Title: Mommy Dearest

Author: Solarbaby

Disclaimer: All I own is the plot.

Words: 3866

Summary: Everything comes to a close.

Spoilers: Nope.

Notes: I can't believe it's over. But I finished it before Christmas! Yay!

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 23: Epilogue

Do you believe we could start again?

Be the way we were, we used to be then

Am I wrong in thinking we could turn back the clock

Get back what was, get back what was lost

-Dwayne Cameron

"He's not waking up. Why won't he wake up?"

Scorpina looked at her youngest from the doorway of the bedroom. Sorani was sitting cross-legged on the bed, watching her brother speculatively.

"Mom?"

"Casey's fine. He's been looked over by that doctor Karone brought by. She said that he was in perfect health." Scorpina reminded her daughter.

Sorani glared at her. "Except for the fact he won't wake up." She sighed and pushed a piece of hair from her face. "Where's… he at?"

The only person that Sorani could have been talking about would be Swoop. Neither Sorani or Dallina was quite sure as to what to call their father. 'Dad' just seemed strange and other names that came to mind didn't fit either. So the two just avoided calling him anything at all.

The assassin rolled her eyes. "We moved him to the yellow ranger's bed once he regained consciousness." She made a move to enter the room but stopped and grabbed the doorframe. As she watched her son on the bed, pale and unmoving, her grip tightened. The frame began to crack under the pressure. "I just came to check up on Casey."

The youngest of the triplets just sighed as her mother turned and left the room. Sorani noticed that the frame of the door was cracked slightly. Another sigh escaped her. She leaned forward and brushed her lips against her brother's forehead.

"Come on, big brother. Wake up… please?"

oOoOoOoOoOo

Things went back to normal in the loft.

As normal as they could be, all things considered.

Master Swoop was currently camped out on Lily's bed, still healing from the stomach wound. No matter how much he protested that he would be okay, none of them would let him get up from the bed until the doctor gave him a clean bill of health.

Scorpina was sticking close to both her husband and her children. They were staying in the loft until Casey got better. RJ wasn't quite sure what to think about that. Karone had taken to sleeping on an air mattress in the loft and helping the others down at JKP now that they were short handed by one person.

Theo still had his hammock free which he gave to Lily since her bed was occupied. This left both Theo and RJ (whose bed now housed Casey) with merely piles of blankets to turn into makeshift beds.

Other than the nagging worry everyone had over a comatose Casey, it was almost peaceful in the loft.

Almost.

"I don't see what you're so mad about." Sorani huffed at the short man in front of her.

Theo rubbed his face with his hand and started again, slowly. "Well, first of all, it's illegal--."

She snorted at that.

He continued on as though she hadn't made a noise. "-- secondly, if RJ ever found…" He trailed off as he caught sight of Lily sitting on a stool in the kitchen, motioning with her hands. A frown came across his face as he tried to figure out what she was trying to tell him. "Wha--?"

"If RJ ever found out about what?"

They turned to find RJ limping across the landing.

Theo shook his head. "Nothing."

"Hey!"

They turned to find Dallina standing there, a grim look on her face.

"Casey's awake."

oOoOoOoOoOo

The first thing Casey noticed when he woke up was the fact that he was in a bed. Not the hammock he had been sleeping in for the past few months. He stretched out, just enjoying the comfort of the bed before he took a closer look. The purple and white comforter caught his attention for the moment. Then he moved his gaze across the room. It landed on a figure asleep on a chair in the room. He blinked a couple of times and rubbed his eyes. The figure didn't change or disappear.

"Dallina?"

His sister muttered something in her sleep, shifting in the chair. It was a wonder she didn't fall out.

He tried again, a little louder this time. "Dallina?!"

She gave an obvious jerk this time before her and the chair lost its war with gravity. Dallina crashed to the ground as she returned to consciousness. Blinking blearily, she glanced around to find the source of the disturbance. "Casey?" She blinked a couple more times before smiling. "Casey!"

Casey found himself with an armful of big sister a moment later as she launched herself at him. He returned the hug with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. "'Lina," he said as he pulled back, "what's going on?"

Smiling even more at the nickname, Dallina replied, "You've been unconscious ever since we got you back."

"Oh." He still looked confused. "Back from where? And what are you doing here?"

A startled look crossed her face as she took a seat beside him on the bed. He slid to the side to give her more room. "Casey, what's the last thing you remember?"

He shook his head, thinking back. The last memories he had were foggy and seemed splotchy in places. "Um," He forced himself to concentrate. "I remember being shot with an arrow then…" Casey tried to focus. There was more there, but it was just out of reach. "That's it."

Dallina stood up and gave him a weak smile. "Don't worry about it right now. Just get some more sleep. You're still weak."

He protested as she pushed him back down to the pillows. They continued as she waved at him as she left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Casey groaned and ran a hand through his hair. This wasn't right. None of this was right. Something had happened, something major, and he couldn't remember what it was. He just looked around the room, when something hit him.

What the hell was he doing in RJ's room?

oOoOoOoOoOo

"What do you mean 'Casey doesn't remember'?"

Dallina turned to the short human in front of her with a snarl. "I mean exactly that. Casey woke up and said he doesn't remember anything after getting shot." She said the last bit as she shot her mother a look.

The group was gathered around the kitchen area of the loft. They all looked visibly startled by Dallina's statement. Scorpina was the next one to say something. "Are we sure that he's telling the truth?" A weak arm wrapped around her waist and she leaned into Marcus' hold.

"Why would he lie?"

Karone picked up an apple from the bowl on the island. "We knew that there would be side effects. We should just be lucky it worked."

"Maybe him not remembering is for the best." RJ leaned against the same island that Karone was occupying, pale.

The former pink ranger shook her head. "Dana gave Casey a clean bill of health. There's a very good chance that this is only temporary. His memory could come back at anytime."

"Let me talk to him," Lily said. "I might be the best person to do this." Questioning looks were sent the cheetah's way. "Look, if we send in anyone other than the three of us," she motioned at her, Theo and RJ, "it just going to confuse him more."

Theo nodded. "And out of us three you're the most…" he trailed off, trying to figure out the right word. "Gentle? Calming? Soothing?"

The yellow ranger ignored the blue ranger's continued guessing as she headed for the bedroom

oOoOoOoOoOo

"Wait… I what?" Casey stared at the woman sitting across from him. A pregnant silence fell over the two of them before, "Huh?" He shook his head, exhaustion obvious on his face. "But I don't remember any of this."

She nodded. "We think that it might be a side effect of the necklace."

"Necklace. Right," Casey replied. "So Karone, my mother and my sisters?" That just seemed impossible. The last time all four of them had been in the same room had been before Dark Specter's fall.

"And your father."

"My father?" he inquired, looking curious. There was no way she could know. That any of them could know. Mom wouldn't say anything. She didn't even know he was alive.

"Master Swoop."

Maybe they did. "My father." His face was carefully blank, schooled to be emotionless. Casey gave a bitter laugh. "I still can't believe it. Karone, maybe, but not my mother or my sisters."

Lily placed her hand on his shoulder. "It's true, Casey. They're here, right now."

Casey shook his head and shrugged her hand off. "You need to understand Lily. My mother is one of the universe's best assassins. When we were kids, she tried to destroy the power rangers. And now she's working with them?"

"To save you. She's your mother, Casey."

"I know, I know." He gave a rough sigh and ran a hand though his already messy hair. "It's just… my mother hates humans. She always has. My father more than any of them. And she drilled this into since we were kids. Don't trust humans. Don't work with human." An empty chuckle escaped him. "Dallina hates humans as well. She can't stand them. She didn't even like Karone. And Sorani? God, I don't even want to think about what happened there." A groan escaped him as he laid back down and rubbed his face.

Lily took note of bags under his eyes. "You should just go back to sleep. Things might look better with some sleep."

"Not likely." Still, he gave a smile at her obvious concern. "You might want to get some sleep as well," The tiger teased, "No offense, Lily, but you look like hell."

"Thanks. That's what all women want to hear."

"I live to please."

She gave a small smile as she heard Casey's laughter follow her.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Disorientation was the first thing that hit Casey when he re-awoke. That was soon followed by nausea and dizziness. A low groan escaped him as he stumbled from the bed in a mess of covers and limbs. He grabbed his stomach as he hit the door frame. Casey rested against it for a moment. Finally the world slid back into focus and the nausea slid to a bearable level.

He managed to drag himself out to the middle of the loft before he was stopped.

"Casey? You shouldn't be up." Karone appeared beside him and grabbed him by the arm, intent on dragging him back to the bedroom. She took in his flushed appearance and pressed a hand to his forehead only to pull it back with a hiss. "You're burning up." She tugged on his arm again.

"What's going on? What are you doing out of bed?"

Casey swayed on his feet a little as he heard the voice. It was male this time and he identified it as RJ. He glanced up when he heard more than one set of footsteps approach him. There, clear as day, were his sisters, Lily, Theo, RJ, and his mother with Swoop right beside her. The sight left him more than a little light headed. Another hand grabbed his free arm and he turned to find his father standing there. He half wanted to pull away from the touch but he didn't think he would be able to stomach the sudden movement.

Sharp pain when shot through Casey's head. His legs collapsed out from under him and the sudden move caused him to fall from the two's grips. Clutching his head, the tiger let out a hard a pained yell.

-

"It's gone, Case."

"Dallina? What happened?"

-

"I think it's time you've met my son."

"We've met."

"Red ranger."

-

"One of Dark Specter's old goons, I assume."

-

"What rightful place?"

"Your rightful place. As Price of Darkness, of course."

"Okay. I'm in."

-

"Really, Dad, I know you're blind but how could you not know?"

-

"You're mine. Mine to bend, mine to break, mine to keep."

-

"Go to hell."

"Yeah, probably."

-

"I trained you, Casey. And if you won't give me the ring, I'll take it. You'll be okay. I'm sorry, Case."

"No!"

-

"RJ?"

-

"Casey?!"

Frantic voices reached to him through the memory induced hazy. He blinked up at them, shaking. "I think I'm going to be sick." Casey jumped up and shot into the bathroom, barely making it in time before he lost what little he had in his stomach.

"Casey?"

He glanced up to see Scorpina standing there, worry clear on her face. Her hand reached out and brushed at his hair comfortingly. Casey leaned into the touch for a moment before he remembered just exactly who it was who landed him in this position in the first place. The feeling of betrayal filled him at the memories. Jerking back from the touch, he wiped at his face.

She reached out again only to have him scramble back until he hit the wall. "Come on. Let's get you back to bed."

Pulling his legs up to his chest, he shook his head. "Just leave me alone," Casey begged her. "Please." His voice cracked on that one word. The hurt look that crossed her face that created a small stirring of guilt inside of him but he pushed it aside. He just buried his face in his arms and ignored her.

Sadly, Scorpina turned and left the bathroom.

oOoOoOoOoOo

RJ had entered his bedroom just intending to get to his closet then take a shower. He had expected Casey to be sleeping after everything. However, that wasn't what he found. Instead the tiger was sitting cross-legged on the bed, staring intently at the comforter. The wolf abandoned his quest for clean clothing and went to join his cub.

He sat down beside the tiger on his bed. Frowning, RJ reached out only to have Casey recoil from the touch. "Casey…" he started.

"Don't, RJ," Casey replied. "Just… don't okay?" He turned his attention back to the comforter.

"It's really not that bad--."

Casey cut him off with a bitter chuckle. "Not that bad. Not that bad? I chained you up like some sort of animal." He wrapped his arms around himself to ward off an unwanted shiver. "I shouldn't be here. I can't be here. I should just leave."

A startled expression came over the wolf's face. "No. No way."

Now it was Casey's turn to look startled. "RJ, I'm dangerous. This just proved it. What if something like this happens again?"

"It won't."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do. I won't let it happen again." RJ grabbed his chin and forced his tiger to look at him. "You're a good person and an even better ranger."

Casey marveled that he could even think such a thing. How could be possible believe that? Couldn't RJ see what he really was? What kind of danger he was hinting at? Casey was an animal, a monster, with a human face and he knew this. The creature inside him was currently chained, but he didn't know how long that would last. How could he allow himself to stay around and hurt others?

Who was he? God, what was he?

"Stop thinking that."

"You have no idea what I'm thinking."

"It's obvious." RJ reached out and brushed a hand through his tiger's hair. The cub didn't move away from the touch this time causing the wolf to relax a little. "Casey, when you captured me… when you kissed me…" He paused, unsure about how to continue. "Do you like me? As in more than a friend?"

"Yes." It was just too much for the tiger. The looks, the touches, the silent promises of something that he knew wasn't true. He had to go. Casey slid past RJ off of the bed and headed for the door. But before he got too far a hand wrapped itself around his wrist causing him to stop. He glanced down at the hand then to the man it was attached to. RJ was just staring up at him, his eyes searching. Adverting his gaze, the grip on his hand tightened. The next thing the tiger knew he had been yanked back towards the bed.

Lips pressed against his own roughly, almost desperately. The tiger soon found himself being yanked over on top of the wolf. A tongue darted out and brushed against his lips asking, begging, for permission. He opened his mouth and allowed it entrance.

Purring back as his affections were returned, RJ slowly mirrored the tiger, wrapping one arm around to stroke his hair in encouragement. Letting him have his turn, he pressed forward, determined to get his own taste. The wolf playfully nipped at the man's lower lip, enjoying all the attention.

The tiger was willing and his: there was nothing else that mattered. "Stay with me," RJ whispered.

"RJ…" The one word came out as a low moan.

"Stay." He repeated, pleading. His mouth moved down to nuzzle at the tempting neck before him. A grin came over his face as an idea came to mind. With one quick move he had traded places with the cub. RJ found himself kneeling over the other man. He reached up and gently touched the gauze that covered his mate's shoulder. "I marked you. I made you mine."

"What?" Casey tugged at the gauze for a moment, wincing as the tape pulled, before his hand was slapped away.

"Don't touch it. The bite's still healing." At Casey's questioning look he continued. "When I bit you I marked you. I made you my mate."

"Mate?" Casey sounded confused as he touched his shoulder. Pressing down against it too hard, he winced. "Will it scar?"

"Yes," RJ practically purred, grinning. That grin disappeared at the alarmed look Casey's face. "I'm not expecting anything." No matter how much the wolf in him howled in protest he wanted to make sure that Casey understood. He wasn't going to force anything on the man in front of him. Not unless he wanted it as well. "All I'm asking is for you to stay."

"But…"

"Please. Just give it a chance." A chance to prove he would be a good mate. To prove that he'd take care of his tiger. To prove that Casey really was a good person.

He sighed and looked at the man above him. Pleading looks were sent down at him. One hand was still underneath his shirt, rubbing his stomach absently. "One chance," Casey conceded. "Just one."

"So you'll stay?" The grin returned as he was given a nod. "Yes." He leaned down and let his lips just graze the tiger's. Heat shot through him at the touch and the desire to claim shot through him. Pulling back, the grin became shaky.

Casey just blinked as RJ crawled off of him. Without even thinking he grabbed his shirt and pulled him back down on top of him. The wolf landed with a surprised expression and a grunt. Casey flinched slightly as his still tender bruises were hit.

The last thing RJ saw before his mate leaned up to kiss him were a set of gold tingled eyes.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Scorpina was out on the balcony, staring out into city when Marcus found her. She didn't even look up as he felt him join her.

"What's wrong?" He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

She heaved a sigh. "You know what's wrong. I'm sure you all heard it."

"Scorpina--," Swoop started. He didn't need to see to know she was nearly crying. He could hear it in her voice.

"He hates me, Marcus. Casey hates me. My own son." Scorpina brushed the tears away from her face, hating the weakness. She buried her face in his chest, clutching on to the black shirt. "All I wanted to do was protect him."

Marcus pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "He doesn't hate you. Just give him some time."

"Time." She gave a weak laugh. "Time is one thing I've got."

He smiled down at her. "Things will get better. I promise. We have all the time in the world."

oOoOoOoOoOo

"What are you going to do now?"

Karone glanced up from the bowl of popcorn she was snacking on to the four people in front of her. "What?"

"Well, Casey's safe. And mostly okay. So what are you doing now?" Lily asked her.

She smiled at the cheetah. "I'm heading home. My sister-in-law, Ashley, is pregnant and I promised to be back before the baby is born." Karone sat down on one of stools. "Plus, I'm kinda missing my husband."

Several startled looks were exchanged before Lily replied. "Husband?! You're married?"

She let out a laugh. "For four years." Her hand trailed up to the chain around her neck and she tugged it from under her shirt. Hanging from the silver chain was a gold ring. "I don't like wearing it when I fight. It's too easy to lose." She looked over to Dallina. "What about you?"

Dallina just shrugged, staring at the gold ring Karone was fiddling with. "I'm going to get a ride off of this rock. It's not that hard to find jobs so…" She snatched a bottle of water out of Sorani's grip and took a sip. Sorani sent her an affronted look before grabbing it back.

Theo frowned at her. "What is that you do exactly?"

"Well," Dallina grinned, "Scorpina is my mother."

"You're an assassin." The disapproval in Theo's words was both obvious and ignored.

"No." She shook her head. "I'm a mercenary. There's a difference." He shot her a look of disgust.

Karone just rolled her eyes at the animosity. "And what about you?" She asked Theo.

"I'm not going anywhere." He said as he moved away from the assassin's oldest. A hand reached out and tugged him down to the couch. Theo found himself sitting beside Sorani instead.

Dallina made a strangled noise but said nothing as her sister sent her a glare.

"Yeah," Lily agreed as she perched on the couch arm. "We still have Dai Shi and his army to deal with." She glanced over at Sorani. "And you?"

Sorani shrugged. "Don't know." She grinned and bounced a little. "Whatever I want, I guess." A pensive look crossed her face.

"What is that not reassuring?" Theo replied, shifting uncomfortable as she eyed him.

The contemplative look turned decisive. Theo barely had time to blink before she leant over and kissed him soundly on the mouth. Pulling back, she smiled. "Anything." She gave him a peak on the cheek before jumping up and bouncing down to the pizza parlor, leaving a flushed and astonished Theo in her wake.

"Well," Dallina cut through the silence. "That was… new."

He looked over a Lily, who was trying not to laugh, than Karone, who just looked amused. Finally his gaze settled on Dallina, who looked alternately disgusted and resigned at the same time. Theo sighed as his line between right and wrong blurred a little more before getting up and following her.

An awkward silence fell over the remaining three. Karone fiddled with the bowl for a few moments before holding it out to the other two.

"Popcorn?"

Fin.