(A.N. Here we are, chapter 25. This episode was ok but it was about time that someone brought up Lucas's obsession with his hair and his own reflection. Katie and Lucas have a fun little friendship and I think this is an episode that shoes this, as well as in Nadira's Dream Date later on. I want to say a quick thank you to everyone who's reviewed, followed, favourited or even is just reading the story, it means a lot to me. I hope you're enjoying the story. Here's the next chapter of It's Time For Time Force, I hope you enjoy and as always, please feel free to let me know what you think :) )

Reflections of Evil

In the clock tower, Wes and Trip were in the middle of a game of chess though they couldn't help but laugh as they noticed busy with the mirror for what felt like the millionth time. He was so busy in fact, that he didn't notice Katie walk down the stairs or her interaction with the red and green ranger before she walked over. She called him in a singsong voice, "Hey Lucas," but he still didn't take his attention from the mirror. He didn't have a choice, however, when Katie ripped it from his hands and wouldn't give it back.

"Hey! Very funny, now give it back."

"Don't you ever get tired of looking in the mirror?" He grumbled out a 'no' as he started fighting her for it. He'd half-tackled her onto a table as they struggled for control of the mirror. Katie laughed out. "You couldn't survive without a mirror, now could you?"

The mirror slipped out of their hands and Lucas gasped out 'oh no' before it hit the floor. "Ooh," Wes cringed and they watched as Lucas picked up the broken piece of plastic. "You know what it means when you break a mirror? Seven years bad luck." He said as he moved a chess piece before looking at Trip. "Check."

And with the battle they faced against Miracon that day, bad luck certainly seemed to be the case. They'd won as they always did but mirrors seemed to continue to bring Lucas bad luck.

That afternoon, Jen and Trip were sitting on the lounge watching a program while Wes was engaged in another game of chess, this time with Lucas. Katie came downstairs and almost wanted to roll her eyes as she saw Lucas fixing his fair in the reflection of Wes's sunglasses. "Hey Romeo, I got you something" she called as she stopped behind him. He turned to her and she held the mirror out to him. "I'm sorry about the other one."

"No thanks, I never wanna see another mirror as long as I live."

'As if' she thought to herself but she refuted him. "Oh come on, that's such a silly superstition."

"I don't care, keep it away from me."

They fought over it for a few seconds and just like it had that morning, the mirror fell to the floor. The sound of the crash woke Wes and brought the attention of the pink and green rangers. They all looked down at the mirror and the red ranger shook his head. "Lucas, it's another seven years." He moved a single chess piece and added. "Checkmate."

Jen was struggling to hold back her laughter and Katie – albeit feeling a little guilty – struggled to not see the humour in the situation. The Time Force ranger who was notoriously 'too cool' had decided to follow this superstition? In that case, with all the mirrors they'd broken that day when they'd defeated the mutants, the rangers were in for a few decades of bad luck.

When the rangers called it a night that evening, Wes decided to stay up so he could talk to Jen. He laid in bed, staring up at the ceiling and wasn't surprised when he heard shuffling around an hour later. He wasn't sure how long she'd been doing it, having only found her beside him last night – or if that was just a once-off – but she must've waited until she was sure everyone was asleep so she wouldn't get caught.

Jen looked over at Katie, seeing that the girl was already asleep and when she looked over at Trip and Lucas, they seemed to be the same. She quietly fixed up her bed so it looked how she always made it in the morning and just as quietly snuck over to Wes. She didn't have to worry about getting caught by the other rangers because she was always the first one up.

When she was only a few steps away from him, she jumped slightly as she heard. "Jen?"

"You scared me." She gasped as she moved to sit down beside him. "What are you still doing up?"

He turned on his side to face her as she sat in the spot he'd found her last night and his hand fell to her knee. "I could ask you the same thing?" When she only shrugged in response, he answered the question. "I wanted to talk to you and I figured when the others were asleep was a good time, I found you here last night so I thought I'd wait and see if you came."

She bit her lip as she told him. "Yeah, I kinda figured that you realised last night."

He sat up and scooted over, patting his previous spot for her to sit. She moved onto the bed and felt his hand hold hers as he asked. "Why did you sleep on the wood next to me?"

"Because I sleep better when I'm with you."

Her quiet admission filled his heart and he lifted their joint hands to kiss the back of hers. "You could've told me, Sweetheart, you didn't have to sleep there. If I had known, there was no way I'd let you sleep like that. Why do you think I moved you last night?" She only shrugged and he looked at her softly. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I don't know." It wasn't really a good answer but it was the only one she had. "Since you slept with me after Venomark, I haven't slept as well by myself." She didn't want to bring up Alex so she reworded the next thing she was going to say. "I tried for the next few nights but I just couldn't... so when we did get back together or made up or whatever happened after we defeated Mr Mechanau, I came to check on you, I guess." She cringed at the way she was wording her thoughts but seeing the soft way he was looking at her made her continue. "I told myself I wasn't going to bother you but I was so tired and I guess I just ended up falling asleep. Even if it was a little uncomfortable, I got a better night's sleep than I had on my own and it became a habit." She placed her hand over Wes's that rested on her knee. "I'm going to sound so girly and cliche for saying this but I know our time together is limited – there's only so many mutants left that Ransik can unfreeze – and I want to spend as much time as we can together while I'm still here... I love when you hold me and I want to be in your arms for as long as I can."

He quietly chuckled at the way her nose scrunched as she said the words, knowing that despite the frequency which they'd both been offering them lately, these overly romantic words of affirmation were out of character for her. He'd picked up very early on that Jen – and the other rangers too – were very physical with their affections, they used touch to demonstrate said affection and he'd quickly complied. He enjoyed the way Jen reacted to his touch and he was more than happy to offer this form of affection to her as well as receive it. His hand cupped her cheek and he smiled as he felt her lean into it as her eyes closed for a moment. "I want that too, I just wish that I knew earlier so you weren't uncomfortable those first couple nights."

"It wasn't that bad."

"Not the point but now that I know, I want you right next to me every night you have left here Sweetheart." His words were accompanied by the action as he pulled her to lay beside him. They both laid on their sides, facing each other and his hand rested on the curve of her hip. "I want you right here and I want us to spend every night like this."

Her breathing shallowed and she looked at Wes the same way he'd looked at her many times before. Their gaze held a softness, a tenderness that had been characteristic of their relationship but it also held an intensity that had Jen leaning over to brush her lips against his. It only lasted a second before she pulled back to look at him. The innocent picture created from her doe-eyed expression and the way she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth had Wes kissing her once more. His hand cupped the back of her head and he laid her onto her back, never breaking their kiss. Her arms looped around his neck, her fingers toying with the ends of his hair as she relished the feeling of his weight above her. The feeling of his hand rubbing up and down her side made her shiver and she pulled him closer, his chest more firmly against hers.

Their ministrations had her in such a daze that she barely registered tugging on his shirt. The boy complied, breaking their embrace to pull the offending garment over his head before his lips were on hers once more. Her hands traced down his arms then back up to grip his shoulders. His hold on her was soft and tender as it always was, but his kisses were hungry, he took everything she was willing to give him and offered her the same.

She shuddered as she pulled away to breathe and felt as his lips moved down to her neck. Her eyes fluttered shut for a few moments as she held his head in place. A breathy warning escaped her. "Wes we can't-"

"I know."

He continued to pepper kisses along her neck and collarbone before her hands cupped the sides of his face as she brought his lips back to hers. His arm wrapped around her, pulling her so there wasn't an inch of space between them. The rapid pulse of her heart matched his beat for beat as he slowed their kisses. His lips brushed over hers a few more times before he pulled back, only far enough so he could lean his forehead against hers.

Her eyes stayed shut for a few seconds as she tried to control the rapid rise and fall of her chest. When she finally did open them, she felt Wes pull back and found his gorgeous blue eyes staring back at her – a new shade she'd never seen before. His eyes were like a window to his heart and she could see all the feelings she knew were reflected in her own. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before he whispered. "Jen... I-"

"I know." She whispered back just as quietly. "Me too."

They didn't say anything else because they didn't need to. He turned over to lay on his back and brought Jen to his side. His arm wrapped around her as his hand rested gently on her stomach. Her head laid on his chest and she was able to both feel and hear the still rapid beat of his heart. She brought her hand up to rest comfortably on his chest and closed her eyes as she felt him kiss the top of her head once more. "Good night Sweetheart."