Impression
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Impression takes place during A Father's Footsteps. As was pointed out in one of the reviews, all of the one-shots are connected.
She stared at the building in front of her. She hadn't been to the road house in two weeks. They had been dancing around each other, avoiding contact and not speaking. Of course that was nothing compared to the tenson between Cole and Merrick.
The lion and the wolf tolerated each other. Cole had demanded Merrick apologize to her for acting so rudely. Merrick had told Cole to mind his own business. Everyone tried not to notice Cole's black eye after that incident.
But now she needed to into the road house. She needed to talk to someone who understood her. True she had been friends with the others long before he appeared but he was different. She hadn't forgotten the dream and the meaning still eluded her.
Right now the chaos with her father was painful and she needed comfort. Comfort that only Merrick could give and help her restore her shattered confidence.
Once she entered finding him was easy. He was sweeping the floor of the bar like he always was. She watched him for a few moments as he dragged the broom over the floor. The gesture itself was comforting because this was a side of Merrick the others rarely saw.
She didn't want to break the moment. She wished things could go back to the open, well as open as it could be considering Merrick was Merrick, friendship they had established. She missed him. He had become her best friend in such a short time.
"I need to talk to you," she said breaking the silence.
His head snapped up immediately. His hazel eyes turned towards her.
"Why don't you talk to one of the others?" he asked.
"I want to talk to you," she whispered.
"I'm sure Cole would have more to say to you. His opinion is more valuable than mine. He understands you're world better," he replied.
"Please, I need you," she said softly.
His eyes turned towards her.
"I go on break in five minutes. You can wait at the bar."
She knew better than to argue with that offer.
At least he didn't send me away.
Five minutes had never passed so slowly for her. Alyssa wasn't someone who waited often. She worked hard day after day never having a moments rest. The other rangers had no idea how many activities and classes she had to manage. It was a miracle that her grades hadn't slipped because of her ranger duties.
Her father's and her conversation continuously bounced around in her head. She could have stayed and helped run the family business. She could have taught martial arts along side her father. She was an Enrile and that meant that she had a duty to the dojo. The last encounter between father and daughter had been rough.
There had been a few sporadic phone calls. Mostly Alyssa talked her mother. Her father had little to say to her. She felt the failure of being his student, the failure of not being the daughter that he wanted. The visit was a surprise and she could smell her mother's meddling.
Alyssa was gazing off into space when Merrick took his break.
"Are you alright?" he asked when she didn't acknowledge him.
Quickly she shook her head and gazed at her friend.
"Do you think I'm a good fighter? Am I doing the right thing with my life?" she asked quietly.
"Why would it matter what I think? You should know what you are," he answered calmly.
"It's just my father is coming to town tonight. He and I haven't—we had a falling out."
Merrick's eyes darkened as memories of his own father came hurtling forward. His father had been a secretive man. He didn't often speak to his son. He noticed Merrick but he didn't ever say words of encouragement. He was a man who held himself off from all others. He was the type of man Merrick had become.
We become what we hate the most," he thought bitterly as he listened to Alyssa.
She told him everything. She didn't leave out one detail about being trained by her father. She ended with the argument and her father's grudging acceptance of her choice.
"He must love you a lot," Merrick said when she finished.
"It isn't a question of love. I just want him to accept me," Alyssa said calmly.
Her growl phone went off before he could respond. She headed towards the exit quickly.
"Are you coming?" she asked turning to look at him.
"Just page me if you need me," he answered.
She nodded sadly as she headed into the battle. Who knew if they ever would fix their shattered friendship? She turned to give him one last glance. In surprise she found that his eyes met her's.
"We are different but we're the same. I won't give up on this friendship. I won't loose my best friend over a stupid argument."
With that in mind she raced out the door.
She stood with her father after the battle. Peace between them had been restored. The pride of having a daughter who was the White Ranger had made her father smile.
"Where would you like to eat?" Kyle Enrile asked his daughter.
"I don't really know maybe we can go to this burger joint I've wanted to try," she answered.
"Why not go to there?" he asked pointing to Willie's.
Her heart hammered heavily. She didn't know if Merrick would want to see her. Yes, he had helped her when she asked him but they hadn't healed the rift between them. Before she could answer her father led her to the road house.
The place was empty of customers which was unsual for nighttime. Willie was behind the bar cleaning up. Merrick was practicing the infamous pool shot. His eyes turned towards the doorway when he heard the sound of footsteps.
Alyssa's eyes met his for a brief instant. He saw the apology written in them.
"It's good to see you, Alyssa. You haven't been around lately," Willie said as he approached the pair.
"You've been here?" her father asked her.
"I used to come here a lot. I have a friend who works here," she answered desperately hoping her father wouldn't notice Merrick.
No such luck.
"Is that him over there practicing pool?"
She nodded trying to keep herself calm.
Kyle peered at the young man. There was something slightly different about this boy from the others he had met. He watched Alyssa watch the young man. His daughter gazed at the young man with trust written over her face.
Interesting, he thought quietly before speaking again.
"I met the others. Why don't you introduce me to him?" he asked.
Alyssa nodded mutely. Why had she told her father that her and Merrick were friends? She hadn't bothered to introduce the other rangers. They had come up to her father and done it themselves. Then again she didn't lump Merrick with the others. It was always the five wild force rangers and the lunar wolf. Maybe that was because Merrick isolated himself so much but she doubted it. She probably would've always thought of him seperate from the group even if he had officially joined.
Cringing inside Alyssa approached Merrick while her father was talking to Willie.
"You're getting better," she said as she watched him make the shot.
"I don't know if I'll ever have to use it again but it's useful. Is that your dad you walked in with?" he asked barely looking up from the pool table.
"Yeah, he wants to meet you," she said.
The cue slipped from his hand causing him to miss the shot.
"Why?" he asked startled.
"He met the others. I mentioned that we were friends."
"Fine," Merrick answered as he headed over to the older man.
"Dad this is my friend, Merrick Baliton. Merrick this is my father, Kyle Enrile," Alyssa said making a proper introduction.
The two men shook hands. She could see them sizing each other up. This wasn't good.
It was the world's most awkward dinner. Kyle insisted that Merrick sit with them and neither ranger dared protest. Kyle's expression had made it plain that he wouldn't accept a refusal.
Alyssa saw the small grimace Merrick gave as he complied. She knew Merrick preferred to eat alone and was uncomfortable around strangers. Yet she couldn't help but be happy that her friend was willing to do this for her. Maybe they could repair their friendship.
Kyle made sure that the three of them talked constantly. Merrick never said much and answered only when spoken to. Alyssa, too, was silent.
The meal ended with relative peace. Alyssa went to clean herself up leaving the two men alone.
"My daughter likes you," Kyle said watching Merrick carefully.
Merrick stopped clearing the table to look at him.
"She says you are good friends."
"We are," Merrick answered plainly.
"I met the others. I'm under the distinct impression that Cole has a crush on my white tiger."
"That's Cole's business," Merrick muttered.
The hint of jealousy didn't escape Kyle's knowledge. He had watched how Alyssa reacted around the two young men with interest. He had noticed that she was more at ease with Merrick than with Cole which struck him as surprising. Cole was a social and vibrant young man. Merrick seemed to keep his own council and let few people in. Alyssa had obviously been one of the few to break through Merrick's defenses.
"My daughter seems to have feelings for you," Kyle said calmly.
Merrick tensed and continued clearing table.
"You seem to like her too. I just don't know what to think of that. You come off as—for lack of a better term—a lone wolf."
"I have my reasons."
"I don't want to Alyssa mixed-up in trouble. I don't want to see her hurt. She is a very open person, very social."
Merrick didn't respond as he went back to work.
He watched carefully as Alyssa and her father left. She spared him a small wave goodbye until heading out into the night.
Lone wolves don't need anyone, his mind screamed though he knew different.
To be continued….