Title: Hallways
Author: Angel Mouse
Relationship: Bridge/Sky
Rating: General
Summary: Set a few weeks after A Solution

Hallways

Sky hadn't known Bridge that long but even he could see how just his presence as Bridge's new roommate had made a difference to the younger man. Bridge had begun to sleep better, thanks to the sleeping tablets and Sky's presence and he was almost over the exhaustion that he had almost collapsed with when Sky first met him.

Sky's occasional presence at Bridge's side during various things, like eating breakfast and on the way to classes and such, had gone a little way to stifling some of the more harsh rumours that had been going around.

So slowly the bullying of the young and most defiantly strange young man had stopped. Which is why he was very surprised to see Bridge cowering in a corner as he rounded the corner off the hallway on his way back to their room.

He stopped dead in his tracks, shocked to the core. Four senior level cadets, the current B-squad if he wasn't mistaken, had surrounded him and two of them were holding him down while the other two were pummelling him. He didn't stop to think, he reacted and ran forward.

"Hey, stop that. Leave him alone!" The senior cadet turned and smirked at him.
"Go away Tate; this ain't any of your business. The sooner this freak learns we don't want him here, the better."

Sky didn't think, he just reacted as his instincts were screaming at him to do. He threw up his hand and a blue shield shimmered into existence, pushing the taller cadet out of the way and causing the other one that was hitting Bridge to be thrown back.

The two cadets that were holding Bridge dropped him and began to charge him but Sky just pushed his shield out harder, grimacing as he did so, pushing them away from Bridge. He skidded to a halt and knelt down by Bridge, keeping his shield up, which in turn kept them away from Bridge. He looked him over, without touching him as he knew that Bridge would be completely over loaded right now.
"Bridge, are you okay? Bridge, can you hear me?"

The four cadets had recovered and began to rush towards the two of them when a voice barked out, stopping them in there tracks.
"That's enough cadets." It was the Commander's voice and when Sky looked up, he saw Kruger standing there, with Dr Manx by his side.

Behind him was the current A-Squad Rangers. They were all frowning and looking like they were ready to take someone out. "A-Squad, if you'll escort these cadets to the brig." The leader of A-squad nodded and they moved out, taking the cadets into custody. Sky dropped his shield and Kat came over to his side. She knelt down at Sky's side and looked at Bridge. Sky let the worry for him show in his eyes.

"Has he responded yet?"
"No ma'am." Kat nodded and began scanning him. Sky didn't want to move from Bridge's side, worry for the young man running through him. Sky looked up though when Kruger's voice broke through his musing.

"Cadet Tate, you did a good thing protecting your fellow cadet from this situation. This has been the first chance we've got to get something concrete on the bullying Cadet Carson has been subjected to. You acted swiftly and correctly." Sky nodded but his eyes went back to Bridge's still form.

"Yes sir. How did you know that he was in trouble? I didn't know myself until I came around the corner and saw this happening in the hallway." Kruger sighed and crossed his arms.

"Since Dr Manx brought Cadet Carson's situation I've had special security camera's installed near your quarters to keep an eye on things. And this is the first time that we've managed to get evidence of what's been happening to him." Sky nodded in understanding. Finally Dr Manx looked up and sighed gently.

"He'll be okay. Lots of bruising and a few minor cuts on various places, no major injuries thankfully. He's just out of it for the moment. Take him back to your room Sky and you can clean him up there. He'll be fine, but he may be very upset and frightened when he wakes up. He'll need you more than ever." Sky nodded.

"Yes ma'am. I understand." He stood up and then gently reached down and picked Bridge up in his arms. "I'll call if I need any help." She nodded and watched him go down the hallway. She sighed and looked at Doggie.

"Bridge needs Sky more than he knows, and Sky needs Bridge more than he knows either. Those two are going to become inseparable after this I think Doggie." Kruger nodded.
"I know. Come on, a hallway is no place to discuss this. Let's leave them to it; I have the feeling that this is going to be a long discussion."