Author's note: This is now the only in-progress story I'm working on at the moment so we shall see if I can do better at updating it more frequently (that is if writer's block doesn't strike again). This was seriously a hard chapter to write so I hope it's ok.
CoolDiva: Thanks I'm glad the Tommy/Kim convo was realistic, you know how stressed I was about it so I'm glad it turned out ok.
Lonly Girl: I do hope you haven't fallen by now, I know it's been awhile since I updated.
LilMary: Thanks, I hope you like this next chapter.
BeautifulCrane: Thanks, I'm glad you thought the conversation was good.
Destiny45: Thanks you so much, it's good to know there are those out there who love this story.
Moonlite-n-roses: Yeah, Kim and Tommy sorted some things out. Glad you liked the chapter.
"Jason, Jason, wake up," his mother said as she entered his room and frantically began to shake him.
"Just five more minutes," Jason groaned.
"Jason, you need to wake up now," his mother said as she turned on the light.
"Mom, what time is it?" Jason asked looking out the window to find that it was still dark outside.
"It's the middle of the night, I'm sorry to wake you but you have a phone call, it's Zack," she answered as she clutched the phone in her hand.
"What wrong?" he asked immediately becoming alert because he knew something must be wrong for Zack to call so late like this.
"Oh Jason, you should take the phone, I think Zack wants to tell you himself," she said as she gave him the phone and took a seat on the edge of his bed.
"Zack, what's going on?" Jason questioned.
"It's bad Jase, it's really, really bad, I wish I didn't have to be doing this over the phone but I didn't want you to find out from anyone else but me, I don't even know how to say this, it's just so unfair," Zack said.
"Just tell me what's going on," Jason said with concern.
"There was an accident, a bunch of us had gone to Italy for the weekend and on our way back the train derailed, it all just happened out of nowhere, I mean one minute we're sitting on the train laughing, playing a game and then there was this noise and the train started to shake and then everything went dark and next thing I know I'm waking up in a hospital," Zack replied as his voice began to shake.
"Oh man, Zack are you alright, how badly are you injured, please tell me you all made it out alright, what about Trini, was she with you," said Jason.
"I broke my arm but at least I'm still alive, others weren't so lucky, oh Jason, I should have protected her, but it just all happened so fast, she was sitting right across from me, why couldn't I save her Jase," Zack cried.
"Zack, no, please don't say what I think you're about to say cause I don't want to hear that," Jason replied.
"Believe me Jase, I don't want to say it, I can't even believe it's happening, but she didn't make it, Trini's gone Jason, she's gone," Zack sobbed.
"This isn't happening, it's just a dream, a horrible, horrible dream and I'm going to wake up and everything's going to be ok," Jason said as he paced around his room after finishing his call with Zack.
"Jason, sweetheart I wish there was something I could say to make this all go away but I know there isn't, this is just a horrible tragedy, I can't believe she's gone, I've known Trini since she was a little girl, I can't imagine what her parents must be going through," his mother said as she put her arms around him.
"This is the last thing I expected to hear from you when you showed up at my door at this time of night, I can't believe she's gone," Tommy replied as he and Jason sat on his living room couch.
"I know this is a lot to ask but I need you to go to the Power Chamber and have Alpha contact Aquitar, Billy has to be told and I'd do it myself but I'm leaving for the airport," Jason told him.
"You're headed to Switzerland?" Tommy asked.
"No, I'm going to Florida, I don't want Kim hearing about this over the phone, so I'm going to Florida to tell her the news in person, she's going to be devastated and I just can't let her deal with this all alone," Jason answered.
"I'm glad you're going to be with Kim, she's really gonna need you, I'm going to head to the Power Chamber and get started on contacting Billy, please tell Kim, I'm here if she needs me," Tommy said as he walked to the door.
"Breaking news, a tragic train accident has left 30 people dead, 8 of them students attending a world teen peace conference in Switzerland," said a reporter as Kim's roommate Mandy sat watching the TV and ignoring a knock at the door.
"Geez Mandy, would it kill you to answer the door," Kim said as stepped out of the bathroom where she had been blow drying her hair.
"Sorry, I just got so wrapped up in this story, it's such a tragedy," Mandy said as Kim opened the door.
"Jason, what are you doing here?" Kim questioned happily as she reached out to hug him.
"Kim, we need to talk," Jason answered.
"Oh my gosh, Jason what's wrong," Kim said as she let him inside.
"Hey Jason, welcome back," Mandy said.
"Please tell me you haven't been watching that," Jason said as he stared at the tv screen and then turned it off.
"Watching what, I just got out of the bathroom," Kim told him.
"Mandy, I need to speak with Kim alone," Jason said.
"Ok, I'll be in my room if you need me," Mandy said as she left them alone.
"Kim, this is probably the hardest thing I'm ever gonna have to tell you," Jason said in a grim tone as they took a seat on the couch.
"Jason, what's going on, you're starting to scare me," she said.
"That news report that Mandy was watching, it was about a train accident in Switzerland," Jason began.
"Switzerland, wait, Zack and Trini are in Switzerland, were they in the accident, are they hurt, I mean how bad is it," she said.
"Zack broke his arm but Trini, she, she didn't make it Kim," Jason said as tears started rolling down his face.
"No, Jason, no, no, it's not true, she can't be gone, I, I got an email from her just the other day and she was fine, it has to be some kind of mistake," Kim said.
"I wish that it were but Zack called and you know he wouldn't lie about something like this," Jason replied.
"I know he wouldn't but maybe the doctor's mistook her for someone else, I mean she could still be trapped in the wreckage or something, it's possible," Kim told him.
"Kim, look at me Pinky, I didn't want to believe it at first either, I mean this is Trini we're talking about, she's one of the strongest people I know but she's gone, Zack identified the body and there's no doubt it was her," Jason told her.
"No, this isn't right, why Trini, she had so much to live for, it's just not fair," Kim cried.
"I'm so sorry Kim, I wish there was a way I could erase it so none of this ever happened but I can't," Jason said as he held Kim in his arms and the two of them cried together.
A week later, Kim, Jason, Billy and Zack stood next to Trini's parents at the Angel Grove cemetery. Behind them stood the other rangers along with Ernie, Richie and far off in the distant stood Alpha hiding behind a tree and trying not to be noticed. One by one each of the rangers, past and present, walked up to the coffin and placed a single yellow rose on top.
"This just doesn't seem real, I mean I'm standing here and I watched them lower her coffin into the ground but I can't really let myself believe that she's gone," said Kim.
"I was there when it happened and I still don't believe it, I just wish I could have done something, anything, I feel like I let her down, maybe there was a way I could have saved her," said Zack.
"Zack, man, don't do this to yourself, this isn't your fault, Trini wouldn't want you to blame yourself, there was nothing you could have done," Jason told him.
"I know that Jason, I do, at least my head does but my heart is breaking, this isn't the way I pictured coming home to Angel Grove, Trini was so excited about that trip Kim was planning for the five of us, she couldn't wait to come home and tell everyone all the great work we did at the conference," Zack replied.
"I never should have left, the three of us went there together and I just left, maybe if I had stayed this wouldn't have happened," said Jason.
"Now who's taking the blame, Trini and I both understood why you came back, the rangers needed you and either one of us would have made the same choice if Tommy had called us," Zack responded.
"Would you guys just stop it, who gives a damn who's fault it was, she's gone, Trini's gone and she's never coming back!" yelled Billy who had been mostly quiet throughout the funeral.
"We're sorry man, you're right, it doesn't matter, but what does is remembering Trini for the wonderful, kind and caring friend she was," Jason told him.
"Maybe we should just head to the reception at the youth center," spoke Kimberly.
"Kim's right, Trini's parents will want us there," Jason said.
"You guys go ahead, I want to stay here for while longer," Billy told them.
"Ok, we'll see you there later," Kim said as she gave Billy a hug.
"Hey Kim, I just want you to know that if you need anything I'm here," Tommy said as he walked up to her during the reception where she stood with Ian.
"Thanks, the same goes for you," she replied.
"I'll let you two talk in private," Ian said walking to where Kim's mother, who had flown in for the service, stood.
"I never thought I'd hear myself say this but Ian really is a good guy," Tommy told her.
"Yeah he is, I just wish you were all meeting him under better circumstances," Kim responded.
"So how are you really doing with everything, I mean you're putting on a brave face but I know you Kim," he said.
"She was my best friend and I feel like a part of me died with her and all I want to do is scream about how unfair this all is but I know it won't bring her back so I'm trying to hold on to all the wonderful memories I have of her," Kim told him.
"Speaking of memories, I was just thinking about when Trini reorganized my notebook to help me with my forgetfulness," Tommy said with a smile.
"And you ended up forgetting it at home anyway," Kim said with a laugh.
"There's that smile I love so much, I think this is the way Trini would want it, us laughing and remembering the good times," Tommy told her.
"The last time I talked to her she was telling me about this girl she met at the Peace Conference, she swore it was like the European version of me and she even liked shopping, Trini even told me that she and Zack had nicknamed the girl Euro-Kimberly and they said it was like I was there with them, Trini wanted me to come visit and see for myself and now I really wish that I had, I just miss her so much," Kim said as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I know, I miss her too," Tommy said as he gave Kimberly a hug.
"Hey bro, do you mind if I talk to Kim alone for a sec," Jason said as he came over to them.
"Sure, I'll be around if you need me," Tommy told her as he walked away.
"How are you?" Kim asked Jason.
"I'm ok, I was talking to Zack and he's going back to Switzerland to finish the semester at the Peace Conference and I've decided to go with him," Jason answered.
"But I thought you said they already replaced you," Kim responded.
"They did but I was talking to Mr. Kaplan and he said that I could take Trini's place, she was so invested in the work that she was doing there and I just feel like this is something I need to finish for her," Jason told her.
"Jason, are you sure you want to go back there?" she asked.
"Yeah, I don't think Zack should have to go back alone, he still feels really guilty about what happened and I just think he needs me," Jason replied.
"Wow, you and Zack going back to Switzerland, Billy's heading back to Aquitar, me in Florida, it just feels like nothing will ever be the same," Kim said.
"It may not be the same Pinky, but we'll always be a part of each other and maybe after some time has passed the four of us can take that trip together like you wanted," he replied.
"Promise me something Rex," she said.
"Anything," he said.
"You come visit me in Florida the minute you're done at the Peace Conference," she told him.
"I promise Pinky, we'll be together again soon," Jason said as he hugged her.