Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: I am still working on getting back to my rhythm; it's a lot harder than I anticipated. I am going to finish this story, the updates might be slower but it's only because I don't want to rush through and then make it not so good. Thank you for being patient.

Finding Comfort

Syd still sat rooted to her spot even though both Jack and Ally were there now. She didn't want to start pacing, that was definitely an activity she didn't want to become a habit. She also didn't want to fidget or anything else that would just increase her feelings at the moment. She could hear Jack and Ally quietly talking beside her.

She wasn't sure what it was that they were saying and to be honest she didn't really care. She just wanted Bridge to be okay.

"Something had to have gone wrong if they hadn't spoken to us about it." She said softly.

Jack put his hand on her shoulder, "That's not necessarily true. He could be fine and just relaxing."

"If that's true then they would have come."

Syd looked at Jack, "See, you know there's truth in my reasoning."

"Look Syd, it was hard waiting for you to come out of…to get better. It was hard on all of us. The state you were in…it wasn't good. But we were just patient. We had to be."

"He was shot!"

"You were tortured."

Syd was quiet as the two thoughts sunk into her. Tortured, shot. Both were horrible things. Neither should have happened. She had never been shot but she had read articles, statements and the like of what it felt like to be shot. Sure Bridge might not be in intense pain…but he could have been. He could have died before they got him to the table. Being shot was like an immediate step to death, a deliberate in times like this. However the point of being tortured was to keep the victim alive as long as possible, evidence found with Zeni. She had been there for such a long time, she was barely alive by the time Syd found her. Slowly dying…not a fun thing. But it gave people more of an opportunity to save you, rather than if you were shot or stabbed or…choked…

The petite woman was brought out of her thoughts with a different hand on her shoulder, she looked over and saw Ally looking at her, "I'm sure it hurts. But they are doing all that they can. And you know they have the best doctors in there."

Syd gave a weak smile, "Thanks."

The other blonde woman smiled at her, "I know that knowing that still doesn't make it any easier."

"I am trying."

"Syd, you don't have to blame yourself, and it's fine that you're hurting and are worried." Jack said. He reached over and took her hand in his, "We are all worried about Bridge. He's a great guy, and you know that he will pull through this. It's Bridge. He can't go."

Syd smiled a bit more, "Thanks Jack." He squeezed her hand.

The three remained like that, Ally's hand on Syd's shoulder, Jack holding one of her hands in his, the three silently sitting and thinking about whether their friend would indeed make it through.

"I should go and check on him." Sky said standing up.

"Don't you think we should just let them do their job?"

"We're all wondering, and no one has told us anything. I'm sure Doggie will know something."

Z frowned, Sky did have a point. They were all just sitting and waiting. They hadn't heard anything. Talking and doing something did sound better then sitting and expecting the worse, "Alright, you're right." The man clad in red raised an eyebrow. Z looked back at him, "What? It makes sense."

"I just…I just figured you would try and talk me out of it."

"If it was stupid, I might."

His lips twitched, but he stopped before it became any real semblance of a smile, "Let's go then."

"Sounds wonderful."

The two rangers made their way over to the Command Center in hopes that Doggie, as usual, would be there. It was quiet on the way both lost in their own thoughts, but still comforted by the others' presence, even if there was no speaking. They entered the Command Center in just a few minutes from when they had decided to go there. Sky and Z were rewarded as they saw Doggie bent over a screen with Kat next to him the two in quiet conversation.

"Commander." Sky simply said and the two stopped near enough to Doggie and Kat, but still respectfully away.

"Sky, Z, I take it this is not a social visit."

Z and Sky exchanged a look before Sky spoke up once more, "Sir we came to find out about Bridge."

"Ah, I see."

Z spoke up, "It's just…Bridge has been in there a while and we haven't heard anything about it. Shouldn't we know if he's…" Z trailed off pausing, she didn't want to have to say it out loud, it made it seem more real. She took a deep breath and continued saying the word that no one wanted to hear, "dead or not?"

"You are right Z." Doggie said looking over at Kat.

Kat looked at the two rangers, "Look he's still…Bridge is strong. He can hold on. He'll be alright."

Z looked up at Sky and watched the pain flash across his face before he clenched his jaw. She knew this was a bit harder for Sky since he saw Bridge as a brother. Z didn't want Sky to be in that pain but she couldn't really do anything about it right now except help ease it a bit. "So does that mean he's dying?"

Kat and Doggie exchanged looks before Kat spoke again, "It means…things are complicated. The place the bullet hit…well it lodged itself into Bridge and…they're working on him, but…it's hard to tell the outcome. I think Bridge will pull through, he is strong."

"Thanks Kat. We'll just…we'll go and…"

"It's fine Z." Doggie said.

Sky and Z quickly left the Command Center only to slow down as they walked through the hallway. It was quiet as the two slowly moved through the corridor.

Z looked up at Sky; she could see how much this was affecting him. She placed her hand on his arm near his shoulder, "Hey."

He looked down at her but didn't say anything. Even though she knew that he wouldn't want to be in the hallway for this conversation she was still worried about him. They quietly made their way back to his room. Once the door was shut Z looked back at Sky, "I'm sure he'll be—"

"Don't say fine. It lodged itself into Bridge. Which means there is a good chance that he will die." Sky burst out at Z.

Z's gaze hardened, "Look Sky, I'm worried about Bridge as well. I know you are, but that doesn't mean you have to yell at me." Sky just glared at Z, she however didn't even move. The two stared at each other for a while before Z took a step back, "Look, I thought you might want some company, but forget it. I'm just going to go and find Syd."

The door had just slid open when Sky spoke up, "Z, wait." She didn't turn or even say anything, but she paused, "Wait…thanks."

The brunette turned around, "You're welcome." She felt herself calming down slowly, but surely.

"Look, I just…I'm worried."

"Guess what Sky, so am I. And Syd. Jack. We all are. Right now we can't do anything, but we can hope that everything will be fine. And for you to continually beat yourself up about this…well that's just ridiculous."

A small frown appeared on Sky's face, but Z knew he was just contemplating her words. Slowly he nodded and sat back on his bed. He gave her one look and nodded to his bed. She went and sat down just as the door shut. "I guess we just wait then."

"As much as it sucks, yes."

And the two sat in silence waiting just as their other three friends were doing in another part of the building, each group giving comfort to the other while they waited for the hopefully good news about their fallen companion.