Jason pushed the speed limit as he made the hour drive to Reefside General. He'd tried Kimberly twice more and gotten her machine again. He was beginning to think she simply wasn't answering.
He parked his jeep in the parking garage and sprinted inside, barely stopping at the desk to get the room number.
He reached the floor and spotted a young woman with red hair. "Are you Jason Scott?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm assuming you're Hayley," he replied.
"Yes, before you go in,, I just want to let you know what's going on."
Hayley explained in a low voice about the dino powers, Tommy's prolonged bouts of first being stuck in uniform and then invisible. Jason had already known Tommy was back in action and that he had three young kids with him, but the invisibility was something new.
When Hayley finished he looked at her seriously. "Hayley, tell me the truth. Is he going to make it?"
"Jason, we have to believe-"
"The truth Hayley."
After a moment Hayley took a deep breath. "The doctors gave him a week, maybe less."
Jason exhaled slowly trying to prevent his emotion from taking over. "Take all the time you need, Jason," Hayley said softly. "I sent the kids home. You can bunk at Tommy's or there's a hotel nearby. You know how to get to his place?"
Jason nodded. Hayley rose and left.
Slowly, Jason stood and walked into Tommy's room, closing the door softly behind him.
His best friend in the world lay in the bed, paler than a ghost. Jason walked to the chair beside the bed and sat down. "You know Tommy," he said, "I can't believe I haven't seen you in over a year. I mean, we're best friends bro. I think we need a bit more communication. It's mostly my fault I guess. I know you've been busy, you're a teacher now and the new rangers and stuff. And dude, c'mon, black? What's up with that? And the short hair? I mean, red is so your real color.
"Personally, I can't believe you're a ranger again. Don't you think you're a little old for that? I mean, the whole mentor thing's cool I guess, but actually going out there, with only a couple of kids to back you up, what were you thinking?"
Jason was angry now and got up to start pacing. "Tommy, why didn't you call me? Why didn't you ask for my help?" he was practically yelling. "You just go out there and, and take on the world all by yourself. With nobody here to watch your back. Without me here to watch your back."
Jason sank back against the wall and slid to the floor, realization suddenly flooding him. His best friend was dying, and there was nothing he could do. "I should have been here."
Tears streamed down his face as he took out his phone and hit speed dial. "Kim? Kim, it's Jason. Please pick up. I know you're there, it's the middle of the night.:
He paused, waiting for her. No answer. "Kim, he's dying," Jason choked out, "We're losing him and there's nothing I can do. I can't, I can't fix this Kim. I should have been here. He's dying Kim. And I can't even say goodbye."
Jason hung up the phone and sobbed.
Okay, whatever you might think, Jason is not a weakling. It's his best friend in the whole world dying, let me make that clear, Tommy is dying right now and nothing is going to save him. I think it's a sign of strength that Jason can express this emotion and I hope that you can empathize with him. Thanks to everybody who keeps reviewing, your reviews make me feel warm and fuzzy inside!
