I need you Chapter 13: She think she needs me, a power rangers fanfic

She thinks she needs me

Sorry it's taken me so long to write this chapter, but I've been working full time and going to grad school. Plus I wasn't totally inspired and wanted it to be as good as the rest of the story. Hope you enjoy it. Please review! Thanks.

The next morning, six weary rangers reconvened in the holding bay. "It's unanimous isn't it?" TJ asked rhetorically, noting the expressions on his friend's faces.

Andros's face was calm and hopeful as he longed to do whatever it would take to get him back to Ashley. Cassie wore a dreamy look on her beautiful face, her thoughts preoccupied by a phantom. Karone kept careful watch over her brother and grabbed his hand in support. He squeezed it back in return, noticing when her blue eyes turned to Zhane. Zhane looked horrible, TJ thought. The decision had been hardest on the silver ranger. No one knew of the insecurities he had, he had always been a ranger, and assumed he would always be a ranger. Now his best friend and the girl he loved were moving to earth, and his four friends were moving on. Three friends he amended, Ashley had left a few months ago. TJ thought the mega ship a bit colder, less friendly without her warm, cheerful presence.

Though he had protested mightily at first, Carlos wasn't as appalled by the thought of retiring as he pretended. He had fond memories of high school, though the last two years were blurred by late nights on the mega ship and last minute pages by Deca that they were needed. He looked forward to a normal life, and leaving saving the world to the next group of rangers.

"We're retired." Carlos announced, saying the words aloud for the first time. Everyone was quiet as the news set in, a sense of peace coming over them. No more indecisions, no more interruptions, no more delays, no more risks.

"Am I interrupting?" Jamie asked quietly, peeking her head into the room. "No, come on in." Andros reassured the yellow ranger. She didn't have to ask, she knew they were retiring. As much as she liked the group of rangers, she never felt like she belonged. There was no way she could replace the former yellow space ranger, not that they expected her to, but there was no way of escaping how close the team had been, how much they loved Ashley. That's why she never doubted they would retire.

"Now what Deca?" Karone questioned the ship's computer anxiously. She knew there was still evil out there determined to finally defeat the power rangers and earth.

"I've selected a new group of rangers to follow in your enormous footsteps." Deca informed them gently. "Tony Parker, black ranger, lacrosse player at Lafontaine University." The computer reported as a picture flashed on the screen. A tall, muscular boy with light wavy hair visualized before them.

Deca continued on with his introductions. "Lauren Adkins, pink ranger, technology expert from Cal State." Cassie was intrigued by the person who would be replacing her. Lauren was tall, graceful and Hispanic. She wasn't as sad as she thought she would be, but thoughts of Phantom and spending time with him overshadowed the sadness.

"Marcus Thompson, blue ranger, wake boarder from Seaside." TJ noticed how different Marcus was from him, and he was reminded of how different every ranger was, and how every ranger team was unique. He felt confident in their ability to protect the earth.

"Nathan Livingston, red ranger, captain of the Northern California Volleyball Club team." Andros was secure in Deca's ability to choose another team worthy of the powers.

"When are they coming?" he asked the computer anxiously. The sooner the better in his opinion. "This afternoon." Deca's response startled them, they hadn't expected for it to happen so soon. "There's no rush for you to leave though." Deca assured them, knowing that the transition would inevitably be tough on all of them. "I hope you can make them feel at home."

TJ and Carlos hurried off to pack up the rest of their belongings, eager to return to Angel Grove; while Cassie went to phone Saryn.

"Why Zhane?" Karone questioned her boyfriend softly as soon as the others had left.

"I couldn't do this with another team." Zhane admitted. "Besides it would be nice to be in one place for awhile, other than the cyro lab." He quipped to lighten the mood. Karone smiled as he held open his arms and she climbed into his arms. Andros smiled at the sight of his sister and best friend so happy together. His heart reminded him of the woman he left behind and he wondered how she was doing. By now Ashley would be six months pregnant. He wasn't as nervous as he always thought he'd be, but that was because he never planned on Ashley and falling in love.

He knew it would be hard to resist her the moment he saw her. Shiny, brown curls framed her beautiful face; her hazel eyes lighting up every time she smiled, which was very often. Andros found himself falling for her at that moment. She was athletic and graceful, even in battle. The first time he knew he loved her was when she had gone over the railing when they discovered the megazords. He could've lost her then. 'I could lose her now too.' His mind screamed out. He hadn't seen her in two months and still had to go to KO-35 before he could see her. She always believed in him, always trusted him. She always said she needed him, how could he not have believed her?

She thinks I walk on water

She thinks I hung the moon

She tells me every mornin'

They just don't make men like you

She thinks I've got it together

She swears I'm as tough as nails

But I don't have the heart to tell her

She don't know me that well

Maybe he hadn't realized how much he needed her. But he does now. Every minute he has to spend without Ashley feels like an eternity. Thoughts of her were the only things that would get him through his trip to KO-35.

She don't know how much I need her

She don't know I'd fall apart

Without her kiss

Without her touch

Without her faithful lovin' arms

She don't know that it's all about her

She don't know I can't live without her

She's my world she's my everything

And she thinks she needs me

"Do you need anything from the store?" Tommy asked his wife as he prepared to go to the dojo for two morning classes. "No." She replied. "But could you stop in and see Ashley at the bookstore for me?"

"Will do." He answered, giving her a long kiss before leaving. One of the things he loved about Kim was her love and kindness towards others. Ashley had become a friend long before when she had become a power ranger. Truth be told, Tommy was just as concerned about her as his wife was.

Ashley was nervous as she waited for the receptionist to call her name. She hated having to call out of work again, but the pain was excruciating and she had no other choice. Luckily Chris was really understanding, but it didn't help her pay the endless bills that kept on piling up. Plus she needed to work full time hours to be eligible for health insurance, which she desperately needed.

"What brings you in Ashley?" Dr. Grant asked kindly. He had delivered both her and her older brother years ago.

"My hands and feet are swollen when I wake up in the morning. I'm still nauseous, almost to the point of dizziness without having morning sickness." She described her symptoms in full detail. She may be paranoid about going to the doctors every other week, but she was determined to take good care of herself and the baby. She kept herself so occupied that she didn't have time to worry about Andros, though she believed he would come back to her when he could.

"Any headaches?" he questioned the young mother. She nodded in response as he checked her vital signs." Your blood pressure is a bit higher than last time Ashley." Dr. Grant told her concerned, but not overly worried. "We'll check your protein levels in your urine and next visit we'll do an ultrasound."

"Did you get a chance to see Ashley?" Kim asked as soon as Tommy walked in the door for dinner. He smiled at her concern. "She wasn't working today. Chris said something about a doctor's appointment." He replied as he sat down at their table.

"Doctor's appointment?" Kim repeated curiously. "I thought she had one last week." She said aloud more to herself than to her husband as she worried about her new friend.

Tommy noticed her quietness. "Guess who I did see though?" Tommy spoke up in excitement. Kim couldn't stay somber at his tone of voice. "Who?" She indulged him as she too sat down with the food.

"TJ." He announced simply. "Why? Does Ashley know?" Kim demanded of her husband, very interested in this good news.

"All he said was that the team had retired." He answered quickly. "But I was thinking we should have a party for Ashley." He suggested slowly, knowing Kim wouldn't argue with his plan.

"Great idea hon." Kim cried enthusiastically. "There's so much to do. I've got to call Aisha." She declared as she raced out of the room in search of the phone. Tommy sighed as he watched her disappear, before quickly eating his dinner so he could see what his impulsive wife was up to.

A few days later…

After another grueling day of work, Ashley groaned as she poured her weary and achy body into the lone chair of her apartment. For the first time in a few months, she gave into the emotions that she had been trying to hold back. Sobs of tears burst forth as the most recent news from the doctor disturbed her. "Where are you Andros? Why aren't you here with me?" she cried out, her words echoing through the silence of the apartment. "I need you." She whispered in anguish as loneliness descended upon her.

Andros had just finished loading up the pod with supplies for his trip to KO-35. Cassie had left earlier that morning for Elisia to spend time with Saryn while Carlos and TJ had immediately gone back to earth. Karone and Zhane volunteered to help train the new team of rangers. He was looking forward to seeing his homeland again and beginning the rebuilding process. But he was more excited about seeing Ashley again.

She fell asleep in the large chair for a brief, restless nap when she was frightened awake by a sharp pain in her stomach that couldn't be ignored. "Aahh!" The scream couldn't be held in as she managed to pull herself out of the chair. "Why now?" She complained as she held her stomach and tried to crawl towards the telephone.

He was about to board the pod when a strange premonition came over him. 'Ashley.' He thought suddenly. It was the same feeling he got whenever he thought Zhane was in danger. He wanted to shake it off, but it kept getting stronger and stronger. His last trip to KO-35 almost cost him Ashley, and he refused to do it again. 'She needs me!' his heart cried out in worry as he ran back unto the mega ship.

"Deca, teleport me to Ashley." He commanded the computer, aborting his mission to KO-35. "Alert the others." Was his final instruction as he disappeared into a glitter of red.

He reappeared on a small street filled with apartment buildings. He quickly spotted her yellow cabriolet and without pausing entered into her apartment. "Ash?" he called out gently, worried about his girlfriend, hoping he was just being paranoid.

His fears weren't relieved when he spotted her a moment later on the floor. "Ashley!" He shouted to get her attention. She was lying on the floor, her arms wrapped around her stomach, her face twisted as if in tremendous pain. "Oh god." He whispered panicked.

"An ambulance is on the way." Another voice announced from inside the doorway. The calming voice of TJ helped Andros to calm Ashley down. "We're here baby, you're going to be okay." He whispered to her as he gathered her into his arms protectively. TJ came over and checked her pulse and blood pressure and was alarmed at its high rate. He kept his fears to himself, encouraging Andros to keep Ashley relaxed until they could get her to the hospital.

"How did you know?" She whispered back to him, not believing he was really here with her.

"I knew that you needed me." He replied simply as he tried to convince himself that she was okay and the baby was fine. 'This is all my fault.' He thought miserably. 'I should have been here.' He regretted not coming after her the moment she retired. He would not forgive himself if anything happened to her or the baby.

Instinctively Ashley knew Andros was hurting as much as she was, so she reached up to touch his face in reassurance, despite her own pain. He smiled at the small gesture and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. The next moment the ambulance arrived taking Ashley and Andros away, with TJ following close behind.

"What's going on TJ?" Carlos demanded as the former blue ranger entered the waiting room at Angel Grove Hospital. "Deca said it was an emergency, Ashley was in trouble." He explained further.

"I don't know much more than you. They just brought her in so they're going to do some tests." Was all that he could say as other rangers came pouring into the waiting room.

"We should have done more." Kim worried as she paced about the room." She hasn't been herself in a few weeks." She informed Ashley's teammates as Tommy tried to comfort his wife.

"What do you mean?" Carlos asked curiously. "She's been going to the doctor's frequently and she's always tired. It's been a hard pregnancy." Kim replied honestly.

"Well, Andros is here now, and that should help Ashley get back to good health." Cassie said optimistically.

"So TJ, have you thought about going into medicine?" Tommy asked, changing the subject to pass the time. "Only since I was six." TJ replied with a grin. "Actually, I'm going to Stanford in the fall for pre med."

"Wow! Congratulations Teej!" Cassie exclaimed happily. "I know you'll make a great doctor." She finished truthfully.

"What kind of doctor?" Adam questioned interestedly. "I think I want to do pediatrics." His answer didn't surprise Carlos who knew how much his teammate loved kids, and was really good with them.

"When did you find out?" He asked him. TJ debated about whether or not to tell them, but decided to be upfront about it. "February." The former blue astro ranger stated.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Carlos wondered in surprise.

"I was only going to go if all of us retired." TJ declared unflinchingly. "I'm not mad." Carlos defended himself at TJ's weariness to respond. "I just wonder how you kept a secret that long." He teased his friend. "Ashley didn't tell she was pregnant." TJ reminded him that he wasn't the only one with a secret. "What was I the only one without a secret?" He asked, trying to be offended. Cassie only gave him a friendly shove in response.

"How did you find out?" Kim asked incredulously. "Dark Spectre." TJ answered with a wry grin. "He had taken Ashley's brother Jeff to get Ashley to get Andros." He clarified, reading the confused looks on their faces.

Their easygoing banter revealed to Tommy and the other older rangers how tight the astro team was. He knew they had been through a lot together as a team, and that they could handle the situation with Ashley. He could read the worry on their faces, remembering how it matched his own when Kimberly had fallen on the balance beam and ended up in the hospital. After all the battles they had engaged in as power rangers, it was real life that had truly almost taken her away from him. His heart went out to Andros as he waited for some answers from the doctor.

The young man in red waited silently on a couch by the door, his elbows on his knees and head hanging down as if he were praying. There were no words his friends could say to reassure him until he could see Ashley for himself.

"Andros?" The doctor called out to the group of people waiting. "Ashley is asking for you." He explained and led the leader down the hallway to his girlfriend's, actually fiancée's room, but nobody knew about that yet. He wasn't certain that she hadn't changed her mind. He realized there was a lot of things to talk about that had happened over the past few months. He pushed those thoughts aside as the doctor opened the door to her room. Andros was immediately at her side; worry mounting as he saw the wires coming out of her body. "It's just to monitor the baby and the mother." Dr. Grant tried to relieve his anxiety. Andros felt the anxiety begin to fade but the guilt remained as he wondered if she would be here in the first place if he had come after her.

She was lying quietly, though he could sense the tension in her body as she waited for the doctor's report. "The results of the urine test you took the other day were 2 in protein, which is very high." Dr. Grant began gently. "It also mentions here you have been having headaches."

She nodded. "What does it mean?" She whispered as tears threatened to fill her eyes. Andros grabbed her hand and held it tight as they waited for the doctor to continue. "Put these symptoms together with your lightheadedness, and your swollenness, and abdominal pain; we can conclude that you are experiencing toxemia, or preeclampsia." He told the young couple.

"Oh my god." She exclaimed in shock. "Is it serious?" Andros had to know. He held his breath for the answer. He couldn't lose her.

"It is serious, but not life threatening." He reassured them. Toxemia is three times more likely in first time young mothers, and those whose mothers may have had it. I helped deliver you Ashley, and your brother too. Your mother was young when she had Jeff and she too had toxemia. So we really shouldn't have been surprised that this came up. I wish we had recognized the signs sooner." Dr. Grant lamented.

"However I'm going to have to put you on bed rest for the rest of your term so that it doesn't develop into eclampsia, which is very serious." He warned them kindly. "You should get some rest." He reminded his patient. "You can leave in the morning."

"Thank you." She replied softly as exhaustion overcame her. Andros quickly followed the doctor out. "Is there anything you're not telling us?" He demanded in his no-nonsense tone of voice. He wasn't good with dealing with emotions; he was much better with facts. He had to know the facts to make good decisions.

"Andros, she's going to be fine. I'll admit I was a bit worried before, but now that I see that you're back and can care for her, I feel much better about the whole situation."

Andros believed him and felt some of his tension ease away. He shook the doctor's hand and went back to Ashley's side. Dr. Grant grinned as he watched the young man reenter the room and went to inform their friends, seeing as Andros was too preoccupied to do so. He watched her silently, allowing her to rest, using the time to watch the woman who captured his heart completely and knowing he would tell her tomorrow how much he needs her. He promised himself that Ashley wouldn't go another day doubting his love for her, and he would do anything to convince her to marry him. He yawned as the day's events caught up to him and settled into the chair at her bedside, her hand loosely in his. Before closing his eyes, he placed a kiss on her lips, thanking the stars that she was all right, that their baby was all right. He was still amazed that they were going to have a baby, that he was going to be a father. He hadn't allowed himself to think about it, knowing it would interfere with his missions. But now he indulged himself in dreaming about the future.