Disclaimers: Ninja Storm belongs to Saban or BVE or both…or to someone who ISN'T me

Chapter 2: Injury and a Sleepover

"How does it feel?" Cam asked when he saw what Hunter was doing.

"It kinda hurts," Hunter answered.

"Let me take a look," Cam said.

Cam got off the wall, going to Hunter's other side.  With Hunter's injured ankle in his lap, Cam began to feel area around it.  When Hunter jumped with a muffled yelp, Cam also noticed that was the area that was swollen and bruised.

"I think it's worse than you thought," Cam announced.

"How bad?"

"No riding for a few days.  And you should try to stay off it in the meantime as well."

"Don't tell me I need crutches too."

"I suggest it, only for a few days.  But it's not bad enough where I'd make sure you were using them."

"Good," Hunter grunted.

"We should probably get you home," Cam said, his hands still on Hunter's ankle.

"Yeah," Hunter agreed, looking down, then over at his ankle.

Or, more specifically, Cam's hands on his ankle.  He was glad that Cam was there, although he wasn't quite sure why.  But if someone had to help him out with an injury, he'd rather it be Cam than anyone else.

"Now I'm really glad you live only a couple blocks away," Cam said.  "Lean on me, try to use that ankle as little as possible."

They slowly made their way to Hunter's apartment.  Once inside, Cam had Hunter sit on the couch while he looked for an Ace bandage and ice.

"How many ankles have you had to wrap?" Hunter asked when he saw how Cam was wrapping his.

"Uh…none," Cam reluctantly answered.

"I can tell.  Here, I'll do it."

He reached over to take the bandage from Cam, his hands sliding over Cam's.  Cam slowly pulled his hands away, his eyes never leaving Hunter's.

"I'll get the ice," Cam stuttered, getting to his feet.

"Well, if I'm going to ice it, then I'll hold off on wrapping it."

By the time that Cam returned with the ice, Hunter already had his ankle propped up on the coffee table.  Cam sat next to him and the pair watched a movie on TV.  Or, more accurately, made fun of the movie that they were watching on TV.

"Gotta love these old B-rated sci-fi movies," Hunter laughed when the movie went to commercial.

When he moved to stand, Cam placed a firm hand on his shoulder to keep him down.

"Can't a guy get a drink for himself?" Hunter asked when he saw the quizzical look in Cam's eyes.

"Not on a sprained ankle.  What do you want?"

"Apple juice, it's in the fridge."

"Where most people keep their juice," Cam added, smiling as he went into the kitchen.

"The glasses are…"

"I know where they are.  I helped you move in here, remember?"

"Oh, yeah."

"How quickly they forget," Cam muttered as he came back into the living room with two glasses.

"Thanks," Hunter said, taking a sip.

The two sat back to finish the movie. But by the time it was over, they had already fallen asleep.  The sound of a closing door is what first alerted Cam that he and Hunter were no longer alone.  He slowly opened his eyes to be greeted by Blake looking at both him and his brother.

"Dude, the couch can't be all that comfortable," Blake commented.

"We were watching this bad movie…" Cam began to explain.

"You might as well crash here.  I'm not letting you go all the way back to Ninja Ops alone this late at night…or early in the morning as the case may be."

"Why not?  My dad's already angry anyway," Cam replied, taking his glasses off and setting them on the small table next to the couch.

"Why would he be angry?"

"I haven't gotten home yet."

"He knows you're out with Hunter, right?"

"Of course."

"Then he probably figures you're crashing here after a night of heavy partying…" Blake laughed, taking a look at his brother's ankle.

"It's a light sprain.  I've already told him no riding for a few days.  And I should add no Rangering either."

"So he gets a mini-vacation," Blake said.

Cam nodded, then asked, "We should probably get him into his room, shouldn't we?"

"I'll wake him up," Blake offered.  "It's delicate work."

"I'll take your word for it."

Once Hunter was about half-awake, he allowed Cam and Blake to guide him into his bedroom.  Once there, Cam let Blake do whatever he needed, going back into the living room.

"This isn't the most comfortable couch to sleep on," Blake said, handing Cam a pillow and a blanket.

"I'll manage," Cam smiled, stifling a yawn.

"Goodnight, bro," Blake called over his shoulder, heading into his own bedroom.