Chapter 9: Old Friends

A/N: Sorry I've been away for so long, life got pretty crazy and then I kind of lost my love of writing for a little while. But don't worry, I'm back and I'm going to finish this story!

Charlie continued to stare at the man up on the overpass. She expected him to come down to help them up. Instead, he walked back over to his black SUV and drove away.

"Brad…" Charlie whispered.

XXX

Back at the Command Centre, Charlie questioned Cruger.

"Why didn't you tell us Brad was back?" She spat, her dark eyes glaring daggers at Cruger.

"It's called an undercover assignment for a reason Charlie." Cruger responded shortly. "I do not have to explain my decisions to you."

"He's one of us. You still should have told us!" Charlie exclaimed, slamming her hands on the console they had gathered around. Sky, Bridge and Syd nodded in agreement.

"For your information, it was at his request that I didn't inform you of his return."

"What?" Charlie's voice was quiet, but menacing.

Cruger sensed he was heading down a path he'd rather not venture. As he was about to respond, the Command Centre doors opened and in walked Bradley Meyers, fully dressed in an S.P.D. Officer's outfit; black, with an S.P.D. logo on the left side of his chest and a badge on the right, his sandy brown hair in a buzz cut, his blue eyes shining and a serious expression on his face.

"You can ask him all about it now," Cruger said, trying to worm out of the hole he'd dug himself.

Brad walked over to the Rangers, Charlie more specifically. "Charlie, I-" Brad started to say, but was cut off by a forceful slap from her.

"Don't even try to make excuses." She snapped, clearly trying to keep the violence to that one slap. Syd and Sky looked at one another apprehensively and then both took a step back, Bridge sniggering as they did so.

"Officer Meyers. Would you please inform the Rangers of your current mission?" Cruger asked.

Although still shocked by Charlie's reaction, Brad complied. "Yes sir." He turned to the Rangers. "For the past 4 months I've been tracking a fugitive across the galaxy, since he escaped from prison on a moon near Aquitar. His name is Vorax. He is the brother of Mirloc." Syd instantly looked at Sky, whose jaw clenched at the mention of the man who killed his father. Charlie was angry too and had her fists clenched.

Brad continued. "He recently stole the S.P.D. Supreme Command Morpher, created for Supreme Commander Birdie, so that if need be, he could become the Supreme Ranger. Unfortunately, Vorax got to it before I could stop him." Brad took a deep breath. "And now he's hell bent on killing everyone who had a hand in his brother's arrest and wants to break his brother out of jail."

"Then we need to stop him." Sky said.

"It's not that simple." Brad reasoned. "He's destroyed 4 governments unaffiliated with S.P.D. and committed genocide and acts of terrorism in the M51 Galaxy at the bidding of Master Vile."

Syd gasped. Shocked at what this Vorax was capable of. "He's a monster." The others exchanged looks of disbelief that someone could be so evil. But then again, they'd fought Grumm and heard of the villains that other Ranger teams had fought.

"Yeah. Which is why I can't do this alone, we need to defeat him," Brad turned to Charlie and smiled, "together. It's the only way."

XXX

After Brad had given them the brief on the mission, the six headed to a local café for lunch.

"It's been how long since I've seen you all?" Brad asked, taking a bite from his steak. "Syd, are you still singing?"

Syd shrugged chewing on a tomato from her salad. "Not as much as I'd like, we've been pretty busy around here lately. But hopefully I can get back into it once this whole Vorax business is over."

"I promise I'll be the first one to buy all the t-shirts." Brad teased. Syd laughed, he'd always been like a big brother to her; and she'd missed him.

The Rangers, surprisingly including Z; and Brad, talked and laughed into the late hours of the afternoon. They told Brad what they'd all been up to since they'd last seen him and he told them what he could about his undercover missions. Sky was surprised about how it felt like had nothing had changed between the five of them. He knew this would be his family for life and he couldn't have asked a better one to spend it with.

Eventually, Sky and Syd left, having a date planned for the evening; as did Bridge and Z, both of whom had night duty. That left only Brad and Charlie.

"Charlie, I'm really sorry about not telling you that I was home." Brad said, sheepishly. "I just didn't want you to know that I was here if it was only going to be for a short time."

"It's alright. I'm sorry I hit you." She apologised. "I'm just glad you're home. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too Charlie." He told her. 'More than you could ever know' he thought.

"So, any plans while you're back on Earth?" She quizzed, hoping he'd come out and say how he felt. She didn't understand why she couldn't. She'd been so set on telling him, but now that he was here, she couldn't bring herself to say the words.

"Yeah, I've got a few things planned. I want to see mom and dad, Aunt Jen, Aunt Dana and Uncle Carter. Sarah too. I want to hang out with you guys some more, I've just missed everyone so much." He smiled at her. "Especially you."

XXX

After dropping Charlie off at her room and having a shower, Brad decided to go visit Bridge in the Command Centre, he hadn't yet caught up with Bridge one-on-one.

"Bridgey!"

"Hey, Brad!" Bridge grinned. "What brings you by?"

"Just wanted to catch up. You know? I figure I'll make my way around the old gang, but seeing as Sky and Syd are on a date; and I've already caught up with Charlie, you're my next victim!" Brad laughed.

Bridge and Brad talked for hours on end, Brad helping Bridge with his work. Z had been assigned to do some desk work and as such, was doing it in her room. Eventually the topic of conversation steered onto Bridge and Z.

"So what's the deal with you two?" Brad questioned.

"I really don't know. I mean, we've been on a few 'dates' but nothing is really happening." Bridge responded, sounding exasperated. "Plus there's the whole issues with the rest of the team."

"Huh?" Brad looked puzzled.

Bridge spent the next fifteen minutes explaining what had been coined 'the Z situation' to Brad.

"Whoa. You want my advice?" Bridge nodded. "Keep trying. Keep being you. If she's caught your attention, there's got to be something good about her. Don't give up Bridge, that's not you."

Bridge grinned widely at Brad. "Thanks."

"No worries, brother." Brad looked at his watch. "Wow. It's 2:30am. I need some sleep. Night Bridge."

"Night Brad."

The embraced in a 'bro-hug' and Brad left, Bridge thankful that at least one of his family thought he should keep trying. He'd spoken to his parents and sister, who were of the opinion he should just let it go.

XXX

Brad lay in his quarters, glad to be back. Reminiscing the good times he'd had with his family. His mind floated back to one of the sadder times he'd had in recent years.

FLASHBACK
Brad stood at the loading bay for the inter-planetary shuttles, saying goodbye to his family. He still couldn't stop thinking about what had happened with Charlie the night before. He was sure that was the reason that she wasn't here now. She was upset, angry and embarrassed.

"I want you to video conference once a week and text every other day, okay?" His mother said, hugging him tightly. He was her only child after all.

"I promise mom."

"Taylor, he'll be alright. Look who his family are." Eric winked and gestured around to everyone. "I'm proud of you pal. Just make it back home in one piece, okay?"

"I will dad." Brad hugged his father, who was putting on a tough exterior for Taylor's sake.

"If you need help at all, just call me okay? I'll be there as soon as I can." Jen told him." I'm old, but I'm still a Ranger." She added at his quizzical look.

"Thanks Aunt Jen." Brad laughed, embracing her.

"Stay calm, mind open; and?"

"Eyes on the goal, Uncle Carter." Brad and Carter shook hands.

"That's right kid. You be safe." Carter grinned.

"If you need any medical advice, you call me okay?" Dana ordered.

"Of course Aunt Danes, who else would I call?" He grinned. She laughed and hugged him.

Having said goodbye to his parents, Aunts and Uncles, Brad turned to his cousins, as well as Syd and Dru, who had pretty much become a part of the family as well.

"Stay safe, man."

"Thanks Dru."

Syd threw herself into Brad and hugged him tightly. "Just stay safe, okay?" She whispered, her eyes tearing up.

"I will Syd, I promise." Syd was like a little sister to him and he hated seeing her cry.

Sarah did the same, sobbing. "Brad, please don't go, I don't want you to get hurt."

Brad removed himself from the hug, put both hands on Sarah's shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I promise I'll come back to you guys, okay?" Sarah nodded in response.

Bridge was next. "Just promise you'll stay in contact until you get back."

"Of course." The two embraced.

"Stay safe, alright man?" Sky told him as they hugged.

"Always." Brad said, returning the hug.

"I'll tell Charlie you said goodbye." Sky said sympathetically.

Brad nodded. "And tell her I'm sorry." Sky looked puzzled.

Brad turned around and started walking towards his shuttle, when a voice yelled out.

"Brad! Wait!" It was Charlie.

She threw herself into his arms and clung to him as tightly as she could. "Come back to me, okay?"

"Yeah."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

END FLASHBACK

Brad lay on his bed, just happy to be home, to be with his family once more. He fell asleep with a smile etched on his face.