Author's Note: Apologies for not updating this story in a month! I'm thoroughly shamed. It's almost over. Don't worry. Also, many thanks to Silvered for reading this over and helping me to figure out Z. Cheers!

Chapter 6: Blue v. Yellow

"Look, Z, I don't know what you're thinking. Are you even are thinking?" Sky whined as he was pulled down the hallways of SPD. He had been getting ready for bed when the fierce looking yellow ranger had burst out from around a corner and grabbed a hold of his arm. Too emotionally exhausted to fight, he had let her drag him along, but after wandering down two levels and to the other end of the SPD building, Sky was starting to get annoyed.

"Less talking, more walking," was the yellow ranger's clipped reply. She was moving quickly down the corridor, a hand securely clamped over Sky's wrist. Looking nearly ready for bed herself, she had her hair up in a messy ponytail and was wearing her pajamas.

Sky sighed and put his foot down, literally. He stopped walking, and, having at least half a foot and fifty pounds on the lithe Delgado, pulled her to a stop with him. "I'm not moving until you tell me what's going on," he announced, wrestling his hand away from his fellow ranger in order to fold his arms across his chest.

Z glared weakly at Sky as she rolled her shoulder. The sudden stop had pulled at the muscles there, tweaking the joint. "This thing between you and Bridge," she started to explain, strengthening her glare when Tate started to interrupt her. He shut his mouth as she continued. "Whatever is going on with you two, it's not working. It really has to stop."

"I know," Sky responded, arms falling out of their defensive position. "I tried to apologize, but it just didn't work out."

"You … apologized?" Z asked incredulously. At the blue ranger's scowl, she held up her hands in defeat. "Ok, I believe you," was the quick addition. "I just thought I could help you out a little. That maybe we could discuss it over some hot chocolate?" she suggested sweetly.

Tate's dejected expression softened, but only marginally. "I don't drink hot chocolate."

Z rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Tea, then!"

Sky didn't say anything, but started walking toward the cafeteria again, now that he knew their destination. The yellow ranger followed behind, and as they reached the doors to the café, cloned herself. It was the only way to physically keep Sky from running down the hall.

"Z! You said it would be just you and me!" he snarled at her over his shoulder.

"No," she grunted, one shoulder pressed against Tate's back, her copy doing the same. "I said 'we' could discuss it. You didn't ask if 'we' included Bridge."

Which it did. The green ranger had been at a table, waiting for Z to arrive as he munched sullenly on his toast. The yellow ranger had come to him earlier in the evening with much the same proposition as she had given Sky, but he had agreed readily, whereas Sky required physical persuasion.

Sky made an exasperated noise and gave in, swatting Zs' arms away from him. Both Zs gave a sigh of relief and melted back into one. The blue ranger eyed his yellow companion suspiciously. "You were sent to negotiate some kind of truce, weren't you?"

"Oh no, Sky," the girl responded with a smile, directing the taller young man towards Bridge's table by his elbow. "We're past negotiating. We've now moved into the ass-kicking phase. As in, I kick your ass if you two don't settle this." She maneuvered him into a chair and rather forcefully patted him on the shoulder.

Bridge avoided eye contact with both rangers as they each took a seat at his table: Sky directly across from him and Z equidistant between them. He didn't want to talk to Sky, but wasn't childish enough to pretend he wasn't there and only greet Z, so he kept his attention focused on his food.

"So, we're here because you two have been having some problems," Z opened as she settled into her seat. "Jack, Syd and I know that you can't pretend that nothing is happening for very much longer, or else it will start to affect your work, your relationships with us, and Cruger will get pissy. So we decided, as your friends, that it would be best if you were forced to work out your problems. I'm here as a mediator," she explained coolly, smiling demurely at each of them.

"Now, from what I've heard, this whole thing started when Bridge asked Sky for some dating advice?" Her voice was gentle as she turned her attention to the green ranger.

Bridge made a face but kept his gaze down, breaking his toast into smaller pieces. Sky itched at the silence, Bridge's very presence making him nervous, and felt the need to answer. "Yes, I blew him off and acted like a jerk," he replied anxiously.

The green ranger lifted one eyebrow in surprise at how quickly and contritely Tate responded, but continued to stay mute.

Z frowned at Carson's lack of response, and then looked to the blue ranger. "Do you want to explain why you acted that way?" she asked scathingly.

"I was jealous," he stated matter-of-factly, blue gaze firmly attached to the man across from him. "Not jealous because I wanted to date Sophie, but because I wanted to be with Bridge." Sky paused then decided to bite the bullet. "Because I'm in love with him."

Bridge nearly choked on his toast.

Z glanced between two rangers on either side of her. Sky was watching Bridge intently, looking slightly concerned at his coughing fit. But mostly he looked completely earnest, nervous and scared. Not at all the cool, calm and collected, all-business Schuyler Tate to which the B Squad was accustomed. Bridge, on the other hand, was guzzling his milk, looking everywhere but at Sky. He looked extremely flustered and was even blushing.

"On second thought," Z muttered, considering the situation quickly as she stood up from her chair. "I think that maybe you guys can work this out without a mediator," she said before slipping out the door, slightly embarrassed but greatly amused.