Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Chapter 22

"Ash?"

"Hey, Cass." Ashley let out a sigh and closed her book. "What's up?"

"I just came to see how you were doing." Cassie muffled a yawn with her hand. "Long day, huh?"

"You could say that." Ashley smiled faintly and pushed herself up. "Zhane and Karone still sleeping?"

"TJ's watching them now." Cassie nodded. "Carlos left to get some sleep."

"Sounds like a good idea..." Ashley glanced down at the book in her hand. "How does MacBeth end?"

Cassie regarded her in amusement. "Everyone dies."

"Okay." Ashley tossed the book onto her dresser and sat up. "I can go to bed, then."

Cassie laughed. "You'll be getting plenty of rest soon," she reminded her with a grin. "Only two Psychos to go."

"But we're down one zord," Ashley pointed out, and sighed. "And one of those Psychos is red."

Cassie frowned. "You think he'll morph."

"I know he'll fight." Ashley fiddled with her hands for a few moments, letting out a sigh as she looked up at Cassie. "He's wearing the morpher. I don't know if he'll use it or not."

"You think he'll morph, then," Cassie decided. "You think you could stop him?"

"Probably," Ashley admitted. "But--and this will sound completely crazy--I don't know if I should."

"You sound completely crazy," Cassie confirmed. Curiously, she added, "Why?"

"Because..." Ashley shrugged her shoulders uneasily. "Because I keep thinking that he's stronger than it is."

"I don't know, Ash," Cassie said skeptically. "The Power is strong."

"Andros is stronger," Ashley maintained stubbornly. "I know he is."

Cassie twirled her hair around two fingers in thought. "Maybe," she allowed doubtfully. "But Ash, he almost killed you."

"I know." Ashley's face clouded. "But that wasn't him. He was still in there, Cass, trying to talk to me..."

Her voice trailed off. "He's stronger than it is," she said firmly. "I know it."

"I hope you're right." Cassie stifled a yawn with one hand, looking to Ashley sheepishly. "Sorry..."

"Long day," Ashley said, with a yawn of her own. "I think I'll get to bed, too."

Cassie raised an eyebrow when Ashley followed her into the hall. "Weren't you just in bed?"

"Um." Ashley blushed suddenly, squirming under Cassie's amused stare. "Well... I, um..."

"Andros's bed is that way, you mean," Cassie supplied with a giggle, jabbing one thumb to her left. "You've been in his room every night for almost a week and you thought we wouldn't notice?"

"We're not doing anything," Ashley muttered, just the tiniest bit defensive. "Just sleeping."

"If you say so." Cassie grinned and then shrugged. "What you do or don't do with Andros is none of my business."

"You're right; it's not." Ashley glared at her best friend half-heartedly. "We really aren't doing anything!"

"I was just kidding," Cassie said quickly. "I believe you. Besides," she added with a grin, "I know you'd tell me if you had."

"You..." Ashley groaned. She shook her head with a sigh. "Fine. Get back in here."

Ashley retreated back into her bedroom and Cassie followed, both girls sitting cross-legged on the bed. Ashley chewed her lower lip thoughtfully for a few moments, hugging the pillow to her chest with a small sigh.

"We really haven't done anything." She paused. "But, well... almost..."

"Almost?" Cassie quirked one eyebrow. More seriously, she asked, "What stopped you?"

Ashley couldn't help laughing a little. "My ankle was still sprained and he accidentally bumped it."

"That's all?"

Ashley nodded her head slowly. "Yeah."

"So--you think you're going to sleep with him?"

"I know I want to." Ashley nodded her head slowly, giggling slightly as she remembered that conversation. "I know he wants to."

"I don't think I even want to know what's so funny," Cassie said dryly. "But seriously, Ash, have you thought about this? I mean, really thought about it?"

"Of course I have," Ashley answered, looking mildly insulted. "I know that I love him. He'd never hurt me, and he wouldn't have sex with someone that he didn't love."

"I remember him saying something like that once," Cassie nodded, and Ashley looked at her in surprise.

"You and Andros were talking about sex?"

Cassie laughed and shook her head. "Carlos and I were talking about... something, and Andros was listening."

Ashley studied her curiously. She wondered at Cassie's slight grimace but she didn't ask. "What do you think?" she wanted to know.

"Just be careful, Ash," Cassie warned, but smiled. "He really loves you."

"I know." Ashley grinned to herself. "And he's gorgeous."

"If you say so." Cassie laughed at the look Ashley shot her. "What can I say? His hair."

"It's cute," Ashley insisted, and laughed. "But I am being careful, Cass. I got these..."

She leaned over to rummage around in her top drawer for a moment. Cassie caught the box easily, studying the pills before passing them back. "Just remember they only work if you take one everyday," she said, half-jokingly. "Though it would be interesting to see if his hair is hereditary."

Ashley stuck her tongue out, though imagining a little stripey baby caused her to giggle happily. "I should go see how he's feeling," she said, frowning suddenly. "He was supposed to be sleeping off the last of his headache."

"Tell him to get well soon." Cassie smiled and stood up. "Night, Ash."

"Night." Ashley waved as Cassie left her room, waiting a few moments before getting up herself and quietly slipping into Andros's room.

He was curled up asleep the way he'd been when she'd left the room a few hours ago. Ashley smiled to herself and slowly lowered herself onto the bed, careful not to disturb his much-needed rest. The worst effects of his concussion should have faded by now, but it would be at least morning before he was completely healed.

She just watched him for a few moments with a smile on her lips. In the near-total darkness of the room she couldn't she much more than the blond stripes in his hair, but she could just stare at him for hours.

As her eyes grew used to the dimness, she could just barely make out the shape of his face. Shadows obscured much of his expression but Ashley was certain that it was a peaceful one. Unable to resist, she leaned over and pressed her lips to his, stroking his hair lightly as she snuggled closer to the warmth of his body.

He twitched slightly, still asleep, a soft sigh escaping his lips. Ashley winced guiltily, relieved when he didn't wake. Drawing her hand away, she tucked her head against his shoulder comfortably, smiling when he shifted a little closer to her.

"Love you," she murmured drowsily, though she knew he couldn't hear her. Closing her eyes, Ashley let the even rhythm of his deep breathing soothe her to sleep.

---

Ashley... He was aware of her before he was truly aware of himself, and as his consciousness drifted back from the edge of sleep, the sight of her curled against him brought a smile to his face.

Andros stroked her cheek gently. Her eyes fluttered open at his touch and he drew back apologetically, but she only smiled and stretched.

"How are you feeling?" she yawned. "Head still hurt?"

It took a minute for the day before to come flooding back. Andros frowned and gave his head an experimental shake, sighing in relief when he didn't feel so much as a twinge. Ashley reached up and lightly ran her fingers over what had been a nasty bump only a few hours before, smiling at him as she did so.

"All healed," she announced brightly, combing her fingers through his hair. "Hey--your hair..."

"What about it?" He tried to concentrate on her words, but was hard-pressed to keep from shivering with pleasure. That felt way too good and he felt himself blush, but she didn't seem to notice.

"Is it hereditary?" she wanted to know, wrapping some of the blond around her finger.

"From my mother's family," he answered, and sobered slightly. "My grandmother. Both of my aunts inherited her looks, but she looks... looked like my grandfather."

Ashley nodded, tugging playfully. "You've got beautiful hair," she murmured, still toying with it. "It's gorgeous... just like you," she added with a grin.

He wrinkled his nose at her but couldn't keep the pleased smile from spreading across his face. "Thanks, I guess."

He caught her hands gently, forcing the motion of her fingers to stop. "I can't think when you do that," he said, deciding that she didn't need to know why.

Ashley just giggled at him in delight, and he realized that she'd known all along just how much he liked her fingers in his hair. "You're cute."

Andros decided not to respond to that.

"Come on," Ashley said suddenly. "Let's go somewhere. Out to breakfast, to the beach, anywhere. You don't have anything important to do, right?"

"I..." He frowned in thought, then smiled and shook his head. "I can't think of anything."

"Good," Ashley smiled brightly. "Breakfast and the beach, then? I know you liked it the last time we were there."

"Would have been better we hadn't been attacked," he muttered, but then smiled. "I'll meet you in the holding bay in twenty minutes."

Ashley kissed his lips quickly before sliding out of bed. "See you then."

He showered quickly and then practically tore his room apart searching for something that would be considered appropriate swimwear, threw on a pair of shorts and a tank top, and arrived at the holding bay just as Ashley did. Andros took one look at her and knew it was going to be nearly impossible to think of anything but her for the next several hours. She wore a yellow spaghetti strap over her bikini top, but her shorts left much of her long legs bare.

"You look great," Ashley told him, and he realized he was staring at her.

"So do you," he said, reluctantly fixing his gaze on the floor just in front of him. "Where are we going?"

Ashley shrugged and slid an arm around his waist. "We can just walk around for awhile. It's still early."

And so they did, wandering around Angel Grove hand in hand before Ashley lit up and dragged him into a bakery. She ordered two of what she called cinnamom rolls, handing him one as they strolled back out onto the streets.

"Don't like it?" She giggled when he wrinkled his nose.

"It's... sweet. Very sweet." He took another, smaller bite, and found it much easier to swallow.

"I'll go get you something else," she offered, but he shook his head.

"It's not so bad," he said, still nibbling slowly. "I like it."

Ashley laughed and took his hand, wrapping her fingers around his as they walked what had to be halfway across town towards the beach. He squeezed her hand gently, his thumb gently rubbing one of her knuckles. She smiled at him, and until he heard the nearby screams of terror, he thought it was going to be a good day.

He caught Ashley's eye and they took off running towards the sound only a block away. People surged past them in a frightened wave, and as they pushed their way forward, Andros's heart sank as he realized what they were up against.

"Red ranger," Psycho Red growled. "I've been looking for you."

Andros's eyes strayed to his morpher, then snapped back to Psycho Red. He couldn't do that... he shouldn't.

Ashley could. "Let's rocket," she shouted, her body swallowed up in a golden glow. Half-blinded by the light, Andros didn't see Psycho Red move until it was too late. As he stumbled back, he saw the flash of sunlight against a metal blade as Psycho Red's saber descended on Ashley...

She hadn't completely morphed, he realized in horror, as the half-formed suit vanished from around her. Ashley hit the ground limply, motionless. Andros staggered back up and rushed to her side, almost forgetting completely about Psycho Red as he rolled her over with trembling hands.

"Ash, wake up," he whispered, staring hard at her chest. He couldn't tell if the motion he would have sworn he saw there was due to her breathing or his wishful thinking. "Ash..."

The blow had struck her right shoulder and slashed straight down, though only her shoulder was visibly wounded. Gently, he set her down again. Ranger or not, he knew that he had to fight. Motion just inside his line of vision snapped him back to action, and he stepped in front of Ashley protectively.

"You are going to pay for that," he hissed, fists balled.

"Then fight me, coward," Psycho Red challenged, and Andros stopped thinking.

"Bring it on," he retorted. He flipped open his morpher. "Let's rocket!"