Calculated Risk

Disclaimer: Power Rangers is not mine.

Chapter 13: More Questions than Answers

A/N: This chapter might not make much sense but trust me, it'll all come together soon.

RJ frowned slightly as he took in Fran's demeanor as she cheerfully handed a table their check. Her smile was tight, false, and definitely did not reach her eyes. Her voice held none of its usual warmth, rather it sounded sugarcoated and over the top. Something was wrong.

He sidled up to her as she began ringing up another table's check. "Hey there, sunshine."

"Hey yourself."

"You doing okay?"

Fran glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Yes?"

"Are you sure?"

She turned to face him completely, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What's with the psychoanalysis?"

"You don't seem like yourself and I know you," RJ replied gently. "Something's up. Please tell me?"

"Just a little sleep deprivation," Fran answered as she went back to ringing up the check. "No biggie."

"Uh, yeah, it is a biggie."

Fran scowled at him and RJ nearly took a step back. She never got cross with him. Annoyed? Yeah sure sometimes, but never angry. "Are you implying that I can't do my job?"

He held up his hands in a placating manner. "All I'm saying is that it's not healthy for you to be working so hard when you're clearly exhausted."

Fran ran a hand down her face, suddenly looking completely worn out and on the verge of tears. "I've been having some intense dreams lately that have been leaving me feeling helpless. I-I keep ending up in this oasis…and there are these…these voices crying out for me to help them, but I can't see who these voices belong to no matter how far or how fast I run and—"

Her boyfriend placed a hand on her shoulder. "Breathe, Fran."

She took several deep, shaky breaths before adding, "I just don't know what to do."

RJ tugged her into a hug, resting his head atop of hers. "Why didn't you tell me about this, Fran? I could've helped you."

"I thought they were just dreams."

"But they're not?"

She shrugged. "I don't know." She sounded miserable.

RJ tightened the hug before pulling back and looking her in the eye. "You're going on break."

"But—"

"Ah ah, no buts," RJ told her firmly. "You're getting some sleep and then we're discussing these dreams."

Fran slumped against him, burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm too tired to bother with the futon and I don't think your chair is a good idea for a nap."

"Not a long nap," RJ conceded. "You can borrow my bed for now."

She popped her head up at that, heat flooding her face. "Your bed?"

He grinned wickedly and kissed her on the nose. "Nothing lewd, your highness. I just want you to get some rest."

Fran bit her lip and looked away. "Okay."

"Okay."

RJ wrapped an arm around Fran's shoulders and guided her toward the staircase. His hand slid to the small of her back as he silently allowed her to take the lead as they headed up the stairs into the loft. His worry for his mate grew as he took in the exhausted slump of her shoulders, her head bowed while her gait was slow.

Eventually the pair reached RJ's bed which was thankfully unmade, allowing Fran to unceremoniously flop onto the mattress with a tired groan. She startled when she felt fingers combing through her hair though she quickly realized it was just RJ removing the ties from her hair.

Glancing to the side, she took note of him kneeling beside the bed, carefully working her hair free. She smiled at him. "You remember that I can't sleep with my hair bound in pigtails?"

"I do," RJ confirmed before grinning. "That and I like playing with it." He twirled her curls around his fingers as proof, gently stroking the glossy strands with his thumb.

Fran hummed sleepily as she removed her glasses, placing them on the bedside table. "You can play with my hair all you want when I'm more awake to appreciate it."

"Deal." He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Try to get some rest."

"I hope to," Fran sighed as she lay back on RJ's pillows. She was immediately embraced by RJ 's scent and she had to hold back a smile at how comforting it was. She closed her eyes, her body relaxing into sleep almost immediately.

RJ smiled softly as he tucked the violet comforter around Fran's serene form. "Hope you have sweet dreams, Fran." He paused thoughtfully as he straightened. "Well, sweeter dreams."

As RJ turned to head back down the stairs, he felt a shift and pull within his mind, the suddenness causing him to gasp. Spinning back toward his bed, RJ saw Togo bound silently over to Fran, the violet wolf stretching himself protectively around his mate. Upon sighting his partner's curious gaze, Togo explained, 'I want to try something that I believe will help Fran.'

"Oh?"

'I'm going to attempt to enter Fran's dreamscape and ascertain just what it is that's troubling her.'

His human stared. "You're going to enter her mind?!"

Fran who wasn't completely asleep, winced at the shouting, grumbling as she turned on her side, wrapping the covers about her like a cocoon.

Togo leveled RJ with a golden glare. 'Settle down, Charming,' the wolf warned his partner.

"I'm settling," RJ replied with an air of innocence. He frowned slightly as he tilted his head, studying his wolf. "No one's going to get hurt, are they?"

'So long as you do you not venture too far from the restaurant, you and I shall both be fine,' Togo advised. 'As for Fran here, my presence might surprise her, but I doubt I'll have any adverse effect on her despite her lack of training as a Pai Zhuq student.'

The Wolf Master was silent for a long moment before finally nodding. "Alright, I trust you. Nonetheless, be careful."

Togo inclined his head. 'You have my word.'

RJ gave his partner a half-smile as he watched the wolf's ancient eyes glow with spiritual power before fading into Fran's mind. He remained in his place for a minute, lightly tugging on his bond with Togo. It had grown fainter, but the tether between the pair was still present as if someone had managed to turn down the volume rather than attempt to fray it.

Smile growing in satisfaction, RJ turned and continued his way back down the stairs, now completely faithful that Togo would be able to help out Fran.

Fran knelt in the mist-soaked grass of the oasis, once again bowled over by the agony and despair she felt radiating from the animal spirits. She knotted her fingers in her chestnut tresses as she tried to remain sane despite the shouting. All she had wanted was some sleep…

However the spirits of the animal world were insistent that she hear their piece. They were afraid, they were angry and they were impatient. Oh they were so, so impatient as their cries circled around her like an invisible vortex.

'You aren't here yet!'

'Why aren't you here?'

'Where are you?!'

'You promised you would come! Promised you would help us!'

'Whereareyouwhereareyouwhyaren'tyouherewhywhywhyyoupromisedusyourpromisedushelpyou—"

"That's ENOUGH!"

The new voice bellowed out the order for silence, which quickly fell, the voices receding like an ebbing tide though not without an air of being shocked and appalled at the command. Fran for her part, gasped for breath, deeply relieved that the onslaught had stopped. Maybe if she had snapped at the irate spirits, they would have backed off long ago.

'Who are you to command us, child?'

Then again, maybe not.

Although…she hadn't uttered a word, so who was this child the voice, individual and yet as one, spoke of?

Tearing her gaze from the grass, Fran gaped as she took in the sight of Togo, violet tinged form bent in a protective stance that all but dared the other animal spirits to attack.

"Francesca doesn't even know what's going on, let alone who you are and yet you dare to bombard her subconscious and treat her so?" Togo snarled. "Robbing her of her rest which she is clearly going to need if she is to be any of the help you obviously require?"

"I dare to command you because she is tied to my Pai Zhuq human counterpart. She is his mate. Meaning she falls under my protection, same as he does. Now what business do you have with her?"

"She's the one, the one who can help us in this fight," One voice, soft as the wind whispering through reeds declared.

Fran frowned in confusion. "B-but I'm not a Power Ranger."

"The Rangers will tip the scales back toward the light," another voice intoned, this one deep and ancient. "You will help them by restoring the unity of the human and animal realms."

"And that's not what the Rangers are meant to do?"

The newest voice to address her seemed both kindly and amused, more fae than animalistic. "Your responsibilities…your capabilities will require a touch more…finesse than what the Power Rangers can provide."

Fran was silent for a moment as she digested everything she had been told. She was grateful that the oasis continued to ring with silence as she thought over the spirits' answers. She still had so many questions.

Togo walked over to her, gently butting her shoulder with his head. She sank her hand into his surprisingly thick and plush fur, feeling as real as if she were able to touch him in the physical, waking realm. The simple action of stroking his fur helped her feel grounded as she finally found enough strength in her voice as she asked, "How can I help you if I can't even see any of you? Am I meant to? What is it that I must do to find you?"

The third voice, the one that seemed endlessly amused and quite possibly was, answered her, "Breathe Francesca."

She leveled the space in front of her with a flat glare. "Been speaking with my mate, have you?"

"No, but we can hear him."

"How?"

"Within you."

Fran arched a skeptical eyebrow at that. "You're within me…" she replied slowly. "Are you all 'within' me?"

"More or less, after all you carry us close to your heart."

Frowning at yet more cryptic words, Fran looked down at her chest, figuring that it would make far too much sense for the being to be literal instead of figurative. She gasped at the sight of her crystal pendant, glowing brightly. "I-I've never seen it do this before!"

She reached out with tentative fingers, wary that she might be burned as she brushed against the pendant, gasping at the rush of energy she felt, so new and so ancient.

So hurt.

"That is but one piece of the puzzle," the voice explained.

"It's why you cannot see us," the first being whispered.

"You must find the rest," the second spirit intoned.

"How? Where?"

"We shall call out to you at another time, Francesca," the third spirit said gently. "I believe the young wolf is correct, it's about time we let you rest."

"Don't fret," the wind weaving through the reeds assured her. "We shall reach out again soon."

"Consider being gentler when you do so," Togo warned.

"We cannot account for the impatience of every single animal spirit present," the ancient voice replied. "But we can certainly try."

Then, as suddenly as the spirits appeared, they vanished, leaving Fran and Togo alone in the oasis. Fran was quiet for a long moment, save for a sigh of relief as she absently played with the pendant that was no longer a bizarre choice of a Christmas present from her mother. When she finally spoke, her voice was full of exhaustion and wariness. "So what can I do now?"

"Now, you rest," Togo instructed.

"But—"

"As RJ would put it, 'no ifs, buts or coconuts'."

"I think you've got that line mixed up with something else."

"Doesn't matter." Togo nudged Fran in the shoulder again until her weary body slumped over to the side. He curled up around her protectively. "Sleep now, Fran. I'll keep watch until you are ready to wake."

Fran cautiously lowered her head until it rested against Togo's flank, idly wondering if RJ had ever been able to use his animal spirit as a pillow while dreaming. Her eyes closed as her mind finally slipped into sleep.

For the first time in months, her rest was peaceful.

It was mid-afternoon when Fran awoke with a start, her brain cheerfully reminding her that not only was she going to be part of this mess involving Dai Shi…somehow…she was still an employee of Jungle Karma Pizza; the manager no less. She scrambled to get out of bed, half-asleep and in panic mode.

A terrible combination really.

Her legs got tangled within RJ's violet blanket and sheets causing her to topple over with a squeak. She would have crashed into the floor had it not been for a pair of strong arms gently catching her. Instead of her face meeting the ground, it met RJ's shoulder and she sagged in relief. She greeted her boyfriend. "Hi."

"Babe!" RJ exclaimed as he carefully guided her back onto the bed. "Are you okay?"

Fran grinned at him sheepishly. "Yeah, for some reason I woke up completely convinced that I was late for work. Though now that I'm a little more awake; I recall that you obviously gave me time to rest." Her expression became curious. "How's everything going? Were you able to keep an eye on the city and the restaurant while I was out?"

"Quiet, actually," RJ admitted. "Dai Shi doesn't seem to have a plan of attack for today."

"Oh how kind of him."

"Right?" RJ grinned before sobering. "How are you feeling? Were you able to get any rest?"

"I did," Fran confirmed. "Actually…I was able to get some answers too, sorta. Honestly I have more questions than answers but at least I was able to get some peace."

The bed sank with her boyfriend's weight as he sat next to her, eyes locked onto her face. "What did you learn?"

"Well, I—" Fran paused for a second, her eyes widening in alarm as she whipped to face RJ. "Wait! Togo! He's with me, how do I…?"

RJ laughed, though not unkindly. "Relax, princess. He came back to me about a half hour ago."

Fran sighed in relief at that, leaning her head against RJ's shoulder. "Thank goodness." She took another breath, this one grounding her before she continued. "Spirits were calling out to me, bombarding my sleep." She straightened up and looked directly at her mate. "Animal spirits."

"Wha…wait…" He frowned in confusion. "Animal spirits?" While it wasn't uncommon for a Pai Zhuq warrior to be bonded to more than one animal spirit, for someone who had never been set on the Path…RJ was pretty damn certain that it was completely unheard of.

However he did trust Fran who nodded at him with a grave expression on her face. "They called out to me through this." She held out the crystal pendant for him to see. "They seemed so angry, so desperate, so…scared. I think they've been feeling Dai Shi's return."

RJ reached out with curious fingers and carefully brushed the crystal, noticing the tingling warmth it emitted. Spiritual essence, no doubt. Keen bright green eyes fixated onto the ying-yang carving that was set in the center of the piece. Balance. Somehow the animal spirits were expecting Fran to help restore it. The question was how.

He looked up at her. "What is it they expect you to do?"

Fran sighed, more so out of exasperation at her lack of answers over the protective edge in RJ's tone. "I don't know just yet. There were these…representatives I guess. Three of them who merely told me that I'm needed to help the Rangers defeat Dai Shi but apparently it'll be in more of a behind the scenes sense."

"Interesting."

"I wasn't able to get more information out of them because Togo insisted that I be fully rested before I get any more involved. I guess that they agreed for they soon vanished after that."

RJ kept silent as he absorbed her explanation, merely studying Fran's pendant as he gently turned it over in his fingers. "Where did you even get this from?"

"My mom," Fran smiled wryly. "For Christmas."

He looked at her, bemused. "Where the heck did she find this?"

She shrugged. "A marketplace in Morocco according to her. She said she felt drawn to it and just knew that it was meant for me. She didn't give me an explanation beyond that."

"Sometimes the spirit realms like to meddle to set events into motion," RJ mused before frowning in annoyance. "And sometimes their methods of meddling do more harm than good. Way more harm."

Fran frowned at him in confusion but when he looked away from her decided not to pursue the subject for the time being. She had learned long ago that if RJ ever felt cornered that he either shut down or lashed out; not that he had done the latter to her mind but being witness to it was no picnic either.

She plucked at the pendant before sighing heavily, "I have more questions than I do answers," she murmured to herself. RJ heard her words and smiled sympathetically. He took her free hand and gently held it.

"I'll do what I can to help you find those answers."

"Thank you."

A companionable silence rang through the loft for a long moment as both halves of the couple mentally sifted through all of the information as well as the lack thereof that Fran's dream had dealt them. She finally broke it when she looked at RJ, the beginnings of a smirk playing about her lips as her amber eyes twinkled mischievously.

He looked back at her suspiciously. "What?"

"Looks like you're going to have to up my training babe, because as the spirits have decreed, I'm getting a lot more involved in this war, whether or not we like it."

"Very true," RJ concurred with a nod. He stood and stretched before helping Fran to her feet. He appraised her with a small smile. "I think it's about time I introduced you to the methods of the hummingbird."

The hummingbird spirit is a throwback to chapter seven of Of Scoops, Slices and Sunsets where RJ believes that the hummingbird would be a good animal spirit for Fran to be bonded to. Instinctually I wanted to start her on the Swoop technique but something tells me that would be too advanced for her :/

Sorry that this is a shorter chapter but I wanted to get something down and given how serious the nature of this chapter is, I thought it would be too abrupt to move into lighthearted territory so well head back that way next update.

I hope you guys enjoyed! Please read and review!