Theme: #11 – Dependence
Summary: You save my life, I save yours.
Word Count: 881

A.N: No idea when this is set – no really, I wrote the bulk of this chapter some time when the show was still airing, so I can't actually remember where it fits in the timeline. Before In or Out (episode 16), I know that.

Disclaimer: I'm just playing with them for a little while. I don't actually own any of the characters.

It had been a rough day - to say the least. Venjix had sent an onslaught of attack bots, each one deadlier than the previous. The entire team were worn out, most of all Summer, who had been on the receiving end of a particularly vicious attack. An attack which would have been fatal had Ziggy not teleported her out of the path of falling rubble at the last second. All she wanted to do was take a hot shower and crawl into bed. These were the desires of all of the rangers when they returned sluggishly to The Garage.

"I think I could sleep for a week." Flynn groaned as he shuffled up the stairs to his room with his eyes shut tight.

"I hear you." Scott yawned and was right behind him. It was only a matter of time before they were fighting for use of the shower. Ziggy had not even made it as far as the stairs, he had fallen asleep in the passenger seat of Flynn's Hummer and no one was going to bother trying to rouse him. Flynn had simply made a passing comment on the drive back that he had better not drool all over the car's upholstery. Even Dillon was feeling the tugs of fatigue, which was unusual due to his mechanical upgrades allowing him to go for longer without rest.

Summer gave a sigh of contentment as she dried herself off after her shower and pulled on a pair of pale yellow pyjamas. She remembered the comment Flynn had made when they had first become rangers, about how the team had all suddenly and subconsciously become obsessed with the colour that they had been assigned; a fact which she found rather amusing because she had to admit, it was true. She crawled onto her bed, reaching toward her bedside lamp to flip the switch off. There was a quiet knock on the door and she groaned. "Come in." Summer was surprised when Dillon poked his head around the door then entered the room, closing the door softly behind him, saying," Hi."

"Hey, what's wrong? I didn't hear the alarm go off-"

"It didn't. I just came to see how you were." Dillon told her, the confusion softened and she looked at him fondly.

"Oh. I'm exhausted…you look pretty tired yourself." Summer smiled at Dillon, who was standing with his back pressed against the door. He waved off her comment and said," I'm okay." The room fell silent. Dillon looked at the floor while Summer looked all around the room, trying to think of a topic of conversation to fill the awkward emptiness.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get to you earlier, the Grinders were all over me. If Ziggy hadn't been there I-"

"What are you talking about? You don't have to apologise, Dillon." Summer looked up at Dillon in surprise at his sudden rush of words. She motioned for him to sit on the bed and after a few moments hesitation, he did. "You can't save me all the time." Summer teased, attempting to lighten his mood, which it did not seem to do.

"If Ziggy hadn't been there…you could have been killed, Summer, that's not okay." Dillon did not look at her, instead his eyes stayed focused on the carpet.

"No, it's not. And yes, it scared me, but I'm fine. Nothing a good night's sleep won't fix, you don't have to worry. I don't want you to feel like you have to protect me all the time. I'm a big girl." Summer nudged him playfully in another attempt to brighten him up and again, it failed.

"I'm sorry. I know you can take care of yourself it's just…well…" Dillon seemed to be struggling to say what he was thinking and Summer sat patiently waiting for the end of his sentence.

"I guess it scared me too." He finished with a sigh, he finally looked at her, the frown was gone from his face but his expression was now defeated. "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you and I think that's what really scares me because…because you're the only person I've felt I could depend on, I've only ever looked out for myself and now…I feel like I have to protect you too." He frowned slightly, as if his words were not coming out the way he wanted. He was silent for a few moments then said," I guess what I'm trying to say is that…well…you're the one who got me to stay here - the one who took a chance on me even when you didn't know me at all, so I'm just trying to return the favour. You save my life, I save yours."

"Except you've saved mine twice now, you're one favour up on me." Summer had remained silent throughout Dillon's explanation and she had to keep herself from grinning at how open and honest he was being.

"Yeah, well, who's counting? I just…I don't want to lose you."

"It's okay to need someone, Dillon." Summer told him in gentle voice, placing a tender hand on his bare forearm. He nodded then got up form the bed saying," I'll see you in the morning." And without another word, he left her alone once more.