Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Kimberly Ann Hart was about to do something she really hoped would turn out well. She hoped she wasn't making another mistake. She had come here with a purpose, a mission. All the while trying to avoid the usual obstacles of overwhelming emotions and her proneness to fainting, especially when encountered with surprise, with him. She had took a plane down and then rented a car. After that she started her drive to the town, not knowing how long she would stay. She wanted this to be as fast and as painless as possible. But as she reached her destination she realized she was in need of fuel for herself and stopped, without thinking, at the first place she came to. It was a small café and as she entered it was alive with the bustling of teens. She cringed at her own remembrance of her teen years.
"I'm Haley. I own the place. May I help you?" A women behind the counter asked as Kimberly approached.
"Oh… Hi." Kimberly said blushing. She couldn't believe she zoned out like that. What happened to her concentration? The commotion was making her unravel.
"New here?" Haley asked as Kimberly ordered.
"Umm… just visiting… an old friend." Kimberly answered tapping her fingers lightly on the counter.
"To see who? I know most everyone." She asked.
"Oh… it's kind of… a surprise." Kim said lamely. A surprise? More like aliens had invaded. That's what she was. An alien, foreign and lost, and most likely green… And she wouldn't be surprised if she looked like a monster… Wow…. Where had that come from? She wondered shaking her head at her shameful self pity.
Haley smiled and rang up her order.
"You should like it here at Reefside. Plan to stay long?" Haley asked
"It depends..." Kimberly answered cautiously.
"I see. Well feel free to come here if you have any questions. Like now, it'll be a lot of teens but we get adults in here as well…. Ah… Like this man coming in." Haley said smiling and turning to the person behind Kimberly, "Hey Tommy."
Kimberly froze not daring to move. To-Tommy? Was that her Tommy? It couldn't be it just couldn't be. Not to mention she probably couldn't call him her Tommy anymore but that wasn't the point. How could he be here?
"Have you seen Kira, Co-" She heard the man say. Kimberly gripped the counter feeling herself about to faint. She breathed deeply. Keep it together Kim, You've faced worst.
"Over there." She heard Haley said although it sounded faint. Kimberly was still savoring the sound of Tommy's voice. Deeper, but not to much different. Still filled with warmth and love. But somehow she wondered if it would change if he recognized her. She heard his footsteps leave and she sighed thankful he had not come closer.
"Who was that?" Kimberly asked even though she knew it was him. She turned slightly to see him sit down with some of the teens. He smiled as he was welcomed into the group. Her eyes took in the grown up Tommy. The long hair she had known as a girl had been cut short and spiky. Dark with gel. An earring hung in his left ear. He wore a black t-shit and kakis.
"That's Tommy Oliver. Or by his students Dr. O." Haley explained.
"Students?" She asked.
"Yeah he teaches science at the local high school."
"… A teacher." Kimberly repeated trying to imagine Tommy in a classroom full of kids. But her thoughts were seriously getting tangled in a thick web. Tommy was there, only a few feet from her. Why did she feel like she was miles away from him as well as standing right next to him all at once?
"You know him?" Haley asked knowingly.
"Oh, I um…." Kimberly said feeling light headed again and tears brimmed her eyes. She still thought she had a good half hour before she would have to face him. But if this wasn't it then what was?
"I used to know him… I'm just not sure… how this will all go." She confided.
"So you came to see him?" Haley asked although it seemed more of a statement then a question.
"I-I-I did…. But now I'm not so sure." Kimberly answered wondering why she was confiding in a complete stranger.
"Why not?"
Kimberly left the question unanswered. If only she had any idea why she couldn't face Tommy. She looked shyly back at Tommy but looked away quickly afraid he would somehow notice her and see her.
"Tommy is still a nice guy. No matter how things ended." Haley said and Kimberly had a fishy suspicion she knew more than she was letting on. But no way did she have any idea about what she was just about to let out of the bag.
"It's been a long time." Kim said.
"Just do what you came to do. You'll feel better knowing you gave it a shot."
Yeah… right… Kimberly thought. Like Tommy would ever let her back into his life.
Kim! What are you doing! Just go tell him the truth! You didn't come all this way just to turn around at the sight of him. He has to know what happened. For his sake if not yours! A voice reminded her.
"Right… Right. He has to know." Kimberly said more to herself than Haley.
"I'll have Trent bring you your meal when you're done." Haley said.
Kim walked over to where Tommy and his group was, feeling like she was in a trance. She stopped walking and two of the teens turned to look at her. The third did as well. She had her eyes locked on Tommy. At the hush of the teens Tommy looked up. She saw the startled look in his eyes and he looked past her frantically. Was he looking for the exist so soon?
"Hello Tommy." Kimberly said trying to keep a calm and steady voice as well as meet his eyes. The chocolate brown orbs pierced hers with the same intensity of the years past. She bit her lip. She saw the change. From surprise to desperately fighting the pain and hurt that still lingered there.
"Wait you know each other?" one of teens asked.
"Yes." Tommy said his jaw set. Kimberly closed her eyes feeling as if icicles had pierced her. Oh Tommy…
"We need to talk Tommy." Kimberly said opening her eyes. "There are things… that we need to discuss."
He nodded but made no motion to move. Kim fought against her urge to run. She did not want to hurt or angry Tommy. But she had come to tell him the truth. He had to know. And she could not back down now.
"Is there anywhere we can go for some privacy?" Kimberly asked.
"Haley has an office." Tommy said nodding and standing up. Kimberly shook trying to keep her strength with her. She had seen Tommy's wall go up the minute he saw her. She had done this. She was the cause of this.
She followed Tommy feeling like a school girl. Nervous, afraid. Her stomach was tossing and her mind reeling. How was this going to end? Was this going to be a huge mistake?
"Take a seat." Tommy said gesturing to the seat opposite his chair.
Kimberly did so. Boy, he was more an imposing school teacher than she would have ever expected. The muffled sound of teens filled the room. She looked around taking a deep breath unable to look into his eyes.
"Nothing like Ernie's juice bar." Kim said lamely.
"Kim…" Tommy said nearly chocking on the words. She closed her eyes. What would she do if he hated her? What would she do if he didn't believe her?
"I know… I know… I came here to tell you… what really happened."
"Kim… I know everything." He said sharply. Kim cringed. This was going to be as hard as she had thought it would be.
"Please Tommy. There is more."
"How much more Kim? How much more can there be?" He said obviously frustrated and mad. He racked his hands through his hair and his eyes pierced hers with conviction.
"Just let me explain Tommy." Kimberly pleaded.
Tommy looked away. Sighing deeply Kimberly continued.
"Competition was rough when I arrived in Florida. The schedule of practice was grueling. Unimaginable pressure. There were so many of us, all pursuing the same goal. I learned very fast that there were allies and enemies. Nothing that different than high school, or battling against those we fought against as Power Rangers. But there were some things that just made it so much more… complex and demanding. There was this one girl, her name was Loretta and we immediately became enemies. We were both fairly equal in our abilities but what got me was her personality. She was mean, cruel, and thought very highly of herself. The worst thing about her was that she tried to sabotage everyone she thought was her competition. And believe me she got rid of them."
Kimberly took another breath realizing she was shaking. She noticed him stand up and pace the room. She couldn't bring her eyes to meet his.
"I did my best not to let her get to me. I was determined to continue and go on and fulfill my goals. It's amazing how strongly one can feel for another. There were many reasons for our dislike for each other than what I tell you but there isn't time for that. But I truly think she hated it me."
"Kim what does this have to do with us?" Tommy asked in irritation. His hand sweeping through his hair nervously. Kim looked to his face. So torn and worn. His eyes relieving the wound that had reopened. That she had reopened. What was she doing coming back here? She was hurting him. She was hurting herself. But somehow it was too late. And now he needed to know the truth.
"Tommy I – I – I did not write that letter." She said nervously twisting her hands. Tears at the verge of falling of her eyes.
He swung around to face her, his eyes blaring with pain and hurt… disbelief. "What do you mean you didn't write it?"
Kimberly wrapped her arms around herself, "I called you time and time again and I never received an answer. I knew something was wrong and I called Jason. He said you were doing ok. But I could never reach you. I sent letters and never received any back. One day news got to me that you were seeing Kat…. And I… I gave up. It hurt so much. So much Tommy. It really cut me deep. I couldn't believe you would break ties with out even telling me so.
"But I only dated Kat after you sent the letter. And there were never any other letters." Tommy said fiercely. Kimberly glanced to his eyes, misted by tears. She felt her courage retreating. Tommy was one of the strongest men she had ever known. And here he was near to tears. That letter had done this to him… to them.
"It was rough after I heard about you and Kat. I greatly slumped into my routines. Loretta only seemed to get better and better. She bullied me every chance she got. Somehow I came out of it and in an amazing and almost unbelievable way. Loretta was astounded and she did give up for some time. Years after I gave up trying to reach you I had a small reunion with some of our old friends. And someone… asked about the letter. I was flabbergasted and I had no idea what they were talking about. I went over everything in my head to come up with an explanation but all I could think about was that someone else had written it. So that's what I went to find out. In another competition I faced Loretta. Her last and finally try at crushing me was telling me what she did, despite the years it had been. And she stood there and didn't deny a single bit of that. The whole while smirking. No, she said, it did not accomplish the goals she hoped it would but she had scared me- someone she truly hated. I did not do well on that competition. She held top spot. It had done what she wanted it to do after all."
"But… how long ago was this… why… now?" He asked sitting back down. Kimberly looked down. She saw her hands shaking. His were too.
"Tommy I've never been so upset, so broken in my whole entire life. All the things I thought I knew about us was out the window. All those years I had blamed you and felt so hurt by you was just the vindication of some girl with an agenda. And I realized how…. Or the closest thing I could… I could only imagine how this affected you. And that all these years you were blaming me for our ruin…. And you probably hated me. Oh Tommy! I was so ashamed." Kimberly said breaking down in tears.
"Ashamed…?" Tommy whispered. He sat frozen in shock unable to move.
"I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you the truth so much. But…. I… I was afraid Tommy. I felt so used and ignorant. I felt hurt and broken. And I was afraid to come here. There were so many things I should have done. I should have come home face to face with you and discussed it when neither phone nor letter worked. I should have tried to save us. I shouldn't have given up on us. But I was afraid to find you. I couldn't face you with this truth Tommy. I knew what the letter must have caused you. And I couldn't bare the thought of seeing your face…. Broken by something you thought I did…. Like the look you give me now…" Kim finished more tears spilling down her face.
"Kimberly…." Tommy said softly looking into her large doe brown eyes. Kimberly felt all her walls crashing and she knew it was time to leave. She couldn't stand a minute more or this.
"I just came to tell you the truth. It was just something I had to do. I'm sorry for everything and I take the blame entirely on myself." Kimberly said standing up and wiping her eyes vigorously. "I just finally had enough courage to tell you. And now you know and we can both heal from this…. So... I'll be going now…." She said reaching for the door.
"Kim… wait."
"Tommy?" She asked. What more could there be? Her heart was braking, she had to go. She had to leave this. Tommy knew, she had done what she set out to do. She was still afraid, afraid of what he'd say. What if he said he didn't believe her? What if he hated her? She didn't think she could bear to hear his words.
"I…. there's a lot to digest… I…. But you have to hear what I have to say. You need to hear it. Please… Can I have that?"
Kim nodded mute. He had listened to her, so she should listen to him. But…. She couldn't help but feel anxious.
"I can't let you leave thinking it was your entire fault. I have had…. Many grievances over that letter and it will be time before I can accept it for what it truly is. But I can not let you leave like this. Kim… there were times when I knew you called and I never responded…. To think that might have changed everything… Really shakes me." He said glancing at his trembling hands, "I couldn't handle much after I got the letter. I was really lost inside. It took a lot of time to recover. But Kim you were busy with Pan Globals and any leave from that would have put you seriously behind. I knew that. I should have come and seen you. At the time I just couldn't handle it…."
There was a pause and he seemed to want to say more. Kim bit her lip waiting wondering what more he wanted to say. But… just to know he believed her was enough for right now.
" Kat and I did eventually date…" Tommy said catching her eye and then looking away, "…and after all this I should apologize for any pain that- or any of this- caused you."
"Tommy!" Kim whispered in shocked.
"Perhaps… are you staying long? I don't know where to go from here…."
"Right now…" Kimberly said sighing gratefully. A huge burden had been lifted off her, "I'm just happy you believe me.
For the first time she had arrived he smiled.
She smiled to.
"Well… I did order something." Kimberly said reaching again for the door and wiping her tears.
Tommy nodded, "Will you sit with me and my crew over there?"
Kimberly shook her head. She had heard the uncertainty in his voice. She would not cause more discomfort for either one of them.
"No. I thinking I'll take my food on the road. I need… sometime to think. I'm sure you do as well." She could see the masked relief. She was surprised by him. Taking all that in and forgiving her so easily. She could see the underlying confusions and lingering pain still but he was making an effort to change that. Something she had thought would only be a dream.
"Alright then." Tommy said following her out.
Kimberly got her food and turned to face Tommy, "I'll be staying at the hotel down the way for a bit. You can call me there if you wish." Kimberly said handing him the number. She wanted him to know that if he did want to be friends again it was his call. And if he wanted her to walk away she would and that would be then end of it.
"I'm…. glad you came back Kimberly." Tommy said.
"Me too." She said smiling. Kimberly wished she could hug him… after all this could very well be goodbye again. But she didn't. Being near him was one thing, hugging him would altar everything…
Tommy watched her go and his pupils came up to him.
"So what's with the girl man?" Connor asked.
"Connor! You don't ask about a teacher's personal life." Kira said sharply but you could tell she wanted to know as well.
Haley brushed the teens away.
"How you doing?" She asked looking up into his face, concerned over the encounter.
Tommy turned to look at her and smiled, "Really… lost… But I've never felt better about anything in my whole entire life." He said and truth filled his words. That ever was in the future would turn out only good for him and Kimberly, if not perfect.
Haley just smiled.
(A/N: This was actually my first Power Rangers fic. So this was my first shot at exploring Kim and Tommy relationship as well as The Letter. I have more chapters but before I put them on I would love to hear your feedback)