Wes, Eric, Kat, and all other characters from Power Rangers belong to Disney/Saban. I am using them without permission, however I have not and don't expect to make money from this.
Nick Tate, while technically canon, is mine in the form he appears in here.

Rated T: Be warned, there is some strong language and talk about sex.

This story is slash, meaning sexual and romantic relationships between men. If that's not something you're okay with, don't read it.

The Secret of BioSynth

Home

- - -

Wes waited for a few seconds after shutting off the engine before he got out of his car. The Tate house waited for him right across the street, looking like any other nice, normal suburban house. There were a few signs that the tenants had moved in recently: the lawn needed mowing and there was a stack of flattened cardboard boxes neatly waiting for garbage collection, but otherwise it seemed like any other nice, quiet home, with no outward hint of whatever secrets might lie hidden inside.

For a moment he allowed himself to be envious. This was what he wanted, someday - to live with Eric, settle down into family life - kids would be difficult or impossible, of course, but it would be more than enough if the two of them could be together openly... The thought came to him that if the note-writer made good on his threats, that could actually happen. They wouldn't have to hide anymore, or pretend to be anything but what they were, something Wes had wanted almost from the beginning.

But no. Too much of Eric's identity was tied up in appearances, and he had too many bitter memories of real or imagined hostility and intolerance when the truth was revealed. He would feel humiliated if they were forced to come out publicly this way, and would take out his anger on anyone and - probably - everyone. Maybe someday they would do it on their own, when they were ready. But not now, not like this.

No point in putting it off any longer. Wes climbed out of the car and crossed the street. He rang the bell and waited, hearing a woman's voice call out something, and a baby cry briefly. Then the door opened.

Nick stood there, giving him the same part cautious, part appraising, and part suspicious look that Wes suspected was on his own face, before he put out his hand. "Hi. Nice to see you again."

"Thanks for letting me come over on such short notice."

"Yeah..." He stepped outside, closing the door. "What exactly do you want to talk to me about?"

"Those notes, like I said on the phone." He watched as Nick hesitated, obviously uncomfortable, and then went on. "Yes, I know about the third note you and Eric got, and no, I'm not going to say anything about it to your wife."

"So Eric told you about me?"

"Yes." Wes forced himself past the remains of jealousy. "He told me you two were - involved - when you were in the Army."

"I thought so, after the way you took off when you saw us in his office yesterday." Nick faced him with a hint of defiance.

"Yeah, well. Anyway, he said you know about him and me, too. So you know I want it kept quiet, for Eric's sake, as much as you do."

"Look, about yesterday... there was nothing going on."

Wes smiled. "I know. He told me why you were there."

Nick still didn't look too happy. "If you're here now because you think my wife did it, you're wrong."

"Eric doesn't think that, and neither do I. But we have to keep an open mind."

"Fair enough, I guess. Lyn's inside with the baby. Come around back, and we can talk for a few minutes."

The back yard contained the remains of a small flower garden, another overgrown lawn, and several trees, surrounded by a low fence. An ancient outdoor table and chairs sat rusting in the shade of the house. Wes surveyed it all and smiled. "Nice," he commented.

"Needs a lot of work." Nick waved a hand. "I'm planning to put up a swing on one of those trees, and a basketball hoop on the wall. Be a nice place for the kid to play when he gets a little older."

"Sounds good."

"Lyn's looking into getting him into kindergarten. And this place is near enough to the elementary school that he can walk, when the time comes. Then she can look for a job; should be plenty of opportunities for her here. She's a legal assistant."

"How'd you two meet?"

"Through her brother. He's a chemist in our research group. You met him - Jake Walsh."

"Oh, right. Didn't know he's your brother-in-law."

"Yeah. I started at BioSynth right after I got out of the service, and Jake introduced me to Lyn. We pretty much hit it off right away, got married two years later." Nick's eyes softened, and he smiled. "Sounds kind of funny, but Lyn reminded me a little of Eric in some ways, at least at first. Not that she's really much like him, but she's strong, and very determined and focused, but without his... uh..."

Wes grinned. "His attitude? His temper? His emotional distance?"

"Well... I don't want to sound critical, especially to you."

"I'm perfectly aware of Eric's faults. He's not an easy person to get to know, but there are reasons for the way he is." Wes sighed, looking out over the yard again. "I don't know how much he told you about himself... his family was very poor. His father took off when he was a kid, and his mother abandoned him a few months later. He grew up in foster homes - and got kicked out of the last one when they found out he's gay."

"Man. I had no idea. He never said anything."

"He's also too proud to want anyone feeling sorry for him. Some people would call that another fault. I don't."

Nick looked at him, his expression both curious and thoughtful. "In a way I'm envious. Not that I still feel like that about him anymore, but... Seems like he's a lot different with you than he was with me. A lot more open."

"Wasn't always like that. It's strange; I'd almost forgotten how much he's changed since he came to Silver Hills and joined the Guardians. It took us a long time to get to this point." Wes smiled and shook his head. "You know, I was thinking I'm envious of you, being married and having a baby and all. Not going to happen for me and Eric, at least not anytime soon."

"Yeah, I guess I'm pretty lucky." Nick cleared his throat. "But all that's not what you came here to talk about."

"No, it isn't." Wes poked a toe at a clump of weeds. "You know what the obvious question is. Who could know about you and Eric? Who's close to you? If that letter is the only way anyone could have found out, who might have found it?"

"So he told you about the letter too?" Nick frowned. "I put it away years ago and forgot all about it. I thought it got lost when I moved from Fort Dartmouth to work at BioSynth."

"Is there any other way anyone could have found out?"

"I don't see how..."

"So there you are!"

Startled, they both turned, and Wes saw a woman standing in the open back door of the house. She was blonde, attractive, on the tall side with strong features which were softened by a bright smile. In her arms was a baby who caught sight of him and stared, wide-eyed, as if at some strange and unearthly creature that had materialized in his new home.

"Hi! You must be Wes Collins," she said, advancing a few steps. "Nick said you were dropping by." She gave him an inquiring look.

"Yeah, sort of a 'welcome to the neighborhood' visit. You must be Lyn."

"Right, Lynda Tate, pleased to meet you." She extended a hand and shook his firmly. "And this is Schuyler. Say hi, Sky!"

"Hi... Nice to meet both of you." Wes grinned and held out his hands. "He's a cute kid. May I?" To his surprise, she hesitated. "Don't worry, I know how to hold a baby without dropping him," he added.

"Okay... but just for a minute, he's overdue for his nap." She handed him over, her eyes sharply watchful.

Overprotective, no doubt. Wes took Sky carefully, cradled him in one arm and wriggled the fingers of his other hand. The child watched them with a fascinated expression, probably attracted by the gleaming gold of his school ring. Either that or he was amazed by how silly grownups got about babies.

"I'd better take him back before he covers you with drool or other bodily fluids," Lyn said. A little reluctantly, Wes complied. Baby in her arms again, she smiled. "I don't know why you guys are standing out here in the sun. Come on in!"

- - -

He watched her through the window in the Bio-Lab laboratory door for a few minutes before stepping silently inside, seeing only the back of her white coat bent over whatever instrument she was using. Dr. Katherine Manx looked very small and alone, working in that room all by herself. Ironic that after going to her apartment, he had found her here. Maybe she was one of those people who preferred to be at work, who thought of home as just a place to sleep and keep their possessions.

Eric knew that kind of person; he had been one most of his adult life. Until the last few years he had never had a real home, no family, and no desire for either. Not like Nick... For a moment he found himself wondering what Wes was seeing right now at the Tate house. What it was like for Nick, whether he was happy with his wife and son and their family life in the suburbs. On the surface, perhaps it wasn't much different from Eric's own house... but it certainly had been chosen for very different reasons...

"It's a lovely place, isn't? Lots of trees, a big yard, nice neighbors."

"Yeah, lovely," Eric muttered semi-sarcastically.

The rental agent appeared not to notice. Or maybe she did; her voice became a shade more enthusiastic, if possible. "The house has two bedrooms, so you could use one as a guest room. Plenty of closet space for two, or more."

"I'm not married."

"Yes, but you never know, especially after the girls here in Silver Hills get a look at you!" She laughed cheerfully, the sound trailing off as he only stared at her. "Not far from the school, too, just in case," she continued.

"A school. Great."

Again, the sarcasm was lost on her as she led him inside. Eric gave up and just nodded as this small, modest house was described in glowing terms worthy of a mansion. Despite her exaggerations, there was nothing really wrong with it; it was reasonably clean, in good repair, and most importantly, cheap.

For just a moment he wondered what Nick would have said, whether he would have liked the place or wanted something nicer, what it would have been like to look it over together, to be making these decisions with someone else, instead of by himself and for himself; what it would be like to share his life with someone. Impatiently he shook the thought away. That would never happen, not with Nick or anyone else.

He had ended up taking the house, not for the school and not for the neighbors, but for the privacy offered by a yard filled with trees and surrounded by a high fence. He had fully intended to take advantage of the possibilities now that he was on his own, without the Army and without Nick. No more dark alleys, no more hotel rooms; most of all no more vague feelings of guilt every time he picked someone up in a bar.

But somehow, that wasn't the way it had turned out. At first he had told himself he didn't have time, and that was partly true. His new job with the Guardians was demanding, even before the first time they went into action publicly. Then he decided it was because he couldn't take the risk of his new employer or co-workers finding out about his private life. But - especially after that sunny morning when he had seen Wes again for the first time in more than eight years - in the end he had to admit it was because he had changed, because he found himself wanting more than quick encounters with nameless partners.

"I heard you come in. Might as well speak up." Kat Manx's voice startled him out of his thoughts. She hadn't even looked around.

"Sorry to bother you, ma'am."

"Is there a problem?"

"No. If you have a minute or two, I'd like to talk to you."

Her face turned to him, eyes shielded behind safety glasses. "Commander Myers. Do you usually work on Saturdays?"

"My job has odd hours. Apparently yours does too. Or is this overtime?"

"This is..." She sighed, wiping a latex-gloved hand over her forehead. "This is too much work and too little time."

"That's too bad. I'm sure if you speak to Mr. Collins, he'd consider paying some staff to come in and assist you."

"Actually, you could help me yourself."

"Ma'am?"

"Let me study that morpher." She was looking at his wrist.

Almost unconsciously, Eric covered it with his other hand. "Sorry, but anything like that would have be authorized by Mr. Collins, and that's not likely. The morpher stays with me, and I don't have time."

"And your partner? Does he not have time either?"

"Probably not."

Dr. Manx pulled off the glasses and fixed him with those uncannily bright green eyes. "What do you want to talk about?"

She seemed like the direct type. So was he. Eric told her. "I want to know what the secret of BioSynth is. If I'm going to be responsible for protecting this company, and protecting you and your people, I have to know."

There was a moment of silence and one blink in reaction. "I told your boss there's nothing I can tell you about that."

"And as my boss said, that doesn't mean there's nothing to tell. Ma'am."

"Perceptive man." With a graceful motion and a few steps she was on her feet and standing close, facing him, her expression watchful yet calm. "There is something else I can tell you. I think you may find it even more interesting."

"What's that?"

"I know who's been sending those notes."

He just stared at her for an astonished second. "You know? How?"

"I'll explain on two conditions. First, hear me out before you do anything drastic."

Eric raised a brow. "Okay. And the second condition?"

To his surprise, she grinned. "Stop calling me ma'am."

- - -

Inside the Tate house the recent move was much more evident. A sofa, chairs, television, and stereo were in place, but stacks of boxes, some sealed, some opened, some partially emptied, filled the corners of the living room. "Pardon the mess," Nick said as they looked around. "Have a seat, if you can find a clear spot."

"No problem." Wes perched on an arm of the sofa and looked up at Lyn. "I was just asking your husband how your move went. They seem to have done a good job."

"Yes, they did. Right on time and everything."

"If Bio-Lab made the arrangements, I'm not surprised. I hope nothing got lost or damaged?"

"No, at least nothing I've seen so far. Things are still kind of disorganized, as you can see."

"Yeah, it's a big job. Did you guys do your own packing?"

Lyn raised an eyebrow at the question, but she answered. "Yes, we did. I didn't like the idea of the movers doing it."

"And you didn't want them to unpack either, I guess."

"Well, no... The three of us have been getting it done, bit by bit."

"The three of you?" Wes grinned. "I'm sure Sky's a big help."

She laughed. "No, my brother Jake moved in with us until he gets his own place. It's good for us, too, having another pair of hands while we're getting settled." Just as Wes was considering the possible implications of that, they heard the sound of a key turning in the front door lock. "Speak of the devil," she said, "That must be him now."

Wes watched as the door opened, and a man whom he vaguely remembered meeting at the reception and seeing later in Dr. Manx's lab appeared. Jake Walsh was only a little taller than his sister, with darker hair, his expression seeming distracted as he took a step into the room. He nodded at Nick and gave Lyn and Sky an absent-minded smile. Then as he turned to close the door, he caught sight of Wes. And froze. An unmistakable flash of alarm, maybe even fear, ran across his face.

"Take it easy, Jake," Lyn said, sounding both amused and a little surprised. "He's not a burglar."

"Yeah... Wes Collins, right?" Jake stepped forward to shake hands, smiling now but his eyes still cautious and suspicious. "To what do we owe the honor?"

"Just a social call." He glanced around at the boxes, and then caught Nick's eye for a moment. "So you're staying here? Helping Nick and your sister get settled in and unpacked, are you?"

"Uh, yeah. Yes, I am."

"Glad to hear it."

There were a few seconds of silence, vibrating with an undercurrent of tension. Lyn seemed to sense it as she glanced at the three men and then said, "Well, it's getting close to lunchtime. Will you join us, Wes?"

He glanced at his watch. "Thanks, but no, I should be leaving. Got a few things to do."

"Not working on Saturday like Dr. Manx, I hope?"

"No. But if she's there I may swing by Bio-Lab and see her."

Again, his eyes met Nick's as he turned in the doorway for a last goodbye. The other man glanced at his brother-in-law, a slight frown on his face, then at his wife and child, and then back at Wes. He was smiling again as the door closed, but his fists were clenched tightly.

- - -

"It's Jake Walsh." Kat's voice was followed by a brief silence in her office, where they had gone to talk.

Eric scowled and asked, "How do you know? Do you have proof?"

She clasped her hands on her desk. "I did a DNA analysis on the two notes I got. Jake came in contact with both. He was clever enough not to lick the stamps or envelopes, but I found his skin cells and sweat on both. He handled them, and beside mine, his are the only cells on them."

Eric frowned. "I didn't think you could find enough DNA just from a few skin cells..."

"My methods are a little more sensitive than what most police labs have today, although they're getting there. Unfortunately, for that reason, I don't think my results would be considered legal evidence."

"So - assuming I even believe these 'methods' of yours really work - basically all I have is your word that it's Walsh, not any real proof."

"I suppose that's true. However, he's a logical suspect in other ways. He's been involved in my research. He's... upset about a result of that research."

"You should be a cop. But that brings us back to my original question. What's the secret? What result of your research is he upset about?"

"That's something I'd like to know, too." The voice came from the doorway. They both turned to see Wes there, arms crossed, face somber. "I think it's Jake Walsh, too," he continued. "He's staying with the Tates, and would have had the opportunity to find - things he shouldn't have seen." He and Eric exchanged a brief and meaningful glance. "And when he walked in and saw me in their house, for a second there I thought he was going to run. A definitely guilty reaction."

"You heard Dr. Manx say she found a DNA match?" Eric asked.

"Yes. But as she also said, it's not legal proof."

"I'd prefer if you don't get the authorities involved anyway," Kat said.

"Why? What are you hiding?" Eric asked. "And why should we protect you and your secret, whatever it is?"

She took a deep breath, searching first his face, and then Wes's. "Some truths are better hidden," she said. "The ones that may not be understood. The ones that may hurt innocent people." For a moment Eric thought of his own secrets, and Wes's. She looked at both of them again, obviously anxious. "Can I trust the two of you?"

"Depends on what you tell us," Wes said after a moment's hesitation. Eric nodded in agreement.

"An honest answer. All right. I would have had to do this sooner or later." Kat looked down, seeming to collect her thoughts. Then she faced them again. "I'll tell you what happened at BioSynth. I'll tell you the secret we've all been hiding."

- - -

TBC...