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Chapter 5

The next day Carter was allowed to leave, only if he had plenty of bed rest. Ryan came to pick him up, since the rest were at another fire call. Carter changed into the red and black plaid pajama pants and white form fitting tank top Ryan brought him. He was tying his white and red running shoes as Ryan got final instructions from Dr. Stevenson. He stepped into the hallway zipping up his red hooded sweatshirt when Dr. Stevenson finished the conversation.

"I hope the rest of your recovery is fast Mr. Grayson and I don't want to see you on the television fighting any monsters for another three weeks." she said with a smile.

He smiled back. "I won't, I promise." She nodded and he and Ryan slowly walked through the hallways to the parking lot where the Rescue Rover was parked. Ryan helped Carter into the vehicle and then climbed into the driver's side. They sat in a companionable silence for the first half of the trip, until Ryan asked the question that's been on his mind since Dana came back to the base distraught the previous day.

He looked over at the red ranger as he watched the scenery pass by. "Carter, we're close friends right?"

Carter looked at Ryan. "Of course we are."

"I know I'm being really bold and you don't have to answer, but I'm curious." Carter nodded to allow him to continue. Ryan took a deep breath. "What's going on with you and my sister?"

Carter looked at him, almost taken aback by the question. "What do you mean?"

"Well yesterday after we visited you, she came back to the base really upset. When I asked her what was wrong, she wouldn't tell me and she's had herself buried in her school books, more than the norm. I thought maybe you would have some insight on her behaviour."

Carter looked away for a moment and then faced Ryan again and sighed. "We had a slight argument yesterday. I found through the doctor that the boy I tried to save died. I was mad that I had to hear it from a stranger than from one of you guys and I accidentally took my anger out on her."

Ryan nodded in understanding on how anger can control better judgment and make people do stupid things they regret. Hell, he was the poster child for it. "She wanted to tell you, but she was scared. She thought you wouldn't be able to handle it with being as hurt as you are. She was being a friend and looking out for you."

Carter bowed his head. "I know. I was an idiot."

"No you weren't. You were being human." he said as they pulled up to the entrance of the base. Ryan swiped his key card and they drove through the underwater tunnel. The vehicle rose up on the elevator platform and Carter was greeted with the smiling face of Ms. Fairweather. She approached his side of the vehicle and opened his door.

"Nice to have you back, Carter."

Carter slowly got out. "It's good to be back." he said with sincerity. "How are the others?"

Ms. Fairweather knew his was talking about his team. "The fire's under control and they should be on their way back soon."

All Carter could do was nod. He was getting tired and thought he might not make it back to his quarters on his own steam. Ryan noticed this too and stepped beside Carter. "I need to get him to his quarters, doctor's orders." he said and walked beside Carter as they slowly made it through the base.

When they made it to Carter's room, Ryan was almost supporting all of his weight. They walked inside and Ryan guided Carter to his bed. "Thanks for the help." said Carter as he sat on his bed.

Ryan looked up from the floor where he was kneeling to take Carter's shoes off. He noticed Carter had a thin sheen of sweat on his face and was a shade paler. "Hey, what are friends for?" he said and put the shoes by the door. "You get some sleep." he said and turned to see Carter already stretched out on the bed fast asleep.

-:o:-PRLR-:o:-

By the time lunch came around the rest of the rangers were back, cleaned up and hanging around in the mess hall. Kelsey and Chad were playing cards while Joel was reading an aviation magazine. Dana was sitting on one of the couches at the back with an open textbook by her side while she wrote some notes in her pink notebook.

Ryan entered the mess hall with a small tray of food. He saw Dana sitting on the couch and went over to see her with a smirk on his face. He sat on the couch opposite of her and placed the food tray on the coffee table. "Dana could you do me a favor?"

Dana looked up from her notebook. "Sure."

"I told Carter I would bring him some food, but dad just called and he wants to talk to me. Could you bring the food to Carter's quarters? It would me a lot to me." hoping she would take the bait.

She hesitated for a moment, she would have said no to anyone else but this was her brother asking. "I will, but you owe me."

Ryan smiled "Anything for my kid sister." She gathered her books and tucked them under her arm as she grabbed the tray and made her way to Carter's quarters. The rest of the rangers watched Dana leave and then their eyes fell on Ryan sitting smugly on the couch with his arms crossed behind his head. "Pay up." he said.

Joel put down his magazine and sighed when he pulled out his wallet. "I can't believe you did it." he said as he handed Ryan a twenty. Ryan smiled and looked towards Chad and Kelsey who were also doing a money exchange.

"How did you know Kelsey?" asked Chad as he put his wallet back in his pocket.

Kelsey smiled and put the twenty in her pocket. "Chad, you forget…I live with her."

-:o:-PRLR-:o:-

Dana knocked on Carter's door getting her self prepared for the confrontation. When he didn't answer she tried a few more times. When she was still standing in the hallway she opened the door and walked in. "Carter?" she asked, looking cautiously around the room. She placed the tray of food on a table and went to leave when someone came out of the washroom. She almost dropped her books when she saw Carter wearing nothing but his jeans and toweling his damp hair. The button on his jeans was undone and his red and white plaid boxers were peeking just above. His well toned torso was bandaged. At the edges of the bandage there were dark bruises. Some were beginning to turn yellow around the edges showing signs of healing.

"Dana!" he cried and jumped, startled that she was in his room.

His cry snapped her out of her staring. "Carter! Oh my, I'm so sorry. Ryan wanted me to bring you some food. I knocked but there was no answer so…you know I'm just going to leave." she stammered and hurried towards the door.

"Dana wait." said Carter as he quickly fastened his pants before she turned back around. "Can I talk to you for a second?" She nodded and he motioned for her to sit on the couch. He ran a hand through his damp hair trying to think about what he wanted to say. "Look Dana, I'm really sorry about yesterday. I was mad at myself not you and I was an idiot. You were just being a good friend and you didn't deserve being treated like that." He sat on the couch. "You have to understand, I would never want to hurt your feelings. Trust me when I say, it hurt me just as much when I treated you like that." He looked up at her. "Can you forgive me?"

She placed her hand on his, she was happy he opened up to her even if it was just a bit. "I already have." Before she knew it, she placed a kiss on his cheek and left Carter with a surprised look on his face.

(TBC)