Bright Skies (Multi - Season Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt #12: Success, T)
It took forever to get this chapter done. I just haven't been in a crazy/funny mood lately. So I watched the Time Force episode Movie Madness, and read some manga. Then I got this. Which works for me.
I also promised cjmarie that I would pimp her on my LiveJournal, because I found out she has low self-esteem issues. So, if you like Gundam Wing and slash/yaoi - although if you don't like slash/yaoi what are you doing reading *my* LiveJournal - check her out. She's one of the few people who have this amazing ability to make me fall in love with whatever couple she writes, even when it's not one of my favorites.
Bright Skies (Multi - Season Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt #12: Success, T)
Author/: Tsukino Akume
Fandom/: Power Rangers Time Force moving into S.P.D., multiple Rangers from each season
Characters/: Wes (Time Force), multiple Rangers from other teams (Literally too many to list)
Pairings/: Post - Wes/Eric, Rocky/Adam, Shane/Dustin, Hunter/Cam, Carter/Dana, Andros/Ashley, Zhane/Karone, Carlos/Ronny, Jason/Taylor, Conner/Ethan, Justin/Rose, Tommy/Kimberly, Tyzonn/Mack, Cassie/OC, Nick/Maddison, Zack/Aisha, Trent/Kira, Post - Billy/Cestria. Future Ryan/Carter and Billy/Hayley. More couples will most likely be mentioned, but not shown.
prompt/: #12: Success
Rating/: T (For non - graphic mentions of people having babies and being violent with one another)
Disclaimer/: I don't own the Power Rangers, but if Disney's hiring any new writers I volunteer.
Summary/: When Wes' life starts to fall apart, an accident gives him a chance at a fresh start in New Tech City, with Space Patrol Delta. But even a new life has its ups and downs - and weird friends.
Warnings/: A mentally handicapped person living in a medical facility, angst, male and female slash, non - cemented couples (In otherwords, pairings that will be separated), children created by scientific means
Author's Notes/: I've never had a baby, nor been part of the process of seeing one delivered. This was developed through reading the horror stories of others. Criticism is more than welcome.
Wes was jerked awake by the sound of something hitting the wall of his bedroom repeatedly. It took him a few minutes to first of all, remember where he was. The room wasn't nearly as red as it should be, and the bed seemed lower to the ground.
Vanessa's house. The one she'd bought because she insisted she was not raising her child in S.P.D. headquarters. It was bad enough that both of his parents were S.P.D.; the baby was going to have its own life.
He'd moved in with her over the last two months of the pregnancy. She'd been tired a lot, and there'd been a lot of concern about side affects from the accident five months ago. No one in Docs *or* Tech had been able to pinpoint anything, but they'd still warned them to be careful.
Which meant that Vanessa kept threatening him for being too overprotective.
The thumping noise came again, and at last he forced himself out of bed, stumbling through the hall to open the door of the bedroom next to his. "Yes?" he sighed, rubbing at his eyes. Silently he prayed this wasn't yet another 1:00am Jell-O run.
"It's about time," Vanessa snarled back. "I was running out of shoes to throw."
"More Jell-O?" he yawned.
She made a strange sort of grunting noise, and the look on her face made him pause. "No ... " she hissed at last. "I need you to get the ... uhn ... car. Baby's coming."
He'd never woken up so fast in his life. "What, now?!"
She glare she shot him could've frozen fire. "No, in another six hours. Yes, *now*!"
"W - I ... are you sure?" he asked anxiously. "I mean, didn't Dana say it was going to - "
"I've been having contractions since this afternoon, I know what she said! And now *I'm* saying the baby is coming now, and you're going to get the damn car already!"
The tone of her voice gave him a sudden flashback of Jen, and he fought the urge to salute. "Right!"
****
"Wes, pull over."
He dared a glance over his shoulder at the backseat as he dodged traffic with a speed that brought back fond memories of his Vectorcycle. "What, now?"
"I'm - I'm not ... gonna make it to S.P.D.," she groaned, looking pale.
"But - "
"Either find the nearest hospital, or - ah! Or your child is being born in - ooh - this car!"
His eyes widened, and he yanked the wheel to the side, frantically searching for a hospital as he nearly sideswiped another car. "Oh, man," he whimpered. "This kid's gonna be trouble from the start."
"What did you - ah - say?!"
"Nothing, nothing!" His eyes widened, and he spun the wheel with the sort of expertise only a former Ranger could achieve. "Newtech General!" he shouted in relief.
Vanessa screamed and clutched the door, in pain or fear he didn't know.
He threw the car into park by the Emergency Room doors, stumbling as he flung himself out. He burst into the room, looking around frantically for a nurse. "Someone help! My g - my friend's in labor!" he yelled.
It was only later, when he was calm and far more coherent, that he would understand that at 6:00am, the hospital was barely opening its doors. Which is why, at 6:15am, the Triage nurse barely glanced up at him. "Maternity is the next building over," she murmured.
"You don't understand!" he protested. "She's in labor *right now*!"
"Wes!" Vanessa screamed from outside.
"Then I suppose you'd better hurry her over to maternity," the nurse returned, sorting through her paperwork.
He gaped at her.
"*Wes!*"
"Coming!" he called hurriedly, dashing back to the car.
Vanessa did not look well. She was pale, sweating, and obviously in pain. She wasn't even glaring at him anymore. "It hurts ... " she moaned.
"Don't worry, Nes," he tried to assure her, shifting into drive without bothering to put his seatbelt back on. "We're almost there, I promise. It'll be okay. Everything's gonna be fine. Just hang in there."
The nurses in maternity thankfully seemed used to handling such situations. They had Vanessa out of the car almost before he'd finished trying to explain. They were waiting for him when he finished parking, calmly filling in paperwork and offering to let him into the delivery room, asking if there was anyone else they needed to call.
He gave them Dana's extension at S.P.D., along with a vague explanation about having been on their way to have the baby delivered there because she was their personal doctor. At the offer of joining her in the delivery room however, he shuddered. "No thanks. I'd rather not. This was a whole lot easier when the lab took care of everything and just told us when to come see the babies," he muttered, rubbing at his chest as his racing heart finally began to calm and his breathing evened out.
The nurse gave him an odd look, but didn't ask.
****
"He's beautiful, Nes," Wes breathed, running a hand along his son's face as gently as he could.
Vanessa shot him a weary but dark glare. "Call me that one more time, I *dare* you," she growled. "See what nine hours of labor does to my restraint."
"I'm sorry!" he said hastily, holding up his free hand in surrender. "I'm sorry, Vanessa! I won't call you Ne - I won't call you that again!"
"Use both hands to hold the baby, genius!" she snapped, though her angry expression was already beginning to fade. "If you drop him, he'll end up about as smart as you."
"I'd be offended if I weren't too busy staring at him," he returned, smiling lovingly at his child.
The child that should have been *theirs*.
A sudden ache welled in his heart. He wondered how Alex and Ben were now. Were they suffering, the way the morphers had showed him they would? Did they have anyone to show how much they were loved? Did they remember even a little, that they had real parents who *did* want them, who *did* love them?
Would Eric have wanted this child as well, even if he wasn't planned the way the first two were? Would he love him, too? Would he even have wanted to be here, or did he just truly not care anymore?
A soft cry jerked him out of his thoughts, and he looked down at his son. "Don't cry, Kiddo," he soothed, catching the tiny hand with a finger. "It's okay. Daddy's here to protect you."
"Wes ... "
He didn't look up at her, too busy trying to calm their son. "Yeah?"
Vanessa's voice was soft. "Wes, you're one who's crying."
He blinked. "Am I?" Reaching up to brush his cheek with one hand revealed she was right, and he stared at the damp fingers blankly. "Oh." He chuckled. "I guess I am."
"Wes."
He glanced over at her. "Hmm?"
Vanessa sighed, looking down at her lap. When she looked back up again she had a soft, gentle smile as she held out her arms. "Give me the baby, Wes. Let me hold him while you go call."
He frowned, confused. "Call who?"
She sighed again, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "Your father for one, stupid. For another ... " She gave him another soft, understanding smile. "It's time to try, Wes. Call him. He needs to be here for something this important to you."
He froze, holding the baby a little tighter. "What if he doesn't come?" he asked at last, swallowing hard.
"Then you still have us."
****
"E - Eric?" He swallowed again, silently wishing he didn't sound so pathetic. "Look, I ... I know ... it's been awhile. I just ... " He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall of the lounge. "I have another son," he said at last, trying to sound happy and failing. "I don't know if you ever read that letter I mailed you to try and explain ...
"Vanessa uh, she finally had the baby. It's a boy. I'd ... I'd really like for you to see him. Me. Um ... you still have my cell number. I haven't changed it, or anything. We're at New Tech City Medical Center, room 503. It's listed under Vanessa Tate." He paused. "Please call me. I miss you," he whispered.
He hung up his cell phone, staring at it for a long time.
In the seven months since he'd left, Eric hadn't called, written, or so much as checked in with him. He hadn't exactly closed off all chance of contact with him: for one, he'd mailed a letter explaining about Vanessa and the baby when he left, and why and how it had happened. He asked his father about him often, but there was never a hint that Eric was doing the same. There was that one moment, after the accident in the lab when he'd thought ... But that was just wishful thinking. Eric just didn't seem to care anymore.
And maybe it was time to accept that what he had done was unforgivable in Eric's eyes, and move on.
When he returned to the room at last, the baby was asleep and Vanessa was waiting for him. She gestured for him to come closer, never batting an eye when he plopped down in a chair next to the bed and buried his face in her lap. Her fingers gently stroked his hair as he struggled to work through all the emotions going through him right now.
It was a long time before she spoke, and when she did it was one of the last things he'd expected her to say. "What are you naming him?"
He blinked up at her blearily. "Huh?"
"He gets my last name, but I'll let you chose the rest," she told him, her voice booking no argument. Her fingers never stopped.
He was quiet, thinking for a while. At last he realized there was only one name he could give his next son. The one he'd already promised ...
"You know, naming them based on 'A' and 'B' is just stupid. What's the next one gonna be? 'C'?"
"Well, why not? What letter of the alphabet would you use? S?"
A long pause. "Don't laugh."
"Never."
"I ... I always liked the name Skyler." A look that dared him to tease.
"Skyler ... Y'know, I kinda like that, too. Let's name our next kid Skyler."
"Next? What do you mean, 'next'?!"
"Skyler." he said finally. "His name is Skyler Ericson Tate."
-(Goodbye, Eric,)- he thought wistfully as he admired his new baby boy.
I also promised cjmarie that I would pimp her on my LiveJournal, because I found out she has low self-esteem issues. So, if you like Gundam Wing and slash/yaoi - although if you don't like slash/yaoi what are you doing reading *my* LiveJournal - check her out. She's one of the few people who have this amazing ability to make me fall in love with whatever couple she writes, even when it's not one of my favorites.
Bright Skies (Multi - Season Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt #12: Success, T)
Author/: Tsukino Akume
Fandom/: Power Rangers Time Force moving into S.P.D., multiple Rangers from each season
Characters/: Wes (Time Force), multiple Rangers from other teams (Literally too many to list)
Pairings/: Post - Wes/Eric, Rocky/Adam, Shane/Dustin, Hunter/Cam, Carter/Dana, Andros/Ashley, Zhane/Karone, Carlos/Ronny, Jason/Taylor, Conner/Ethan, Justin/Rose, Tommy/Kimberly, Tyzonn/Mack, Cassie/OC, Nick/Maddison, Zack/Aisha, Trent/Kira, Post - Billy/Cestria. Future Ryan/Carter and Billy/Hayley. More couples will most likely be mentioned, but not shown.
prompt/: #12: Success
Rating/: T (For non - graphic mentions of people having babies and being violent with one another)
Disclaimer/: I don't own the Power Rangers, but if Disney's hiring any new writers I volunteer.
Summary/: When Wes' life starts to fall apart, an accident gives him a chance at a fresh start in New Tech City, with Space Patrol Delta. But even a new life has its ups and downs - and weird friends.
Warnings/: A mentally handicapped person living in a medical facility, angst, male and female slash, non - cemented couples (In otherwords, pairings that will be separated), children created by scientific means
Author's Notes/: I've never had a baby, nor been part of the process of seeing one delivered. This was developed through reading the horror stories of others. Criticism is more than welcome.
Wes was jerked awake by the sound of something hitting the wall of his bedroom repeatedly. It took him a few minutes to first of all, remember where he was. The room wasn't nearly as red as it should be, and the bed seemed lower to the ground.
Vanessa's house. The one she'd bought because she insisted she was not raising her child in S.P.D. headquarters. It was bad enough that both of his parents were S.P.D.; the baby was going to have its own life.
He'd moved in with her over the last two months of the pregnancy. She'd been tired a lot, and there'd been a lot of concern about side affects from the accident five months ago. No one in Docs *or* Tech had been able to pinpoint anything, but they'd still warned them to be careful.
Which meant that Vanessa kept threatening him for being too overprotective.
The thumping noise came again, and at last he forced himself out of bed, stumbling through the hall to open the door of the bedroom next to his. "Yes?" he sighed, rubbing at his eyes. Silently he prayed this wasn't yet another 1:00am Jell-O run.
"It's about time," Vanessa snarled back. "I was running out of shoes to throw."
"More Jell-O?" he yawned.
She made a strange sort of grunting noise, and the look on her face made him pause. "No ... " she hissed at last. "I need you to get the ... uhn ... car. Baby's coming."
He'd never woken up so fast in his life. "What, now?!"
She glare she shot him could've frozen fire. "No, in another six hours. Yes, *now*!"
"W - I ... are you sure?" he asked anxiously. "I mean, didn't Dana say it was going to - "
"I've been having contractions since this afternoon, I know what she said! And now *I'm* saying the baby is coming now, and you're going to get the damn car already!"
The tone of her voice gave him a sudden flashback of Jen, and he fought the urge to salute. "Right!"
****
"Wes, pull over."
He dared a glance over his shoulder at the backseat as he dodged traffic with a speed that brought back fond memories of his Vectorcycle. "What, now?"
"I'm - I'm not ... gonna make it to S.P.D.," she groaned, looking pale.
"But - "
"Either find the nearest hospital, or - ah! Or your child is being born in - ooh - this car!"
His eyes widened, and he yanked the wheel to the side, frantically searching for a hospital as he nearly sideswiped another car. "Oh, man," he whimpered. "This kid's gonna be trouble from the start."
"What did you - ah - say?!"
"Nothing, nothing!" His eyes widened, and he spun the wheel with the sort of expertise only a former Ranger could achieve. "Newtech General!" he shouted in relief.
Vanessa screamed and clutched the door, in pain or fear he didn't know.
He threw the car into park by the Emergency Room doors, stumbling as he flung himself out. He burst into the room, looking around frantically for a nurse. "Someone help! My g - my friend's in labor!" he yelled.
It was only later, when he was calm and far more coherent, that he would understand that at 6:00am, the hospital was barely opening its doors. Which is why, at 6:15am, the Triage nurse barely glanced up at him. "Maternity is the next building over," she murmured.
"You don't understand!" he protested. "She's in labor *right now*!"
"Wes!" Vanessa screamed from outside.
"Then I suppose you'd better hurry her over to maternity," the nurse returned, sorting through her paperwork.
He gaped at her.
"*Wes!*"
"Coming!" he called hurriedly, dashing back to the car.
Vanessa did not look well. She was pale, sweating, and obviously in pain. She wasn't even glaring at him anymore. "It hurts ... " she moaned.
"Don't worry, Nes," he tried to assure her, shifting into drive without bothering to put his seatbelt back on. "We're almost there, I promise. It'll be okay. Everything's gonna be fine. Just hang in there."
The nurses in maternity thankfully seemed used to handling such situations. They had Vanessa out of the car almost before he'd finished trying to explain. They were waiting for him when he finished parking, calmly filling in paperwork and offering to let him into the delivery room, asking if there was anyone else they needed to call.
He gave them Dana's extension at S.P.D., along with a vague explanation about having been on their way to have the baby delivered there because she was their personal doctor. At the offer of joining her in the delivery room however, he shuddered. "No thanks. I'd rather not. This was a whole lot easier when the lab took care of everything and just told us when to come see the babies," he muttered, rubbing at his chest as his racing heart finally began to calm and his breathing evened out.
The nurse gave him an odd look, but didn't ask.
****
"He's beautiful, Nes," Wes breathed, running a hand along his son's face as gently as he could.
Vanessa shot him a weary but dark glare. "Call me that one more time, I *dare* you," she growled. "See what nine hours of labor does to my restraint."
"I'm sorry!" he said hastily, holding up his free hand in surrender. "I'm sorry, Vanessa! I won't call you Ne - I won't call you that again!"
"Use both hands to hold the baby, genius!" she snapped, though her angry expression was already beginning to fade. "If you drop him, he'll end up about as smart as you."
"I'd be offended if I weren't too busy staring at him," he returned, smiling lovingly at his child.
The child that should have been *theirs*.
A sudden ache welled in his heart. He wondered how Alex and Ben were now. Were they suffering, the way the morphers had showed him they would? Did they have anyone to show how much they were loved? Did they remember even a little, that they had real parents who *did* want them, who *did* love them?
Would Eric have wanted this child as well, even if he wasn't planned the way the first two were? Would he love him, too? Would he even have wanted to be here, or did he just truly not care anymore?
A soft cry jerked him out of his thoughts, and he looked down at his son. "Don't cry, Kiddo," he soothed, catching the tiny hand with a finger. "It's okay. Daddy's here to protect you."
"Wes ... "
He didn't look up at her, too busy trying to calm their son. "Yeah?"
Vanessa's voice was soft. "Wes, you're one who's crying."
He blinked. "Am I?" Reaching up to brush his cheek with one hand revealed she was right, and he stared at the damp fingers blankly. "Oh." He chuckled. "I guess I am."
"Wes."
He glanced over at her. "Hmm?"
Vanessa sighed, looking down at her lap. When she looked back up again she had a soft, gentle smile as she held out her arms. "Give me the baby, Wes. Let me hold him while you go call."
He frowned, confused. "Call who?"
She sighed again, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. "Your father for one, stupid. For another ... " She gave him another soft, understanding smile. "It's time to try, Wes. Call him. He needs to be here for something this important to you."
He froze, holding the baby a little tighter. "What if he doesn't come?" he asked at last, swallowing hard.
"Then you still have us."
****
"E - Eric?" He swallowed again, silently wishing he didn't sound so pathetic. "Look, I ... I know ... it's been awhile. I just ... " He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall of the lounge. "I have another son," he said at last, trying to sound happy and failing. "I don't know if you ever read that letter I mailed you to try and explain ...
"Vanessa uh, she finally had the baby. It's a boy. I'd ... I'd really like for you to see him. Me. Um ... you still have my cell number. I haven't changed it, or anything. We're at New Tech City Medical Center, room 503. It's listed under Vanessa Tate." He paused. "Please call me. I miss you," he whispered.
He hung up his cell phone, staring at it for a long time.
In the seven months since he'd left, Eric hadn't called, written, or so much as checked in with him. He hadn't exactly closed off all chance of contact with him: for one, he'd mailed a letter explaining about Vanessa and the baby when he left, and why and how it had happened. He asked his father about him often, but there was never a hint that Eric was doing the same. There was that one moment, after the accident in the lab when he'd thought ... But that was just wishful thinking. Eric just didn't seem to care anymore.
And maybe it was time to accept that what he had done was unforgivable in Eric's eyes, and move on.
When he returned to the room at last, the baby was asleep and Vanessa was waiting for him. She gestured for him to come closer, never batting an eye when he plopped down in a chair next to the bed and buried his face in her lap. Her fingers gently stroked his hair as he struggled to work through all the emotions going through him right now.
It was a long time before she spoke, and when she did it was one of the last things he'd expected her to say. "What are you naming him?"
He blinked up at her blearily. "Huh?"
"He gets my last name, but I'll let you chose the rest," she told him, her voice booking no argument. Her fingers never stopped.
He was quiet, thinking for a while. At last he realized there was only one name he could give his next son. The one he'd already promised ...
"You know, naming them based on 'A' and 'B' is just stupid. What's the next one gonna be? 'C'?"
"Well, why not? What letter of the alphabet would you use? S?"
A long pause. "Don't laugh."
"Never."
"I ... I always liked the name Skyler." A look that dared him to tease.
"Skyler ... Y'know, I kinda like that, too. Let's name our next kid Skyler."
"Next? What do you mean, 'next'?!"
"Skyler." he said finally. "His name is Skyler Ericson Tate."
-(Goodbye, Eric,)- he thought wistfully as he admired his new baby boy.