Summary – You know what they say about the best laid plans…

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Don't Touch That!

Zedd

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"Thomas."

"Yes?" Looking semi-hopeful he is in for a very rude awakening.

"That is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard in my life."

"What?"

Shaking my head at his stunned expression I reluctantly move back to him. "This has nothing to do with understanding you and what you've been through. I'm all too well aware of what you've been through and I am probably the only person on this god forsaken planet who ever comes close to understanding you. This isn't about that. This is about you not wanting more blood on my hands. About you being afraid you're going to lose me to some darkness because I can and will still kill when it's needed."

Heaving a sigh and knowing I've got him down, he slowly wraps his arms around me holding on for all he's worth. "This is about me knowing you're better then this. Don't kill him. We both have enough innocent blood on our hands and despite what you think Mercer is innocent. His death isn't needed yet, not when there's still a chance he could be saved."

"He hurt you."

"You'll hurt me more if you kill him. I don't want to lose you, but I will if you give into the darkness I just saw in you. All it takes is one time Zedd, one time and everything you've worked for is gone. That kind of dark power, that kind of rage, it's addictive and you know it. You know it better than anyone." Damn insightful little brat.

"Zedd?! Dr. O?!"

Cursing as the shout comes from the corridor I move to the control panel hitting the red button and closing the door before we can be interrupted.

"That won't stop them for long." No, but long enough to get you decent and give me time to calm down a bit more.

"Long enough." Pulling him off of me and shaking my head at his worried look I focus my energy on a quick, but fairly detailed glamour. "Be still or I might put you in plaid." Running my hands over him and watching as a black t-shirt, tan pants, and black boots slowly materialize over his damaged skin I only step back when I'm certain it will remain on him as I want. "Not very fashionable, but it'll do until we get home."

"Dr. O are you in there?!" As the children reach the door and begin pounding I take one last look back at the still unconscious Mesagog.

"I could make it quick."

"No." Taking my hand in his and apparently not about to budge on the matter, he presses his lips wearily to mine. "Just take me home okay?" Stupid bleeding heart.

"Fine." Hitting the button again I watch as the doors slide open allowing the three still uniform clad children to fall in. "Oh look the cavalry's here. And just in the nick of time too."

"Be nice." Rolling his eyes and smiling reassuringly at his rangers he releases my hand slowly to go and greet them. "Should have figured you guys would try and save me."

"Apparently we're a little late." Looking at Mesagog and then to her teacher Kira studies him closely not seeming completely convinced by his act. "Are you okay Dr. O?" Hand coming up to try and touch his bruised cheek she lowers it again when he takes a small step back.

"I'm fine. Had worse." Somehow I doubt that. "We should get going before Zeltrax and Elsa show up."

"Don't worry they'll be untangling themselves for quite a while. They actually had the nerve to try and chain us up." Shaking his head at their stupidity, Ethan continues his voice laced with triumph. "They learned pretty fast to never try that again."

Nodding in agreeance Conner adds his two cents to the mix. "For real. It'll probably take a blowtorch to get them apart."

Forcing a proud smile in place, he is clearly striving to not let them know just how bad off he is right now, but after having to withstand Mesagog's abuse, plus stand up to me, it's clear he's beginning to falter. "Good job guys. Let's get out of here though just in case."

Moving calmly to the shelf and grabbing the ambergrist before he can I give a reassuring smile. "Wouldn't want to forget our little souvenir now would we." I believe I'll first beat Zordon over the head with it, then when he's laying unable to move, his brain- assuming he has one -oozing out of his head I'll shove it so far up his backside he'll-

"Here let me see that thing."

"No!" Dragging myself away from my too pleasant thoughts of revenge I barely pull the stone away from my mate's outstretched hands in the nick of time. Can't let him touch it. No way. No how. All it takes is one touch. One bit of contact for the damn stone to bond with him and bam he's out playing with death again on a daily basis. Not on my watch. Lowering the urgency in my voice as I know I've already shaken him by my earlier focus on killing Mesagog, I repeat myself in a much calmer manner. "No, it could be dangerous. I…uh, the energized substance surrounding the stone, it's from Eltar and I'm not certain how it will react with your human genetics. It's best if you just let me hold onto it for the moment. Alright?"

Frowning but giving a small nod, he relents with clear disappointment. "Alright. Let's just get out of here."

"Good idea."

-oooooooo-

(30 min later, Oliver residence…)

Closing the bedroom door and praying that the small sedative I managed to give him will help him sleep for at least a short while, I head back downstairs to find the children and Hayley all waiting expectantly.

"He'll be fine he's sleeping. Go home." Still battling my inner rage over the entire matter I leave it at that heading past them to the lair entrance.

"Wait that's it? He's fine and sleeping?" That's it female, now beat it. Following after me Hayley is apparently not having it. "What happened there Zedd? What did Mesagog do to him?"

"It doesn't matter, I'll take care of it."

"Like hell you will." Grabbing my arm and having enough of my temperament and lack of information, she pulls me back to face her. "You know what I get that you're his boyfriend and Eltarian and some supposed ex-big bad but here's a little news flash for you, you're on my turf now. He is my friend, my family, and while you were off finding yourself for how many years it was me that was looking out for him. So you will fucking tell me what is going on with him or I will beat the living crap out of you before marching upstairs and finding out for myself." Eyes blazing and fingers tightening almost painfully on my arm, she actually makes me take a moment wondering if perhaps she's not actually capable of harming me.

"You don't want to know what happened, human."

"Try me." Try her. Fine, she wants to play with the adults, fine let's try her.

"Mesagog captured him to use him to free a dino gem that I am almost ninety percent certain Zordon planted for him to get a hold of despite my desire that he never become a Ranger again. And during said capture when Thomas refused to cooperate and tell him how to free the gem, Mesagog tried to cut the information from him and when bored with that sexually abused him. Now I have the gem which I am never ever going to let Thomas touch as I want him to live past the age of twenty eight, and I am going to contact Zordon who I am almost certain is on Earth right now and invite him over so I can snap his spinal cord in to little tiny pieces. Okay?"

Releasing my arm as I finish my explanation in a very homicidally sweet voice the red head gives a satisfied, but clearly disturbed nod. "Okay."

"Good. Now please go back into the livingroom and take the children far far away while I carry out my errands for the day." Reaching the trap door in the kitchen I give her one last look and piece of advice. "Oh and while I respect you greatly for how you defend yourself and Thomas, if you ever grab me like that again you will lose that hand."

"Says you." Turning and walking away, she really is something else.

"Yeah says me." Muttering to myself as I enter the lair dropping down the steps and moving to retrieve the chunk of ambergrist I'd thrown onto the work table when we'd returned I feel my anger make another appearance as I see it's gone.

"You know that saying about the best laid plans."

Turning slowly and with forced calmness I let my eyes fall onto the blonde haired, iced blue eyed, white dressed man, an evil sneer marring my face.

"It really is true. They all go straight to hell." Smiling softly he unfolds his hand revealing the black gem, no longer in it's protective shell. "Hello Zedd."

"Zordon."

To be continued…..

If you'd like to see a pic of Zordon or the model I'm using for him in this story just let me know and I'll send it to you.