Disclaimer: I don't on the Power Rangers but if I did...well, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction...

My first PR fic...please read and review.

Tommy woke up and looked around his darkened room. Something had disturbed his sleep but he couldn't place what when suddenly an incessant ringing cut through the haze of grogginess. Groaning, he turned over to reach for the phone, the clock on his dresser glowed ominously. Who in the world would be calling at six in the morning, he thought crossly.

"Hello?"

At first there was nothing but silence and Tommy almost hung up, but then he heard something in the background that made his stomach turn a somersault.

"Hello," he said again.

"Tommy," said a trembling voice on the other line, "I'm sorry to wake you so early but…"

He sat straight up in bed now fully alert, "Kat, what's wrong?"

"Tommy, you need to come down to the hospital….it's Jason."

"What?" He asked in negligible disbelief. "What's wrong with him?"

Kat didn't answer for a second or two.

"Kat, are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm still here. He's been shot Tommy. I…"

"Everything's gonna be ok," he said in what he hoped was a reassuring voice. "I'll meet you at the hospital." He hung up the phone and jumped out of bed. Then, he dressed quickly in jeans and a red t-shirt before grabbing his jacket and heading to the front door.

As he made his way to the hospital he felt a sinking feeling growing ominously in the pit of his stomach. Kat had sounded really upset, but Tommy hoped that her worries and his ever increasing fears would be laid to rest once he reached the hospital and found out what had happened to Jason.

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Tommy and Kat sat in the hospital waiting room along with Adam and Billy.

"Where's Rocky," asked Tanya after a moment of tense silence.

"He's on his way," said Billy. "He had some family issues to deal with before he could get free. Don't worry he'll be here."

Tanya shook her head as she resumed counting the ties on the floor. With all the foot traffic in the room she lost count and had to start over again, but not before a pair of shoes that she recognized came running up to where the gang sat.

"Rocky," she said looking up at the new arrival.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Any news?"

He frowned as Billy shook his head no.

"Oh," he whispered. "What happened?"

Billy sighed, "It was a robber. He broke into Jason's apartment complex. Jason heard his elderly neighbored calling for help so he went to check it out. He chased the guy down the stairs. Apparently there was a fight because Jason has all sorts of cuts and scrapes. Anyway, the robber got scared and shot him…" Billy looked around at the stark walls of the hospital, "now we're here."

Rocky nodded and then sat down beside Adam. "Did they catch the guy?"

"No," said Billy shaking his head as a painful silence filled the room.

Finally Kat broke the quiet, "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"What?" Asked Tommy.

"This waiting and not knowing."

Tommy put a comforting arm around her shoulders, "don't worry Kat, Jason's a fighter. I know he'll be alright."

Kat shook her head as she fought back the tears that threatened to fall. "I know," she said quietly, resting her head on his shoulder.

After a while the silence became unbearable and Tommy retreated within himself. He didn't know how long he sat there holding Kat before he noticed that another person had was standing in front of him.

"Doctor Wood," said Billy breaking into Tommy's thoughts. "What happened to Jason? How is he?"

Dr. Wood removed his glasses and fixed the teenager with a hard stare, "are you a family member?"

"No, but, please sir, we're his best friends."

The doctor sighed and replaced his glasses. "You friend is very lucky to be alive. His vitals are stable and he is in stable condition, for now. We are going to keep him in the ICU for the time being, but I'm afraid that I have some bad news."

"Whatever it is…."

The doctor nodded before continuing, "The bullet is lodged near his spine and cannot be removed, I'm afraid that you friend will never walk again."

At the doctor's words both Tommy and Kat sat back down. "This cannot be happening," she said softly, placing her head in her hands. Tommy drew her into his arms as the first of many tears began to fall.

"I'm sorry," said the doctor. "He is going to need you, all of you, to be strong for him. He has a difficult road ahead." The doctor reached out and placed a hand on Billy's shoulder, "I'm sorry son."

Then the doctor was gone, leaving the six friends in stunned and fearful silence.