Chapter 5 in the spirit
The room was perfectly still as the last specter's faded and Ryan knew that he had to fix everything. What to do first? Walking to the phone he picked it up and dialed.
"Hello?" The deep voice asked and Ryan knew this was it, his heart was pounding, he just hoped there was still time. The image of Dana trapped in the car and then in her gleaming silver wheelchair.
"Carter?" He asked hoping he had the right number, it sounded like his old friend.
"Ryan?" Came the part time red ranger's voice and Ryan sighed in partial relief, he had the guy he needed. Is something wrong?" Carter as asking in sudden alertness.
"Sort of, man listen I need a favor."
"What's up?" Carter asked and Ryan knew he had to be wondering what he could do for him when he was so far away.
"Dana's going to try and drive in tonight. You have to stop her." He explained and then there was a pause before Carter spoke.
"She wouldn't try that; she'd have to be crazy." He said and Ryan sighed knowing he'd have to admit his own part in this one.
"No, just pressured by her big brother." /Ryan then quickly told Carter what he'd said to Dana. He could feel the change in his old
Friend but it didn't matter just then. Keeping his little sister safe was all he cared about.
"Oh, ok, wait, how did you know I was in…?" Carter didn't say anything else about Ryan's par in it his curiosity on the other.
"There isn't time for that just stop her." Ryan had to keep himself from yelling it at him. Didn't he understand what kind of danger Dana was in? If he loved Dana so much wouldn't that be all he cared about? And he knew it was when Carter then said.
"Fine." The other line went dead.
Ryan hung up as well knowing by his tone that Carter would find a way to keep Dana there. She'd be safe, the relief washed over him and slowly the image of her in the cemetery wheelchair bound faded. Then he picked up the phone and dialed.
"Hello?" A familiar sleepy voice asked and Ryan smiled, good he'd caught him.
"Chad it's Ryan Mitchell."
"Ryan is something wrong?" The voice now sounded wide awake.
"No, no, I was just wondering if you had plans for tomorrow." Ryan was looking through his cupboards as they talked.
"Oh, no, I was going to um…" Chad sounded hesitant as if not wanting Ryan to know he had none. Ryan could understand that.
"You do now. Listen…"
****
Ryan thanked the heavens that the shopping malls were still opened late. He raced in and out of stores buying decorations and gifts for the coming day. Then once that was done Ryan made it to the grocery store just in time. He then bought a half of a ham, a roll of easy bake rolls, a pumpkin pie and potato's not to mention egg nog. Then he was off, driving home to wrap the gifts.
It was nearly ten o'clock when he once more picked up the phone and dialed the number he found in the lightspeed emergency book.
"Hello?" A cheerful voice asked and he smiled, good she hadn't changed yet. He felt al little smile on his lips at the image of the pretty yellow clad girl he'd first met.
"Hey Kelsey?" He asked after a second hoping she'd not be too angry at him. He'd acted ghastly that afternoon. She should by all right slam down the phone on him. That thought suddenly bothered him, he didn't want her mad at him, he wanted more than just to keep her the sweet girl he knew, he wanted to see her, to spend tomorrow wit her.
"Ryan?" She asked and he heard the slight surprise in her words, he couldn't blame her. He'd never thought he'd call her, not that afternoon anyway.
"Yeah it's me, listen I wanted to apologize about this afternoon." He said and kept his finger crossed that she'd except and come tomorrow.
"You did?"
"Yeah I was in a really crummy mood." He said and then he heard a little laugh on the other side of the line.
"Oh, its ok, that happens to the best of us." She brushed that off and he knew he could do this; he could make things right after all.
"Anyway I know you might have plans for tomorrow but I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner at my place." He said and there was a brief pause.
"Dinner? Oh, I'd um wait aren't you having it with Dana?" She sounded a little disconcerted and that made him smile. He liked how she stammered like that.
"No she's snowed in." He informed her.
"Oh, well, I would love to. What time?" *** She asked and he silently pumped a fist into the air.
***
The sound of Christmas Carols filled the living room the next day as Ryan and Kelsey finished decorating the tree. Neither they nor Chad minded the fact that soon it would have to be taken down. They were all just glad to be there and together. That was why Chad had volunteered to fix the egg nog while they finished the decorating.
Ryan felt odd, as if he'd come home, as if here with Kelsey was where he'd been meant to be. He wondered what his father would say now. He didn't know but as he noticed that the only thing left to go on the tree was the angel and a sly smile lit his eyes.
"Here." Kelsey found herself lifted in his strong arms and frowned a little surprised.
"'Ryan?" She asked and he grinned.
"The tree needs an angel and since you won't fit…" He shrugged as if it were the most normal thing for him to be holding her at his eye level. Their eyes met and he felt his breath lodge in his throat as he remembered the image of her alone on this day of all days. He then remembered what future Dana had said and knew he had to tell her how he felt, if he didn't they'd never have a chance and…
"Ryan?" She asked and he realized she'd been talking to him but for the life of him he had no clue what she'd said. All he knew was he had to do this. Leaning over slightly he covered her lips with his.
Ryan had not expected the rush of heat that seemed to thaw all of the ice left in his soul. She was just so warm and giving and he loved her… He couldn't believe it but he did, he had since that first day when he'd decided to stay… She was just so wild and smart even if she didn't let everyone see it. He'd seen sparks of that in her fighting and now he knew it would be right.
"I love you." Kelsey breathed when they broke the kiss at last. Both realized then her arms were about his neck and his hands were now on her waist as he lowered her to her feet.
"What?" He asked uncertain he'd heard her right.
"I said…" She began again but he pressed a silencing finger to her lips.
"I heard you but Kel…"
"Ok, look I know you don't want to hear that, but I…'
"I love you too." He said and she looked dumbstruck by his admission. That made him want to kick himself. Hell, he'd never even been very kind to her back as rangers and he'd just blurted…
"You do?" Kelsey asked hopefully as if this were the most natural conversation they could have.
"Yes." He said after a minute of thought, he didn't know what to do now, what would Dana do? God, he didn't know.
"Oh, and you never said a word?" She asked and he sighed.
"And show weakness? Never." He said and she frowned at that.
"You just did."
"I realized something last night." He began knowing he had to at least tell her part of it. He had to make her see why he was now like this.
"What's that?" Kelsey asked brushing a peace of lint from his sweater.
"'Chances missed are worse than taking a chance and failing." He told her and she nodded.
"Your right." She smiled happily.
"I know." He smirked and she batted at his arm "Ok, ok, so what do you say we try this dating thing?" He offered and she seemed to think it over for a moment. A long, very drawn out moment in which Ryan again saw her alone and Chad too. He had once thought it would be those too but no, they were just too different.
"Hmm, sounds great to me." She said as
Chad came out of the kitchen carrying the egg nog he'd brought.
"Ok, what am I missing?" The blue clad young man asked and Ryan and Kelsey exchanged looks before saying as one.
"Angels."
"Ok, well…" and then when the phone rang Ryan moved to the end table saying.
"I'll get it." When he picked up the receiver he wondered who'd be calling on Christmas Day? "hello?"
"Ryan hey!" Came Dana's cheerful voice.
"Hey sis what's happening?" He asked having the feeling he already knew, if things had worked out she'd be home and safe. Maybe, just maybe with a certain red clad guest.
"I just wanted to thank you for calling Carter.' She said and he frowned slightly. Why had he said something?
"He told you?"
"Yeah, well you can't start a relationship without honesty."
"You two are…"
"Yeah, he asked me out as soon as I asked him why he'd come all this way to fight fires when he could have stayed in Mariner Bay."
"Oh, well in that case good luck."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome…" Ryan paused when he saw Chad and Kelsey motioning to him. He then said. "Dana think you could put me on speaker phone?'
"Oh, um sure.'
"Merry Christmas!" The other two called and they heard the laughter from both Carter and Dana as they returned the sentiment. It was then that Ryan had the idea. He told Dana to hold on the line and went for the phone book again and put in a call to Joel and Angela.
"Hello?" Kelsey smiled knowing that soft voice.
"Hey Mrs. R." Kelsey called happily and there was the sound of clinking glasses and then.
"Kelsey?"
"And Chad," The young man beside Kelsey chimed and Ryan followed suit then Dana and Carter said hey."
"Oh my, Joel come here!" Angela called and then the sky cowboy came on the line.
"Merry Christmas!"
The two unseen entities smiled at one another as they watched the mini reunion knowing things would be alright after all.
The end
***
I was wondering what you think about this one. Was the ending too silly?
There's just one other thing Happy holidays in what ever form you celebrate them and if you don't, have a good winter.