"I am afraid when Hunter runs out of power, we will lose them both."
Kanoi's statement hung on the air in the room. Nearly everyone in the room was too stunned to react; only Evan and Tommy responded at first. Evan moved closer to the bed and grabbed Conner's arm in a futile gesture of protection. Then he changed his grip and focused on passing to his son whatever strength he had, hoping to provide Conner with the power he was so rapidly losing. For his part, Tommy shook his head in negation. He was weary, exhausted and very nearly drained himself, but the look of determination on his face was clear.
"No. There has to be something we can do…something I can do. It can't end like this." Tommy looked imploringly at those he depended on to solve those problems he couldn't solve himself. But Haley's face was a mask of dismay, and Billy didn't look any more hopeful. Dana looked positively grim; the tests she'd run and the numbers she'd crunched all pointed in the same direction. Dana was a firm believer in data and statistics even though in this case, she wished that this one time the numbers were wrong.
"What if we get all the Red Rangers together? Jason, Rocky, Carter and I are already here in the hospital. We've been trading off trying to sustain Conner…what if we all tried to help simultaneously?" Tommy ignored Kanoi as he gently shook his head. His voice began to rise in agitation. "We could get Shane from my house, and we'll bring Ethan and Kira back…"
"Tommy…" Kanoi tried to interject, but Tommy continued to ignore him.
"What about Cam?" Tommy's eyes lit up with wild hope. "What about Cam?" Now he was looking directly at Kanoi. "He healed Blake, why can't he do the same for Conner?" As Tommy became more agitated, Jason laid a hand on his arm and tried to keep him calm. Tommy turned to him, "It could work…it could work! Cam could do whatever it is Cam does…"
But Jason had seen the look on Kanoi's face. It was easy to read the older man's expression. It was obvious to everyone but Tommy that Kanoi knew that Cam was not in a position to help. Jason took a deep breath and looked Tommy in the eyes, willing him to understand. "No, Tommy…Cam can't help Conner."
"Yes he can…yes, he CAN!" Tommy pulled away from Jason and turned accusingly toward Kanoi. "He's a healer, isn't he?" Without waiting for an answer Tommy continued. "Healers heal people; they help people. So that means Cam can help. He's just down the hall. Somebody should go get him." Tommy pointed imperiously at the group standing around Dana. When none of them moved his temper snapped.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? There's no time left! We have to help Conner! Go get Cam! GO GET CAM!" Tommy gestured for the others to go and return with Cam as he angrily pushed away calming hands from both Jason and Kim. Infuriated that no one was taking action, Tommy moved to charge his way out of the room. But Kanoi intercepted him and calmly stood in his way.
"Get out of my way!" Tommy ordered, "I'll get him myself."
Kanoi stood impassively in the face of the Black Ranger's wrath. He responded in a calm yet saddened tone, "Cameron cannot help Conner."
Tommy grabbed Kanoi by his robe and shook him violently. His unexpected gesture elicited shocked gasps from the others in the room. Jason and Kim moved quickly to intervene, but he would not release his desperate hold on the older man. "Why? WHY?" he demanded in a hysterical voice. "Are you just so afraid of losing your own son that you won't let him take the risk?"
"Hey!" responded Jason sharply. Everyone was tense, but Tommy had stepped way over the line. Jason stepped behind Tommy and in one swift move forced Tommy to release Kanoi while simultaneously swinging him away from the older man. Jason steered Tommy in the direction of the chair where Evan had been sitting, but Tommy was too far gone in his grief to be stopped that easily.
"You're team's safe and sound…might as well pack it in for the day." He yelled sarcastically over his shoulder at Kanoi. He tried ineffectively to maneuver around Jason, but a hard shove from his best friend sent him careening into the chair and table.
"Knock it off, Tommy! You're not the only one who's frightened and upset." Jason glared as Tommy righted himself and slid into the chair. And in that instant, Tommy looked at Jason like he was the only one in the room. His accusatory bravado disappeared and his emotions were laid bare on his face. His voice dropped to a tremulous whisper as he implored, "But it's Conner…I have to help him. He's my responsibility – it's my team. I'll do anything. I'd trade places in a heartbeat, Jace…there has to be something I can do." He searched Jason's face for any hint of hope, but when he found none he dropped his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath.
Ashamed of his weakness, but unable to control himself, Tommy broke down in heartbroken weeping. The display of emotion from the formidable Black Ranger hand an effect on everyone in the room, but none more so than Evan McKnight. Standing by Conner's bedside he saw a new side to the leader of the Dino Rangers. He had drawn some angry conclusions when he watched the battle in the morning and the Black Ranger hadn't shown up. But it was obvious from what he'd heard and seen that Tommy wasn't just some pampered general who watched battles from afar and sent out his underlings to fight in his stead. He was invested in his team. He was invested in Conner. He could see now what losing Conner would do to Tommy, and he respected Tommy all the more for it.
Watching Tommy's breakdown, Dana drew instinctively closer to Carter, while Haley found comfort with Billy. Billy seemed to understand that it was easy to overlook just how attached Haley was to the Rangers because she wasn't a ranger herself; but as someone who'd logged time in the Command Center as support staff and not a ranger, Billy knew how difficult it was to stand apart and watch. He knew how desperately hard Haley was working on holding herself together – not only for her sake, but Tommy's as well. If his blue shirt held a few salty wet spots he'd never tell.
After giving Jason and Kim a few moments to ease Tommy, Kanoi approached the trio. Tommy started apologizing even before Kanoi spoke. "I'm sorry…so sorry…" he choked out between sobs. Kanoi laid his hand on Tommy's head; at first Tommy tensed, but then he relaxed with a deep, calming breath. Kanoi let his hand slide from Tommy's head to his shoulder and he leaned in to look him in the face. "I understand your grief, Tommy. There are times when we all say things we do not mean."
Tommy peered imploringly at Kanoi. "Cam can't help?"
"No. Cam has the ability to heal injuries. Conner is not injured, he is trapped. It is not his body that is in peril, it is his mind. Do you see?" Kanoi gazed steadily at Tommy until he could see understanding bloom in his eyes. When it did, he offered an apology of his own, whispered softly enough that only those in the immediate vicinity could hear. "I'm so sorry I can't help." The anguish in his eyes clearly telegraphed his sincerity. Tommy reached up with his left hand to grasp Kanoi's hand on his left shoulder. Then he leaned in against Kanoi's arm – together they shared their grief.
Evan tore his eyes away from the tableau. There was so much he still didn't understand about what was happening, but it was very clear that he wasn't the only one in danger of losing someone precious to him. With his free hand, Evan wiped away the tears that had gathered in his eyes. He absently thought of Eric and wished desperately he was there – if nothing else, he should get the chance to say good-bye to his brother. That distressing thought brought a hard lump to Evan's throat and he tried to distract himself by looking out the window. That's why he was the only one who saw when the rain began to fall. He was the only one who heard the smattering of the water against the window as the wind picked up in earnest. He was the only one to notice Hunter's eyes snap open as he took in a deep breath and then settled himself back into the chair where he was sitting.
"Hey. Hey!" Evan called trying to get anyone's attention. He was pointing at Hunter and pointing out the window in random intervals. He was trying so hard to verbalize what he saw that he was making no sense. A bright flash of lightning followed about ten seconds later by a rolling boom of thunder let the others know what Evan was unable to express – a storm was rolling in. Hope lit the face of everyone gathered in the room. They might have a chance after all.
Thanks so much to everyone who read and reviewed! I'm such a review junkie – I love to get the notices in my mailbox! And I really, really appreciate everyone who takes the time to leave a note. Your feedback and support are really amazing! Believe it or not we're almost in the home stretch. I was thinking the other day of just how sad I'll be when I finally wrap this story up…
Jenna – More on Eric soon!
Hybyrd – Not to get all melodramatic or anything…but at this point, if Hunter goes, Blake's going too. And no promises about Cam…
P-G-W-4Ever – Mr. McKnight definitely had a clearer idea of where Tommy's coming from now. They'll never be best friends, but a truce is definitely in order.
AngelMouse – I know that was a terrible place to end the last chapter. But if I had kept going, I would've written all day, and while that's great for me and you…not so great for my boss or students. On the plus side, I handed in my plans today and the next set aren't due for a month!
CMR – I know I'm bad about the cliffhangers – hopefully this chapter won't leave you feeling like that.
LJstagflower4e – I've been having a very hard time connecting with Kira these days, but I'm working on it because she and Ethan have lots to do. At some point there will be a conversation with Kira/Conner, no worries.
cRazed – more on Eric to come. Winds will also be back, but probably not in a way you'd expect.
Manders – Hey! Haven't heard from you in ages! Welcome back! You always have such emotional reactions :-)
MzDany – Thank you so much for all your awesome support, you are too kind! You can breathe a little easier for Hunter in this chapter.
the real vampire – I know that was mean of me ducks random flying objects
Funky in Fishnet – I know that was a bad place to leave it – but I knew I'd be able to update relatively soon and not leave everyone hanging for too long.
Etcetera Kit – I really like Conner's dad, he just seems like a decent guy dealing with all this crazy stuff. And I think his paternal attitude toward Hunter just fits – gotta love him.
Here comes the storm – things will be coming to a head pretty soon.