Present Demons

Disclaimer: I do not own PR, otherwise there would be a lot more romance and actual couples mixed in with the fights, Lycra and zords.

Summary: Kat's life is slowly deteriorating before her eyes, so how will interfering friends and a high school reunion help?

Author's Note: Hiya! I got this idea stuck in my head so I had to write it down, and here's the result. My sis tells me its kinda similar to my other story, but I think there different enough so I decided to post it anyways. Especially since this one's going to be a lot darker than my other fic, which is all humour and happiness. They're also older in this one, around mid to late twenties. Please let me know what you think!

It really didn't matter. Not in the grand scheme of things. Not compared to other things, like health, friendship, a positive state of mind. It was only a silly idea. An idea she had slaved over in detail and commitment. So what if someone else was taking the credit? At least Katherine could still cling to the three things she had left.

Slumping gladly onto a seat on the bus, Kat dropped her bags and started massaging her head. All the thoughts and raw emotions that were consuming her mind were giving her a terrible headache. And because of this she was dreading her phone call to Tanya tonight. As well as slowly driving her into depression, her worthless job was now starting to affect one of the only good things left in her life. But it couldn't take away Tanya's friendship on a whole. They had been through too much together to let that happen. And Kat wouldn't lose it without a fight.

The bus's stopping sign lit up in front of her with a ding, luckily bringing Kat out of her thoughts. Otherwise she would have missed her stop for the fourth time that week.

Picking up her bags dejectedly she moved off the bus and started the walk home. She didn't live in a very good area, but it was cheap and her co-workers said it suited her perfectly. It had meant to be stopping spot between places; she hadn't planned to saty very long. But then the job came along and Kat thought it was gong to be brilliant. Instead it turned out to be one of the worst decisions in her life and now she was stuck; stuck and couldn't escape.

Opening the outer door of her building, Kat could hear the familiar jeers and insults from her drunken neighbours. She could even hear Kelsey crying again, probably sporting another bruise from her beloved fiancé. Kat wanted out of this place so desperately. But where could she go? Her family were all back in Australia, but she didn't want to go freeload off of them. It also felt like she'd be tainting something pure and good; her homeland was like a shrine to her. Messing that up would just be proof of how terrible she was to be around, as her co-workers constantly reminded her. Besides, even if she did get up the courage to go home she wouldn't have been able to afford it.

Unlocking her front door, Kat felt a small sense of safety. This was her home, small and desolate as it was, and they couldn't command what she did or thought here. Dumping her bags she turned and locked the door, making sure all three mechanisms were firmly in place. Kat knew she could defend herself, she had been a ranger after all, but she just wasn't prepared to take any unnecessary chances.

The light was beeping gently on her answering machine and Kat hoped it was good news, although she rarely had any. She needed something to help drag her out of this hellhole's affect on her.

"You have five new messages." The automatic voice stated.

'Five?' Kat thought, why would there be so many messages for her? She could just hear her colleagues laughter in her head now, for assuming that people would want to talk to her. As they constantly reminded her, nobody wanted to talk to her unless absolutely necessary. It was probably just a bunch of telemarketers.

"Kat! Hey honey. You won't believe it! I am soo excited. Can't WAIT! I hope you're coming. You'd better be!"

The immense swell of happiness that Kat had felt when first hearing Tanya's voice dimmed slightly as the message played; now confusion and doubt filled her mind. She had no idea what Tanya was talking about, which meant it probably didn't involve her. It wouldn't involve her, she knew, her co-workers were right – who'd want worthless, useless, ugly Kat around?

But the machine was still playing.

"Hiya Kat! It's been ages since we've talked but hopefully we'll catch up before everyone arrives. I can't believe its been this long already! Kim's so excited, I swear she's going to burst. I really hope you can make it!"

That was Aisha, sounding almost as excited as Tanya had just been. Now Kat was really confused. What was going on? And why was she going to be involved? The voices of her colleagues in her head were quieter now. It couldn't be a mistake if two of her friends were talking about it, wanting her to come, and Tanya and Aisha definitely wouldn't make something like this up just to get to her.

"Third new message," the machine deadpanned "message received at…"

Now Kat was desperate to hear the remaining messages, she wanted to know what was going on; and why people wanted her involved so badly.

"Hey hon, me again," Tanya's bubbly voice now had a slightly sheepish tone to it "Adam's just reminded me that you might not of got you're invite yet as you live further away, so you might not know what I'm going on about. It's our Angel Grove high school reunion! I really hope you can make it! We're gonna have such a brilliant time."

'High school reunion?' Kat thought as she slowly sank down the wall to the floor. How could see go back and show her face there? She had treasured memories of her time at Angel Grove; school, her friends, rangering. Going back would mean they'd see what a disgrace she was. They'd all hate her. She'd ruin everything – like she was told she always did.

"Fourth new message." The machine droned on.

"Hey kitty-Kat!" Rocky's warm voice was filled with it's usual exuberance, almost flowing out from the machine and bouncing off the walls to fill the whole flat. "We haven't talked in ages, but Tanya says you've been busy with your job so that's ok. I hope you can make it to the reunion though, it'll be such a ball if we're all there. It'll be good to see you, it's been way too long. Ring me if you get a chance, but if not no worries. Really hope you can make it!"

Kat was smiling slightly now, she'd forgotten that Rocky now always called her by that ridiculous nickname.

"Fifth new message."

"KAT!" Kim's happy scream caught Kat completely off guard, she'd almost jumped to her feet, making for a fighting stance. "I am so excited! You have to come! Just HAVE to! It won't be any fun if any of us aren't there. Oh, I was hoping to speak to you, we haven't spoken properly in ages. You're always so tired from that job of yours. But we'll have plenty of time to catch up if you come, and you just have to come! I don't care if I have to come over there and drag you back here myself! So there are your options missy, you know I'll do it! You HAVE to come!"

Kat was now full out smiling, something she hadn't done in a long time. Her friends wanted her to be there. They actually wanted her; somebody actually wanted Kat to be there for something. A small part at the back of her mind was telling her that she was being silly, that of course they'd want her there, she was their friend; but that part of her had been drowned out by taunts and cruelty for so long Kat almost didn't recognise it. The rest of her was so excited and happy. She was so excited that she reached for the phone, fingers itching to dial Tanya's number, almost unconsciously.

But the she remembered what they'd each also said: "… we haven't talked in ages … plenty of time to catch up…" and she froze.

That would mean talking about her job, about what a disgrace she'd become. And then instead of looking back at their memories of her fondly, they'd look back at them with pity. They would pity what she had become, and if there was one thing Kat couldn't, wouldn't, be able to stand it was them pitying her.

The meaning of all this depressed Kat even more. She wouldn't be ale to go. If she went, everything would just be so much worse. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she sat huddled on the floor, hugging herself for warmth. The thought of her friends wanting to see her, and the possibility of actually seeing them had made her feel happier then she had in months. Now, knowing she couldn't go and would be letting them down, she felt hollow and cold.

The phone's sudden shrill ring startled her so much that she fell sideways to the floor, landing with a bump and muffled yelp.

Suddenly Kat felt panicked. Looking at the time she saw that it was quarter to eight. Melissa had said she'd ring about now with details of tomorrow's schedule. If Kat missed this call, there'd be hell to pay tomorrow. But what if it was one of her friends?

Taking a deep breath, Kat sat up and reached for the phone. Whatever it was, she could handle this. She'd fought monsters as a teenager, she couldn't be afraid of a simple phone conversation.

"Hello?"

"Kat?" Katherine gasped as she recognised the familiar voice, one she hadn't heard in a long time.

"Jason?!"

He laughed at her exclamation, and Kat couldn't help but grin.

"Who else? Boy, is Kim going to be mad. She said she phoned you but only got the machine. I'm going to have to tell her that you wanted to talk to me more than you wanted to talk to her." He sighed dramatically.

"Don't you dare Jase!" Kat couldn't believe she'd just said that; she'd just outright challenged someone. She wasn't allowed to do that.

"And why not? It'll be fun."

"It wasn't her fault it was mine. Don't blame her. I've just got home from work, and-"

"Whoa, whoa! Fault? Blame? I was just joking Kat, kidding around. It's no one's fault." There was a hint of worry to his voice now.

Kat took a deep breath, her friends couldn't find out about what she was like now, it would ruin everything. "Of course, you're right. Sorry I overreacted. I'm just really tired from work."

"Is that all you are from work?"

"What d'you mean?" Kat asked nervously.

"Everything's ok with you right Kat? You'd tell us if anything was the matter? Or you needed help?"

"Of course I would."

"Good. 'Cos we're all worried about you over here. You'd better be coming to the reunion, we haven't seen you in ages. And Kim will probably explode from frustration if you don't come." Jason added jokingly.

"Yeah. Listen I've got to go Jase. I've only just got in and I need to eat and type some stuff up for tomorrow. Can I ring you back later?"

Sighing Jason agreed "Sure, just take care of yourself Kat. I hope we see you soon."

"Bye Jase."

Kat hung up and tried desperately to contain her tears, she wanted to see her friends so badly, but she'd only end up ruining it all.

On another continent Jason Scott put down his phone and sighed again in frustration. Something wasn't right with Kat. And it needed to be sorted.

Review and tell me what you think? You know you want to.