Disclaimer: I only own Kyle Griggs.

Season: SPD

Dedication: the real vampire

Challenge: Bridge/Z

Pairing: Bridge/Z

So, Uh, That's What Love Is?

Bridge Carson stared up to the blank gray ceiling of the lounge area of SPD headquarters. The aura of the walls matched the expression on the normally lively green ranger's face. His pale blue eyes closed slowly in a sluggish blink before refocusing on the ceiling. One leather glove-covered hand drifted up to scratch his chest covered in the tight, green SPD-issued undershirt beneath his unzipped uniform jacket. Bridge's torso hefted in a lethargic sigh as his head flopped to the side. This was a safe position for him. He was protected from the wave of conflicting auras that assaulted him every time he moved. The green ranger couldn't remember the last time his psychic abilities had ventured this far out of his control, but all he knew is that if he moved, an upsurge of surrounding emotions would come crashing down on his weary psyche.

The stern face of Sky Tate swam into Bridge's line of vision, the blue ranger's handsome features twisted in concern.

"Bridge, are you okay?"

Indolently, Bridge's head lulled from side to side in a negative shake, "No."

Sky waited anticipating the normal Bridge rambling that ensued. The blue ranger's brow furrowed when an extensive silence passed. Sky placed a plate into Bridge's gloved hands, still frowning with worry.

"Here, I made you some toast. It might make you feel better."

Bridge handed the dish back without even a second glance at the slice of bread, "No, thanks, Sky. I'm not that hungry."

"But it's buttery." As Sky said the statement, he waggled his fingers, a gesture he knew Bridge associated with the adjective, figuring to amuse his unusually mournful teammate. The motion went by unnoticed as Bridge failed to even glance Sky's way. The blue ranger's frown deepened, and he placed the plate on the side table, gazing down at his immobile teammate.

"Okay, buddy. What's wrong?"

Bridge sighed, a long drawn out release of breath. With a heavy hand, he brought a gloved finger up to tap the side of his head, "It's all up here."

"Your psychic powers?"
Bridge's cloudy blue eyes nodded the affirmative, "Yeah. They're going wonky on me."

Sky grinned one of his rare smiles, "'Wonky,'" he echoed, "care to elaborate?"

Bridge shrugged, "Every time I move, it seems like a wave of emotion comes crashing down on me. I've never been this out of control with my powers."

"It might have something to do with a person," Sky suggested. "Do your images seem to come back to someone?"

Bridge fell silent thinking. There was a common occurrence within his visions. More like a common color and feeling. Every time his foresight would evade his control, among the many different objects and emotions he would envision, there was always an aura of golden warmth. He would always feel dizzy, lightheaded, like he was being dropped from an airplane. But it was a good feeling. Like a soaring feeling.

"Hey, guys. What are you up to?" The cheerful voice of Z Delgado permeated the room, and Bridge's inner ponderings. As the yellow ranger made her presence known, the green ranger jerked in his prone position as an onslaught of emotions beat down on his conscience. Bridge winced, falling off the couch he was lazing on, hitting the ground with a loud thump. Worried, Z rushed to kneel beside him, cradling his head in her hands.

"Bridge, are you alright?"

The moment her hand made contact with his head, green ranger's blue eyes flashed slightly with the strength of a fresh batch of auras. Staggering to his feet, Bridge braced a hand against the wall, steadying himself from the force of his visions. Shooting his blue and yellow teammates a weak smile, he unsteadily exited the lounge area.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just need to clear my head for a sec. I'll be right back, guys."

Bridge exited, Sky gazed after his best friend, the gears turning in his analytical mind. No sooner had the sliding doors shut, they burst apart again, revealing the second female half of B-Squad. Sydney Drew's blue eyes were cloudy with concern as she stepped across the threshold of the lounge.

"Is Bridge okay? He was staggering down the hall like he was drunk or something."

Or…love struck. Sky's eyes shot skyward as the pieces fell together. Turning hastily to Syd and Z, he backed away to the doors.

"Um, I'll see you guys in a sec. I have something to take care of."

Watching as Sky's broad back disappeared around the corner, Syd shot her yellow teammate a look, "You don't think he's got another secret he's hiding from us, do you?"

Z smirked, "I denno, "Rock Star Sky" performing every Friday was a pretty hot one. I'd like to see him top leather pants."

xxx

Bridge leaned his head against the shower wall, supporting himself with widespread hands, allowing the warm spray of water to hit his body, wishing the liquid would wash away his troubles as easily as it washed away the grime of the day. The green ranger looked at his bare fingers braced against the cold wall as if seeing the digits for the first time. It wasn't often that he removed his gloves for fear of the onslaught of emotion. This was the only place he could go gloveless without the normal effects. Commander Cruger had thankfully had the shower installed with a force that dissuaded the streams of aura so that the green ranger could bathe in peace.

Stepping out of the shower, Bridge wrapped a green towel tightly around his waist, emerging into his room. The green ranger shuffled through his drawer, plucking a pair of gray SPD sweatpants and a tight green shirt. As he materialized from the bathroom dressed, he jumped, catching Sky leaning against the doorway of their room, a sly smirk playing the corners of his mouth.

"You like her, don't you."

A look of genuine confusion flitted across Bridge's face, "Huh?"

Sky straightened from his position, advancing on his best friend, "Z." He prompted, settling down in the chair by his desk, "You like Z."

Bridge frowned at his blue teammate, "Of course I like Z. She's cool and smart and a good fighter and she likes to joke around with me. Why wouldn't I like her?"

Sky resisted his urge to roll his eyes. Sometimes Bridge was too innocent for his own good… "No, I mean like like her. Like the way I like Syd."

Bridge smiled, "Do you realize that you used the word 'like' four times in that sentence?"

Sky growled, "Bridge, I mean it. You like Z the way I like Syd."

Bridge furrowed his brow at his friend, "But you love Syd. I felt it between you two when you're near her and when she's with you. Are you saying that I'm in love with Z?"

Sky's eyebrows shot up at the words of his counterpart. Love didn't really cross his mind but thinking about it, Sky realized it was true. He did love Syd. Allowing a small smile to bloom on his face, Sky shrugged.

"I don't know. Are you?"

Bridge's shoulders lifted in a shrug of his own, "I don't know. Is being in love when I feel weird around her? I mean, not like a bad weird but like when you're on a roller coaster, and you're about to go off the first really big drop thing. And when you actually go down it, it's like your stomach is in your throat. But kind of in a good way because you're excited and happy and giddy and exhilarated all at once."

Sky chuckled, glad to hear something familiar burst forth from Bridge's mouth. Rising, he clapped a hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"Yeah, buddy, that is love."

"So what do I do now?"

Sky grinned, happy for his best friend, "You tell her. Haven't you done this before?"

Bridge shook his head, stating simply, "No."

A thoughtful look crossed the blue ranger's face, "How is that possible?"

Bridge frowned and shrugged. He couldn't think about a time when a girl actually did like him or he liked her enough to tell. When he was younger, hanging around Sky and Dru, all the girls flocked to the blue ranger because of his all-American good looks and the legacy his father left. Girls thought of the green ranger more as the best friend, the guy always willing to listen, always good for a laugh. He didn't have the best interactions with girls, always painfully shy and awkward.

"How exactly do I tell her?"

Sky shrugged, "Just say what you feel. You're good at that."

Bridge sat down on his bed across from his teammate, "Sky, I've never done this before. I mean, it can't be like the movies all long and drawn out, can it?"

Sky grinned, "Buddy, if you feel for her, it doesn't need to be drawn out. She'll know. And you'll know she'll know." Sky placed a hand on Bridge's head, affectionately ruffling his hair.

"Even without your psychic powers."

Bridge remained on his bed long after his best friend had left the room, thinking about everything Sky had said. The blue ranger was right, he had been thinking about Z a lot. During the last few days that his psychic powers went madcap on him, he felt most of his emotions drawing to the yellow ranger and other instances the outside world felt a fondness to another person. The thing all of the auras had in common was a warmth to them that Bridge recognized as affectionate. Most of the time, auras also had a color associated to them: red for passion or anger, green for envy, blue for tranquility, pink for love, yellow for guilt, black for hatred, white for the indifference. Bridge had felt a lot of red and pink but with a surrounding atmosphere of golden yellow. But not for sorrow. Maybe that was the reason his powers were so out of it, his turmoil of emotions were conflicting with his ability to dissuade the emotions around him. The solution was simple: he had to tell Z how he felt.

Bridge pondered heavily about how he was going to tell Z his feelings, rehearsing the situation in his head. But the harder he fished for the correct words to say to the yellow ranger, the more they sounded awkward and stupid. Bridge sighed, the gust of wind escaping from his lips ruffling the tips of his boyishly tousled brown hair. This liking business was tough work.

xxx

Plopping heavily on the ground, exhausted from the round of sparring she had partaken in, Z took a swig of water from her bottle, passing her towel off to Syd as the pink ranger slumped down beside her. Recovering from the exertion, Z allowed her gaze to wander to Bridge as the green ranger worked out his abs, doing sit-ups in the corner of the training area while Jack ran laps around the track surrounding them.

"Syd?"

The pink ranger tore her gaze from a shirtless Sky pumping out chin-ups beside Bridge, "Hm?"

"Does Bridge seem to be acting weird to you?"

Taking advantage of Z's question to sneak a peek in the direction of her boyfriend, Syd smiled slyly, "No, only around you."

Z's warm brown eyes snapped to her teammate smirking beatifically at her side, "What?"

Before Syd could respond, Jack flopped down in front of the two female rangers, panting heavily, "Wow, remind me never to accept an invitation from Kyle Griggs of C-Squad to be running partners. The guy could rival Sky as The Human SPD Machine." Rolling onto his stomach to face his two teammates, Jack pushed his sweaty dreadlocks out of his face.

Z shot Syd a look before returning her stare to Jack, "Syd has this ridiculous idea that Bridge has been acting weird only around me."

"But he has." Jack affirmed bluntly, propping his chin on an upraised palm. "And I'm positive you're the only one who hasn't noticed."

"But why would he be doing that?"

Syd rolled her eyes, "Earth to Z! He likes you!" The pink ranger shook her head in exasperation, muttering under her breath, "I swear, you both are the most oblivious people, and he's the one with psychic powers."

At Syd's words, Z's brow immediately furrowed as she frowned. "Bridge likes me?"

Jack chuckled, "Wow, Z. You really are blind. I know it, Syd knows it. Hell, even Sky knows it, and you know he's oblivious to everything that isn't SPD or Syd related…Ow!"

Sky smirked down at the red ranger rubbing the spot where Sky socked him, "I guess I'm not as oblivious as you think, Jack. I heard that." Catching Z's eye, the blue ranger nodded in affirmation, "He's right, you know. Bridge does like you." Catching Syd's eye, he gestured to the exit, "Are you ready? Dinner reservations are at six."

Z fell silent at the revelation as her teammates slowly began to leave. Making her way to her room, she thought to herself. No one had ever liked her before. At least not like liked her. Her life hadn't really had time for a relationship between running from SPD or stealing from the latest vendor, and she wasn't sure how to handle this new development. Sneaking a final glance back at the green ranger still determinedly pumping out sit-ups despite his isolation, Z thought about the relationship she shared with their quirky green ranger unknown that his eyes were following her departure.

He was the first person who really made her feel welcome at SPD, but then again, Bridge could make Al Capone warm up to him. It was just the way his personality was: warm and welcoming. All her life, the only friend she had was Jack, and Bridge was a refreshing change. The green ranger would always make her laugh, his unusual quirks a source of endearment to the yellow ranger. It didn't help he was downright adorable, and his occasional naïve nature made Z just want to take care of him. Z had never really liked a guy before. But with Bridge, she felt something different, like if his companionship was the only thing in the world she had, that would be okay. Somehow, it was stronger than like. It was like how Syd once described her feelings about Sky: how just his simple presence around her made her feel happy. Z shook her head in disbelief. During that conversation, Syd had admitted that she was falling in love with their stern blue ranger. Maybe that was it. Maybe she was falling in love with Bridge.

xxx

Z sat in the cafeteria of SPD headquarters, staring silently at her plate, feeling the absence of their green ranger as the rest of the team dined on their lunch. The parting of the doors caught her attention as they slid open to reveal Bridge. Immediately, his warm blue eyes sought out hers as he made his way over to their table. Fixing Z with an unwavering gaze, an uncertain expression crossed his face.

"Uh, would you mind taking a walk with me?" Bridge cleared his throat as his voice cracked with the sentence, "I need to talk with you."

Strolling down the streets of Newtech City, the two rangers wandered in the shade of an overhanging tree. Stopping at a walkway overlooking a pond, Bridge leaned on the railing, his unzipped SPD jacket fluttering slightly in the gentle breeze. They stood in comfortable silence, relishing in the tranquility of the lake, an invigorating contrast to the pair of chaotic emotions plaguing their respective minds.

Unwillingly, Bridge sensed the flow of sentiments gushing from his companion as they relaxed by the waters. Anxiety, stress…affection. Bridge's heart lightened as he realized Z was feeling the same emotions he was.

"Z?"

As she turned to look into Bridge's welcoming sapphire eyes, she could see the tender affection veiled behind the orbs, and she smiled with pleasure as he struggled to speak, and she in turn, had trouble with her own words.

"I like you." The two rangers laughed as the words burst forth in unison.

"You do?" The same result occurred as the pair realized what the latter had spoken. Bridge nodded shyly.

"Yeah. I just feel, I don't know, happy with you. It's like when you get like that first toy that you've been wanting for the longest time but you know that it's not going to lose its novelty because it's one of those sentimental things that really holds interest for a long time. Not like the latest invention but like a yo-yo that - "

Z cut off Bridge's characteristic rambling by darting in to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. As she pulled away, worry in her brown eyes, Z timidly glanced up at the green ranger, an adorable look of astonishment on his boyish face, his mouth in the shape of an "O."

Bridge tilted his head, "That was nice. Was that supposed to happen? I've never done this before."

Z smiled, "I think so."

Bridge shifted uncomfortably, "Um, I'm sorry if I was bad at it." His baby blue eyes took on a hopeful glint, "Can we try that again?"

Z nodded, unconsciously scooting closer to Bridge. The green ranger shuffled forward, also closing the gap between them. Tentatively, his hand snaked out to gently grasp her waist as her hand slid up his jacket sleeve to rest on his bicep. One gloved hand hesitantly came up, the leather covered fingertips softly caressing her cheek. A frown crossed Bridge's face, and he pulled back.

"Hang on a second." His tongue poking out between his lips, the green ranger yanked off his glove, stuffing the covering into his back pocket. Wiggling his fingers excitedly, Bridge nodded in satisfaction.

"Okay." Stepping forward, he resumed his previous position. This time as his bare fingers came up to stroke Z's soft skin, Bridge smiled at the sensations he felt. This time, his psychic powers were completely under his control.

"I haven't kissed that many girls," he admitted honestly. "I don't want to disappoint you."

Z smiled lovingly, softly bringing down his forehead to rest on hers, "Since we're being honest, I wouldn't worry." A spark of mischief flashed in her chocolate eyes, "I don't really have anything to compare it to."

Bridge took a deep breath and leaned in. Gently, tentatively, his lips brushed across Z's, igniting a spark of passion that coursed through both rangers. Drawing the yellow ranger tighter in his embrace, Bridge deepened the kiss, allowing his emotions to take over, delighting when Z responded eagerly, her arms snaking around his neck. Gasping for air, the two rangers pulled away.

Bridge couldn't help but grin, "Wow. Was it supposed to feel like that?"

Z shrugged, "I don't know. This is a first for me."

Bridge reluctantly pulled on his glove and held out his hand, and Z twined her fingers through his as they turned to stroll down the pathway.

"Well, I guess we'll have to figure this dating thing out together."

Z laughed, "Together. I like the sound of that."

Yea! Another finished. I love Bridge and Z. Bridge is just so adorable, and I love Z's sass. That seems like a common trait in all yellow rangers. Awesome stuff. Anyway, since I have had a rather persistent request from a very supportive reviewer of mine, who may or may not go under the alias of CamFan4Ever, I will try my hand at a Hunter/Cam. That, however, will follow a Sky/Syd that has an interesting challenge attached to it. If you don't see your challenge yet, rest assured, I will try to fulfill all of them. So to reiterate: a Sky/Syd, followed by a Hunter/Cam, and then a Sky/Z. So there you go, and happy reading. Keep the challenges coming!

Roxie