Chapter 2 – Doesn't Mean Anything When You're Gone
The rangers landed quietly in the back of the Miami General Hospital. They walked around the front hoping no one would notice how they got here so quick.
"Look we need to say we were on our way to visit Kim this weekend and we were only 20 minutes away when I called her phone. Okay?" Jason said looking at his teammates.
"Yeah, let's just get in there." Tommy sighed.
"Right." Jason took a deep breath and walked into the double doors with Tommy, the others following close behind.
"Hi, we are here to see Kimberly Hart." Jason stated coming up to the nurse's station.
"Are you family?" The nurse asked.
"Yes…" Jason began only to hear name being called by a unfamiliar voice. He turned to see a petite girl with short red hair running towards him. "Who are you?"
"Your Jason right? I'm Sandy, Kim's teammate. We talked on the phone and we met last time you were down here." The tired looking girl answered.
"Right, sorry. Nice to see you again. Where is she? Is there an update?" Jason greeted.
"Follow me." Sandy answered sullenly.
What does he mean 'nice to see you again?' Tommy thought as he followed Jason and Sandy through the other doors.
"Maybe you guys want sit?" Sandy asked.
"We would rather hear what is going on with Kim." Tommy slightly snapped.
"Yeah, of course. Well she was going through her routine and was about to perform her dismount and fell right off the beam. She hit her head and landed very hard on the mat. I grabbed a towel...." Sandy slowly answered.
"How bad?" Tommy choked out as he could feel his legs begin to shake.
"She hit the side of her head on the beam as she was coming down and then landed awkwardly onto the mat. I grabbed a towel, there was so much blood. I am so very sorry." Sandy answered tears streaming down her face.
"Thanks Sandy. Where is her coach?" Jason asked.
"Oh like hell he would come down here. He has other gymnasts to worry about. Kim is just another one of gold medal hopefuls he wants to make money off of." Sandy sneered.
"Her coach is that atrocious?" Billy asked surprised at Sandy's answer. The coach they had all met back in Angel Grove was nothing like the man Sandy was describing.
"Yes. He only cares about winning. Anyways I'm sorry, but I have to get back to the training complex or the coach will call my parents and kick me off the team. I'm sorry again." Sandy said she left the six rangers standing in the waiting room, all feeling if the air had been sucked out of the cramped room. Tommy was the one to make the first movement. He slowly moved over to the other side of the waiting room and grabbed the nearest chair as tight as he could. He could feel Jason come up behind him.
"She never told me any of that about her coach." Tommy fumed.
"I know bro. None of us knew how bad he was." Jason responded.
"I felt her fall Jase." Tommy whispered feeling the hot tears slide down his cheeks.
"I know. She felt you get hit yesterday too." Jason replied trying to hold back his own tears.
"What? She did?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah. I talked to her last night. She was a mess, just like you."
"She was?"
"Yeah, she felt everything. She actually fell off the beam yesterday too, but it wasn't as bad."
"Why didn't you tell me? What else have you not told me?" Tommy asked his voice increasing in volume.
"Kim asked me not to tell you. I was also here a month ago." Jason answered looking down at his feet.
"You should have told me." Tommy growled gripping the chair tighter. "A month? We're you here, when she…"
"Yeah."
"And you didn't think that piece of information was something I should know. You knew what that letter did to me and you didn't say a word! What else aren't you telling me?" Tommy hissed breaking the top of the chair.
"Look, I need you to go sit down and I'll explain."
"Why don't you explain right now!" Tommy yelled causing the other rangers to look over at them.
"I will. I just need to make a call and then I'll tell you everything. Okay?" Jason pleaded trying to calm Tommy down.
"Fine." Tommy stormed off and collapsed into a chair.
"What is Jason doing?" Tanya asked getting more confused by the moment.
"Probably calling Trini and Zack." Billy answered.
"Who are they?" Tanya asked.
"The original yellow and black rangers and Kim's best friends." Tommy quietly answered.
"They are getting the next plane out." Jason said coming over and sitting next to Tommy.
"You need to tell me what is going on Jase." Tommy demanded.
"Hey Rocky why don't we find some snacks." Adam suggested seeing that Tommy, Jason and Billy needed to be alone.
"Uh yeah, and maybe you guys could find some coffee." Rocky replied pointing at Kat and Tanya.
"Why do we have to leave?" Kat asked getting more annoyed.
"Kat, just come one." Rocky sighed glaring at Kat.
"Fine." Kat snapped getting up and walking out with Adam, Rocky and Tanya.
"Spill Jase." Tommy sighed placing his head in his hands.
"Okay, about a month ago, Kim took a pretty nasty fall off the beam. I was here visiting her before coming back to Angel Grove and getting the gold ranger powers. It was also the same day you got hurt out in the field. You know the link you built with Kim since you had your green ranger powers had become really strong and when you both had your powers you guys were just fine. Actually you guys seemed stronger with the link. It was an advantage in battle. We all saw that. Kim even told me how much she loved the link because it brought you guys even closer. Well when Kim went to Florida and time passed the link seemed to cause a strain on Kim physically and emotionally since she no longer possessed her coin." Jason started.
"The same thing happened when I lost the green ranger powers. Why didn't she tell me?" Tommy asked.
"She knew you would know how it felt and that's why she didn't tell you. She knew you would worry yourself too much and it would distract you from your main duties as a ranger." Billy interjected. "Anyways, the pain was insurmountable a month ago so Kimberly came to seek advice from Zordon regarding her current predicament. She hoped he would have a proper solution. Alpha and I ran a bunch of tests and we found there was no physical way to sever the tie. The link you share with Kimberly is based on the emotional bond the two of you share. So Zordon believed the best solution would be to try to sever the bond between you guys emotionally. That is where the letter plan came from."
"What!" Tommy quickly jumped up. "The letter was a lie, a plan you guys cooked up?! Zordon said it would be better! You guys knew the reason behind all of this!"
"Yes."
"Why would you guys do this!" Tommy yelled louder.
"Tommy you know you would have fought against it." Jason stood up trying to calm him down.
"Damn right. I cannot believe…"
"Tommy both of you were in immense pain. Both Jason and I heard it from you every time she fell or landed wrong. We heard it from Kimberly every time you got hurt in battle." Billy also tried to sooth Tommy.
"I just wish she would have talked to me about it and you guys should have never gone behind my back and done this!"
"She wanted to, but she didn't want to distract you or endanger you any further. You both were walking a very thin line." Billy retorted.
"Well I guess your fuckin plan didn't work did it! It's just been fuckin worse!" Tommy fumed.
"I know." Jason sighed as he watched Tommy pace back and forth. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about this afternoon. Kim was going to meet us at the Power Chamber after practice."
"She should have never gone to practice today! I should have gone to her sooner. I wasn't there again! I let her down again! I knew something was wrong and I didn't do a damn thing!" Tommy yelled as he headed toward to the swinging doors.
"Where the hell are you going?" Jason yelled back his anger rising.
"I need some air." Tommy barked.
"You can't just leave!" Jason barked back grabbing Tommy's arm.
"Watch me." Tommy growled ripping his arm from Jason's grasp and walking past Rocky and Adam as they walked back through, snacks hanging from their arms.
"So I guess he doesn't want the snickers I got him." Rocky stated as he was jabbed in the ribs by Adam. "Ow, what?"
"Let's just go sit down." Adam sighed as they took a seat.
"That did not go well." Billy said walking over to Jason on the other side of the waiting room.
"Ya think?" Jason snapped as Billy looked down at his feet. "Sorry man. Didn't mean to snap…it's just..."
"It's okay Jason. We are all worried about Kimberly and Tommy. Just let Tommy get some air and cool off, this has been a lot to take in today." Billy half smiled.
"Yeah, I just hope Tri and Zack get here soon. We could sure use them right about now." Jason smiled back.
******
3 hours later, Kat, Tanya, Adam and Rocky had dozed off while Jason and Billy sat silently next to each other with Tommy sitting on the other side of the room his head in his hands avoiding everyone. Just as Jason leaned back in his chair the waiting room doors swung open and a doctor walked out causing the three boys to immediately jump out of their chairs followed by the rest of the rangers who quickly woke up to the commotion.
"Is there a Mr. Scott or Mr. Oliver here?" The doctor asked.
"Yeah that's us." Jason answered pointing to him and Tommy.
"Is she okay, can we see her?" Tommy rambled.
"My name is Doctor Woodward. She has a broken arm and sprained ankle. The wound to her head was severe, but there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage." The doctor started as the three boys let out the breath they all seem to be holding.
"So we can we see her or take her home soon?" Jason asked.
"Well there is one problem." The doctor replied as the color drained out of Tommy's face.
"What sort of problem?" Tommy barely got out.
"Well there is some swelling around her brain and she did lose a lot of blood. She is very weak right now and we need the swelling to go down and until it does, she may not wake up." The doctor stated as Tommy thought his legs would give out any second. "Tonight is going to be important. If the swelling goes down by tomorrow morning she should be fine. Until then we won't know. You can go see her as soon as you are ready."
"Thank you Doctor." Billy said trying to mask his worry about one of his dearest and oldest friends.
"You go first bro." Jason put his hand on his friends shoulder.
"Jase…" Tommy started.
"Don't worry about it bro. We'll figure everything out later. Firebird needs you in there." Jason smiled pushing Tommy though the doors as Billy, Rocky, and Adam came behind Jason putting their hands on each other's shoulders for support.
Tommy slowly followed the nurse to Kim's room. He felt as if he was moving in slow motion, not sure what to do. Last time he was in this position, he felt like he had been beat by a million monsters. He was so scared and worried. He should have never left Kim at the gym by herself. He knew that and still did it. This time he felt as if Zedd had taken his staff and stabbed him in the stomach. He knew he should have teleported himself or jumped on a plane as soon as he got that stupid letter. His heart was telling him something was wrong, but he ignored it only to be blinded by his own pain. He never thought to see her's. He wasn't going to make the same mistake again. No Tommy Oliver, the red zeo ranger was going to fix all of this. He would figure it out if it killed him. All he needed was for the girl on the other side of the door to wake up.
"Right through there Mr. Oliver." The nurse directed snapping Tommy from his thoughts.
Tommy slowly pushed the door open, taking a deep breath as he tried to prepare himself for the sight on the other side. He slowly released the breath he was holding, tears starting to freely fall down his cheeks as he looked at the frail sight lying still on the bed. He could see Kim's left eye was swollen and bruised as if someone had punched in her in the face and a large bandage covering the place where her head hit the beam. Her skin is so pale, a cast is on her right arm, while all sorts of wire and tubes stuck out everywhere. Tommy slowly pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down. His eyes never left her sweet face as he gently took her small hand in his.
"Hey Beautiful it's me." Tommy whispered trying to stop his tears. God she looks so frail. "Jase told me everything and I promise we will work everything out okay? I just need you to open those beautiful brown eyes and come back to me okay? Please just come back to me Beautiful. Everything is a mess without you. I need you. I love you." Tommy sobbed as he placed a kiss on her forehead then on her hand. He then rested his head on the side of Kim's bed still holding her hand, slowly falling asleep, the beeping of the monitors in the background.
****