Quantum Red Blues
By: PernDragonrider
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. Not making any money off of this; don't sue.
A/N: Warning: This story will eventually contain a slash relationship. If you don't like reading about a relationship between two men; then hit the back button on your browser right now. If you enjoy slash then read on and enjoy! The plot for this tale almost literally jumped into my brain while just relaxing and playing some music on my media player. The inspiration for this tale comes from an old tune by the Bay City Rollers, entitled "I Only Wanna Be With You". When the song started playing I got a quick flash of an unorthodox Ranger couple in my brain that just wouldn't leave. This is the result. Written for the Live Journal AWDT 2nd Birthday fic exchange. This one is for you XRachX. Enjoy!
Chapter Four – New Job HasslesEight months later, Jason was on duty at the guard station, just outside the entrance to the portions of the Collins Industries complex that the Silver Guardians called home base, when he spotted a very familiar caravan of cars led by Wes's black SUV approaching. Jason went to raise the small gate and then stopped when he saw it wasn't Wes driving the lead vehicle. "Shack to base." Jason said with some trepidation as he trigged the switch on his belt that would activate the microphone on his headset.
"Base here, shack; go ahead." Eric's calm voice answered and Jason relaxed slightly without realizing it.
"Base, caravan approaching; but Leader One isn't, I repeat, IS NOT, driving lead vehicle. Alerting base and shutting gates as in the standing orders, sir." Jason replied even as he did just as he said he was doing. He pushed the close button the large remote controlled gates and watched as the large chain-link gates shut and automatically electrified the entire fence line around the complex. "Main gates are closed, sir. Fence is hot and all lights are green across my board. Permission to approach, sir?"
"Negative, shack!" Eric almost spit out in panic and then he reigned in his emotions. "Wait for backup, Jason. Carson's team is on its way. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT approach the caravan without backup in place, private."
"Understood and holding for backup, Leader Two." Jason said as he unclipped the safety strap on his sidearm and waited for Carson Dale's team to reach his position. He looked up and blanched slightly then trigged the mic again. "Lead vehicle isn't slowing, Commander. Weapons free, sir?"
"Weapons are free, I repeat, weapons are free." Eric said with a clipped tone as he started for the gate himself. "If any of the vehicles try to storm the gates, you have permission to open fire to disable the vehicles and any passengers that emerge."
"Come on, Carson, get your team here, man. I don't like this at all." Jason said under his breath not realizing that his microphone was still live.
"On our way, shack." Carson said with a clipped and out of breath tone. "We were at the back perimeter and are double timing to your position, Jason. Stay calm and do what you do the best, man. Take stock and report. Don't go jumping in without back up. Commander Myers is enroute to your position. ETA for my team is two minutes, Leader Two's ETA is one minute. Hold tight, Jase. Might just be Wes running an unplanned exercise, but you're doing everything by the book. Don't lose it now."
"Thanks Carson," Jason said and then looked up as the large Cadillac Escalade accelerated even faster for the gate and was pointed straight at the building he occupied. "Shit! Carson, Leader Two. Shack is target for lead vehicle. Dropping into the tunnel and securing it. Controls have been switched to back up control inside the fence line. I'll meet you guys on the inside." Jason quickly opened the hatch and dropped down into the cramped tunnel that ran under the electrified fence and up into another guard shack just inside the electrified fence. He secured the hatch behind him, being sure to dog the latches tightly and then jammed them with a bar that was there just for such emergencies. He jogged down the dark tunnel and counted his steps as he went. At ten steps he jumped up and grabbed the rungs of the ladder that led to the inside guardhouse. He pulled himself up hand over hand until he was able to get his feet on the rungs and then quickly scampered up the ladder. When he opened the hatch on the inside he was greeted with an arm clad in Ranger Red jerking him up and out of the building so quickly that he almost went flying into the fence. "SHIT ERIC!" Jason said as he kipped up and then quickly tumbled forward to avoid being fried by the deadly electricity flowing through the fence that was inches from his back. "Watch where you're tossing people, Commander. That was rather a close call."
"Duck and cover, Jase!" Carson cried as he and his team of four joined Eric and Jason behind a large berm of dirt near the fence.
Jason hit the ground just as a hail of bullets whizzed and whined past through the space his body had occupied just seconds before. "FUCK!" Jason said as he hit the ground and rolled to his back. "Everyone okay?"
"Next time stay down when I throw you down, private!" Eric said with such a stern and concerned tone that Jason frowned.
"Yes sir!" Jason snapped back in anger then stopped himself from send back a scathing comment. Jason shimmied forward on his elbows and knees, careful to keep his large frame concealed, as much as possible, behind the berm of dirt. "Okay, lead vehicle and outer guardhouse is toast. They totaled the shack, but the reinforced fence took out the SUV. Don't see any sign of Leader One."
"Confirm observation." One of Carson's team replied from the other side of the roadway. "Lead SUV is not going anywhere. Leader One is not, I repeat, is not in sight. Fence is intact and still live with juice."
"Got it." Eric snapped as he looked at where Jason way lying. "Private Scott, any idea how many attackers?"
"Six, sir." Jason replied without missing a beat. "Two behind the trashed SUV, on in the tree to the left of the fence and it looks like he's going to try jumping the fence from there. One in the tree on the right from the sounds of the fire that Carson's team is taking. Bogies five and six are at the base of the trees on each side and starting to scale them now."
"Good call and nice eyesight, rookie." Carson called from behind him and slapped Jason on the ankle lightly. "I saw the two behind the SUV and the two in the trees, but the other two I couldn't find."
"Private, Scott." Eric said and smiled when Jason just rolled over and looked up at him. "Would you care to show Lieutenant Dale why your eye sight and spotting abilities are so above average?"
"Absolutely, Commander." Jason said with a smile and then shocked Carson when he jumped to his feet and hauled something from the back of his belt that wasn't there seconds ago. "Tyrannosaurus!" Jason cried with a stern and serious voice. Carson watched in gape mouthed shock as Jason morphed into the first Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.
"Shit, another RED ranger." Carson said with some laughter in his voice. "I should have known that Eric didn't break his no fraternization rule for just anyone. Figures, I never stood a chance."
"Sorry, Carson." Jason said and set his hand gently on Carson's shoulder. "It was either me move to Silver Hills and join the Guardians or Eric move to Angel Grove. He had the more to loose, so I moved here." Jason looked up at Eric and smiled behind his helmet. "Shall we show these idiots what it means to be a Silver Guardian and Power Ranger, Quantum Ranger?"
"Definitely, Jason!" Eric said with a smile and a very impish tone of voice. "Guardians, we have another Ranger here today. Don't accidentally shoot him; you won't like the outcome if you do. Okay, myself and the other red have the search for Leader One and his traveling companions. Carson, your team and Anderson's team have the job of pegging those guys trying to jump over the fence using the trees and keeping everyone away from the other vehicles. Let's do this Rex!"
"Right behind you, Time Force." Jason answered with a smile.
Eric and Jason easily vaulted the electrified fence and stormed through the hail of bullets that met their surprising charge. Jason took out the two hiding behind the destroyed SUV and then ripped open the back to discover a drugged, bound, and gagged Wes. "I have Leader One, Time Force." Jason said into his communicator as he easily lifted Wes's still form from the back of the very badly damaged truck. He's got a lump the size of a goose egg on the back of his head but nothing else appears to be wrong with him."
"Surprise, surprise, Jase!" Kimberly, Kat, Billy, Justin, Tommy, Zack, Rocky, Adam, Tanya, and Aisha cried as their morphed forms exploded from seemingly nowhere. Rocky was morphed into his Ninjetti armor while Zack, Billy, and Kimberly were in their Mighty Morphin garb. Tommy, Tanya, Kat, and Adam were morphed into their Zeo armor and Justin was in his Turbo armor.
"Glad you could make the party, guys." Jason said as he gently handed the unconscious Wes to Tommy and Rocky. Take care of him for me guys, I'm going to back up Eric."
"Wouldn't miss this for the world, bro." Tommy said as he took Wes from Jason and watched as Kimberly took over the care of the downed Time Force Red Ranger. He smiled under his helmet as he and the others backed up the various Silver Guardian teams in defeating the attackers.
Jason found Eric struggling with a large group of armed men at the back of the caravan where Mr. Collins would have been. He vaulted over two of them and joined Eric in decimating the group just as Tommy and the others joined them. Jason opened the door and looked inside to see a smiling Mr. Collins and his board of directors. "Welcome home gentlemen." Jason said jauntily. "Sorry for the delay, sir, but it seems the front entrance is rather crowded at the moment."
"No problem, Red Ranger." Mr. Collins said with a small smile. "I always knew there were more Power Rangers around, but I never expected for them to show up in Silver Hills. My thanks to you and all the others."
"Not necessary, Mr. Collins." Eric said powering down. "Rangers!" He called out in a sharp and commanding tone. "POWER DOWN!"
Mr. Collins gasped in amazement to see his future daughter-in-law, her friends, and his newest Silver Guardian recruit standing around smiling. "I see that my son is keeping it in the family, so to speak." Mr. Collins said with a smile as he and his top board members exited the car they'd been held in.
"Just slightly, sir." Jason answered with a smile. "Kimberly was the first pink ranger. We all approve or she wouldn't be marrying Wes, sir. We're all family, right down to the newest team over in Blue Bay Harbor. We haven't met them yet, but they are as much a part of the family as anyone that's ever been called to hold the powers."
"Good, then my son and my nearly adopted boy won't be alone in the world." Mr. Collins said as he clasped his hand on Eric's shoulder. "You and Wes make a great leadership team for the Guardians, Eric. I just wish you'd find someone that compliments you like Wes found Kimberly."
"Actually, sir," Eric said with a slight cough. "Wes wouldn't have met Kimberly if it wasn't for Private Scott, here. He introduced them; oh and he's the first sir. The very first Red Ranger of Earth."
"I was the first, Eric, but not the best." Jason said with humility and truth. "The best is whatever team is active and fighting off evil's attempts to take over our world. We all have our active time and we back up the others when needed or called. Once a Ranger; always a Ranger."
"Jason coined that term over eight years ago now." Tommy said joining them at the back of the line of shot up cars and trucks. "I was the first to lose a power and the first to hear it said. It applies today and always."
"Thanks, bro." Jason said and hugged Tommy to him with one arm and then released him. "Mr. Collins, Tommy Oliver, and the first person to hold three colors and four powers. Green, White, Red Zeo and first Red Turbo."
"I think this reunion can wait until we find out how Wes is and get this group of rabble into custody, private." Eric said with a touch of anger in his voice that Mr. Collins, Tommy, nor anyone nearby couldn't help but hear.
Jason snapped to attention with a sharp glance in Eric's direction. "Yes, Sir!" Jason said with such a sharp and biting tone that Tommy winced. "Mr. Collins, gentlemen, if you'll follow me I'll see you into the safety of the compound and then I'll return to help with the clean up detail. Provided that meets with Commander Myers' approval." Jason tone was so frosty, sharp, and biting cold that Tommy winced even further as it seemed that Eric was oblivious to Jason's seething fury.
"Very good, Private Scott; Carry on." Eric said with a bland toneless voice that had Jason flinching so slightly that only Tommy caught it.
Jason escorted the men into the compound, leaving a stunned Tommy standing there glaring at Eric with an angry scowl of disbelief on his face. "That was FUCKING uncalled for, Eric!" Tommy snapped angrily at the now taken aback Quantum Ranger. "He was… I don't know what he was doing, but Mr. Collins didn't seem to mind. You don't know what morphing does to Jason, Eric. You haven't seen the fallout like I have. He's going to be an emotional and physical wreck for the next week, guy. He's very susceptible to the hormone and endorphin changes that happen when we morph. I'm thankful he can even morph again, but I worry about the damage Trey's powers caused in him. Don't let him morph anymore, Eric Myers. Not if you care one wit for keeping in around longer than a year or two. Zordon, Trey, Andros, and Billy all said and still say that Jason shouldn't morph ever again, but he stubbornly won't listen to any of them. He's like my brother, Eric. I don't want to bury him because he's playing hero. That's why all of us were against him coming and joining the Silver Guardians. We knew he wouldn't be able to resist morphing to help you and Wes out if you needed it. Today is a perfect example of just that fact. His body doesn't dump the excess the power creates in our bodies like everyone else. His body hasn't since the damage done when he held Trey's Gold Ranger powers. He's going to need to fight or fuck for the next week. Since fucking is out the question, he doesn't have steady girlfriend and he won't go to a prostitute; then he's going to need to fight and he'll pick them with the biggest meanest dudes he can find. It's going to be a compulsion he can't get rid of, Eric. So either work his ass into the ground every day or he'll be in jail for brawling in the meanest biker bar he can find."
"He won't go looking for a fight, Tommy." Eric said with such a soft and concerned tone that Tommy was brought up short and his anger evaporated instantly at the expression of worry the covered Eric's face. "I'll keep him occupied and if he needs to fight then there are plenty of mean, badass, guys in the ranks that would love nothing more than to go a round or two in the ring with Jason. He'll be fine, Tommy. I promise."
Both men looked up when Kimberly quietly joined them. "Wes will be fine, thank god. Man's head is harder than a chuck of steel. He's asking for you, Eric. He's worried about how Jason handled the attack."
"Tell your fiancé that Jason handled the attack like pro, Kimberly." Eric said with a smile for the petite brunette. "He followed everything by the book. Tell Wes that he would have been very proud of how professional he was today."
"I'll pass along the information, Eric." Kimberly said and then worriedly looked at Tommy. "You told Eric?"
"I did, Kimmy." Tommy answered with a slight smile on his face. "He's Jason's boss now, both him and Wes need to know what consequences could and probably will come about if Jason morphs anymore. Billy said that the last physical Jason consented to, before he moved here, that Jason showed slight indications of strain to his heart, lungs, and that his muscles weren't healing from minor strains like they should. Billy said that Jason could develop muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis like symptoms. The power doesn't heal him any more, Kimmy, it's killing him." By the time he finished, Tommy was nearly in tears and Eric was shocked when Kimberly and all the others surrounded Tommy and supported him as he broke down and cried like a little baby.
"What's going on?" Eric asked with concern as Tommy finally quit crying. "Does Jason know that morphing could endanger his life?"
"He knows." Billy said sadly. "He should have returned the morpher back over to Rocky after the moon mission, but he's stubbornly holding onto it because he's here with the Silver Guardians. He will keep it and always morph to assist and be a backup for you and Wesley, Eric. Protecting, serving, giving everything is in his blood. He is the only one in six generations of Scott men that haven't joined the police department right after graduating from high school. Now you know why we were against his joining the Silver Guardians. Not because we didn't want him to leave us, but because at least in Angel Grove he wouldn't have dared morph and reveal his identity. Here he can because no one knows whom he associated with during the time his armor was active and would have been instantly recognized in our hometown as well as having another Red Ranger is a very big draw for the Guardians to branch out and do more."
"He won't morph again, that I will guarantee." Eric said with all the force he could muster. "Rocky will go home with that damned morpher and he'd better keep it this fucking time. I'm not losing him. Not to something that is supposed to heal and help, not harm and destroy."
"What?" Everyone but Kimberly said at once.
"He's too valuable to the Guardians alive, folks." Eric backpedaled quickly as he realized he'd almost outted Jason to his friends. "He's got all the makings of a fine officer and both Wes and I will make sure that his morpher is either deactivated or turned over to Rocky for safekeeping. I won't loose one of my men to something I can prevent."
"Thank, Eric." Tommy said with a sad smile. "It might be too late and the damage might already be done, but we can all hope and pray that this one extra time, so long after the last time didn't cause a cascade effect and start the process of destroying him. Billy, did you bring the scanning equipment?"
"I did, Tommy." Billy said with a sigh of resignation. "I'm going to scan him thoroughly this time and he's going to lay there and take it. He needs checked out, especially after morphing and this time I'm not taking no for an answer."
Eric triggered his communications equipment and shocked everyone when he barked into the microphone on his shoulder. "Carson, have Private Scott report to the infirmary and stay there until Mr. Cranston has finished examining him. He's to stay there or face disciplinary action up to and including a reduction in rank, pay, or get fired. I mean it Carson. Keep his ass in that infirmary if you have to punch his lights out and break both of his legs."
"Now see here, Eric." Mr. Collins voice issued over the circuit. "That shouldn't be necessary."
"It might be, sir." Eric replied. "I've just been made aware of a medical condition that Private Scott neglected to put into his medical history. Mr. Cranston has the equipment with him that's needed to determine his condition, but it seems that Private Scott doesn't like to have the testing done. As his commanding officer it is my call that he be taken to the infirmary and checked out, sir. You yourself set it up so that you had no say in how the Guardians were run. This is my call and I'm making it."
"Very well, Commander Myers, but we will discuss this matter in my office first thing in the morning." Mr. Collins snapped back with just a touch of anger, but mostly his voice held concern.
"Yes sir." Eric replied with a crisp, icy voice. "First thing in the morning in your office, sir. I'll be there."
"Eric!" Carson called over the circuit. "Damn it, get your ass up here and restrain this madman you recruited. He's just trashed four of my best fighters!"
"Shit!" Tommy said as he and the others took off at a dead run right behind Eric's quickly retreating form.
"I've got the Rangers that just assisted us on my heels, let them through." Eric said into his communication equipment as he bolted toward where he could now see Carson and six others attempting to restrain a very agitated and angry Jason.
Eric, Tommy, Rocky, Zack, Adam, and Justin all piled into Jason and the men surrounding him with various types of flying tackles. They knocked all of them to the ground. Kimberly took a syringe from Billy and quickly injected the still struggling Jason in the left leg, which was the only part of his body she could reach for the men attempting to hold him on the ground. Seconds later, Jason went limp and everyone started sorting out what arm and leg belonged to whom. "Get him on a stretcher and into the infirmary." Eric ordered slightly breathless as he was helped from the pile of men that had tackled Jason to the ground. "Danvers, escort Mr. Cranston and Miss Hart to the infirmary. They have the equipment needed to ascertain Private Scott's condition."
"Yes, sir." Corporal Danvers answered with a quickly snapped salute in Eric's direction. "We're not going to wait for the stretcher, Commander. I think five or six of us can just carry him there now that he's not fighting like a possessed madman."
"Just do it, Danvers, without causing more injuries." Eric snapped and Danvers blanched slightly at the tone.
"Going now, sir." Lieutenant Carson Dale said as he and four of his team picked Jason's large unconscious frame up from the ground where he'd succumbed to the injection Kimberly had given him. "Mr. Cranston and Miss Hart, if you'll follow us, we'll lead you the infirmary."
"Right behind you." Kimberly and Billy said as the five men made their way toward on the nearby buildings.
"Come on." Eric said as he turned and started behind the others. "Wes will be awake by now and will want to say thanks for the assist. Besides I'm sure that all of you want to hear how Jason's doing and the quickest way is for all of us to be in the infirmary waiting for them to finish scanning him."
Tommy and the remaining Rangers from Angel Grove followed Eric without much conversation flowing between them. The found Wes awake and all of them sat quietly with him and Eric as they waited for word on their friends condition.
About two hours later, Kimberly entered the room and kissed Wes gently on the lips. Billy came in behind her and smiled at Tommy. "He's fine. I was able to flush the excess build up from his system and for once the treatments that Trey recommended worked. Rocky, Jason said to give this to you." Billy handed over Jason's morpher and Rocky took it with a sad smile.
"He should keep this, Billy." Rocky said very sadly. "It was his first, and I'd give anything in the world for him to be able to keep it and use it. The power isn't supposed to hurt us, it's supposed to help."
"I know, Rocky." Billy said with equal sadness. "I've researched this on Aquitar, Triforia, Eltar, and even Mirinoi before returning home. No one has any idea why Jason was harmed so much by holding Trey's powers or even why the rejection process happened in the first place. The last information I was able to eek out of the Power Chamber's destroyed computers said that if Jason found his bond mate, life mate; then he could morph without ever being harmed again. Unfortunately he's never found that person and he can't; perhaps one day he will. Trey has volunteered to come back to Earth and oversee the bonding process to assure that it's completed properly. We just have to wait for Jason to find the one that completes him."
"Why would Jason have to have Trey oversee his bonding with this person, once their found?" Eric asked with a curious expression and a tone that spoke volumes to many in the room.
"The bonding process has to happen while Jason is morphed, Eric." Billy said with an expression of hope starting to show on his face. "Trey has said that Jason must bond with another Ranger because that in order to heal him fully to where he can wield the powers again, he and his mate must be bonded through the Morphin Grid and the only way to accomplish that would be for both of them to be morphed. The process is complex and Trey of Triforia is the last, after Zordon's sacrifice that knows how to conduct it properly. Dulcea, on Phaedos, knows too; however, she can never leave the plateau on that world and we don't have the technology to teleport there anymore. Divatox destroyed that when she attacked and destroyed the Power Chamber."
"Thank you for telling us that." Eric said with a strange tone of voice. "Maybe Jason will find the one he needs to bond with from among the ranks of Rangers that are available soon. His expertise and assistance is very welcome to the Guardians as well as by Wes and myself."
"He's asking for you, Eric." Carson Dale stepped softly into the room and caused a few to jump when he spoke.
"I'll be there shortly, Carson, thank you." Eric replied quietly. "Wes, get better soon. You're getting married in a few months, guy. Can't be lying down on the job until then. You're sticking me with everything for two months while you and Kimberly go gallivanting off to the tropics. Least you could do is pull your weight around here until then." Eric's voice was teasing and he gave Wes's shoulder a gentle squeeze as he turned and left the room. He stepped down the short hallway and into the room where Jason had been taken. "You're in deep shit with me, Jason Scott." Eric said with a combination of relief, anger, and worry in his tone. "Damn it, man, I love you so much that I was terrified today of losing you. Then I find out that you're killing yourself morphing. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry, Eric." Jason said with a sigh of resignation. "I couldn't. How can I tell a fellow Ranger that even though I have possession of the morpher that I can't use it because it'll kill me? I can't. Rocky has the morpher back and it's taken care of permanently. Unless I can find someone to be bonded to through the grid, then I'm done being a Ranger. You don't think I was terrified too, Eric. Maybe I should look for something else. The Silver Hills police force is hiring recruits; I saw the advertisement in the mess hall today. Either that or perhaps I can get a job at the docks again. I've nothing special to offer the Guardians and Carson's comments today have had me thinking; when I could think straight anyway. I don't want to cause problems for you within the ranks, Eric. It's not good for discipline or camaraderie within the Silver Guardians. I don't want you accused of hiring me because we're lovers and not for my skills. Without the morpher I don't have anything special that the Guardians need."
"Bullshit!" Eric said as he took a seat on the bed, forcing Jason to have to scoot over to accommodate him. "Even without the morpher, you have everything the Guardians have always looked for, Jason. You're fast, strong, loyal, and you learned procedures so quickly that most of the group you trained with is still standing duty with a veteran Guardian and you're standing duties alone. You don't have to leave the Guardians, Jase. We hired you and we stand behind that decision whether you have the ability to morph or not. Dissension in the ranks, neither Wes nor I will tolerate at all. You weren't my lover when we accepted your application and that you've become my lover has no bearing on your assignments at all. In fact Wes handles all the scheduling of your shifts just because neither of us wants to be accused of favoritism. Your call, but leaving now wouldn't look good to the Silver Hills police force and probably not to the docks either. Just stick it out, Jase. Promotions are coming just before Wes and Kimberly's wedding. Don't be surprised if you find yourself in the position of leading a team like Carson and Danvers do. We promote on merit, not time in service, Jase. I don't have any input other than saying how training is going and how well you're doing your assigned tasks. That's all. Wes and Mr. Collins have the final say so and I like it that way."
"All right, I'll stay." Jason said with a small worried frown. "Trial basis, until after the wedding. Then we'll see how things are going. If you're taking too much flack about being my lover, then I will leave the Guardians. You're quickly becoming everything to me Eric and I don't want to see you hassled, harangued, or harassed because of me or whatever position I wind up in after promotions in a few months. You'll have to accept that decision, because I won't be changing my mind. Now when can I get outta here?"
"After the base doc looks you over, Jase." Eric said with a smile as the Silver Guardian's regular doctor came into the room. "Then you can head home for the day. We'll all be doing paperwork about today when we get in tomorrow. So just be prepared, sometimes the paperwork is worse than standing duty stations, but it's a necessary part of our jobs."
"Just glad that we never had to do after action reports for Zordon, Eric." Jason teased as the doc started his examination. "We'd have never gotten out of the Commander Center nor gotten any homework done."
"Glad Time Force didn't require that either, Jase." Eric said giving Jason a rare smile that few ever saw. His dark eyes were twinkling with merriment and his smile wasn't tight or forced; it was a genuine smile of happiness. "We still on for dinner tonight?"
"As if I'd pass up dinner on you, Eric Myers." Jason said with the first happy smile Eric had seen all day. "As soon as Doc Kelly clears me, I'm outta here to change. The usual place?"
"The usual place, Jase." Eric said as he left the room.
XXXXX End of Chapter XXXXX