Chapter Five; Calming Moments.

Tori climbed into her van, Blake sliding into the passenger seat as the others clambered onto the bench seat in the back.

After a couple moments of silence, she asked

"So, where to first? Dustin? Shane?"

Dustin was the first to speak, and his voice was so different from his usual effusive tone, everyone turned to look at him. He blushed slightly at their stares, looking down at his hands.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'd like a couple of minutes, just to let this sink in y'know?" He looked up, fixing them all with a pleading gaze. "Can we just go hang out at the beach for half an hour or something? I'm still sorta getting my head around this."

Cam and Hunter sat back, exchanging a glance with Blake. This was for the Winds to decide, for once, in a twisted way, Blake was glad they didn't have parents.

"Well…" Tori said hesitantly, "If they know now, then they've known for some time… I guess half an hour extra couldn't hurt."

They both looked to Shane for confirmation, although they were no longer Rangers, he was still their leader.

"Let's go to the beach." He nodded.

Tori started up the van and began the drive to one of her favourite spots. It wasn't where she normally went, as the swells weren't as high as at some of the other beaches, but it was quieter and more private, being a cove. She'd been there a lot over the past few months, just to think. After she'd first become the Blue Wind Ranger, after Blake had betrayed her, when he'd come back… and now, when she was no longer a Power Ranger.

At least Dustin and Shane could be fairly assured of some support, she thought. Shane's brother, Porter, already knew about their secret so he had probably managed to calm Mr and Mrs Clarke down a bit. And Dustin's dad was as laid back as his son, taking everything in his stride. She had no idea how her parents would react though. Her mother would probably fuss over how dangerous it had been for her. Her father would probably be just as bad. She was an only child so her mother fussed over her and her father was over protective.

She pulled into a parking bay and sat there for a couple of seconds, hands still resting on the wheel as the others climbed out. A blank expression settled on her face as she watched Dustin and Shane pick their way down the path, followed by Cam and Hunter. It wasn't until Blake laid a gentle hand on her shoulder that she realised that she was the only one left in the van.

"Are you coming Tor?" He asked, his eyes dark with worry. "Or do you want a moment?"

With a sigh she took his offered hand and shoved the keys in her pocket.

"I'm okay. Just trying to get everything sorted in my head."

He nodded, although his eyes were still anxious as he watched her hurry down to the water. She kicked her shoes off and, ignoring the fact that her trousers were getting wet, walked into the sea. She would have looked strange to anyone else, but he knew what she was doing. Her element was soothing, and probably one of the reasons why she loved to surf so much. She'd confided in him once that even before becoming a ranger she'd been drawn to the water whenever she needed somewhere to think, or just be by herself for a time.

"Interesting." Cam muttered under his breath as he watched the wind rangers position themselves.

"What?" Hunter was standing by his side.

"Look at them," The Samurai directed. "What do you see?"

Hunter cast a critical eye over the scene, but didn't notice anything interesting.

"Tori standing in the sea, Dustin lying on the sand and Shane perched on a rock." He shrugged expressively. "And my bro watching Tori."

"They've all sought out their elements." Cam explained. "They're going as close as they can to them- and it's calming them down."

"They're all pretty close together too." Blake added "If they really wanted to, they could be at each other's side in a second flat."

The three looked at the three original rangers, the ones who had been fighting Lothor since the beginning.

"Should we give them some time?" Hunter asked, gesturing back up to Tori's van.

Cam looked long and hard at the other three. The bonds between them were solid, made not just by their elemental and ninja connections, but from the deep friendship they shared.

"I think that would be a good idea."

Dustin felt the wet of the sand creeping through his clothes and moistening the skin of his legs and back. He stared up at the sky, watching the clouds move slowly.

"This really sucks." He said calmly. He felt the earth shake slightly as Shane jumped down from the rock he'd been standing on and sit, cross legged beside him. Dustin took the offered hand and allowed himself to be pulled into a seated position.

"Yo! Tor!" He called out, watching her swaying slightly with the movement of the waves. "You want to join us?"

She started, looking over her shoulder then began moving out of the sea, pulling a face as she sat down, feeling the clamminess of her wet trouser legs.

"Okay, that was not my best idea." She brushed at the sand now sticking to her ineffectively. Shane sighed, reaching both hands out, one to rest on Dustin's shoulder and the other on Tori's knee. After a second Tori and Dustin also moved so that they were connected. They sat there for a few minutes, centring themselves and building up their confidence through the company of their friends.

"It's time." Shane said, when they all felt more peaceful.

Tori nodded, moving to her feet gracefully.

"I'll drop you and Hunter off first, then Dustin and Cam."

They made their way to the rest of the team, who stood by the bonnet of her van, before exchanging a last hug and clambering into the vehicle, ready to face their parents.

I'm sorry it took so long to update. Things have just been a little hectic lately.

I hope you liked it though, and I'd love to know what you thought,

Jade.