Individual proviso: I don't own anyone in this story and the song belongs to Sarah Mclachlan. It's her "I Love You"
The humanoid form stood there on the distant world, watching as the ones who'd taken over the planetoid in the name of evil were changed. He saw humans in the place of the monsters that had been about to crush all that was good in the universe. He couldn't believe it but as he felt the odd surge of power healing his injuries he knew exactly what had happened. A single thought raced through his mind. It was over, it was all finally over.
So Zordon had finally ended it all. He felt the great sadness wash over him, his big brother was dead. It was odd as he demorphed Barten knew that there was no more need for the ruby that had been sustaining his life force. Zordon had given him this as his last gift, a chance for a real life again.
Idly he wondered what to do now. He'd thought he'd go back to Eltar, help the people rebuild and see his mother again on Fetos and then…
His mind wondered to the earthling who'd never been far from his mind since the day he'd met her. Was she still alive? He knew if he let his gifts take over he'd be able to sense her but did he want to risk that? What if she wasn't, what if she was dead, killed by the enemy.
"No…" the breath left him, she couldn't be, and she couldn't be dead… Closing his eyes he reached out, and there, at he fringes of his awareness he could feel her, the soft hum that was Cassie.
He also felt the tug of the silver cord which had bound them from the onset. Yes his soul mate was alive and well.
I have a smile
Stretched from ear to ear
To see you walking down the road
We meet at the lights
I stare for a while
The world around us disappears
Cassie Chan looked up from her plate and instead of seeing her cousin Jeff, she only saw a familiar helmeted head… this was crazy, she was seeing the phantom ranger everywhere she went.
This was nuts, she didn't even know if he was still alive. She hoped, preyed but it had been three weeks since she'd come home from KO35 and he'd not come. He'd not even tried to reach her. She knew that, she'd had Justin and Tom Oliver monitoring NASADA's inner galactic transmissions. Yet here she was, all alone and yet surrounded by her aunt, uncle and cousin. Sighing she pushed her plate back and got to her feet.
"I um, need to go check with Andros, you know see if we're supposed to leave for Aquatar sooner than scheduled."
"Ok dear, just be careful." Her aunt Patricia told her and Cassie nodded.
"Cass, can you take out the trash since your going?"
"Sure Uncle Alex." Cassie said and moved into the kitchen to grab the big black bag waiting by the back door.
Stepping outside she wondered again if he was out there, somewhere, wondering about her, if he even remembered her. After all he'd said he'd see her soon and then nothing. Perhaps he'd forgotten her all together.
At that thought a pain echoed through her, why was it he could still do this to her after only a handful of meetings?
Dropping the trash bag into the can by the curb Cassie replaced the lid and started to walk down the street.
Just you and me
On this island of hope
A breath between us could be miles
Let me surround you
My sea to your shore
Let me be the calm you seek
As his ship set down in the ravaged mountains just outside of Stone Canyon Barton wondered if she'd even know him. After all how well did she know him? Well, he mused, that's what one gets for being a crime fighter.
At least it was over, it was al finally over, now maybe just maybe she'd give him a chance to be in her life, to what? Make her his bride? Heavens in earth years she had to be no more than 17 and that being so he was her age but among his people she was over seventy. It still stunned him how different worlds had different measures of time. In any event he wanted to give this a try, they'd come through so much.
The night was calm, no revelers, no looters and he was glad, his appearance might cause a little bit of a stir, how many people were used to seeing a six foot male with black eyes, skin so pale it was almost blue and pointed ears?
That brought him to another thought, would Cassie not like this appearance, and he hoped she was not such a surface person, he hated people like that. After all everyone was different, she beautiful and he plain old Eltarian. Now as he decided this wasn't fast enough he hit a button on his communicator he was teleported to the corner of the street where the ranger linkup had her last known residence.
His heart stopped when he spotted the figure, slender and clad in a pink top and trousers of a dark tint. H knew by her aura this was his Cassie and fear took his thoughts, what if she didn't like him, what if she was shallow? What if she was now seeing TJ?
Oh and every time I'm close to you
There's so much I can't say
And you just walk away
Cassie glanced up at the night sky, she loved the stars, they always reminded her of all of the possibilities that the universe held in store for a person. At present she had only the mystery cloaked phantom ranger on her mind. Was he out there? Was he thinking of her? She thought of how when he'd helped her up her hand had tingled, he'd done that, he'd set something off within her that none before him ever had.
When she realized she was no longer alone she spotted the figure walking just ahead of her? He looked talk, ad she was sure it was a male, by the shape of his body and the cut of his black clothes. She wondered who he was, she'd not heard of anyone new moving into the area lately, but then she'd been rather busy saving the universe.
Cassie wondered if she should say something to him, if she could offer up a greeting but what if he was not from there, what if he was some kind of a cereal killer.
The moment her eyes found his she knew, he was not there to harm her, he was there for her.
And I forgotTo tell you
I love you
And the night's too long
And I'm cold here without you
I grieve in my condition
For I cannot find the words to say
I need you so
Barton sucked in his breath, she knew, he could read the realization in her soft eyes. He wanted to move forward, to run away, and yet he could do neither, his feet felt glued to the concrete. All of his previous concerns, doubts washed through his mind and he could only prey she didn't run, didn't hate him… he didn't know what he'd do if she did, he felt this warmth growing in the place where his heart now beat regularly.
"You should not walk in the darkness alone." Was that his voice? He sounded normal, as he had before, he knew that. The only change was he now had no helmet giving the muffling effect.
Oh and every time I'm close to you
There's so much I can't say
And you just walk away
"Phantom…" she breathed and felt as if her feet had wings, before she knew what she was about she was running at him, her faith that he'd catch her unshakable. And he did, his arms closing around her as she hugged him.
"I never thought you'd come, I thought…" the tears she'd not known she'd held in sprang free and he moved back slightly to gaze down at her in concern.
"You should not cry." He reprimanded softly.
"I thought you were dead." She wept, she didn't even know where this immense relief had come form, she barely even knew him, and yet she felt…
"And this upset you?" He asked and his surprised and yet pleased tone made her smile. So he did care, not that she'd have been able to doubt that the way he'd caught her in his strong arms.
"Yes this upset me." She said laughing at the absurdity of this situation. She was sobbing all over him and he didn't understand?
"Why?"
"I don't know, because I…" She thought of all she'd once thought to say to him, of all she wanted to tell him and knew she'd not be able to tell him. She couldn't say she loved him, he'd think she was daft. "I just…"
And I forgot
To tell you
I love you
Looking down he studied her face, her thoughts now flowing to him as if they were his own. Heavens she was amazing, he thought and then spoke aloud.
"Do not believe that I do not care Cassie, I too was worried you would not care for me." He assured her.
"You… How did you know?" She gasped pulling back, was this a trick? Was this not her phantom? And yes the phantom was hers.
"It is part of the soul mate connection." He explained and she knew instinctively he spoke of both the way he'd known her thoughts and of her sudden feeling of over protectiveness.
"The soul mate connection?"
"Yes, it is how I knew you had lived through the fight." He explained and moved so they could sit on the curb.
"You knew…" She smiled a little, that's why he'd not tried to franticly contact them to check on her. As if he'd again read her mind the young man smiled.
"I wouldn't have come if not for you." He then told her and her brown eyes widened.
"You did come for me." She smiled knowing now it was so, with every minute she felt something growing, something strong.
"Yes, I love you." He told her softly brushing hair from her face.
"But how can this be, you don't even know me?" She asked knowing though she felt the same.
"I have been thinking on this on the trip here, I think we know each other deeper than rangers, deeper than everyday and yet not enough."
"You don't make any sense." She told him and his mouth covered hers in a gentle yet fiery kiss.
As her head spun Cassie saw the stars, the night and them, a glowing silver cord binding them to one another.
"What was that?" She gasped when they broke the kiss.
"Us." He said matter-of-factly.
"Oh…" What could she say to that? She'd heard of the cord, it was for the… "So now what do we do?"
"Hmm, Well, I should probably tell you my name is Barton and I am brother of the one you once called Zordon." He said and she smiled. "Now, we could stay here, or we could go back so I may meet your family."
I'd like that." She smiled and he smiled to himself, she was his, all his.
And the night's too long
And I'm cold here without you
TBC
***
Well? I have been meaning to ask, which chapters do you like best? I'm curious because I'd like to know what people think about the coordination of the songs and the side stories. So, PLZ R&R.