Disclaimer: Not mine. Okay, this is for all you guys that reviewed and said I have to do this from Bridge's POV. So, here it is. I really enjoy doing these POV fics as I can sometimes really get inside their heads. Anyway, please, read and review. Angel Mouse, September 2005.

My Roommate and I part two

by Angel Mouse

When I first met Sky he was so focussed, so intense that at first I thought he was wound so tight he didn't have any emotions, or what he did have were so tightly controlled that they were buried all the time. But as I got to know him, and got to know him better, I found that underneath that stern, stick up his butt exterior beats the heart of a softie. So that's why I know he's watching me as I lay down on my bed to get some sleep, but he's hiding it well. He thinks I don't notice but I do. I'm the psychic after all.

He treats me sometimes like the kid brother he's never had, and to be honest, I don't mind. I don't have any brothers or sisters, so it's a nice feeling to have. He's always so stern and so focussed though, sometimes I wonder if he really realises what the impression he gives off is, but I think he does. I like to think sometimes my job is to make him lighten up and realises that life is for living, not for existing. I knew from the moment I met him I knew he was going to be a tough sell. He was upset and feeling very alone when I meet him, so I knew straight away I'd have to give him a chance. I found out a few days later that he was so quiet and upset as his best friend had been just sent away, so that made me even more willing and wanting to hive him a chance.

Our training was hard, that was a given, and I wasn't really that good at it at first. But Sky was patient, although the frustration and pain of being alone was over whelming at times, but I kept my barriers up best I could, trying not to let it get to me too much. He was very sceptical about my powers, a lot of them were. And there was also a lot of misunderstanding and down right fear from a lot of the cadets. People heard I was psychic and immediately thought the worst – that I could read minds and things like that. Straight away, as soon as those rumours got around, people began avoiding me. Even in training the other cadets went out of their way to avoid sparring and training with me, only Sky and Syd would train with me. That made it worth it, but it was still hard. I still felt very alone all the time and Sky's distance and annoyance with me were getting harder to screen out and deal with. I began to have trouble sleeping, which started to affect my performance.

I remember though it all came to a head about six months into our training. We'd just passed our major half yearly exams, all with flying colours I might add but they were still brutal. Anyway, this particular day Syd decided that because we'd been given the day off and we'd just gotten our marks for the exams, we needed to celebrate. I didn't really want to go, I really wanted some time to find somewhere quiet and away from people to centre myself, and I could tell Sky didn't want to go either, but Syd dragged us, and there's just no way sometimes you can say no to Syd. She's like that to everyone. She's so alive, so free, such a beautiful spirit. And she's one of my best friends, which I'm proud off. She's done so much in her short life that I wonder how she even finds time for it all. But I'm rambling again, sometimes I do that.

Anyway, we're in this lovely park in the city. It was actually quiet peaceful and beautiful, during my time at the Academy it would become a place I came to regularly to find myself again so to speak. It was restful, especially to someone like me that felt everything around them. So, here we were, eating this lovely picnic that Syd had arranged and I was just not really into what was happening. I was answering her when it was needed but not really focussing on her. It was okay, she didn't mind. But Sky, Sky's frustration and loneliness were getting unbearable. The loneliness and frustration he was feeling at not being the best already and his drive to succeed was coming off as distrust and I was frankly getting to the end of my tether with him. I either had to get away from him or say something. And since I don't do the whole confrontation thing, especially not with someone as uptight as he was, I choose to run away. Syd had gone to get drinks or something and after a few tense, uncomfortable minutes I suddenly couldn't take it anymore. I stood and put the rubbish in the bin and then stared at him for a long moment, trying to decide what to do. Talk to him or leave. So I choose to leave. I didn't want to have this conversation with him. I respected him too much for that. I'd just have to ask for a single berth or something.

But I hadn't counted on Sky Tate taking things into his own hands.

"Bridge wait up." I didn't want to confront him, so I hunched my shoulders over more, hands in my pockets. But Sky was nothing if not stubborn, I should have known better. He put his hand on my arm and stopped him. "Bridge, what's wrong?" I couldn't help but look at him, the pain and hurt I was feeling at his seeming rejection of me must have shown because he gasped and put both hands on my arms. He looked shocked. "Bridge?" I didn't know what to say to him. What could I say that wouldn't hurt him, I liked and respected him too much to deliberately hurt him. "Bridge, talk to me please!" I stared at him hard; he was actually asking me to talk to him? He was pleading with me. Where was the Sky Tate that controlled himself so much that his emotions broadcast distrust for me and anyone really? Without thinking I couldn't help what came out.

"Why do you care what I'm feeling Sky?" He just stared at me, an expression of surprise and confusion on his face. I could tell that he had no idea and I shrugged his hands off him. "I thought as much." I turned and kept walking, trying to control my own emotions. If I couldn't keep a handle on them, then everyone else's would become too overwhelming. Suddenly he was in front of me and grabbing me to stop me from leaving.

"What does that mean?" What was I supposed to say huh? It was better to cut and run, I'd deal with it later. I ran a hand through my hair, a nervous habit I suppose.

"Look Sky it's not your problem okay? So just don't bother at all right." I was short and to the point. Any longer in his presence I really didn't think I'd be able to control what I was saying.

"It is my problem Bridge. Something's bothering you, and it's something to do with me I bet." Okay, so he wasn't as dense to other people's emotions as I thought. I couldn't help what came out next. Sometimes I speak before I think, okay, all the time practically I speak before I think.

"Sky, why are you bothering me with this, you obviously don't care about either of us, so why the sudden concern." He looked stunned and I realised perhaps I had gone too far as he dropped his arms and looked away for a moment. When he looked back he did look guilty and his voice had a slightly ironic tone to it.

"Yeah I know this sounds strange coming from me Bridge. I'm not the easiest person to get along with, I know that."

"That's an understatement. Why don't you trust us Sky?"

Oh god, I'd done it now. I blurted out what he was feeling without thinking. God I'm an idiot sometimes. People don't like to hear what their feelings and emotions are. He looked stunned and then suddenly it was like a light switched on inside him.

"I'm sorry Bridge; I honestly didn't mean to give you that impression." I could sense he meant his words; the guilt he was feeling now was very strong. "This isn't easy for me Bridge. I've always been a private person. It's hard for me. It's hard to let people close." I looked closely at him, trying to make him understand.
"Not really Sky. You just have to let down your walls a little, that's all." He looked like a little boy lost suddenly and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"I don't know if I can Bridge." He looked so lost, so unsure that I just reacted and reached out, putting my hand on his shoulder, giving him my support. "I've always been so focused, so wrapped up in being as good as my Dad. I have to be just as good as my Father. It's my dream to be the Red Ranger, just like my Dad." I understood that. He'd spoken one night about his father when I first started to realize there was more to Sky than I first thought. I squeezed his shoulder to show I understood what he was trying to say.

"I know Sky. But that doesn't mean you have to shut yourself off from everyone else. The three of us are going to be working closely together over the next few years Sky, I can feel it." I couldn't help the sigh that came out and taking my hand off his shoulder, I ran it through my already messy hair. "This isn't easy for me either Sky." I then watched him for a long moment, seeing how what I'd said made sense to him. As I said, it was like a light coming on as he realised that somehow I was right, in a strange way. I felt a new resolve in him and I knew that he would be okay. Not Mr Friendly but better than he had been. I couldn't help the small smile that appeared on my face and then I noticed him looking at me.
"What?"
"Sky, I'm psychic remember? I can feel what your feeling." My smile faded as I knew the next part would be hard to say and hard for him to hear. "I've been sensing your feelings ever since I first came to the Academy." This was hard, harder than I thought. But then I sensed something from him and I spoke again. "Sky, you're not shallow and you're not irredeemable." I sighed again. "No, I'm not reading your mind Sky. I'm sensing your emotions and right now you're feeling remorse, despondent and regret. But it's not too late. All you have to do is just lighten up a little. We're not asking you to open your soul to us straight away Sky, just let us in a little bit, that's all." He looked like he was taking my words to heart and he nodded, giving me a tiny smile and I felt that things would be okay now. I hoped.
"I'll try my best Bridge. I promise to try and lighten up and let you guys in a little bit more." I gave him a brilliant smile, feeling immensely better all of a sudden. There had been a definite shift in Sky's feelings, which was good.
"That's great Sky. That's all I'm asking." Sky smiled back at me, and I definitely felt better. We began to walk back towards the table.
"So, what else do you powers do? I don't think I've ever really taken time to really understand, and I'm sorry for that." I gave him a wide smile and slung an arm over his shoulder, I had the feeling this was going to be a long conversation.
"That's okay Sky. It takes a bit to explain, but I'll try." We spent the rest of the day starting to really get to know one another. It was amazing really. We played light ball, Frisbee, had ice creams and everything. Syd noticed the change in Sky but didn't say anything; she knew it must have come from me. All in all it was a great day, one of my better ones at the academy actually.

So, two years later, things have definitely changed. Sky took a little while to get over the disappointment of not following in his father's footsteps and being the Red Ranger, but actually, I think he works better as the Blue Ranger. It suits him better personality wise I think. But those first few weeks were hard, I copped a lot of negative feelings from him but we worked through it. But right now I'm just so tired it's not funny. These dreams, they are so strong, so intense, and so real. It's so hard to block them out or try and make sense of what they mean. At least Dr Manx was able to confirm what I was sensing and seeing wasn't my imagination. I don't think I could have coped with that. But Sky's worried about me, I can tell.

Hang on a sec; I think I know that place. I think. I hate this. I hate not being able to control my own dreams and my mind. It's my mind; these things need to get out of it. I sat up, determined to get to the bottom of this. I walked to the door only to be stopped by Sky's voice. I could hear the worry in it.
"Where you going?" I glanced at him without really seeing him. The images in my mind were so strong; I just had to follow them.
"Don't know, just out." I ran down the corridor, pulling my jacket on and headed down to the garage. I think I knew where I was going. I just hoped I knew what I was doing. A small smile appeared on my face as I realized that Sky was probably heading to get the others. Over the last two years he had become my best friend and I know he worries about me. I appreciate it, as I said, he's like the big brother I don't have. It's nice to know that he'll always be there for me. As I race through the streets that thought warms me. It's nice to have someone to rely on.

There you go everyone, the answer to your reviews. I hope it was what you were all after. Cheers! A.M.