I want to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. You guys rock!

Chapter Eleven

It was true too, that Sky had feelings for Shadow. He didn't know when they had started, but he knew that they had finally come to the surface during the night as he sat by her side. She still annoyed him to no end, but, slowly, he was beginning to see her in a new light. And it was a light that unnerved him.

He didn't want feelings for Shadow, he didn't want to look at her and see a beautiful young woman who was an amazing fighter, talented Ranger, and…well a very special person. He wanted things to remain they way they were, with him and Shadow bickering constantly, always at an impasse. That was the way things should be. There shouldn't be any stomach twisting at the sight of her, his heart shouldn't jump at her smile. No, those things couldn't be.

Sky ran a hand through his hair, frustrated beyond belief at himself. He had allowed Shadow to worm her way into his emotions somehow. He had let down his guard the previous night and allowed himself to care, to feel something, for her. Pity had made him soft, and made way for stronger, more confusing emotions.


"You seem different today." Jack looked at Shadow out of the corner of his eye as he spoke. Shadow stared straight ahead, her eyes focused on the road ahead as she drove the Jeep through New Tech City.

"I'm the same as always." Shadow replied with a shrug. She seemed nonchalant about her response, but Jack noticed the slight tightening of her fingers on the steering wheel.

"Really? 'Cause something seems different." Jack studied her openly now, taking in the way the wind tossed her hair about and the look of concentration on her face as she drove. Shadow remained silent. The red Ranger shrugged a shoulder and returned his attention to the city passing by.

"What were you and Sky talking about earlier?" He asked, tactfully changing the subject.

"Nothing." The female Ranger replied quickly, too quickly. Jack eyed her, catching her gaze. She sighed gently and shook her head.

"I just needed to clear up a few things with him. Our fighting has really hurt the team and I decided that it was time for us to at least begin to be civil to each other."

"That's good." Jack said with a slight nod of his head and chuckled. "It must have burned him up that you were the bigger person in all this." Shadow laughed slightly, her lips turning up just a bit at the corners.


Patrols over, Shadow sat in her room, freshly showered and changed into a clean uniform (Cruger had gotten on her about not wearing it around the headquarters), her guitar in her hands. Busy with Ranger business, it had been awhile since she had last sat down to play. Her fingers moved over the strings confidently, working of their own accord to move over the chord progressions.

Shadow shook a stray piece of hair out of her eyes and watched her fingers closely, checking for any mistakes in her grip or chords.

Things were so out of whack right then. Everybody was acting out of character, or at least Jack and Sky were. Shadow sighed. Sky was, though he denied it, avoiding her like the plague, Jack was being more open about staring at her and flirting with her, and Shadow, well Shadow was just plain confused by it all.

Always in the past when she had had a problem, playing her guitar had helped Shadow to work everything out. Not now though. No, she was far too confused for playing the guitar to help her.

With a sigh, she set the guitar aside and lay back on her bed. Closing her eyes, Shadow hummed quietly, trying to rid her mind of all thought. Perhaps meditation would work. Nope. Disgruntled, she rolled onto her side and stared at the clock and watched the minutes tick by.


"Has anyone seen Shadow?" Jack asked. The five Rangers sat in the rec room, relaxing before they had to branch off to perform their various afternoon tasks. His friends looked at each other.

"No." Z shook her head.

"I saw her go into her room when you guys got back from patrols," Bridge offered, "but that was like two hours ago."

"She's probably just catching up on some sleep." Syd said, barely glancing up from her magazine.

"Yeah, you're probably right." Jack shook his head to clear it of thought. "I don't know why I was worried." He rubbed a hand across his face, letting it tangle in his hair as he leaned back on the couch.

It wasn't that he was worried about Shadow, but rather that he simply wanted her near. Jack had come to count on the young woman's presence. Over the past weeks, she had become an invaluable member of the team. And she had plagued Jack's every thought.

"Come on J," Z stood in front of him and held out her hand, "let's take a walk."


Sky knocked on the closed door, his knuckle rapping ever so slightly against the metal. After Jack and Z had gone out, Sky had waited until Bridge and Syd were once again engrossed with whatever it was that they were doing. Then, he left the rec room and made his way towards Shadow's room.

He knocked again. There was a groan and, a few seconds later, a slightly tired looking Shadow stood before him.

"Sky, what are you doing here?" She was surprised to see him, that much was evident.

"Just wanted to check up on you." He said, "You didn't come out of your room after you came back from patrols."

"I wasn't aware that you worried about me so much." She smirked.

"I wasn't worried." Sky said quickly, 'cause he hadn't been, worried that is. She smiled and laughed lightly.

"What do you want?" She asked, still smiling. Sky felt himself drawn in by the smile. Shadow didn't smile often. No, she smirked, never smiled. It was a pretty smile too, one that lit up her face and made her eyes dance.

"I um…I just wanted to um…"

"Spit it out Sky." She chuckled.

"I just wanted to see if you wanted to do something. I mean, everyone else is busy and I have nothing to do so I thought maybe we could hang out or whatever." Sky babbled. Shadow laughed again.

"What did you have in mind?"


Very short chapter I know, the next one will be longer, I assure you. I hope you all will review and tell me what you thought of this chapter. Also, don't forget to vote for who you want Shadow to end up with. The count is very close and is currently at:

Sky-27

Jack- 30