Wes, Eric, Jen, Alex, Trip, Lucas, Katie, and Mr. Collins belong to Disney/Saban. I am using them without permission, however I have not and don't expect to make money from this.
Andrea, Morgan, and any others you don't recognize are mine.

Rated R : Strong and descriptive but not explicit sexual content, including m/m contact; language; violence.

This story includes slash, which involves sexual situations between two men. If you're uncomfortable with the idea, don't read this.

Reviews are always appreciated.

Fall From Grace


Feet of Clay

Wes stood outside the door to his father's study for what seemed like a very long time. Hesitation, doubt -- did it have to be now? Could he face it tonight? On the other hand, could he stand putting it off? The image rose before him of his father's face filled with anger, disappointment, pain, rejection. But he's not like that. He's not prejudiced. He'll understand. Eric's voice in the back of his mind... It's different when it's family. When it's your son. Nausea knotted inside him, becoming almost a physical pain as his heart started to pound, making him glad his stomach was empty. Finally, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, opened them again, steeled himself, and went in.

As was usual, it took Collins a moment to pry his attention away from whatever he was working on, and look up. He greeted Wes with a pleasant smile. "Wes. Thought you were going over to Eric's tonight."

"Yeah, I was. Am I interrupting anything?"

"No, nothing important." His father's gaze focused more intently. "Is something wrong?"

"I have to talk to you."

"Sounds serious." Collins pushed back from his desk and turned fully towards Wes. "Sit down."

Wes did as he was told and sank into the nearest chair, fingers clenching nervously on the arms. "Dad," he started. "I have to tell you something."

"Go on. What is it?" his father asked when he hesitated.

"Eric told me about what you said. That you asked him if I was seeing someone."

"Ah." There was a short pause. "I hope you don't think I'm prying into your business. I'm just -- concerned. From the way you look right now, I'd say you have a problem. I hope you'll tell me, let me help, if I can."

"I appreciate that." He paused again, aware of his hands sweating. "You were right. I'm involved with someone."

"And?" His father waited as Wes tried in vain to say the words. He went on after another silent pause, his face creasing with concern. "Look, son, whatever the problem is with this woman, you can tell me. Maybe it's not as bad as you think." A faint smile crossed his face. "Is she from a bad family? I'm not that much of a snob. Is she older? Younger?" He hesitated. "Is she married?"

"No, Dad. It's nothing like that."

"Then what?" Collins' face was puzzled now.

"Dad -- Dad... Oh, God, this is hard." He took another deep breath, willing his heart to stop hammering, and tried again. "Dad, when I was injured in that warehouse, when Eric and I were trapped there, well, we did a lot of talking. And then later, in the hospital, I had lots of time to think. I -- sort of faced some things. Admitted some things to myself..."

"I don't understand. What are you trying to tell me?"

Wes looked at his face, biting his lip before finally saying it. "It's Eric."

"What about him? What does he have to do with it...?"

Wes leaned forward. "Don't you get it? The person I'm seeing, the person I'm involved with. It's not a woman, it's Eric. I'm gay, Dad." He waited, heart speeding up again, stomach sinking at the sight of the look of stunned dismay and disbelief on his father's face.


"We're going after them, aren't we?" Jen glanced around the room. They were in one of the Time Force monitoring stations, a room about the size of a large office, but crowded with machinery. Also crowded with people now; herself, her teammates, Logan, and as many scientists and technicians as could squeeze themselves inside. A technician was seated at the main console, hunched over the instrument displays, a scientist leaning over one shoulder and Trip over the other.

"As soon as we know where they went," Logan answered.

"A trace won't take long," she muttered, trying to get a view of the display through the bodies in her way. "Looks like they're starting to get something."

"How could she do this?" Alex said, next to her. Again.

"What difference does it make? She did it. Now we have to stop her."

"What could she be after?"

Jen shrugged and glanced at him. Alex was staring at the console displays, but his eyes were blank, looking at something only he could see. She had a good idea of what it was. He and Andrea had been close, once, before he and Jen were involved. She suspected they had been very close, but she had never asked for details, and he had never talked about it. That was before the incident that had ended Andrea's hopes of becoming the first Ranger. Most people hadn't blamed her -- but it had destroyed her relationship with Alex, when he was forced to testify against her.

"She wants power," Trip said. "But it's more than that. She wants something bigger."

"Like what?" Alex asked.

"I don't know." Trip glanced at them nervously. "You know I can't exactly read minds, just pick up on feelings and stuff sometimes. Sorry."

"We're getting the trace now," the technician announced.

All of them peered at the screen. Jen realized what it said instantly, as did a few others; she could tell by the quick inhalations of shock around her. It was Trip who said it out loud.

"They've gone into the future."


"Gay?" He said it as if he had never heard the word before. "What do you mean, you're gay?"

"You know what it means."

"That's impossible."

"It's true." Wes stared at his father's face, fear and nervousness starting to become unbearable. Unable to sit still any longer, he got to his feet.

"What about Jen? What about all the girls you dated in high school and college?"

"I dated because everyone expected me to date. I liked some of them, I even... I even slept with a couple of them. Wouldn't admit I was attracted to men, pretended... even pretended to myself. I tried so hard to be straight, you have no idea. Honestly thought I was in love with Jen. But I wasn't, not in that way."

"No." Collins got to his feet also, facing him. "I'd know if you were... You're not gay. You're just confused. Jen's gone, you've been lonely and unhappy. But you'll get over this, you'll find someone else."

"Dammit, Dad, I have found someone else!"

"Eric? No. I can't believe... Are you telling me he's gay, too?"

The absurdity of it suddenly struck Wes. He laughed, without much humor. "Geez, denial must run in the family. Yes, Eric's gay too. I'm surprised you didn't find out when you did a background check, but he's always been very careful."

"Well, when -- when did you decide this?"

"I told you, when we were trapped in the warehouse. I figured it out while I was in the hospital. After I got out, we -- we got together."

Collins' face brightened with some thread of illogical hope. "Look, you were under a strain -- injured -- traumatized -- you got confused, like I said, and Eric -- he must have taken advantage of your friendship..." He paused, then hurried on as Wes gaped at him in disbelief. "He's done this. Talked you into thinking you're... You have to stay away from him, son; without him around, you'll come to your senses."

"I'm not going to stay away from him!"

"Then I'll keep him away from you! To think I was grateful to him for spending time with you... Tomorrow, he'll be out of Bio-Lab, and out of Silver Hills, if I have anything to say about it!"

"Dad!" Wes stared, then found his tongue as a knife-edged shock of fear and fury washed through him. "I swear, if you do anything to hurt Eric because of me, I'm out of here. Forever! You'll never see me again!"

"But Wesley, you've got a problem, I can get help for you..."

"I'm not sick!" He took a breath and slowed down, speaking slowly and very clearly, watching as each word sank home. "I love Eric. He loves me. He did not make me gay. This is not his fault, or mine. Or anyone's."

"Son..." Collins sank back into his chair, looking shaken, weak, uncertain. "I don't know what to say."

"Say you understand. That -- that you're not angry. That you don't hold it against me, or Eric," Wes said softly. Say you still love me, he thought, but only in silence.

"I can't. I'm sorry, Wesley, but I have to think about this. I don't know what to do."

"You don't have to do anything." His heart chilling, Wes turned for the door, half hoping his father would stop him as he said, "I'm leaving." But Collins turned back to his desk, picking up the papers he had been working on with trembling fingers, and nothing but emptiness followed him out.


She could feel his eyes on her. Jen stood in the hangar, conscious of Alex's gaze, watching the final preparations being made, supplies being loaded into the timeship that would take them all on another trip. Her heart jumped uneasily. The future. It was strictly forbidden for anyone to travel forward in time. More dangerous than the past, more unpredictable. But now, there was no choice.

Five people, armed with the Quantum morphers, three of them Time Force officers, gone into the future. Bent on some purpose only they knew, whatever Andrea had hinted at. Had they gone only to escape? Or were they after something, a weapon perhaps, an ally, knowledge of future events? Andrea had been there before, there must be some reason she would take such a risk, something she knew about. It could be anything, and Time Force had to know, and had to stop them.

They had been issued special permission, for this mission only. And given further permission to make a trip into the past first. Five of them, against five Quantum Rangers. They had to win, had to stack the odds in their own favor. They would need help. And there were two more Rangers in existence, two more whom they knew they could trust, whom they could call on for help.

Jen drew a ragged breath. She wasn't prepared for this. Seeing Wes again, bringing up all the old feelings, not now, not when she was finally moving on and making a new life with Alex, putting the memory of her love for Wes behind her forever. She felt a moment of bright resentment. Why did Andrea have to do this now?

"Are you all right?" Alex's voice, at her shoulder.

"I'll be okay." She glanced up at him briefly, seeing that same look again, watching, waiting, trying to see inside her... For some reason it was irritating. "I can handle this," she said stiffly.

"I hope so. We can't let personal issues interfere."

"I know that, Alex, I'm a trained officer, just like you. And you should talk, you've got your own personal problems, with Andrea."

He blinked, but didn't respond to her tone. "I know. And I'm going to do my best to deal with it."

"Well, so am I."

"How do you feel about seeing him again?"

Jen felt another surge of anger. "How the hell do you think I feel?" Then she sighed as he only stared at her, his expression darkening. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just -- this whole mission -- going into the future, and working with Wes again... I'm probably just taking it out on you."

"It's okay." He actually smiled. "You can take anything you want out on me. I understand."

"I hate this, Alex..." She glanced at his face again, realizing how it must be making him feel, seeing her reaction to the thought of seeing Wes again. "It was just a shock. I'll be fine. Sorry."

"It's okay," he repeated.

She closed her eyes. The beach, outside Silver Hills. That last afternoon, saying goodbye. Wes's face, blurred through her own tears. Her voice, and his.

"I should have told you this a long time ago. I love you."

"I love you too. I wish I could live a thousand years, so we could be together again."

A hug, his arms tight around her, feeling as if her heart would break... They had met again a short time later, when she returned to 2002 on the mutorg mission. At first she had wanted to break the rules and stay with him, but that was impossible, she had known it all along, and so did Wes. Maybe that was why they had made so little effort to take their relationship further, or even to really talk about it, and had said goodbye again with nothing resolved between them.

At first, she had been sure Wes would always be her only true love, but after her return reality had gradually rubbed the gloss off the purity of that emotion. She had realized she didn't want to spend the rest of her life alone. Gradually her feelings for Alex had returned, and she had come to accept the fact that she would never see Wes again. Their love had become only a memory, and receded into the realm of dreams and wishes; then started to fade as all memories do.

Now she would come face to face with him again, at a critical time of her life. See if what she remembered was real, if he was still the same person she had dreamed of. She would have to tell him she was engaged to Alex again... While there was no record in history of Wes marrying, perhaps he was seeing someone else now, too. How would she feel about that?

"Maybe it's for the best." Alex's statement brought her out of her own unhappy thoughts.

"We could all be killed, and you think this is for the best?"

"Maybe you need to see him again. Decide how you feel, once and for all. Maybe we both need that." His voice was tight, and she abruptly realized he was angry, too. Jealous, and how could she blame him?

She was still trying to decide how to answer when Logan beckoned them. It was time. Alex walked towards the ship and went in without hesitation; Lucas, Trip, and Katie waiting for him and following. Jen paused in the doorway for a last look back, a last moment before it started. Then she stepped inside.


"I can't believe the way he acted. The things he said. He just wouldn't accept it. Said I was confused, for Christ's sake! Confused! He's a smart guy, doesn't he know any better? Doesn't he know anything about it? I mean, does he think I'm just going to decide I'm straight again and go out and get a girlfriend? Like I have a choice, and I just felt like being gay for the hell of it?"

Wes had gone straight to Eric's house after his disastrous talk with his father. Eric had opened the door before he knocked, must have been waiting for the sound of his car. One look must have told him how bad it had been. He had led the way inside and then just sat, listening, letting Wes tell his story without comment, his face becoming more and more hard and blank.

Now Wes turned to pace back across the small living room, suddenly aware of the way he was waving his arms and lowering them self-consciously. He stopped, and turned to find Eric watching him with intent dark eyes from his seat on the couch, still silent, just letting him rant. Wes sighed. "Well, say something."

"I don't understand it either, but a lot of people seem to think that way."

"Shit. You were right. We should have done anything rather than tell him the truth. Now... who knows what he'll do?"

"No, we had no choice. He would have found out, and you couldn't keep lying to him."

"He threatened..."

"What?"

"Never mind." Wes turned away.

"To fire me? Run me out of town on a rail for seducing you?"

"Shit. Shit! Something like that." Wes turned back, crossed to the couch and sat, taking Eric's hands in both of his. "I told him I wouldn't let him do anything to you. If he tries it, I'm going with you. We can get other jobs, I have money I inherited from my mother. You don't need to worry." He made a sickly attempt at a smile. "We could live together. It'd be great." Eric didn't respond, only staring down at their joined hands, his face expressionless. "Look, maybe he was just upset. He didn't mean it. Dad likes you..."

"Not anymore," Eric said tonelessly. "Now I'm just the pervert who's doing his kid."

"Don't talk like that. That's not what he thinks." But he didn't know if he believed it himself.

"You know, I really thought he liked me..." Eric's voice was very soft, head still bent, as if he was talking to himself. "Not just as -- an asset to Bio-Lab, or your friend... or a Ranger... but me... stupid, wasn't it? Should have known, after..."

"After what?" Wes asked when he stopped.

Eric still didn't look up, but he answered. "I told you I was in a few foster homes, after my parents dumped me. Before I met you in school."

"Yeah. You never said much about it."

"The last one... they were nice. I was there for almost three years. They were a married couple, had two kids of their own, younger than me. They used to say I was like their own son, that I could talk to them about anything. So -- when I was fourteen -- I was having some problems. Made the mistake of telling them I was gay."

Wes watched him silently as he went on. "They were nice about it. Told me they understood. They didn't blame me. They weren't angry. But they didn't want me around their kids. Couldn't risk letting me influence them. I guess they thought it was catching, like a disease or something, or maybe they just didn't trust me... I would never have done anything to hurt those kids, never... They took me back to the orphanage, and left me. I was there until prep school."

"God, Eric, I'm so sorry," Wes said, dismayed at the hurt and loss he could hear under that bitter surface. "And now... because of me... This is all my fault."

"No. Don't blame yourself." Eric's eyes finally raised to his, and he made a strained and unsuccessful effort to smile. "You're going through shit and I'm not helping, am I? Maybe you're right. Your father's not an unreasonable guy. It was just a shock for him. He'll come around."

"Yeah, sure."

Wes moved closer and put his arms around Eric, pulling him into a hug, feeling his body stiff and unresponsive at first. Then Eric was returning the embrace, holding him tight, fingers clutching at his back and face pressed against his shoulder. Slowly they both relaxed a bit, enough to raise their heads, Wes digging his fingers into Eric's hair and kissing him, more for comfort than passion. And that was when the doorbell rang.

"Ignore it..." Wes murmured.

It rang again. There was an impatient knock on the door.

"It might be your father." Eric seemed calm, but a muscle twitched at the corner of his mouth.

"Up to you, if you want to answer it."

Eric got up. Wes followed him to the door, watched him unlock it and swing it open. And saw what was probably the last sight he expected.

Five people, standing on Eric's porch, faces clear in the light from the street and the living room. Alex, Lucas, Trip, Katie. And Jen.


TBC...