When Dustin and Molly returned to Ninja Ops some time later, they found everyone of the team except Cam laid out horizontally on any surface that provided even a small amount of comfort. The mighty Power Rangers looked wiped out; apparently the Zord fight, combined with having to use a pretty extensive amount of their elemental powers, had dipped deeply into all of their strength reserves.

Hunter was spread-eagled on top of the command table, a pillow under his head, Tori and Blake had stretched out on the ground, supported by all of the floor cushions and Shane had apparently thrown his leader status around to get the couch.

Dustin promptly let out an exhausted groan and plopped down besides Tori, wrestling a pillow away from her. The Water ninja didn't even put up a fight – too weary to complain.

Shane looked up, gave Molly a drained smile and patted the sofa cushion next to him. Contrary to the rest of the ninjas, Molly felt strangely invigorated, but she wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to get close to Shane, so she sank into the cushions next to him and quite naturally rested her head on his shoulder. A moment later Sensei's pagoda mobile came wheeling into their midst. The Wind teacher stood at the edge of his miniature Zen garden, paws on his hips, looking over the sprawled-out teens.

"You have done very well, my students," he said with evident approval. "I am sincerely proud of all of you - as Rangers, but also as Wind and Thunder ninjas. You have managed to thwart Lothor yet again with great courage…" his gaze came to rest on Molly. "…and excellent teamwork."

Molly promptly blushed at the praise, but couldn't keep the goofy smile off her face as the six Rangers broke out into hoots and cheers, as much for themselves as for her. Shane's jubilant mood didn't last long, however, before his face suddenly clouded over. Sensei Watanabe gave the leader of his team a scrutinizing look, then jumped from the pagoda mobile on to the arm of the couch next to the Red Ranger.
"What is troubling you, Shane?" he asked and Shane exhaled audibly.

"I was just thinking about what Lothor said back at that clearing. That was no empty threat he made towards Molly just before he fled. We have to protect her!" He cast a cursory glance at the blonde Air ninja next to him before he went on. "I mean, what if his next attempt is successful, Sensei? He now knows what kinds of powers she has. If he gets his hands on her, he might end up brainwashing her and turning her evil like he did with Blake and Hunter."

The two Thunder ninjas seemed to shrink a few inches at the mention of this particular dark episode of their past. Molly looked between the mismatched brothers and Shane with a puzzled frown, and the Red Ranger gave her his by now patented 'I'll explain later' look.

Sensei Watanabe nodded gravelly. "I wholeheartedly agree with you, Shane." To Molly he said, "We must find a safe location for you until we have managed to defeat Lothor once and for all."

"But where could she stay?" Tori chimed in. "Shane's parents will be back from their cruise in a few days, and with Blake and Hunter living at Ninja Ops, there's no room here…"

"I am aware of that, Tori," Sensei Watanabe stroked his whiskers absentmindedly – a gesture the Wind and Thunder ninjas had seen many times before and had come to associate with their teacher being in serious contemplation. He proved them right with his next words. "I have given the matter quite a bit of thought, and I believe I can supply a solution to the dilemma that might benefit you in more ways than one, Molly." The guinea pig was pacing the length of the sofa arm while talking. "I know of a place where you would not only be safe, but have an opportunity for very specific studies at the same time. I must warn you, however, that these studies would take a great amount of commitment, as well as quite a bit of courage."

"Sounds like the entrance exam at the Wind Academy," Molly deadpanned, trying to cover for the sudden, inexplicable wave of anxiety that rose within her. Why were Sensei's words sending her heart into overdrive all of a sudden?

Sensei continued to twirl his whiskers, his large, lucid eyes never leaving Molly's face. "Your mental powers are staggering, but they are like a diamond just pulled from the depths of the mine: rough, unpolished. Up until now you have not had the proper guidance to learn how to use your powers to their full potential." Sensei paused. "I thought I was an appropriate tutor to you until I realized that there is in fact someone better suited than me."

Molly just blinked, waiting; the tiny teacher spread his paws. "Sensei Tanzin Xiang is the greatest craftsman I know when it comes to the art of mental refinement. He can teach you how to properly control and harness your powers. I should know; he was the one who taught me."

"Wow, that must've been ages ago," Dustin blurted out from his position on the floor where he had followed the conversation, then stopped himself with a sheepish look on his face, but it was already too late. Sensei turned towards the yellow Ranger.

"A very long time ago, yes, Dustin," the Wind teacher smiled benignly.

Dustin blushed. "I, uhm…didn't mean to imply…ah, you know…"

"That I've been 'around the block a few times' as you youngsters call it?" Sensei was still smiling. "Yes, I've been doing this for a long time, Dustin."

"Oh, and you're great at it, really! And you also have, ah,…aged very gracefully, Sensei," Dustin replied lamely in a vain effort to try to salvage at least some of the face he had just lost through the unintentional insult of his teacher. His gaze flickered to Shane. The Red Ranger sported a smirk and pointed first to Dustin's boot, then to his mouth. Put your foot in it again, didn't ya?

Dustin just threw his best friend a dark glare. Meanwhile, Molly shifted in her seat, a thoughtful look on her face. "I really appreciate all this, Sensei, but if I may ask…what does Sensei Xiang have to do with finding me a place to stay out of Lothor's reach?"

"Ah, yes, I was getting to that," Sensei nodded. "You see, Sensei Tanzin Xiang is the Lharampa, the leader of a secluded monastery in the mountains outside of Lhasa."

"Lhasa?" Shane echoed, his brows creased in confusion. Sensei kept his somber gaze on Molly when he answered, "The capital city of Tibet."

Molly's face paled considerably. She made no reply, but the look on her face spoke for her.

For a long moment it was very quiet in Ninja Ops while Sensei let not only Molly but the rest of the ninjas, and especially Shane, digest the implication of his suggestion.

Molly cleared her throat. "Let me get this straight; you mean Tibet as in that little country that's sort of hanging off the side of China?"

Sensei nodded his head once, solemnly. Molly cast a quick glance at Shane, but the dismayed expression on his face made her quickly look away again.

Sensei had taken up his pacing on the sofa arm again. "Not only will you return from this voyage physically stronger," he elaborated, "but your mind will be more controlled, and more powerful, than it could ever be if you remained here."

Molly took a deep breath in an effort to cast off her initial shock. "How…how long would all this take, Sensei?"

The guinea pig shrugged. "That is hard to predict. It would depend on Sensei Xiang and on how in-depth he would want to train your mind. It might take up to a year." Sensei was studying his walking stick to give Molly time to process this latest bit of info.

Molly had leaned forward, elbows on her knees during Sensei's depiction of the monastery and its head teacher, but now she slumped back into the couch cushions, her eyes firmly fixed on nothing. "A year in a Tibetan monastery…" She chewed on her lower lip for a long moment before she met Sensei's eyes again. "Sensei, please don't get me wrong, I really appreciate you looking out for me, but this just seem so…far away.
"And so long," she added.

The ninja teacher let out an empathetic sigh. "I know the distance is quite considerable, but in your situation…the farther, the better."

She was frightened by a voyage of that magnitude, not only in distance but also in substance, but Sensei's logic was unassailable. To be safely tucked away out of Lothor's reach and at the same time have the opportunity to train with a master how to finally balance the lifelong chaos in her head…Another feeling suddenly wormed its way into Molly's mind, one that made her heart pump just a little faster: Excitement.

But it faded as soon as it had swelled, for yet another thought followed on the path of the first; one that quickly put a damper on things. It must have shown on her face, for Sensei cocked his head at her expression, then jumped from the sofa arm onto Molly's knee. She barely flinched, marveling inwardly at how easy it had become for her in this short period of time to be able to hold a conversation with a talking guinea pig and see it as one of the most normal things to do. "Sensei, I am truly grateful for your help," she began, "and if I could, I would take you up on it in a heartbeat, believe me…"

"So why couldn't you?" the guinea pig wondered and Molly dropped her voice to a murmur.

"Because I don't think I can streak all the way to Tibet, and frankly, I don't have the money for a plane ticket."

Sensei Watanabe looked at her for a moment before he reached down to pat her knee. Molly didn't think guinea pigs could look complacent, but her teacher managed to do just that. "Don't concern yourself with the monetary aspect of this voyage," he said. "The Academy might be gone, but the academy's bank accounts are still here."

Realizing what Sensei was implying, Molly was quick to shake her head. "Oh no, Sensei. I can't accept this, especially when I'm not sure when or if I could ever repay you for the ticket…"

"You can repay me in a different way upon your return," Sensei cut in, smiling mysteriously. "By accepting the position of Elemental Forces teacher at the Wind Academy."

Molly blinked. Sensei Watanabe had just offered her a position at the Wind Academy!

She stared at her teacher with a mixture of shock, awe and gratitude as the magnitude of his offer slowly seeped into her head.

"Sensei, I…" She wanted to thank him, hug him, cling to him and tell him that this was the most wonderful and terrifying offer anyone had ever made her, but instead she said, "I don't know what to say."

"Yes would be a good start."

"But Sensei, how can I be a teacher when I can't even properly defend myself yet?" The uncertainty was so clearly audible in her voice that Sensei almost sighed out loud.

"A ninja teacher's task is not always to teach his students how to emerge victorious from physical confrontation. The mental aspect is just as important. And that's where you would be a great asset to the Wind Academy."

"He's right," Shane's voice suddenly injected. Molly turned to find him peering at her intently. She still sensed his sadness, but also a new determination emanating from him. "I think you'll make a great teacher once you come back from your little vacation."

A corner of her mouth lifted at his attempt at humor and she cast a glance around Ninja Ops where the others were either nodding their heads or making small exclamations of agreement. Their faith in her humbled her as well as helped her make up her mind.

She tried to speak, but the words came out as mere whispers. "I…thank you, Sensei."

Sensei inclined his head to her, accepting her consent, and said, "I will compose a message for Sensei Xiang, and Cam will e-mail it off this very day. We should have an answer by tomorrow, I hope."

Still somewhat in a daze, Molly nevertheless cocked her head. "You mean the monks in Tibet have e-mail?" she asked with an incredulous expression, and Sensei smiled regally.

"I guess it is safe to say that the wonders of modern technology have spread into every corner of the world." The guinea pig gave her knee one last pat before he somersaulted back onto his pagoda mobile where he grabbed a miniature-size pencil and some paper and began to jot down his message to the Tibetan teacher while all around him an awkward silence ensued among the assembled ninjas, the result of plain exhaustion combined with the still ongoing effort of digesting everything that had been said these past few minutes. It was Shane who finally broke the silence.

"Well, it's been kind of an eventful day," he announced as he rose from the couch, holding out his hand to pull her up. "Let's go home, ok? Sleep on all of this." Molly just nodded wearily. He put an arm around her shoulder, and that she was going to spend another night at his house went without saying. Her arm went around his waist seemingly of its own accord, and with a last wave to the tired Winds and Thunders they slowly made their way towards Ninja Ops' exit.

Dinner…

They went straight to Shane's house after leaving Ninja Ops, and Shane busied himself with raiding the refrigerator, piling the breakfast table high with sodas, bread, cheese, bologna and condiments while Molly used his phone to call first her mother, then her brother to let them know about her imminent travel plans.

Shane was preparing their sandwiches when she finally joined him at the table a little while later.

"So what did you tell them?" he inquired.

Molly popped the top of her soda can. "Basically just that I've had a short-notice opportunity to participate in an overseas exchange program through my high-school and that I'll be leaving soon, not to worry about me, yadda, yadda, yadda." She shrugged. "My mother probably won't retain much of what I told her, she sounded pretty spaced out. But I don't think Nick bought the whole story. I could tell he was skeptical." She saw Shane's thoughtful expression and waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry. It's not like he can check up on me, with him being stuck on base in Georgia and all. It'll be fine."

They attacked the food with the single-mindedness of the starving warriors they were.

They spoke little during their meal, but the stretched-out silences between them were not awkward. They simply enjoyed each other's company, and even with the downbeat knowledge of Molly's huge trip hanging over their head, Shane could feel that she was finally starting to relax around him more.

Out of an unspoken agreement, neither one of them mentioned the voyage, however; as if avoiding the topic could somehow delay Molly's inevitable departure.

The strain of the day's events hit them right after dinner. They barely had the energy to clear the table before collapsing onto the couch.

Recalling Lothor's threat, Shane gathered his remaining energy and heaved himself off the couch cushions to find some extra bedding for himself for the long night on the love seat; he had no intentions of letting Molly out of his sight tonight.

He returned a few minutes later only to find Molly sprawled out on the couch, still fully dressed – and dead asleep. Smiling, he carefully took off her glasses and draped a blanket over her. A strand of dark blond hair was hanging over her eye. Shane reached out and tenderly plucked it out of her face. His hand lingered, his fingertips grazing her cheek lightly before he withdrew them reluctantly.

Her lips were so tantalizingly close…

Shane knew he was staring, but for once he could, for Molly was out like a light. He caressed her with his eyes, burning the image of her sleeping face into his memory. He didn't know how much time they had before she had to leave for Tibet, but he was desperately hoping to spend as much quality time with her as possible until then. Before his mental eyes he saw them laughing over dinner, curling up together on the couch to watch movies, walking on the beach hand in hand…He shifted slightly as the thought of her in a bikini sent a sudden jolt of hormones through his body, and a small smile reshaped his face. OK, got the hint, time to back off!

His gaze went back to her face one more time – and he simply couldn't help himself. Almost out of its own volition, his body leaned forward, his lips brushing against hers in the slightest of butterfly kisses. Molly made a tiny noise and her head moved towards him a fraction of an inch. Worried that she might wake, Shane froze, holding his breath. She never did, and after a moment Shane slowly crept back toward the love seat and his temporary bedstead.

The next day…

The sand crunched slightly under Molly's boots as she walked solemnly along the stretch of beach at the Rangers' training cove the next day. Exhausted as they had been, Shane and she had both overslept and consequently had to scramble to make it to their respective high schools in time. There hadn't been much time for talking and they hastily agreed to meet at Ninja Ops after school. When Molly had arrived a few minutes ago, Shane was already waiting for her. Cam had greeted her with the words "Sensei Xiang has responded to our e-mail. He said he'd be honored to take you in as his new student."

Despite the fact that she was prepared for just that news, Cam's words nevertheless felt like a punch in the gut. Suddenly it was real - she was leaving; now it was only a question of when.

"That's…wonderful," she had managed to say, forcing a smile, but Shane had apparently seen through the mask and suggested a walk by the beach. A suggestion she was only too happy to agree to.

Out in the open, her inner turmoil seemed to abate somewhat. Shane's comforting presence right by her side was as solid as a rock, and Molly couldn't help but marvel at just how important he had become to her in the short amount of time they had known each other. But, no, simply 'important' didn't adequately describe the feelings she had for him anymore. It was part of it, true, but things had undeniably changed.

Affection? Definitely. Maybe even more…

The exact moment when that feeling had crept into her heart eluded her, but she knew it must have been there for some time now; she just hadn't really acknowledged it until now. Not a hard thing to do with all the distractions of the past few days.

And now, just when she was free to concentrate on it, life - or rather, Sensei, – was about to send her half a world away. Not fair!

Then, suddenly and thoroughly uninvited, a line of verse by Edgar Allan Poe she had read several years ago leapt into her mind.

From childhood's hour I have not been as others were – I have not seen as others saw.

How true! And if the monks could teach her how to balance the chaos in her head, she knew she had to at least make a serious effort to learn from them what she could. She owed Sensei that.

Even if it meant leaving; her home, her familiar life…and Shane.

It took a big effort to swallow her frustration. Molly closed her eyes for a brief moment, heaving an inward sigh.

Shane, who had been silent beside her, now turned his head, taking in her thoughtful profile. "What's on your mind?"

Molly shook off her melancholy with a determined effort. "I just can't believe how much my life has changed in the past twenty-four hours," she said, looking out over the ocean where the sunlight reflected off the surface of the water like diamond dust.

Shane nodded. "I bet. And it's gonna change even more soon." They both knew that Cam was on the phone this very moment making her flight arrangements.

"All the things that have happened in the last few days…" Molly shook her head reminiscently, grinning. "Definitely doesn't get boring around here, does it?"

Shane chuckled politely. "No." He faced her, his dark eyes sparkling. "I certainly haven't been bored lately, but it doesn't have anything to do with evil space ninjas or fighting alien monsters." He grinned at the blush that promptly crept into Molly's cheeks. But then she surprised him when she suddenly reached out, lacing her fingers through his, and for a while they just walked silently along the beach, connected in more ways than just through their hands, until Molly spoke again.

"You know, I'm psyched about this trip, but terrified at the same time." She slowed her pace, then stopped altogether. "Weird, huh?"

Shane shrugged. "No. I would be, too."

"No, not you," Molly insisted, a wistful look in her eyes. "You're the leader of the Power Rangers. You are part of a legacy."

Shane frowned at her expression. "But so are you!"

"What, the legacy of being part of the most dysfunctional family in Blue Bay Harbor?" She snorted disdainfully. "Hardly something to be proud of."

"I meant the Wind Academy," Shane retorted gently. "You are a Wind ninja, and not the least bit less than that. That is something to be proud of, and don't let anybody tell you differently."

Molly gave him a crooked but grateful smile and watched Shane's own smirk grow mischievous.

"So, I guess the Red Ranger thing bumped me up a couple of notches on your popularity scale, huh?"

She almost laughed, but decided to go for the indignant look instead. "Not true!" she exclaimed. "I really liked you before I even knew you were a Power Ranger." The pretty pink blush from a few moments ago now crept back into her cheeks when she realized what she had just said out loud.

Shane just smiled. "Good. I was beginning to wonder whether the feeling was one-sided," he said with a wink and the blonde air ninja laughed gently. "No need to wonder."

Grinning, they regarded each other for a long moment, green orbs staring into brown and suddenly, something in Shane's demeanor changed. The glint in his eyes, together with the expression on his face, turned to serious and Molly's heart began to thunder in her chest at the touch of the calloused palm of his hand on her cheek. Then the Red Ranger leaned in and, with only a moments' hesitation, touched his lips to hers.

His kiss was soft and gentle – and more intoxicating than an entire case of Corona beer. She raised a shaky hand and placed it on his chest, not to push him away but to solidify their contact – as well as to reassure herself that this was actually happening.

Shane wrapped his arms around her waist, carefully pulling her closer, his heartbeat doubling the instant he felt her respond.

"Oh, that's cruel," she whispered when their mouths parted after a few long moments.

Shane cocked his head with a puzzled expression.

"You waiting all this time just to show me now what I'll be missing for the next year," Molly elaborated, not making any effort of moving out of his embrace.

"Would you miss it?" he asked with a hopeful smile. "Really?"

Molly looked up into his dark eyes, only inches from her own. "Yeah, I would. But just to be sure that I'll remember it correctly, so I can miss it properly…I would need a repeat."

Shane was only too happy to comply. Molly's arms came up to encircle his neck, boldly seeking contact now. Their bodies melted together like wax, and Shane stifled a moan, his hold on Molly tightening a bit as his hand snuck around further to meet the small of her back. Although still chaste, their second kiss was longer and more urgent, and he reveled in the feel of her pressed against him, her scent, the feel and taste of her lips on his.

He was so wrapped up in their kiss that he didn't even pick up on the approaching presence. But Molly did, and reluctantly she broke off the kiss and turned. Cam was walking towards them, a solemn expression on his face; there was no way he could not have seen them kissing, but his face was carefully blank as he came closer. And with him came a dark wave of psychic vibes that set Molly instantly on edge. The Green Ranger came to a halt a few steps away from them. "Sorry to cut your walk short," he said diplomatically, "but I thought you might want to know…I just finished making your flight reservation." He said it quietly, but nevertheless, Molly's apprehension increased sharply. Yet she somehow managed to keep her voice steady while she asked, "So when am I leaving, then?"

The Asian man cleared his throat, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

"Seven o'clock tonight."

Molly flinched as if having been physically struck. "S…so soon already?" she stammered, and Cam nodded, his gaze flickering between her pale face and Shane, who simply looked gut-punched.

"Afraid so. There are only two flights a month leaving from the West Coast, so it had to be either tonight or two weeks from now. And I don't think we should give Lothor a chance to regroup so he can make another attempt at getting to you, because next time he might just be successful." Cam averted his eyes, watching the breakers lapping onto shore instead. "I know it's sudden, but…" He ended his sentence with a helpless shrug.

Molly stared at the tips of her boots for a long moment before she nodded slowly. "I totally understand. Thank you, Cam."

After an awkward moment of silence, Cam nodded. Then, with a quick, knowing glance between the two Air ninjas, he retreated wordlessly, giving them the time they needed to come to terms with the new situation. Molly watched him go, the desolate feeling inside her spreading like wildfire now. Not the slightest breeze traveled across the beach, yet she shuddered anyways. Blindly she reached out, clutching Shane's hand like a lifeline.

She felt him shift next to her, and his inner pain bore into her mind, making her turn at last.

The weak smile he gave her didn't fool her for one second.

Epilogue…

The ride to the airport a few hours later was a cheerless affair. Subdued and quiet, Molly and Shane sat in the backseat of the taxi, her head resting on his shoulder. Shane kept his arm around her throughout the ride. Neither of them was in the mood for any kind of small talk, so they just drew silent comfort from each other's company until the taxi pulled into the departure terminal. Molly sighed at the sign of the Delta Airlines logo.

The goodbyes from the rest of the team back at Ninja Ops had been emotional, with lots of hugs and heartfelt We'll miss you's. It had made leaving even harder.

Sensei had given her a commendatory scroll to take to Sensei Xiang as well as a print-out of the Tibetan teacher's e-mail with further instructions; a monk would be meeting her upon her arrival in Lhasa. From there on she was to go straight to the monastery to begin her studies. That was it; no further explanations as to what her studies would entail, no commitment as to how long she was to remain with Sensei Xiang. All this forced ignorance was chafing her nerves, but for once, her precognitive abilities were actually working for her, for she also sensed that she was embarking on a fantastic journey from which she would return a changed person - just like Sensei had said. If she could pull it off, that was!

It would be lonely, though, and she knew without a doubt that the hardest thing these coming months would be missing Shane and her other newfound friends, for even though Molly knew she could never be part of the Power Rangers team, she nevertheless felt as if she had been accepted into the Air and Thunder ninja family.

The taxi came to a stop at the curb and Shane had barely paid the fare when a uniformed airport security guard was already waving the driver on, then pointed them towards the entrance doors of the departure terminal with an air of long-practiced, professional indifference, thus inadvertently robbing Molly of a last look over her home town.

Check-in had been quick; Molly's pathetic luggage consisted of only one bag of clothing and her backpack. The rest of her meager belongings were stored in the trunk of her Honda, parked in Shane's garage.

Even though they walked slowly, they still reached the departure gate way too fast and at the sight of the enormous Delta jumbo jet, the excitement Molly had felt yesterday at Ninja Ops suddenly dulled. Severely. She was pretty sure it would flare up again as she drew nearer to Tibet, but for now only a gray bleakness permeated her mind.

"Man, my first time on an airplane, and it's a twenty-two hour marathon flight halfway around the world," Molly murmured, staring out the huge panoramic window onto her waiting plane. Behind the airport buildings, the setting sun was pouring orange lava over the mountaintops. Boarding had already begun, but she lingered deliberately, stretching out their inevitable goodbye as long as possible. Shane came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and she covered the backs of his hands with hers, pulling them tighter around her waist. His touch sent such a shiver of something through her that she had to close her eyes to keep them from tearing up. What she couldn't keep inside, however, was the deep sigh that seemed to come from her very core. Damn you, Lothor!

"You know, right about now I'm so ready to say 'the hell with Lothor and his threats' and change my ticket to the flight in two weeks. I don't want to leave here…leave you. I mean, we just…"
"Yeah, I know," he murmured close to her ear, his voice as pained as hers. "But as much as I hate you leaving, I can't risk anything happening to you."

"But what about you? You're much more in jeopardy here."

She felt him give a slight shake of his head. "I can handle Lothor. Besides, I have help. The best help in the world."

"I know, but that won't keep me from worrying about you," she whispered, pulling his arms even closer around her and for a long, silent moment he simply held her. The words 'I'll be all right' came to his mind, but he refrained from saying them out loud, because to give her a bold reassurance like that would be the same as lying to her. Not that he didn't have every intention of defeating Lothor and his minions, but life simply couldn't be accurately foretold.

"Delta Airlines is now boarding all passengers for flight 1463 to Bejing with connecting service to Lhasa. At this time, all passengers are requested to proceed to gate 10."

Molly's grip on Shane's hands tightened, but otherwise she made no move to adhere to the overhead announcement.

"By the way, feel free the use the car," she said suddenly.

Shane made a face. "Ah, I better not. I wouldn't know how to handle this rust bucket. Besides, I haven't driven a car since I was twelve."

At Molly's wry sideways look, Shane grinned. "Just kidding! I'll take care of it until you get back."

Still within their embrace, she turned around, facing him. "Speaking of 'until I get back'…" Molly looked momentarily uncomfortable. "I mean…now that I'm leaving and all and I don't know how long I'll be gone…" She cast him a quick glance before her gaze dropped down to her sneakers. "What I'm trying to say is, if you happen to meet someone…I don't want you to feel obligated to me or anything, so - no strings, okay?"

Shane's brows drew together. "Maybe I like strings," he said softly after a long moment, but Molly sensed that he was puzzled – and a bit hurt. But before she could say anything to soothe any ruffled feathers she suddenly felt his finger under her chin, tilting her head up and towards him. She met his eyes reluctantly, expecting a retort, but all he said was, "I'm not an out of sight, out of mind kind of guy. However long it takes for you to get back, I'll be here." His fingers went from her chin to cup her cheek and Molly leaned into his palm.

"I'd like nothing more than that, but I'm just saying that in the meantime…"

"In the meantime I'll focus on keeping the monsters out of the city, kicking Lothor's butt, and getting the Wind and Thunder students back. That should keep me busy enough." He stifled any further comments from her with a firm kiss that they both savored more than they should have. When they finally moved their mouths apart again she continued to hold on to him in a sudden, almost overwhelming need for his closeness. Her lips traveled to the side of his neck and she felt his pulse jump in response. Molly squeezed her eyes shut, longing to stay just like this, wrapped in his arms forever, but time was something they had just run out of; she knew reality was about to intrude on this moment, for the plane to Tibet wasn't about to wait until she'd had drawn her fill of comfort from Shane. So she reluctantly broke out of his embrace.

"I'd like you to take care of something else for me as well," she said and reached under the collar of her simple cream-colored shirt, producing a thin leather cord from which hung a white, oddly-shaped pendant. It turned out to be the 'yang' part of a Chinese Yin-Yang symbol. He accepted the necklace solemnly.

"Let me guess, Carmen has the other part," he said and at Molly's nod he fixed her with an unblinking gaze. "I'll make sure she gets this once we got her and everyone else off Lothor's ship. I promise."

"I know," she whispered. "I have no doubt that you can free the students. If anyone can do it, it's you.

"And your team," she added almost as an afterthought.

He smiled, trying hard to make it look like he didn't have the slightest doubt. "We will get them back, you just watch."

"I wish I could," she sighed, "instead I'll be sitting on top of some mountain for God knows how long, waiting, not knowing what's happening over here – "

"Hey, I'll let you know exactly what's happening, okay!" he reassured her quickly. "We're not gonna lose touch just because you're a measly half-a-world away. And if you need me, then…"

"Oh no, don't even think about it," Molly quickly cut him off. "Long-distance streaks are extremely taxing and should…"

"…only be undertaken in dire emergencies or extreme circumstances," Shane finished her sentence. "'Streaking 101'. I remember. I was actually awake through that lesson."

He grinned at her, but when his hand came up to caress her cheek, his face was serious. "No, don't worry, I won't suddenly show up at the monastery doorstep; this spiritual journey is something you have to do on your own. But I'll always be here to listen. Like Sensei said, even the monks have e-mail, and I will answer every one of yours."

"I'm glad about that," Molly said sincerely, stepped forward and kissed him with gentle urgency. But this time the kiss also had an undercurrent of desire that, in light of their surroundings and the waiting plane, was so mistimed that it made Shane groan inwardly. They clung to each other, desperate to squeeze out a few more moments before…

"Last boarding call for passengers booked on Delta flight 1463 to Bejing with connecting service to Lhasa. All passengers are requested to proceed to gate 10 immediately!"

He hugged her tightly one more time, and the next word felt like the hardest he had ever said. "Go."

Molly's arms tightened around his waist for one more brief moment before she stepped back, slung her backpack over her shoulder and turned with downcast eyes towards the boarding bridge connecting the gate to the plane.

Shane stood rooted to the spot, his heart feeling like it was squeezed by a steel fist.

She was almost out of sight before he called to her. "Molly!"

She turned, her eyes slowly fixing on him.

I love you. "Good luck."

I love you, too. "Thanks."

Then she was gone.

He stayed until the plane had taxied down the runway, then watched it take off.

A profound loneliness settled over him, tightening his chest like a hangman's noose. He swallowed hard, but the large lump in his throat didn't go away. And neither did the ache in his heart – or in his chest, for that matter. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the yang pendant and fixed the thin leather cord around his neck. This somehow seemed to ease the pain just the slightest bit.

A year. He could wait a year. It would probably pass pretty fast, because he would be busy. Lothor would see to that for sure.

He didn't know how long he stared out the panoramic window and onto the now vacant runway before he finally turned and left, taking his heavy heart with him.

A few miles behind him, the forested mountains of Blue Bay Harbor were once again a picture of peacefulness.

THE END

A/N: Thank you all for reading and reviewing this story. I appreciate all your feedback!
For those not really happy with the ending, I already have a sequel in the works appropriately named "Molly's Return", which will be R-rated for obvious reasons :)
I will post it as soon as I've come up with a suitable ending. And don't worry, it won't be as long as this one!
Thanks again, everyone! Hope you had as much fun reading as I had writing this.
Dany