A/N: Thank you Brankel1, XRanger13 and oldtvlover for your reviews! Here is the chapter for those who made choice 1 their pick.
Choice 1: Why does no one see?
Tommy and Kim had returned later that evening to check on how Kate was doing. They thought that her quiet behavior and small crying jags where do to the absence of Jason; the man that she had said that she loved. However in the days following her near death Kate had begun to change.
She no longer cared about her appearance, she skipped outings with her friends and her phone calls to Jason went unanswered. She took a small job at an art gallery on the main strip of Reefside. This was the only place that her friends would see her out.
"Anyone talk to Kate lately?" Conner asked one day sitting at the Cyber Café.
"No, I haven't even seen her around at all," Hailey said in passing.
"I saw her at her work yesterday. I called her name she didn't even blink," Kira looked over at Tommy.
Tommy looked to the group, "Let's give her a while ok? It's only been a couple weeks. I can't imagine what she's feeling right now."
The days went by and Kate lingered in her apartment. Idly paying bills and taking the random phone call when she felt like it. Jason was still missing, her rock was gone. So it seemed was her best friend. Tommy had only called her a handful of times in the past couple of weeks.
The sadness consumed her, took over every aspect of her life. She missed her friends, she missed her brother, she missed Jason; but she refused to reach out to them. No longer was she the strong Phoenix, she was now the weak little ranger the enemy's had said her to be. Kate was broken. From the lies that Lanther had bombarded her with, to the whispers of truth that carried Dulcea's voice she didn't know what to believe anymore.
One night, dressed in the dark colors she had taken to wearing; Kate sat on the edge of the bath tub. Tear stains were dried red marks of blotchiness on her cheeks and all she wanted was the hurt and the pain to go away. It was with this dark and desperate thought that she picked up the knife and cut her arm. Just a small cut to most but a world of relief and sense of peace for Kate. She had finally found a way to deal with it all. A way to release all the pain.
It became her escape. Cutting became a way of making it all subside if only for a little while, and soon she was hanging out with her friends again; but she was a liar now. Telling everyone she was fine and putting a smile on her face when needed.
"So have you talked to Jason?" Kim asked as they lounged around in the park on Saturday afternoon.
"He's helping Billy and Trini I guess. He didn't really say much about it just that he misses us. He'll be back in a couple weeks." Tommy noticed that Kate looked a lot paler now and she had dark circles under her eyes. Nightmares were never out of the ordinary for her so it didn't strike him as odd; what did seem odd was that she didn't mention anything about it; or anything else for that matter.
"So how are you doing Kate, really?"
Kate eyed Tommy wondering what he meant since it seemed like a loaded question. "I'm good, that Gallery is bringing in a lot of new cliental so it's been busy."
"You know I never thought you would work in a place like that. I figured you'd work at mine or Jason's dojo," Rocky popped another chip in his mouth.
"Life's full of little surprises isn't it," she smiled slightly but it was more cold. Not the bright happy or joking smiles that made her eyes light up like before.
Tommy dismissed this as Kate being upset about something and knowing his best friend she would talk when she was ready.
"Actually guys I just remembered I have an appointment that I have to get to so I'll see you all later," Kate gathered her bag.
"You need one of us to go with you?" Rocky slowly stood.
"Nah it's no big thing just a meeting with the boss."
"We could give you a ride," Kate glanced at Kim. "It's only a block away besides it's so nice outside I want to get some sun before I have to be stuck indoors again on Monday."
They watched as she walked away. Kate was watching them too and when they stopped looking in her direction she quickly switched directions heading home. She wanted Jason to come home. She needed him now more than ever but every time the words were on her lips they faded before she could say them.
Kate could feel the pain wrapping around her heart again. It was suffocating, she needed her escape least it consume her farther. It had already made getting out of bed a struggle, facing the day filled her with dread. They people she considered friends and family no longer filled the growing void in her life.
Helplessness was not a great or even good feeling. It fucking sucked. Her life was spiraling further out of control and she could no longer stop it. Had no desire to try to stop it. As she dragged the blade across her skin she vaguely wondered if this would be the time that killed her.
A/N: yes it's darker and deals with more real issues that everyday people face. I'm only writing 2 chapters for the next one. First half will be choice 1 second half choice 2 but they will be together so read my notes please and thank you. Now for your choices.
Choice 1: This is for those who would like to see Jason return and figure out what is wrong with Kate.
Choice2: Is for those who would like to see what happens if it takes a little longer for the gang to figure out something is wrong.