Chapter Five: Visits

When Carter opened his eyes a few hours later he was slightly confused at first then he remembered.

"DANA?!" he cried sitting up extremely fast. He soon regretted those actions as his head and body exploded in pain.

"Carter it's alright, just lye still." Dana said. Jumping from where she had been sitting since they had put Carter in this room. Carter laid back and closed his eyes trying to stop the room from spinning.

"Are you okay?" he asked hoarsely.

"I'm fine but you need to rest." she said stroking his hair, "Carter, thank you"

Carter was so entranced with what Dana was doing to his hair he almost didn't say anything. Before he could reply Ryan walked in.

"Hey Carter" He said, and Dana immediately removed her hand from Carter's hair.

'Well you can really ruin a mood.' Ryan thought to his self.

"Hi" Carter said slowly he obliviously was in a lot of pain.

"Man, you really scared us back there." he said.

"Yes he did." Captain Mitchell said from the door way. Everyone looked at him Ryan and Dana exchanged glances realizing they should leave for the moment.

"We'll catch you later Carter" Ryan said as they walked out. Dana paused a moment and shared a stare with Carter. Carter all the while had a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"How bad?" He asked. 'It's over I'm done.' He thought as he waited for Capt Mitchell's answer.

"You won't be able to fight for at least Three Months." Captain Mitchell said and watched Carter's reaction, as always he thought of the team first that's what made him a good leader.

"Who's going to be the Red Ranger?" Carter asked.

"I've got someone picked out." He said.

Dana and Ryan had left the door open a crack just enough for someone to see and hear watch was said without being seen. Chris realizing she shouldn't interrupt the moment stepped away from the room and waiting for the man inside to leave.

"I see" Carter said.

"Carter I want to thank you for saving Dana. If that blast had hit her she would have been killed." Captain Mitchell said, and continued, "I'm glad you weren't hit directly either or you would have been killed."

"Captain Mitchell I want to meet the new Red Ranger." Carter said. Captain Mitchell nodded and walked out of the room. He noticed Chris as she stood on the other side of the hall. Of course Chris wasn't exactly an easy person to miss, she had an arm full of red, yellow, and orange flowers, a fist full of balloons and a brown paper bag full of something. She nodded to Captain Mitchell as she started for the room and stepped inside. Captain Mitchell paused long enough to hear.

"Hey how's going Monkey Boy?"

"Funny real Funny."

"What? The Flowers, the balloons the Candy?? Watch it or no Jelly Bellies for you."

"No the question. 'How's it going?'"

"Oh so are you going to die?"

"No I can't fight for three months."

"Suxs to be you, hospitals suck for more than a few hours"

"It's going to drive me insane." He said.

"Is that possible?"

"Did I mention you can be annoying?"

"Sooooooooooo, tell me about you and the Pink Ranger." Chris said with a small twinkle in her eye, if Carter wanted annoying he'd get it.

"WHAT?!! You're nuts."

"You're in denial."

"Dana and I are not a couple."

"Yet" she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Did I mention you're nuts."

Captain Mitchell smiled slightly at the conversation and headed off.

"No not once. Look I've only got a little bit of time before I have to go back to the Station so I brought you a nice bouquet, some balloons, jelly bellies and … a card. I hope you like them."

"Thanks." Carter said as he read the card. A sad smile played on Chris's face as she looked at her friend. For a very long time she had known Carter and in her eyes he had turned out to a very good man. It royally sucked for him to be in this state.

"Honestly I have to get back to the Station, you take care and keep out of trouble." Chris said glancing at the clock in the room.

"I'll try" Carter said, "Chris be careful." Chris turned and gave him a reassuring smile then walked out of the room and down the hall. As she exited the Hospital she was meet by two men in black suites, who looked like secret service men.

TBC..... What do you think?