Disclaimer – Don't own Power Rangers in any incarnation. Not even an action figure.
Continuity note – this story is set slightly before the Shadow saga (no Shadow Ranger…yet).
It was weird. The whole situation was weird. Bridge knew that the weirdness idea had crossed his mind earlier, but now that he was really trying to settle down, it crossed his mind again. There was something more to it though; something he couldn't quite put his finger on. And it was bothering him.
He snuck a peek at Sky who was staring at the far wall. He really seemed to be under the impression that Bridge would be able to will himself into an unconscious state. I wonder if I could do that…I never tried before. But Bridge couldn't concentrate on sleep while the weirdness was bugging him. The obvious source would be Sky; well, that wasn't exactly true. Sky wasn't weird per say; stoic would be a better word - or uptight - or demonically driven. Any of those would apply to Sky, but not weird.
Bridge frowned in concentration trying to pinpoint the source of his strange feeling, but it kept eluding him. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep while the odd feeling persisted, but he also knew that if he stopped pushing to pinpoint it, his mind it would probably come up with the source. So he did what he always did when he needed to distract himself – he started talking.
Usually when Bridge started talking people just tuned him out. They didn't understand that the babbling was a defense mechanism that had turned into a verbal habit. When he was a kid, he'd babbled to block out the mental static of everything around him; as an adult the habit continued even though he'd picked up many more internal tricks to cut down on the noise. Occasionally Syd or Z would make the attempt to follow what he was saying, and he appreciated it because usually there was some point he was trying to get to; but more often than not people either tuned him out or cut him off. He was used to it. But this had to be different.
Bridge didn't think he'd be able to express to Sky what this whole experiment meant to him. It wasn't just that Sky had realized that something was going on; it wasn't just that there was a faint glimmer of hope that the nightly torment of the nightmares could be eased. It really came down to that hand on his ankle. How can you explain to someone who takes physical contact for granted how important it really is? It would be like trying to explain colors to a person who'd been blind since birth. So Bridge made a concerted effort to repay Sky the only way he knew how – with a gift that would mean as much to Sky as that grip on his ankle meant to him – he gave Sky his utter concentration and attention.
Bridge propped himself up on his elbows. "What are you doing here, Sky?"
Sky sighed in exasperation. He had a feeling the silence wouldn't last, but he was determined to get it back. "I'm trying to help you get some sleep." He gave Bridge a significant look, trying to cow the younger Ranger into submission. "You might want to take advantage if it."
Bridge actually paused before he responded. "Believe me, I will." he responded seriously. "But that's not exactly what I meant." Bridge paused again.
Sky was surprised by this slow and thoughtful side to Bridge. It made him more inclined to listen to him.
Bridge cocked his head to the side curiously. "I guess what I'm really asking is what made you come here…why didn't you just report me to Miss Kat or Cruger. This is kind of outside the bounds of protocol."
Bridge let the question hang for a moment while Sky considered his answer. It was unusual for Bridge to allow so much time for thinking, and Sky took his question seriously. Perhaps because of the intimacy of the situation, or perhaps because he got the feeling that Bridge was really listening without preparing to interject with some random story, Sky answered far more honestly than he had intended
Sky turned his gaze to the wall across from where he was seated. "We're a team. I could see something was wrong. I decided to help." His gaze drifted from the floor to the wall. Bridge didn't jump in, so Sky continued. "When I realized…when I figured out what was going on, I decided to take action."
What Bridge understood very clearly though Sky didn't verbalize it was and it made me feel good because I was the only one who could.
Bridge nodded in response to Sky's unspoken feelings, and continued as if it had been spoken between them. "Jack wouldn't be able to help…not like you can."
Anger, surprise and relief flashed across Sky's face. Anger at Jack in general, surprise that Bridge had picked up on his resentment and relief that Bridge, and not he, had put it into words. "At least this…" Sky held both hands in front of him, "he can't take away from me."
Although Sky had only let go of Bridge's ankle for a moment, and reestablished contact almost immediately, it was that gesture that gave Bridge the connection to the elusive feeling that had been bothering him. It wasn'tfeelings that wer bothering him at all; it was a lack of them. Bridge gasped.
"What?" Sky demanded, though to his credit he sounded a little more concerned than annoyed.
"I don't feel anything." Bridge answered as he heaved himself completely off of his elbows into a seated position to face Sky.
"That's kind of the point." stated Sky dryly.
"No, I mean…I don't feel anything." Bridge repeated. The expression on Sky's face indicated that he clearly didn't understand. Bridge was frustrated by his inability to express himself clearly. "There's you, but it's like you're hardly there."
Sky sort of shrugged and raised one eyebrow, not sure what Bridge's revelation really meant. Bridge's face was a mix of concentration and concern. He looked like he was listening for something. He continued to speak, more to get the words out than to get Sky to understand, "I haven't felt this little in…I don't know how long." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, like a man emerging from the depths of a cave, happy to be out in the open once again.
Bridge turned to look at Sky with a bemused smile on his face. "It's so quiet." he whispered. To Sky he sounded like a little kid who stumbled across some secret place where he didn't want to get caught; like he was delighted to be there, but was afraid someone would take it away from him if they found out about it.
Sky wasn't sure if the quiet was a good or bad thing. If Bridge was so used to being surrounded by so much "white noise" all the time, the sudden lack of input could be kind of scary. He was ready to drop the shield and let go of Bridge's leg in a heartbeat if it was necessary. So he asked, "Does it hurt?"
Bridge looked baffled by the question. He lay back on his pillow and wiggled his glowing blue fingers in front of his face as he contemplated the question. After a moment he replied. "No. It doesn't hurt. It's just…" he shook his head, unable to explain. "It's just quiet. Not painful. Sky…you have no idea…how good…" For the first time in Sky's experience of him, the Green Ranger ran out of words.
Bridge allowed his hands to fall to his chest. He closed his eyes and took another deep and centering breath, reveling in the feeling of laying down the burden of holding himself apart all of the time. He had no idea how large the load was until Sky took it up for him. I'd better not get used to this…
Sky was a little shocked as he watched Bridge relax. His previous assessment of Bridge as a generally happy-go-lucky guy without many concerns was completely blown out of the water as he watched as Bridge literally let himself go completely – perhaps for the first time in his adult life - certainly for the first time since becoming a Ranger.
It made Sky angry that Bridge had been carrying around so much weight for so long and no one, himself included, had noticed. Shouldn't someone have seen something? It was no way for a team to function; but as much as Sky wished he could lay down the blame on Jack, he just couldn't. The Rangers were just a small handful of people with genetic powers – it was new to everyone. How could any of them know how being a Ranger would affect them, or how Grumm in close proximity would affect Bridge?
A mumble from Bridge drew Sky's attention. He hated to promote conversation with the Green Ranger when he was so close to the edge of sleep, but he hated not knowing what Bridge had just said. "What?" he encouraged.
Bridge heaved a deep sigh as he rolled over onto his left side throwing his right arm over the edge of the bed. "Owe…you…" he repeated before he lost himself completely to sleep.
Sky grinned and settled himself more comfortably on the end of the bed.
TBC
Author's Note – Here's where I am about the roommate situation. In the episode where Jack goes to talk to Sky (Walls), he enters the room from the hallway; there are two neatly made beds. I honestly can't remember if one was blue and the other green. The guys talk, then they go play light ball. Different episode (Dogged) – Syd goes to talk to Bridge, she enters also from the hallway, but what you see is a ton of computer equipment and the toaster. It didn't appear to me to be the same room. I may just be totally wrong about that…but that's why I didn't write Sky and Bridge as roommates.
Funky in Fishnet – Glad to have you aboard for this story! Bridge will definitely be getting some much needed sleep…but there are still some roadblocks to overcome.
Anastasia Athene – Thanks for the positive feedback on the brother vibe – I really enjoy writing it.
AngelMouse – I'm with you on Bridge feeling separate, it just makes so much sense with his particular power. I like the way you've written him too.
Slshadowfox – Since this is definitely not going to be a one or two shot story, I'll definitely be exploring the Jack/Sky issues and team bonding as it moves along.
Dany – Glad to have you aboard too! I pretty much do that bed sheet thing, so I'm glad the visual came through loud and clear.
Akume – Way to throw down the gauntlet :-P Though I had begun this chapter before your review, I was finishing it after you had written. All I kept thinking was..What will Akume think of this? Damn, she's better like it, I want my Jason story!
