The rest of the carnival went by without incident following the fight between Chas and Ryker. Dillon was a little quiet, and occasionally cast a little look over to where Tenaya and Ziggy were talking after the magic show, but for the most part just gave them their space.

Summer, Gem and Gemma helped Ms. Foster to round up the last of the kids and get them back onto the minibus as the vendors started to pack away their wares and dismantle their stalls, waving to them as Flynn drove the bus from the square.

"The kids really..."

"...loved this..."

"...they were great."

"They really enjoyed themselves. I'm sure they'll sleep tonight." Summer commented, thinking about the day she had spent entertaining them. "Once Flynn takes the refugee kids to the military base and the rest back to the orphanage, we can go for a bite. I'm sure Ziggy's going to want to rest up for the game tomorrow."

"Speaking of Ziggy..."

"...he and Tenaya have been talking..."

"...for ages..."

"...what do you think they're talking about?"

Summer noticed that they were right, and more than that, they were talking in full view of Dillon, who was currently helping a stall owner break down his stall. They appeared to be holding each other closely, and she knew that Dillon had to have noticed. She smiled as she realised that they had to have told him about their relationship. She came over to him, handing him a claw hammer.

"Most people use this." She told him.

"Most people don't have mechanically enhanced strength." He reminded her, prying apart two pieces of wood with his bare hands. "You looked like you were having fun with the kids."

"They're great." She responded with a childish grin. "I can really see why Ziggy loves them so much. They had a great time."

"I'm not sure I have the patience for them." He replied, packing a few things away. "I can understand why they identify with Ziggy and the wonder twins so much, but they just have a little too much...enthusiasm."

"Oh come on, you don't find them even a little cute?" Summer asked him, stepping closer to him and wrapping her arms around his waist. "Even your sister was affected by them, and her conditioning was a lot deeper than yours."

"Maybe I never liked kids before the conditioning." He suggested. "I don't know, they just seem to take a lot of time and energy and patience..."

"So you never think about what it would be like to have a little Dillon junior running around?" She asked him. "You know, take him to the park to play catch, go fishing..."

"I don't fish." He stated flatly. "Plus you also forget the discipline, the sleepless nights, the..."

"Dillon, you don't need to worry, I'm not talking about having a family." She laughed, kissing him quickly on the lips with a small laugh. "Well, not seriously anyway. We've dedicated ourselves to destroying Venjix. Until that's dealt with at least, it's not like we could go ahead and plan maternity leave..."

"So is that what I am to you?" Dillon snapped, shoving her away a little roughly. "I'm some kind of barnyard animal?"

"Dillon, you know that's not true." She gasped, a little hurt by his reaction. "What's gotten into you?"

"Don't you think this is something we should discuss in private?" He asked her. "How do you know I even want kids?"

"Look, just calm down." She implored him. "We're all a little tired. Maybe I shouldn't have teased you about this, but I wasn't..."

"I just found out Ziggy hooked up with my sister." He interrupted her. "My head's a little screwy at the moment. I don't really know what's happening."

"I kind of figured they'd told you." Summer replied, putting her arm around him. "Look, I know it threw you for a loop finding out who Tenaya is. It was always bound to, and you're always going to feel protective of her. You have to hate any boy she ends up with as a matter of policy, but this is Ziggy we're talking about. He's your best friend. You know he won't do anything to hurt her."

"This is just the perfect end to a perfect day." He sighed, turning to face her. He shrugged off her arm sharply. "Not only do I find out my best friend went behind my back, I find out my girlfriend did too."

"Dillon..."

"Save it Summer!" He snapped, getting up and swiping her hand away as she reached out for him. "I thought relationships were about trust, about honesty!"

"Dillon, I never lied to you!" She stated, getting up to try and reason with him. "When I found out, I told Ziggy he had to tell you what was going on. You had a right to know, but Ziggy had a right to the chance to tell you himself."

"I found out from one of the kids!" Dillon roared at her, causing a few people to look around at them, seeing the disturbance. "Ziggy only told me because I didn't give him a choice in the matter."

"Dillon please, let's not do this here." She begged him. "People are staring, let's just get back to the Garage and we can discuss this."

"So how long were you going to let this happen?" He asked her. "What if I hadn't found out? What if Ziggy hadn't told me? Would you have continued to keep quiet for him?"

"Dillon, that isn't fair." She replied.

"You said you love me, but you can't even be honest with me." He told her, shaking his head in a defeated manner. "How can I trust you?"

"Dillon..."

She didn't get a chance to continue though. He just turned his back on her and left quickly without another word. Scott came to her side and put his arm around her.

"What was that all about?" He asked her.

"I'll explain later." She said sadly, turning from him so he couldn't see her tears. "We should help clear the rest of this away."

Flynn dropped Ms. Foster and the rest of the kids at the orphanage, before driving the minibus back to the yard. Sam had gone with him to get some all too rare, and much needed time alone with him.

"This was a great day." She told him. "I still can't believe you went into the wastes and didn't tell me."

"I didn't want you to worry." He told her. "I was taking the Lion Hauler, it wasn't like much was going to happen."

"You went to negotiate with a man that attacked Tenaya twice!" She reminded him. "And he's expressed the opinion that he wants to take out Dillon too."

"Look, the situation isn't ideal, but we need someone on the outside who can provide a safe haven for all the refugees we can't get back to the city." Flynn reminded her. "If there was another choice, we'd take it, but so far his band of guerrillas is the only colony of free humans we know are still alive outside the dome."

"You went out there alone." Sam reminded him. "You know what D46 is capable of."

"You know what I'm capable of." Flynn reminded her. "I'm not exactly helpless."

"So you delivered supplies to them?" Sam asked him.

"I did." Flynn answered. "They're going to need them if they're to hold out. There's only so long home-made ammunition and explosives are going to stand up to Venjix tech, especially if he sends something more impressive than Grinders after them. Besides, we needed to offer them something to get them to listen."

"I just really wish there was another way." Sam replied, looking into his eyes. "Just do me a favour and promise me you won't turn your back on him. He can't be trusted."

"I promise I'll keep an eye on him." Flynn replied, cradling her chin with his hand. He pulled her into a long, soft kiss. "So, are you going to come to the game tomorrow?"

"What's not to like about watching a bunch of big, good looking and muscular men beating the hell out of each other?" She asked him. "I'll be there cheering Ziggy on with the rest of you."

"I'll look forward to seeing you there." Flynn replied. "Come on, I'll take you home."

Back at their apartment, Brie helped Chas to the bedroom. After being checked out by the doctor, he had been sent home to rest up before the game. He sat on the bed, grunting a little in pain as he sank into the cushions.

"Are you alright?" She asked him.

"I'll be fine." He told her as he undressed himself slowly. He reached into the pocket of his trousers, pulling out a small box, and opened it, taking out a needle.

"Another injection?" Brie asked him.

"The doctor told me to take one just before I go to bed, and one just before the game." He informed her. "It'll help..."

"Chas, I'm getting a little worried about this." She said honestly as he stuck the needle into his thigh and injected himself with painkillers. "Are you sure you're up to this game? You know Ryker's got a reputation for cheap shots. You saw how he went after your leg."

"I can't pull out now, there's no way I can get anyone to substitute for me before the game." He snapped, beginning to get a little irritated by her constant complaining. It seemed like across the last few days she did nothing but whine about the fact he was hurt. It wasn't as if he had much option but to go through with the game, and she knew how important it was to his campaign.

"Why are you being like this?" She asked him. "I love you, I just don't want to see you getting hurt."

"I'll be fine Brie." He sighed as he realised his temper was beginning to get the better of him. Brie was the last person he'd ever want to snap at or mistreat. "I guess I'm just a little irritable after the fight."

Brie didn't say anything as he mentioned this. She knew he cared about her, and that he hated it when anyone said things about her, but he was never usually like that. Normally he managed to keep his behaviour in check. Living among the judgemental and evil-tongued aristocracy his whole life, he was used to the barbs and insults people slipped into conversation. Usually his duels would normally be fought with subtle veiled insults, slipped under the rest of the conversation. Insults that were obvious enough that anyone listening would be under no false impressions that honour and face were at stake, but low-key enough to make escalation into common violence a cause for ridicule, and leave the perpetrator a pariah. It was an art form he had perfected by his early teens.

However, Chas had seemingly just lost his senses when he attacked Ryker for his outburst. He had heard far greater insults and not responded like that. She knew that the pressure of the campaign was getting to him, but lately he almost didn't seem like himself. She wanted to talk to him, but lately his temper seemed to be on a hair trigger. He had snapped at her a few times now, she knew it was unlikely he would talk to her in his current mood. If he didn't bite her head off, he'd probably give her the silent treatment.

"Try to get some rest." She told him, getting under the covers. "You have a big day tomorrow."

Back at the Garage, Dillon arrived back to find everyone other than Summer had already gone to bed. He had left the plaza after their fight to go for a drive and clear his head. He had seen and taken in a lot that day. Not only had he just found out about Ziggy and Tenaya, he had also found out that Summer knew about it and hadn't told him.

Getting out the car, he rolled his eyes as he saw her sitting there waiting for her. She hadn't bothered to fix her mascara, and so it was obvious she had been crying earlier. She stood up, and made her way over to him purposefully, refusing to back down to his mood swings.

"Is this round 2?" He asked her sarcastically.

"I wasn't even aware we were fighting." She remarked. "Dillon, I only found out about Ziggy and Tenaya myself a short time ago. I only wanted to give him the chance to tell you himself."

"What difference would that have made?" He asked her coldly. Summer just threw her arms open widely as she stared at him in disbelief.

"Because I knew you'd react like this!" She screeched in response. "I love you Dillon, but you have to admit that you don't really handle your emotions that well. I thought if Ziggy got a chance to explain to you then at least you might hear him out instead of just pounding him."

"So you valued your friendship with him over me." He said angrily, making his way to the fridge and grabbing himself a beer. "I guess I can understand that. I mean it's not as if I'm that important, I'm only your boyfriend!"

"Not for much longer if you keep this up!" She warned him. "I didn't value Ziggy over you, I just knew that you'd end up hating yourself for hurting him if anything happened between you. I did it for you."

"OH, so I should be grateful to you for stabbing me in the back. You did it for me!" He said sarcastically. "Thank you so much. Seeing as it's already in there, maybe you might want t twist it a little for good measure."

"I'm not talking to you while you're like this." She replied as her tears started again. "We're both going to say something we'll regret. We'll talk about this in the morning when we've both calmed down."

"That's right just walk away! That's your style isn't it?" He called after her. "It's a bit ironic since you were the one that said I can't handle my emotions."

"I think this just shows I have a point." Summer whispered in response.

"If I'm the one that can't handle his emotions, then how come you're the one that's been spending months in therapy?" He shot back. Summer turned towards him, the hurt obvious in her eyes as she made her way towards him. It was a low blow and he knew it. Summer roared loudly as she punched him as hard as she could in the face, sending him to the floor, cradling his cheekbone.

She tried to say something, but it just wouldn't come out. Her breath couldn't fom into words because of the anger and pain she felt at his words. She just turned and left the room, leaving Dillon on the floor. He pulled himself to his feet and made his way to the counter, grabbing some ice and holding it to his cheek.

"Would you mind telling me what that was about?" Flynn asked him as he arrived in the Garage, having dropped Sam off at home. Dillon looked to him, then turned back to his beer.

"What's it to you?" Dillon asked abruptly.

"Well, if I were you I'd be glad the bedroom doors are soundproof, because I heard you both outside." He informed the Black Ranger.

"Outside?" Dillon asked him.

"I think there might be a couple of people that are hard of hearing on the other side of the dome that didn't hear you, but I wouldn't put money on it." Flynn replied sarcastically. "So what's this about? You're sore because Summer didn't tell you about Ziggy and Tenaya?"

"You knew too?" Dillon asked him.

"Aye, I did." Flynn responded. "Are you going to start a fight with me now? If so, that's fine with me. The state you left that lass in, I should tear your head off."

"I don't want to fight you Flynn." He responded.

"But you did want to fight Summer?" He asked him. "Why?"

"She should have told me…"

"I never told you either!" Flynn interrupted him. "Given the fact you're acting like a petulant brat can you blame us?"

"What do you want me to say?" He snapped.

"I want you to tell me what this is really about." Flynn yelled back. "The poor lass was in pieces when she left the room. She doesn't deserve this. You're about to lose her…"

"Good, she'll thank me!" Dillon replied. Flynn just looked puzzled as he said this.

"You wanted to fight with her?" He asked him.

"She's better off without me." Dillon sighed, taking a seat. "She needs to be with someone that can give her what se wants."

"OK, now you have me completely lost." Flynn commented. "We're not talking about Ziggy and Tenaya anymore are we?"

"You should have seen her today Flynn, the way she looked at those kids, the way she smiled when she was playing with them. I've never seen her like that." He told him.

"I have to admit they are kind of adorable." Flynn commented.

"I saw her holding the baby. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen." He told him. "The way she held it, the look in her eyes when she looked at it, I remember every detail."

"Is that what this is?" Flynn asked him. "You're worried she'll want kids?"

"Yes, but not for the reason you think." Dillon told him. "I'm not sure how many of my…functions…are still biological."

He looked at him, tears already beginning to form in his eyes.

"It's obvious it's important to her to have a family some day." Dillon continued. "I just don't know if that's something I can ever offer her."