Bright Skies (Multi - Season Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt #51: Red, T)
Seriously crappy day. That's all I'm in the mood to say.
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/: #51: Red
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. Meanwhile, Eric tries to move on.
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, character death
Author's Notes/: Okay, shorter chapter than I'd hoped for. But this is when it felt finished. -Shrugs- Psychoanalyzing Jack is surprisingly easy.
"What are you thinking about?"
Jason jumped, spinning around to glare at him. "Man, Wes! Make some noise next time, would you?"
He grinned. "But it's not as much fun that way." He tilted his head. "Seriously, though. What are you thinking about? You two have been out here for hours."
Jason sighed, turning to watch as his cadet worked his way through the obstacle course yet again. "I'm just ... wondering about Jack, I guess. Maybe feeling a little nostalgic while I'm at it."
Wes raised his eyebrows. "Jason, according everything I've ever been told about you when you first started out as a Ranger, you were *nothing* like Jack was today. If anything, I keep hearing about how you were practically the perfect leader. I think you put us all to shame a long time ago."
Jason snorted. "Thanks for the ego boost Wes, but that wasn't what I meant."
There was a long pause, and at last Wes let out a mental sigh. "So what did you mean?" he prodded gently.
Jason let out a slow breath. "I was scared spitless," he said bluntly. "I mean, looking out for my friends was one thing. I'd been doing that for over a year. But being the leader of the Power Rangers is *completely* different. For months I had nightmares that I was going to get my friends killed."
Slowly, Wes nodded as he started to understand what Jason meant. "I was lucky," he admitted. "Jen was always our leader. But there were times when I had to ... and I hated it. It was terrifying."
Jason sighed. "So, I figured I'd try and understand Jack a little better. Try and get today from his point of view, you know?"
"So what'd you come up with?"
"He's nothing like T.J."
"Thank goodness," Wes muttered under his breath, remembering his own issues with T.J.'s warped sense of humor and the horror stories of his time as a Red. He glanced at Jason again after a moment. "And after that?"
"He's terrified, just like the rest of us," Jason said simply. "But it's worse for Jack, because other than Z, these *aren't* his friends. He doesn't know the other three at all. He's just been told he's responsible for the lives of people he met last week. That's gotta be hard to deal with."
"So he pushed them away by acting like a jerk," Wes realized. He frowned. "Sounds like what Jen tried to do to me - although for slightly different reasons."
Jason folded his arms as Jack stumbled to the finish line once again. "But he only hurt himself when they rejected him. The look on his face when Cruger took his morpher away ... " Jason shook his head.
Wes fought to suppress a surge of jealousy for something he couldn't exactly sympathize on. "He wasn't expecting to already care. That's why he fought so hard to get it back."
Jason nodded. "And he earned his right to keep it, as far as I'm concerned. I haven't seen anyone that hasn't agreed yet."
"You won't get an argument from me," Wes agreed. "He worked for it in that battle; he *wanted* it."
"He needs it," Jason sighed. "That kid's been shattered. He's cocky, but he doesn't really have a lot of self-confidence." He nodded down to the teen who was once again stumbling his way through the obstacle course. "He hides it pretty well, but - "
"But you're a master at getting inside people's heads," Wes interrupted, bemused. "You should have gone into psychology instead of S.P.D."
"Nah. It's more useful as a Ranger."
"True," Wes commented as they went back to watching Jack.
"So I come out here looking for the Brat, and I get a two-for-one special."
"What's up, Eric?" Wes asked absently, observing as Jack stumbled. "You'd better send him back to his room before he breaks something," he warned Jason.
"Or collapses and drowns in the mud," Jason muttered.
"How long have they both been out here, anyway?" Eric spoke up, nodding at the two Rangers below them.
"Jack's been there since Cruger dismissed them," Jason told him. "I think Sky came out sometime after dinner."
Eric huffed in annoyance. "So you've been letting them brood for hours? Why didn't you send them out for some drills or something instead?"
"I think Jack's got his drills covered," Jason said dryly. "And Sky still refuses to look me in the eye. Why do you think I let Cruger deal with them today?"
Wes frowned. "He's still mad at you?"
Jason let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know *what* he is anymore. Sometimes I think it's because he's mad at me, and sometimes I'm getting the impression he thinks *I'm* mad at *him*. Eric, stop infecting Sky. It makes him impossible to deal with."
Wes snorted, while Eric shot Jason a dirty look. "Sure, Jase. Give me a few; I'll suck my poisonous influence right out of him."
"Why are you guys all standing around up here?"
Wes glanced at his son, who was watching them all with folded arms. "We're being teachers, Sky. It happens," he told him with a smile. "Speaking of which, why are you still out here? Shouldn't you be heading in for bed?"
Sky shrugged, glancing down at Jack, who had stopped to take a breath again. "Waiting to see how long he plans on punishing himself."
"Yeah, like you wouldn't know anything about that," Eric retorted.
Sky scowled at him.
"Sky," Jason interrupted. "Get some sleep. I'll make it an order if I have to."
"Sir," Sky muttered, saluting swiftly without meeting Jason's eyes. He walked away quickly, leaving them all staring after him.
"See?!" Jason demanded in exasperation. "What's that about? How am I supposed to talk to the kid if he won't even look at me?"
"Sit on him," Eric suggested. "Always works for me."
Wes sighed, shaking his head at Eric. "Just let him be for a bit, Jase. Sky'll come around eventually. And if he doesn't, I'll talk to him."
"And if that doesn't work, we'll sick Bridge on him," Eric snickered.
Jason chuckled faintly. "Thanks, guys. I'll catch up with you later. I think I've got a cadet to carry to bed."
They remained there for a few minutes, watching as Jason headed down towards an exhausted Jack. The teen started, trying to gesture that he was fine. After a moment, they both looking on in amusement as Jack nearly fell on Jason, and finally allowed himself to be helped back to base.
"So what do you think of Jack?" Wes asked at last.
Eric took a deep breath. "I think the kid's got the heart to be a good leader, if he'd get his head into it. Once he starts realizing that he's stuck with the job whether he likes it or not, he'll grow into it. Eventually."
The corner of Wes' mouth quirked. "Eventually," he agreed. "So what do you think about Sky?"
An arm came around his shoulders, gently but firmly steering him towards the parking lot. "I think the kids aren't the only ones who need to get to bed, and Sky is a problem for another day. Now come on, before Vanessa starts calling people to make sure you haven't fallen off a cliff somewhere."
Wes smiled faintly, and found himself leaning slightly against the arm. "Worrywart."
"Yeah, she is."
"I wasn't talking about Nes."
"Yes, you were. Because if you weren't, you're about to fall over."
His smile widened. "Whatever you say, Eric."