Let's go, then."
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"Merrick!" Shayla's voice greeted them as they stepped out of the trees. Tara let go of his arm for a second, then took it again and moved forward. "I wasn't sure you'd come!" Shayla went on.
"She is staring." Merrick muttered. "I can feel it."
"She's not staring." Tara said quietly. "You're paranoid. Good morning, Princess." She raised her voice on the last sentence. "I'll turn him over to you…I have work today, Merrick, but I'll come by this evening."
"Thank you." Merrick said hesitantly.
"You're welcome…Princess Shayla? May I stay and listen? I won't be in the way." Shayla squeezed Merrick's arm gently, and he nodded.
"Of course you may." Shayla said.
"Thank you, Princess." She moved away, and Shayla took Merrick's arm and urged him forward.
"Are you ready?" she asked, and Merrick nodded. He lifted the flute, fingers finding their place without conscious thought, and Shayla started singing.
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"Cole's waiting for us." Shayla said softly when they'd finished. "They've all been very worried about you."
"They needn't." Merrick said shortly.
"They're your friends, Merrick."
"That's not what I meant. Tara stayed with me."
"All night?" Shayla asked in surprise.
"She…went through something similar some years ago, and had no one to help her. She said that she would not leave me as she had been left."
"Poor Tara." Shayla murmured.
"Princess Shayla! Merrick!" Cole called, from some distance away.
"Good morning Cole!" Shayla called back to him. Merrick lifted one hand in greeting.
"Tara said you were finished. Sorry I'm late…I had to take her home first."
"You're not late." Shayla assured him. "Merrick, will you stay with us today?" Merrick hesitated.
"I…would prefer not, Princess."
"Please?" He sighed, knowing he was beaten.
"Very well. But tonight I must go."
Cole's hand touched his arm hesitantly, guiding him. "Where? You can't work…"
"No, I can't." Merrick agreed calmly. "Tara will be waiting for me."
"Tara?" Cole repeated.
"She has appointed herself to help me." Merrick explained, stumbling slightly as they reached the temple courtyard.
"Sorry…I'll bring her here, if you'd rather."
"No." Merrick said quickly, then modified it to, "No, thank you. We will be fine."
"All right. Your choice." Cole said amiably. "Here, sit down." Merrick obediently sat.
"Are you hungry?" Alyssa asked from directly behind him, making him jump.
"Alyssa!" Cole said, sounding as though he was trying not to laugh.
"Sorry, Merrick. Are you hungry?"
"No, tha…" he paused. "Yes, actually."
"Great. You can have Cole's."
"Hey!"
"Look, you steal mine, you're gonna lose yours."
"That's not fair!"
"I don't think Merrick is getting any less hungry." Taylor pointed out, sounding vaguely amused.
"Sorry, Merrick. Just a minute, 'kay?"
"Thank you." He turned towards Cole as Alyssa left. "You stole her breakfast?"
"Once. Like, a year ago. I can't believe she's still complaining about it."
"I was hungry that morning." Alyssa was back, pressing a plate into Merrick's hands. "Can you…" she trailed off delicately.
"Yes, thank you."
"Where's ours?" Danny asked. Alyssa laughed and went away again.
Merrick listened quietly to the sounds of morning in the Animarium. When Shayla stopped beside him, he murmured, "It's so different."
"Different isn't always bad." Shayla responded.
"No. But it is different." He gestured around. "The temple would never have been used this way."
"There would never have been a need. But now there is. Things change, Merrick."
"I know." he agreed. "But…I miss the old ways."
"So do I." Shayla said quietly. "I…" She broke off abruptly.
"What?" Merrick asked.
"The fountain…" she moved away towards the fountain. "Rangers! Laserorg's loose in the city!"
"Come on, guys!" Cole called. He paused by Merrick. "We'll get him for you." Merrick simply nodded and listened to them leave.
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Their return was a lot more subdued. Merrick listened, frowning; someone's steps were a lot more hesitant than usual. Not dragging, as though injured, just hesitant.
Shayla's hand brushed his arm as she rose, and he caught it gently, holding her back.
"Who?"
"Alyssa." she murmured, pulling away.
"But I was morphed." Alyssa sounded dazed. "I was morphed when he hit me." Someone turned abruptly and left the clearing; Cole, Merrick thought. The Lion Ranger was fiercely protective of his friends; having two hurt in as many days had to be killing him.
Especially Alyssa. Merrick mused. The pair were discreet, but the whole team knew they were…well, probably not in love yet. They hadn't known each other all that long, really. But very definitely getting there.
"Princess," Danny said suddenly, breaking Merrick out of his thoughts, "will Alyssa be all right?"
"She's in shock." Shayla said quietly. "Once that wears off…well, we know this isn't fatal…"
Merrick stopped listening to them and rose to his feet, following the sounds of Alyssa's tears and Taylor's quiet reassurances.
"Alyssa." He knelt in front of her and placed his hands on her knees. He could feel her jump at the contact, but he didn't move.
"Mer—Merrick?"
"Yes." She surged forward and threw her arms around his neck.
"Oh, Merrick…" She dissolved into tears again. Merrick eased backwards into a more stable position, holding her gently, waiting out her tears. Taylor sat down beside them, whispering gentle words to the terrified Tiger Ranger.
Footsteps behind them came softly closer, and Tara murmured, "Merrick, Cole's here. Let him take Alyssa." Merrick nodded and loosened his grip, moving back and letting Cole slide into his place. Tara took his arm and led him away from the Rangers, to the edge of the clearing.
"Merrick, can you morph?"
"I haven't tried."
"Why not?"
"It didn't occur to me. Why should I?" Tara was pacing, he thought, listening to the quick sharp movements.
"Because you can't beat Laserorg with four Rangers, and you're in better shape than Alyssa is right now. If you can morph you can call your Zords."
"I can't fight this way." he protested quietly. Tara didn't answer for a long minute.
"Merrick, without Alyssa they can't form any of the Megazords. Without the Megazords they can't destroy Laserorg. I can't help; not even like I did the first time we met."
"Why not?" Merrick asked.
"I'm not allowed fight him. He hasn't damaged the Earth."
"Who won't allow you?"
"I won't." She'd turned away from him again. "I'm afraid. I'm afraid to cross that line. If I start killing…"
"You killed the Org who caused those earthquakes."
"That's different. He was attacking me. And anyway, he isn't dead." She turned back to him. "Merrick, if I start killing…I'm afraid I won't be able to stop. There are so many people who hurt other people, or hurt me…I promised myself, at the very beginning, that I wouldn't kill. I drew a line and I haven't crossed it yet. But I can help you. You have a Megazord."
"I can't see to direct the PredaZord."
"You don't need to. That's the thing about sentient zords, they can fight on their own." She took his arm again.
"Where are we going?"
"Out of range of the others…will you try to morph?"
"Yes." Merrick followed her for a long time, until they reached another clearing. Tara let go of his arm and stood back, giving him room to morph.
