Time Force belongs to Disney/Saban. I am using it without permission, but I am not and don't expect to make money from this.

Rated PG: a little minor language.

This is for the 'Five Things that Never Happened' fanfiction challenge/exercise.

The fifth and final part. Thanks go out to everyone who was kind enough to review - thanks guys, it means a lot! Special thanks to MzDany for her wonderful betaing.

A big plate of virtual cookies to anyone who recognizes the quote at the end. And as always, please take a moment to review...

Five Nice Things Eric Never Did

Amends
(Just before and after the end of 'End of Time, pt 3')

- - -

Eric paused before entering Mr. Collins' office and looked around, wondering why this time felt - different. But it was different, of course. So many things felt like last times, now, rightly or wrongly. Determined not to let the somber and reflective mood that had possessed him since before he had gotten out of the hospital show on his face, he pushed the door open and went in.

"Eric!" Mr. Collins smiled from behind his desk, and then got up and circled it to greet him with a handshake. "Good to see you on your feet again. How are you feeling?"

"Fine, sir."

"Good, good." He gestured. "Have a seat."

A few days ago, Eric would have declined politely and shifted into a respectful 'at ease' position. Today - he was still not fully recovered, and knew it. He nodded, sat, and watched Collins return to his own chair.

"I see you have your morpher again," the older man said with a curious lift of his eyebrows.

Eric raised his arm reflexively to glance at it. "Wes gave it back to me. Jen said I could keep it."

"That's great. I know it means a lot to you, and it's certainly good for Bio-Lab and Silver Hills too." Collins studied him for a moment before continuing, "You said you wanted to talk to me."

"Yes, sir." Eric dropped his gaze to stare at his own hands as they clenched nervously. What he had to say would sound strange, he knew, especially coming from him. So many things had changed in the last few days, including things he could hardly explain to himself, let alone someone else. He would have to just say it, and hope it made sense.

"Sir, I want you to offer Wes command of the Silver Guardians."

There was a slight pause during which Eric could feel Mr. Collins staring at him, and then a quietly astonished "Excuse me?"

"The other Rangers are going to be leaving in a day or two. Wes has spent almost a year with them. Working with them. Having a mission. Now, with Ransik gone..." Eric raised his eyes to meet Collins'. "What has he got? His friends will be gone, his home is gone; he's got nothing to fight for anymore. I know what it's like to feel - lost." Eric stopped, aware he had said more than he had intended, and finished with, "I think the Guardians would be good for him. Wes is a natural leader; he'd be good for them, too."

Collins took his time before answering. "I understand what you're saying, and I agree. Wes is going to need something to do that he thinks is worthwhile, after his experience with the Rangers. But what makes you think he'd accept the job? He turned it down before."

"Well - that's the other thing." Eric swallowed. "What about changing the setup? Do pro bono work, maybe patrolling the city along with the police, or protect high-crime areas that can't afford to hire us, for free. We make enough to cover that kind of thing, and it would be great public relations. And - Wes would like it."

"Hmm." Collins looked and sounded thoughtful. "To tell the truth, I've been thinking along the same lines. After everything that's happened, maybe it's time for some changes."

"So will you do it? Sir?"

"I'll have to give it a little more thought, but yes, probably something similar to your idea." Collins' attention returned to Eric full-force. "As for Wes - why give him command of the Guardians? Why not second-in-command, or a partnership? You've been doing an excellent job, and I can tell you like doing it - why would you want to give it up?"

"Kind of hard to explain."

"Try." It was said softly, but it was an order, not a request.

"Okay." Eric began his examination of his own hands again. "Look, you know Wes and I didn't get along for a while after I got here. You probably never heard about the worst things that went on. I resented him for - for a lot of reasons that weren't his fault, and I took it out on him. I'm not proud of that. Wes never did anything but try to be my friend, and to help me, even all the time I was fighting him."

"I see." There was another pause from behind the desk. Eric couldn't quite bring himself to look up at his employer. "So this is - what? Making amends?"

"I guess so." It wasn't quite that simple; the truth was some mixture of guilt, gratitude, and Eric's need to prove to Wes - and himself - that he had changed enough to give up something he wanted, something that gave him power. "I just think giving Wes the chance to take command if he wants it is the right thing to do."

"The right thing." Mr. Collins' thoughtful look had deepened.

"One more thing, sir. If you do it, I'd rather you didn't tell him it was my idea. I don't want him to feel like he owes me."

Collins stood up. As Eric rose also, he came around the desk and held out his hand, smiling. "When I promoted you to commander, I was impressed by your determination and ambition. Now - I know I got a lot more than that."

"Thank you, sir."

"I'll offer Wes the job. But..." Collins dropped a hand on Eric's shoulder. "If I know my son, I think he may have something of his own to say about it."

- - -

'I think the future looks pretty bright.'

Eric smiled to himself at the memory of the words Wes had spoken only minutes before. The future did look bright ahead, especially after Wes had accepted his father's offer - and insisted on a partnership. Eric had suspected, and hoped, that he would, but he hadn't been sure until they had shaken hands on it. It would take some adjustment for them to work together, but they could do it. The Time Force Ranger team and the fight against Ransik might have ended, but it was a new beginning too.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts as he watched the Silver Guardian honor guard that had come to see Jen, Lucas, Katie, and Trip off getting back into their SUVs, that he didn't notice footsteps approaching across the sand of Silver Hills Beach until a voice spoke from beside him.

"I have a question," Wes said.

"Yeah? What?"

"How much did you know about this?"

"About what?" Eric asked.

"You know what I'm talking about. You knew Dad was going to offer me command of the Guardians."

"What makes you think-"

"You didn't go ballistic the second he tried to give me your job. You knew." Wes's eyes crinkled with amusement. "The real question is: how much did you have to do with it?"

"I-" Eric considered denial or evasion, but lies were no way to start a new partnership. So he just smiled and said, "That's between me and your father. I'm not talking."

Wes nodded. "Okay, I can respect that."

"Good." Eric glanced at the SUVs again. "I should be getting back to Bio-Lab."

"Come on, ride with me and Dad."

As they started for the car where Mr. Collins and Philips waited, Wes rested an arm across Eric's shoulders, and grinned. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," he said.

- End -