Hey everyone! I am back and now here's the next chapter!
I am not really good at writing funeral chapters so please don't flame me for this one. The purpose of this chapter is to tie up some of the loose ends.
You all should know by now what is mine and what isn't.
Please Read and Review. I know this chapter isn't the best but please try to avoid flaming me if at all possible.
With that being said...Read On!
The days following the battle and Demetrius' death were peaceful. Tommy heard from the lieutenant via the telephone that Demetrius' body had been incinerated and his record of wrong doing updated…tying his real name with his alias. Her squeaky clean report had ensured that they would be able to live their lives in peace.
As for Jared, whom she had taken care of personally…she had given him an ultimatum. To leave the city and never speak of what had occurred that night and in exchange his record would never reflect his actions in connection with the ninja syndicate or he could stay incarcerated and spend the next 50 years in the state prison for arson, animal cruelty, child endangerment, breaking and entering, and attempted murder.
Jared had fled the city.
All that was left was to arrange a memorial service for Mike. And so it was that 4 days later that Mike Cochran was laid to rest.
It had rained the previous night and the earth was soft as the mahogany casket containing the remains of the much revered sensei and friend was carried up to the memorial service by an honor guard of the 6 space rangers in full costumes.
Mikes parents had been saddened by the news of his death and were also very touched at the same time that their son was to be treated with such an honor.
-Flashback-
Michael Sr. and his wife Julie sat forward as the soon to be Oliver Family retold them about the night their son died.
It had not been easy for TJ to revisit that night but he did his best.
We were sitting in the house…mom was in a coma and he was taking care of us. Then the bad guys crashed a window and attacked. He told me to run and get my sister to safety. I ran to the stairs and hesitated at the top. I turned around and in the same second saw the ninjas b…break his neck. I was shocked but knew I had to get my sister out of the house like he told me to."
"We miss him" added Terra as looked at them as if afraid they would be angry at them.
But the Cochrans were understanding people and even though they were heart broken by their loss had said that if their son had to die they couldn't think of a more worthy cause then the safety of such wonderful children
-end flashback-
The Cochrans had been even more touched that the Blue Turbo ranger had shown up to personally escort them to the memorial in his vehicle that he called 'Mountain Blaster'.
When asked why their son had been given such honors, Justin told them that the space rangers and himself had been touched by his ultimate sacrifice and wanted to honor him. And he had left it at that.
And thankfully the parents hadn't asked anymore questions.
As the honor guard approached the burial plot with the casket, Michelle quietly sobbed and was comforted by David who was sitting next to her.
As the space rangers reverently placed the casket next to the gravesite the priest approached the podium that had been erected for his use.
"We are gathered here to today…"
Tyler Park had never been to a funeral before. He sat by his father in an identical black shirt and black pair of pants. Being a boy of only 9 years, he was finding it hard to sit still. It took all his discipline to not fidget in his seat. The discipline may have prevented him from moving in his seat but his eyes were having a hard time focusing as the priest continued to give last rites to the honored sansei.
From his seat, Tyler's eyes soon found the pretty girl turned Ninjetti Warrior, Terra Hart. She was sitting next to her mom and brother dressed in a pretty black dress…with a green sash…the only evidence of her not really new color affiliation. Her brother TJ was also dressed in a black suit with a green shirt underneath the coat. At the moment he had his arm around his sister who had started crying…very quietly.
Tyler forced himself to focus back on the priest as the eulogy and last rites were finished.
Then he watched as TJ and Terra's father stepped forward to give a small speech. Tyler knew how the color affiliations worked so he was surprised to see that the white ninja wore no white at all.
TJ knew that now was not the moment to really think about such a trivial matter so instead he focused on the speech he was preparing to give.
Tommy looked at the Cochrans who couldn't seem to tear their eye's away from their sons casket.
"Mr. And Mrs. Cochran…I don't have the words to express my gratitude for what he did. I didn't know Mike at all but I am more than grateful to him for his sacrifice. If not for him my children and my fiancée' would not be here. I hope that Mike wherever he is has found a peaceful place to rest."
Once Tommy sat down, the red and silver space rangers telekinetically lowered the casket into the ground and then stepped back to allow the parents and the other mourners to pay their last respects.
The Oliver Family waited till the mourners had left and just the parents and Michelle remained. Then after Tommy told his family that he'd be waiting for them at the car, he walked away to give them their privacy.
Kim hugged her kids and stood over the grave and together they dropped flowers into their uncle's grave.
With last respects paid they all followed the Mountain Blaster that bore the Cochrans back to their house where they had a small lunch courtesy of the local steak house.
That night the Oliver's returned home sleepy and well fed to the hotel they were staying at where they fell asleep before their heads hit the pillow.
Tyler couldn't really sleep that night as he thought about Terra…and the funeral…but mostly about Terra. She looked so sad at the loss of her uncle. He had seen her crying at the funeral. And Tyler knew that to cry was normal at a funeral but to see such a pretty girl cry (though he was well aware that she was still a very skilled and tough Ninjetti warrior) had torn at him in a way he could not explain.
Tyler turned over in his cot and stared at the wall. It was all relatively new to him. It had been a long time since he had actually felt like that…since he had felt any type of emotion other than happiness and the rare bout of frustration and anger but this new emotion was…well…new to him.
Since Adam had adopted him a few years earlier his anger and frustration had trickled away as it was replaced with a sense of peace and belonging.
But this feeling was new to him. Since meeting Terra at the wedding a couple weeks before and of course the few dances they had shared his feelings had…changed. At first it was just to earn the favor of a pretty girl…then had come the sparring match or two they had shared while her brother was laid up.
She had really impressed him since he had never really known any girls as tough as her…he had grown to admire her…a lot. But then at the funeral earlier he had felt his heart tear at seeing her upset.
What was that feeling he had felt…he had nearly given in to his urge to hug her as him and his dad had walked forward to pay respects to the deceased sansei that was in the casket.
But he had suddenly gotten cold feet and instead he gave her a brief look and then followed his dad and Tanya back to the car.
Tyler turned over in his cot and looked at the bed where his dad slept with his arms around the woman Tyler hoped would become his mom one day.
Tyler turned over to looked at the wall again.
Adam opened his eyes after hearing son move around yet again. He knew his son wasn't asleep. The black ninja wondered what had kept his son up tonight. He usually slept soundly at night.
He smiled at Tanya who slept in his arms and then as carefully as he could extracted himself and then walked over to his son's bed.
Tyler turned over to see him as he sat down on his son's bed.
"Can't sleep?"
Tyler sat up in his bed. In the darkness he could see his son shake his head.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Tyler was quiet for a minute. "Terra looked sad today."
"That's a normal thing to feel sad at a funeral."
"It's not that dad…it's…I don't know. I saw her crying and…it kind of hurt to see her crying…I don't know why I felt like that. I didn't even know the guy."
Adam smiled at his son. "Weather you knew the man or not…isn't important here…he was a Terra's teacher before she knew her dad. Mike was a part of her family. Like an uncle…and to loose someone like that…it feels as if a part of you was ripped away. It hurts a lot.
I think what you felt was compassion for her. True you didn't know him…but you like Terra…a lot…and because she was hurting…you were hurting for her. Maybe you even had the urge to hold her? To make her feel better?"
Tyler looked up at him in surprise.
Adam smiled at his son. "I felt something similar a few years ago. Back when Tanya and I were rangers together. At the time, she had just broken up with her boyfriend Shawn. He had hurt her by treating her like garbage…because she had out shone him when she joined the baseball team…and then to make matters worse he had the nerve to come by the place where Tanya and I were hanging out with his new girlfriend Veronica.
I never felt so angry when I heard him shove her in Tanya's face… if not for my discipline I would have sliced him with the katanas I had been practicing with.
I was angry at him and instantly felt protective of her. Tanya didn't say anything but I could tell she was hurting. And I wanted more than anything to hold her and even kiss her till she felt better…but I didn't."
"Why not?"
"Why didn't you hug Terra when you had the chance to today?"
"Huh?"
"Please Tyler. I could tell you wanted to."
The boy expelled a breathe. "I was too chicken to do it."
"No, I don't think you were scared. You were shy. Just like I was…with Tanya. It's amazing. I had the courage to fight off Cogs, Tenguas and every monster that was sent to destroy us…but when it came to Tanya…I was too shy to make a move."
"Is that what I need to do then…make a move?"
Adam wasn't sure how to answer the boy. This was an bridge he had not yet expected his son to cross.
"Um…well…that is totally up to you." Adam had never wished so hard for that non existent child rearing manual that every parent wished for to be real.
"I think this is one of those times that you should follow your instincts."
"Thanks dad."
Adam laughed silently. "You're welcome Ty…why not try to sleep now?"
He helped his son to rearrange his blankets and then when his son had closed his eyes, Adam walked back to his bed and smiled as Tanya looked at him in adoration. He suddenly realized that Tanya heard everything he had just said to his son."
"Are you still shy?" she asked him in a whisper.
Adam shrugged sheepishly…and then kissed her sweetly on the lips and was reward as she cuddled close to him for the night. He held her close feeling happy. He really wished he hadn't waited so long to make his move.
He could have married her by now…if he hadn't chickened out.
Was he too chicken to do what he had wanted to do since that day at the beach so long ago?
Did he have what it took to take the next step in their relationship?
As he closed his eyes he thought back to what his son had said…how strange that even though he hadn't helped create the boy that was now his son that Tyler was taking after him…in more ways then one.
I know this was kind of a sad chapter...but i promise to make up for it in the next chapter!
Up next...Tommy and Kim take care of business...with a certain teacher.
Expect some humor as the gang finish tying up loose ends before heading back to Angel Grove.
See you next chapter!