Disclaimer: You know the drill…

Note: I finally decided that the story takes place somewhere after Dark Wish but before Heir Apparent since I'm not having Udonna address Nick as her son and Imperious is still around.

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A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect
every action in this world will bear a consequence
If you wade around forever you will surely drown
I see what's going down.

The following day, the five teenagers began their shift at The Rockporium. It seemed like a night of sleep and a whole day of school had done little to remedy the situation as Nick saw the others giving him an occasional glare. Nick rolled his eyes and went to Madison, who was restocking shelves in the back.

"Can we talk?" He asked. Madison didn't even look at him as she continued working.

"I don't think there's anything to talk about," she replied. Nick crouched down next to her and started helping her work. "I can do it on my own," she said.

"I know you can," Nick replied. "I just thought I'd help," he said. They worked in silence, reaching into the box between them and putting the CDs on the shelf. After a while, he took her hand as she reached into the box. Madison flinched and tried to pull her hand away but he held her. "Look, I'm sorry about yesterday, okay?" He said. Madison looked away. He groaned. "Okay, maybe you're right," he said. "Maybe I am a little jealous. Maybe I was just…..letting that go wild and……it just made me think stupid things," he said. A part of him groaned as he said these words. He didn't want to say them, he didn't want to admit any wrongdoings on his part but that same part also hated seeing her and the others mad at him. He'd do anything if it meant he could fix things.

"Fine," she said coldly. Nick sighed and let go of her hand and simply went back to helping her. "I……I'm sorry too," she finally said. Nick chanced a look at her, but she was just keeping her eyes on the shelf as she spoke. "I shouldn't have said you should leave town," Nick smiled briefly to himself. Well, at least she's not too mad at me anymore.

"Thanks," he said. Suddenly, the familiar chime of their phones was heard. Nick and Madison stood up and joined the others as they left the store. As they were leaving, they saw Ben approaching the store.

"Hey, what's going on?" He asked.

"Toby just asked us to go get some stuff for the store," Madison said, giving him a quick kiss in greeting. She went to go off with the others but Ben took her hand and held her back.

"All of you?" He asked suspiciously.

"It's a lot of stuff," Chip said.

"Well, hey, let me help," he offered.

"We're fine, but thanks," Nick said, trying his best to reign in his hostility. Vida went over and put her hands on her sister's shoulders.

"Don't worry, Romeo, we'll bring your Juliet back in no time, promise," She said, pulling Madison away. Ben let go and watched as they ran off before walking into the store.

---

The five rangers and Daggeron faced off against another one of Imperious' monsters. It had knocked each of the rangers down, giving a hearty laugh at their predicament.

"Foolish humans," the monster laughed. "You are nothing compared to my power,"

"Wanna bet?" Vida said as she and Madison climbed up to their feet and charged at the beast. The sisters fought the being together, clasping hands and pulling each other forward to deliver staggering kicks at the creature. The monster growled as he grabbed Vida's foot as she went to kick her. "Hey, let go!" She yelled. The monster laughed as he used her leg to throw her to the side, making her crash into Chip and Xander.

"You okay?" Chip asked as he helped her up.

"Uh huh," she replied. Madison faced off alone against the creature, using her staff to beat him. The monster grabbed the staff and kept her from striking again. Madison grunted as she tried to pull it free. The monster slammed her mammoth hand into the blue ranger's chest, releasing the staff as she flew backwards and hit the ground hard.

"Maddie!" Vida exclaimed. Madison rubbed the sore spot on her chest and tried to get up but was stopped when the monster slammed his foot into the small of her back.

"AGHHHHHHHHHH!" Madison screamed in agony as she fell flat onto the ground, her morph disintegrating in her weakened state.

"NO!" Nick hollered as he ran between the monster and his fallen friend. "Get away from her!" The others joined and fought the beast as Nick crouched down beside Madison. "Maddie? Maddie are you okay?" He asked. She lay on her stomach on the ground, her nails scratching on the rocky surface as she tried to get up. Nick could hear soft whimpers coming from her. "Just stay down, it'll be okay," he soothed. The other rangers soon disposed of the beast, their anger fueling their attack. Once the monster was dealt with, they all gathered around Madison and Nick.

"Maddie," Vida said worriedly. She kneeled down and gently turned her sister to her side. She could see tears of pain collecting in her eyes.

"Come, let us get her to Rootcore," Daggeron said. Nick gently pulled Madison's arm around his shoulders before he scooped her off the ground and stood up. Madison buried her face into Nick's chest and looped her other arm around his chest as well.

"Its okay, Madison," Nick whispered. "You're going to be okay,"

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"What happened?" Udonna gasped as she saw the six rangers quickly enter Rootcore, Madison in Nick's arms.

"Maddie's hurt," Chip said. "That thing practically stomped on her back."

"Bring her here," Udonna said, directing Nick to the cot near the wall. Nick gently set Madison on her stomach, careful not to hurt her back.

"Is she going to be okay?" Vida asked, worried for her sister.

"Let me see," she said. Udonna lifted the bottom of the white cotton tunic under Madison's vest.

"No!" Madison exclaimed, one of her hands flying back as she tried to stop the sorceress.

"Madison, I must see where you were hurt," Udonna said gently. Vida walked over to her sister and sat by her head, taking her hand in hers.

"Its okay, sis, she's going to help," she said. Madison closed her eyes as more tears leaked out. Vida looked at Udonna and nodded for her to continue. Udonna lifted the back of the shirt, folding the end over the bottom of the vest. She gasped at what she saw. "What is it?" Vida asked. The others gathered around and Vida stood up to see what had surprised Udonna. There, on the small of Madison's back was a large splotchy bruise. It expanded across the small plane as if it was a tattoo of some sort. There was redness on the skin around the bruise from where the beast had kicked the blue ranger.

"I did not realize how serious her injuries were," Udonna said. Madison squeezed her eyes shut as even more tears leaked out. She knew exactly what they had been looking at. It was a fairly new bruise that had been inflicted upon her by Ben after she spilled a drink on his living room carpet as the two of them sat watching a DVD together. The monster's strike had further aggravated the sensitive muscle tissue in the poor girl's back. Vida went back to where she had been sitting and took Madison's hand in hers again. "Clare," Udonna said, calling for her apprentice.

"Yes, Udonna?"

"Go outside and gather some avandra leaves, please," she requested.

"Yes, Udonna," the blonde girl said as she left the fortress. Udonna leaned over and gently stroked Madison's hair. "It's all right, child," she said.

"Is she going to be okay?" Chip asked.

"Yes, Chip," Daggeron said, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Avandra leaves will soothe some of Madison's pain and aid her recovery,"

"Sooth? You mean like aloe?" Xander asked.

"Somewhat," Daggeron said. Clare soon returned with a basket full of large rubbery leaves and placed it by Udonna.

"Thank you," Udonna said. Clare nodded and stepped back. Udonna stood up and picked one of the leaves from the basket. "Madison, this may sting a little," she told her. She slowly placed the leaf onto Madison's back. Madison whimpered as the object made contact with her skin. It felt like someone had dropped an entire bottle of rubbing alcohol onto an open wound. Nick walked over to where Vida sat and took Madison's other hand in his. Udonna smoothed her hand over the back of the leaf, making sure it covered as much as it could before reaching for another one. Madison whimpered again and clenched her hands, tightening her hold on Vida and Nick's hands. Vida couldn't help it as tears entered her eyes over her sister's pain. She stroked Madison's head with her free hand.

"It's all right, Maddie," she whispered gently. Udonna placed another leaf on Madison's back before lowering the bottom of the tunic and stepping back.

"She will be all right after a night of rest," she told her worried companions.

"Are you sure?" Nick asked. She nodded.

"Can I take her home?" Vida asked.

"Yes, but be careful," she said.

"Here, I'll help," Xander said. He stepped forward and carefully scooped Madison up in his arms. Vida and Nick let her go as she curled into Xander's embrace. Vida got up and followed as Xander carried her sister out of Rootcore.

"I'm coming with you guys," Nick said, following Vida. Vida spun around to face him and put her hand on his chest, stopping him where he stood.

"No, Nick," she said. "Just go home,"

"But-"

"Please," Vida pleaded. Nick stepped back.

"Fine," he said.

"Thank you," Vida turned and followed Xander out.

---

After the three of them emerged from one of the trees behind The Rockporium, careful not to be seen, Xander carried Madison over to Vida's car and gently placed her in the back seat, making sure to put her on her side so she wouldn't put any weight on her back. Vida looked at Xander.

"Can you come home with us?" She asked. "I don't….I don't think I can carry her into the house," Xander nodded.

"Oh, there you are. Where in the world did you go?" Xander and Vida turned to the back entrance of the store where they saw Toby carrying trash bags to the dumpster. "You know, the next time you guys play a disappearing act, mind not involving me? Or at least tell me so I know what's going on? That Ben guy came in and asked me about the errand I sent you guys on……funny thing, I had no idea what he was talking about." He approached the car and saw Madison lying in the back. "What happened?" He asked.

"Madison's just not feeling well right now, boss," Xander said. "She had some….bad shrimp last night. Terrible food poisoning,"

"Oh man," Toby said. "Was it at that place downtown? I thought their fish tasted kind of funny,"

"Uh yeah, we're just going to take her home," Xander said. Toby sighed and shook his head.

"Don't worry about work, just take care of Madison," he said. Vida smiled.

"Thanks Tobes, you're the best," she said as she climbed into the driver's seat of her car.

"Yeah, man. The best," Xander agreed as he got into the passenger side. Toby watched them drive off.

"Yeah, unfortunately, that's the very thing that's going to bankrupt me," he muttered, lamenting over his extreme kindness ant patience regarding his employees.

---

Xander helped Vida carry Madison into the house and up to the girls' room. He set Madison down on her bed and stepped back.

"All right, I should probably change her into her night clothes," Vida said.

"Right," Xander said. Vida looked at him. "Oh, right, right," he said. "I should probably head home anyway," he said.

"Thanks Xander," Vida said. Xander put a friendly hand on Vida's shoulder and nodded as he left. Vida took a deep breath and carefully began changing her sister's clothes. She took a night shirt from her sister's dresser and placed in on the bed before she guided her up to a sitting position, which caused Madison to whimper. "I know, I know," Vida said gently. "I just need to change you, I'm sorry." She stood there and let Madison lean against her stomach as she carefully pulled off her shirt. Vida felt like a mother trying to change a sleepy child. She discarded the shirt and slid the night shirt above Madison's head. Madison weakly stuck her arms through the arm holes and pulled the shirt the rest of the way down before laying on her side as Vida took off her shoes and pants before laying the covers over her. Madison pulled the covers up to her chin and seemed to almost burrow under the warm cotton embrace. "Do you need anything?" Vida asked. Madison shook her head. "Are you sure? How about I get you some water? Milk? Juice? Something to eat?"

"…..I guess water would be okay," Madison said meekly.

"Okay," Vida said. She leaned down and kissed the top of her sister's head. "Everything's going to be okay," she promised as she left the room. Vida closed the door behind her and leaned against it, fresh tears filling her eyes. That bruise looked to wide and colorful to just have been when Madison was kicked by the monster. She looked down as the seed of doubt in her mind began to grow ever so slowly. Why didn't Madison tell me she got hurt? Did she fall down? What happened? Was Nick right? Is Ben…….No, no, that can't be it. No, that bruise was just from today, it had to be. Vida wiped at her cheeks and went to the kitchen to get Madison some water. Just as she pulled the cup out of the cabinet, there was a knock on the door. Vida set the glass on the kitchen counter and went to the front door. The second she opened it, Nick brushed past her as he paced into the living room.

"Look Vida, I know you're mad at me and I know you told me to go home but I can't, okay? Madison's just as important to me as she is to the rest of you and I can't just go home and act like everything's fine," he ranted.

"Okay," she said.

"What?" Nick asked.

"Okay," Vida repeated. She sighed and walked to the kitchen, Nick followed. "You're right, I was still mad at you before, but…..you protected her out there when she was down."

"Thanks," he said. Vida gave a rueful chuckle.

"I should be thanking you. Who knows what else that freak would've done to her if you hadn't gotten to her," she said.

"Can I go see her?" Nick asked. Vida nodded. She filled the nearly forgotten glass with water and handed it to him.

"Take this to her," she said. Nick nodded and went up the stairs as Vida sat down at the kitchen table. Nick slowly walked into the room and approached the bed.

"Hey," he said. Madison looked up at him. "How are you feeling?" He asked, setting the glass of water on the nightstand and sitting next to Madison on the edge of the bed.

"Okay. I think the leaves are starting to work," she said.

"That's good," he said. He gently touched her face and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Maddie,"

"Yeah?"

"How did you get that bruise on your back?"

"What are you talking about? The monster kicked me," she said.

"No," Nick said. "Maddie, that bruise looks like its a few days old,"

"………..I fell,"

"Maddie," Nick said, not believing her.

"What? I fell on the stairs at school," she said.

"Maddie,"

"Hey," said a voice. Nick looked at the door and saw Ben standing there.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Nick demanded.

"I could ask you the same question," Ben retorted. He looked at Madison.

"Hey, honey, are you okay?" He asked. Madison nodded against her pillow.

"Yeah," she said. "I picked up a heavy box of CDs earlier; I think I pulled a muscle in my back." Nick looked down at her.

"I thought you said you fell," he said. Madison looked away.

"Hey man, mind leaving my girlfriend alone?" Ben said. Nick didn't move as he continued to look down at her.

"Maddie, just-"

"Nick, please just go," Madison pleaded. Nick sighed.

"Fine," he said as he got up. Ben made his way to the bed, bumping his shoulder into Nick's as they passed each other. Nick stopped and turned to Ben. He looked at him, his eyes daring him to do something. Nick simply turned back around and left the room. Ben sat down next to Madison and leaned over, covering her mouth in a kiss.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Ben asked. Madison nodded. He stroked her head. "All right," he said. He ran his hand down her face and down to her shoulders, sliding her comforter down to her arm. His hand stopped at the side of her upper arm. "Maddie," he said.

"Mmmhmm?" Madison asked.

"Toby said he didn't send you guys on an errand before," his fingers tightened on her skin, pinching the skin with his thumb and forefinger. "You lied to me. And now I see you holed up in your room with some other guy," he pinched her harder. Madison bit her lip as a few whimpers escaped her mouth.

---

Nick stomped down the stairs and found Vida in the kitchen.

"How could you do that?" He demanded.

"Do what?" Vida asked.

"Let Ben up to see her," he answered. Vida closed her eyes.

"Nick, stop."

"I'm sure you guys are just so sure that she's fine. Fine, maybe I'm being a jealous jerk and making this up. But can't you at leas think about it? Your sister starts getting hurt a lot around the time she's dating this guy,"

"Nick, stop, please," Vida begged.

"Your sister is hurting, can't you see that? Aren't you just wondering a little bit about all these bruises and cuts and her convenient stories to explain them?"

"Stop it!" Vida yelled. "I can't think about it, all right! I don't want to think that!" Nick took a step away from her, surprised. "I don't want to think that some guy is hurting her,"

"Just because you don't want to think it, it doesn't mean it can't be happening," Nick said. Vida shook her head.

"No, okay? No. She told me…"

"Told you what?"

"She told me nothing was wrong! She told me she'd tell me if something was wrong, and she said that nothing was. So just stop trying to make me doubt her, alright?" She leaned back against the kitchen counter, forcing herself to calm down. "Besides, if you're so sure he's hurting her, why the hell did you just leave her alone with him?"

"I…."

"What?"

"She asked me to," Nick replied defeated. "I thought….I thought that if I just left…..maybe he'd leave her alone." He slammed his fist on the counter before taking a seat at the table. "It's happening again," he muttered.

"What?" Vida asked. "What's happening again?" Nick raked his fingers through his hair.

"Back when….when my sister was in college," he said. "She was dating this guy….he was a little older than her. She was a freshman, he was a junior. She used to come home for vacation with….bruises," he said. "My parents and I asked her about them and she'd say she was slipping in the shower or……tripped while she was out jogging. Then, Christmas break when she was a sophomore, she brought the guy home with her. She just….was so different around him. He'd order her around sometimes…..and she'd just do it. And then…….New Years Eve……we had some family and friends at the house and she was talking to some of her guy friends from high school……I remember midnight coming along and I didn't see them. So I went to her room………I saw him slap her and call her all these awful names. I tried to protect her and told him to leave her alone but…..he was a college senior. I was just this nine year old kid. He just pushed me back. She told me to just leave them alone. She said I was just making things worse…..So I left…"

"What happened?" Vida asked. Nick shook his head.

"I don't know…..My school started up again but they didn't have to go back to school for another week……I think…….I think my dad came home early from work and saw…….something, I don't know what. All I know is I got home from school and there were cop cars at our house and they were taking the guy away."

"So, this isn't just some jealousy thing?" Vida asked. Nick leaned back in the chair.

"Maybe…..seeing Madison with bruises and stuff brought all that past up again for me and I just instantly thought of that. But I'd feel better if I knew for sure that wasn't going on."

"Fine," Vida said. She left the kitchen. Nick got up and followed her.

"What?"

"You want to know for sure, so let's go upstairs and check on them," Vida said as she made her way up the stairs with Nick behind her. They got to the door to the bedroom and slowly opened it enough for both of them to see in through a crack. They saw Madison lying in bed with the covers up to her chin like they had left her and Ben lying next to her, holding her.

"I love you," they heard him say to her. Vida quietly closed the door and looked at Nick.

"See?" she said. Nick sighed as the two walked to the living room. "Look, Nick, I'm sorry your sister had to go through that, and I'm sorry all of this is making you relive the past, but Madison's okay," Vida said. "You heard him, he loves her. He's not hurting her."

"Fine, I guess you're right," he said.