Fractured Fates (S.P.D./inSpace Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt 19 ~ safety)
Yeah, I was right. 3:00am hit, and I was wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep. -_-;;
Instead I woke up and wrote this.
Title: Fractured Fates
Author: Tsukino Akume
Relationship: Zhane/Sky Tate, Jack Landors/Syd Drew
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, because I probably wouldn't have done this to it even if I did. This is all purplestripe66's fault.
Warning: Character with depression/health issues
Summary: When Andros put Zhane into cryogenic stasis, he didn't wake up until he was completely healed - twenty-four years later. Zhane finds a new team, and S.P.D. tries to deal with the aftermath.
List of 22: 19 ~ safety
Author's Notes: Pure, unapologetic fluff, people. 'Cause SickZhane is just too cute for words. ^_^
He woke up dark, cold, and alone. His head was stuffy, he couldn't stop shivering, and his eyes were blurry. He was absolutely miserable, and there was no one around to pity and fuss over him.
He got up, tugging a blanket around his shoulders that felt far too thin. It took some effort to find his feet and make sure he didn't stumble. He wandered down the hall with his eyes mostly shut, mentally scanning to make sure he didn't wander into any walls or people. What he was looking for couldn't have been far, and he reached out to find them.
There was a feeling of discontent and melancoly just ahead of him, in what was either the rec lounge or a large closet - he couldn't quite remember. He headed for it, and was pleased to find empty air in front of him. Walking into the door would have been uncomfortable.
"... Zhane?"
The voice was distant and fuzzy, but familiar, and he gravitated towards it. Arms caught him and held, and he smiled sleepily as he saw a blue blur. Ooh ... Sky Shirt.
"What are you doing up? You're supposed to be in bed," the voice reprimanded, but the Sky Shirt was already leading him to the couch. Or a table. It didn't really matter.
He *hated* being sick.
"'lone," he mumbled, because he thought that had been a question somewhere. "Cold."
There was a sigh, and he found himself sitting. The Sky Shirt was in front of him, and he buried his face in it, curling up around it. He made a noise of contentment. *Much* better.
"Comfortable?" the voice asked, sounding amused, and he thought he heard muffled giggling from somewhere.
"Mmm."
People were talking softly around him now, but he felt more relaxed now that he wasn't alone. The blanket he'd brought was wrapped tighter around him, and a hand began to lightly stroke his hair. He smiled sleepily, snuggling closer.
Eventually there was a light brush against his mind, tinged with concern.
He shifted a little, frowning. :: ? ::
:: You okay? :: Bridge's mind voice was soft and soothing.
:: I'm cold, my nose hurts, and everything's a big watery blur, :: he grumbled back. :: So, no. Not really. ::
:: You need anything? ::
:: You could remove my nose, :: he offered. :: That would help. ::
Amusement now. :: Anything else I can do? ::
:: Paopu Juice? :: he asked hopefully. :: And wrap me up in Sky? He's warm. ::
There was a cough from somewhere, and he was shifted to adjust his blanket. Someone tapped his shoulder, and a drink was pressed into his hand. He made a pleased noise, coughed weakly, and moved to take a sip.
Hands took the drink from him instead, and he whined in protest.
"I'm not letting you choke to death," the voice from earlier informed him, sounding frustrated and amused at the same time.
He was pulled up to lean against something, and his drink returned. He sipped it slowly, stopping to yawn and rub a hand at his eyes. This time, he managed to crack them open enough to see that he was leaning on Sky, half in his lap, Bridge on the floor across from them munching something chocolate. Further glancing around revealed Jack and Z on other couches, watching him with half-hidden smiles.
"Morning," Jack offered. "You back among the living?"
He considered. "No," he decided at last, his voice barely a croak. "Your Earth virus killed me."
Z giggled, trying to cover up the sound by taking a drink from her mug. "It's just a cold, Zhane. You'll be fine in a couple of days."
He gave her a dirty look. "I'm dying. Some sympathy here."
"How'd you get sick anyway?" Jack asked, not bothering to hide his grin.
"Dancing," he mumbled, leaning his head against Sky's shoulder again.
There was a long pause.
"Dancing?" Z repeated skeptically.
He nodded, sniffling. Sky put a tissue in his hand, and he turned away from him long enough to blow his nose. "Dancing is fun, but hazardous to your health," he told hem solemnly, handing the tissue back to Sky.
Sky made a face, tossing it to the garbage can. "Thanks," he muttered. He sighed when he realized everyone was still staring at Zhane, and explained. "We were up on the roof in the rain. Zhane didn't want to come in."
He nodded again, reaching for his drink and taking a long sip. "Dancing was more important then. Now ... not so much." He swallowed, setting his drink back down and reaching up to grab Sky's shirt in his free hand. "So what are you all doing up so late?" he yawned.
There was an awkward silence.
"We're trying to decide who's fault it is that the world is going to end," Bridge told him at last.
He frowned, confused. Something about that sentence didn't seem right, and he didn't think it was the cold talking. "Grumm's?"
Sky sighed. "We heard Cruger talking to Kat earlier, about how he wondered sometimes if Grumm would still be around if A Squad hadn't disappeared."
"So we're trying to decide who's fault it is," Bridge finished.
"Mine," sighed a voice from the doorway, and they all looked up as Syd wandered in clutching a large stuffed animal. "I can't sleep. It just keeps swirling around in my head. I'm gonna have bags tomorrow ... " she grumbled. She moved to slump beside Jack on the couch, leaning against him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I spend too much time thinking about me. Me, me, me. *I'm* the reason that we can't win."
"Syd," Z interrupted, giving her a look. "You've also taught us *all* how to be better Rangers."
There was a long silence as everyone contemplated her words.
"I guess you're right. I am great," Syd declared brightly. Then she frowned a little. "You think that's why Cruger became Shadow Ranger? He didn't think we could do it on our own?"
Zhane rubbed at his head, trying to figure out what in the world they were talking about. No matter what way he looked at it, this conversation didn't make any sense. And he was fairly sure by now it still wasn't the cold affecting his ability to think. "What are you all talking about?" he asked grumpily.
Jack sighed, shaking his head and squeezing Syd tighter. "I guess we all let Cruger down in our own way."
"Yeah ... you're probably right," Sky admitted.
Zhane sat up, pushing away from him to look around at them all. "Seriously, what are you all talking about?" he demanded.
"Cruger said if A Squad were here, Grumm would be gone by now," Z explained for him. "And he's right."
"Based on what?" he returned irritably.
"A Squad was a tighter team, S.P.D.'s best," Sky told him. "They had more training and experience. Cruger just threw us all together. We're good, but A Squad's better."
Zhane rubbed his head again. This was giving him a headache. "It's been *my* experience, that the thrown together teams are the ones who come through in the end," he retorted. "Training is good and all, but it's the Rangers with the most heart that win the war. If that was A Squad, they'd still be here right now."
"What does it matter to you?" Syd shot back sulkily. "You're one of the best Rangers we've got. It's not your fault we haven't caught Grumm yet."
He rolled his eyes and winced at the wave of dizziness it produced. "Have we even had an opportunity to capture him yet?" He scowled at them all. "Yeah, Grumm's still out there. But Newtech City is still standing. It's people are still walking the streets without fear. Don't judge your battles by your enemies, judge it by your victories."
There was a long pause.
"That's pretty good advice," Jack admitted finally, his voice low. "Where'd you hear that?"
"My mother," he said bluntly. "The Blue Kerovian Ranger." He eyed Sky. "Blue Rangers have a habit of telling people what they don't want to hear."
That got chuckles out of everyone as Sky made a face at him. "So do Silver Rangers," he retorted.
Zhane shook his head. "Nah, we just tell people when they're being stupid. Which you all are." He leaned back against Sky again, drawing his blanket back around his shoulders with a humph and closing his eyes. "Our fault Grumm's still out there ... honestly," he grumbled to himself.
Sky chuckled, wrapping arms around him and pulling him closer.
"Guys ... " Bridge ventured eventually. "I have a question. Have you ever wondered why Grumm just hasn't destroyed Earth like he did in Alandria?"
There was another pause as everyone considered this.
"If Grumm can destroy Earth from orbit, why doesn't he?" Sky wondered aloud.
"He must need something," Jack offered.
"But what?" Syd demanded. "He already has millions of dollars worth of diamonds."
"Wait a minute, guys," Bridge spoke up, on his feet now and looking anxious. "Grumm tried to steal all that gold, remember?"
Zhane cracked an eye open.
Bridge abruptly clapped his hands together. "I got it! Grumm's master plan is to open up a mega jewelry store ... It's perfect." There was a pause as the others rolled their eyes and sighed. "Okay, maybe it's not that perfect," he admitted.
"Earthians," Zhane mumbled.
Sky poked him lightly in the ribs. "What? You've got a better idea?"
He looked up at him. "Diamonds and gold only have monetary value on Earth," he reminded him. "Other planets use them for building material, not currency. Grumm wouldn't have taken them if he was interested in money."
"So Grumm must be trying to *build* something," Z decided. She paused, looking around for support. "Like a new ship?" she offered.
Sky frowned uncertainly. "Out of gold? It's way too soft a metal."
Bridge paused in chewing on the thumb of his pjs to point at Sky. "But not if he added that iridium that he stole. Iridium can be used to harden all metals."
There was a long moment of silence as they all thought about this.
"Okay," Z declared finally. "So Grumm is looting the Earth of *our* resources to build either a ship, or a giant weapon ... "
"A weapon of that magnitude?" Sky said skeptically. "Would need radioactive material to drive the reactor."
Bridge paused, looking anxious. "What if Grumm got a piece of that meteor that Jack blew up?" he asked urgently. "The radiation would be more than enough."
Zhane shivered slightly at the reminder, and Sky's arms tightened around him again in silent apology.
"So Grumm has everything he *needs* to build ... whatever he's building?" Syd asked, frowning in confusion.
"Except," Jack began slowly. "A synthesizing agent to pull it all together."
"Hemotech Plasma!" everyone chorused.
"Newtech Labratory was raided," Jack reminded them.
Z looked worried. "This is bad. We gotta tell Cruger."
"Tell me what?" a voice demanded from the door.
Immediately everyone started talking at once, and Zhane whimpered pathetically, clutching his head. The voice above him immediately stopped as Sky pulled him close, running a hand over his head again. He buried his face back in his shirt.
"Wait!" Cruger commanded. "Slow down. Rangers, *silence*!"
They shut up, and the only sound was another whimper Zhane couldn't hold back.
"Sorry," Sky whispered in his ear. A kiss pressed lightly against his temple.
"Now, what is this about?" Cruger demanded.
"Sir," Jack began. "We heard what you said to Kat. You think if the A Squad was here we would have already defeated Grumm."
"Apparently you didn't eavesdrop on my conversation long enough," Cruger growled. "If you had, you would have heard Kat and I agree that if A Squad was that good, they would not have fallen into Grumm's hands. As you haven't."
"Told you," Zhane called smugly, his voice muffled against Sky's shirt. He smirked to himself as Sky rubbed his back in another apology.
"Will that be all?" Cruger asked, and from his tone Zhane knew he was rolling his eyes.
"No, Sir," Sky spoke up. "While we were - " He hesitated. "Feeling sorry for ourselves, we realized that Grumm is using resources from this planet to build something very large. It is *our* job as Rangers to protect the planet, and - "
"Yes," Cruger interrupted. "I too believe that Grumm is using our resources against us. The time has come to act. But we'll do it *after* you get some sleep. We need you all in the best of health."
Zhane smiled against Sky's shirt, knowing Cruger was looking at him. "But I'm comfy," he mumbled against Sky's chest.
"Uh huh." Sky sounded amused, but he still gently pushed Zhane away, pulling him to his feet. "Come on. You need rest more than any of us."
Zhane mumbled grumpily as he was led toward the door, his blanket trailing over one shoulder. "Was *trying* to sleep. Not my fault you all wandered off without me."
"And Rangers," Cruger called, making them all pause in the doorway to look back at him. "Make no mistake. The fate of the world rests in your hands."
There was a long silence.
"Thanks, Commander. Now I'll *never* get any sleep," Zhane grouched. "That's *exactly* what I needed to hear." He wandered down the hall, dragging Sky behind him as he grumbled under his breath.
"I think that's the first time I've ever heard you call him Commander," Sky remarked quietly from behind him.
"I'm too tired to care," he retorted. He stopped to sneeze, and Sky's hand came up to rub his back soothingly again.
"Hey, Sky, Zhane?" Bridge called softly.
Zhane turned back to glare at him, because if anyone kept him from crawling back into his bed and dying *one more time* tonight, heads would roll. As soon as he could see straight.
Jack grinned at them, coming up to wrap an arm around Bridge's shoulders. "Bridge is gonna crash with me for the rest of the night," he informed him. "We wanna have a sleepover. No sick people allowed, so go find your own room." He winked suggestively.
Sky rolled his eyes. "Funny, Jack," he retorted, but he led Zhane along toward his room anyway.
Zhane blinked, trying to figure out exactly what just happened, and slowly smiled. :: Thanks, Bridge, :: he called.
:: Try not to share your germs, and we'll call it even. ::
:: I'm not promising anything. ::
And then there was a bed in front of him, and he didn't care that it was covered in blue instead of silver, because it was *there*. He crawled in, smiling at the subtle scent of 'Sky', and sighed happily. Arms slid around him from behind, and a kiss was pressed to the back of his neck. "Comfortable?" Sky teased softly.
He was warm, loved, and safely wrapped in the arms of one of the most important people in his life. Get Andros and the rest of the team in here, and he'd be in heaven.
"Mmm," he agreed, snuggling back against him. "Am now."
He was asleep in minutes.
Instead I woke up and wrote this.
Title: Fractured Fates
Author: Tsukino Akume
Relationship: Zhane/Sky Tate, Jack Landors/Syd Drew
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, because I probably wouldn't have done this to it even if I did. This is all purplestripe66's fault.
Warning: Character with depression/health issues
Summary: When Andros put Zhane into cryogenic stasis, he didn't wake up until he was completely healed - twenty-four years later. Zhane finds a new team, and S.P.D. tries to deal with the aftermath.
List of 22: 19 ~ safety
Author's Notes: Pure, unapologetic fluff, people. 'Cause SickZhane is just too cute for words. ^_^
He woke up dark, cold, and alone. His head was stuffy, he couldn't stop shivering, and his eyes were blurry. He was absolutely miserable, and there was no one around to pity and fuss over him.
He got up, tugging a blanket around his shoulders that felt far too thin. It took some effort to find his feet and make sure he didn't stumble. He wandered down the hall with his eyes mostly shut, mentally scanning to make sure he didn't wander into any walls or people. What he was looking for couldn't have been far, and he reached out to find them.
There was a feeling of discontent and melancoly just ahead of him, in what was either the rec lounge or a large closet - he couldn't quite remember. He headed for it, and was pleased to find empty air in front of him. Walking into the door would have been uncomfortable.
"... Zhane?"
The voice was distant and fuzzy, but familiar, and he gravitated towards it. Arms caught him and held, and he smiled sleepily as he saw a blue blur. Ooh ... Sky Shirt.
"What are you doing up? You're supposed to be in bed," the voice reprimanded, but the Sky Shirt was already leading him to the couch. Or a table. It didn't really matter.
He *hated* being sick.
"'lone," he mumbled, because he thought that had been a question somewhere. "Cold."
There was a sigh, and he found himself sitting. The Sky Shirt was in front of him, and he buried his face in it, curling up around it. He made a noise of contentment. *Much* better.
"Comfortable?" the voice asked, sounding amused, and he thought he heard muffled giggling from somewhere.
"Mmm."
People were talking softly around him now, but he felt more relaxed now that he wasn't alone. The blanket he'd brought was wrapped tighter around him, and a hand began to lightly stroke his hair. He smiled sleepily, snuggling closer.
Eventually there was a light brush against his mind, tinged with concern.
He shifted a little, frowning. :: ? ::
:: You okay? :: Bridge's mind voice was soft and soothing.
:: I'm cold, my nose hurts, and everything's a big watery blur, :: he grumbled back. :: So, no. Not really. ::
:: You need anything? ::
:: You could remove my nose, :: he offered. :: That would help. ::
Amusement now. :: Anything else I can do? ::
:: Paopu Juice? :: he asked hopefully. :: And wrap me up in Sky? He's warm. ::
There was a cough from somewhere, and he was shifted to adjust his blanket. Someone tapped his shoulder, and a drink was pressed into his hand. He made a pleased noise, coughed weakly, and moved to take a sip.
Hands took the drink from him instead, and he whined in protest.
"I'm not letting you choke to death," the voice from earlier informed him, sounding frustrated and amused at the same time.
He was pulled up to lean against something, and his drink returned. He sipped it slowly, stopping to yawn and rub a hand at his eyes. This time, he managed to crack them open enough to see that he was leaning on Sky, half in his lap, Bridge on the floor across from them munching something chocolate. Further glancing around revealed Jack and Z on other couches, watching him with half-hidden smiles.
"Morning," Jack offered. "You back among the living?"
He considered. "No," he decided at last, his voice barely a croak. "Your Earth virus killed me."
Z giggled, trying to cover up the sound by taking a drink from her mug. "It's just a cold, Zhane. You'll be fine in a couple of days."
He gave her a dirty look. "I'm dying. Some sympathy here."
"How'd you get sick anyway?" Jack asked, not bothering to hide his grin.
"Dancing," he mumbled, leaning his head against Sky's shoulder again.
There was a long pause.
"Dancing?" Z repeated skeptically.
He nodded, sniffling. Sky put a tissue in his hand, and he turned away from him long enough to blow his nose. "Dancing is fun, but hazardous to your health," he told hem solemnly, handing the tissue back to Sky.
Sky made a face, tossing it to the garbage can. "Thanks," he muttered. He sighed when he realized everyone was still staring at Zhane, and explained. "We were up on the roof in the rain. Zhane didn't want to come in."
He nodded again, reaching for his drink and taking a long sip. "Dancing was more important then. Now ... not so much." He swallowed, setting his drink back down and reaching up to grab Sky's shirt in his free hand. "So what are you all doing up so late?" he yawned.
There was an awkward silence.
"We're trying to decide who's fault it is that the world is going to end," Bridge told him at last.
He frowned, confused. Something about that sentence didn't seem right, and he didn't think it was the cold talking. "Grumm's?"
Sky sighed. "We heard Cruger talking to Kat earlier, about how he wondered sometimes if Grumm would still be around if A Squad hadn't disappeared."
"So we're trying to decide who's fault it is," Bridge finished.
"Mine," sighed a voice from the doorway, and they all looked up as Syd wandered in clutching a large stuffed animal. "I can't sleep. It just keeps swirling around in my head. I'm gonna have bags tomorrow ... " she grumbled. She moved to slump beside Jack on the couch, leaning against him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I spend too much time thinking about me. Me, me, me. *I'm* the reason that we can't win."
"Syd," Z interrupted, giving her a look. "You've also taught us *all* how to be better Rangers."
There was a long silence as everyone contemplated her words.
"I guess you're right. I am great," Syd declared brightly. Then she frowned a little. "You think that's why Cruger became Shadow Ranger? He didn't think we could do it on our own?"
Zhane rubbed at his head, trying to figure out what in the world they were talking about. No matter what way he looked at it, this conversation didn't make any sense. And he was fairly sure by now it still wasn't the cold affecting his ability to think. "What are you all talking about?" he asked grumpily.
Jack sighed, shaking his head and squeezing Syd tighter. "I guess we all let Cruger down in our own way."
"Yeah ... you're probably right," Sky admitted.
Zhane sat up, pushing away from him to look around at them all. "Seriously, what are you all talking about?" he demanded.
"Cruger said if A Squad were here, Grumm would be gone by now," Z explained for him. "And he's right."
"Based on what?" he returned irritably.
"A Squad was a tighter team, S.P.D.'s best," Sky told him. "They had more training and experience. Cruger just threw us all together. We're good, but A Squad's better."
Zhane rubbed his head again. This was giving him a headache. "It's been *my* experience, that the thrown together teams are the ones who come through in the end," he retorted. "Training is good and all, but it's the Rangers with the most heart that win the war. If that was A Squad, they'd still be here right now."
"What does it matter to you?" Syd shot back sulkily. "You're one of the best Rangers we've got. It's not your fault we haven't caught Grumm yet."
He rolled his eyes and winced at the wave of dizziness it produced. "Have we even had an opportunity to capture him yet?" He scowled at them all. "Yeah, Grumm's still out there. But Newtech City is still standing. It's people are still walking the streets without fear. Don't judge your battles by your enemies, judge it by your victories."
There was a long pause.
"That's pretty good advice," Jack admitted finally, his voice low. "Where'd you hear that?"
"My mother," he said bluntly. "The Blue Kerovian Ranger." He eyed Sky. "Blue Rangers have a habit of telling people what they don't want to hear."
That got chuckles out of everyone as Sky made a face at him. "So do Silver Rangers," he retorted.
Zhane shook his head. "Nah, we just tell people when they're being stupid. Which you all are." He leaned back against Sky again, drawing his blanket back around his shoulders with a humph and closing his eyes. "Our fault Grumm's still out there ... honestly," he grumbled to himself.
Sky chuckled, wrapping arms around him and pulling him closer.
"Guys ... " Bridge ventured eventually. "I have a question. Have you ever wondered why Grumm just hasn't destroyed Earth like he did in Alandria?"
There was another pause as everyone considered this.
"If Grumm can destroy Earth from orbit, why doesn't he?" Sky wondered aloud.
"He must need something," Jack offered.
"But what?" Syd demanded. "He already has millions of dollars worth of diamonds."
"Wait a minute, guys," Bridge spoke up, on his feet now and looking anxious. "Grumm tried to steal all that gold, remember?"
Zhane cracked an eye open.
Bridge abruptly clapped his hands together. "I got it! Grumm's master plan is to open up a mega jewelry store ... It's perfect." There was a pause as the others rolled their eyes and sighed. "Okay, maybe it's not that perfect," he admitted.
"Earthians," Zhane mumbled.
Sky poked him lightly in the ribs. "What? You've got a better idea?"
He looked up at him. "Diamonds and gold only have monetary value on Earth," he reminded him. "Other planets use them for building material, not currency. Grumm wouldn't have taken them if he was interested in money."
"So Grumm must be trying to *build* something," Z decided. She paused, looking around for support. "Like a new ship?" she offered.
Sky frowned uncertainly. "Out of gold? It's way too soft a metal."
Bridge paused in chewing on the thumb of his pjs to point at Sky. "But not if he added that iridium that he stole. Iridium can be used to harden all metals."
There was a long moment of silence as they all thought about this.
"Okay," Z declared finally. "So Grumm is looting the Earth of *our* resources to build either a ship, or a giant weapon ... "
"A weapon of that magnitude?" Sky said skeptically. "Would need radioactive material to drive the reactor."
Bridge paused, looking anxious. "What if Grumm got a piece of that meteor that Jack blew up?" he asked urgently. "The radiation would be more than enough."
Zhane shivered slightly at the reminder, and Sky's arms tightened around him again in silent apology.
"So Grumm has everything he *needs* to build ... whatever he's building?" Syd asked, frowning in confusion.
"Except," Jack began slowly. "A synthesizing agent to pull it all together."
"Hemotech Plasma!" everyone chorused.
"Newtech Labratory was raided," Jack reminded them.
Z looked worried. "This is bad. We gotta tell Cruger."
"Tell me what?" a voice demanded from the door.
Immediately everyone started talking at once, and Zhane whimpered pathetically, clutching his head. The voice above him immediately stopped as Sky pulled him close, running a hand over his head again. He buried his face back in his shirt.
"Wait!" Cruger commanded. "Slow down. Rangers, *silence*!"
They shut up, and the only sound was another whimper Zhane couldn't hold back.
"Sorry," Sky whispered in his ear. A kiss pressed lightly against his temple.
"Now, what is this about?" Cruger demanded.
"Sir," Jack began. "We heard what you said to Kat. You think if the A Squad was here we would have already defeated Grumm."
"Apparently you didn't eavesdrop on my conversation long enough," Cruger growled. "If you had, you would have heard Kat and I agree that if A Squad was that good, they would not have fallen into Grumm's hands. As you haven't."
"Told you," Zhane called smugly, his voice muffled against Sky's shirt. He smirked to himself as Sky rubbed his back in another apology.
"Will that be all?" Cruger asked, and from his tone Zhane knew he was rolling his eyes.
"No, Sir," Sky spoke up. "While we were - " He hesitated. "Feeling sorry for ourselves, we realized that Grumm is using resources from this planet to build something very large. It is *our* job as Rangers to protect the planet, and - "
"Yes," Cruger interrupted. "I too believe that Grumm is using our resources against us. The time has come to act. But we'll do it *after* you get some sleep. We need you all in the best of health."
Zhane smiled against Sky's shirt, knowing Cruger was looking at him. "But I'm comfy," he mumbled against Sky's chest.
"Uh huh." Sky sounded amused, but he still gently pushed Zhane away, pulling him to his feet. "Come on. You need rest more than any of us."
Zhane mumbled grumpily as he was led toward the door, his blanket trailing over one shoulder. "Was *trying* to sleep. Not my fault you all wandered off without me."
"And Rangers," Cruger called, making them all pause in the doorway to look back at him. "Make no mistake. The fate of the world rests in your hands."
There was a long silence.
"Thanks, Commander. Now I'll *never* get any sleep," Zhane grouched. "That's *exactly* what I needed to hear." He wandered down the hall, dragging Sky behind him as he grumbled under his breath.
"I think that's the first time I've ever heard you call him Commander," Sky remarked quietly from behind him.
"I'm too tired to care," he retorted. He stopped to sneeze, and Sky's hand came up to rub his back soothingly again.
"Hey, Sky, Zhane?" Bridge called softly.
Zhane turned back to glare at him, because if anyone kept him from crawling back into his bed and dying *one more time* tonight, heads would roll. As soon as he could see straight.
Jack grinned at them, coming up to wrap an arm around Bridge's shoulders. "Bridge is gonna crash with me for the rest of the night," he informed him. "We wanna have a sleepover. No sick people allowed, so go find your own room." He winked suggestively.
Sky rolled his eyes. "Funny, Jack," he retorted, but he led Zhane along toward his room anyway.
Zhane blinked, trying to figure out exactly what just happened, and slowly smiled. :: Thanks, Bridge, :: he called.
:: Try not to share your germs, and we'll call it even. ::
:: I'm not promising anything. ::
And then there was a bed in front of him, and he didn't care that it was covered in blue instead of silver, because it was *there*. He crawled in, smiling at the subtle scent of 'Sky', and sighed happily. Arms slid around him from behind, and a kiss was pressed to the back of his neck. "Comfortable?" Sky teased softly.
He was warm, loved, and safely wrapped in the arms of one of the most important people in his life. Get Andros and the rest of the team in here, and he'd be in heaven.
"Mmm," he agreed, snuggling back against him. "Am now."
He was asleep in minutes.