Hey guys! I know its been awhile since I updated. I ended up burning myself out. I'm trying to get back into the saddle, so I decided to take a break and write the next chapter for this fic. We're almost to the end of this story. I hope you all enjoy this!
Tommy deftly maneuvered the jeep into the parking lot. After pulling the emergency break and turning off the engine, he turned to his son.
"You ready for this?"
TJ nodded. "Yeah dad, I'm just not sure how to approach Mei without giving away my identity."
Tommy clapped him on the shoulder. "You don't have to say anything, just give her the necklace. That shouldn't be too hard."
"Thanks, Dad, you just jinxed me."
Tommy only chuckled and got out of the car.
Thankfully, the eatery/juice bar wasn't too busy. As they walked in, Ernie saw them and put down the towel he was holding. "Hey guys, long time no see!"
"Hey Ernie," Tommy said. "You got a minute? We have some things to discuss with you."
Their long time friend looked puzzled. "Is there something you need? How can I help?"
"It's the family business." Tommy said, lowering his tone. "We need to go somewhere private."
With a look of understanding, Ernie nodded and searched for one of his hired workers. "Lilia, watch the counter for me will ya?"
The pretty blonde nodded and headed over to the counter. Once that was done, Ernie led them both in to the back.
Just as the door closed, Mei walked in took up a chair at the bar. Lilia grinned at her and approached the counter. Hey mei, you just missed your boyfriend."
"TJ was here?"
"He came in with his dad a few minutes ago. They're in the back…but I don't think they want to be bothered at the moment. They're speaking in private."
Mei perked up instantly, and looked at the office door that was closed.
"Don't even think about it, Mei, you know better then to eavesdrop."
"But it may be something important, what if TJ needs some help?"
"I could get fired, you know, and I have to work through school. No one else would hire me."
"You tried to stop me, but I'm too fast." Mei said speaking quickly. "You won't get in trouble."
Before the blonde could say anything else, the little Asian girl was gone.
"So, you're back on the job eh?" Ernie was asking.
"Yeah, I thought after the mission to the moon, that my ranger days were done, but the hybrid has it out for me. We just thought you should know."
"I'm honored, Tommy. But what has it got to do with me?"
"Its Mei."
Ernie froze "Please don't tell me it's after my girl."
TJ nodded grimly. "When Keiser attacked us the other day, he saw Mei was with me. She didn't see me morph but that jerk will know that we're together. I'm scared that he may try to use her to draw us out…ambush me."
Outside the door Mei froze. It couldn't be true. Her boyfriend, a power ranger?
"It's the complication of being a super hero's girlfriend." Tommy supplied. "It's the reason that Zack's still single, after that whole oyster incident, he's been hesitant to date anyone that's not also a Ranger."
"Isn't there something you could do to protect her,? "I mean, you have all that space technology."
"Uncle Billy invented a device, but Dad thought it was only right to ask you first." TJ took a deep breath. "I'd understand if you want to send her away…I'd hate it but her safety comes first."
Mei gasped as a sense of panic came up. No! I'm not leaving! In her frustration, she stood back up, walked back out to the counter and ordered herself a chocolate banana smoothie.
Ernie nodded. "I understand perfectly. It'd be my first idea, but Skull and Megan just has their baby. They're so busy with him that there's no way they'll have time to look after her too, and take care of their son."
"Skull, a father?"
Ernie chuckled. "Yeah, his son, Steven was born about two weeks ago. He sent me a birth announcement, here it is." Ernie said handing them a glossy piece of paper.
Tommy grimaced as a sudden feeling penetrated his stomach.
"Steven Pogue Skullovich. Sounds like he'll be his father's son."
Ernie chuckled. "Yeah, but I wouldn't panic just yet. I know Megan, and I can guarantee that she'll keep both her husband and son in check. Zoe is safe."
Tommy looked stunned as a feeling of foreshadowing came up. "Good to know."
"So, getting back to business. Ernie said, as he picked up the announcement and put it in the top drawer of his desk. "As Skull and Megan are busy, I think I'll keep Mei here. What did Billy create to keep her safe?"
TJ reached into his the hidden pocket of his jacket and pulled out the locket. "There's a homing device on this. If something happens, all she has to do is activate it, buy squeezing hard, we'll not only get an alarm, but we'll be able to lock onto her and teleport her out. This will give us all a peace of mind."
"That's very ingenious. Remind me to thank Billy." Their friend looked at his watch. "Mei will be here by now, she's supposed to help me make smoothies today."
TJ took a deep breath and then walked out, closing the door behind him.
Mei was still sitting at the counter when he found her. He grinned at her, "Hi Mei."
She had a hard time looking him in the eye.
"Mei is something wrong?"
TJ's sense of foreboding went up a notch when he saw her hesitate.
"I'm not leaving…ever."
"Why would you think you were?"
"I heard you talking to dad." she said in a soft voice. "I also know you're a power ranger. I guess I suspected all along."
"You mean, you were eaves dropping?"
Mei looked at him defiantly. "Can you say you would have told me eventually?"
TJ sighed. "No, you know I can't. I just received my Morpher this morning. I took an oath to keep my identity secret. You're already in danger because of me. I just wanted to keep you safe."
Mei nodded understandingly. "I guess you're right…but now that I know, you won't have to keep it a secret from me anymore…and I promise that your secret's safe with me."
TJ sighed. "No one can know about this. I might lose the protection I have."
"I'll swear an oath if I have to." Mei bit her lip. "Do I still have to go away? You're not breaking up with me are you?"
TJ shook his head. "No, and I would never willingly break up with you either. I love you…a lot…and that's why I couldn't bare to see you hurt. It's dangerous, being my girlfriend."
"Bring it on." Mei said with a determined look in her eyes. "Let them try, I'm no damsel in distress."
TJ smirked. "You won't be. Not with this." Then he pulled out the locket. "This will keep you safe. It's like those Life Alert things on TV. If something should happen to you, you only need to squeeze this locket. It activates a signal…that's how I'll know if you're in trouble. Then I can come and save you."
Mei looked at him. "I don't need saving. I told you, I'm not as fragile as you think."
TJ sighed. "I know you're not, you're really tough, but Mei, this hybrid warlord we're facing could strike at any moment, and we have no idea what he has in his bag of tricks. We already know that he has a minion that can change his appearance. Who knows what else he could do. Especially to you."
Mei bit her lip. "Ok, I'll trust you."
TJ smiled and kissed her cheek after clasping the necklace around her neck. "Make sure you wear this everywhere…it's waterproof."
"It's beautiful!" Mei said in a soft voice as she fingered the locket. "I'll be proud to wear it." saying this she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips.
TJ pressed back and then ended the kiss. Mei hugged him. "I promise to stay safe."
"You'd better." TJ said as he pulled Mei into a tight hug.
"So, do you have any idea when the warlord is supposed to attack?" Ernie asked.
"These are uncertain times. He could strike anytime. We have ranger friends out on Mirinoi. They're watching very closely. We should be able to get at least a few hours notice before he arrives. We've been extremely lucky that he hasn't come yet. Tanya's the only ranger among us who is still pregnant. Kim's already training and so is Kat and Trini wants to join in…but she's still recovering from the twin's birth. It's really taken a toll on Jason too, he's been unable to help with the training, Rocky and Aisha have been in charge of the dojo with Adam and Zack stepping in to help. We also have Andros and the other space rangers to help us out."
"Add to that, every ranger team on Earth has been alerted…and I know for a fact, that if we need help, we'll have only to call. This warlord won't know what to do. He has no idea how outnumbered he is."
Ernie sighed. "Well, it seems you have everything under control. I trust you Tommy. You and the others have kept us safe thus far. I just hope, that all this will be over quickly."
"We hope so as well."
:Congrats TJ. You lasted a full 20 minutes before Mei found out your secret:
:Hey, its not my fault that Mei decided to eavesdrop.:
:This is so Spiderman:
:No it isn't. if it was, I would have broken up with Mei, but we're still together:
:If you say so. Mom's calling me to the training deck. Have fun today.:
That last statement, had TJ confused. In the next moment, his dad walked out. Ready to go TJ? You're uncles are waiting for us."
"Where are we going?"
"To a party. A guy's party. Tristan, Aiden, and Tyler are there too. Let's get going."
Mei hugged him tight. "I'll see you later."
10 minutes later, they arrived at a building. On the front of the building was a very colorful sign. "Inky Quill's?"
Tommy grinned. "Yeah, your Uncle David's friend is a tattoo artist. He owns this place. But don't say another word till we get inside."
TJ's head was full of questions as they walked in the door. David was the first to greet them. "Hey guys, it's been ages."
"Uncle David!"
"Hey TJ. You look different. Have you been working out?"
TJ grinned. "Yeah, Tyler, Terra and Me. We've been training really hard."
"Yeah, your dad told me about that. You looked ripped."
The brand new ranger beamed with pride. "Thanks, but I don't understand what we're doing here."
"Uncle Jason appeared then. "It's a ritual. We did the same thing just before that special mission we went on."
"You all got tattoos?" He asked, looking at his dad. "I've never seen one on you."
"That's because I got it on my hip. Only your mom's ever seen it."
"That's an odd place to put it."
"Its one of those secrets between a mom and a dad." Uncle Jason said. "It's kind of sweet too. But lets get down to business."
Tommy nodded. Jason's right. We came here to get tattoos." saying this, he handed a thick book to his son. "You choose. I'll explain later."
"No way! This is gonna be cool."
Tyler grinned. "I know, Dad let me choose his too. He's getting it done right now."
"We have the coolest dad's ever!"
"Make it a good one, Son. This isn't just for fun." Tommy said in a serious voice as Uncle David handed him a soda.
Just then Aiden and Tristan ran up to their respective dads. "We're done."
David accepted the paper from his son. "This is a good drawing. It's gonna look great!
Andros looked at Tristan's paper. "I see your kerovian's coming along…you've been practicing. Is that the tattoo you want me to get?"
Tristan nodded. "Yeah, uncle Zhane taught me. He pointed to three stick figures. You also gotta get this too Daddy."
Andros hugged his son tight. "It's gonna look awesome. You did a great job! Mommy's gonna like it too!"
Just then another stranger came in the room. She was a tall willowy girl with long black hair. She had tattoo's all over her and she had piercing in her ears and one on her right eye brow. She wore black bondage pants, black ankle boots and a black corset.
"Are you're drawings done? She asked the boys.
Tristan and Aiden nodded and gave them the papers.
She looked at the pictures. "Nice stick figures! I'll have these done in a few minutes." Then she saw the new comers.
"Hey guys! Welcome to Inky Quill's. My name's Willow. I'm one of the other artists here. You let me know when you've chosen a tatt for your dad's I'll just be in the back room."
When she was gone, TJ opened the book and began looking. He'd already had an idea.
:You should get a tiger.:
:I was thinking the same thing…but it shouldn't be just any tiger.:
:Do they have any white tigers:
:Yeah, I'm looking for one right now….there it is.:
:What does it look like?:
:It's something you'll have to see when we get home. Get out of my head, this is a guy's party.:
:But I'm always here….I can read your every thought….hey, there's a lot more paperclips then I expected.:
TJ rolled his eyes and put up the mental barrier. Then with the right page, he walked up to his dad. "I found one. It'll look awesome!"
Tommy grinned. "I like it."
The tattoo looked like a tiger claw that ripped away his dad's skin. Behind the claw, inside the rips a white tiger face was visible. It had green eyes too.
"Good choice." Willow said as she came up behind him. You boys can have a seat. Quill's almost ready for you." she looked at Andros. "You can come with me. Now that everyone's chosen their design, we can get yours done. Come with me."
Later that night, as they returned to the safety of hideout, TJ turned to his dad. "So what's the purpose of the tattoo?"
"It's something us guy's decided a few weeks back. We know now that Keiser is a shape shifter. He could chose to take any form he wants. We were worried that he may try to impersonate us. So we decided to get tatts that could be used to identify us. We let you choose so that it would be original and so incase he tried to go that route, you would know which one of us was the real one. Even if he replicated the tatts, you could question him on it."
"Good idea…but I'm curious. What tattoo is on your hip?"
"I won't show you, but it's a pink rose. I later added three thorns on the stem. One for you, terra and Zoey."
"Cool. Lets go in, I'm starving!"
Tommy laughed. "You're definitely my son."
So, what do you guys think? The tattoo parlor bit was a last minute idea...what did you guys think of it? What did yall think of Willow? And of Skull having a son? Would you like Willow to make another appearnace in the next fic?
You voted and so, Mei now knows her boyfriends identity. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves!
Catch ya later!
