Chapter 6: Frustrations
Ashley woke up the next morning feeling more alert than she had in a few weeks. The medicine had helped her rest and she was looking forward to going back to the mega ship. Her friends were waiting for her when she was wheeled out of the hospital and they quickly teleported to the medical bay in the mega ship.
Ashley laughed as she looked around the medical bay. "Thanks guys." She murmured in appreciation. The other rangers had filled it with balloons and flowers and things form her room to make it more comfortable.
"Well we know how much you hate this place, so we decided to liven it up a little." Carlos declared as he helped Ashley unto the bed. "Now remember what the doctor said, you are to stay in bed for three or four days. Got it?" Carlos reminded her sternly.
"Yes sir." Ashley saluted her best friends. They all laughed before leaving to do some repairs in the engine room.
Zhane paused until he was the only one left. "If you need anything-"He called from the doorway.
"I know. I'll call Deca." Ashley answered as the silver ranger left with a smile.
As she sat in silence, comprehension set in about the attack and her body and her injuries. 'What am I going to do?' She wondered for the millionth times since she had found out about the baby 24 hours earlier. Grabbing her journal from the table, she opened it and started to write.
Journal Entry:
Today begins my 72-hour exile in bed. I have nothing to do but think about what I should do. I'm only 18 years old, I never imagined that the first time I had sex I would get pregnant or that the father would be out traveling the universe and I can't get a hold of him. Definitely not on my to do list before my 19th birthday. If I have this child, what about college? What if Andros doesn't want to have a baby? What if my dad won't help me? Should I give it for adoption? I don't know if I could be a single mom. I can't even remember my own mom, what do I know about raising a childe? I'm so scared. And after yesterday's attacks, I know I can't be a power ranger if I have this child. Where will I go? What will I do? What will the others say? I want to tell them, but what would Zhane and Karone think? I have to tell Andros first. But when is he coming back? My most fearful thought is, what if he stops loving me? My worst thought is what if someone tries to use me and the baby to hurt Andros? I could bear it somehow if he stopped loving me, then he would at least be alive, and there would be hope. But if he died, it would be like part of me dying too. And then every time I see our child I would be reminded of him. I can't tell anyone, I cannot risk the wrong people finding out.
Ashley puts her journal down as she is now sobbing in earnest, missing Andros and worried about how to take care of herself and this child. Alpha gave Ashley her medicine and she eventually fell asleep. She was still sleeping when the other rangers finished the repairs and came to check on her.
"She's asleep." Karone announced after sneaking into the medical bay to check on their teammate.
"This enforced break may just be what Ashley needs. She's been running herself ragged these last past few weeks." TJ said as he sat down to eat with the other rangers.
"I don't know Teej. It might give her too much time to think." Cassie admitted. "I mean she's probably kept herself busy to distract her from missing Andros." She observed.
"I wish Andros would get back soon." Zhane confessed in a moment of rare seriousness. "I don't know what to do for her." As Andros's best friend, he felt it was his duty to watch over Ashley.
"Just be there for her Zhane. That's all you can do. That's all we can do." Karone encouraged her boyfriend. The room fell silent as they thought about Ashley and their absent red ranger.
Three days later Ashley was released from the medical bay. "You should still take it easy." Alpha reminded her. Her ribs were healing but she still had a slight limp when she walked, but the knowledge of the baby she carried was reminder enough to make her take it easy. She spent the day alone as the other rangers went to school. Ashley made her way to the bridge and collapsed into Andros's chair.
"I wonder what you're up to?" she thought sadly as she watched the galaxies flash by through the main screen. "The ship seems so empty without you Andros. "She whispered, knowing he couldn't hear her, but wishing that he could.
She was still there hours later when the other rangers returned from school. "She must have spent too much time with Andros." Carlos joked as he pointed to the brunette slumped in the chair. They all remembered the moody red ranger who used to sit in his chair hours at a time.
TJ grinned at his joke before coming to a realization. "She needs to get off the ship."
"What are you talking about TJ?" Cassie demanded, confused at his sudden statement.
"She probably has cabin fever. She was stuck in bed for the last three days." TJ replied.
"Maybe being outside will help her. Good idea TJ." Zhane said as he lightly pulled the yellow ranger out of the chair. "Come on Ash, how about we go for a walk in the park?"
Ashley smiled as she allowed Zhane to escort her off the mega ship for the first time in days.
Zhane patiently walked with Ashley as she slowly made her way across the park towards the basketball courts. The others had already reached their destination and were waiting for the two to arrive. He noticed that she had been a lot happier when she left the ship and first arrived at the park but now seemed to be settling back into her reclusive and somber state.
"What is it Ash?" Zhane confronted the brooding yellow ranger. "Nothing. Just thinking." Ashley replied softly as her gaze traveled to the many people in the park that day. She didn't notice when Zhane left her on a bench to play basketball, she didn't even watch the game at all. She glanced around and saw kids running all over. At the ice cream truck, swinging, playing ball, riding their bikes, and some with their moms and dads walking along the trails.
She unconsciously moved her arm to rest on her still flat stomach. 'What will it be like for you?' She wondered as she thought about the child she carried. 'What will you look like? Will you have my brown eyes of Andros's hazel ones? Will you have brown or blonde hair? Will you like sports? Will you be outgoing or quiet? Just then the sudden approach of her teammates broke through her thoughts and Ashley found herself being stared at.
"Are you ready to go?" Cassie queried her friend. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Ashley stood up as Zhane once again helped support her. "Yeah, let's go." She said and the group departed from the park.
Dinner that night was another silent affair, as everyone seemed to be considerate of Ashley's quietness. She ate supper quietly and begged off from watching movies.
"But we're going to watch Monty Python..." Carlos implored his best friend, trying to convince her to stay.
"I'm tired Carlos. That trip to the park really wore me out." Ashley confessed sheepishly, as she fought back a yawn. "Are you ok Ash?" Karone asked gently. "Nothing a good night's sleep won't cure." She said, hoping she could actually get a good night's sleep.
Cassie wasn't sure if Ashley was telling the truth or not, but looking at the dark circles under her eyes and her pale skin, she concluded that Ashley looked tired and she decided not to press the issue any further. The team watched as Ashley slowly exited the cargo bay and made her way to her quarters.
"I thought for sure the park would be good for her." TJ exclaimed in frustration, slamming his hand down on the table.
"IT was TJ. Maybe she just overdid it like she said." Cassie said, jumping in to her friend's defense and laying her hand on the blue ranger's shoulder.
"I don't know guys. I think there's something more than just her missing Andros." Karone commented.
"Yeah, besides no one could miss Andros that bad." Zhane cracked with a huge smile.
"She got hurt really bad only a few days ago. Let's give her a chance to recover before worrying too much." Carlos decided after a few minutes of silence.
"I just wish she would talk to one of us. I agree with Karone. Something's not right." Cassie confessed her fears to the other rangers.
"So what do we do?" Zhane asked. No one had a quick answer to his question.
"Jeff." Carlos exclaimed to break the tense silence. "Why didn't I think of that before?" He scolded himself. No one knew what Carlos was talking about. Exasperated he continued. "Her brother Jeff. They're really close. IF she wont' talk to us maybe she'll talk to him."
"Good idea Carlos." Karone commented. "Can you get a hold of him?" she queried the black ranger.
"Yeah, let me go give him a call." Carlos replied as he quickly hurried out of the room to phone Jeff.
"Do you think this will work?" TJ wondered skeptically.
Jeff picked Ashley p after school and took her out to a diner outside of town, where the cold have some privacy.
"What's going on Ash?" Jeff asked his sister, concerned at how tired she looked. "Your friends are all worried about you." He commented gently.
"I know." She stated simply. "I just have a lot on my mind right now."
"Why don't you tell me about it? Maybe it will help to get some things of your chest." He advised her.
"I guess it can't hurt." Ashley confessed. "I'll give you the short version of everything. I'm pregnant." Ashley declared to her brother. The statement shocked him.
"Does Andros know?" Jeff wondered.
"No. I didn't even know until after the last attack. I was hurt too bad, I knew something was wrong. But I didn't expect this." Ashley shook her head in dismay. "What am I going to do?" she moaned as she put her head in her hands. Jeff was startled at his normally cheerful sister's despondent mood.
"First off, you have to take better care of yourself Ash. No offense, but you look terrible. And second, you've got to tell Andros and the others. It's too dangerous for you to be out there fighting." Jeff rebuked his sister.
"I know I should. And I will tell Andros as soon as he comes home. But I'm afraid of what will happen if the wrong people find out." Ashley cried out in frustration, not noticing the stranger slumped in the booth behind her. "What if he doesn't want the baby?"
"You can't handle this on your own anymore. You need Andros, and he needs to know so he can take care of you. Promise me you'll tell him." He begged her.
"I promise Jeff. I gotta go." Ashley said hugging her brother heading back to the ship. "Let me take you back." She tried to protest but he wouldn't hear it. "I just want to make sure you're ok." Ashley conceded to her brother's wishes and he escorted her back to the ship.
"Get some rest Ash. I'm here if you need me. Your friends will be too." HE reminded her kindly. Ashley gave him a weak smile as she entered her bedroom.
Jeff met up with Carlos and the other rangers on the bridge to give them all a report on what he had found out. "She's going through a lot right now. I wish I could tell you but I promised Ash I wouldn't. All I know is that she needs Andros now more than ever. I hope he gets back soon or I don't know what will happen." He said ominously. "I wish I could be more optimistic..." he trailed off.
"Thanks Jeff." Carlos shook his hand as Deca teleported him back to Angel Grove.
"Dark Spectre!" Talon called out wickedly, looking for his master in the vast Dark Fortress.
"What is it bird brain?" His evilness replied coolly.
"I've got some good news." That seemed to peak Dark Spectre's interest. "Well go on." He encouraged his feeble villain.
"It seems that the yellow ranger is pregnant with the Red Ranger's child." Talon grinned as he watched his master's face take in the information.
"How did you find this out?" He demanded skeptically. He had lost count of how many times he was so close to destroying the rangers just to be foiled because of bad information.
"I over heard her talking to her brother. Now you have a way of getting to the red ranger." Talon said confidently.
"Yes. Yes I do. I'm sure the red ranger would do anything for his girlfriend and child." Dark Spectre decided as he began planning his evil plan. "This is good news indeed." He left the bird to go think in his lair. This time his plan couldn't fail.
"Maybe we are expecting too much out of her too soon." Admitted Zhane. The others were still gathered around the dinner table, their food mostly untouched after the update from Jeff.
"Rangers, your presence is required on the bridge." Deca interrupted them to inform them urgently.
"Why?" TJ questioned the ship's computer. "What is it?" Cassie asked at the same time.
"Let's go guys." Zhane commanded, leading the others down and unto the bridge.
Zhane entered the bridge first and saw a person standing in the shadows. "What do you want?" HE demanded of the stranger, irritated at this intrusion. Just what they didn't need right now, a disturbance.
"Is that any way to greet your best friend?" Andros called out as he walked out of the shadows only to be enveloped in a big hug by Zhane. "Andros!" he shouted. "What are you doing back?"
"Why didn't you tell us you were coming back?" Karone demanded before giving Andros a hug as well.
"IT was a surprise." He stated as if it were obvious.
"Ashley will certainly be surprised." Carlos agreed, relieved that he was back. Maybe he could figure out what was wrong with her.
Andros looked around and didn't see his girlfriend. "Where is she?" he questioned impatiently, he had been looking forward to seeing her. He imagined his homecoming to include her animated greeting of running down the ramp and into his arms. He was concerned not to see her. "Is she ok?" His arms ached to hold her.
"She was tired so she went back to her room to rest." TJ answered the red ranger. "Before dinner?" Andros asked in surprise. "That's not like Ash." Suddenly he regretted every minute that he had spent away from her. Sure he had helped the alliance, but what was more important?
"She hasn't been feeling well lately, she hasn't been herself." Cassie spoke up to inform Andros.
Now he was really concerned. Before he could go to her room, Zhane was at the console across the bridge contacting her. "She'll want to see you." He said with a smile. Andros caught up with the other rangers as Zhane buzzed Ashley in her room.
"So tell me about the attack." Andros demanded, not in his leader tone of voice, but in his boyfriend tone of voice.
No one spoke for a few minutes before TJ finally jumped in. "It was scary Andros. I've never seen anyone hurt so badly. We've been in worse situations before, I don't know why this time was different." He admitted confused.
"She refused to go to the med bay, she wanted to go straight to the hospital." Cassie put in. "And when Zhane powered her down, and her suit faded away..." She stopped as she remembered the sickening sight of her friend lying there covered in blood. She couldn't continue, as she was overwhelmed.
Carlos took over for her. "There was a lot of blood Andros." The black ranger said honestly. Andros had to sit down. This was a lot worse than Karone had let on.
"She's ok now, Andros." His sister promised him. "She just missed you a lot." She said to get the subject off of the attack. He nodded as he waited for her to arrive.
Buzz. "Incoming transmission." Deca warned as Ashley threw off her covers. "This had better be good." She complained as she turned up the lights to see the transmission coming through on her screen. Ashley groaned as Zhane's face appeared on her screen. "This better be important." She grumbled. Zhane was about to tease her about her attitude but changed his mind when he saw her tired face. "Did I wake you?" he asked concerned.
"You buzzed?" She asked, ignoring his question. "There's something you need to see on the bridge." He informed her. "Can you come up here?"
"I'll be there in a few." Ashley replied with a sigh. Her well-needed rest would just have to wait. Zhane wouldn't have woken her up if it weren't important. Zhane nodded and cut off the transmission.
"She's on her way." He informed the other rangers as he joined their circle of conversation.
"You didn't wake her did you?" Andros confronted him. "Well yeah but," Zhane admitted slowly, not wanting to upset Andros. Before Andros could argue further, they heard Ashley's footsteps down the hall. Zhane went to greet her at the door.
She didn't see the group gathered at the foot of the ramp as she reluctantly entered the room. "This better be good Zhane!" Ashley complained as she met up with the silver ranger. Zhane was a little taken aback at her impatience but led her down the ramp anyway.
Ashley looked past Zhane and exclaimed softly, "Andros?" She took a step towards him when she felt dizzy and light headed. She grabbed unto the nearest console to steady herself.
"Ash?" Andros wondered concerned when she didn't let go of the console. She just stared at him as her face went while. Ashley let out a loud sigh as her legs collapsed underneath her and she tumbled towards the floor. Luckily Zhane was only a step behind her and managed to catch her before she hit the floor.
"Ashley!" Andros shouted as he rushed up the ramp, to where she lay limp in Zhane's lap with the other rangers not far behind. "What happened?" He demanded of his best friend as he joined the two on the floor.
"I don't know Andros." He said honestly, his face pale, as he was worried about Ashley. Andros pulled her into his arms and was relieved when she started to stir.
"Ash? Can you hear me?" The red ranger asked impatiently as he held her tightly, willing her to become alert quickly. He brushed her hair away from her face to see when she opened her eyes.
"Yeah." She mumbled, her eyes trying to adjust to the brightness in the room to focus on Andros. "What are you doing here?" she asked him in confusion, as she laid a hand on his cheek.
He granted her a small smile. "Never mind that, let's get you back to you room." Andros declared, pulling her into his arms and standing up to leave.
"Andros, don't you think you should take Ashley to the medical bay." Carlos suggested to the team leader. Ashley whimpered in response, wrapping her arms tighter around Andros's neck.
"I'm here now, I'll take care of her. If she gets any worse, I'll take her down." He stated firmly. TJ was relieved, Ashley was responding to him. And he knew Andros would take care of her better than Deca could.
Andros keyed in the code to her room and gently laid her back in her bed. He shut off the lights, and climbed in with her.
"I can't believe you're here." Ashley murmured as Andros rubbed her back to calm her down.
"I'm so glad you're ok." Andros confessed. "When I heard about the attack, I was so worried."
His concern caused Ashley to tear more, though he couldn't see it. How was she going to tell him about the baby? She knew she had promised Jeff she would tell him. But exactly how does one bring it up? She decided to tell him in the morning, she was too emotional now. Slowly she relaxed, and when she fell asleep, Andros eased out of bed to get some answers from the rest of the rangers.
Andros made his way up to the holding bay where the others were waiting for him. "What's going on?" He asked to no one in particular.
"We don't know Andros. She's tired all the time, and real quiet. We try to keep her busy but she just wants to be alone." Karone answered her brother quietly. He did not look pleased.
"She wouldn't tell us what's going on, though she did talk to Jeff." Carlos added, hoping to appease Andros.
"But maybe she'll feel better now that you're back Andros." Cassie announced. The group then disbanded and Andros made his way back to Ashley's room and climbed back in bed. He gathered her into his arms, silently praying that everything would be ok. He promised himself and Ashley he would do whatever it took to help her. He let her quiet breathing calm him down and he feel asleep, glad to be home, where he belonged.
A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! The next part will be up shortly, I'm still writing it.
Ashley woke up the next morning feeling more alert than she had in a few weeks. The medicine had helped her rest and she was looking forward to going back to the mega ship. Her friends were waiting for her when she was wheeled out of the hospital and they quickly teleported to the medical bay in the mega ship.
Ashley laughed as she looked around the medical bay. "Thanks guys." She murmured in appreciation. The other rangers had filled it with balloons and flowers and things form her room to make it more comfortable.
"Well we know how much you hate this place, so we decided to liven it up a little." Carlos declared as he helped Ashley unto the bed. "Now remember what the doctor said, you are to stay in bed for three or four days. Got it?" Carlos reminded her sternly.
"Yes sir." Ashley saluted her best friends. They all laughed before leaving to do some repairs in the engine room.
Zhane paused until he was the only one left. "If you need anything-"He called from the doorway.
"I know. I'll call Deca." Ashley answered as the silver ranger left with a smile.
As she sat in silence, comprehension set in about the attack and her body and her injuries. 'What am I going to do?' She wondered for the millionth times since she had found out about the baby 24 hours earlier. Grabbing her journal from the table, she opened it and started to write.
Journal Entry:
Today begins my 72-hour exile in bed. I have nothing to do but think about what I should do. I'm only 18 years old, I never imagined that the first time I had sex I would get pregnant or that the father would be out traveling the universe and I can't get a hold of him. Definitely not on my to do list before my 19th birthday. If I have this child, what about college? What if Andros doesn't want to have a baby? What if my dad won't help me? Should I give it for adoption? I don't know if I could be a single mom. I can't even remember my own mom, what do I know about raising a childe? I'm so scared. And after yesterday's attacks, I know I can't be a power ranger if I have this child. Where will I go? What will I do? What will the others say? I want to tell them, but what would Zhane and Karone think? I have to tell Andros first. But when is he coming back? My most fearful thought is, what if he stops loving me? My worst thought is what if someone tries to use me and the baby to hurt Andros? I could bear it somehow if he stopped loving me, then he would at least be alive, and there would be hope. But if he died, it would be like part of me dying too. And then every time I see our child I would be reminded of him. I can't tell anyone, I cannot risk the wrong people finding out.
Ashley puts her journal down as she is now sobbing in earnest, missing Andros and worried about how to take care of herself and this child. Alpha gave Ashley her medicine and she eventually fell asleep. She was still sleeping when the other rangers finished the repairs and came to check on her.
"She's asleep." Karone announced after sneaking into the medical bay to check on their teammate.
"This enforced break may just be what Ashley needs. She's been running herself ragged these last past few weeks." TJ said as he sat down to eat with the other rangers.
"I don't know Teej. It might give her too much time to think." Cassie admitted. "I mean she's probably kept herself busy to distract her from missing Andros." She observed.
"I wish Andros would get back soon." Zhane confessed in a moment of rare seriousness. "I don't know what to do for her." As Andros's best friend, he felt it was his duty to watch over Ashley.
"Just be there for her Zhane. That's all you can do. That's all we can do." Karone encouraged her boyfriend. The room fell silent as they thought about Ashley and their absent red ranger.
Three days later Ashley was released from the medical bay. "You should still take it easy." Alpha reminded her. Her ribs were healing but she still had a slight limp when she walked, but the knowledge of the baby she carried was reminder enough to make her take it easy. She spent the day alone as the other rangers went to school. Ashley made her way to the bridge and collapsed into Andros's chair.
"I wonder what you're up to?" she thought sadly as she watched the galaxies flash by through the main screen. "The ship seems so empty without you Andros. "She whispered, knowing he couldn't hear her, but wishing that he could.
She was still there hours later when the other rangers returned from school. "She must have spent too much time with Andros." Carlos joked as he pointed to the brunette slumped in the chair. They all remembered the moody red ranger who used to sit in his chair hours at a time.
TJ grinned at his joke before coming to a realization. "She needs to get off the ship."
"What are you talking about TJ?" Cassie demanded, confused at his sudden statement.
"She probably has cabin fever. She was stuck in bed for the last three days." TJ replied.
"Maybe being outside will help her. Good idea TJ." Zhane said as he lightly pulled the yellow ranger out of the chair. "Come on Ash, how about we go for a walk in the park?"
Ashley smiled as she allowed Zhane to escort her off the mega ship for the first time in days.
Zhane patiently walked with Ashley as she slowly made her way across the park towards the basketball courts. The others had already reached their destination and were waiting for the two to arrive. He noticed that she had been a lot happier when she left the ship and first arrived at the park but now seemed to be settling back into her reclusive and somber state.
"What is it Ash?" Zhane confronted the brooding yellow ranger. "Nothing. Just thinking." Ashley replied softly as her gaze traveled to the many people in the park that day. She didn't notice when Zhane left her on a bench to play basketball, she didn't even watch the game at all. She glanced around and saw kids running all over. At the ice cream truck, swinging, playing ball, riding their bikes, and some with their moms and dads walking along the trails.
She unconsciously moved her arm to rest on her still flat stomach. 'What will it be like for you?' She wondered as she thought about the child she carried. 'What will you look like? Will you have my brown eyes of Andros's hazel ones? Will you have brown or blonde hair? Will you like sports? Will you be outgoing or quiet? Just then the sudden approach of her teammates broke through her thoughts and Ashley found herself being stared at.
"Are you ready to go?" Cassie queried her friend. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Ashley stood up as Zhane once again helped support her. "Yeah, let's go." She said and the group departed from the park.
Dinner that night was another silent affair, as everyone seemed to be considerate of Ashley's quietness. She ate supper quietly and begged off from watching movies.
"But we're going to watch Monty Python..." Carlos implored his best friend, trying to convince her to stay.
"I'm tired Carlos. That trip to the park really wore me out." Ashley confessed sheepishly, as she fought back a yawn. "Are you ok Ash?" Karone asked gently. "Nothing a good night's sleep won't cure." She said, hoping she could actually get a good night's sleep.
Cassie wasn't sure if Ashley was telling the truth or not, but looking at the dark circles under her eyes and her pale skin, she concluded that Ashley looked tired and she decided not to press the issue any further. The team watched as Ashley slowly exited the cargo bay and made her way to her quarters.
"I thought for sure the park would be good for her." TJ exclaimed in frustration, slamming his hand down on the table.
"IT was TJ. Maybe she just overdid it like she said." Cassie said, jumping in to her friend's defense and laying her hand on the blue ranger's shoulder.
"I don't know guys. I think there's something more than just her missing Andros." Karone commented.
"Yeah, besides no one could miss Andros that bad." Zhane cracked with a huge smile.
"She got hurt really bad only a few days ago. Let's give her a chance to recover before worrying too much." Carlos decided after a few minutes of silence.
"I just wish she would talk to one of us. I agree with Karone. Something's not right." Cassie confessed her fears to the other rangers.
"So what do we do?" Zhane asked. No one had a quick answer to his question.
"Jeff." Carlos exclaimed to break the tense silence. "Why didn't I think of that before?" He scolded himself. No one knew what Carlos was talking about. Exasperated he continued. "Her brother Jeff. They're really close. IF she wont' talk to us maybe she'll talk to him."
"Good idea Carlos." Karone commented. "Can you get a hold of him?" she queried the black ranger.
"Yeah, let me go give him a call." Carlos replied as he quickly hurried out of the room to phone Jeff.
"Do you think this will work?" TJ wondered skeptically.
Jeff picked Ashley p after school and took her out to a diner outside of town, where the cold have some privacy.
"What's going on Ash?" Jeff asked his sister, concerned at how tired she looked. "Your friends are all worried about you." He commented gently.
"I know." She stated simply. "I just have a lot on my mind right now."
"Why don't you tell me about it? Maybe it will help to get some things of your chest." He advised her.
"I guess it can't hurt." Ashley confessed. "I'll give you the short version of everything. I'm pregnant." Ashley declared to her brother. The statement shocked him.
"Does Andros know?" Jeff wondered.
"No. I didn't even know until after the last attack. I was hurt too bad, I knew something was wrong. But I didn't expect this." Ashley shook her head in dismay. "What am I going to do?" she moaned as she put her head in her hands. Jeff was startled at his normally cheerful sister's despondent mood.
"First off, you have to take better care of yourself Ash. No offense, but you look terrible. And second, you've got to tell Andros and the others. It's too dangerous for you to be out there fighting." Jeff rebuked his sister.
"I know I should. And I will tell Andros as soon as he comes home. But I'm afraid of what will happen if the wrong people find out." Ashley cried out in frustration, not noticing the stranger slumped in the booth behind her. "What if he doesn't want the baby?"
"You can't handle this on your own anymore. You need Andros, and he needs to know so he can take care of you. Promise me you'll tell him." He begged her.
"I promise Jeff. I gotta go." Ashley said hugging her brother heading back to the ship. "Let me take you back." She tried to protest but he wouldn't hear it. "I just want to make sure you're ok." Ashley conceded to her brother's wishes and he escorted her back to the ship.
"Get some rest Ash. I'm here if you need me. Your friends will be too." HE reminded her kindly. Ashley gave him a weak smile as she entered her bedroom.
Jeff met up with Carlos and the other rangers on the bridge to give them all a report on what he had found out. "She's going through a lot right now. I wish I could tell you but I promised Ash I wouldn't. All I know is that she needs Andros now more than ever. I hope he gets back soon or I don't know what will happen." He said ominously. "I wish I could be more optimistic..." he trailed off.
"Thanks Jeff." Carlos shook his hand as Deca teleported him back to Angel Grove.
"Dark Spectre!" Talon called out wickedly, looking for his master in the vast Dark Fortress.
"What is it bird brain?" His evilness replied coolly.
"I've got some good news." That seemed to peak Dark Spectre's interest. "Well go on." He encouraged his feeble villain.
"It seems that the yellow ranger is pregnant with the Red Ranger's child." Talon grinned as he watched his master's face take in the information.
"How did you find this out?" He demanded skeptically. He had lost count of how many times he was so close to destroying the rangers just to be foiled because of bad information.
"I over heard her talking to her brother. Now you have a way of getting to the red ranger." Talon said confidently.
"Yes. Yes I do. I'm sure the red ranger would do anything for his girlfriend and child." Dark Spectre decided as he began planning his evil plan. "This is good news indeed." He left the bird to go think in his lair. This time his plan couldn't fail.
"Maybe we are expecting too much out of her too soon." Admitted Zhane. The others were still gathered around the dinner table, their food mostly untouched after the update from Jeff.
"Rangers, your presence is required on the bridge." Deca interrupted them to inform them urgently.
"Why?" TJ questioned the ship's computer. "What is it?" Cassie asked at the same time.
"Let's go guys." Zhane commanded, leading the others down and unto the bridge.
Zhane entered the bridge first and saw a person standing in the shadows. "What do you want?" HE demanded of the stranger, irritated at this intrusion. Just what they didn't need right now, a disturbance.
"Is that any way to greet your best friend?" Andros called out as he walked out of the shadows only to be enveloped in a big hug by Zhane. "Andros!" he shouted. "What are you doing back?"
"Why didn't you tell us you were coming back?" Karone demanded before giving Andros a hug as well.
"IT was a surprise." He stated as if it were obvious.
"Ashley will certainly be surprised." Carlos agreed, relieved that he was back. Maybe he could figure out what was wrong with her.
Andros looked around and didn't see his girlfriend. "Where is she?" he questioned impatiently, he had been looking forward to seeing her. He imagined his homecoming to include her animated greeting of running down the ramp and into his arms. He was concerned not to see her. "Is she ok?" His arms ached to hold her.
"She was tired so she went back to her room to rest." TJ answered the red ranger. "Before dinner?" Andros asked in surprise. "That's not like Ash." Suddenly he regretted every minute that he had spent away from her. Sure he had helped the alliance, but what was more important?
"She hasn't been feeling well lately, she hasn't been herself." Cassie spoke up to inform Andros.
Now he was really concerned. Before he could go to her room, Zhane was at the console across the bridge contacting her. "She'll want to see you." He said with a smile. Andros caught up with the other rangers as Zhane buzzed Ashley in her room.
"So tell me about the attack." Andros demanded, not in his leader tone of voice, but in his boyfriend tone of voice.
No one spoke for a few minutes before TJ finally jumped in. "It was scary Andros. I've never seen anyone hurt so badly. We've been in worse situations before, I don't know why this time was different." He admitted confused.
"She refused to go to the med bay, she wanted to go straight to the hospital." Cassie put in. "And when Zhane powered her down, and her suit faded away..." She stopped as she remembered the sickening sight of her friend lying there covered in blood. She couldn't continue, as she was overwhelmed.
Carlos took over for her. "There was a lot of blood Andros." The black ranger said honestly. Andros had to sit down. This was a lot worse than Karone had let on.
"She's ok now, Andros." His sister promised him. "She just missed you a lot." She said to get the subject off of the attack. He nodded as he waited for her to arrive.
Buzz. "Incoming transmission." Deca warned as Ashley threw off her covers. "This had better be good." She complained as she turned up the lights to see the transmission coming through on her screen. Ashley groaned as Zhane's face appeared on her screen. "This better be important." She grumbled. Zhane was about to tease her about her attitude but changed his mind when he saw her tired face. "Did I wake you?" he asked concerned.
"You buzzed?" She asked, ignoring his question. "There's something you need to see on the bridge." He informed her. "Can you come up here?"
"I'll be there in a few." Ashley replied with a sigh. Her well-needed rest would just have to wait. Zhane wouldn't have woken her up if it weren't important. Zhane nodded and cut off the transmission.
"She's on her way." He informed the other rangers as he joined their circle of conversation.
"You didn't wake her did you?" Andros confronted him. "Well yeah but," Zhane admitted slowly, not wanting to upset Andros. Before Andros could argue further, they heard Ashley's footsteps down the hall. Zhane went to greet her at the door.
She didn't see the group gathered at the foot of the ramp as she reluctantly entered the room. "This better be good Zhane!" Ashley complained as she met up with the silver ranger. Zhane was a little taken aback at her impatience but led her down the ramp anyway.
Ashley looked past Zhane and exclaimed softly, "Andros?" She took a step towards him when she felt dizzy and light headed. She grabbed unto the nearest console to steady herself.
"Ash?" Andros wondered concerned when she didn't let go of the console. She just stared at him as her face went while. Ashley let out a loud sigh as her legs collapsed underneath her and she tumbled towards the floor. Luckily Zhane was only a step behind her and managed to catch her before she hit the floor.
"Ashley!" Andros shouted as he rushed up the ramp, to where she lay limp in Zhane's lap with the other rangers not far behind. "What happened?" He demanded of his best friend as he joined the two on the floor.
"I don't know Andros." He said honestly, his face pale, as he was worried about Ashley. Andros pulled her into his arms and was relieved when she started to stir.
"Ash? Can you hear me?" The red ranger asked impatiently as he held her tightly, willing her to become alert quickly. He brushed her hair away from her face to see when she opened her eyes.
"Yeah." She mumbled, her eyes trying to adjust to the brightness in the room to focus on Andros. "What are you doing here?" she asked him in confusion, as she laid a hand on his cheek.
He granted her a small smile. "Never mind that, let's get you back to you room." Andros declared, pulling her into his arms and standing up to leave.
"Andros, don't you think you should take Ashley to the medical bay." Carlos suggested to the team leader. Ashley whimpered in response, wrapping her arms tighter around Andros's neck.
"I'm here now, I'll take care of her. If she gets any worse, I'll take her down." He stated firmly. TJ was relieved, Ashley was responding to him. And he knew Andros would take care of her better than Deca could.
Andros keyed in the code to her room and gently laid her back in her bed. He shut off the lights, and climbed in with her.
"I can't believe you're here." Ashley murmured as Andros rubbed her back to calm her down.
"I'm so glad you're ok." Andros confessed. "When I heard about the attack, I was so worried."
His concern caused Ashley to tear more, though he couldn't see it. How was she going to tell him about the baby? She knew she had promised Jeff she would tell him. But exactly how does one bring it up? She decided to tell him in the morning, she was too emotional now. Slowly she relaxed, and when she fell asleep, Andros eased out of bed to get some answers from the rest of the rangers.
Andros made his way up to the holding bay where the others were waiting for him. "What's going on?" He asked to no one in particular.
"We don't know Andros. She's tired all the time, and real quiet. We try to keep her busy but she just wants to be alone." Karone answered her brother quietly. He did not look pleased.
"She wouldn't tell us what's going on, though she did talk to Jeff." Carlos added, hoping to appease Andros.
"But maybe she'll feel better now that you're back Andros." Cassie announced. The group then disbanded and Andros made his way back to Ashley's room and climbed back in bed. He gathered her into his arms, silently praying that everything would be ok. He promised himself and Ashley he would do whatever it took to help her. He let her quiet breathing calm him down and he feel asleep, glad to be home, where he belonged.
A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! The next part will be up shortly, I'm still writing it.