Title: A Solution
Author: Angel Mouse
Relationship: Bridge/Sky
Rating: G
Warning: The first meeting
Theme: Rock

A Solution

Kat looked at the young man sitting in front of her, looking so lost and forlorn it was breaking her heart. He had only been at the academy three weeks and already he was looking like he was about to collapse from exhaustion and stress.

There were almost black circles under his eyes where he hadn't been sleeping at all and his lithe body was covered with bruises from training and from the bullying she guessed he was being subjected to. When word had gotten out about him being a psychic he had suddenly found himself being on the receiving end of some fairly brutal treatment from some of the other newer cadets.

Nothing that had been caught on camera or seen by any of the senior officers or cadets, but word spread quickly and lacking evidence, there wasn't a lot that Kat could do about it.

She had brought it to Kruger's attention of course but there wasn't much they could do except make a generalised announcement about behaviours and respecting other cadets. Kat had the feeling it only made Bridge's situation worse. She looked at him and smiled gently at him, getting a bottle of tablets from the cabinet and walked over to him, holding them out to him.

"Here, these will help you sleep." He took them reluctantly; sighing as he did so and Kat's heart broke once more as she saw the gloves on his hands that singled him out as different.
"I don't really want to take these Dr Manx." She nodded and put her hand on his shoulder and he looked up at her.

"I know Bridge, but if you don't get to sleep you won't be able to function. As it is, you're on the edge of exhaustion." He bowed his head.
"I know Dr Manx, but everyone's emotions are so overwhelming, the hatred especially. I can't block it out when I'm asleep. The cadets I'm sharing with have no control and it hurts sometimes. I don't want to complain Dr Manx, I'm having enough trouble as it is, but I can't take much more." She thought hard a moment, there had to be something they could do.

"Do you want to move into single quarters? Away from everyone." Kat knew that it would be unlikely he'd accept that, and heavens know how she'd pull it off but she had a feeling he would say no. Bridge shook his head.

"No thank you Dr Manx; I don't want anything else to single me out even more." He sighed and looked so down trodden that Kat didn't know what to do. Suddenly though she had an idea, unusal and definitely unorthodox, but it might work.

"I think I've got it Bridge. Your room mate has no control over himself is that right?" She began pacing; her idea suddenly was the perfect solution. Bridge looked up at her, his lost eyes showing his confusion.

"Yes." Kat grinned at him, pleased at the idea that had presented itself to her.
"Well I've got the perfect solution. Wait here while I clear it with the Commander."

With that, she took off out of the room, leaving him sitting there. He watched her go with a confused expression on his face and then sighed. Dr Manx was about the only person at the academy that treated him like he was a normal person, her and Boom that is. Even the Commander, the two times he had meet him, seemed to view Bridge as a weapon in training.

He drew his legs up and wrapped his arms around them. He thought the academy was the perfect place for him, where he'd be able to help people and train his mind to cope with his abilities. But he'd only found hatred, prejudice and anger at his presence.

His abilities stood him out amongst the other cadets and he didn't want that. He wanted to be treated as a normal human being for once. His eyes fell onto his gloved hands that were currently wrapped around his legs. He greatly resented what those gloves represented, but knew that he didn't have a choice. He closed his eyes and rested his head on his knees.

He was lost; he didn't know what to do. Leave or stay, he would be ostracized for the rest of his life. And forget about having a relationship with anyone that was completely out of the question. A single tear rolled down his cheek as the reality of his situation hit the young man even harder than normal.

Kat looked at the young man standing before her. She had discussed the situation with the Commander and he had agreed with her idea and with his blessing she had made the arrangements for them both. Now she only had to talk the young man she had in mind to help Bridge into agreeing with her solution. She smiled at Cadet Tate and nodded to herself, pleased with the solution that had presented itself.

"Thank you for coming Cadet Tate, I know its very short notice but I need your help with something. Well, actually, someone." He looked at her, curiosity in his eyes but he didn't say anything. He was the most calm and in control cadet in the academy. Straight laced, rule book following and extremely emotionally stable. Perfect as a roommate for Bridge, just what he needed.

"I'll try my best Dr Manx, what is it that I can help you with?" She smiled at him, crossing her arms and then her expression faded to one of sadness.
"Cadet Tate, you have a special gift that you receive special training for. That training is kept secret for a reason. Now, we have another cadet who's recently joined the Academy who has a similar genetic gift. Have you met Cadet Carson?" Sky raised an eyebrow, confused.

"No ma'am, I haven't. What sort of gift does he have?"
"I'm surprised you haven't heard the rumours going around about him. He's a psychic, his abilities are to track auras and when he comes into physical contact with an item or a person, he can read that person's mind or the residue of what they were thinking or what happened to them. He also senses emotions that are around him. As you can probably guess, this has gotten out and Cadet Carson is being unfairly singled out for some special attention." Sky's nose crinkled slightly and he frowned. If there was one thing he couldn't stand it was bullies.

"Let me guess, the special attention isn't the good kind."
"No, it isn't. He hasn't been able to sleep because of the bad emotions that have been generated by his presence. Even sleeping tablets don't help him. What he needs is a roommate that not only is stable emotionally but also has similar special ability and can possibly relate to him on that level. Most of all Cadet, he needs a friend." Sky chewed at his lip a moment, looking down at the floor and then back up at her. She could see the wheels turning in his head.

"He's not had it easy then has he ma'am?" Kat nodded, knowing that Sky hadn't had it easy either with the death of his father at a young age but at least he hadn't been ostracised like Bridge had.

"No Sky, he hasn't. In fact, from what I can gather from what little he's told me, all his life he's been on the outside looking in. He's withdrawn into himself and if something doesn't happen to help him soon, I'm afraid not only will he not be able to learn to harness his powers properly so he can live at least a semi normal life, he'll most likely end up in an institution sedated for the rest of his natural life." Sky frowned, surprised at her words, surely it couldn't have been that bad, could it?

"You'd like me to room with him is that it?" Kat smiled at him, he was quick this one that's for sure. One of the reason's she knew he'd be perfect for this.
"Yes I would Sky, and also to help him with his training. Mostly Sky, he needs a friend. At first, you can just help him sleep due to the fact you're the most emotionally stable person I know, hopefully in time you'll grow to be friends." She sobered and looked at him. "Make no mistake Sky; this isn't an order or an assignment or anything like that. This is a request; you are certainly under no obligation to do this." Sky nodded, understanding what she meant.

"I know that ma'am. But from what you're saying, this kid hasn't got much of a life here or outside either, has he?"
"No Sky, he hasn't." Sky fell silent, thinking a moment. He looked up and gave her a slight smile, his eyes warm for a moment.

"Okay then ma'am. Besides, a new roommate would be good." Suddenly he grinned at her, an expression she had never seen on his face before. "And what the hell Dr Manx, I might find a friend for real." She smiled, patting him on the shoulder. He'd been at the academy a year so far but he was already one of her favourites.

And his best friend Dru had recently been transferred, so this solved two problems at once.
"Thank you Sky, I know it'll be strange at first but it is appreciated. Come on, let's go meet him. I warn you now though; he's very withdrawn and exhausted right now, so just take it easy at first with him okay?"
"Okay ma'am. I understand." She nodded and they headed for the medical wing.

Bridge had almost given up on Dr Manx ever returning when the doors opened and she walked in, another cadet walking in behind her. Bridge stared at him curiously, wondering what he was doing here. He'd seen him around in some of the classes for the year above him, but he had never met him. Dr Manx came over to him with a smile.

"Okay Bridge, I have a solution to your problem about sharing quarters with someone emotionally out of control. And also, someone that you'll be able to train with in relation to your special gifts." She gestured for the cadet to come close and she smiled at Bridge. "This is Cadet Schyler Tate; he's a second year cadet. He also has a special genetic gift as well." Sky stepped forward and thrust out his hand.
"Hi. I prefer Sky. I'll be sharing a room with you for a while, if that's okay with you."

Bridge looked at him a long moment then down at the out stretched hand. He looked back up at Sky's eyes and face, frowning slightly.
"Dr Manx told you about me didn't she? That I'm a physic I mean. Aren't you afraid to touch me like everyone else?" Sky grinned slightly.

"No, I'm not. You're just like me, got a gift. Doesn't matter what it is, we've got to stick together." Bridge stared at him a moment and then slowly, hesitantly, he put out his own hand and took Sky's in it. It was a huge gesture of trust on Bridge's part for someone he'd only just met.

Bridge looked like he was ready to bolt at any second but once more, Sky shocked Kat once again with his gentle behaviour, his voice was exactly the right kind of tone to take with Bridge. Sky shook his hand and grinned at Bridge. After a moment he let it go and clapped Bridge gently on the shoulder.

"Come on, you can help me move my stuff into our new quarters and then I'll help you move your things. Dr Manx has organised quarters slightly away from the main ones for us. I think it's a great idea, we'll be able to practice together and I can help you catch up on some of the stuff you need to. I'm one of the academy's best fighters so I'll be able to help you learn that sort of stuff and you can help me focus on honing my gift. I can make shields with my mind, but not for very long at the moment, but I'm getting better." Dr Manx grinned, this was working out great, and she could sense that these two were practically made to be best friends.

"Bridge is also pretty smart Sky; he'll be able to help you with some of the reports and assignments you have to do." Sky blushed slightly, sometimes his written work wasn't up to standard, but it was getting better. He looked at Bridge and winked.

"Okay, so writing reports and some of the written work we have to do isn't my strong point. Come on, let's go get settled and then head out for some dinner. I've been training all day and I'm hungry. Do you like pizza?" Bridge looked stunned at the seemingly off the cuff offer but shyly he nodded, the hope in his eyes was like the sun coming up.

"Yes I do." Sky grinned, leading him out of the room, a friendly arm slung around his shoulders as he steered them out of the room.
"Good, I know this great place down the street. Come on, let's get our stuff settled and then we can go get something to eat." They walked out and Kat smiled, Sky would be a perfect roommate for Bridge and it would help if the two of them bonded now, as down the track they would be working together as a team. Smiling at how perfect this solution was, she headed back to work.

Bridge and Sky had returned from getting some pizza and settled in for their first night as roommates. Sky had quickly settled his things, his side of the room looking neat, tidy and ordered. Bridge's side on the other hand was a mess. Books, computer parts, magazines and pieces of clothing were strewn all about the place. But there was a kind of ordered chaos about the mess.

Bridge had opened up slightly when they were putting the room together, telling him that the chaos in his mind tended to spill over into his things. Completing the whole ensemble was sitting on bed was a stuffed green dinosaur. Sky was settling into the room, getting his things together for their early morning training session, already in tank top and pyjama bottoms. Bridge was sitting on his bed, already in his pyjama's, holding his dinosaur. He was absently watching Sky shine his boots.

Already, even only after a few hours in Sky's presence, he felt more at peace, more relaxed than he had around any other cadet. He jumped with Sky suddenly spoke, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

"I know your staring at me. Is there a problem?" Bridge managed a slight grin, the first positive emotion he'd shown to Sky. Sky glanced up as he spoke, seeing it on his face and he was inwardly pleased to see it. He looked back down at his boots, continuing to shine them.

"Just wondering actually how many strings Kat had to pull to fix this up. I mean, not that I'm not grateful and that, it's just that I know that it couldn't have been easy for you to say yes for sharing a room with someone like me." Sky looked up, a tiny smile on his face. After a few hours in Bridge's presence he found that he actually liked the strange younger man. He'd obviously had some hard times in his life. He grinned at Bridge as he answered.

"Not that many I don't think. And when she explained to me that you've got a gift similar to mine, well then that was the clincher for me." Sky shrugged. "My best friend was transferred to another academy last semester. I think I'd like a new friend. I don't have that many here." Bridge looked at him, stunned. Sky was tall, good looking and had the bluest eyes that he'd ever seen. He suddenly gave a shy smile, looking up at Sky from under his unruly hair.

"I've never had a friend before." Sky grinned, putting his boots away and absently wiping his hands clean. He moved over to his bed and pulled back the covers.
"Well, you've got one now. Come on, lights out, we both need a good nights sleep."

Bridge nodded, scooting under the covers. Sky turned the lights off and they both settled down. Bridge found that Sky's presence and emotions weren't as intense as some of the others. Finally, he had someone that he could be in the presence off and not feel overloaded. Someone that he could count on in hard times and in good times. Finally, he could rest fully.

He'd found his rock.