Chapter 4: I Love You

The next morning, Andros was working on the Megaship when the computer beeped. "Incoming transmission, audio only," DECA informed. Andros nodded.

"Send it through," Andros instructed.

Andros started working again while the transmission was sent through. "Anodrs?" A shaky voice called. Andros looked up.

"Ashley?" He answered.

He heard her sniffle. "I--I'm going to come a--board," she informed. He could tell she was trying her best not to cry.

"Okay, teleport aboard," he instructed.

The transmission was cut and then a yellow flash appeared in front of him. Ashley just stood for a second and then she collapsed. He ran over and caught her before she hit the floor. "Ai, yi yi!" Alpha gasped. Andros picked her up in a carrying position and took her to the infirmary.

Andros set her down on the medical bed and his eyes widened in disbelief when her hair fell away from her face. "No…" he whispered. Her beautiful face was covered in cuts and bruises. Andros ran a scanner over her and looked at the screen. He felt his blood start to boil at the results. More bruises were on her arms and legs. He placed the scanner down and let out a breath as he reached over to touch her face. Ashley slowly opened her eyes and let out a scream when she felt someone touching her face. She sat up and tried back away, but she realized she was on a medical bed. "Ashley, hey, calm down, it's me," Andros assured her.

"Andros?" She asked.

Andros nodded and Ashley buried her head in his chest. Andros sat on the medical bed and held her. "When did all this happen?" He asked.

"Right after you left," she replied.

He stroked her hair and closed his eyes. "You can't keep doing this," he whispered. Ashley let out a sigh.

"I can't run away, Andros. He needs me," she stated.

"He needs you as a punching bag."

Ashley pulled from his arms and looked at him. "Things must stay the way they are. If I run away, he'll go through all our friends to find me," she insisted.

"But he'll kill you," he told her.

Ashley placed her hands on his face. "Things must stay the way they are, Andros. As long as I stay with daddy you and our friends will be safe," she assured him. Andros placed his hands over hers.

"Ashley, one day he's going to go too far," he murmured.

Ashley tried her best to give him a smile. "I'm not afraid if he does, as long as you guys are safe from him," she answered. Andros shook his head.

"No…but I'm afraid to lose you," he told her.

Ashley looked at him to see a different look in his eye. "Ashley…I love you," he confessed. Ashley's eyes widened and the tears were pressed against her eyes.

"Y--You love me?" She asked.

Andros nodded. "More than anything," he answered. Ashley hugged him tight.

"I love you too," she answered.

Andros hugged her back and closed his eyes. "I always have," he added. He placed a kiss on her neck and just held her. He stared at the medical screen while he held her. He noticed that the bruises on her were already healing from their Ranger powers. He pulled back and placed his hands on her healing face. Her lip was already all healed that how it was the night before. Ashley stared back at him and she realized that they were very close together. Andros went to pull back when Ashley pulled him down for a kiss. Being very careful with her injuries, he wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss. He reached up and stroked her cheek. Ashley pulled back.

"Andros," she said.

"Yeah," he answered.

She let out a sigh. "Can I stay here, please?" She asked. Andros nodded and pushed some hair out of her eyes.

"Of course you can stay," he replied.

Ashley placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Andros held her to him and kissed the top of her head. "I love you very much," he whispered.

"I love you too," she answered.

Andros had Ashley lie back down and he placed a blanket over her. He kissed her bruised cheek and left the room so she could sleep. Not knowing when was the last time Ashley actually slept.

Later that afternoon, the computer beeped again. "Incoming transmission, audio only," DECA informed.

"Put it through," Andros instructed.
"Acknowledged," DECA answered.

"Andros, it's Cassie."

Andros looked up from his work. "Hey, Cass, what's going on?" He asked.

"I--Is Ashley with you?" She asked.

"Yes, she's with me."

He could hear someone else in the background. "Her father's here looking for her," she informed. Andros felt his blood boil.

"How are you contacting me?" He asked.

"The phone, Zhane helped me."

Andros let out a sigh. "Put her father on the phone," he instructed. He could hear anger on the other end.

"Where is my daughter you bastard?" He asked.

Andros tried to keep calm. "She's with me," Andros replied.

"Send her home," he ordered.

"Not happening. I don't appreciate seeing my girlfriend coming to see me all beaten up."

There was silence on the phone. "That bitch you," he snapped. Andros felt the bile rise in his throat.

"She didn't tell me a thing. I could tell when I look at her. You're disgusting and don't deserve to have your daughter come home," Andros snapped.

"Send her home or I'll kill your little friend."

Andros felt his heart stopped. Ashley came onto the bridge. "I'm coming home, daddy," she answered.

"Ashley, no," he objected.

Ashley grabbed his hands with tears pressing against her eyes. "Things have to be this way," she whispered. She cut the transmission and stroked his face. "They have to stay this way," she insisted.

"He'll kill you," he insisted.

"He won't kill me."

She pressed a kiss against his lips. "I love you," she told him. Andros stroked her face.

"I love you too," he answered.

Ashley took a deep breath as she went back home.

(Hammond Home)

Ashley sat on the couch when Mr. Hammond came home, for the firs time in days, sober. "What were you thinking running to him?" He asked. Ashley fidgeted with her hands.

"I--I don't know," she replied.

"I don't want you seeing that boy again do you understand me?"

Ashley bit her lip gently and she nodded her head slowly. "Yes, sir," she answered.

"Go to your room," he ordered.

Ashley went upstairs and she laid down on her bed. She played with the necklace around her neck. She buried her head into her pillow and cried. She would fight back, but there was one problem, she was afraid of what he would do if she fought back.