Author's Notes – Big thanks to Chylea3784, who totally wrote the majority of this part. Seriously.

Summary – The group gets together for a picnic, Kat makes an observation.

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Observations

Kat

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(Week 31)

Looking around the secluded picnic area and then back at the others seated around me, I can't help but wonder how much longer this silence is going to last before someone snaps.

Each person staring at their food, and Tommy staring at…well the clouds it would seem; this isn't going to end well. Especially as there isn't actually a cloud in the sky; Tommy's going to get very bored very quickly if this keeps up.

Nudging Jason discretely and tilting my head, gesturing for him to say something, anything, I sigh when he simply shrugs in response. Typical man, never can do anything right. Fine looks like it's up to me then. "So… this is nice." Lame Katherine, so lame.

Nodding in agreement, Jason continues to pick at the potato salad on his plate. "Yeah, nice."

Clearing her throat, Tanya is the next to speak, if not just as enthusiastically as we did. "So, Kat how's school?" Okay, it's not the best question but she's trying; notice how it's all us girls trying? Says something doesn't it.

"Good." Well if you can call a C average good for a once A grade student, I mean.

Looking to Rocky now that the olive branch has been extended a bit, Jason tries to keep some form of a conversation going. "How's work?"

"It's all right. We hired a new instructor." From what I've heard that's not the first one. Apparently with Jason unable to and now it would seem slightly unwilling to teach with him anymore I'm sure he's had to go through part time instructors like crazy.

"Good."

Noticing the building tension, Adam beats me to the next comment. "Well it's nice we can put our differences aside and get together again." Right. Now if we could only do it without the hostility hanging in the air. I'm sorely tempted to pick up the little plastic knife we brought with us to see if I can literally cut the tension in the air.

Head lowered, Tommy's muttered response is caught by all of us. "Yeah, because just think how awkward it'd be if we couldn't."

Quickly picking up my napkin to cover my withheld laughter at this, I hear the words come before I can stop myself. "Yeah, just imagine."

And we're going back to the uncomfortable silence. Wonderful.

-ooooooooo-

(15 min. of silence later….)

"All right, this is ridiculous."

All of us startled by the sudden comment, I turn to Adam knowing what he meant but still feeling the need to ask. "What is?"

"This. All of this." Gesturing wildly to all of us, Adam has clearly had enough. Can't say I blame him. "The silences, no one saying what they're really thinking; it has been going on for months and I'm tired of it."

"We're trying Adam." Yes, but maybe we're not trying enough Rocky, ever thought of that?

"It's just hard." But why? Why is it so hard Jason? They're our friends, it shouldn't be hard. One disagreement shouldn't come between us like this. "Ever since…"

"Since I came back." Tommy's muttered words instantly put all of us on alert. No, no Jason fix it. Fix it now. I know that's not what you were going to say, but you know how Tommy thinks these days.

"No, Tom that's not what I was going to say." Taking his best friend's hand, Jason shakes his head sternly. "Ever since we've let our disagreement come between us, that's what started this. Not you. Not you being back."

"No, not being back, because I came back." I knew this was a bad idea. As all five of us begin to hastily deny this, he shakes his head. "I know what I've seen and heard. Tanya and Rocky thought it would have been better to send me away for help. Kat and Jason thought it would be better if I stayed and so did Adam. Kat and Jason cared for me for weeks before they asked Adam to help." Bordering between the topic we're on and another I'm reluctant to stop him as he seems adamant to say what he wants to say.

It feels slightly wrong that I'm so proud of him for doing this, for finally speaking his mind, but it's better than the alternative. At least he's talking now.

Shaking her own head, Tanya gives him pleading eyes. "Tommy we didn't want to send you away and forget about you. We just thought you'd get better help on Eltar. We love you. We just thought that was best."

"Who knows? Maybe it would have been better if I had been sent away, but it didn't happen. We all know that things will never get back to the way they were. I've been back for- what? Eight months now? Rangers shouldn't be divided this long, especially on something that's not going to change."

Looking at him and then the others, I hate to admit it but- "He's right. We are being stupid. What are we really accomplishing by acting like a bunch of spoiled children giving each other the silent treatment?" Especially around Tommy. I hate to think how much we've inhibited his recovery by acting like petulant brats.

Nodding in agreement and all looking fairly guilty, Jason is the first to speak up. "This has gone far enough. The only time we see each other anymore is in battles and by accident. It's not right."

Agreeing, Rocky responses just as quietly, "You guys were right. It is better for him to be here. I just- we had no idea what we were doing and I didn't want to cause him more problems."

Looking at Tommy and seeing he's now basically ignoring the conversation in favor of a squirrel that he's tossing potato chips to, Adam turns back to our friends. "That's why I stayed away as long as I did. But guys it's worse for us and for himfor us to be apart like this."

"Rangers need to stick together." Couldn't agree more Rocky.

Just about to bring Tommy's focus away from the fluffy tailed rat he's giving handouts to, I'm beaten to it as a large, rowdy group of boys pass by, sending the squirrel up a tree and Tommy into a near panic attack. Good thing he stayed here at the table with us instead of actually taking the food to the little animal. Plus, I'd hate to have to deal with him, doctors and rabies shots right now.

Rubbing his back soothingly, Jason's voice is lowered despite it being a bit hard to hear over the departing and still joking and roughhousing boys. "It's okay, Tom. Just relax."

When he fails to respond to Jason, his shaking and lack of color becoming worse, I give it a try. "Tommy? You're safe. It's okay, they're gone." Shit this isn't good. "Hey how about some pie, huh? You want some pie?" Nothing. Damn, usually pie does the trick, not really sure why but it does.

Next in line and really our last chance, Adam slowly wraps his arms about him despite the awkward angle of them both sitting side by side on the bench. "Tom, stay with me here. We're all here. We'll take care of you. See we're all getting along now, just like before, okay? The kids are gone now and they weren't trying to hurt you, I know you don't like loud noises, but remember what we talked about; teenagers are just loud by nature. That's all it is."

Finally seeming to be reached on some level, we all breathe a sigh as Tommy settles a bit.

"Just breathe. You're doing good; just take a deep breath for me. Let me hear it."

Looking reluctant, but nevertheless doing as he's asked, I feel my own self taking the steadying breath with him, very relieved as some color returns to his face and his shaking is ceased for the most part

Also appeased, Adam loosens his hold on him. "See? They're gone and you're all right."

Nodding, but glancing back behind us, he may be alright but he still doesn't look happy. "Squirrel's gone."

"We'll find you a new squirrel." Voice soft, but tinged with an underlying note of jealousy, Jason is clearly in part at least unhappy about Tommy responding to Adam when he'd failed. I swear I'm going to have to keep those two separated when Tommy's around.

Noting Tanya and Rocky's concerned looks, Adam is quick to reassure. "Trust me that little episode was nothing. He's much better then he was eight months ago." No kidding, I mean we couldn't even get him to go out and that was just eight weeks ago.

"I guess so, considering eight months ago he bit me when he had one of those little panic attacks." Rubbing her arm unconsciously, Tanya clearly hadn't meant to say that, but it's a little too late as Tommy responds almost instantly.

"I bit you?" Nice going Tanya, couldn't just let him focus on finding a new squirrel.

Looking to me first, Adam only responds when I give him the go ahead. "Remember when I told you how we found you?" When he gets a slow nod from Tom, he continues gently, "Well you weren't in your right mind at the time. Which is completely to be expected, but well Tanya made a sudden move towards you to help get you untangled from a chain that you had wrapped around you and you bit her."

Head down and looking truly sorry, his apology isn't a necessary one. "Sorry." You shouldn't be, she should have known better than to make such a sudden move towards you when you were growling at us. It's her own fault for being so desperate to get out of there.

"Don't be, you weren't yourself and like he said I shouldn't have made such a sudden move towards someone in that state." And you shouldn't have brought it up to someone in the state he's still in now. Breathe, Katherine, come on, you've just made up, don't let this get to you now.

Catching the sad look flicker in his eyes, I really wish we hadn't gone this route. "Hey, you okay?"

"Fine." The answer characteristically short, I make a note as he shifts closer to Adam's side, picking some cold ham off his plate now rather than his own.

Suddenly noting just how close they are and just how successful Adam had been at getting through to him a moment ago, I can't help but realize that a lot of changes Tommy has made over the past few weeks have occurred while with the Green Ranger. Add in Jason's jealousy, how close Tommy likes to be with Adam and…no, no it can't be.

Can it?

To be continued……