Disclaimer: I don't own anything power rangers lightspeed or of

Any incarnation I'm just borrowing them for a little while. I'll

Put them back when I'm finished.

Chapter 2. 

"So, what's up with you and Carter?" Ryan asked a time later when they were seated in the Aquabase's cafeteria.

"Me and Carter?" she asked frowning at her big brother. "Why would you think anything's up between us?" She picked up her trey.

"Come on, I heard about how you and he hit it off, and Kelsey told me about the time he thought he got a little boy hurt. She said you two got close after that." He said.

"Oh." the dream was completely forgotten as the pink Lightspeed ranger's face turned the color of Carter's uniform.

"Look I…" she started and his lips twitched knowingly.

"So you do like him."

"Look it doesn't matter, we're just friends and…" he didn't let her finish saying.

"Listen Dana, I haven't been around that many people in love but if that's what you're thinking you're kidding yourself. I've seen how he watches you when he thinks none of us are watching and you know you could do worse." He said

Unbeknownst to them the red Lightspeed ranger was sitting two tables away. Carter had come in and seen the pair talking and so moved to another table. He hadn't wanted to intrude; it was time Dana and Ryan got to know each other. Now though a little smile played at the corners of his mouth. Ryan was turning out to be a good guy, just like Dana had hoped he would.

"Look Ryan, just because you're my brother doesn't mean," She started when he was teasing her about the whole Carter thing. "Doesn't mean you can pick on me." Dana lightly punched him on the arm. He felt his heart lift noting that that haunted look had left her eyes.

        "But I'm supposed to. That's what big brother's do." He informed her with a smirk as he leaned back in his seat. "I always did tease you." He said and didn't miss the pained look in her eyes or the reemergence of that odd expression. He then had a feeling he knew what had put it there. It was a wonder he'd never seen it there before. But then he'd been so angry. And then there'd been so much to adapt to.

"Dana, I…" She didn't want to talk about her feelings and knew that was what he was going to ask her about. It was in his eyes. She quickly got to her feet.

"I better get to bed, I'll see you tomorrow." she disappeared before he could make a move to stop her. He wondered then how he could have ever thought she'd not cared. She was human, and he again cursed Bansheera for destroying his family and for hurting her.

Carter had seen and heard all of it; he was on his feet and out the door after his friend.

"Dana?" He called walking quickly to catch up with her.

Dana Ignored the familiar voice, she managed to make it to her room before the tears started. She swatted at them and was shutting the door when she found a foot in the way. Glancing up her eyes met caring blue ones, filled with concern.

"Please go away Carter." She whispered but instead he pushed open the door and was pulling her close as she lost the battle with the tears. With little effort he lifted her in his arms and moved to the bed. He sat with his back to the wall, Dana in his arms. He just held her.

        Dana was so tired and hurt so much that she'd not been able to stop this, and now she let go.

Ryan cracked the door and saw that she was not alone. He was torn between wanting to go to her and letting Carter soothe her. Ryan knew that they'd have to talk but now, he needed to think so left them alone.

***** 

It was over an hour later after Dana had drifted off to sleep that Carter had time to think about all she'd recently been through. It was right, for Dana to finally let her emotions go. He had the feeling she'd kept them even from her father, and that she'd remembered more about the time before Ryan was taken than she'd ever let on. He knew what that was like, after the first time he'd not been in time to save a fire victim, he'd kept things all bottled

Up until not long after they'd become rangers, Dana had been working in the medical bay and had pried the story from him. He'd never known how she even knew something was wrong. But that was Dana, she just knew things. Now, he was the one holding on to her and it felt somehow right. He didn't even think of leaving as he too drifted off to sleep.

The area was a mess; debris from all of the explosions littered the ground.  The six rangers huddled close to the rescue rover Kelsey checking over the wiring of the explosive. 

"Look the only way is for someone to be on the inside." Carter said and took the charge from the yellow ranger. Dana made a grab for it.

"Carter no you can't…"

"One of us has to, Dana, I'm the leader so…" but Ryan never let him finish grabbing the device and checking the digital read out.

"I'm going." the titanium ranger said adding. "The team needs its leader." He said and Dana wanted to scream, they couldn't be doing this, they couldn't be fighting over who was going to commit suicide. She shook her head.

"No, I'm going, the team needs both of you, and besides you haven't had much of a life." Dana grabbed it from Ryan's hands. "You just got a real future and you're not losing it now." She said and turning she ran.

The explosion sent her flying through the air. She landed with a bone jarring thwack! On the ground. Turning her head she saw the blaze and the charred remains of her friends.

In a flash the dock was gone and before her lay five charred and mangled bodies.

The pink ranger could see her friends were still moving. She then watched in horror as the Titanium ranger vanished and before her stood a little boy with blond curls and accusing silver eyes.

"It's all your fault, you weren't good enough and they died." He yelled and she stared at her brother as he had once been.

"No, I couldn't do anything…" she whispered and the boy pointed at her.

"You killed them just like you killed me." He said and then he was a bloody pile of bones.

Suddenly Dana felt herself falling. Then just as abruptly she landed. Belatedly she realized she was being held. Looking up she found herself staring into the visor of the Titanium ranger.

"Ryan?" she asked confused.

"What I am is your worst nightmare dear sister." The odd voice hissed and she found herself staring into his face. A face that was now scarred, and filled with hatred.

"What? I don't understand." She said confused even as she realized where they were. Behind them she could make out the broken guard rail and below was the flaming wreckage of the car. "What are we doing here?" She asked even as she already knew.

"You would have let me fall and so," The face twisted into a nasty sneer, "I think you should be the one to fall!" And then she flying, falling, tumbling end over end.

"Dana!" A voice was calling as she was being shaken awake. She opened her eyes and found herself looking up into Carter's warm blue gaze.

"What…" She didn't know why he was there and then it hit her like a wave. Before she could feel anything though, Carter was helping her to sit up beside him.

"Ok, so want to talk to me?" He asked and she thought of the horrible dream and shook her head.

"It's ok, it was just a dream." She said and he looked at her a long moment.

"Dana, we have never lied to each other and don't start now. I want to help but can't if I don't know what's wrong." that was something of a lie She'd cried and mumbled enough in her sleep for him to understand enough.

"Carter I…"  Before she could say another word he brought his lips down on hers.

Dana was so stunned she froze. Then as the warmth of his kiss seeped into her she relaxed and returned it.

"There now." he brushed a stray lock of golden hair from her eyes. Dana moved her face so her cheek rested against the warmth of his palm. It felt so good, as if she were coming home, as if by being there with him she could just be, no fear just…

Carter nearly laughed at her reaction, he'd waited for that sort of a sign from Dana for a long time but this was not it. She needed him, her friend right now he'd be that, he'd be anything she needed.

"I want you to tell me everything, no lies, no evasions." He said but Dana was still cloaked in the safety the kiss had allotted her and she didn't want to ever let it go. Still she found those unwavering blue eyes filled with a protective light that urged her on.

"I keep um…" she slowly began and he listened in silence. As she the pain and guilt poured out his arm slid about her shoulders and she relaxed into it.

As she spoke Dana kept her eyes on his for support and so didn't notice when her brother once again stood in the doorway. Carter had seen though, and when she closed her eyes to regroup he nodded to Ryan.

"Dana, you should have said something." He came into the room and sat down on the bed.

Dana stiffened and her head came up and she saw her brother there.

"I um…" She started and didn't have a chance to continue as the alarm sounded. All three jumped up and hurried from the room.

***** 

A.N.N. Thanks to those of you who replied to this one.  Please continue to   R&R.