Author's note: Hey guys!

OK, so we're into the Aftermath series. I'm gonna *try* to post two or three chapters a week, but don't hold me to that. (Mutters) whose dumb idea was it for me to work in a toy shop anyway? Especially at this time of year? (Normal voice) OK, I'm over it. Hey Anna, thanks for sticking with me. Dominic, thought you'd like that. True_Blue, of course I couldn't do without you. One of these times I may actually get your name right, too. Hey Andrea, nice to hear from you. You're sort of on the right track, but you're gonna have to wait to find out…

These stories each open with a piece in the character's POV. They're very short; sorry about that.

Aftermath 1: Cole

Cole

It happened again this morning.

We had breakfast, talking just like always; Alyssa came around to pick up the plates, and I stood up to let her past. I brushed past her…and she flinched.

Alyssa flinched away from me.

It's been happening for a while, on and off; the others did it too, at first, but they've all stopped. I don't blame them; Connor hurt everyone in different ways.

But I did hope, after we'd talked, that Alyssa would feel safer around me.

Morning on the Animarium.

Things had been quiet for the last while; Mandilock was lying low since MirrorOrg's conversion. The few times Toxica and Jindrax came out, the Rangers beat them quickly.

Breakfast was finished, and the Rangers had scattered to various parts of the Animarium. Taylor was reading something in her chair; Alyssa was studying one of her textbooks. Max and Danny were talking together. And Cole was lying on a branch high above the clearing, staring at…

Shayla turned, looking at Alyssa. The White Ranger wasn't studying; she was just trying to avoid Cole's gaze.

The Princess sighed and turned back to the fountain. This one, the Rangers would have to work out on their own.

"Alyssa?"

Alyssa stopped, nearly dropping her bike; by the time she'd recovered it, Cole had caught up to her.

"Cole. Something wrong?"

"Can we talk?"

"What about?"

He caught the handlebars of her bike, making her stop. "Are you afraid of me?"

"No!" But she wasn't looking at him.

"Alyssa…"

"Cole. It's not you I'm afraid of." Now she looked up.

"Alyssa…Connor's gone. He's not coming back. And even if he did…he's not me anymore."

"No. The last time we saw him, he didn't look like you."

"He promised."

"He's an Org!"

"He's not." Cole was talking very quietly, in contrast to Alyssa whose voice had been getting louder as the conversation went on. "He's human, Alyssa. The Princess and Tara both said it. I felt it. He's human, just as much as you or me."

"Cole…" Alyssa turned away, crossing her arms over her chest. "How do we know he won't…"

"We don't." Cole had lowered her bike to the ground and now he caught her shoulders. "We don't know, Alyssa, but there's no point worrying he will unless he does, OK? I'm Cole. Not Connor."

"I keep having this dream. A nightmare."

"We've all had it." Cole said quietly. "The same one, I bet."

"I wish it'd just go away."

"Yeah. I know how that feels." He let go and went to pick up her bike again. In silence they walked back to the Animarium.