Chapter 5 New Hope
Carter woke early, the light barely penetrated the hospital room's sole window, and still he was glad to be awake. Not that he wasn't usually, however this time not to begin his rigorous training. All he wanted in this time between sleep and the insanity of life he could just watch over Dana. She lay nestled in his arms, the hand with the I.V. carefully above the blanket. Looking at the appendage He wondered what now? She could no longer be one of them but she'd still be close. Idly he wondered how she'd learn the base then more mobility aspects. That at least was something; he couldn't bear to think of not seeing her everyday. Dana had become such a part of the team, of their lives, of his.
It was funny, he mused, and how someone who was a virtual stranger had become such an intricle part of his life. His growing up hadn't been exactly normal. He doubted anyone would call going through seven foster homes even remotely that. The thing was from the first time he'd seen her at his very first fire over a year and a half ago he'd been drawn to her. No it was not that draw of a stalker, but for the first time in ages he had the feeling she'd been through her own trials. After they'd become rangers and later friends he'd found her just as he'd thought.
Lately he'd learned enough to know she was more like him than anyone he'd ever known. With first her mother's death then Ryan's being taken, not to mention her father's strictness. His discipline was self inflicted but just as rigorous. The only real difference was that she managed to hide a lot of it. He doubted that many knew that after the others were in bed she'd stay up studying in the medical lab or that she ran over five miles a day in the Aquabase's gym.
Now, brushing a stray lock of her blond hair from her face he wondered how she'd come back from this one. The only thing he knew for certain was that this time she was not alone. Neither he nor any of the others would let her be. He didn't see the others letting her fall away either. She was one of them from the moment she'd strapped on her morpher, and would be until laid in the ground. So if she couldn't fight she could work at the base. He didn't know what she could do but he would find out, he was not going to lose the one person he truly cared about.
He was lying their a time later when his communicator went off. Quickly he silenced it.
"I'm here."
"There's trouble in the park." The captain said and he carefully extricated himself from the girl on the bed. Tiptoeing as fast as he could he reached the door and looked back at Dana, before leaving.
*****
"Ok time for you to feel the pain!? Kelsey shouted and flew at a pair of Batlings. She landed hard on the ground the foot soldiers having moved out of the way in the last moment.
Chad clobbered one of the things that was sneaking up behind Joel. Another one went down with a kick. Two more Batlings landed on the ground due to a solid
Punch from Joel.
Carter took out two more Batlings but found three more there.
"Guys, I think we're really in trouble here!" Joel blocked a blow even as another battling rushed him.
*****
As the car passed by the park two of its occupants spotted the situation
"Stop the car!" Kimberly called and her husband pulled over then noticing the trouble as well.
"Everyone ready?" He asked and he received five nods. "Alright then let's do it guys!"
"Right!" The group replied and called.
"It's Morphan time! Tyrannosaurus!"
"The crane!"
"Shift in to turbo! Blue ranger!"
"Let's rock it, black ranger!"
"Go galactic, Green ranger!"
*****
Ryan was busy fighting five of the bat like-foot soldiers and knew that if they didn't get some help soon things were going to get really nasty.
The blast cut through the mass of demons and rangers with precision, taking out first one monster then another.
Joel was surprised when a blast cut two of his foes down before he could. Then he was free to help the others.
"Need a hand?" A costume clad figure took out one of Kelsey's assailants. The yellow lightspeed ranger was surprised when suddenly the rest of the Batlings vanished.
"Woe," Chad bent trying to catch his breath. He was not easily winded but that had been one nasty fight.
"I don't believe it." The red rangers said then powered down as he reached the other red clad figure. His cousin too demorphed and they were hugging.
"Ok Carter what's going on?" Kelsey asked as she and the others all demorphed.
"Remember how we were talking about a replacement for Dana?" The red ranger said turning back to the others.
"Yeah." The blue ranger said slowly very confused, if there was to be one replacement then why were there six rangers there?" He wasn't the only one confused
Beside him Kelsey had stiffened and was peering at the others in question.
"Well you got her." The petite brunette began and all eyes went to the young woman in pink.
Ryan just stared, a replacement? He'd known this was necessary but. What could he say?
"We need to talk but not here." Jason said and with that Carter nodded and arrangements were made for the new comers to follow them back to the Aquabase.
*****
Laying there Dana wondered if she'd dreamed her little breakdown with Carter. She'd woken to find him gone. It had to be that he wouldn't just leave unless. The helplessness of her situation hit her hard but she refused to let her tears of self pity come to her eyes. If there had been another attack it was her friends who needed her concern not herself.
Dana then made up her mind and began feeling to her left of the bed. She'd been in enough hospital rooms to know where the telephone generally rested and now she was going to need it. She fumbled with things on the table and heard the thwack as something hit the floor but she was too bent on her objective to ponder that. It took a minute moor before she located the phone and picking up the receiver she tried to think, the one was at the top.
Five minutes later and fifteen frustrating tries later her father picked up.
"Mitchell here."
"Dad it's me." She said and waited.
"Dana? Are you alright? Is something wrong?" She'd have rolled her eyes if possible.
"Dad the question is are the others ok?"
"The others." He sounded a little perplexed a moment. "There was a skirmish in the park but yes, their all just fine." At his words Dana slumped back into her bed.
"Good. Sorry for bothering you." She said feeling silly now, she never should have called him.
"Dana, you don't need a reason to call, I'm glad to hear from you." He said and she would have snorted, glad? Then why hadn't he come to see her? Carter, Ryan and the other's had all popped in at one time or another but not her dad. She couldn't think of exactly what to say so remained silent.
"Listen Dana, we have something to talk about, do you feel up to some visitors?"
"UM," she really didn't but she wasn't going to go all modilyn. "Sure." She replied and he finished by saying that they'd be by in a bit. She agreed and hung up.
Replacing the receiver she wondered at his tone, he'd sounded odd, almost happy. She felt annoyance prickle her but she forced that back. She was not going to do this; she was not a child, just because her life was upside down that didn't mean his should be. With that thought she settled in to wait.
***
Upon entering the hospital room Ryan crossed to his sister and waited.
"Ryan?" She began with a little smile recognizing the soft sound of his footfalls on the linoleum floor.
"I heard you were a little worried about us." He teased and she blushed.
"I know you can hold your own but."
"It's ok, it was a little rough but we're all here safe and sound."
"Yeah, we even had a little help." Chad called and Dana could hear scraping as if a chair was being dragged across the floor.
"You're all here?" Dana smiled; she'd not seen all of her friends at once since this had all happened.
"You didn't think we'd bail on you now did you?" Joel asked coming in next also scraping a chair across the floor. Dana just smiled at her friends, they were really there, and.
"Brought you a present." Carter said and coming over he placed something fuzzy in her hands.
"Carter?" She asked a little surprised even she ran her fingers over the thing. It had rounded ears a round head, button like eyes and a leathery nose.
"I saw it downstairs and it reminded me of you." He explained sounding almost embarrassed.
"That was really sweet Carter thank you." She grinned in his general direction. Then on impulse she reached out a hand looking for him. Catching a hold of a shirt she hoped it was him as she tugged the person down and using her other hand found his cheek. The kiss was meant as a thank you but it made Carter's cheek tingle.
"Your welcome." He managed and she thought there was a hint of something new in his voice. Well he had definitely managed to alleviate the discomfort over her behavior of the night before.
"Oh how cute." Kelsey teased and Dana nodded.
"So what's up?" She asked once they were all settled.
"Well, you know that with one ranger out of commission we had to look for a replacement right?"
"Yes." She said and she gripped the teddy bear a little tighter.
Ryan was watching and thought she looked like she had when they were little and was hearing something she really didn't want to hear. He shifted a little closer and he noticed their leader doing the same. It would have been amusing if under another circumstance, but now it just felt right.
"Well, I called my cousin; he was one of the first earth rangers." Carter took up the end of the conversation.
"I see." Dana replied, a little surprised, she'd read his file and hadn't found anything about his being related to anyone.
"I had hoped he'd be able to suggest someone," Carter went on.
"He didn't just suggest someone," Kelsey broke in. "He came himself and brought a replacement team." The yellow ranger sounded both hesitant and excited.
"Replacement team?" Dana asked confused. What were they saying? Were they all quitting or something? "I don't understand."
"Yeah, we're going to need more power to stop the demons once and for all. Ryan said quietly and her father's voice joined the others as he came quietly into the room.
"From the history of the rangers we know there is only one power that may be enough." Captain Mitchell said from off to Dana's right. She wondered what they were talking about then let her mind drift back to all her research on the legacy of the rangers. She'd done quite a bit after joining their ranks.
"The great power." She realized and her father agreed. "But that's across the galaxy."
"That's not a problem but the thing is that we need the whole team." Carter said and Dana frowned.
"But if there's a replacement team you still don't have another pink ranger."
"Exactly, we need you to come with us." Joel informed her easily.
Dana felt pain, guilt, anger and helplessness wash over her n waves. There was no way she'd be able to go on some big quest. She couldn't even find the bathroom in her hospital room for crying out loud. Why were they doing this? Why were they laying the safety of billions at her feet when all she'd be able to do is watch them fall?
"We know it won't be easy but we need you to do it, for us, for the city, for humanity." Her father said and she felt tears of helpless despair burning the back of her throat.
"I. I CAN'T. I." She buried her face in her teddy bear and was so lost in her own pain and vulnerability that she never heard the others file quietly from the room. Dana didn't know anything until she felt arms going around her and heard the deep voice.
"Dana, I know, I know." Ryan said and she could make out the pain in his own voice. That didn't make much sense, he barely even knew her, why would he be in pain? This was happening to her not him? But she knew that was selfish, she also knew she that she couldn't let them risk their lives by forcing them to baby-sit a useless ex-ranger.
"No, no I can't do it, I just." she felt his body change, stiffen.
"Dana," he pulled back and brushed hair back from her face. "We need you; we can't do it without you."
"Why? I'm no longer any use to the rangers. I'm just."
"That's crap." Ryan's voice was hard and she frowned. He had only sounded like that when he'd been evil. Was he again? Fear filled her and she held her breath. "You'll just have to make some changes in the way you do things." He said.
"I'll never be able to defend myself let alone the city." She said and there was bitterness rearing its ugly head once again.
Ryan didn't know what to say to that, he knew it was true but to hear that tone and know that his little sister felt as if lost the one way she'd thought to earn their father's approval. He wondered what that must feel like, to know that the one thing she could do had just been stripped away. Gently he took her hand and said.
"You know sis, when I was first taken I felt like I had nothing, then vengeance became my only companion. It's cold and bitter, born of pain and despair."
"And I don't even have that." she spat not wanting him to know what she was doing in the park.
"It's a good thing. It's not healthy. But thanks to it you have me Danny. And thanks to you and Dad I'm learning to rebuild myself, so we can do it together."
"Ryan?" She asked hearing everything he said and wanting to believe, but being afraid, if she tried and couldn't. Although there was the feel of Ryan's hand holding hers, it was solid and real. With this feeling, the warmth of his strong hand came hope, the hope that he was right, that she could depend on him and could do this.
Dana never heard the others come back in but when she felt the second hand join his and the third and fourth and one more she had to smile, even if it would
TBC
***
Ok, yes, I knw thist is the same story, it's supposed to be,I just waned to make some much needed corrections here and there.
Never fear by the time this is fixed you'll have the revisions puls the new chapter.
Anyway PLZ let me know what you think.