Adam slowly opened his eyes upon waking. He already knew he was in the hospital and the very thought sent a wave of relief through him. It truly was over. He wondered though, how long was he asleep.

“Hey Adam.” came a soft voice. It was Aisha. She was sitting by his bed.

“Hey.” He replied.

He looked around and saw that his friends were also there, though they were asleep.

“Were you guys here the whole time?” Adam asked.

“Yeah.” she laughed, “Rocky just wouldn’t leave so we all decided to stay. The nurses were a little annoyed though since visiting hours were. . .are over.”

They fell into silence. Then Aisha asked, “So how are you feeling?”

“Better. A little tired still. My arm hurts.” Adam said wryly. Aisha smiled.

“Good. You gave us quite a scare when Rocky brought you here.”

Adam nodded. He remembered. When Rocky had teleported them to the hospital he yelled for a doctor. Everyone was in a frenzy after that. The Red Ranger was in the hospital with the missing kid. Then Adam had collapsed and Rocky barely had time to catch him because it surprised him.

“How long have I been asleep anyhow?” Adam asked.

“Well it’s about seven o’ clock in the morning so I’d say 26 hours.”

Adam’s eyebrows shot up at this, “Wow. . .that’s a long time.”

Aisha smiled softly, “You needed though. I mean, can you imagine the cruelty of the doctors if they made you stay up longer if that bump of your head was a concussion?”

“Not cool. So not cool.” Adam nodded.

“Good news though, the doctor said that if you woke up today you can leave today.” Her smile got wider.

“Thank you.” Adam said.

“For what?”

“Everything.”

Aisha squeezed his uninjured hand and nodded.

-:0:-

Adam couldn’t see.

It was very dark.

Where were they taking him?

“Just little a few more blocks Adam.” Rocky laughed, Adam was still looking around even though the blindfold kept him from seeing anything.

“Well excuse me for being a little anxious. I’m in a car and I can’t see where we are going. And WHY I might add.”

“Just keep your pants on.”

Adam snorted. And they fell into silence for a few moments.

“. . .Are we there yet?”

Rocky snorted while trying to hold back his laugh. Adam cracked a smile.

Finally they got to their destination a few minutes later and Rocky helped Adam out of the car. Adam suddenly felt another presence, “Hey Adam.”

“Hi Aisha. Where are we?”

She giggled and grabbed his hand, leading the way. Adam groaned as she avoided the question.

They were careful when leading him to the Youth Center, of course he had no idea where he was. They lead him to stool.

Adam could hear some excited giggles and murmurings and plenty of “Shh!” going on and was utterly confused. Where the heck were they?!

“Okay sit.” Rocky had him backed to a stool and Adam got the notion to sit on it. Aisha helped as he couldn’t see to get his balance. They all laughed when he almost fell.

“Alright, ready?” Aisha asked.

“No, I’m not.” Adam said wryly with a smile.

His blindfold came off, bright lights hit his eyes and-

“SURPRISE!!!”

Adam saw that they were in the Youth Center and everyone was there. A banner said “Welcome Back” hung above the entrance and the whole place was practically ready for a party. Namely his.

“Oh my…” was all he could say.

His eyes were as big as saucers and everyone rushed in to give him a hug.

“Thank you.” Adam said when all his friends were gathered around him and everyone was moving around, partying.

“I don’t know what to say.” Adam continued.

“Hey, it’s the least we could do after what you have been through.” Tommy said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Well I don’t know about you guys. But I’m up for some smoothies.” Rocky said, “I’m-”

“Hungry!” the rest of them finished and laughed. Rocky just gave them a mock-glare.

“Already done. Welcome back Adam.” came Ernie from behind the counter with a tray full of smoothies.

The black ranger sat upon his roof, gazing at the black sky above him. There was a full moon illuminated in front of him, beautiful as it could be. Adam was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t not hear the person who came up behind him until a can of Pepsi suddenly appeared in his vision.

Adam started and looked up and saw it was Rocky. He smiled slightly and took the can but didn’t open it.

Rocky grunted slightly as he sat down next to his best friend, “So. What’s up?”

“Nothing much.” Adam sighed.

“Adam,” Rocky started, “It’s almost midnight. Everyone who should be asleep is asleep. Except for you.”

“And you.” Adam pointed out.

“That’s beside the point. You know why I am up here. The question now remains. . .why are you up here?” Rocky took a sip of the soda.

Adam sighed again and put the un-opened soda down. He still didn’t answer as he rubbed his eyes. Adam didn’t want to admit it but he was incredibly tired.

“How did you know I was up here?” Adam evaded the question.

Rocky knew it but went along with it. “At this time of night. . .where else would you be?”

“You know I hate I when you do that.”

“What? Answer a question with a question? Of course I do, but I do it anyway because you still haven’t answered my question.” Rocky concluded.

Adam closed his eyes and his composure all but went away. When he opened his eyes again, Rocky saw something he thought he never would have seen in his normally shy friend who always hid his feelings. Pain and fear.

“What I went through. . .was something I never thought would happen. We had never fought a monster that strong before. It was just as ruthless, just as bloodthirsty, but this one kept up the fight. It never quit until we were for sure dead. That included me. It knew our limitations as humans and pushed them. It had me. . .so close. . .no. It did make me give up. Just before you came and saved me. I was ready to die.” Adam swallowed thickly around the lump in his throat.

“What?” Rocky breathed, unbelieving of what he had just heard. Rocky knew Adam. He would have never given up. It just wasn’t the Ranger way and Adam could see that in Rocky’s eyes.

“I’m not lying Rocky. I ran from a fight I knew I would surely lose and I still lost anyway. If you hadn’t have appeared when you did. . .God.” Adam broke off to take a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions in check. “I was so tired. So tired of running. So tired of being chased. So tired of running away from what I thought would be the inevitable and I was ready to give up. I was ready to die.” he repeated. “I failed.”

Rocky shook his head, “No. No you didn‘t. Adam, believe it or not you didn’t fail. It really is hard to believe that you gave up. But now that I think about it. You were literally running for more hours than anyone should run in their lifetime and all in one night. That thing also caught you and then chased you once again. Once you yourself broke free. That was all you.” he continued, “And that is why you didn’t fail. You lasted as long as you could. We are all very proud of you.”

Adam had tears in his eyes by the time Rocky was done. He laughed slightly and wiped his eyes, “Thanks.”

Rocky just gave his arm a squeeze before grabbing Adam’s Pepsi, opening it and downed it in a minute.

“Now that is good stuff right there.” Rocky commented. Adam just stared at him, a deadpan look in his eyes.

“That was mine you know.” He said.

Rocky just burped in reply.

“Ok, that was gross. Good-bye.” Adam snorted and stood up.

Rocky just followed behind him. He gave a thumbs up signal behind his back.

A couple houses down, four teenagers turned out the light and fell asleep. All was well.

The End