Title: Mentor's Memories

Summary: Sequel to Like Us. Having an evil Ranger is weighing on Tommy. The Dino Thunder Rangers really don't understand why. So, Conner calls in hopes of a much needed answer. No pairings intended, maybe Tommy/Jason if you squint

Note: Dedicated to Ghostwriter, thanks for the prompt for this story! As of right now I have three parts planned for this story. Part one takes place early in the White Thunder series. Part two is also during and right after White Thunder Part III. Part three will be once Trent has joined the team.

No pairings intended, but I suppose if you put on your slash goggles and squint you could interpret it as Tommy/Jason pre-slash. I'm good with it if you do since there can never be too much Tommy/Jason in my opinion.

Chapter 1: Memories of Evil

Tommy couldn't believe this was happening. An evil White Ranger. To see his second color being used by evil made him both angry and sad. White was never meant to be a servant of evil. White was supposed to be a symbol of good. He cursed Mesogog for this more than for anything else up to this point.

Memories of his time as the evil Green Ranger had come back with a vengeance since the White Ranger showed up. He had hoped they would be easier to deal with than they had been when he was younger. They weren't. If anything it was harder without any of his friends here to help. How he wished at least one of his friends lived nearby. Angel Grove seemed impossibly far right now.

Tommy sat down and picked up the phone. He needed to talk to his bro. Jason had always been the one best able to help him deal with these things. He had never wanted to burden Kimberly with his feelings over his time as an evil Ranger. Jason however was always willing to listen. Tommy couldn't count the number of late nights they had shared when Tommy just needed to talk. Even if it wasn't about being evil, whenever Tommy needed to talk Jason was always there. That was something that had last as they grew up. Tommy was glad for that now.

"Hey Jase," Tommy said, his voice quieter than normal.

That immediately made the original Red Ranger worry.

"Hey bro, you don't sound good," Jason said.

"I have so much to tell you," Tommy said.

Tommy launched into the tale of the evil Ranger. Jason didn't interrupt; he just let his friend talk. Eventually the Black Dino Thunder Ranger got to the heart of the problem.

"The nightmares are back," Tommy said.

The original Red cursed silently. His bro did not deserve this.

"Do you need me to come up there?" Jason asked immediately.

He hadn't been able to be there for Tommy when Rita and Zedd had the clone Green Ranger made. He wasn't about to fail his friend again.

"I don't know," The Black ranger admitted.

There was a part of him that wanted his bro to come. That part knew that he needed his best friend to help him deal with this right now. But the larger part of him didn't want to show that kind of weakness to his current team. The teens needed to know that they could rely on him no matter what. If he seemed unable to handle his own memories he was sure they would question his abilities as a Ranger and a mentor. They needed him to be strong now more than ever.

"You know I will," The original Red reminded.

"I know. For now, let's say no. If this gets worse I may have to change my mind though," Tommy said.

If anything happened to any of the kids, he would need his bro to keep him anchored.

"Ok, bro," Jason said.

"I just never thought I'd have to be the one on this side of things. I don't know how to be the mentor to a team when they are trying to fight an evil Ranger. We always had Zordon," Tommy said sadly.

"We learned a lot from him, bro. You can't let this shake you. Your team needs you. They won't understand why this is so hard for you. Most importantly, bro, you can't let your guard down. No matter what you have to stay alert," The original Red reminded firmly.

He knew that Tommy would want to try to help whoever this was. Problem was, when dealing with an evil Ranger anything like that could prove disastrous.

"I know, Jase. Don't worry, I know," The Black Dino Thunder Ranger assured.

There was a moment of quiet.

"How did you do it, Jase? Knowing there was a Green Ranger out there that was strong enough to hurt all of you. How did you keep it together?" Tommy asked.

He wanted to know what Conner was missing. Jason seemed to understand that.

"For me, it was personal. They weren't just my team. They were my best friends. I had to keep it together. I had to be strong and appear confident because that's what they needed from me. Conner may be the Red and the leader on the field. But when it comes to this kind of thing, you're the leader, Tommy. You're the one with the experience. You're the one they will expect to have all the answers," Jason reminded him.

"And when I don't? How do I tell them that this time I don't have the answers? I don't know who this is or how they came to have their powers," Tommy said, his voice betraying his frustration.

"I didn't either, remember? What matters then is how well you can lead your team. Bro, you know how to be a leader. Don't let this shake you," Jason reaffirmed.

Tommy took a deep breath. He knew his best friend was right. He hadn't realized just how rattled he was by this. He had to keep it together and not let his memories get the best of him. The kids needed him.

DTDTDTDTDTDTDTDTDTDT

A few days later Jason got a call from a number he didn't know. He recognized it as a Reefside number so he answered it anyway.

"Hello?" He answered.

"Is this Jason Scott?" The voice on the other end asked.

"Yeah. Who's this?" Jason asked.

"My name is Conner McKnight. I, uh, I'm the new Red Ranger," Conner said.

"I know who you are, Conner. Tommy has told me all about the new team," Jason assured.

He could practically hear the teen relax at that.

"I need your help. Has Dr. O told you about the evil White Ranger we're dealing with?" The Dino Thunder Red asked.

"He did," The original Red said.

"I can tell this is getting to him. He's trying to act normal, but I can tell he's not. He's just not himself. This whole thing is bothering him more than he wants to admit. I don't know what to do," Conner told him.

"You know Tommy was once an evil Ranger himself, right?" Jason asked.

"Yeah. I mean, the video he made about Ranger history mentioned it," The younger man said. Then he asked, "Does it still bother him?"

"He's gotten better about it. It doesn't bother him anywhere near as much anymore compared to when we were younger. However, being faced with a new evil Ranger is bringing all of it back full force," The older Red explained.

There was a moment of quiet on the other end as the younger Red absorbed this information.

"What do I do?" Conner asked.

"There isn't much you can do. He won't burden you with the memories. All you can do is try to keep things as normal as possible. He doesn't want you kids thinking he can't handle this. You just have to trust him," Jason said.

"I do trust him. I just wish he would trust us a bit more," The younger Red said.

The original Red couldn't help but smile.

"He trusts you kids. He just feels like he has to protect you as much as he can. Tommy doesn't seem to remember that we were your age when we became Rangers. You kids can handle this," Jason assured.

"I hope so. I hope choosing us doesn't end up being a mistake. Why didn't he just call on other veteran Rangers?" Conner asked.

He had wanted to ask Dr. O that, but couldn't quite work up the nerve. It didn't seem like such a hard question to ask of someone he had never met.

"Most of our team and those who followed us have retired. Other than your team, there are only a handful of Rangers that are still active in any way. Most don't want to get back in action full time. Besides, you don't choose the Power. It chooses you," Jason reminded.

"Dr. O did say that," Conner agreed.

"How did you get my number anyway?" The original Red asked a moment later.

"Dr. O left his address book out where it was really easy to find. I've heard him mention you a few times. I was worried, so I figured I'd call you," The Dino Thunder Red defended.

Jason laughed. He could just see his bro leaving something like that out where anyone could see it.

"It's ok. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything. I have to go. I have a class to teach in a few minutes. Let me know if this gets worse ok? Tommy can be stubborn," Jason said.

"I will. Thanks," Conner said.

Jason couldn't help but feel that he would be spending a lot more time on the phone in days to come.