Wes, Jen, Eric and all other characters from Power Rangers belong to Disney/Saban. I am using them without permission, however I have not and don't expect to make money from this.
Gaby, Chris, and Proteus are mine.

Rated T: mild language, violence, sexual references, and danger to a child.

A/N: This is a sequel to 'Reversals of Fortune' and part of my AU 'Year of Time' series. It can, however, stand alone, with most of the background from the series being mentioned along the way.

Reviews are always appreciated.

Tapestry

Resolutions

- - -

"Okay... We've got Robertson and Flores on the Jenkins Hardware robbery. Harston with the cops on the teller machine assaults. Steve's coordinating coverage at the mall and Blyblock and Lowenstein are at the airport."

"Right." Wes, leaning with elbows on knees as they sat next to each other on a hard, uncomfortable courthouse bench, didn't look up as Eric tucked the handheld with his notes on current assignments into his uniform pocket.

"We'll be tied up here for a while, I guess."

"Yeah."

"Hearings and trials are always such a pain in the butt."

"Yeah."

"Not like there weren't a few dozen cops there. Don't see why they need us to testify against those bank robbers too."

"Uh huh."

"And the damn judges always keep you waiting."

"Right."

Eric had the distinct impression he was talking to himself. "I think we should ditch this whole thing, take off for Bermuda, and spend a month on the beach working on our tans. Who cares if that gang gets out and knocks off every bank in town? Not our problem."

"Yeah."

Eric raised a brow as his rare attempt at humor wasn't even noticed. "Wes, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Huh? Nothing."

"Cut the crap. You've been moping around like a teenaged girl who didn't get invited to the prom."

"Have I?" Finally Wes looked up and smiled a little, not enough to reach his eyes. "A lot's been going on. I guess I'm just tired."

"Baby waking you up five times a night?"

"Well... no." As the mention of his child only made Wes frown, Eric's concern deepened. "He never cries at night. Hardly ever cries at all, only when Jen's late to feed him or he needs changing, and even then it's just one yell and he's quiet again."

"Well - isn't that good?"

"I dunno..."

Eric hesitated, wondering if he really wanted to get involved in his partner's family problems. After all, there was probably nothing he could do, and Wes might not like being questioned, and it was none of his business anyway. Still... Telling himself that it was only that he couldn't afford a partner who didn't have his mind on the job, he went on. "Wes... Is everything okay with Jen?"

Wes's head bent over his hands again, and his voice was so low Eric had to lean towards him to hear the words. "Maybe she's just tired, too."

"I guess that must be it." Shrugging, Eric sat back. He had tried.

But Wes kept talking in a low and unhappy monotone. "Ever since the baby came... she's not the same. Hardly talks to me. Won't come near Junior unless she has to. Sits in her room all the time."

"Well... It's a big adjustment for her-"

"I know sometimes women get depressed when they have a baby." Wes's shoulders rose and fell in a sigh.

"Yeah, that must be it. Jen's a strong girl. She'll get over it."

"Maybe." The word lacked any confidence.

"Well... You could take her to a doctor."

"How am I supposed to tell her I think something's wrong with her? Besides... Besides, that's not all." Wes's hands were gripping each other tightly. "It's Junior. I think that's what's bothering Jen."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm worried about him. There just something - something different about him. He's - he's not-" Wes hesitated as Eric wondered if it was the same indefinable thing he had seen for himself, the same thing that had disturbed Gaby.

"Well, hello, stranger!" Startled, they both looked up at the interruption to see a pretty young woman, deep red hair, expensively dressed, smiling down at them. "No, don't get up," she said cheerfully, and sat on Wes's other side. "I thought you might be here when I was summoned to testify. It's nice to see you again."

"Uh, nice to see you too." Wes waved a hand at Eric. "This is my partner, Eric Myers. Eric, Chris Tutto."

"Right, I remember. The hostage." Eric eyed her coolly. Despite her looks, something about her made him - uncomfortable, especially as she dismissed him with a quick glance and smiled warmly at Wes again. Strange, the sudden urge he felt to leave - must be the feeling he got that she wanted to be alone with Wes - which only strengthened his determination to stay, if only to annoy her.

"How's the new baby?" she asked.

"Well... things have been a little hectic."

"They usually are. This is a new experience for you, after all." She reached to put a hand over Wes's. "A baby can be a challenge, especially when it's your first."

"Yeah, he's a challenge, all right. A good one, most of the time, but..."

Wes wasn't looking at her, but Eric thought he saw a hint of calculation in Chris's expression as she said, "If you have any problems, or questions, or just need someone to talk to, I'd be glad to help."

"What kind of help?" Eric asked.

"Chris is a child therapist," Wes said. "She came by Bio-Lab last week and said if we had any problems we should give her a call."

"That's right. Just my way of saying thanks," Chris said, fixing Eric with an overly-bright smile before turning it on Wes again. "If there's anything you'd like to talk about, maybe we could have that lunch I owe you after we're done here."

Eric's eyes narrowed. "Wes is pretty tied up with Silver Guardians business," he said.

She gave him another glance, this time with an unmistakable flare of annoyance. "But I'm sure his family's welfare comes first," she said sweetly.

"Look, I'm sorry, Chris," Wes said, sliding his hand out from under hers. "I'm heading home after this."

"I see." She hid her disappointment under another smile, but Eric spotted it. "I understand. You still have my card, don't you?"

"Yes, I have it." Wes hesitated visibly. "Maybe it wouldn't hurt to get a little advice. And maybe if you looked at the baby..."

"Anytime, anytime at all." Chris was leaning forward, her face filled with concern that somehow impressed Eric as insincere. She looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching. "And I think you're being called. Good luck in there."

"Watch out, Wes," Eric said very softly as they followed the court clerk who had summoned them.

"For what?"

"Chris. I know her type. I dunno if it's you or your father's money she wants a piece of. Maybe both."

"Don't you ever get tired of being cynical?" Wes grinned, a reassuringly familiar expression. "She's probably just the touchy-feely type."

"Yeah, right. I'm just wondering what she wants to touch and feel."

That got a laugh from Wes. "I did get around a little before Jen, you know. Even if you're right, I think I can defend myself." His expression sobered. "And maybe a specialist is what we need. Something's going on with Junior. Maybe Chris can help."

Eric nodded, and firmly told himself the worry he felt was foolish. He still thought Chris was a gold-digger, and a clever and persistent one without the morals to stay away from a married man. She might be prettier than most, but Wes loved Jen and it would take more than looks to turn his head. Or maybe he was wrong, and she sincerely wanted to help.

As for the baby... he frowned, frustrated with the knowledge that there was nothing he could do. Or maybe there was... Every instinct told him there was something wrong about Chris Tutto. If his best friend and his wife were going to trust her with their child - it couldn't hurt to find out more about her.

- - -

Silver City, 3005

"This is insane." Alex sat back in his office chair, his face with that hard, disapproving look that all of them were familiar with. The look that said he wasn't buying a word of what they were saying.

"I know it sounds crazy-" Trip started.

"Wes and Jen's baby, possessed by some bodiless, mind-controlling mutant from another dimension. And I'm supposed to believe this on the basis of your dreams?"

"Alex, would you please just listen for a minute?" Katie burst out.

"Is that the way you talk to a superior officer?"

"Sorry. I'm sorry! But this is Wes and Jen's baby we're talking about and I'm a little upset!"

"Alex," Lucas said with his usual calm. "Just suppose for a minute that all this is true. That baby is important to history. And he's important in another way - remember, Wes is probably your distant ancestor. So is that kid. If something happens to him, well..."

"So if your theory is correct, I should have vanished into limbo, shouldn't I?"

"You know the timestream doesn't work that way. The effects could be unpredictable, and we may not have seen them yet."

"And there's - there's more than my dreams," Trip stammered. "There's scans of the dimensional transfers Wes and Jen went through - deeper analysis showed another life-force hidden in Jen's and the baby's. And - and there is some disturbance of history - very slight, just hints, but - but..."

Alex stared at them for another moment, but the interested gleam in his eyes told Trip they had won their point. Finally he sat forward and reached out a hand. "Are those the scans? Okay. We'll see just what's going on here."

- - -

Silver Hills, 2006

Wes let himself in the front door, looked around the empty foyer, and then up the stairs. Jen would probably be up there, in their room, reading a book or sleeping. Or maybe just sitting and staring out the window, the way he had found her the last few days. On impulse, he headed for the living room instead, and to the bar. He was busy debating between wine or something stronger when he heard footsteps and looked up to see his father regarding him with a smile from the doorway.

"Drinking before dinner?"

"Tonight, yeah."

"I'll join you." Collins crossed the room. Wes noticed he had no trouble deciding on a shot of Scotch. In another couple of minutes they were settled on the sofas, drinks in hand.

"How's the baby?" he asked.

"The same, when I looked in on him."

"And Jen?"

"Also the same, as far as I know. I didn't get home much before you." Collins watched him moodily as he took a sip. "How was work?"

Wes smiled crookedly. It was almost amusing, the way the two of them were tiptoeing around what was probably bothering them both, each waiting for the other to confront it. "Work's fine," he said with a shrug.

"Look, son... Wes." They looked at each other as a long few seconds stretched out between them. "Want to talk about it?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I guess." Wes looked in the direction of the doorway, and the stairs leading up to his and Jen's room, and the baby's. "You must have noticed how Jen's been acting."

"Depressed. Not spending time with the baby. Yes." Collins sighed. "Have you talked to her about it?"

"I've tried, but she says she's fine. Just tired." Wes ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know what else to do. I can't drag her to a doctor. Besides..."

"What?" Collins asked when he stopped.

"I don't think it's her. I mean, I think she's worried and depressed, but for a good reason. I know what's bothering her - the same thing that's bothering me. It's the baby." Restlessly, he got to his feet. "I've got to face it. Something's not right with him."

He was half-hoping to hear a denial, but Collins said very quietly, "Yes, I've seen it too. He doesn't cry, doesn't react the way you'd expect."

"Do you..." Wes swallowed around the lump that had appeared in his throat. "Do you think something's really wrong with him? That he's - not normal?"

"You mean you think he may have some kind of mental disability."

"Mental disability. Brain damage. Retarded. Autistic. I don't know!" Wes realized he had raised his voice and took a breath to calm himself. "And there's nothing we can do, is there, not until he's older. No way to know anything for sure."

"No, I suppose not. That can be the worst part, not being able to do anything." Collins' voice was bleak.

"Maybe it was that experiment in dimensional travel. Or - or maybe it's the morphing. Jen morphing when she was pregnant, or maybe it was me before she got pregnant..."

"Jen would know if morphing would affect the baby."

"Maybe. I don't know! I don't know." He turned to stare at his father. "What if it's my fault?"

"It isn't. Don't try to blame yourself, or Jen." Collins was standing too, and came to his side, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I don't know if anything's seriously wrong, or how bad it might be. I wish I did. All I can tell you is that I think you should talk to Jen. She's probably asking herself the same questions."

- - -

Another feeding done. With a feeling of relief, Jen lowered Junior back into his crib. She resisted the impulse to leave immediately and stayed, standing over him, looking down. He returned her gaze steadily, as if he was wondering what she was thinking as much as she was wondering about him.

What was it exactly? Why was it she couldn't look at him without a shiver of - disgust? No, not exactly. Repulsion? No. It was more like... fear. Fear? Of a tiny baby? But that wasn't all. She loved him too, so much it came over her like a wave sometimes, like this, when she watched his eyelids droop and his little body relax bonelessly as he drifted into sleep... The times when he seemed like a normal baby.

It's all in your mind. Get a grip.

Jen straightened and crossed her arms, hugging herself tightly. It must be just some kind of delusion, some crazy aftereffect of the pregnancy. Postpartum depression, that had to be it. And yet... She couldn't deny that something was wrong. Other people had noticed it - Wes, Alan, Eric and Gaby, everyone, she could tell, even if they were all afraid to say anything to her.

No more of that. She was tired of everyone acting as if she wasn't strong enough to handle this, whatever it was. It was time to have a talk with her husband. Wes should be home soon if he wasn't already downstairs. She turned and left the room, and slowly walked down. The sound of voices led her to the living room doorway.

"Maybe it was that experiment in dimensional travel. Or - or maybe it's the morphing. Jen morphing when she was pregnant, or maybe me before she got pregnant..."

It was Wes's voice. She realized they were talking about the baby. Worrying. For just an instant all she felt was relief... it really wasn't in her mind, she wasn't exaggerating it. Wes was concerned enough to consult his father, enough for her to hear anxiety, even fear, in his voice. And then she found herself wondering how both of them must be feeling. Junior was Wes's baby, too, after all. And Alan, he must be wondering if his grandson was normal and healthy. They were a family, and none of them should be facing this alone, the way she had been trying to.

"All I can tell you is that I think you should talk to Jen. She's probably asking herself the same questions," she heard as she walked in.

"Asking myself what questions?" Two startled and half-guilty faces looked up to her. "Never mind," she said, starting for the bar herself. "I already know."

"How much did you hear?" Wes asked.

"Enough to know I'm not the only one who thinks something's wrong with our baby." She reached for the wine, but hesitated. Not good for the baby. After pouring herself a soda instead, she turned back to face them. "Morphing doesn't affect pregnancy or have genetic effects. At least that's what the Time Force scientists told us when we decided to keep the morphers, after we returned to 3000 with Ransik." She smiled ironically. "With all our problems with mutations, they were very careful about that."

After a moment of silence, Wes asked, "What about the dimensional experiment?"

Jen turned away and shrugged. "No way of knowing for sure, I guess." She bowed her head. "You think that's what did it. If I hadn't gone ahead with the experiment when I knew I was pregnant..."

"No. No, of course not. It's not your fault, Jen." Wes went to her, his arm around her seeming a little tentative. "Besides, we don't know that anything's seriously wrong."

She stiffened a little, but answered quietly. "I know. The way he looks at us. The way he acts. Wes..."

"But maybe it's not what we think. Dad? What do you..." He looked around, but Alan had disappeared and left them alone.

"What we think? What's that?" She stared into a bleak and dark inner space. "I don't know what to think. He's not normal, Wes. I don't mean he's slow or autistic or any of the things you've probably thought of. I mean... there's something... something there..." She shivered.

"I don't understand."

Jen turned slightly in his encircling arm and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "That makes two of us."

"We'll get through this, Jen. We will. No matter what. He's our child and we'll make sure he's all right, no matter what the problem turns out to be."

"He's our child." She sighed. Wasn't that the only part that really mattered? "Yes, I suppose you're right."

"Of course I'm right. Hey..." He waited for her to look up into his face. "I've been meaning to tell you - remember that bank robbery the day Junior was born?"

"How could I forget? That's why you were late."

"Yeah. Anyway, one of the hostages turned out to be a child therapist. She came by Bio-Lab to say thanks, and said we should see her if we ever have a problem."

"A child therapist? That's quite a coincidence."

"Maybe it's a lucky one, for us. She's a specialist, Jen, maybe she'd find something the regular doctors didn't."

"Maybe." A small hope stirred inside her. If they could at least figure out what it was... A deeper part of her feared that whatever was wrong with her baby - that strangeness, that adult and malevolent presence she thought she could sense in him, would never show up on any test any doctor would give him, but... "We have to try," she said softly, leaning her head against Wes again. "He's our child..." Isn't he? "Of course he's our child..."

- - -

TBC...