A Darker Shade of Red (Time Force/Power Rangers, T, Chapter 10: Family)
So, somewhere in my new obsession with Supernatural, I remembered I need to post this. V^_^;;
Alex Muse is still being a pain about Reinforcements from the Future, but I'm working on it, I swear. -Glares at him-
Fandom/: Power Rangers Time Force, slight crossover with S.P.D. (In Bright Skies universe)
Characters/: Alex
Pairings/: Alex/Jen, Lucas/Trip, Katie/OC, Wes/Eric
Rating/: T
Disclaimer/: Saban/Disney/Whoever sure didn't write *this* into the series. The plot comes purely from my own warped little mind, and the characters are merely borrowed from them for my own amusement. Lucky you.
Summary/: The legacy of Wesley Collins and Eric Myers didn't just affect the past - it affected the future. One thousand years after they became Rangers, one person is still struggling against the corruption of Time Force and the heritage he never wanted.
Warnings/: People used for scientific experimentation, corrupted Time Force, character with self-image issues
Author's Notes/: This chapter was written under the assumption that first of all, the other four Time Force Rangers haven't been seen around Newtech City yet, and also that their trip to the past was 'classified' information. It was also written after deciding that Jen's family is fun to characterize. -Grins-
And yes, I couldn't resist making the family connection here. -Looks sheepish-
For Makia Durron, who made me smile when I woke up today and asked about updates to this and Bright Skies. Which *will* be updated! ... Once A Darker Shade of Red catches up to it. c.c;;
When she said the conversation wasn't over, he assumed he would have a day or two to gather his thoughts, to figure out what he was going to say - or at the very least, make himself scarce to avoid the whole issue for as long as possible. He wasn't expecting her to lead him down to the main entrance to Time Force the moment they left Logan's office, pausing to wait as Trip and Katie joined them. He definitely wasn't expecting to follow Lucas to the parking lot, or to find himself pushed into the back seat of a blue convertible.
He tried to protest. "Wait, what - "
"Get in," Jen said firmly. "We're not talking about this here."
He found himself pinned between the door and Trip a few minutes later, Jen on Trip's other side. Katie had taken the front seat, and Lucas was already pulling out onto the street. Trip leaned into him, and he wrapped an arm around him automatically.
"Where are we going?" he called a few minutes later, not sure if anyone could hear him.
"My parents' house," Jen returned. "We're not talking where Time Force can hear us."
His eyes widened in alarm. "Jen - "
"If anyone even thinks about touching them, they'll have me to deal with," she returned flatly. "Besides, Dad and Papa aren't exactly helpless."
Peter Scotts was a lieutenant of the Newtech City Police Department, and considered to be one of the most highly-decorated members of his unit. He'd taught Jen self-defense since she was little, and despite the animosity between Time Force and the NCPD, had been the strongest supporter of her decision to join Time Force. He claimed that law enforcement was a family tradition, and Jen was following in her ancestors' footsteps. It was trying to live up to that legacy that had left Jen lacking the self-confidence she'd needed when Alex first met her.
Keith on the other hand, was a stay-at-home parent and full-time writer. He wrote children's stories, and Jen had told him more than once about how much she'd loved listening to them growing up. He was a good man, and while not exactly helpless himself - Peter had made sure of that - fighting wasn't exactly his style. On the other hand, Keith, unlike Peter and Jen, had no qualms about calling for help when he needed it.
He sighed. "I don't like this," he muttered finally.
"I don't think we're giving you a choice, Alex," Trip returned, snuggling into his side.
He gave him a dirty look, but Trip wasn't even looking at him.
The drive to the suburbs was prettier than he remembered, and he tried to think about the last time he actually saw Jen's parents. It was before he'd proposed ... Last January maybe? Definitely after Jen got promoted to Squad Leader - Peter had been so thrilled they'd gone out to dinner to celebrate. At least a year now ...
The house looked exactly the same as he remembered it, other than that the plants around the windows had grown a little more. The lawn needed to be mowed again, which meant Peter had probably been putting it off as usual. But the rest of the house hadn't changed at all, and it made him wonder at how well he knew Jen's parents to realize that.
Jen paused as she got out of the car, her eyes looking over the yard and house itself with a hint of wistfulness that still seemed to come over all of them every once in awhile, despite the fact that they'd been home for almost two months now. It took Katie's hand on her shoulder to bring her out of it, and she offered a slightly shaky smile to them all. "Well ... let's go in."
She didn't bother to knock as she pressed her palm to the door, the print lock admitting her instantly. She'd told him once that her parents had always insisted that no matter where she was in her life, they'd never forgive her if she tried to knock when she came home. "Papa? Dad?" she called. "It's Jenny. I brought some friends home with me."
"Jenny!" Keith practically burst out of his office, rushing to engulf his daughter in a tight hug. "Oh, it's good to see you. How've you been?"
She buried her face against his shoulder, clinging tight. "M'fine, Papa," she murmured, voice muffled. "I saw you a week ago, you know." But she made no move to pull away.
They were stuck in the year 2000 for ten months, Alex reminded himself. Practically nothing for a Time Force officer, really - but Jen hadn't seen her parents for almost a year. At some point, she may have wondered if she'd *ever* see them again.
They probably all had.
Keith was studying her with a slight frown when she finally pulled away, reaching up to stroke her cheek. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"
She managed a smile. "I'm fine, Papa. Really. I just missed you."
"Is that my little girl I'm hearing?"
Jen's smile widened as she turned. "Dad! Oomph!"
She laughed as she was squeezed so tight he lifted her off her feet, wrapping her arms tight around Peter's neck. "I missed you too Dad, but I need to breathe!"
Peter set her down, grinning broadly. "It's about time you came home again! Doesn't Time Force allow days off?"
Her smile faltered slightly. "I'm sorry, Dad. We've ... we've just been really busy lately. A lot of things I can't really talk about." She swallowed, and the smile grew bright again. "But that's why I brought my team home with me, so we could all get a break. And I wanted you to meet Lucas and Trip."
"Your team?" Keith echoed, looking curious.
She nodded, turning to gesture to the rest of them. "This is my Ranger team. You know Katie and Alex, but this is Lucas Kendall, and Trip Regis."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Keith said with a smile.
"It's an honor, Sir," Trip said eagerly.
Lucas nodded in agreement, but his own response was cut off as Peter broke in with "Ranger team? You have a *Ranger* team?"
Jen flushed. "Yes. I, um - I'm a Power Ranger."
Peter grabbed her in another bear hug as she shrieked in surprise, roaring in delight. "Keith, did you hear that? Our little girl! She's a - "
"I heard," Keith interrupted, looking amused but just as proud. "What Color, Jenny?"
"Pink," she wheezed, swatting Peter away as he finally set her down. "Lucas is Blue, Katie's Yellow, Trip's Green, and Alex is Red."
"But Jen is our leader," Alex felt obliged to point out.
Peter laughed heartily, wrapping an arm around Jen's shoulder despite her protests. "Of course she is!" he boasted. "Pink, Red, or Yellow, it's still in her blood!"
Jen gave him an odd look, pausing in her squirming to get free. "What are you talking about, Dad?"
He blinked at her, then scowled. "You can't tell me you forgot all those stories I told you when you were little, about the Power Rangers."
She frowned. "Of course not. You always said our family was descended from Rangers."
"Not just *any* Rangers," Peter corrected. "We're descended from the *first* Red Ranger of Earth."
"And one of the Yellow Rangers," Keith reminded him.
Peter waved a hand dismissively, beaming with pride. "There's still leadership in our blood."
Keith raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "So you're saying *my* side doesn't matter, then."
Peter's eyes widened, and Jen ducked away from him with a laugh. "You asked for that one, Dad," she teased, moving to kiss Keith's cheek. "And I'm proud of *both* sides of my family," she assured him.
Keith smiled, squeezing her lightly. "So are you all here just for dinner, or do we get to keep you?"
Her smile turned slightly sheepish. "I was sort of hoping you wouldn't mind if we spent the night. We really needed to get away for awhile."
"Of course not." He kissed her temple, pausing to tuck some hair behind her ear. "You're always welcome here Jenny, you know that. The same goes for your friends." He smiled. "And I haven't made corn chowder for Katie in ages."
Katie brightened instantly. "You're the *best*, Mr. Scotts!"
"What's corn chowder?" Trip wondered.
"The best soup you'll ever try, especially when Jen's papa makes it," Katie assured him, squeezing his arm. "Trust me."
Trip looked puzzled. "Why wouldn't I trust you, Katie?"
Alex nearly jumped as Peter clapped a hand against his shoulder. "So how have you been, Alex? Still keeping an eye on my little girl?"
He had to remind himself for a moment that Peter and Keith hadn't known he and Jen had ever been serious - they'd barely had a chance to tell them they were dating before they'd both been bogged down with work. "I do my best, Sir," he said solemnly. He glanced at Jen out of the corner of his eye. "When she lets me, at least."
Jen rolled her eyes, and Peter laughed. "That's my girl," he said affectionately. "Doesn't let anyone tell her what to do."
"That's for sure," he muttered without meaning to. He started when Peter laughed. Trip and Katie giggled, Lucas gave him an amused look, and Jen scowled at him.
"I'd better get started on dinner," Keith chuckled. "You kids let us know if you need anything."
"We will, Papa," Jen assured him. "We'll just be in my room. We've got some things we need to talk about."
"Door open," Peter warned.
Jen and Keith gave him matching looks of exasperation. "She's twenty-one, and there's five of them, Pete. Cut them some slack," Keith told him. He gave Jen a smile, ruffling her hair. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart. If you need some privacy, go ahead and close your door. I'll find something for him to do."
Jen leaned over to kiss his cheek again. "Thanks, Papa." She tilted her head for the rest of them to follow, ignoring Peter's cry of "But - but Keith! My baby girl!"
Alex Muse is still being a pain about Reinforcements from the Future, but I'm working on it, I swear. -Glares at him-
Fandom/: Power Rangers Time Force, slight crossover with S.P.D. (In Bright Skies universe)
Characters/: Alex
Pairings/: Alex/Jen, Lucas/Trip, Katie/OC, Wes/Eric
Rating/: T
Disclaimer/: Saban/Disney/Whoever sure didn't write *this* into the series. The plot comes purely from my own warped little mind, and the characters are merely borrowed from them for my own amusement. Lucky you.
Summary/: The legacy of Wesley Collins and Eric Myers didn't just affect the past - it affected the future. One thousand years after they became Rangers, one person is still struggling against the corruption of Time Force and the heritage he never wanted.
Warnings/: People used for scientific experimentation, corrupted Time Force, character with self-image issues
Author's Notes/: This chapter was written under the assumption that first of all, the other four Time Force Rangers haven't been seen around Newtech City yet, and also that their trip to the past was 'classified' information. It was also written after deciding that Jen's family is fun to characterize. -Grins-
And yes, I couldn't resist making the family connection here. -Looks sheepish-
For Makia Durron, who made me smile when I woke up today and asked about updates to this and Bright Skies. Which *will* be updated! ... Once A Darker Shade of Red catches up to it. c.c;;
When she said the conversation wasn't over, he assumed he would have a day or two to gather his thoughts, to figure out what he was going to say - or at the very least, make himself scarce to avoid the whole issue for as long as possible. He wasn't expecting her to lead him down to the main entrance to Time Force the moment they left Logan's office, pausing to wait as Trip and Katie joined them. He definitely wasn't expecting to follow Lucas to the parking lot, or to find himself pushed into the back seat of a blue convertible.
He tried to protest. "Wait, what - "
"Get in," Jen said firmly. "We're not talking about this here."
He found himself pinned between the door and Trip a few minutes later, Jen on Trip's other side. Katie had taken the front seat, and Lucas was already pulling out onto the street. Trip leaned into him, and he wrapped an arm around him automatically.
"Where are we going?" he called a few minutes later, not sure if anyone could hear him.
"My parents' house," Jen returned. "We're not talking where Time Force can hear us."
His eyes widened in alarm. "Jen - "
"If anyone even thinks about touching them, they'll have me to deal with," she returned flatly. "Besides, Dad and Papa aren't exactly helpless."
Peter Scotts was a lieutenant of the Newtech City Police Department, and considered to be one of the most highly-decorated members of his unit. He'd taught Jen self-defense since she was little, and despite the animosity between Time Force and the NCPD, had been the strongest supporter of her decision to join Time Force. He claimed that law enforcement was a family tradition, and Jen was following in her ancestors' footsteps. It was trying to live up to that legacy that had left Jen lacking the self-confidence she'd needed when Alex first met her.
Keith on the other hand, was a stay-at-home parent and full-time writer. He wrote children's stories, and Jen had told him more than once about how much she'd loved listening to them growing up. He was a good man, and while not exactly helpless himself - Peter had made sure of that - fighting wasn't exactly his style. On the other hand, Keith, unlike Peter and Jen, had no qualms about calling for help when he needed it.
He sighed. "I don't like this," he muttered finally.
"I don't think we're giving you a choice, Alex," Trip returned, snuggling into his side.
He gave him a dirty look, but Trip wasn't even looking at him.
The drive to the suburbs was prettier than he remembered, and he tried to think about the last time he actually saw Jen's parents. It was before he'd proposed ... Last January maybe? Definitely after Jen got promoted to Squad Leader - Peter had been so thrilled they'd gone out to dinner to celebrate. At least a year now ...
The house looked exactly the same as he remembered it, other than that the plants around the windows had grown a little more. The lawn needed to be mowed again, which meant Peter had probably been putting it off as usual. But the rest of the house hadn't changed at all, and it made him wonder at how well he knew Jen's parents to realize that.
Jen paused as she got out of the car, her eyes looking over the yard and house itself with a hint of wistfulness that still seemed to come over all of them every once in awhile, despite the fact that they'd been home for almost two months now. It took Katie's hand on her shoulder to bring her out of it, and she offered a slightly shaky smile to them all. "Well ... let's go in."
She didn't bother to knock as she pressed her palm to the door, the print lock admitting her instantly. She'd told him once that her parents had always insisted that no matter where she was in her life, they'd never forgive her if she tried to knock when she came home. "Papa? Dad?" she called. "It's Jenny. I brought some friends home with me."
"Jenny!" Keith practically burst out of his office, rushing to engulf his daughter in a tight hug. "Oh, it's good to see you. How've you been?"
She buried her face against his shoulder, clinging tight. "M'fine, Papa," she murmured, voice muffled. "I saw you a week ago, you know." But she made no move to pull away.
They were stuck in the year 2000 for ten months, Alex reminded himself. Practically nothing for a Time Force officer, really - but Jen hadn't seen her parents for almost a year. At some point, she may have wondered if she'd *ever* see them again.
They probably all had.
Keith was studying her with a slight frown when she finally pulled away, reaching up to stroke her cheek. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"
She managed a smile. "I'm fine, Papa. Really. I just missed you."
"Is that my little girl I'm hearing?"
Jen's smile widened as she turned. "Dad! Oomph!"
She laughed as she was squeezed so tight he lifted her off her feet, wrapping her arms tight around Peter's neck. "I missed you too Dad, but I need to breathe!"
Peter set her down, grinning broadly. "It's about time you came home again! Doesn't Time Force allow days off?"
Her smile faltered slightly. "I'm sorry, Dad. We've ... we've just been really busy lately. A lot of things I can't really talk about." She swallowed, and the smile grew bright again. "But that's why I brought my team home with me, so we could all get a break. And I wanted you to meet Lucas and Trip."
"Your team?" Keith echoed, looking curious.
She nodded, turning to gesture to the rest of them. "This is my Ranger team. You know Katie and Alex, but this is Lucas Kendall, and Trip Regis."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Keith said with a smile.
"It's an honor, Sir," Trip said eagerly.
Lucas nodded in agreement, but his own response was cut off as Peter broke in with "Ranger team? You have a *Ranger* team?"
Jen flushed. "Yes. I, um - I'm a Power Ranger."
Peter grabbed her in another bear hug as she shrieked in surprise, roaring in delight. "Keith, did you hear that? Our little girl! She's a - "
"I heard," Keith interrupted, looking amused but just as proud. "What Color, Jenny?"
"Pink," she wheezed, swatting Peter away as he finally set her down. "Lucas is Blue, Katie's Yellow, Trip's Green, and Alex is Red."
"But Jen is our leader," Alex felt obliged to point out.
Peter laughed heartily, wrapping an arm around Jen's shoulder despite her protests. "Of course she is!" he boasted. "Pink, Red, or Yellow, it's still in her blood!"
Jen gave him an odd look, pausing in her squirming to get free. "What are you talking about, Dad?"
He blinked at her, then scowled. "You can't tell me you forgot all those stories I told you when you were little, about the Power Rangers."
She frowned. "Of course not. You always said our family was descended from Rangers."
"Not just *any* Rangers," Peter corrected. "We're descended from the *first* Red Ranger of Earth."
"And one of the Yellow Rangers," Keith reminded him.
Peter waved a hand dismissively, beaming with pride. "There's still leadership in our blood."
Keith raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "So you're saying *my* side doesn't matter, then."
Peter's eyes widened, and Jen ducked away from him with a laugh. "You asked for that one, Dad," she teased, moving to kiss Keith's cheek. "And I'm proud of *both* sides of my family," she assured him.
Keith smiled, squeezing her lightly. "So are you all here just for dinner, or do we get to keep you?"
Her smile turned slightly sheepish. "I was sort of hoping you wouldn't mind if we spent the night. We really needed to get away for awhile."
"Of course not." He kissed her temple, pausing to tuck some hair behind her ear. "You're always welcome here Jenny, you know that. The same goes for your friends." He smiled. "And I haven't made corn chowder for Katie in ages."
Katie brightened instantly. "You're the *best*, Mr. Scotts!"
"What's corn chowder?" Trip wondered.
"The best soup you'll ever try, especially when Jen's papa makes it," Katie assured him, squeezing his arm. "Trust me."
Trip looked puzzled. "Why wouldn't I trust you, Katie?"
Alex nearly jumped as Peter clapped a hand against his shoulder. "So how have you been, Alex? Still keeping an eye on my little girl?"
He had to remind himself for a moment that Peter and Keith hadn't known he and Jen had ever been serious - they'd barely had a chance to tell them they were dating before they'd both been bogged down with work. "I do my best, Sir," he said solemnly. He glanced at Jen out of the corner of his eye. "When she lets me, at least."
Jen rolled her eyes, and Peter laughed. "That's my girl," he said affectionately. "Doesn't let anyone tell her what to do."
"That's for sure," he muttered without meaning to. He started when Peter laughed. Trip and Katie giggled, Lucas gave him an amused look, and Jen scowled at him.
"I'd better get started on dinner," Keith chuckled. "You kids let us know if you need anything."
"We will, Papa," Jen assured him. "We'll just be in my room. We've got some things we need to talk about."
"Door open," Peter warned.
Jen and Keith gave him matching looks of exasperation. "She's twenty-one, and there's five of them, Pete. Cut them some slack," Keith told him. He gave Jen a smile, ruffling her hair. "Don't worry about it, sweetheart. If you need some privacy, go ahead and close your door. I'll find something for him to do."
Jen leaned over to kiss his cheek again. "Thanks, Papa." She tilted her head for the rest of them to follow, ignoring Peter's cry of "But - but Keith! My baby girl!"