Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers or the Zeo Powers, I do own an imagination though… for better or for worse
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*This story is set two months after the letter. They have their Zeo powers but everything other than that is my own A/U.
*This story contains violence that you would not find on the show and language I'm sure the Power Rangers have never heard before, let alone used. It's action/adventure and of course T/K
* Although officially I'm taking a break from writing and indulging myself by reading other authors work I had this written and didn't want to waste it.
*When Darkness Falls is dedicated to Lunar Kitty Kat (for her wise words), jps1926 and everyone over at the Perfect Chemistry site (You guys are a T/K inspiration) also to everyone that contacted me on the whole T/K/K issue- i appreciate it x I hope you enjoy this because it is my first attempt at adding some action x
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WHEN DARKNESS FALLS
The Dawning
Counting backwards from 100, Tommy Oliver closed his eyes and prayed that sleep would claim him soon. He longed for the safety of it's embrace, for the peace that the blackness would bring his otherwise peace less soul.
62...61... 60..
Why the hell couldn't he get past that number?
60... Had it really been 60 days since his world had come crashing down around his feet?
60 days of confusion had followed, of questions he could find no answers to, of a more excruciating pain than he had ever thought possible
Raising his eyelids he stared up at his bedroom ceiling
What was he doing here?
Lying, praying for sleep, for calm, when all he craved was chaos. His soul itched for action, for the courage he lived each day by to grab hold of his body and provoke a reaction… but turning over to face the illuminated digits of his alarm clock he found his courage had deserted him. His being was numb… wounded and in shock
60 days and he still wasn't recovering. The comfort of sleep was now nothing more than a memory he clung to because sleep hadn't brought him anything but darkness in a long time, it's once comfortable embrace now drew him to it only to turn on him like an enemy, images… memories…haunted his night
Throwing the covers from his torso he bit back a yell. He wanted to do it, to let go, to allow the hurt and frustration that coated his insides to find their release but he was a disciplined man and he was nothing if not in control but recently that control had been slipping, his temper… generally well tamed was beginning to break free of him at the most unlikely of times and although it scared him slightly, he had to admit to it being something of a welcomed release.
60 days of nothing… no contact, no tearful phone call begging to take it back, no call to check on his condition, in the past 60 days she had given him nothing but her silence
Placing his feet onto the soft, sage coloured carpet, Tommy rested both hands on his bare knees and felt the swell of anger rising in his chest.
How dare she do this to him?
How dare she treat him as though he had meant nothing to her?
There had been a time not too long ago when he had meant everything, how dare she now make him feel like he was nothing, like everything they had shared and had been was for nothing.
How many times had he risked his life for her?
Was it really too much to ask for her to keep a little bit of hers for him?
Everything he'd done had been in her best interest, giving her up to her dream… putting her on that plane, the one that had carried her out of his life for what now looked like forever, it had all been for her, he had ignored his own feelings, the ones that screamed at him not to let her go, the ones that told him he would struggle without her.
They were her dreams, the ones she had strived for her entire life, he'd be damned if he told her he loved her in one breath and then stole them from her in another
Pulling open his curtains Tommy gazed out at the sleeping city
After everything they'd been through to protect it, why hadn't it been enough for her?
Why hadn't he been enough?
Yanking the curtains closed again, he stood with his back to his room and felt claustrophobia closing in on him. He needed to get out of here… he needed to breathe, to scream if he wanted to. He needed a release, an escape…
Running a tired hand over his face, he wondered if it would ever be possible to escape from himself… and from her, because everywhere he went she was there, every time he closed or opened his eyes, every thought he had revolved around them and the carnage that was now their relationship
Tommy growled bitterly at the word
'Relationship? Killing time is more like it'
Fire burned his eyes as he struggled not to give in to the dark thoughts that had been eating away at his mind ever since he had read the cruel words she had seen fit to post to him
Had everything been a lie?
Years ago she'd held him when he fell apart, cleaned him up and helped him back to his feet. When leadership and responsibilities had become too much she had allowed him to lean on her in an attempt to ease the burden and when the time had come for him to repay the favour he had given her everything he had
Had she done all of that for a man she had felt nothing more than kinship for?
Closing his eyes Tommy tried to remember the way she had held him…the way she had kissed him and whispered promises of a heart that would beat only for him- had it really been nothing more than a cruel lie?
Crossing his arms over his naked chest in an attempt to protect himself from his own agonising thoughts, Tommy struggled to find his emotional balance, everything he'd thought… everything he'd believed… what was the truth and what was the deception?
Everything was out of control, his emotions pounded his soul like a prize fighter, his mind was shredded from reliving and replaying years worth of conversations and actions, dissecting each one, searching frantically for some tell tale sign but he found nothing, nothing but more questions and more torturous confusion
"I've got to get out of here…"
His haunted whisper echoed through the night. The silent reply telling him that there were things he couldn't leave behind
"I'm no good to them now… I'm a liability"
His lonely conversation with himself hung in the night air as a feeling of resignation slowly crept through the length of his body
The Tommy Oliver that Zordon had chosen to lead his team was gone, the man that now stood in his place didn't possess the qualities to make a reliable leader. He was pre-occupied, unstable… his last fight had proven that beyond doubt but more than that, his heart just wasn't in it. When he should have been thinking about strategies to defeat Rita and Zedd he was thinking about her, and during battle, when he should have been watching out for his team he found himself unable to watch anything other than the pink spandex that now covered someone else
Opening his wardrobe door Tommy gazed upon the blocks of coloured clothing- green and white…red, the burn of tears that had become so familiar to him recently drew him to his senses as he swallowed them down and then picking out a black t-shirt he hoped still fit he whispered
"Zeo Ranger 5… over and out"
Before pulling on the top and disappearing in a flash of red light
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The Decision
"Tommy no!"
Looking to Tanya and then the 4 faces next to her Tommy knew the looks of devastation that covered them would haunt him for a long time to come, but he also knew that the time for discussions was over, the decision had been made… there was no going back
"What about our team, what's going to happen to the Power Rangers?" Adam Park looked from Tommy to Zordon and then back again- his dark eyes were searching for answers, his gentle voice thick with concern, and his face pale with the shock that had drained each of them of their colour
"Adam, Tommy and I have discussed the situation at length, believe me when I say that as with all decisions that he has made as leader of this team, this was not easy or taken lightly" Zordons voice was as serious as any of them had heard it
"I have to do this guys but I want to do it with your blessing"
"But Tommy, you're our leader, we rely on you… we need you" Tanyas eyes begged him to reconsider, their darkness muted by fear and uncertainty but as Adams arm slid over her shoulders Tommy couldn't help but smile at the realisation that even without him… they were going to make it
Yes he had lead them, but not one of them was a follower. Tommy had trusted each of them with his life in battle and he would trust each of them to lead his team now, he was just glad that the decision as to who would take his place was not his to make
Stepping forward, Rocky DeSantos observed the man before him. Tommy was more than just a friend to him, he was almost like a hero- the standard by which he judged himself as a ranger, but he had witnessed the sadness that had appeared in Tommys eyes shortly after receiving that damned letter and he'd observed how over time the shadow had grown, he knew that no matter how hard this was going to be on them, Tommy didn't deserve for it to be made any harder for him
"You know I'm going to drive these guys crazy if you aren't here to keep me in check right?"
"I think Adam is more than capable of keeping you under control man" Tommy laughed, thankful for Rockys attempt at lightening the atmosphere and when Rocky peered over his shoulder just in time to see Adam point to his eye and then to him, all three men found it in their hearts to laugh
"Uh, Tommy…"
The hand that Tommy now found on his bicep belonged to Billy, the original blue ranger, the man who had known Tommy longer than anyone else on the team, the man who had seen him driven to his knees and then stripped bare by Zedd and Rita only to rise from the ashes as the white ranger, the only man to know the true extent of the damage done by Kimberlys pen
"Tommy, you've been more than a just a friend or a leader to all of us and I think I speak for everyone when I say you've been an inspiration. What you've done for the Power Rangers and the world is… well I don't really have the words for it but, if now is the time that you've decided that you can't give any more then I accept that, and I hope the others will too. We all know what being a ranger means to you, we know you wouldn't give this up lightly and I just want to say thank you, for your sacrifice and example. Just know that wherever you go, we'll be there with you, we're a team until the end"
The air that filled the command centre hung empty for what felt like an age as emotion threatened to overcome each member of the power team. Life as they knew it was about to change forever and fear and uncertainty filled each one of them.
Their leader… the one that bound them and grounded them was leaving. What would become of them, of everything they had worked so hard to build?
Slowly they all accepted that fear was no reason to hold on to Tommy, he'd given all he had and it was more than most men would have in 10 life times. Now was the time for him to move on, to unburden himself of responsibility and find out not who the green/ white or red rangers were but who Tommy Oliver was.
Each of the five faces before him owed it to him to make that as easy as possible
"Well, you'd better write, that's all I can say" The silence was finally broken by Rocky as he playfully slapped Tommys back
"That's if he remembers" Laughed Adam
"I can probably build a machine to remind you if you like" Billy joined in
"No Billy, no more of your memory machines"
And so the light hearted banter continued and with each joke the laughter intensified as if to say- if this was to be the last time they were together as a team then it was going to be a memory they could smile back on in years to come.
Unfortunately Katherine, who had been silent ever since Tommy dropped his bombshell could not find it in herself to join the laughter as wiping away a stray tear she stepped forward
"Can we please stop pretending that this is okay?"
5 faces turned to look at her
"Because believe me, this is not okay and let's not pretend that we really think that this is Tommy doing what's best for him, we all know you're leaving because of what happened with Kimberly. Please don't do this Tommy, don't let her take anymore from you than she already has!"
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The Declaration
Pulling the zip closed on his final bag, Tommy looked around his room and sighed. This was really it, this was really goodbye to everything he had known and the fact that he felt nothing as he considered everything that he was leaving behind only confirmed to him that he had made the right decision.
A gentle knock at the door pulled him from his morose thoughts and he called out to whoever it was that they could enter. The shame filled face of Katherine was not what he was expecting to see or in the mood to deal with
"Tommy I'm really sorry"
Pulling a breath deep into his chest, Tommy nodded his understanding before turning back to his closed bag, picking it up and throwing it next to the others
"You're leaving already?"
"I'm going to stay with Jason for a while, just until I work out what I want to do"
Taking a seat on the edge of his bed, Katherine observed the 3 bags before her. This was really happening, she was really losing him, and just when she had so much that she wanted him to know. Was the timing right for her to open her heart to him now? Would the timing ever be right to make such a declaration?
"I can't believe how I behaved earlier, can you ever forgive me?"
Fiddling with his now bare wrist Tommy struggled to look the woman he had thought to be a friend in the eye
"I can't believe that you've been around through this entire thing with Kimberly and then you'd just throw it in my face like that… and in front of everybody"
"I didn't mean to, it was just such a shock… I'm so, so sorry"
Spotting a plane ticket lying on the dark green duvet cover Katherine picked it up as Tommy paced across the floor and paused by the window. Lifting up a small black photo frame that still held a picture of him with Kimberly he sighed as though the world was weighing heavily on his shoulders
"I tried to throw this out the other day… 10 minutes later it was back on my window sill, I guess I'm still not ready to let go"
"Um… Tommy?"
Placing the frame back on it's resting place Tommy turned to find Katherine staring at the tickets he had earlier discarded
"I thought Jason lived in Fort Lauderdale, this is for Miami… doesn't Kimberly live in Miami?"
"I bought them just after Christmas, I was supposed to go and stay with her for spring break, we discussed it the last time I spoke to her on the phone. I just don't get it Kat… she was so excited at the thought of us having some time alone together, y'know without our parents. How could that change so quickly?"
Staring at the tickets, Katherine couldn't help the jealousy that filled her. Tommy had bought them so he and Kimberly could spend time together… alone in her apartment, the implications of that stung and not for the first time since it arrived, she was thankful for that innocently folded piece of paper.
"People change Tommy"
"Over night?!"
Turning around Tommy gazed at the photo and felt the clouds of confusion begin their descent. Looking at Kim smiling out at him he felt the turmoil left by unanswered questions grip hold of his heart and begin twisting
"Some times people say things they don't really mean…"
Tommy couldn't bring himself to tear his eyes away from Kims as he shook his head at Katherines words.
Kimberly had meant it when she'd told him she wanted him to travel out there for spring break, she'd meant it when they'd spent hours making plans, he knew it… he knew her… then again maybe he didn't know anything at all!
"Just like some times people don't say the things that they should do"
Katherine felt her heart beat gathering pace as she took a step closer to the cliff edge. The time to jump was upon her… but would she have the courage to take a breath and just let herself go?
Turning back to face her, Tommy noticed the serious look that now caused her features to appear pale and tense. She felt bad for her earlier words, he knew that and although he had been hurt and slightly embarrassed he had understood her reaction and forgiven her for it
"Kat, you don't have to feel bad about earlier"
"It's not that Tommy… can you sit down for a minute? There's something I want to talk to you about"
"If this is about me leaving then I promise you, I've thought it through properly and I am totally sure that I'm doing the right thing"
"It's not about that. Can you just sit?"
Crossing the room Tommy took his seat on the other side of the bed to Katherine and then watched as she seemed to fight some sort of internal battle before swallowing down a huge breath and raising her eyes to gaze into Tommys with an intensity that he had rarely seen from her off of the battlefield
"We're friends right?"
The look he answered her with told her that she didn't even need to ask
"Okay, silly question. Tommy I know that you've been having a really hard time recently and I know that at times it probably feels like it's never going to get better but I just want you to know that it will"
The way Tommys eyes fell from hers and suddenly became fascinated with something on the duvet that was invisible to everybody but himself told her that he either didn't believe her or he didn't want to talk about it but Kat knew that if she didn't say this now then she would probably never get the chance to say it at all so ignoring his obvious discomfort she forged ahead
"Not every girl is like Kimberly, not every relationship you have will end the way your relationship with her did"
Tommy said nothing, he just moved uncomfortably whilst never raising his eyes
"There are millions of girls out there Tommy… one of them will be perfect for you"
Clenching her teeth together hard, Kat attempted to slow her heart beat which was pounding so hard it was actually making her feel sick. Tommy remained unresponsive but she was grateful for that in a way. If he raised his head and looked at her with those dark eyes, the ones that were shrouded in a sadness that caused Kats heart to break for him, she wasn't sure if she would have been able to say what she had to.
Closing her eyes she asked God for the courage to utter the words that had lived on her lips ever since she had met him
"Tommy…" Without even realising it, her hands moved to cover his and keeping her eyes tightly closed she found her prayers answered as the words finally slipped over her lips. "Tommy I love you"
The way Tommys face fell as the weight of Kats words sunk in was her first signal that this conversation may not be going the way she had hoped.
"What?"
The feel of Tommys hands being ripped from under hers caused Katherines eyes to snap open as he all but leapt up from the bed. Gazing up at him, as he glared down at her, Kat felt her heart- which seconds earlier had felt like a freight train her in chest grind to an immediate stop
"Tommy let me explain…" The distress was evident on Kats voice as she attempted to keep a hold of her self and her most valued friendship
"Is that what all of this is about? You being there every time I turned around, it's all been about… this?"
"I wanted to be there for you, I knew how much Kimberly had hurt you"
"And you think this is making things easier on me? I've just stood here… you've just heard me say that I'm still struggling and what do you do? You drop this shit on me"
"When you said you were leaving I was scared I would never get the chance to tell you how I felt"
"And would that have been such a bad thing?"
"I don't think I could have lived with it"
Nodding his head, Kat could see the blood rushing to Tommys cheeks, he was angry… more angry than she had ever seen him and it was her words, her heartfelt declaration that had made him that way. Fighting back tears Katherine wished with all her might that she could turn back time and un-say the words that had provoked such a heated reaction from a man she would do anything to protect
"Oh, You couldn't live with it, stuff me- right? Stuff the fact that I have enough going on in my life right now to last me 2 life times but you had to say something because you couldn't live with yourself if you didn't. I used to think you and Kim were so different but now it seems like you're just the same- neither of you can think of anybody but your self"
"I've been thinking about no body but you since I got here!"
"Well I didn't ask you too. You've just heard me say how much I'm struggling to move on"
"I can help you with that, Tommy I can if you will just let me try"
"Try to what? Replace her? Come to think about it, isn't that all you've been trying to do since you got here?"
" I didn't ask for her to choose me to take her place"
Stepping closer, Tommy bent down slightly so that he was staring Katherine directly in the eyes as his words blazed into the air between them
"Kim might have chosen you to become the next Pink Ranger but don't fool yourself into thinking that you could take her place in any other way, especially not with me… never with me"
Tommy could hear the cruelness in his words and he could see the tears in Katherines eyes fighting for release but he just couldn't feel bad about it. He had opened his heart to her, he'd told her things… private things about his relationship with Kim and all the time she'd been hanging around just waiting to step into Kimberlys shoes. Tommy couldn't help but be furious with her for her deception
"What's so wrong with me? I tell you the most personal thing one person can ever tell another and all you do is yell at me. What's so wrong with me Tommy?"
"Nothing, there's nothing wrong with you, you're just… you're not her"
"No because I would never hurt you like that"
"No… because I could never love you like that"
As his words burned the air a realisation suddenly burned brighter than any star he had ever seen…
Turning away from Kat, he took a deep breath and held it tightly in his chest as he tried to reign in his temper
"Leave"
Tears spilled down Kats face as she reached out and took hold of his arm whilst whispering his name.
She couldn't't believe that something so special and so personal could be taken so wrong and as Tommy again pulled his arm from her grip whilst never turning to face her, Kat knew that her timing had been way off. His heart was still too wounded, he was still too wrapped up in the memory of another to see her, or at least to see her the way that she saw him… the mistake was no ones but her own.
Wiping away the tears, Katherine finally accepted his rejection and the fact that no matter how much she cared for him he just didn't't feel the same for her and no matter how badly Kim treated him, for some reason it didn't't stop him loving her. Theirs was some kind of blackened fairy tale and some how Kat had found herself entangled in it.
Pushing open his bedroom door and stepping out onto the landing was the first step she took towards freeing herself of the black web that Tommy and Kimberly had become
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The Deception
Standing face to face with the wooden door that was now the only barrier between himself and the truth, Tommy pulled a hand over his smoothed back ponytail and wondered if he would ever find the nerve to knock
Less than 12 hours ago he had stood in Angel Grove airport preparing to board a flight to Fort Lauderdale, just over 2 hours ago a flight carrying Tommy Oliver had touched down in Miami. The decision to board the alternative flight hadn't been made consciously but it had been made decisively the second Katherine had left his house yesterday
One long cab ride later and here he stood, with his heart in his mouth and his hands still firmly stuffed into his pockets, the courage he was renown for had deserted him just when he needed it the most
Continuing to stare blankly at the dark timber, Tommy considered what the worst thing was that could happen and that was easy. He could knock now and find Kimberly in the arms of 'Mr. Wonderful' himself, happy… in love…with somebody that wasn't him… over him, then again he had tortured himself with worse during the endless nights he had endured since their separation
Taking in a breath almost larger than his lungs could stand, Tommy raised a hand and summoning all of his strength and courage he was just about to bring his knuckles down on the wooden barrier when all of a sudden somebody tapped gently on the shoulder of his raised arm. He didn't need to turn around to know who was doing the tapping. The scent of a fruity perfume that he had never known the name of wrapped itself around him and dragged him back through time, a million memories washing over him in one split second
He didn't want to turn around, he didn't want to face the present, he was contented to stay there, safe in the memories of his blissful past. He couldn't bare to turn around and face what they'd become when his soul screamed out in silent desperation for what they once were. He didn't know if he could face turning around and seeing the truth in her eyes… that they were over, she had moved on… just as he was becoming more and more sure that he never would
"Tommy?"
The way his named slipped over her lips, as warm and inviting as it ever had brought Tommy crashing back to the present as his entire being cried out for her.
It had been months since Tommy had laid eyes on her. Sure, he'd studied every photograph that he owned, memorised every last detail, searched every inch of her face for some kind of hint at her waning interest but he found nothing… nothing but a yearning to see her one more time… to touch her even if it was for the last time
Preparing himself for the surge of emotions he knew without doubt were coming, Tommy steadied himself and then took the first of the three steps that would see him once again face to face with the woman that was without doubt his greatest love, the woman that was quickly becoming his greatest enemy
"Tommy what are you doing here?"
The soft smile that was now caressing her lips as her eyes widened and shone as his fell on her for the first time in what felt like 10 life times came as something as a surprise to Tommy and he felt his forehead begin to frown. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, something colder… harsher maybe, but to be confronted by the look of adoration that she had always greeted him with was quite shocking… and more than a little confusing
"It's spring break… we had plans"
The pain that caused Kims eyes to narrow and for her teeth to clench onto her bottom lip was mirrored on Tommys face as silently each of them mourned what could have been, the plans they had made, the future that had burned so bright and the precious memories that were now all that they had left of each other
"You shouldn't have come here"
As soon as the words were spoken Kimberlys face darkened and stiffened. It was an expression that seemed so forced that Tommy almost found it in himself to laugh
"Why not?" He asked. "Is there somebody you don't want me to run into?"
Tutting loudly, Kim crossed her arms over her chest and jutted out a hip
"Oh don't tell me you're still hung up on that!"
The harshness of her voice was a million miles away from the warmth that had greeted Tommy just minutes before and her actions seemed so staged… yes her words had penetrated his armour but they had only confused him further where as he was sure she had meant for them to hurt. It seemed almost as though she was putting on a show, but why and for whose benefit? Tommy had just made a promise to himself to find out
"I think you owe me some answers, don't you?"
"I think you owe it to yourself to build a bridge and get over it. Now if you'll excuse me…"
As Kimberly attempted to stomp past him Tommy noticed something in her face, something she'd hoped desperately that he never would but for a split second her harsh mask slipped and he saw her… as she'd always been
Throwing out an arm, Tommy caught her by the shoulder and spun her around to face him but whatever glimpse of 'his Kimberly' he'd caught was long gone
"Touch me again and I'll scream" She seethed
"Why are you being like this? It isn't you, I know it isn't"
"I told you, you shouldn't have come here"
"But I did, is it too much to ask for you to give me a few minutes of your time?"
Pinning her against her front door with only his steely gaze, Tommys entire demeanour demanded the truth… little did he know the damage the truth would eventually cause
"We are over… okay? Questions and answers wont change that!"
The heat immediately died in Tommys eyes as a heartbreaking sadness descended on his striking features
"Well what did I do?" his voice came out like that of a small boy and Kim knew she had wounded him, what she needed to do now was make sure the wound was fatal and that Tommy left and never came back
"You didn't do anything. Don't you see? I knew when I left that we wouldn't make it"
"So what the hell was Christmas all about then? You could have told me then, you could have looked me in the eyes and said it"
"No I couldn't. Come on Tommy, just because I knew it, doesn't mean that I wanted it. When I came home at Christmas, everything was so perfect. It was just like it used to be, just how I wanted it to be"
Shaking his head in disgust, Tommy couldn't believe what he was hearing, not once had she even considered how he had felt
"You, you , you, that's all this is about. Maybe Kat was right after all, maybe you are the one person that means anything to you"
"Kat doesn't know me"
"Apparently no one does"
"You think this is all my fault?"
Tommys silence was the only answer that she needed
"Well you didn't exactly go out of your way to make me feel secure Tommy, I mean sure, when you're in ranger mode you're the bravest guy I know but when you're just plain old Tommy Oliver then you're a coward, an emotional coward"
"And what the hell does that mean?"
"It means what was I to you? A friend? A girlfriend? …a team-mate?"
"Don't you even dare try to make it about that, you knew how I felt about you"
"Did I? how could I? it's not like you ever told me, the most affection I got from you was the odd hug or if I was lucky maybe I'd get a kiss on the cheek"
"I was trying to be a gentleman"
Tommys eyes misted as his short comings as a boyfriend were laid bare before him, he'd thought he'd been doing it all the right way, just as his parents had always told him he should, but in fact it turned out he'd been doing it all wrong. Kimberly had been looking for something else- something he hadn't been able to give her. He suddenly regretted asking for the truth because it was far more brutal and painful than he had ever imagined and by the look in Kims eyes she wasn't about to stop there
"Don't give me that 'gentleman' crap, you were scared, you were scared of me, of us, of your feelings and you put all of that between us. Yes, you're right, I did know that you liked me, but how much? Enough to wait whilst I chased a dream? Enough to turn down Kats advances? Enough to tell me if you couldn't?"
"Don't bring Kat into it"
Her emotional declaration still rang in his ears and the guilt at his reaction still burned in his chest
"Ah, the protective side shines through, I guess that isn't reserved for girlfriends only then… tell me, what part of you was reserved for me only?"
Opening his mouth, Tommy tried to yell at her, he couldn't believe what she was saying, but the words died on his lips… he didn't trust himself to speak, he didn't trust the swell of emotions that were growing in his chest but he was desperate for an emotional release, to scream at something, to hit something but instead he reached out, grabbed hold of Kimberlys hand and slammed it into his chest
"THIS PART! This part was yours. So don't you EVER tell me that you didn't know how I felt, because you knew… you knew fine well"
"Tommy…"
He could feel her hands trembling beneath his own and for a moment he revelled in her discomfort. This whole thing was a charade, he was becoming more and more sure of it
"What's going on Kimberly?"
"You have to leave… now!" Her voice was barely a whisper
"I'm not going anywhere until you start making sense"
The speed at which Kimberly tore her hands away from him, caught Tommy slightly off guard, and as she pulled them back and then pushed them hard into his chest he briefly lost his footing, as he stumbled back a few steps he could have sworn that he saw the glistening of dampness on her cheek
"Stay away from me Tommy, I'm warning you… for every bodies sake!"
After fumbling in her purse for her key she clumsily opened her front door and then disappeared inside- leaving Tommy to battle his confusion at her words in the emptiness of the hallway
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The Devastation
As the door slammed shut behind her, Kimberly finally found herself beginning to unravel. Leaning back against it for some much needed support, she felt her knees buckle beneath her as a strangled sob escaped her chest.
He wasn't supposed to be here!
Clenching her hands over her mouth, Kim finally hit the floor and gave in to the tears that had been threatening to betray her ever since she saw Tommy standing nervously at her front door, glorious and alluring as ever in a black woollen sweater and dark blue jeans
He wasn't ever supposed to be here… they'd promised!
Wiping her eyes, Kim finally found the strength to push herself to her feet and grabbing the phone from the near by cradle she stumbled across the room as sickness churned in her stomach, and the entire world became fluorescent and fuzzy.
Dropping down onto the safety and softness of the wine-red couch, Kimberly punched in the numbers that came as naturally as calling home. It took what felt like an age before anyone answered, but when they did, they found themselves facing the full force of Kimberly Harts fury, and it was something they had deserved for a long time
"What the hell is Tommy doing here?!"
Tears poured down her face as she fought to control her anger
"What do you mean you didn't know?! It's your job to know. I've done everything that you have asked of me, this is the one little thing you have to do and what happens? …No I know you can't watch his every move… of course I haven't told him anything, do you really think I'm an idiot? I just about had to rip his heart out to get him to go. Good?! How can you say that? What kind of person are you… okay, okay I'm sorry. Look I said I'm sorry. I don't think he'll be coming back, like I said I was pretty brutal. Fine… whatever"
Slamming the phone down Kim just about screamed out in frustration.
How had she found herself in this mess?
How had everything that had held such promise turned into such a mess?
Burying her head in her hands Kim was just about to surrender to the dark, that is until the sound of somebody's fist hammering against the door shocked her so much, her tears stopped in an instant and as she watched the flimsy wood shake as it continued to be pummelled she realised that if Tommy had come back for round two, she may not have the strength to fight him.
Life without the man she loved had been hard, at times excruciating but she'd found a coldness in her that she had never realised she possessed. It was a front that allowed her to move forward without falling apart but one glance at Tommy and her front had slipped, she was in danger of ruining everything, she had to make sure he left… she couldn't risk what would happen if he didn't
2 months ago, Kimberly had sent a letter that she had hoped would be enough to make sure that he never came after her, unfortunately it appeared that his need for answers had become too much and by the seems of the relentless pounding on her front door he was unsatisfied with the answers he had received and had returned, looking for something more
"Tommy go away!"
But her voice didn't stop the blows from raining down and she knew that Tommy was a big, strong guy, if she didn't put an end to this now, she wasn't sure that her door would make it, so clenching her teeth together, Kim pushed herself up from her sofa, wiped her the tear tracks from her face and then put in place the harshest look she could muster
"Tommy, I told you to go away!"
Pulling open the door, Kimberly wasn't prepared for the shadow that fell over her, or for the man dressed in green spandex that stumbled towards her. She just had time to let out a scream when the mans hands came down onto her shoulders causing them both to crash to the floor.
Struggling beneath his weight, Kim managed to wriggle her way free just as he let out an agonising yell
"TOMMY!"
Staring at the man in stunned silence, Kimberly couldn't believe what she was seeing
"Adam?" The word crept tentatively from her lips as the haunted eyes that stared out from behind his smashed visor blinked in recognition
"…Kim?"
Reaching over his shoulder Kimberly managed to slam the door shut before propping him up against it. Kneeling before him, she observed her friend and former team mate properly for the first time and felt the swell of panic… something had gone terribly wrong!
Adams visor was completely smashed and Kimberly could see blood trickling down his forehead and past his eyes. The left side of his uniform was completely shredded, his glove was missing and his knuckles were bruised an swollen, below his ribcage Kim could see a stain that was widening right before her eyes
"Adam you're bleeding!"
Instinctively she reached out to tend to him but quick as a flash he grabbed hold of her arm, his dark eyes boring into hers
"I have… to find…Tommy. TOMMY!"
Again his terrifying yell rang through Kims apartment and she fought the urge to cover her ears so that she couldn't hear the terror in his voice
"Tommy isn't here. Adam, I really think we need to get you some help"
"TOMMY! TOMMY!"
"Adam stop it please, you're scaring me. I told you Tommy isn't here"
Confusion ran riot in Adams eyes as the colour drained from his face which was now glistening with perspiration
"We… we scanned… the area. Tommy was… here" his voice came out on ragged breaths "We used everything…"
"Can't you use your communicator to contact him?"
Shaking his head violently, Adam put both hands onto the floor and attempted to push himself up. The cry he let out told Kim he was hurt bad and something needed to be done… now!
"I'll find him"
She said it whilst stroking his arm in an attempt to reassure him
"You have to bring… him back. We only have one try… at…teleporting"
"Adam, what has happened?" She struggled desperately to keep the panic from her own voice, but as tears formed in Adams gentle eyes she found tears burning at her own. What terribleness was she about to hear?
Adams voice came out slowly as he struggled for breath
"Everything is gone…the Zords, Zordon, Alpha. Everything has been… destroyed"
"How?"
Kims question was just a whisper as Adams tears began to fall, quickly followed by her own
"Something is out there… I think it… it must be the devil. We… we didn't stand a chance"
"Are the others okay? Are they hurt like you?"
"Only Rocky and I made it back"
A sob broke free of his chest as he buried his helmet in his hands
"I don't think he's going to make it Kim… you have… to… find… Tommy"
"I will"
Wiping the tears from her eyes Kim pushed herself to her feet
"I'll find him and bring him back. It's going to be okay Adam"
"Nothing is ever going to be okay again"
Manoeuvring Adam forward, Kimberly squeezed through the door and ran as hard as she could down the corridor. A million questions were burning in her mind as she fled the building into the cold night air
"Everything is gone…"
She kept replaying Adams words
"Only Rocky and I made it back"
Then what had happened to Tanya and Katherine?
"I don't think he's going to make it…"
As her muscles began to scream in protest Kim pounded down the road and realised that she had absolutely no idea where she was going. Tommy could be anywhere by now… she'd hurt him pretty bad, but they needed him. Stopping in the middle of the road, Kimberly attempted to catch her breath as she scanned the area and tried to decide where Tommy would have gone
"I don't think he's going to make it"
Running her fingers through her hair, Kim looked from left to right
"I think it must have been the devil…"
"TOMMY!"
The scream that ripped through her chest and exited her throat terrified her almost as much as Adams had but terror was pumping through her and giving her no option but to act
"TOMMY!"
Kimberlys scream tore through the night air
"Everything is gone… Only Rocky and I made it back… Nothing will ever be okay again"
"TOMMY!"