Author's Note:
This was inspired by conversations with several people on this board.
The guilty parties know who they are and should at this time come down and
be fitted for their new dinner jackets- all white with arms that tie in the
back. Thanks for everything, GIRJ, DB, RK, and all the rest.
Tommy Oliver put his cup down, gave his friends a lopsided grin, and he realized that he more than just a little drunk. Normally, he didn't imbibe in alcohol- for two reasons mainly, the first being that he didn't like being out of control of himself, and the second was that being of Native American descent he knew that that put him at a higher risk of alcoholism- but tonight was just a little different. He and the guys were celebrating- no not celebrating that wasn't right- they were marking a full year since his break-up with Kat. Somehow, each had realized that this was an important marker in Tommy's life and each had made it a point to stop by.
Looking around he realized just how good of friends, he really had. All the male Mighty Morphin' and Zeo Rangers were here with him. All but two that is. Justin was too young, and really didn't understand what this day was all about. The other, well he isn't even on the damn planet. Tommy fought back the hurt that thought brought. Jason had moved back to Angel Grove after finishing the Police Academy and was now a cop on the Angel Grove PD. Last he heard, he and Emily were dating. Rocky and Adam had opened the Black Ape Dojo down at the youth center, and were doing a pretty good business from what he could tell. It also helped that both men had picked up some extra work in Hollywood as stunt doubles and every now and again bit parts in movies. Adam and Kim had become something of an item when she returned last year from Florida. Zack had flown all the way in from Germany where he now worked as and attaché to the American Embassy. It seemed his experience at the Youth Peace Conference had really paid off for the former Black Ranger. He said that he was on vacation, but Tommy got the feeling that maybe he'd pulled in a few favors to time his vacation so perfectly.
Jase held up his glass, and from the look in his eyes, Tommy could tell that he wasn't the only person in the room on the shy side of sober. He smiled, looked around the room, and said, "To absent friends."
"Absent friends," Tommy smiled, as he realized just how much he missed some of those friends. Aiesha, now in Africa was out of touch most of the time, and Tommy found himself wondering fairly often how her quest to save the animals was coming. Trini's absence left a hole in his heart that he wasn't sure ever would be filled again. Looking down at the drink in his hand, he felt just a little guilty over remembering that she died when a drunk driver ran her car off the road. Then there was Billy.
The young scientist had left for Aquitar what seemed like ages ago to heal from the effects of rapid aging. He'd sent word back that he'd found true love in the person of Delphina one of the scientists with which he'd worked and was staying on the Aquitar- a claim that for some reason always rang false to Tommy. He always felt that he'd somehow failed the Blue Ranger by not finding a cure on Earth for him. Looking around, he casually asked Jason, "Speaking of absent friends, has anyone heard from Billy lately?"
Jason and Adam looked at each other guiltily, and then shook their heads, "uh. no."
Tommy had been a liar long enough in his life to recognize one when he heard one, especially from two men unused to lying. He smiled inwardly and made a mental note to ask Jase what was up with it, before replying with a shrug, "Well, if by some miracle anyone does, tell him I said hello." That sounded neutral enough.
"Will do," Rocky replied in his ever-cheerful manner. Tommy mentally wondered if the guy ever had a down day in his life. Finally, the tall Hispanic man turned and looked Tommy dead in they eye, and the former White Ranger got the distinct feeling that what followed wasn't as off handed as it sounded, "Now that it's been a year, does that mean we can stop walking on eggshells around you about Kat?"
Tommy chuckled, "You'd better believe it. You guys didn't have to walk on eggshells anyway. Kat and I buried our hatchet a long time ago." It was the truth too. They'd discussed what wasn't there between them- what hadn't really been there with Kimberly too- and decided to go their separate ways amicably. Everybody else however, decided that it was some great tragedy that Tommy found love and lost it once again, and had treated the whole thing with a lot more drama than he was ever comfortable with. This party was a good example. He was happy just marking the day, not one of loss, but of freedom and the beginnings of self-exploration and going on. Adam with his keen sense of the romantic had quietly called all their friends together and arranged for each of them to stop by and cheer Tommy up. He wouldn't have been surprised to find out that the former Black Ranger had done the same for Kat too. Not that Tommy was the least bit sad. His regrets had nothing to do with Kat- or Kim for that matter- but lay in a completely different direction.
Rocky gave him a big goofy grin, that was just a little vacant-eyed from one too many PBRs, "Good, because I was thinking of asking her out," looking over at Tommy, "with your permission of course."
There was a quiet pause, as the other Rangers except Jase- something else Tommy would have to ask his Best Bro about- looked at Tommy awaiting some kind of outburst, and then back at Rocky unbelievingly. Tommy just smiled, as he realized where the tension from the rest of the room was coming, and replied, "Go for it man. I hope you can make her happier than I could." Then patting him on the shoulder, "And she can make you happier than she made me." Let them think about that for a while. After all, Tommy had spent a great deal of this last year on a journey of self-discovery.
After that, the party settled down into reminiscing about old adventures with the Rangers. Jase settled back and watched his closest friend very carefully. The news he was carrying was difficult at best, and not something he was likely to broach casually with somebody like Tommy. There were some things you just didn't come out and tell a guy without some serious building up, and a whole lot of alcohol involved. This one was right up there near the top of the list.
He sat back and listened to various tales of the different Ranger incarnations, and even shared a few stories himself. Most of all, he sat and brooded. He smiled when it was appropriate, and went through the polite motions of conventional conversation with this most unconventional gathering of friends, but his heart wasn't in it. What he was going to tell Tommy tonight could very easily end their friendship, and he wasn't sure was ready for that. It had to be done though.
Jason lingered behind long after the other guests had left. He helped Tommy with the general clean-up around the house and waited for the right moment. Finally, deciding that there was no right moment for what he had to say, he just simply put an arm on Tommy's shoulder and said, "Tom, Bro, we need to talk." He pointed to the sofa and continued, "I've got something to tell you, and I'm not sure how well you're going to take it. Why don't we sit down."
Tommy gave him a confused look, but sat across from him on the sofa, and said, "Go ahead, Bro. Shoot."
Tommy Oliver put his cup down, gave his friends a lopsided grin, and he realized that he more than just a little drunk. Normally, he didn't imbibe in alcohol- for two reasons mainly, the first being that he didn't like being out of control of himself, and the second was that being of Native American descent he knew that that put him at a higher risk of alcoholism- but tonight was just a little different. He and the guys were celebrating- no not celebrating that wasn't right- they were marking a full year since his break-up with Kat. Somehow, each had realized that this was an important marker in Tommy's life and each had made it a point to stop by.
Looking around he realized just how good of friends, he really had. All the male Mighty Morphin' and Zeo Rangers were here with him. All but two that is. Justin was too young, and really didn't understand what this day was all about. The other, well he isn't even on the damn planet. Tommy fought back the hurt that thought brought. Jason had moved back to Angel Grove after finishing the Police Academy and was now a cop on the Angel Grove PD. Last he heard, he and Emily were dating. Rocky and Adam had opened the Black Ape Dojo down at the youth center, and were doing a pretty good business from what he could tell. It also helped that both men had picked up some extra work in Hollywood as stunt doubles and every now and again bit parts in movies. Adam and Kim had become something of an item when she returned last year from Florida. Zack had flown all the way in from Germany where he now worked as and attaché to the American Embassy. It seemed his experience at the Youth Peace Conference had really paid off for the former Black Ranger. He said that he was on vacation, but Tommy got the feeling that maybe he'd pulled in a few favors to time his vacation so perfectly.
Jase held up his glass, and from the look in his eyes, Tommy could tell that he wasn't the only person in the room on the shy side of sober. He smiled, looked around the room, and said, "To absent friends."
"Absent friends," Tommy smiled, as he realized just how much he missed some of those friends. Aiesha, now in Africa was out of touch most of the time, and Tommy found himself wondering fairly often how her quest to save the animals was coming. Trini's absence left a hole in his heart that he wasn't sure ever would be filled again. Looking down at the drink in his hand, he felt just a little guilty over remembering that she died when a drunk driver ran her car off the road. Then there was Billy.
The young scientist had left for Aquitar what seemed like ages ago to heal from the effects of rapid aging. He'd sent word back that he'd found true love in the person of Delphina one of the scientists with which he'd worked and was staying on the Aquitar- a claim that for some reason always rang false to Tommy. He always felt that he'd somehow failed the Blue Ranger by not finding a cure on Earth for him. Looking around, he casually asked Jason, "Speaking of absent friends, has anyone heard from Billy lately?"
Jason and Adam looked at each other guiltily, and then shook their heads, "uh. no."
Tommy had been a liar long enough in his life to recognize one when he heard one, especially from two men unused to lying. He smiled inwardly and made a mental note to ask Jase what was up with it, before replying with a shrug, "Well, if by some miracle anyone does, tell him I said hello." That sounded neutral enough.
"Will do," Rocky replied in his ever-cheerful manner. Tommy mentally wondered if the guy ever had a down day in his life. Finally, the tall Hispanic man turned and looked Tommy dead in they eye, and the former White Ranger got the distinct feeling that what followed wasn't as off handed as it sounded, "Now that it's been a year, does that mean we can stop walking on eggshells around you about Kat?"
Tommy chuckled, "You'd better believe it. You guys didn't have to walk on eggshells anyway. Kat and I buried our hatchet a long time ago." It was the truth too. They'd discussed what wasn't there between them- what hadn't really been there with Kimberly too- and decided to go their separate ways amicably. Everybody else however, decided that it was some great tragedy that Tommy found love and lost it once again, and had treated the whole thing with a lot more drama than he was ever comfortable with. This party was a good example. He was happy just marking the day, not one of loss, but of freedom and the beginnings of self-exploration and going on. Adam with his keen sense of the romantic had quietly called all their friends together and arranged for each of them to stop by and cheer Tommy up. He wouldn't have been surprised to find out that the former Black Ranger had done the same for Kat too. Not that Tommy was the least bit sad. His regrets had nothing to do with Kat- or Kim for that matter- but lay in a completely different direction.
Rocky gave him a big goofy grin, that was just a little vacant-eyed from one too many PBRs, "Good, because I was thinking of asking her out," looking over at Tommy, "with your permission of course."
There was a quiet pause, as the other Rangers except Jase- something else Tommy would have to ask his Best Bro about- looked at Tommy awaiting some kind of outburst, and then back at Rocky unbelievingly. Tommy just smiled, as he realized where the tension from the rest of the room was coming, and replied, "Go for it man. I hope you can make her happier than I could." Then patting him on the shoulder, "And she can make you happier than she made me." Let them think about that for a while. After all, Tommy had spent a great deal of this last year on a journey of self-discovery.
After that, the party settled down into reminiscing about old adventures with the Rangers. Jase settled back and watched his closest friend very carefully. The news he was carrying was difficult at best, and not something he was likely to broach casually with somebody like Tommy. There were some things you just didn't come out and tell a guy without some serious building up, and a whole lot of alcohol involved. This one was right up there near the top of the list.
He sat back and listened to various tales of the different Ranger incarnations, and even shared a few stories himself. Most of all, he sat and brooded. He smiled when it was appropriate, and went through the polite motions of conventional conversation with this most unconventional gathering of friends, but his heart wasn't in it. What he was going to tell Tommy tonight could very easily end their friendship, and he wasn't sure was ready for that. It had to be done though.
Jason lingered behind long after the other guests had left. He helped Tommy with the general clean-up around the house and waited for the right moment. Finally, deciding that there was no right moment for what he had to say, he just simply put an arm on Tommy's shoulder and said, "Tom, Bro, we need to talk." He pointed to the sofa and continued, "I've got something to tell you, and I'm not sure how well you're going to take it. Why don't we sit down."
Tommy gave him a confused look, but sat across from him on the sofa, and said, "Go ahead, Bro. Shoot."