A/N: Haha, I know it's been a long ass time and I'm sorry for the long wait. It's almost the end of the school year, so a lot has been happening with school and plus I was suffering from a writer's block with this story. Like I stated before, I will eventually finish this one so hopefully you remember what's happening. You might want to go back and read a few chapters to refresh your memory. Thanks again for the reviews and I hope to see more coming. R&R, enjoy.


Chapter 16

"Forget Regret"

It was about two hours since the incident as Jack, Bridge, Syd, and Z all waited in the common room for the news on Sky's condition. The injured SPD blue ranger was in the infirmary room getting tested with Kat Manx and Dr. Felix. Meanwhile, Syd noticed their leader's back facing the rest of the group, waiting anxiously as she rises up from the seat and slowly approaches her from behind.

"Syd," Jack hissed quietly before she even did anything, "maybe you shouldn't--"

"It's cool." She tells him with a sincere smile. "I got this."

He nods his head as Syd makes her way over to Z. She takes a deep breath and lightly taps her on the shoulder. "Hey," she greeted as their leader turns around and sullenly smiles in return.

"Hey, Syd."

There was a moment of awkward silence.

"So…how are you holding up?" The blonde questioned, in hopes to get into a conversation with her. Instead of responding, Z just looked at her and faked laugh.

"You know what, Syd? You don't have to tell me that Sky cares about me alright?" She noticed Z beginning to get frustrated. "But tell me this, why is that Sky always try to be a hero huh? He could've gotten himself killed."

Syd's lips slightly parted to speak. "Wouldn't you do the same thing? Risk your life to save another?" She questioned. "Sky would do that for any of us just like we would do the same for each other." Z averts from her gaze and suddenly looks down. "I know you heard this about a million times but Sky does really care about you, Z and he's truly sorry for gaining your trust and betraying you like he did."

"She's right." Bridge joins in the conversation. "I'm not supposed to say this, but Sky did tell me he'd forgotten the last time he enjoyed himself till of course…" he pauses in mid-sentence and smiles, "he met you." Syd looks down and sadly frowns at the thought. It was a shame she couldn't make Sky feel that way. But then again, as much as she hates to say it, she believed Sky and Z, two most outspoken people she know, could be good for each other. 'I'll find my prince charming right?' She thought as Bridge continues on. "Sky developed feelings for you, Z and it kills him that you'll never forgive him."

Silence lingered in the air when suddenly their thoughts were interrupted as Kat Manx makes her way inside the common room. The four all stood up, holding their breaths and waiting for her to speak.

"Kat…" Z drew in a few nervous gulps, her expression filled with concern for the SPD blue ranger. "How's he doing?"

"Well," Dr. Manx starts off with a sigh, "he took a big hit. Other than a few bruises and scars, Sky will be alright." Jack, Bridge, Syd, and Z let out a sigh of relief. "Luckily nothing serious has happened to him."

"Sky is a very strong guy." Bridge commented as they nodded their heads in agreement.

"Yup, he sure is."

"Can we see him?" Syd asked.

"Yes, but it's for the best if we go one at a time. And don't take too long." Kat informs the cadets. "Sky needs his rest." There was a small pause. "Care if anyone goes first?"

They exchange looks as their gazes all follow Z.

She looks at them and smiles, followed by a roll to the eyes. "Gee, I guess I will."


As Kat Manx led Z to the infirmary room, the cadet finds herself getting nervous with each step she takes as they get nearer and nearer to the location where they situated Sky. The tension between Sky and herself has been so thick that it made it impossible for her to be in the same room with him. After what Sky did Z thought she could easily avoid him at every chance she gets, but finds it difficult each time especially when they are forced to work together. Plus, how can she try avoiding the guy that saved her life multiple times?

As days go by, Z finds herself wanting to forgive him, but the betrayal simply pains her even more because deep inside, whether she wanted to admit it or not, Z also developed feelings for Sky.

"Here we are." Kat Manx stood in front of the door that separates them from Sky. "Let me know if you need anything."

Z weakly smiles in response. "Thanks, Kat."

With that, Kat Manx entered her office just next door leaving the cadet alone in the hallway. She then takes several deep breaths and when it's time, slowly turns the knob.

Z sticks her head out the door and noticed Sky on a bed sleeping peacefully it seemed with a bandage wrapped around his forehead and a few scars and bruises on his arms. She slowly crept inside, gently shutting the door behind and making her way to the empty chair sitting beside Sky.

When he could feel a presence in the room, Sky flutters his eyes open as a small smile crossed his lips at the sight of her. "Hey there…" she sits down next to him. "How are you feeling?"

He grunted in pain. "I've been better." Cadet Tate tried to sit up but couldn't due to the soreness and pain he could feel on his neck and back.

"Whoa now." She gently pushes him back on the bed. "You should stay still."

There was a moment of awkward silence as Sky let out a heavy grown. "Who knew I'd be injured first day on the job as a ranger eh?"

Z lightly chuckles.

"So why did you do it?" She asked while biting her button lip. "Why is it that you always have to save me?"

He slightly turns his head to get a good look at his female companion. "Well someone has to right?"

Z looks down and chuckles. "You know, I was thinking." Sky wrinkles his forehead in bewilderment. "This tension between us is only creating a lot of problems and," she pauses and stares deeply into his blue eyes, "And I want us to be cool. I mean we almost got killed back there."

"I do too." It surprised him that they were actually having a decent conversation without having to get into another argument that nearly cost both of their lives.

Z averts from his gaze and sighs as though what she's been meaning to tell him was quite difficult to let out. He listens intently as his female companion continues on. "So...I've decided for the both of us that it's best if I step down from SPD."

"What?"

"You're forgiven okay? You're officially off the hook. You were just doing what you had to do and I totally freaked out about it." She explains. "And I admit, as much as it sucks you did pretty well in gaining my trust and betraying it."

He stares at her quizzically. He didn't expect her to forgive him that easily. He knew something was up. "But I don't understand. So you're just gonna quit?"

"No, I'm simply giving you the position you always wanted."

Sky's lips slightly parted. "You would give away your title as red ranger just for me?" He questioned in disbelief as Z nods her head. She was hoping he'd protest on the idea and somehow make her stay, but instead…

"If that's what you want." He responds as she shot him a look. Perhaps Bridge was wrong about Sky having any feelings for her after all.

"It's what we both want right?" She forced a smile. "We go to our separate ways, pretend none of this ever happened, and forget that we even met." By saying all this, Z was rather disappointed and hurt. She felt as though Sky didn't care and that the times they shared together simply never mattered to him as it did to her. She even hoped to hear him go against everything she just said and ask her to stay, but he didn't. 'All he ever wanted is to be the red ranger,' she thought to herself sadly, 'what makes you think it's you that he wants?' But it was no surprise as Sky could see the hurt expressed on her face. He didn't know what to say as he remained silent and completely speechless. "Well, Kat said I shouldn't take so much time." Z felt miserable at the moment, she wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible before the tears start coming in. "The others will want to see you, so I'll uh…just go." Z quickly got up from the chair and hastily walks towards the door. Just as Sky was about to say something in response to keep her from walking out the door, Z was already gone.


"I wonder how it is going in there." Syd thought as Jack and Bridge began walking towards the infirmary room.

"Hopefully they're not beating each other up." Jack stated jokingly when suddenly they spotted Z walking down the hallway. "Well there she is now." He pointed out. "Hey, Z."

Without looking back at them, the cadet simply walked by without a greeting and headed to the rooms. Jack, Bridge, and Syd stopped on the middle of the hallway as they watch her disappeared around the corner.

"Oookay," Bridge scratches the top of his head. "I guess it didn't go too well…"

Jack and Syd looked at each other and both heaved a deep sigh. "I'll go and talk to Z." The blonde tells her new teammate member. "You get Sky."

Jack nods. "Got it."

"Wait," Cadet Carson stops them before they go to their separate ways, "what do I get?"

"Well…" Jack lightly taps him on the shoulder with an idea in mind, "you can go and get some toast."

Bridge shrugs and smiles at the thought, "Fine by me."


A/N: I swear I'll try to update ASAP as long as you review. lol. The story is almost finished, so please hang in there. Again, thanks for your patience.