Well, here's another update for "Alex's Life." I know I said that I'd update after the other stories, but I kind of am at loss of how to begin them, and I'm also a bit distracted with the LOTR story I'm writing entitled "Alone." I'm writing the last chapter of that currently. I think I'll stick with this story unless someone helps me get over my writers block with the others I have planned. Well, here's kind of "deleted scenes" from the last episode of Power Rangers Time Force.

Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers or any of its characters.

End of Time, Part II

Alex lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling through teary eyes. His tear-streaked face looked tired and depressed. He fingered the diamond ring again and looked at it. She had given it back; she had fallen in love with another man. A man from the past, his look-alike no less. An ancestor. He had suspected it when he had traveled to the past. Jen's confused actions when he had arrived. Her looks in Wesley's direction. Her silent anger when he had removed Wes from the team. He had seen it all. He was not dumb. He had covered his hurt by harsh, commanding actions.

Why had he been so dumb? Why didn't he just talk to her instead of push her further away with his actions? He had been blinded by jealousy and a drive to complete the task he had set out to do – to save the future and bring the rangers back, alive. He had been angry at the others mainly for their audible rebellion, and he had taken it out on her, not telling her what he knew, not letting her in, not speaking to her. His own stupidity in his choice of actions had driven her away, and so quickly at that! They had been gone but a year, and Wesley had already won her!

Alex wiped away a tear and stood. He could not mope all day. The rangers were back in the future fighting Doomtron. He could at least help to ensure that they made it alive even if the databanks showed no hope. He could not allow himself to lose hope and abandon helping them. She needed it…they needed it. He went to the kitchen sink and washed his face to rid it of the tear streaks before heading to his office to track the ranger's progress.

He arrived at his office quickly as he lived just across the street from Headquarters, at the Academy dormitory. As he sat down, a figure appeared behind him, catching him off guard. "Collins, why don't you go home? You just lost your fiancée – yes, I know – and I think you need some time off."

"Captain, I am of better use to them if I'm in here. I have to protect them. Keep them safe. They have to live."

"What about you? Are you to live?"

"In which sense, sir?"

"Emotionally. Or are you to go back in that shell as you do when something bad happens, becoming increasingly focused in your job? Do not look at me like that. Yes, I see, I know. I observe. Alex, you are our best officer. Please, go home."

"Sir, I will be fine. I will live. I don't need any time off. I just need to get her – and them – home alive." Alex typed his password into the computer.

"Alex, I'm concerned. You're already doing it – retreating from the rest of the world. I cannot permit you to work for today. You need to think."

"No, sir. I will work. I have no physical problem to keep me from being able to do so."

"But, emotionally, Collins, you need –" Logan protested once more.

"Sir, I am fine – both physically and emotionally. She loves someone else, someone she cannot have. Why should I fear?" Alex looked at him directly in the eyes, his own sparkling in the dim lighting. "Someday she will come to her senses and realize it is I that she loves, not him."

Logan shook his head sadly. Alex had always been stubborn but never so stubborn as now. "If I didn't know how you are I would believe you were fine, but, knowing you, I cannot permit you to work. If you will not leave, I will request your account be freezed for the day so you have no access to any computers in Time Force."

"Sir, please…" Alex begged, the sight quite unbecoming for the young man.

"No, Alex. Now, either leave, or security will come. I would rather have your reputation preserved. I don't want to have to call them."

"Yes, sir." Alex resigned with a sigh as he logged out of his computer and stood.

# # #

Alex barged into his room anger and hurt filling his features. His body was tense, his face sad. Tears threatened to spill out of his eyes as the emotions he had been holding back all day caught up with him all at once while he sat down on the couch. One of the bears she had given him laid on the couch, and he clutched it up and hugged it longingly as he curled up on the couch. He allowed a tortured sob to burst out. She had left him, betrayed him for another man…a man she could never have but still insisted in going back for.

He had allowed her to come in over the years, devoted so much time and effort to help her, loved her, trusted her, and for what? Just to be dealt treacherously with? He no longer felt hurt; now, he felt angry at her. Tears ran down sideways, filling the crevices where his nostrils flared out. His face was red, his nose running, but he took no notice. He had loved her with all of his being, his whole heart. Every time he opened himself up to love, he was cut down eventually. When he loved, he did so to the best of his ability as he did everything else. Perhaps that was why he was always hurt.

Jesse walked into the living room carrying a bowl of spaghetti and a glass of milk. He sat in the chair across from the couch. Alex made no effort to speak, so Jesse did. "Alex, what is the matter? Why are you home so early?"

"Nothing's wrong. Captain Logan sent me home early…said I'd be of more use to the Rangers here instead of at work," Alex replied, his voice muffled by the bear in front of his mouth.

"Really? Now, that is crazy. How can that be possible?"

"I don't know."

Jesse noticed the bear that Alex was clutching so tightly. "Or does it have something to do with her? I heard they returned today, and then they left unexpectedly."

"She gave me back the ring," he replied, sadly presenting the ring.

"I'm sorry, man. Why'd she do such a thing?"

"I don't know. She fell in love with him, with Wesley Collins."

"An ancestor of yours? Whoa…that is insanity at its greatest! She can't have him. Eventually, she'll see that and coming crying back to your arms, begging for forgiveness, begging to have the ring again."

"That's what I keep telling myself, but how do I know that? She could just live, longing for him all her life, having me as a replacement just to see his face, to hear his voice…"

"Look, man, now you're the one being crazy. She will come back; she will pledge to stay with you for the rest of her life."

"I hope so." Alex wiped away his tears with humility.

"Just trust me, she will be back soon. Maybe it's a misunderstanding. You two can work it out when she returns. Either way, you win. You get to see her everyday, but he'll have to live without her."

"But to see her in pain, being miserable, will be torture. She needs to be happy; that's all that matters."

"I know, and she will be – with you."

Alex stood and walked out of the room, leaving his friend behind, so he could be alone and think. He needed her. She had to need him. Everything would work out fine eventually…