It's clearly a good nap and Ziggy is all bright eyes and easy smiles on the way back to the garage. Dillon is pretty sure the sun has nothing on Ziggy Grover when he's in a good mood.

Unfortunately, the mood breaks when they arrive home to find that Scott has been injured in battle. All that Dillon had worked so hard to drive from Ziggy's mind is brought right back to the forefront at the sight of their leader being helped to the couch by the Blue and Gold Rangers, his ankle wrapped in a purple bandage.

"It's just a sprain," Scott tells them as Dillon and Ziggy rush over. "No big deal."

They've all had their fair share of sprained and twisted limbs, but that doesn't mean they aren't painful and Dillon grimaces in sympathy.

So begins a few days worth of Scott being cooped up at the base, under orders to keep off his foot until it stops swelling, and Ziggy getting noticeably less energetic by the hour. He and Scott race go-carts endlessly on the Nintendo, griping back and forth about which of them is the bigger cripple at the moment. Summer rolls her eyes at their antics, but checks on them often anyway, belying her annoyance.

Scott's been winning today since Ziggy keeps nodding off between games and making Dillon's stomach clench with worry. K has been working round the clock to try and determine what's causing Ziggy's deteriorating stamina, but to no avail as of yet.

From the other side of the garage, Dillon notices the boy has been slowly edging closer to the Red Ranger as they play and he recalls Ziggy mentioning how proximity helped. He's probably doing it unconsciously, his body trying to get at the energy it craves without Ziggy even being aware.

Still, Dillon feels oddly resentful at the sight of Ziggy scooched up in someone else's space, so he takes a break from buffing his car and heads over to the television. He collects a sour looking Gem as he does, if only to give the Ranger something to do other than glare as his sister and Flynn as they giggle madly over some new invention.

"Got room for two more?" he says, filching Ziggy's controller and immediately driving his character off a cliff.

"Hey!" shouts Ziggy, grappling with him. "Not cool dude. I just made it out of last place!"

Scott snickers gleefully as he crosses the finish line in first and begins to set up the game for four players while Ziggy and Dillon wrestle over green controller. The Red and Black Rangers share a look of concern when Ziggy quickly tires of the fight, pressing a hand to his chest and flopping unhappily onto his back, head thunking against the floor.

"Guess I'm just losing everything today."

Wishing there were grinders nearby to dispel his sudden flash of helplessness and aggression, Dillon instead grabs Ziggy by the belt roughly and slides him closer. Allowing the movement, Ziggy lifts his head slightly to lean against Dillon's thigh and says, "I think I'll just watch for a while."

It takes a few games, but Ziggy does seem to be feeling better and he joins in again, laughing delightedly when they discover he's actually a better player than Dillon, who can't seem grasp the concept of turning his car gently. Gem's the clear winner though, despite the fact that he's too busy shooting dark looks over his shoulder to give it his full attention.

"Flynn's really not a bad guy," says Scott casually after a few rounds and Gem freezes, caught red-handed glaring at the Blue Ranger. His expression turns sullen, but he respects Scott too much not to listen. "And you know she'll always love you best."

Dillon and Ziggy watch, amused, as the Red Ranger doles out further advice for Gem on how to handle his sister's budding romance. Eventually, Scott encourages Gem to spend some time with both of them and Gem sets down his controller and wanders over to their table hesitantly.

Silence reigns as Dillon works at keeping his mouth shut, until Ziggy breaks it instead. "Oh great love guru! I humbly request your sage counsel. How do I land a lady like Gemma?"

Dillon snickers into his hand, but Scott just smiles slyly, eyeing how the two of them are positioned, with Dillon on the couch and Ziggy on the floor, nestled snugly between the Black Ranger's legs. "Well, my first piece of advice would be to stop flirting with your boyfriend. Hard to get a date when they think you're taken."

It's clear that the Red Ranger is feeling pretty smug about this rib, so Dillon feels the need to up the ante and ruffles a hand through Ziggy's unruly hair.

"You hear that, babe? He wants us to break up."

Without missing a beat, without even looking over, Ziggy replies, "He's just jealous of our love, sugarplum."

"Oh no," groans Scott.

"Why can't people understand this is an 'open door' relationship?"

"They just can't imagine that I'd ever want to share you."

"Please stop."

They're gathering an audience now, the clanking of Gemma and Flynn come to a halt as they turn their attention to the couch. It's almost impossible not to start grinning like a madman at the look of absolute horror on the Red Ranger's face, but Dillon manages, instead pasting on a look of confused offense. "Why do you share me, darlin'?"

"Why do you share me, biscuit?"

"This isn't fair!" exclaims Scott, glaring spitefully at his bandaged ankle. "I can't even get away!"

"Because our love is too big," declares Dillon, drawing from a soap opera he once caught Flynn watching. Anything to keep Scott squirming, even if he does feel foolish.

Following his cue, as he can always count on Ziggy to do, Ziggy fires back with, "There's no such thing! Cupcake, we were made for each other!"

At this point, Flynn is in hysterics and Scott appears desperate. Seeing that he won't get any help from the Blue Ranger, Scott reaches his arms towards the kitchen where Summer is washing dishes, her chore of the week, and watching the spectacle with raised eyebrows. "Summer, save me!"

"You did start this," Summer tells him primly as Dillon proclaims, "Marry me, oh precious treasure of my heart!"

Ziggy lets slip a bark of laughter at that, but manages to say, "My sweetest babycakes, I would love nothing more!"

And then they're hugging dramatically and Ziggy is fake sobbing and Flynn is actually sobbing through his giggles and Scott is burying his head in his hands, moaning, "What have I done, what have I done…"

Then, through the din comes a high pitched voice asking, "Why do all of Series Green's pet names have to do with food?"

Everyone loses it, Dillon clutching at his curly haired friend and gasping with laughter while Scott rolls on the couch, kicking his feet in the air wildly. Dr. K is left standing at the edge of the island, holding an empty mug and looking extremely nonplussed as her Power Rangers fall all over themselves, laughing uncontrollably.

If anyone asked, the Black Ranger would call the night a success all-around.

.

Several hours later has Dillon waking with a jolt to a familiar voice chanting, "Ow, ow, ow." He opens his eyes to find Ziggy swaying slightly while holding his right calf in both hands.

"Zig? What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Ziggy says, setting the limb down tentatively. He sounds exhausted. "I c-couldn't stay away. I needed… I don't know what, but I'm sorry. For waking you." Ziggy glances down at him and Dillon can read the confusion and frustration on his face.

"It's acting up again," Dillon says and it's not a question. "I thought we tested how far the connection could be and it was safe for you to stay in your room? Were the tests wrong?"

Shaking his head, Ziggy says, "I don't know. I stayed in there as long as I could, but I couldn't hardly breathe and I'm so tired…" He breaks off, looking miserable.

"Is this-" Dillon motions awkwardly between them, "-helping?"

"It is, yeah. Sorry again. That I'm disturbing your sleep."

Dillon snorts dismissively and sits up, leaning against the wall and patting the spot next to him. Ziggy accepts the gesture, scrambling immediately onto the bed and situating himself close to the Black Ranger. He chatters about inane topics for close to ten minutes before starting to nod off, dipping sideways.

Dillon starts when a mess of curly hair lands on his shoulder, having been lulled by the soft voice of the other boy. He debates what to do now, but he's too tired to get up and he can't leave Ziggy alone anyway. As carefully as possible, Dillon shifts them around until they're both lying on the pillows, grateful for the queen sized bed. Sleep comes swiftly.

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Word does not recognize the word 'scooch'. Why is this.

Coming up: More sleeping and then after that there is a bit more sleeping. Very exciting stuff. Be warned.