Disclaimer: *glare* You all should know by now what I own and what I don't.

Chapter 15 ~ Departure of the Black

Bria watched the screen on which Sphinxra and a bunch of Apepakes were destroying a building. "Coming?" she asked, turning to the other Rangers.

When they reached the scene, things were a bit hot, to say the least. "Obviously," Kyle choked through the smoke, "Sphinxra thinks she can challenge you, Bria."

Bria looked at the burning building in front of them. "I've got news for her." The smoke didn't affect her, as neither did the heat from the flames. While the other Rangers ushered people away, Bria held out her hands to the flames, fighting them. For the first time in her life, the flames ignored her.

Growling at them, she fearlessly walked into the flames, heading up to the roof where Sphinxra was finishing her work.

"Getting desperate, Sphinxra?"

She laughed. "You wish, Ranger. You can't even control these flames; not with my magic creating them. You may have taken my Black Ranger, but I will get him back, and I will destroy you!"

Bria took a step back, confused. "What are you talking about? I don't have the Black Ranger."

"Don't lie to me, Ranger. I know he's deserted to your side," Sphinxra snapped.

"No, he hasn't. The last time I saw him he was attacking us."

Sphinxra was taken off guard. "You mean you haven't seen him?"

"No. You mean you haven't seen him either?"

Sphinxra frowned before glaring at Bria. "I don't take the word of a Ranger. Apepakes, attack!" And with that she was gone.

Bria fought off the Apepakes, throwing most of them off the building, which was now in flames. As they all fell and became smoke at her feet, she looked around at the spelled flames which she could not control.

"We'll just have to do this the hard way." She ran into the building, searching it along with the other Rangers for anyone trapped inside. Seeing a man caught beneath a fiery beam, she quickly pulled the beam off him, helping him outside.

Meeting up with the others in front of the building, she questioned them. "Is that everyone?"

No one answered, as they were all looking at a figure in black that had appeared. The Black Ranger made his way toward the building, pausing and looking at the Rangers before going inside. They all watched, confused.

Aaron entered the flaming building, ignoring the heat and smoke. He had been drawn here by Sphinxra's destruction and violence; his evil side was simmering, aching to come out and show itself. Clenching his fists, he walked through the building, trying very hard not to enjoy himself. He shouldn't even be here...

Aaron paused as he heard a small whimper for help. Turning, he caught sight of a small girl trapped by flames. After a moment's struggle with himself, Aaron reached through the flames, picking up the little girl and shielding her from the flames with his body.

"It's all right," he told the scared child soothingly. "I'm not going to hurt you." A few moments later he burst out of the building, the little girl clinging to him. He gently set her down as her mother ran over.

"Thank you so much!" she gushed, hugging her daughter. Aaron nodded, feeling rather uncomfortable. The mother started to leave with her daughter, but the little girl stopped her.

"Wait, Mommy." She ran over to Aaron, tugging at his hand. Aaron knelt, not really knowing what to expect. "Thank you." The little girl smiled, giving Aaron a hug before returning to her mother. Aaron rose, watching them walk away hand in hand. The little girl turned once, waving, before continuing with her mother. Aaron gave a half smile. Amazingly, it felt good to do something nice for a change.

Bria watched for a moment before gesturing to Jess and Josh. "Would you two please take care of the flames?" They nodded, and soon rain clouds appeared. As the sky opened, drenching them all, Bria walked over to Aaron. The water glistened on his uniform and rolled off his broad shoulders.

"Hey," she greeted him softly. He turned his head abruptly. Bria somewhat nervously spoke. "Can I ask what that was?"

"No." He turned back around, leaving as the sky cleared and the building smoked. Bria watched him go, now more confused than ever.


*****

She lay in bed that night, listening to the soft sound of Jess's breathing from the other side of the room. The day had been most confusing. After they had come back to the house, the whole good-Aaron bad-Aaron thing had started again. Kyle was still fixed on Aaron being evil, while Bria was more determined than ever that Aaron had a good side. Needless to say, the afternoon had not gone smoothly.

Sighing, she got up. Sleep wasn't coming tonight. As Bria stood at the head of the stairs, she could have sworn she heard noises outside. Yet as she walked down the stairs, she heard nothing.

Sighing, she sat down, running a hand through her dual-colored hair. She was shocked to look up and see Aaron a few seconds later.
 
"Aaron? What are you--how did you--?"

Aaron looked at her steadily with his hazel eyes. When he spoke, Bria could swear he spoke the best four words she ever heard. "I need your help."

Bria studied him for a moment before gesturing to the seat next to her. "Take a seat." Aaron did so. "What do you need my help with?"

Judging by the long pause, Bria could guess this wasn't easy for him. She gently placed a hand on his arm, questioning him softly. "Aaron? I can't help you if I don't know what you need help with." He sighed, started to speak, then stopped.

She jumped back when Aaron rose, suddenly angry. "What the hell am I doing here?" he fumed at himself.

Bria watched him pace the room. "I know how hard it is to ask for help, Aaron, believe me. But I'm willing to help you."

Aaron paused, turning back to her and looking at her rather untrustingly. "You're serious?"

"I've offered on many occasions, haven't I?" Bria sighed, looking at him with understanding. "Of course, I'm assuming that this has to do with being evil?"

He nodded, his jaw clenching. "I just...I don't know anymore," he said, exasperated, sitting back down. "I don't know who I am or who I want to be anymore."

Bria slid off the couch, kneeling in front of him. "Then you'll just have to start over with a clean palette. No good, no evil, and," she added softly, "no Power."

He stared at her. "What? Give up my Power? Are you crazy?!"

"Maybe," she shrugged. "But the Black Power is tied in with your evil nature, Aaron. If you want to start over..."

He ran a hand through his jet black hair, sighing. "I don't know..."

Bria rose. "You needn't decide now, you know."

He shook his head forcefully. "No. I do. If it's true, and evil is tied in with the Black Power...the Power shouldn't even exist. I don't want it."

She could feel Zordon's presence; he was here to help remove the Power. "Are you sure, Aaron? Once the Power is gone, that's it."

After a brief pause, Aaron nodded, standing as well. "Yeah. If this what I have to do to find out who I am, then yeah."

Bria nodded, smiling softly up at him; he was a handful of inches taller than she was, even though she was a tall five feet ten inches. "Alright. Aaron, I 'm going to need your help here."

"What do I have to do?"

"Give up the Power with all your being."

Bria reached up, placing her hands on the side of Aaron's head, letting Zordon flow through her. Aaron collapsed, and she caught him as he blacked out, laying him on the floor as gently as she could. A large black sphere floated above him, surrounded by many smaller spheres.

Suddenly there was a sound like snakes hissing, and Sphinxra's voice cut through the air. "So this is where he went. I knew it." Bria could feel the hate and anger in her voice. "If you're keeping him, I'll just take the Black Power."

The spheres floated upwards.

"I don't think so," Bria stated, holding up her hand. Flames covered the spheres, burning away the Black Powers. Bria poured her own Power into the burning of the Black Power, and she could distantly hear Sphinxra screaming.

"Get out, Sphinxra," Bria hissed through gritted teeth, using all her willpower to force Sphinxra's voice and presence out. As Sphinxra's scream finally faded, the spheres exploded, and Bria fell on top of Aaron, exhausted.

So Kyle found the two in the morning: lying on the floor of the living room, Aaron stretched out with an arm around Bria, Bria's head nestled on Aaron's chest. Aaron opened one eye, smirking at the expression on Kyle's face.

"Good morning, Kyle," he greeted him quietly.

Kyle clenched his fists. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Hush," Aaron replied softly, "or you'll wake her." He nodded towards Bria.

"So what?"

"So she needs rest."

"And why would that be?" asked Kyle icily.

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Quit jumping to conclusions. Everyone needs rest. Besides, she did a lot last night, is all."

"Did what, exactly?"

"Will you give a rest, Silver? You don't need to worry about her."

"What happened?" Kyle pressed.

"Relax. You'd think I'd gone and raped her." Aaron glared, then sighed. "She was helping me with my Powers."

The conversation was cut off as Bria stirred. She blinked sleepily before realizing where she was. She sat up with a bolt. "Aaron, are you OK? Did it work?"

Aaron nodded, propping himself up on one elbow. "I'd assume it worked. I can't feel the Power anymore. It sort of feels...empty."

"Wonderful!" Bria cried, throwing her arms around him. Almost immediately she drew back. "I mean, not wonderful it feels empty, but wonderful that you're OK and all, you know..." She trailed off lamely, mumbling.

Aaron grinned. "I got the idea." His gaze flicked over to Kyle, who was glaring at the two on the floor.

Bria noticed and jumped up, looking guilty as she blushed lightly. "Morning, Kyle."

"Morning. So it's true, then?"

"Erm...what's true?"

"That you were helping him with his Powers?"

Bria nodded. "Yes."

Kyle turned on his heel and walked out. "What's up with him?" Aaron asked, thinking there might be more to this than he knew or guessed.

Bria rolled her eyes. "He's just being overprotective. He's, well...kind of like my big brother." She offered him a hand, which he took, nodding his thanks. Bria mumbled a 'you're welcome'.

Aaron looked out the window at the sunny sky. Nodding his approval, he turned back to her. "I've got to go."

Bria looked at him, confused. "Where are you going?" She followed as he made his way to the front door. When they reached it, he turned.

"Now that I'm not the Black Ranger and supposedly not under anyone's influence, I need to find out who I am. I don't really even know what kind of person I am. I grew up always being told I was evil, and now that I'm not...I'm sick of feeling lost."

Bria nodded, looking down. She glanced up at him as she spoke almost timidly. "You are coming back...right?"

He grinned, tweaking a lock of her hair. "'Course I am, Red. How could you insult me like that?"

She gave a small smile. "Good. You're always welcome here."

His look turned serious. "By you, at least."

Bria shook her head. "I'm sure that, with maybe one exception, we'd all welcome you." She looked up at him. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

"I'm sure I will." He gave her a smile. "See you around." With that he turned and was gone.

"See you," Bria said softly to his retreating figure. With a sigh, she turned and walked back into the house.

As she entered the kitchen, she saw none other than Kyle. Suppressing a groan, she walked over to the refrigerator, taking out a carton of orange juice, then going to one of the cabinets and grabbing a glass. She poured herself some juice, steadily ignoring Kyle.

Finally Kyle cleared his throat, making her look up. "Yeah?"

"Bria, what is going on?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied calmly, placing the carton back in the refrigerator. "Nothing is 'going on'."

"Oh please, Bria. I know you too well for that."

She slammed the refrigerator door, turning to look at him as her patience snapped. "Really? You know me well enough to know my intentions on everything? If you know me that well, Kyle, then I'm sure you know me well enough to trust me!"

Kyle looked at her in confusion. "I do trust you, Bria, otherwise I wouldn't be taking orders from you as a Ranger, among other things."

"Then why don't you trust me enough to let me be? If I want to be friends with Aaron, what's it to you? It's not like he's going to kill me!"

"For all we know, he could! Bria, what do you seriously know about him?"

"Enough to trust him. Enough to know he's not evil...at least not anymore. Enough to realize that I don't need you hanging over me like a mother hen!"

Kyle looked slightly taken aback. "Look Bria, I'm just trying to protect you--"

"Exactly! Don't you think I can do that myself? I may be the youngest one in this house, but I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much. I appreciate your concern, but it's uncalled for."

"It's not like I'm controlling your life, telling you what to eat and wear. It's just general concern for a friend I've had all my life!"

"And I appreciate you caring, Kyle, really I do, but you're going to have to let me be my own person and make my own decisions once in a while."

"What decisions have I made for you?"

Bria looked Kyle straight in the eye. "If I decide I want to be friends with Aaron, I will be...and I don't want you breathing down my neck saying that he's going to hurt me. Got it?"

They glared at each other for a few moments before Kyle finally backed down. "Fine," he said, throwing up his hands. "There's no talking to you when you get like this."

Bria stared at him. "Get like what? Is it wrong for me to want to be trusted in my own decisions?"

Kyle turned to look at her as he walked out of the kitchen. "I just want you to be OK, Bria. I'm not trying to limit you or control you. I just want you to be safe."

"Like that's likely as a Ranger?"

Kyle just shook his head, leaving. Bria slumped in a chair at the kitchen table as Josh walked in. "You look a little down there, dude," he said, grabbing a glass of milk and sitting across from her. She slumped down ever farther in her seat.

"Thanks for noticing," she mumbled. Josh studied her for a minute.

"Kyle getting on your nerves about my cousin?"

Bria stared at him. "How...?"

Josh shrugged, grinning. "I'm good. What more can I say?" His look turned serious. "Actually, I could hear you guys all the way upstairs."

"Oh." Bria lowered herself even more in her chair, if that was even possible without falling off.

Josh looked like he was trying not to laugh. "There's no need for you to merge with the floor, Bria."

"Fat lot you know, then."

This time the surfer did laugh. "I'm serious. You didn't do anything wrong."

Bria sat up. "You think so?"

He nodded. "Yeah, it's totally understandable you want to be able to do things yourself and have us trust your judgment."

"Thank you!"

"But--"

"I hate when people say that."

Josh smiled but continued. "But, it wouldn't hurt you to try to understand where Kyle is coming from. You said it yourself; you're the youngest here, not to mention the Red Ranger. Is it so bad that he wants to make sure you're safe?"

Bria hung her head. "I guess not. It's just, sometimes...I want to do things myself, and not have him second guess me or baby me."

Josh nodded understandingly. "I know. But he's only trying to help. Maybe you could, I don't know, calmly and understandingly let him know how you feel?"

Bria looked up at him sheepishly. "I never knew you were so deep, Josh," she joked. He rose, grinning, and ruffled her hair.

"I'm not, man. I have no idea where all that deep, meaningful stuff came from." After placing his glass in the sink, Josh left, leaving her to think about what he had said.

Maybe Josh was right. Kyle was only trying to protect her, and he would listen to whatever she had to say, if she remained calm. Sighing, Bria pushed back her chair, rising to go find Kyle.

She found him outside, working on his sharp silver car. The hood was up, and Kyle seemed absorbed in the engine. She watched him for a few moments, until he sighed, swearing under his breath. Quietly she walked up to stand next to him.

"Here," she said, making him jump. In a little while she had the car up and running. "What did you do to it?"

Kyle shrugged. "I don't know. It just stopped on me."

"It should be all right now." She closed the hood, turning to look at Kyle. "I wanted to apologize for earlier."

He leaned against the car, arms crossed, waiting for her to continue.

"I understand you're only trying to protect me, and I appreciate it, really I do. It's just that...I want to be able to make my own decisions and have people trust me judgment. Especially you."

After a second or so, Kyle nodded. "Now that makes sense to me. And I apologize too, for making such a big deal over nothing. What you do is your own business. I can offer advice, but I can't run your life." He grinned. "Truce?"

"Truce."

Kyle grabbed her in a bear hug as she squealed in protest. "Save it for Jess, Kyle!"

He took a step back, glancing at her innocently. "What are you talking about?"

"It is so obvious you two are sneaking around. Fess up all ready."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"And I'm Brittney Spears."

Kyle looked her up and down. "I guess that means I'm lying, huh?"

Bria hit him, then nodded. "Won't Jess be pleased to hear?"

"Well it's not like we agreed to broadcast it."

Bria winked. "Later." Turning, she made her way back into the house to prepare for the day's fortunes.