Preston walked up the driveway to the Thompson house. Sarah hadn't been to school, as expected, so he wanted to stop by to check up on her and see how she was doing. He was surprised, but not shocked, to see her working in the garage. He stepped in while she tweaked on her hoverboard.

"Hey," he smiled, and she looked up briefly.

"Hi."

"How are you feeling?" he asked, and Sarah shrugged her shoulders.

"Don't know. A little embarrassed, I guess."

"About what?"

Sarah raised an eyebrow and Preston chuckled.

"Yesterday?"

Sarah gave a nervous nod. Preston shook his head, "Sarah, that's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Then why do I feel it?"

"You're not used to being vulnerable," he said. "This is the first time you couldn't get yourself out of trouble. This is the first time you realize you have limits. It's humbling."

"I guess," Sarah said and looked down at her hoverboard. Preston didn't like this. He didn't like to see her so down. Jenny had explained the day before that Sarah's panic had been triggered by her desire not to disappoint her friends. They had all trusted that she could give them the powers they needed. They had faith she was up to the challenge.

Failure wasn't part of Sarah's vocabulary. He had never seen her fall on her face like this. If something didn't go according to plan, she could adapt, or choose a new road, sometimes seamlessly. This was the first time she had to come to a dead stop.

"Hey, we're not mad or anything," Preston promised her. "Well, I mean, we are, but we're not mad with you. We didn't realize how much pressure this put on you."

"I can't blame you. Neither did I."

"You really are an incredible person, Sarah," Preston smiled. "I mean, you've accomplished more since I've met you than I have my whole life. You're fearless and strong and determined. You're also a little nuts."

Sarah chuckled. Preston's smile grew.

"You remember the day we met?"

"The day we became Rangers," Sarah nodded.

"You told off Victor, you helped me clean up my magic show, and when you saw that… thing in the sky, you ran right towards it. You saw a monster, you fought it. Believe it or not, Sarah, you're the reason I'm a Ranger."

"I believe it," Sarah said with a faint smile. "You'd have never gone to check out something that fell from space."

"I wouldn't," Preston agreed. "I'd have seen it and ignored it. I probably would have sulked a bit about my magic show being ruined. But you made me brave. Forced me into it is maybe a better description, but you make me brave, Sarah."

"I do?"

"You make us all brave," Preston said. "Calvin never would have run for President if you didn't help him. He'd never have written that apology speech for the school and for Hayley without you. You picked Brody up off the ground the day we met him, and reminded him to keep hoping he might find his brother. And Kelly, you remember how scared she used to be. Probably would have rivaled me, you know."

"Maybe."

"When we had no idea where you were, Kelly pretty much led the charge. She knew how to talk to Thomas. She knew what to say, she knew when to play stupid and when to smarten up and… I don't know, but that seems really brave to me."

"She did all that?"

"Yeah," Preston nodded. "And, as for me, your helping me didn't end the day we met, you know. I never would have walked out on my parents if I didn't meet you."

"Great…"

"No, Sarah, that's a good thing," Preston said, and the let out a heavy sigh. "Promise you won't freak out? Promise this doesn't change anything between us?"

"Okay?"

"My mom hates that you're bi," Preston said. "In fact, she things that because you're bi, you turned me gay."

"I know," Sarah nodded, and Preston's jaw dropped.

"What?"

"She posted a comment on Kelly's dad's article. I read them all and… I knew it was her," Sarah said.

"So, all this time you knew about that, and you didn't say anything?"

"Neither did you," Sarah pointed out, and Preston nodded his head.

"Okay point. Anyway, what I wanted to say, is that's not the first time I've disagreed with them. The way my parents treat people and look down on those who are less fortunate than them had always disgusted me. But I never had the guts to say or do anything about it until you."

"What did I do?"

"When mom made those assumptions and those accusations, and when dad supported them, I was backed into a corner. I guess I felt like I had to choose between my best friend and my parents."

"Preston…"

"I still love them dearly, and I still miss them sometimes," Preston said. "But I knew I couldn't stay at home if all I was going to hear was them bad mouthing you, and treating you like less of a person when you're probably twice the person they'll ever be. And I knew, if I needed someone, you'd have my back. We all know that."

"You do?"

"Are you kidding?" Preston chuckled. "Who could always come up with a plan, last minute in battle?"

"I mean…"

"Who always fought the loudest to protect the people she cares about?"

"I guess, I…"

"Who isn't afraid to get her hands a little dirty for a good cause?"

"Me?"

"You," Preston smiled. "Sarah, you've hit one wall. I've probably hit a couple hundred already. This kind of stuff happens and, to be honest, it's kind of refreshing to see it happen to you. It sucks how hard you hit it…"

"Or how hard it hit me."

"But I'm glad it happened, if just so the others and I can remember that even thought you're Sarah Thompson, you're still human. You're still just… a kid, like us. A baby, actually."

"It's just a year," Sarah rolled her eyes.

"Still, you've accomplished so much already. This isn't so much a setback as it is a refresher. A reminder for you not to put so much pressure on yourself, and a reminder to us that we can't depend on you for all our Ranger weapons. We're a team."

Sarah started to tear up as she smiled and jumped into Preston's arms, hugging him tight.

"Thanks, Magic Boy. That helps."

Preston wrapped his arms around her gently, trying not to squeeze too tight, and he kissed the top of her head.

"Anytime," he said and kissed the top of her head. He jumped when he heard Kelly shout.

"Ha! I knew it!" she said and Preston turned to see her leading the other Rangers up the driveway. "I told you he beat us here."

"You guys all came?" Sarah asked and pulled away from Preston. She hugged Kelly tight as her girlfriend came over."

"We missed you at school," Brody nodded. "We thought maybe we'd come by and see if you wanted to hang out."

"I can't leave," Sarah shook her head. "Jenny's grounded me."

"You're grounded?" Levi frowned. "For what? What did you do?"

"I'm 'in recovery'," Sarah said with a sigh. "And apparently, that means I can't go to school, ride my board, or head out and get some ice-cream with friends."

"But… we can come over, right?" Hayley asked.

"She's not actually grounded," Kelly explained. "That's just what she calls it when Jenny wants to keep an eye on her. We can still visit, and Sarah can still hang out and have fun. She just needs to be supervised."

"What's the difference?" Sarah frowned, and Levi chuckled.

"You've never actually been grounded before, have you?"

"I have," Sarah said. "It's just as miserable."

"Well, good thing we brought the ice-cream here," Calvin said and pulled out a tub of the treat from behind his back.

"Is it…"

"Would I buy you any other flavour?" Calvin said and turned the tub around, showing Sarah the strawberry label.

"You know, he never buys me ice-cream," Hayley said with a smirk to Sarah.

"She's my favourite," Calvin teased and gently nudged Hayley. Sarah took the tub from him and invited her friends in.

"You can't make too much noise," she said as they gathered in the kitchen. "Mom's been pretty tired so she's sleeping, but she did say that if you guys stopped by, you could all stay for dinner. She'll order pizza."

"Sweet," Preston smiled.

"Levi, Brody," Sarah looked to the brothers, "She said your dad could come over too, if he didn't have any other plans."

"I'll let him know," Levi said as he took out his phone, prompting Calvin to remember the second item he brought. He reached into his own pocket and took out Sarah's communicator.

"Here," he said and presented it to her. "We found this on the road while looking for you. It was a bit smashed up, so I fixed it up."

Hayley cleared her throat.

"We fixed it up," Calvin said. "It's nothing like working on an engine, but I did figure it out. It works. And I know Jenny said you're off Ranger duties until further notice but, just in case trouble doesn't agree, we thought you should have it."

"Thanks," Sarah smiled and strapped it around her wrist. "Do we have any idea what we're going to do, if Madam Oedius does show up again?"

"We'll figure something out," Brody assured her. "In fact, come to think of it, the Prism was never destroyed. Who knows, it could come back if it senses we need it."

"I wish it would have let me keep my magic," Preston said and reached into his cloak, only to pull out nothing. "I am a little out of practice with my usual tricks, right now."

"You'll get there," Sarah smiled. "You made a lot of progress, already. I'm sure if you keep at it, it'll all come back to you."

"Maybe," Preston nodded. "I am planning a show after school tomorrow, if you want to come by."

"Shane's leaving in the morning and I kind of want to stay home with mom. She's pretending she's fine, but she did have a heart attack just recently…"

"Bring her," Preston suggested.

"Hey, pinky," Calvin called out with a smile, catching Sarah's attention. "We're all happy you're well and all, but I didn't buy you that ice-cream so I could watch it melt on the counter."

"Sorry," Sarah smiled and went to grab some bowls while Kelly got out the spoons and started to scoop. As they passed out the frozen dessert to their friends, Kelly leaned in closer to Sarah to whisper.

"You really doing okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Because, if you're not, I can stay over," Kelly said. "I know you're not exactly having night terrors, but anxiety and stuff gets worst at night and…"

"Please stay," Sarah said and Kelly gave her a smile.

"Just let me know what you need."