Thank you for all of the reviewers. This is the next chapter. I finally got through the block, just took some angst up ahead to get through it.

ENJOY!

Hunter sat at lunch with the Winds, Cam, and his brother Blake. Tracy and Jason hadn't answered their phones, and Hunter figured that they were giving him his time with his friends. Hunter sipped his drink, straining to hear everyone. Apparently, everyone had a really nice night. Dustin had reconciled with Marah, something Hunter wasn't exactly keen on. Tori leaned over and whispered to Hunter, "You look contemplative, deep in thought. Where's Hunter and what did you do with him?"

Hunter playfully shoved Tori, "Gee thanks. Kick the blind man once he's down."

Tori shoved back, her shove a bit harder. "Don't make blind jokes."

Hunter stuck out his tongue, recieving yet another shove from the blonde ninja. Tori spoke up again, her voice serious, "No really, Hunter. You're eye sight is improving, and I just want to make sure you're not, you know, at rock bottom."

Hunter nodded, astounded that the concern from his friends was a constant thing, instead of bursts of obligatory sentiments. "I hit rock bottom, and have quite enjoyed the climb to the top."

Hunter vaguely became aware that the conversation around him had stopped. Hunter continued, "You see... I treated Cam pretty poorly when he allowed me to stay in his home. Bratty, even."

Hunter cracked a smile, "I know, it's hard to believe that I was acting stubborn and bratty, but its true. Here, alone... I've put life together, you know? Things are falling into place. Soon, i can bring Blue Bay back into my life, permanently."

Shane nodded, "That's right, Hunter. We support you, bro. We also just selfishly wish it was sooner than later."

Hunter was about to respond when his cell phone went off. Hunter answered it, "Hello?"

Immediately the Crimson Ninja's face fell into confusion, "No..." He said, "I left them an hour ago or so. Ok, calm down, Mark... go to the front desk, where i stash the candy, and look in the safety deposit box. It should be in the third shelf. Yeah, i know, weird place for numbers, but we all remember it that way, and it's easier for me to find."

Cam reached over and placed a hand on Hunter's leg, silently inquiring about the conversation. Hunter turned his eyes towards Cam. Cam inwardly winced. Hunter still used the physical movements of a seeing person. Even though their eyes connected, Cam's heart seemed to twitch at the idea that Hunter's eyes were useless. Despite the uneasy feeling of looking at unseeing eyes, Cam smiled, still knowing that Hunter couldn't see him. Hunter cleared his throat, "I'll be in soon. Don't worry, they're probably... indisposed of currently. Jason was never good at being on time... Yep, see you soon. Bye."

Hunter shrugged and went back to his drink, not knowing that the group was staring at him expectedly. Cam squeezed his leg and Hunter looked up quickly, "What? Oh... Jason didn't make it into work, and he was driving Tracy in today. No worries, they probably had a really good date and lost track of time."

"Maybe you should call them?" Dustin said. "I mean, that's why you guys give me a cell phone."

Shane chuckled, "Rule number one: keep track of the airhead."

Dustin smacked Shane's arm lightly, causing the group to chuckle. A few minutes passed in silence as the group enjoyed their meals and company. It was at that moment that everyone's morphers rang off. The group looked at their wrists in meloncholy. Shane was the first to speak, "We gotta call this trip early, dude. Lothor isn't allowing us otherwise."

Hunter stood up, the familiar pang of jealousy in his chest. "No, go ahead. I'll take the bus."

Cam shook his head, "I'll drive you to work and then transport to Ninja Ops. The others can fight without me for a short while."

Blake moved to his brother, grabbing onto his shoulders, "We'll be back soon, ok? I've missed you, Hunter. I need you to come home."

"Blake... Not..." Hunter stuttured, but the Navy ranger interrupted him.

"I get it, bro." Blake said, "I'll see you soon."

Hunter said his goodbyes as the group left. Cam looped his arm in Hunter's and led him from the restaurant to the car. Hunter, once inside and the car started, sighed. "That's tougher than i thought. Lothor ruins everything. I wish you guys were staying."

Cam smirked, "We wish the same about you, every day."

Hunter let out a pent up breath. "Yeah... The thing is Cam, I think I'm nearing ready. I mean, I've learned something this trip."

"Yeah, what's that?" Cam inquired.

Hunter opened his mouth to speak when his cell went off again. Hunter smiled apologetically and answered the phone, "Hello? Yes... no. No... what? no, that can't happen!"

Cam looked at his love worriedly. Hunter was hunched over himself, his voice soft and full of disbelief, as well as the beginnings of grief and panic. Cam reached out to him, but Hunter seemed to curl further into himself. "Hunter, what's wrong?"

Hunter leaned back, and Cam saw tears on the brim of Hunter's eyes. Cam immediately pulled over and placed his hands on Hunter again. "Speak, dammit!" Cam demanded, his worry increasing.

Hunter cleared his throat, "I'll be there soon, Mark... "

Cam watched as the blonde turned his face towards him and said, his voice shaky, "We've got to get to the hospital... Tracy... Tracy... She..."

Cam felt his stomach turn into knots. Something bad had happened to Hunter's friends. Hunter took a deep breath and tried again, "Jason crashed the car. Tracy is dead, Jason is in critical condition in the hospital."

Cam launched himself on Hunter the second the tears began to spill over. The Green Samurai rocked the other back and forth before turning the car towards the hospital. "I'm so sorry, Hunter, We'll be there soon."

"Why Tracy? She was an angel! I knew Jason was a reckless driver." Hunter said, slamming his fist on the armrest.

What seemed like hours later, but was a mere few minutes, the duo arrived at the hospital, where they were to meet the head mechanic, Mark. Hunter trembled at the idea of visiting Jason in the hospital. They had grown so close in such a short amount of time, that it only seemed appropriate that it would be taken away so easily. What more, Tracy was dead on arrival. Hunter hated himself for never properly telling her what she meant to him. It was nice that they came over earlier that morning... "Was it really this morning, when I saw her last, Cam?"

Cam pulled the Crimson in for another hug, "Yeah, Hunter, don't worry. I'm here for you. We have to wait until the doctor says we can enter."

"Are we in the hospital?"

"Yes. Waiting room. Don't worry, we'll wait it through, Ok?"

Hunter nodded, burying his face into Cam's chest. How could a day be as dualistic as it had been, friends alive in the morning, friend dead in the evening? Hunter let out a cry for Tracy.

Sorry folks, that's whatcha get. a cliffie of sorts. Where the hell am i going with this fic? no one knows, least of all myself...