Once A Ranger, Twice A Fool

A/N: Hey guys, yes I know I did Overdrive already but the lure of those two episodes was just there beckoning me. Whispering ever so softly, "come on princess, you know you want to…" I'm so weak :::shame face:::: anyways I hope you'll indulge as I have – plus Tyzonn is in this one - ENJOY! R&R PLZ!

Another mission complete, another lull. At least the Overdrive rangers had some company this time in the form of the former rangers. The boys opted for video games while the girls went off on their own. None of the men, I mean none of them, were going to ask where they went or anything that involved getting near them. Each of them knew for a fact that that would lead to disaster. The temptation was there but nothing was going to make them take it until –

Spencer appeared in the living room, "Gentlemen dinner is almost ready."

"Thanks Spencer," Mack nodded.

"Ah Master Mack, if you would so kind as to call the ladies. I need to tend to my soufflé." Spencer somehow maintained his stiff measured pace but still got out of there fast enough that Mack couldn't respond. The rest actually stopped playing to look at the red ranger who remained in his spot.

"Go on Mack," Xander smirked. "Go find the girls."

"Don't get me started tree boy," Mack grumbled. "There is no way I'm going."

"But you have to," Adam reminded him. "You wouldn't want them to miss dinner."

"Why don't you go?" Mack shot back. "You're the mature one here."

"Exactly, I'm wise enough to know not to go," Adam shrugged.

"Why? What's wrong going to look for the girls?" Tyzonn asked.

"Long story man, let's just say it never ends well," Adam grinned.

"Then I'm not going," Tyzonn immediately backed off.

Mack groaned, "Dax please man…"

"Oh no way," Dax laughed at the ceiling. "You're on your own buddy."

Mack looked ready to bash his head against the wall, "Will? Bridge?"

Will shook his head, "Uh-uh."

Bridge made show of getting comfortable, "Sorry dude."

Mack huffed and got to his feet, "Either you come with me voluntarily or I MAKE you come along anyway. Either way, I am not going alone."

"What makes you think you can make us come with you to certain doom?" Adam raised an eyebrow.

"You're not curious?" Mack asked with a glint in his eye and the others fidgeted in their seats. "Ty, where's your sense of adventure? I thought you were braver than that. Will, are you still on the top of Ronny's list? How do you know that one of the new guys haven't booted you out? Dax, there is other set of girls up there; you might be on the top of theirs. Adam, you told all of us about your time, do you think you still have that sweet charm? And Xander Bly, Mr. Personality, wouldn't you like to know the effect you've had on these girls? Bridge, buddy, you're heading back to the future soon but how cool would it be to go out with a ranger girl from this time? I bet it'd beat eating toast all day. Think about it." Mack backed out of the room, chanting 'think about it.'

The room was silent, each of the men fighting their own internal battle. Finally, Dax made a helpless noise, "God I'm so weak sometimes." He flung himself from his seat and went after the red Overdrive ranger.

"A date would beat toast," Bridge admitted grudgingly, getting up too. "But only very narrowly."

Tyzonn drummed his fingers, "Oh what the hell! What's the worse than can happen?" He left.

"And then there were three," Adam chewed the inside of his cheek. "I'm not concerned," his statement was at complete odds with his stiff posture. "I know I haven't changed."

"Xander?" Will cocked an eyebrow.

"I have a girlfriend," said Xander holding up my hands. "And my girl has powers to zap me if I do anything stupid. Besides I know full well that my effect is still functioning, I have nothing to worry about."

"Yeah," Will nodded. "Of course I'm still on the top of Ronny's list." There was a teetering moment before the three of them leapt up simultaneously and went after the rest.

They met the others at the foot of the stairs and Mack had superior smile on his face, "Nice of you to join us."

"Whatever man, I'm blaming all of this on you," Will vowed.

Mack snorted, "Yeah, like that will make a difference." Nothing bothering to acknowledge the factuality of that, they trudged up to the second floor.

The long hall of doors meant the boys had to creep around, listening to each one until finally Bridge signalled them, "Got it!" They grouped around the third last door on the right, listening through the edges around the wood.

Tori – "I can't wait to get home to Blake, he's finally finished touring for the season so I get to spend a couple days with him before we both have go back to teaching."

Kira – "I'm glad you two are still going strong."

Rose – "Ranger romance is the best. Makes it feel like it was destiny."

Tori – "Yeah we've got some great stories. I feel bad for Tyzonn, his love was taken away by those monsters."

Ronny – "I always hope for a happy ending for him, he deserves it after everything he had to go through."

Tyzonn sighed, "The only thing that would make me happy is getting Vella back and so unless she somehow survived the cave which I dou-"

"Crazier things have happened man," Adam informed him. "But even if you don't get Vella back, that's no reason to give up on living."

"Maybe," Tyzonn sighed.

Rose – "Tyzonn is strong. I'm sure he'll be fine. You know until you guys showed up, I hadn't really thought about life after the mission. I liked teaching at the university, I'll probably go back to lecture."

Ronny – "Just remember to take Mack with you."

Kira – coughing "Rose?! You like Mack?!"

Rose – "In a manner of speaking."

Mack's eyebrows knit together, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means she does but it's complicated due to everything that's going in her life so she's hesitant to make any commitments. Don't worry Mack, she is giving it some serious thought." Bridge stopped when he noticed the other men gaping at him. "I spent a lot of time with the women on my team, they taught me how to speak 'girl'."

"Lucky man," Will made an impressed expression.

Rose – "Does that mean Will will be joining you at the racetrack in the future Ronny?"

Ronny – "Quite the possibility."

The boys immediately turned to Bridge for a translation. Bridge rolled his eyes, "Ronny does in fact like Will and wants to ask him out but is waiting for the right opportunity to do so."

"Well if it's opportunity she wants, it's an opportunity she'll get," Will guaranteed.

"They haven't mentioned me once," Xander worried. "Have I really lost my touch?"

"What happened to having a girlfriend?" Tyzonn queried.

"Don't bro, just don't," Xander gulped.

Tori – "That reminds me Kira, are you still in the candy jar or what?"

Ronny – "Huh?"

Tori – "Kira had the hots for her teacher Dr. Oliver."

Kira – "Tori!"

Adam's eyes bugged out and it looked like he had to put in real effort to hold back a laugh. "Kira didn't mention that, boy am I going to enjoy driving her back to Reefside."

Kira – "For your information, yes my hand is still in the candy jar but whether I have actually obtained anything sweet is none of your business."

Rose – "Well there's always Adam. That guy is intense but in the best way possible. He's got that whole 'been there, seen everything' macho vibe going on."

Tori – "Yeah like a warrior-leader thing, he's all business and totally driven."

Ronny – laughing "I don't think anyone here would mind him turning some that focus on them."

Everyone – "NOPE!"

"So much for the sweet charm," Adam faked a sad face.

"Alright enough cooing over Adam," Xander said frustrated. "Get to me already."

"You?" Dax demanded. "What about me?"

"Or me?" Bridge looked insulted.

"Guess you boys need to be more driven and intense," Adam grinned.

Kira – "It'll be a fun drive home. By the way, any idea how Bridge is getting back?"

"About time," Bridge edged closer.

Rose – "No clue, I'm sure Sentinel Knight will take him otherwise Mr. Hartford will thing of something."

Tori – "I'm gonna miss him, he's really kind of sweet."

Ronny – "Until then, I'm sure him and Dax will find something to pass the time."

Kira – "Those two are adorable, they're like little kids."

"Little kids?" Dax and Bridge chorused. The rest coughed into their hands.

Adam smiled at them, "You're cute but in that baby/puppy kind of way. Never thought I'd say that again."

"Glad to give you the chance," Dax commented sarcastically.

Rose – "Hey I'm starting to get hungry, I wonder if Spencer has finished dinner yet." Suddenly the door opened and all four girls were more exasperated than mad to find the men skulking around.

"Really guys?" Tori shook her head.

"Seriously I swear we've been down this road before," Kira slapped her forehead.

"Yes but clearly we're glutton for punishment," Adam replied unrepentantly.

"And punishment you shall get," Rose glared. "If you don't mind, Ronny and I will deal Mack, Will, Tyzonn and Dax later."

"Fine by me," Kira crossed her arms. "As for you Adam, you'll be enjoying the greatest pop hits of Kylie Styles the entire ride back."

"You hate Kylie's pop songs," Adam protested.

"Not as much as you," Kira countered.

"And Bridge," Tori pointed a finger at him. "No more toast for the rest of the day."

"WHAT?!" Bridge yelped. "Not the toast, the toast is innocent."

"But you're not," The girls started pushing the guys towards the staircase. "Come on, dinner ought to be ready soon anyway."

"What about me?" Xander burst out. "I'm going to be punished anyway, at least let me know what you think of me."

"That is your punishment Xander," Tori told him. "You'll never know. Now get moving." Will would go on to do all the dishes after dinner, Mack was forced to accompany the girls on their next shopping trip to carry all their bags, Tyzonn took his turn at yard work, and Dax once again faced his demon chore of bathroom duty. Kira kept her word and by the time they got to Reefside Adam could not get 'Glitter and Glam' out of his head and was caught humming it by Tommy (I'll leave that up to your imagination). Xander would pester all his friends about his effect until his girlfriend really did zap him, just to shut him up. Bridge had to go without toast for an entire afternoon and night but don't worry, he compensated with an extra tall stack upon returning to the future. And so it was that on that day, all the different generations came together in the honoured tradition of eavesdropping and – FOR THE LAST TIME XANDER SHUT UP! ZAP! – and getting caught. After all as the saying goes, once a ranger, always a ranger.

A/N: Teehee, I liked this one. It was definitely fun, kind of like bringing everything full circle.