Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers. Any questions?

A/N: I have been struggling with this chapter for some time now. I hope I have it right this time. To all of my reviewers, please forgive me if I did not respond to your reviews. Between work, my kids needing this, that, and the holidays, I have not had time to think let alone sit down and respond to you. Nevertheless, I always appreciate your reviews and comments. Hope you like this one!

Zedd stood on his balcony Tuesday morning, watching Jason through his visor as he walked to school. Hate and anger began to well up in the dark lord. He slammed his fist on the railing to the balcony as Jason entered the high school. "What do I have to do to get rid of one of you brats," he snarled angrily. "Why is it so hard to kill one of you?" He turned from the railing, the anger building inside of him. He had to do something to get rid of Jason. He knew that Tommy was the new leader of the rangers, but Jason was the heart and soul of the team. If he could kill Jason, the others would lose their heart for any more battles. He stalked from the throne room, needing time to come up with another plan.

Kim looked at Trini as they walked towards school. "Do you think Jason might be interested in Christine," Kim asked.

Trini glanced at Kim, smiling slightly. "I think there is an attraction there," she said. "I think they'd make a good couple. Why?"

Kim shrugged slightly, fighting the jealousy that threatened to well up in her. "I don't know," she said softly. "Something just feels wrong to me."

Trini stopped walking and turned to face Kim. "Like what," she asked.

Kim faced Trini, shrugging once again. "I don't know for sure," she said. "It's just a feeling I have. I can't explain it."

Trini put her hand on Kim's shoulder. "Come on, Kim," she said softly. "Christine is a nice girl. What do you have against her?"

Kim let her breath out slowly. "Nothing," she sighed. "I just don't think she and Jason belong together."

Trini removed her hand and looked at Kim critically, shaking her head. "You know, if I didn't know better I'd swear you were jealous."

Kim gave Trini a hot look, shaking her head. "I'm not jealous," she snapped. "I'm with Tommy. I want to be with Tommy, no one else." She turned away from Trini and stormed off, heading for school without waiting for her friend.

Trini sighed and slowly followed Kim, not trying to catch up to her friend. "This is shaping up to be a long day," she whispered.

Zack glanced at Tommy as he drove the two of them to school. "You're awful quiet, man," Zack commented. "Want to talk about it?"

Tommy glanced at Zack before looking back out the windshield. "Were Jason and Kim ever an item?"

"Where did this come from," Zack asked in shock.

Tommy sighed heavily, turning to face Zack. "Yesterday, after we found Jason," he started, "Kim didn't leave his side for a second. She was so concerned about him. I have to admit it made me jealous. The look she was giving him was not the look a friend gives to another."

Zack pulled the car into the school parking lot and into his slot. He shut the car down and turned to face Tommy, letting his breath out slowly. "Okay, Tommy," he said. "Listen to me. Kim is with you. She is crazy about you. The entire time you were gone, we could not go a day without hearing your name from her at least once. She and Jason are just friends, nothing more. Don't make trouble where there is none, okay?"

Tommy looked at Zack, a small smile on his face. "She talked about me the whole time I was gone?"

Zack smiled, shaking his head. "Yeah, she did," he said. "It drove us crazy. Next time, take her with you, okay?"

Tommy gave a little laugh. "Deal."

Kim closed her locker and turned, smiling as she saw Tommy walking over to her. "Hey, handsome," she said.

"Hi, beautiful," Tommy greeted. "How are you today?"

Kim wrapped her arm around his waist, her smile growing wider as his arm slipped around her shoulders. "Really good, now that you're here."

Tommy grinned at her. "Same here. Come on, let's get to homeroom."

Jason closed his locker and turned around. He tensed as he saw Gary standing across the hall, watching him.

Gary gave Jason a smirk before turning and heading down the hallway towards his homeroom.

Jason watched Gary walk down the hall, uneasiness coming over him as Todd and Will joined their friend. He heard someone walk up to him and forced his attention away from Gary, looking at Steve as his friend approached him.

Steve glanced down the hallway, hate flaring in his eyes as he saw the three boys head into their homeroom. He turned his attention to Jason. "What are they doing here," he asked.

Jason turned his full attention to Steve. "My dad told me the judge let them out on bail," he answered. "He wanted me to know about that in case they tried to start any trouble."

Steve looked at Jason, shaking his head. "I can't believe the judge would let them out on bail," he whispered, trying to keep the hate out of his voice. "Watch your back. If you give Gary a chance, he'll come after you."

"I'll be careful," Jason replied. "Just promise me that you won't go after them."

Steve met Jason's eyes, then slowly nodded. "I promise," he said softly. "But, if they try anything against you, all bets are off."

Christine closed her locker and turned from it, glancing around the hallway. She spotted a group of girls across the hall staring at her with angry looks. She looked away from them, spotting Jason and Steve near Jason's locker. She turned and headed towards the two boys, feeling the stares of the girls following her as she walked.

Jason glanced at Christine, his eyes narrowing as he saw the tenseness in her shoulders. He turned to face her, watching her face closely. "Hey, Chris," Jason greeted. "Are you okay?"

Christine walked up to Jason, shaking her head slightly. "I don't know," she whispered. "Those girls back there were giving me some mean looks. I do not even know any of them. What did I do to make them angry at me?"

Jason and Steve both glanced down the hallway, spotting the group of girls who were still standing there and glaring at Christine.

The girls saw Jason looking at them and they turned around and walked off, not looking back as they headed for their homerooms.

Jason sighed lightly and turned his attention back to Christine. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I think they are mad at you because of me."

Christine looked at him in surprise. "Why?"

Steve spoke before Jason could answer. "They all want to go out with Jason," he said. "They see you as a threat." He smiled as he noticed Christine blush slightly. He glanced at Jason, seeing him blushing as well. His smile grew wider as he put his hand on Jason's shoulder, giving it a slight squeeze.

Jason glanced at Steve, his cheeks getting a little redder as he saw the look in his friend's eyes.

Steve fought down the urge to chuckle, not wanting to embarrass his friend more. "I'll see you two later," he said and walked off down the hall, leaving Jason and Christine alone.

Christine glanced at Jason, her blush growing deeper as she met his eyes. "I don't know why they would be jealous of me," she murmered. "It's not like we're dating or anything like that."

Jason stood in silence, slowly studying Christine's face. He locked his dark brown eyes onto her blue ones, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Would that be so bad," he whispered.

Christine studied Jason's handsome face, feeling herself blushing even more as she locked eyes with him once again. She slowly shook her head. "No, that would be a good thing," she whispered.

Jason smiled at her, slowly reaching out and taking her free hand in his. "We'll talk about this later," he said, turning while still holding her hand. "We'd better get to homeroom before we're late."

Christine moved to walk beside him, holding his hand and feeling as if she did not have a care in the world.

Zedd paced around his throne room, trying to figure out a plan to get rid of Jason. He walked over to the balcony, glancing down at earth through his visor. He saw everything that happened in the hallway at the high school and he smiled under his mask as he saw Jason and Christine walk away holding hands. He turned away from earth and walked out of the throne room, heading for Finster's lab to put his idea into motion.

Christine looked at Jason as Laurie approached the two of them in study hall. "I'll let the two of you go over your ideas," she said softly. "I'll meet you in the hall after class."

Jason smiled at her and nodded before turning his attention to Laurie as she sat down at the desk next to him.

Laurie looked at Jason, taking a deep breath before speaking. "I waited three hours for you yesterday," she said in a low angry voice. "I don't want to hear any excuses as to why you didn't show up. Let's just go over your ideas and we can meet this evening at the youth center to decide which one we'll use and what research we'll have to do for the project."

"I have two martial arts classes this afternoon," Jason said, irritation clearly in his voice. "We could meet after they are done."

Laurie opened her notebook, waving her hand at him without looking at him at all. "Whatever," she snapped. "Just give me your ideas so I can get on with the rest of my day."

Zedd stood back, watching as Finster poured a red liquid into a small bottle. He smiled under his mask as Finster handed him the bottle. "You are sure this will work," he asked.

Finster nodded and bowed to Zedd. "I'm sure, my lord," he answered. "All that Jason has to do is drink it and the spell will be complete."

"Good job, Finster," Zedd chuckled. "I'll make sure that the putties distract the rangers so Goldar can slip this into Jason's drink. I assume it will be undetectable?"

"Yes, my lord," Finster groveled. "It will turn his drink dark red for just a second then disappear completely. The rangers will never know anything about it."

Zedd nodded. "Thank you, Finster," he said, turning and leaving the lab. He walked through the hall towards his throne room once again. "Goldar! Get in here. I have a job for you."

Christine glanced at Jason as they walked towards the youth center after school that afternoon. "Are you okay," she asked. "You seem awfully quiet. You haven't changed your mind about us going to the movies on Friday, have you?"

Jason came to a stop, turning towards Christine and taking her hand. He managed to give her a small smile. "No," he said softly. "I didn't change my mind. I'm looking forward to spending some time with you away from school."

Christine reached up, touching his cheek softly. "Then what's wrong," she whispered.

Jason let out a little sigh. "It has nothing to do with you," he replied, just as softly. "Laurie just got on my nerves this afternoon. I'm not looking forward to having to spend a lot of time with her doing this project. She's not the easiest person to get along with."

Christine frowned slightly. "Why is she like that towards you," she asked.

Jason shrugged slightly. "I don't know," he answered. "As far as I know, I've never done anything to make her dislike me." He sighed deeply, looking into Christine's eyes and giving her a smile. "Let's not talk about her anymore. Let's just get to the youth center so I can get ready for my classes."

"Okay," Christine replied. She turned with Jason and they continued on their way to the youth center, holding hands while they walked.

Zedd watched Jason and Christine from his balcony, smiling under his mask. "I have a feeling that things are about to change for you, red ranger," he snarled. "In ways that you would never suspect." He laughed and turned from viewing earth, looking at Goldar. "Get the putties ready," he ordered. "When I give the word, go down to earth and do as I instructed. Make sure none of the rangers see you put that in Jason's drink."

"It will be done, my lord," Goldar said, bowing before leaving the throne room.

Kim looked up from her seat at the table in the youth center, just as Jason and Christine entered. Her smile faded as she spotted the two of them holding hands. The jealousy she had been fighting down came on, stronger than ever before. She quickly glanced away from the pair, fighting the urge to go over and have it out with Christine. Stop it, Kim, she told herself silently. You are with Tommy. Jason is just a friend and nothing more. She sighed lightly and went back to her schoolwork.

Christine smiled at Jason as they walked over to the mats. She reluctantly let go of his hand as he set his gym bag on one of the bleachers. "I'll see you later," she asked as he stood up straight and faced her.

Jason smiled at her, putting his hand gently on her arm. "Later it is," he answered. He glanced past her to see Steve sitting at a nearby table. "You'll be busy with your project for a while, I imagine."

Christine glanced over her shoulder, seeing Steve waiting for her. She turned back to Jason and smiled wider at him. "Looks that way." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then turned and hurried over to where Steve was sitting.

Steve grinned at her as she sat down. "Am I interupting something," he asked.

Christine gave him a mock frown. "Just get to work on our project," she mumbled.

Steve chuckled lightly and turned his attention back to his notes without saying anything else.

Zedd turned to Goldar as Jason finished his last martial arts class for the day. "Now, Goldar," he ordered. "Take the putties and do as I have instructed. It is time for the rangers to be divided, once and for all."

Jason walked over to his gym bag, pulling a bottle of water from it and twisting it open. He was about to take a drink when putties suddenly appeared in the youth center. Jason set his bottle down and moved towards three of the putties who were near him on the mats.

Tommy, Kim, Billy, Trini and Zack came to their feet as more putties appeared near their table. They spread out, wanting to get some room to fight the putties easily.

Goldar stepped out from behind the bleachers, sneaking over to Jason's water bottle. He took the bottle of red liquid out and poured it into the bottle of water. He smiled as he saw the water turn red then back to clear in a matter of one second. He turned and moved back to stand behind the bleachers once again, watching as the rangers took on the putties.

Tommy faced one of the putties that was near him, shooting his left fist out. He felt his fist connect with the Z on the putties' chest and turned from it as it fell apart, looking for another putty to fight.

Billy stood beside Trini as two puttied approached them. Billy braced himself on his left leg and shot his right foot out in a forward kick. He smiled as he felt his foot connect with the Z on the putty's chest and turned to see how Trini was doing.

Trini braced herself on her left leg, bending her right leg and lifting it waist high. She twisted to the side, avoiding the blow the putty sent at her and straightened her right leg. Her right foot caught the putty in the chest and she glanced at Billy as she lowered her leg and turned to face him. She did not even watch as the putty broke apart.

Kim ducked under the punch from the putty facing her. She came back up with her right fist shooting out, striking the Z on its chest. She grinned as the putty broke apart, turning from it to see how the others were doing.

Zack saw the three putties heading for Jason and moved towards the mats, wanting to help his friend.

Jason ducked under the punches that two of the putties took at him. He stayed in a kneeling position, bracing himself on his left foot and spun slightly. He caught two of the putties on the ankles, tripping them and sending them onto their backs. Before he could straighten back up, the other putty was on him.

The putty threw himself at Jason, knocking the teen onto his back. He grabbed Jason's wrists, pinning them over his head to the mat as he straddled his stomach.

Jason tried to free his wrists as the other two putties came to their feet and started to move towards him.

Zack made it to the mats and grabbed the shoulder of one of the putties. He turned it forcefully, his fist shooting out and punching it on the Z. He moved past the putty as it broke apart, heading for the second one quickly.

Jason did not wait for Zack to get to him. He planted his feet flatly on the mat and heaved upwards with his body. He felt the putty release his wrists and he rolled away from it, coming to his feet as the other putty moved in on him. Jason went into a spin kick, his right leg shooting out and connecting with the Z on the putty moving towards him.

Zack reached the last putty as it rolled to its feet. He did not hesitate, but shot out his left foot in a kick that connected with the putty's chest. He turned to face Jason as the last putty broke apart behind him. "You okay, Jase," he asked.

Jason looked at Zack, nodding slightly. "Fine, bro," he answered. "You?"

"Good," Zack said. He glanced towards the rest of the rangers as they slowly made their way back to their table. "I'll go see how the others are doing. Come join us when you can." He turned and walked back towards the tables without another word.

Jason walked over to the bleachers, picking up his water bottle and taking a long drink from it.

Goldar smiled as he stood behind the bleachers, watching as Jason finished the entire bottle of water. He teleported out of the youth center, heading back to the moon palace to inform Zedd that his plan was proceeding without any trouble.

Laurie sat at a table in the youth center, impatiently waiting for Jason to come back out of the locker room. She looked up as he walked over to the table and sat down next to her. She turned to face him, ready to snap at him for taking so long, but the words died in her throat. She felt this instant attraction to Jason come over her and she moved closer to him, putting her hand on his knee. "I thought you would never get here," she purred. "What took you so long?"

Jason looked at her, surprise and shock at her attitude change leaving him speechless. Before he knew what was happening, Laurie reached up, putting her hand behind his head and pulling him towards her. Her mouth was on his before he could say or do anything to stop her.

A/N: Sorry this chapter was so long in coming. I had a serious case of writer's block and I just didn't know how to continue this story. I hope you liked it. Let me know what you think.