DISCLAIMER: Nope not mine. But I can dream can't I?

SUMMARY: It's been 10 months since September 11th. Has Kimberly started to heal? Can her friendship with Tommy be restored?


July 4, 2002

Tommy Oliver was on his way back to Angel Grove. He'd been making trips back to see his family for Thanksgiving and Christmas ever since he'd headed off to college.

Today though was a special day. Jason had just moved back to Angel Grove with Trini and Zack. He had asked Tommy to come over for a 4th of July/ housewarming party.

His cell phone rang. "Tommy Oliver."

"Hey, bro. Do me a favor. Stop by the store and pick up some ice and maybe some more beers."

"Sure, Jase. No problem."

"See you when you get here." The two hung up and Tommy pulled into the first store he saw.


The petite brunette was exhausted. She'd only been at work for seven hours when she was supposed to work only four a day.

"Trisha, it's about time for me to go. Do you think you can handle things here for fifteen? Just until Tony gets here?"

"Sure, Kim. No problem. Head out. Go on home."

Yawning, Kim smiled. "Thanks, Trisha. I'll call Jase on my way back to the clock."

She turned off her light and put up her lane closed sign. She started back toward the back of the store in order to clock out and go home.

About the time Kim was leaving her register, a face from her past was heading up to the registers pushing a cart holding three cases of beer and a couple of bags of chips. Tommy noticed a brunette heading toward him as he started toward the register.

They were on a collision course until she turned slightly. That was when he realized who she was. "Kimberly?"

Looking up into a familiar pair of warm brown eyes, Kim fainted. Thankfully, Tommy's reflexes were quick enough to catch her before she hit the floor.

The other cashier darted out from her register to make sure that Kimberly was okay just as the manager ran down from his office. "Is she okay?" Trisha asked.

"She will be," Tommy said before brushing the hair back from Kimberly's face. He kissed her forehead and then stroked the side of her face. "Hey, Beautiful, it's time to wake up."

As her eyes fluttered open, she took a deep breath. "Oh my gosh! Is it really you?"

He chuckled. "In the flesh."

She reached a hand up to touch his face. His hand touched hers again only to have her turn into his chest as if trying to hide the scars. She only stayed for a moment before scrambling out of his arms. "I have to clock out."

She had run off before he could stop her. "What was that all about?" he wondered out loud.

"I don't know. How do you know Kimberly?"

"We went to high school together. Dated even." He shook his head. "I need to call my friend, Jason."

"Don't worry about it. He's on my phone." Kimberly was walking up behind him. She held the phone out to the man she had once loved. "He wants to talk to you."

Tommy tentatively took the phone from her and lifted to his ear. "Hey, bro. What's up?"

"Kim just told me what happened. Is she okay? Really?"

Tommy looked over at Kimberly who seemed to be upset about something. "I don't know, man. She looks pretty upset."

"I'll talk to her when she gets here. Would you mind bringing her home for me? Just be careful. She's probably exhausted. She's only supposed to be working four hours a day and she worked seven today. She tends to be a bit short-tempered when she works too much."

"I'll bring her home. Hopefully, she won't bite my head off."

"Don't worry. If she does, she'll apologize for it later. That's what she does to me."

"But, bro, I'm not you. She's been around you forever. She hasn't talked to me in years and, from her reaction here, she really doesn't want to talk to me now."

"I'll explain later. Just bring her home so that she can get some sleep."

"Okay. I'll give you back to her now." He handed the phone back to Kimberly.

"Jase, are you --? What? What do you mean?" She hung up. "I guess you're taking me home."

"Are you ready?" She nodded and walked out of the store just ahead of him. 'What have I gotten myself into?'