Chapter 8 The stalemate
NOT much one for tact, Ryan barged in and cleared his throat.
Carter heard it first and still didn't break away; he wanted Ryan to see that Dana had his protection in anyways needed. He'd not let Ryan hurt her again or she him. She meant too much to him.
Dana realized though and then pulled back.
"Do you need something?"
"We need to talk."
"No." Dana said flatly and he knew he deserved that for taking her to task. Still he wanted to clear the air between them.
"Dana I know your pissed, maybe I handled things badly but..."He tried to smooth things over.
"Ryan you made yourself very clear..."she began.
"Dana I know what Diabolico did to you." He lied; it was all he could think of. If he left this unfinished, besides he had to try and mend what damage he'd done.
"Oh, um your not going to tell Dad are you?" she asked biting her lip as she got up off of Carter's lap.
"Dana, if it's this important..."
"No! Ryan I've gone along with whatever he said until now but Ryan this is my life, I'm the one who has to decide what to do." Why didn't anyone understand?
"But..."He tried again but she was shaking.
"No, you know what it's like, knowing that the next morph could be the last." She said and was wrapping her arms around herself. He felt a little sick, did she mean what he thought...
"Show me." He said grimly. How had this happened? How had she gotten a tattoo?
"It's just a tattoo; you know what they look..."
"Dana, you should show him." Carter spoke up for the first time. He knew that they could only do this together.
"Carter..." She began but he was doing it for her, lifting her blouse.
"A scorpion..." Ryan breathed feeling even sicker. He had seen the tattoo on enemies of the demons. He let a finger trace the insect.
"Ryan..." Dana was surprised to feel his light touch. She then had the oddest feeling, as if something were about to change.
"I wanted her to tell Captain Mitchell but..."
"She won't." Ryan surmised remembering his own reaction to his tattoo.
"Guess it's a Mitchell trait." Carter mumbled and a tiny smile crossed both siblings' faces. It was the first real thing they had in common, other than being of the same blood and being power rangers. Yes this was a good thing. Well not that they'd have to find a way to survive their tattoos but that they had something to work on together.
Although he was loath to leave Carter knew they had to do this alone. At least for now, he told himself as he retreated from the room. After a minute Dana felt Ryan replace her shirt. She then headed to a seat.
"I suppose I should tell you what little I found out before this happened." She said and he frowned.
"You were looking for information?"
"Yes, I knew that if they could use black magic to give you the tattoo that there had to be a way to get rid of it through the same means if not others."
"Dana, do you know how dangerous black magic is?"
"Yes, and I know it's the only way to save you." She reasoned adding. "And I found the way."
"I see." He was beginning to get the picture. Diabolico must have been watching for some kind of action in the arena and then he'd pounced. It struck Ryan that even with all that had happened Dana had still tried to find a way to save him. "You were attacked."
"Yes, but that's not important now."
"Wait, hold on. I may have been way off before about you being reckless but Dana this was. More so than anything I've ever done."
"Ryan..."
"No," he moved to touch her arm. "I know you were trying to help me, I do but Dana now I'm not the only one in this boat."
"Well, it told us one thing," Dana told Ryan after a minute.
"What's that?"
"There is a way to save you. They wouldn't have done this if they weren't so scared.
"True, but how…"
"I need to go back to the library; I have a feeling that there was something there."
"Dana, you can't, if you do they'll be waiting."
"But…"
"No, besides if there had been something there, the demons would have taken it so you wouldn't have a chance."
"Ryan, they'll win either way so what do they have to lose? Think about it, if I leave it you'll die and if I go after it I'll die, either way we'll lose one ranger."
"What so you're going to risk it."
"Yes, I think it's time…"
"Dana, listen, I know I said you had the great childhood but you don't have to…"
"Ryan, I know you don't know much about family but Dad did teach me that when you're in a family you work to protect those you care about.'
"Dana…' He couldn't believe this while he'd been spending time with Kensey, his sister had been off risking her neck for him. Why? JHe'd never understand how she could just except him. Kelsey seemed too but that he had a feeling, was a physical attraction. Not that he minded but right now they were stuck at a stand off.
"No, I know you don't care but I do, I don't exspe3ct you to understand but I do want you to promise me you won't tell Dad. He'll have your reaction and will want to lock me up to protect me."
Ryan had the oddest feeling; it had started when she'd said she knew he didn't care. True he didn't love her, didn't love anyone really but he still didn't want her to get hurt. The fact that she was willing to was hard enough to except. It sent a little streak of warmth through his chest, what was she doing to him? In the last day he'd gone to frozen, to frustrated, and angry, to protective. That's why this was, in a way, not like he wanted to scoop her up and hide her but he still didn't want her hurt. It struck him she might be feeling guilty, he'd done that too, made her feel bad by saying she'd gotten his childhood…
"I can't talk you out of this can I?"
"NO." She told him flatly.
"Well then, since I know more about magic I'm going to help."
"Ryan, this is my fault, I'm the one…'
"Dana, no matter what's said from here on in, there is no fault, no blame, just a mission. Get rid of the tattoos." He told her and although his tone was grim there was an understanding in his silver eyes.
"Deal." She said and she gave him a tentative smile, one she might give a mean looking teacher. He just nodded and asked.
"Where do we start?"
TBC
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OK, this chapter didn't go the way I planned it, the characters took over so this's how it came out. PLZ R&R and let me know what you think.