Gold with Compassion

Jason sat at the youth center, watching as Rocky read Kimberly's letter out-loud. He knew Rocky had meant no harm, had meant to tease him about their love, and the leader of the group being mushy over a girl. Jason always had wished them the best, because of not being able to reveal their identities if made dating difficult. Angela and Zack were a prime example, if Zack hadn't been off saving the world as the Black Power Ranger, he would have gotten somewhere with Angela. He had had similar difficulties. Rocky's face had fell as Tommy took the letter and finished it. "Hey, man, I'm sorry," Jason had said to his friend.

"Don't sweat it, you didn't know this was happening did you?" he hadn't. Kimberly had confided that some Erik guy wouldn't leave her alone, and that she kept telling him to take a hike, but that he was worse than Skull about taking a hint, but that was all he knew, he had no inkling that Kimberly was dating someone else. He knew his 'lil sister' better than that. He didn't believe that was it. Suddenly, his phone beeped alerting him to a text message.

"I'm sorry, man. I've got to take this," he said stepping away to read the text from Kimberly.

'Coming Home. Meet me at the airport.' What was this about, how could she break up with Tommy and then come home. A few hours later he was standing at the airport with Kimberly who had arrived in her signature pink, a pair of jogging pants and a tank top and they were searching for her bags.

"You haven't changed at all," he said as he spotted her luggage. "You still pack as though you would need everything you own." She smacked him playfully as his expression became serious.

"How...how is everyone?"

"Well," he lowered his voice and glanced around, "You are looking at the newest member of the team. I am the Gold Ranger."

"You must be so proud," she teased.

"Ayasha left. She moved to Africa, so the yellow ranger is her cousin Tanya. You will like her. Everyone else is pretty much as you left them, Kim. So...what are you doing here? Did you come for Tommy?"

"Not exactly, although I must speak with him," she stated as they headed out to his gold truck.

"Kim, why did you do it? I've know you since we were five. This isn't like you."

"I'm doing this to protect him."

"Kim, that doesn't make any sense. If you could have seen the poor guy."

"Jason, I don't want to discuss it, please."

"Alright, I'll drop it...for now."

"Thanks, Jase."

"You look tired."

"Goldar attacked me."

"What? Why? When?"

"That's what I want to talk to Tommy about. I still have my ninja powers."

"I thought you gave them to Kat."

"I can't completely morph. It just means that her spirit animal isn't the Crane, mine is."

"I'm glad you are okay. I'll take you to the Youth Center, he should still be there. And then, I'll meet you at home, deal?"

"Thanks, Jase, no one could ever ask for a better friend."

"Right back at ya."

He dropped her off and was surprised when an hour later she came in tears streaking down her cheeks.

"Kim, what's wrong? Did Goldar attack?"

"No, it's nothing like that. I'm fine, just got something in my eye is all."

"I know better than that."

"It's just...I saw Tommy."

"Well, if he said something, he's only angry."

"It's not...I mean...he...Kat..."

"Slow down Kimberly, what about Kat and Tommy?"

"They were kissing."

"Kim, perhaps you should talk to Tommy. Maybe you misunderstood something. I'll talk to him tomorrow, okay? Everything will be alright. Now do you want to talk about what this protecting him business is?"

"I don't know if I should. I'm in a lot of trouble."

"And this is new?" She smacked his arm.

"It's this guy, he's a gymnast too, Erik."

"The guy that's worse than Skull?"

"Yeah, him."

"Tommy can handle him. I could go down and..."

"No, Jase. You are a Ranger, I can't have you involved."

"So what is the deal with this Erik. He can't be a match for you, a former Power Ranger?" She smiled for a moment but it was quickly gone.

"He says he knows my secret. It's my own stupidity. I just...I missed Tommy so much. Whenever, the news came on about the power rangers, I had to listen. I just had to make sure they were all ok, safe? And especially Tommy. It was so much different than when I was there helping. I began to keep a scrapbook and somehow I don't know how, he found out. He demanded that I break up with him or he would tell my secret, our secret. I had too. I had to protect him."

"You should tell Tommy and Zordon."

"He won't tell anyone as long as I..."

"As long as you what...what does he want from you Kim?"

"As long as I marry him."

"Kim, no."

"I have to, Jase. I swore when we became rangers I would do whatever it took to protect our identities, that duty doesn't fail just because I'm no longer a ranger, I swore an oath."

"And what about your promise to Tommy? There has to be some way."

"There's not. I can't be with Tommy, if I do I put all the rangers at risk."

"We'll talk to Zordon."

"No, I won't admit my mistake to him, not when I can fix it."

"Zordon wouldn't want that, any more than he wanted you to marry Lord Zedd."

"This is my duty, I'm going to protect you, all if you, the way you've always protected me. Your right, I'm going to talk to Tommy."

"You will tell him?"

"No promises, Jase." Jason sat there as he watched her go, after she morphed into her ninja ranger outfit. An hour later she had been enveloped in a white light and held Tommy's morpher.

"How did it go?"

"It could have been worse. I'm going to bed, Good night Jase."