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: The one is for The Girl in the Red Jacket, who inspired the coffee scene. You are just too good girl and thanks for being my inspiration to write Jason/Trini fan fics. You are the best and I can't wait for you to come home.
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.
**Sorry for the delay on this chapter, the site was being mean to me.**
***For those that are 17 and above, you can read the Kim/Tommy scene from chapter 20 at "A Touch of Love," where all the NC-17 scenes will now be posted.***
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twenty-One
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
Kimberly rolled over and let out a scream loud enough to wake the dead.
Tommy's foot hit the floor and he was in fight mode in a blink. "What? What?"
With breath that came in gulps, Kim sat there with her hand over her racing heart, trying to calm herself.
Realizing that there was no immediately physical danger, Tommy got back into the bed and gathered her in his arms. "What's the matter, darling? Did you have a nightmare?"
"I forgot." She blinked several times trying to clear her head.
He smoothed back the baby fine hair. "What did you forget?"
"That I wasn't alone in bed."
"You all right?"
"Yeah, just took a moment for me to reorient myself." Kimberly could feel herself blushing from head to toe. She felt ten times the fool for having over reacted when she found a warm body next to her. How could she have forgotten that Tommy and her had made love? "Oh god, this is so weird."
Tommy smiled, and leaned back with contentment. "I think I can come to enjoy this."
"This?" She peeked at him through her fingers.
"Yeah, waking up next to you. Minus the screaming that is."
He looked to be all too comfortable in her bed that she had an irrational Trini fear. Maybe we're rushing it? No, no, stop that. God Trini, you've got me doing it now!
"What are you thinking of?" He watched her cautiously; there was something in her eyes that he didn't exactly like. "Kim?"
"What?" She blinked.
"What were you thinking of just now?"
"Oh, I was just thinking about Trini."
Tommy gave her an amused look. "You're in bed with me after having the most incredible sex for the majority of the night but you're thinking about your best friend. Is there something you and Trini should be telling the rest of the male population? Not to mention me?"
Kimberly gave him a mighty shove that sent him flying over the side of the bed, along with the blanket and the body pillow Kimberly loved so much. "You're so asking for it, Thomas Oliver."
Tommy's head come over the side with a grin. "You know it."
"Stop joking, I was serious."
He got up slowly and sat down again, gathering her in his arms. "I'm sorry. Go ahead, share with me."
"Trini's got this thing about relationships." Kim said thoughtfully, not too sure just how much to say without betraying Trini's confidence.
"I would too if I had all my ex turn into stalkers on me." Tommy still had a hard time imagining anyone trying to hurt sweet gentle Trini. Okay, so she's not too sweet when she's trying to kick your ass but for most parts..."
"Yeah, but it has left a lot of scars that's likely to keep her from happiness if it keeps up."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that she thinks that she's no good with love. That emotions of that kind is just not within her and that she can't have a loving relationship where two people share the same amount of affection for one another." At the blank look on Tommy's face, Kim sighed. "In other words, she thinks that she can't fall in love with anyone. That's going to keep her from finding who ever it is that she's meant to be with."
"I'm sure that's not try. There's no one more in tuned with their emotions than Trini is." Tommy stroked her hair and held her tighter.
"You don't know everything that's been going on Tommy."
"What do you mean?" He frowned thoughtfully. "Wait, you said something before, about her dating someone now."
"She's not dating him. She's merely sleeping with him." Kim shook her head and sighed. "My best friend thinks that she can't have a normal relationship so she replaces it with sex with some complete stranger whom she apparently is in constant fear of him wanting more than just sex."
"You're kidding right?" He looked at her with disbelief.
"I wish."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
The Hilton
Denver, Colorado
The Richard the bellboy had been there for the past three years. He's seen everything from the sixty-year-old millionaire with his eighteen-year-old mistress to cheating husbands being caught with their pants down, literally. So when he knocked on room 627, he fully expected the man with his lady attorney to be doing something other than work. After all, no one ever realizes just how much a bellboy sees. But what he didn't expect was to find the room looking like a hurricane had just passed threw it. There were papers and half opened books everywhere.
"Jason? Where is the summary from the opposing firm?" Trini flipped through three more piles of loose-leaf documents. None of which was neatly color coded, as they should be.
"Under the preliminary floor plans." Jason was busy shaving the day old stubble from his face. "Is that breakfast?"
"Yes sir," Richard was rather startled to discover the two actually looking as if they did spend the night preparing for what appeared to be an important meeting. "Two servings of the usual breakfast."
"Thank you," Trini said absentmindedly as she jotted down more notes. "Remind me to ask the opposing side about construction crews. I don't want you to have to bring in your own people if they already have a crew there to pick from. I hate to think of the expense it would be to bring in an out of state crew plus there's that whole issue of political toe stepping with the unions that I just don't want to deal with."
Jason frowned into the mirror. "I'll be sure to talk to them though I know a local crew that would be great for the project. Conductor's name is Peter Jensen." He glanced over at the bellboy. "Oh, I'm sorry. Do I need to sign something?"
"Here, I got it." Trini said as she picked up the little tab. "Hold on a second." She began to scan the room for her purse. "Huh... Jason, you seen my purse?"
"Probably in your room. You only brought your briefcase and legal files over last night." Jason said as he towel his face clean. "I've got this one." Pulling his wallet out, he handed the man five dollars. "Thanks."
"Thank you sir." Richard pocketed the bill and took one last look at the messy, papered scattered bed and shook his head. First honest people he's seen in a while.
"Eat something," Jason said as he came over and kissed the side of Trini's neck, just under her left ear. "You've been working on this for half the night."
She smiled and leaned over to trade kisses with him for a moment. They may have been too tired after putting in a full afternoon's work and then some to make love last night, but being able to wake up in Jason's arms had been surprisingly comfortable. They had designated his room as the workroom and hers as the sleeping room, though Jason would keep all his personal stuff in his room in case of a drop in by the bosses. "I don't want to walk in there today and look incompetent. Hardly a good way to start off proceedings."
"I'm sure you're going to wow them with your charm and skills, plus all those legal terms that I could never figure out." He poured the hot coffee into two mugs. "One double, double for you and one double milk, triple sugar for me."
Trini hid a smile behind her brief, amused at the fact that he knew how she took her coffee. He was just so unbelievably sweet that way. But her heart gave an involuntary jump that the thought that he was beginning to pick up on her habits. Next thing she would know, he would know where she was at every minute of every day. Stop that Trini! This is Jason, your elementary school pal. The one that use to make fun of Bulk and Skull and protect you for their less than amorous advances. He won't do that.
"What are you thinking of that's made that frown on your face." Jason asked, brushing some blue prints aside carelessly and sitting down on the bed. Lord she's beautiful in the morning. Waking up with her still sleeping in his arms had been so incredibly intimate and so wonderfully calming. Her long sooty lashings fanning out just under her eyes, her pouting lips all soft and smooth, that wonderful softness about her had been so evident in her sleep. "How come you girls can always wake up looking fresh as a daisy."
She grinned, shaking the dire thoughts from her mind. "It's a gift." She sipped the coffee slowly and looked over the files again. "You meeting the developers on site this afternoon?"
"Yeah, we're going to go over some stuff after the initial meeting with you lawyers this morning." Jason picked up the newspaper that had accompany the breakfast tray. "Hum...NT is down again."
"Really?" Trini glanced over his frowning face. "You own shares?"
"Yeah, but only two thousand."
"You're fine then. If it dips below sixty dollars a share, sell and hope to make up the loss at a later date."
Jason looked up, rather startled to get this sudden advice. "Why do you say that?"
"Cause that means NT collected another small company to add to its over all gross production. The shareholders would demand the lowering of the price to reduce losses if something should go wrong in the emerging market. You can buy lower at a later date cause NT is an old company. It'll make a turn around." She shrugged her shoulder lightly. "Then again, I could be wrong. I'm no stock broker like Tommy."
Jason nearly choked on his coffee. He had been having the exact same thought about the out come of the NT buyout and had spent a few hours in the evening arguing over it with Tommy, whose conclusion had been exactly the same with the exception that he predicted that the stock would have to dip to fifty dollars a share before the buyout would go through.
Trini munched quietly on a piece of toast as Jason dug into the waffles. They sat there having breakfast together in comfortable, easy silence. Life was good for those quiet moments in life.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
Jason Scott's Resident
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Well, look what the cat dragged in?" Rocky said with wide smile as Tommy, freshly showered and changed for work, stepped into the kitchen.
Adam hid his smile behind a coffee mug. "I thought you would head start to work from Kim's place."
"Shut up, you two." Tommy said with the rolling of his eyes. "You're just bitter cause I got some last night."
"Hope you wrapped it up." Adam said with his usual cautious tone, as when he warned his patients. "Cause getting Kimberly in an interesting condition would be beneficial to your relationships right now."
"Don't worry, I won't make a mistake like that. And yes, we use a condom." He grinned suddenly. "Several in fact."
"Okay, W.T.M.I.!" Rocky said but covering his eyes instead of his ears.
"What?" Tommy looked at him confused.
Rocky grinned. "Way too much information."
Adam rolled his eyes. "Ignore him. And never let him make dinner for anyone again. I swore I thought I had to go to the emergency room last night myself as a patient. Damn, that was bad."
"Hey, you just have a delicate stomach." Rocky said defensively.
"And yours is like a trash compacter." Adam countered. "I don't even know what was in that thing last night."
"It was an omelet with the works."
Tommy bit his lip to keep from laughing. "Well, to be fair Adam. Not every one is a cook like Trini."
"I sincerely hope she and Jason comes back soon. Other than restaurants, I don't think any one of us can produce a decent meal." Adam sighed with much sadness for his much abused stomach.
"Speaking of Jason," Tommy scratched his chin and sat down at the breakfast table. "Has anyone else notice how strange he's been acting lately?"
"Strange?" Rocky shook his head. "He hasn't been acting all that different."
Adam made a face. "Rocky, you're hardly ever around long enough to notice. The only week we've all been together and you were gone."
"True."
"I don't mean big changes." Tommy said as he thought carefully. "Just little ones."
"Yeah," Adam nodded. "Like he's always doing his sheets."
"Maybe he developed a phobia." Rocky suggested.
"No, I don't think that's it." Tommy frowned, trying to locate the problem in his head. There was something slightly off about the whole thing that he just can't name. "And how often he showers, sometime twice a day."
"Whoa, that is weird. Jason wants to be clean now." Rocky rolled his eyes. "Come on guys, you're making big deal out of nothing. So Jason likes to be cleaner now, it's not a crime." He stood up and took his mug and dish to the sink. "If you ask me, you two are overreacting to nothing."
"I guess." Tommy sighed and stood up as well. "Okay, I get off at the usual time."
"Yeah, but will you be back." Adam teased, letting go of the Jason puzzle for now.
Tommy grinned good-naturedly. "Sure I would. At least to get a change of cloths so I don't have to rush back like today."
The others exchanged glanced and sighed.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
Denver Designs
10640 Walnut Lane, Suite 510
Denver, Colorado
"We're not asking for an unreasonable fee here. But you are asking my client to design a multiplex plus the additional design spec. that is original to your region. I'm sure you've all studied up on my client's credentials. After all, we won't be here if you didn't know the quality of work you would be getting." Trini brushed a long lock over her shoulder and studied the three men across the triangular table from her. The lawyers were all older graying men that appeared to think that they can step all over her just simply because she was younger and prettier than they are in her gray suit. "We're not lowering the price of the deal."
The three men exchanged glanced then looked over at the senior partners in Denver Designs. The four men sitting on the third side of the table exchange looks and a nod. "We'll need a few minutes to confer."
"Take all the time you need, gentlemen." Trini stood up and motion for Jason to do the same. "Mr. Scott and I will go get some coffee and be back in fifteen minutes."
"That sounds fine," like the good old boys that they are, they too stood up when Trini stood. A true gentleman never sits when a lady is standing in their presence. "We'll have an answer for you in a few minutes."
Trini nodded back with a smile and got out to there as fast as she could. Jason followed and tucked her arm into his. "You were great in there."
"I feel like I need a bath." Trini said with a sigh. "They think that just cause I'm younger that I'm going to buckle simply because they can hold a staring contest better than I can?"
"Don't let them get to you." Jason was impressed with Trini's performance in the conference room. She had been steady, taking down notes as the other side spoke and making comments along the way. She gasped everything quickly and reassessed their option almost immediately. Jason and the firm of Miller and Hoffman Architectural were at an advantage here. They had a name and reputation for getting things done and done right the first time. Plus, Jason's recent designs have been getting plenty of publicity.
"I want this to go through. I'd feel badly if I lost your client for you." Trini said as she watched him pour coffee. "I wish people drink tea more. It's healthier."
"But not nearly as popular." Jason smiled and calmly run his hand over the small of her back. "I'm sure that everything will work out for the best. Once we get an initial agreement done, I'll go to the site today with someone and take a look at the design area and get some measurements done quickly. Then we're ready to roll with this."
"Think they'll go for it?" Trini asked, suddenly apprehensive.
Jason's eyes reflected his belief in her. "I know they will." His heart felt a little bigger standing here trying to qualm her fears. She was so strong yet so vulnerable in so many ways. A small part of him wanted to protect and help her along the way. He never wanted her to be afraid of anything.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, relaxing the tension that had set in her shoulder, she nodded her head. "Okay, time to face the enemy."
"For heaven sakes, Trini. It's not a battle." Jason smiled.
"It certainly feels like one to me."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
Vogue Magazine Inc.
6500 Wellington Avenue, Suite 600
New York City, New York
"Brrrriiiiinnnnnggggg."
With a sigh of frustration, she picked up the phone. "Kimberly Hart."
"Hey there Kim."
"Zack?" Kim's smile came naturally and easily. "How are you?"
"I'm doing great." Zack held the phone up higher with his shoulder as he glanced at the clock on the wall. "I'm in Los Angeles right now. Just came back to see the folk before the Lion King tour starts again in two weeks."
"That's great!" Kim was so proud of Zack for making it to Broadway. The man had talent and obviously someone saw it. "When are you to hit New York on that tour?"
"Sometime in December. You guys going to come see me dance?"
"Do you even need to ask?" She laughed and shook her head. "We miss you."
"You don't know how good it is to hear your voice again." Zack sighed and leaned back. "How is everyone?"
"Adam is pulling night shifts this week. Rocky is still as bad as he ever was. Billy is moving here in what should be another week or so. Trini and Jason are out of town on a business trip."
"Together?" Surprised evident in his voice.
"A long and rather funny story. Let's just say that fate has a rather ironic sense of humor." Kim giggled as she remembered the scene from the dinner. Jason couldn't stop laughing for the rest of the night. And Trini looked like she was going to faint from the lack of oxygen every time she looked at Jason.
"And Tommy?" Zack asked slyly.
"What about him?" All innocent like.
"Come one, spill it to the Zack man."
"We're going good."
"So you guys hit the hay yet?"
"Zack! What a thing to ask!" Feeling herself blushing.
"Well, according to Rocky, Tommy didn't come home last night." He was fighting hard not to grin too big.
"ZACK!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
The Hilton
Denver, Colorado
Trini looked up as the door to the room opened to reveal a slightly disheveled Jason. "Hey, how was the site visit?"
"Not too great." Jason made a face and took off his suit jacket with a sigh. "I'm glad that we're asking for so much money cause this is going to take some work."
"That bad?"
"Worse."
Trini got up and pulled him to the bed, getting him to sit in front of her so she could work on some of those tense muscles that was obviously bothering him. "So what you suspected was right?"
"The ground is hard as granite and going to be impossible to break. The crew will have to be paid more to get them to even touch this thing. And I'm going to have to set up foundation that doesn't require a base pouring or someone is going to mutiny." He groaned deep in his throat as Trini's hand worked her magic on the hard muscles in his shoulders. "Oh that's good, right there."
She smiled in reaction and applied more pressure, feeling the knot just under the thick skin. "You need to take a few minutes to relax. Everything is going good right now. I've faxed the preliminary stuff over to the New York office already. We should hear back from them in an hour or two with your bosses answer." She reached around and gently unbuttoned his shirt slowly, pealing back the material. "Then I can take the revised version to Denver Designs for approval. Once we have that settled, I'll go ahead and have them sign it and express mail it to your firm. By Friday, we'll be back in Jersey and maybe in your steam room?"
He could feel her cooling hands on his body. "Hum... sounds like you have everything planned out to the t."
"I aim to please." She kissed the edge of his ear. "So, why don't you go take a shower."
He reached around and held her to him in a tight embrace. "In a minute."
"Jason," she shook her head at him. "You need to sleep now, you look positively exhausted. We still have a lot to do. But right now, it is my turn while you take a break and work on some designs. Once we've got all the papers signed and court certified, you're up with the next part. You better be on your toes."
He frowned thoughtfully. "In other words, you don't have the time for me to show you how much I just appreciated that back rub."
"If it's the kind of appreciation that I got the first time I gave you a massage, I really don't have time for it. But I'll settle for you ordering some dinner and letting me get some work done before I have to sleep."
He leaned over and kissed her on the nose. "Okay, you've got a deal."
Trini sighed and watched as he got up and made his way into the other room to shower. She would need his room to work since it had held the fax machine and e-mail connections. She was afraid to admit that she like this side of him. The playful, teasing side that made her wanted to forget everything else in life and crawl into bed with him. He was fast becoming a very important part of her life, she was intelligent enough to know that. As a friend, Jason had always been important. But now...something has shifted and she wasn't sure what it was or where it would lead. All she knew was that she wasn't ready to let it go yet.
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Teaser line from the next chapter: "Let's just say that it made Mount St. Helen look like my old sparkler system in the front yard."
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: The one is for The Girl in the Red Jacket, who inspired the coffee scene. You are just too good girl and thanks for being my inspiration to write Jason/Trini fan fics. You are the best and I can't wait for you to come home.
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.
**Sorry for the delay on this chapter, the site was being mean to me.**
***For those that are 17 and above, you can read the Kim/Tommy scene from chapter 20 at "A Touch of Love," where all the NC-17 scenes will now be posted.***
~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter Twenty-One
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
Kimberly rolled over and let out a scream loud enough to wake the dead.
Tommy's foot hit the floor and he was in fight mode in a blink. "What? What?"
With breath that came in gulps, Kim sat there with her hand over her racing heart, trying to calm herself.
Realizing that there was no immediately physical danger, Tommy got back into the bed and gathered her in his arms. "What's the matter, darling? Did you have a nightmare?"
"I forgot." She blinked several times trying to clear her head.
He smoothed back the baby fine hair. "What did you forget?"
"That I wasn't alone in bed."
"You all right?"
"Yeah, just took a moment for me to reorient myself." Kimberly could feel herself blushing from head to toe. She felt ten times the fool for having over reacted when she found a warm body next to her. How could she have forgotten that Tommy and her had made love? "Oh god, this is so weird."
Tommy smiled, and leaned back with contentment. "I think I can come to enjoy this."
"This?" She peeked at him through her fingers.
"Yeah, waking up next to you. Minus the screaming that is."
He looked to be all too comfortable in her bed that she had an irrational Trini fear. Maybe we're rushing it? No, no, stop that. God Trini, you've got me doing it now!
"What are you thinking of?" He watched her cautiously; there was something in her eyes that he didn't exactly like. "Kim?"
"What?" She blinked.
"What were you thinking of just now?"
"Oh, I was just thinking about Trini."
Tommy gave her an amused look. "You're in bed with me after having the most incredible sex for the majority of the night but you're thinking about your best friend. Is there something you and Trini should be telling the rest of the male population? Not to mention me?"
Kimberly gave him a mighty shove that sent him flying over the side of the bed, along with the blanket and the body pillow Kimberly loved so much. "You're so asking for it, Thomas Oliver."
Tommy's head come over the side with a grin. "You know it."
"Stop joking, I was serious."
He got up slowly and sat down again, gathering her in his arms. "I'm sorry. Go ahead, share with me."
"Trini's got this thing about relationships." Kim said thoughtfully, not too sure just how much to say without betraying Trini's confidence.
"I would too if I had all my ex turn into stalkers on me." Tommy still had a hard time imagining anyone trying to hurt sweet gentle Trini. Okay, so she's not too sweet when she's trying to kick your ass but for most parts..."
"Yeah, but it has left a lot of scars that's likely to keep her from happiness if it keeps up."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that she thinks that she's no good with love. That emotions of that kind is just not within her and that she can't have a loving relationship where two people share the same amount of affection for one another." At the blank look on Tommy's face, Kim sighed. "In other words, she thinks that she can't fall in love with anyone. That's going to keep her from finding who ever it is that she's meant to be with."
"I'm sure that's not try. There's no one more in tuned with their emotions than Trini is." Tommy stroked her hair and held her tighter.
"You don't know everything that's been going on Tommy."
"What do you mean?" He frowned thoughtfully. "Wait, you said something before, about her dating someone now."
"She's not dating him. She's merely sleeping with him." Kim shook her head and sighed. "My best friend thinks that she can't have a normal relationship so she replaces it with sex with some complete stranger whom she apparently is in constant fear of him wanting more than just sex."
"You're kidding right?" He looked at her with disbelief.
"I wish."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
The Hilton
Denver, Colorado
The Richard the bellboy had been there for the past three years. He's seen everything from the sixty-year-old millionaire with his eighteen-year-old mistress to cheating husbands being caught with their pants down, literally. So when he knocked on room 627, he fully expected the man with his lady attorney to be doing something other than work. After all, no one ever realizes just how much a bellboy sees. But what he didn't expect was to find the room looking like a hurricane had just passed threw it. There were papers and half opened books everywhere.
"Jason? Where is the summary from the opposing firm?" Trini flipped through three more piles of loose-leaf documents. None of which was neatly color coded, as they should be.
"Under the preliminary floor plans." Jason was busy shaving the day old stubble from his face. "Is that breakfast?"
"Yes sir," Richard was rather startled to discover the two actually looking as if they did spend the night preparing for what appeared to be an important meeting. "Two servings of the usual breakfast."
"Thank you," Trini said absentmindedly as she jotted down more notes. "Remind me to ask the opposing side about construction crews. I don't want you to have to bring in your own people if they already have a crew there to pick from. I hate to think of the expense it would be to bring in an out of state crew plus there's that whole issue of political toe stepping with the unions that I just don't want to deal with."
Jason frowned into the mirror. "I'll be sure to talk to them though I know a local crew that would be great for the project. Conductor's name is Peter Jensen." He glanced over at the bellboy. "Oh, I'm sorry. Do I need to sign something?"
"Here, I got it." Trini said as she picked up the little tab. "Hold on a second." She began to scan the room for her purse. "Huh... Jason, you seen my purse?"
"Probably in your room. You only brought your briefcase and legal files over last night." Jason said as he towel his face clean. "I've got this one." Pulling his wallet out, he handed the man five dollars. "Thanks."
"Thank you sir." Richard pocketed the bill and took one last look at the messy, papered scattered bed and shook his head. First honest people he's seen in a while.
"Eat something," Jason said as he came over and kissed the side of Trini's neck, just under her left ear. "You've been working on this for half the night."
She smiled and leaned over to trade kisses with him for a moment. They may have been too tired after putting in a full afternoon's work and then some to make love last night, but being able to wake up in Jason's arms had been surprisingly comfortable. They had designated his room as the workroom and hers as the sleeping room, though Jason would keep all his personal stuff in his room in case of a drop in by the bosses. "I don't want to walk in there today and look incompetent. Hardly a good way to start off proceedings."
"I'm sure you're going to wow them with your charm and skills, plus all those legal terms that I could never figure out." He poured the hot coffee into two mugs. "One double, double for you and one double milk, triple sugar for me."
Trini hid a smile behind her brief, amused at the fact that he knew how she took her coffee. He was just so unbelievably sweet that way. But her heart gave an involuntary jump that the thought that he was beginning to pick up on her habits. Next thing she would know, he would know where she was at every minute of every day. Stop that Trini! This is Jason, your elementary school pal. The one that use to make fun of Bulk and Skull and protect you for their less than amorous advances. He won't do that.
"What are you thinking of that's made that frown on your face." Jason asked, brushing some blue prints aside carelessly and sitting down on the bed. Lord she's beautiful in the morning. Waking up with her still sleeping in his arms had been so incredibly intimate and so wonderfully calming. Her long sooty lashings fanning out just under her eyes, her pouting lips all soft and smooth, that wonderful softness about her had been so evident in her sleep. "How come you girls can always wake up looking fresh as a daisy."
She grinned, shaking the dire thoughts from her mind. "It's a gift." She sipped the coffee slowly and looked over the files again. "You meeting the developers on site this afternoon?"
"Yeah, we're going to go over some stuff after the initial meeting with you lawyers this morning." Jason picked up the newspaper that had accompany the breakfast tray. "Hum...NT is down again."
"Really?" Trini glanced over his frowning face. "You own shares?"
"Yeah, but only two thousand."
"You're fine then. If it dips below sixty dollars a share, sell and hope to make up the loss at a later date."
Jason looked up, rather startled to get this sudden advice. "Why do you say that?"
"Cause that means NT collected another small company to add to its over all gross production. The shareholders would demand the lowering of the price to reduce losses if something should go wrong in the emerging market. You can buy lower at a later date cause NT is an old company. It'll make a turn around." She shrugged her shoulder lightly. "Then again, I could be wrong. I'm no stock broker like Tommy."
Jason nearly choked on his coffee. He had been having the exact same thought about the out come of the NT buyout and had spent a few hours in the evening arguing over it with Tommy, whose conclusion had been exactly the same with the exception that he predicted that the stock would have to dip to fifty dollars a share before the buyout would go through.
Trini munched quietly on a piece of toast as Jason dug into the waffles. They sat there having breakfast together in comfortable, easy silence. Life was good for those quiet moments in life.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
Jason Scott's Resident
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Well, look what the cat dragged in?" Rocky said with wide smile as Tommy, freshly showered and changed for work, stepped into the kitchen.
Adam hid his smile behind a coffee mug. "I thought you would head start to work from Kim's place."
"Shut up, you two." Tommy said with the rolling of his eyes. "You're just bitter cause I got some last night."
"Hope you wrapped it up." Adam said with his usual cautious tone, as when he warned his patients. "Cause getting Kimberly in an interesting condition would be beneficial to your relationships right now."
"Don't worry, I won't make a mistake like that. And yes, we use a condom." He grinned suddenly. "Several in fact."
"Okay, W.T.M.I.!" Rocky said but covering his eyes instead of his ears.
"What?" Tommy looked at him confused.
Rocky grinned. "Way too much information."
Adam rolled his eyes. "Ignore him. And never let him make dinner for anyone again. I swore I thought I had to go to the emergency room last night myself as a patient. Damn, that was bad."
"Hey, you just have a delicate stomach." Rocky said defensively.
"And yours is like a trash compacter." Adam countered. "I don't even know what was in that thing last night."
"It was an omelet with the works."
Tommy bit his lip to keep from laughing. "Well, to be fair Adam. Not every one is a cook like Trini."
"I sincerely hope she and Jason comes back soon. Other than restaurants, I don't think any one of us can produce a decent meal." Adam sighed with much sadness for his much abused stomach.
"Speaking of Jason," Tommy scratched his chin and sat down at the breakfast table. "Has anyone else notice how strange he's been acting lately?"
"Strange?" Rocky shook his head. "He hasn't been acting all that different."
Adam made a face. "Rocky, you're hardly ever around long enough to notice. The only week we've all been together and you were gone."
"True."
"I don't mean big changes." Tommy said as he thought carefully. "Just little ones."
"Yeah," Adam nodded. "Like he's always doing his sheets."
"Maybe he developed a phobia." Rocky suggested.
"No, I don't think that's it." Tommy frowned, trying to locate the problem in his head. There was something slightly off about the whole thing that he just can't name. "And how often he showers, sometime twice a day."
"Whoa, that is weird. Jason wants to be clean now." Rocky rolled his eyes. "Come on guys, you're making big deal out of nothing. So Jason likes to be cleaner now, it's not a crime." He stood up and took his mug and dish to the sink. "If you ask me, you two are overreacting to nothing."
"I guess." Tommy sighed and stood up as well. "Okay, I get off at the usual time."
"Yeah, but will you be back." Adam teased, letting go of the Jason puzzle for now.
Tommy grinned good-naturedly. "Sure I would. At least to get a change of cloths so I don't have to rush back like today."
The others exchanged glanced and sighed.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
Denver Designs
10640 Walnut Lane, Suite 510
Denver, Colorado
"We're not asking for an unreasonable fee here. But you are asking my client to design a multiplex plus the additional design spec. that is original to your region. I'm sure you've all studied up on my client's credentials. After all, we won't be here if you didn't know the quality of work you would be getting." Trini brushed a long lock over her shoulder and studied the three men across the triangular table from her. The lawyers were all older graying men that appeared to think that they can step all over her just simply because she was younger and prettier than they are in her gray suit. "We're not lowering the price of the deal."
The three men exchanged glanced then looked over at the senior partners in Denver Designs. The four men sitting on the third side of the table exchange looks and a nod. "We'll need a few minutes to confer."
"Take all the time you need, gentlemen." Trini stood up and motion for Jason to do the same. "Mr. Scott and I will go get some coffee and be back in fifteen minutes."
"That sounds fine," like the good old boys that they are, they too stood up when Trini stood. A true gentleman never sits when a lady is standing in their presence. "We'll have an answer for you in a few minutes."
Trini nodded back with a smile and got out to there as fast as she could. Jason followed and tucked her arm into his. "You were great in there."
"I feel like I need a bath." Trini said with a sigh. "They think that just cause I'm younger that I'm going to buckle simply because they can hold a staring contest better than I can?"
"Don't let them get to you." Jason was impressed with Trini's performance in the conference room. She had been steady, taking down notes as the other side spoke and making comments along the way. She gasped everything quickly and reassessed their option almost immediately. Jason and the firm of Miller and Hoffman Architectural were at an advantage here. They had a name and reputation for getting things done and done right the first time. Plus, Jason's recent designs have been getting plenty of publicity.
"I want this to go through. I'd feel badly if I lost your client for you." Trini said as she watched him pour coffee. "I wish people drink tea more. It's healthier."
"But not nearly as popular." Jason smiled and calmly run his hand over the small of her back. "I'm sure that everything will work out for the best. Once we get an initial agreement done, I'll go to the site today with someone and take a look at the design area and get some measurements done quickly. Then we're ready to roll with this."
"Think they'll go for it?" Trini asked, suddenly apprehensive.
Jason's eyes reflected his belief in her. "I know they will." His heart felt a little bigger standing here trying to qualm her fears. She was so strong yet so vulnerable in so many ways. A small part of him wanted to protect and help her along the way. He never wanted her to be afraid of anything.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, relaxing the tension that had set in her shoulder, she nodded her head. "Okay, time to face the enemy."
"For heaven sakes, Trini. It's not a battle." Jason smiled.
"It certainly feels like one to me."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
Vogue Magazine Inc.
6500 Wellington Avenue, Suite 600
New York City, New York
"Brrrriiiiinnnnnggggg."
With a sigh of frustration, she picked up the phone. "Kimberly Hart."
"Hey there Kim."
"Zack?" Kim's smile came naturally and easily. "How are you?"
"I'm doing great." Zack held the phone up higher with his shoulder as he glanced at the clock on the wall. "I'm in Los Angeles right now. Just came back to see the folk before the Lion King tour starts again in two weeks."
"That's great!" Kim was so proud of Zack for making it to Broadway. The man had talent and obviously someone saw it. "When are you to hit New York on that tour?"
"Sometime in December. You guys going to come see me dance?"
"Do you even need to ask?" She laughed and shook her head. "We miss you."
"You don't know how good it is to hear your voice again." Zack sighed and leaned back. "How is everyone?"
"Adam is pulling night shifts this week. Rocky is still as bad as he ever was. Billy is moving here in what should be another week or so. Trini and Jason are out of town on a business trip."
"Together?" Surprised evident in his voice.
"A long and rather funny story. Let's just say that fate has a rather ironic sense of humor." Kim giggled as she remembered the scene from the dinner. Jason couldn't stop laughing for the rest of the night. And Trini looked like she was going to faint from the lack of oxygen every time she looked at Jason.
"And Tommy?" Zack asked slyly.
"What about him?" All innocent like.
"Come one, spill it to the Zack man."
"We're going good."
"So you guys hit the hay yet?"
"Zack! What a thing to ask!" Feeling herself blushing.
"Well, according to Rocky, Tommy didn't come home last night." He was fighting hard not to grin too big.
"ZACK!!!"
~~~~~~~~~~
July 14, 2004
The Hilton
Denver, Colorado
Trini looked up as the door to the room opened to reveal a slightly disheveled Jason. "Hey, how was the site visit?"
"Not too great." Jason made a face and took off his suit jacket with a sigh. "I'm glad that we're asking for so much money cause this is going to take some work."
"That bad?"
"Worse."
Trini got up and pulled him to the bed, getting him to sit in front of her so she could work on some of those tense muscles that was obviously bothering him. "So what you suspected was right?"
"The ground is hard as granite and going to be impossible to break. The crew will have to be paid more to get them to even touch this thing. And I'm going to have to set up foundation that doesn't require a base pouring or someone is going to mutiny." He groaned deep in his throat as Trini's hand worked her magic on the hard muscles in his shoulders. "Oh that's good, right there."
She smiled in reaction and applied more pressure, feeling the knot just under the thick skin. "You need to take a few minutes to relax. Everything is going good right now. I've faxed the preliminary stuff over to the New York office already. We should hear back from them in an hour or two with your bosses answer." She reached around and gently unbuttoned his shirt slowly, pealing back the material. "Then I can take the revised version to Denver Designs for approval. Once we have that settled, I'll go ahead and have them sign it and express mail it to your firm. By Friday, we'll be back in Jersey and maybe in your steam room?"
He could feel her cooling hands on his body. "Hum... sounds like you have everything planned out to the t."
"I aim to please." She kissed the edge of his ear. "So, why don't you go take a shower."
He reached around and held her to him in a tight embrace. "In a minute."
"Jason," she shook her head at him. "You need to sleep now, you look positively exhausted. We still have a lot to do. But right now, it is my turn while you take a break and work on some designs. Once we've got all the papers signed and court certified, you're up with the next part. You better be on your toes."
He frowned thoughtfully. "In other words, you don't have the time for me to show you how much I just appreciated that back rub."
"If it's the kind of appreciation that I got the first time I gave you a massage, I really don't have time for it. But I'll settle for you ordering some dinner and letting me get some work done before I have to sleep."
He leaned over and kissed her on the nose. "Okay, you've got a deal."
Trini sighed and watched as he got up and made his way into the other room to shower. She would need his room to work since it had held the fax machine and e-mail connections. She was afraid to admit that she like this side of him. The playful, teasing side that made her wanted to forget everything else in life and crawl into bed with him. He was fast becoming a very important part of her life, she was intelligent enough to know that. As a friend, Jason had always been important. But now...something has shifted and she wasn't sure what it was or where it would lead. All she knew was that she wasn't ready to let it go yet.
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Teaser line from the next chapter: "Let's just say that it made Mount St. Helen look like my old sparkler system in the front yard."