SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

Jeremy Shane: Thanks, here's more.

Gonewiththerain09: Well, keep reading and see.

Kellybird: Thanks. Well, then, you're just going to have to keep reading, aren't you?

Yob3: Thank you. I'm glad you like it. That's good.

Fanficrulez: Thanks, I'm glad you like the story. Here you go.

JediMasterSarah: Yes, he is. Well, read on and find out. Thank you. I will.

DISCLAIMER

Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban and Nickelodeon. Plot inspired by "Dragon's Path" by Crowned Tiger who has given me permission to run with it. Bold is telepathic speak.

Nurses and doctors talked frantically as they hurriedly wheeled Jason down the corridor.

"He's got multiple contusions and a couple of broken ribs, some defensive wounds…looks like someone beat the heck out of him," a nurse reported.

"His name's Jason Lee Scott, son of Curtis Scott," another nurse said.

"Curtis Scott the cop?" came the gasp. Had he actually done this to his own son? Hearing someone talking, Jason's eyes fluttered open. Wha-what's going on? he wondered. He heard someone talking in a distorted voice, and then once again slipped into unconsciousness. When he woke up, he found himself in a hospital room. Okay, time to go, he determined. There was no way he was staying here. He started to sit up.

"I wouldn't advise that," a voice cautioned and a nurse with blonde hair and hazel eyes started to push him back gently.

"I have to. I can't stay here," he responded, once again trying to sit up.

"Mr. Scott, you're going to be just fine," the nurse assured.

"No, you don't understand. I have to-" he started to say.

"I understand, just fine, Mr. Scott. But if you don't stop moving around, you're ribs are going to be broken again," the nurse interrupted. Just then, a doctor came in.

"Good, you're awake," the man approved. "You had us all a bit scared," he continued. "Now, Mr. Scott, due to your injuries, there will be a couple of police officers coming in here to ask you a few questions," he told the boy.

"No! There's no need for that! There's nothing wrong!" Jason cried, jerking up. They're just gonna shut it up again! He's already told them lies! he thought frantically. He tried to leave the bed, but the nurse and doctor intercepted him. Suddenly, a stab of pain went through Jason's body and he let out a cry.

"Easy, son. No one's going to let anything happen to you. You're safe here," the doctor soothed, sharing a worried look with the nurse. Meanwhile, at the Angel Grove Police Department, Curtis was sitting in an interrogation room.

"Look, this is all just a big misunderstanding," he insisted.

"Right," a woman with black hair and a dark complexion drawled. Really? He actually thought that they'd believe that?

"Look, I got a call that Jason had skipped school again and I was asking him why he was being so irresponsible," Curtis said.

"Did that include smashing his ribs?" the woman asked hotly.

"Just who are you again?" Curtis asked.

"Sabrina Chavez," she answered.

"Right. A newbie," Curtis sneered. Figures. Guess I'll just lay it on extra thick, he thought. "Look, sweetheart, my son and I haven't been getting along lately, he's been acting up, skipping classes, mouthing off. Now I've been trying to set him straight, but so far, I haven't had much luck," he told her. "Rick will vouch for that," added, pointing to a blonde-haired man.

"Curtis, even I have to admit, this looks bad," Rick told him. "By the time the paramedics got him into the ambulance, he was unconscious. What happened?" he questioned. Before he could answer, another detective walked in. Like Rick, he was blonde-haired, but had blue eyes.

"Tony, what's the word on my son?" Curtis asked with fake concern.

"Rick, Sabrina, can I have a word with Curtis?" he requested.

"Yeah, sure," Rick agreed, standing up and heading out. Sabrina hesitated, and then followed him. Empress, how is he? she asked. According to human doctors, resting fairly comfortably given his injuries, came Rita's response. Good, came the response.

"Tony, how's my son?" Curtis asked again.

"Why don't you tell me what happened?" Tony questioned, ignoring his friend's question.

"I got a call from the school that Jason had skipped classes again, and I when I came home, he was on the couch. We had a little argument that got out of hand and I guess someone heard us and overreacted," Curtis responded. Tony didn't say anything, but looked at the man. "What?" Curtis asked.

"I just got off the phone with a doctor from Angel Grove Community Hospital," Tony replied.

"And?" Curtis prompted. Again, the man didn't answer. "Tony, what's wrong with you? You're looking at me like you don't even know me," he commented. Meanwhile, in the Angel Grove Community Hospital, a couple of officers-a man and a woman-had walked into Jason's room.

"Mr. Scott, I'm Officer Mike Leland, and this is my partner Heather Granger," the man introduced the two. "Do you want to tell us what happened?" the man continued.

"Nothing. Nothing at all," Jason responded quietly. Heather came around the side of Jason's bed and knelt down so that they were eye-level.

"Jason, I want you to listen to me very carefully. We want to help you, but we can't do that if you don't tell us the truth," she stated.

"What'd my father tell you guys?" he countered. What lie am I gonna have to tell? he wondered.

"That's not important. What's important is that you tell us the truth," Heather answered. I don't want him telling us what he thinks we want to hear. I want the truth from him, she thought.

"What'd he tell you?" Jason asked again.

"Jason, we know Curtis Scott is your father," Mike said. Jason let out a sigh and turned his head away. "And we also know that he's also had you lie for him in the past. It made it easier for him to shut this up, right?" he questioned. Jason looked at him in surprise.

"Jason, it's going to be different this time. We promise," Heather added. Jason sighed.

"He thought I skipped classes," he told them. "He thought I had skipped and he went berserk," he continued.

"What really happened?"

"I got kidnapped by a new enemy of the Power Rangers. They got me back fairly quickly, but I had been injured and they had thought it was best to leave me at home so that I could heal properly."

"And he started in on you?"

"Yes." Back at police station, Curtis sputtered with anger as Tony began reading him his rights.

"Tony, you can't be serious!" the man protested. Seeing that he was being placed under arrest, Sabrina quickly went off to a secluded section of the station and then teleported herself back to the moon.

"It's done, Empress. Curtis Scott won't lay a hand on Jason ever again," Scorpina reported, transforming herself back to normal.

"Good work, Scorpina," Rita approved. She then turned her attention back to Earth. Now she just had to figure out a way to stop Zordon once and for all.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

A lot of personal drama in this chap, but I promise you, the Ranger side of the drama's not done yet. After all, Zordon's not gonna let them go that easily. The next chap will skip ahead a couple of weeks to help move the story along.