Disclaimer- I have no ownership to any of this, Disney, Saban etc. do. I don't own the song, It's All Coming Back to Me which is by Meat Loaf and Marion Raven so please don't sue me.
AN- This was supposed to be the beginning of the Sky/Syd trilogy that I've been working on but the muses are dragging me in different directions. I'll get to them, eventually.
Timeline- A year after Reinforcements from the Future, so 3003 and 2003 for Wes's time period.
Shoutouts-
Yellowwolf- (Grins) Sorry it took so long. Hope you like this one.
Destiny45- (Beams) Thank you. It was a long process, lot of burning the midnight oil. I'm glad that there are a few of you who are still interested.
star-dreamer09- Mine too, definitely. Thank you so much.
Chapter Fourteen: It's all Coming Back to Me
Quote: "After it all came back to me, I knew it was you, always."
There were nights when the wind was so cold.
That my body froze in bed if I just listened to it right outside the window.
There were days when the sun was so cruel.
That all the tears turned to dust and I just knew my eyes were drying up forever.
You will not remember anything of the past two years.
Crystal blue eyes with blonde bangs hanging down smiled at her.
Anything you do remember, it will be dismissed as a dream.
A smile that lit up a face she couldn't remember.
You have served your purpose.
A voice that haunted her everyday.
You will not question any dreams you have.
A voice she yearned to remember.
Jen awoke with a gasp; it was the dream, again. They were happening every night. She dreamt of a man she didn't know. He seemed so familiar, yet he was a stranger.
"Jennifer? What's wrong?" Alex was at her side in an instant. Like always, since she woke up from the accident.
"It's nothing Alex," she reassured him, absently twisting at her engagement ring. "Go back to sleep."
Alex looked as if he wanted to question her further but didn't. He lay back down and was asleep soon after that.
Sleep, however, didn't come as quickly for Jen. She kept trying to remember something, anything, of her life before the accident. Nothing came though. All it did was give her a headache, which always happened when she attempted to remember something.
That damn accident, she didn't even remember that.
Jen had been told that she, Katie, Lucas and Trip were injured in the line of duty, which somehow, they all wound up with amnesia that didn't seem to be going away anytime soon. They'd only been unconscious for a week, in that week; they lost over a year of memories. That was six months ago, they'd been retired as Rangers and honorably discharged from Time Force.
Lucas had gone back to racing full time. Katie decided to do some traveling and was currently in Angel Grove, where the Power Rangers had originated. Jen had a hunch that her friend was searching for answers without the watchful eye of Time Force over her shoulder.
Trip stayed on as a tech advisor, Jen saw him occasionally, no more than a minute (if that), when she was on her way to her class. Like Trip, Jen stayed back, she was teaching Ranger History. It was far from her first passion which was helping fight criminals and protecting the innocent.
Jen had had enough. Starting tomorrow, she would start looking into the person she used to be.
I finished crying in the instant that you left.
And I can't remember where or when or how.
And I banished every memory you and I have ever made.
"Alex."
"Jennifer."
"I am fine, I don't need an escort and I certainly don't need you to hold my hand after I had a bad dream." Jen snapped, pulling her hand out of Alex's grasp. That morning Alex had interrogated her further, wanting to know what she dreamt about. Jen told him that it was a bad dream that she didn't remember. Did she feel bad about lying? Yes, but when she had a dream about the man and told Alex, he got very… uptight about it to say the least. He wasn't in the best of moods when she told him she was going to see Trip to pick at his brain for a lecture, which was half the truth; the other half was to see if he knew anything about her dream stranger.
"Alex I will be fine for a few hours with Trip, I promise."
He sighed, giving in. "All right, see you for lunch?"
"Actually, we were going to meet Lucas in town, come join us?" Jen gave him her best smile, knowing he wasn't that crazy of Lucas… and crowds.
"No, that's okay, have a nice time." He leaned in to kiss her, but Jen turned at the last minute. If Alex was displeased at that, he didn't show it. "I'll see you tonight."
"'Bye." Jen watched him go. As he rounded the corner, she breathed a sigh of relief, it wasn't that she didn't love him; he was just way too over bearing on her. Plus whenever she wanted to know about the accident, or the man in her dreams, he either wouldn't answer her or ignore it all together. Sighing, Jen rapped on Trip's door, hoping he had some answers.
A moment later, the door opened just a crack; Jen could see a bright blue eye peering through equally bright green hair. "Trip?"
"Jen!" The door was flung open and the former Green Ranger flew into her arms. "I've missed you so much! I keep trying to see you but Alex won't let me."
"What?" Now she knew something was up, why would Alex not allow to Trip to see her?
"I have so much to talk to you about," Trip said as he pulled Jen into his room, shutting the door firmly behind them. "Have a seat."
Jen looked around, there was paper everywhere, some of it was written in English and some was written in Xybrian. "What's all this?" Jen asked as she cleared some papers off a chair and sat down.
"It's what I've been trying to get a hold of you about. Have you regained any of your memories after our so-called accident?"
"No, none at all, I just keep having these odd dreams, us fighting with a man who looks like Alex, but it's not."
"A man?" It wasn't Trip who spoke; it was Circuit, who'd just woken up. "That looks like Alex?"
"Yeah, do you know who I'm talking about?" Jen asked the tiny owl.
"Yeah! Uh, no, no idea." Circuit said turning away from Jen's gaze.
"Circuit, if you know who he is, you need to tell me. Please."
Circuit flapped his wings once before giving in. "His name is Wes Collins; he's an ancestor of Alex's."
Jen and Trip exchanged stunned looks before turning back to Circuit. "What else?" Trip asked.
So for the next hour Circuit told them about how they fought with Wes against Ransik, while living in the year 2001. Then again in the year 2002 with the Wild Force Rangers. "Your memories were erased after you returned from 2002." Circuit told them sadly.
"Why?" Trip asked.
Circuit was quiet for several moments, avoiding both Jen and Trip's inquisitive stares. "It's all my fault."
"What do you mean?" Jen whispered.
"Alex wanted to know what would happen after you defeated the Mutorgs, specifically to you Jen. So I told him that a few days after you returned that you would leave us for good to go be with Wes."
But when you touch me like this (touch me like this)
And you hold me like that (hold me like that)
I just have to admit that it's all coming back to me.
When I touch you like this (touch you like this)
And I hold you like that (hold you like that)
It's so hard to believe but it's all coming back to me now.
Jen's mouth fell open. "What?"
"I'm sorry Jen!" Circuit cried out. "Alex ordered me to. He told me it was important. If I knew what he was going to do I wouldn't have told him."
"We know that Circuit," Trip said softly, patting his friend on the head. "We don't blame you, do we Jen?"
"Of course not Circuit. Alex on the other hand…" She muttered.
Trip gave her a look. "Let's go on and meet Lucas at the plaza, we can fill him in."
"All right."
As they headed out Jen could feel someone watching her, looking around her gaze landed on a camera in the hallway. Chills ran down her spine, as she turned away, still feeling like somebody's eyes were watching them.
At the plaza, Jen sipped her iced tea and discreetly checked her watch, wondering what was keeping Lucas.
A patch of hot pick hair caught her attention; Jen raised her eyebrow when she saw who was with the pick haired girl. She tapped Trip's wrist to get his attention, "Trip."
"Huh?" The Xybrian looked up from his latest gizmo.
Jen pointed. "Do you recognize her?"
"Um… she looks familiar…"
"Yeah…" She then noticed an older man who was also with them, there was something so familiar about him, but she couldn't put her finger on it. As they drew closer, realization sank in. "Ransik! Nadira!" Jen shouted, jumping from her chair, knocking it over in the process. Jen barely noticed as she reached for a weapon that she hadn't carried in months.
Ransik held his hands up, showing Jen he was unarmed. "I come in peace Jennifer. We're your friends."
Lucas nodded. "He's not lying Jen. Ransik's on our side."
Jen flushed slightly, embarrassed for no reason, to her knowledge, Ransik had been their enemy. Now… he was good…? She picked up her chair, apologizing to a couple nearby.
Nadira beamed at Lucas as he pulled out a chair for her. "It's okay Jen; Lucas did the same thing when we ran into him at the park. So have you regained any of your memories yet?" She wanted to know as she skimmed over a menu.
Jen blinked. "How… how did you know?"
"Oh, Alex told me when I came to see you after we came back to our time; he said that you'd been in some kind of accident and weren't ready for visitors. I tried coming back a few more times but Alex more or less told me to butt out."
"What…?" Jen felt her body go numb. Alex had more or less cut her off from the people she cared about, isolated her from the world and she let him… why?
Nadira looked up from her menu, seeing Jen turn a ghostly white. "Oh no! Jen I'm sorry, I thought you knew."
"We didn't know Nadria," Lucas murmured. "None of had any idea."
"But it was no accident Lucas." Circuit said, drawing everyone's attention to the owl. "Alex erased your memories so Jen wouldn't leave him again."
"What? That son of a--"
"Lucas, cursing Alex from here to Mariner Bay won't help." Jen said softly.
"No, but it'll make me feel better," Lucas muttered darkly. He managed a smile when Nadira placed her hand over his. He glanced at Jen. "I expected you of all people to be furious."
"Oh, I am Lucas, but none of us can do anything until we get our memories back and by the looks of it won't be any time soon." She sighed.
"So what do we do until then?" Trip asked.
"Tonight I'm calling Katie and having her come back as soon as possible, then we're going to make Alex undo what he did."
"And if he doesn't?" Ransik wanted to know.
Jen smiled, but there was nothing happy about it. "Then he'll regret the day he did this to us."
It's all coming back.
It's all coming back to me now.
That evening after a lengthy conversation with Katie, who promised she'd be out on the next flight to Silver Hills which wouldn't be until tomorrow morning, Jen settled in with the pages of information Trip had given her of the Ninja Storm Rangers. Though if things mapped out the way she wanted in the next few days, her replacement would need them more than her.
An hour passed when she heard a faint bloop as the scanner accepted Alex's handprint. The door opened then shut a moment later. She barely glanced up as Alex came into the living room. "Hi."
"Hello. How was lunch?"
"Fine, it was great seeing Lucas and Trip again."
"That's nice. How were those criminals who joined you?"
Jen looked up. "If you're referring to Ransik and Nadira, they were fine and they're not criminals. Unlike some people I know, they've changed."
"I doubt that. Leopards don't change their spots Jennifer."
"Like you did?" Jen asked as she stood. "Because to me, it's the same old Alex but you're even worse than before."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Figure it out for yourself," Jen snapped.
Alex's eyes narrowed. "I don't even know you anymore Jennifer."
"And I never knew you Alex," Jen shot back. "And that's what makes me sad."
Alex was silent before reaching out to her. "Looks it's been a long day, why don't we go to bed?"
Jen jerked away from him. "I'm not tired."
"Fine. Good night."
"Good night."
Jen waited until she heard the door shut before sitting back down. She let out the breath she was holding. She had to get out of there and soon. Putting her papers away, she stretched out on the couch, growing sleepy.
Jen closed her eyes, determined to finish her dream this time.
There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light.
There were things I'd never do again but then they'd always seemed right.
There were nights of endless pleasure.
It was more than any laws allow-baby, baby!
He stayed by her side all night after her fight with Fatcatfish, his hand holding hers, making sure she was there.
He smeared a streak of white paint on her nose, telling her she needed to live a little bit.
Kissing her cheek as Katie played around with a camera.
His hand over hers, wanting to be her friend, but his eyes held more than friendship for her.
Cuddling under a blanket on the Animarium, knowing they didn't have long to be together.
"I wish I could live a thousand years, so we could be together again."
"I should've told you this a long time ago. I love you." She told him on the beach as they prepared to leave.
"I love you too."
"I'll be back in a few days Wes, I promise."
"I'll wait forever for you."
There was that voice. "You will not remember anything of the past two years… Anything you do, it will be dismissed as a dream…" The voice, it sounded like Alex's…
The last thing she remembered before the white light engulfed her was Wes grinning at her.
Jen's eyes snapped open. "No! Wes!" Standing, Jen took a few steps then stopped. She remembered everything. Alex had done this; he told them that it would help them sleep after returning from 2002. She, they all bought it, hook, link and sinker.
She could feel tears pooling in her eyes, Alex… why? How could you? She thought.
"Jennifer?"
Her gaze turned toward Alex, who was standing in the doorway. "Are you all right?" He asked, concerned.
Her gaze narrowed, anger flooding through her. "You son of a bitch!" She crossed the room and slapped him across the face.
Alex's head snapped to the side, for he hadn't expected her slapping him. Slowly, he turned his head back to her, catching her wrist as she raised it to slap him again. "Would you mind tell me why I'm being assaulted at one in the morning?" He asked calmly.
Jen had never loathed Alex more than she did at this very moment. "You know what you did you bastard! You erased our memories; you let me believe we engaged-"
"Technically," he interrupted, "we are, if you're wearing my ring and planning a wedding." He was so calm, it infuriated her.
"Not anymore." She pulled her ring off and threw it in his face. "This engagement is over, tomorrow morning I'm going back to 2003, where I belong and you're not going to stop me."
"How do you plan to do so? You have no authority to gain access, let alone to demand so of me."
Jen's eyes narrowed, darkening dangerously. "I may not… but you do…" She said calmly. "And if you refuse to do so, I'm sure Captain Logan would love to know what you did to me and the others. I don't care if you are above his rank, he's your senior and he can do something about it."
If Alex was worried, he didn't show it, he was silent for a moment. "You don't belong there Jennifer, you belong here, with me. Wes has moved on, it's time you did as well."
"You liar!
"I have no reason to lie to you Jennifer." Alex said patiently, as if he were talking to a small child.
"Then let me see for myself." Jen said. "Let myself, Trip, Lucas and Katie go to 2003 and see him. If he has moved on like you say, then we'll come back and I'll marry you."
"And if he hasn't?" Alex was beginning to look worried now.
"Then I get to stay with him."
Alex sighed. "Very well Jennifer, I'll indulge your request," he was making it sound as he was doing her a grand favor.
Jen clenched her hands to keep them from hitting him again. "And one more thing, you restore our memories before hand and do not attempt to play God with us again. If you do, you will live to regret it."
"Very well."
If I kiss you like this (kiss you like this)
And if you whisper like that (whisper like that)
It was lost long ago but it's all coming back to me.
XxX
"If this works, all of our memories will be restored, it'll be like they were never gone." Trip was saying as they were preparing to have the procedure reversed.
"I hope so, I'm sick of having a swiss cheese memory." Katie said, crossing her arms in annoyance.
"Patience, Katie, all in good time," Alex said as he walked into the room, Jen behind him.
Katie shot Alex a look that would've had him six feet under in a second. "If you hadn't erased our memories…"
"But he did and there's no going back." Jen said gently, laying a hand on Katie's shoulder. "We'll make up for lost time."
Alex nodded and opened the case he'd brought with him. "I want to apologize to you all; I was selfish in erasing your memories." He took out each of their morphers. "I was also wrong to take away your morphers; these belong to you four and no one else." He looked at each of them, the sincerity in his eyes. "I've only made one adjustment to them, which is teleportation."
"I thought only the original team could teleport and that was lost when the Morphin' Grid was destroyed, right?" Trip questioned.
"Yes, but we were able to duplicate the technology. Space Patrol Delta, was the first to use it."
The four exchanged wary glances before picking up their respective morpher.
"When Katie, Trip and Lucas return, your former positions will be waiting for you."
"Thank you Alex," Trip said.
"You're welcome. Whenever you're ready, we'll start."
Everyone but Jen headed for the chambers, her gaze met Alex's. "Why the change of heart? Why did you try to change history?"
"Like I said Jennifer, I was selfish; I was trying to keep you from your destiny. I wanted to have what never could be mine. Deep down I knew, even when you didn't remember him, you pulled away from me. I apologize for that."
"You're forgiven." She embraced him for a moment before going into an empty chamber. She watched Alex activate the machine. He looked up and their gazes met as a white light engulfed her and the others.
"Be happy with him Jen." Alex whispered.
If you want me like this (if you want me like this)
And if you need me like that (if you need me like that)
It was dead long ago but it's all coming back to me.
Nadria hugged Jen tightly. "I'm sorry things turned out like this sweetie, you and Wes are meant for each other."
Jen smiled. "Thank you Nadria. You'll visit, right?"
Nadira grinned. "Of course."
Lucas wrapped his arm around Nadira shoulders, smiling at her. "We'll be back before you know it," he promised.
"You'd better," the pink haired woman teased.
"Jen," Trip said as he walked up. "We're ready."
Jen embraced Nadria one more time before heading for the time ship. Jen felt déjà vu as they boarded and took their seats.
"Nervous?" Katie asked as they strapped in.
"A little, but in a good way," Jen assured her
Countdown will begin in 10…
9…
8…
7…
6…
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
Jen let out a small gasp as the ship was slammed into the time portal. Closing her eyes, all Jen could think about was Wes and how she would be with him soon.
It's so hard to resist and it's all coming back to me.
I can barely recall, but it's all coming back to me now....
"Wes."
"Eric." Wes just grinned at his friend.
"This isn't funny Wes."
"Yes it is, you just have a warped sense of humor."
"Only from hanging around you," Eric muttered. "You realize Taylor's going to kill you right?" He stared at Taylor's convertible, which was covered in goofy ribbon and girly shit that Taylor despised. He was just supposed to get it washed and waxed, but no, Wes and his dumbass idea for him to do something special for Taylor…
"It's sweet."
"Tooth-rotting sweet."
"It's not that bad." Wes tried to protest.
"I would be surprised if she cut you up and fed you to her Eagle Zord for dinner."
"Ouch," Wes placed a hand over his chest in mock hurt. "Hey she may like it in the long run…" He trailed off as flashes of neon white caught his eye. He could see four figures in the distance, one of them had a brown ponytail… "Jen?" Wes whispered in disbelief.
Eric sighed. "Wes, it's not her, it's never been her. You've just gotta face the fact that Jen's not coming back."
Wes ignored Eric as he started toward the group as they went inside the nearly completed clock tower. "Jen!" Wes took off towards the clock tower.
"Wes!" Eric called after his friend, but to no avail. "Goddamnit…" He sighed as he ran after Wes.
Wes sprinted up the stairs, taking no notice of the construction workers who stared at him as he went by.
Jen looked up as she heard footsteps clomping up the stairs. She looked at the others. "Let's go." They simultaneously pressed a button on their time watches, teleporting themselves from the top of the tower, down to the middle, where no workers would see them.
"Wes!" Eric called up as he sprinted past the four of them. What the…? He looked back over his shoulder and thought he saw Katie wave at him. "Great, now I'm seeing things, thanks Wes." He muttered under his breath.
Wes skidded to a stopped as he reached the empty tower, she wasn't there, she probably had never been there. It was just his imagination running wild.
"Wes." Eric had caught up with him, he turned to his friend, barely taking notice of his pissed off look.
Eric opened his mouth to give Wes some tough love but stopped when he saw the dejected look on his face. He sighed. "I know you really wanted it to be her Wes, but it's not. I'm sorry but Jen's not coming back," when Wes tried to talk back he cut him off. "If she was coming back, she would've been here by now. Nothing short of dying would've stopped her from coming back to you. I know you don't want to hear this from me of all people but maybe you should move on. You were lucky enough to find love, maybe lightening will strike twice."
When Wes didn't say anything, Eric went on. "Some people never find what you and Jen had, be grateful that you two had what little time you did together."
Jen felt tears fill her eyes as the four of them stood just outside of the tower. He had waited for her, just like he promised.
Katie tugged on her arm as Jen snapped out of it; she could hear their footsteps heading toward them. Katie Lucas and Trip teleported away, though Jen lingered a second longer, wanting so bad to reveal herself to Wes. Deciding it wasn't the right time, Jen teleported away in a flash of pink.
Wes blinked at the bright pink light. "Did you see that?" He asked Eric.
"See what?"
Wes sighed. "Never mind."
"C'mon, if you're lucky I'll keep Taylor from killing you for what you did to her car."
"Yippee…" Wes muttered sarcastically as they headed back down.
But you were history with the slamming of the door.
And I made myself so strong again somehow.
And I never wasted any of my time on you since then!
Taylor was waiting for them as the exited the clock tower. "What did you do to my car?"
Eric sighed, this wasn't his day. "Taylor, I can explain."
"This isn't like you… I like it."
"Taylor… huh?"
She smiled. "Normally its flowers, which are nice, but I love what you did to my car."
"You do…"
"Yes, I do." She walked up to him and kissed him.
Wes raised an eyebrow in amusement before waving in goodbye. He saw the neon white but forced himself to ignore it. It wasn't Jen. He needed to move on. But right now all he wanted to do was go home and sleep for a long time.
The quartet watched as Wes got on his motorcycle and sped off. "I know he saw us. Why didn't you go to him Jen?" Katie asked.
"It just didn't feel like the right time." Jen said, wiping away the tears that had fallen. It had broken her heart to see Wes like that.
Katie opened her mouth to give her two cents but was cut off by two new voices.
"Holy shit."
"Oh my god."
They turned to find Taylor and Eric staring at them in amazement. "Wes wasn't imagining you." Eric said; his features turned harsh in anger. "What I want to know is why you took your sweet time in coming back here. Do you have any idea what Wes has been going through?"
"Eric," Jen sighed. "It's a long story, but trust me when I say I would never intentionally hurt Wes. I love him."
Taylor laid a hand on Eric's arm to calm him. "We both know she's telling the truth, lay off."
Eric ignored her and glared at Jen. "No, I won't lay off Taylor. Where the hell have you been?"
"The future, I had to go back but I knew I would always come back to Wes. Believe it or not you idiot I love him! Where else would I willingly go? I thought I would be back in a few days but Alex erased our memories and I had no idea that I loved Wes let alone had a history with him. So lay the hell off Myers." Jen snapped; her breaking point finally reached.
"Jen, I'm-"
"Don't, don't you dare say you're sorry Eric." Jen snapped; her voice cracking. "You're not sorry, you're just defending Wes and I don't blame you for it."
"Jen, ow." He glared at Taylor, who'd just stomped on his foot.
"Not. Helping."
"Guys," Katie interrupted before a fight could break out. "No offense, but we didn't travel one thousand years back in time just to hear you two bicker." They gave her offended looks but were quiet for the most part. "Now, where's Wes?"
"At his house, he moved out of the mansion about six months ago." Eric said.
"Can someone take me there, please?" Jen asked softly
"I will but Eric will be more than happy to give Trip and Lucas a ride to my place while you and Katie come with me."
"Fine with me, no one needs to hear that girlie girl gossip crap." Eric muttered as he, Lucas and Trip started for his SUV.
"Bite me, Myers." Taylor called over her shoulder as she Katie and Jen walked to her car, ripping the ribbon off in the process. "What an ass, what do I see in him?"
"He's Mr. Right for you?" Katie guessed with a grin as they got in the car."
"Yeah, right…"
"I really appreciate this Taylor," Jen said as they strapped in.
"Its fine Jen, it's not everyday someone gets a chance at true love."
An hour later Jen nervously walked up the steps to Wes's house, would he even want to see her after all this time? She prayed he would as she rung the doorbell.
It seemed like an eternity before he opened the door; his blue eyes stared at her as if she were a mirage.
"Jen…?"
"Hi, Wes."
"Jen." In half a second, she was in his arms and it felt right. She held onto him tightly, never wanting to let go.
He pulled away but never fully let go. There was only one question: "How?"
"It's a long story but after it all came back to me, I knew it was you, always."
"Are you… here to stay?" There was apprehension in his voice and face, as if he didn't want to get his hopes up again.
She smiled. "Is forever okay?"
It's all coming back to me now.
We forgive and forget.
And it's all coming back to me now....
End chapter
AN2- This was a looong time in the making and I really hope you all like and will continue to keep reading. Starting tomorrow I am starting on a five chapter holiday interlude and am hoping to have a new chapter up by next weekend. *Knocks on wood and crosses fingers* Keep on giving me your paring suggestions and please leave me a review. No flames please. Thanks.
CamFan4Ever