The Silent Protector

Disclaimer: using my formidable magic powers, I transferred ownership from Saban to me. yeah right.

thank you to everyone who reveiwed. in order to get this story caught up, i'll answer all reveiws nexy chapter.


Mike awoke in the morning to an empty room. Looking at the time, he cursed softly. It was 8:30 AM and he was a half an hour late. As he got up and dressed, he noticed a mote, scribbled in Leo's handwriting, taped on the small fridge. Mike went to look.

"Dear Mike,

There's a monster attacking. We've been called to help. Hopefully be back soon.

Love ya,

Leo"

Mike crushed the note in his hand, fuming. 'Damn Trakenna!' he thought, 'My brother's being run ragged! He can't take much more of this schedule!' Still muttering angrily to himself, he finished getting dressed and went to his station.

"Ah, Mike," the commander said when the young man arrived, "We've been waiting for you. There's some stuff that we need to test..." And Mike was swept up in his work.

At approximately 11:00 AM, Mike's stomach rumbled grumpily, reminding him that he had not had breakfast. Opting to take his lunch break early, the older Corbett walked briskly to the cafeteria, glad that the system tests had gone quickly, so that he could get his food earlier. But when he got there, Mike found a reason to thank the Powers that Be that he'd gotten there early.

The Ranger's were at a table in the corner, looking beaten and weary.

"Guys!" he called out, concerned and frightened. Four heads jerked up, but one stayed on the table. Leo. Mike jogged over, scared of what was wrong with his little brother. Kai turned to shake the Red Ranger, who lifted his head partially, eyes barely open.

"Hey Mike," Damon, the Green Ranger, answered.

"What happened?" Mike snapped, kneeling beside Leo and placing a hand on his head. The younger Corbett turned dead, unseeing eyes toward his brother, before closing them and laying his head back on the table.

"The monster was stronger than we thought. We beat him, but not before he left us all with going-away presents." Looking around at the other Rangers, the Magna Defender noticed their black eyes, bruises, and broken bones. This monster of Trakeena's had really done a number on the team. They looked like shit.

"Leo got hit pretty bad," Maya spoke up quietly.

"I'm gonna take him back to our room," Mike said, not waiting for a reply as he scooped up his brother and started back down the hall to their quarters. Getting to their door, he somehow managed to press the access code with his elbow, and carried Leo over to the teen's bed. He sat on the edge of the mattress for about ten minutes, just adjusting Leo's covers and pillow, just reaffirming Leo was still with him. It wasn't until his stomach forcefully rumbled that he remembered why he had gone to the cafeteria to begin with.

Getting up and stretching, Mike went to the kitchen section of the small apartment. Hastily throwing leftovers into the microwave, he waited impatiently as his food heated up. Five minutes later, the machine beeped, announcing the food was done. The older Corbett snatched his plate out and went to sit on the couch, where he could watch over Leo. The silent protector, keeping relentless vigil.


A/N: I am soooo sorry that this was not done sooner. I've been away for three weeks, without a computer so this really isn't my fault!