Seeing Red

Chapter 2

As Jason walked home he realized he was tiring faster than normal. His house really wasn't that far from their secluded teleportation site but he felt as though he'd been walking for hours. He made it home in one piece but made sure to catch his breath before he entered. His mom was a nurse so he knew she'd suspect something was wrong the minute she saw him.

Fortunately no one was home when he arrived. Jason slowly trudged up the stairs to his room and dropped onto the bed. He was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

As he slept, he dreamed.

Goldar was standing over him laughing. "Finally Red Ranger! After all this time, you are the one who has fallen! You're not worthy to be a leader! You just aren't strong enough as is evident by the fact that you're letting this beat you! Zordon will never find a cure and you will die a slow and horrible death!"

"Jason! Jason! Wake up!"

Jason woke up with an "oof" as his twin siblings jumped on top of him. "Guys, that's not cool."

The looked at him innocently. "Sorry," Jack said. "We were excited to see you!"

"Yeah! You're so busy we don't get to!" Veronica said giving him a hug.

Jason nodded. That was true enough. He didn't have as much free time being a Power Ranger. He sat up ignoring the pounding in his head. It was very important he spend time with them. "Are you okay, Jason?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, buddy. Who wants to play soccer?"

The twins squealed with excitement and ran to get their shoes on. He knew it probably wasn't a great idea to run around but right now he didn't care.

Kimberly sat in Mrs. Applebee's class nervously. It was the end of the day and Jason hadn't shown up for school. They spoke with Zordon at lunch who told them that he was at home because his mother noticed he had a fever. He mentioned that he and Alpha were painfully aware of his vital signs and that while he was feeling weak Jason had not yet experienced anything horribly debilitating. Zordon also said they were closer to finding an antidote and not to give up hope.

Once the last bell rang Kimberly grabbed her things. She made it safely passed Bulk and Skull... or so she thought. "What is with you guys today? You look like your best friend died!" It was all Kimberly could do to keep from punching him in the face.

Skull noticed and yanked Bulk away. "What? What are you doing idiot?"

She took a deep breath as she packed her bag turning when she felt the presence of her friends behind her. "Ready?"she asked.

Everyone nodded as they left the school. They all decided to pile into Tommy's Jeep. Kimberly wasn't paying attention to the conversation they were having. Billy had gone up to the Commander Center to help Zordon and Alpha, but that was the last thing she heard until Trini tapped her on the shoulder.

"You're still blaming yourself, aren't you Kimberly?"

"Yeah, I am. What if I had been paying attention? Maybe neither of us would have been hit."

"You can't live your life in what ifs," Zack replied. "We choose what to do in battle at the last minute sometimes. We have to try and do what's good for the team and that's what Jason did. Not only because he's our leader but because he loves you!"

She nodded. "I know that, Zack, I love him too. We've been friends since we were in kindergarten. He's like a brother to me."

"Just don't let him hear you say that," Trini said with a chuckle.

Everyone shared a look of shock when Tommy agreed with them. "He doesn't just love you as a sister, Kim."

She blinked. "What?"

"Okay he's never told me in so many words. I can just tell by his actions and how protective he is of you. He doesn't do it in an overbearing way either."

Kimberly didn't know what to say to all of this. If that were true why did he never saying anything to her? And why was Tommy admitting that Jason was in love with her? Was he trying to push her into feeling something for Jason she didn't because he was dying?

But as she thought about what they were saying, Kimberly was starting to see where they were coming from. All those times Jason kept Bulk and Skull away. The looks he gave Tommy when they first met, before the spell then after. But now they were best friends and if Jason really did feel that way he wasn't going to say anything, not if Tommy was interested in her too.

When his friends arrived, Jason was sitting in the living room playing a rousing game of Sonic the Hedgehog with the twins. "Oh my gosh!" Jack exclaimed. "That was so cool!

Jason hit pause on the game when Veronica exclaimed, "Kimberly! Hi!"

"Hey, Roni!" she said, giving the little girl a hug.

"Jason is sick so mommy said he had to stay home."

She nodded. "I heard about that so we came to visit him."

Mrs. Scott came into the living to greet everyone and collect her children. She stopped by Jason and checked his forehead frowning. "I'm going to make an appointment for the doctor tomorrow," she told him pulling the two young ones down the hall with her.

His friends sat down to gather around him. "How's it going, Jase?" Zack asked.

Jason didn't want his friends to know how much pain he had been in all day. It was a pretty nasty couple of hours when his mom ran to the store and he was alone. He was glad it happened while she was gone though and grateful to Zordon that he didn't tell his friends about it, although he had wanted to.

"Mostly tired," he admitted. Jason was going to keep a strong front for as long as he could because that was his job as the leader. "Zordon seems to think they're on the right track though."

"That's what he told us earlier," Zack replied with smile.

Kimberly placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know you, Jason. Just remember that you don't have to be strong for us right now. We know this has gotta be hard on you."

He frowned. "It is. I don't know what to tell my mom when she tries to bring me to the doctor tomorrow."

"What if the doctor prescribes you something that affects the poison in your system?" Trini asked. "We'd better talk to Zordon about it. See what he thinks you should do."

Before Jason could respond the communicators went off. "Go ahead, Zordon," he said.

"Rangers, teleport to the Command Center immediately. We have a situation in downtown Angel Grove."

"Let's go, guys!" Once they arrived, Jason said, "What's going on?"

"Rita has unleashed the Cheetah Monster," Zordon said. "Observe the Viewing Globe. It is lightning fast and has razor sharp claws."

"And it's tearing downtown apart," Zack said angrily.

Jason nodded. "We've got work to do!"

"Jason, I highly suggest you do not Morph right now. It will be hard to predict how long you will last."

He shook his head. "I'm going in, Zordon. You'll be monitoring me. If it looks like I need to be teleported out you have my permission, but I am not gonna let that cat destroy the city."

The floating head wasn't happy about it but he accepted the wishes of the Red Ranger, instead he said, "Very well, Jason. I will attempt to reach Tommy in case he is needed."

"It's Morphin' Time!"

Once they were gone, Alpha looked at Zordon. "Ay Yi Yi, Zordon! We must find a way to help Jason!"

"I agree, Alpha. Run another simulation with our third idea."