Dr. Felix sat at his computer going over every possible reason as to why Jack Landors was once again back in the infirmary. He had been roused from his bed immediately by Ani, and together they were bound determined to find out what was wrong with Jack's powers.

Kat had also woken up at the early hour and was performing various tests on the Red Ranger.

Meanwhile, Jack was restless… and pissed off was a polite way of explaining his mood. In his mind this was the last straw separating him and SPD. Because of SPD he had lost his powers… powers that had helped him survive on the streets… powers he received from his parents…

"What the hell is wrong with me?" he cried out at last, tossing a tray across the room.

Ani got up from her seat next to Dr. Felix and sat next him on the bed.

"You need to calm down Jack… please," she said softly. Jack sighed and let Ani hold him for a moment. "Kat and Dr. Felix are breaking down your blood and tissue samples so I can analyze your DNA… that blast may have done more damage then we thought."

"So you're telling me that my powers are gone? Just like that?" he challenged.

Ani held his hand and kissed it. "I don't know yet. I'll have to look over everything."

They were silent then, and all they could do was wait for Kat to finish her testing.

Hours passed slowly, and the other members of the squad had come in to visit, but were soon off on their various patrols of the day. Ani, by now, had Jack's test results and didn't like what she saw.

The blast had somehow stalled his powers. They weren't gone completely, but they would be of no use to him for a while…

"What happened? Why can't I use my powers?" Jack asked nervously when Ani sat with him.

Ani sighed and handed him a printout, showing his DNA structure. Ani pointed to a section. "That weapon literally froze you genetic abilities. This section here should be a reddish color, and you can see now that it's nearly white."

"So how long until I'm back to normal?"

She showed him another printout that had been taken a few hours after he had initially been brought in. She showed him the same section of DNA. "Here, it's a little more pink… so you will recover from this… I'm just not sure how long it's going to take."

Jack stared blankly at the page in front of him and felt his fist closing around it. Ani placed her hand on his arm, but Jack violently pulled it away.

Ani looked at his strangely. "Jack, you're going to be fine. There's no permanent damage done from what I can see," she said softly.

"But what if you're wrong? What happens if my powers never come back? What then?" he asked angrily.

"They'll come back," she said, trying to keep a lid on her temper. "You have to trust me."

Jack sighed and took her hand. "I do trust you… I'm sorry, but I'm just sick of all this," he said.

"Sick of all what? Being in the infirmary? I'm sure Dr. Felix will discharge you-"

"No," he said at last. "Sick of this… SPD."

Ani's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

At that moment, Cruger entered and Jack knew that he would have to tell Ani everything tonight…

"Animaria, I need to speak with you," Cruger said. Jack looked at her oddly, but Ani just followed the big blue dog out of the room without looking back at her husband.

What had Jack meant by that? Was he seriously thinking of leaving SPD? What about her? What was happening?

Ani's mind ramblings stopped when Cruger entered his office and Ani shut the door behind her, taking a seat.

"I'm going to get straight to the point," he began. "Your behavior yesterday was unacceptable, irrational, and hot headed. You put yourself, your teammates, and I in a very precarious situation."

Ani said tall in her seat and awaited her punishment.

"However, your ability to work in a high stress environment and your delegation of responsibilities is admirable. Having said that, as well as observing you over the years, I would like to offer you the position of head technical advisor here at the academy."

Ani was at a loss. Was he serious?

"Sir… I really don't know what to say… what about Dr. Manx? What will happen to her?" Ani questioned. Kat was a friend… the lat thing she wanted to do was take anything away from her.

"Kat is also being promoted… to Commander, as I have been reassigned to SPD headquarters."

Again, Ani was speechless. This was a huge promotion. All her years of training and hard work were being recognized, not to mention she would be able to continue with the experiments and upgrades that she had planned… but then there was Jack, and what he had said a few moments ago…

"Can I have some time?" she asked after a pause. Cruger growled a little, but he knew she had to speak with Jack.

"I need to know before the end of the week," he said. "Dismissed." Ani rose and saluted him, leaving the office and heading back down to the infirmary.

When she got back, Dr. Felix handed her Jack's discharge papers and told her that her husband had left a few minutes ago. Ani sighed and thanked him for all his help before heading back down to their apartment.

Inside, Jack was sitting in the living room staring out at the view of New Tech City. He couldn't help but think of all the homeless people out there tonight just looking for a warm bed and a clean change of clothes. He missed the days he and Z had out there. Sure they had their share of hard times, but he missed being out there among the people, living by his own rules and helping the less fortunate.

Just sitting there in his cushy apartment made him sick. There were so many others that would never get anything like this…

The door opened and he could smell Ani's perfume wafting to his nose as the door closed behind her. He let out a heavy sigh and was definitely not looking forward to this conversation.

Ani sank onto the couch next to him and he instinctively pulled her into his arms. They just sat there silently for several minutes before Ani found her voice.

"Were you serious earlier? When you said you were sick of it here?" she asked softly.

Jack stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.

"Yeah… I was." He paused as she slowly got out of his arms and looked at him… silent tears shining in her eyes.

Jack took her hands in his, their rings touching lightly. "When I told you earlier this week that the mission would be my last, I meant it. I've been cooped up here for too long following regulations and fighting mindless aliens… I almost forgot why I accepted my morpher in the first place. I want to get out there," he said pointing to the window. "There are so many people that need help, and I can't just sit here thinking about them having nothing when I have everything."

Ani smiled a little. She had known her husband would forever be called to the streets where he grew up. He was always trying to help people no matter what the cost.

"How do you want to help them Jack? You have access to all sorts of supplies that you could use to help those people. It doesn't mean you have to leave."

"But it does. You don't know what it's like out there. Most of the folks are ashamed to be living on the streets. You don' know what it's like to get handouts from an organization who's only donating to save face."

"So you'd rather steal it and be a thief?" she retorted. Jack closed his eyes as if he had been wounded. Ani instantly felt bad. "I didn't mean it like that," she said softly. "But I just don't see why you want to go back to that sort of life… not when you've built up a good one here... with me."

"I can't stay here anymore! I don't understand how you can either!" he burst out as he rose. "I mean SPD pretty much ran your life from the time you were 13 until now. Haven't you ever wondered what it's like out there?"

Ani felt her temper rising. "I have been out there Jack. I've been to a different galaxy for crying out loud!"

"But that was for the same organization that took your father away from you and nearly got me killed today! How can you keep defending it?"

"Because it's all I've ever known Jack! Damn it, I thought that you of all people would understand what my work means to me. I love it here! I love my job and everything that it's brought me, including you!"

Jack ran his hands through his dread locks. "So you're telling me that you'd stay here if I left?"

"What are you talking about? If you decided to leave SPD you'd still be in the city," she said softly, not believing what he was insinuating.

"I don't know if I'd still be in the city… I mean of course I would be for a time, but I want to see the world Ani. See what good we've done, and what good I could still do… I was hoping you'd come with me of course…"

Ani stared at him in shock. "Jack, this is crazy, not to mention sudden."

"Believe me, I've been thinking about leaving from the moment I got in."

This time Ani looked visibly wounded. "And I'm not a good enough reason to not leave?" Jack saw the tears shining in her eyes. "You asked me to marry you and I did. We made a vow to stay true to each other and you're just telling me now that you never wanted to stay here in the first place? You didn't think to maybe talk to me beforehand?"

Jack went back and kneeled before her. "I should have told you, I admit that, but you should have told me that you never wanted to leave… why won't you come with me?"

Ani let her tears fall. "For the same reason you won't stay."

She got up and walked into their bedroom, coming out a few moments later with her backpack.

"Where are you going?" Jack asked.

"To my parents' house," she said, clearly upset. "If you want to leave and go play Robin Hood, go. I'm staying here as the new technical advisor."

Jack balled his fists. "Fine then. Go be SPD's little poster child instead of following your heart."

Ani raised her hand and a nearby book whacked Jack in the face. "I hope someday I'll have to catalogue you in containment!"

The door opened and shut faster than Jack could have comprehended.

It only took him a few minutes to pack his belongings and write his resignation.

He slipped the letter and his morpher under Cruger's door and stormed out of the academy…