A/N: Okay, so this is technically not slash, since there's nothing else but talking going on, but it deals with the Hunter/Cam subject, and that's good enough for me.

How did you know?
By Dany
Rated G

Summary: In the aftermath of "I love Lothor" Cam is trying to apologize to Tori, but the conversation leads to some things he didn't think she knew…

Tori leaned slightly into the oncoming wave in order to keep her balance on her board. It was a perfect day, not too hot, just the right breeze to whip up some awesome waves…She let out a content sigh as warm ocean breath caressed her face. After yesterday's string of chaotic events she needed this break badly. That stupid love spell, Blake and Cam's ridiculous bickering and fighting over her, not to mention their silly presents! At first it had been amusing, even flattering – their puppy dog eyes, the way they had doted on her, showering her with attention…but it had quickly turned ugly when the fighting began.

Thunder-Samurai duel…She shook her head at that memory.

Yes, she definitely needed some good surfing after all that.

Tori shifted, picking up speed, then bent her torso while riding the underside of a particularly large wave. She closed her eyes as a salty spray of water hit her face…and caught a glimpse of green on the beach when she opened them again.

Cam? What was he doing here?

Tori knew Cam well enough to know that he wasn't just out for a leisurely stroll along the beach; the gang normally had a hard enough time getting him out of Ninja Ops for anything that didn't involve an alien monster fight.

The Water ninja rode the wave out until it gently dumped her onto shore, then picked up her board and jogged towards where he was standing a few yards further up the beach next to her towel and beach bag.

Gentleman that he was, he held out the towel for her, his face unreadable. But then again it usually is, Tori mused as she dropped her board and nodded her thanks while toweling off. "Hi Cam, what's driving you out here?"

Cam shrugged, trying to make it look nonchalant. "It's a beautiful day, why shouldn't I be out?" he said with an innocent grin. Tori gave him a wry look. "Because California has an average of 350 beautiful days a year and so far you've never given a hoot about any of them," she countered and Cam half-snorted, half-laughed.

"All right, point for you." His merriment, however, was short-lived. "Truth is, I…" He met her gaze and there was something in his eyes Tori could only describe as awkwardness. "I wanted to apologize."

Tori's brows furrowed in confusion. "Apologize? For what?" she asked, while she spread out the towel, plopped down onto it and patted the spot next to her in silent invitation. Cam sat beside her, careful to avoid any wet spots. He pulled up his knees Indian-style and leaned forward, elbows resting on his thighs.

"I still can't believe the way I acted yesterday," he said, shaking his head in emphasis, "and I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for everything. I mean…Christ, you got hurt out there because of me - well, ok, Blake and me - and it could have turned out worse if the others hadn't shown up…" He waived his hands in a frustrated gesture, then let them fall back onto his thighs, exhaling audibly in the process. He looked downright miserable, and Tori's heart went out to him.

"It was a spell, Cam," she said, putting some conviction into her voice. "There was no fault on either yours or Blake's part. Matter of fact, the only one I'm mad at about this whole thing is Lothor."

Cam wasn't consoled that easily. "But I of all people should have realized that something was wrong, Tori," he exclaimed. "I should have…"

"Apology accepted, Cam," Tori cut him off with an affectionate smile and a pat on his shoulder. "Not that you needed to apologize in the first place. Like I said: It was a spell, after all. So let's just forget about it, okay"

She could see Cam's shoulders relax as the pent-up tension left him, and his mouth formed into a small smile. "Thanks, Tori."

And for a little while the Blue and the Green Ranger sat quietly, both looking out over the gently lapping waves – until Tori broke the silence.

"But I don't think it's me you should be apologizing to."

Now Cam's relieved grin turned into a puzzled frown. "What do you mean? I've already had a talk with Blake and…"

"I'm not talking about Blake, Cam." Tori took a deep breath; she wasn't sure how Cam would react to her next words, but there was no going back now. "I think Hunter could really use some reassurance from you. He's trying not to show it, but he's been pretty confused and upset since this whole thing began, you know?"

Apart from the brief widening of his eyes and the twitch of a muscle in his cheek, Cam's face stayed expressionless. "Hunter?" he asked innocently. "What does he have to do…"

But Tori just looked at him with her eyebrows raised in a knowing gesture. Sometimes looks could relay things better than words. Cam stared at her for a moment longer, then his gaze drifted back towards the ocean. Tori waited, giving him time to formulate a response. Finally, after a long minute, he said, "How did you know?"

"Just intuition, I guess," she replied softly.

When he turned back to her, his almond eyes were clouded by anxiety. "The others…"

But Tori quickly silenced him with a dismissive wave of her hand and a reassuring smile. "No need to worry about the others, Cam. They are teenage boys. They recognize when they're hungry, tired – and when somebody is making fun of their skateboarding or motocross skills. Other than that, they're all pretty much oblivious."

"But you're not," Cam said flatly. Tori grinned and shrugged casually.

"I'm a girl," was all she said, and this actually, in a strange way, made sense to Cam. Apart from him, Tori had always been the most levelheaded of their group. Not prone to jump into action like Dustin and Shane, not overly wary like Hunter, and certainly not too easily distracted like Blake – even though that was easy for her, being that the biggest source for the Navy Ranger's distractions was Tori - so yes, it did make sense that the Water ninja would be the only one who had picked up on their carefully concealed affection so far. Cam briefly wondered how long she had suspected something about them. At the same time, he was grateful for Tori's discretion; she seemed to simply accept them as being more than friends, no further questions asked, and that was one of the many qualities that made the blonde ninja such an important friend for Cam.

And that friend just broke through his train of thought by nudging his shoulder lightly with hers. "Tell you what…Blake sooo owes me dinner for this whole mess, and since we were planning on trying out that new Italian place that opened just down the street from Storm Chargers…" her eyes sparkled with girlish excitement. "We could double-date! How about tonight?"

"Whoah, I…uhm," Cam scratched the back of his neck, visibly uncomfortable. "Don't take this wrong, Tori, but I don't think I'm ready for something like this yet. I mean, Hunter and I haven't even gotten to the point of formally going out for dinner with just each other yet." He shrugged. "Well, if you don't count hanging out in fast food joints, that is." He have her a side-glance, trying to gauge her reaction and was immensely relieved when he saw understanding in her eyes.

"It's ok, Cam," she said, nodding. "You two need to go at your own pace and I certainly don't want to push you into something that might turn awkward for you."

"Thanks, Tori," he said for the second time within the last few minutes. Then he cocked his head. "Maybe sometime down the road we'll take you up on that offer, when things are a little…clearer between us, you know?"

Tori simply nodded, smiling sweetly. Several pairs of seagulls suddenly broke the silence of the beach by flying low over the glistening water, their wings flapping sharply, obviously on the lookout for food. Cam followed their flight path with his eyes, but the faraway look in his gaze told Tori that he probably wasn't even really aware of the birds. Then his head snapped around and his shoulders squared. "You know what? You're right," he said, looking quite determined all of a sudden. "I do owe Hunter an apology. Should have done that yesterday. I don't even know why I didn't…" He moved to get up. "I better get going."

She rose with him, grabbing her towel in the process. "Wait, I'll come with you. I have to get back home anyways. Big math test tomorrow and I haven't even started studying for it yet. I'll drop you off at Ops, okay?"

"All right." He gave her a smile as he slung her beach bag over his shoulder while she gathered up her surfboard, and together they made their way towards her van. They had only covered a few feet when Tori turned, addressing his profile. "Listen, if you ever need anyone to go shopping for clothes with you once the big dinner date finally does come around…"

Cam let out an amused snort and even though he kept looking straight ahead, Tori couldn't help but grin at the way he rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. "What? I'm just saying that I think you would look really good in a dark red shirt…"

THE END