Dana Mitchell has never been the type to second-guess her own decisions. Her entire life, she's been raised to be able to make the tough decisions and to stick with the choice that came of it. After all, that was what the life of a Ranger demanded, did it not?

These past few days rendered her incapable of even making decisions in the first place. But really, who could blame her? First, she finds out her father was lying to her about the death of her brother, which was ironic, considering that Ryan proceeded to lie about another death. Then, to realize what had been done to keep him alive… Dana still hasn't really comprehended or processed it at all. So this next bit of information that Ryan gave them hardly gave her pause.

Dana can't say the same for her team.

Carter leans forward slowly, hands clasping into fists atop the big wooden desk. She used to hide underneath it as a kid, and her dad would pretend to not know where she was. "What," he breathes, "Did you just say?" Kelsey's started to tap her fingers against her leg, some of her frenetic energy returning. Joel's actually sitting up straight now, and both his and Chad's gazes are affixed on Ryan.

"I said-"

The door to the conference room slides open, and everyone turns at once to spot a red-faced Alyssa, tears streaming down her cheeks. Carter twitches, like he wants to go to her.

Kelsey beats him to it, rushing to their youngest and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Where is he."

Ryan doesn't look up. "I can't-"

"Tell me!" Alyssa's discordant voice sends a thrum of pain through Dana's head, but she doesn't flinch. None of them do.

"And put Leon's life at further risk? I did what I had to do. I won't have Diabolico finding out somehow."

Alyssa lifted her chin, and Dana realized she didn't need powers to accomplish things. "Explain the body. The police report."

Dana's brother glanced to the side, as if expecting Diabolico himself to jump out from the supply closet. "How much time do we have?"

For probably the seventh time tonight, Kelsey hurls her hands into the air. "Okay," she starts (again). "Not only can you teleport, but you can also… also…"

"He can create tangible illusions," I explain. "Which is how-" My throat chokes up, and I have to clear it. "How my brother's body seemed so real." We're gathered in the training room in Aqua Base, and I'm tired as hell. All I want is to see Leon again. All I want is to be able to call him and hear his voice. But I can't do that, so going home and sleeping is the next best thing.

Carter keeps glancing over at me, like he wants to check on me and doesn't know the words. Joel hasn't said anything inappropriate this entire time, and neither Chad or Dana have even said anything.

"Prove it," are the two shocking words that finally leave the blonde's mouth. "Create something."

Ryan shakes his head, and Dana scoffs so meanly, my head whips towards her. "It's not that simple."

"Of course it isn't," Joel mutters.

"It only works when I really need it to."

Like my powers. Somehow, despite the shitstorm of the past few days, this makes sense. "Fine, then." I scrub my face with my hand, not willing to meet the incredulous gazes of my friends. "Look. It's been a long few days, and I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired and I wanna go back to my apartment and sleep all of this off."

Chad shakes his head. "You're just gonna… go?"

"I'm not staying here!" The words burst out of me before I can think to amend them.

Joel scowls. "And how are you gonna get home at three in the morning? Walk?"

"'Course not," I retort, "On my longboard, it's…" My fucking longboard. It's still under that bush. "Goddamn it."

"Exactly." Joel steps closer to me, lifting his hand like he wants to pat my shoulder. He changes his mind. "But, you're right in one way. I'm knocking the hell out. Good night."

One by one, everyone else filters out, until it's just me and Ryan. Whoever thought that leaving us alone is a good idea is utterly stupid. "If you expect me to thank you, please think again."

He lifts his gaze, and I'm stunned by how similar he and Dana look. "I swear on my life, once we defeat Diabolico, I'll bring you to your brother."

We.

"Yeah." The doors to the training room close behind me, and I walk slowly towards the dorms.

One thing I love about the other Rangers? None of them like the big fluorescent lights in the dorm. Instead, we opt to keep on the softer lamps and lanterns, making the space feel cozier. A safe place to return to after a mission. So when I step into the living room, I expect it to feel just as it had earlier.

It doesn't. Even though nothing's changed, the Aqua Base is foreign now. No one's here, probably crashed in each of their rooms, but still, I creep around, not wanting to wake anyone- Soft breathing comes from the couch, and I glance over to see Carter, shirtless. Even with his gray sweatpants, the guy doesn't even have a blanket, and I sigh.

Despite the exhaustion threatening to put me asleep, too, I still have the energy to drag one of our blankets over to him. Laying it over his long legs, I have to stifle a laugh: it hardly even covers him up to his waist. Suddenly, a wave of melancholy strikes me. He's our leader, takes care of us regardless of whether we want him to or not.

Who takes care of him?

Carter lets out a groan, and I busy myself with tossing the throw pillows into their assigned basket. "'Lys?" Every single other emotion I've been feeling is nothing compared to how it feels when he says my name.

"Don't tell me you tried to wait up for me."

He sits up, yawning. "Fine. I won't tell you." Before I can issue a retort, Carter gazes up at me, eyes unusually serious for this time of night. "To be real honest with you, I wouldn't be surprised if you never came back. I mean…" He rubs his eyes. "The things you've gone through… it's enough to turn anyone away."

"I can't leave," I whisper, even though we'd already been talking quietly, "Ryan promised he'd tell me where Leon is." At this, the Red Ranger jolts up, wide awake suddenly. "But only after we defeat Diabolico."

He deflates back into the sofa. "As much as I hate to say it…"

"No, yeah," I mutter, feeling the beginnings of angry tears prickling behind my eyes, "He's right to be withholding. Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt." When the first tear falls, Carter sighs again, pats the couch cushion next to him. I take the designated spot, careful to keep a decent distance between us. "I can't stay here. With you all."

"Like I said," he murmurs, "I get it." He shifts, and I look over to see him looking at me, eyes glassy. "Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."

I thought my heart couldn't break any more, but here it goes regardless. "I'll still be around, y'know. Working. Patrolling. Missions. Y'all aren't getting rid of me anytime soon."

The exhale Carter takes is shaky, and I dare to reach out a hand, to place it next to his. Our pinkies interlink, and even the slightest contact sends a shiver rippling over me. "And good thing we aren't."

A tear of his own trails down his cheek. "You'd miss me this much, oh mighty Red Ranger?"

He wrinkles his nose, wiping the tear away. "Never call me that again."

"Only if you answer my question."

Another tear escapes, and this time, I reach up to dry it. "If you're asking if I'd miss our study sessions? The early mornings when we're the only ones awake, and you taught me how to make matcha?" The space between us is all but nonexistent. I feel like I'm dreaming. "Then, yes. I'd miss those moments. And I'd still miss you, even if you're a ten-minute drive away."

With the warmth of the lights reflecting off of his eyes, making his slightly tan skin glow, the strands of his messy hair begging for me to smooth them down, I realize just how much I need someone like Carter.

I also realize how shitty of a time this is to realize that. I'm not in any kind of healthy emotional state, let alone ready for any sort of relationship. "You're killing me, Grayson."

The corner of his lips tilts up, and I watch his mouth with unashamed awe. "How do you think I feel?"

Oh.

For once, I don't have a quippy response. No sarcastic comment.

Because I think either I'm in love, or desperately need physical contact that's not born out of someone trying to kill me- A door slides open, and we burst apart. I rush to the empty seat and plop down. Carter fixes his hair. Joel trudges straight to the refrigerator for something, the light further illuminating the space. "If you guys are gonna make out, please turn the TV on so we don't have to hear it."

There's actually no way... well. He's Joel Rawlings, Sky Cowboy. He probably saw this coming from a mile away. "Haha," I mutter. "Ever thought about going into comedy?"

He straightens up, glass of ice water in hand. "Actually, yes."

Carter sighs. I roll my eyes. "Go back to sleep, you idiot."

Joel holds his hands up in surrender all the way until he gets back to the door of his room. "As long as y'all aren't too loud."

"Joel," Carter and I warn in unison.

"Fine, fine!" The door slides shut behind him, and I let out a groan.

I almost leapt headfirst into a situationship with the leader of my team. If I had let it continue... who knows where we would've ended up?

I'm not sure. All I know is, I can't let it happen again. I stand up, stretching. "Gonna go to sleep. You should, too."

"And so, what? We pretend that never happened?" I'm too tired for this bullshit.

"Neither of us are in a good place, emotionally or mentally, Carter." I weigh my words carefully. "It's just not a good time."

He heaves a sigh. "You're right."

I raise an eyebrow. "Damn. That's the fastest I've won one of our arguments."

Carter scoffs. "Go to sleep, Ally."

"You first." He stands, and I watch the lean muscle in his upper body as he stretches. Fuck. Maybe I should've just gone home. "No way was I letting you sleep on the couch when your room is right down the hallway." I lead the way down said hallway, trying not to focus on Carter only steps behind me.

He's quiet, and I pause at my door, leaning against it as I turn to look at him. This is a mistake. He's not as close as he was earlier, but in the dim light, this somehow feels even more intimate than before. "Thank you."

"For?"

"Looking out for me."

God, could this guy get any more likeable? "Someone has to." If I was less emotionally aware- or the main character in a rom-com- this is where I'd pull him into my room. Give in to my wants. However, I'd like to consider myself emotionally intelligent, and I hate rom-coms. "Good night, Carter."

"Good night, Ally."

The door opens, and before I can regret my decision too much, I step in and let it close behind me.