A/N: Thank you all for sticking with me through the revamp. Thanks to Teal
and Becky for encouraging me to keep going with this. Always there. You
both rock! Brennie Sue-chan, I don't think I could have gotten through my
parents knowing about my abuse and the counseling without you there, always
telling me that it wasn't my fault. You're like a big sister to me. Love
you all so much!
Maybe Someday
Chapter Two: Revelations
Hunter frowned at the floor in Storm Chargers. When a hand came down on his shoulder, he nearly jumped out of his skin. "Yeah, hey Kel, what's up?"
"We have more inventory coming in this afternoon, around 2. Just wanted to let you know," her brisk way of speaking and her bright smile picked his mood up ... slightly. "Are you alright? You seem kind of spacey today."
He forced himself to smile, "I'm fine, really. Just kind of tired." 'Tired since I don't sleep anymore,' he thought, thinking about not thinking about the nightmares.
They had started to come more frequently, and it was freaking him out. He didn't remember much before his parents adopted him, but he had a sinking feeling that his dreams were more than dreams.
Picking up another box, Hunter checked around to see if anything was out, so he could pick it up while in the stock room. He had been avoiding everyone for days, and hoped that they didn't pay it any more mind than the last time he was, as Tori put it, brooding. His lips quirked as he remembered the look on Cam's face. Disgust, as usual. Thinking about the Samurai Ranger's expressions led his thoughts to the expression he'd had when Hunter awakened from his nightmare. Wincing, he stacked the boxes, got out a marker to label them, and grabbed some helmets for the rack.
Blake had been watching his brother for some time now, wondering what was wrong. He knew Hunter better than anyone, and while he was used to the usual bouts of silence, it was getting rediculous. His attention was shifted, however, when he saw Tori walk in and greet Dustin. Her eyes scanned the shop, lighting on him. A smile curved her lips, and she walked over. He felt nervous, but he always felt that way around her.
"What's up?" she asked, tucking her thumbs into her pockets. Her eyes were smiling up at him, and he felt breathless.
"Nothing really. Just the usual," he paused. "Well, wait, I was wondering if you know what's wrong with Hunter? He won't talk to me." He felt hurt because of it, but tried not to let it show.
She frowned. "He's been pretty quiet. Cam has too, for that matter." She gave a half-smile, "That's more unusual from him than it is from Hunter. I was planning on cornering him later at Ninja Ops."
Blake nodded, his eyes shooting to the floor, taking in her bare midriff as they did. Tori spoke up. "I'll talk to you later. I'm going to find Cam, alright?"
He nodded. "See ya."
____________________________________________________________
At Ninja Ops, Cam was staring blankly at the monitor, replaying the scene from the day before. 'He looked so scared. It was hard seeing him like that,' he thought to himself, worried. He hadn't wanted to upset his friend more by asking about it. He'd been noticing his fatigue, except when he was morphed, and now he knew why.
He shook his head, and went back to work, tapping his fingers on the keys as he tried to recalibrate one of the zords. He checked the repairs from the last battle, and saw that they were complete. He couldn't believe how distracted he was nowadays.
Tori walked into the room, and saw him shake his head. "Hey, Cam," she called out, smiling when he craned his head around to look at her.
His smile was small, but there. "Hey, Tor, how are you?"
"Alright, thanks. What's been going on? Lately you've been quiet, and for you that's pretty rare," she said, feeling that she might as well get to the point. She walked over and sat on the table.
Cam's eyes flickered with worry, and then the shutters were down again. "I'm fine. Just been a little tired, with all the battles, and the zords needing some new adjustments."
Tori smiled, "Cam, come on. You can talk to me. You're one of the most talented multi-taskers I know."
His shoulders slumped. "It's about Hunter. Something happened the other day, and I'm not sure he wants me to spread it around." He saw her eyes flash with hurt. "Tori, I don't mean you'd tell anyone. I mean, I don't think he wanted even me to know, let alone anyone beyond me. I don't really know much either."
Tori steepled her fingers, and leaned her elbows onto her knees. "I wouldn't tell anyone. I was just worried about you, and now I'm worried about both of you. If you're worried, please ask him what's wrong. You don't have to tell me or anything, just ask so he has someone."
Cam let out a snort. "Yeah, and he really wants 'someone' to be me." His eyes weren't as sarcastic as his words. She cocked her head to the side and looked at him closely. He felt himself blushing, and looked down.
"Cam ... Are you- I mean, uh," she stuttered, unsure of how to ask the question. When she saw his blush deepen, she just waited.
"Yeah, Tor, I'm gay," he said softly. He closed his eyes and rubbed his hands over his face. Tori sat there blinking for a minute, and then made a comment that had him sitting up straight in his chair.
"You say that like it's a really bad thing. Like you did something wrong," she was shaking her head. "Cam, it's not like you can help it. I mean, I like you the way you are. Whatever way that happens to be."
Cam smiled at her. "Thanks, Tori. Just, please, don't let anyone know. Least of all him." He didn't need to tell her which 'him' he meant. He saw the mischievious smile spread over her face.
"You have a crush on him!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining. She laughed out loud when his blush came back. "I must say, I can't fault your taste. Okay, now that I know that, please talk to him. Not about that, but about what's wrong with him. You're his friend too." She shrugged. "You never know."
Cam shook his head, and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. What are the chances? Oh, maybe slim to none?"
The pretty blue wind ranger grinned. "Now, there's the Cam we all know and love!" He shook his head again, and turned back to his terminal.
"I have work to do, Tori. Go play with the brother you have a crush on," he said, laughing for the first time that day when she smacked him upside the head.
Cam let the work absorb him for a couple more hours, before he had to face a conversation he wasn't looking forward to.
________________________________________________________________
He was sitting at the lake again. It was one of the more peaceful places he'd been going to, and it helped him center himself. He remembered the lake near his old home, before his parents had died. Before it was just him and Blake.
'They must have known,' he thought, and frowned at the idea. 'Jake ... was my biological brother? Or was he from a foster family? I wish I knew.' His head fell back as he closed his eyes, trying to remember the feel of his dreams. Sweat popped out on his skin as he felt himself pale with the terror he'd apparently known before.
'Scared, hurting, brother, alone,' came the impressions, full-force. He clenched his teeth and forced himself to come back to the present. He wiped the tears that had leaked out of his eyes off his face. He was glad he had, because looking up, he saw Cam headed his way.
He let his eyes focus on a ripple in the lake, and said nothing. He heard the ground shift when Cam sat next to him, looking out at the lake as well.
"What's going on, Hunter?" the green ranger asked softly. "What happened?" He picked up a smooth stone, tossing it from one hand to the other to give himself something to do. He stayed quiet, until Hunter was ready to answer him.
"Something ...," he paused. "Something happened to me, before I came to be adopted. I don't really remember much. You woke me up fro-" Hunter broke off, clearing his throat. "You woke me up from a nightmare, a memory. A really bad one." His voice had gone down to a whisper, as the pain cut through him.
He felt Cam's arm go around him, and now, instead of pain, there was fear. Fear that was so illogical, he stiffened automatically to shift away.
Cam felt hurt go through him, and shut his eyes quickly. He opened them again, and saw that Hunter was gagging. He didn't touch him at all this time, but made comforting sounds, the sounds he just barely remembered his mother making.
Hunter's face was wet with a sheen of sweat and tears. He cursed. "Why does this keep happening!" he yelled, feeling a deep, deep shame that baffled him.
Cam took a deep breath, bracing himself to ask the next question. "Hunter ... what happens in your nightmares?"
Hunter's eyes slammed shut. "I- I don't know. My ... I only get certain impressions, and then he- he ... Dammit! I think that before I was adopted, and before I came to know my parents, and Blake, I was raped... repeatedly. B-by someone who I think was my brother. I was really young," he rushed on, wanting it overwith, "and my parents then were gone. And he made me... do, just do, a lot of things, before. I don't know, maybe these are just bad dreams." His voice was hoarse, and he whispered, "I hope these are just bad dreams. But I don't think they are."
Cam felt helpless, and angry, and incredibly sad. "I really don't know what to say, Hunter. Nothing I can say could possibly do anything to help, I don't think. But I want you to know that I'm here, and you don't have to worry about me telling anyone. I just know that your brother, and the rest of the team, and- and I, are worried about you. We were before, but at least now I know why. Dad might know what to do, because I know I don't." His voice tapered out. He was now unsure of whether he'd helped or harmed the crimson ranger by asking him to tell.
Hunter grunted and sighed. "Cam, you helped. I guess I needed to get that out. I don't know if I want Blake to know. Or any of the others. But I'll talk to Sensei." He boosted himself up, and this time offered Cam his hand.
They brushed their uniforms off, and walked back to Ninja Ops, now just a little closer than before. They had no way of knowing that the worst was yet to come.
Alright everyone, I hope chapter 2 was good. I hope it touched you. Anyhow, please review and let me know what you think. Blessed be, Chero
Maybe Someday
Chapter Two: Revelations
Hunter frowned at the floor in Storm Chargers. When a hand came down on his shoulder, he nearly jumped out of his skin. "Yeah, hey Kel, what's up?"
"We have more inventory coming in this afternoon, around 2. Just wanted to let you know," her brisk way of speaking and her bright smile picked his mood up ... slightly. "Are you alright? You seem kind of spacey today."
He forced himself to smile, "I'm fine, really. Just kind of tired." 'Tired since I don't sleep anymore,' he thought, thinking about not thinking about the nightmares.
They had started to come more frequently, and it was freaking him out. He didn't remember much before his parents adopted him, but he had a sinking feeling that his dreams were more than dreams.
Picking up another box, Hunter checked around to see if anything was out, so he could pick it up while in the stock room. He had been avoiding everyone for days, and hoped that they didn't pay it any more mind than the last time he was, as Tori put it, brooding. His lips quirked as he remembered the look on Cam's face. Disgust, as usual. Thinking about the Samurai Ranger's expressions led his thoughts to the expression he'd had when Hunter awakened from his nightmare. Wincing, he stacked the boxes, got out a marker to label them, and grabbed some helmets for the rack.
Blake had been watching his brother for some time now, wondering what was wrong. He knew Hunter better than anyone, and while he was used to the usual bouts of silence, it was getting rediculous. His attention was shifted, however, when he saw Tori walk in and greet Dustin. Her eyes scanned the shop, lighting on him. A smile curved her lips, and she walked over. He felt nervous, but he always felt that way around her.
"What's up?" she asked, tucking her thumbs into her pockets. Her eyes were smiling up at him, and he felt breathless.
"Nothing really. Just the usual," he paused. "Well, wait, I was wondering if you know what's wrong with Hunter? He won't talk to me." He felt hurt because of it, but tried not to let it show.
She frowned. "He's been pretty quiet. Cam has too, for that matter." She gave a half-smile, "That's more unusual from him than it is from Hunter. I was planning on cornering him later at Ninja Ops."
Blake nodded, his eyes shooting to the floor, taking in her bare midriff as they did. Tori spoke up. "I'll talk to you later. I'm going to find Cam, alright?"
He nodded. "See ya."
____________________________________________________________
At Ninja Ops, Cam was staring blankly at the monitor, replaying the scene from the day before. 'He looked so scared. It was hard seeing him like that,' he thought to himself, worried. He hadn't wanted to upset his friend more by asking about it. He'd been noticing his fatigue, except when he was morphed, and now he knew why.
He shook his head, and went back to work, tapping his fingers on the keys as he tried to recalibrate one of the zords. He checked the repairs from the last battle, and saw that they were complete. He couldn't believe how distracted he was nowadays.
Tori walked into the room, and saw him shake his head. "Hey, Cam," she called out, smiling when he craned his head around to look at her.
His smile was small, but there. "Hey, Tor, how are you?"
"Alright, thanks. What's been going on? Lately you've been quiet, and for you that's pretty rare," she said, feeling that she might as well get to the point. She walked over and sat on the table.
Cam's eyes flickered with worry, and then the shutters were down again. "I'm fine. Just been a little tired, with all the battles, and the zords needing some new adjustments."
Tori smiled, "Cam, come on. You can talk to me. You're one of the most talented multi-taskers I know."
His shoulders slumped. "It's about Hunter. Something happened the other day, and I'm not sure he wants me to spread it around." He saw her eyes flash with hurt. "Tori, I don't mean you'd tell anyone. I mean, I don't think he wanted even me to know, let alone anyone beyond me. I don't really know much either."
Tori steepled her fingers, and leaned her elbows onto her knees. "I wouldn't tell anyone. I was just worried about you, and now I'm worried about both of you. If you're worried, please ask him what's wrong. You don't have to tell me or anything, just ask so he has someone."
Cam let out a snort. "Yeah, and he really wants 'someone' to be me." His eyes weren't as sarcastic as his words. She cocked her head to the side and looked at him closely. He felt himself blushing, and looked down.
"Cam ... Are you- I mean, uh," she stuttered, unsure of how to ask the question. When she saw his blush deepen, she just waited.
"Yeah, Tor, I'm gay," he said softly. He closed his eyes and rubbed his hands over his face. Tori sat there blinking for a minute, and then made a comment that had him sitting up straight in his chair.
"You say that like it's a really bad thing. Like you did something wrong," she was shaking her head. "Cam, it's not like you can help it. I mean, I like you the way you are. Whatever way that happens to be."
Cam smiled at her. "Thanks, Tori. Just, please, don't let anyone know. Least of all him." He didn't need to tell her which 'him' he meant. He saw the mischievious smile spread over her face.
"You have a crush on him!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining. She laughed out loud when his blush came back. "I must say, I can't fault your taste. Okay, now that I know that, please talk to him. Not about that, but about what's wrong with him. You're his friend too." She shrugged. "You never know."
Cam shook his head, and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. What are the chances? Oh, maybe slim to none?"
The pretty blue wind ranger grinned. "Now, there's the Cam we all know and love!" He shook his head again, and turned back to his terminal.
"I have work to do, Tori. Go play with the brother you have a crush on," he said, laughing for the first time that day when she smacked him upside the head.
Cam let the work absorb him for a couple more hours, before he had to face a conversation he wasn't looking forward to.
________________________________________________________________
He was sitting at the lake again. It was one of the more peaceful places he'd been going to, and it helped him center himself. He remembered the lake near his old home, before his parents had died. Before it was just him and Blake.
'They must have known,' he thought, and frowned at the idea. 'Jake ... was my biological brother? Or was he from a foster family? I wish I knew.' His head fell back as he closed his eyes, trying to remember the feel of his dreams. Sweat popped out on his skin as he felt himself pale with the terror he'd apparently known before.
'Scared, hurting, brother, alone,' came the impressions, full-force. He clenched his teeth and forced himself to come back to the present. He wiped the tears that had leaked out of his eyes off his face. He was glad he had, because looking up, he saw Cam headed his way.
He let his eyes focus on a ripple in the lake, and said nothing. He heard the ground shift when Cam sat next to him, looking out at the lake as well.
"What's going on, Hunter?" the green ranger asked softly. "What happened?" He picked up a smooth stone, tossing it from one hand to the other to give himself something to do. He stayed quiet, until Hunter was ready to answer him.
"Something ...," he paused. "Something happened to me, before I came to be adopted. I don't really remember much. You woke me up fro-" Hunter broke off, clearing his throat. "You woke me up from a nightmare, a memory. A really bad one." His voice had gone down to a whisper, as the pain cut through him.
He felt Cam's arm go around him, and now, instead of pain, there was fear. Fear that was so illogical, he stiffened automatically to shift away.
Cam felt hurt go through him, and shut his eyes quickly. He opened them again, and saw that Hunter was gagging. He didn't touch him at all this time, but made comforting sounds, the sounds he just barely remembered his mother making.
Hunter's face was wet with a sheen of sweat and tears. He cursed. "Why does this keep happening!" he yelled, feeling a deep, deep shame that baffled him.
Cam took a deep breath, bracing himself to ask the next question. "Hunter ... what happens in your nightmares?"
Hunter's eyes slammed shut. "I- I don't know. My ... I only get certain impressions, and then he- he ... Dammit! I think that before I was adopted, and before I came to know my parents, and Blake, I was raped... repeatedly. B-by someone who I think was my brother. I was really young," he rushed on, wanting it overwith, "and my parents then were gone. And he made me... do, just do, a lot of things, before. I don't know, maybe these are just bad dreams." His voice was hoarse, and he whispered, "I hope these are just bad dreams. But I don't think they are."
Cam felt helpless, and angry, and incredibly sad. "I really don't know what to say, Hunter. Nothing I can say could possibly do anything to help, I don't think. But I want you to know that I'm here, and you don't have to worry about me telling anyone. I just know that your brother, and the rest of the team, and- and I, are worried about you. We were before, but at least now I know why. Dad might know what to do, because I know I don't." His voice tapered out. He was now unsure of whether he'd helped or harmed the crimson ranger by asking him to tell.
Hunter grunted and sighed. "Cam, you helped. I guess I needed to get that out. I don't know if I want Blake to know. Or any of the others. But I'll talk to Sensei." He boosted himself up, and this time offered Cam his hand.
They brushed their uniforms off, and walked back to Ninja Ops, now just a little closer than before. They had no way of knowing that the worst was yet to come.
Alright everyone, I hope chapter 2 was good. I hope it touched you. Anyhow, please review and let me know what you think. Blessed be, Chero