So much had happened in the span of a few seconds; Dana didn't know what to do first. Then her training kicked in and she waded her way through the chaos toward Conner's bed. Evan McKnight was frozen against the wall; his face was a mask of horror and despair as he watched Eric struggle to get onto the bed with Conner. All of the machines in the room trumpeted the devastating news, but Dana wasn't so sure they were right. She hoped in her heart that the flat lines were a result of the energy surge from Eric's storm, and not an accurate depiction of Conner's physical condition.

Knowing none of the medical machinery in the room was working, Dana ruthlessly unplugged the equipment to cease the disturbing alarms. She would have to do an assessment the old-fashioned way. Grabbing the blood pressure cuff off of the wall, Dana approached the bed. She reached over Eric and Kira to seek a pulse in Conner's neck. Hope leaped in her heart when she found it. Carter understood what Dana was doing and moved to her side to assist. While Dana removed the stethoscope from around her neck, Carter worked Conner's right arm free from the pile of bodies on the bed. Carter adjusted the cuff on Conner's arm and gave Dana a nod when he was ready. With one eye on the blood pressure gauge, Dana started pumping the cuff and listening intently.

Evan watched with fascination, not daring to breathe, not daring to hope. The silence in the room was oppressive. Dana released the air from the blood pressure cuff, and then repeated the procedure. On the third time she gestured Evan over. Wordlessly she handed him her stethoscope. Once it was adjusted in his ears, she began to release the air from the cuff again. Eric wasn't sure what he was supposed to hear until he heard the low but steady thump, thump of Conner's heartbeat. He hadn't been so moved hearing a heartbeat since Catherine had her ultrasound before the boys were born. Evan was blinded by the tears that sprang into his eyes. Carter reached out to steady him. "Did you hear it?" Carter asked his voice filled with joy.

Evan couldn't answer, he only nodded. But the grin of joy on his face was enough of a response for everyone in the room to get the message. Kanoi moved swiftly to Evan's' side and steadied him with a hand on his shoulder. He silently communicated his understanding from one father to another the staggering pride and joy in one's son. Haley, who'd been left standing alone when Billy joined Tommy and Carter and Dana went to check Conner, staggered backwards until she crashed into the wall. She hid her face in her hands and let herself cry tears of relief and happiness. On the floor, Tommy sagged back against Jason; he was laughing and crying as well. Kim was projecting enough elation for a body type like Tommy to pick it up loud and clear; he wondered if there was anyone in the hospital who couldn't feel her joy.

Dana yanked the Velcro on the blood pressure cuff and pulled it off of Conner's arm. Taking the equipment she approached the group surrounding Tommy. Dana knelt on the floor, and Billy moved a little so she could easily get to Tommy's right arm.

Tommy's eyes were bright with tears, but for the first time on this endless day his eyes were not filled with despair. Dana caught his glance and they shared a grin as she strapped the cuff on his arm.

"He's really okay, Dana?"

Dana nodded, "I think he really is, Tommy."

Tommy started to laugh again and Dana admonished him gently. "Be quiet for a minute now, Tommy. I need to listen." But Tommy couldn't stop himself; every time he looked at the colorful pile of bodies on Conner's bed he started to laugh again. Dana knew trying to get a blood pressure reading on Tommy was a lost cause so she satisfied herself by listening to his heart and his breathing. Even in the dim light of the room, he looked better than he had all day; and surrounded by Jason, Billy and Kim, Dana knew Tommy was going to be okay.

Dana hunkered back on her heels. "That was amazing." she said to no one in particular. A particularly intense flash of lightning and an earsplitting crash of thunder punctuated her statement. The noise of the storm reminded Dana that Conner and Tommy were not her only patients. Dana stood and Carter met her in the middle of the room. She handed the blood pressure cuff back to her husband.

"Carter, I think it's best that you and I continue to handle this situation ourselves." Dana glanced around the room significantly. Even their highly trained Lightspeed Rescue staff might have difficulty dealing with all the piles of people in the room; and, with everyone needing a chance for emotional release, if they kept the rooms monitored by former Rangers, there was a chance for a little bit of privacy, and less of a need to explain. "Please monitor Conner's blood pressure. Take a reading every five minutes. As long as it continues to go up, we're fine." Carter nodded in understanding. Dana embraced him swiftly and allowed herself to soak in her husband's solid, comforting presence. Then she let him go, and with a small smile headed toward the door.

Kanoi seemed to sense her intention, and was hot on her heels as she left the room. Dana headed immediately to Blake's room, and when she got there she strode right in. Kanoi, however, stood frozen in the doorway. Dana, as a ranger with no ninja skills, could not see the fantastic light show surrounding the Ninja Rangers. She walked into the room completely unaware of the vast display of power surrounding Kanoi's students and family. He was astonished by what they had accomplished.

Shane and Dustin stood between the two beds which had been pulled together with only enough room for the Air and Earth ninjas to stand. Shane's back was to him, and Dustin was facing the door. Tori had curled herself into Blake's side as he lay on his back in his bed. Cam was curled around Hunter in the opposite bed; Hunter lay facing Blake and Tori, Cam's face was buried in Hunter's shoulder. The Wind Ninjas and Cam were surrounded by blinding coronas of light – though each ninja was encased in his or her own color, together they reached above to surround the beds in a dome of pure white. A dome which Dana walked right through.

Kanoi was amazed at what the Winds had done. They were using their own power to protect Hunter and Blake from overloading from the storm. They allowed the Thunder power to reach the Bradleys, but it was filtered. The power had to go through all three of them, and Cam, so by the time it reached Hunter and Blake it was at a level they could handle. Kanoi could already see that Blake looked much better than he did the last time Kanoi had seen him just a short time ago; proximity to Hunter had already brought some color back to his face. Hunter appeared to still be struggling with the overload he'd received from Eric; he was trembling within Cam's grasp. But even as Kanoi watched, the tremors seemed to be eased. And that's when Kanoi heard his son's frantic plea to the Crimson Ranger. Please don't leave me, Hunter. Please.

Dana was oblivious to all of this as she strode around the room. Checking Blake was easier – the equipment monitoring him had not been affected by the storm surge the way Conner's had, and she had the data from the machinery right at hand. That didn't stop her from once again removing the blood pressure cuff from the wall and checking it on her own. Getting a free arm was a little tricky, but Tori wasn't hard to move. Assessing Hunter's condition was a little more difficult. She couldn't get to him past Dustin and Shane, and Cam refused to give up his position on the bed so Dana could have access from the other side. They all seemed to be in a deeply meditative state, and none of them responded to Dana's directives. Dana shot an imploring look at Kanoi.

"Do not be concerned, Dana. Though you cannot see it, the situation is well in hand." Kanoi paused before he thoughtfully added, "Cam won't let anything happen to Hunter."

Dana had to be satisfied with reaching over Cam to check Hunter's pulse. She had to admit, in the short time they'd been in the room the trembling she'd observed in Hunter when they first entered seemed to have slowed considerably. Hunter didn't appear to be in distress, and she trusted Kanoi's instincts.

"I'm going back to Conner's room, then. Are you going to stay here?"

Kanoi's answer surprised Dana. "No. There is nothing I can do here, but perhaps I can help somewhere else."

Dana glanced at the interconnected group of ninjas. To her it almost looked like some kind of prayer circle – for all she knew that was what they were doing. It saddened her to see Kanoi standing apart; she thought it saddened him as well. But when she looked at him all she saw was the pride on his face. It may have made him melancholy to realize that it was time for him to let them go, but it was clear to see that he was proud of the men and women they had become.

When Dana stepped into the hallway and headed back to Conner's room, Kanoi headed in the opposite direction, toward the elevators. His trip to the burn unit was short. Rocky and Aisha looked up from where they were seated when he entered Adam's room. It appeared than once Rocky had access to Adam's room he was not going to be removed. He'd pulled in a chair from the lobby down the hall and positioned himself on Adam's good side. Aisha had deposited herself in his lap. Both seemed to be expecting some news. Kanoi did not disappoint them.

"Conner's brother Eric arrived a short time ago with Ethan and Kira. Eric was able to get through to Conner. He's going to be okay."

"I knew it!" Aisha squealed as she grabbed Rocky in an enthusiastic hug. "I could feel it! Kim was ecstatic, and now we know why!" Aisha's face shone with relief and happiness.

Rocky was grinning as well. "That's great! How's Tommy? Hunter? Dustin?"

"Dana believes everyone is on their way to recovery."

Kanoi didn't miss Rocky's eyes flicker to Adam's still form. His enthusiasm was only slightly diminished. Rocky was sincerely happy that everyone else was on the road to recovery; he only wished Adam's path would be so easy.

Kanoi spent some time with the Ninjetti filling them in on as much as he knew about the health and recovery of all of the other teams. Rocky seemed particularly interested in Dustin's status; Kanoi thought that might be due to the fact that Rocky was the one who had physically engineered the rescue of the Yellow Wind ninja and now he felt a particular responsibility toward him. Kanoi shared as much as he knew, and after a time there was nothing left to discuss. He offered to sit with Adam for a while if the others wanted to stretch their legs, but Rocky refused the offer and Aisha preferred to stay with him.

Once again left to his own devices, Kanoi headed back down in the elevator. But instead of seeking the others, he sought a place where he could be alone. With some assistance from a helpful nurse, Kanoi found the hospital chapel. Because the chapel was used by people of all beliefs, it was not decorated in a particular religious manner. But it was welcoming and calm; a port of comfort amidst the chaos of the hospital. Kanoi was relieved to find the chapel empty, and proceeded to center himself to restore his energy. But as hard as he tried to empty his mind his thoughts returned again and again to his son's desperate plea to Hunter.

Kanoi knew that unless he dealt with what he had heard and how he felt about it he would not have any peace. So what did he feel about it? I'm disturbed.

Kanoi examined his feelings and discovered that what disturbed him was not Cam's feelings toward Hunter, but that he, Cam's father, didn't know. As he continued to meditate, Kanoi came to the realization that Cam probably hadn't been hiding his feelings about the Crimson Ranger from his father, but for a long time he had been hiding them from himself.

So what does that mean? How would I feel if Cam and Hunter had a relationship? Do I approve? Do I disapprove?

Kanoi knew enough to realize that his feelings on the subject were basically irrelevant, though Cam might not see it that way. What it came down to was this – since Cam had been born, all he wanted for his son was that he be happy. For a long time in his life, Cam had been unhappy. Kanoi had not allowed Cam to train as a samurai because of the promise he had made to his mother when Cam was a baby. In trying to keep him safe, Kanoi had kept him isolated from those who might be his friends. After Cam secured the power of the Samurai amulet, Kanoi watched as Cam became part of the Wind team, and he berated himself for allowing his son to be isolated for so long.

And now, Cam was at a place where he was ready to reach out to Hunter. It must be terrifying for him, but then again, love always is…especially at first. Kanoi had no doubt that Cam's feelings for Hunter were true; he could hear it in Cam's voice. And if being with Hunter made Cam happy, then Kanoi would be happy for them. Kanoi was no stranger to how it felt falling in love with the "wrong" person. When he fell in love with Miko, there were many who disapproved of a Wind ninja marrying a Samurai. But outside opinions held no weight with them, all that mattered was their love.

Kanoi would support Cam. He only hoped that the Crimson Ranger would return his feelings in kind. Then, thinking on Cam and Miko, Kanoi was able to rest his mind and drift into a healing, meditative trance.

TBC

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