Ok so this story sort of just popped in my head and I have been obsessed with it ever since I started it. In fact it is almost done and is the first of a few in the Power ranger universe. So I hope you all like this as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 1

How could he have let this happen?

Tommy was speeding along the back road that lead to his house where he knew the Dino rangers, his new team, and Hayley were waiting. Tobi was in the passenger seat next to him, silently crying well he clung to his Blue-eyes White Dragon plushy and green ranger toy like they were a life line. Being four and a half he should be in the back of Tommy's jeep and in a car seat but Tommy didn't have it with him. Even though he and Zara weren't talking at the moment he was still the second emergency contact at the boy's day care. He had been a bit surprised that they had called him but when they informed him that Tobi's mother had not come to pick him up, Tommy knew something was wrong.

So after picking Tobi up Tommy had walked him the few short blocks to the rental house his mother and he were currently living in. Tommy was a surprised further to see Zara's car was parked outside and the front door of the house was wide open. After making Tobi promos to stay hidden in the big bush next to his mother's car, Tommy had entered the home. Nothing looked out of order, Zara had always kept the house fairly clean, save the small table they ate at in the kitchen was over turned. On closer inspection Tome saw familiar claw marks on its edges and it clearly had been thrown aside with enough force to crake it. It was well Tommy had been looking around for more clues that he spotted a note addressed to him stuck to the wall with one of the kitchen knifes.

If you wish to see her alive come to the quarry on the outskirts of Reefside, alone. -Zeltrak

Tommy hadn't wasted anytime after that to grab Tobi, run back to his jeep and head to his place to meet up with his team. Though he hadn't told Tobi anything the boy knew something bad had happened to his mom. They soon pulled up to his house and found Connor, Trent, Kira, Ethen and Hayley waiting for him on his deck. "Dr. O, what's going on? You sounded desperate when you called." Conner inquired as Tommy got out and ran around to the passenger side to pull Tobi out. "Tobi. But why do you have him? Where's Mrs. Rodgers?"

"Zeltrax has her." Tommy answered as he walked pass them and into his home with Tobi securely in his arms. Hayley and the rangers exchanged worried looks before fallowing him inside. Tommy put Tobi on the couch before putting his little back pack on the coffee table. "What's the plan Dr. O?" Kira asked.

"Your all staying here well I'll go rescue Zara." Tommy told them.

"Um no, Hayley is staying here and we're going with you with you." Conner said with Kira, Trent and Ethen nodding in agreement.

"No you're all staying here." Tommy repeated, his tone not leaving any room for digestion. "He told me to go alone and I am not risking Zara's life any further by bringing all of you. Tobi's protection is your top priority at this moment and Hayley can't protect him like all of you can."

They didn't argue after that but as Tommy went to leave Tobi spoke up. "Am I going to see my mommy again? She isn't gone like my daddy is she?"

Tommy's heart broke hearing the deep sadness in the boy's voice and the look he was giving him. Tommy knelt in front of Tobi, taking his small face in his hands, and made him look at him. "I will bring your mother home, I promise you." He then kissed his head before heading outside. Tommy took off down the road towards the quarry as fast as his jeep could go. 'Stay alive Zara till I get there. Do it for me and your son.' He thought as he drove with an angry look on his face.

-o0o-

Zara was in a small cave that had been made by miners looking for precious metals but had given up on it when they hit bedrock. Her hands were chained to the wall by long chains made from a metal she had never seen before. Her short labored breaths were the only sounds that filled the small cave that the creature Zeltrax had sealed her in. She could feel the poison's affects through out her body as every breath became painful and labored. Though the situation didn't look good at all Zara couldn't stop thinking about was her son and the man she had come to love. She had never gained the courage to tell him how she felt before their fight and now she never would. She was glade though that despite their fight Tommy wouldn't anything happened to her boy if she didn't make it. She may have only known Tommy a few months, she knew deep in her heart that he would protect and look after her son till her parents came.

A cough ripped through her throat and she felt something wet and warm leave her lips hitting her chine, well the taste of copper filled her mouth. She spat out the blood in an attempt to clear out her airway and breath a bit better, well knowing that she didn't have to much longer to live.

-o0o-

~3 months earlier~

Tommy's pov

It was just an average day at Reefeside high school, I had just arrived and was just heading in when I saw her for the first time. She was stunning as she stood there talking to Principle Randell, who was none stop talking about something. She had long blonde hair that was held in a high pony tail, her cloths consisting of blue jeans, a black t-shirt and knee high brown leather boots. There was a sports bag thrown over her shoulder with a two baseball bats sticking out of it. It was them that Radell spotted me. "Ah Doctor Oliver, come meet our new gym teacher for the year, well Mrs. Jonson is on her maternity leave, Zara Rogers meet Doctor Thomas Oliver."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Doctor." Zara said as she offered me her hand, though I was too busy looking at her amazing eyes. One was silver blue well the other was a dark blue. I suddenly had the feeling that I had seen them some where before but I couldn't remember where. I came back to my séances, pushing the thought aside as I took her hand and smiled at her. "The pleasure is mine and please call me Tommy, when we're not around students of course."

"Of course." She said back with a smile as she let go of my hand.

"I was about to show her where her office and the gym were but since it is on the way to you own class, I'll leave her in your capable hands." With the Principal Randell left, not once looking back at us. Zara and I looked at each other, she shrugged, which I copied before I lead her inside.

"So what exactly are you a doctor of, if you don't mind my asking?" Zara asked as we walked.

"I have a doctorate in paleontology." I told her as we avoided students and teachers in the crowded hallways.

"And you're a high school teacher?" she asked a bit confused. "Couldn't find a job at a collage or in between digs?"

"No you see I had heard they had found a rare dinosaur fossil on the school grounds and came to take a look. Turns out they meant the old science teacher and they tricked me into replacing him." That got a laugh out of her which made me smile. We soon reached the gym and her office and I had to leave her there as I had my own class to prepare for. Before I left I offered to meet her back at her office around lunch and show her where the staff lounge was, which she happily accepted.

I was smiling as I entered my classroom which didn't go unnoticed by Connor, Kira or Ethan. Since there was only a few other kids in the class room at the moment Kira walked up to my desk. "You seem in an especially good mode this morning." She stated making me stop taking out the graded papers I had taken home out of my bag.

"I guess I am. How was the show at the café go the other night?" I asked trying to redirect her attention so she wouldn't ask why I was in a good mood. The last thing I want to have happen to Zara was have rumors begin to fly around that there was something between us. Not that Kira would do that but there was always other busy body students always around that might over hear them talking.

The day progressed normally even with me showing Zara around a bit more during our schools short lunch break. As the end of the day came I had decided to see if she would like to have coffee with me after school, perhaps get to know each other a bit more. Though I hadn't dated for a long time it didn't mean that I was dead or blind to the fact that Zara was an attractive women. I had already over heard some of the young men around the school talking about how hot they found her. I wasn't surprised by this but I did feel that I should mention it to her as the last thing she needed was a scandal to ruin her. I was beginning to wonder if it was too soon to ask her as we only meet that morning as the last bell of the day rang and I was soon heading outside towards my jeep. I ran into Zara on the way out. "So how did your first day go?" I asked Zara making her jump having clearly caught her off guard.

"Don't do that." She snapped her checks dusted with a touch of pink. "It was good though there was this one girl asking me for an interview for the school's channel or something." Zara said confused as she pulled out her keys as we made it was outside and she headed towards the teacher's parking lot.

"Ah I see you meet Cassidy. Don't worry shes always like that." I said as we came to stop in front of what I suspected was her black Toyota 4runner. "So I was wondering if you don't think I'm being to forward but I was wondering since you were new in town if you would like to get some coffee with me."

"Oh." Zara said a bit taken back. "I would love to, I would but I have to go pick up my son from preschool, go pick up food and other things we need. Can I get a rain check?"

My heart fell a bit hearing she had a son, which most likely meant she was married but I kept it off my face as I smiled at her. "Sure not a problem. See you tomorrow." She smiled at me as she bide me good bye and soon left in her vehicle. I vaguely remember getting in my own jeep and started to head towards the museum as an old college had called last night wanting me to come and look at something he had found.

-o0o-

Zara's Pov

I sighed for what felt like the tenth time since leaving the high school kicking myself for turning Tommy down. He not only had been kind and funny but had made me feel welcome, which is more than anyone else had done since we had moved to Reefside for a new start. I also found him rather attractive which I hadn't felt about anyone since my late husband. It had been over two year so perhaps it was time I tried dating but I have to be carful to not over whelming Tobi. He's a bright boy but a sensitive one since his father died, though I'm not sure how much he actually remembered of David.

"Mommy!" Tobi shouted when he saw me. He ran forward and hugged me around my legs. He is a handsome little boy (as his grandmother, my mom would say) with his curly black hair that was always shaggy. He had my dark blue for eye color and he has always been just a happy kid that loved the power rangers. One of his favorite toys is an action figure of the very first green ranger that my little bother had once owned. It went every where with him even to bed, as did his plush Blue-eyes White Dragon his father had given him on his second birthday. Even now as we left his Preschool he held both of them tightly in his hands well he told me all about his day.

"Mom can we go check out the park today? You did promos." Tobi asked me as I bulked him into his car seat.

I thought about it and realised he was right, I did promos last night. "Alright we can do that before we pick up things for the house and for dinner. Sound fair?" His response was a head nod and a cheer of joy. I laughed at his antics as I jumped into the driver's seat and headed to the main park.

We were there for half an hour, him playing with some of the kids, hopefully make some new friends, well I was talking with their moms, also making new friends. Then as feeling of fear hit me, the fun and joy were suddenly replaced by screams and shouts as people came running into the playground area. I found this odd but the rest of the parents didn't as they sprang into action to gather their children before leaving. It was then I spotted 4 colorful figures fighting strange black dinosaur monsters that I realised what was going on. "Tobi sweaty we need to- Tobi? Tobi!" he wasn't in the playground any more and as I franticly looked for him the rangers and the monsters they were fighter come closer.

Suddenly I heard Tobi shout in fear and looking in that direction I heard it come from, I panicked. He must have seen what was happening and instead of running from the danger he had moved closer to get a better look. Unfortunately he had come to close, one of the monsters had spotted him and it now stood over my terrified son. "Tobi, NO!" I shouted running towards them but I knew I was too far away to make it in time as the monster went to strike my boy. Thankfully before he was hit the ranger that was in black and gold darted in, grabbing Tobi and rolled them both out of the way. Seeing red I continued to charge at the monster and when I was close enough it, I kicked it right in the head. "NO ONE HURTS MY SON!" I shouted as I punched, kicked and eventually threw the monster in my anger. I ended up throwing it right into its counter parts that were in front of the yellow ranger, knocking them away from her. I tried to calm myself down as the rangers looked at me in surprise, I think, the monsters then suddenly disappeared.

"Mom that was amazing." Tobi said as he ran over to me.

I knelt and gave him a big hug. "Tobi are you alright, are you hurt anywhere?" I asked concerned as I started to look him over for any sort of injury. When he said no I sighed in relief before I gave him a stern look. "Tobias Marcus Rodgers you are in a lot of trouble young man. What have I told you about wondering off on your own and towards danger no less? You're grounded, which means no deserts or your Paw Patrol action figures for three days. Are you sure you're not hurt?"

"No I'm fine and the loss of my action figures is no big deal as their all still packed in a box anyway." He said with a big grin. I heard the rangers all laugh as I gave him a sour look. "Don't use logic to get out of being punished young man or I'll find something else to take away."

"Please don't mommy, especially my- MY GREEN RANGER ACTION FIGURE, IT'S GONE!" he shouted as he started searching his pants pockets for it. "I must have dripped it in the scuffle."

"Is this what you're looking for kido?" the black ranger asked as he knelt down and offered Tobi his toy. Tobi shouted for joy as he took it back before he tackled the masked man in a hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you Black Ranger. Uncle Ben would have been disappointed if I lost him."

The black ranger returned Tobi's hug before he made him look at him. "I think your uncle would understand but your mother is right you should never head towards danger. Can you promise me, the rest of the rangers and especially your mother that you will never do it again?"

"I promise I won't until I'm older and join the marines like my dad." Tobi said without hesitation well I frowned. His statement though made the black ranger laugh as he scuffled my son's hair as he stood and nodded to the other rangers. They bid us good bye as they ran off and soon where gone. "Wasn't that awesome mom? We got to meet the Dino Thunder Power Rangers and you took out a monster all on your own."

"Awesome is not the word I'd use mister and I think I may have broken my hand." I said looking at my left hand where the skin was scraped up and bleeding as it started to swell. "Well I guess with all this excitement shopping for groceries and things for home is out of the question. So how about I order us pizza for dinner tonight." This was meet with a shout of joy from my boy well I laughed, just happy he was alright.

Tommy's Pov- the next day at school

I sighed as I headed towards the gym well avoiding students who were heading to their next classes. I didn't have a class this period so I wanted to check on Zara after seeing news this morning and had cringed. It seemed that a local reporter had been on sit to capture footage of our latest battle with Zeltrax and the Tyrannodrones. The footage mostly showed me and the other Dino Thunder Rangers fighting but it also featured Zara beating up and then throwing the one drone that had gone after her son. I admit I hadn't expected her to do that, but as the reporter had mentioned any mother with the need to protect their child was a force not to be reckoned with.

I retched Zara's office, finding the door closed so I went to the gym but found it empty, so I went back to her office, knocking I asked. "Mrs. Rogers are you in there? It's Dr. Oliver." I heard some shifting around on the other side of the door before Zara opened it, sticking her head out.

"Are you alone? Cassidy has been hounding me for an interview about what happened yesterday." She said looking around for the teen well I laughed.

"No it's just me, may I come in?" I asked. She opened the door and let me past before she closed and locket it once again. It was a small office, 10 feet by 10 at most and it was rather bare save a small desk and a filling cabinet. I saw that she had put up her teaching certificate up on the wall behind her head as well as an old picture of her swing on a rope well there was a climbing wall in the background. "What's this?" I asked pointing at the photo.

"Oh I've been rock-climbing since I was 7 with my dad and I've competed in all sorts of competitions but nothing major. I have always wanted to be a teacher at my own gym which my late husband was all for but it's just a dream for now." She explained with a sad far off look.

"Your late husband?" I asked carefully.

"Yes me husband David Rodgers was a Captain in the marines and well liked by every one especially his men. He was in Afghanistan, on a mission when he and half of his men were killed." Zara explained showing me a picture of her once small family of three. Tobi looked much like his father even at the young age he was in the photo, the black hair and the face were the same but David's eyes had been brown. "I know that Tobi boosts that he wants to be in the marines when he's old enough but I don't want to lose him like I did his father."

"Hey don't worry about that right now and enjoy the time you have with him, especially after what happened at the park yesterday." I told her well I put he photo down and I pit a hand on her shoulder in comfort.

My comment about the park caused her eyes to roll. "I have never been more scared and angry in my life, yet he was over the moon about the whole thing. He wouldn't stop talking about how excited he was about going to daycare today so he could barge about how he personally meet the Dino Thunder Rangers."

I laughed again as I sat on a corner of her desk. "I bet he was more excited to tell them about how you took one of those monsters out and saved him on your own."

That got a small laugh out of her as she held up her terribly bandaged left hand. "I have no doubt, though I hope he leaves out what the fight did to my hand. You know having medical training is nice and all but do you know how hard it is to wrap a hand when its one of your own. Tobi tried to help me but he really wasn't much help." I gentle took her hand and undid the bandages, wincing once I got them off and took a good look at the damage. "I feared at first that it was broken but I think it's just sprained."

The skin on her knuckles had scabbed over which looked worse with how swollen her hand was. "Where's the first aid kit? I'll clean it up and rebadged it before your next class and mine." Well I cleaned her hand I carefully flexed her fingers, hand and wrist, testing it to see if it was indeed broken. I was relived to see that it wasn't, just badly sprained, as she suspected, as I rewrapped it but not too tight.

I had worried most of the night about how she and her son were doing after the ordeal yesterday. When I had seen Tobi cowering in front of that Tryannodrone, I feared I wouldn't make it in time to save him. Thankfully I had been but it was a bigger surprise seeing Zara beating up the drone that had been about to hurt him. I could see that her technique was a bit crude but I still wasn't about to jump in and possibly get in her way. I had almost laughed out loud when I had seen the action figure that was crafted after my original ranger form in the grass. Handing it back to Tobi and him then hugging me was the best, mostly by how it touched my heart. Though I had never said this to Kim or Kat I have always wanted to have children of my own but I will only want to have them with a women I truly love.

"And there you go." I said as I finished and clean up the first aid supply I had used. "Just keep it dry and clean for a couple of weeks and your hand will heal in no time, though you should get that bandage changed once a day."

"Thank you for the help Tommy." She moved a lose strand of hair behind her ear as a smile crossed her face. "Um I was wondering if I could cash in that rain check for coffee, if you're available after school today that is."

"Sure, I don't have anything pressing to do after school today, but don't you need to pick up Tobi?" I asked wanting to properly meet him.

"I don't have to right away, his daycare is open late, and it can just be the two of us." She offered.

"No bring him along, I want to meet the little guy."

-o0o-

I waited at Hayley's Cyberspace café having already secured a table big enough for Zara, Tobi and myself when Connor, Ethan and Kira walked over. "Hey Dr. O, you look nervous, something wrong?" Connor asked.

"I asked Zara out to coffee the other day, which she rain checked but she cashed it in for well now. Shes just picking up Tobi and then meeting me here." I informed them as I saw the door to the café open but it was a pair of girls who walked through it, not Zara and her son.

"Um Dr. O just a personal question for you, when was the last time you went on a date?" Kira asked me with an odd look on her face.

"I'll admit it has been a while and I am a bit nervous but all things considering, I have a good feeling about it." I said with a grin, feeling confident.

"Well good luck to you man." Conner said as he looked at the door as well, a small grin on his face. "You defiantly don't want to get on her bad side after watching what she did to the Tyrannadron yesterday."

"Ya she's one protective mama." Ethan commented.

"I'm a big boy, I think I'll be fine. Now don't you all have homework to go work on?" I stated with a shoeing motion. The three of them grumbled as they left and headed off to other table where they did indeed have their homework out. It wasn't too long after that Zara and Tobi arrived, I had an inner smile as I saw the green ranger action figure was clenched tightly in his left hand. "I hope you haven't been waiting long Tommy." She said as she pulled one of the chairs out and Tobi climbed into it.

"No not at all. Hey there buddy, I'm Tommy Oliver, I work at the high school with your mom." I said offering him my hand to him. He kept his eyes down cast as he gave it a single shack before he let it go, focusing on his green ranger.

"Sorry he's always shy at first around strangers." Zara explained as she took the last remaining seat across from me. "Tobi this is the science teacher I was telling you about, the one that knows all about dinosaurs."

That seemed to perk his interest enough for him to lift his head and actually look at me. "Really?" This lead to me talking about what I knew about his favorite dinosaurs. Unsurprisingly were the same ones the original Zords were molded after, though he was a bit sad when I informed him that I had never seen a dragon skeleton. "Hey just because no ones found proof of one doesn't mean they never existed. The legends of their existence had to come from somewhere right?"

"Ya your right." Tobi said with a grin before he turned to his mother. "Mommy can I go play one of the video games please?"

"Sure thing sweet heart, just stay where I can see you and green ranger stays here with me alright?" Zara said unaware that I nearly laughed as her wording, barely reminding myself that only 4 people in the café knew my past. "I'm always afraid he'll lose it somewhere and be devastated to the point that I'd have to search the net for another one. I looked once when he lost it for a week and let me tell you they are not cheep."

"Really, I did not know that. Why is it so important to him?" I asked as I picked it up and took a good look at it. It was a bit worn in places but was still in pretty good condition.

"After my husband died, Tobi took it pretty bad, which everyone found surprising as he was just a bit over 2 at the time. Most people just don't understand that he's a bright boy and is very good at realising what is going on around him. Anyway a month after the funeral he started having these terrible nightmares and he would wake up screaming in the night about monsters coming to get him. It went on for over three months with neither of us really getting any sleep and with no signs of it getting any better. Thankfully my little brother Ben came up with an idea as he came over for dinner, he also stayed the night to try and let me at least get some sleep.

"Well putting Tobi to bed and seeing that he was scared Ben pulled out his old green ranger toy and showed it to him. He said "You know the original rangers fought all kinds of Monsters when I was about your age, they always kept innocent people safe. Green Ranger was the one who controlled the Dragon Zord and was really good at driving monsters off, even when I had them in my dreams. So I'm giving him to you to help drive away the monsters in your dreams and keep you safe. But he only dose that if you do your part and look after him in return. Do you think you can do that?" Tobi promised and for the first time in months he slept all night long and green ranger has been his constant companion ever since. Save Blue-eyes but that's because it was a gift from his dad, he really likes dragons and Yugioh."

I was at a loss for words as I looked down at the little plastic figure that represented my first power ranger persona. I never would have thought that I or any of my old friends had made such an important impact on the general public. Then something Zara said came to my mind and I was confused. "Wait a moment, what's Yugioh?"

Zara laughed. "I take from your confusion that you have never watched anime before. Just don't come over to our house and let Tobi know that. He'll make you sit down and watch the first season with him well talking your ear off about the characters and duel monster cards."

I had a chuckle at this unaware that later that night at home I would become curious about the Japanese based show and not only look it up but start watching it.

A/N: so tell me what you think as I always love reviews, good or bad.