New Start
By Didi
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers or any of the characters.
Summary: They're all grown up and separated. Just when you thought it was all over for the old gang, fate throws them together once more.
Rating: R for language and content at times.
Acknowledgements: To Morgan, Hanspam and Dev Dev, you guys are the best readers a writer can hope for. Thanks for always having encouraging words for me.
Note: I am writing this story so I'm not tempted to throw something hard and deadly in frustrating moments. I'm not sure where I want to take this story but I promise to try to make it fun and interesting for everyone that reads it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twenty
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Jason Scott's Resident
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"JASON?"
Jason winced. "WHAT DO YOU WANT, ADAM?"
"COULD I BORROW CLEAN SOCKS FROM YOU?"
"GO AHEAD. FIRST DRAWER ON THE RIGHT."
"THANKS."
Tommy stepped into the room with a frown. "What's with all the shouting?"
Jason grinned. "Adam wants to borrow clean socks from me."
"Oh." Perfectly logical in Tommy's mind. "He is here?"
"He's got the night shift today." Rocky explained as he headed toward the sitting coffee pot. "This the good stuff Trini got us?"
"Yes," Tommy sipped his mug carefully. "You know, we might want to think of giving Trini grocery money. She's always buying things for us."
Jason smiled in amusement. "You try giving Trini money and she's kill you. The girl's got a lot more pride then that. I suggest we merely invite her to go grocery shopping with us."
"Sounds like an idea." Rocky took a sip and sighed with contentment. "God she's got great taste in food. Just the kind of girl you want to bring home to mamma."
"Hey, Jason?" Adam came in dressed in workout cloths.
"Yeah?"
"I found this in your room." The others turn to see a dangling triangle held aloft by Adam's fingers. "It's a woman's earring."
"Really?" Rocky grinned like a man anticipating great fun. "What have you been up to and not sharing with your good pals?"
Jason frowned at him.
Tommy took it from Adam. "You know, I think Trini had a pair like this back when we were in high school. I seem to recall seeing her wear something like this once."
"Really?" Adam's brows went up in inquiry.
Jason shrugged, hoping to down play it as much as possible. "Then it's probably Trini's. She must have dropped it when I gave her a tour of the house."
"Really?" Adam asked, his eyes twinkling with delight. "In your bedroom?"
"I don't see why not." He picked up the newspaper, hoping to use it as a shield. "She was around to help me move in. We were hauling boxes all over the house that day. It might have dropped on one of the trips in and out of the rooms."
Rocky nodded his head. "Hum... that would explain why she knows this place so well."
"Since my roommates all decided to leave the moving in process to me, I had to get some help somewhere didn't I?" Jason said with a smile for his friend.
"Okay, we get the point." Tommy rolled his eyes. "Hand me the sports section."
Adam nodded his head thoughtfully as he pinned the earring to the corkboard on the wall. It was logical that Trini might have dropped it during the move. After all, she was here often enough. And Jason's bedroom had been one of the first to get finish. But there was something missing in that puzzle. Hum...
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Dermont, Boyle and Malone Law Office
300 Guttenberg Avenue, Suite 800
New York City, New York
"And you will stay at the Hilton Hotel. Any questions?"
"Have we got the lawyers on their end ready?" Trini picked up several more files and put them neatly into her brief case. "I don't want to show up than wait for them to get themselves together and waste everyone's time."
"They've got it." Boyle smiled as he watched the strangely hypnotic lava lamp of red with yellow blobs Ms. Kwan had brought in with her in the office that morning. "This is pretty."
"Thank you." Trini replied automatically. "Now, we have the Colorado codes and we're working within those boundaries, right? The developers know that."
"Absolutely," Boyle touched the smooth surface of the fascinating oddity.
"Mr. Boyle?" Trini looked up to watch her boss gazing rather dazed at her lava lamp. "Are you all right?"
"You kids these days," he grinned rather foolishly. "This was the kind of stuff they use to ban when I was a teen. They were much associated with drug users."
Trini laughed and finished putting the files away. "I'll have the preliminary stuff faxed in by tomorrow afternoon. From everything I've read, we should be in and out fast."
"Good," he turned and looked at the ever-professional woman behind her still rather bare desk. "Then all we need now is the architect and you're ready to go. You have your car parked downstairs?"
"In the underground garage just as you say sir."
"Good."
"Knock, knock." Daniel Hughman poked his head in and smiled. "The people upstairs are here."
"Come, we should go meet with them." Mr. Boyle said pulling Trini's small luggage out the door.
Grabbing her briefcase and laptop, Trini hid a smile as she followed him out. This is going to be one hell of a business trip.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Witman and Jones Inc.
369 Belmont Blvd., Suite 1200
New York City, New York
Tommy tapped his pen against his bottom lip thoughtfully before picking up the phone.
"Hello, Clark Kent speaking."
"You are a crack up, Rocky." Tommy grinned. "I need a favor."
"What's up, fearless leader?" Rocky turned his eyes away from the blinking screen. The news was happening too fast today for his liking. Too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it.
"I won't be home today at the usual time." Tommy glanced at the clock. It wasn't even nine yet.
"Why? Or do I even need to ask." Rocky could almost see the look Tommy had give Kimberly the night before when they had learned the Trini was not going to be around the condo for a few days, leaving Kim all by her lonesome.
"Shut up. Don't think I've forgiven you for what happened on Friday night."
Rocky sighed. "How long are you going to crucify me for that one?"
"Until I get some."
"The sooner the better. You're so cranky when you're not getting any. Okay, what do you want me to do?"
"I know I said that I'd get dinner tonight but..."
"I'll get it and you can go get Kim."
"Thanks, man."
"Are we square yet?"
"Depends on what happens tonight." Tommy grinned.
"Good luck then."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
William Cranston's Resident
357 Wilshire Blvd. #3D
St. Louis, Missouri
Billy pulled his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. Then he did what he hadn't done in three days, he shut the computer off. It was done! All he needed to do was talk to the confirming parties and he would be all set to go.
What a relief it will be to be finally done with this part of his life. It's been pretty lonely as of late. He was beginning to resemble something from that movie Trini had dragged him out see once with Sandra Bullock in it, The Net or something like that. Someone could so easily impersonate him and no one would even know the difference he was so isolated lately.
"Briiiiinnnggg."
"Hello?"
"Billy? You sound terrible."
"Nice to hear from you too, Kat." Billy sighed and leaned back in the chair. "Been up some time now working."
"I guessed." Kat smiled. "You okay?"
"Yeah, nothing a little food and shower can't cure."
"I see." She could easily imagine him sitting there with all the paper scattered, dishes piled up and a three day stubble growing on his chin. "I talked to Tommy yesterday."
That caught his attention fast enough. "What happened?"
"He is and always will be a perfect gentleman."
"In other words, nothing really got said."
"I wished him happy." Kat's voice was soft, sad.
"Do you really?" Billy asked quietly. "I mean with everything that happened between the two of you. I don't think anyone would be surprised if you and Tommy did not speak again."
"He and I were friends before we were lovers." She smiled remembering some of the good times she had with the one man she knew, perhaps even from the beginning, would never truly be hers. "I do wish him happy."
"Did you guys talk about the baby?" Billy asked.
"That was a long time ago."
Billy sighed. "You don't ever talk about it, do you?"
Kat smiled sadly. "No, we don't."
"Neither one of you could have done anything about it. It just wasn't meant to be." Billy said quietly, knowing that Kat's miscarriage had been a very difficult part of her life. "It happens."
"I know." She smiled and cradled the phone against her shoulder. "But a part of me always wondered if Tommy and I would still be together if I hadn't lost the child."
"Kat, you can't think like that."
"Or if he ever blamed me for losing it in the first place."
"Kat, stop it! You know that Tommy never blamed you. It just happened." Billy cursed himself for bring it up. "You cannot..."
"I know, Billy. Logically I know." She smiled rather wistfully. "And I always know that Tommy and I won't have made it, even with a child. We were growing apart toward the end. The miscarriage just cemented the break. We both needed to move on with our lives and being together held us back."
Billy shook his head. "How are you?'
"Good." She shook her head. "I think talking to Tommy helped me make a decision that I've been playing with for a while now."
"What decision?"
"The anthropology department at the New York College offered me a position to teach there."
"Oh." Ironies of ironies, New York seems to be the place to be. "Well?"
"I've decided to turn them down." She smiled, at peace with herself now. "It won't be right."
"Kat," he sighed into the phone and wondered at the threads in the universe that seems to forever link the Power Rangers together in some way or other. "Don't let Tommy or any of us make you turn from..."
"No, Billy. I've decided. It's the right thing to do." Kat nodded to herself and held the phone tighter. "Besides, I was just getting use to being back with my countrymen. Plus you Yanks have really lousy taste in food."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Newark International Airport
Newark, New Jersey
"I hate flying." Trini made that statement as they handed their business class tickets to the clerk.
"Take a deep breath and relax." Jason suggested as he picked up their stuff and moved down the rickety ramp. "It's only four hours."
"That's four hours too long." She made a face as they move through and located their seats. "I really don't like flying."
Jason leaned closed and whispered, "you know for a former power rangers, you have some strange hang ups. How can you complain about flying in an aircraft when we use to have our molecules dissolved every time we used the teleporter? Don't tell me you preferred that to this?"
"Of course I do," she whispered back. "At least then, I won't have time to scream before we hit the ground."
"You're pain," he said with a grin as he kissed her nose. "Now stop complaining and show me what their lawyers have in mind."
"It's actually pretty basic stuff," Trini started as she pulled her briefcase up onto her lap and opened it with a loud click.
"Miss," the stewardess came over and leaned forward to talk to her. "Could you wait until we are in the air to open your briefcase? We tend to get a lot of flying papers when people don't wait for the air pressure to stabilize during and after take off."
"Oh," Trini looked rather startled. "Sure, this can wait."
"Thank you, Miss." She turned to give Jason a saucy smile. "Could I get either of you anything?"
"Vodka on the rocks would be nice." Jason said offering her a smile for her troubles.
"And Miss?" she turned toward Trini but kept her eyes on the dimples in Jason's cheeks.
"Club soda is fine." Trini said with an amused grin.
"Be right back with your drinks." The stewardess straightened and smiled cheerful. The man with the dimples just brightened her whole day up. So what if he is taking his petite little wife on a business trip, doesn't mean he can't be eye-candy for the rest of the female population.
"Do they do that a lot?" Trini asked as she clicked the latch on her briefcase shut.
"What?" Jason looked rather confused.
"Women. Do they just look at you and instantly want to flirt with you?" Her eyes were twinkling with fun. "Cause you know, that's the kind of gift that most guys would love to have."
Jason frowned at her and shook his head. "It's not a gift, it's an annoyance. And why aren't you more upset by this?"
"Cause I don't feel threatened." She said with a brilliant smile that caused a bypassing man to trip and be forced to catch himself on the back of Jason's chair. "Sir, are you all right?"
"Fine, fine." He blushed a rather horrible shade of red and smiled shyly at her before moving on.
Jason was polite enough not to smile until the man was away. "I can see why you aren't threatened. Does that happen a lot?"
She looked at him with a look of complete innocence. "What?"
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Vogue Magazine Inc.
6500 Wellington Avenue, Suite 600
New York City, New York
"Kim, these are great." Patricia Kendery smiled as she gazed happily at the spread in front of her accompanied by a wonderfully written article on the new fall fashion. "These are going to look great for the big fall edition.
"As long as they make it to the print shop." Kim said as she began to put away a few of the unwanted shots of models and new cloths line. "We have some pretty nice stuff coming with the season. The IT color is going to be lime green again. I don't know why, most people can't wear that color."
"You can though. You're so fair." Pat had a rather odd fondness for the young writer. "But then, you don't need the fashion industry to tell you what to wear. You have great fashion sense as it is."
"Thanks, Patty."
"Hey, listen." She looked other at the glass partition and the big conference room there. "The boys up top are talking about the French Connection Fashion Show coming up in a month."
"What about it?" Kimberly's eyes were on the spreadsheet that logged all the recent industry market change. "Everyone knows about it. It's been a year long project for the committee."
"Yeah, but Vogue is going to choice someone to go from the New York office this year." Pat said with a knowing smile. "Apparently, Vogue Europe is having a difficult time security passes this year since the brawl last year by one of their reporters."
Kimberly shook her head. It had been headline news for weeks. "Serves Vogue Europe right to send a man into a place like that. Especially with his fiancée being one of the models. You'd think he's never seen her pose half nude before."
"Yeah, so they're sending someone from this office this year. Isn't it exciting?" Pat was practically glowing with her exhilaration.
"Hey, Kim!" Joshua Sherman walked over with a large bouquet of pink roses and daisies next together with greens. "This just arrived at the front desk for you."
"Oh, they're beautiful." Patricia leaned in and took a whiff of the wonderful scent that was already beginning to spread through the big office. "Who are they from?"
Kimberly had a pretty good idea who they were from. Pulling out the little white card, she looked it over quickly. "How about dinner and a movie tonight, Beautiful? Call me if I can come over at six. Love, Tommy. PS. I thought you might like the flowers too." She smiled at the bouquet much the same as she would smile at its sender had he been there.
"Well?" Pat waited rather impatiently for her to reveal the sender's name.
"They are from a friend." She answered rather embarrassed.
"Oh please," Josh rolled his eyes. "A guy doesn't dish out this much money for flowers unless there is an understanding between you two."
Kimberly laughed. "You don't know my friend." She picked up the phone, very aware that the others were still listening.
"Thomas Oliver's Office."
"Hey, may I speak with Tommy? Tell him it's Kim."
"Just a moment."
"Hey, Beautiful. Did you get the flowers?"
"How else would I get your office number? It was written on the card."
"You could try 411, you know."
"Yes, I suppose I could have." She smiled into the phone. "And yes, you can come over at six."
"Great! You won't regret it."
"I better not. Bye, Tommy."
"See you later, Beautiful."
Pat raised one brow as Kim hung up the phone. "Just friends, huh?"
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
The Hilton
Denver, Colorado
"Two separate reservation for Jason Scott and Trini Kwan." Jason said pulling his ID out from his wallet. "We'd like adjoining rooms with a connecting door please. This is a very tightly scheduled business trip."
"Mr. Scott and Ms Kwan with the Denver Designs project."
A blink look crossed Jason's face. "What?"
Trini leaned over to whisper, "The developers. They're footing the bill for our stay here."
"Oh," he grinned with amusement. Six hours on the plan talking about the project and neither one of them ever bought up the official name of the land developers. They were merely the other guys at the end of this deal. "Remind me to memorize that later."
"I will."
"Here we go." The clerk handed them each a digital key for their room. "Rooms 625 and 627. Enjoy your stay here with the Hilton and if there is anything you need, please do call us."
Jason pocketed his key before turning to the clerk. "Well, we'll need a fax machine in her room, a display easel in mine, and dinner in two hours."
The little man behind the desk was busy scribbling away. "Was there anything particular you would like served to you, sir?"
"Anything is good. Make sure there's plenty. And coffee, we're going to need massive amounts of coffee this next couple of days." Jason said with a grin as he picked up his garment bag and pulling case. "Come on Counselor, time to get to work again."
Trini sighed and lifted her own bags with ease. "No rest for the wicked."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"I thought you said something about a movie?" Kim murmured against Tommy's lips. "If we keep this up, I don't think we're going to be able to catch any movie at all."
"Would it be so bad?" Tommy asked, his hand making a slowly descent from shoulder to hands. "I mean, I certainly won't mind staying in for the night."
"I'll just bet you won't." She smiled against his lips as her nimble fingers made quick work of the buttons that currently kept his shirt closed. "You know, I'm going to have to kill Trini when she gets back."
"Oh? Did she do something wrong?" He loved the feel of her warm hands on his skin.
"You don't think so?" She was amazed at the muscles that stretched taunt across his chest. "You really think her little comment the other night wasn't about this?"
"Oh that!" He laughed softly as he reached for her blouse. "I'll have to thank her for reminding me to look in on you."
"Oh, you really are asking for it aren't you?" She pulled the shirttails from his pants.
"I thought you said that I had a one track mind?"
"And aren't you proving me right?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teaser line from the next chapter: Kimberly rolled over and let out a scream loud enough to wake the dead.
By Didi
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers or any of the characters.
Summary: They're all grown up and separated. Just when you thought it was all over for the old gang, fate throws them together once more.
Rating: R for language and content at times.
Acknowledgements: To Morgan, Hanspam and Dev Dev, you guys are the best readers a writer can hope for. Thanks for always having encouraging words for me.
Note: I am writing this story so I'm not tempted to throw something hard and deadly in frustrating moments. I'm not sure where I want to take this story but I promise to try to make it fun and interesting for everyone that reads it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twenty
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Jason Scott's Resident
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"JASON?"
Jason winced. "WHAT DO YOU WANT, ADAM?"
"COULD I BORROW CLEAN SOCKS FROM YOU?"
"GO AHEAD. FIRST DRAWER ON THE RIGHT."
"THANKS."
Tommy stepped into the room with a frown. "What's with all the shouting?"
Jason grinned. "Adam wants to borrow clean socks from me."
"Oh." Perfectly logical in Tommy's mind. "He is here?"
"He's got the night shift today." Rocky explained as he headed toward the sitting coffee pot. "This the good stuff Trini got us?"
"Yes," Tommy sipped his mug carefully. "You know, we might want to think of giving Trini grocery money. She's always buying things for us."
Jason smiled in amusement. "You try giving Trini money and she's kill you. The girl's got a lot more pride then that. I suggest we merely invite her to go grocery shopping with us."
"Sounds like an idea." Rocky took a sip and sighed with contentment. "God she's got great taste in food. Just the kind of girl you want to bring home to mamma."
"Hey, Jason?" Adam came in dressed in workout cloths.
"Yeah?"
"I found this in your room." The others turn to see a dangling triangle held aloft by Adam's fingers. "It's a woman's earring."
"Really?" Rocky grinned like a man anticipating great fun. "What have you been up to and not sharing with your good pals?"
Jason frowned at him.
Tommy took it from Adam. "You know, I think Trini had a pair like this back when we were in high school. I seem to recall seeing her wear something like this once."
"Really?" Adam's brows went up in inquiry.
Jason shrugged, hoping to down play it as much as possible. "Then it's probably Trini's. She must have dropped it when I gave her a tour of the house."
"Really?" Adam asked, his eyes twinkling with delight. "In your bedroom?"
"I don't see why not." He picked up the newspaper, hoping to use it as a shield. "She was around to help me move in. We were hauling boxes all over the house that day. It might have dropped on one of the trips in and out of the rooms."
Rocky nodded his head. "Hum... that would explain why she knows this place so well."
"Since my roommates all decided to leave the moving in process to me, I had to get some help somewhere didn't I?" Jason said with a smile for his friend.
"Okay, we get the point." Tommy rolled his eyes. "Hand me the sports section."
Adam nodded his head thoughtfully as he pinned the earring to the corkboard on the wall. It was logical that Trini might have dropped it during the move. After all, she was here often enough. And Jason's bedroom had been one of the first to get finish. But there was something missing in that puzzle. Hum...
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Dermont, Boyle and Malone Law Office
300 Guttenberg Avenue, Suite 800
New York City, New York
"And you will stay at the Hilton Hotel. Any questions?"
"Have we got the lawyers on their end ready?" Trini picked up several more files and put them neatly into her brief case. "I don't want to show up than wait for them to get themselves together and waste everyone's time."
"They've got it." Boyle smiled as he watched the strangely hypnotic lava lamp of red with yellow blobs Ms. Kwan had brought in with her in the office that morning. "This is pretty."
"Thank you." Trini replied automatically. "Now, we have the Colorado codes and we're working within those boundaries, right? The developers know that."
"Absolutely," Boyle touched the smooth surface of the fascinating oddity.
"Mr. Boyle?" Trini looked up to watch her boss gazing rather dazed at her lava lamp. "Are you all right?"
"You kids these days," he grinned rather foolishly. "This was the kind of stuff they use to ban when I was a teen. They were much associated with drug users."
Trini laughed and finished putting the files away. "I'll have the preliminary stuff faxed in by tomorrow afternoon. From everything I've read, we should be in and out fast."
"Good," he turned and looked at the ever-professional woman behind her still rather bare desk. "Then all we need now is the architect and you're ready to go. You have your car parked downstairs?"
"In the underground garage just as you say sir."
"Good."
"Knock, knock." Daniel Hughman poked his head in and smiled. "The people upstairs are here."
"Come, we should go meet with them." Mr. Boyle said pulling Trini's small luggage out the door.
Grabbing her briefcase and laptop, Trini hid a smile as she followed him out. This is going to be one hell of a business trip.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Witman and Jones Inc.
369 Belmont Blvd., Suite 1200
New York City, New York
Tommy tapped his pen against his bottom lip thoughtfully before picking up the phone.
"Hello, Clark Kent speaking."
"You are a crack up, Rocky." Tommy grinned. "I need a favor."
"What's up, fearless leader?" Rocky turned his eyes away from the blinking screen. The news was happening too fast today for his liking. Too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it.
"I won't be home today at the usual time." Tommy glanced at the clock. It wasn't even nine yet.
"Why? Or do I even need to ask." Rocky could almost see the look Tommy had give Kimberly the night before when they had learned the Trini was not going to be around the condo for a few days, leaving Kim all by her lonesome.
"Shut up. Don't think I've forgiven you for what happened on Friday night."
Rocky sighed. "How long are you going to crucify me for that one?"
"Until I get some."
"The sooner the better. You're so cranky when you're not getting any. Okay, what do you want me to do?"
"I know I said that I'd get dinner tonight but..."
"I'll get it and you can go get Kim."
"Thanks, man."
"Are we square yet?"
"Depends on what happens tonight." Tommy grinned.
"Good luck then."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
William Cranston's Resident
357 Wilshire Blvd. #3D
St. Louis, Missouri
Billy pulled his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. Then he did what he hadn't done in three days, he shut the computer off. It was done! All he needed to do was talk to the confirming parties and he would be all set to go.
What a relief it will be to be finally done with this part of his life. It's been pretty lonely as of late. He was beginning to resemble something from that movie Trini had dragged him out see once with Sandra Bullock in it, The Net or something like that. Someone could so easily impersonate him and no one would even know the difference he was so isolated lately.
"Briiiiinnnggg."
"Hello?"
"Billy? You sound terrible."
"Nice to hear from you too, Kat." Billy sighed and leaned back in the chair. "Been up some time now working."
"I guessed." Kat smiled. "You okay?"
"Yeah, nothing a little food and shower can't cure."
"I see." She could easily imagine him sitting there with all the paper scattered, dishes piled up and a three day stubble growing on his chin. "I talked to Tommy yesterday."
That caught his attention fast enough. "What happened?"
"He is and always will be a perfect gentleman."
"In other words, nothing really got said."
"I wished him happy." Kat's voice was soft, sad.
"Do you really?" Billy asked quietly. "I mean with everything that happened between the two of you. I don't think anyone would be surprised if you and Tommy did not speak again."
"He and I were friends before we were lovers." She smiled remembering some of the good times she had with the one man she knew, perhaps even from the beginning, would never truly be hers. "I do wish him happy."
"Did you guys talk about the baby?" Billy asked.
"That was a long time ago."
Billy sighed. "You don't ever talk about it, do you?"
Kat smiled sadly. "No, we don't."
"Neither one of you could have done anything about it. It just wasn't meant to be." Billy said quietly, knowing that Kat's miscarriage had been a very difficult part of her life. "It happens."
"I know." She smiled and cradled the phone against her shoulder. "But a part of me always wondered if Tommy and I would still be together if I hadn't lost the child."
"Kat, you can't think like that."
"Or if he ever blamed me for losing it in the first place."
"Kat, stop it! You know that Tommy never blamed you. It just happened." Billy cursed himself for bring it up. "You cannot..."
"I know, Billy. Logically I know." She smiled rather wistfully. "And I always know that Tommy and I won't have made it, even with a child. We were growing apart toward the end. The miscarriage just cemented the break. We both needed to move on with our lives and being together held us back."
Billy shook his head. "How are you?'
"Good." She shook her head. "I think talking to Tommy helped me make a decision that I've been playing with for a while now."
"What decision?"
"The anthropology department at the New York College offered me a position to teach there."
"Oh." Ironies of ironies, New York seems to be the place to be. "Well?"
"I've decided to turn them down." She smiled, at peace with herself now. "It won't be right."
"Kat," he sighed into the phone and wondered at the threads in the universe that seems to forever link the Power Rangers together in some way or other. "Don't let Tommy or any of us make you turn from..."
"No, Billy. I've decided. It's the right thing to do." Kat nodded to herself and held the phone tighter. "Besides, I was just getting use to being back with my countrymen. Plus you Yanks have really lousy taste in food."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Newark International Airport
Newark, New Jersey
"I hate flying." Trini made that statement as they handed their business class tickets to the clerk.
"Take a deep breath and relax." Jason suggested as he picked up their stuff and moved down the rickety ramp. "It's only four hours."
"That's four hours too long." She made a face as they move through and located their seats. "I really don't like flying."
Jason leaned closed and whispered, "you know for a former power rangers, you have some strange hang ups. How can you complain about flying in an aircraft when we use to have our molecules dissolved every time we used the teleporter? Don't tell me you preferred that to this?"
"Of course I do," she whispered back. "At least then, I won't have time to scream before we hit the ground."
"You're pain," he said with a grin as he kissed her nose. "Now stop complaining and show me what their lawyers have in mind."
"It's actually pretty basic stuff," Trini started as she pulled her briefcase up onto her lap and opened it with a loud click.
"Miss," the stewardess came over and leaned forward to talk to her. "Could you wait until we are in the air to open your briefcase? We tend to get a lot of flying papers when people don't wait for the air pressure to stabilize during and after take off."
"Oh," Trini looked rather startled. "Sure, this can wait."
"Thank you, Miss." She turned to give Jason a saucy smile. "Could I get either of you anything?"
"Vodka on the rocks would be nice." Jason said offering her a smile for her troubles.
"And Miss?" she turned toward Trini but kept her eyes on the dimples in Jason's cheeks.
"Club soda is fine." Trini said with an amused grin.
"Be right back with your drinks." The stewardess straightened and smiled cheerful. The man with the dimples just brightened her whole day up. So what if he is taking his petite little wife on a business trip, doesn't mean he can't be eye-candy for the rest of the female population.
"Do they do that a lot?" Trini asked as she clicked the latch on her briefcase shut.
"What?" Jason looked rather confused.
"Women. Do they just look at you and instantly want to flirt with you?" Her eyes were twinkling with fun. "Cause you know, that's the kind of gift that most guys would love to have."
Jason frowned at her and shook his head. "It's not a gift, it's an annoyance. And why aren't you more upset by this?"
"Cause I don't feel threatened." She said with a brilliant smile that caused a bypassing man to trip and be forced to catch himself on the back of Jason's chair. "Sir, are you all right?"
"Fine, fine." He blushed a rather horrible shade of red and smiled shyly at her before moving on.
Jason was polite enough not to smile until the man was away. "I can see why you aren't threatened. Does that happen a lot?"
She looked at him with a look of complete innocence. "What?"
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Vogue Magazine Inc.
6500 Wellington Avenue, Suite 600
New York City, New York
"Kim, these are great." Patricia Kendery smiled as she gazed happily at the spread in front of her accompanied by a wonderfully written article on the new fall fashion. "These are going to look great for the big fall edition.
"As long as they make it to the print shop." Kim said as she began to put away a few of the unwanted shots of models and new cloths line. "We have some pretty nice stuff coming with the season. The IT color is going to be lime green again. I don't know why, most people can't wear that color."
"You can though. You're so fair." Pat had a rather odd fondness for the young writer. "But then, you don't need the fashion industry to tell you what to wear. You have great fashion sense as it is."
"Thanks, Patty."
"Hey, listen." She looked other at the glass partition and the big conference room there. "The boys up top are talking about the French Connection Fashion Show coming up in a month."
"What about it?" Kimberly's eyes were on the spreadsheet that logged all the recent industry market change. "Everyone knows about it. It's been a year long project for the committee."
"Yeah, but Vogue is going to choice someone to go from the New York office this year." Pat said with a knowing smile. "Apparently, Vogue Europe is having a difficult time security passes this year since the brawl last year by one of their reporters."
Kimberly shook her head. It had been headline news for weeks. "Serves Vogue Europe right to send a man into a place like that. Especially with his fiancée being one of the models. You'd think he's never seen her pose half nude before."
"Yeah, so they're sending someone from this office this year. Isn't it exciting?" Pat was practically glowing with her exhilaration.
"Hey, Kim!" Joshua Sherman walked over with a large bouquet of pink roses and daisies next together with greens. "This just arrived at the front desk for you."
"Oh, they're beautiful." Patricia leaned in and took a whiff of the wonderful scent that was already beginning to spread through the big office. "Who are they from?"
Kimberly had a pretty good idea who they were from. Pulling out the little white card, she looked it over quickly. "How about dinner and a movie tonight, Beautiful? Call me if I can come over at six. Love, Tommy. PS. I thought you might like the flowers too." She smiled at the bouquet much the same as she would smile at its sender had he been there.
"Well?" Pat waited rather impatiently for her to reveal the sender's name.
"They are from a friend." She answered rather embarrassed.
"Oh please," Josh rolled his eyes. "A guy doesn't dish out this much money for flowers unless there is an understanding between you two."
Kimberly laughed. "You don't know my friend." She picked up the phone, very aware that the others were still listening.
"Thomas Oliver's Office."
"Hey, may I speak with Tommy? Tell him it's Kim."
"Just a moment."
"Hey, Beautiful. Did you get the flowers?"
"How else would I get your office number? It was written on the card."
"You could try 411, you know."
"Yes, I suppose I could have." She smiled into the phone. "And yes, you can come over at six."
"Great! You won't regret it."
"I better not. Bye, Tommy."
"See you later, Beautiful."
Pat raised one brow as Kim hung up the phone. "Just friends, huh?"
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
The Hilton
Denver, Colorado
"Two separate reservation for Jason Scott and Trini Kwan." Jason said pulling his ID out from his wallet. "We'd like adjoining rooms with a connecting door please. This is a very tightly scheduled business trip."
"Mr. Scott and Ms Kwan with the Denver Designs project."
A blink look crossed Jason's face. "What?"
Trini leaned over to whisper, "The developers. They're footing the bill for our stay here."
"Oh," he grinned with amusement. Six hours on the plan talking about the project and neither one of them ever bought up the official name of the land developers. They were merely the other guys at the end of this deal. "Remind me to memorize that later."
"I will."
"Here we go." The clerk handed them each a digital key for their room. "Rooms 625 and 627. Enjoy your stay here with the Hilton and if there is anything you need, please do call us."
Jason pocketed his key before turning to the clerk. "Well, we'll need a fax machine in her room, a display easel in mine, and dinner in two hours."
The little man behind the desk was busy scribbling away. "Was there anything particular you would like served to you, sir?"
"Anything is good. Make sure there's plenty. And coffee, we're going to need massive amounts of coffee this next couple of days." Jason said with a grin as he picked up his garment bag and pulling case. "Come on Counselor, time to get to work again."
Trini sighed and lifted her own bags with ease. "No rest for the wicked."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 13, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"I thought you said something about a movie?" Kim murmured against Tommy's lips. "If we keep this up, I don't think we're going to be able to catch any movie at all."
"Would it be so bad?" Tommy asked, his hand making a slowly descent from shoulder to hands. "I mean, I certainly won't mind staying in for the night."
"I'll just bet you won't." She smiled against his lips as her nimble fingers made quick work of the buttons that currently kept his shirt closed. "You know, I'm going to have to kill Trini when she gets back."
"Oh? Did she do something wrong?" He loved the feel of her warm hands on his skin.
"You don't think so?" She was amazed at the muscles that stretched taunt across his chest. "You really think her little comment the other night wasn't about this?"
"Oh that!" He laughed softly as he reached for her blouse. "I'll have to thank her for reminding me to look in on you."
"Oh, you really are asking for it aren't you?" She pulled the shirttails from his pants.
"I thought you said that I had a one track mind?"
"And aren't you proving me right?"
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Teaser line from the next chapter: Kimberly rolled over and let out a scream loud enough to wake the dead.