Who am I? Chapter 5 Second Chances
Thanks for all the reviews! The first part was a bit dark, but I hope the rest of the story is more hopeful. I'm trying to put some more one-on-one interactions in there. Keep reading. The song, "Does Anybody hear her?" is by Casting Crowns.
Sydney spent the next few days alone as she poured out all her thoughts and feelings into her journal, and then composed them into songs. It was truly cathartic for her, as the anger and bitterness she had been harboring was slowly fading into a dull pain.
Ever since her fingers had touched the piano, Sydney felt more complete than she had in a long time. Since she had first discovered her love for music. Unadulterated and untouched, she was free to express herself through music. It gave her a release that nothing else, not therapy or counseling could do.
The Academy was empty as it was a beautiful day and all cadets who weren't on duty were outdoors. The B-Squad was doing some extra training in light of Grumm's temporary absence. She took advantage of it to wheel herself to the music room and to the piano. Pushing out any inhibitions she opened her journal and began to put music to the words.
"What a workout." Bridge moaned as he limped into the Academy, desperate to collapse on the couch. His whole body was sore and bruised. "True enough." Jack agreed. "I bet I'll be asleep before dinner." He decided with a yawn. Sky had to agree with them but was too stubborn to admit it.
"Hey, do you guys hear that?" Z interrupted the complaints to ask her teammates. "Sounds like music." She announced thoughtfully as beautiful music filled the near empty halls, drawing them to listen. The four rangers ignored their exhaustion to investigate the sound.
Sky stopped at the doorway to the music room, frozen at the sight of Sydney hunched over the piano. Her blonde hair was free and blowing around at the intense movement of her hands as they flew over the keys. Her voice was soft but steady as she sang. The sad words only made the ballad more poignant.
She is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying but the canyons' ever widening in the depths of her cold heart
So she sets off on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older and she's three more steps behind
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple with all the lost and lonely people
Trying to find the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
She is yearning for shelter and affection that she never found at home
She is searching for a hero to ride in, to ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming and he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason and she gives herself away
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple with all the lost and lonely people
Trying to find the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
As Sydney finished her newest song, she looked up and was embarrassed to see her teammates standing there in awe. Jack was stunned at the intensity of the hurt behind the lyrics.
"That was amazing Syd." Z complimented her sincerely as they gathered around the piano.
"Will you keep playing?" Sky asked hopefully. Sydney was surprised at his request but
realized they really did like her music, and maybe finally they were starting to like her.
"Hey Syd." Bridge called cheerfully as he entered her room. "Hey." She greeted back almost as cheerfully.
"Aren't you supposed to be in physical therapy?" he wondered in concern.
Sydney mumbled an excuse as she buried her head back in her magazine. "Don't want to." She finished weakly.
"Your leg won't get stronger unless you work it out." He argued with her. He noticed that she wasn't responding so he sat next to her on her bed. He was shocked when he realized she was crying. "What's wrong Syd?" He asked kindly, throwing an arm around her shoulders.
"I'm afraid." She admitted between sobs. "What if I don't get better?" Sydney whispered softly, fear coming through her words.
"You will Syd." Bridge promised. "You're a hard worker, you'll be good as new in no time." He said confidently. "Come on. I'll go with you." He offered much to her astonishment, yet delight. "Really?" She questioned doubtfully.
"Let's get going." He mock ordered, lifting the slight girl into her wheelchair and pushing her out before she could change her mind.
"Come on Syd. You can do it." Bridge cheered her on as she pushed against the resistance of her physical therapist. She was soaked in sweat from exertion, as she bit her lip in a grimace of the pain she was feeling.
"Good job Sydney." Joanne, her therapist told her. "I'm glad you decided to come back."
"Thanks for coming with me, Bridge." Sydney said grateful for his presence and his encouragement as he collapsed next to her on the mat.
"That's what friends are for Syd." He declared non-chalantly, not noticing the bright smile that lit up her face. He was surprised when she threw her arms around him tightly and wouldn't let go.
"See you on Wednesday." Joanne reminded the girl in pink. "Me too." Bridge chimed in, as he offered a hand to Sydney and helped her back to her chair.
Sydney showered and realized she was starving. She decided to take a risk and wheel herself up to the dining hall hoping to join the others for dinner. 'They've been real supportive.' She thought as she remembered their actions since the attack. 'Maybe I should give them another chance too.'
"Hey Syd." Jack greeted in amazement as she made her first appearance in the dining hall since the attack.
"I heard you did awesome in physical therapy today." Sky noted with a smile on his face. Z volunteered to get her some dinner and the five teammates fell into easy conversation.
Jack and Z left to go to night patrol, while Bridge went to do a work out of his own, leaving the blue and pink rangers alone. They sat in companionable silence until Sky interrupted, "You want to go watch a movie?" Sky offered shyly, not knowing how Sydney would respond. She was startled at his question but quickly replied, " what, you're not busy reading the SPD manual?" She teased him.
He laughed at her correct observation of him. Sky knew what the other cadets thought about him and his serious ways. "If you don't want to…" he began with a smirk, knowing she wouldn't refuse. "Okay." Sydney practically shouted, she was desperate to stay out of her room for a little longer after being cooped up for days.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked as he propped her leg up on the coffee table with a pillow underneath.
"Yes. Thank you." She said gratefully, around the popcorn she had shoved in her mouth. He laughed at the muffled sound surprising Sydney who promptly spit the popcorn out of her mouth, causing them both to dissolve in hysterics.
"They look like they're having a good time." Z observed as she and Jack were making rounds.
"Syd and Sky." Jack said with a shake of his head. "I never would have thought it possible." He admitted. "But I think they're both good for each other."
"Where am I?" Sky wondered sleepily as he forced his eyes open. "This isn't my room." He muttered, more alert now. He noticed the TV was on but the movie they had been watching was long over. He attempted to get up and move back to his room, when he noticed a slim leg covered with pink material propped up on a pillow in his lap. His gaze continued up her body till he saw her still fast asleep on the other side of the couch. Gently removing her leg from his lap, he stood up and scooped the petite girl into his arms and carried her to her room.
"Good night Syd." He whispered affectionately as he placed her carefully in her bed, hoping not to disturb her sleep or cause her pain.
"How did I get here?" Sydney wondered with a sigh as she opened her eyes to a new day. The last thing she remembered was watching a movie with sky. "Sky." She said with a smile. Sydney was unsure of her feelings toward Sky. All of a sudden they had been spending more time together. And she found herself enjoying his company despite their differences in personality.
"So how did Sydney get back to her room last night?" Jack questioned the blue ranger, noticing the wheelchair still in the corner of the common room as the two were sitting for breakfast.
Sky blushed as he answered. "I carried her." He replied immediately. "She looked so cute asleep. I didn't want to wake her." He admitted sheepishly.
"So how's she going to make it to breakfast without her chair?" Z inquired with a grin. Sky's eyes widened in alarm and jumped up so quickly he knocked over his chair. He was out of the common room as fast as he was to go to an emergency much to the other ranger's amusement. Their laughter echoed through the room.
"He so likes her." Bridge commented as he bit into his toast. "I've never seen Sky so flustered before." Z stated in disbelief.
"And he still forgot the chair…" Jack reminded them, setting them off into hysterics of their own.