Bridge continued humming as he ambled down the hallway from the infirmary toward the dorm. He felt good. Tired, but good. It was strange to be tired becausehe'd slept all day. But maybe that had more to do with the drugs than actual sleep. It was only a little after midnight, and his body knew it was time for bed, maybe that's why he was so tired. Or maybe it was what just happened with Sky. Bridge hadn't been lying when he told Sky he didn't know what he'd just done to ease his pain – at least not exactly. Given enough time, Bridge was pretty sure he could pinpoint what had happened; and he hadn't missed Kat's copious note taking. There was no doubt in his mind that Kat would ferret out exactly what had happened between him and Sky, and then some.

But right now none of that mattered. What mattered was that Sky was safe, Bridge was tired, and he wanted to go to bed.

Bridge's carefree mood lasted about as long as it took for him to reach the corridor of the dorm. He entered the hallway feeling good, but as he walked down the empty, silent, corridor toward his room, uncertainty began to creep in. The dimly lit corridor was unusually dark and uninviting. Suddenly the idea of returning to his room was a little scary. All the nightmares he'd suffered had taken place in that room. Everything that happened with Sky had taken place in that room. What if there was lingering emotional residue in the room? What if the echoes of his pain and Sky's were too strong to ignore?

His gloomy thoughts brought him to the threshold of his room; close enough to stand in front, but not close enough to trigger the automatic door. Bridge found himself hesitating and arguing with himself. It's just a place to sleep, right?

Maybe for normal people, but not for me. I can only remember some of what happened with Sky, but almost all of it includes pain. Would the bed have absorbed some of that? The blankets?

But I'm covered and I'm always careful. Got the gloves, long sleeves, long pants…I know that's enough to protect me. Maybe if I go in and touch other things first – my computer, books and stuff, Dino the dinosaur…

But Dino was on the bed he might have absorbed something…

Bridge was completely disturbed by the idea that Dino may have been infected by the negative energy of the events that had happened the previous night. He knew he was too old for stuffed animals, but Dino was important to him. As a child, whenever Bridge needed an object to hold onto, something to ground him and give him comfort, Dino was it. Most kids outgrew security blankets, but Bridge wasn't most kids. The tricks and strategies he used to keep himself grounded weren't only to give him comfort; they kept him sane. The idea that Dino would no longer be that comfort for him nearly brought Bridge to tears.

For long, uncounted minutes, Bridge stood unmoving before his door. Eventually his thoughts wound around to understanding that he couldn't stand there for much longer; it was too dark, it was too empty, and fear was gaining a serious foothold. He had to find somewhere else to go – because at this point sleep was no longer an option. Without volition Bridge started walking. He was distressed by the idea that his room was no longer a haven and his mind had produced the horrifying scenario that he might actually have to take up residence in the isolation room. He was paying no attention to where he was going. He was surprised to realize, then, that his wandering had led him to Syd and Z's room.

Bridge blinked; if he had stopped and planned a destination he might've gone to the rec room or cafeteria. Both were very well lit, though probably unpopulated at this time of night. But unthinking, he'd ended up here. Once again, Bridge was in the hallway, hesitating about what to do next. What decided his action were two things – he could see the light shining under the door, and hear muffled voices from within. With no more hesitation Bridge raised his hand and knocked on the door. "Hey guys?" he called out softly. "Can I come in?"

The muffled chatter had stopped at his knock, and for a frozen moment Bridge was afraid he'd be left out in the hallway. Abruptly the door slid open and the warm light from the room encased Bridge in its buttery soft glow. Bridge's hand, still raised from knocking switched from a knock to a wave. He was so distracted by seeing Jack in the room that he never saw Syd barreling toward him to grab him in a rib-cracking embrace. Suddenly everything was okay again – there was light here, not shadow; there was safety here, not fear.

Bridge laughed and smiled as he returned Syd's enthusiastic embrace. "Bridge!" cried the effusive Pink Ranger. "Are you okay?" She simultaneously talked while dragging him into the room.

Z and Jack gathered around as well. Bridge was comforted by their presences; though he was not reading their auras, he could feel the good-will and welcome they projected toward him. It meant more to him than he could express. With one arm still draped around Syd's shoulders Bridge took a deep breath in. "I'm okay now."

"How's Sky?" was Z's query.

"Much better. I just left him. He's going to be okay." Everyone seemed relieved to hear that, but none more than Z. Quickly the Rangers assembled themselves – Bridge and Syd on the pink side of the room; Jack and Z on the yellow. All of the Rangers were perched on the respective beds facing one another; Syd still had an arm wrapped around Bridge. For a moment no one spoke.

Jack leaned forward intently elbows resting on his legs. His voice was full of concern and urgency. "What the hell happened, Bridge?"

"No, wait…" Z interrupted. "Why did it happen?"

The nearly simultaneously posed questions left Bridge with his mouth hanging open, but unsure of which party to answer. He turned to Z because he understood her question less.

"What?" he eloquently replied.

"We have some idea from Jack and Kat what happened, and you can tell us that too…but what I want to know is why it happened. Where did these nightmares come from? Why didn't you tell any of us?"

Bridge's face flushed. The answer that popped into his head but not out of his mouth was I didn't tell you because then you'd see me as weak – I'm not the strongest player as it is. But his answer verbalized or otherwise was preempted by another interruption from Syd. She hadn't been thinking about the past, instead she was thinking about the present. She had this look on her face and Bridge knew she was about to say something he didn't really want to hear.

"You should be in bed." It wasn't really a question, but Bridge could see one coming. He tried to cut her off, but stopping Syd on a roll was nearly impossible. "Why aren't you? In bed, I mean. Why'd you come here, Bridge and not to your own room?"

All the color left Bridge's face and he couldn't look Syd in the eye. Jack and Z had fallen silent unsure of where Syd was going with this line of questioning. Syd might present a shallow and self-centered persona to the world, but when it came to her friends she was keenly insightful and somewhat tactless.

"Let's go." Syd abruptly stood up and pulled Bridge up with her. Jack and Z shared a glance and followed suit. Syd marched toward the door with no further explanation dragging a protesting Bridge behind her. Z and Jack followed somewhat perplexed, but Bridge had the sinking feeling he knew where she was going.

"I'd rather stay here, Syd. It's all warm and light. And we're all here anyway. Why do we need to go anywhere? Unless you're hungry. We could go to the cafeteria. Hey who's up for a game of Light Ball?" Bridge tried to steer Syd in any other direction that the one she was heading, but the Pink Ranger, though small, was strong and determined. She would not be deterred from her path.

Reluctantly, Bridge stopped fighting Syd, and in no time he found himself standing in front of his door. Again.

Bridge tried not to let his anxiety show. For some reason, the hallway didn't look nearly as creepy as it had before when he was alone, but the door still looked awfully imposing. Syd looked at Bridge. He looked back. He knew what she wanted him to do, but he didn't think he could. His musings were interrupted by Jack who'd uttered a soft "oh" as he realized why Syd had brought them here. The Red Ranger stood with his left hand resting against the doorframe; his eyes were distant, perhaps remembering the events of the previous evening. He nodded with understanding and looked at Bridge.

"You had a hard time going in." It was more of a statement than a question.

Z rested a gently hand on Bridge's left arm. "You didn't go in at all, did you?" she asked quietly. Bridge just shook his head.

"Well, that's why we're here!" Syd stated brightly. "We'll go in together." She gave Bridge a look even as she gave his gloved hand a reassuring squeeze. "You're part of a team, Bridge. That's something you and Sky need to start remembering." Her glare and tone brought a half-smile to Bridge's face "Besides, the last thing we need is for you to become agoraphobic or claustrophobic or whatever it is when you're scared to be in a place. Jeez, I'd hate it if I felt like I couldn't just go into my room and flop on the bed when I needed to."

"Yeah." was all of an answer Bridge could choke out. He was grateful for Syd's bullying, but he was still afraid of walking into that room. At least he wasn't alone. Bridge took the step that would trigger the automatic door. The door swooshed open. Jack moved to the side to allow Bridge, with one of the girls on either side, to step into the doorway.

Bridge looked around nervously, but nothing seemed amiss. The bed was rumpled and messy, just the way he liked it. Everything was where he'd left it – there was no reason to think things had been moved, but it was reassuring to see that they were not. Bridge took at step into the room proper – the girls moved with him and Jack followed from behind. The door swooshed closed behind them.

Bridge took a deep breath and almost laughed. He didn't know what he'd been expecting – maybe specters of last night's trauma? Monsters in the closet? Warily Bridge eyed the closet….nothing there.

With more confidence, Bridge started to move around the room. The noise of Velcro ripping was startlingly loud as Bridge removed the glove on his right hand. The other Rangers, standing near the doorway jumped a little, then laughed at their nervousness. Bridge walked over and ran a hand over the console of his computer. The look on his face was relaxed.

"Everything's okay Bridge, right?" Syd asked. "It's just your room."

He nodded, but didn't answer. When he opened his eyes, Bridge shared a look with Jack, before turning his attention to the bed. That was where everything happened. He hadn't opened himself to the auras yet, and he didn't think he'd have the courage to do it if he was alone. Jack had quietly moved to his side. "Just remember, Sky's okay and so are you. What already happened can't hurt you. We're right here." As if to emphasize his point, Jack laid his hand on Bridge's shoulder.

Z had moved to stand on Jack's left; Syd had reclaimed her spot at Bridge's right side. Taking a deep breath, Bridge looked at the bed (Oh my God, is that blood on the sheets?) and opened his mind to the energy in the room; an intense flood of emotions immediately assaulted him. With his left hand clamped to his forehead, Bridge staggered to his knees. Though he had opened himself to reading the past, it was concern and support of his team in the present that allowed Bridge to save himself from being swept away.

Bridge had only been overwhelmed like this once before. And that unfortunate experience taught him that once he was in, he had to process the experience all the way through or it would haunt him. The beginning of the evening had not left as strong an imprint as the morning had. But there was a marked increase of pain and despair that built up as Sky maintained the shield well beyond his breaking point. Bridge's own panic and dismay were replayed as he woke and realized that things had gone horribly wrong.

Jack's entrance was a minor port in the storm, and Bridge prepared himself for the horrific onslaught that was to come. Sky awoke and the room became a maelstrom of intense and frightening emotions laced with increasing pain. The pain was doubled, tripled, as Bridge felt not only his own pain, but Sky's. Bridge in the present watched in horror as convulsions overtook the Blue Ranger and Jack tried helplessly to keep him from hurting himself. – He hadn't experienced that the first time being so wrapped up in his own pain. The arrival of the med team and Dr. Manx was mercifully quick. Almost immediately following Sky's departure, an orderly arrived with a wheelchair that he and Jack bundled Bridge into. Then they were gone. All that was left was silence.

The first thing Bridge connected to was his own ragged breathing. The second was the other Rangers. After such a violent experience, Bridge couldn't have reasserted his shields if he tried, but he didn't need to. The pain and fear were gone, vapors of the past. What was left were the very real and concerned presences of his friends and teammates.

All of them had some physical contact with him. When he'd collapsed to his knees, Jack had moved with him. And when the storm had caused him to curl into a ball, Jack was right there lending his support. As Bridge became slowly aware of his physical surroundings he realized that Jack had pulled him halfway onto his knees; attempting to provide some kind of physical shield against the storm that raged around him. From somewhere behind him, Z was soothingly rubbing his shoulders and back. And Syd had, regardless of his glove-free state, reclaimed possession of his right hand. That gave him the clearest connection to her.

Syd was internally berating herself for forcing Bridge to confront his room so soon. But he knew in his heart that if he hadn't been forced to face his fears quickly they would've taken root and he would have been helpless against them. He would have to make sure to thank her.

The entire encounter had probably taken less than a minute and had left Bridge with a raging headache and the most profound sense of relief. It hadn't killed him the first time or the second. There was nothing he couldn't do with the support of the other Rangers. Hope fluttered in his chest. If they could beat this real-life nightmare, maybe they could beat the others as well.

Bridge groaned and shifted. He sat up stiffly. Syd's hand was still caught in his. The expression on her face was one of profound apology, but he never let her deliver it. Bridge pulled Syd close for a hug and whispered in her ear, "Thanks, Syd. Than you so much." Though she had no talent for mind reading, Syd could read his sincere tone and her body sagged in relief.

"Welcome back, Bridge." She whispered back returning his hug.

Bridge pulled away and gave Syd a smile. He turned to the others with a smile as well. Z looked relived nearly to the point of tears. Jack grinned. "Thanks." Bridge stated simply. Bridge looked around his familiar room, and it was his once again.

Ever the host, Bridge offered his friends some refreshments. "Anyone want some toast? It's buttery."


Thanks go out as always to everyone who's taken the time to read and review. Your thoughts and ideas are very much appreciated. You guys rock! I know I've neglected this story for a while, but be assured, I won't let it die!

CA Elenath – I'm no medical doctor or anything, but I think it makes so much sense for the powers the Rangers have to have a physical correlation. It would make sense that Sky's overextension of his powers would have some physical manifestation, hence the seizures. There's so much about our brains that we don't know so it leaves me lots of room to play with.

Drigs – Thanks so much for your highly complimentary review :blushes: I love writing about Sky and Bridge and the bond between them. I love the brother vibe, that's what makes them so fun.