Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable characters mentioned in this non-profit Non-copyright infringement..-ing fic. If I did...Hunter and Dustin would be in my closet.
Author's Note: Heads up! This is my first Ranger fic. I'm posting this chapter for my birthday so that's why the update was so quick, :D don't get use to that though...XD enjoi!

Review Replies: Whispering Ranger, nope! XD When Dustin's involved you have to laugh eventually. Do I really, then I'm glad, if you wouldn't mind, let me know how i do on keeping it in character when/if you decide to post a review, please! XD Hunter was there so everything's okay right? lol. It's true, motorcross bikes need ninja training. Here's the update, It would have come sooner but it wasn't my birthday at 7 o'clock on the 19th XDDD. griffin blackwood, Thanks for giving this little fic a read and for reviewing! I'm glad you...'aw'ed it XD.


"It's about time you guys showed up" Cam said, turning in his chair as Hunter and Dustin came into the room. "What happened?" He asked, sure Tori mentioned what happened but she didn't give much detail.

"He messed up his ankle" Hunter answered before sitting Dustin on the table top.

"Dude, I thought you watched all our battles on your TV" Dustin broke in, letting his arm fall from the crimson shoulder and lazily scratched his head.

"It's a computer and yes I do watch your battles but I had to check on something"

"Right, man, is there some-"

"Yeah, Hunter, could you get the first aid kit over there," Cam pointed to a spot across the room and the crimson ranger walked over to the pointed spot to retrieve the kit. "I need to talk to you guys, you weren't here earlier so..."

"So were gonna be here for a while"

"No, not really Hunter this is going to be quick"

Said person was walking around looking for the first aid kit still, sure Cam pointed in the general area but didn't give any further directions. He walked to the right and started to wonder if Cam had been mistaken and there was no kit at all. Then again, Cam was usually never mistaken; he wasn't in this case either because the ranger spotted it on the floor tucked under a bag. He grabbed it and walked back over to Dustin, who was telling Cam about the battle.

"...and I was like bam!" The yellow ranger swung his arms, mimicking his earlier Lion Hammer attack. "Dude, it was awesome!"

"Okay, did you get the name of the guy you were battling?" He asked, completely ignoring Dustin's story.

"Dude, it was kinda hard to get a name when you're when you're fighting and stuff"

"Right, Hunter?"

"No, I didn't get the chance" He said flatly as he fished through the kit and pulled out a tube of cream and handed it to the younger ranger.

"Thanks man"

"So, I was checking..." He paused, remembering he was also talking to Dustin "his...stats and he came up to be a high powered-"

"Goon?"

"Yeah"

"Then why did he go down so easy?" Hunter asked as he took a seat on the edge of the bench to Dustin's left.

"That was my question exactly"

"So what do you think's going on?"

"I think that Lothor has something up his sleeve"

"Doesn't he always..."

"Yeah, well, just watch out and be careful." Cam cautioned with a raised hand.

"Because you had to go and send the wrong guy!!"

"I thought he was big and scary looking" Marah announced with a smile like she was accomplished.

"Yeah, and he was really gross" Kapri added with an equally accomplishing smile and a nod. Lothor groaned in annoyance at his poor excuse for family members and rolled his eyes. He specifically told them to then the monster with the big goo-goo eyes and the attitude but nooooo they had to send the neighborhood. Of course. "Give us another chance"

"Please? We'll get it right, promise!" Hands clasped together, Marah pleaded with a pout.

"F..." Lothor groaned and hoped he wouldn't regret saying, "Fine"

"Yes!"

"Yes what?"

"I'm finished, here" Dustin screwed the cap on the tube and handed it back to Hunter. The yellow ranger rubbed the remaining ointment over his ankle and then some before pulling his sock and shoe on.

"Feeling better?" Cam asked, not turning from the screen to look at Dustin.

"Yeah, dude. That stuff was like magic" He declared as he swiftly got to his feet, not too smart. A searing pain instantly shot through his whole foot and up his shin and he fell back on his bottom.

"Or not" Hunter chimed, successfully shooting down Dustin's hopes of a speedy recovery.

"Dude...not cool" He sighed and very slowly got to his feet, "See ya tomorrow Cam"

"See ya"

The two rangers walked through the portal and to the lake's edge before Hunter turned around, seeing Dustin walking slowly. "Need help?" He offered as the other came to his side.

"Nah dude, I'm go-" Hunter cut him off with a soft chuckle and pulling his arm over his shoulders to support his weight. "Hunter"

"You're no good to the team if your ankle's broken"

"It's not that bad"

"It could be" He shot back as they started walking, much faster than Dustin would have if her was on his own but much slower than Hunter would have if he was on his own. So, again, Dustin accepted the help with a smile.

"...So I told her 'no'"

"Why?"

"She was a bad kisser"

"That's it?"

"Yeah and she wasn't very nice"

"Oh" Dustin wasn't sure how they got to the topic of conversation; all he remembered was telling Hunter that the woods were creepy at night and then Hunter saying that they would talk about something so he would be distracted. It wasn't really working, Dustin was freaking out. What if Kelzaks attacked? What if it's another goon jumped out and he was too chicken to fight? Chicken...yum.

"...have you?"

"Huh? What?"

"Pay attention Dustin" Hunter turned to him with a small smirk, which completely caught Dustin off guard. He had been talking with the crimson thunder ranger for almost an hour now and hadn't really noticed how close he was. Sure he would look to the right at him every now and then when he was talking but they never came face to face, like this. Dustin found swallowing becoming rather difficult and he nearly tripped if not for a hand on his chest...a big warm hand...WOAH! Hold the phone! What?...no really, what? What? "What's wrong?"

"N-n-nothing...I'm fine, what were you saying?" Hunter looked at Dustin with an arched brow and lightly swung the wrist in his hand.

"Never mind bro" He dismissed, then looked ahead at the trees, it was a full moon that night and it and sent just enough light through the forest to see pretty far ahead. The leaves crunched under their feet and the crimson ranger got lost in the noises around him. Dustin was doing the same, listening to the sounds around himself, particularly the man's steady breathing coming from right next to him. The yellow wind ranger bit his bottom lip, his concentration being torn when he heard some rustling in a nearby bush, his breath shortened, his body tensed, his heartbeat quickened and he forgot about the fact that Hunter was so close to him, the fact that his ankle hurt, the fact that chicken sounded really good and the fact that he had to go to the bathroom. "What's wrong Dustin?"

"Did you hear that?"

"What?"

"Dude, I think there's something over there"

"Don't be a scaredy cat"

"I'm not" Dustin defended weakly, causing Hunter to groan and reposition his hands slightly to support his teammate.

"Look, if it helps, I'll protect you" he promised with a smug smirk the oozed 'I'm not scared and you are' as he tightened his hold a little as reassurance. Dustin instantly forgot about Hunter's teasing, the scary swamp-werewolf-vampire-zombie monster behind the bush and focused on Hunter's breathing, how close he was to his friend that their sides were flush together and the hand on his waist.