DISCLAIMER: The Power Ranger universe does not belong to me, it belongs to Saban, and I am using his characters without his permission or knowledge. I do not get paid for this.
NOTES AND TIMELINE: Part Pre-Powers, part Post-Powers. This story builds on situations and references established in my stories "Forged in Flames" and "Someone to Watch Over Me". While it is not absolutely necessary to read either, it might help.
AUTHOR'S NOTES 2015: This story was written well before Thuy Trang died in a car accident. Thuy played Trini, and at least part of the reason she didn't survive was the absence of seatbelts. That was just an eerie coincidence and so tragic. A beautiful young woman taken far too soon.
THAT WHICH DOESN'T KILL YOU
By Mele
March 15, 2015
Jason Scott carefully carried the two cups of juice down the hall toward the large, comfortable den, where his two daughters were stretched out on the couches. Both Heather and Haley were recovering from a particularly bad bout of the flu, and it was Jason's turn to stay home and take care of them. He didn't mind in the least, he was as much at home playing nursemaid to his girls as he was teaching karate. Thirteen year old Heather was talking on the phone when he arrived with their drinks, while ten year old Haley was flipping through the channels on the TV in an attempt to find something to watch. They had been sick for over a week now and boredom was setting in.
"Honey, please stop that before your wear it out," he requested gently as he handed her one of the cups of juice.
"I'm bored." The sickroom whine in his younger daughter's voice reminded Jason of his own reaction to being sick when he was a kid.
"I know, but you have to stay inside and quiet for at least another day. I'm sorry, but you don't want to get sick again, do you?"
"No. But there is nothing on TV and we have watched all the videos a million times," Haley complained.
"Maybe later Mom or I can go rent a couple of new ones. But I'm afraid for now you will have to make do. Why don't you read a book?" Jason suggested.
"It makes my head hurt, so Mom told me not to read for a couple of days," Haley explained.
Jason could tell she was at that stage of an illness where she was feeling too well to stay still, and too sick to resume normal activities. She was restless and bored and nothing was going to appease her. Haley physically resembled her mother, and had inherited her more impatient nature as well. Heather took after her father in both looks and disposition, being more even-tempered and patient. Both girls had inherited Jason's dark eyes and hair. In Jason's admittedly biased opinion they were exceptionally pretty girls, who would grow into extraordinarily beautiful women.
"Here, I brought you some juice, sweetheart," he said to Heather as his elder daughter hung up the phone and settled back down. Heather had been extremely ill, Jason had feared they would end up taking her to the hospital a few days before when her fever spiked alarmingly. However, with Jason's mother helping out, they had gotten Heather through the crisis and she was well on her way to a full recovery.
"Thanks, Dad," she said without enthusiasm.
"Something wrong?" Jason asked gently, worried that she seemed so depressed.
"Sandy's dad had a heart attack, and Sandy is all freaked out. She was there when it happened, I guess it was pretty awful. He collapsed and couldn't breathe, and her mom got hysterical. I wish I could be with her, not stuck here sick. What are they going to do if he dies or something?" Tears shone in her eyes, threatening to spill over.
Jason sat down beside her and pulled her into his embrace. "I know how painful it is when a friend is hurting and you can't do anything for them. You are so sweet and kind, and I know you want to be with her. But it wouldn't do Sandy any good if you got sick again because of her. Sometimes all you can do is wait, and pray your friend makes it through okay."
"You don't know how hard that is!" Heather sobbed, giving in to her fear. Sandy was her best friend, and it was tearing at Heather's heart that she couldn't be there.
"Actually, I DO know how hard that is. Truly, I do. I wish I didn't." His tone softened, and sounded so far away that Heather looked up at him worriedly.
"Dad? How do you know?" she asked softly.
"Oh, that's 'ancient history', but a long time ago, during a spell of about a year and a half, all my friends and I had bad times, back to back to back. Injury, illness, divorce. It was a hard time for us all." His voice was still distant. Then he seemed to snap out of it and looked at Heather with concern. "Why don't you call your grandmother and see if she can find out how Sandy's dad is. Maybe that will make you feel a little better."
Heather did as he suggested, and he and Haley listened to her half of the conversation, sharing a relieved smile as Heather seemed to receive good news. She hung up the phone and faced her father and sister.
"Grandma says Sandy's dad is doing really good. It was a mild heart attack that looked much worse than it was. Sandy and her mom are there now, getting the good news. Thanks, Dad, that was a good idea," she smiled. Jason felt more than amply rewarded when he saw her lightened mood.
"That's what fathers are for: to deliver juice and sage advice," he chuckled.
"You got another job, too," Haley declared with a mischievous look.
"Oh, yeah? What's that?"
"You have to entertain us! I want to hear the story of when you and your friends all had such a hard time. Please?" she added, giving her father her most pleading look.
"Yeah, please?" Heather added. She and Haley loved hearing stories from their dad's childhood. They knew all his friends, except two.
"Who all had problems? You and Kim and Trini and Zack and Billy?" Haley asked curiously. "How old were you?"
"Right between you girls' ages. When it started I think some of us had just turned eleven, when it was over we were all twelve. But, really, that is hardly the story to tell to convalescing flu patients. How about I read to you instead?"
"No!" both girls cried as one.
"We want your story. Pleeaasee?" Haley pleaded, joining Heather and Jason on the couch and cuddling up to both.
Jason looked at his girls with a resigned sigh. He couldn't deny them much, and he and Emily both felt it was good to be open about their pasts with their daughters. They often told stories from their youths, omitting only those stories too adult for their children, and any stories about Jason's time as a Power Ranger.
"Oh, okay. I give in. I'll tell you about it, but you have to promise to keep still and drink all your juice. You need the liquid," he tried to sound stern, but didn't quite make it.
"Okay! Before you start, can we see the picture, please?" Haley requested.
Jason reached back awkwardly and managed to extract his wallet. Opening it, he withdrew a small photograph that was somewhat frayed and mangled about the edges. He handed the small picture to Haley, who studied it carefully before handing it to Heather. She also studied it quietly then returned it reverently to her father. They had seen the photo before. In fact it was something of a family tradition to ask to see it before Jason told a story from his childhood.
Jason looked at the photo with a slight smile. It showed him and his four friends when they were all ten years old. It had been taken at a picnic the families had enjoyed together, about a week after the five kids had been trapped in a raging forest fire. During that fire had been the first time the assorted parents had met, there at the base camp, waiting for word on their missing children. It had been a terrifying experience for all, and the picnic had been their way to celebrate the happy outcome.
In the photo the children were standing in front of the jungle gym in the park. Kimberly was standing arm in arm with Trini, with Zack behind them, perched on the lower rung of a ladder leading up into the monkey bars. Next to Trini stood Jason, leaning on Billy, using his shoulder as an armrest. All five were smiling broadly, innocently. Looking at
the photograph, Jason wondered if they would have smiled so if they had known what the future would bring. He doubted it.
Heather saw her father run his finger gently over the figure standing farthest to the right-Billy. His expression saddened as he contemplated the picture, and all that had happened in the intervening years. Heather and Haley had never met Billy, but they knew his story well enough. How he and Adam Park had been killed in a car accident only a couple of weeks before Heather's birth. Billy's father, Wallace Cranston, was Heather's godfather.
The girls both knew the other three of their dad's oldest friends. Kimberly was married to Tommy Oliver, and they had three daughters. Trini was married to Rocky DeSantos and they had three children. The oldest of their children, Adam, was the son of Adam Park. Zack Taylor was married to Angela. They lived in Hollywood and had one son, William, named in honor of Billy.
Heather and Haley waited patiently for their father to begin the story. They knew he always took a bit of time to organize his thoughts before he started, so they didn't press him.
"Now I don't want to make it sound alarming, but actually it all seemed to start with a cold. Just a stupid cold Zack caught and couldn't seem to get rid of…..
February 20, 1991
"Achoo!"
"Bless you," Kimberly looked over at Zack with some concern.
He had been sneezing, coughing, and wheezing for two weeks now. He had missed a couple of days of school, but had told them later that it seemed to make no difference if he stayed home or not. He just stayed the same. He didn't feel good, but didn't feel bad enough to stay in bed. He coughed, he felt tired, his head hurt. So, in typical Zack fashion, he decided to simply ignore the problem and let it go away on its own. He did the best he could to hide his illness from his parents, his mom could be a bit over-concerned in his opinion. So he went about his normal routine and ignored his illness, letting his friends think his parents knew all about it.
"Thanks," he mumbled in response to Kim. He was definitely feeling worse today, so much so that he was considering taking himself off to see the school nurse. Instead he headed on down the hall toward his next class, which happened to be P.E.
This week they were playing basketball, and Zack was having a hard time keeping up. Jason and Billy, who were on his team, were keeping an eye on him, recognizing that something was very wrong. The teacher, Mr. Daniels, was at the furthest court when Zack was suddenly overcome with a dizzy spell. Jason and Billy realized simultaneously that Zack was in trouble. He staggered around the court drunkenly, gasping for breath, trying to stay on his feet. Jason grabbed him and encouraged him to sit down on the court, then turned to Billy with a terse "Get Mr. Daniels, NOW." Billy took off at a dead run.
"Sit still, Zack. Mr. Daniels will be here in a second," Jason encouraged him.
"'M okay, Jase, just a little dizzy. Be okay in a minute, 'm not sick. Just dizzy, we can take them, just got to make the basket." Zack's rambling, gasping monologue was worrying Jason.
Just then Mr. Daniels arrived with the worried Billy.
"What seems to be the problem, Zack?" the teacher asked gently as the other students gathered around curiously.
"Feeling a little dizzy is all. 's okay," Zack mumbled.
"I think a trip to the nurse's office is in order." He looked up at the students gathered around. He signaled for Jason and Billy to come forward, knowing the three boys were friends. "You two can help him to the nurse's office. Take it nice and slow and help him all you can. Then come back to class. Okay?" Both boys nodded solemnly.
With Mr. Daniels' help they got Zack on his feet, his arms slung around Jason and Billy's shoulders. The three boys started slowly to the school's main building, where the nurse's office was located.
It was a slow trip, they had to stop frequently when Zack complained he felt sick. Finally they made it to the nurse's office, and turned their charge over to her capable care.
"Here, Zack, lie down here. I am going to take your temperature. How long have you been feeling sick?"
"Not sick. Just a cold, that's all," Zack muttered.
"He's been sick about two weeks, I think," Jason offered. The nurse turned to find the other two boys still standing quietly in the doorway.
"Two weeks, huh? How sick has he been?"
"Not very. Just coughing a lot, seemed a little tired at times," Jason replied.
The nurse sighed to herself. "That does not sound very promising," she said softly. She turned to the two boys again. "Shouldn't you two return to class?" she asked, not unkindly.
"Yes, m'am," Jason replied. He and Billy turned and walked back to class, their minds still with Zack.
After P.E. ended both boys hurried toward the main building, hoping to peek in on Zack before the start of their next class. When they got to the nurse's office they found the nurse there alone. She looked up at the two with a kind expression.
"Zack's mom came and picked him up. She is going to take him to the doctor. If you call her after school you can find out how he is doing then."
School couldn't end fast enough as far as Jason was concerned. He and Billy had told the girls about Zack and all four of them decided to go to Billy's house to call Zack at home after school.
Jason placed the call, since he knew the Taylors the best. Mrs. Taylor answered the phone sounding upset.
"Mrs. Taylor, is Zack okay?" he asked.
"No, Jason, he isn't. He is very sick, I don't know how I could have missed it. The doctor wants us to admit him to the hospital for tests and observation, so we are taking him over there when his father gets home from work," she said.
"Can we come over and see him before you go? Please? We won't get him upset, or anything, we just want to see him." Jason pleaded their case.
"Jason, you really shouldn't. Zack is sleeping now, and he really needs his rest. I'll tell him you called, but he shouldn't have visitors right now," her kind voice was nonetheless firm in this matter.
"Please tell him we all called: Me and Billy and Kim and Trini. And tell him we hope he gets better soon."
"I will, Jason. Bye."
"Bye." Jason turned stricken eyes to his friends. "His mom says they are taking him to the hospital later. He must really be sick."
"Did his mom say what was wrong?" Kim asked.
"No, she didn't. Maybe they don't know yet, that happens a lot according to my mom," Jason replied. His mom was a nurse at the hospital, and Jason had listened to her stories about work since before he could remember.
"Maybe your mom can find out how he is," Trini suggested.
"I'll ask her tonight. Guess we better get our homework done," Jason sounded like homework was the last thing he wanted to do.
"You guys want to do our homework here? Dad won't be home for a couple of hours at least. If we work together we can do it faster," Billy spoke up.
They all agreed and settled around the kitchen table and set to work, trying not to dwell on their worry about Zack.
PR PR PR
The next day Jason told the other three that his mom would make it a point to check in on Zack for them. She found out that Zack had pneumonia, but it was expected to be a mild case. He was a little rundown from being sick for two weeks, and Marjorie Scott had used the opportunity to remind Jason once again of the importance of not ignoring his body's needs and signals.
The friends decided to stop by the hospital after school to check on Zack's condition for themselves. They met outside the school and walked over as a group, not talking much. Among them, Jason had the most experience with hospitals, mostly because of his mom's job. He had also been treated a couple of times at the emergency room for injuries, fortunately none that were very serious. Trini and Kim had never been patients at a hospital, but both had visited there before. Trini to see her aunt after her cousin was born, Kimberly to see her mom after her brother, Kenny, was born. Billy had only one experience with a hospital, that being when he and his parents were in the car accident that took his mother's life. He had an understandable aversion to hospitals after that experience, and it was taking all his nerve to continue on with the others.
When they got to Angel Grove Memorial Hospital Jason approached the receptionist alone.
"Hi. We were wondering how Zack Taylor is doing. And if we can see him?" Jason asked politely.
"I'm sorry, but you are all too young to see a patient unless with an adult. But, let me see if I can find out how he is doing, okay?" she said kindly.
"Thanks," Jason said, disheartened he couldn't see Zack. He joined the others to wait. They sat quietly, watching the people come and go. They looked up to see Jason's mom approach them.
"Hi, kids. Joann told me you all were here. Zack is doing a little worse today. They moved him to intensive care so they can monitor him better. But that makes it so you guys cannot see him at all, at least not until he is moved back onto the floor. Now, don't look so worried, he is getting the best treatment available, and his doctor is very good. He should be fine." Marjorie Scott was moved by the concern she saw in the four small faces before her.
"Is it okay if we stay here for a while. We won't get in anyone's way, we just want to be near him," Jason asked.
"Of course you can stay here for a while. But just a little while, okay? It's not good for you kids to just sit and worry."
"We'll do our homework while we wait," Jason told her.
Marjorie smiled gently at her son and his friends. "Okay." She headed back to her duties.
The four children knelt down around the low table and spread out their homework. Speaking in hushed tones only as much as necessary, they quickly finished their assignments, then sat in silence for another hour or so, before they all headed to their respective homes.
That began a ritual they would follow for the next few days. The walk to the hospital, checking in with the receptionist (who after the second day always had a report ready for them), quietly doing their homework, then sitting together simply being there as much as they were allowed to for their friend.
Those who frequented the reception area in the course of their work in the hospital grew accustomed to the sight of the four children who haunted the room. The story of their show of friendship made its way through the staff, who all hoped it would have a happy ending. But most of whom knew the likelihood of that grew more remote each passing day.
For Zachary Taylor was a very sick young man, indeed. Now on oxygen, struggling for each breath he drew, his young body was decimated by the illness. His parents were there every day, every hour they could be. Taking turns caring for their two younger sons so one of them could be at the hospital all the time. They were both on the verge of emotional and physical collapse as they hovered and prayed over their son.
One afternoon, as Clayton Taylor left the hospital to head home to take care of Zack's brothers, he noticed the four kids in the reception area. He and Sheryl had seen them there often enough, but today especially, the sight moved him. He knew how much these four meant to his son, and it heartened him to see the feeling was obviously mutual.
The doctors had been telling the Taylors to talk to Zack as much as possible, to encourage him to fight. It occurred to Clayton that it might also help his son to hear it from his friends. He decided to ask the doctors in charge if they could circumvent the rules, and allow Zack's friends to see him for a few moments. Perhaps knowing his friends were there for him would bolster Zack's will to live.
The doctors agreed to allow the other children to see Zack, but only one at a time, and with their parents' permission, preferably with their parents' attendance. He drafted a note to send home to the parents explaining Zack's condition, and warning them that the children could be upset by his appearance.
That evening Marjorie and Jack Scott discussed Zack's condition at length with Jason, who didn't care what Zack looked like as long as he could see him.
"Jason, you really need to think about this. Zack is VERY sick. Every breath is a struggle. He's surrounded by tubes and equipment. He doesn't look very well. I'm just afraid you may find it a bit frightening," Marjorie explained gently.
"Mom, it's still Zack, isn't it? I can't be afraid of Zack. And if I was sick I'd want my friends to visit me, no matter how bad I looked," Jason argued with a child's directness.
Marjorie reached out and enveloped her child in a tight hug. "All right, I guess we'll sign the permission slip. Do you want me to go with you? Or Dad?"
"Would you mind taking me, Dad?" Jason turned to his father. He couldn't say why, but he preferred his father take him. Maybe because he knew Zack's illness upset his mom, who lived in fear of seeing her son in such a condition.
"I'll be glad to take you. About four tomorrow afternoon?"
"Yeah, we can meet at the hospital, right?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." Jack also embraced his son warmly.
"I'm gonna call the others and see if they got permission, okay?"
He hurried to the phone and started calling. Trini was going with her father, Kim with her mom, both planning to visit about the same time Jason was. Billy reported his dad had signed the slip, but couldn't get away from work in time to take Billy until much later in the evening. Jack overheard Jason's side of the conversation and signaled to Jason to give him the phone. He asked to speak to Billy's father and arranged to take Billy about the same time the other kids were going. He felt it would be best if all the kids went together at about the same time. That way, if they were upset they could also support each other.
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The next afternoon found the four children sitting quietly in the reception area, waiting for their parents. They had discussed their impending visits with Zack, comparing notes about what their parents had told them. They all had said pretty much the same thing: Zack was very sick, was surrounded by equipment, and might look a little scary to the kids. None of them were deterred by the warnings, but it did have the effect of muting their excitement to a degree.
Jack Scott was the first to arrive. He greeted the four kids warmly, sitting down with them and looking them over carefully. The girls seemed a bit nervous, though not really apprehensive. Jason seemed the calmest of all, Billy the most nervous. He decided he would see if Jason could go first, that way if Jason reported back that things were okay Billy and the girls might be reassured.
"Come on, Jason, let's go see if they are ready for you to visit. We'll meet the rest of you back here in a little while," Jack said as he rose with Jason and headed toward the door leading to the patient areas.
Jason walked beside his dad, not speaking. Now that the moment was at hand, he felt more nervous than he had before. He waited as Jack spoke to the nurses at the main nursing station, then they headed to the ICU. Jack buzzed for permission to enter, announcing them over the intercom. The answering buzz that opened the door for them made Jason jump.
"You okay, son?" Jack asked quietly.
"Yeah, I think so. Just a little jumpy." Jason looked a bit embarrassed by the confession.
"I don't blame you. Hospitals make me jumpy too," Jack said easily.
They approached the ICU nursing station, where Sheryl Taylor waited for them.
"Thanks for coming, Jason, Jack. Did they explain to you what the doctors are doing for Zack, how he looks?" she asked Jason.
Jason nodded solemnly, unconsciously taking his father's hand as he stood there.
"Okay, just remember Jason, Zack can probably hear you, so you need to sound positive. Say whatever you think will help, but try to talk to him the same way you would if he was conscious. Okay?"
Jason nodded again, then Sheryl led them to the door of the room where Zack was. Jason's mouth felt dry and he could feel his heart beat as he entered the room. There, surrounded by beeping, whirring, gasping, ticking machines, tubes going in and out, was Zack. His face had an odd, grayish tinge, and his chest hitched up and down with his struggle to breathe.
For a moment Jason struggled with an overwhelming urge to rush from the room, from the hospital and his father, from the ghastly appearance of his friend. Then he remembered why he was here, and what Zack needed. Mustering his considerable courage, Jason approached the bed and spoke softly, but confidently.
"Hey, Bro, how you doing? We miss you. Hurry up and get better, we have a lot we need to do. Billy and I went and bought a new rocket last weekend, and we are waiting for you to get better so we can set it off. The box says it will go much further than the last one. And in a couple of weeks we are going to be studying ships in history class. We have to build a model of one, and you have been saying how much you want to do that. Soccer season will be starting soon, too. I think I talked Billy into trying out, so maybe the three of us will be on the same team. That would be great. Billy and Kim and Trini will be coming in to see you in a little while. They are making us come in one at a time. Guess we would be too exciting all together, huh? You hurry up and get better now, please," Jason's voice was starting to waver a bit, and Jack put his hands on his son's shoulders reassuringly. Jason was having a difficult time reconciling the wasted, wan figure on the bed with the happy-go-lucky, vital boy he knew. He reached out tentatively and touched the still hand lying on top of the covers, finding he was reassured by its warmth. "I should go now, the others want to come in, too. But I'll see you soon, bro." He backed away from the bed slowly, feeling his father's hands still on his shoulders, lending him encouragement.
Sheryl offered Jason and his father a sad smile that worried Jason more than Zack's appearance did. It was a smile without much hope. Jason was vastly relieved to leave the ICU, the machines, Zack's gray visage, and that strange, sad smile Mrs. Taylor wore.
"Are you okay, son?" Jack asked gently as they walked back toward the reception area. To Jack's surprise, Jason stopped and thought about the question.
"I don't know. He looked so bad, and his mom seems so…..odd. I guess, it was pretty awful, wasn't it?" Jason looked at his father in some confusion. "But, I'm glad I went. It wasn't as bad as I imagined it was. At least now I know."
"Yes, at least now you know. You did very well, I know it was hard." Jack stopped and gave his son a strong hug. "Let's get back with the others so the next one can go," he said as he released Jason.
PR PR PR
That evening when he came into Jason's room to bid his son goodnight, Jack asked again how he was feeling about the events from that afternoon. The visits had actually gone fairly well, according to Sheryl. All four kids kept from showing too much fear or grief, all said encouraging things to Zack, telling him how much they wanted him to get better. But the kids' reactions after the visit had been cause for some concern among the parents. Kim and Trini had both left the hospital with their respective parents immediately after their visits, and both girls had been crying. Jack had taken Billy in last, and while he had done well enough in Zack's presence, he had been silent and pale afterwards. Jack had insisted on taking the boy home instead of letting him walk, but his attempts to get Billy to talk had proven futile. Jack had called Wallace later to check on the boy and had found out that Wallace had been no more successful than he had in getting the shy youngster to open up. Wallace admitted this was normal behavior for his son.
In response to his father's question Jason sat up in his bed and looked at him solemnly. "Do you think Zack will be okay?"
Jack had expected that question, but it still caught him a bit off guard. "I hope so, son. It's so hard to tell with kids your age. You can get sick so quickly, and recover just as fast. Sheryl told me a little while ago that Zack's vital signs were actually a bit better after the visits this afternoon. So maybe he's turning the corner. All we can do is hope and pray, and believe that whatever happens is how it is meant to be. Do I sound like the reverend when I say that?" he concluded with a grin.
Jason smiled back. "You don't sound strict enough to pass for the reverend, otherwise you do just fine."
"Oh, thank you so much. Everyone's a critic! Get in bed and lights out," Jack chuckled, holding up the covers so Jason could scoot down in the bed. "Sleep well. I love you."
"Love you, too," Jason murmured sleepily as his father leaned over to kiss his forehead. Less than two minutes later he was sound asleep.
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The next afternoon found Jason, Billy, Kimberly, and Trini back in the reception area as usual. They had discussed their visits amongst themselves, and had all agreed it was hard going to see Zack, but they were glad they had done it.
"Really, it wasn't as awful as I expected. I mean, I had visions of something out of an old horror movie, with Zack all gooshy or something," Kim had said with a self-conscious giggle.
"I know what you mean, I expected the same thing," Jason agreed.
"And, it was awful, I mean, he looked pretty bad, really sick, but, it wasn't scary, you know?" Kim continued, trying desperately to convey her feelings to her friends. She looked up to see the other three nodding in agreement.
"It was still Zack, and Zack isn't scary," Trini said quietly.
"Yeah."
They hadn't even discussed the possibility of not going to the hospital that afternoon, they had simply all met in the usual place and walked over. The report from the receptionist was that Zack had improved slightly, and she would try to get more details for them later. So the four went to their usual table and started in on their homework.
They were interrupted by the arrival of Clayton Taylor, who sat down on a chair near their table and regarded his son's closest friends with a warm expression.
"I wanted to thank you all for visiting Zack yesterday. He's doing much better today, and I think the visits from you kids helped. The doctors aren't saying too much yet, but this is the first positive turn his condition has taken. Zack's mom and I are hoping this means he will start to get better finally. But, whatever happens, your visits yesterday did some good, and we wanted to thank you."
"Zack's our friend. We wanted to see him," Jason said.
"I'm glad you did," Clayton smiled back at the youngsters. "I should get back to him now. We will keep you posted on how he is doing."
It turned out the Taylors' optimism was well founded. Zack started to improve rapidly, within a few days he was off the oxygen and out of the ICU. Once he was in a regular room the kids were allowed to visit again, two at a time with a parent. They made the most of their visits, bringing Zack up to date on all the school news, helping him with some easy homework, which was all he was allowed to do at that time.
Almost two weeks after he was first admitted, Zack was released from the hospital. He was ordered to bed rest for another week, then a gradual resumption of his normal activities. During his week at home his friends continued to help him catch up on his schoolwork, keeping him company after school and on the weekend.
Thanks to their combined efforts, when Zack returned to school after three weeks gone, he was not far behind the other students in his class, and quickly caught up.
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Jason, Zack and Billy were riding their bikes in Angel Grove Park the first weekend after Zack returned to school. They were going fairly slowly, and still Zack found he had to ask them to stop so he could rest.
"I'm sorry, guys. I gotta stop for a while," Zack announced, embarrassed he couldn't keep up.
"Okay," Jason agreed easily. His mom had warned him, and he had passed the warning to Billy, that they should not tire Zack out too much. He still had some recovering to do.
"Man, I hate this! I shouldn't be so tired, and I feel so weak," Zack complained.
"Hey, you are lucky you are doing so well. At least that is what my mom says. And you will get stronger every day. I don't mind taking it slow for a while, I'm just glad you are able to be here with us," Jason told him quietly.
Billy murmured his agreement.
"Thanks, guys. I don't mind admitting I don't really want to end up in the hospital again. Man, that was not fun! And my mom is so worried about me now. If it is less than eighty degrees outside she wants me to wear a jacket. I was kinda surprised she let me come with you guys, she's been keeping a close watch on me."
Jason had a sudden memory of the ghastly smile Mrs. Taylor had given him when he had visited Zack in the ICU. "I'll bet she has," he agreed.
The three of them flopped down in the shade of one of the big trees that were scattered throughout the park. The day was unseasonably warm, so much so that Jason and Billy were wearing shorts and tee shirts. Zack was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, but despite the warmth of the day he wasn't complaining of being too hot.
He leaned against the tree and closed his eyes with a slight smile. "Boy, it sure feels good to be outside."
"Yeah, it has to be nice after being inside for so long," Billy concurred.
"You have no idea! Say, when are we going to shoot off that rocket you guys got?" Zack asked suddenly.
Jason and Billy exchanged surprised expressions. "How do you know about that?" Billy asked at last.
"Jason told me about it when I was in the hospital. So when are we going to shoot it off?"
Jason was amazed to realize Zack had heard him when he visited him in the Intensive Care Unit.
"Anytime you want to, Zack. Anytime you want."
To be continued...
