Disclaimer: I own nothing power rangers and the song in this chapter is "When You Say Nothing At All." by Alison Krauss.
Chapter 4. A little music.
The corridors were silent as Carter made his final rounds of the day. He'd been adding the stats of the new team into his computer. He wanted things ready so that when the time came
To call on the new team they'd be ready. He'd been thinking of Captain Mitchell, had felt when choosing them to take up the gauntlet. It felt right somehow, as if it was meant to be.
Nearing the doors of the infirmary he thought again of Dana's odd behavior of late. She'd been very quiet and he'd barely seen her outside of the medical center. Thinking back he realized He'd first noticed it that day at lunch in the galley.
"No way I'm telling you the new cyber booster will outdo the old one with no bugs." Carter argued and Angela Fairweather-Rawlings smiled.
"I think Joel's cockiness rubbed off on you." Ryan teased.
"No, I just know I worked out all of the bugs." Angela said smugly.
"Right." He laughed.
"So you think you're ready?" Dana asked and Carter nodded.
"We've taken numerous precautions so we can prevent the problems we had like when Prince Olympus snuck on base."
"Carter do you know your insane." Dana tossed a French fry at him.
"Me?" He asked innocently glancing at the mini torpedo she'd launched.
"Yes you." She laughed harder. Carter loved that sound, the tinkle of her soft laughter. It reminded him of the soft jingle of wind chimes. "Listen," She managed to calm down.
"Hmm?" He asked taking a drink of his coffee. Just then his cell phone chirped. "Hold on." He murmured pulling out the little red phone. "Hello?" His playful face went all serious as he listened to the situation. He didn't even see her leave but noticed idly as he headed for the door.
Now pushing open the door to the medical bay Carter stepped into the medical bay.
"Dana?" He called and she didn't seem to hear him at first. Frowning he started into the room only to realize she was slumped over her desk.
Alarm shot through him as he raced across the floor to see if she was alright. It died as fast as it had started when his hand found her pulse strong and steady. She'd just fallen asleep, and they said he worked too hard.
Deciding she needed her sleep, Carter slid an arm beneath her legs and back before he carried her from her office-the infirmary. It was funny how light she was. She seemed to weigh practically nothing. She'd have to eat more.
"Carter?" She asked sleepily and he glanced down as he rounded a corner. Her soft blue eyes were fogged with sleep, her smiled dreamy.
"Yeah," He said gently as he pushed her door open.
"You're carrying me?"
"You fell asleep." he told her and she reached a hand up to touch his cheek.
"You look so handsome when I'm tired, and you're not so starched. You smile. You should…. Do…." She let out a jaw splitting yawn. "That… more often… Cute." With that her eyes closed again.
Did she just say he had a cute smile? She had to be really gone. Not that he minded, Carter mused activating the door to her quarters.
Gently the red ranger shifted her so he could pull down her blankets. He wanted to ask her what she'd been about to ask him at lunch the other day. From the look on her face it was important but… Slowly he sank down beside her and pulled off one shoe. He frowned, How was it she had such small feat? The soft pink pump could only be about a size 5. He marveled at how she could be in those things... It would hurt like the devil.
Pulling off the second shoe he set it on the floor beside him. Then he began to massage her feet. He didn't like to think of her in pain. Besides he doubted anyone ever did this for her, and it could be the last time he could ever do anything special for her. For himself, and this was in a way. He had this time now, No work, no monsters, no one to interrupt….
Spending time with Dana had been one thing he'd liked about being a ranger, catching her in the galley and joining her, sitting with her while she did research.
It surprised carter when she stretched slightly and made a low purring sound much like one from a kitten. It sent heat through his face, it sounded so relaxed.
"Carter..." She breathed and he realized her eyes were opened to slits, the blue disks like chips of the sky.
"I was just um..." He pulled away from her leaning on one elbow.
"It's ok, but why are you rubbing my feet?"
"I figured they were sore." He blushed.
"But they stink." She made a face and he grinned leaning to run his nose over her instep. DANA jerked and tried to wriggle away from him.
"Carter." She squealed and he smirked.
"Ticklish?" And he began to tickle her in earnest. She tried to get away but was laughing so hard all she managed to do was fall off the bed.
"Dana!" He was beside her in an 'stint but found himself dropped back as she sprawled out over him. Then she was doing the tickling. It was surprising just where he was ticklish, just below his ribs and on the back of his shoulders.
"Mercy!" He cried and she stopped and worked to catch her breath.
Suddenly both realized their positions. He lay flat on his back she sat 'astride his stomach. Her knees on the floor...
"I missed this." He said and she stiffened.
"Oh I um..." She began beginning to move off of him, Carter didn't let her finish snaking his arms around her shoulders to break her as he rolled over so she was pinned beneath him. "Carter?"
"There's something I should have done a long time ago." He said and before she could think to reply his mouth closed over hers.
His mouth was warm on hers, his hands slowly sliding up her sides, up her body until they framed her face.
Dana could feel her heart pounding, she returned his kiss all the
Yearnings she'd held in check for so long straining against her walls.
Then his lips began to trace their way across her cheek to her ear.
"You smell so good, like daisies and sunlight." He whispered hoarsely.
"Not like feet?" She gasped when his teeth nipped at her earlobe.
"Heavens no…" He chuckled but was the one to gasp when Dana slid
Her hands into his hair, sifting them through the thick brown mass.
It was one thing she'd longed to do since their first meeting years
Ago, to feel that hair against her palms. His mouth trailed kisses
From her ear down to her throat locking over the pulse point.
She was excited; he was amazed just how much, her pulse leaping like a jack rabbit. It sent a shock of fire through his own body. Why had he never noticed this before? Why hadn't he done this before? Maybe he hadn't thought she'd want him, she'd just been so Dana…
"Carter…" she gasped when she felt his teeth on her collar bone. It struck her that he'd began unbuttoning her blouse.
"Hmm?"
"Do you hear that?" She asked and he frowned still nuzzling her skin this time at the base of her throat.
"What?" He asked finding it hard to think with him torturing her skin.
"The song." She said an she tried to concentrate and realized her radio was playing.
It's amazing how you
Can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word
You can light up the dark
"Alison Krauss?" He asked and shrugged.
It was the song playing at the restaurant they'd gone to to celebrate her graduation from medical school. He felt a little smile tilt up her lips.
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing
He had always been kind of quiet so she'd associated it with Carter. He didn't need a lot of words, he just had to move his head in a certain way or touch her hand in reassurance. Even if he'd not meant it as more.
The smile on your face
Let's me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes
Saying you'll never leave me
As he paused there to listen he thought about it and the song suited Dana. She was always so quietly confident. The only real time she'd had trouble was when it came to her father. She'd never understood that she had always had his approval; she didn't have to work for it. Still the song made him think of how just by being her she'd saved him from losing his memory for good when they'd fought memoris. Yes, she was so special, not just as a friend, not just as a desirable woman but as herself, Dana Judith Mitchell.
A touch of your hand
Says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Yeah, you say it best
When you say nothing at all
This time when their lips met the kiss was soft, not that it lacked passion but it also held a tenderness that came from knowing just how special the other was.
All day long I can hear
People talking out loud
But when you hold me near
You drown out the crowd
Old Mr. Webster could never define
What's being said between your heart and mine
The smile on your face
Lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in you eyes
Saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand
Says you'll catch me
If ever I fall
Yeah, you say it best
When you say nothing at all
The smile on your face
Lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes
Saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me
If ever I fall
Yeah, you say it best when you say nothing at all
TBC