Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, or any of the characters in this story. They are the property of Disney now; although, there might be characters in this story that will be mine.

Budding

Chapter XXI / Billy's Feelings

"What movie's this?" Kat asked looking down at the movie cover as Tommy went over to the VCR and put it in.

"You've never seen it?"

"No"

"It's Scarface. The best movie ever made."

"I can't believe you carry around this movie in your truck."

"I don't" he stated going back to the couch and sitting next to her, "I picked it up from Rocky's house yesterday and forgot to take it out."

"Oh"

"You'll like it."

"What's it about?"

"Just mobsters and deals."

"Oh, this just has Z's written all over it."

"Come one Kat, I bet you that you won't fall asleep with this movie."

"It just seems like a guy movie."

"It is a guy movie; and you're watching it with a guy."

"Oh then" she started saying sarcastically, "that makes it all better."

Tommy at this pretended to get up and said, "Fine, if you don't want to watch it with me then…"

At that, Kat pulled him back, "No, no. I was kidding."

Tommy had an exaggerated hurt look on his face, which earned him a fake punch from Kat making him smile at her.

They both sat there quietly waiting for the last preview to show for the movie to begin.

- - -

"What's wrong Billy? You've been quiet ever since we were in the clinic." Tanya asked his friend as she, he, and Rocky were sitting on the Juice Bar stools.

"Nothing really. I'm just worried about Kat."

"What do you mean, man? She said she was fine" Rocky said.

"I know, but I just can't help it feel that if something comes out wrong in the MRI, I'd never forgive myself. It's really serious you guys. You don't know how bad a blow to the head it. It's very dangerous, especially with something as hard as a softball."

"Don't worry about it Billy. She'll be okay" Tanya told him as she caressed his back.

- - -

"Okay, now why did he say that?" Kat asked another question.

"Because she didn't wanna have anything to do with him so Tony called her a lesbian."

"Oh, so that automatically makes her a lesbian. Just because she's not interested in him," she said disgusted.

"No" Tommy said laughing, "It's just supposed to be funny. He's looking out for his boy and doesn't want him to feel bad."

"I guess," she said shrugging not changing her tone. "I don't get it, if he loves his sister so much, why does he keep beating the crap out of her?"

"Must I explain everything?"

"You claim you've seen this movie enough times to know what's going on."

"I think you hit your head too hard, it's not letting you think straight."

Kat at this gasped and hit him with a pillow in which he put his hands up to for defense and laughed.

"I'm just playing!" he said in-between laughter.

"You're just mad cuz I'm not into your little movie."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'll go get The Little Mermaid" Tommy said softly which caused him another hit with the pillow.

The both then heard the door open and saw whom it was making them, especially Tommy, stop their laughter.

"What have I told you about horse playing in the house Katherine?" her father told her sternly.

"We were only playing around dad" Kat told him as she got up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Playing around or not," he said as he saw Tommy going towards him for a handshake, "these couches aren't cheap."

"We understand sir; and I apologize for that. I guess we weren't thinking" Tommy said, trying his hardest to get on his good side.

As he stopped speaking, the movie they were watching said profanity after profanity in which Kat and Tommy looked at each other wide eyed instantly. Tommy didn't know what do at that point but let his body temperature rise as he felt his face getting redder by the second.

Kat ran to the VCR and pushed the stop button and noticed as she turned around her father's eyebrow rise. Bruce took in a deep breath and looked at Tommy.

"Who's movie is that?" he asked him.

"It's Rocky's dad. He left here the other day and I asked Tommy if he wanted to watch it" Kat answered immediately.

Tommy stayed quiet as he heard Mr. Hillard speak.

"I was talking to Thomas, Katherine. Learn to keep the etiquette we taught you."

Kat looked down and now it was her whom turned red. She hated when her father took this tone with her, especially in front of other people. It wasn't often that he'd talk to her like that, but she knew that it was Tommy whom he didn't like.

She didn't know why though. He always spoke highly of Tommy…until he started seeing the sparkle in his daughter's eye when she talked about him. She knew too well that to her father, she was still his five year old girl wanting to sit on his lap; yet was confused at the fact that just because she liked Tommy, her dad seemed to make him less of what he really was; a dependable, strong, and responsible guy.

"Fine" she said coldly which came out colder than she wanted it to.

Tommy turned to her then turned back to her dad.

"I'll be in the kitchen," he said as he turned and walked away.

"Well, at least he didn't motion for me to leave this time" Tommy said trying to make her laugh as he went over to her and rubbed her arms knowing that she was furious at this point.

She simply shook her head as she ran everything that happened again in her mind.

"Don't worry about it Kat. He's just stressed out from work, that's all."

Kat looked down and then back up at Tommy. "Yeah, you're right."

- - -

It's been several days since the softball incident and Katherine still feels Billy a bit distant from her. The rangers are all in the Power Chamber awaiting the arrival of Tommy with this so-called new Gold Ranger possessor.

Each of them are pacing around the Power Chamber not knowing who Tommy has thought of to receive Trey's power. Katherine is pacing around wondering who it might be, but stops to look around. She sees Tanya talking to Adam and turns to the right side of the Power Chamber and sees Rocky explaining to Trey why he should give up his thrown to him for protection. She shakes her head at Rocky's insane comments coming out of his mouth, then notices Billy's not there.

She looks around and sees for sure that he is no where in the main area. She decides to head to the back where she knows he's working.

She walked through the dark hallways of the Power Chamber thinking of why Billy had been acting so different with her lately.

"Billy" she said once she saw him.

He turned around and saw her face. He stared into her eyes for a split second and turned quickly around again.

"Billy, am I interrupting?" she asked hurt from what he just did.

"No, of course not" he said not looking up.

"Ummm…Billy" she saw that he didn't turn to look at her and decided to go up to him instead. She grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around, "Billy, I really need to talk to you. Why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm not avoiding you" he said before turning and getting back to work again.

Katherine looked down not knowing what to say at this point. She knew something was wrong, but didn't know how to get to the bottom of it. She decided to take a step to the side and sit on the chair next to him.

She sat there for a while until Billy started to get uncomfortable of feeling her stare at what he was doing.

"Okay, look, I really can't work with you here right now" he said putting down his tools he had on his hands.

"Then I guess you won't work, which means that you're going to have to talk to me" she said making him blush at never being talked like that by her before.

"Fine" he said dryly getting up and walking away from her. He walked across the room and sat down on a couch, "So talk," he said crossing his arms.

" I'm not the one that should be doing the talking Billy, you are."

"Why me?"

"Because…you've been acting really different lately. I mean, it was okay in the beginning, but now it's just getting to be a real pain in the butt."

"Look Kat" he said moving his body forward now, "I don't have anything. Nothing is wrong. I've just been under a little pressure with trying to get these things done that's all."

"Why have you been taking it out on me? You don't act like that around the others, just around me."

"Like what?"

"Like being mad or depressed. You don't even turn to look at me sometimes."

"I can't look at you Kat."

"Why not?"

"Because…" he said before pausing. He took a deep breath and looked away, "Just forget it."

"Billy" she started saying as she too got up and walked over to the couch to sit by him. She placed her hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me anything. I know we hardly know each other, but…I also know that we can count on one another as well. Especially if it's making one of us feel bad."

"I don't feel bad," he said looking at her now.

"I don't mean you," she said softly.

"Kat, I'm sorry. I had no idea this was affecting you."

"It is," she said almost having it come out a whisper.

"Kat…" he began while taking both of her hands and placing them in his. "I really care about you. I just want you to know that…ever since the softball game, I haven't been able to look at you anymore."

"Why's that?"

"Because Kat…because…because….because" he kept repeating not being able to come out with another word.

"Because what?" she asked getting frustrated at this point yet not losing her stare she had with him.

"Because…I care too much about you. I could've hurt you Kat, really bad."

"Is this what all of this silence is about. Just because you hit me with the softball?"

"You were unstable for several minutes Kat."

"Seconds" she corrected him.

"Fine, seconds. It was just so scary…" he ranted on.

"Billy, it's not that bad."

"…I can't believe that I hurt you like that. I wouldn't have heard the end of it from Tommy, you could've never of woken up. I don't know what I would've done if…"

"Wait…"

"What?"

"Why wouldn't you have heard the end of it from Tommy?"

"Huh? Oh, umm…I meant Tanya."

"But you said Tommy."

"Yeah, well, I meant Tanya."

"Why did you say Tommy? Did he tell you anything about me?" she said with hope in her eyes.

"Ummm…tell me something? No, but I'm sure he was worried about you too."

"Oh…" she said putting her head down in disappointment in not being convinced with that answer.

"So" he said picking up her head with his hand, "Are we alright?"

"I don't know…you tell me?" she asked him cockily.

Billy smiled at her and pulled her into a hug, "yeah" he said, "we're alright."

- - -

Through the viewing globe the rangers see Tommy and a mysterious guy in a white bandana and sunglasses getting shot at by the Quadrafighters.

Tanya is holding on to Adam as she digs her nails into his arms. He's too stunned looking at the viewing globe to notice this, as he is grabbing on to the consoles.

"Oh man" Rocky says under his breath just praying inside himself that they'll be okay.

Katherine is taking in long deep breaths trying to keep her breathing intact because part of her was wanting to teleport out of there and help them.

Billy kept his eye on the viewing globe like the others as his eyesight went from the globe to the readings he was getting of their distance.

Zordon and Alpha were worried as well, having that they already knew in their hearts, who Tommy was bringing home.

The team, along with Trey kept their fingers crossed mentally as Billy stated that he could teleport them into the Power Chamber making everyone sigh in relief. He finally was able to teleport them in and everyone saw Tommy walk in to the main room fresh as a lettuce.

"I'm fine" he said, "The new Gold Ranger is right here." He pointed with his thumb toward his back and in walked the guy.

He removed his sunglasses to have the team see the original Red Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger, Jason Lee Scott.

- - -

A/N: Whew! I'm finally back on track where I should be. I hope I can make the chapters go a lot faster…