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.
This story is slash, meaning sexual and romantic relationships between men. If that's not something you're okay with, don't read it.
-Sigh- It's always a little sad to end a story, and this is no exception. Thanks as always to everyone for reading and reviewing, and a very big thanks to my wonderful beta, MzDany. (Check out her Cam/Hunter stories.) Some of the flashbacks in this chapter are from the series, some are from my fic Red Fire.
The Secret of BioSynth
Steps
"Ready for this?" Wes asked as they paused outside the doors to the same suite where they had welcomed the former BioSynth scientists to Bio-Lab so many weeks ago. Out here in the hallway they had a moment alone, but from inside they could hear a buzz of voices; the gathering was in progress already.
"Ready as I'll ever be, I guess." Eric looked somber, but he smiled faintly.
"You're sorry to see Nick go, aren't you?"
"No. Well, maybe a little. But only a little."
"Hey, it's okay." Wes reached up to unnecessarily straighten Eric's collar. "You're allowed to like the guy. Hell, I kinda like him myself. Not like that..." He grinned at the expression on Eric's face. "He's a nice guy. I can see why you fell for him."
"I didn't fall for him."
"Well, maybe you should have," Wes said teasingly.
To his surprise, Eric answered seriously. "Maybe I should. But I wasn't ready then, not even close." He frowned slightly. "Good thing you didn't know me back then. You would have thought I was the biggest shithead in the world."
Wes leaned in to kiss him quickly, just a brush of their lips across each other. "Who says I don't think so now?" he murmured softly, and returned Eric's grin. "Come on, let's join the party."
Inside, a few small groups of people stood talking. Wes caught sight of Nick on the other side of the room, in conversation with a man whose name he remembered as Paul Carson, and then led the way to Kat Manx and Michael Zaskin, who looked a little more subdued than usual.
"Hey, Mike. How's it going?" he asked.
"Great. Got all my projects here tied up, except for a few loose ends. And at home we're almost finished packing."
"Yeah. We're going to miss you around here."
"It's hard to leave, both Bio-Lab and Silver Hills. But our new setup looks really good, and I've always been interested in this particular project." He smiled at Eric. "Ever since I got to do those tests on your morpher, I've wanted to try building one."
"You'll get your chance now."
A lot had happened in the three months since Jake Walsh's attempt to destroy Kat's work. It had been a time filled with planning, discussion, endless meetings. Wes and Eric had checked out Kat's story with Andros, and then the three of them had told Wes's father everything, and after he had been convinced of the importance and urgency of the situation he had swung into action in his usual style. Now they were seeing the results.
Kat's project had officially been shut down. She, along with Nick and the remaining members of her BioSynth team were being relocated again, to a place called Newtech City. Dr. Zaskin was being sent to work with them. They would be the core of a new subsidiary of Bio-Lab, officially manufacturing equipment for law enforcement agencies, in reality continuing her work on morpher-based technology for the larger battle to come.
Wes turned his attention to Kat. Seeing her like this, in her human disguise, he could almost forget what she really looked like - except when she smiled and he remembered those teeth. "So," he asked, "Did you and Dad come up with a name yet for your new group?"
"Yes." Her lips quirked just slightly. "Special Police Division."
"SPD. Catchy."
"Thanks. We may change it to - something else. When the time is right."
"Speaking of your dad, I don't see him," Eric said, scanning the room.
"He had something to take care of. Said he'd join us soon."
"Yeah... Excuse me."
He watched Eric go, trying not to feel a twinge as he headed for Nick, who was alone now. The two began to talk quietly, drifting into a corner away from the others. Distracted, Wes thought he must have heard what Kat said next wrong.
"Your father's made all of this happen in only three months. He's quite a man," she murmured. "Very decisive, and very good at getting things done. If he were seventy or eighty years older..."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all." She smiled, her expression secretive and - for a moment - very cat-like.
- - -
"Well, here we are." Alan Collins leaned forward in his seat in the back of the Bio-Lab limousine. "Philips, pull over, please, and roll up the partition." As the thick plastic shield rose behind the driver's seat, giving them some privacy, he turned to face Jake Walsh. The other man was staring out the window stonily, exactly the same way he had stared throughout this ride to the Silver Hills airport.
"I don't think we'll meet again, Mr. Walsh, or at least I hope not," he said. "So I'll wish you good luck in your new position."
"I guess you expect me to thank you for getting me this job." Jake turned to look at him. "Just coincidence that it gets me out of town."
Alan sighed. "No, I don't expect you to thank me. Here." He took out a sealed envelope from his jacket pocket.
"What's that?"
"Severance pay. You'll find it's more than generous. Enough to help you start over."
Jake sneered. "You mean a payoff to keep my mouth shut."
"I wouldn't want you to do anything foolish through lack of money. It's also enough for you to continue treatment with a good psychiatrist."
"Don't bother. Bad enough you people made me go to a shrink for the last three months."
"We can't force you, but attempted suicide shouldn't be taken lightly." He watched Jake shrug, and again look out the window. "We were good enough to overlook your destruction of our property, and to try to help you. We expect you not to make more trouble for us."
"Yeah, you were 'good' to me because you don't want the cops poking around." Jake shrugged again. "Anyway, what could I do to you now? You've shut down Kat's project, or that's what you said to the public. Nobody else is talking. I can't prove anything."
"No, you can't."
"Yeah. Well, goodbye." He reached for the door handle.
"One more thing," Alan said mildly. He waited for Jake to look at him. "I understand you made threats of a more personal nature against two of my most valuable employees, one of whom is also a family friend." He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "I don't like that. If you do anything in the future to harm those men or anyone else in my company or my family... Well, I may not have a morpher, but you'll find I have my own kind of power." A moment later he was smiling again. "Have a nice trip."
- - -
"Nick."
"Eric."
They eyed each other awkwardly, saying nothing more for a few moments. Eric almost smiled, thinking how strange it is that two people could have been close enough to share their bodies for a year, and yet now find themselves with nothing to say to each other. Or maybe it was that they had too much to say, and neither knew where to start.
"So - how are you doing? Almost set to go?" he asked finally.
"Yeah." Nick smiled faintly. "We never finished unpacking, so it wasn't a lot of work. And the Bio-Lab people took care of our house and found us a new one in Newtech City."
Eric nodded. "I ran into your wife the other day, when she came to have lunch with you."
"I know, she mentioned it." Nick lowered his voice a little. "I finally told her about myself. Jake was right about one thing; I should have done it years ago."
"How'd she take it?"
"Not bad." Nick sighed. "She got really mad that I didn't tell her before we got married. Then she apologized for getting mad... I can tell it shook her up. But we're working it out. We'll be fine."
"Good. I saw your kid too. He's okay, for a rug-rat."
"Thanks." Nick smiled again. "Lyn and Sky and a house in the suburbs... I finally got that white picket fence, didn't I?"
"Yeah, I guess you did."
"You were right, you know."
"About what?"
"When we were together... I was always trying to change you. And I'm sorry for that. It's not easy, being expected to live up to someone else's ideas, when they should just accept you for what you are."
"Maybe, but you had a right to expect something. I know I treated you like shit, and I'm sorry." Eric glanced across the room to where Wes was still talking with Kat and Mike Zaskin. Their eyes met for a moment, and Wes smiled. "And if it means anything - you did change me. Maybe it didn't show then, but you did."
It was true; Nick had started a change in him, one that hadn't really shown itself for months, not until after Wes had re-entered his life. It hadn't happened all at once; it had been one step at a time, starting with that first moment he and Wes had met again just after the Silver Guardians had gone into action for the first time. With the first glance he had known he still felt the old attraction... But things hadn't gone the way he would have liked...
"Long time no see, Wes."
But his former schoolmate only stared blankly. Wes hadn't even recognized him, Eric realized. He took off his sunglasses, and saw the other man's eyes widen in surprise and what looked like dismay. Disappointed, hurt, and angry, Eric clasped his hands behind his back when Wes smiled and greeted him, any hopes of renewing their old friendship forgotten.
After Eric had found and taken the Quantum morpher and become a Ranger, their relationship had turned into a bitter rivalry and their conflicts had even come to blows. He had thought they hated each other then, because of the morpher, because of their differences, on Eric's part at least because of their history. And yet, it hadn't been quite that simple. As weeks turned into months and they grew used to fighting on the same side, however grudgingly on Eric's part, the hostility faded into an uneasy truce. And something else began to emerge, slowly...
"Eric, we really need to start working together!"
He stared at the five Rangers as Wes called out to him. All they really wanted was to have the Quantum Ranger and the Q-Rex on their side, of course, especially after they had seen him take down Conwing single-handed. That was all... And yet, when he had fallen from that bridge he had heard Wes cry out in alarm and concern... and Jen had left her teammates in the middle of a fight to save him... And what about all the other times, the times Wes had helped him, or thanked him, or asked if he was okay, or just tried to be friendly in spite of Eric's rudeness and hostility...
"Will you at least think about it?" he heard, as he turned his back and walked away. No. No teaming up, no admitting they had gotten to him, just a little.
An hour later, as he stood in his backyard watching his neighbor's kid play with his pet birds, a movement caught his eye: a motorcycle, pulling away from the fence and into the street. Wes's motorcycle. Spying? Or - making sure he was all right?
Maybe it wouldn't hurt just to think about it.
Then had come the time when Wes briefly took over Bio-Lab. Remembering all the reasons he had given his former friend to dislike and distrust him, convinced he would soon be fired, Eric had quit his job and started to leave town. He had changed his mind, of course, and decided to stay and fight, and found that things worked out considerably differently from what he had expected, when he asked Wes to give back his letter of resignation...
"Your resignation?" Wes stared for a moment, looking astonished. "Why would you resign? I thought you like this job."
"I do like it."
"It's me, isn't it? You thought you were going to have to work for me. Do you hate me that much?"
Embarrassed and uncomfortable, Eric shook his head, eyes on the floor. "I don't hate you at all. But I figured you'd want me gone. Thought I'd save you the trouble."
"You really thought I'd fire you?" Wes stood up and circled the desk to face him. "No, I wouldn't have. You're doing a good job here. I want you to stay."
"But you don't like me."
"That's not true. I like you, Eric. Always have."
That had been another turning point. Eric had always known he was attracted to Wes; now he realized he had come to respect him, to recognize his kindness and compassion, to want his good opinion and to value his continued efforts to renew their past friendship. But there was more to it than that. In spite of all his cynicism, in spite of a lifetime of avoiding emotional ties and commitment, in spite of months of resentment and conflict, and much against his own better judgment, he found himself falling in love.
There had seemed nothing he could do about it, every reason to think Wes was straight, none to think he would ever return his feelings, nothing except an occasional look or tone of voice - and the way Wes seemed so determined to break through the distance Eric continued to keep between them. Then, during the final showdown with Ransik, in the dark of the clock tower with only the prospect of death ahead for them both, he finally found the courage to say it.
"It's stupid, I know. But I love you. I guess there were times you suspected it. Sometimes I even thought... maybe you felt something too..."
Wes shook his head quickly, not meeting his eyes. "No. I couldn't. I love Jen."
"All right. Fair enough."
"I'm sorry, Eric. I wish..." This time Wes looked up, his words dying away, whatever he was wishing left unspoken.
And yet, it was written in his face. Eric leaned closer as he saw fear struggling with desire, knowing he should back off, let his once and again friend find his own way, but there was no time for waiting, not anymore. "This might be the last chance. Please..." He reached a hesitant hand to brush back Wes's hair as he flinched nervously, and whispered, "Just let me touch you... once..."
They had touched, and they had kissed, and much more. It was as quick and clumsy as any of his casual encounters in dark alleys. It was also passionate and joyful, at least for Eric. But when it was over Wes had pushed him away, and pulled himself back into the closet for another year.
Another year - of pretending all he felt was friendship, until he almost believed it himself... But this time, after another shared ordeal had forced them both to face more truth than they were comfortable with, it was Wes who finally was able to change, or rather to accept what had always been there. Eric smiled at the memory. His partner had never lacked for courage; he had made up his mind on that rainy day three years ago when he showed up at the house demanding to know if Eric still loved him...
"Just tell me. Yes or no."
"Are you trying to humiliate me or something?"
Wes took another step closer. "Where's all that honesty now? Tell me."
"Yes, dammit! What are you going to do about it?"
"Make you shut up for once in your life." Eric was too surprised to react - at first - as Wes reached up, grabbed his head and kissed him. As he finally decided he wasn't dreaming and reached out, Wes pulled back just enough to murmur, "You think you know so much. Didn't you know I'm in love with you?"
"I guess I'd like to think I changed you, just a little," Nick was saying, abruptly pulling Eric's attention back to the here and now. "I suspect Wes had something to do with it too. But - no one can change someone else; they have to do it themselves. You just needed to be ready, and maybe figure out what you really wanted."
"I guess." Eric shrugged and smiled. "I guess you're right. And I'm glad we ran into each other again. Had the chance to - to..."
"To say a real goodbye this time?" Nick grinned.
"Well, yeah. This sure beats the hell out of the last time."
"I expect we'll be seeing each other again. I've applied to be the first to use the new morphers, when they're ready. If I get chosen I'll be the first SPD Ranger."
"After the way you handled Jake in the lab it's a sure thing, but I'll put in a good word for you if you want."
"Thanks. I might come back for training from you and Wes." Nick's expression became ironic. "I guess you know Wes let Kat do a series of tests and measurements on his morpher. She's going to make the first SPD suit look like his, sort of to thank him. Something else he and I will have in common."
Eric decided to ignore that last comment. "You'll be a great ranger," he said sincerely.
"I hope so." Nick glanced across the room. "Well, I've got a couple more people to say goodbye to, and Wes will probably vaporize me if I talk to you any longer."
"Nicky..." Eric hesitated, but curiosity won out. "If you don't mind me asking - what was in the letter?"
"The letter?" Nick smiled, an expression tinged with both sadness and amusement. "Nothing you'd want to read. I was angry when I wrote it, and hurt. It was mostly just accusations, just the rantings of a rejected lover. Probably exactly what you expected to see when you returned it. I'm glad you never opened it."
"If you're glad, so am I, I guess."
Nick held out his hand. "Well - goodbye, Eric. Or so long."
"I'll just say, 'See ya.'"
After a tight handclasp and another exchange of smiles, Nick moved away into the crowd. It was strange, Eric thought, Nick had only reentered his life three months ago; they had barely managed to turn whatever their relationship was into friendship, and yet as he walked away he left an empty feeling behind. But not the empty heart he had once accused Eric of having. Far from it, he was reminded, as Wes approached.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine." He moved a little closer, letting their fingers brush together, the fleeting touch hidden from the others in the room. "Thanks, Wes," he said softly.
"For what?"
"For accepting me. Even when I was being a shit, when we were always fighting, before either of us thought there'd ever be anything between us, you still tried to be my friend. I kept trying to push you away, like I did with everyone back then. Thanks for not letting me do it."
"I'm not sure I understand... But maybe if you thank me again later, in private...?"
"I'd be happy to do that."
"Dad's back, in case you haven't noticed, and he's got that 'I'm going to make a speech' look."
"Can't wait."
Alan Collins had moved to the center of the room and cleared his throat, waiting for everyone to stop talking. As the buzz of conversation died down, he raised his voice.
"As you all know, we're here today to wish Dr. Manx and her team the best of luck in their new venture, the Special Police Division of Bio-Lab. I'm sure this will reach far into the future of our company..." with a smile in Wes and Eric's direction, "and who knows, maybe the world. So let's all join in a toast." He raised his glass, and waited for the others to follow his example before calling out:
"To SPD!"
- End? -