Lauren Shiba was still thinking about the encounter long after they retired to the safe house. She sat in the unremarkable commons area while the tv played as background noise. Mike and Emily had long ago retired to their bedroom, and Mia was outside on the phone with her husband who was back in Panorama. Kevin was out on a jog and Antonio was sitting at his makeshift workstation in the corner, fiddling with something of his.
"Y'know we didn't have to be so mean to that kid," Antonio said.
"I had to get the message across," Lauren replied. "This isn't something he should get wrapped up in."
"But he's a Power Ranger."
"Plenty of people are Power Rangers these days," Lauren said, "But everyone else knows their place. We all have our battles, and it's best if we all just stick to them."
"Then why did you agree to fight in the Legendary Battle?" Antonio prodded.
"That was different," Lauren said, "Without our help, the whole world could've fallen to the Armada."
"Is that really your reasoning, or did you go because Jayden did?"
Lauren frowned, "What are you getting at?"
"Our duties as Rangers extend further than our missions. They extend to our families too."
Lauren felt a tenseness in her stomach. Jayden was already better at these kinds of calls. He was a better leader overall.
"I hate that look," Antonio said. "I can tell that you're thinking about him."
"I miss him."
"We all do," he said, "But we're close. I can feel it."
Lauren Shiba nodded and silently hoped against all reason that he was right.
A/N:Just wanted to clarify before we get further into this story that this isn't connected to any previous PR fics of mine