Summary: Five years after a broken engagement, Andros visits Tommy and his new team. What he finds there, he couldn't even imagine in his wildest dreams.
Phantom Rogue: They'll be rescued soon, promise.
MaxCobra: I don't know, maybe I just can't write any annoying kids, but at the age they are they mostly aren't very annoying yet. What is combined with Ashley's welcome back, I'm indeed not telling. You'll just have to find out.
Juzblue: Glad you like it!
XRachX: Yeah, he and Andros love each other dearly, since Zey doesn't even understand he's annoying, he just wants to play. :P And of course Jenny's declaration was sweet, she IS sweet!
Mz. Daydream: Zey should be adorable. Ashley and Jenny will be rescued soon. Yeah, mommy Karone knows best. :P
Arwennicole: I believe both Andros and Ashley don't have much faith in their love at the moment. Darn, them!
Serenitylovegod: One of your friends is getting married? COOL! Not all kids are adorable, I'll warn you. My mom works as a teacher, darn some of those kids are really horrible sometimes.
The real vampire: Really? Maybe locking your bedroom door helps, if you can lock it that is. :P
NinjaStorm4Life: Thanks, here's more.
JDPhoenix: Of course everyone deserves a little happiness! That's why this story has a happy ending! Ashley should recognize it, but her judgement's a bit clouded right now. Hey, you called Jenny and Angel! Here that Jenny, your namesake's an angel, just like you!
Jessica01: You'll see.
Jenny: pouts Well, at least I talked to you over AIM and you beta-read this really quickly.
AuroraDannon: I always try to update every morning when I get out of bed. For now it seems to be working.
Gear's Girl: So you like it! YAY!
The-power-of-love: ALWAYS:P
Mel: Cool, worst nightmare, I want it! I have absolutely no clue on how to put those films on the computer except with a plug-in, like that USB-cable I showed you. WHAT? DID I SPELL HENCEFORTH WRONG AGAIN! URG! I'll kill myself!
Not Always The End
Chapter 17
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
Ashley shuddered awake. She had no clue how long she had been here, but it was too long for her liking. So far, scarce rations and rumbling hunger that had kept them eating were keeping them just alive – frankly, she was beginning to wish they had just starved her.
Dully she looked to the door and felt the blood rush from her face. She didn't know the guy, but his face haunted her dreams for the past five years.
"Cute kid." He told her, once he noticed she had awoken.
Jenny whimpered, hiding her face in Ashley's shirt and Ashley tightened her arms around her daughter.
"I don't like it when things are kept from me." He informed her cruelly, but she didn't react. "Well, we'll just have to teach you a lesson. Take the girl and let her watch."
Jenny was ripped from her arms and started crying uncontrollably, screaming for her mommy. When two pair of hands grabbed her upper arms, she knew what was going to happen and this time she screamed and started thrashing around, trying to prevent it, all her blocks dropping.
Tommy's house
It had been a week and there still wasn't a trace of Ashley. Andros was beginning to lose hope of finding her, no matter what he was told. Right now he was entertaining Zey to keep his mind of Ashley. Karone was resting upstairs since she could go into labour any day now and Tommy, Zhane and Adam were whispering in the kitchen.
Suddenly a presence invaded his mind and screaming rang through his head. As he pressed his hands against his ears in futile attempt to block out the sound, he heard Zhane swear loudly in the kitchen and a surprised exclamation from Karone upstairs.
The moment Zhane stormed into the room, Andros knew his friend had pulled up all his blocks, but he couldn't, it was so long since that voice had entered his mind. It was intoxicating, even if she was screaming.
"Andros, come on! Snap out of it!" Zhane's voice ordered from somewhere far away as he was being shaken.
Andros didn't snap out of it, but his brain started working again and his mind reached out, embracing the presence that was lost so long ago.
"Calm down." He told her gently. "What's wrong."
Somewhere else
Ashley was shocked to hear Andros's gentle mental voice and it calmed her a little. She hadn't even noticed her blocks had dropped. Trying to calm herself enough to reply, she let his presence become her world.
"He… He's here… He's trying to do it again!"
"Fight it, Ash." He told her immediately.
"I-I can't." She admitted quietly.
"Yes you can!" Andros told her firmly. "I know you can and I believe in you."
She didn't want to give in. She had to keep her distance. She couldn't meet his family if she gave in. It would crush her completely. Yet his words gave her hope. He believed in her. With a new found strength she ripped her arms from the iron grips the two men had on her and kicked the guy in front of her in the groins.
She quickly scrambled to her feet, grabbed Jenny from the guy that was holding her and darted out of the room. She ran blindly through the maze of corridors, up several flights of stairs, through a dozen doors until she came to a large room, staged with junk. It wouldn't be perfect for hiding.
She jumped slightly when Andros mentally called her name. She had almost forgotten he was there.
"I-I was able to run, but I'm not sure how long it will take them to find me." Ashley told him, losing the last bit of grip on her guard when she admitted. "I'm scared."
"Everything will be alright." Andros promised. "Do you know where you are?"
"Not exactly, some abandoned building." Ashley replied, forcing back the tears springing into her eyes.
"Don't worry, we'll find you and I'll always be right here."
Tommy's house
After reassuring Ashley they were doing everything they could to find her, Andros turned to Adam, fuming.
"I thought you said he'd be in jail for 10 years! It's only been 5!" He yelled.
Colour drained from Adam's face.
"What? He's there? That shouldn't be possible." Adam cursed, grabbing his cell-phone and stalking off into the kitchen.
Karone wrapped an arm around his shoulder, trying to calm him down. A sudden wave of helplessness washed over him and he hugged his sister, clinging to her. At that moment the baby kicked as if to reassure him everything would be all right.
"Did she say where she was?" Tommy asked.
"She didn't know, just that the place was abandoned." Andros replied, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"There are so many abandoned buildings around here!" Tommy exclaimed. "If she's even still in Reefside… Darn, this isn't going to be easy."
If someone wanted to reply to that, they were interrupted by the doorbell ringing.
"Who could that be?" Tommy wondered, his frustration washing away for a moment.
As Tommy left Zhane scooped Zey up in his arms. The poor boy had retreated into a corner of the room, having been scared by the sudden change in the grown-ups around him. Zey grabbed two hands full of his father's shirt and buried his face in it, causing Zhane got hug him a little tighter, trying to reassure the little guy.
"Kim!" A surprised exclamation came from the hall and soon Tommy returned with the original pink ranger in tow. The moment Kimberly entered the room, she knew something was up. She was about to ask when Adam stormed back into the room, obviously furious.
"I can't believe them!" He ranted. "They let him out early because of good behaviour of another! There was a file mix up! I swear I'd shoot them if I could! Hi Kim."
"Hey Adam." Kim replied tentatively. "What's wrong?"
"Andros telepathically talked to Ashley. She said Jordon, her rapist, is there! He tried it again, but she managed to run. Right now she's hiding out, but we've just been limited in our time of finding her. If they find her before we do…" Adam trailed of, knowing perfectly well everyone in the room knew what would happen, with the exception of Zey of course.
Zey made a whimpering sound in agreement.
Suddenly the alarms started blaring and everyone rushed to the secret basement.
"Monster in the abandoned warehouse district!" Tommy reported. "It's too powerful for us to handle alone and… Scans show people in one of the abandoned office buildings…"
A/N: Hope you liked it. Review!