"I brought the tots!" Carrie yelled as she walked into the Command Center with Jay and Kira each hanging on to a hip. She glanced around for a moment before realizing how somber the room was. Normally- this was a great time of day for everyone to spend some time with them and generally decompress. They were at such a fun age that their personalities just shone and they offered a distraction that they all desperately needed. "What's happened?"
"Did they tell you?" Grant asked as Carrie gave him a confused look as Jay and Kira sprinted for Cameron and Brandon, tackling the both of them around the knees. "Julia's pregnant."
"Sorry, what?" Carrie shrieked as everyone turned to face her and she immediately lowered her volume. "When did that happen? Is she alright? I heard about the battle while bringing them over."
"Currently passed out. Madison is concerned enough that she wants to get her into a doctor as soon as possible," Roberto stated and Carrie let out a groan. "No one has told Axel that."
"Whose brilliant idea was that?" Carrie snarked and she watched all of the men avoid her gaze. "Seriously? It's not like they're Kimberly and Tommy levels of soulmate where that would be just outright dangerous to say to him."
"Axe took out the entire group of gorgons and the monster in a brilliant flash of light once she went down," Roberto stated and Carrie turned around on the spot from heading to the infirmary and stared at him with wide eyes. "Hell of a trick to have up his sleeve, but yeah…I think he's at least ranging in to Tommy level's of 'fuck around and find out' when beings hurt her. He also can't control it the way Tommy can just yet- so much more lethal to anyone nearby."
"We need them back," Carrie whispered as the men nodded and she let out a sigh. "Why weren't you able to get her out?"
"The teleportation system was blocked," Cameron said as he flipped through a few sheets of paper. He had been able to print out all of the Command Center internals from that time frame and he hated what he saw. "From about three minutes before the attack to right after Axel turned them to dust. And I can't see why it would flip offline. So yeah- we really need them back."
"Mama?" Kira asked as she pointed up at a picture of Kimberly that was rolling through on the computer. "Mama back?"
"Oh sweetie- she's going to be back really soon," Carrie whispered as Kira's lower lip started to tremble, which was quickly followed by a flood of tears. Jay toddled over to give Kira a hug and Carrie wrapped the both of them up as Kira continued to wail.
"I want Mama," Kira cried as they all felt the heaviness descend on the Command Center. It was one thing for the rangers to say that they needed the Olivers back, it was another thing to hear Kira and Jay crying for their parents. "Why Mama gone?"
"Mama and Daddy have to fight bad guys," Grant said as he squatted down next to them and Kira wiggled out of Carrie's arms and launched herself at him. They had found over the last couple of months that Kira would calm down more with him than anyone else. "I'm sure Mama misses you and will be so glad to see you."
"I'll get Abdalon to reach out again. We've got to get an actual answer," Roberto said as Grant and Carrie nodded while they consoled the crying toddlers. They knew that Kim and Tommy wanted to get back to this world and there was really only one thing that could be keeping them.
"Hey," Axel whispered as Julia's eyes blinked open and she suddenly jerked awake. "Easy, we're back home."
"What happened? How did we get back?" Julia asked as he helped her sit up and then crawled onto the cot with her. "Why am I hooked up to so many things?"
"One question at a time," Axel said as she curled into his side and looked up at him, expectantly. "You were thrown into a building and my powers decided it was a great time to disappear every evil being around us."
"Sorry…what?" Julia questioned as she sat up and stared into his eyes. "But Tommy…Dr.O is the only one…"
"I didn't tap into it on purpose, so it may have just been a one time thing," Axel said as Julia shook her head and he let out a sigh. "All the books say that our relationship will evolve over time- I didn't imagine that this would be part of it, but apparently it is. After that- the teleportation system came back up and got us here. You're hooked up to so many things because they're worried about the baby. Madison asked what your schedule was so that she can get you in with a specialist."
"A specialist?" Julia asked and Axel shrugged. He wasn't really sure what it meant, he just knew that it wasn't pressing enough for her to wind up in an actual hospital. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't know. Madison didn't give me too many details," Axel said as Julia felt her anxiety peak and he ran his hand up and down her arm. "Don't- whatever is going on- we'll find out together."
"How can we even protect this baby if…" Julia trailed off as she hastily wiped her eyes and he cradled her against him. He didn't have answers, but he knew that if Kimberly and Tommy had managed it, they would be able to manage it as well. "Can we…can we go to our place?"
"Let me grab Madison and ask, but I don't see why not," Axel said as she nodded against his chest, but didn't move to let him up. "Or do you just want to stay here?"
"Fine," Julia grumbled as she rolled over and he shook his head. She was usually good at taking injuries on the chin and moving on, but it seemed like she didn't have the same patience with it right now.
"She up?" Madison asked as Axel nodded and she started into the room, but he stopped her for a moment.
"She's a bit freaked out about needing to see someone, just as a heads up," Axel said as Madison quirked an eyebrow at him and he let out a sigh. "I heard what you said to Roberto."
"Well- I can't blame you for listening in, but it's just a gut feeling," Madison said as Axel nodded and she let out a sigh. She was used to family members being interested in what was happening to their loved one, but she was not prepared for the intensity that came with the rangers.
"That's fine. I'll make sure we get to the doctor. I don't know if our plan is inclusive enough…" Axel trailed off as Madison glared at him. "Fair point. You'd only be suggesting it because Kim and Tommy will cover it if it isn't covered."
"Pretty much. C'mon- I'm sure that she'd like to get to your bed and not that cot," Madison remarked and Axel nodded in agreement. Madison stilled right outside the door and took a deep breath before walking in. "I heard someone is awake."
"Yeah, I feel like I got slammed into a building, but I'm awake," Julia quipped as Axel shook his head. Why would she be vulnerable with him and not tell the medical professional what was bothering her? It was something he had seen her do before, but that had always been when she was trying to pacify someone.
"Your vitals have been stable, but I really want you to take it easy for the next three or four days- at least until you see the doctor. Axel, you'll get a call from them in the next 24 hours to schedule something this week. If you don't, call me and I'll push it," Madison stated as she started removing censors and Julia glanced between the two of them. "You're going to go. I know you may not want to, but you need to just to be on the safe side."
"Fine," Julia grumbled as Axel gave her a look and she let out a groan. "Sorry, I'm just…I hate being useless."
"You're not useless, you're pregnant- there's a huge difference," Madison said with a kind smile as Julia barely nodded as she shifted to the side of the bed and grabbed Axel's shoulders as she pulled herself to her feet. "Go rest."
"Thanks Madi," Axel said as Madison nodded and watched them head back towards their living quarters. She let out a sigh as she cleaned up the room. She had never thought her role as a Guardian would come into play- the Power Rangers had been so far away for most of her life, but now they were right here and she wasn't sure she liked it.
"Stop treating me like I'm made of glass!" Julia yelled as she jerked away from him. She had been cleared by the doctor to go back to normal activities- aside from ranger duties. However, everyone was treating her like she might break at any moment and she couldn't stand it. "Axe…I…"
"I'm going to walk you down the stairs and then I'm going to go spar," Axel gritted out as she glanced over at him and saw how angry he was. She immediately felt the need to try to pacify him, but one look in his eyes made her rethink that strategy. Everything she had learned about dating had been through the lens of abuse and she knew that Axel was not like them.
"I'll try to decompress too," Julia whispered as they reached the bottom of the stairs and she grabbed his other arm for a moment and he looked down at her. His gaze softened before he looked up at the ceiling and then returned her gaze again. "I don't know how to do this, Axe."
"I know, but I can't be your punching bag for the next seven months," Axel stated before he gave her a quick hug and she saw the hurt on his face. "Please stay down here until I get back."
"I'll try," Julia said and Axel shook his head before he jogged back up the stairs. She stood at the foot of the stairs for several moments after he disappeared, trying to figure out what was really bothering her with how he, and everyone, was treating her. She walked down to her office and settled at her desk. The minutes passed by and she began getting paperwork done, even though it was the furthest thing from her mind. She glanced up to see that an hour had passed and she heard footsteps coming down the corridor. She didn't recognize who it was, but didn't think much about it as they were starting to have potential new students come visit for a few days at a time. When the steps stopped outside her door, she placed her paperwork in a folder and heard the door swing open. "How can I…help…you…"
"Hi Jules," Damien said as he held Hannah in front of him and Julia could see the fear in her eyes. She was terrified of Damien as well, but she knew that showing him her fear would only make this worse. "I thought there would be better security."
"Let her go, Damien," Julia ground out as she pressed the emergency button at her desk and he slung Hannah into the wall and Julia saw the gun. He had learned from last time that he was going to need to be armed if he tried to get to her again. "You should leave- they're on their way."
"You're coming with me," Damien stated as Julia shook her head and he tried to grab her arm and was surprised as his hand couldn't make contact. He kept trying to get to her and she glanced at the shield around her and smiled at it. She had seen Kim do this a time or two, but had never realized why it happened until now. "What…why…what are you doing?"
"I'm not sure- this is a new ability," Julia said as she walked over to Hannah and the protective bubble encircled her as well. "Thanks little one."
"Little one!" Damien roared as he charged at them, hit the forcefield and then bounced across the room. Hannah and Julia watched as he repeatedly charged at them and was flung across the room, utterly destroying her office in the process. "Face me!"
"How about you face me?" Axel said, darkly, as he appeared in the doorframe and the other male rangers sprinted up behind him. Thankfully Kimberly and Tommy had prepared all of their offices with an intruder alert system, but this had not been what any of them had thought would happen. "You okay?"
"Gun," Hannah muttered as Axel looked over at her and then back at Damien as he shook his head. He felt that his powers wanted to lash out, but he knew that Damien needed to be handled by the police- not him.
"They're on their way," Brandon said as Damien opened fire, but the bullets deflected off of all of them and the rangers glanced around at each other before Julia pointed at her belly and Axel stared at her. How was she possibly doing that?
"What is happening?!" Damien yelled as the shrapnel showered him and Axel slowly moved forward. "Stop! Don't come closer!"
"I'm sorry- what is that? You're scared for your life now?" Axel asked as Damien stared at him with wide eyes and started shaking his head as he backed away from him. A beam of light landed in the room and they were surprised to see Madison standing there.
"I'll take care of him," Madison stated as she grabbed Damien by the arm and then disappeared. Axel and Julia exchanged a glance as they realized that Madison must have been assigned as one of their Guardians. The adrenaline flooded out of the room as Julia collapsed into a chair and Hannah also sank to the floor.
"The baby?" Axel asked as Julia stared up at him, still not completely comprehending what happened. "Did the baby…"
"No, that would be her powers protecting her," Roberto said as he ran up to the office and they turned around to face him. "How did he get in?"
"Gun," Brandon said as he helped Hannah to her feet and she slumped against him. "I'm going to get her back to our quarters and…you know…explain."
"I'm right behind you," Cameron said as he crossed his arms and Roberto looked away from him. Of all of the rangers, he was the most likely to take an event like this poorly. "We have enough coming after us- Madison better remove him, permanently. I don't think we'll discourage Axe from turning him to dust again."
"I know. He was on the list to neutralize, she is just getting her feet under her with this assignment," Roberto explained and Cameron shook his head that that was not an excuse. "I hear you, Cam. None of us want anything to happen."
"I still need to spar, but if you want to hang out in the dojo…" Axel trailed off as Julia just nodded as Patrick and Cameron exchanged a glance. They had both thought that Axel would not want to spar anymore. "If you guys don't want to…"
"Can we have a minute?" Julia asked as Cameron and Patrick exchanged a glance before they walked out of her office. Axel had been pummeling them, but hadn't been willing to tell them why he was in such a mood and as much as they wanted to know- they doubted that Julia would tell them. "Axe…I don't know how to depend on you or anyone. He taught me…he showed me that I couldn't do that. And now I have to and I…"
"I know and I get it. I just…keeping you safe is the most important thing to me and yes that means if I could wrap you up in bubble wrap and have the world handle you with kid gloves right now- I would," Axel stated as she grimaced and he grabbed both of her hands as he squatted down in front of her. She locked eyes with him and he pushed past the urge to just be silent about what was bothering him. He had done that far too much recently. "This is the second time, in less than two weeks, that you've had something threaten your life and that scares me to death. So yeah, I'm going to grab your elbow or your hand or put my arm around you because…because it's all I can do. I can't lose you. I can't lose our baby. I can't…"
"Oh Axe," Julia whispered as she reached up and cupped his face and he tried to blink away the tears. Prior to her, he had rarely cried, but he now found that when it came to her and her safety- the mere thought of losing her was enough to send him over the edge. The last few weeks had been unwanted reminders that that possibility was always closer than he wanted it to be. "I…I get…truce?"
"Yeah, truce," Axel muttered as she leaned in and gave him a quick kiss and he felt himself melting into her. He, reluctantly, pulled away from her and she laughed at the look on his face. "I'm still more amped than it's safe for me to be. You coming?"
"I need my weekly watching you spar fix," Julia commented as he saw the desire flash through her eyes and he smiled as he could guess what was in store for him for the rest of the night.