Disclaimer: Dino Thunder, such as I'm using it, belongs to Buena Vista.

Author's note: This is an Alternate Universe story. Please do not flame me. Thanks.

Another Time And Place

by Smittysgirl

"Dr. Smitty! Dr. Smitty!"

The yell rang through Dino Ops. Terrance Smith spun in his chair, already steeled for some horrifying new creation of Mesogog's - or possibly an unfair grade inflicted on one of his charges by the same.

"Kira. Ethan? What's wrong?" he asked, reaching for the kleenex as the two rattled down the stairs. "Monster or what did Anton do this time?"

"It's worse," the Blue Ranger huffed.

"It's Conner," the Yellow Ranger supplied. "We found out he's gone off his meds."

"He started tearing up the cybercafe," Ethan continued. "Hayley knocked him out before he could morph or anything, but it's bad."

Terrance nodded, handing each of the beleaguered teens a tissue.

Kira settled down. "Dr. T, isn't there any way we can free the Dinogem from him?"

Terrance shook his head. "I wish that was the case. The only way to release the Dinogem from Conner is for him to die. I suppose clinical death would suffice, but it's not something I'd care to dabble in unless absolutely necessary."

A rustling came from the house above. "I assume that's Hayley?"

"I hope so," Terrence said grimly. "You stay here, kids. I'll be right back down."

Both Ethan and Kira got up. "We're not leaving you alone, Dr. T."

He shook his head, motioning for both to sit down. "I can handle Conner. The both of you need time to relax." He motioned to the rudimentary sensor equipment dotting the wall. "Call me if there's any developments?"

"Right, Dr. T," Ethan said, getting up and moving to the equipment. "Be careful, in case that's not Hayley."

Terrance nodded, bounding up the stairs and prepared for anything.

Anything except a bloodied White Ranger trying not to drip all over the carpet.

"Trent!" Terrance exclaimed. He frowned. "Let's get you downstairs and look at you. What happened?"

"Conner's what happened," the teen wheezed. He waved the older man away. "I know Kira's here, I saw Ethan's car outside. I'd just as soon not go downstairs."

"Still," Terrence persisted, "You're injured, and you need help."

Trent sighed. "I'll go into the kitchen. You bring up the medical kit from downstairs."

Terrance shook his head in exasperation. "When I gave you that key, I meant for you to use it."

"I am using it," Trent shot back.

"You never come downstairs," Terrance pointed out.

"With the others there? No way! Especially not Kira."

He let out a long suffering sigh. "Alright. Play your games. I'll be back in a moment."

"It's not a game, Dr. T!" Trent exclaimed, but he shuffled into the kitchen. Terrence had to shake his head as he headed back down.

"Who was it?" Ethan asked, clearly having not paid attention to the sensor grid. Kira crossed her arms, just as clearly with an inkling of who their visitor was.

Terrance said nothing, removing a med kit and modified fossilfinder from the wall. "You're not in any danger. I'll be back in a little while."

"Be careful," Kira said simply.

"I will," Terrance promised, heading back upstairs.

"You know," Terrance offered as his patient flinched at another stitch, "this would be much less awkward if you'd just talk to them. Maybe you can avoid them at school, but you can't avoid your father. At least they provide you some protection."

"By wearing a target on their backs? No thank you."

"Trent, they're your teammates," Terrance said simply. "You've got to trust them. They can take care of themselves."

"Like they take care of themselves against Conner?" Trent asked. "Why did you let that dangerous maniac near a Dinogem. And, by the way, they're not my teammates."

"Conner is a perfectly nice model soccer player when he's taken his medication. It's not his fault that he has a psychological disorder. Besides, Kira and Ethan and I are your teammates. You have to believe that, Trent."

Trent winced at the next suture being sealed. "You'll forgive me if having special circumstances for my membership is offensive to me. I'm sorry for what I did to you, Dr. Smitty. You have to believe that. But at least I was under the gem's control. Keeping me at arm's length while Conner's nestled up in everybody's bosom? I won't play that game."

"I admit, I had a hard time dealing with your redemption," Terrence admitted. "You did do a lot of damage, and we're finding it all a little hard to forgive. But I mean what I said. You are a member of this team, Trent Jacob Hernandez-Mercer."

Trent looked away. Terrance recognized the face of a man too strong to cry in front of another, and similarly averted his gaze. "And Conner... Conner needs our love. Without it he could be a danger to himself and others."

"Danger to everybody is right," Trent muttered. "He should be locked up and have his morpher taken away."

Terrance looked back up at the boy. "I don't want to hear that. You can't imagine what Conner underwent at Mesogog's hand."

Trent glared at him.

"Well, I suppose you WOULD know," he allowed. "But you didn't endure a near transformation into an anthropomorphic dinosaur."

"And now he's crazed. Dr. Smitty, he's one of the reasons I don't feel at home here. I just don't belong. And he and the others have made that very clear to me."

"Ethan likes you," Terrance insisted. "You know for a fact Hayley and I do. Why else do you think I asked you to come live with us?"

"You're safer if I don't," Trent muttered. "Besides, I'm careful. My Dad doesn't know where he is half the time, much less where I am."

Terrance laughed, wiping away the excess iodine and inspecting his handiwork. "Trent, I haven't been safe for a single day in the last five years. I think I know what I'm getting into. Hayley does too."

"Look, I've been hurt enough," Trent said. "The only reason I'm still here is to save my Dad. Or destroy him. Nothing's ever going to be any different."

"Things change, Trent," Terrance said quietly. "I nearly never worked with Anton - a guy named Tommy Oliver was supposed to be working with him, but he had to drop out after a major illness. So I ended up with Anton, and through him, I met Hayley. Neither of which would have happened had the now-Dr. Oliver ended up as your father's assistant."

Trent looked at him askance. "And this pertains to me - how?"

"I'm just saying, your life is in a constant state of freefall. You never know what's going to happen to change things until you open your eyes to the possibilities. Possibilities like living with Hayley and I. Like accepting your place on this team, and what that entails with Conner."

"Conner almost killed me." Trent's voice was flat. "Kira hates me. And I'm convinced that Hayley only keeps me as a busboy because I'm a Ranger."

"No, she keeps you because she's understaffed," Terrance said. "And because you're a damn fine employee."

"Anybody can bus tables if they gave it half an effort," Trent answered. "I quit on her."

"You had your reasons. We all have our reasons. That's what this is about, Trent. That's why we need -"

The thunderclap of Ethan and Kira emerging from the steps drew their attention.

"It's Conner!" Ethan called. "We have to get downtown now!"

Terrance swore. "Trent, will you come with us?"

"Are you kidding me?" Trent asked, getting up and calling his morpher into existance. "He owes me!"

"Trent, this is not about revenge," Terrance snapped. "Ready, everybody?"

The four morphed in an explosion of light and quickly set off for downtown.

Trent took in the thrashing red form and immediately drew his weapon. "You're in for it this time," he said quietly, not wanting a verbal lashing from Dr. Smitty or the others. He quickly drew his arrows and sent them in Conner's direction.

The Red Ranger growled savagely, ricocheting the weapons into the scattered populace with his Thundermax. Trent flinched.

"Kira, Ethan, evacuate the civilians!" the Black Ranger called over the din. From out of the smoke emerged two figures, male and female.

"Except them!" he amended.

"Um, Dr. T, you sure it's safe for Cass...." Ethan interrupted.

"I can take care of myself," the young woman called from behind Devin's red-clad form. "Besides, who else is going to film this battle for the evening news?"

"If you're sure, Cass," Ethan said, heading to clear out some civilians.

"She's fine," Devin replied, calling the Shield of Triumph out of its extradimensional space. "'Sides, do you want her angry with you, 'cause I sure don't...."

Ethan didn't answer, too busy was he at redirecting pedestrian traffic into an alleyway. Kira cut into a fire hydrant, using the spray of water to extinguish several small fires the ricocheted electrical arrows had caused.

Devin moved beside the Black Ranger, keeping the Shield between him and the whirling figure of the Red Ranger at all times. "Dr. Smitty, I know I'm still new to this whole Ranger thing and all, but how am I supposed to morph when I can't depower Kira and Ethan?"

"Hayley's been working on some modifications," Terrence said kindly. "Trust in your teammates, Devin."

"Yes, Sir Yoda... I mean, Dr. Smitty."

"Dr. T is fine, Devin."

The Red Ranger lunged at the two, and Devin responded in kind with an inarticulate cry. The Shield of Triumph slammed against the Red Ranger's chest, sending him reeling and briefly flashing with residual energy.

"Um... try now Dr. S - er, T?"

"Try it now," Terrance said, inwardly rolling his eyes.

"Triassic Thunder, Power Up!"

Devin's Ranger armor momentarily expanded from the Shield of Triumph, suddenly dissolving with an extended sour note.

"Um, Doctor um...."

"I see Hayley needs to do some tinkering. Why don't you and Cass keep the civilians out of the way and we'll knock Conner out."

"No problem, Dr. T." Devin returned the Shield to its pocket and headed off doggedly. "C'mon, Cass."

Terrance shook his head as he headed off to tackle Conner.

to be continued.