Chapter 17:

Interlude

Aisha lowered the book she was reading when her phone rang. Pausing to let out a yawn, she reached over and picked up the phone. "Hello?" She greeted the other person on the line.

"Hey, 'Sha. I didn't think you'd still be awake," Adam's voice filtered in on the line.

"I was just reading," Aisha replied, motioning to her book despite the fact that Adam couldn't see it. "I couldn't really get to sleep, after what happened today."

"I know, I couldn't get to sleep either." A long pause stretched on the line. "Do you think she'll wake up?" He finally asked, voicing their fears.

"She has to," Aisha replied. "I don't…I don't know how Rocky will take it if she doesn't. Remember when his grandmother died?" She bit her lip at the thought. He had been a wreck when she died. Their family was so close he acted as if he had lost his own arm. He lashed out at everyone that got near him, including Adam and Aisha. He didn't go to his martial arts practices; he stayed in his room and only left whenever he had to go to school. It took him weeks to move on from her death and even now he wasn't fully the same as he was before. "I mean…they seem really close. If they're in any way as close as they were to his grandmother then…"

"I know what you mean," Adam sighed. "I tried reaching his communicator but I only got back static."

"Do you think he took it off?" Aisha asked.

"No way. Rocky never takes it off, he knows not to."

Aisha could hear the worry in his voice. "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure he's fine. He's probably just…going for a jog to tire himself out, that's all. Knowing him, he's not getting much sleep. I wouldn't either if it were any of you guys in that condition."

"Me too," Adam agreed. "It just…makes me wonder."

"About what?"

"Do you think Rocky's going to tell her?"

Aisha didn't have to ask him to elaborate. She knew what he meant: their Ranger secret. Every since Melody arrived at Angel Grove she did seem to be the target of Rita and Zedd. She wasn't dumb, Aisha would bet that Melody had pieced together that they were the rangers if she didn't piece it together after waking up. It'd only be a matter of time until everything came together.

"Do you think he'd risk his powers?" Aisha replied. "He loves the idea of using his skills to help the world. Do you think he'd give it up?"

"To make sure that his friends and family are safe? Yes, I do," Adam admitted

"Me too," Aisha sighed. "It's a very Rocky-like thing to do." She sighed. "I just hope…he doesn't give everything up for her."

Adam gave a small laugh. "You're a little more worried than usual."

Aisha frowned. "What're you implying?"

"Nothing," Adam laughed again. "What did you mean by that?"

"I mean, can we really trust her?"

"Rocky does."

"Rocky's the same person who convinced him into walking across a lake of thin ice when we visited my relatives on Colorado, remember?"

"That was years ago and she hasn't given us a reason not to trust her," Adam pointed out. "The only thing we can do is trust and support Rocky's judgment." He paused. "Is there another reason why you're so worried about him telling her?"

The question in his voice instantly grinded on Aisha's nerves. "Go to sleep, Adam," she growled.

Adam laughed and hung up the phone.