Disclaimer: Not mine

Juzblue: It's going to get happier, don't worry. Well, kinda happier anyway.

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Ashley won't be like that, but she's not going to be exactly happy when Andros finds her. Well, she's happy that he finds her, but you know what I mean. And if you vote more than once, I'll make her Arrow's just to spite you. :P

JDPhoenix: Thanks. Here it is. :P

Jenny: Alana's not too bad. Of course Andros and Ashley's love survives the ordeal. Do you think I'd let them end up not together? Marieke said something about a poll? I guess I should have that poll, then. (Don't hate me, and just vote once.) :P

the-power-of-love: Thanks, here's some more. Hope you like it. :P

Chapter 9

Andros opened his eyes blearily, trying to escape the voices raging nearby. For a second, he was unsure of where he was. Then he recognized Alana's voice, and sat up, leaning forward as he listened. There was a thin wall between the kitchen and the small, closet-sized space with their bunks, and Andros could hear clearly what was being said.

"... does it matter? Calan was right," Alana snapped. "You are too righteous, Blaze."

Andros couldn't hear Blaze's reply, and assumed that he was speaking in his calm voice, as always. Whatever he said only infuriated Alana even more, and he heard Calan laughing somewhere in the background.

"You shup up too," Alana told him, in a considerably kinder tone than she'd used with Blaze. "Just because we sometimes need to use your brother doesn't mean that we'll always need you."

"You will always need me," Calan retorted. "Without me, it'd be just you two, like it was before. We all know how successful that was."

Andros heard Blaze say something else that must have been a reminder that they now had a red ranger, for Calan laughed again, and said, "If you can call him a ranger."

There was a long silence, and then the door between the two rooms opened. Blaze entered the room, an unreadable look in his eyes when he saw that Andros was awake and listening.

"How much did you hear?"

"Alana saying that Calan was right, that you were too righteous," Andros said after a moment. "And what came after that."

"I wouldn't call it righteousness," Blaze said, with a glance over his shoulder. "I simply dislike using people as much as I have."

"Then why did you?" Andros demanded. "Why did you have to do all this, just to find a red ranger? Why couldn't you have just asked?"

Blaze looked startled at the question. "You would have helped us for nothing?"

"Yes," Andros exclaimed. "I would have. Ashley would have. You could have gotten yourselves an entire team that would have helped you willingly, instead of just me here because I have no other choice."

"We didn't know." Blaze sighed. "It's not an excuse, but it's the truth."

Andros didn't have the energy for the argument that a reply would bring. Instead, he lay back down as he heard Calan and Alana enter the room. The other rangers settled themselves quickly in their bunks, but Andros knew that none of them were sleeping.

Andros rolled over onto his stomach, trying to relax enough to escape into unconsciousness. It was impossible, as it had been every night for the past two and a half weeks. He and Ashley had only been together five times, but sleeping with her in his arms had seemed so right to him that now, without her, sleep refused to come.

He suddenly felt sick to his stomach as his mind settled itself on something he had tried very hard not to think about. If he didn't get to Ashley soon, there was a very good chance that she would become pregnant, if she wasn't already.

Tears rushed into his eyes, and this time, Andros didn't bother to dam them. He cried silently, his face buried in his pillow as he thought about Ashley, and what would happen if he lost her. For Ashley, Andros thought he could raise a child that wasn't his, but something in his heart told him that Ashley wouldn't want to let him.

Then another thought occured to him, and Andros fought hard not to throw up. He and Ashley hadn't used any type of protection, meaning that Ashley could be pregnant already, with his child. The idea of Ashley pregnant with his child but still willingly letting Arrow use her was in many ways worse than the idea of Ashley pregnant with Arrow's child.

I should have protected her, he thought yet again, more furious with himself than he could ever remember being. I should have died before I let him take her from me.

Andros shifted onto his side, tears still running down his cheeks, his face wet from crying. He pulled the blanket up over his head, wanting just to die, or to disappear.

I'm going to rip him in half for hurting her, but it won't be enough. Nothing will ever be enough. It'll only be revenge for something that I can never change, no matter how much I wish I could.

If he gets Ashley pregnant, I'll lose her again. I can't live without her, but I know that she'll break up with me. I love her so much, and I'd do anything for her, but she won't let me. She won't let herself ask me to raise someone else's child, especially Arrow's.

I should have died to protect her. I should have made him kill me, to give her time to run. Then she'd be safe, and I'd be dead, where I can't hurt the people that I love anymore.

Andros curled up, his hand pressed to his mouth to muffle the sounds of his sobs. He buried his face in the pillow once again, almost wishing for death. He was the one who had been stupid enough to set Arrow free four years ago. He was the one who had failed to stop him only months ago. And Ashley was the one paying the price for all of his mistakes.

Andros dried his eyes with the blanket, and slipped out of bed, hardly daring to breathe as he crept into the bathroom. This is probably the stupidest thing I've ever done, but I don't care anymore. I have to do something.

There was only one small window in the bathroom, and upon closer examination, he found that it was much to small for him to fit through. It was better suited for someone of Ashley's proportions to climb through. Sighing, he turned, having no other alternative than the front door, jumping as he saw Alana standing in the doorway.

"Going somewhere?" she asked, her eyes glittering dangerously.

"Oh, I was just, um..."

"Andros, you can't leave," Alana exclaimed, and Andros winced. He'd had this exact conversation with Ashley the night he'd gone to the Dark Fortress in an attempt to stop Karone. Ashley had let him go, something that he very much doubted Alana was going to do.

"I have to try," he insisted. Why did I just say that? What's wrong with me?

"Do you want to die?" Alana demanded.

"All that matters to me is that I stop him from hurting Ashley," Andros responded coldly. "You can't stop me from going."

"Andros, if you do this, then you'll get yourself killed, and everything Ashley put herself through for you will all be for nothing."

"I won't get myself killed then," Andros said. Alana was right; if he died, then Arrow would have Ashley forever. The thought was enough to nearly change his mind, but not quite.

"I'll go with him."

"You'll what?" Alana and Andros demanded together, as Blaze appeared behind Alana.

"Before Arrow had my father executed, he had Killian's job. He showed me all the back doors into there, and all the secret passages in that building."

"You two won't leave there alive," Alana warned them, but she didn't seem ready to fight them any longer.

"Then come with us," Blaze said. "Arrow won't expect us to attack twice in one day."

"It's suicide," Alana protested. "There are other ways to get Ashley."

"Name one," Andros challenged her. Alana sighed, and said nothing.

"Alana," Blaze said quietly. "Alaia."

Alana glared at him, but her eyes changed. She glanced over her shoulder into the room where only Calan remained. "He stays here."

"Alana-" Blaze started to say, and sighed. "Fine."

Andros gave Blaze a curious look, but the black ranger shook his head. Blaze turned on his heel and led them out of the small house, and into the dark, silent streets. The soldiers were still on the street corners, so they moved slowly and as quietly as possible.

Andros wondered why they were going along with him, on a mission as dumb as this one. He knew why he was going, and he suspected that Blaze might have had it in his head to avenge his father, but he didn't truly believe that either Alana or Blaze had had a change of heart. He doubted that they were leading him into a trap, but he was still wary of them.

He knew it was useless, but he felt for Ashley with his mind, trying to reassure her, to tell her that he was coming for her. He was met by silence, as he knew that he would be, but knowing didn't make him feel any less empty.

POLL: Okay, if you remember Part 1, Andros and Ashley have a daughter named Angel. Who should Angel's biological father be, Arrow or Andros? I haven't quite decided, so you guys get to help me. Take your pick, vote once, and tell me why I should choose whoever you pick. Thanks:P