Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter fourteen of "Outside Love." I'm glad it took just six days to get out. This chapter has some Jason/Trini. Tommy and Kim's parents make their first appearance. I plan to bring this fic to an end in the near future. What will happen to Jenny remains to be seen. I may feature a smutty scene involving Jason and Trini very soon. Stay tuned for chapter fifteen.

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Chapter 14: Waiting Room/Revealing Everything

Kim sat in Angel Grove Memorial Hospital's nearly empty waiting room forty-five minutes later. She was in a chair near the doors leading toward the ER. She had her hands folded in her lap. Her body trembled uncontrollably. She listened to the receptionist talking loudly on the phone. She became annoyed and mumbled inaudible words.

Kim looked toward a young woman and her elderly mother sitting in the middle of the room. A doctor brought a wheelchair to them. The woman stood up and helped her mother into it. He pushed her toward the doors with her daughter following close behind. Kim's eyes followed them until they were gone. She looked ahead. Her trembles ceased quite a bit. She let out a soft sniffle.

She sighed heavily. She called Barry, Ava, Darren, Jason, Trini, Billy, and Zack and told them what happened to Tommy right after the ambulance arrived at the hospital's emergency entrance. Everyone was horrified at the news. His parents were the most shocked because they never thought Jenny would harm Tommy. She told her father, Barry, and Ava she needed to tell them something very important and that it involved Tommy when they got here. Darren, Barry, and Ava were confused, but they accepted it. Darren told her he'd tell her mother about this. She said that was fine with her. She mentioned this to each of her friends. All of them accepted it.

She frowned. She wished he could be at Tommy's side because she believed he felt uncomfortable without her there. At the same time, she knew the doctors couldn't be disturbed with caring for his injury and gathering possible evidence for the police. She could take comfort in the fact that he never lost consciousness all the way to the hospital, though he did complain about his shoulder and head hurting.

Kim looked at a magazine pile. She grabbed the top one entitled Parent and Baby. She grabbed it. She figured she might as well read since she and Tommy were planning to have children. She was about to open it when she heard approaching footfalls. She turned toward the window, seeing Jason, Trini, Billy, and Zack come her way. She laid the magazine down. She stood up as they came in. She gave each of them a hug.

"Guys, I am so glad to see you," Kim whispered in relief.

"How is Tommy, Kim?" Jason asked worryingly.

"I don't know, Jason. I haven't heard anything since I got here," Kim answered, choking back a sob. "Shit. I never saw this coming. I expected Jenny would be furious with Tommy, but I never thought she'd try to kill him."

"Who did?" Trini commented with a heavy sigh. "I wouldn't be surprised if Jenny tries to claim Tommy abused her and that she was defending herself from him."

Billy shook his head in disbelief. "The typical battered woman defense. Wendi Andriano claimed Joe was physically and psychologically abusive toward her. She told the police he attacked her when he found out about her affair with another man. She said she killed him in a struggle with a knife. There was one problem. He was weak from chemotherapy he was receiving for cancer. He also had sodium azide in his system and twenty-three blows to his skull from a bar stool."

"Jodi Arias claimed she killed Travis Alexander in self-defense and that she was a victim of domestic violence. Before then, she claimed she didn't even see him in his home on the day of his murder. After that, she said two intruders attacked them and killed him. I never bought any of her stories. They are way too outrageous, especially the intruder story," Zack added.

Trini let out an angry huff. "Those two women have made real domestic violence victims look bad. If Jenny resorts to this tactic, she would do everything in her power to make Tommy look like a monster."

"We all know Tommy. He would never hurt anyone unless he felt threatened," Jason pointed out matter-of-factly. "How could anyone believe Jenny's claims of self-defense? Kim mentioned she didn't have any defensive wounds whatsoever."

"Unlike Joe and Travis, Tommy managed to survive this attack. He would be the star witness for the prosecution in a trial," Billy commented.

"If this happened in Phoenix, I could see Juan Martinez taking this case. He successfully prosecuted Wendi for her crime. He is set to prosecute Jodi," Zack murmured.

"Oh, yes. I could see him tearing Jenny apart on the stand if she decided to testify in her own defense," Jason said, putting his arm around Trini to give her a hug. "He is very passionate in the courtroom."

"No arguing with that," Billy agreed.

"Once word gets out about what happened, it will be mayhem," Kim muttered, shuddering badly. "People will blame me for the demise of Tommy and Jenny's marriage, though he instigated the relationship. I can see them blaming Tommy for what Jenny did as well. They'd say it would never have happened if he kept it in his pants."

"Tommy may have cheated on Jenny with you, Kim, but he did not deserve what happened to him. If all scorned women killed their unfaithful men, we'd lose half the male population. Half the female population would be in jail," Trini explained.

Kim exhaled. "Exactly. Despite the inevitably of the backlash, I am determined to deal with it."

"Good for you, little sis," Jason replied proudly.

Kim nodded at her big brother. They and the others decided to go to the middle of the room. She seated herself. Jason and Trini took the chairs next to her. Billy and Zack sat across from them.

"I never thought we'd be in a hospital waiting room," Jason muttered tensely.

"It's not something you expect every day," Zack said.

Trini growled angrily and punched her fist into her hand. "I would love to tear Jenny to pieces for what she did to Tommy."

Kim glanced at her. "I would love to help you with that."

"That would be fine with me," Trini said, turning to her. "Then again, I wouldn't want to be charged with murder."

"Me neither," Kim agreed.

"It's good that Jenny will be booked for attempted murder and first-degree assault. She stands a good chance of getting life in prison without parole if she is convicted," Zack pointed out as the woman gazed at him.

"I read that just asking someone to murder for you can result in a first-degree attempted murder charge if the hitman doesn't succeed or tips off police," Billy commented in amazement. "The police can't arrest someone on suspicion. They need evidence to do that."

"Police can gather evidence by having people agree to wear a wiretap that will record confessions or explanations of murder plots. If Jenny didn't want to get her hands dirty, she could've resorted to hiring a hitman. She doesn't have a huge amount of money to pay someone, but some hitmen are willing to murder and be paid later," Jason explained.

"However, Jenny wouldn't get anything if Tommy died because he changed the beneficiary of his life insurance and will to his parents," Kim pointed out.

Jason looked at her in surprise along with the others. "Really?"

"Mm-hmm. He told me this earlier tonight. He did it three months ago. I was surprised myself," Kim responded, shrugging.

"Wow," Jason exclaimed. "Who would've thought Tommy would plan ahead?"

Zack chuckled to himself. "He's never been one for doing that. Still, unhappy marriages can make people decide to change life insurance and wills because they see their spouses as undeserving of having their assets."

Jason was about to say something when footsteps came out of nowhere. He, his fiancée, and his friends gazed at the window to see fifty-four-year-old Barry Oliver, fifty-six-year-old Ava Barkley, Darren, and Caroline coming their way. They stood up as the group walked in.

Barry placed his hands on his sides. Being Caucasian, he was Tommy's height. He wasn't as muscular. His skin was so pale that he appeared to be a ghost. His brown hair was in the style of a buzz cut. His dark brown eyes contained freckles underneath them. He had so many wrinkles that someone could draw a map on his face.

Ava slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. As a Caucasian, she was close to Trini's height. Her skin was somewhat tanned. Her long, brown hair was curly. She wore it in a ponytail. Bags could be seen underneath her light blue eyes. Her face contained wrinkles here and there. A scar went across the bottom of her left palm.

"We are so relieved that your four finally made it," Jason commented softly.

"Is Tommy okay?" Ava asked in a worried voice.

"He is still in the ER. We have no idea when we will know anything," Trini answered honestly.

"I don't understand. What made Jenny attack our son with a bat and a knife?" Barry wondered.

"And what is this important thing Kim needed to tell us?" Caroline asked, motioning toward herself and her husband. "What does it have to do with Tommy?"

"It doesn't make sense," Darren added.

"Why don't we all sit down?" Kim suggested.

"If you say so, honey," Caroline commented, clearing her throat.

Jason, Trini, and Kim returned to their chairs and sat down. Billy and Zack approached the ones next to Kim to sit down. Barry, Ava, Darren, and Caroline sat across from them.

"This is kind of complicated," Kim whispered with a little nervousness.

"Oh, come on," Caroline answered with a shake of her head. "It can't be that complicated." She snorted.

"Whatever it is, you can tell us, Kim," Barry assured with a furrowed brow.

Kim breathed deeply and became confident. She hoped what she was about to tell them wouldn't shock them too much.

"Tommy and I have been having an affair behind Jenny's back," Kim admitted. "It's been going on for a year."

Barry, Ava, Darren, and Caroline gasped in great shock, causing Kim to wince. They opened and closed their mouths, but no words came out. Jason, Trini, Zack, and Billy didn't react, but they anticipated this would be their reaction. Suddenly, Barry became angry.

"How could you and Tommy do this to Jenny, Kim?" Barry yelled and balled his hand into a fist.

"You know better than to get involved with a married man!" Caroline added very angrily. She shook her finger at her daughter. "Your father and I lectured you about that constantly!"

"I know, Mom, and I am very sorry!" Kim cried with much guilt and shame. "Tommy and I never expected to fall in love all over again. We take full responsibility for what we've done." She choked back a sob.

"Tommy and Jenny's marriage started to sour before their sixth wedding anniversary. She became controlling and possessive toward him. She didn't want him hanging around us," Jason explained. "He confided in us about his marital problems. While she was in Caribou, he went to see Kim at her house. They kissed and made love in her bed. After that, they met in secret many times."

"Tommy wasn't with Jenny at Riley's Diner. He was with me. He decided not to go with her after he got into an argument with her on the way home from the airport," Kim added, sniffling.

"Both of them lied to me," Ava muttered shockingly. "Shit."

"We knew about the affair," Trini said, gesturing toward Jason, Zack, Billy, and herself. They looked shameful and guilty. "We told our parents. They were angry at first, but they calmed down and decided to support Tommy and Kim."

"Tommy didn't want to divorce Jenny because he was scared she'd go after me. He didn't want to end up like his parents. He wanted to tell Jenny he was leaving her for me when she got home. He couldn't take her crap anymore. He was determined to face her wrath," Kim said, sobs rising in her throat. "I never wanted this to happen."

Kim put her hands over her face and started crying hysterically. Trini wrapped her arms around her best friend. She pulled her close. Kim buried her face in the young woman's shoulder. This muffled her cries. Trini felt her pink blouse become wet with tears. Barry, Ava, Darren, and Caroline felt their anger fade away. They showed sympathy for her.

"Kim, you are not responsible for what happened to Tommy. Jenny is," Barry whispered gently.

"None of us condone cheating, but we understand why you and Tommy did what you did," Ava added. She saw Kim pull away from Trini and look at her. "I can see why he and Jenny lied to me. They didn't want me to know they had been arguing."

"I wish he talked to us about his marital problems before he started his affair with Kim. It would've saved him a lot of trouble," Barry muttered sadly.

"Unfortunately, I believe Jenny would've attacked him, even if he hadn't cheated on her. She's been out of control for a long time," Ava commented, looking at her ex-husband. She clenched her teeth. "It infuriates me that she treated our son like trash. He did nothing to deserve that." She stomped her foot in frustration. "I wish we could've seen signs of her mistreatment of him."

"Unhappily married couples go to great lengths to keep up the façade that they are happy," Barry commented truthfully. "Tommy didn't want us to see he was going through what we went through."

"We're going to have a little talk with him about this situation after he gets out of the ER," Ava admitted.

"Yep," Barry agreed.

Kim shuddered while wiping tears from her eyes. Her body trembled so much that it appeared it wouldn't stop at all.

"Kim, we are sorry about how we reacted," Caroline apologized guiltily.

"It just came out of nowhere," Darren whispered with a big frown.

Kim held up her hand. "It's okay, Mom, Dad. I don't blame you. What Tommy and I did was wrong. At the same time, it felt so right." She laid it in her lap.

Caroline became very serious. "You two will likely face backlash over this, especially you, darling."

"Tommy and I anticipate that, but we are determined to have a happy life together. We want to get married after the divorce is final," Kim commented and emitted a soft sniffle. "We plan on having children too."

"It's nice you two are already thinking of the future," Caroline responded in a soft manner. "Your father and I plan to attend your wedding."

"We do too," Barry added, motioning toward Ava and himself. "Both of you deserve to be happy."

"Thank you," Kim whispered, sobbing quietly. She wiped more tears from her eyes. "Thank you so much."

Caroline stood up and went over to her. "Come here."

Caroline hugged her daughter very tightly. Kim gave her a bigger hug as she got up. Darren rose to his feet and approached them. Kim looked at him. She wrapped her arm around him, and he did the same to her. Barry and Ava stood up to go over to them. Kim let go of her parents to hug the couple. Barry and Ava responded with hugs of their own.

Jason, Trini, Billy, and Zack sighed contently. They were relieved that everything had worked out. They had a feeling that some people would tell Barry, Ava, Darren, and Caroline they should've disowned their children for their extramarital affair. They were determined to support both families. Kim released her hold on Barry and Ava.

"I am sure you want Trini to be the maid of honor at your wedding," Ava suggested.

"Oh, I do," Kim replied, eyeing Trini. "I wouldn't be surprised if your son chose Jason to best man." She laughed.

"I would love to be the maid of honor at your wedding, Kim," Trini said sweetly.

"I would love to be best man," Jason added, giving her a big hug. He leaned toward her ear. "We just might mess around before the ceremony." He kissed the spot underneath it.

"Keep your naughty thoughts about me to yourself," Trini said, touching his face and pushing it away.

"Hey, your thoughts about me are just as naughty," Jason retorted playfully and kissed her temple. They looked at Kim. "There is no doubt Tommy and Kim's thoughts about each other are very naughty."

"Oh, hush up, Jase," Kim growled while eyeing him. She turned back to Barry, Ava, Darren, and Caroline. "I should tell you that I gave details about the affair to Lieutenant Stone and Officer Bannon. They disapproved of what we did, but they supported us. Tommy told Officer Sparks and Officer Meeker while the EMTs worked on him. They pledged their support too."

"It's good to know Tommy's fellow officers are on his side," Ava whispered in much relief.

"Yeah," Kim murmured and rubbed her throat. "I am getting thirsty."

"I am too," Darren commented and licked his lips. "How about I get you and me some diet cokes?" He winked at her.

"Sure, Dad," Kim answered with a nod. "Don't take too long."

Darren kissed Kim's cheek and headed out of the room. He made a right turn and walked down the hallway. He snapped his fingers. Kim, Barry, Ava, and Caroline approached their chairs to seat themselves. They, Jason, Trini, Billy, and Zack started talking about Tommy and Kim receiving backlash from civilians.