3x5

Chapter Eleven: The Strip, pt. 1

by angellwings

They were arguing over where to go for the day. They were going to spend the first half of the day walking around and taking pictures of the more famous casinos in Vegas as proof that they had actually been there, and then they wanted to see if they could get tickets to a show somewhere. Kim didn't really care where they went, honestly, but she was making as a big a deal of it as she was so they would all agree to split up into groups. More specifically Jason and Trini then herself, Zack, and Rocky. She could deal with the boys for one day besides maybe she could try and figure out if she stood a chance with Rocky.

"How about we split up, okay?" Trini suggested rationally.

Kimberly hid her wicked grin, yes, perfect.

"Sounds like a good plan to me," she answered eagerly, "You and Jase can take the excursion and park it in a parking deck, and drop the three of us off on the strip. We'll cover one end, and the two of you can cover the other."

Trini gawked at her friend as realization dawned, she had planned for this to happen. She gave Kim a small smile, and chuckled. "Okay, what do you say Jase? You up for half a day of just you and me?"

Jason's eyes went wide, and Rocky and Zack smirked at him.

"Yeah, Jase, are you ready for a day of just you and her?" Zack repeated.

"Sure, sounds good, let's do it." Jason said quickly as he rushed everyone out of the room.

"Long time coming, man." Rocky mumbled with a grin as he walked past the former gold ranger.

"You'll get yours, Ape boy, believe me you'll get yours." Jason said vengefully to the back of Rocky's head with a glare.

"I can not believe that worked." Kim said to herself as they watched Jason and Trini drive down the strip toward a parking garage.

"What worked?" Rocky asked as he peered at her curiously.

"The whole arguing until I get everyone to agree to split up thing." She told them with a proud smile.

"You made a big deal about sight seeing just to get Jason and Trini on their own?" Zack asked with an amused grin as Kim nodded. Zack grinned and bowed repeatedly, "I'm not worthy."

She laughed and tilted her chin upward haughtily, "Yes, I know"

Rocky smiled softly at her, "You're kind of evil, you know that?"

"Why else would Lord Zedd want me to be his queen?" She asked him with a grin and a wink.

He and Zack chuckled at her as she led them down the strip with her head held high. They stopped and took pictures at various places. The three of them took turns taking the pictures. It was Zack's turn to take the picture so Rocky and Kim would be the only ones in the picture. Rocky and Kim took a spot in front of Caesar's Palace. Just before Zack took the picture Kim jumped on Rocky's back. Just after the camera flashed Rocky fell over from the shock of the Kim's weight on his back. Kim squealed as Rocky fell, and he tried to rotate to keep her from hitting the pavement first. They ended up with Rocky's back hitting the pavement and Kim landing on top of his chest.

"Oh my God! Rocky, are you okay? How's your back? Rocky?" Kim asked him frantically as she flattened her palms against his chest. Rocky cleared his throat and blinked a few times as he tried to focus on something other than the fact that Kim's petite body was resting on top of his.

"Yeah, yeah I'm okay. Don't worry, you don't weigh enough to cause any damage." He said hoarsely as his eyes met hers. Kim bit her lip, and took a deep quivering breath. This was just like the other day in the car. Did this hovering tension mean something? She swallowed and smiled shyly at him as her face flushed.

"Dude! That was awesome, man! I wish I would have a video camera or something! That rotating maneuver you pulled was smooth! I've never seen any one move that fast!" Zack said excitedly as he ran toward them.

Kim sighed and gently pushed herself off of him. She mentally cursed Zack for interrupting. There was a nice moment building there, and Zack ruined it. Zack reached down and helped her up as Rocky stood as well. Kim stifled a chuckle as she saw Rocky shoot Zack a deadly glare. Zack looked between the two of them apprehensively, and threw Rocky an apologetic glance.

That was when Kim realized that the guys had been talking, and at some point they had talked about her and Rocky. It was the only way to explain the silent communication between the two guys.

"Kim Hart?" A voice called from behind her. Her head whipped around at the sound of the voice. When she saw it's source she smiled broadly.

"Will?" She asked with a laugh as she approached the blond man.

"Hey!" He exclaimed as he hugged her tightly, "What are you doing here?"

She smiled and pulled back a little, "I'm on vacation with my friends, you?"

"I'm working." He told her proudly.

"Working? Where? In a show?" She asked him with raised eyebrows

"Cirque du Soliel" He stated simply.

Her jaw dropped, "No way! I am SO jealous!"

Rocky's throat cleared from behind her, and Zack tapped her on the shoulder.

"Who's your friend?" Rocky asked with a hostile edge to his voice.

"Sorry guys, I sort of forgot where I was for a minute," She chuckled, "Guys this is Will. Will was on Schmidt's team with me, but . . . he and the coach didn't really get along. Anyway, Will these are my friends Rocky and Zack."

He stepped away from Kim and shook their hands, "Nice to meet you guys."

"So you're a gymnast?" Rocky asked as he crossed his arms over his chest and arched one eyebrow at him.

"Yeah, I'm currently performing in LOVE, the Vegas Cirque du Soliel show." He said with a nod as he crossed his arms as well.

"Cirque du Soliel . . . that's pretty impressive, man." Zack said with an enthusiastic smile.

"Thanks, maybe you guys can help me convince Kim to join the show." He said as he flashed her a bright smile.

She smiled sadly at him, "I can't do gymnastics any more, Willie."

He automatically looked concerned, "What? What happened?"

"I hurt my ankle, My doctor doesn't think my ankle can take the stress any more." She told him with as she blinked back the water welling up in her eyes.

"That's ridiculous, if I listened to my doctors I would have had to quit gymnastics a long time ago." He told her as he shook his head and squeezed her shoulders.

"What?" She asked him as she looked at him in surprise.

"Oh yeah, why do you think Schmidt and I didn't care for each other? He wanted me to quit so I would cause any more damage to my shoulder." He told her.

"No offense, man, but that sounds pretty stupid to me." Rocky told him with merged eye brows.

"No way, I've worked way too hard to just give it all up because I MIGHT cause myself a lot more hurt LATER." He said as he shook his head adamantly, "And so has Kim."

"So, you've been doing gymnastics despite your doctors advice for a little over a year and half?" Kim asked in an intrigued tone, "And nothing has happened?"

Will grinned at her, "Not a single thing."

She bit her lip thoughtfully.

Zack peered at her apprehensively, "Kim? Don't even think about it."

"It's not safe, Kim, it would be like me trying to break dance." Rocky told her as he took a step forward and glared at Will. Who did this guy think he was?

She reluctantly looked up at Zack and Rocky, "I know, I know, you're right. You're totally right."

She laughed lightly and gave Rocky a funny look, "Do you even know how to break dance?"

He grinned, "It was just an analogy."

"It's still a funny picture." Kim said with a giggle.

Will cleared his throat, "So, it was nice seeing you Kim."

She smiled at him, "You too, It's been a while."

"Hey, why don't you and your friends come to the show tonight?" He suggested with wide eyes.

"Really? Could you get us tickets?" She asked as she bounced on the balls of her feet with excitement.

"Yeah, definitely, how many do you need?" Will asked as he glanced at Kim and the guys.

"They're are five of us. Our friends Jason and Trini are on the other side of the strip." Zack answered as he glared cautiously at the male gymnast.

"Great, I live your tickets at the box office." Will said as he gave Kim a hug and shook Zack and Rocky's hands again, "I'll see you tonight. Maybe we can go out afterwards?"

She nodded, "Sure."

"Great, It was nice meeting you guys." He said as he walked off.

Rocky and Zack glared at his retreating form, and then turned to glare reproachfully at Kim.

"What?" She asked them innocently.

"I should tell Jason that you even THOUGHT about defying your doctors. He'd LOVE to hear that." Zack told her in a brotherly tone.

Her shoulders sagged, "I'm not going to try it, okay? It was just a moment of insanity."

"You know we just don't want you getting hurt." Rocky said as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

She smiled softly at him and nodded, "I know, I just miss gymnastics so much."

He snaked his arm around her shoulder as they began walking again, and Zack caught up to walk on Kim's other side, "It will be okay, Kim. I promise."

Zack smiled knowingly at the two of them, and shook his head. Jason and Trini were skirting around each other, and now Rocky and Kim were as well. One of those couples better hook up by the end of the summer or He just might have to get forceful.

Kim wrapped her arm around Rocky's waist and squeezed, "Thanks, Rocko." So what do you guys think Jason and Trini are doing?"

"Let's hope they're making progress." Zack said as he winked at Kim, "Where are we meeting them again?"

"Outside the MGM in like thirty minutes." Kim stated as she glanced at her watch.

They continued to make their way to MGM. Neither Kim nor Rocky removed their arms. They were both far too comfortable. They finally reached the casino and all three stopped short at the sight that greeted them. Kim's jaw dropped, Zack smiled, and Rocky chuckled as they stared at Trini and Jason in a full fledged make out session.

"Oh my God." Kim said with a bright smile, "What in the world have you two been DOING all day?"

Jason and Trini pulled apart at the sound of Kim's voice. Trini blushed and looked down at the ground while Jason grinned idiotically. He looked at them with an unashamed expression, "Hi guys."

"Umm, Hey." Zack said as he stifled a chuckle.

Ta da! Woo! What do you think? Not a whole lot of hilarity in this chapter I know, but the plots moving a long.

Enjoy!

angellwings