I do not own Power Rangers: Jungle Fury.

I needed a break from serious writing and Dom is my fun place.

Who Do You Call In A Crisis?

All she'd wanted was a slice of pizza.

Yummy, yummy pizza.

Mozzarella. Pepperoni.

Tomato sauce.

What she got was . . .

"Oh no."

. . . a warzone.

"This is bad."

And the last time it had happened, she had been unfortunately alone and outnumbered.

"This is really, really bad."

But this time . . .

"Oh boy."

. . . she doesn't have to be.

"Oh gosh."

At least she hopes not.

And Frances Faye Fugleman whips out her phone.

Help!

And types out a quick, desperate . . .

Pizza emergency!

. . . text.

The Rhino Ranger has come to her aid.

"Hey, you okay?"

Strong and tall.

"I came as quick as I could."

Calm and capable.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I just-"

Supportive and kind.

"Don't apologize. I'm glad you called. What's the emergency?"

Just what she needs.

"This."

In a crisis.

Dominic Hargan, The Rhino Ranger, clad in plaid shirt, green cargo pants, and hiking boots surveys ehat can only be termed as a chaotic mobscene and . . .

"Wow. Yeah, you were right to call me. This is too much for one person to handle."

He peeks out of their hiding place again and then back at her.

"Okay, Frannie, we can do this. Divide and conquer. No fear."

If you say so.

"You ready?"

And she manages a brave nod.

"Yeah. I think so."

Which he returns.

"Alright. Let's go!"

She doesn't know what it is about pizza parties that makes kids scream and holler and throw food like little monsters.

She doesn't know what it is about pizza parties that makes their parents pretend not to see them screaming and hollering and throwing food like little monsters.

What she does know is . . .

". . . little monsters . . ."

"I don't know, Fran, maybe we should train them to fight against the Renshi if they ever show back up again."

. . . she's really glad Dom's there.

"Last time I did this all by myself."

She wipes Parmesan cheese out her eyes, shakes red pepper flakes out of her hair.

"Well, this time you've got me!"

Watches Dom duck a flying soda cup.

And deftly dodge a slippery pile of sausage on the floor.

Too late, Fran sees a birthday hat-ed little boy preparing to lugi an entire straw of garlic sauce straight at her.

"Hey, that's not the way you treat a lady."

Only to be saved by Dom reaching out and pinching it close with his fingers.

"This is."

As smooth as fresh Mozzarella, a drenched Dom grabs a pizza-sauced Frannie by the hand.

Spins her.

Dips her.

And . . .

"EWWWW!"

. . . kisses her quick and sweet.

Before bringing her back upright onto her feet, setting her steady.

And winking devilishly at her.

She's blushing, she can feel it, and a little dizzy and . . .

"What did that accomplish?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to."

. . . definitely happier than she's ever been covered in pizza sauce.

He grins his dimple at her, then his face changes in an instant-

"Uh oh, pepperoni, 10 o'clock-"

But its 6:15-

- and he dives back into the fray.

Sidelining a moptop seven year slinging circles of seasoned beef and pork sausage at a bigger boy . . .

"Hey, hey, hey, no . . . your aim is terrible, you gotta follow through with your shoulder, . . . here, like this . . ."

. . . with the aplomb and charisma . . .

Oh my marinara, I love him.

. . . only Dominic Hargan can have.

The dining area of Jungle Karma Pizza is a disaster.

The kitchen's just as bad.

They'll be picking pineapple out of the upholstery for weeks, scraping dough off the ceiling for days.

But the kids have gone.

The kitchen didn't burn down.

And . . .

"Well, we survived."

"Just barely. When that kid started punting the prosciutto, I thought we were done for."

. . . they've got paid.

Frances Faye Fugleman wipes a clean spot onto her glasses.

Just enough to actually see her very handsome boyfriend.

"I should probably clean myself up."

Who laughs and hugs her to him.

"I think you look great."

Covering them both in more pizza sauce.

"Well, well, well, looks like the birthday party was a raging success. How'd they get anchovies on the ceiling fan? Oh hey, Dom, . . ."

Before being interrupted by a very casually bewildered Wolf Ranger in R.J clothing.

"I didn't know you were scheduled for today."

Dominic shrugs dismissively, one arm still around a very exhausted, very happy Fran.

"I wasn't. Fran called me. She needed help. You know, you should really schedule more people for birthday parties."

"I thought I did."

And the owner of Jungle Karma Pizza turns to see the Blue and Yellow Ranger-

"A little late for your shift, you guys?"

-attempting to sneak out the backdoor.

And they turn sheepishly.

"Well, we were . . ."

"Busy? Detained? Distracted? Otherwise unavailable?"

"Um, yeah-"

And their mentor nods, still quite unpeturbed in face and body.

"No problem. Happens to us all."

Then he gestures dismissively to the duo of ham and shrimp.

"You two run off now and have some family friendly fun. These guys will clean up for you."

"What?!"

"Thanks, RJ!"

Who make their escape . . .

"What about them?"

"They'll survive. They're Rangers!"

. . . as quickly as they can.

Watching ep 3 with my kids and I thought, man, Dom would have helped and been fun.

And this wrote itself.

Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for reading!