Disclaimer: still don't own it…

First off, Happy Holidays to everyone! Hope you all have a delicious New Years and Christmas/Hanukkah! Sorry for the delay in posting but it's been horribly busy at school and its driving me crazy!

Recap: So Jen and Alex have a new spark in their relationship and Sky is finally going home. But will a new enemy and Grumm's combined plan destroy the happiness that has been created through all of the Rangers?

I'm hoping to have a sweet little Christmas chapter up soon, so look out for an update soon! Otherwise, hold onto your seats, folks! This chapter is where things begin to heat up!

Chapter 7! Enjoy!

Homecoming

"They're here!" called Bridge. He had been sitting on a rock by the ocean waiting for a sign of them. Once a vortex began to open he called for the others to come over. "They're coming through, Commander!" the Green Ranger called again.

Jack, Z, Syd, Cruger and Kat came careening over to see a yellow time ship come flying through the hole and slowly descend. It landed on a large rock pile and send sand flying. Once the engines died down, the SPD Rangers watched intensely for a sign of life.

"Syd!" came Sky's voice. He came running out of the door to find his friends standing on the beach waiting for them. "Syd!" he called again and watched as she ran towards him and met him half way. "Gosh, I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Sky." She said and hugged him tightly; happy to see he was okay. "You're okay, right?"

Sky laughed heartily. "Yes, I'm okay."

"He better be, I had to play mother again." Syd heard Jen's voice from behind the Blue Ranger and she laughed. Jen walked forward with a smile on her face and hugged Syd. "Hi Syd."

"Captain," came Cruger's voice as the rest of the group walked over. "A pleasure as always. Good to see your trip was good."

Jen nodded and shook Cruger's hand. "Likewise, Commander." Jen smiled as she turned to the Rangers. "Good to see you all again, I take it that everything has been going well?"

"Not exactly, Captain." Kat said from Cruger's side. "I believe that Grumm has indeed discovered the remnants of Doomtron."

"Which is exactly why we're here, Rangers." Alex said as he walked up behind Jen. "My name is Major Alexander Drake, the officer in charge for this mission."

"Hello Major. I'm Jack Landers, SPD Red Ranger. These are my team mates," he turned to the other Rangers. "Z Delgado, Yellow Ranger. Bridge Carson, Green Ranger. Last but not least, Syd Drew, Pink Ranger."

Alex nodded. "A pleasure to meet you all. Now, if you would be so kind, Commander to show us to our dorms. We have a lot to discuss tomorrow."

Cruger turned to where the cars sat. "This way, Major. Follow me." Alex began is walk up as the others slowly followed. But Jen stayed behind for a moment and looked around. The rocks had eroded away since she had been there all those years ago. For a moment she saw herself, merely a teenager in love.

"I hoped you could stay."

"Me too, but we both know I can't. I want you to have this, Wes. Don't ever forget me."

He smiled. "I never could."

"Jennifer," Alex's voice cut through her thoughts. "Come, it's getting dark."

"Right," she sighed heavily as his words slowly came back to her.

"I love you, too. I wish I could live 1,000 years in the future so we could be together again."

"You did live in the future, Wes." She whispered. "You have always lived in my heart." Jen stood around for a second and took in the scenery. She then turned on her heel and left with the sun setting behind her.

Night settled quickly in Newtech City as the wind whipped in and out of building alleyways, its screams illuminated the darkness with life. Once the wind died down, a figure stumbled from behind a wall. It turned its head around in confusion of where it was. Once it's head cleared it immerged from the darkness.

Cloaked in black it started to head inward into the city. Another cold wisp of air blew by but went unnoticed by the figure. Walking past a streetlight it's tattered and moth-eaten clothes were visible to the eye. Its skin was blackened by dirt and its hair was matted down with grease.

But this appearance didn't bother the figure as it walked through the litter-free streets of Newtech. There were people walking gaily down the streets of this fine little city. All the while the mysterious shadow walked among them. None of the sights were familiar, but soon a sign came into view.

SPD: Space Patrol Delta Base 6
Headquarters

The figure's dark eyes opened wide as it finally recognized a landmark. A name echoed through its mind as it found a stairwell and began to climb it. Up and up it went, searching for a specific window, her window. Moments later it arrived to see a dark room. Once over the balcony the figure stepped up to the glass door and looked in.

"Jennifer," its cold breath clouded the warm glass as it stretched its hand outward and good hold of the door handle. For a moment the figure watched her outline sleep peacefully, but it knew exactly how innocent she really was.

The cloaked figure hesitated for a moment then slowly opened the door. A warm blast of air hit its cold body. But the figure didn't go any further, for it heard the door to Jen's bedroom begin to open and it immediately shut the sliding glass door. With curiosity the figure watched from the shadows.

Alex stood in the doorway for a second, then walked over to the bed where Jen lay quietly. He smiled a smile that burned through the figure. It watched as Alex pulled the covers over Jen, kissed her forehead lightly then left.

The shadow hesitated again, but this time took its hand off of the door handle. It then began its decent down the stairs, knowing tomorrow would be another night.

"Morning Rangers," came Cruger's pleasant greeting and turned to where the Time Force Rangers sat. "I trust you slept well, Lieutenants?"

Lucas nodded as he continued reading his sports section. Trip smiled and took a piece of toast from a nearby plate. Katie however, was the only one to give a verbal response as she glanced up from her bowl of Fruit Loops. "We did, thank you Cruger."

"Morning Commander," the SPD Rangers greeted.

Lucas looked up from his paper as he heard an all too familiar heavy footsteps approaching the room. Alex walked in, fully dressed in his Time Force uniform and spoke. "Has anyone seen Jen?"

Trip nodded and swallowed his bite of toast. "She went for a jog, I think. She said she'd be back before noon."

"Any idea where she went?" questioned Alex.

"Take a guess," came Katie's response. Alex then turned on his heel and left, knowing exactly where the Pink Ranger would be.

The sun slowly beat down on her back as sweat soaked her shirt. One punch flew by, then another. Dust flew from the old rope tired around the tree as she let out years of frustration, sadness and fury into that small rope.

Years ago she wept for Alex at this tree, the tree where Ransik's face haunted her mind and her dreams. But Alex was alive, and Wes was gone. She sent a kick flying against the tree and stepped back to catch her breathe.

"Hey! Good morning!" came his cheery voice. "You need someone to work out with? Because I bet I'm tougher then that tree."

Jen patted her neck as she chuckled. "Really?" Wes smiled as he lightly patted her cheeks.

He shrugged. "Yea." He then stepped forward into his fighting stance and threw a punch in her direction. But to his surprise, Jen grabbed his fist and flipped his over onto his back with a loud thud against the ground.

"Someday, if you get up early enough, maybe you can keep up with me." She said coldly.

"Jennifer?"

Jen looked behind her to see Alex standing behind her. She merely smiled at him and chuckled. "Is that the normal Saturday attire, Major?" she jested. Alex laughed and rolled his eyes as Jen continued her sentence. "I had no idea that slacks and a tank top were in your closet."

"You seem to be feeling like yourself again," he retorted and walked closer to her.

The Captain sighed. "I feel better."

Alex nodded. "Good, because," he paused. "I wanted to know if you would like to go out to dinner Friday night."

Jen looked at him as she patted her face with her towel. "Are you asking me out on a date, Major?" she teased.

The only thing Alex could do was blush and smile. 'It's like she's only nineteen again.' He cocked his head. "That I am, Captain. That I am." There was a slight silence between them.

"Oh," she laughed again. "You want me to answer now?" Alex nodded and raised his eyebrow. "I could use a night away from all this."

Alex smiled. "Good, be ready Friday at six." He watched Jen nod and turn back to her tree where she continued her workout. Once Alex's heavy footsteps dissipated behind her she packed up her things and began a slow walk back to Headquarters where she would take a shower. In about two and a half ours, she would be in a meeting with Chief Commander Birdie to discuss the events that arose.

Her walk through the city had been peaceful. It was a cool afternoon in Newtech Park and all the kids were out and about. Many of then hug around on the monkey bars and played on the swings. Some of the older kids could be seen playing Roller Ball in the nearby courts.

But her peaceful walk was largely interrupted as the ground beneath her feet began to shake violently and heat up. She jumped away from it as the ground exploded and sent large pieces of roadway up into the air. Jen tried to jump away from it but a piece of the hot tar hit her shoulder hard, cutting and burning her skin.

To her amazement, a fist immerged from the earth and the ground surrounding it collapsed into the hole. A figure glowing bright red immerged from it and looked around to see people running and shouting for help. He snickered and let out a laugh that pierced through Jen's ears.

The creature's eyes glowed red as a flame surrounded his body and he let out yet another scream. "Let the season of evil begin! But first, where to start?" That's when he saw her lying on the concrete; bloody, bruised and scared to death.

Jen's eyes widened in fear as the creature's eyes focused on her and chuckled. "You, my pet, will be the first to die…"

To be continued…