By the time Haley had returned to Tommy's to pick up Kanoi he had awakened Tori and had her seated at the kitchen table with a bowl of soup. Both of them looked up when she entered. Haley gave Tori a genuine smile and said, "You're looking better! How are the boys?"
"Still sleeping." Tori replied. "How's Blake? What's been going on at the hospital?" Haley was the first person with any information about what had been happening outside of Tommy's and Tori was desperate to know. Haley gave a brief synopsis of everyone's medical conditions, repeatedly assuring Tori that Blake really was fine – better off, in fact, than the others who had been injured.
"It's really Conner that we can't figure out. He's not physically injured like Adam and Blake; it seems to be a mental thing. It's somehow tied into his energy, but Billy and I just can't figure it out. We were hoping Sensei would have more luck understanding Conner's condition."
"I will do what I can, Haley." Kanoi spoke as he rose from the table. "Tori, please keep an eye on the other Rangers. If anything changes, please call…we will do the same for you."
"Yes, Sensei." Tori believed the reassurances given to her by Haley about Blake's condition; otherwise she would've woken up the others and dragged them into the car with them for the return trip to the hospital. But she felt strongly she would know if Blake was in distress, and she wasn't getting any feelings like that from him. And though she knew that both Dustin and Shane were fine, she was reluctant to leave them alone. She trusted that if they were needed Sensei would let them know.
Kanoi and Haley left Tori in Tommy's kitchen and headed out to Haley's car. On the ride to the hospital, Kanoi pressed Haley about more information about Conner's condition. He could sense her growing frustration about being unable to pinpoint and therefore fix Conner's problem.
"From what Billy and I have been able to determine, Conner seems to have a steady energy signature. It's much weaker than normal, but it is steady. But he remains totally unresponsive. Rocky, Carter and Hunter have been taking turns staying with Conner; we can't tell how much that has or hasn't helped him. But, it seems to make the guys in red fell better, so we figure it can't hurt."
"How is Doctor Oliver?"
Haley shook her head. "He's still pretty unsteady, though right before I left he was awake and eating. Jason really seems to be good for Tommy."
"Who is Jason?" Kanoi inquired.
"Oh…" It was hard for Haley to keep track of who knew whom and where everyone was in their understanding of the situation. "Jason was the original Red Ranger. He had Tyrannosaurus power like Conner. I guess that was twelve or thirteen years ago. Kim and Billy were original Rangers too."
Kanoi's brow wrinkled. "Jason was not a Ninjetti." It was more statement than question.
Haley shook her head. "No. Jason passed on his power to Rocky before the group was given their Ninjetti power. But he and Tommy have always been close…like brothers."
"It is interesting that Jason is the one who is supporting Tommy now, though in a way it makes sense." Kanoi said no more, and Haley did not have a chance to push him for an explanation as she pulled into a parking spot in the hospital's lot.
Entering the emergency room Haley swiftly led Kanoi to the room where Conner was stationed. But upon their arrival, Haley was struck by how everything had changed. Conner still lay in his bed, but he was surrounded by a team of medical personnel being directed by Dana. There were no other Rangers left in the room. Hunter was the only one left; he stood like a silent sentry in the doorway, totally fixated on Conner; he didn't even notice that they'd arrived. Kanoi was frankly surprised that Hunter was down here and not with Blake.
Haley approached Hunter and gave his arm a little shake. "Hunter? Where is everybody?"
It took Hunter a moment to refocus and realize that Haley was addressing him. "Umm…Kira ran out and Kim ran after her. Tommy and Jason went to talk to Conner's dad. And Billy and Carter are doing something in another room getting ready for some test they want to do…" Hunter waved his hand at the assembled doctors indicating that when they were done here they had more tests to do.
"Conner's father is here?" Haley asked.
"Yeah." For the first time Hunter's face became animated. "His mother was here too. They arrested her." Hunter's angry tone filled Haley with curiosity. Arrested? Of course something important happens when I'm not here! But she did not let herself get distracted by the desire to get more information; she needed to stay focused on the task at hand.
Kanoi observed the team working in the room. "It seems they are very involved in their medical tests. I believe I would only be in the way now." Kanoi stated speaking aloud, but really addressing Haley. He moved backward into the hallway to allow a technician to pass him. "I will visit with Conner when they are finished. Hunter," he addressed the tall Crimson Ranger as he laid a hand on his shoulder, "I am surprised that you are not with Blake."
"Blake's the one who sent me down here, Sensei. But Cam's with him, so it's okay." Haley didn't see what Hunter's two statements had to do with one another, but they seemed to make sense to him so she let it be.
"I would like to see him." Kanoi knew it would be useless to ask Hunter to leave Conner, particularly if he'd been charged by his brother to stay with him. "Haley, do you know where Blake is?"
"I do. I'll take you up there. Then I'm going to try to find Tommy or Billy…see who I can help."
Hunter didn't seem to notice them leaving, his attention had returned once again to Conner. Together Haley and Kanoi walked to the elevator. They traveled to the fourth floor in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. When the bell announced their arrival at the fourth floor Kanoi stepped out. Holding her hand out to keep the elevator doors open Haley gave him directions. "Go down this corridor on the left until it dead ends. Make a left and Blake's room is the second on the left." Kanoi nodded and Haley let the doors slide shut.
Silently Kanoi made his way down the hospital corridor. Haley's directions were accurate, and he quickly arrived at his destination. From his vantage point in the hallway he saw Blake first; though the bed was in an upright position Blake was fast asleep. To Kanoi the Thunder ninja looked terribly young. Cam was seated next to the bed on Blake's left taking advantage of the light from the window to read. Kanoi was not surprised to see that from somewhere Cam had gotten his hands on a book.
Not wanting to wake Blake, but feeling an urgent need to make a connection, Kanoi approached the bed. His movement into the room got Cam's attention. Cam watched quietly as Kanoi reached out to touch Blake's face; he held his right hand against Blake's left cheek for a long moment. Nodding silently to himself, Kanoi turned toward Cam. "Well done, Cameron."
Cam stood awkwardly by the chair he had so recently occupied. Kanoi, knowing that Cam would never make the first move, left Blake's side and walked purposefully around the bed. He caught Cam up in a tight embrace and was pleased to feel Cam hug him back. Holding his hand on Cam's neck Kanoi whispered fiercely, "Well done my son. Well done. Are you alright?"
Cam nodded into his father's shoulder and then released him. He stepped back slightly in order to see Kanoi better. "I'm fine. What about the Wind Rangers? Dustin?"
"Dustin is well. He is resting. The Ninjetti were successful in returning him to Tori and Shane." Kanoi looked critically at his son. "You look tired."
"You try reigning in Hunter for a day, see how you feel." Cam stated. But his trademark sarcasm couldn't divert Kanoi from noticing how deeply exhausted his son was, and he would not be deterred.
"Have you rested, Cam?"
Cam shrugged. "I can't. I promised Hunter I'd stay with Blake and…" Cam looked up at his father unwilling to continue, but the expression on his face clearly indicated that he had something on his mind. A brief inner war raged then Cam gestured for Kanoi to join him in the doorway. Blake hadn't stirred during their brief conversation, but Cam wanted to be sure not to disturb him. Kanoi was amused to see how seriously Cam was taking Hunter's directive to stay with Blake. Though Cam walked with Kanoi to the doorway, he would not step out into the hallway.
"Father, something happened today." Kanoi waited silently knowing Cam would reveal his thoughts in his own time. "I don't understand it. I don't even know if it was real." Cam threw a glance over his shoulder toward the bed; Blake continued to sleep peacefully.
Cam turned back toward his father, measuring his reaction to what he was about to share. "After Blake was injured only the storm was keeping him alive. I thought that if I could get Hunter to him, Hunter could help. But it didn't work…not at first. My power didn't connect with theirs – I could feel it flowing all around me, but I couldn't get a hold of it." Cam's face creased with remembered frustration. "I could feel Blake slipping away and I knew I couldn't do anything to hold onto him…"
Dropping his gaze, Cam stared down at his hands envisioning how they had looked this morning. Blood from Blake's wound and water from the storm bathed Cam's hands as they pressed against the hole in Blake's chest. Cam was filled with despair as he felt Blake's life energy being washed away with the storm. He cried out in desperation, and his plea was answered. That answer had shaken him to his core.
"Their parents were there…Blake and Hunter's." Cam said softly. "I…I'm sure Blake died. I could feel him go, but she…his mother said it wasn't Blake's time. Something they did made me part of them. I could harness the Thunder power in connection with Hunter. And once Blake was reconnected, they were gone." Cam shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. "They were there, in that storm today. And she spoke to me."
Kanoi continued to wait. Whatever it was that was bothering Cam about the encounter with the Bradley's spirits, he had yet to share. "She spoke to me, Father." he repeated. Cam looked searchingly at this father's face as he spoke, looking for an answer there that he hadn't been able to find for himself. "She told me to take care of my brother. At first I thought she wanted me to pass the message on to Hunter or Blake, but I don't think that's right. She said it to me…and she was talking about Blake." Cam looked back at the bed again, and then turned back to his father. "I'm not a Bradley, Father."
"Neither was Blake when he was born." Kanoi answered. "Some families are built on more than just blood." Kanoi looked at Cam and tried to intuit the source of his distress. "Do you not want to be a brother to Blake?"
"No," Cam declared, "I would love to be…part of what they…" He couldn't meet his father's gaze as he sighed deeply. "I can't intrude." he finished weakly.
"You may never intrude where you are invited, my son." Kanoi placed a gentle hand on Cam's shoulder. "It would make my heart glad to see you with brothers." Cam's head snapped up surprised, and Kanoi understood that part of Cam's hesitation was the fear of offending Kanoi as part of his blood family. He gave Cam's shoulder a squeeze. "Very glad." Cam's expression was a mix of gratitude and love.
"Hey Sensei!" called out Blake from the bed. Kanoi and Cam walked back into the room together.
"Blake, "Kanoi responded. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm pretty tired considering I've slept all day." Blake joked. "Didn't mean to wipe out on you, man." he apologized to Cam.
"Sleep is the best thing for you." Cam replied. "Don't worry. I found a book." He gestured over to where the book laid on the empty chair. Blake twisted his head for a better look at the title.
"Foundations of Clinical Research – Applications to Practice? Cam? Where'd you find something like that?" was Blake's exasperated reply. "You'll need to make yourself comfortable on the other bed because that thing will put you to sleep!"
"I'll give it to you to put you back to sleep." Cam mock threatened.
"No way...Dana said no heavy lifting." Blake teased back.
Kanoi spent a few more minutes with Cam and Blake, filling them in on as much as he knew about the others, and reassuring Blake that Tori was fine. He was glad Tori was the one he'd chosen to wake; this way he could relate the actual conversation he'd had with her before he left instead of saying "she was asleep when I left". Knowing that Tori was talking and eating was very heartening to Blake.
After only a few minutes Blake started to nod off again. Cam gave Kanoi directions to the burn unit, two floors up. When Kanoi arrived on the sixth floor he was struck by the starkness of this area of the hospital. It was cooler than either the emergency room or Blake's floor – germs have more difficulty breeding in cool environments. The furniture was sparse and the decorations limited- fewer surfaces to collect dust and cause contamination to the patients. The only spots of color on the ward were the nurses in their brightly colored uniforms; it was as if they needed to make up for the lack of color everywhere else on the floor.
Two other bright spots of color caught Kanoi's eye – Rocky and Aisha. Both were situated near the window of Adam's room. Rocky was standing, and Aisha had dragged a chair over to sit next to him. Aisha spotted Kanoi first. "Sensei!" was her happy greeting. Dana, Carter and Cam had made sporadic visits to the burn ward, but as the afternoon wore Cam had stopped coming and Aisha was beginning to feel forgotten. In her mind she understood that Adam wasn't the only person injured that morning and the Rangers needed to be with them as well, but in her heart she couldn't help feeling isolated.
Aisha rushed toward Kanoi and he received her enthusiastic greeting with pleasure. Keeping an arm around her, Kanoi walked back with her toward where Rocky remained standing, unmoving. As Kanoi looked through the window at Adam he was profoundly grateful for the excessive amounts of bandaging that had been used. Looking only at Adam's uninjured side it was easy to imagine that he wasn't so grievously injured. But Kanoi had seen Adam when Haley teleported him to the lab; imagination could only go so far…it was much more difficult to forget.
Kanoi realized two things very quickly: Rocky was wound so tight he was ready to snap, if he didn't allow himself some kind of release soon he would implode; and, as long as Aisha remained in close proximity he would never allow himself to break down. In protecting her he was damaging himself. Kanoi had the sense that Aisha was aware of the situation, but she was not willing to leave Rocky alone; so the two of them waited alone in the cold corridor. They didn't even have the ability to be with Adam – the risk of infection was too great. So Rocky was denied the one thing he wanted most desperately to do – share his strength by making contact. Looking at Rocky looking at Adam reminded Kanoi strongly of Hunter and Conner. It was as if they wanted it badly enough they could will their injured friends back to health.
Kanoi decided to step in. He didn't think Rocky would be happy with his directives, but over the last few days the Rangers had automatically deferred to Kanoi – heeding his suggestions and following his lead. He hoped that automatic response would kick in now. "Aisha," he began, "you two have been up here all day, haven't you? I hate to take you away from Rocky, but I think Kira and Kim could use you."
Aisha turned to look at Kanoi, concern in her face. "Kira? Kim? What's wrong?"
"I am not certain. But I do know that Conner continues to struggle and Kira is having a very hard time dealing with it. Do you think you might be able to help?"
Aisha turned back to look at Adam. There had been no change in his condition for hours. He was stabilized, but still unconscious. All of her instincts screamed at her to find something to do but she was reluctant to leave Rocky. Kanoi knew that was her sticking point and addressed it. "I will stay here with Rocky and Adam as long as you are gone. Maybe when you return you could bring Rocky something to eat?"
It was the double responsibility that got Aisha motivated. Helping Kira and Kim was important, but feeding Rocky was paramount in her mind. "You'll be okay?" Aisha asked Rocky. She leaned across Kanoi to touch his arm. He nodded his head but didn't respond verbally.
Aisha gave a soft sigh. "I'll be back soon." She said to Kanoi. She leaned in close to him to whisper, "Thanks."
He gave her a final quick hug before letting her go. Neither Kanoi nor Rocky spoke as Aisha jogged down the hallway. The bell signaling the elevator indicated when she left. Then there was nothing left but silence. Kanoi knew that he couldn't wait out Rocky's silence; from all appearances he could stand there at that window all day looking at Adam. Kanoi knew in his heart it was so important to break through to the young man drowning in despair beside him – but he simply didn't know where to start.
TBC
Thanks so much to all of your continued support – it really means the world to me! School starts tomorrow so I don't know when the next update will be. I'll try not to be too long with it.
Have no fear, Akume…Dustin will return soon!