In Order pt. 5

Chapter 5 – On The Run

IN THE CAVES AT ANGEL GROVE BEACH

Wasvat- that was the bastard's name.  Carlos had text messaged TJ's cell phone and told him to turn off his ringer so that he could call him without alerting the hundreds of quantrons that were surrounding the caves.  With the phone set to vibrate, Carlos was able to dial TJ and tell him all about their current situation.  Evidently, this monster was determined to kill them all; however, he had to do it in a special order and Cassie was first on the list.  TJ hugged the pink ranger closer to him and simply indulged in the feel of her warm body.  She was alive and he'd be damned if he was going to let that change.  As he held her, he went over everything in his mind.  The only thing that kept them from blowing up the caves was the fact that they didn't want to kill him- YET.  Until Carlos called them back, hopefully with a plan, they were to stay in the caves.  As dangerous their situation was, Cassie was safest hiding with him.

TJ stuffed the cell phone into his jeans pocket and checked again to make sure Cassie was awake.  Without an x-ray or a CAT scan, there was no way to check for a concussion and the prospect of her falling asleep and never waking up didn't thrill him.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" he said, lightly shifting to get a better look at her.  So beautiful… he thought.

"The pain isn't too bad.  Nothing I can't handle.  I'm really tired though," she replied quietly.  She wrapped her arms tighter around his midsection and leaned closer into his chest, breathing deeply.  After a few moments of silence, she spoke again, so softly he had to struggle to hear her, even when he was so close.  "I'm going to die, aren't I?" 

"I won't let that happen."

"I could hear Carlos talking on the other end," she continued, as if TJ hadn't spoken any reassurances.  "I heard what he said about the first Astro Rangers.  This guy drove the yellow ranger insane," she paused in thought.  "I wonder, how?"

TJ momentarily cursed Carlos for going into such explicit detail but then calmed himself down when he told himself that Carlos didn't know Cassie could hear his end of the conversation.  "Cassie, listen to me."  He took Cassie's head in his hands and forced her to look him in the eye.  "Right now, we're safe.  I really don't intend to let them kill you OR drive you insane.  You have to trust me.  You have to know that I would give my life to protect you."

Tears welled up in Cassie's eyes and she shook her head.  "Don't say that.  I don't want to ever hear you say that -…"

"Why?"

"Because!"

"Because, why?"

"Just… because!  I'm a power ranger, TJ; I can fight my own battles.  I signed up for this knowing full well I could be destroyed," Cassie said, as she pushed away from him and tried to stand up.  TJ tried to stop her from standing, afraid that she might fall over, or, worse, pass out.  But Cassie showed her true fighting colors and resisted his attempts to calm her.  When the world around her started to spin, she leaned against the rock wall for support.  TJ stood next to her but didn't move to restrain her again.  When the dizziness finally faded, she slowly walked over to the ledge of the water and kneeled down in front of it.  Looking at her own reflection, she could barely recognize herself.  Her face was covered in grime and a huge gash, which must've started to bleed when she struggled with TJ, was present on her forehead.  A small trickle of blood now ran slowly down the side of her face, and she realized she must've really been a sorry sight for TJ.  God, I look pathetic…she thought.  She dipped her hands into the cool water and noticed that they looked just as bad as her face.  After lightly washing the grime and blood off of them, she cupped her hands and lightly splashed some of the refreshing liquid on her face.  All the while, TJ silently watched her from the wall, ever vigilant of any sign that she may collapse.  It occurred to him that she had only just realized how badly Wasvat had beaten her. 

TJ slowly walked over to her and kneeled down on one knee, while the other jutted out at an angle.  He reached over and picked up his torn flannel shirt that he had used as a pillow for her head off of the ground from where he had left it.  He used a slight pressure, pulling Cassie closer and turning her to face him.  She felt a bit woozy so she held on to his outstretched knee with one hand and his side with the other.  He ripped off yet another piece of fabric, much bigger than the last strip, and used it to lightly pat her face dry, wiping off the remaining dirt and blood.  To steady her, TJ wrapped one arm around her midsection while he worked on washing and drying her face and then re-bandaging it, since it had started to bleed again and needed new dressing.  As he was finishing up, he heard the unmistakable sound of clanking metal – quantrons.  Judging from how rigid her body had gone, it was obvious that Cassie heard it too. 

"Stay right here, don't move," he whispered. 

"No, no, TJ, don't! Please, don't go after them! PLEASE…" Cassie quietly begged while trying to hold him in one spot.

"Cassie, honey, I may like playing the white knight in shining armor, but I'm not stupid.  Now isn't the time to fight.  Now is the time to hide.  Now stay here while I gather everything up.  It would be very bad if they found all of our supplies," he said, as he pulled away from her and quickly made his way over to the wall, where he gathered up the blanket, water jug, medical kit and food.  He piled everything on top of the glider and pushed it down into a crevice that was dug underneath what TJ guessed was probably the quantrons walkway.  After inspecting the crevice, he figured that it would be deep enough for a human to walk along.  Quickly dashing over to Cassie, who, thank god, was still where he had asked her to stay, he grabbed her hand and led her over their new hiding spot.  TJ helped her down into the crevice and then followed behind her, just in time.  He only had enough time to look up when he spotted at least a dozen quantrons leap down from the pathway overhead and into the clearing that they had been a few seconds before hand. 

Rather than wait for Astronema's metallic minions to inspect the room further, TJ wrapped the blanket around Cassie's shoulders, stuffed food packets into both of their pockets, and then, grabbing the handles of the water jug and med-kit in one hand, and taking Cassie's tiny hand in his other, he slowly led her further into the caves and away from the quantrons.  The galaxy glider would have to stay where he had left it, which didn't help them any.  That meant that they would have to leave the trail after a little while to avoid quantrons following them, should any find it.

They walked for almost an hour and a half, keeping an eye and ear open for any sign of quantrons and monsters.  Feeling it was safe, TJ climbed out of the crevice, which at this point had become extremely narrow to the point where they both had to walk sideways.  After inspecting the area, he reached down and helped Cassie out. 

The sight was so stunning; Cassie couldn't help but stare and occasionally gasp.  There was another pool of water, however this one was much bigger and there were more shallow parts, whereas the last one must've gone straight down.  She could see a few brightly colored fish swimming around in it's depths, along with some other marine life.  Leading down into the pool was a very small waterfall.  It wasn't big at all, more like the kind that you can just sit under and let the water pour down your back.  Cassie followed along the wall, running her hand along the crystals and the fool's gold embedded in the rock.  They sparkled under the moonlight that streamed in from a few random holes in the cave ceiling.

"Huh.  Would you look at that?", TJ said.

"What?"

"Moonlight.  We've been going up, following the crevice…  This place is very disorienting.  All this time, I thought we were going down, and we've been going up."

Cassie just smiled and sat down next to the pool, looking down at the fish and the plant life.  TJ walked around for a few more minutes before coming and settling himself down next to his comrade.  They sat in silence, just simply sitting and watching the fish swim by.  Cassie finally broke it when she said, "I'm sorry about what I said back at the clearing.  I appreciate your help, truly, I do.  It's just that-," she paused, turning something over in her mind, and then grew frustrated. "- I'm a power ranger!  I shouldn't have to rely on others to fight for me.  I feel… weak! And I'm not used to feeling like that."  She sighed and calmed herself down.  "I meant what I said."

At this, TJ turned and looked quizzically at her.  "What?"

"About not wanting to ever hear you say that you'd die for me.  I meant it."

"But I would-…"

"No…"

"Yes, Cassie!  Why does that bother you?  I understand that your one tough chicklet, but I also happen to know that you're a romantic."

"Yes, I suppose I am and a man pledging his life to a woman is very romantic, however in this instance it's very real.  Don't pretend that there isn't a serious chance I won't survive this-…"

"Will you stop acting so pessimistic?  That isn't like you!  If you believe that, then yes, you're as good as dead.  You have to believe that you will make it through this!," TJ said, careful not to raise his voice too loud for fear that the caves would amplify and carry it.

"I don't want you to die for me," Cassie muttered quietly.

"I'm just curious to know why simply saying it makes you so upset?"

Cassie replied to his question, however she practically breathed it and it was impossible for him to hear.

"Cassie, honey, I can't hear you.  Please, just tell me," TJ begged.

She breathed in deeply, steeling herself for the argument she could feel coming.  She squared her shoulders and looking him square in the eye, she said, "I'm not worth it."

TJ felt that he was the one this time that was about to fall over.  He didn't know what he had been expecting, but that certainly hadn't been it.  And he could tell from the look on her face that she certainly did mean it.  This girl had a serious problem seeing herself the way he saw her.  "Wait.  Wait, wait, wait… are you saying that your life isn't worth saving?"

"I'm saying I'm not worth you or anyone else on the ship giving up their own life for," she replied, stoically. 

            TJ simply sat looking at her in shock.  She was serious.  "Why would you think that?" he asked.  "What can I say to convince you otherwise?  I don't understand what gave you this idea.  What do think we're better than you?"  TJ was pleading for answers at this point.

            Refusing to argue with TJ anymore, Cassie moved to lie down next to the pool and let the moonlight reflecting off the water relax her.  She was happy when she felt his arms come around her and hold her close, making sure she didn't fall in.  If only they could lie like this forever.  But no… TJ had to ask questions.

            "Cassie, before this is all over, I will have my answers," he whispered into her ear.  "And, don't fall asleep."  He felt her tense up in his arms.  Damn, I don't want to argue with her…he thought. 

            She turned herself around his arms and faced him.  At first, he was afraid she was going to go off again.  Imagine his surprise when she starting playing with his lower lip, then kissed him passionately.  He began to fear for his life when she broke of the kiss and smiled wickedly.  "Swim with me," she said, and then she pulled out of his embrace and jumped into the water.

 

A/N: this was a long chapter.  The next chapter will be Andros/Ashley, I promise.