Disclaimer in first part.

Another time And Place
by Smittysgirl

His hands were cold. Cold like when he'd spent all night typing at a keyboard instead of cradling some cheerleader or practicing basketball as a backup scholarship plan. He traced the intricate contours of his fingertips, feeling tactile sensations he knew weren't there underneath the cold numbness.

Conner choked back a sob. He was sprawled out on an exam table in Dr. Smitty's living room as best he could, trying desperately to sleep. His - Eric's body ached with fatigue.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Why couldn't it be like last night, when all he had to worry about was turning into a horrible mutant?

Feet clomped down the stairs, and he looked up in surprise to see Trent there. The White Ranger was in a pair of longjohns that looked straight out of a frontier catalogue. "The natives sounded restless down here. How are you feeling?"

Conner couldn't help but notice Trent refused to look directly at his body, barely concealed by a blanket. Small wonder.

"Terrible. Guess that's to be expected."

"Conner, I know we've had our differences in the past," Trent started.

That was one advantage from earlier tonight. They were finally calling him Conner and at least faking like they believed it.

"That doesn't mean I don't care," he continued. "We'll find a way to get you back to normal. And I ... I'm sorry about your brother, truly."

Conner traced his fingers again, marveling at the engineering this required. Hayley and Ethan could spend until the twenty-fifth of never and not create something this advanced. "I don't feel anything, you know. I guess that's shock. All I can think about is getting my life back and killing Mesogog. I'm sorry if that cuts you to hear."

Trent shook his head. "No. If I could separate them, I'd kill him too."

"God, what are we going to tell Mom and Dad? They have to be worried sick about us."

"Hayley said she'd convinced your parents that there were complications with your treatment today, and she'd roped Eric into supervising a new set of treatments tonight. Friendly face and all. We'll have to give them something tomorrow, but it was the best she had on the spur of the moment."

"And this? The body we've got in the meat locker?"

"Most of his identifying characteristics are gone. It wouldn't be much to remove Eric's fingerprints, pass him off as you. Once we get you out of this, shave your head, burn your prints off... we can pass you off. You'd have your life back."

Conner blanched. "Off the top of your head you did that?"

Trent shrugged. "I read a lot of mysteries. Don't get on my bad - well, my worse side."

"Eric and I weren't close, really, but he meant the world to me. Somebody had to look out for him, and I liked doing it. I never knew how bad that burned him. He had a girlfriend that he kept from us. He had this whole other life we never knew about. He had so much anger, such hatred."

"That's Mesogog's doing, Conner. Same as what he did to us. And he'll pay."

The other teen moved down the stairs for the first time, coming closer. Conner sat up and scooted to the far end. Trent dragged a chair closer and took a seat.

"What are you going to do until they get you back to normal?"

"If, you mean." Conner grunted. "Stay here, I guess. Try and figure out how we can repair the Dinogem and bond it to this body. I'm terrified when the mourning will hit. I don't know I can keep the names straight with my parents. God, Trent, this life! I wish I'd never met any of you."

Trent nodded. "I know what you mean. I'd give anything for it to just me be and my dad again."

The armored teen sighed. "I've never felt more alone in my life, and I'm surrounded by people. I can't confide anything with those I love most, and everything's so intangible. I feel violated, worse than when I was turning into that ... thing."

"What, what about you?" Conner asked, feeling selfish all the sudden. "Thought you kept rebuffing Dr. Smitty's offer for a warm bed."

Trent huffed a bit. "Didn't have a choice. Mesogog made sure of that. My Dad, he found where I was living, you know? He asked me to kill him when he was a human, but I couldn't. I ran. Mesogog sent Zeltrax, the last Zeltrax, after me. I was confused and I didn't know what I was doing, and I cut him."

Trent reached out, suddenly emboldened, and ran his fingers along Conner's neck. The latches that locked the helmet in place. "I guess Eric didn't make the same mistake Eddie Payne did."

They were quiet for a long time, each contemplating his own hurt.

"So, our new Red Ranger," Trent said finally.

Conner laughed. "Great addition to the team. He passes out like an anime character. Did anybody figure out why he kept doing that?"

Trent nodded. "The powers were bonding to him without a gem, and it got hairy. His body wasn't acclimated to the kind of power, and his morpher wasn't meant to be used as one - just to call the Triceramax. Hayley thinks it's stabilised now."

"Poor guy. I mean, he's been a great Triassic Ranger, but leader? A mutant freak with emotional problems and heavy medication, sure. He had all the cool gear."

Trent nodded solemnly. "Yes, and that gear has only increased exponentially."

Another silence punctuated them.

"Trent?" Conner asked suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad I don't hate you now."

"Me too."

Kira clutched her beloved cow plushie, Mr. Mookins, closer to her. She hadn't had need of the animal's healing presence since having her wisdom teeth removed six years earlier, but right now there was nothing she'd have liked more than worries limited to a diet of only soft foods and a mouth full of dying nerves

Cassidy hadn't been able to sleep over again, given the constraints of school and her sudden decision to quit her internship at Channel 3. Kira still couldn't believe that, and feared in the pit of her stomach that she'd been the cause of that. She hated the idea of hurting Cassidy, especially after the other girl had done so much to remind Kira what was good in the world. Even the ice bitch of Reefside had a warm heart.

She didn't know if that person back at Dino Ops was Conner, or Eric was so racked with self hatred that he'd allowed himself to become Conner, but she was almost beyond caring. Trent's similar reversal, gladly joining the team after so many months of runaround and a night of panicked searching by Dr. Smitty, had left her just as numb. Was it possible to fall out of love with someone? Two someones? All the tension and uncertainty she'd felt for the Red and White Rangers had unknotted in her stomach.

Her head fell to the side, trying to cling to sleep as easily as a plushie. She inhaled, smelling Cassidy on the pillow next to her. Cassidy. The knot in her stomach tugged, and Kira's eyes popped open.

"Oh no," she whispered. "Not that. Please. I've got enough of a problem falling for the wrong men in my life, I don't need to start with the wrong women."

Was she condemned to this, to wandering from one kind heart, one warm expression or familiar face, to another? Did anyone mean anything to her anymore, or was she simply needy and easily bored?

Kira sobbed, clutching the toy closer still.