Disclaimer: The Power Rangers aren't mine, no money made.
Chapter 27
"Don't you know what it means to be on vacation?" Bleary-eyed, Ashley lifted her head to glare at Deca. "Let me sleep."
"You've been allowed an extra hour," Deca replied smugly. "I also thought you would appreciate the fact that Andros has spent the last seventy-five minutes and thirty-four seconds pacing outside your door."
"He has?" Ashley stared blankly at the camera. "Why?"
"It is my assumption that he will tell you himself once you exit the room."
Ashley sighed, then scrambled out of bed. "Tell him I'll be out in ten minutes."
It ended up being twenty-three, as Deca informed her later, mostly due to the fact that it had taken her fifteen minutes to find her left shoe. Andros was the first thing she saw as she left her room, seated cross-legged on the floor with his back to the wall.
Her face broke into a smile when he looked up at her. "What are you doing?"
"I couldn't sleep," he said, rearranging his legs. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Everything all right?"
"Yeah." He nodded slowly. "Actually, I was wondering if you'd help me with something."
"Of course I will," she said. "What is it?"
He frowned then, and sighed. "I'll show you."
"All right..." She looked at him curiously, leaning down to offer him a hand up. He caught her eye as he took her hand and she had to smile, remembering how he'd rolled his eyes at her that first day.
His bedroom door slid open when they paused in front of it, and Ashley's mouth dropped open. Andros's room was normally neat as a pin--a fact that she attributed more to Deca than anything else, but now she could hardly step into the room without tripping.
She turned to look at him. "What happened in here?"
"I told you I couldn't sleep," he said sheepishly. Quietly, he added, "I needed to remind myself how much I'd be wasting if I gave up on Karone now."
"Andros," Ashley sighed. She took a step into the room, careful not to step on one of the many maps spread out across the room. "Since when have you given up on her?"
"I was talking to Zhane yesterday," he said, stooping down to clear the floor. "He asked what I was going to do about her, and I didn't know. I still don't."
"Oh..." Ashley watched him for a few moments longer, folding her arms over her chest. "Not knowing what to do isn't the same as giving up."
"It feels the same," he muttered. "She's still over there, and I don't have a way to get her back."
"Hey," she said, "come here."
He took a few steps closer and let her hold him, slowly moving to return the hug. Ashley squeezed him tight with a sigh, rubbing her palms over his shoulders.
"It's all right," she murmured, kissing his ear lightly. "You'll get her back, I promise."
He only sighed in reply. Ashley frowned, but only held him closer. His breath caught when she lifted a hand to stroke his hair, and she swore she felt his shoulders shake, but he didn't cry.
"Will you be okay?" she asked finally.
"I'm fine."
He wasn't, but she let him draw away. Andros smiled at her faintly, lifting her hand to kiss her fingers. "Thank you for talking with me last night," he said quietly.
Ashley just nodded. She'd sat with him the night before and they'd talked about everything but him and his past. She squeezed his fingers as she pulled her hand away, touching a quick kiss to his lips.
"I love you."
Andros's smile widened. "Thanks," he said again, and she nodded slowly.
"Do you need some help putting all of this away?"
He looked sheepish now as he glanced around the room, nodding his head yes. "Thanks. Again," he added, and she laughed.
"Where does it go?"
"Roll up the maps. There's a holder for them in the corner," he said. "I'll clean up everything else."
She did as he asked, watching enviously as he swept up half the room without moving an inch from where he stood. Maybe she should start practicing her telekinesis with him again, Ashley mused to herself. She decided against it a few moments later--all she really wanted was time to spend alone with him, and all she had to do for that now was to take his hand and drag him off.
Ashley smiled at the thought, then forgot it as she took a closer look at one of the charts in her hand. "Andros?"
He looked over at her, and she pointed at the writing scrawled along the top. "That family you were looking for--are you still?"
Guilt crossed his face and he sighed. "After I found Karone..."
"I was just wondering," she said, rolling the map tightly enough that it would fit in the holder. "You should give yourself a break."
"They saved my life, Ash," he said quietly, eyes on his feet. "I owe them at least that much."
She nodded her head slowly and kept quiet. Ashley understood perfectly why he wanted this, but... this was only going to make him more serious.
"I hope you find them, then," she said. She hesitated a moment. "I'll help you, if you want."
"You don't need to do that," Andros said quietly. He smiled tightly and added, "But thanks for the offer."
"Are you sure?" She frowned at the pained look on his face. "Are you okay?"
"It's a complicated story," he muttered. "You wouldn't like it."
Ashley didn't doubt that. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked anyway. Half-hoping that he'd say no and fully expecting it, she was surprised when he hesitated.
"Ash--" He stopped abruptly and lowered his eyes. "I tried to escape once."
"Tried?" Her stomach flip-flopped when he nodded stiffly.
"I didn't get very far."
Ashley didn't dare ask what they'd done to him after they'd caught him. Andros sighed and shook his head. "That doesn't really matter," he muttered. "Except that Val and his son crash-landed a few days later.
"They were on their way to KO-35 when they were shot down," he explained. "Eiran was assigned to the same house as I was. His father snuck in. I overheard them. They didn't have many choices after that."
"So they took you with them?"
"It would have been simpler for them to kill me," Andros said softly. "It took me years to understand why they didn't."
"Obviously, they didn't," she said, more hopeful now. "What changed their mind?"
"Nothing did." Andros let out a deep breath. "They meant for the shuttle they put me on to be shot down as a decoy."
"But what--what?"
"I told you," he muttered. "It didn't work out that way. They were the ones that got caught and I got away."
"I..." Ashley gaped at him in horror, suddenly nauseous. "But... they were going to kill you."
"Yes."
"They were going to kill you," she repeated dimly, still in disbelief. The hair on her arms stood on end as she stared at him, cold all over. "Andros..."
She crossed the room in two short steps and hugged him tight, her eyes burning. "Andros..."
"I didn't mean to make you cry," he murmured, slowly wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "Ash, don't... It was five years ago. I got out of there."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. She wiped her eyes with one hand, holding him closer with her other arm. Ashley sniffled quietly before letting out a deep breath, chin on his shoulder. "I love you."
"I know." He kissed her ear with a sigh, his grip tightening around her. "I love you."
She smiled a little as she stepped back, her palms resting on his shoulders. "I--I'm very glad you're here," she said awkwardly. "That you're okay."
"Me too," he said softly. Andros kissed her and then let her go with a sigh. "Ash, I..."
She pressed her mouth to his when his voice trailed off, sliding her arms back around him. When Andros stood there just letting her kiss him, she drew away only to find him smiling at her.
"What?"
"Nothing," he breathed, and kissed her.
He nipped at her lip and she jumped at the sudden sensation, her hands clenching on his shoulders. Something inside tingled when he kissed her harder and stepped into her, hands settling on her hips.
He was the one who started moving them towards the bed. Ashley felt the back of her knees hit the edge of his bed and sank down onto it without thinking, dragging him down with her.
She could barely think as his lips left hers to press urgent kisses down her jaw and back again. His body half covered hers before she noticed and even then, dizzily kissing him senseless seemed more important than anything...
He was the one to stop. Andros tore himself away from her abruptly, his breathing ragged as he nearly jumped away from her.
"An--" His name became a gasp of alarm as his head cracked against the bottom of the second bunk. Andros doubled over with a small groan, muttering to himself in a language Ashley didn't understand as she reached out towards him.
"Andros?"
He hissed softly and flinched when she pulled his hand out of the way to lightly run her fingers over the area herself. "Don't!"
"I--I'm sorry," she murmured, flushing sheepishly. "I'll get you some ice."
"No." His hands clenched over her wrists. "No, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" She frowned at him skeptically. "That was a loud crack."
"Zhane will tell you I'm just that hard-headed," Andros muttered, and she couldn't help but laugh a little.
"You're really okay?"
"I'll be fine." He sat up rubbing his head gingerly, wincing. "Really, Ash."
Ashley leaned over to hug him, a bit surprised when he let her pull him into her arms. She wasn't complaining, though, and held him tight with a sigh. "Andros... what happened?"
He was silent for a moment. "I sat up too fast."
"Not what I meant," she said softly, slowly rubbing a hand across his back. "Please talk to me."
"I'm sorry," he muttered. "I--I just... I can't think around you," he burst out, and Ashley turned toward him in surprise.
"That doesn't have to be a bad thing."
"But..." Andros moaned quietly when she rubbed the small bump on his head. "That feels better."
"I'm glad." She ran her fingers through his hair, tilting her head against his. "What's bothering you?"
"I..." Andros stared at his lap. "I--I can't think when I kiss you."
"Oh." Ashley felt herself blush, not letting him go despite her sudden awkwardness. "Andros, I..."
"I shouldn't have said that." He sighed. "Ash--"
"No." She cut him off quickly, shaking her head. "I guess we should talk."
Clearly unhappy as he nodded, Andros straightened up. "I'm not sure what to say."
"Neither do I." Ashley bit her lip. "Well... would you... I mean--do you want to--do you want us to sleep together?"
Andros looked intensely uncomfortable, and she quickly added, "It doesn't have to be a yes. You don't have to know--I'm not sure I do."
"I..." He shook his head slowly. "I don't think I do, either."
"Okay..." Ashley let her voice trail off when she realized she didn't have a clue what to say. She thought for a moment, speaking when he didn't seem to want to. "Look, Andros. I love you. It's so easy to just kiss you, and then..."
"It's all you can think about," Andros finished for her, his cheeks flushing. "I know."
"Yeah." She smiled a little, looking down at her lap. "It wouldn't be hard to get carried away."
"And you'd regret that?"
"I--I don't know," she said. "Probably not."
"What would... what would make you regret it?" he asked tentatively.
Ashley shook her head. "I don't know."
"Neither do I." Andros glanced down at his lap with a frown. "I only don't want to..."
"Yeah?" she prompted when he stopped. "What?"
"I've never been in love before," he said quietly.
Ashley brushed her fingertips against his cheek, smiling at him when he looked at her. "You're not doing so badly."
He squeezed her hand, his thumb lightly stroking her fingers. "I do love you, Ash."
"I know." She kissed his lips, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I love you too."
He tightened his grip on her hand. "I don't want to do anything to ruin this."
"Hey," she said. "Listen to me. You're not going to ruin anything."
"I'd never try to." He smiled at her slowly, then shook his head. "We haven't decided anything, have we?"
"We don't have to decide anything right now," she said thoughtfully. "But--if we have to talk ourselves into it..."
"Then we shouldn't do it," he finished for her. He looked just the tiniest bit disappointed and she giggled, nuzzling closer to him.
"We have plenty of time for that," she said, almost shy as she looked at him. "Want to hear something?"
"Yes?" he said uncertainly.
Ashley laughed softly. "It feels like I could kiss you forever, but--" She tightened her arms around his waist. "This means more."
Andros was silent for a moment. "I like both," he said finally, and she couldn't help grinning.
"No reason we can't do both," she said. Ashley released him and lay back, giving his hand a quick tug. "Come here."
He did, a curious frown on his face as he drew his legs up onto the bed and lay down at her side. "What?"
Ashley pressed her mouth to his without a word. Andros was smiling when she drew away and she shifted closer, her face just inches away from his as they both rested their heads on the pillow.
"Let's just stay here for awhile," she suggested, kissing him another time. "Like this."
Andros touched his lips to hers before he answered, his kisses slow and lazy as he relaxed. "All right."
Cassie fiddled idly with the device in her hands. The metal band was long warmed from her touch as she passed it from palm to palm, undecided. He'd left her the communicator but hadn't used it himself, and she wasn't sure anymore that she wanted to, either.
She was tired of waiting for him to make up his mind. She had a life that was just fine without him and if he'd just leave and let her get over him, she'd move on and be perfectly happy.
There were plenty of others. She felt a twinge of uncertainty when TJ's was the first face to pop into her mind--he'd been one of her best friends since the moment they'd met on the bus nearly two years ago. She wasn't sure that she wanted a romantic relationship with him more than she wanted his friendship.
Still... she was attracted to him, and maybe--
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," she muttered, jumping a foot in the air when the alarm shrilled. "Who is it now, Deca?"
"Disturbance in the park," Deca replied. "I have alerted the others."
Cassie sighed, slipping Arietis's communicator into her pocket as she stood. "I'm on my way."
"I told you I'd be back, Red Ranger."
Andros frowned, his confusion lifting as his mind flashed back to a few nights before. This was the one Darkonda had sent out after him. Ashley's stiff stance told him that she recognized the alien as well.
Gritting his teeth, he curled his hand more tightly around his saber. "You're wasting your time."
In answer, the alien brandished his sword. Andros tensed, bracing himself as he charged forward. Carlos blocked the swing of the sword and Andros started in surprise, berating himself silently for not keeping a closer eye on his teammates.
The flash of yellow he caught moving past him was Ashley, running forward to fight at his side. He darted in to slash at their opponent when Ashley drove him back with a kick, ducking to avoid losing a limb.
His heart pounded as he straightened up, his senses working on overdrive. This one was strong--TJ and Carlos were sprawled out on the ground now, struggling just to pick themselves up.
Andros flipped himself over the head of the alien and landed neatly on his feet, whirling around just in time to see Ashley stagger back, one hand clutching her Star Slinger and the other pressed to her chest. She took another kick to the stomach and then dropped her weapon, swaying on her feet.
"Ashley!"
He started to run towards her, only to be caught hard in the stomach by the hilt of the sword. Winded, he doubled over, not having enough air even to cry out when something blasted him and threw him backwards, blinding him in pain.
The last thing he was sure of was that he hit the ground. He saw clearly Zhane standing over him and then he saw nothing at all, as he succumbed to darkness. When he reemerged from it, the first thing he was aware of was the soreness of his body.
His chest cramped as he drew in a breath. Andros groaned softly as he exhaled, straining to lift his shoulders. Two hands grasped him before he got very far, rendering him immobile as they held him down.
"Don't you ever learn that it might be best to hold still?"
Andros blinked his eyes open to squint up at Zhane. The brightness of the room burned his eyes and pain stabbed through his brain, drawing another groan from him.
"You might want to keep your eyes shut for awhile." Zhane sounded sympathetic as he released Andros's shoulders. "Don't sit up just yet, either. You've got a concussion and a few busted ribs--you're lucky."
"Oh..."
Zhane sighed when Andros slowly pushed himself up, slipping an arm beneath his shoulders to help him. "You really should lie down for awhile."
"I'll be fine." Andros opened his eyes just a bit, nauseous when the world spun. "Where's Ashley?"
"You should lie down," Zhane repeated more forcefully. Andros didn't move and Zhane simply kept the steadying arm around him as he answered. "Ashley's fine, she's helping Cassie get settled in her room. She'll be fine--it's nothing that she can't sleep off."
"Oh." He felt a flash of disappointment that she hadn't waited for him to wake up, quickly burying it. That wasn't fair.
"If you think you can keep yourself upright for twenty seconds, there's a pain reliever in the Synthetron. Deca's orders," Zhane broke into his thoughts, and Andros smiled a bit.
"Thanks."
He wasn't quite so grateful after drinking the reddish liquid. It burned his throat going down and he coughed, the motion causing him to moan quietly in pain as his head throbbed.
"Nothing I can do about that," Zhane told him, and it was only then that Andros realized just how quietly his friend was speaking. "Get some rest."
Andros started to nod, then caught himself just in time. "Where's Ashley? What happened to her?"
Zhane cocked his head, puzzled, then sighed. "You don't remember."
"Antegrade amnesia," Deca confirmed smoothly. "It will fade soon. I recommend several hours of bedrest," she added. "Effective immediately."
Andros didn't bother to deny that the idea appealed to him. Gripping the edge of the bed with his hands, he carefully slid off of it--and promptly felt his left leg buckle beneath him. Zhane caught him before he fell, but his headache tripled into near agony.
"Minor sprain," Zhane informed him ten minutes later. "As soon as it's wrapped, you're going to bed."
Andros only rubbed his temples in reply. His friend was whispering, but that was enough to make his head throb.
The pain in his head didn't recede any until he was curled up in bed in the darkness of his room, an icepack on his head and several pillows beneath his ankle. Once it did, he finally felt a few twinges in his ankle each time he shifted and his ribs seemed to be more than a dull ache.
Andros sighed, fighting the temptation to roll over. Tossing and turning wouldn't make him any more comfortable than he was now.
He didn't open his eyes when his door opened, his lips twitching when he felt the mattress dip.
"Hey." Her voice was soft near his ear, and he smiled faintly when her fingers covered his. "I heard you were asking for me."
Anything more than squeezing her fingers in reply required more effort than he could muster. Ashley kept his hand in hers as she carefully settled herself beside him, close enough that he could feel her breath on his neck.
"How do you feel?"
"Not so good," he admitted. He couldn't help himself from adding, "I'll be fine."
For some reason, he thought she smiled at that. "Tell me if you need anything," she murmured quietly, and then fell silent.
A drowsy sigh was the only answer he made. Ashley kept still and quiet beside him, and it was the sound of her breathing that lulled him to sleep.
