Chapter 3 Calls
Dana woke early and made the call to Kelsey's grandmother's house.
"Hello?" A stuffy voice answered and Dana sighed, she hated their butler he always sounded so goody-goody.
"Hi, is Kelsey there?" Dana asked and waited.
"Hello?" A groggy fumbling was heard as someone picked up a minute later.
"Kel, this is Dana… the med student began and she heard the other girl shift.
"Well?" She sounded like she was running her hands over her face.
"Well what?" Dana asked innocently and Kelsey laughed before asked.
"A reunion?"
"Yeah." Dana laughed man, how she'd missed this. "Anyway, feel like helping with the planning?"
"What do you need?" Kelsey sounded more and more awake by the moment.
"I'll call Chad if you call Joel and Angie." Dana purposed, she didn't know if the reason Chad was not calling Kelsey back was if he had a new girlfriend. Maybe or maybe he was busy. Still she'd rather find out before Kelsey, that way she could protect her as best she could.
"Deal." Kelsey replied after a minutes pause.
"Great, why don't you meet me say around noon?" Dana said already thinking where she put the little book where she had all of their phone numbers.
"Ok, where?" Kelsey said even as Dana began riffling through her things.
"the mall, say the food court, by the west doors." She said finding it as she uttered the last words.
"Deal."
***
"Hello?" The voice sounded wide awake and placid as she remembered it. Dana had to smile at that. At least something's never changed.
"Hi Chad?"
"Dana, is that you?" there was the surprise.
"In the flesh, so to speak." She laughed.
"what's up is there trouble?" The worry that had come into his voice made her want to smile. Yes, that was definitely the Chad she remembered.
"No, nothing like that, Listen, I was just wondering what your doing for Christmas eve?"
"Oh, um I haven't had much time to think about it but I'll probably hang out here." he told her a shrug in his voice.
"Oh, well, I know it's a good drive but we're trying to put together a ranger reunion and we were wondering if you'd be able to make it." She told him and waited, breath bated.
"On Christmas eve?" He sounded a bit surprised and she couldn't blame him, it was rather short notice.
"Yeah, Kel is calling the others."
"Oh, well, I um…" Ought oh, what was he thinking.
"Listen, I know you might have plans but…" She began and but he cut her off.
"Wait, did you say kel's making calls?" Was that hope? Hmm, this might just work, she thought.
"Yeah," a little smile lit Dana's face. "She's helping me put this together, Ryan's also giving me a hand, he's cooking.
"Dana I would love to come, but my cousin's here, I don't want to just leave her." He explained.
"oh, a cousin?" Dana's mind was already churning. Maybe she and Ryan…
"Yeah, she's here at Angel U too and I…"
"You could bring her. The more the merrier."
"Hmm, that might work, it wouldn't be any trouble?"
"Nope. just tell me her name and I'll make up a seating card."
Dana moved to the couch the portable phone in her hand. She'd been putting off calling the ex-red ranger until last. She was a little afraid he'd already have plans. After all it was a little short notice. Then there was the fact that he might be spending the holidays with a special girl. That thought was the most worrisome of all and she thought again of asking Ryan to do this.
The memory of her best friend's support when Ryan had returned filled her mind and Dana knew that that was one of the things she wanted most in the world. She wanted to see those blue eyes sparkling back at her, t hear that deep voice and even if he couldn't make the gathering she had to at least call. Punching in the digits she'd gotten from the fire house she listened to the ringing.
*****
Carter rolled over and tried to figure out what was making that racket. It couldn't be the oven timer and he'd not set the alarm clock. He was off for the next week, having decided he needed a break. Belatedly he realized it was the phone and blindly reached for it. It better be an emergency, he thought as he fumbled the receiver to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Carter?" The sound of that voice brought him out of his sleep deprived stooper.
"Dana? What's up? Is something wrong?" He asked Bolting into a sitting position.
"No, no nothing's wrong." She said quickly and he frowned. How had she found him? Not that he minded but. "I was just calling to invite you to a ranger reunion." She said and he could almost swear she sounded timid. What was going on a ranger reunion? Why would that make her nervous?
"A ranger reunion?" He asked running a hand through his sleep tousled hair.
"Yeah, I know It's a little short notice but I ran into Kelsey the other day and she was kind of down. Long story but I've talked to all of the others and they're all coming."
"Ok, when?" He asked. Yes she was definitely nervous.
"Christmas Eve." She replied.
"Christmas Eve?" He wasn't sure he'd heard that right. He wasn't sure exactly of the current date but he knew that was soon.
"Yeah, I know it's only a day away so I'll understand if you can't make it."
"Woe, Dana slow down, I'm not exactly awake yet."
"Oh, no I woke you." She groaned and he smiled. That was his old Dana. "I'm really sorry but I've been trying to put this together and finish my shopping and do so much and." He just listened to her babble; it was not something she usually did. Still he was glad to hear her familiar voice. He'd missed it more than the role of being a leader or the others. After all she'd pretty much been his best friend. Sure he liked the others but he and Dana were a lot alike. She loved helping people, so did he; He was dedicated to saving lives, so was she. But that wasn't it either. In the last few months they'd been working together he'd started feeling differently whenever she was around. He had found it more and more difficult to treat her like one of the guys. She was pretty, smart, and had a laugh he loved. He didn't even mind when she told really dumb jokes because her eyes would light up brighter than the fourth of July. He realized she'd gone quiet and that she'd probably asked him again.
"I'd love to come, just tell me when and where." He said and she laughed.
*** "Ok, so where do you want to eat?" Dana asked as they met at the designated time.
"Hmm, Chinese?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Ok, your server will be right with you." the hostess said placing two menus on the table top.
"thanks." Dana said even as Kelsey was opening her menu.
"Hmm, so what looks good here?" Dana asked and Kelsey scanned her menu.
"Can I get your orders?" The waitress asked and Dana nodded looking to her companion.
"I'll have the general Tsaos." Kelsey told the woman who nodded writing it down.
"And I'll have the steamed vegetables." Dana told her when it was her turn.
"And to drink?"
"Green tea." Dana said at a nod from Kelsey. Then once they were once again on their own Dana asked.
"So how did it go?"
"Good, but you'll never believe what Joel was doing when I called." Kelsey grinned.
"what?" Dana asked almost afraid to find out what he'd done.
"Catching his kitchen on fire."
"Now that, sounds like Joel." Dana joined in the laughter.
"So how about Carter?" Kelsey asked when their mirth had died down.
"Hmm?" Dana asked as she poured the newly arrived tea into their two cups. She didn't even think about her answer. "he'll be there."
"Oh, I see, and did you ask if he was bringing anyone?" Kelsey asked slyly as she began heaping sugar into the small cup.
"Kelsey!" Dana burst steeling the container of sugar packets from her friend to mask her blush at that question. Hadn't she been worried about that very thing?
"What?" Kelsey asked trying to snatch back the sweetner. "Come on Dana you and Carter are so perfect for each other. You both love to save lives, you both work hard and have odd senses of humor."
"We do not." Dana retorted as She took her first sip of tea.
"A hotdog in a sweater?" Kelsey asked one dark brow arched in challenge.
"Well I thought it was funny." Dana defended herself.
"And how about Carter and the spiders?" Now, Dana had to laugh at that she could remember his fear of spiders after they'd taken over the Aquabase.
"Ok, ok so we're odd." She admitted.
"And make a cute couple." Kelsey put in smirking.
"Your hopeless." Dana laughed shaking her head. then a wicked thought slid into Dana's mind and she said. "Oh and by the way Chad's bringing a girl."
"Oh," Kelsey said and the humor slipped right out of her. Dana felt a little bad, she knew Kelsey liked Chad. That was why she told her.
"Yeah he didn't want to leave his cousin alone for the holidays."
"His cousin…" Kelsey said a smile crossing her lips.
"And Carter and I are perfect together?" Dana said shaking her head.
"Ok so I like Chad, but Dana that doesn't mean anything." Kelsey protested as their food came.
"right. So how about the dinner." Dana began knowing a change of subject was best at the moment.
"Ok, what do we need?" Kelsey asked
"Well Ryan gave me a shopping list." Dana told her adding some spicy mustard to her vegetables."
"He's not doing it himself?"
"Nope, he has exams."
"Ok, then what?" Kelsey asked sipping her tea.
"Well, I was debating on the decorations." Dana told her and Kelsey sighed.
"Hmm, sorry I'm not good at that stuff."
"Good thing I am." Dana smiled and the planning truly began.
***
Well, what do you think? I thought there should be a little more in this about how the girls got so close again before that night. What do you think?