Disclaimer:  I don't own Power Rangers.  Someone else does.  I don't know who because it keeps changing.  Please don't get offended if I insult your favorite character.  Some pairings are easy to write a story for while others are really tough.  So please realize that some of my stories will be better than others.  Hi to all my fellow AFPR's including my fellow female Psychos :).  And I really appreciate the reviews :).

Note:  Please assume that whatever part of California they're in, no one wears cowboy hats.  I really have no idea about the head wear there.

Dana and Joel

by

Eileen (Psycho Tangerine)

     One blustery fall day, two Rangers went out on a routine mission to the outskirts of Mariner Bay.  What that mission was well, it isn't important.  Because these two Rangers never got around to it. 

     Dana and Joel were walking along the streets of Mariner Bay.  They had not morphed because they had not yet needed to.  Which meant that Joel was wearing his cowboy hat… yet again.

     "Must you always wear that stupid-looking thing?" asked Dana, who was already peeved at having to be seen with the egotistical young man.  Now, if Carter had been assigned to go with her instead….she smiled wickedly at her own thoughts.  Unfortunately, the Red Ranger was on kitchen and garbage duty this week.  It was just like her father to skimp on maid service.

     Joel looked at Dana strangely.  "Well, I'm sure there are laws against this, but if you insist."  He unbuckled his belt and proceeded to remove his jeans.  Mothers covered their young ones' eyes and passersby ran in fear.  Those few who stayed guffawed when he had finished.

     Dana stared incredulously at her oblivious teammate.  "I was talking about your hat, not your pants, Doofus.  Get them back on, quickly." 

     "Oh," Joel mumbled as he refastened his belt.  "That's good," he said as they continued walking to where they were supposed to meet the informant, or collect the contraband, or whatever it was they were supposed to do. 

     They continued that way for several minutes, Dana daydreaming about getting a certain Red Ranger out of his pants and Joel concentrating hard, trying to remember what was bothering him.  Unconsciously, he adjusted his hat….which reminded him about Dana's comment.

     "Hey!" he called as he stopped short, causing the still spaced-out Dana to bump into him.  "What is wrong with my hat?  It's part of my identity as the "Sky Cowboy."

     "Look around you," Dana ordered.  As Joel obeyed her, she continued.  "Do you see ANYONE wearing a cowboy hat around here?"  Before Joel could say a word, she continued.  "No, because this is California, NOT Texas!"   With that, she reached up and knocked the hat off his head.  It landed in a flowing creek and was swept downstream. 

     "My…my…hat!" Joel sobbed as he fell to his knees. 

     "Get over it," Dana grumbled.  "At least you don't look as stupid now." 

     Joel didn't listen to her, but continued to wail.

     Dana looked around embarrassedly as Mariner Bay citizens stared at them.  "Cut it out already.  Tell, you what.  I'll put a good word in for you with Monica."

     But the wailing only got louder.  "Shame on you," said a passing old lady and she whacked Dana on her arm with her purse.  "Taking that poor dear boy's hat."

     Dana groaned.  "I'll get you a brand new airplane.  I promise.  Daddy'll get me anything I ask him for."

     The wailing turned to screams.  Joel began to kick the ground in a full blown tantrum.  People began to boo Dana and throw garbage at her.

     "All right already!  I'll get your idiotic hat back."  Grumbling, Dana jumped into the creek, swam down it, and grabbed Joel's cowboy hat, which had caught on an extended branch.  She then ran back to him dripping wet and handed it to him.

     "Whoa baby," Joel said as he placed the hat back on his head.  "Are you in a one woman wet t-shirt contest just for me?"

      Dana slapped his face and then stomped away, mumbling to herself about transferring into the Marines.