Disclaimer: Saban owns Power Rangers and the characters within, not I.
See You Again Chapter 8
"This is.." Kim paused as she turned to Jason. He was gazing out over the ocean and he turned to her at her pause. "I could get used to this."
"Good." Jason responded as the sound of a laughter behind him prompted him to turn to see some people playing one of the many games along the boardwalk. He turned back to Kim. "I look forward to doing it again."
"I'll hold you to that." Kim responded as she turned her attention back to the ocean in front of them. The sun had just set in the sky and the boardwalk was lit up with lights from the various carnival style games and booths along it. Kim glanced over to a pier ahead of them and pointed to it. "Wanna go somewhere quiet?"
"Sure." Jason replied as he reached down and took her hand and they walked over to the pier and out onto it far enough to be away from the noise and hustle of the boardwalk. The two stopped and Jason breathed in the sea air before turning to Kim. "I missed the ocean."
"Same... I mean I was near it in Florida, but I never got out to it." Kim agreed.
"Kim.. can I ask you something?" Jason asked as he turned his eyes away from her momentarily to look back out over the ocean.
"Sure." Kim responded.
"What we are doing.. this.." Jason began. "I mean.. this might sound silly, but are you happy?"
"Yes.. I am." Kim replied. She reached over and placed her hand on top of Jason's as it was resting on the railing next to them. "Do I not seem happy?"
"You do." Jason responded with a smile. "It's just, I don't want to presume anything I guess.. we were friends so long.. and.. I don't want to mess anything up."
"I understand, but Jason.. where this is headed, I'm all in." Kim stated as she leaned up to give him a kiss. After a moment she pulled away and opened her eyes.
"I am too." Jason said. They stood in silence for a moment and Kim studied Jason. Something in his demeanor still felt a bit off to her.
"Are you okay?" Kim questioned.
"I'm.. um.. yeah." Jason answered.
"You sure?" Kim asked. Jason shifted his feet a couple of times and changed his body position so that he was no leaning back first upon the railing.
"I don't really know how to say this." Jason replied.
"What is it?" Kim asked softly.
"Just.. I guess a part of me is worried." Jason confessed.
"About?" Kim inquired.
"Us.. and how.." Jason hesitated. He didn't want to kill the mood, but these feelings were nagging at him and he felt maybe it better to clear it up before things went any further.
"It's okay.. Jase.. you can tell me." Kim prodded gently.
"I worry about how other people will take it once they find out.." Jason said. "I shouldn't.. but well you know."
"Tommy?" Kim asked with a nod.
"Yeah." Jason replied.
"He will understand, he's a good guy like that." Kim said.
"I know, he'll say he will... but I don't want him to feel like.." Jason let out a sigh. "It's stupid."
"Hey listen.. I thought of it too." Kim replied. "But Jason, we knew each other before Tommy.. and we did nothing wrong.. are doing nothing wrong.."
"You are right." Jason agreed as he crossed his arms and considered his current situation.
"Tommy.. he I mean.. let's face it, he moved on." Kim continued. "So that's what I'm doing to you know.. he and I talked about it."
"Okay.. I mean I don't wanna pry into that, but I just.. something I felt I should address up front." Jason said as he turned back to Kim.
"It will be fine." Kim assured him with a smile. Jason nodded and put his arm around Kim as the two began to walk back towards the boardwalk. He gestured in front of them.
"Feel like some games?" Jason asked. Kim's smile and jog along ahead of him, answered for him. She stopped and turned to him. She reached a hand out and he took it.
(****)
Jason shut the door to his Jeep and turned around. He came face to face with a blonde blur as she came towards him.
"Kay.. hey.." Jason said as he steadied Kat. She was clearly out of breath and trying to catch it to respond to him.
"Hey.. Jason... sorry... yes.. everything is fine." Kat replied.
"So why are you running at me?" Jason said with an amused smile, having found out things were fine.
"I was jogging and saw you and wanted to run over and say hi." Kat confessed, feeling silly now at how she appeared.
"Oh.." Jason replied. "Well hi."
"Hi." Kat said with a laugh. "Tommy and I were just talking about how we never see you anymore.. and I guess I saw you and just didn't want you to get away again."
"Ha.. well.. I'm always around." Jason said as the two made their way over to one of the benches in the park nearby. Jason sat down, followed by Kat. "I guess.. we just, Kim and I, know how busy the life of a Ranger is, and just don't want to get in the way."
"Nonsense Jase, you guys would never be in the way." Kat rebutted with a smile.
"Thanks Kat." Jason responded.
"Seriously though.." Kat began. "Tommy misses you guys, we all do, but he has known you longer and all."
"Yeah, Kim and I were discussing that the other day... how we hardly ever hang out.." Jason responded. "We should do something about that."
"We should." Kat agreed.
"Speaking of.. I've been meaning to tell you guys that Zack and Trini are flying in this weekend." Jason informed her.
"Really?!" Kat responded excitedly." Gosh I'd love to meet them, I've heard a lot about them."
"You'll love them." Jason stated.
"Gosh.. Tommy will be so excited to hear that." Kat said, beaming. Jason smiled at her, her spirit was certainly infectious and it was easy to see why Tommy had became so smitten with her so quickly.
"Yeah, I was going to call him last night.. but the night kind of got away from me." Jason stated, his smile now due to memories from that evening. After a moment he turned to see Kat looking at him.
"Hey Jase.. it's none of my business, but.." Kat hesitated and looked down at her hands for a moment. She considered Jason to be a friend, and they had grew close while he was the Gold Ranger, but she didn't want to presume that it would be okay to pry. Jason noted her hesitation.
"It's okay.. you can ask whatever you want." Jason assured her. She looked up at him at his words.
"I just.. I mean.. maybe a girl just knows, but I kind of picked up on something between you and Kim." Kat stated. She watched as Jason attempted to keep his expression unreadable but there was a slight flash in his eyes and grin that he quickly shewed away.
"Oh.. you did?" Jason asked.
"I did." Kat answered .
"Well.. is it that noticeable?" Jason asked.
"Maybe not to everyone." Kat responded. "So i'm right?"
"Yeah.." Jason answered. Kat smiled.
"Congratulations.. this makes me happy." Kat informed him. "If anyone deserves to be happy, it's you Jason... and the way you are with Kim.. I think it's gonna be something special."
"Thanks Kat." Jason said with an appreciative smile as Kat patted him on the knee. She watched as Jason looked out at the park in front of them and his expression got contemplative.
"You are worried about Tommy aren't you?" Kat asked. Jason turned back to her.
"You are really perceptive." Jason responded. Kat shrugged.
"I don't think you have to Jason." Kat informed him.
"I know you are probably right, but still.." Jason said.
"I get it.. but Tommy.. I think he's happy." Kat said with a shy turn of her head back to her hands.
"I know he is." Jason said, his turn to assure her. "It's not that.. just so you know."
"I know Jase, and thanks." Kat responded. Jason opened his mouth to respond, but the sound of Kat's communicator stopped him. She turned to him with an apologetic look and he nodded. She responded to Zordon and was told to join a battle downtown. He made sure the coast was clear for her and she morphed and disappeared. He smiled as the pink streak vanished.
(****)
Jason kicked a loose rock in front of him and watched it as it flew into the lake. He stuffed his hands in his pocket and continued on. He had spent the last couple of hours in the park, mostly thinking and got a little training in as well. He had decided he was gonna drive over to Tommy's and just talk with him. He was missing hanging out, but also he wanted to get it over with about his and Kim's newfound relationship.
Jason stopped in his tracks when he heard someone cry out in distress. He listened and heard it again and pinpointed the location as behind some shrubery next to the lake. Jason quickly on instinct ran over to the source of the noise. He rounded the corner of the bushes to be greeted to the sight of a girl, he'd guess a few years younger than him, being held up against a tree and surrounded by a group of guys.
"Hey.. what's going on?" Jason asked as he approached the scene. The guys all immediately turned around, startled at his voice. He noted that they looked like a group of thugs he knew hung out on the beach, near a pier that most people avoided mostly due to that reason.
"None of your business." One of the men responded to Jason and stepped foot in front of the group. Jason noticed he had slipped a knife into his pocket as he was turning around. Jason looked past the group at the clearly terrified girl.
"Are you okay?" Jason asked the girl. She shook her head to indicate she was not.
"Hey!" The man who seemed to be the ringleader shouted at Jason to garner his attention. "This doesn't concern you.. you should move on."
"Listen.. I don't want any trouble, just let the girl go and everything will be fine." Jason replied.
"If you don't want any trouble, then I'd suggest you just keep walking." the man stated as he took a couple of steps closer to Jason.
"I can't do that." Jason answered. "Not until you let her come with me."
"That's not going to happen pal.. her big brother, owes me.. and I'm tired of waiting on him." came the reply.
"Sounds like your beef is with him, leave her out of it?" Jason suggested. He quickly counted heads to determine how many opponents he would have if he had to fight his way out of the situation.
"Are you telling me what to do?" The man replied with a laugh. "Man.. you should have kept walking."
Jason started to speak a response but the man lunged at him. He was much taller than Jason, but not nearly as quick so Jason sidestepped him and shoved him to the ground face first. Jason had no time to survey the damage before he felt a sharp pain in his jaw from a punch one of the other men had thrown at him. Jason felt his balance betray him and he nearly fell to the ground.
Before he could realize it he felt another sharp pain in his stomach and looked down just as a boot that had hit him moved away. Jason doubled over and stepped back slightly to regain his bearings. He saw yet another fist coming at his face and was able to duck away from it. He retaliated on that attacker with an elbow that knocked him to the ground. Jason spun, quick on his feet to block another punch. This time he returned that with a kick to the thigh that caused the man's legs to buckle. This opening allowed Jason an opportunity to kick him square in the chest and to the ground.
"You are making a big mistake." the leader of the group stated as he came up behind Jason and grabbed him. He held his arms, and Jason started to break away. Before he break the grip he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. Very much different than any pain he had felt before. Jason winced and then had a rush of adrenaline as he broke the grip of the larger man and flung him over his shoulder. Jason stepped back and glanced down at his white shirt to see it now stained a crimson red.
Jason muttered a curse under his breath and turned to the terrified girl still pressed up against the tree, albeit with nothing other than her own fear holding her there. Jason backed over to her.
"You gotta get out of here.. got get help.. please just run." Jason said to her, breaking her out of her fear induced trance. She nodded and then took off running. Jason turned back to the group of four that were just regrouping. One of the men took note of the girl running away and started to chase off after her. Jason felt a wave of dizziness crash over him but he still managed to step into the path of the man and take him down.
"Get him!" a voice from behind Jason prompted him to attempt to get up from the mount position he had found himself in on the other attacker. Jason reached his feet in time to block a punch and return one of his own.
"Stab him again!" a voice from Jason's left sent chills down his spine as he realized now that his attackers would not be opposed to just straight up murdering him, and in fact this appeared to now be the plan. Jason had no time to block the knife before it went into the back of his shoulder. He let out a muffled cry of pain and spun to kick the person who had stabbed him.
"Boy you just don't quit do ya?" the annoyed voice from Jason's left got louder with every word as Jason felt a tackle that took him down to the ground. Jason hit hard on the ground from it and started to immediately take a defensive stance. He found however that his body was weak and not wanting to cooperate. In fact right now all he wanted to do was just close his eyes and sleep.
Jason's thoughts were jarred by a punch that hit him under his right eye. Then one under his left. Jason used the last of his strength to put his hands up and block another shot. He however wasn't prepared for the kick that hit him square in his temple. It was the last thing he heard or felt.
(****)
"Wow.. that is amazing.. gosh.." Tommy said with a big smile he turned to his companion.
"Yes.. I know.. I told him you'd be especially happy to hear that they were coming home." Kat replied as she gave Tommy's hand a small squeeze and the two stepped up onto the sidewalk and started to make their way towards the entrance to the Youth Center.
"Can't wait to tell the rest of the gang." Tommy said with a nod in front of him at the group he knew were waiting inside. Tommy stopped when he heard the sound of someone running nearby. He turned to look towards the park and saw a girl running out of it clutching to a purse and audibly sobbing. Tommy glanced over at Kat for just a moment before he took off in the direction of the girl.
"Hey.. hey.. are you okay?" Tommy asked as he intercepted the girl in the parking lot as she all but collapsed into his arms.
"You got.. you gotta help him.." The girl said between frantic sobs.
"Help who?" Tommy asked as he stepped back and hunkered down slightly to her eye level.
"The man... he.. he saved me, but they are going to kill him.." The girl said before sobs overtook her. Tommy glanced over at Kat who had now made her way over to them.
"Take her inside, call the police.. I've got to go check this out." Tommy said as he nodded towards the park.
"Okay.. be careful." Kat said as she put her arm around the girl and began to lead her through the parking lot. She glanced back just as Tommy disappeared into the park and out of sight.
(****)
Tommy ran with his head seemingly on a swivel as he looked for any sign of what the girl could be talking about. It being nightfall now the park was not it's usual busy hub of people. Tommy felt this would help him to discover anything out of place but seemingly nothing was going on. He regretted now not trying to get more details out of the frightened girl.
Tommy stopped close to the lake and caught his breath. He glanced around in every direction but saw no movement or anything out of the ordinary. He let out a frustrated sigh and was about to head towards the bridge leading over the lake when he heard some commotion behind him. He heard a splash and then after a few moments a group of men took off running across the park.
"Hey!" Tommy called out after the men but they didn't stop or even acknowledge him, instead only seemingly increasing their pace. Tommy considered running after them but decided his best bet would be to check out where they had ran from. So he jogged down the hill and past some shrubbery to a clearing by the lake. He stopped and glanced around. This part of the park was very dimly lit and so it was hard for him to make out anything.
Tommy eased forward, making sure to keep his wits about him. The state of the panicked girl had left him a bit uneased. The words "killing him," had especially troubled him and put his adrenaline into overdrive. Tommy stepped forward a few steps closer to the water, having remembered the splash he had heard.
Tommy slipped in something and glanced down at his black sneaker. He was just about to bend down to examine what he had stepped in, when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye in the water. He squinted in the dark and saw something dark floating on the surface. Tommy's eyes widened as he soon realized what he was seeing was the silhouette of a person.
Tommy didn't hesitate but ran into the water and swam over to the person just as they dipped below the surface. Tommy reached out frantically and grabbed onto an arm just before it disappeared out of his view. Tommy used all of his strength to pull the person up to him. His heart sunk when he got a look at the face of the lifeless body in his arms.
"Jason..." Tommy's voice came out in a whisper.
