Disclaimer: PRSPD belongs to Saban; all I own is the story.

AN: Takes place after the episode Confronted.

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The sun was starting to set and the sky was turning a combination of pink and purple as

Z was jogging along the designated path and then she heard a voice; "I'm the Red Ranger so deal with it!"

She would know Jack's voice anywhere and then she heard another, "Yeah I don't know why." That came from Sky.

She could see them from behind the grove of trees but they couldn't see her. Jack and Sky were practically face to face, and Jack was holding his ground, even though Sky was a few inches taller. But Jack had been tough for as long as she had known him.

"Maybe you should ask Cruger!" Jack replied.

"I will." Sky's blue eyes became even colder, "You may have the morpher and wear the colors but you haven't done anything to earn it."

Sky turned on his heels and began walking off and just before he left he said; "All the other rangers not being behind you should've told you something."

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Jack let out a snarl of rage and felt stung but wasn't about to show it. He was sorry he had let his ego get the better of him and sorry he had crossed paths with the SPD by being a thief. He wanted to prove himself; he wanted to be a great Red Ranger.

"Jack?" He heard a familiar voice and turned to see Z in workout clothes. A yellow sweatshirt and yellow sweatpants.

"Hey Z."

"Are you ok? I heard everything."

"Oh I'm just fine." He replied; still angry about the day. "Sky won't stop going on about not being chosen as the Red Ranger, and you stabbed me in the back by siding with the others."

Z's eyes flashed, "I didn't do it to hurt you, I had to make you see how big your head was getting, and we would've needed a crowbar to get it into the room if it had gone on much longer. I'm your friend Jack."

She was his only friend, the best friend he had ever had and they had been through thick and thin together. His anger would fade and so would the deep down humiliation he was feeling.

"I know you are Z." He smiled at her.

Z felt relief go through her, after she had run away to the streets; Jack had been the first person she had come across. He showed her how to survive and had been the first person to truly care about her. She hated it when they fought.

"I'm glad you don't hate me." She said.

He came closer to her; "Z we may fight sometimes and I might get angry, but I could never hate you."

Z felt tears come and hated showing emotion, sadness was among them. You had to be tough if you were to survive on the streets. But Jack was the one person she could be truly honest with. She had told him she thought of him as just a big brother but that wasn't entirely true. She had deep feelings for him.

Jack embraced her, "It'll be ok, and we'll get through this together."

"Just like always." She replied; and kissed him on the cheek.

He smiled; "What did I do to deserve that?"

Z touched the spot she had kissed, "Just for being you and for doing your best to be a ranger."

Jack kissed her on her cheek just then, "Don't ever change either."

As the sun set the lights on the fitness course came on and they stared at each other in a way they had never done before. Then Jack leaned in and kissed her lips, Z returned it and finally they broke apart.

"What next?" She asked the question first.

"Just one day at a time I guess." He replied.

They took hands and then realized they were covered in mud, Jack from going through the mud on the course and Z realized her shirt was a little covered. Then they burst out giggling.

As they walked back to the academy and the stars came out, they knew they had crossed a bridge, from friendship into something more. The question now was where would it lead?