Title: To Death Do Us Part
Author: Carebear19 aka DayDreamBear
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters; they all belong to Saban and the other people involved in Power Rangers. Though I wish I could borrow some of them, particularly the guys for use around the house.. Hmm...( Summary: When Jason learns some bad news, everyone comes back home, and remembers the promise they made years before.
Author's Notes: Hi guys, I know it's been forever since I updated this or any of my stories. In the last year and a half I have moved 4 times, lived in 5 houses, and spent two months helping my uncle watch his and his business partners 50 dogs. So my muses seemed to have either gotten confused and lost back at one of the houses or one of the states I lived in before now, or else they ran for the hills those two months with all the dogs. If they did take the last option, can't say I blame them. Until one has slept in a twin bed with twelve dogs and two cats (who hate each other and try to kill one another over you and the dogs)... well it makes pretty much a lot of sense that they ran for the hills... hell I wanted to the two times those silly pups actually pushed me out of the bed.
So, I finally found my muse for this story again... after what a year and a half... almost two... and though we agreed to work together, the original ideas I had for this seemed to have disappeared. So, I have made a few changes to this since it was first posted. A few time line changes. And since I have seen very little of DinoThunder, this is most definitely an AU. Besides the changes from Zeo as it was. Other than that, I think everything is explainable in the story...
Please please review. I'll love you all forever. And Flames shall be used to roast the marshmallows for my smores. To feed my muses who have decided to stick around. And their caretaker Harvey. Bloody rabbit that he is. :)
So without further ado, on to the story ...
TIMELINE: (Almost forgot this, I'm terribly sorry) Anyway, this is the time line of sorts. In episode 49 of Season 4 (Zeo Rangers), Good As Gold, Jason lost the Gold Ranger Powers. In the series, in that episode he left, only to return again in the Turbo movie. However, for this story, he did not leave. After the events of Kim's letter, and when Tommy was brainwashed by Gasket, he has lost faith in himself. And decides he needs to leave Angel Grove. To escape life. (For the sake of an actual time based on the timeline at A Writer's Guide to the Power Ranger Universe www.rovang.ord/wg/wgindex.htm I'm saying that Good As Gold occurred mid-July of 1997.
Tommy left the rangers that day, after giving his powers to Jason. (Which will be shown in flashback by Jason). And he only contacted the group once every few months, if that. In his need to find himself, he had to be alone and away from the others.
Now this story takes place a year and a half after that day. Two years after Kim sent Tommy the 'letter'. And the Zeo Rangers are still the ones in charge. But seeing as Zedd and Rita destroyed the Machine Empire in Good As Gold, they are now fighting Zedd and Rita once more.
So yes, on to the story... really this time...
P.S. : Ok, one last thing, sorry loves. Thoughts are/-/ THOUGHTS /-/Stressed words are Italicized
Chapter 1: Catching up on life
Dear Jason,
How are you? I'm fine, and yes I'm not lying.
I've found a place up north between San Francisco and Sacramento. It's a beautiful area; I'm living in a boat on a Marina actually. It is a quiet town, and I've got a pretty good job that's actually fun. I'm working at a restaurant not far from my boat. The owner, Babs, is an absolute sweetheart and has adopted me as a surrogate grandson. And who would have thought, I make a fairly decent cook.
I spent a lot of time just thinking about life and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. You know that to be true by my lack of letters over the past months. But I think I have finally found peace. There is someone, I have not mentioned before now. A woman, who I know that you would adore. She's trusted me with her heart, her happiness, her safety even. And in her, I have found myself... I suppose that doesn't make any sense does it? But it's true. She's helped me find myself, find the hero in me that I thought had only existed as a Ranger. I know I've never mentioned her before, but I don't know, I've put if off for so long... and she has been bugging me to write you guys. So... you can thank her for finally learning about the woman I honestly think I will spend the rest of my life with.
But, on to other things...
How are things in Angel Grove? Really? Have you and Kat finally got the sticks out of your butts and gotten together? You better have or I will drive down there and give you a beating worse than Zedd or Mondo or anyone else can. And don't think I won't do it Jason Lee Scott.
Anyway, have Zedd and Rita been trying to take over the world still? I don't listen to the news much anymore so... But I bet your going nuts wondering if you're making the right decisions. I'm forever sorry I kinda dumped this on you. I just couldn't stay, not at what the costs might be to the others. And don't try arguing with me about it. It's true. Trust yourself Jase, we all do. You're the best leader the team ever had, you're a natural leader and they'll follow you without argument. They'll trust your decisions, as they should. Well, I had better get going. Please don't try and find me. I'll keep in touch as I always do.
Friends Forever,
Tommy
:-:-:-:-:-:
Jason folded the letter back up and placed it in his desk. It had arrived five months earlier. Over a year after Tommy had left Angel Grove and Jason had become the red ranger once more. He had thought his days as a ranger were over after what happened with the Gold powers. And now he was back in red... and it was amazing. But it wasn't the same without the old gang. Kim was still in Florida, Zach and Trini were in Switzerland, while Billy was on Aquitar. And Tommy was somewhere up north.
Closing his eyes he thought back to that day when his life had taken a complete upside down flip once more. He had been at the bluffs a few hours after transferring the powers back to Trey. He had been planning to leave in the morning, to go see Kim, Trini, and Zach then try to figure out what to do now. Then he had heard a noise behind him. He hadn't needed to turn around to know who it was.
:-:-: Flashback :-:-:
"What are you doing here Tommy?" Jason asked as the wind ruffled his hair.
"I came to see how you were doing." Tommy replied with a smile. One that Jason saw through in a moment.
"Liar."
Tommy smiled, this time a real smile. "You know me far too well bro."
"Yeah, just as much as you know me." Jason replied with a smile. "So, what's up?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"
"Yeah well, why don't you go first." Jason replied turning his attention back to the sunset.
Tommy remained silent as he sat down next to Jason. Looked off at the horizon for a few minutes. Just as Jason was about to say something, Tommy spoke, still staring at the horizon. "I'm leaving."
"What?" Jason managed to get out through his shock. "Leaving what?" he continued a moment later, confused as hell.
"Angel Grove... the rangers... everything..." Tommy explained slowly before looking at him.
"What's going on Tommy?" Jase managed to ask as a million thoughts ran through his head.
"A lot... nothing... I don't know anymore." Tommy replied as he looked back towards the horizon. "I just can't do it anymore Jase. I need to find myself again you know..."
"What's really going on bro?" Jason asked softly, worried about his best friend.
"I'm leaving in the morning Jase, I don't know where I'm going to go..." Tommy began as he looked at him for a moment then back at the horizon. "But I know I have to go. I need to find myself. Find out who I am other than being a Power Ranger. These last few months... I can't just rely on the rangers to define myself. And under that title... I don't know who I am anymore. I need to find myself Jase."
Jason nodded slowly. "I can understand that bro."
"At least someone does." Tommy replied looking at him. "I don't even understand it. I just know it's what I have to do."
"So now what?" Jason continued after a moment.
"I have a question for you, you can say no Jase, know that." Tommy urged and Jason knew what he was going to say before he could continue.
"I know that bro... and I'd be honored. But after the Gold powers..."
"I talked with Zordon. Your body won't have any problems with the Red Zeo power. In fact, it might be able to help you get past this a hell of a lot faster." Tommy explained. They knew each other far too well.
"Ok then, are you really sure about this though?" Jason asked concerned.
"I'm positive Jase. I have to get out of here. But are you sure about taking back the powers? You just lost one today. I didn't want to go to you, but there is no one I would trust the team with more than you..." Tommy trailed off looking back towards the fading sunset.
"Tommy, I had every intention of leaving, but that was because I didn't know what to do anymore. I didn't see a reason for being here anymore. Like no one really needed me. The whole power withdraws thing... But how can I turn you down?" Jason shrugged. "I'd be honored to take the team."
"Thanks man. It means a hell of a lot." Tommy replied with a slight smile.
"Your welcome." Jason replied with a smile as he stood up and reached down to help Tommy up. "So let's go get this taken care of so you can start your traveling the world."
"Sounds good to me." Tommy agreed as he stood up. "Thanks Jase, it means more than you can know." he added as he hugged Jason.
"I can imagine what it means bro. And your welcome just the same." Jason replied with a smile.
:-:-: End Flashback :-:-:
Tommy had left that night. After the transfer they had gathered the others, explained that he was leaving and said his goodbyes, then was gone. And Jason couldn't begrudge Tommy his freedom. Heck, he'd enjoyed it himself when he had first been in the peace conference. But there were times when you wished your old friends were around. Like now.
Jason stood up and started pacing the room. He'd been to the doctor's again this morning. And the news wasn't good. /-/ Why me/-/ he thought. /-/ Why Now. The team needs me. /-/Jason stopped pacing when the phone rang. He walked back to the desk and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Hey Jase." A female voice said.
"Hey Kat. What's up?"
"Nothing much. Just wondering what's up. It's three o'clock."
Jason smacked his forehead lightly as realization dawned. "Our date. Oh Kat, I'm so sorry."
"That's ok. I was just worried about you. We can cancel if you like... I can just come over and we can watch a video or something."
"You really don't mind?"
"Nah, I'll be there in twenty minutes. You make the popcorn, I'll bring the flick." Kat said with a laugh.
"Alright. See you in twenty." Jase said before hanging up the phone. He and Kat had been dating since two months after that last letter from Tommy. She and Tommy had never really gotten together romantically. Kat just helped him deal with his pain after Kim's letter. He cared about her a hell of a lot, and deep down he knew that he was well over the edge of falling in love with her.
Walking into the kitchen he put a bag of popcorn in the microwave and went to answer the phone when it rang once more. "Hello?"
"Hey Jase." the familiar, less perky, voice said over the line.
"Hey Kim, what's up?" Jason said sitting down in a chair.
"Not much, I just go your message. What's going on Jason?" she asked concerned, "What did the doctor say?"
"It's back." Jason said softly.
"Oh no! Oh Jase, have you told them yet?"
"No, Kat's coming over soon, I might tell her then. They didn't even know about the appointment."
"You still don't like talking about it do you?"
"No, neither do you." Jason replied with a laugh.
"True, even Tommy never knew."
"You should have told him instead of breaking things off when it came back... I don't know how Billy kept quiet." Jason added with a smile as he thought of their friend
"I know. But he knows how we feel about it. Have you heard from Trini and Zach?"
"Not yet. Can you do me a favor and let them know?" Jason asked
"Sure thing. You enjoy your date okay?" Kim said as she heard the microwave.
"I will, and let me know how your results come back." Jason told her as he got up.
"I will, be careful Jase." She said softly.
"I will Kim. Talk to you soon." He said as he opened the microwave.
"All right. Bye Jase."
"Bye." He replied before hanging up the phone and pulling the popcorn out.
Popping another one in the microwave he went to the cupboard to get a bowl and two glasses for drinks. When he heard the doorbell ring, he set them down and headed to the door. As he walked, he decided to wait until he saw his doctor in two days before telling the others what was going on. Then he would have a better idea of what was going on. As it was, he knew he should talk to Zordon first.
Opening the door, he put aside his worries and smiled at Kat, who held up a copy of Xanadu.
It was going to be a great night.