Power Ranger Triad

Chapter 16

Over the next week Danielle slowly regained her strength, it took almost a week before Danielle even regained conscious and it was a most anxious Bill and Jason standing beside her bed as her eyes fluttered. "Hey beautiful," whispered Jason as he leaned down and gently stroked her forehead

Danni opened her eyes and gave a weak smile as she felt Bill place a gently kiss on her cheek. "Hey handsome, how you doing?" asked Danni weakly

"Us? We're both fine, what about you?"

"I've been better"

"Danni, when were you going to tell us about the baby?" asked Jason point blank.

Danni sighed and then struggled to sit up in the bed. Jason and Bill were both instantly at her side helping her get settled, and then stepped back.

"Guys, I'm sorry about not telling you about the baby but you have to understand. What I had to do…what we all had to do was more important. And I didn't know for certain until Stuart told me right before you got back."

"More important than a new life or yours!" exclaimed Bill

"And what would have happened if I had said "Oh I'm sorry I can't do this right now I'm going to have a baby. There would have been no future to bring that baby into, guys don't you see we HAD TO do what we did in order for there to Be a future for this baby!"

"But you should have told us! We could have help!" yelled Jason

"How? By being so distracted and concerned for me that you got yourself killed! Oh that would have helped a lot. Guys, I know it was wrong to keep the baby from you, and I'm terribly sorry but it was the only way. By not telling you about the pregnancy and doing everything myself I insured that this world, our world continued so we could bring these children into a world that had a future, a peaceful one."

"But look what it almost cost us Danni" said Bill quietly

"I never had any doubts that you two would be my knights in shining armor. And I was right wasn't I, I saved you both when you most needed me and now you've returned the favor. And for that you have my undying trust, even if I've lost yours."

"Not lost, Danni just damaged it. A lot" said Jason quietly

"Jason!" exclaimed Linda

"It's alright Linda. I expected this. Bill?" asked Danni as she looked over at the second half of the triad.

From his pained expression and the way he was holding onto Jason's hand Danni could tell that it was going to take a lot of love and patience to regain the trust she had just broken not only Jason's but Bill's as well. Oh well, even with all the pain she was feeling now she wouldn't have changed a thing. The triad had been formed, and Earth was safe. Even if that meant she would have to spend the rest of her life alone, the triad in name only.

With one last look at her partners, Danielle took a deep breath and turned to Stuart Campbell. She might as well start getting on with the rest of her life alone. "Dr. Campbell, when do you think I will be able to leave the infirmary?" asked Danni.

"Not for a few more days at least, but if you would like I think we can move you to one of the private rooms"

"Yes, thank you. I think that might be for the best" answered Danni as she scooted down and closed her eyes.

Jason and Bill looked at Danni and then turned their backs and walked out of the infirmary

At Linda's little "Ohhhh" Danni opened her eyes again "Don't be too hard on them Linda. They're actually being nicer to me than I deserve."

"But you've been through so much."

"And I wouldn't have done anything differently either"

"Don't worry, I know they love you."

"Oh I have no doubts about that. It's just will they be able to forgive me, that's what I'm wondering."

"Give it time Danni, just give it some time"

"It's funny, me being a Time-Lord and now that's all I've got now"

"I know sweetheart, I know…." whispered Linda as she gently stroked Danni's forehead.

Later that afternoon Linda helped Danielle move into one of the private rooms and Jason and Bill moved back into their old quarters. As soon as Danielle was healing on her own Stuart and Jack took the heart stone and had it made into a necklace. A week later they returned to the compound and found Linda and Danielle resting in the park at the pool.

"Hello Danni, how are you feeling?" asked Stuart as he sat down on the lounge chair beside her.

"I'm doing fine, all of us are fine. The babies are growing nicely although the doctor wants me to gain a little more weight."

"I know, she calls with weekly reports as soon as you leave" answered Stuart quietly

"I should have known, well to be honest I'm glad that at least somebody cares"

"We all care Danni," said Jack as he pulled her gently into his arms "Even Jason and Bill, their just too damn stubborn to admit it"

"Oh it's alright Jack, I know I've hurt them both terribly and I'll wait for as long as it takes for them to forgive me"

"Yes, but there missing out on a precious time, I bet they don't even know their expecting triplets?"

"Well you got them there. I don't think they picked up on that fact the last time we talked"

"Danni, would you get upset if Jason and Bill wanted to go with you on your next appointment?"

"Oh course not! It did take all three of us to get in this condition in the first place"

"Great! Oh look, I've got to get back to the station. See you later Danni" said Jack as he kissed her on the forehead and patted her hand.

The first time he had met Danni he wasn't really sure what to think of her, but now she was the daughter he wasn't blessed enough to have.

"Jack Scott! What are you up too?" asked Linda as she got up and went over to her husband

"Look at her Linda, she's miserable. The boys aren't much better. I saw Jas the other day at the Dojo and he looked like he'd been run over by a Mack truck. Kevin says Bill isn't much better."

"Well whatever you do, please be discreet about it, we don't want them thinking were interfering." said Linda with a little laugh.

"You got it darling, and you take care of Danni. I'll see you tonight, oh by the way why don't you ask her to dinner tonight?"

"You know I think that's a good idea. See you tonight" said Linda as she walked back over to Danni to find her lying back with her eyes closed "Are you getting tired sweet one?" asked Linda as she adjusted the umbrella to place Danni more in the shade.

"Maybe a little" answered Danni with a sigh.

"Then how about we go back inside and you can rest before you get ready to come over to our house for dinner tonight?"

"Oh Linda, I don't think…." started Danni but stopped at the look Linda was giving her

"Now you just stop that right now Danielle Cranston-Scott. Granted you deceived them, and I'm sure you had very good reasons. But that doesn't mean you've got to punish yourself by spending all your time locked up in this compound. It's not your fault that your husbands are being ass holes, even if one of them is my son." smiled Linda.

"You know your right Linda. Alright, I'd love to." said Danni as she slowly got up from the chair

"Here, let me help."

"Thanks Linda," said Danni as she leaned into Linda and they walked back to her quarters. Later that night at around six thirty Danni stepped out of their quarters and met Jason in the hallway. Because of her multiply pregnancy Danni had started wearing maternity clothes early on and tonight she was wearing a dark blue eyelet blouse with a light cotton undershirt and Capri pants.

"Hello Jason."

"Hello Danni, you look beautiful. How are you feeling?" asked Jason shyly.

"I'm doing fine, and you?"

"Great, we're doing great"

"Good, well I'll see you later I guess" said Danni as she started walking away.

"Danni!" called Jason.

"Yes?" answered Danni anxiously

"Take care of yourself, ok?"

"Sure, you too" said Danni quietly as she headed off towards the command center.

A few minutes later she teleported just outside the Scott's house and spent a few minutes composing herself. That meeting with Jason and been the first time in several weeks that she had actually come face to face with one of them. She knew that she had been hiding in the compound but she didn't realize how distant it had made her. Linda was right, she needed to start getting out more, she may not have her husband's in anything but name any more but that didn't mean she didn't have a life to live. After all she had three little ones depending on her now. So with a new resolve she pulled herself together and rang the bell to her in-laws house. Jack was surprised to find an almost new Danielle standing at his front door.

"Danni, come in, come in. Linda, Danni's here" called Jack as he led her into the living room.

Linda came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a dish cloth and noticed almost immediately that something was different about her. "Danni, are you alright? You seem different somehow?" asked Linda as she led her towards a chair

"Well actually, there is. I meet Jason as I was leaving this evening….."

"He didn't say anything stupid did he?" asked Linda anxiously. She knew he son could be stubborn when his feelings were hurt.

"No, he didn't. It was actually like we'd stepped back in time to the first time we meet when we were kids. He was so shy and sweet, but it did make me realize something."

"And what's that" asked Jack

"That although I've made mistakes in my life, it doesn't do anyone any good to go within yourself and hide from the world. Especially when you have a person or person's depending on you. So from now on I'm going to start living my life again. If this is the way Jason and Bill want it, then that's how it will be. I can't change what happened, and I wouldn't even if I could. But I won't just sit around mopping, waiting for them to forgive me."

"Good for you Danni!" exclaimed Linda as she gently pulled her into her arms.

"Well, since were celebrating new beginnings I think it's the perfect time to give you this." said Jack as he came up to Danni and pulled her into his arms. When he let her go Danni held a small box in her hand.

"What's this?" asked Danni.

"Open it and find out, it's a gift from an "OLD FRIEND" said Jack.

Danni carefully opened the box and gently turned the necklace into her hand. Jack and Stuart had taken the "Heart "stone to a jeweler that had artfully polished the stone into a heart with a delicate silver chain mounting. Danni held the necklace up in her hands and looked at Jack with tears in her eyes.

"So that's what happened," whispered Danni as she bent her head so Jack could put the pendant around neck.

"He said to tell you that you are now the keeper of the "Greatest Power" and when the time is right you'll meet again and he'll once again be in possession of the stone."

"That sounds like him. Oh Jack, thank you! Thank you so much!" said Danni as she went into his arms and for the first since she awoke over a month ago cried for the possible loss of the Triad. A few minutes later she pulled back and wiped her eyes "I'm sorry guys, "

"Nonsense, you must have needed that and if you can't cry in front of family then who can you cry with" said Linda as she pulled Danni into her arms

"Well, I don't know about you ladies but I'm starving" said Jack as he cleared his throat.

Linda and Danni pulled apart and then arm in arm head for the dining room. The rest of the evening was spent talking and making plans for the upcoming babies. Danni left around nine o' clock and got back to the compound just in time to once again run into Jason in the hallway.

"Evening Jason" said Danni brightly as she headed towards her quarters