DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the character of Meredith.

Tommy and I walked home where I waited for Jason. We had been dating seriously since just before the whole evil Tommy thing. Jason and I got along really well and I honestly felt like I was falling in love with him.

Then came the day that changed everything for us. We discovered that Rita was going to use a candle to take Tommy's powers from him. If Jason couldn't get the green candle, Tommy would lose his green ranger powers.

Jason tried to get the candle from the dark dimension, but wasn't successful. He took it very hard. He wanted nothing more than to have saved his best friends powers but he couldn't. Tommy was forced to give his coin to Jason to keep Rita from gaining them back. Jason reluctantly accepted what was given to him, but I knew he was extremely upset by this turn of events.

I didn't know how to react. I was upset because Tommy had to give up his powers. It didn't seem fair. Tommy had fought for us as a team and it wasn't right that now we were going to go into battle without him. Tommy tried to make me feel better.

"Meri, I'm fine. Jason has my powers so Rita can't make another evil green ranger. We're still family and best friends. Nothing is going to change that," he said.

"I know, it just seems so unfair," I said.

Tommy smiled at me. I knew he would be fine, but it still stung to know that I would be doing something that he wanted to do, had done, and now could not. It seemed cruel.

"Now maybe you can do that thing," I said, shooting him a smile.

He chose to ignore me and the rest of us teleported back to the Youth Center.

He went outside to practice. Kimberly came into the Center looking for Tommy. I told her that he was probably practicing outside. "He does that a lot. He likes to tranquility," I said.

She thanked me and headed back out to find my brother.

"You think Tommy will ask her now that she's going to find him," Jason said. "He'd better. It's the perfect opportunity. I don't know what he's so afraid of because you and I and EVERYONE knows she's waiting for Tommy to ask her," I said.

Jason just laughed. "It's not easy to ask a girl out. I was scared to death to ask you out," he said.

"Was that before or after you became a ranger," I asked him.

"Well, considering I met you and we became rangers on the same day, it's a toss up," he said.

"That seems too long ago," I said.

"Yes. It does. I still can't believe everything that has happened. I still can't believe that you actually said yes when I asked you out," he said.

I smiled. I met Jason the first day of school and he had walked me all over the campus to make sure I didn't get lost. After getting our powers and having our first battle, we went back to my house for pizza. I proceeded to fall asleep on the couch while watching a movie. Jason was mortified when my dad came home and caught the two of us sleeping. He didn't say anything to us, so I guess he knew everything was fine.

"Well, you are a good guy, Jason Scott. I saw that in the beginning. I just can't believe you weren't already seeing anyone," I said.

"Well, I managed to ask you out, so I think I did good," he said, placing a kiss on my lips.

"I just hope Tommy doesn't withdraw into himself. He did that once back in Texas. When our grandfather died, Tommy was crushed, didn't know how to handle things. He withdrew after he died. Spent a lot of time alone. He talked to me, but he just withdrew. It was really bad. Maybe that's why he was a target for Rita. I just wish there was something I could do to make him feel better," I said.

"Tommy will be fine. You will be fine. You going to wait for me after class," he asked.I nodded and his kissed me. He went to join the group of kids that had gathered on the mats. Jason was teaching a martial arts class. I pulled out my history text book and started working on the homework, despite the fact it was Friday.

Kimberly came into the Center and joined me. She was wearing this goofy smile on her face. I knew Tommy had finally asked her to the dance and I hoped he would stop asking me a thousand questions about it now that they were going.

"You look happy. Did my brother finally pull his fingers out of his ears and ask you to the dance," I said.

Kimberly smiled. "Yes he did, but before he asked me, he kissed me. It was so sweet. Your brother is so sweet," she said.

I wanted to gag at the image of my brother kissing Kimberly. I was happy for them. Kimberly seemed really happy.

"Well, maybe the four of us can go to the dance together. It seems silly for us to go separately, especially since Tommy and I live in the same house," I said.

"That sounds great. We HAVE to go shopping," she gushed.

"You don't need an excuse to go shopping," I said, laughing at my best friend.

We watched Jason teach his class. I was constantly amazed at how well Jason was with kids. He loved teaching them and they loved him. I still couldn't believe we were together. I noticed several of the girls from the cheerleading squad were watching him. It gave me a rush when he ignored them and walked over to me. He kissed me before heading off to the showers. He waved at Kimberly and I laughed.

"Did Tommy say if he was going home after he talked to you," I asked.

"Yeah, he said he had some stuff to do for your mom," she said.

Jason came out of the locker room and came over to me. "Jase, let's head back to my house. I want to check on Tommy," I said.

"Sure. You doing OK, Kimmy," he asked her.

She nodded. "I'm going to get in some practice after everyone heads out," she said.

"I'll come back after I drop Meri off, if you want," he said.

"No, Trini's going to be back in a few, so she'll watch me," Kim said.

Jason and I waved good-bye and walked outside.

I got in the passenger side of Jason's red truck and he headed toward my house.

"I take it Tommy asked Kim, finally," he said.

"Yes. But don't ask for the play-by-play. It was a little too much for me to hear," I said.

Jason laughed. "Probably for me, too," he said.

Jason dropped me off and I promised I would call him later that night. We were going to make plans for Saturday night.

I entered the house and found both my parents in the living room.

"What's up," I asked.

"Tommy has gone to your uncle's cabin. He wanted us to tell you because he knew you would want to go with him. He said he wanted to be alone," my mom, Jan, said.

I stood against the door. It was happening. Tommy was withdrawing. He had taken off and headed to the woods to 'think.' I know my brother and I were twins, but this brooding wasn't something that I shared with him.

"Why did he just take off," I asked.

"He said you would understand. We didn't ask questions, we just figured something happened between you two or between him and your friends. Is everything OK," my dad, Thomas, asked.

"It's been a really stressful week. There's a rumor going around that the evil green ranger that had the power rangers running around town was actually a student at the high school. I guess the thought that someone our own age was a bit scary. I was a bit scared by it. Everyone was. I know Jason was a bit more cautious when we were all hanging out," I said.

"Well, he said he wanted to spend the weekend up there. We figured he'd made up his mind and we learned early on to not argue with either one of you if you've made up your mind about something," my mom said.

"Yeah, but remember, Tommy's the stubborn one," I said.

My dad laughed. "Hate to break it to you, Meredith, but you're both stubborn. You've both be that way since you were born," dad said.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm going up to bed. I'm going to call Tommy. Jason's going to come by sometime tomorrow afternoon so we can go to the carnival. We promised we'd help with the kids," I said.

"Fine dear. Jason's a nice guy," mom said.

"He is mom. He's very sweet," I said.

"Oh, sounds like our little girl has a crush," dad said.

"Stop it right now. It's bad enough I get it from Tommy," I said, rushing up to my room.

My parents were still laughing in the living room.

I picked up my phone and called the cabin.

Tommy answered right away.

"Hey, Meri," he said.

"How did you know it was me," I asked.

"You're the only one that knows where I am and I figured you'd call as soon as mom and dad told you where I was," he said.

"Why aren't you here? Why didn't you talk to me," I asked.

"Meri, I wanted to be alone. It has nothing to do with you, but being around everyone now that I don't have the power, just feels weird. Tell everyone that I'll be back soon. Don't let anyone know I'm here. I don't want anyone to worry or show up to surprise me. I just need some time to think," he said."OK, but you do realize you are hurting my feelings," I said."I know, but I'm still having trouble coming to terms with what I did when I was evil. I want to make sure I don't have it in me to do those hurtful things again," he said.

"You could never do those hurtful things again without having a spell," I said.

"I want to believe that, Meri. But I'm starting to think that everyone has the capacity for evil, somewhere," he said.

We ended the call and I sat on my bed, pondering what my brother said.

Was it possible that any of us could have the capacity for evil? Could, with the right triggers, we all do things we would never do? Those thoughts chilled me. If Rita could manipulate Tommy to be an evil pawn in her game, what was to stop the rest of us from being used the same way. If Rita decided to take action against us for destroying her green ranger, who's to say she wouldn't come after me since I was Tommy's sister. What was to stop her from going after Kimberly, the woman who captured Tommy's heart.

Those thoughts chilled me to the bone. Could those things happen?

***Meredith is pondering evil. Next few chapters will introduce Rocky, Adam and Aisha and have everyone dealing with Tommy as the white ranger and new leader. Jason's going to lose his powers, but in a way you won't expect. (At least I don't think so.) Let me know how I'm doing. This seemed like a good idea, but I'm not sure how everyone is going to receive it.*** -mereditholiver