They had told him that the warm breeze would be good for him and it was in many ways. The sound of the ocean on the wind, exotic and colorful plants popping up all around no matter what the time of year was so gratifying. Even the best seafood around, better than anything Ernie had ever caught and made into weird things for his favorite customers to try.

A light spinach salad was on the menu today and it was one of Jason's favorites. It had a crisp taste to it with just a light overtone of oil and just that hint of salty cheese. It was a simple lunch, which was best according to the doctors. Truth was, Jason didn't really eat much anymore for fear he would wake up and he would have thrown it up anyways. You tend to enjoy things less when you wake up like that.

He smiled at the waitress when she brought him his drink, a pretty young thing with curves and golden wavy hair. She had the skin tone of liquid honey and her eyes told him that she was flirting right back. Jason only ever flirted anymore. One too many bad relationships, one too many broken hearts. He had a responsibility to the people he met not to fall for any of them for fear of their pain when it didn't work out.

His fingers felt thick as he grabbed the glass. There was a sharp wincing pain in his fingers and they soon enough felt dull and thick, numbed from the shock of the surge of temporary pain as he picked up the cool stem and brought the impeccable fruity drink to his lips. He was dining in the outdoor court of the hotel, the line of the ocean just beyond his line of vision. Jason blinked when the sun rose just a touch higher in the sky and that's how he missed the person entering the hotel.

"Jason?"

His head pivoted in his chair at the sound of his name. He'd avoided being recognized before, but he had gotten sloppy at his age. That or he just didn't care anymore. Except for the slightly confused, somewhat apprehensive and yet altogether joyous face of Dr. William Cranston staring back at him from the entrance of the restaurant, nobody knew who he was here.

"Billy, is that you?" The words seemed foreign in his own throat. "How are you man?"

Jason hurried to rise from his chair and he found that he didn't quite hover over Billy the way he used to. He noted the color in Billy's cheeks, the authority in his eyes and that quiet and subtle confidence that mixed so well with his sharp intelligence. Gripping onto the chair to make sure he shook with his non-dominant hand, Jason received an old friend with hidden enthusiasm.

"Surprised to see you. Meeting someone for lunch?"

Jason shrugged, hand nonchalantly motioning toward the table. "Not unless you're gonna join me."

Billy's eyes danced just slightly. "Sure! Man, we've got some catching up to do. Give me ten minutes. I've been on a plane for about six hours and I want to at least change my shirt."

Jason nodded as he slowly sat down. "I understand man. Traveling is not the way it used to be. Can I order you a drink? My treat."

Billy chuckled. "You don't have to Jason."

"Man, if half the people in this town knew what you had done for Angel Grove, they'd be buying your room for you."

Billy shifted the weight of the strap across his chest. "I can see modesty is still one of your strong suits. Fine. Get me a Long Island Iced Tea if its any good. I'll return shortly."

True to his word, Billy was back in less than fifteen minutes. He was wearing a black tank top under a blue button down that was opened to reveal the tank top and the semi-defined form beneath it. Jason would come to find out that most of the tops he owned came in a variety of shades of blue, with the occasional hint of red.

Billy ordered prawn and shrimp skewers over rice when the waitress came back, noticing the way she flirted with Jason. He could tell that Jason was reciprocating, but it was hollow and lacked that spark of assurance that Jason had always had exuded. Billy tried to dismiss it the first time, but every now and then he would see cracks in Jason's carefully placed facade.

"So, what brings you down here to the Coast?"

Billy sat down his glass with a gentle clink. "Mm, thats good. Here for a graduate conference, actually. Representing my department, defending our research grant analysis. Didn't Tommy tell you I was coming to town?"

"No, man. I wouldn't have let you check into a hotel if I'd have known." Jason bit down hard on his own tongue the moment the polite phrase came out of his mouth. His fondness for the old days was overshooting what he thought was prudent.

Billy made a kind of grunting noise in the back of his throat. "Eh. I'm only here for a few days and its all dry academic stuff anyways. Tommy laughed at me when I said I had to go. He found a way out of this one."

"Oh yeah. You guys are both doing social science, aren't you?"

Billy nodded. "We do what we have to do. Surprised to see that you're still living here though. Construction around the country's going down to almost nothing."

Jason waited until after the waitress had set down Billy's plate and walked away with a wink before he answered. "Fortunately, I'm a foreman so my butt got dragged out of the fire. And I have a few connections, so I've diversified a bit into government work."

Billy winced a bit. "You sure thats wise? You always had distaste for dishonesty."

Jason prayed as he lifted his fork to his mouth that for once he could contain the shaking, which he did. "Maybe I've mellowed a bit in my old age. We both know there are worse things than politicians out there."

Billy shook his head, blushing lightly as he knew that Jason was breaking the tension about the meeting of the Reds. Tommy hadn't told him about the threat, but the tone of his voice had said volumes and Billy didn't really care to make an issue of it anyways. If he were to be called again, he would go. But he wouldn't push it.

For a moment, they lapsed into a comfortable silence before Billy sloshed a bit of lime juice onto his skewer. Jason accepted a shrimp when Billy offered it cordially to go with his salad. He hadn't realized how nice it was to have lunch with a friend.

It took three days until Billy realized that something irreparable seemed to be wrong with Jason. The first time he saw the slight tic in the hand, Billy dismissed it. But, as an alarmist, he couldn't help thinking of Parkinsons or some other muscle disorder. His intelligence turned to worry as Jason seemed to shrug off or mask the pain. Billy had known him long enough to know when he was fighting. And he could tell Jason was fighting hard.

For his part, Jason had forgotten how much he had missed the man he considered his best friend. Tommy had been close of course and there had been that fling with Kimberly and long conversations about battle tactics with Trini, but Billy had been different. They hadn't even needed to talk sometimes and Billy would just know what Jason wanted or needed, just not in a creepy way, merely intelligent and slightly deferential. Which had been appropriate considering Jason's stature as the greatest Ranger to ever live.

Whenever Billy looked at him with a sidelong glance as they walked along, Jason would catch that glimpse of hero worship in his eyes and it made Jason wonder often enough what it was for. Billy deserved that more than he did. Sure, Jason had worn the suit longer but Billy had contributed so much more, a ridiculous amount of heart and faith and brains that Jason just lacked the capacity for.

It was no surprise then that they found comfort in each others presence. Jason, feeling his age, did his best to entertain his old friend with jazz clubs and roadside taco stands, but he couldn't lie for long. And Billy wasn't being fooled. So, it was natural that Billy would be the one to broach the subject first after Jason had dispensed with the pleasantries.

"I told you that you would enjoy that trumpet player. He has real talent."

Billy nodded. "Indeed. It was a pleasant surprise, just like everything else you've shown me. I owe you for making this trip less boring."

Jason merely shook his head as he stood in his open doorway. "Think nothing of it. You got two days left right? I could see about taking a boat out on the marina, maybe a little vacation from your work after all this?"

Billy smirked. "More than tempting, but my kids need help with their thesis works. I'm always happy to come back in a couple weeks though. Just one thing I ask in return."

Jason flipped a switch behind him and a couple of soft lamps in his condo sprang to life. "Anything. Just don't ask me to stock the schooner with too many chicks."

Billy's smirk fell into a serious line, the happy wrinkles in his brow smoothing down. "Tell me whats wrong with your arm."

Jason bit down on his lip and sighed. "You don't miss a thing, Cranston. I always admired that about you. But I don't want to drag you down in my shit."

Billy's eyes sparkled in defiance, half in jest. "Tell me or I'll call Kim and get her down here. You want her playing platonic nurse until the day you die?"

Jason rolled his eyes, motioning the scientist inside. Once the door was shut behind him, Jason found a spot on the floor more interesting than Billy's concerned gaze. "The doctors I've seen are the finest the military has to offer and they think I've done permanent damage."

Billy's voice betrayed the concern he felt as he emphasized certain words in his reaction. "Permanent? How Jase? You've been retired since before the space colony rangers took over for us."

Jason made sure his eyes were blank as he brought his gaze up hard to Billy's softening eyes. "Tommy needed my help. There was a metallic dragon and I fought alongside this kid who reminded me a lot of myself. Had a lion spirit. There were almost a dozen Reds. I had to go."

Billy's face was crestfallen. "You didn't...of all the irresponsible..."

Jason felt his voice set on edge, surprised by the hostility that it took on. "Are you going to lecture me about responsibility and duty?"

Billy shook his head. "It makes so much sense now. You weren't gonna tell me either."

"Hey, its my problem and you have your own life."

The hurt in Billy's voice was evident. "Jason, that is the most pigheaded and arrogant thing you've ever said."

There was a moment of deep stillness in the room and Jason wasn't sure if he wanted to feel pride or anger at the way Billy stood up to him. In the end, he settled for a harsh laugh that took Billy back a bit. "You're right. But I figure I'm about ready to head to the old fossils home anyways. I just wish they could help me."

Billy tightened his jaw in sympathy. "Its hard when there are so few to rely on and you keep things like that to yourself. How bad is it? Were there operations?"

Jason reached out with his good arm, gripping onto Billy's shoulders. "No man. I'm not letting you take this."

Billy looked down on the hand on his shoulder in disbelief. "Let me in or let me go, then."

Jason's hand fell away from Billy's shoulder. Billy blinked, shook his head slowly in shock and surprise and found his feet moving toward the door. He turned back as he opened it. His eyes said that it was Jason's last chance and that he wouldn't get another.

"Wait. If you take this on, you can't tell them. I don't want everyone worried."

Billy's half-hearted anger was overlapped by the concern in his voice. "That's obvious, Red."

Jason's voice softened. "Come back in if you want to see then, Blue."