Chapter 13 tearful Goodbye
"Hey, everything alright?" Carter's voice was quiet as if not sure if he should be there.
"Yes, why?" She asked and felt the bed shift under someone else's weight.
"You just seemed unhappy back there." At the sound of Carter's voice Dana did look up.
"I'm just tired of people thinking I don't have what it takes." She said wearily.
"Dana who thinks that?" asked pulling the laptop from her hold.
"Carter..." But she found herself staring into his calm blue eyes.
"Who?" The softly spoken word had her eyes lowering and sadness creeping in. Instead of saying another word Carter lifted her face so she couldn't look away.
"Dad and now..."
"Dana..." He pulled her to him and hugged her. "Dana your father loves you and trusts you more than anyone."
"But..."He felt so warm, safe and good.
"Dana, he sent you on that mission to get the cell and..."
"But I was not enough to save Ryan, Dad had to do it and Ryan was right, I'm not that best fighter." She said wretchedly.
"That's crap; Dana you know that they did a lot to him, Ryan was so lost."
"And he still is, I know that but I'm his sister I'm supposed to be able to help."
"Dana, you will but he has to come to that in his own time."
"But Carter I just want to be there, but he doesn't even like me." She was crying now. Carter pulled her to him and Held her.
***flash***
"Want to talk?"
"Talking doesn't always help everything." She grunted and continued to bloody her hands with blow after blow.
"But it might save your hands."
"I don't care about my stupid hands, just go away Carter." He caught her hands in his and began pulling her out of the room.
"Carter what are you doing?"
"You need air and I feel like a drive."
"But you don't have a car and we're not supposed to just…"
"Hey I'm being spontaneous." He said and she would have smiled at him if she'd not been quite so upset.
***flash***
"Is there something wrong?"
"Hmm? Oh, I was just thinking, did something else happen at the library today?" He asked and she wondered how he'd known. Did he know or had she just been to quiet? Thinking back she had not said much just gone to her quarters.
"No, why?" She asked opting for the childlike act.
"I don't know, you've just been acting kind of odd. You know detached ever since we got back." Carter said slowly.
"Oh, well you know with all that's been going on I've just been thinking about stuff." She shrugged as if nothing at all were amiss.
"I see, so the fact that as soon as you morphed you were in agony doesn't mean anything?" He spoke slowly once more as if waiting for her response.
"What? Carter that's silly." But she'd been in pain; she could remember how it had almost paralyzed her.
"I don't think so." He scooted closer to her and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Dana, you were acting the same way as Ryan when ever he morphs." He reminded her and she knew she was busted.
"Carter that's…' She began but he rested a finger upon her lips to silence her a minute.
"Not silly, Dana, let me see your back." He said matter-of-factly.
"No Carter I…" She began once more and this time his eyes darkened with a light she'd only seen on a few occasions, usually when they were fighting monsters.
"Dana, we can do this one of two ways, I can either pull rank or demand to see it and bring your father and everyone else in on this or you can show me your back on your own." He told her grimly. He hesitated then pressed his lips to hers.
Dana felt as if the world were stopping, she couldn't breathe, her mind was whirling and she was floating all at once.
***flash***
"Dana, listen to me, I told you I love you, I also know that you care about the team as much as I do. And I know that this is best for the team. Think about it, if you tow are successful, you'll both be back in the fight." He said gently.
"And if it doesn't, Carter, what if there's nothing we can do." She said and tears began to spill from her blue eyes.
"Dana, we will find something. You are not going to die, not now." He said fervently and his mouth covered hers in a kiss full of love and passion. It some how pushed her fear back.
Dana felt the images fading and saw the white room once more, surrounding them, protecting them.
"Hey Billy is it ready?" Tommy asked as he and the others hovered in the lab of William Cranston's company telecorpe.
"Yes, I just set the timer." The genius confirmed his question by showing him the digital read out on Dana's communicator.
"Ok, so remember that what has happened now won't be like this." Jason said to the two younger people sitting at a table across the room.
"We know.' Dana said and Jason thought he'd never seen another look so horrible, her face was blotchy, her eyes bloodshot. He wanted to go to her to be there, just as he would for any of his friends in so much pain but she had her brother, and he knew that was enough.
"Ryan?" Tommy asked and the silver clad young man got to his feet, stuffing a slip of paper into his pocket.
"I'm ready." He told the other ranger and then he looked back down at his sister. He motioned for them to give him a second and the others turned away.
Kneeling down before Dana he took her hands into his. "Dana," he began, "Dane, look at me?" He said and she did after a minute. He'd never seen so much pain, never so much anguish. And then there was the guilt. He knew she was dying inside, as sure as if Diabolico had hacked off her head. "I know it hurts but Dana you have to know this is not your fault, no more than it's mine." He said squeezing her hands gently.
"I, I know." She managed but couldn't meet his eyes as he spoke those words.
"Know this too, Carter loved you and no matter what will happen he'll always love you." Ryan said softly and Dana nodded. She knew Carter had with all of his life.
"I… I know." She managed and gave him what she hoped was a brave smile.
"And Dana know this too, I love you." The words sounded rusty and there was a catch to his voice. Heavens he'd not thought he'd ever do that. He'd never believed he'd really feel this for her.
"You do?" She asked just as surprised and a little smiled touched the edges of his lips.
"Yeah sis I do." He said and pulled her close. Heavens this felt better, not good, nothing felt exactly good but this felt a lot better an the pain and loneliness.
She felt the pain ebbing and realizing that it was him, it was Ryan doing this. His words… then it hit her, if this didn't work and she lost him too…
"Oh God Ryan I can't do it, I can't lose you two." She sobbed wretchedly.
"If this works…" He began tenderly as he pulled back slightly so he could peer down into her face.
"You have to go now!" Billy shouted and Dana let his hands go and pushed at him.
"Right." He said and Dana gave him one last teary smile.
"Be careful." She called as he headed for the vortex.
"Always." He grinned back at her and dove through the portal.
TBC
***
Yes this chapter was slow and I know it's a lot of old footage but here's to the memories. I just wanted to show the mood of both Dana and Ryan. What do you think? Is it too sappy?
Also what time period do you think Ryan should arrive in? I'm curious to know what you think, so PLZ R&R.