Chapter 22: Crash Course

A few months later, Eric had heard that Taylor was staying with Alyssa while he and Cole were on KO-35. They had beaten Grumm and KO-35 was saved. However, now, Eric had to save something else…his marriage.

Eric pulled up to Cole and Alyssa's house and walked up. He knocked and Alyssa answered. "Alyssa, is Taylor here?" He asked.

"She is, but she doesn't want to see you," she replied.

She went to close the door when Eric put his hand on it to keep it open. "Doesn't want to see me?" He asked.

"Eric, you left her and the baby at the hospital when she needed you the most," Alyssa replied.

"I want to see my kids at least."

"That's not happening either."

"What?"

Alyssa sighed and she looked at Cole. "Cole could you…" she trailed off. Cole nodded and he came out of the house and stood in front of Eric.

"Taylor thinks that since you keep leaving them to go on missions, she doesn't want you near the kids either," he informed.

"Those are my kids!" Eric snapped.

"Then you'll have to prove it to her that you'll stay at home instead of running off like you do."

"It's my job, Cole. Being a Ranger is your job too."

Cole sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know," He answered. Eric pulled off his hat and sighed.

"I want to see my wife, Cole," Eric demanded.

"Eric…"

"I WANT TO SEE HER!"

Eric grabbed Cole by his shirt and pinned him against the side of the house. "Damn it Cole, I want to see my wife. You tell her I want to talk to her," he snapped.

"I'll try talking to her," Cole answered.

Eric let him go and Cole went inside.

(Taylor's Room)

Taylor was feeding Sophia when Cole came in. "Taylor, Eric's downstairs," he informed. Taylor looked up at him.

"You let him in here?" She asked.

"Taylor if you…"

"Tell him to leave."

"Taylor."

"I don't want to see him, Cole!"

Cole sighed as he took Sophia from Taylor. "Taylor, Eric wants to talk to you," he told her.

"I don't want to talk to him," she answered.

Cole sighed again and he placed Sophia into her crib. "He screwed this marriage up," she snapped.

"You two need to fix it. It's been broken for years since he disappeared," Cole answered.

Taylor just sat there rocking back and forth in the chair. "Why do you do this?" He asked.

"Do what?" She asked.

"You're blaming him for something that's not his fault."

Taylor didn't answer. "I told him not to go the first time," she muttered. Cole rubbed his forehead.

"He loves you," he reminded her.

"What a way to show it. Running off all the time."

"If I recall, Taylor, you have missions to go on as an Air Force Officer. You've left Eric and Tristen behind a few times this year."

"That's different, I'm following orders."

"What do you think Eric's been doing?"

Taylor was about to object, but then she saw that Cole was right. "There's nothing different with what Eric's doing than what you're doing," Cole pointed out. Taylor sighed and rubbed her forehead. She stood up and walked over to the door.

"I'll go talk to him," she answered.

She opened the door and Eric was standing there. Cole grinned as he left the room. "I'll leave you two alone," he informed. Taylor stood there for a minute before she turned and sat by the window.

"You left me in that hospital," she muttered.

"Andros and the others needed my help."

Taylor fiddled with her ring just looking outside the window. "Taylor, I don't know what you want me to do to get you to forgive me for what I did," he told her. Taylor was silent and Eric sighed. "I don't know which is worse. You yelling at me or not speaking to me at all," he muttered. He walked over and sat across from her on the spot by the window. "Taylor, talk to me," he insisted.

"I still have nothing to say to you," she answered.

"I'm sorry."

Taylor shook her head and just stared at her ring. "Taylor. I'm a Red Ranger, I always will be until I can't fight anymore," he said. She was still quiet. Eric sighed. "Tay…" he started.

"I know you don't have a choice, but I just wish it doesn't have to be this way," she told him, cutting him off from explaining again.

Eric grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. "We are who we are, lieutenant, we can't change that," he pointed out. Taylor sighed and placed her head on his chest while holding his hand. "Just don't ever threaten to leave me and take our kids with you again," he added. Taylor smiled.

"I won't," she answered.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against him. "I love you, lieutenant," he murmured. She sighed and closed her eyes.

"I love you too, Myers," she answered.

Eric pulled back slightly. "Should we go home?" He asked. Taylor laughed slightly and got up.

"Yeah I think we should," she replied.

He smiled and helped her gather her things and he took her and their kids back home.