Power Rangers Turbo Adventure - My Baby

5. Threat #1...

Ashley, Carlos, Cassie, T.J., and Justin teleport to the Power Chamber with James.

"Dimitra, someone's after James," Ashley said.

"Who is James?" Dimitra asked the yellow ranger.

"Dimitra, this is Ashley and my son James Stefan Vallerte," Carlos said, gesturing to the baby in Ashley's arms.

"Aye, aye, aye! Ashley and Carlos's son!" Alpha exclaimed.

"Calm down, Alpha. I never got pregnant, I just... well we adopted him," Ashley said.

"Congratulations, Ashley, Carlos, on James. Now who would be after James?" Dimirta asked.

"Maybe it's a goon of Divatox," T.J. guessed.

"No it couldn't be. Lt. Stone told Ashley and me that a gang came by yesterday to kill James," Cassie said.

"A gang?" Justin questioned.

"Yeah. So, Dimitra, what do we do?" Ashley asked tears in her eyes.

"Talk to your parents," Dimitra said.

Ashley and Carlos stood outside the Hammond house, Ashley in tears as she held James. Carlos unlocked the doors with Ashley's keys.

"C'mon Babe," Carlos said as they walked in.

"Ashley, darling!" her mother called, walking downstairs. She saw the tears falling down her daughter's face and ran to her and Carlos. "What happened?"
"A gang killed James's biological parents and have threatened his death," Carlos explained.

"Oh my Lord," Mrs. Hammond said and hugged Ashley.

"Mommy, we're squishing James," Ashley said. Her mother backed away.

"Sorry, James," Mrs. Hammond said and kissed the baby in her daughter's arms. "Are you two sure about adopting him? I mean this is dangerous."

"Mom, we're sure," Ashley said. Carlos wrapped an arm around Ashley.

"Very sure, Mrs. Hammond," Carlos said.

"Call me Clair, Carlos," Mrs. Hammond said.

"If you want... Clair," Carlos said.

"You two are weird," Ashley said, walking upstairs to her room to cry more.

"Ashley!" Carlos called after her, chasing her. "Ashley, darling, wait!" He walked into their room. "Ashley," he sighed. Ashley had put James in his crib and was holding herself as she cried. She turned to him. He outstretched his arms and she ran into his embrace. They held each other as she cried. "I know, Ashley. I know."

"Carlos, our son could die and you don't care," Ashley cried, pushing away. He pulled her back into his arm.

"No, I do care about that. I care about the rangers, I care about the project, I care that a gang is after our son, but mostly I care that I might lose James and if I lose James I lose you," Carlos said. "This thing is ripping you from the inside out... little by little... bit by bit... I know because that's what's happening to me, Ashley." She looked up at him. He kissed her cheek. "I love you and James more than anything in the whole universe and I will be able to protect you, even if it means dieing for you and James. Ashley, you and James are my entire life now and always will be."

"Really?" Ashley asked, looking up at him.

"Really," Carlos assured and they leaned in for a kiss, but something broke them apart when an object was thrown into window. Ashley screamed as Carlos pushed to her ground, he grabbed James, and fell next to Ashley.

"What was that?" Ashley asked and choked on some smoke. Carlos sniffed the air.

"It's fire," Carlos said. Ashley screamed again and he got up, pulling her with him. They ran out of the house and found her parents outside already.

"Ashley, Carlos, James!" Mr. Hammond called them.

"Are you three alright?" Mrs. Hammond asked.

"We're fine," Ashley said and coughed a little.

"Ashley's having a few problems breathing," Carlos said. Cassie, T.J., and Justin ran to the front lawn.

"I called the police, Mr. Hammond," Cassie said.

"Thank you, Cassie," Mr. Hammond said. Ashley coughed.

"Ashley, you okay?" Justin asked.

"I can't stand smoke," Ashley said between coughs. Carlos gave James to T.J. and helped Ashley stand.

An ambulance, two police cars, and two fire trucks pulled up. A paramedic came to the group.

"Is everyone okay?" he asked.

"My daughter, her boyfriend, and son, my wife, and I were all in the fire, but my daughter's the only one with problems," Mr. Hammond said. James started crying.

"James," Ashley coughed, "My baby."

"Don't worry, Ash, we've got him," T.J. said.

"Come on, Miss," The paramedic said as a few more paramedics wheeled a bed over to them. Carlos helped Ashley onto the bed. The paramedics put it back in the ambulance with Carlos off to the side, holding Ashley's hand.

"Its okay, Ash, they'll help you breathe," Carlos said, smoothing out her hair with his other hand as the ambulance rushed to the hospital.

tribalranger - I'm glad you like it.

Please review! KAO