Variations Of Pink
Chapter 10: Ask And You Shall Receive
Last Revised: August 22, 2005

Summary: The buzz at S.P.D. is the Officers Ball, can Sky work up the courage to ask the lovely Pink Ranger to the dance of the year?
Rating: T, though it may change
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does

AN: This chapter was going to be longer, but I think I left it in a pretty good place. Enjoy!

"Some girls are worth fighting for, but some are worth dying for." -- Unknown --

"One night, the moon said to me, 'If he makes you cry…why don't you leave him?' I looked at the moon and said, 'Moon, would you ever leave your sky?'" -- Unknown --

"Cadet Drew?"

Syd looked up from where she was sitting near the demonstration table she'd set up to find the Pink Ranger from the B Squad standing before her, looking anxious.

"Yes Cadet?"

"Permission to speak freely, Ma'am?"

Syd nodded. "What's wrong, Allison?"

"You've heard about the Officers Ball, right?"

Again Sydney nodded, a small smirk forming on her face. "At this point, who hasn't? What about it?"

"Is Cadet Landors taking anyone yet?"

And at Allison's question, Sydney started giggling. "As far as I know, no, he isn't. He's looking though, so if you want to ask him, you'd better do so early. Our Jack is a real Casanova."

Allison nodded, still looking anxious. "Cadet Drew?"

Syd looked up from the blaster she was adjusting and smiled. "I'll put in a good word for you, Allison."

"Thank you, Sydney." The older Pink Ranger nodded and watched the younger salute before turning and rejoining her teammates.

"You have got to be kidding me?" Syd heard Z's laughter upon entering the common room. Sitting with Z was Bridge, which was no surprise to Sydney seeing how the two Rangers were practically attached at the hip these days. Jack was no where in sight, and neither was Sky, though Syd knew without a shadow of a doubt that he probably knew exactly where she was.

"What's so funny?" Syd asked, plopping down on Bridge's free side.

Z giggled and Bridge turned so he could talk to Syd too. "The B Squad Blue and Green Rangers," Z told her friend.

Sydney looked confused. "What about them?"

"They're going out together."

"Oh." Syd's mind conjured up the image of the Green Ranger, Travis, and his blue teammate, Brett – it wasn't like they didn't look good together. "Good for them."

"I thought it was pretty cool too!" Bridge grinned. "I accidentally overheard Travis ask Brett to the Officers Ball."

Z and Bridge watched Syd's shoulders drop. Both of them knew that Sydney wanted to go to that ball, and to go with Sky. "Why don't you ask him?"

The Pink Ranger looked up, her lip quivering slightly. "Because I want him to ask me, that's why. I practically left the invitation open this morning and he was completely oblivious to it. So what's the use?" In frustration, Syd jumped up from her seat and headed for her and Z's room.

"SYD! Where are you going?" Bridge called out.

"SHOPPING!"

"Where's Syd?" Sky asked frantically when Z and Bridge entered the Commander Center after Kat had called them over the intercom.

"She went shopping."

"DAMN IT!"

"Cadet Delgado, Cadet Carson, did you not find her leaving important enough to let Cadet Tate, who is her official bodyguard for the duration of the current situation, know of her whereabouts?"

Both Rangers winced at the sternness of Cruger's question. "Commander, she was upset at him," Z told him.

"Me? Why?" Sky growled.

Z shot him a look that could have melted steel. "Might be because you were a class a asshole to her!"

Bridge stepped forward and put a restraining hand on Sky while Jack, who'd been standing back with Kat, came forward and held Z back as the Yellow and Blue Rangers clashed for the umpteenth time in less than a week.

"You know what Z, I'm so over your bitchiness! Take it out on someone else!" Sky hollered at his teammate.

"ENOUGH!"

Any and all movement in the command center stopped as everyone's attention shifted to the four Rangers and Cruger.

"Dr. Manx, where is she?"

"Unfortunately Sir, the tracking system is being worked on as we speak. Boom's trying to correct the problem, but until he does, I have no way of finding Cadet Drew's whereabouts."

Cruger growled lowly, not upset at Kat so much as he was at the situation. "Cadets Delgado and Tate, go to New Tech Mall. Cadets Carson and Landors, go to the Outlet Mall on the outskirts of town. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT kill each other, am I understood? Otherwise, I'll lock you in the brig. NOW GO FIND HER!"

The two teams raced out of the command center and headed for their vehicles. "I'll have to ride with you, Tate. Syd took our jeep and it appears there aren't any free," Z said when the two realized the only vehicle left in the garage was Sky's bike.

Sky muttered under his breath, glared at Z, and then thrust his extra helmet at her after taking it off the back of his bike.

"Sydney!"

Turning toward the voice calling her name, Syd smiled like she hadn't in a very long time.

"Ms. Raya!" Syd greeted, hugging the older woman tightly.

"Honey, I haven't seen you in ages! How's your Mama?"

Syd smiled. Raya was a retired fashion designer now running the boutique of her daughter, who was also a fashion designer. When Syd's mother had been a Prima Ballerina, Raya had made all of Katherine's dance outfits.

"She's fine. I'm surprised she didn't stop by, her and Daddy were in town a day or so ago."

"No doubt checking up on you!" Raya laughed. "Your mama wasn't too happy when you joined S.P.D."

Syd could only nod at how true that statement was. "Tell me about it!"

"I've seen the news reports, Sydney. Is everything ok?"

The Pink Ranger shook her head. "Let's not talk about it right now. What's new since I was here last?"

"Come with me kiddo, I have a new dress we just did that you'll look gorgeous in!"

"Jack and I haven't seen her," Bridge's voice came over Z's morpher. They'd been searching the malls for nearly four hours, and still no sign of Sydney.

"DAMN!"

Z rolled her eyes at Sky. Who knew Mr. Sky "By-The-Book" Tate could worry so much about one person who, in all honesty, could take care of herself when it came down to it.

"Bridge, try a place called the Glamour Boutique on Congress and City Drive. She goes there when she doesn't want to fight the mall crowds." Z knew all too well how much Syd liked that boutique, she'd been dragged there plenty of times on their days off.

"What about you two?" Jack asked.

"We're hitting Rain, a boutique not far from where we are. The owner's mother, who runs the shop, is a friend of Syd's parents. We'll check back in when we get done."

"Gotcha."

Sky hopped onto his bike, Z jumping on behind him, and took off for the store not far from the academy.

"Ms. Sydney, there's two S.P.D. Officers here looking for you," Raya's assistant told Syd when she entered the VIP area of the show room.

Syd sighed and she and Raya followed the young woman to the front of the store.

"SYD!"

"Z what's...?" The Pink Ranger never got to finish her sentence as Sky had lunged forward, grabbed her arm, and hauled her close to him, his eyes flaming. "I told the others I was going shopping. You and Jack were in the middle of a training session with D Squad."

"Next time, try letting someone know where you plan on going. Better yet, why don't you wait so I can accompany you so I can do my job?" Sky seethed.

Sydney blinked back the tears of not only emotional pain but of the physical pain she was experiencing from Sky's grip on her arm. "Let me go, Sky, you're hurting my arm."

The Blue Ranger didn't release her; instead he merely pulled her into the circle of his arms, letting his fear wash away with her presence. Startled, Sydney didn't know how to react to his sudden change in attitude beyond wrapping her arms around his waist and hanging on for dear life. It wasn't until she felt him tremble that she realized he wasn't angry so much as scared. She automatically knew he'd thought something bad had happened.

"Oh Sky, I'm okay."

Raya and Z stood back, watching the engrossed couple. "So, this is Mr. Tate," Raya murmured to Z, who nodded. "I've heard lots about him."

Z smirked. "I'll bet."

"They do look cute together."

"They do, don't they? I'm Z, by the way."

Raya laughed. "I know who you are, Ms. Delgado. Sydney's told me a lot about you and the other members of her new family."

"Z?" The Yellow Ranger jumped at the sound of someone calling her name before she got her wits about her and pulled out her morpher, instantly recognizing the distress in Bridge's voice.

"Go ahead."

"We need help! We're in the business district! She's back!"

"Guys, let's go!" Z called, rushing past her friends toward the door.

"Be careful!" Raya called after them.

When the trio hit the sidewalk outside the shop, they morphed. "S.P.D. EMERGENCY!"

Syd and Z jumped into the jeep and Sky made his way over to his bike before they peeled out.

"You know Lady, I'm getting real sick of your attitude," Jack hissed angrily.

"I'm no lady, Ranger. My name is Desdemona, and I'm your worst nightmare!"

"MOVE!" Sky hollered from behind his teammates. Bridge and Jack managed to dive for cover in the nick of time as the Blue Ranger fired the lasers from his bike.

"Nice timing!" Jack called. "And look, you found our wayward Pink Ranger."

"Shut up Jack!" Z told her friend.

"Syd, meet Desdemona. She's got a few answers about your illness, and I know she knows about your parents."

Syd struggled with her emotions, knowing she needed to lock them away until this battle was over with. She nodded to Jack and stepped forward, away from Z and Sky. "Let's talk," Syd told the creature.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I don't talk to sniveling Rangers, especially ones whose parents couldn't mind their own business!"

Hands clenching at her sides, Syd bowed her head. "You have no right to talk about my parents."

"Pathetic. Cruger has you so confused; you don't know the reality of your situation. You're destined to die, little girl! Just like they did! And I'm gonna give you a little help."

Desdemona released a force blast at Sydney, but it never reached the paralyzed Pink Ranger. Instead, Sky sprung forward and tackled her to the ground while the others opened fire on the demon-like creature from several directions.

"You ok?" Sky huffed from above Syd as he levered himself off of her.

"Yeah, thanks." The two of them struggled to their feet, only to have Sky collapse to his knees. "SKY!"

Sydney looked down and saw Sky's back, bloody and smoking, the uniform having been burnt from his skin.

"KAT!" Sydney hollered into her morpher. "SKY'S HURT! BAD!"

"Acknowledged. Sending a rescue unit."

"Sky, listen to me. I'm going to try to get you over to that bench," Sydney told him, knowing that she needed his help for her plan to work. "I need you to help me; can you push to your feet?"

"I think so," was the slurred reply. Sydney gasped as she bent down, seeing the pain glazing his eyes through the visor of his uniform as it flickered in and out.

Carefully, she slid Sky's arm over her shoulders and wrapped an arm around his waist, making sure to avoid his wounds. Once she got Sky settled on the bench, Syd moved to help the others.

The battle raged on for another twenty minutes before Desdemona disappeared in a flurry of taunts and force blasts.

"How is he?" Jack questioned Syd, who had demorphed and was stroking Sky's cheek. His suit had finally disappeared, leaving him in his S.P.D. uniform, the jacket and undershirt burned clear through, leaving a gaping hole that showed the wounds to his back. During the battle, Sky had fallen on his stomach and now seemed unconscious.

"It's bad. The skin's blistered. Where's that rescue unit?"

"Coming now. The battle may have kept them from gaining access to the area," Z spoke up. The four Rangers were urged back as the medics began to work on Sky.

Jack pulled Sydney into the shelter of his arms while Z took her hand and Bridge laid a hand on Z's shoulder.

"He'll be ok Syd," Jack whispered in her ear, hoping to reassure her and to cease her trembling. "He's tough, a real fighter."

"Why did he do that? It's not like I can't take care of myself!"

Jack smiled and kissed Sydney's cheek. "Because he loves you, and you know how protective Sky is of those he loves."

"He's stable, Dr. Manx; we're transporting now," a medic said into a communicator. Quickly, so as to keep up with the ambulance, the rangers got on their vehicles and took off, Z driving Sky's bike back.

Sydney sat on the edge of Sky's bed, her fingers stroking the side of his face as he lay with it turned toward her. Kat had made sure he was lying on his stomach, now that he was stabilized, so that he wouldn't be laying on the wounds on his back when he regained consciousness.

For ten hours the doctors had worked to stop the deterioration of the skin on Sky's back; as it was, he'd nearly had third degree burns. Sydney knew he was lucky. Third degree burns resulted in operations, skin grafts, and lots of pain. Luckily, Kat was able to put him under her new device, a medical laser, which was able to heal the skin to a point that the wounds wouldn't get infected and would heal on their own with minimal scarring. If Sky was lucky, the only people who knew there were scars on his back would be those who'd worked on him or been present when he'd been injured.

It was the first time Syd had seen her longtime friend in next to nothing. She berated herself for thinking that way, but had to admit that Sky looked damn sexy laying there half naked.

'And to think, I always thought the first time I saw him topless would be under better circumstances' she mused, moving the hair out of Sky's closed eyes. 'At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever work up the guts to tell him.'

Jack's words from earlier came back to haunt her. 'Because he loves you.'

Normally, she felt her way through situations like this, but in this case, she had to sit back and analyze everything she was feeling. Z and Jack had both told her Sky was in love with her. Mrs. Collins had told her Sky cared deeply for her. In all of her self pity, Sydney mused to herself, she'd never realized that her friends might just be right. The possibility of Sky returning her feelings made her heart soar, and gave her hope for a much brighter future than her present currently was. 'I should ask him to the dance, really, I should. But I want him to do it, not out of obligation, or because he's supposed to be protecting me on Cruger's orders, but because he wants to.'

The sudden moaning jerked Sydney out of her thoughts. Looking down, she saw Sky trying to get up. "SKY! DON'T! You'll only hurt yourself. Lay still!" she commanded, watching him give up at her voice. When his eyes opened, they were pained.

"Syd?"

"I'm right here. Relax. You got hurt, you big idiot, when you knocked me out of the way of that blast!" she ripped into him verbally. "What the hell were you thinking? I'm not incapable of taking care of myself."

"I did it because I love you."

"What?"

"I said, 'I did it because I love you'."

At first, Sydney attributed her hearing things to her lack of sleep or her day dreaming about him or the pain medication Sky was on, but when he'd said it a second time, without batting an eyelash, she knew he was serious.

"Oh Sky," she murmured, blinking back the tears welling in her eyes as she leaned forward to rest her head on the bed next to his. "You dufus, you could have gotten killed."

"So could you."

Syd rolled her eyes and scooted forward more, until their foreheads were touching. She moved her hand down to take hold of his, their fingers intertwining. "Sky."

"Hmm?" he asked, wincing as pain lanced through him, sharp and bright as a star.

"I love you too."

When he grinned at her, she let the tears she'd been holding back come out. Suddenly, she was full blown crying, her body shaking uncontrollably. Every emotion she'd felt for the last few days finally broke free. "Syd, honey, don't cry," he whispered, moving his head ever so slightly to peck a kiss on her cheek. He wanted so badly to hold her, but moving his arms would hurt like hell, and Syd was sure to give him hell if he even tried it. "Sydney, you're making me want to hug you and I can't, so please, stop crying."

"Sorry," she mumbled, reaching up to wipe away her tears.

"I'm sorry I scared you."

"Scared? You terrified the fucking crap out of me, Schuyler Tate!" she hissed.

"I know," he whispered back, the pain medication starting to take effect again. "Syd, will you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"Be my date for the dance?"

Sydney smiled at him as he started falling asleep. Leaning forward, she placed her lips right near his ear and felt him shiver. "Of course."

Jack, Bridge and Z were waiting for her when she walked through the door to her and Z's bedroom. Jack was perched on her bed while Z and Bridge sat side by side, cross legged, on the Yellow Ranger's bed.

"How is he?"

Syd smiled softly and nodded. "Better. He woke up for a few minutes."

Bridge was grinning from ear to ear as Sydney sat down on her bed next to Jack and laid her head on his shoulder. "Syd?"

The Pink Ranger closed her eyes and smiled brightly for her friends. "Well..."

"He finally told you."

Sydney's eyes opened, allowing her to take in Bridge's huge grin, Z's shocked look, and when she turned her head, Jack's laughing face.

"Yeah, and I finally told him. He asked me to go to the dance with him."

Cheers went up from the Red, Green and Yellow Rangers, causing Sydney to blush then laugh. "It's about damn time!" Jack muttered. "You two have been moping around her for the last week. We were beginning to think we should lock you in a broom closet until you told each other."

Jokingly, Syd punched Jack in the shoulder before she moved to grab Peanuts. "It's a good thing I went shopping today. I found the most gorgeous dress...Z, what are you gonna wear?"

"Bridge my man, that's our cue to leave," Jack laughed. Bridge nodded then turned to Z, who smiled at him with shining eyes.

Leaning over, the Green Ranger pecked a kiss to Z's cheek before he hopped off her bed, waved at Syd, and fled the room with their leader. "And what's with you and Bridge?" Syd asked.

Z merely blushed, not sure how to answer her best friend.

"Alright, why did you two call me in here?" Kat asked upon arriving at the Pink and Yellow, A Squad Rangers' room after her shift was over. All she really wanted was a hot shower, something to eat, and to prop her feet up. She'd spent a good portion of her day in her lab, and the rest of the time she'd sat with Sky, hoping to keep him company as well as look after his wounds.

"Kat, you're going to the Officers Ball, right?" Z asked nonchalantly.

"Yes. Commander Cruger asked to escort me this morning."

Both female Rangers looked rather shocked by Kat's announcement of who her escort was to be. "Wow."

Kat smiled and rolled her eyes. "Is that all you wanted?"

"No, actually," Syd started. "One, will Sky be healed enough to go?"

Kat nodded. "So long as he doesn't do anything strenuous, yes."

Z smirked at her friend before turning her gaze back to Kat. "Guess that means Syd shagging him is out of the question then, huh?"

The feline looked almost appalled by Z's comment, until she started laughing and had to sit down on Syd's bed. "Thank you for the visual that I did not need."

Syd pouted and Z laughed. "Z still needs to get herself a dress, wanna go shopping with us?" Sydney asked Kat, ignoring the laughter still coming from her best friend.

Kat weighed her options and decided that while she knew fraternizing with the Rangers wasn't against the rules, S.P.D. frowned on it slightly. 'Rules be damned, these are my friends' Kat told herself, and smiled. "When are we going?"

Both female Rangers smiled. "Tomorrow afternoon after our shifts are over. Meet us down in the garage; we'll make a night of it. Shopping, dinner, maybe a movie, and no boys allowed."

"Very well then. I'll see the both of you tomorrow. Goodnight."