It had been a busy few weeks for the Rangers ever since the attacks by Screamer. First there had been the attempts to capture the D-squad cadet Sophie which had surprised them all. But not as much as finding out that Sophie was a cyborg and Bridge's championing of her innocence. It had surprised them all how adamant he was about giving her a chance, and they did after a while. And then there were his actions during the whole mess with Boom. He was the voice of reason, stating that Boom should tell the truth to his parents from the outset. Then there was his new power that had come in handy during there trip to Japan. But what had surprised Z the most, was how she felt during the whole thing with Sophie. It had taken her a few days to pin the feeling down and then once Sophie had left to take up her new duties, Z had finally pinned it down. She had been feeling jealous. It had been Syd that had actually made her realise what she had been feeling was jealousy. They two female Rangers had been talking the night after Sophie had left. Bridge had come back from saying goodbye seeming a little down and the two female Rangers had attempted to cheer him up. He had just given them both a small smile and left, turning in early. Z had watched him go, frowning a little. Later that night the two girls were sitting up, talking and Syd had guessed at a few things. It had surprised her just how observant the Pink Ranger was to the others around her sometimes.
"You do know that Bridge likes you Z, right?" Z had looked up, surprised.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Syd grinned at her.
"Come on Z. I think I'm beginning to know you by about now. You were jealous due to his attention to Sophie. Come on Z, even I could tell." Z blushed, something unusual for her.
"Yeah, but how do you know that he likes me?" Syd smiled gently at Z as she finished doing her nails.
"Z, Sky and I have known Bridge for over two years. I can tell he likes you. And besides, he told me he does. Not in so many words mind you, but I know." Syd finished her nails and got up, putting away her things. She looked at Z as she gathered her night gown and smiled. "But Bridge won't do anything about it because of who he is and what his powers are. He's afraid of getting too close to anyone because of his powers. Think about that Z, it perhaps will make you understand why you've been feeling jealous." With that, the Pink Ranger left her to it and Z frowned, curling up on her bed, thinking hard. She then decided that she had to talk to Bridge in the morning. But of course she didn't get a chance as the next few days were extremely busy for them and it wasn't until after they had gotten back from Japan that Z finally realised that Syd had been right, she had been jealous of the attention Bridge showed to Sophie.

So, now after the Supreme Commander had left, Commander Crugar had given them all the next day off after they had finished their duties for the day. So, they found themselves left to their own devices for once. Grumm was co-operating for the moment, licking his wounds once again after being defeated by the Shadow Ranger, and they weren't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Sky and Syd, who had finally gone on their first date a few days ago before going to Japan, had taken off for the day. It had been a sight to see, the stern and sometimes stiff Blue Ranger being led by the hand outside the base by Syd with a picnic basket in the other. They had climbed into the SPD Jeep and roared off somewhere to enjoy their day. Jack had wanted to spend the day with Z going around their old haunts but Z had told him there was something she wanted to take care of with Bridge so Jack shrugged, said not a problem and took RIC and Boom with him to check out their old haunts, taking a few things with him that he had managed to wrangle from the Commander. What had surprised Z a little was that he had managed to get Boom the day off as well. And Bridge had left the base early, heading for the park again, and Z found herself strolling along its paths, looking for him.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was warm against her skin and she found herself taking her time strolling along the paths. She was dressed in just a simple white off the shoulder t-shirt and a short ruffled yellow and white skirt. Her sandals didn't make a sound on the grass as she spotted her friend sitting by a tree near the pond they first encountered Screamer at all those weeks ago. He was sitting on the grass, leaning back against the tree, his eyes closed. Z stopped a moment and watched him, a small smile on her face. He looked really relaxed sitting there and it was then that she noticed he had his gloves off, his hands were laying flat on the grass. The only time she had seen him with his gloves off when he was using his powers. It was actually comforting to see him doing something so normal, so natural looking and something that she took for granted. And she admitted to herself, he did look particularly handsome today for some reason. Dressed in just a long sleeved green t-shirt and blue jeans it was then that Z noticed another fact about Bridge. The only time she saw him in a short sleeved t-shirt was the one he wore under his uniform. And as soon as anyone other than the Rangers came into the room or near him, he immediately put his jacket back on. She wondered why he did that. It was like he was hiding behind his gloves and jacket. She decided that she was going to find out for once and for all what made Bridge tick. So, taking a deep breath, she headed towards her friend.

Bridge opened his eyes as soon as she took her first step towards him and turned his head to face her, a wide smile on his face.
"Hey Z. What are you doing here?" Z came closer and he put his gloves back on.
"Hey Bridge. How did you know I was there?" Z came over and gestured to the ground, he nodded and she sat opposite him. He smiled at her.
"I felt your presence from a little bit away. Your curious about something, about me, is that right?" Z felt herself blush but then regained herself, looking into his eyes. Bridge could feel her confusion and curiosity about him and he wondered where it came from. It was strange to see the usually self assured Z look unsure about something.
"Yes I am." He smiled warmly at her. He was surprised to see her here, but it was a nice surprise. He studied her a moment and admitted to himself that she looked particularly lovely today. "So, you still haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?" Z grinned and absently picked a daisy up, twirling it in her fingers.
"I was looking for you actually." Bridge raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"Any particular reason you were looking for me. I would have thought that you would have spent the day with Jack or Syd or something." Z laughed.
"Syd has dragged Sky off on a picnic, although there wasn't much dragging involved on Sky's part." Bridge shared a grin with her. He knew how much his friend really liked the Pink Ranger and knew that it wouldn't have been with much of a protest on Sky's part.
"And Jack?" Z grinned at him.
"Jack has dragged Boom and RIC with him to take some supplies to one of the homeless shelters we used to help."
"He took Boom with him?"
"Yes he did. He felt that Boom needed a day off like we did as well, so he persuaded the Commander to let him have the day off as well." Bridge laughed softly and smiled warmly at her.
"I'm glad; Boom needs a day off just like us." Bridge looked at her. "So, you still haven't told me why you were looking for me." Z blushed again and looked down at the daisy in her hands. She took a deep breath and looked up, meeting his eyes and smiling slightly.
"Well, I wanted to see how you were doing. Things have been so hectic lately and I haven't had a chance to make sure you were doing okay since the whole thing with Screamer." She looked up as she said the last bit, meeting his eyes with hers. There was a flash of remembered pain in his eyes and then it was gone. He glanced away a moment and then back at her.
"I'm doing okay Z, a lot better than I was actually." He grinned at her.
"That's good to hear. We were all worried about you." Bridge just looked at her.
"Oh." Z looked at him a moment, there was a hint of something in his voice, disappointment maybe. But never one to back down from a challenge, and Bridge was a challenge, Z plunged on. There was no time like the present.

"Okay, I was worried about you. Really worried in fact." Bridge looked at her and gave a shy smile that Z thought it looked so endearing on him.
"Really?" Z returned his smile and they looked at each other for a moment.
"Yes, really Bridge. Ever since I first came here, you've always been there for me, and Jack. You've been a great friend and there's just something special about you. These last few weeks have made me realise that I'd like to get to know you better." Bridge looked surprised.
"Really?" Z laughed.
"Is that all you know how to say." Bridge laughed and grinned at her.
"No it's not. So, you want to know more about me. Like what? I'm a fairly open person." Z laughed and nodded. He was right about that. Bridge was honest to a fault sometimes. Z thought a moment and then she gestured to his gloves.
"Well, to start with, your gloves. You wear them all the time. And just now, when I came closer, you put them back on. In fact, the only time I see you with them off is when you use your powers. I guess I'm just curious as to why you have them on all the time." Bridge looked down at his hands, his expression going from open and friendly to sad. Z noticed this and reached over, putting a hand on his knee. "I'm sorry Bridge, I didn't mean to pry." Bridge looked up and smiled gently, putting his hand on hers, taking it in his and squeezing it gently.
"It's okay Z. It is." Bridge took a breath and then looked her in the eye. "I wear the gloves all the time to protect myself, and others, from, well, myself." Z looked confused and Bridge smiled and continued, not letting her hand go. "You see Z; some of my powers are activated by touch. When you asked me to read those dolls we found at that office building, back when we were trying to find Sam that was actually really hard and really painful to do." Bridge's voice was a little strained and Z squeezed his hand. He smiled his thanks and continued. "You see Z, just the slightest touch of a person's bare skin or my bare hands on an object, everything that person has seen, felt or is feeling pushes itself into my mind. Occasionally they can even feel or see inside my mind, it depends on the person I'm touching. It's overwhelming Z, it really is." Bridge shrugged. "So, I take pains to protect myself at all times unless I have to. You see, when I use my powers to track someone, that doesn't hurt me. But when I have to use them like that, by touching someone or something, it occasionally does." Bridge looked at her intensely. "Do you understand?" Z thought a moment, mulling over his words and thinking about them.

She looked down at their hands, twined together on his knee. The black leather of his glove felt strange against her skin.
"So any little touch, of anyone's skin, and you can see, feel and hear what they do." Bridge nodded and she noticed that his eyes seemed sad somehow. "And that hurts you, physically?" Bridge nodded again.
"Yes, sometimes." Bridge shrugged. "And then there's the mental after effects as well." He tapped his head with his free hand. "I then have to sort through their memories, their emotions and separate them from my own. Find myself again so to speak." Bridge gave her a slightly goofy looking smile. "Sometimes I have so much up here it's a little hard to sort out what thought is mine and what thought is someone else's. So, I don't babble on purpose, it's just sometimes I can't help it." Z nodded, thinking a moment, trying to understand.
"Is that why every so often you come to park?"
"Yes. It helps me to focus on myself again. There's no one around in this little corner of the park so I can let down my barriers a little." He shrugged. "It's hard to do sometimes. My barriers have to be raised around my mind at all times." Z looked at him, confused again.
"So, you pick up on everyone's emotions all the time?"
"Pretty much. And let me tell you, sometimes it's not a good thing. Especially considering some of the area's we patrol but then, sometimes it is a good thing." Bridge shrugged again. "But I cope with it. It's what I do." The simple acceptance of that statement touched Z to the core. It was then that she realised there was way much more to the Green Ranger that any of them had given them credit for.
"Do the others know this is what you go through all the time?" Bridge nodded.
"Sky does, so does Syd in a way." Bridge smiled. "That's why they take care not to touch my bare skin unless invited. So, that's why I wear the gloves, the long sleeves, the covering clothes. I know I can never touch the skin of another person in my life, not unless I want to." Z gave a soft sigh, amazed at his calm acceptance of what was virtually a prison sentence.
"Oh Bridge. I didn't know. I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you sad." Bridge gave her a wide smile, his eyes warm as he shook his head.
"It's okay Z. I don't mind. I know it's my lot in life and I learned to live with that fact a long time ago, it doesn't bother me any more." There was something in his eyes though and Z saw it. She instinctively knew what it was. She wasn't a psychic like he was by no means but somehow; somehow she knew she was right.
"But it does sometimes, doesn't it Bridge?" Bridge looked at her, startled by her perception, even though he knew he shouldn't be and it was then that Z knew she was right. "It does bother you that you can't be close to anyone, doesn't it." Bridge looked down at their now joined hands. Somehow during their talking their hands had become more entwined.
"Yes." The reply was soft and sad. Z squeezed his hand and smiled warmly at him. She resisted the temptation to reach over with her free hand and lift his chin up to stare her in the eyes. So, she did it with her voice instead.
"Bridge I'd like to get to know you a lot better." She held up their joined hands and smiled warmly at him as his head rose to look at her. "If this is as close to you as I can get physically, I'm happy to accept that." Bridge looked at her, surprised.
"Huh?" Z almost laughed at the confused tone in his voice.
"Bridge, I like you. I like you a lot. I'd like to get to know you as more than a friend, than a team mate. And now that we've had this chat I understand why you haven't pursued anything." Z grinned at him. "Somehow I think I've always known that you've liked me as well." Bridge looked stunned and then suddenly gave a shy laugh which endeared him to Z all the more.
"Yeah, I always have, ever since that first day we meet. But you're right; I never would pursue things because of my powers. I don't want to cause you pain or disappointment because I can't give you what you deserve Z." Bridge's voice turned soft and he looked down. "I can't get psychically close to anyone, even as much as I would want to." Bridge looked up and Z saw the truth in his eyes. "And I really, really want to get close to you Z." Z smiled gently at him.
"And I do to Bridge. And I understand that I can't be physically close to you. But holding hands, through your gloves," here Z's grin got wicked, "and the odd hug or two, is enough for me. There are all types of relationships Bridge. This would just be a different type of one." Bridge just looked at her and Z could see the dawning hope in his eyes.
"Are you sure Z?" Bridge tried not to hope too much but there was something in her eyes that struck at his heart. "It would be hard, as hugging you would be all I could do sometimes Z. And I know that some girls would want a more physical relationship as time went on." Bridge blushed furiously but didn't back down from his words. Z nodded in agreement.
"Yes, I'm sure that this is what I want. And yes, the whole physical side being limited will be hard, but as I said Bridge," Z squeezed his hand and reaching out; she took his other hand in her free hand. "I can live with that. So, ask me already." Bridge looked at her, confusion on his face again.
"Ask you what?" Z laughed at the confusion in his eyes. It made him look so sweet.
"Ask me out already." He suddenly blushed and grinned at her.
"So Z, want to go out on a date with me sometime?" Z laughed.
"I'd love to. What took you so long to ask?" There eyes meet and suddenly they both burst out laughing, knowing that the future for the two of them was going to be interesting. But they would face it together.

The End.l