ZEDD

We're in the kitchen, waiting for the return of the missing pair. Dar paces for a minute, stops for a little while and then starts again. It's starting to get on my nerves, but I understand so I say nothing. We both snap to attention as our superior hearing catches Thomas' low chuckle and Pina's soft giggle. We can barely make out when Pina says, "I don't know if I can do this, Tommy."

"It'll be fine," he assures her. "Remember - rage, calm, love, pride, respect."

"You can't be sure-"

"I told you - Dar and Zedd are a lot alike and the day we were in the woods, Zedd told me that he respects me more because of all I survived."

"But-"

I can hear the puzzlement in his voice. "You know them both better than I do - why are you so unsure of their reaction?" There's a pause and his tone changes to worry and - much more troubling for me - fear. "Unless you know something I don't. Pina, did Zedd lie to me to make me feel better? Does he actually respect me at all or did he just feel sorry for me and think I was going to have some sort of nervous breakdown if he told me the truth? And that in mind, are you telling me the truth when you say he's not like your father or am I being manipulated because all he wants is a plaything?"

My eyes narrow and temper flairs at his last question. A plaything?! He truly believes I may only view him as some plaything?! I swear to the power if she did anything to damage my relationship with Thomas, there will be hell to pay regardless of what emotional state she's in. Just about to move outside and put a stop to his rather damaging train of thought Pina is quick to reassure him before I reach the door. "No, of course not, Tommy. He would never manipulate you for his own wants, I told you he is nothing like that. Even when evil he never played those sorts of mind games with people. Zedd is really like what he said - he respects warriors and you definitely are a warrior and he wouldn't hold your past against you, he loves you far too much for-" Her voice trails off for a minute. "Oh."

His own fearful tone gone in an instant, his voice changes to one of confidence and, unless I'm mistaken, a bit of smugness as well. "Yeah 'oh'. You're so wrapped up in what you think and feel that you can't accurately guess what their reactions will be. Come on. Go and talk to Dar, find out I'm right so that my ego can start to get as big as Zedd's. When he does come down in his rage - and he will - I'll send Zedd out to spar with him. Two Eltarians will be a better match than a human and an Eltarian or even a Ranger and Eltarian. While they deal with that, you can come and keep me company in the kitchen and maybe help me figure out what Zedd meant by something he said earlier."

"What did Zedd say?" Knowing the stall tactic for what it is, I am remiss however to go call her on it and just bring them both inside as I'm a bit curious myself.

"We were up in the turret earlier talking about relationships and how sometimes you have to go through a few bad ones before finding a good one and one thing sort of lead to another and we…um…well…you know."

"That would explain why you said you'd worked up an appetite earlier." The teasing comment from Pina makes me lay my head on the counter as a somewhat amused snicker is pulled from Goldar. I'm only thankful the two Red Rangers in my company cannot hear what we currently are hearing as I think I might actually be tempted to feel somewhat embarrassed by my lack of control around him lately.

"Yeah, well, anyways when we finished he said something about it being one of many things we would do and I don't know. I don't know what he's got in mind considering we've pretty much done everything already." I would hardly call what we've done so far everything, not by a long shot. "I just don't know what he expects and if it's what I think he expects I'm not sure I'm going to be able to manage that."

"Well to quote you, perhaps you should talk to him about it." The somewhat chiding response earns her a grumble back from the human, but one of agreeance it seems.

"Maybe. However, speaking of talking I think it's time you stopped stalling and distracting me with questions of my relationship and went and dealt with yours."

There is silence as, I'm sure, Pina hesitates. Finally she agrees and they make their way into the kitchen, Thomas guiding Pina as I had when he needed to talk to Jason. She doesn't meet our eyes, but I can see and smell the evidence of her tears and I know that Dar can too if his expression is anything to go by.

Thomas looks at my friend seriously, his hand resting reassuringly on Pina's back now. "Let's try this again and see if it doesn't go a bit better this time. Go talk to your mate. Or rather - go listen to your mate." He smiles at the hesitant woman beside him. "I'll be here when you're done."

It takes a moment more, but Pina reluctantly leaves his side to move to Goldar before they both head out back towards their room I would guess.

As they leave the kitchen and I'm certain are out of hearing range, I turn to Thomas. "So what happened?"

He shrugs. "She talked and I listened. And please don't ask me for any more than that. I'm sure you'll find out soon enough and I promised that I wouldn't say anything."

I realize that I can stop pushing right there. His honor won't let him break a promise unless keeping it will do more harm than good. "Well played, by the way, making her reassure you to make your point." I am actually rather proud of him for that little bit of deception, in spite of the concern it caused me - however briefly. In retrospect, I realize that I never actually felt any fear or worry through the bond.

"Oh, yeah, sorry about that. I felt you get upset by that, but didn't know why." Suddenly paling just a bit he seems to realize that if I had in fact heard that part of their conversation I very likely heard the rest as well. "I didn't think that you could hear us."

"Only Goldar and I could hear you both." Knowing that is not going to really reassure him I continue deciding to leave his earlier mentioned concern for when we're alone. "And speaking of what we could hear, my ego is not that big."

"Zedd, your ego could fill a planet all on its own," he answers dryly. Maybe just a small one. Just then, his stomach growls. "I'm starving."

Quickly, Jason fetches bowls for everyone. Dar and I hadn't eaten during their absence, due to our concern about Scorpina, and Jason and Andros had followed our example to wait most likely worried for Thomas heading out after her. Having heard Thomas' forecast of Dar's reaction, I eat quickly so as to be ready when my friend needs me.

I'm only half listening to the conversation going on around me as I wait, my mind still on just what mood Dar will be in when he does come back down and just how to deal with my own mate's concerns over what my mood will be over his hesitation to do more in bed. Sooner than I expected, Dar slams his way into the kitchen, startling all of us. Noting that Pina is not with him, I feel my concern mount for both of my friends once more. "Zedd, now."

Before I can speak, he's out the door, leaving it open for me to follow. Swiftly, I head out, bracing myself for the bruises I'll be sporting later, and grumbling to myself a bit as the ones Thomas had given me during his stint being evil had finally almost faded. When exactly did I become everyone's punching bag? I swear I'm getting both of them an industrial workout bag on my next supply run, as while I don't mind a good throw down once in a while, twice in one week is a bit much given how sedentary my lifestyle has become these last few years.

We get to the sparring area and, much as Thomas had a few days ago, he launches himself at me. In his rage, he's muttering disjointed words and sentences, but not enough that I can determine what she's told him. Well, I take that back, I might be able to decipher what he's saying if I wasn't having to focus on keeping Dar at bay to keep all of my limbs and organs intact.

It takes a good while, as he clearly has more stamina, or perhaps just fury driven energy than Thomas does, but eventually his rage fades and pain takes him over. Just about to summon my staff to better fend him off as I myself am growing a bit winded, it thankfully isn't needed as he stops suddenly and drops to his knees, head in his hands. "Hell, Zedd, she's been hurt so much."

In a moment, I'm beside him. I can smell the tears that he's trying to hide. My heart twists in my chest at his pain - and hers, even though I'm still uncertain of exactly what occurred to cause it. Softly, I say, "As much as it hurts to know, it made her into the woman you fell in love with."

Reluctantly he mutters, "She's been through so much and came out so strong. She and Tommy both have been through hell and came out of it. I don't know if I could have." Her and Thomas? What does Thomas have to do with…oh, oh hell.

Doing my best to keep my composure, now at having a fairly good idea of at least some of what occurred in her past and why he would be so enraged, I make certain to keep my voice steady as I answer. "Me either. I don't think I could have."

"You've had your own hells to deal with and have come out just fine Zedd." Maybe, maybe not.

"I wouldn't call becoming an evil overlord 'coming out just fine'. As for the rest, you and Scorpina are the only reason I'm even alive right now. You both could have just left me there to die after the majority of evil and my power was stripped from me, or pawned me off on Trey since we were on his planet."

"If we'd done that who the hell would I have to go save after they get caught cheating at cards in some dive bar on Triforia, or retrieve from a holding cell after getting caught trying to hijack one of Zordon's ships?" One time, I get caught one stinking time and he never lets me live it down.

"Good point, your life would be exceedingly dull without my greatness in it."

Rolling his eyes, but at least smirking just a bit, his response is about what I would expect, at first. "Your ego and insanity aside, the point remains you have pulled through rather bad times yourself and come out of them stronger in the end. Just as Tommy and Pina have. It almost makes me feel like she's - stronger than me somehow." Uh oh.

"In some ways, perhaps, but there are other ways that your strengths supercede hers. It's what balances you as a couple - and quite frankly, something I've envied for some time."

"Maybe."

"How do you feel right now? What do you want to do?"

"Besides punish those that caused the situation?" Right with you there. He thinks for a minute. "I want to hold her and show her that she's still mine - that I still want her."

I stand and pull him to his feet as well. "Then do it, because I'm certain that while we're out here, she is in there very likely having a nervous breakdown similar to what Thomas has had when overanalyzing my temper driven behavior."

We head back to the door we left from. "Thank you, Zedd."

"You're my friend - both of you are - and, if you remember, I said that I like to think that I've had your back when it matters. Why would this time be any different?"

"I guess it wouldn't," he admits. He opens the door and we both enter the kitchen, stopping short at what we see. Jason and Andros are gone and Thomas is holding Scorpina. She's shaking as he rubs her back lightly. I can see the damp patch on his shoulder where she must have been crying again.

"I know it was hard to tell the story twice in one day," he tells her. "It was hard for me to tell Zedd about what they did to me in rehab after I told you and that wasn't even the same day. But, Pina, I promise, it'll be all right. He just has to calm down and hopefully not kill Zedd in the process and he will be back."

Dar speaks. "Scorpina."

She jerks away from Thomas as if she's been burned. I can see the pain and fear in her eyes as she looks at her mate. The silence stretches for a minute as Thomas turns and faces us as well. By the look on his face, he's ready to fight if he must. Suddenly, Dar opens his arms and his mate flies into them. He holds her tightly before turning his attention to my mate. "Mine," he growls at Thomas, their bond combined with Pina's distress making him lash out at Thomas as I had at her when the situation had been reversed.

The former Ranger smiles slightly and nods, instinctively casting his eyes to the ground, avoiding the chance that Dar, in his current mindset, would perceive it as a challenge if he looked Dar in the eye. Dar's tone softens somewhat as he addresses the woman in his arms. "Come."

They leave the room quickly and Thomas turns his attention to me, expression becoming once of slight concern. "Got you good a few times, did he?"

I nod. "Nothing serious though."

"Good." He crosses over to me and brushes my hair off my forehead. "Goldar okay?"

"He's dealing, about as well as I would…as I have, I suppose" I state recalling my own reaction to him telling me what was done to him at the hands of those damn humans.

Smiling he gives a nod. "So far, so good then."

"What is?"

He waves his hand in the general direction that they left in. "Them. And if things continue as I said they would, you and I will both be grateful."

I raise an eyebrow at this. "Oh really? And why is that?"

He grins at me, mischief in his eyes. "Because I told Pina that if it wasn't fine as I said it would be, that I'd tell you that you wouldn't get to mate with me until you killed Goldar for her."

I can feel my mouth fall open at this. "You said that?!"

"Only because I was that sure," he nods.

I pull him close, mentally cursing his carelessness in his attempt to reassure her. "Don't ever make a promise like that again. I don't care how sure you are. Give me your word you won't do that again."

I can tell that he feels how irritated I am by this when the mischief leaves his expression. "All right, Zedd. Never again. I promise."