It was Serena's idea to have Kelly morph. None of the other Rangers had power, but until that changed, she felt they needed to get used to fighting monsters at half-strength. Madam Oedius could reappear at any time, and there was no telling how long it would take Sarah to come up with six Power Stars.
"Good, you're getting better. Brody, watch your feet!" Serena called out as Brody and Calvin took on Kelly. Sarah sat back on a log to watch. Hayley leaned over.
"So, what do we think of the Samurai?"
Sarah shrugged. "Gia trusts her. We should too."
"Seems like she knows what she's doing," Hayley nodded. She sat next to Sarah, "Can I tell you something?"
"Like what?" Sarah asked and sipped her water. Hayley shrugged.
"It's about Kelly. I don't meant to get between the two of you but… lately… she's been sleeping with Kody."
Sarah spit her water out and felt some of it go through her nose. Then she chuckled.
"That's not a euphemism, right?"
"Literally," Hayley nodded. "As in, when I wake up in the morning, they're both in her bed sleeping."
"Are you jealous?" Sarah teased and nudged Hayley gently. The white Ranger shook her head.
"No. Well, a little, but… Look, Kody's got his routine. He sleeps with me or my parents, depending on who goes to bed last and… I know Kelly's been with us a while and Kody knows her as one of the pack now but… it's just not like him."
"You're super jealous."
"I was awake last night," Hayley said. "Kody went to bed with my parents and, in the middle of the night, Kelly had a nightmare. I didn't let her know I was up too because I didn't know if she needed someone to talk to yet but… Kody walked in. He calmed her down and stayed with her. I think that's what he's been doing."
"Okay. Isn't that what pets do?"
"They do," Hayley nodded. "And I'm more than happy to share Kody. It's just… maybe Kelly isn't quite over… Drex."
Sarah looked to her friends and saw that Brody and Calvin had taken a break from their spar and now Preston and Levi were fighting with Kelly. Sarah's eyes lingered on her girlfriend and she sighed.
"What can I do?"
"She doesn't talk to me. I asked her about it on the way to school and she just said she'd rather not talk. Do you think she might talk to you?"
"She has been," Sarah nodded. "I can have her over afterwards. You'll have to tell her parents she won't be home for dinner, though."
"Can do."
Hayley rose to her feet as Serena called her and Sarah over. As they prepared to fight the green Ranger, Sarah grabbed Hayley's arm.
"Hey, thanks," she said. "I appreciate you looking out for her."
"She's grown on me," Hayley shrugged with a smile. "Take care of her, alright?"
"Promise."
-Ninja-Steel-
"I'm exhausted!" Kelly whined as she dragged herself to Sarah's. "You know, when Serena said you all needed to be able to fight without Powers, I think she forgot that even with powers, Rangers still get tired."
"How's that any different from a regular battle?" Sarah asked. "Especially if Madam Oedius shows up before I can get even just one Power Star up and running?"
"I… I… okay, so that was good training for me too, but I'm pooped! You Rangers are still tough, even without the suits."
"Thanks," Sarah smiled. "You're doing pretty well yourself, though. I thought for sure I had you."
"Yeah, I've been getting better. Less cookies, more superman," Kelly chuckled at herself. "I mean, a salad is no cheeseburger but when it's the world you're trying to protect, that's really one of the smaller sacrifices."
"It's one that's appreciated," Sarah said, then stopped walking and put her arms around her girlfriend. She felt Kelly stiffen up as she did this, and immediately let her hands drop. Kelly looked down sadly.
"Sorry, I'm working on that. I just… don't like being restricted still."
"I get it," Sarah nodded, and she did understand. After her kidnapping by her mother and Drex, Sarah had been a little more sensitive than usual, even without the presence of any obvious threats. It took her body a while to remind itself she was with friends, family, and people who didn't want to see her hurt. "But you are working on it, right? Like, it's getting easier and stuff."
"I mean, it's slow," Kelly shrugged. "It's still a nightmare or two a night, but I'm not freaking out anymore. I know Drex is gone."
"But I still can't hold you?" Sarah asked.
"We'll get there."
"Hayley told me you were sleeping with Kody," Sarah said. "She didn't say much more than that. She's just trying to help…"
"It's okay."
"She and I both just want to make sure you're okay."
"Kody helps," Kelly admitted. "He comes in after my nightmares and just lays with me. I have my Power Star and knowing he's looking out for me, I fall asleep better. If I get another nightmare, he nudges me awake before it gets bad."
"Have you called Gia at all?"
"No," Kelly shook her head. "She said I was allowed some bad days. To be honest, hearing that helped. I survived an assault. I'm not going to just… bounce back."
"I just want to make sure when you do take a step back, it's still followed by two steps forward."
"Sarah, I'm fine," Kelly smiled, and she put her arms around her girlfriend. "I know who wants to hurt me and who doesn't. It's my reflexes I still need to control. And really, who controls their reflexes?"
"I do," Sarah said, and then Kelly poked her in the ribs, which caused Sarah to jump and scream. Kelly laughed.
"Oh, yeah, I saw all the control there."
"I wasn't ready," Sarah chuckled.
"Yeah, so that was reflexes," Kelly teased, then tried to poke Sarah on the other side but the pink Ranger caught her arm.
"Too slow."
"Hey! Are you girls done flirting?" Shane called from the porch of the house. "I'm ordering Chinese for dinner. What do you want?"
"Shane doesn't cook," Sarah whispered to Kelly. "We've been eating out every night. I can't wait until Jenny's home."
"She won't be able to cook for a while," Kelly said. "When my grandfather had his heart attack, he was on the couch for months. He was a lot older, though, but still."
"Great," Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Any requests?" Shane called and put his phone to his ear. "It's ringing and I'm not going to play monkey in the middle."
"Yeah, next time, we eat at your place," Sarah whispered to Kelly and chuckled. "Something homemade."
"Too late!" Shane called out then went back inside the house to place the order.
"How about we trade lunches for tomorrow?" Kelly suggested. "I'll take whatever you get, and I'll let you have tonight's leftovers from home."
"Seriously?"
Kelly nodded. Sarah threw herself into her girlfriend's arms.
"I knew there was a reason I love you."
"Yep, that's it," Kelly chuckled. "That's the only reason."