Denial
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Takes places during The Wings of Animaria.
He watched as Nayzor set her flying. It was as if the world was slow motion. She was hurt and he couldn't do anything but continue fighting.
In the end it was just him and Cole left standing. Shayla scurried over the others tending to their wounds.
"They should be fine. They will recover and when they do I'll send them to help you two," she said.
Cole nodded but Merrick's gaze returned to the white ranger.
She was just his friend. She was the only true friend he had had. She was just his friend. He repeated the at mantra daily letting the words sink into his thick skull.
He could feel the pain radiate off her. It was a horrible sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Alyssa was hurt and he could do nothing for her.
The others are hurt to. You should be worrying about them as well. They are you're friends as well.
He was worried about them. It just wasn't the same. He was more worried about her because they were so close.
Keep telling yourself that.
It was Cole who decided to keep going. It was Cole who kept looking for ways to defeat Nayzor.
They fought hard but Merrick became reckless his mind continuously floating back to the rangers still at the Animarium. His mind seemed to focus on one particular ranger. He wasn't prepared for Toxica's surprise attack.
I don't love her.
Tell yourself whatever you want.
I don't.
Then explain to me why you have been knocked unconscious.
I made a stupid mistake.
Admit it you're in love with her.
I'm not.
Tell yourself whatever you want. You know the truth.
He couldn't deny that he was happy to see her when she came to bar.
"Are you alright?" she asked racing over to him.
He stared at her for a moment trying not to be shocked. She was the one who had ended up at the Animarium in desperate need of tending. He had just been knocked out for an hour or two.
"I'm fine. What about you and the others?"
"We had some type of vision but I can't remember what happened. We were all at the same place. It was strange."
He listened carefully. Whoever was tampering with their memories must have their reasons but this was far from good.
"Do you think it could be an org?"
"No," she answered steadily. "I feel good about these memories. It was someone else."
"Don't ever get hurt like that again," he said as he returned to working.
She stared at him slightly shocked.
"I scared you?" she asked softly.
He barely looked up.
"Just don't do it again," he replied.
She nodded before heading out to her car. His eyes followed her making sure nothing happened to her. Part of him wished he was with her instead of working the afternoon away.
You love her.
No, I don't.
You love her.
Even if I did it would just cause her more pain.
Again the little voice at the back his mind whispered, You love her.
To be continued…..