Chapter 4: Burnt Bridges

"Z! Hey! Z!" Bridge called after Z as he tried to catch up with her in the long, twisting halls of S.P.D.'s Command Base.

Z turned and looked at him. He noticed her eyes were flooded with tears. Bridge stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn't understand it. Why was Z so upset? Z took off running and Bridge followed suit. However, as he turned the corner, Bridge collided with someone, sending them both sprawling across the white tile of the S.P.D. Command Base.

"Oww! What the hell?" Bridge looked up to see Boom, rubbing his forehead.

"Sorry Boom. I was chasing after Z, I wasn't looking where I was going. Sorry." Bridge apologised as he helped Boom gather the dozens of papers that had flown everywhere as a result of their collision.

Boom rubbed his forehead, where he and Bridge had clashed. "No problem man. What's up with Z, anyway? I just passed her in the hallway and she was crying."

Bridge's heart cracked a little. "I don't know, Boom. She's pushing us all away. I've gotta go and figure this out. I'll catch you later!" Bridge yelled as he ran off down the hallway.

Boom stood, puzzled. "Okay… Bye Bridge!"

XXX

Z lay on her bed, crying into her pillow. 'I'm being so stupid!' She thought. 'What in the hell is wrong with me?' She continued to sob until she heard a knock on the door.

"Z, it's Bridge. I know you're upset, but I'm here for you." His voice was soft; and made Z's heart flutter. She really did like this guy. He had a way of making her calm down, no matter how worked up she was.

"Open," Z said to the voice-activated doors.

Bridge walked into the room tentatively, unsure of how to approach her. "Will you please tell me what's going on?" Bridge pleaded with her. "Please?"

Z shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it, Bridge." Tears continued to fall down her bronze cheeks. Bridge sat down with her and pulled her into a hug.

"Okay, then I'll just sit here. And you can feel free to cry until you don't hurt anymore." He told her.

Z looked up into his deep blue eyes. She really, really liked Bridge. More than she'd ever liked anyone. "Bridge, I really want to tell you. I just have trust issues. You know that."

Bridge didn't reply straight away. He thought about what she'd said. "I know," he said, his index finger poking up into the air. "What about if we went out for coffee tonight? Just the two of us. You can tell me everything and there's no way anyone will hear us."

Z looked up at him, puzzled. She wasn't sure if he was asking her on a date, or his intentions were as straightforward as they seemed. 'Who am I kidding, this is Bridge. Of course his intentions are what they seem.' She grinned up at him. "Okay, tonight."

"I'll pick you up at 6?"

"Sound's good to me."

Bridge gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You'd better get cleaned up before the obstacle course." He told her. "I'll see you out there."

XXX

Sky and Syd trudged through the mud, down to the obstacle course. Syd was eager to get it over and done with; she hated the obstacle course. Sky on the other hand, was determined to redeem himself from his poor performance that morning. Charlie soon joined them, followed by Bridge; and finally, Z. They congregated at the start of the course, which Sky had watched Jack run as punishment not even a year earlier.

"Alright guys, we're going to run the course very differently today. We're going to run it as a team." The others all looked at each other, puzzled.

"What? We always run it together," Bridge said, confused.

"Right. But this time, we're not trying to get our quickest time. We're trying to make sure we get through it together; like we did with SWAT training." Sky explained.

"Okay." Syd positively beamed up at Sky. She was so proud of him; the type of leader he had become.

"Sounds good to me," Charlie said. Z rolled her eyes.

Bridge, sensing the tension, decided to get things moving. "Let's get started, shall we."

XXX

An hour later, the Rangers were absolutely exhausted. They went to leave but Sky called them back. "I want to say," He panted. "That although we've got some work to do, that was a great start. Excellent teamwork."

They all grinned at each other and headed off to hit the showers leaving only Sky and Charlie on the course. "I'm proud of you, Sky. Dad would be too."

Sky gave her a hug. They started walking back towards the building with the big Sirian head on top. "He'd be proud of both of us, you know." Charlie smiled at him. "I know mom is," he finished.

Charlie was about to say something else, when Commander Cruger walked up to them. They both saluted the Commander.

"At ease, Cadets." Cruger turned to Sky. "Sky, may I talk to you for a moment?"

Sky looked at Charlie, who nodded and walked off down the hallway. "What is it, sir?"

"I just wanted to commend you on your leadership of B-Squad. You make an excellent Red Ranger. A few more years; with a little more experience and you'll be as good as your father."

There was no higher compliment for Sky than to be compared to his father. "Thankyou, sir. I strive to be the best," he grinned widely.

"Then keep up the good work." Cruger smiled.

Sky continued to beam as he watched Cruger walk off down the hallway.

XXX

Syd walked into her shared bedroom with Z, to find her roommate frantically trying on an outfit with others spread all over her side of the room.

"What are you doing?"

Z jumped. When she saw it was Syd, she straightened. "Going out," she said shortly.

Syd tried to play it friendly. "On a date?" Z didn't respond. "With Bridge?"

Z finished trying on her outfit; a pair of black skinny jeans with white canvas shoes and a short-fluoro yellow tank-top. She decided it was good enough, mainly because she didn't want to deal with Syd. She started to walk out the door.

"Hey, Z! I'm talking to you!" Syd shouted. She was getting frustrated.

"Well, I'm not talking to you."

Syd's voice faltered. "Why? What's wrong?" Z still didn't respond. "Z, you can tell me; we're friends."

"No, we're not." Z didn't know why she was saying this, but she also didn't care. She was angry at Syd, for leaving her out. She hated Charlie, for coming in and taking her friend away from her. She wasn't necessarily angry at Sky, but she couldn't exactly be friendly with him, as Charlie was his twin sister. The only one she didn't hate, was Bridge.

Z walked out, leaving Syd standing there crying.

XXX

Bridge walked into the garage, dressed in a sky-blue casual dress shirt and navy-blue skinny jeans. He saw Z over by his new green BMW and walked up to her. "Ready?" He grinned, unlocking the car.

"Yeah." She smiled.

They drove to one of New Tech's smaller cafes to have their chat.

Sitting down at the steel coffee table, on the thin metal chairs. After they'd received their coffee, Bridge decided to get down to business. "So what's wrong, Z?" He asked. "You haven't been yourself lately."

Z looked into his eyes, saw the genuine concern in his eyes; and decided to tell him the truth. "I just feel like ever since Charlie came back, I've been on the outs with the rest of you." Bridge opened his mouth slightly, but Z continued. "I know you haven't, but with Syd and Sky dating as well as Charlie coming back, they've been so involved with each other and her, that we've barely spent any time together. I know you've been good to me Bridge, you always have. I just feel like I'm starting S.P.D. all over again. It feels like when I'd just started, when Syd and Sky both didn't trust me; you were the one to make Jack and me feel welcome."

Bridge was speechless. He didn't know what else to say.

XXX

After his shower, Sky had decided to start reading the latest crime-mystery novel that Syd had bought him. It got to 7:30pm and Sky decided to go find Syd and Charlie to go grab some dinner. He trekked along the hallways, finally arriving at Syd's room. He was shocked, to say the least, when he found her packing.

"What are you doing?" He asked. Syd turned to face him and he saw that she'd been crying. He instantly changed his tune. "Who made you cry?" He asked, although it was pretty evident. He moved toward her, bringing her to his chest, his arms wrapped around her.

"I don't want to talk about it." She cried into his chest.

"Okay, that's fine." He knew there wasn't any point pushing the issue. Much like his mother and sister, Syd was stubborn. "Are you leaving?"

"Not S.P.D." She explained. "Just the room. Z and I had a huge fight. I can't stay here anymore. I'm rooming with Charlie."

"How can I help?" He asked, determined to support his beautiful girlfriend.

She answered in her cute voice. "Help me pack?" Her tone became more serious. "I want to be gone before she gets back."

Sky cupped her cheeks, looked into her eyes and kissed her. "You know you've always got me, Charlie and Bridge, right?" He asked her. "We're always here for you."

"I know." She said trying to smile at him. "But we can't tell Bridge about this."

"What? Why?" Sky questioned.

"I don't want him turning on her too. It'll destroy her."

Sky was befuddled. Even after everything Z had done in the last couple of weeks and whatever he assumed she'd done tonight, Syd still wanted her to be happy. That was one of the many reasons he loved his girlfriend. "You are incredible, Sydney Drew. I don't understand how you can be so compassionate, even after everything Z's done."

Syd didn't say anything, she just smiled; and they got to work.

XXX

When Bridge got home that night, he walked Z to her room and bid her good night. He couldn't understand her feelings toward Charlie. It was nothing like how Sky and Syd had judged her and Jack last year. His mind wandered, to the time when he'd been picked on in Junior High, where Sky and Charlie had stood up for him. That had been when he'd decided to never let anyone feel left out; ever.

FLASHBACK
Bridge found himself pinned up against a locker by one big, black-haired, brown eyed, football quarterback.

"What's your deal Grayson?" The jock taunted. "Think you can make a move on my girl?"

"No! No! NO! I was just helping her with her math, because she asked me for help and I like to help people because when you're good at something you should help people who aren't-"

Bridge was smashed into the locker again. "Shut up! You're pathetic Grayson. I'm gonna have to teach you a lesson."

The bully pulled back his fist. Bridge leant away and closed his eyes, anticipating the punch, but it never came. Bridge heard a 'smack' and felt the hand holding him up against the locker let go. He slid to the floor and heard another series of hits quickly follow the first. He opened his eyes and saw his 'cousins' Sky and Charlie. Sky was standing over the bully, who had a bloody nose and a bruised cheek; Charlie holding out her hand for Bridge. He took it and she helped him up.

"You ever, touch Bridge again and I'll break every bone in your body. Do you understand?" Sky growled. The bully nodded, his eyes filled with fear.

END FLASHBACK

Bridge sighed; he was torn. He loved Sky and Charlie, they were family, even if not blood related. Still, he'd never let anyone feel alone. He'd be there for Z the same way his family had always been there for him. Bridge Grayson was going to find a way to make peace with Z and Charlie; that was his newest mission.

End of Chapter 4. Please Review!

A/N: This was a more intense chapter, huh? I promise the next will be more light-hearted and fun! I'm not planning on dropping the jealousy plot any time soon, but it will take a back seat in the next few chapters!

PLEASE REVIEW :)