10_hurt_comfort fic: "Tangled", Bridge/Sky, G
Title: Tangled
Author: shurifanstuffs
Fandom & Pairing Power Rangers S.P.D., Bridge/Sky
Prompt: #2 Collapse/Fainting
Rating: G
Summary: Bridge receives a serious injury while out on patrol... and afterwards, Sky can't stop thinking about him.
Notes: Takes place some time after the episode "Missing".
Bridge was in a bind.
Literally.
A plant monster had him tightly bound up in its vines, with a few little thorns poking into his skin, his morpher and motorcycle helmet carelessly tossed about 15 feet away. One vine was wrapped around his mouth so that he couldn't even cry out for help. Oh, and his motorcycle was also a smoking wreck several feet away.
Nothing too serious.
The monster had attacked him from behind while he was out on patrol, snuck up behind him and plucked him right off his bike with its vines. Now it appeared to be considering whether he would be tasty. Perhaps it was his green uniform, which must have looked very appetizing to a plant.
Bridge sized up the situation and decided that trying to wriggle free would be his best option, even if the thorns did hurt. He jerked his right arm as hard as he could, wincing when he was rewarded only with pain, and then relaxed, trying to figure another way out of this predicament, since that obviously would not work. He could, of course, wait for the others to come and rescue him, but they might not detect the monster for a while, and then where would he be? He twisted his body around to get a good look at the monster... only to give a stifled cry when it began drawing him closer, a large mouth opening in the middle of its body. Another vine raised toward him, with a larger thorn on it. Oh, of course it speared its prey. Just his luck. Bridge began to struggle wildly, his mind rushing in panic, until-
His heart leapt when blaring sirens, screeching tires and slamming doors heralded the arrival of his fellow Rangers. He was then lifted high in the air; now hanging upside-down, he watched Sky, Jack, Syd and Z advance cautiously, all of them morphed with weapons drawn.
"Careful, guys," he heard Jack warn. "That thing might hurt him if we get too close." Even though he was confident they would rescue him, Bridge still could have sworn his heart was going to pound its way out of his chest as they fanned out in a circle, keeping their lasers trained on the monster, even as it began to draw him back toward its mouth. "S.P.D.!" Jack shouted, showing his morpher. "Put our friend down or we'll have to use force!" Bridge let out another muffled cry of dismay when the monster screeched loudly- then a yell of pain when the other vine wrapped around him, the huge thorn digging into his side.
"PUT HIM DOWN, FREAK!" Sky bellowed. Bridge looked pleadingly at the others to help him, but for some reason, he was beginning to feel happy... numb... woozy... everything was swimming in and out of focus... what was happening? He was going to get eaten, why should he feel happy?
"Ow," he heard himself say as he landed hard, the vines retreated, and someone began gently slapping his face.
"Snap out of it, Bridge!" said a female voice. Syd. Oh, yeah, the pink should've been a clue...
"What did that thing do to him?" Sky asked, sounding scared. But Sky was never scared. "Bridge? Bridge, can you hear me?"
"Uh-huh," Bridge managed thickly, sitting up, then nearly passing out when he felt a sharp pain in his side, clutching it. "Ow..."
"You're hurt," said Sky, helping him up, and Bridge shook his head, forcing himself to focus, some clarity returning to his thoughts, probably helped by the pain. Okay. The monster was still there, Jack and Z struggling to fight it off and dodge its flailing vines. And he, Bridge, was the Green Ranger. He had to help them fight... it was his duty.
"It's nothing," he lied. "I think I was just stunned. Where's my morpher?"
"Here," said Sky, holding it up, but hesitated when Bridge reached for it. "Maybe you should go back to base... one of us will take you, we can call for Cruger's help to deal with-"
"I'm fine," Bridge insisted, grabbing his morpher.
"Are you sure?" Syd asked. "We don't want you ending up even worse."
"I'll be alright," said Bridge, pounding the side of his head, trying to keep himself in reality. He knew he was hurt, and wasn't quite sure why he was refusing help... except that perhaps the monster was still there, people were in danger, his friends were in danger, and he knew that they'd struggle without him- "S.P.D., Emergency!"
Morphing helped. It enhanced his body's physical abilities, as usual, and seemed to dull the pain in his side a lot, as well bring some more clarity back to his thoughts and his vision. However, the effect was only temporary. As the battle wore on, he struggled more and more to stay upright, to ignore the growing pain his wound caused, the way his muscles were beginning to get relaxed and slack, his vision sliding in and out of focus once more in spite of his attempts to stay upright...
He was barely aware that Jack had judged and confined the criminal before long. Or that the others rushed over to him as soon as the battle was over, because he was now swaying drunkenly. He could hear his friends' voices, could feel their worry and concern, but somehow it didn't matter so much-
"He's bleeding. Damnit, he shouldn't have been fighting! We have to get him back to the base-"
"It'd be better if he demorphed first. Isn't there any way we can force it?"
Demorphing. That sounded like a good idea.
"There he goes. Come on, Bridge, we'll get you back home." Bridge nodded and started climbing into the back of the Delta Cruiser, but he couldn't. His arms didn't seem to want to lift up- things were blurrier and blurrier around him, spinning- then his legs buckled underneath him, and he knew no more.
* * *
"Sky? Hey, Sky. ...SKY!"
"Huh?"
"What's the matter with you?" Z wanted to know. She, Jack, Syd and Sky had been turned around sent back to where the plant monster had attacked to see if they could gather any evidence almost as soon as they'd gotten Bridge back to the base. Kat and Dr. Felix were tending to him; they were sure that he'd live, but didn't know exactly what was wrong with him. They speculated that the monster had injected him with some kind of poison and hoped that the other Rangers could find some trace of it.
"Sorry," said Sky, shaking his head and gingerly approaching the untouched pile of twisted metal that had once been Bridge's patrol bike. "I just spaced out for a minute."
"You never space out," said Jack, coming over to help. "Seriously, is there something wrong, buddy? You can tell us."
"I'm worried about Bridge," said Sky with a shrug. "Is that wrong?"
"No," Jack admitted. "it's not. We all are. But we need to focus here- this is important."
"I know," said Sky, forcing himself to come back to the present.
When it was clear that nothing useful would be garnered from the crime scene and that C-Squad would be able to move in and clean it up, however, his mind began to wander again.
He was worried about Bridge, it was true, but that was only the half of it. He couldn't stop thinking about his friend, going over the battle and the aftermath in his mind- the way he'd soldiered on and fought even though blood was seeping through his Ranger costume, the way he'd collapsed... his face, going so pale...
Sky had no idea why this was impeding his concentration so much, why this was affecting him so badly. After all, Bridge had come close to dying once before, when he'd been kidnapped by a criminal named Bork and locked in a death-trap room, and that hadn't stopped Sky from doing his duty, from following orders.
Then again, he countered himself, that time we had a definite job to do. We had to find Bridge and fight off Bork. This time, our "job" was nothing more than busywork to get us out of the base so we're not hovering around the infirmary. Maybe that's why...
As the day wore on, however, even knowing that there was a plausible reason he felt like this, Sky still couldn't concentrate and kept berating himself for this fact. Even at his lowest points, he tended to not get this fixated on things, and usually a good workout or doing his normal duties was enough to get his mind back on what was important.
"Cadet Tate, what is the MATTER with you?" Commander Cruger finally asked impatiently, as he watched Sky backtrack and re-input the crime report data he'd mis-entered for about the tenth straight time. "I'd like that report done soon, please, so that we can get that criminal shipped off for sentencing."
"I'm sorry, sir," said Sky, looking at his screen, feeling disgusted with himself. Once more, he couldn't stop thinking about Bridge. This time, it had been accompanied by horrible images running through his mind, and Sky imagined what might have happened to Bridge if they hadn't gotten there in time-
"I know you are worried about him," said the Commander, as though he could read Sky's mind, and Sky, brought crashing back to reality once more, turned to look at him. Cruger's eyes were full of concern, and his voice was a strangely-gentle growl. "But he is getting the best care we can offer right now. Kat and Dr. Felix know what they are doing. Believe me, if it were more serious, you really would have reason to worry." Sky nodded, then hung his head, ashamed of how he was acting. "...Why don't you let Jack finish this up for you? That is not a reprimand," Cruger added hastily when Sky opened his mouth to protest, "but your mind is quite clearly elsewhere, and if you cannot concentrate, then your report could be sent out unfinished or filled with mistakes." Sky, inwardly indignant even though he knew Cruger was right, stood up and saluted him.
"Yes, sir."
"Perhaps you should go for a walk or work out," Cruger suggested. "I find that usually helps me to take my mind off of things."
"Sir," said Sky, nodding, and without another word he left Delta Command as fast as he could, feeling even more ashamed of himself, his face burning with embarrassment.
It's no good speculating about what might have happened, right? He's alive. He's still with us. So STOP BEING OBSESSED WITH THIS.
The sun had nearly set, so Sky only went for a short walk through the streets, and in spite of himself his thoughts turned back to Bridge once more. The feelings he had now were all too familiar, because they'd come after his kidnapping by Bork- regret about the fact that he, Sky, often teased, was impatient with, or (his stomach clenched with guilt) even downright mean to Bridge. He considered Bridge to be his best friend, but he was forced to admit for the second time in recent memory that he often treated him like crap.
OK. I acknowledge that, I'm trying to fix that, so why can't I let this go? Why do I feel like there's something else I can't see here?
Sky's only consolation as he came back into the base and began to get ready for bed was that at least Bridge was going to be OK. And he was going to make an even greater effort from now on to be nicer to him... and perhaps find out what his other feelings were.
* * *
The door to the infirmary was shut tight when Sky approached it the next morning, and he couldn't help but feel a stab of annoyance. There had been frequent reassurances from Kat and Dr. Felix that Bridge was fine and conscious, so why weren't the others allowed to see him?
"Sky?" He turned to see Kat walking toward him, holding a clipboard. "I was just coming to look for you and the others- I was going to let all of you in for a little bit. He's still far from feeling like himself, but he keeps asking to see you guys, so I finally talked Dr. Felix into letting all of you in for a little while. Why don't you go on in, and I'll send Jack, Syd and Z along when I find them?"
"Sure," said Sky. "Thanks, Kat."
"My pleasure," she replied, then added to the door, "Open. Lock override K-M-2-1-9-7." It slid open, and Sky crept in as quickly as he could. Bridge was propped up in the bed furthest from the door, dressed in pajamas with the top open to reveal that his injured side was heavily bandaged. He smiled at Sky, who noticed that he looked very pale.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," said Sky, smiling back. "...You look awful."
"So do you," Bridge pointed out. "Slept badly?" Sky nodded, hovered for a moment, then leaned in to hug Bridge, who returned the embrace before he suddenly began making gagging noises, looking ill.
"What is it?" Sky asked, alarmed, but before either of them could stop it, before Bridge could even fully let go-
"Oh, dear," tutted Dr. Felix as he came into the infirmary, shooing Sky away and pushing Bridge back down onto his bed. "I told Dr. Manx that you shouldn't eat anything yet, but she wouldn't hear it!"
"Sorry," Bridge apologized to Sky, ashen-faced, as the Blue Ranger tried very hard to not look at his vomit-covered uniform jacket while he took it off.
"What's all the commotion?" Jack asked from the doorway as he and the girls entered, then recoiled slightly. "Oh!"
"Yeah, we picked a bad time to say good morning," said Bridge weakly. Dr. Felix shook his head then said severely to the Rangers,
"15 minutes, then the four of you need to leave and let Mr. Carson rest. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Jack and the girls chorused sweetly, then Z and Syd stuck their tongues out at him as soon as he'd left the room.
"So, Bridge, besides the whole puking-on-Sky thing, how do you feel?" Z asked as they pulled up chairs around their friend's bedside. Sky draped his soiled jacket over the back of his chair, figuring he'd have plenty of time to change clothes as soon as they were done.
"Awful," Bridge admitted, wincing and holding his side as he sat up. "Kat figured out that the monster got me with a tranquilizer, to make me stop struggling. I don't remember anything after it first attacked me or most of last night, just that I kept throwing up to try and get the poison out of my system."
"Poor Bridgey," Syd said, gingerly patting his shoulder. "I'd hug you, but, you know."
"I know. Sorry about that," Bridge said to Sky. "I did that to Kat once or twice, too, so you're not alone." Jack and Z snickered.
"Don't worry about it," said Sky. "I can get this washed, no big deal."
"And if it makes you feel any better, we made sure we took that monster down," Z told him. "They're likely going to get it on charges of assaulting an S.P.D. officer."
"That was quite a battle, huh? Too bad you don't remember it," said Jack. "I kept expecting it to run out of vines to lash at us with."
"Tell me about it," said Z. "It was like trying to climb through a jungle gym or something. S.P.D. training needs to include something about 'swinging on vines like monkeys'." The others began to laugh, but Sky shushed them, pointing at Bridge, who'd fallen back asleep.
"Aww... he's got to be pretty tired," Syd said. "Come on... Dr. Felix is probably about to come shoo us out anyway." She, Jack, Z and Sky got up, the former three beginning to walk out. "...Let's go, Sky," she said when he hesitated.
"Sure," said Sky, hiding a fond smile as he looked at the sleeping Bridge before taking up his jacket and following the others out.
* * *
By his third day in the infirmary, Bridge was horribly bored. Kat and Dr. Felix both agreed that he wasn't going to be able to return to action for a while, and he was still too sore to get out of bed and walk for too long, but that didn't solve the problem of boredom. He couldn't go to the lab and help Boom invent things. He couldn't do any of his usual duties, even computer work. He also felt pangs of guilt every time the alarms went off, even though it wasn't his fault that he was laid up in bed, because his friends had to fight without him. At least the others came to visit as often as they could- especially Sky, which Bridge had to admit to himself he found a little odd, as he normally wasn't one to worry and- dare Bridge say it? Fuss as much as he was.
"It's... it's because I keep having nightmares," Sky finally confessed when Bridge kept prodding him about why he was spending every free moment in the infimary, even staying up late. "Every time I go to sleep..."
"About what?" Bridge asked, curious. He watched as Sky got up and began to drift across the room, not looking at him.
"...You're probably gonna think it's ridiculous..."
"Why would I?" Bridge wanted to know. "Come on, spit it out."
"Alright. Alright. I... I keep dreaming that the monster killed you," Sky mumbled, standing at the window and staring out it. "It's always very vivid. I know it's just a dream, but..." Bridge took off a glove to read Sky's aura to find that he was genuinely shaken and unsettled. He came back over to Bridge's bedside, shrugging.
"It is a dream, but I can see why that'd be upsetting," said Bridge quietly.
"...Yeah." Sky sat back down in his usual chair, not looking at Bridge. A long silence stretched between them before Sky finally said, "It's just... this... and the thing with Bork... it's making me think about... what life would be like without you."
"Oh... oh," said Bridge, shifting uncomfortably.
"Yeah. And I know there are times when-" Bridge held up a hand, knowing what was coming and feeling a sudden surge of affection for his best friend.
"Don't go on, I know what you're going to say," he told Sky, who pursed his lips, looking annoyed. "You're going to apologize for being an insufferable jerk, vow that you're going to be a better person from now on, then in a few weeks you'll be back to your old self." Sky looked thoroughly put out now, so Bridge sighed, cursing to himself for being tactless, and reached out. "Come here."
"...Alright." The two embraced, and Bridge told Sky,
"I'm not belittling you, OK? You could stand to be a little less abrasive and more open, yes, but I love you just the way you are." Bridge's eyes widened when he realized what he'd said- he hadn't intended for "love" to slip out- but much to his surprise, Sky's grip suddenly tightened on him, instead of pulling away as he expected.
"...I love you, too, Bridge," he said, so quietly Bridge thought he might have imagined it if he didn't see that Sky was as red as a tomato when they'd pulled away from each other. "I really mean that. And I really mean that I'm going to change this time, too."
"I believe you," said Bridge, smiling at him. Sky couldn't help but smile back at him.
* * *
Sky felt like his head was constantly spinning. His nightmares had gone away after Bridge had said he'd loved him, and Sky had told him he loved him back... but he didn't know what Bridge had meant by "love". Sky wasn't sure what he himself had meant.
He thought at first he simply loved Bridge as a friend- a close friend- as the two had come to consider themselves best friends in spite of their differences.
But could something more have happened, and Sky was oblivious to it? If it was just friendship and brotherly love he felt, would he be so uncertain?
In any case, the two of them hadn't mentioned what they'd said to each other since it had happened a week ago, but Sky was looking for a chance to talk about it. He wanted to know. He had to have his mind put at ease, his feelings about Bridge made clear- and he was the best person to discern it. An opportunity finally presented itself- Bridge was let out of the infirmary after spending nearly two weeks in it, and though he wasn't ready to return to Ranger duty again, he could at least sleep in his and Sky's room like normal. Sky waited up for him when he came back to their room, still dressed in his pajamas.
"Hey," said Bridge. "I thought you'd be asleep. I would have been here sooner, but you know Dr. Felix- he wanted to check me again, then I kept running into people on the way back and they wouldn't let me go... but... here I am." Sky sat up, and Bridge gingerly sat down on the bed next to him.
"You're not going to throw up on me again, are you?" he asked, and Bridge gave him a startled look before he laughed.
"No. I'm just glad you're up... I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh?" Sky asked, feeling his heart begin to pound. Bridge swallowed hard, then began to babble, telling Sky that he was nervous and uncertain too.
"I just wanted to make sure you know that when I said I loved you that you know I did mean 'love' but not 'love' as in love, love, because of course that'd be really inappropriate, and you're my best friend and I hope you feel the same way too, unless you meant 'love' in a different way than friendship, which isn't very likely but still possible, because stranger things have happened-" He was silenced when Sky pressed two fingers down on his mouth to shush him.
"I don't know what kind of 'love' I meant," he said. "...I'm so confused. I can't stop thinking about this. I have no idea why I am, either."
"...So you're not the only one?" Bridge sounded relieved, and Sky felt his heart beating even faster. "...I really, really like you, Sky."
"I like you, too," Sky said, feeling awkward, not knowing what else to say.
"I just want you to know, though... if you don't feel that same way about me... I'd be fine with that. I'd rather keep our friendship the way it is than wreck it by making you uncomfortable." He turned his head to look at Sky, who stared back, still not knowing what to say. He then sat up next to Bridge, pulling the other man into a hug, which Bridge readily returned... and before Sky really knew what he was doing, he'd taken one of Bridge's hands into his, gently holding it. Bridge looked down when they'd pulled apart, then gave him a soft, shy smile in return. Sky put his other arm around Bridge, careful not to touch his still-healing wound, and Bridge leaned against him, feeling a sudden rush of giddiness. "Sky..."
"I don't know what... this is. Just that it feels like what I should be doing. I'm still not really sure how I feel-"
"Then stop thinking about it," Bridge advised. "You're only going to make your head hurt, and if you have a headache you're gonna be cranky and it'll ruin a sweet moment between us-" He was silenced again by a hand over his mouth.
"Then you don't get to ruin it by rambling, either. ...Dork." Bridge pulled Sky's hand away and grinned, shifting and slowly laying his head on Sky's shoulder. Sky felt himself being filled with an unfamiliar warmth more and more the longer they sat together like this, his confusion giving way to contentment- even happiness. When Bridge began falling asleep, Sky led him over to his bed and helped him into it, then lay down in his own, watching him, thinking he understood how he felt now- and that it was simply wonderful.
(Cross-posted to 10_hurt_comfort)
Author: shurifanstuffs
Fandom & Pairing Power Rangers S.P.D., Bridge/Sky
Prompt: #2 Collapse/Fainting
Rating: G
Summary: Bridge receives a serious injury while out on patrol... and afterwards, Sky can't stop thinking about him.
Notes: Takes place some time after the episode "Missing".
Bridge was in a bind.
Literally.
A plant monster had him tightly bound up in its vines, with a few little thorns poking into his skin, his morpher and motorcycle helmet carelessly tossed about 15 feet away. One vine was wrapped around his mouth so that he couldn't even cry out for help. Oh, and his motorcycle was also a smoking wreck several feet away.
Nothing too serious.
The monster had attacked him from behind while he was out on patrol, snuck up behind him and plucked him right off his bike with its vines. Now it appeared to be considering whether he would be tasty. Perhaps it was his green uniform, which must have looked very appetizing to a plant.
Bridge sized up the situation and decided that trying to wriggle free would be his best option, even if the thorns did hurt. He jerked his right arm as hard as he could, wincing when he was rewarded only with pain, and then relaxed, trying to figure another way out of this predicament, since that obviously would not work. He could, of course, wait for the others to come and rescue him, but they might not detect the monster for a while, and then where would he be? He twisted his body around to get a good look at the monster... only to give a stifled cry when it began drawing him closer, a large mouth opening in the middle of its body. Another vine raised toward him, with a larger thorn on it. Oh, of course it speared its prey. Just his luck. Bridge began to struggle wildly, his mind rushing in panic, until-
His heart leapt when blaring sirens, screeching tires and slamming doors heralded the arrival of his fellow Rangers. He was then lifted high in the air; now hanging upside-down, he watched Sky, Jack, Syd and Z advance cautiously, all of them morphed with weapons drawn.
"Careful, guys," he heard Jack warn. "That thing might hurt him if we get too close." Even though he was confident they would rescue him, Bridge still could have sworn his heart was going to pound its way out of his chest as they fanned out in a circle, keeping their lasers trained on the monster, even as it began to draw him back toward its mouth. "S.P.D.!" Jack shouted, showing his morpher. "Put our friend down or we'll have to use force!" Bridge let out another muffled cry of dismay when the monster screeched loudly- then a yell of pain when the other vine wrapped around him, the huge thorn digging into his side.
"PUT HIM DOWN, FREAK!" Sky bellowed. Bridge looked pleadingly at the others to help him, but for some reason, he was beginning to feel happy... numb... woozy... everything was swimming in and out of focus... what was happening? He was going to get eaten, why should he feel happy?
"Ow," he heard himself say as he landed hard, the vines retreated, and someone began gently slapping his face.
"Snap out of it, Bridge!" said a female voice. Syd. Oh, yeah, the pink should've been a clue...
"What did that thing do to him?" Sky asked, sounding scared. But Sky was never scared. "Bridge? Bridge, can you hear me?"
"Uh-huh," Bridge managed thickly, sitting up, then nearly passing out when he felt a sharp pain in his side, clutching it. "Ow..."
"You're hurt," said Sky, helping him up, and Bridge shook his head, forcing himself to focus, some clarity returning to his thoughts, probably helped by the pain. Okay. The monster was still there, Jack and Z struggling to fight it off and dodge its flailing vines. And he, Bridge, was the Green Ranger. He had to help them fight... it was his duty.
"It's nothing," he lied. "I think I was just stunned. Where's my morpher?"
"Here," said Sky, holding it up, but hesitated when Bridge reached for it. "Maybe you should go back to base... one of us will take you, we can call for Cruger's help to deal with-"
"I'm fine," Bridge insisted, grabbing his morpher.
"Are you sure?" Syd asked. "We don't want you ending up even worse."
"I'll be alright," said Bridge, pounding the side of his head, trying to keep himself in reality. He knew he was hurt, and wasn't quite sure why he was refusing help... except that perhaps the monster was still there, people were in danger, his friends were in danger, and he knew that they'd struggle without him- "S.P.D., Emergency!"
Morphing helped. It enhanced his body's physical abilities, as usual, and seemed to dull the pain in his side a lot, as well bring some more clarity back to his thoughts and his vision. However, the effect was only temporary. As the battle wore on, he struggled more and more to stay upright, to ignore the growing pain his wound caused, the way his muscles were beginning to get relaxed and slack, his vision sliding in and out of focus once more in spite of his attempts to stay upright...
He was barely aware that Jack had judged and confined the criminal before long. Or that the others rushed over to him as soon as the battle was over, because he was now swaying drunkenly. He could hear his friends' voices, could feel their worry and concern, but somehow it didn't matter so much-
"He's bleeding. Damnit, he shouldn't have been fighting! We have to get him back to the base-"
"It'd be better if he demorphed first. Isn't there any way we can force it?"
Demorphing. That sounded like a good idea.
"There he goes. Come on, Bridge, we'll get you back home." Bridge nodded and started climbing into the back of the Delta Cruiser, but he couldn't. His arms didn't seem to want to lift up- things were blurrier and blurrier around him, spinning- then his legs buckled underneath him, and he knew no more.
* * *
"Sky? Hey, Sky. ...SKY!"
"Huh?"
"What's the matter with you?" Z wanted to know. She, Jack, Syd and Sky had been turned around sent back to where the plant monster had attacked to see if they could gather any evidence almost as soon as they'd gotten Bridge back to the base. Kat and Dr. Felix were tending to him; they were sure that he'd live, but didn't know exactly what was wrong with him. They speculated that the monster had injected him with some kind of poison and hoped that the other Rangers could find some trace of it.
"Sorry," said Sky, shaking his head and gingerly approaching the untouched pile of twisted metal that had once been Bridge's patrol bike. "I just spaced out for a minute."
"You never space out," said Jack, coming over to help. "Seriously, is there something wrong, buddy? You can tell us."
"I'm worried about Bridge," said Sky with a shrug. "Is that wrong?"
"No," Jack admitted. "it's not. We all are. But we need to focus here- this is important."
"I know," said Sky, forcing himself to come back to the present.
When it was clear that nothing useful would be garnered from the crime scene and that C-Squad would be able to move in and clean it up, however, his mind began to wander again.
He was worried about Bridge, it was true, but that was only the half of it. He couldn't stop thinking about his friend, going over the battle and the aftermath in his mind- the way he'd soldiered on and fought even though blood was seeping through his Ranger costume, the way he'd collapsed... his face, going so pale...
Sky had no idea why this was impeding his concentration so much, why this was affecting him so badly. After all, Bridge had come close to dying once before, when he'd been kidnapped by a criminal named Bork and locked in a death-trap room, and that hadn't stopped Sky from doing his duty, from following orders.
Then again, he countered himself, that time we had a definite job to do. We had to find Bridge and fight off Bork. This time, our "job" was nothing more than busywork to get us out of the base so we're not hovering around the infirmary. Maybe that's why...
As the day wore on, however, even knowing that there was a plausible reason he felt like this, Sky still couldn't concentrate and kept berating himself for this fact. Even at his lowest points, he tended to not get this fixated on things, and usually a good workout or doing his normal duties was enough to get his mind back on what was important.
"Cadet Tate, what is the MATTER with you?" Commander Cruger finally asked impatiently, as he watched Sky backtrack and re-input the crime report data he'd mis-entered for about the tenth straight time. "I'd like that report done soon, please, so that we can get that criminal shipped off for sentencing."
"I'm sorry, sir," said Sky, looking at his screen, feeling disgusted with himself. Once more, he couldn't stop thinking about Bridge. This time, it had been accompanied by horrible images running through his mind, and Sky imagined what might have happened to Bridge if they hadn't gotten there in time-
"I know you are worried about him," said the Commander, as though he could read Sky's mind, and Sky, brought crashing back to reality once more, turned to look at him. Cruger's eyes were full of concern, and his voice was a strangely-gentle growl. "But he is getting the best care we can offer right now. Kat and Dr. Felix know what they are doing. Believe me, if it were more serious, you really would have reason to worry." Sky nodded, then hung his head, ashamed of how he was acting. "...Why don't you let Jack finish this up for you? That is not a reprimand," Cruger added hastily when Sky opened his mouth to protest, "but your mind is quite clearly elsewhere, and if you cannot concentrate, then your report could be sent out unfinished or filled with mistakes." Sky, inwardly indignant even though he knew Cruger was right, stood up and saluted him.
"Yes, sir."
"Perhaps you should go for a walk or work out," Cruger suggested. "I find that usually helps me to take my mind off of things."
"Sir," said Sky, nodding, and without another word he left Delta Command as fast as he could, feeling even more ashamed of himself, his face burning with embarrassment.
It's no good speculating about what might have happened, right? He's alive. He's still with us. So STOP BEING OBSESSED WITH THIS.
The sun had nearly set, so Sky only went for a short walk through the streets, and in spite of himself his thoughts turned back to Bridge once more. The feelings he had now were all too familiar, because they'd come after his kidnapping by Bork- regret about the fact that he, Sky, often teased, was impatient with, or (his stomach clenched with guilt) even downright mean to Bridge. He considered Bridge to be his best friend, but he was forced to admit for the second time in recent memory that he often treated him like crap.
OK. I acknowledge that, I'm trying to fix that, so why can't I let this go? Why do I feel like there's something else I can't see here?
Sky's only consolation as he came back into the base and began to get ready for bed was that at least Bridge was going to be OK. And he was going to make an even greater effort from now on to be nicer to him... and perhaps find out what his other feelings were.
* * *
The door to the infirmary was shut tight when Sky approached it the next morning, and he couldn't help but feel a stab of annoyance. There had been frequent reassurances from Kat and Dr. Felix that Bridge was fine and conscious, so why weren't the others allowed to see him?
"Sky?" He turned to see Kat walking toward him, holding a clipboard. "I was just coming to look for you and the others- I was going to let all of you in for a little bit. He's still far from feeling like himself, but he keeps asking to see you guys, so I finally talked Dr. Felix into letting all of you in for a little while. Why don't you go on in, and I'll send Jack, Syd and Z along when I find them?"
"Sure," said Sky. "Thanks, Kat."
"My pleasure," she replied, then added to the door, "Open. Lock override K-M-2-1-9-7." It slid open, and Sky crept in as quickly as he could. Bridge was propped up in the bed furthest from the door, dressed in pajamas with the top open to reveal that his injured side was heavily bandaged. He smiled at Sky, who noticed that he looked very pale.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," said Sky, smiling back. "...You look awful."
"So do you," Bridge pointed out. "Slept badly?" Sky nodded, hovered for a moment, then leaned in to hug Bridge, who returned the embrace before he suddenly began making gagging noises, looking ill.
"What is it?" Sky asked, alarmed, but before either of them could stop it, before Bridge could even fully let go-
"Oh, dear," tutted Dr. Felix as he came into the infirmary, shooing Sky away and pushing Bridge back down onto his bed. "I told Dr. Manx that you shouldn't eat anything yet, but she wouldn't hear it!"
"Sorry," Bridge apologized to Sky, ashen-faced, as the Blue Ranger tried very hard to not look at his vomit-covered uniform jacket while he took it off.
"What's all the commotion?" Jack asked from the doorway as he and the girls entered, then recoiled slightly. "Oh!"
"Yeah, we picked a bad time to say good morning," said Bridge weakly. Dr. Felix shook his head then said severely to the Rangers,
"15 minutes, then the four of you need to leave and let Mr. Carson rest. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Jack and the girls chorused sweetly, then Z and Syd stuck their tongues out at him as soon as he'd left the room.
"So, Bridge, besides the whole puking-on-Sky thing, how do you feel?" Z asked as they pulled up chairs around their friend's bedside. Sky draped his soiled jacket over the back of his chair, figuring he'd have plenty of time to change clothes as soon as they were done.
"Awful," Bridge admitted, wincing and holding his side as he sat up. "Kat figured out that the monster got me with a tranquilizer, to make me stop struggling. I don't remember anything after it first attacked me or most of last night, just that I kept throwing up to try and get the poison out of my system."
"Poor Bridgey," Syd said, gingerly patting his shoulder. "I'd hug you, but, you know."
"I know. Sorry about that," Bridge said to Sky. "I did that to Kat once or twice, too, so you're not alone." Jack and Z snickered.
"Don't worry about it," said Sky. "I can get this washed, no big deal."
"And if it makes you feel any better, we made sure we took that monster down," Z told him. "They're likely going to get it on charges of assaulting an S.P.D. officer."
"That was quite a battle, huh? Too bad you don't remember it," said Jack. "I kept expecting it to run out of vines to lash at us with."
"Tell me about it," said Z. "It was like trying to climb through a jungle gym or something. S.P.D. training needs to include something about 'swinging on vines like monkeys'." The others began to laugh, but Sky shushed them, pointing at Bridge, who'd fallen back asleep.
"Aww... he's got to be pretty tired," Syd said. "Come on... Dr. Felix is probably about to come shoo us out anyway." She, Jack, Z and Sky got up, the former three beginning to walk out. "...Let's go, Sky," she said when he hesitated.
"Sure," said Sky, hiding a fond smile as he looked at the sleeping Bridge before taking up his jacket and following the others out.
* * *
By his third day in the infirmary, Bridge was horribly bored. Kat and Dr. Felix both agreed that he wasn't going to be able to return to action for a while, and he was still too sore to get out of bed and walk for too long, but that didn't solve the problem of boredom. He couldn't go to the lab and help Boom invent things. He couldn't do any of his usual duties, even computer work. He also felt pangs of guilt every time the alarms went off, even though it wasn't his fault that he was laid up in bed, because his friends had to fight without him. At least the others came to visit as often as they could- especially Sky, which Bridge had to admit to himself he found a little odd, as he normally wasn't one to worry and- dare Bridge say it? Fuss as much as he was.
"It's... it's because I keep having nightmares," Sky finally confessed when Bridge kept prodding him about why he was spending every free moment in the infimary, even staying up late. "Every time I go to sleep..."
"About what?" Bridge asked, curious. He watched as Sky got up and began to drift across the room, not looking at him.
"...You're probably gonna think it's ridiculous..."
"Why would I?" Bridge wanted to know. "Come on, spit it out."
"Alright. Alright. I... I keep dreaming that the monster killed you," Sky mumbled, standing at the window and staring out it. "It's always very vivid. I know it's just a dream, but..." Bridge took off a glove to read Sky's aura to find that he was genuinely shaken and unsettled. He came back over to Bridge's bedside, shrugging.
"It is a dream, but I can see why that'd be upsetting," said Bridge quietly.
"...Yeah." Sky sat back down in his usual chair, not looking at Bridge. A long silence stretched between them before Sky finally said, "It's just... this... and the thing with Bork... it's making me think about... what life would be like without you."
"Oh... oh," said Bridge, shifting uncomfortably.
"Yeah. And I know there are times when-" Bridge held up a hand, knowing what was coming and feeling a sudden surge of affection for his best friend.
"Don't go on, I know what you're going to say," he told Sky, who pursed his lips, looking annoyed. "You're going to apologize for being an insufferable jerk, vow that you're going to be a better person from now on, then in a few weeks you'll be back to your old self." Sky looked thoroughly put out now, so Bridge sighed, cursing to himself for being tactless, and reached out. "Come here."
"...Alright." The two embraced, and Bridge told Sky,
"I'm not belittling you, OK? You could stand to be a little less abrasive and more open, yes, but I love you just the way you are." Bridge's eyes widened when he realized what he'd said- he hadn't intended for "love" to slip out- but much to his surprise, Sky's grip suddenly tightened on him, instead of pulling away as he expected.
"...I love you, too, Bridge," he said, so quietly Bridge thought he might have imagined it if he didn't see that Sky was as red as a tomato when they'd pulled away from each other. "I really mean that. And I really mean that I'm going to change this time, too."
"I believe you," said Bridge, smiling at him. Sky couldn't help but smile back at him.
* * *
Sky felt like his head was constantly spinning. His nightmares had gone away after Bridge had said he'd loved him, and Sky had told him he loved him back... but he didn't know what Bridge had meant by "love". Sky wasn't sure what he himself had meant.
He thought at first he simply loved Bridge as a friend- a close friend- as the two had come to consider themselves best friends in spite of their differences.
But could something more have happened, and Sky was oblivious to it? If it was just friendship and brotherly love he felt, would he be so uncertain?
In any case, the two of them hadn't mentioned what they'd said to each other since it had happened a week ago, but Sky was looking for a chance to talk about it. He wanted to know. He had to have his mind put at ease, his feelings about Bridge made clear- and he was the best person to discern it. An opportunity finally presented itself- Bridge was let out of the infirmary after spending nearly two weeks in it, and though he wasn't ready to return to Ranger duty again, he could at least sleep in his and Sky's room like normal. Sky waited up for him when he came back to their room, still dressed in his pajamas.
"Hey," said Bridge. "I thought you'd be asleep. I would have been here sooner, but you know Dr. Felix- he wanted to check me again, then I kept running into people on the way back and they wouldn't let me go... but... here I am." Sky sat up, and Bridge gingerly sat down on the bed next to him.
"You're not going to throw up on me again, are you?" he asked, and Bridge gave him a startled look before he laughed.
"No. I'm just glad you're up... I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh?" Sky asked, feeling his heart begin to pound. Bridge swallowed hard, then began to babble, telling Sky that he was nervous and uncertain too.
"I just wanted to make sure you know that when I said I loved you that you know I did mean 'love' but not 'love' as in love, love, because of course that'd be really inappropriate, and you're my best friend and I hope you feel the same way too, unless you meant 'love' in a different way than friendship, which isn't very likely but still possible, because stranger things have happened-" He was silenced when Sky pressed two fingers down on his mouth to shush him.
"I don't know what kind of 'love' I meant," he said. "...I'm so confused. I can't stop thinking about this. I have no idea why I am, either."
"...So you're not the only one?" Bridge sounded relieved, and Sky felt his heart beating even faster. "...I really, really like you, Sky."
"I like you, too," Sky said, feeling awkward, not knowing what else to say.
"I just want you to know, though... if you don't feel that same way about me... I'd be fine with that. I'd rather keep our friendship the way it is than wreck it by making you uncomfortable." He turned his head to look at Sky, who stared back, still not knowing what to say. He then sat up next to Bridge, pulling the other man into a hug, which Bridge readily returned... and before Sky really knew what he was doing, he'd taken one of Bridge's hands into his, gently holding it. Bridge looked down when they'd pulled apart, then gave him a soft, shy smile in return. Sky put his other arm around Bridge, careful not to touch his still-healing wound, and Bridge leaned against him, feeling a sudden rush of giddiness. "Sky..."
"I don't know what... this is. Just that it feels like what I should be doing. I'm still not really sure how I feel-"
"Then stop thinking about it," Bridge advised. "You're only going to make your head hurt, and if you have a headache you're gonna be cranky and it'll ruin a sweet moment between us-" He was silenced again by a hand over his mouth.
"Then you don't get to ruin it by rambling, either. ...Dork." Bridge pulled Sky's hand away and grinned, shifting and slowly laying his head on Sky's shoulder. Sky felt himself being filled with an unfamiliar warmth more and more the longer they sat together like this, his confusion giving way to contentment- even happiness. When Bridge began falling asleep, Sky led him over to his bed and helped him into it, then lay down in his own, watching him, thinking he understood how he felt now- and that it was simply wonderful.
(Cross-posted to 10_hurt_comfort)