After stopping by the Foster home to pick up a few things for Hayley, Kelly and Aaron, Calvin went to the Thompson house. Understandably, none of the Fosters wanted to stay at home for the foreseeable future. It was the place where Anne was killed. It would be a while before any of the family could re-enter the home – if they ever could.

Calvin had understood that from the moment he heard of the tragedy, but when he had been inside, he could see why Hayley hadn't even wanted to park in the driveway. The blood stain on the floor made him sick just by looking at it, and he felt uneasy the whole time he was inside. While he knew exactly why Anne had been targeted, it still upset him to think that this was, in a way, a random act of violence.

Hayley, though, seemed grateful to have some of her things. Aaron looked a little relieved when Calvin gave him his bag of pyjamas, a change of clothes and a toothbrush. It hadn't even crossed him mind to get any of that stuff on his way back from the hospital. He had been so wrapped up in processing what had happened.

"I've said it before, but Calvin, you are a good young man," he told the yellow Ranger, who smiled and nodded.

"Always great to hear," Calvin said and for a moment, he felt happy. He remembered the first time he had met Hayley's parents and how nervous he felt. He was dating their daughter and wasn't sure if they would be the protective kind, or even the kind who would never feel he was good enough for Hayley. He had been relieved to see that, if he treated Hayley well and respected their family, they were more than happy to embrace him as a member. The Fosters had always been that way, which was why it never came as a surprise that they would take Kelly in her time of need, and why he wasn't surprised to see they thought of her as one of their own. They were good people, and he was glad to know that he could help them out. "If it's alright with Jenny, I'd like to stay the night too. Keep Hayley company. If that's okay with you."

"You're always welcome to stay," Aaron told him and Calvin glanced over his shoulder to Jenny, who gave a nod. He knew it wasn't going to be a problem, but it was always better to ask then to assume.

"My parents heard about what happened. They asked if there's anything they can do," he added. His parents had been texting him throughout the day, asking after Hayley and Aaron, as well as checking in with their son. They already knew they wouldn't see much of him for the next few days. In a way, it would only help Calvin to know they wouldn't expect him home. If Oedius did try to escalate things, he wouldn't be able to go home and now he wouldn't need an excuse.

"Just assure them that we'll be alright," Aaron said. Calvin nodded.

"I can do that."

"Good man," Aaron said, then turned back to Jenny. Calvin could tell based on the laptop screen that they were looking into funeral arrangements. It would be a few days still, but the sooner they could get that planned and organized, the sooner Aaron could focus on himself and his family and their recovery.

So, while Aaron was busy with Jenny, Calvin shifted his attention back to Hayley. He climbed the stairs and meet with her in Sarah's bedroom, where she was setting up the inflatable mattress as a bed.

"I got the okay to stay from both parents," Calvin told her. "I can be here, as long as you like."

"Have you been able to reach Kelly or Sarah yet?"

"Kelly, no," Calvin shook his head. "Jenny mentioned Sarah was with Serena, so she should be fine."

"She's probably beating herself up."

"You don't have to worry about that right now," Calvin told her. "Just focus on yourself, on what you need. It's your mother that died. You're the most important thing right now."

"Kelly lost a mother too," Hayley said. "I mean, she hasn't been part of the family for long but… Mom was pretty motherly with her and… I know Kelly needed that. If she's hurting too…"

"I'm trying to reach her," Calvin promised.

"Do you think she's okay?"

"Hey, she's tough. I'm sure she's just… processing things too. Maybe she just needs some time to herself. Time in her own head."

"You've called, thought, right?"

"Called, left voicemails, texted, tried through the data comms. I'm doing everything I can short of leaving you to look for her. I thought if I didn't hear anything from her soon, I might tell the others to keep an eye out."

"Can you do that now?" Hayley asked. "I mean… I get she might need her space but… it's hard to focus on me when… I don't know where she is."

"I'll do that, then," Calvin assured her and stepped out of the room to make the call. He didn't think Hayley needed to hear him tell the others that he was also very worried. If he kept calm, it would help Hayley stay calm as well.

-Ninja-Steel-

It was a little colder by the ocean than Kelly liked, but this was really the only place she felt she could go. The city was too busy with people and being in the woods or the mountains when it was about to get dark didn't feel safe at all.

Kelly felt her phone buzz every time Calvin called, but couldn't bring herself to talk to him. He had to focus on Hayley and helping her deal with Anne's death. Kelly had a girlfriend of her own who could check up on her, though she knew why Sarah hadn't yet.

She genuinely wasn't mad at Sarah. She had been with Bill, looking for signs that he couldn't be trusted. His betrayal had been a shock to her. She couldn't fault Sarah for something they had both missed if there was even anything to miss. Still, she didn't think she could be with Sarah now, only because she needed time to process her thoughts and feelings.

"It's a bit late to be at the beach, don't you think?" a voice asked, and Kelly looked over her shoulder to see a Silver Guardian approaching her. "Sun's about to set and I'm pretty sure this beach closes at sunset."

"Sorry, I… I guess I'm not really paying attention," Kelly said. The Silver Guardian stepped into the light and Kelly then recognized her as Rebecca. "I guess you're in Summer Cove because of what happened."

"I heard," Rebecca nodded and sat down next to Kelly. "Just doing a quick patrol. People seem to calm down a bit after an attack when they see the Silver Guardians are watching over things."

"City must be flooded with them right now, then."

"We have some guardians out there," Rebecca confirmed. "But people seem to be alright, all things considered."

"That's good."

"How are you? And, uh, don't lie to me. I can't see the tears but I can hear the cracks in your voice and the sniffles you're trying to hide."

"I'm… fine, I guess."

"Fine, really?" Rebecca frowned.

"Well, what else can I say? It's not my first rodeo with losing a parent."

"Still hurts," Rebecca said. "Whether it's number one, two three, four… there's always going to be some pain. At least, enough that no one can really say they're fine."

"Anne wasn't really a parent, though," Kelly said with a shake of her head. "Not like she was to Hayley."

"Biological?"

"Yeah."

"So, you're saying you can only be upset about a dead parent if you're related by blood?" Rebecca frowned deeply. "You… you're kidding, right?"

"No, I'm not saying that, it's just… I've only known Anne a year and…"

"So… it doesn't hurt?"

"It does but… not like Hayley or Aaron."

"What do they have to do with it?"

"Anne… she was their family."

"Okay, I'm lost," Rebecca said as she leaned back in the sand. "See, when my brother's family took me in, they quickly felt like family to me. I mean, it was a little weird…"

"But that's your brother's family."

"Uh, yeah, that's why it was weird. Troy and I have the same dad. I was only born because his dad and my mom had an affair. After my mom died my dad changed and… when things got rough, Troy's parents let me stay. I'm literally the reason his mother's marriage couldn't survive, and she took me in without hesitation."

"That's nice of her."

"She had a new husband by then, so I guess she moved on. That makes things easier but… You know, if Noah had a new family, I think it'd be hard for me to take in his love child under any circumstance. I'd like to think I would but… it's not an easy thing."

"It wasn't like that for the Fosters. I just… I needed a home and they were nice enough to let me stay."

"I needed a home and the Burrows let me stay. With my mother gone and my father… no longer a nice man, they kind of became the family I needed. By the time they passed, they were… well, parents to me."

Kelly nodded her head, but she didn't say anything. Anne was the mother Kelly wished her own mother could have been. She knew of Kelly's sexuality, of her flaws and still embraced her as family. Kelly felt safe in the Foster home and, when she needed it, she knew she had a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to listen to her.

Rebecca continued, "It'd be hard to top how nice, and generous and selfless the Burrows were but… the deal you had, it does sound just as sweet. I'd totally understand if you just… stopped functioning for a bit. I'm pretty sure, if the Fosters do care for you like you think they do, they'd get it too."

"I feel like I can't, though."

"And why not?" Rebecca asked.

"Anne was Hayley's mom her whole life. She's the woman Aaron married."

"She's the woman who took you in. Who loved you like a daughter. Some kids aren't lucky enough to have that… ever!"

"Yeah…"

"I'm not saying you should go home and play the woe is me card but… take it from someone whose partner kind of dealt with things on her own… you need to be able to lean on others in a time like this. They'll get you through it. Especially when, you know, they're going through it as well."

"So, you're saying I should head home?"

"Well, you've been alone with your thoughts for how long, now? Do you feel any better than when you started?"

"Maybe worse."

"So, what can it hurt to try the leaning on family thing?" Rebecca offered. "If they are the kind, generous and selfless family who took you in for nothing in return except a bigger grocery bill and having to double up the college fund savings, then I'm sure they'll be happy to have you there with them. They've already lost a mother and a wife. Don't make them lose you too."

Kelly nodded her head and pushed herself up from the sand. Rebecca stood next to her with a smile.

"I can't drive you home but how about I walk with you?" she said. "Just to make sure you get there safe?"

"Thanks," Kelly smiled. "I'd like the company."

-Ninja-Steel-

Knocking on any door in the middle of the night was an uncomfortable thing to do. Knowing on a stranger's door took that discomfort to a whole new level.

Serena's pounding made it all the worse. When the barking started on the other side of the door, followed by a man yelling that this had to be important, Sarah felt her face turn beet red.

"What?" the man shouted as he opened the door, and his face didn't seem to soften at all when he saw Serena. Sarah couldn't blame him, though. He was in his boxers and looked half-asleep, allowing her to assume that Serena had woken him up.

"Emily here?"

"Asleep," the man growled. "Or did you not realize it's three in the morning."

"I did."

"Felix and Quinn have school in the morning."

"Did I wake them?"

"You woke Storm," Mike said. "Who then woke the rest of the house."

"So, Emily is awake, then," Serena smiled.

"Yeah, putting the kids back to bed and assuring them that you're not a Nighlok trying to kill them."

"But I told them I defeated all of the Nighlok… myself!"

"And I told them you were full of shit."

"Mike!" Serena gasped playfully, with a little laugh, "Language. They're six!"

"Full of poop, whatever. What do you need?"

Serena smiled and grabbed Sarah by the arm, pulling her forward, "This is Sarah."

"Your student?"

"Yeah. She needs to talk to Emily."

"I don't know why," Sarah said. "Serena insisted."

"Yeah, I know what she's like," Mike said with a heavy sigh. "And this couldn't wait until morning?"

"We were already in the car."

"You know what, you're Emily's sister, so you're Emily's problem. EM!" Mike shouted, then walked away. Back to bed, Sarah presumed.

"Come on in," Serena said as she gestured inside the house, then walked in and closed the door. As she did, Emily came around the corner, frowning.

"It's three in the morning, Serena. Felix called you Xandred and I didn't bother correcting him."

"This is Sarah."

"Yeah, so?" Emily frowned, then turned to Sarah. "I mean… hi."

"Hi."

Emily turned back to Serena, "So?"

"Sarah, here, in the middle of a crisis."

"No offense Sarah but… isn't that your job, Serena? Not mine?"

"Sarah thinks that because of a few mistakes, maybe the Ranger team would be better off without her. I thought you might have a little more experience in that department."

"You would have enough," Emily muttered.

"But you have more," Serena said, then smiled very nicely at her sister. Emily kept up the frown for a moment, then sighed deeply as the frown slipped off her face.

"Yeah, alright. I'll help."

"Good, I'll make the coffee," Serena smiled and walked into the kitchen, leaving Sarah standing in the front hallway alone. Emily looked to her and Sarah shrugged.

"I was brought here against my will."

"Yeah, I know," Emily said. She invited Sarah in, "Living room is just down here. Why don't you tell me what exactly makes you think your team would be better off without you and I'll tell you why you're wrong."

"Pretty… straightforward, I guess."

"Normally I'm more… compassionate and open but it is three in the morning," Emily said. "I am happy to help, though.