"So wait- what?" Shane tried to understand Tori. She was crying and could barely make the words come out.
"I left Shane...I need a ride home from the airport," she got out.
"Where are you right now?"
"Waiting for my bags. Just please, get here," she said as she wiped her eyes.
"Alright, I'll be right there," Shane said as he hung up. Dustin, Cam, and Hunter were standing nearby. They were all gathered at Storm Chargers. Hunter was staring at him.
"Who was that?" he asked. Shane sighed and pulled the keys to Tori's van out of his pocket.
"Tori...she's at the airport."
The guys were all in a state of shock for a moment.
"Is Blake with her?" Dustin asked. Shane shook his head 'no.'
"Oh shit," Hunter muttered. He knew how Blake could be when he was angered.
Shane sighed and hopped in the van. "I'll be back in a while. Dustin, you think you guys could bring her stuff back to the apartment?" The others nodded and they all headed in separate directions.
Tori barely spoke on the ride back to her apartment. The guys had brought everything over and were waiting for them to return. What they saw when they arrived wasn't he same happy, bubbly Tori that left them three months ago, but rather a very sad, sickly looking stranger.
She looked very tired and unbeknownst to them, Tori had been feeling ill for the past week or so. The fight hadn't helped it. She hadn't eaten anything since she left and felt absolutely miserable.
Shane opened the door to the apartment and Tori instantly burst into tears again when she saw the others waiting for her. 'My family,' she thought. 'Our family.' She began to crumble and Dustin caught her before she fell to the ground.
The others didn't say much as Tori clung to Dustin for support. "It's okay Tor," he whispered into her hair. "Why are you home so early?"
Tori composed herself. She knew she had to tell them. "Blake and I got into a fight and here I am," she stated plainly. "He cares more about his stupid bike than he does me, or any of you. He's forgotten who he is and I couldn't stand it anymore." Hunter reached forward this time and took Tori into his arms.
Out of all the guys she had spoken to him the most, as he was trying to get in touch with his brother.
"I know what you had to do was hard, but hopefully it'll knock some sense into my little bro."
Tori sniffled and hugged him. "I hope so Hunter...I really do."
(((())))
Weeks passed and Tori wasn't getting much better. She had become thin and her skin was a sickly white. Everyone was worried about her, but no one more than Blake.
He had since left for Europe and hadn't spoken to anyone about what happened. He tried hundreds of times to call her and talk, but he always found himself putting the phone down in shame.
In the two months he had been in Europe, he came to realize that she was right...about everything. He had forgotten who he was and now he was paying for it dearly. It was when he was packing for Europe that he came to this realization.
He found his thunderblade tucked away in a closet along with his uniform and diploma. Tori was right- being a ninja had brought him everything. A family, a new life, and a love that he feared he would never have again.
Everything was so messed up in his life and he knew that he had brought it all upon himself. His racing was suffering as well as his spirits. Things were not getting better as he had once thought.
Every day that passed, every night he had to spend alone in his cold bed made his heart break a little more until he couldn't take it anymore.
He walked into Roger's office and placed a letter down on the table. Roger took it and looked it over.
"You do realize what you're doing right Blake?" he asked. "By giving me this letter you're no longer eligible to race for us...ever."
Blake breathed deep. "Yes. I'm sure Roger. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and everything, but I just...I can't spend any more time away from my family."
Roger stood from his desk and shook Blake's hand. "We're going to miss you around here."
Blake smiled and thanked him again before leaving for the airport. His things were already packed and ready to go. His flight was leaving from London and he hurried to reclaim his love.
He didn't call anyone and tell them he was coming home...
(((())))
Tori was at the academy putting the practice equipment away when she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. It had happened a few other times during the day, but his was the worst one yet.
"Tor?" she turned and saw a worried Cam looking over her shoulder. "You alright?"
Tori straightened. "Cramps," she said plainly.
"O-k...I'll stay away from that one," he said laughing a little. Tori smiled and closed the lid on the box that contained the other tools.
"You're coming over to Hunter's place tonight with the others, right?" she asked. Since she returned, the rangers spent every Thursday night at Hunter's watching TV and just hanging out.
"Of course," he responded.
A little while later everyone was seated around the living room watching re-runs of the X-Games. "Man did you see that Superman to the no hander landing?! That was sick!" Dustin exclaimed.
"What about the Heel kicker no hander? That was pretty good too," Hunter said.
Tori and Shane sat on the couch with Cam and just laughed at their buddies. This was the way it should always be. Everyone together...happy.
"Ouch," Tori said as a cramp came over her.
The guys all snapped out of their TV trance and turned to their female teammate.
"You okay?" Hunter asked. Tori winced and held her abdomen.
"I...I think so," she said shakily. She suddenly felt nauseous and made a beeline for the bathroom.
"Whoa...what's up with her?" Dustin asked.
"She told me earlier she had cramps," Cam supplied. All the guys instantly cringed. Soon retching was heard coming from the bathroom and they all felt sorry for Tori.
Hunter rose from his seat to go check on her when his phone rang. He picked it up and was silent for a moment. Shane looked at Hunter and suddenly saw his face color drain.
"Are you sure?" Hunter asked as his chin began to tremble. Shane, Dustin and Cam were all standing by now and were waiting for Hunter to tell them what was going on. "But that's impossible...he's riding with Factory Blue Racing in London and...he did... oh God," Hunter dropped the phone and sank to the ground.
Shane went and reached for Hunter while Cam picked up the phone. "I'm sorry Mr. Bradley," the operator on the other end said as she hung up. Cam hung the ohne up and turned to Shane and a stunned Hunter.
"Hunter, what's up?" Shane asked.
"Uh, guys," Dustin said. Shane and Cam turned their attention to the TV where a special report was being given.
"...Flight 695 took off from London earlier this afternoon and failed to clear the runway, sending the craft into the waters of the Atlantic... we have just received word here at the sports desk that on board that flight was up and coming Motocross star Blake Bradley. As of right now there are no reported survivors... Our thoughts and prayers go out to Blake's family and loved ones..."
A gasp came from the hallway and Dustin turned to see Tori. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell to the ground in a heap. Shane stayed with Hunter while Dustin and Cam ran over to the unconscious Tori.
Dustin cradled her head in his lap while Cam checked her pulse. They too were stunned by the news and were tying their best to find a way to stay calm. Cam's face frowned.
"Her pulse is really weak," he said. Dustin picked her up and Cam thought he would pass out. "Dustin...there's blood on the floor..."
"Oh my god," Dustin said. There was a small spot of blood on the floor where Tori lay. "Dude, we have to get her to a hospital."
Hunter and Shane by now had joined them and soon after an ambulance arrived to take Tori...
Meanwhile...back in England...
"No identification on him at all?" a nurse asked. Another nodded. "How did he ever come to wash up on the shore like that?"
"I don't know, but he doesn't seem to want to wake up anytime soon." In front of them lay a man with Bandages wrapped around his scraped arms and portions of his face.
"Well, let's just hope we can find out who he is before it's too late..."
"I left Shane...I need a ride home from the airport," she got out.
"Where are you right now?"
"Waiting for my bags. Just please, get here," she said as she wiped her eyes.
"Alright, I'll be right there," Shane said as he hung up. Dustin, Cam, and Hunter were standing nearby. They were all gathered at Storm Chargers. Hunter was staring at him.
"Who was that?" he asked. Shane sighed and pulled the keys to Tori's van out of his pocket.
"Tori...she's at the airport."
The guys were all in a state of shock for a moment.
"Is Blake with her?" Dustin asked. Shane shook his head 'no.'
"Oh shit," Hunter muttered. He knew how Blake could be when he was angered.
Shane sighed and hopped in the van. "I'll be back in a while. Dustin, you think you guys could bring her stuff back to the apartment?" The others nodded and they all headed in separate directions.
Tori barely spoke on the ride back to her apartment. The guys had brought everything over and were waiting for them to return. What they saw when they arrived wasn't he same happy, bubbly Tori that left them three months ago, but rather a very sad, sickly looking stranger.
She looked very tired and unbeknownst to them, Tori had been feeling ill for the past week or so. The fight hadn't helped it. She hadn't eaten anything since she left and felt absolutely miserable.
Shane opened the door to the apartment and Tori instantly burst into tears again when she saw the others waiting for her. 'My family,' she thought. 'Our family.' She began to crumble and Dustin caught her before she fell to the ground.
The others didn't say much as Tori clung to Dustin for support. "It's okay Tor," he whispered into her hair. "Why are you home so early?"
Tori composed herself. She knew she had to tell them. "Blake and I got into a fight and here I am," she stated plainly. "He cares more about his stupid bike than he does me, or any of you. He's forgotten who he is and I couldn't stand it anymore." Hunter reached forward this time and took Tori into his arms.
Out of all the guys she had spoken to him the most, as he was trying to get in touch with his brother.
"I know what you had to do was hard, but hopefully it'll knock some sense into my little bro."
Tori sniffled and hugged him. "I hope so Hunter...I really do."
(((())))
Weeks passed and Tori wasn't getting much better. She had become thin and her skin was a sickly white. Everyone was worried about her, but no one more than Blake.
He had since left for Europe and hadn't spoken to anyone about what happened. He tried hundreds of times to call her and talk, but he always found himself putting the phone down in shame.
In the two months he had been in Europe, he came to realize that she was right...about everything. He had forgotten who he was and now he was paying for it dearly. It was when he was packing for Europe that he came to this realization.
He found his thunderblade tucked away in a closet along with his uniform and diploma. Tori was right- being a ninja had brought him everything. A family, a new life, and a love that he feared he would never have again.
Everything was so messed up in his life and he knew that he had brought it all upon himself. His racing was suffering as well as his spirits. Things were not getting better as he had once thought.
Every day that passed, every night he had to spend alone in his cold bed made his heart break a little more until he couldn't take it anymore.
He walked into Roger's office and placed a letter down on the table. Roger took it and looked it over.
"You do realize what you're doing right Blake?" he asked. "By giving me this letter you're no longer eligible to race for us...ever."
Blake breathed deep. "Yes. I'm sure Roger. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and everything, but I just...I can't spend any more time away from my family."
Roger stood from his desk and shook Blake's hand. "We're going to miss you around here."
Blake smiled and thanked him again before leaving for the airport. His things were already packed and ready to go. His flight was leaving from London and he hurried to reclaim his love.
He didn't call anyone and tell them he was coming home...
(((())))
Tori was at the academy putting the practice equipment away when she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. It had happened a few other times during the day, but his was the worst one yet.
"Tor?" she turned and saw a worried Cam looking over her shoulder. "You alright?"
Tori straightened. "Cramps," she said plainly.
"O-k...I'll stay away from that one," he said laughing a little. Tori smiled and closed the lid on the box that contained the other tools.
"You're coming over to Hunter's place tonight with the others, right?" she asked. Since she returned, the rangers spent every Thursday night at Hunter's watching TV and just hanging out.
"Of course," he responded.
A little while later everyone was seated around the living room watching re-runs of the X-Games. "Man did you see that Superman to the no hander landing?! That was sick!" Dustin exclaimed.
"What about the Heel kicker no hander? That was pretty good too," Hunter said.
Tori and Shane sat on the couch with Cam and just laughed at their buddies. This was the way it should always be. Everyone together...happy.
"Ouch," Tori said as a cramp came over her.
The guys all snapped out of their TV trance and turned to their female teammate.
"You okay?" Hunter asked. Tori winced and held her abdomen.
"I...I think so," she said shakily. She suddenly felt nauseous and made a beeline for the bathroom.
"Whoa...what's up with her?" Dustin asked.
"She told me earlier she had cramps," Cam supplied. All the guys instantly cringed. Soon retching was heard coming from the bathroom and they all felt sorry for Tori.
Hunter rose from his seat to go check on her when his phone rang. He picked it up and was silent for a moment. Shane looked at Hunter and suddenly saw his face color drain.
"Are you sure?" Hunter asked as his chin began to tremble. Shane, Dustin and Cam were all standing by now and were waiting for Hunter to tell them what was going on. "But that's impossible...he's riding with Factory Blue Racing in London and...he did... oh God," Hunter dropped the phone and sank to the ground.
Shane went and reached for Hunter while Cam picked up the phone. "I'm sorry Mr. Bradley," the operator on the other end said as she hung up. Cam hung the ohne up and turned to Shane and a stunned Hunter.
"Hunter, what's up?" Shane asked.
"Uh, guys," Dustin said. Shane and Cam turned their attention to the TV where a special report was being given.
"...Flight 695 took off from London earlier this afternoon and failed to clear the runway, sending the craft into the waters of the Atlantic... we have just received word here at the sports desk that on board that flight was up and coming Motocross star Blake Bradley. As of right now there are no reported survivors... Our thoughts and prayers go out to Blake's family and loved ones..."
A gasp came from the hallway and Dustin turned to see Tori. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell to the ground in a heap. Shane stayed with Hunter while Dustin and Cam ran over to the unconscious Tori.
Dustin cradled her head in his lap while Cam checked her pulse. They too were stunned by the news and were tying their best to find a way to stay calm. Cam's face frowned.
"Her pulse is really weak," he said. Dustin picked her up and Cam thought he would pass out. "Dustin...there's blood on the floor..."
"Oh my god," Dustin said. There was a small spot of blood on the floor where Tori lay. "Dude, we have to get her to a hospital."
Hunter and Shane by now had joined them and soon after an ambulance arrived to take Tori...
Meanwhile...back in England...
"No identification on him at all?" a nurse asked. Another nodded. "How did he ever come to wash up on the shore like that?"
"I don't know, but he doesn't seem to want to wake up anytime soon." In front of them lay a man with Bandages wrapped around his scraped arms and portions of his face.
"Well, let's just hope we can find out who he is before it's too late..."