A/N: Saban/Disney own the characters you know, I own the characters you don't.

Chapter Four - A Shadow of a Doubt

She pressed as hard as she could against the tough stone wall, ignoring the bruising in the palm of her hand from the rock she was using to carve. Every day the rock threatened to break the gentle layer of skin within her palm but she pressed on.

'11-20-14'

She was upright on her knees, a look of determination written across her face. As she finished carving the last number, she slowly dropped her arm and proceeded to sit on her calves.

Her eyes wandered from the date she had just written across all 719 dates she had previously carved into the same wall.

"1 year, 11 months, 19 days." She said aloud. "My name is Jamie Marin Oliver… and today I am 16."

'Sixteen.' She thought. She never could have dreamt she would be spending her 16th birthday on another planet, the captive of a man who had stolen her life, destroying every good thing she had ever had.

She rested her hands in her lap, opening her palms up to face her. Her left hand took the rock out of her right as she surveyed her deeply bruised and tender right palm. She slowly ran her left thumb over the area wondering, as she did most days, if she should discontinue her daily routine. Her eyes shot back up at the wall, her late father's words echoing in her mind.

"You're an Oliver." He told her. "Never forget that."

She thought of his smile, his laugh, his gentle touch. She thought of the softness of his tone, and how it soothed her in even the toughest moments. She closed her eyes and meditated the way he had taught her, those thoughts always at the forefront of her sessions. Today was especially tough for her as she had envisioned this day so differently for so long.

"When I turn 16 I want a strawberry ice cream cake." She told him. "And I want you to teach me how to drive so I can take us to the movies."

"We can do all of that." He replied with a smile. "Only I'll have to drive us to the movies. You can take the jeep as far as the end of the block, how about that?"

"Deal!" She replied enthusiastically.

"You know we've got a few years to go before that happens, J-O."

"I know… I just wanted to tell you now, Dad."

"Don't rush to grow up." He replied, pulling her into a side hug and gripping her tight as he kissed the top of her head. She smiled, letting him despite her pre-teen reluctance. "Call me selfish, but I'd like to keep my daughter around as long as I can!"

She opened her eyes as she tried to digest what she was hearing. She wiped away tears as she slowly stood and listened. She could hear music being played just down the hall. She hadn't heard any music in all the time she had been there. She walked over to her cot, placing the stone beneath her pillow before leaving the room.

She followed the sound of the music as it echoed down the candle lit hallway.

"Girl take a seat, rest your weary bones

Your secrets safe in my hands

Tell me about the years and

Let me buy an hour

Maybe help me to understand"

As she got closer, she realized it was coming from Samuel's lab, his door just slightly ajar. She slowly opened the door, peering inside cautiously.

"Ooh ain't nobody callin'

Ain't nobody home

What a lovely day to be lonely"

"Ah!" He greeted her. "Come in, come in!"

She shut the door behind her before taking a few steps forward into the light of the room. He was over with his plants, trimming them with joy.

"You're holding on for life

Holding on for life oh

Holding on for love."

"Do you recognize this tune?"

She shook her head in silence. "I think I recognize the singer's voice."

"I tried to find something you might like." He replied as he gave his last plant a little more water. "Do you like it?"

"I do." She replied. "I just…" She paused, listening to the song more intently. She really did like it. "I don't understand."

"What don't you understand?" He responded before taking his gardening gloves off.

"Why you're playing music… you've never played any music."

"It's a special occasion." He told her with half a grin before removing his forest green apron.

She gave him an inquisitive look in response.

"It's your birthday, isn't it?" He asked, running his fingers through his jet black, silky hair and pushing it out of his face. "Your sweet 16 at that!"

She was genuinely surprised he knew.

"It's only once you get to be 16 and I figured I'd go down to Earth and bring you back something to celebrate."

He walked over to his computer and unplugged what she assumed was the music device. He then pulled out white earbuds from his pants pocket and reached out to give it all to her with a grin.

She hesitantly reached out to retrieve the device, her eyes opening wide at the sight. "An ipod?"

He grinned wider in response. "I figured you deserve a gift Azalea, for all of the hard work you've put in here. The girl I got it from was unfortunately reluctant to give it up and for good reason. Some of this music is truly enjoyable!"

Her eyes shot up at him. "You stole this from someone?"

"I wanted to make sure you had the music 16-year-old girls listen to these days."

Distraught washed over her face. "Did you…" She began with concern, "Did she get hurt?"

"What does it matter, child?"

"I can't accept this." She immediately responded.

"Since when did your juvenile morals come back?" He immediately replied, his tone on the rise. He took a few steps toward her and she retreated back in fright. With her back to the wall now, he gripped her chin tight forcing her eyes onto him. "I should punish you for this." He began sternly as she breathed rapidly through her nose. "But because it's your birthday I'm going to let it slide." He punched the wall to the left of her face, the move making her cower in fear as small pieces of broken rock fell around her from the move. She dropped to the floor, bending over and pulling in her knees as he let the ipod fall to the ground between her legs.

"Pick that up and get out of my sight." He ordered as he turned around and sat down at his computer.

She grabbed the ipod, dashing down the hall and back into her room. She closed the bar door of her cell behind her despite there no longer being a lock and sat down on her cot, immediately pulling her knees back into her chest. Her breathing was rapid and she took a few moments to try and slow it down. She hadn't found a way past her fear when Samuel got angry. She knew by now what he was really capable of and she had endured experiences she didn't care to repeat with him.

Her eyes watered as she looked down at the ipod in her hands. The screen was now cracked in five places but she could still clearly see the names of the artists and their songs. She proceeded to place the headphones in, selecting random shuffle.

She replayed the interaction she had just had with Samuel over in her head. He had gone to Earth again, as he typically did once a month for supplies. Everytime he went it reaffirmed for her that he had a way there, a route from Rowen to Earth.

Tears then fell down her cheeks as music graced her ears for the first time in almost two years, only one thought at the forefront of her mind now.

'I'm going to find my way home.'

She gently rocked back and forth in the oak chair in the nursery, her face displaying subtle concern. Her hands sat clasped together on her protruding belly as she glanced down at her watch. It had been fifteen minutes since she had last checked the time.

'Where is he?' She wondered.

She reached for her phone on the table beside her, dialing her husband. It went straight to voicemail. "Hey, this is Jason Scott. Sorry you weren't able to reach me. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

"Jason..." She began. "It's Kat. You were supposed to be home a couple of hours ago. Just wanted to make sure you were okay. Give me a ring when you can, okay? Love you."

She ended the call and immediately dialed another number. After three rings a woman answered, "Hello?"

"Kim?"

"Oh, hey Kat!" Kim replied. "How are you doing? Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay... despite my swollen feet and constantly aching back." She replied softly, rubbing her belly once more. "But that's to be expected for being 7 months pregnant."

"I can't wait to meet that little guy or gal." Kim replied. "I still don't know how you can go without knowing the sex! That would drive me crazy."

"Don't tell Jason but I think we're having a boy."

Before Kim could respond, Kat's anxiousness began to rise. "I was actually calling you to see if you had heard from Jason?"

"Yeah… he was here this morning with Tommy and I. The two of them left hours ago to go see Hayley at the cafe."

"Tommy left the house… with Jason?" Kat couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her husband had been trying to rekindle his friendship for months and last she had heard Tommy wanted nothing to do with him. She also knew Tommy hadn't left his house once in the four months he had been out of a coma.

"Believe me…" Kim began. "I was just as surprised as you are."

"He was supposed to be home a couple of hours ago and I haven't heard from him. I just tried to call but it's going straight to voicemail. It's getting late."

"You know… I haven't heard from them either." Kim replied with concern. "Maybe I should try Hayley."

"That would be great, Kim." Kat paused, thinking about whether or not she should bring up what was on her mind. "You know… He hasn't been himself since Tommy came back to us. He…" She paused again. "He drinks… he thinks he can hide it from me but I've seen the empty bottles, Kim." Her voice was beginning to crack. "I love him… I'm so worried about him all the time, especially on the road. I don't want him to hurt like this. I-I don't want to lose him."

"I've known for some time now, Kat." Kim began softly. "I didn't know how to talk to him about it and I didn't want to upset you." Kim paused as she heard Kat begin to sob. She knew Kat's feelings were amplified by hormones and wanted nothing more than to calm her down. "You know, I overheard Tommy and him talking this morning. I think that we might actually get them both back if they can just find a way to forgive one another."

Kat nodded, wiping away tears with the sleeve of her sweater. She was about to respond when she felt a sharp pain. She cried out, nearly dropping the phone.

"Kat?" She could hear Kat grunting in pain. "KAT!" She shouted into the phone.

"Kim…" Kat replied through gritted teeth. "Something is wrong... my water hasn't broken… it hurts."

"Kat, don't move. I'm calling you an ambulance and coming to you now. Just sit tight… just breathe. That's all you have to do... Just breathe."

Kat didn't respond. "Kat, did you hear what I said?" Kim asked quickly, worry now very evident in her tone.

"KAT?"

"Yes… Kim… yes, please- please just hurry."

"Just hang on, Kat!" Kim practically shouted. She hung up and immediately dialed 9-1-1.

Kim stood, now pacing the floor of Tommy's living room as she waited for a dispatcher to answer. It was then that she caught something entirely unexpected through the living room bay window. Four news vans, one after another, pulled up in front of the house. She froze as she watched reporters step out of the vans and walk up the gravel driveway, the group gathering together as they prepped camera equipment and pulled out legal pads. She ran over to the windows, quickly closing the curtains as she looked around for the remote. She fumbled with it as she turned the TV onto the news. She turned up the volume to hear the report, her jaw dropping in stunned silence as scenes of the Astro Megaship hovering above the ocean and flying away were being played from footage taken on a bystander's phone.

"Dr. Tommy Oliver, former Power Ranger now apparently out of a four year coma, spotted at Reefside beach this evening by neighbors being carried onto a spaceship after what appears to have been an attempted suicide."

It took her a moment to register the voice that had been repeating itself on the other side of the line.

"9-1-1. What's your emergency?"

Two sets of footsteps made their way down the dimly lit hallway. She noted the two candles that needed to be replaced as she lead her guest through the cold and musty smelling building.

"Am I to feel afraid right now?" Her guest piped up. "Because I'm rather afraid."

"The keeper is not one to fear." She replied. "Unless he doesn't get what he wants."

"How long have you lived here on Rowen, dear?"

"Four years." Her eyes migrated to her left as they turned a corner. "It's just ahead."

She had no idea who the being behind her really was or what he was capable of but she did know he had played a large role in the creation of her father's first powers. She wasn't about to let on that she knew that though because doing so would let the keeper know she hadn't entirely forgotten where she had come from.

They reached a steel door, the edges of the door and its handle were covered in rust. "We're here." She told him as she opened the door.

"Ah!" They were immediately greeted. "You've arrived." He happily stepped away from his computer console nearby and walked across the room to meet them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Finster." He began as he stood in front of them and folded his hands together with content. "I'm pleased to see Azalea was able to convince you to come here."

"The pleasure is all mine, sir." Finster nervously began. "I've been told you're the keeper of the Dolmen stone. That's quite impressive."

He grinned. "Would you like to see it?"

"Why, yes… yes I would!" Finster replied with enthusiasm.

He rolled up his sleeve, allowing Finster to see the markings on the inner part of his lower arm.

"Oh my." Finster replied. "Quite impressive indeed. Very interesting the way the lines run up your arm like the roots of a tree."

"I harness the power of the stone within me now." The keeper proudly replied. "I feel it every day."

"Sir, if I may ask…" Finster began. "You're a being of Earth… how were you able to transfer such a vast amount of power into your body without consequence?"

The keeper looked over at Azalea, immediately rolling back down his sleeve before his eyes met Finster's again. "That's my secret. Perhaps one day I'll tell you when you've proven your worth here."

Finster nodded. "And how may I best serve you, sir?"

The keeper looked back over at Azalea again with an intense glare.

"You're about to find out."

The silence was overwhelming. No one knew what to say. No one knew how to feel.

Jason sat on the floor of the Astro Megaship control room, his back to one of the panels, his forearms resting upon his knees. He looked exhausted, his gaze fixated ahead of him, his mind replaying the events of the last two hours. The dry towel Andros had offered him sat next to him on the floor unused.

Hayley sat nearby, her hands clasped together under her chin as if she were about to pray. Billy stood protectively next to her, his arms crossed, his eyes migrating from his wife to his long-time friend. He was worried for them both should Tommy's stunt prove fatal.

"Can I get either of you anything?" He asked as he looked down at his watch. It had been just under an hour since Andros had taken Tommy into the medbay.

"Hayley?" He asked as he placed his hand on her shoulder. She glanced up at him for a second before shaking her head.

"How about you Jason?"

Jason also shook his head in silence, not making eye contact with Billy.

"He's going to be okay." Billy assured. "The guy has proven he can live through just about anything at this point."

Jason immediately scoffed, shaking his head even more as he finally stood. "Stupid."

Hayley looked up then, her and Billy's eyes following Jason as he began to pace around the room. His body language suggested he was unstable and on the verge of becoming irate.

Billy and Hayley finally looked at one another, both wanting to say something but knew they didn't have the words.

"Jason…" Hayley began as she got up from her seat. "What can we do for you right now?"

He glanced over at her before placing his hands on his hips and scoffing again in total disbelief of the situation they were in right now. "Nothing, Hayley. Just… nothing."

"Well, what if we-"

"No-" Jason cut her off, now staring at both of them as he pointed in their direction. "You know what I need? To not be here right now."

They watched with immense concern as Jason pulled a flask out of the inside of his coat and took a long swig. He let out a frustrated exhale, sounding like a growling beast upon finishing whatever he had left in his flask.

"What was he thinking?!" He suddenly shouted, not hearing the door slide open behind him.

"I wasn't."

He turned around to see Andros helping Tommy through the doorway into the control room, Tommy's left arm around Andros's shoulder. Andros had given him a pair of silver pants, the same ones he and his team had worn during their Ranger days, as well as silver boots and a clean, white t-shirt. His shoulder length hair was practically dry, combed and looking neat behind his ears.

Hayley immediately came forward, Andros letting go as Tommy and Hayley embraced.

Billy crossed his arms again, watching the two hold onto one another with a relieved smile.

"Glad you're okay, Tommy." Billy began. "You had us all worried."

Tommy let go of Hayley, looking over at Billy. "I'm sorry I did that to you all."

Jason looked away, his hands still on his hips, the three shots he had just downed warming his insides.

"Here." Andros said as he extended Tommy's cane to him. "I retrieved this from the beach. Beamed it up thinking you might need it again."

Tommy gave him a sincere nod, accepting the cane with some reluctance. He knew he needed it but he also knew he could work towards not ever needing it again.

Andros stepped aside as Tommy took a few slow steps towards Jason, everyone's eyes on the two of them.

"Jase." Tommy spoke softly. He could sense Jason was unstable.

Jason bit his lip, furrowing his eyebrows in disappointment. He continued to gently shake his head. He looked back at Tommy then, both of them taking in each other's energy.

The longer Jason looked at Tommy, the less angry he became.

"Jase…" Tommy said again in a soft tone.

"I don't know what to say to you, bro." Jason told him in a despairing tone.

"I know." Tommy began. "It's going to take some time for us to get back to where we were, Jase but I promise you... I'll never do anything like that again."

Something was different about Tommy, Jason could see it, he could feel it and hear it in his tone. He scoffed, shaking his head, "Jesus, Tommy… Why should I believe you? I can't... " He paused, his voice cracking as he finished, "I can't be put through this anymore... I can't trust you."

Tommy closed his eyes for a moment as his head fell forward. Hearing those words from his best friend were heartbreaking for him. He took a deep breath in through his nose, preparing himself for what he was about to say.

"She's alive." He said softly as he raised his head and looked up at Jason again. Jason instantly looked back at him, the two staring at each other for a moment in silence.

"...What?" Jason began in disbelief. "What are you talkin' about?"

Tommy took a couple steps forward, Jason not at all retreating. Tommy held out his right arm, the long dark scars on the inside of his forearm still very much present. Jason had almost forgotten about what Samuel had done to him, his eyes growing wider as the scars that looked like the long roots of a tree were glowing a deep purple.

"Andros didn't save me… the Dolmen stone did." Tommy began, everyone in the room now watching in awe. "The power of the stone was too great for Smith to take on himself so he split it between the two of us. I have to learn how to tap into its power but I can feel it now... I can feel him now." Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing and Tommy could see his anger beginning to subside. "I could feel her too, Jase… I felt Jamie... She's alive."

It was as if Jason had forgotten to breathe, the shock of what Tommy was telling him almost too much to bear. He reached behind him, gripping a nearby console to steady himself. Tommy dropped his cane, immediately coming to his best friend's side.

Tommy gripped Jason's shoulders. "She's really alive?" He asked a moment later, their eyes locked onto one another.

Tommy nodded and for the first time in four years Jason saw his best friend smile.