Never Let Go

Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Summary: Sequel to "Can't Let Go." Read that first. After tragedy strikes, can Ashley and Andros find their way back to each other.

Pinkrangerfan: Yeah hopefully he can. They have a strong connection so it's very possible.

JasonLeeScottFan: Thanks! Zavier and his family are really attached to Andros and it will be very hard for them when he remembers everything.

Chapter 2: Memories

Earth

Ashley sat in front of her daughter's high chair and feed Ava breakfast. The little girl happily ate the cereal and apricot Ashley prepared for her. "Hey Zhane." Ashley called when she felt him enter the kitchen. "What are you doing up so early on a Saturday?"

"I've got some things to finish up at the office." Zhane had been given the position that had been meant for Andros. Though Zhane would have happily turned it down, Karone talked him into taking it, and the fact that Ashley and the other rangers would be working with him helped. "I should be back before lunch." He stated somberly.

"Zhane is everything okay?"

He sighed and sat in a chair next to Ashley. "It's Karone. I tried to talk to her about getting married and she's still avoiding it." He ran a hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry Zhane. You know this has been hard for her. She misses Andros."

"I know, but it still hurts." He checked his watch. "I gotta go. I promise I'll be back before the others get here."

"Okay. We'll see you then." She looked at Ava. "Say bye to uncle Zhane." Ava smiled and cooed at her uncle.

"Bye Ava." He waved and left.

Ashley looked at her daughter. "I think Auntie Karone and I need to have a talk later on."

Taurus

"Please talk to me." She begged him.

He didn't want to hear it. "If I wanted to talk to you about this I would have."

"I know it hurts-"

"You have no idea what I'm feeling!" He didn't know why he was this upset. He knew he wasn't mad at her, but she was the closest thing he could vent on.

"The hell I don't!" She shouted back, and then caught herself. "I can feel what you feel. When you dream, I see it."

"Did I ask you to go prying into my head?!" He snapped.

"I didn't ask to see these things, and the only person who can explain what's going on to me, keeps trying to shut me out." She took his hands in hers. "I love you. I just want to be here for you."

He pulled his hands away. "Who says I need you here?"

She took a step back as tears began to flood her brown eyes. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I don't need your psychology crap." His voice was deathly calm as he stepped towards her. "And I don't need you." He tried to block out her anguish as he walked passed her, and tried to make sure she didn't feel his.

He couldn't afford to let her get closer, he didn't mean to let her get as close as she did. Everyone he loved had been taken from him: his sister, his parents, and even his best friend. He couldn't go through that again. This was for the best.

Rikai sat up in his bed drenched in sweat. The contents of his dream still played in his head. But it wasn't just a dream was it? He thought to himself. It was a memory.

He got up to shower hoping the warm water would help clear his head. He got out of the shower and dressed. His hair was still damp when he heard the knock at his door. "Come in." He called.

"Hey Rikai." Trenton called as he ran and hugged his brother. "Dad said he's ready downstairs and to asks if it was okay if I went with you two to the jeweler."

"Sure buddy." He ruffled the boy's hair and laughed when Trenton slapped at his hand. Rikai went to his nightstand and wrapped the necklace around his hand. "Let's go."

The two made their way downstairs where their father waited. "Good morning, dad." Rikai called.

"Good morning." He responded with a smile, but it slowly faded when he got a good look at his oldest son. "Are you alright? You look a little pale."

"He's always pale dad." Trenton joked.

"I'm fine." Rikai answered. "Just a dream."

Zavier nodded understanding what Rikai meant. "Well, let's get going. Kara and her father are opening the shop early for us." Zavier could help but laugh at the look Rikai sent him.

"Why is Kara going to be there?" Rikai asked clearly upset and highly annoyed.

"Because she wants your body." Rikai and Zavier both frowned down at Trenton who only smiled. "What? That's what they say on TV."

"I told you he watches it too much." Rikai told his father.

"I'll remember that." Zavier responded. "We'd better go now."

"Dad." Rikai groaned.

"I'm sure she won't be that bad." Zavier assured as he walked out the door with Trenton in tow.

"Yeah right." Rikai mumbled and followed his father and brother.

Jeweler

"Hey Rikai!" The raven-haired girl practically bounced as Rikai and his family walked into the store. "How are you?"

Rikai glanced at his father who was trying to hold back his laughter, and Trenton who didn't even try. "Hi Kara." He deadpanned. Kara annoyed the hell out of him, mainly because she couldn't take a hint.

"My dad's in the back." She stated showing no sign that she noticed the non-interest in his voice. "I'll go get him." She looked at Trenton. "Hey little man. I think Brendan's awake too. He'll be stoked to see you."

"Thank you Kara." Zavier responded. He looked at his younger son. "Go ahead Trenton." He smiled and turned his attention to Rikai when Kara and Trenton went to the back. "You could be a little nicer, her father is doing this as a favor to us."

"I know, but I can't help it. Kara doesn't know the meaning of personal space and she doesn't know when to quit." He shivered a little. "I'll bet you twenty credits that she finds some way to unnecessarily touch me no more than five minutes after she gets back."

Zavier nodded considering. "I'll take that bet." They shook hands on it.

"Hello Zavier, Rikai." Kayden Tandem greeted as he came to the front along with his daughter.

"How've you been Kayden?" Zavier asked happily.

"Pretty good. What do you have for me?" He asked curiously.

Rikai reached into his pocket and pulled out the necklace, holding the end of the chain between his thumb and forefinger allowing the gem to dangle. "This is it."

Kara quickly moved to Rikai and held the gem in her hand. She smiled up at him. "It's beautiful." She placed her hand on the hand Rikai held the chain in. "May I?"

Rikai smiled winningly. "Sure." He gave her the necklace and turned his smile to his father once Kara's back was turned.

Zavier simple shook his head and sighed a little.

"This is interesting." Kayden commented as he studied the gem his daughter handed to him. "And very rare indeed." He looked from Zavier to Rikai. "I don't even think it's native to this galaxy."

"Which galaxy?" Rikai asked, his anticipation rising.

"Let me check." Kayden turned to his comp. He reached for a scanner and waved it over the stone. "It's coming up now." He diligently read the screen. "It's a rare gem even on the planet it originates from."

"What planet?" Rikai snapped. He felt his father's hand on his shoulder and relaxed a little. "Sorry, Mr. Tandem." He said to Kayden.

"It's quite alright." He studied the screen again. "It says the stone comes from a space colony, KO-35 in the Karova system."

"Well," Zavier started and looked to Rikai. "Now we know-" He was cut off when he saw his son's eyes roll back as he began to slump to the floor. "Rikai!" Zavier managed to grab him before his body actually hit the floor and gently lay his head down. He vaguely heard Kayden talking behind him.

"Kara, call the clinic." He told his daughter.

"Is he okay?" She asked in a panic.

"Now Kara!" Her father ordered. She ran to the link on the front desk.

"Tell her to ask for Trinity." Zavier absently called. He heard Kayden relay the message to his daughter. "Rikai please wake up." He pleaded to his son.

Images from the past filled Rikai's head.

He was wearing a red jumpsuit and was running into battle along with someone clad in silver. The planet was under attack and they were it's last hope.

"We've got to get these people out of here." His silver partner called to him.

"You take care of that." He responded. "I'll distract Ecliptor." He charged the green and black creature head on, but he kept getting distracted by the screams of the people around him. The monster capitalized and sent him to his knees.

"And now, I have the pleasure of ending the red ranger." The monster held up his sword prepared to strike.

The flash of silver came too quickly for him to stop. Ecliptor's strike sent a wave of electricity through the silver clad ranger.

He could do nothing but watch as his best friend fell before him. "Zhane! No!"

(A/N: What do you think? Hope you liked it.)