Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are owned by Saban.
Warning: This is no fairy tale.
This drive seemed to be taking forever and leave it to Kat and Jason to get married in the middle of freaking nowhere. Then again, it's probably safer this way. At least it's in the middle of nowhere which means one of two things: It's either easier to track and find if the car is lojacked. Or she could disappear forever and live a normal, happy life.
It was wishful thinking, a happy normal life. And she supposed that it was okay for a brief moment to have that sort of wishful thinking while driving down the majestic tree covered country road, but most of the time the dreams he had were viciously ripped apart by the next time he got mad or the next time he found her and beat the crap out of her for running. Sometimes she wondered why she bothered. Why didn't she just lay down and die like a good little bitch and pray that in the aftermath she would float away to a place filled with angels and white fluffy clouds. But every time he beat her into unconsciousness she would wake up again in a whole new kind of Hell and wonder if it was God's sick sense of humor. Or maybe it was Karma. Either way, one thing was for certain, this trip was going to be short lived and it was only a matter of time before he figured it out. She probably should have ditched her car and taken a bus or something, but even ATM's leave a trail. He'd track her here eventually and then it would be over. Something inside told her that she would rather just get it over with and then she'd never have to worry about it again. Desparate, depressing thinking it was. She was waiting patiently for death and though she had wonderful friends in Jason and Kat who had tried to help her and were able to hide her for a short while, she knew that it wouldn't last. It never does. He always finds her and he always brings her back. Back into his Hell. It's not like she'd never tried to fight. At first she fought back with everything Tommy and Jason had taught her. She would fight back with every ounce of her strength until it took his boys to hold her down while he beat her half to death. She remembered there was one instance when he had made some remark about her sad attempt to fight back and she had spit at him and responded that it was sad that he had to hold her down to beat her. What kind of man needs to do that? The kind that's a coward and afraid. Things were different now and she knew it. And all she wanted these days was for him to make that one final blow hard enough to send her away and pray that God didn't send her back. She didn't care what happened to her after that. Didn't care if it meant her body got buried in a shallow unmarked grave on the side of the road or if it got dumped in the ocean for the fish to eat away at. All she cared was that it would be over and she would finally be free. How sad and pathetic is that? Wishing to die like that? Why she hadn't ended things herself was still baffling, even to her. Oh, she had tried and every time he caught her. Either trying to overdose on the various prescription drugs he left around for sale or slicing open her wrists in the bath tub. But each time he had dragged her to a hospital and told them she was crazy and that she tried to kill herself. Of course he was the sweetest most caring person in the world, or so it appeared and when she would wake up and they would question her, she at first tried to tell them that he beat her but they would laugh and say that she'd had a little too much because a sweet guy like that wouldn't hurt a fly. Eventually she just stopped trying altogether and just let him do what he was going to do and that was that. She would take to covering up her bruises and cuts with spray tan and make-up and just pretend like everything was good. She became more and more submissive to keep him from getting angry. She did as she was told, the way she was told and sometimes, just knowing that she would do what he asked, he would tell her to do something ridiculous just so that he would have a reason to hit her; like the time he demanded that she suck off his best friend. She did and he beat the crap out of her for it. She didn't understand what she had done to make him so angry or why she had been subjected to this kind of punishment, but whatever it was she had just become complacent and submissive. He would throw her down and tear away her clothes and before she would fight because this is not the way a couple was supposed to make love, but now she'd let him do it and he'd have his way with her and then she would get dressed in fresh clothes and bring him a cigarette and a sandwich because that's what he liked after sex. Sometimes she didn't even bother getting dressed because he wanted his cigarette and sandwich right now. Then a few months ago, she found out that she was expecting and immediately she felt the need to get away.
So now she drove down a tree shaded street in the middle of nowhere and hoped that she had followed the directions correctly. Then she saw the carved mailbox that said 1992 Valencia. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"So do you think she'll really come," Aisha whispered to Rocky as she folded the hot pink lacey napkins in half for him to roll the silver wear with. She was anxious and nervous and so excited to see her old friend again. Although, no one except Jason and Kat knew the circumstances of her situation and even they had no clue the current state of which she was in.
"I hope so," Rocky said, "It'd be great to see her after so many years. I just hope our plan doesn't blow up in our faces."
"Me too," Aisha said, her eyes falling back to what her hands were doing.
"Guys, stop worrying," Jason interjected after overhearing the short exchange, "She'll be here. And do me a favor and shut up about it. Tommy doesn't know and I'd like to keep it that way until she gets here." Rocky and Aisha nodded, smiles spreading across their faces.
"Just go easy on her," Jason said, "She has been through hell and coming her was a big deal to her and a huge risk. She's not in the best of situations. Kat and I are really trying to help her with that but she's very hard pressed to accept help." Rocky nodded and he and Aisha exchanged concerned glances, both wondering what secret Jason was hiding about their long lost friend.
As if on cue, a silver 2002 Pontiac Sunfire GT pulled up the drive way and shut off the engine. Before anybody else could move, Katherine Hillard ran out of the front door of Tommy Oliver's country home and across the yard to greet her old friend. Nothing could have made her happier than to see Kimberly gingerly set foot out of her car and stand. She felt it was almost dream like to see her friend actually here. In this sweet, quiet place. It was the most surreal moment.
Tommy was in the backyard completely oblivious to who was coming, despite the fact that everybody else was walking around seemingly knowing something that he clearly did not. He was busying himself with the archway that Katherine had asked him to put up at the end of the aisle. It had taken an awful lot of begging for him to let Kat and Jason pretty much take over his house for their up-coming nuptials. He didn't even hear car the pull up the almost full driveway.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so happy that you're here," Kat giggled as she threw her arms around her old friend. Kimberly stifled a wince from the pain that Kat had just caused her. She was a walking bruise these days. Then Kat took a step back to really look at the woman in front of her.
Her caramel hair was long and loosely curled at the ends. She wore brown, close-toed wedges with blue boot-cut jeans. It was her top that really put Kat's mind into overdrive. It was a pink long sleeved, lace peasant tunic. Definitely a thrift store find. It was huge on her. The shirt simply hung on her body but the long sleeves forced Kat to really look at her face. There, beneath the heavy make-up and spray tan were fresh bruises and cuts. Her right cheek was cut and bruised but neatly covered by make-up. There was bruising around the corners of her eyes and the left corner of her mouth where her lip had been split. It was clear that Kimberly had become an expert at keeping the swelling down because to immediately look at her, one could not tell that there was anything wrong. It would take closer inspection.
"Oh God, Kim," Kat whispered, "What the hell happened?" Kim's eyes fell and she folded her arms under her developed chest to reveal the small bump that her shirt was meant to hide. She turned away from Katherine and prepared for a tongue lashing. It was what she was used to and it was a shame that she was prepared to receive it from such a close friend. But it never came, however allowing herself to relax would not happen though.
"You're pregnant," Kat said, gently touching Kim's round belly. Kimberly winced and couldn't meet Kat's eyes. Every part of her was sore and she just wanted to be put out of her misery. It was the hardest thing in the world not to cry, to hide behind strong eyes but here she couldn't be that strong. She couldn't hide the pain and the fear from someone who had done so much to help her already. Katherine pulled her into a hug and Kimberly just let go. Once the flood gates opened, she couldn't turn it off.
"I don't know how he found me Kat," Kimberly cried, "I was sure that I was safe. You and Jase worked so hard to help me and he found me. How did he find me?"
"I don't know, Sweetie," Kat whispered, "I just don't know." Kimberly cried more as Jason walked from the back yard with Tommy not far behind him. She didn't even see him. Her vision was so blurred by the tears that fell, she could barely make out Kat's face.
"Do you want to say Hi to everybody," Kat asked, "They've been waiting for you." Kimberly nodded and reluctantly pulled away from Kat, wiping her eyes. The first to hug her was Rocky, followed by Aisha who kissed her friend's cheek and told her that she'd missed her, then came Adam and Tanya, Justin, Zack, Billy, and finally Jason who held on the longest next to Kat.
Tommy stood with his back to the driveway, looking at the house. He'd known just by the color of her hair who she was. As Jason let her go, he turned her toward Tommy and she stopped. Her jaw dropped, but she quickly recovered. She couldn't move. Shock and awe completely took over. Tommy stared back, but he didn't see the bruises and cuts. He didn't see the roundness of her belly or the way she seemed small against the world. At that moment, she had recoiled inside herself. She wanted to disappear at his scrutiny. But he didn't see it. He saw caramel hair and doe eyes. The ones that told him once that he needed to be strong and remember that he'd always have her and that he'd always have their friends when things seemed darkest. It was the missing brilliant smile that brought him crashing back to reality. Now he saw the bruises about her face and the cuts on her cheek and lips. He suddenly realized that she wore long sleeves in summer heat to cover up more bruises. Bile rose in his throat and he fought it back down. Somebody had done this to her. Somebody had put his hands on her and made her suffer. The rage that filled him at that moment was blacker than anything he had ever felt. Even as an evil Power Ranger, he'd never felt so much anger and hate.
She looked at him with tear filled eyes and felt like running. She couldn't handle this. She couldn't handle seeing him. She'd left him to live this life. She'd left her white knight to be with a monster and she couldn't face him. She couldn't tell him that this is the better guy she'd left him for. Oh karma, you are a bitch. This was not what she had planned on when she decided to come here. She had no clue Tommy would be here. She was more scared now than ever.
Tommy sensed her sudden desperation to run. He watched as her beautiful brown eyes clouded over with fear and it was like twisting the knife in his heart. He took a step toward her and she shrank. She was afraid of him. He'd never seen her look at him like she did now. It broke his heart. He reached out and took her arm. He felt her go limp, as if she were just going to submit to whatever he planned to do to her. He pulled her into him and held her. She did nothing. She just stood there. She put one arm around her waist and the other crossed her back and held her head to his chest. She still did nothing. She was beyond scared and surprised at his actions toward her. She thought that he hated her. Then, she felt his warm lips kiss the top of her head.
"Please, please don't be afraid of me, Beautiful," he whispered, low enough that only she could hear. A whole new set of flood gates opened and she sobbed into his chest. Finally she returned his embrace and wrapped her arms around him. At that moment, he held her a little closer and he felt it. He felt the small, roundness of her belly and he felt it move and he knew. She was pregnant. He felt the rage rise again. She was pregnant and someone did this to her! Tommy wanted to find the person responsible and murder them, but more than that, he wanted to protect her. Even if she didn't love him anymore. Even if they never looked at each other that way again, he would protect her.
As her tears began to subside and he loosened the embrace between them, another car roared up the driveway. It was an old car. Probably late sixties and it was black. A guy got out and came toward them. He looked like he'd just stepped out of a gangster movie. He was tattooed and about Tommy's size, but he had a bit more muscle to him. He had to be some kind of Italian or Latino. He had dark hair like Tommy and dark eyes and he wore sagging jeans and a white beater with enough gold chains to sink the Black Pearl. Tommy pushed Kimberly behind him and stood stock still.
"I think you need to get your hands off of my girl, friend," the beefed up gang-banger told Tommy.
"I'm not your friend and I think you need to leave," Tommy growled.
"And I think you need to step aside, Spike Lee," he spat in Tommy's face.
Kimberly stepped out from behind Tommy and put her hand on his arm. She just looked at him and then went to her tormentor.
"It's okay," she said, "I'll go with you. Please don't hurt my family."
"Kim," Tommy started, but she cut him off.
"No, Tommy. I'm not going to put you, any of you," she said, looking at them, "in danger." She looked back at Tommy's eyes and gave him the only smile she could muster. It was a sad smile. But she knew this was it and the only thing she could be thankful for was that she got to be in his arms one last time.
"Get your ass moving," her tormentor yelled at her and the he shoved her toward the car.
"I'm going, Derick," she said softly, but it didn't matter. He turned away from Tommy and back handed her across the mouth so hard that old cuts reopened as well as a new one. She felt something in her mouth come loose…again. She staggered backwards and Katherine caught her.
"She doesn't need help," Derick yelled at Katherine and then turned to Kimberly, "MOVE!" She left Katherine and made a quick retreat to the other side of Derick's car. Tommy stood between Derick and his car and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Katherine, why don't you take Kimberly inside and get her cleaned up," he said over his shoulder but never lost eye contact with Derick, "I think Derick and I have a few things to discuss."
"We ain't got shit to discuss," Derick spat.
"I believe I said that you need to leave," Tommy said.
"I'm not leaving without her," Derick said matter-of-factly.
"You aren't leaving with her," Tommy corrected him.
"Is that right," Derick asked, "And what do you intend to do about it, Spike?"
Katherine was already helping Kimberly into the house while the others waited to see what Tommy would do. Kimberly was hard pressed to go inside but Katherine got her to go because this really wasn't something she needed to see.
"Well, you know I could just call the police and have you arrested for trespassing but I'm a nice guy and I think I can let you off with a warning," Tommy said and took a step closer to him, "But I'm going to tell you right now, you'll never lay a hand on her again."
"Really?" Derick spat, "You gonna stop me?" With that, he heaved a huge fist at Tommy's face and sent Tommy staggering backwards.
"Oh, I was so hoping you'd do that," Tommy said, rubbing his jaw and lunged at Derick. Tommy's fist connected with Derick's jaw and then Tommy grabbed him by his slicked back hair and slammed his head into the hood of his car. Derick got up and tackled Tommy. The others knew better than to get in the middle of this. Tommy was seeing red. He threw Derick off of him and as Derick was getting up, Tommy landed a roundhouse kick to the side of Derick's face. Then he grabbed him by the back of his white beater and threw him at his car. Before Derick could move, Tommy hooked his arm around both of Derick's and held them behind his back and with his free hand, Tommy grabbed a fistful of greasy hair and slammed his face into the hood of the car.
"You see, I'd like to kill you right now. I would, but you're not worth the grease in your hair," Tommy said, "But let's get one thing straight; you don't touch her, you don't see her, you don't even so much as think her name. You get in your car and you drive. You forget this town and you forget her. I see you anywhere near here and I swear to God, I will kill you. You got that?" Tommy pulled him up and shoved him toward his car. He watched as Derick scrambled to the door and fumbled to get in and then drove off.
Tommy turned toward the others, but didn't see Jason. He motioned for them to go inside as it was getting dark and he needed to know everything.
"Where is she," Tommy asked when he came back into the house, his focus primarily on Jason. Jason just rolled his eyes up toward the ceiling.
"I need to know, Jason," Tommy said, looking at him, "What happened to her?"
"You're gonna want to sit down for this," Jason said, and lead him over to the couch. The others busied themselves with wedding decorating and organizing. They wanted to know of course, but weren't going to pry.
Jason told Tommy about how Kimberly had met Derick and how she'd been so happy at first. As time went on, Derick changed. Made her tell her family lies about not wanting to see them anymore because of how terrible they treated her. He'd cut her off from her whole world. Jason went on about how the first few times he had hit her, she had just told Jason that it was an accident or he was drunk or that he didn't mean it and it wouldn't happen again. Jason continued to tell Tommy about how he'd beat her into unconsciousness and a few times his buddies had to stop him because he'd come close to killing her. He talked about how Kimberly had tried to commit suicide and the ways in which she had tried.
It was at that point that Tommy had to run to the nearest trash can to throw up. Jason warned him that it doesn't get any better and if he wanted to stop, that he should say so. Tommy just shook his head and pressed Jason to go on.
He continued telling Tommy all he knew about Kimberly's life since she had sent Tommy the letter. He explained how she had initially tried to fight him off and how he would force her to have sex with him. He told Tommy about how he would let his buddies repeatedly rape her and how Derick would watch and laugh while she cried. He explained to Tommy that she had tried to run and hide but he found her every time. Even when he and Kat tried to help her. And every time he brought her back, he'd beat her into oblivion.
"She told me that she prays for death, man," Jason said at one point, "She said she didn't care if nobody ever found her body, she'd just be happy to be free. How fucked up is that?"
Tommy just shook his head. He had no words for this and he couldn't fathom anybody wanting to hurt someone so beautiful and strong. He just couldn't process what he was hearing.
Jason continued, explaining how Kimberly just became so broken and lost that she would just do whatever Derick asked her to do. No matter how ridiculous. And if he beat her for it, she just let him and then if she wasn't unconscious by the time he had finished, she would go clean herself up and return to do whatever he wanted some more.
"She's just submissive. She doesn't hesitate to do what anybody asks anymore because she's afraid. She fears everything," Jason said, "She's afraid of what will happen if she doesn't do something and she's afraid of what will happen if she does. That's not the Kimberly we know, man. She's utterly broken."
"Somebody has to take care of her though, Jason," Tommy said, "She needs to know that she doesn't need to be afraid anymore."
"I know, but she's beyond scared, bro. She thinks everybody's out to hurt her now. She didn't come to us for help," Jason said, "Kat and I were in Florida and I thought I saw her in a Wal-Mart while we were looking for some beach towels. We followed her and when I realized that I was right I went up to her and she damn near bolted. I had to beg her to come with us. Once we had her alone, she spilled everything."
"I have to go talk to her," Tommy said and Jason simply nodded. Tommy left the room and started up the stairs.
Inside his bedroom, he saw Kimberly curled up on the side of the bed sobbing while Kat laid next to her just holding her hand and stroking her hair. The door creaked and Kat's eyes darted to it. Tommy nodded toward the hallway at her and she just got up and left the room. He shut the door and Kimberly didn't move. Tommy walked over to her side of the bed and knelt in front of her. She lifted her head to meet his eyes and he wiped away her tears.
"Hey Beautiful, how are you doing," he asked. She turned away from him and he frowned.
"I'm fine," she said, "I can go if you want me to." He reached up to touch her face and she flinched. He dropped his hand and moved so he could see her face.
"I don't want you to leave," he said softly, "Why would you think that?"
"Because I brought trouble here," she said, "That's all I bring is trouble." This time, he ignored her flinch and caressed her cheek. She stiffened at his touch and he felt her fear as he touched her.
"No Kim," he said, "You don't bring trouble. You couldn't. Please don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you."
"That's what they all say," she mumbled, "But it's a lie. Its always a lie." He put both hands on either side of her face and turned her head to face him.
"Look at me, Kim," he said, "Look at me. Do you really think that I would ever hurt you? I'm not them. I'm not that kind of person."
"Why do you even care," she asked, tears threatening to run rivers down her cheeks again, "I left you. I hurt you. Why on Earth would you give a damn about me?" He brushed hair out of her face and wiped away a tear that fell.
"Because I love you, Kim," he said, "Do you honestly think that I could stop? Yes, you hurt me. You ripped my heart out with that letter. And to be honest, I really don't think anybody's brother does the things we did with each other." At that he got a small smile.
"There's my girl," he said, wiping more tears from her eyes, "I'm not saying that I expect you to still feel about me the way you used too. I'm not even saying that you have to like me as a friend, but what I am saying is that I could never get over you and the feelings I had for you never changed. If I had known; if I had even an inkling that something were happening to you, I would have come for you. Baby, why didn't you come to me?"
"Because I thought that you hated me for everything that happened and I didn't think that you would want to help me," she cried, "I wish I could have come to you. I wish I had, but I was so afraid of everybody, of everything. Tommy, I have nobody. Nobody that cares if I'm alive or dead. You have to understand that…"
"I care," he interrupted, holding her face in his hands, "Okay. You listen to me, I care. Those people downstairs, they care. If something ever happened to you. Something that we couldn't fix….Kim it would kill me to know that you had died and I didn't do anything to save you. We care. And we will be here for you. I am never going to let anyone hurt you, ever again."
"Tommy, I didn't even want Kat and Jason to know. When they found me in that Wal-Mart, I was ready to get out of there. Jason begged me to come with them and I gave in. After I confessed everything, they swore that they would help me get away from him. Katherine found a place for me in Arizona. Jason put it in his name so that he couldn't find me but I was the dumbass who took her own car. He had it lo-jacked or something. He found me and dragged me back to Florida. From there things just continued in the downward spiral that they had already been in," she explained, "When I found out that I was pregnant, I panicked. I didn't tell him out of fear. I hid it until my clothes didn't fit anymore, hence…" She gestured to her bruised face, "When I got their wedding invitation, I didn't think. I just threw a bag together and I snuck out in the middle of the night. Halfway here, I thought about turning back because I knew that he would find me, but I had to see them. I had to see them one last time. I honestly didn't expect to make it out of this one alive."
She stopped for a few minutes to collect her thoughts and continued, "God, Tommy, I wish I could take back so much. Especially me and you. He was such a different person back then. I don't know what happened. But there has not been a day that has gone by that I haven't wanted to take that stupid letter back. I wish that I could but I can't, so all I can ask is for some kind of forgiveness." Tommy gave her a smile and caressed her cheek.
"You've always had it, Beautiful," he said, "Always." She looked at him with a shy smile and tear filled eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered, she almost went to hug him, but she hesitated and recoiled again.
"Don't Kim," he begged, "Please don't be afraid of me." He felt as though he were talking to himself. She tentatively reached up and he felt her fingertips sweep down the side of his face. He closed his eyes and let her touch his face and run her fingers through his hair. He was crouched next to that bed for what seemed like hours but he didn't move a muscle for fear of frightening her. He didn't want to lose her again. Finally, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck. He sighed, as relief washed over him.
"Don't let me go," she whispered, as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I won't make that mistake twice," he said and then he picked her up and sat in her place on the bed with her small body in his arms.
"I don't know what to do now," she said, feeling like she might cry again, "I have nothing. What am I supposed to do now, Tommy? I don't even have a college degree."
"I don't know Beautiful," he answered, simply, "But we'll figure it out."
"Please don't feel like you have to take care of me, Tommy," she said, "You don't need to burden yourself with this." She gestured to her belly and he chuckled.
"I said we will figure it out," he said, "Stop worrying. It's not good for the baby. Besides, I, personally, think I would make a great dad." She stifled a giggle and then got serious again.
"I can't expect you to be that guy," she said, "And I don't. I just think…." He pressed a finger to her lips.
"Stop. I said, don't worry about it," he whispered, "All you need to concentrate on is getting better. I'm not going anywhere, Kim. You need to understand that I love you. There isn't anything on the planet that is ever going to change that. Whatever obstacles come next, we will face together. I understand that this is not the conventional way to do things. I get it if you feel like this is too fast. But I'm not making a marriage proposal here. I'm just simply saying, let me help." Her eyes searched his for even a hint of doubt, but she found none.
"Believe me, I would be the happiest man in the world if you said you wanted to get married because you are all I have ever wanted. But I want you, in your own time, to feel the same. And not out of fear of me or fear for me. I want you to want us to be what we were because you love me and because you aren't afraid that someday I might change and become the monster that he is. I'm not and I won't. I want all of you, the good, the bad, the broken, and the damage. I want it all, Kim. But I want you to want it too."
"I want you too. More than anything, I want you," she said, "I want everything with you, but you are right, I'm afraid and I'm broken. And I don't know how to trust anymore."
"All of that can be rebuilt over time," he said, "For now, let's just be here and take it one step at a time."
"I think I can do that," she said, finally feeling like she could relax a little.
"No worries, Kim," he said and kissed the top of her head and she closed her eyes, "No worries."
And for the first time in years, she fell asleep peacefully and without fear.
