Title: Homecoming
Author: Angel Mouse
Relationship: Bridge/Sky
Rating: PG
Warning: Angst, lots of it (song lyrics from Lift by Shannon Noll)
Theme: Commitment, Thrill

Homecoming

Syd was terribly worried about Bridge. For the last three days Bridge had been barely moved from his bed since Sky had left. She had persuaded Kat to let Bridge stay in his room and she would watch over him. Kat had managed, god knows how, to get Commander Kruger to push back their final test to be made B-Squad until Sky returned and Bridge was cleared.

Syd had gotten so worried about Bridge, who wasn't sleeping or barely eating, that she had gotten Kat to give him a mild sedative and he was currently curled up under the covers on his bed, his head on her lap. Softly, to help him go to sleep, she began to sing as she stroked his soft hair.

I know you're hurting
Feels like you're learning
'Bout life the hard way
And it ain't working

Bridge shifted slightly on her lap, curling up towards her some more, taking the warmth from her body and the feeling of comfort from her presence. In the absence of Sky, he took comfort from her gentle, beautiful soul. She had done so much in her life that sometimes Bridge felt a little intimidated by her, but he knew her heart was in the right place, and that's all that counted with him. He muttered softly in his sleep and she smiled as she kept singing.

Seems like forever
That you've been falling
It's time to move on
You're life is calling, yeah

This was never meant to be the end
Close the book and start again

Sky looked down at the containment card in his hand, a smile on his face at his success in capturing the alien criminal that had hurt Bridge and robbed those banks. He felt finally vindicated that he had done something. Taken the first step to being the Ranger he knew he could be.

The adrenaline rush he had gotten from chasing this creep all over the planet had been coursing through his veins and he now was on his way back to his shuttle to return home. He remembered the chase through the streets, the thrill it had given him to capture the alien and the rush he felt when it was contained. It was like nothing he had ever felt. He truly felt he was becoming worthy of his father's memory and legacy.

Cause I know how hard it can get
But you gotta lift
You gotta lift
And sometimes that's how it is
But I know you're stronger
Stronger than this
You gotta lift
You gotta lift

Sky headed the shuttle into Earth's atmosphere, eagerness to be back home and with his friends and Bridge.

Bridge.

Oh god, what was he going to do about Bridge. He had hurt his dearest love. More than he deserved to be. Bridge had been nothing but supportive, loving and his entire life. And he had literally thrown that back in his face. He would have to make it up to Bridge some how, some way.

The joy and thrill of the successful hunt had completely faded now that he realised that his short lived joy had come at a price. A price he suddenly realised he wasn't prepared to pay. That price had been Bridge's peace of mind and love.

When you can feel your
Whole body's aching
What's left of your heart
It won't stop breaking
You gotta let go
You took a hit
Time to pick up now
Move on from this

This was never meant to be the end
Close the book and start again

Syd was still singing softly to Bridge when the doors opened and she looked up to see Sky standing there, looking lost. She put her finger to her lips and gently moved his head so it was off her lap and resting on his pillow. She moved off the bed and over to the door. Grabbing his arm roughly she dragged him out of the doorway and into her room. She closed it and looked at him, crossing her arms, her expression serious.

"Alright Mister, you've got some serious explaining to do to me. Starting with why you thought this stupid mission of yours was more important than Bridge's heart and soul." Sky sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Syd wasn't going to let this go, and to be honest, he didn't blame her one bit.

Cause I know how hard it can get
But you gotta lift
You gotta lift
And sometimes that's how it is
But I know you're stronger
Stronger than this
You gotta

Lift yourself up above all the hurt
Don't give it
Wipe your eyes and remember
You're better than this
Let them know
That they took their best shot
And missed
C'mon and lift

Sky was still smarting from Syd's words. She hadn't back one little bit and he honestly knew that deep down, he deserved every single harsh word that she had uttered. And now he had to make amends with Bridge, before things were irretrievable between them both.

So now he was sitting on his bed, watching Bridge sleep. In the background, one of Syd's CD's softly played and the song was soft, gentle, and beautiful, just like her. And Bridge. Sky sighed as he looked at Bridge's sleeping form; suddenly realising he was finally awake. He managed a small smile for him.

"Hey Bridge. How are you feeling?" Bridge just shrugged, warily looking at him. Sky felt a knife go through him as he saw the wariness in Bridge's eyes. He had hurt the one person he loved more than life itself and he deserved this feeling.

"A little bit tired, still a little sore in some spots, but okay I guess. Syd's been looking after me, she's been great." Sky nodded and took a deep breath, then plunged into it.

"I'm glad, I'm so sorry I couldn't be here. I realise now I did the wrong thing, leaving you like I did. I'm sorry. I hurt you, hurt you more than I realise. I don't deserve your love but I can give you my love for the rest of my life. Please, can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"

Bridge sat up slowly on the bed and looked at Sky for a long moment. Finally he sighed and looked down at his hands. He then looked back at Sky and finally spoke.

This was never meant to be the end
Close the book and start again

Cause I know how hard it can get
But you gotta lift
You gotta lift
And sometimes that's how it is
But I know you're stronger
Stronger than this
You gotta lift
You gotta lift

"Sky, you've hurt me. You threw my love back in my face because you felt you had to chase this person because he hurt me. You made me feel like that I had to be protected. You made me feel like that you were only with me because you had to protect me. And that hurt more than anything Sky, more than anything. But what hurt most of all, well, that was the fact you didn't seem to trust me with your feelings. And that, that I'm not sure I can forgive."

Sky felt pain at Bridge's words but he knew that they were deserved. If this was just a fraction of the emotional pain he had caused Bridge, well then, it was only fair. Suddenly he found himself staring into Bridge's eyes and without thinking he was by Bridge's side in mere seconds. He let Bridge speak. "Sky, if you're committed to us, if you're committed to me, you have to trust me. You have to let me back into your heart." Sky swallowed and took one of Bridge's gloved hands in his.

"Bridge, I do honestly love you. And I am committed to making this work. I just don't know how to sometimes. " Bridge looked at him for the longest time and Sky felt his heart begin to break. Bridge took a deep breath.

"Sky, I don't know if we can make this work. I truly don't, but I want to try. Do you?" Sky felt a leap of hope shoot through him.
"Yes, yes I truly do." Bridge was silent again, the tension in the air between them was thick and then finally he reached up and placed a gloved hand against Sky's cheek.

"Okay. We'll try again. But this time Sky, this time you have to be totally committed to this, because there is no way I can survive something like this happening again. Sky you're my life, my rock, my soul, my hope. It will not bare thinking about if we can't be together." Sky gently gathered Bridge in his arms, surprised at how much over the few days he'd been away he'd missed this.
"I promise Bridge, nothing will keep us apart. Nothing."

And with his heart, Sky truly believed he would be able to keep his promise. But life, life had other ideas….