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: Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your fan fic go?
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 Thirty-Five
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Okay, I guess this would bring our evening to a close." Jason grinned with a great deal of satisfaction over a job well done. "I'm glad I had someone clean that place out before I moved in."
"Yeah," Tanya laughed and looked around. "So, do I get the futon tonight?"
"Sure," Zack offered. "I'll go sleep in Rocky's room."
"And Trini can have my room again." Tommy said as he grabbed his overnight bag from the closet.
"Wait a minute," Kimberly looked slightly befuddled. "What's going on?"
Trini grinned. "Your boyfriend has very politely kicked me out of my house for the evening so he can spend some quality time with you. And he now owes me a huge favor which I will be collecting in the near future."
Tommy smiled innocently at Kimberly who was scowling up at him. "Thomas Edward Oliver, how could be do something so...."
"Guy-like?" Tanya offered with a sweet smile for her friend. "Oh relax, we don't mind."
"Yeah," Trini nodded her head. "Besides which, I needed to pick Jason's head about the Venetian project. This works out fine." She turned to a groaning Jason. "Now none of that, you knew that this was coming."
"I didn't know it was going so soon. I don't even have half the new construction plans up yet." Jason complained.
"Well, they'll have to wait for now, besides, I don't need those things. I just need your expertise on architecture. Oh, and don't let me leave here without setting a date for you to be deposed. I think we may have to go back to Nevada for that one." Trini frowned as her mind began to churn with possibilities. "Unless I can talk the opposing side to depose you here which means that..."
"What do you mean by depose?" Jason asked confused with all the balls in the air now. He was having trouble following Trini's line of thought.
"I want to take your deposition, set you up as our expert witness since you are the leading man on the firm that took over, which can point to a conflict of interest but I can get around that. Plus, you've seen the place and what's been done to it. A first hand account is always a good thing." She grabbed her briefcase from near the door and started toward the library. I hope I bought my tape recorder. "Can we work somewhere that has lots of lights?"
"Hey, wait a minute!" Jason chased after her.
Zack grinned with amusement. "I sincerely hope that Trini doesn't turn Jason's brain into mesh by the end of the evening. Every heard her in court? Never doing that again. Had a headache for three hours afterwards."
"You're telling me!" Billy grinned and glanced behind the two rapidly disappearing couple. He was going to have to take the time to talk to them one-on-one sometimes soon. He really didn't like being left in the dark anymore than the next guy.
Adam's eyes suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree. "Hey, if Trini's staying the night, this means we get real breakfast tomorrow morning!" He and Zack gave each other high fives.
"Okay, my dear. Let's go." Tommy said with a smile for his still glowering girl.
"You are so going to get it!" She growled low as she pushed passed him.
He merely smiled indulgently. "I certainly hope so."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Katherine Hallard's Residence
58 Pondarosa Road
Sydney, Australia
Kat sat there rather pensively staring outside her window. The sun was just beginning to set and threw a beautiful golden light over the city. She kind of regretted not living in the countryside with her aunt Jane but her job kept her close to the city. Besides, she wasn't sure she could go back living under the authority of another since her relatives will always see her as the baby in the family.
The ringing phone really begged to be thrown out the window when she was in this kind of mood. Picking up the offending objection, she answered it in a sharp clipped tone, strongly discouraging anyone of the other line to be quick about it. "Hello?"
"Well good evening to you too, Kat." Billy frowned into the phone, concerned that she was not her usual cheerful self.
"Oh Billy," her voice immediately softened and she smiled as she recognize the very familiar voice. Her night just started to look up again. "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you."
Billy smiled, sensing that she was, once again, back to her usual good-natured self. It always bought up his spirits not to mention his heart to hear her voice. "I'm going to have get you a caller id box before I ever call again. What's up? You sound upset with the world here."
"Nothing much." She sat down in the big cushy chair, ready to enjoy a nice conversation with a good, good friend. She missed him terribly. "I was just thinking about things and didn't want to be interrupted by trivial things in life like the encyclopedia salesman or something."
"Hum... I'll have to remember that. Not to sell you anything if I don't want to have my head snapped off with a good twist." Billy sat down on his bed and glanced briefly at his cell phone to make sure there was enough charge on it for a good conversation time. "So now that we've established that we must never try to sell each other any frivolities of life, want to hear the really crazy things that happened today?"
"Sure," she leaned her head back and stared out the window again. It was a beautiful night to be with someone special. "Tell me everything."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"They mean well you know," Rocky said haltingly as he continued to stare at his socked feet. He's been doing that for the past fifteen minutes now, not sure what to do or say that may make this situation better. Aisha hadn't even looked at him in the entire time. Instead, she sat with her back to him studying the fine silver tea set on the ground.
"Don't you realize that I know that already?" Aisha sighed, feeling all her years now on her shoulders. Even knowing that her loved ones were doing this for what they perceived was her own good, it certainly didn't make the situation any better. "I know that they think that we should talk and..."
"Have an out," he smiled. "Yeah, I know."
She glanced briefly at him. "But I really don't see any point in it."
He nodded, somewhat hurt that she didn't believe their friendship at least was worth ten minutes out of her life. "If that's the way you feel about it," and he was beginning to believe that it was, "Then we just won't talk then."
"Fine," she nodded and clinched her teeth against the sudden pain in her heart. She couldn't believe that he won't even... What is it with you, girl? Do you want him to talk about it or not? Don't send the poor guy mix signals, that's the one sure-fire way to drive him further away from you. But do you really want him to be near? Always a constant reminder of what could have been? She rubbed her arms, feeling the goose bumps there. She was sure of anything anymore now. Talk to him, you idiot. You leave in a few more days and this may be your last chance at salvaging your friendship with the boy. "Rocky, I..."
He turned in the dim room and looked at him with those wonderfully intense eyes. "Yes?"
Just like that, she lost her nerve. "Nothing."
He nodded and turned away. He didn't want to sit there the whole night staring at her, imagining what could have been. Don't torture yourself, Rocky. She's made her opinions very clear, just walk away from this... from her. But he knew that that was simply impossible. It would have perhaps been easier for him to simply cut out his own heart. "Say something, Aisha. It's so quiet here."
He could have slapped himself then and there. He wasn't sure what possessed him to say that, but he was sorry that he said them. His voice held so much pain that he winced. He hadn't meant to sound so desperate, so much like a lost little boy, so very... lonely.
Aisha glanced at him. She wasn't sure what he meant, only that the pain in her heart was going worse and she couldn't stand it, it was a like a loud beating drum in her ears. "Rocky, we..." She didn't know what to say, only that what she wanted to say must be kept silent.
"I don't want to lose us." Rocky blurted out, it hurt too much to keep it in.
She sighed and refused to look him in the eyes. She was too afraid that her emotions would show too much if she did. "Me either. I don't think I can stand it if we weren't friends anymore." She could feel tears in her eyes and blinked to keep them back. Oh God Aisha, don't be such a watering pot. You stop that at once!
The way her shoulders were hunched over, the way she twisted her hands, and the way she... He knew that she was in pain. And he was the cause of it. That perhaps hurt worse than his own pains. "Please... Please don't cry."
She shook her head, hiding her face with her hair. "I'm not." But her voice gave her away the same way it would have had she shouted it at him. Stupid, stupid, weak girl!
He reached out to her, touched her shoulder and she jumped as if he had stabbed her with a knife. Her face was still turned down, with all that wonderfully long hair covering it. So, he did the only thing he knew how, he tucked the hair back and tipped her chin up with his hand. He could see the tears now; they were big bullets in his heart. "Aisha, don't cry. Please don't cry." He pulled her gently into his arms as she gave only half-hearted resistance.
"I can't lose you." She murmured against his shirt, her arms tight around his torso, trying to absorb some of the warmth in him as she seemed to have gone cold inside.
He could feel her trembling within his arms. God, don't you realize that the day you lose me is the day that I'm six feet under? "I'm always going to be here for you, no matter what Sha."
She let herself a moment to dream. He was here now, he was there holding her within his arms, she could savor that for now. "We'll be friends no matter what, right?"
Rocky felt like crying himself now. "Yeah, we'll always be friends." I don't want to be your friend, Aisha. I don't want to be just your friend anymore. But he won't every do that to her, he won't ever say those words out loud to hurt them both. For now, he would get to hold her and give a little bit of comfort. I love you, Aisha. I just wish I could say it to you.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Tommy, I can't believe you kicked Trini out of her house!" Kimberly sighed and flopped down on the couch. "That was rather tacky and immature and..."
"It's only cause I love you." Tommy sat down next to her and kissed the top of her head. "Besides, Trini said that she didn't mind. Apparently this case she's working on with Jason is going to get really intense and she wants to move as quickly on it as she can. She was going to ask Jason if she could come over tonight anyways."
"So, this works out well for both of you right?" she asked deceptively mild.
"Yeah," he answered missing the look in her eyes.
"If you fell for that one, I'm surprised you are the same guy that led us to victory against Rita and Zedd." She punched him in the stomach. "She was saying it just to help you out. Everyone knows that a civil case can take up to three years to go court on. She doesn't need to be there tonight at all."
Tommy blinked. "Oh."
She rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."
"No, just in love. Which some philosophers would say is the same thing."
Kimberly laughed and reached around to settle into his strong arms. While she always complains about her demur height, she was happy that she just the right size when it came to Tommy's embrace. "You know, I don't believe that I've been this happy in a long time."
"You mean you weren't this happy when we were in high school?" Tommy asked with a rather devious grin. "I mean aside by the fact that we now have a rather mature and adult side to our relationship."
"By that I assume that you mean the sex part." She looked up at him with great resignation. "You and your one track mind."
"You didn't seem to mind it before." He nibbled on her neck. "If fact, I believe you were rather..."
"You going to talk all night or are you going to make love to me?" Kimberly asked with a glint in her eyes.
"Oh demanding," Tommy pulled his shirt off in one smooth move. "I love woman that can take charge."
Kim grinned and tugged on his belt. "Trust me, Tommy. You haven't seen anything yet."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Okay, I'm going to need a documentation of that and you'll have bring it as an exhibit for the deposition."
Jason sighed and leaned back in his chair, as Trini was busy scribbling on her legal pad. "Are we going to be at this all night?"
"No," she shook her head without looking up. Her mind was immersed in the case already. "I still need a couple of answers then you can take off. I'll draw up a couple of motions and get this case rolling in the Nevada Superior Courts. I've got to call Stephen McClure tomorrow and set up a day for him to fly up here. He's going to be our hands and feet in the West for this one."
He always felt it rather interesting to watch her work. She was so intense when she was in lawyer mode. "Okay, then this is probably going to be a long night. Want coffee?"
"Tea," she made a face and pushed a lock of hair back before turning back to her notes again. "I want to get some sleep tonight. I'm really tired."
Jason frowned and touched her hand. "I thought you said that you were going to go see a doctor about this little problem."
"I am," she tapped the end of her pen against the legal pad as she glanced up at him. "Don't worry so. I've made an appointment to go see Dr. Chabay during my lunch break tomorrow. She's going to check on me, make sure that I'm still healthy and kicking. Then she's going to give me some flu medicine and send me on my merry little way."
"You call me if you need me, okay?" He said with a shake of his head as he headed into the kitchen for some of that tea she wanted.
There was no understanding intelligent woman. He had always accepted the concept that men were from Mars and women were from Venus, they were inherently different on some level or other and will probably never come to a complete understanding. But the illogic of some of Trini's actions simply baffles him. She could cook like a world class chief but eats like a bird, and not a vulture either. She spends her evenings working on cases that has nothing to do with her but can't take more than a hour off to get her health checked for her own sake. It simply defies logical.
"Hey," Zack smiled as Jason came into the kitchen. "Trini's done rearranging all your brain cells yet?"
"No, I'm afraid not." Jason sighed and took out the tea set. "She wants to go over my answers for the deposition first then write up a Notice of Complaint for the courts, whatever that means. And then she wants to schedule a time when I can be sworn in for a real deposition. She's going to drive me crazy before this is over." He shook his head and put the kettle to boil.
Zack chuckled his pity. "Well, at least it's night time. She might fall asleep soon."
"Don't count on it, I've seen her go three days in a roll before." Billy predicted as he came in. "I'd say that she's going to be up all night to perfect things. Better put on the coffee, Jason."
"No, she wants tea. Said that she's got to sleep tonight. Otherwise I don't' doubt that she probably could keep me up all night with questions of structural integrity." Jason took out three big tea bags from cupboard. "Have you guys noticed that she seemed to be real run down lately? I mean, she use to be able to run a marathon and still have enough energy to go three rounds with Tommy and me."
"Who hasn't noticed?" Zack poked through the freezer looking for some ice cream. He needed something sweet. "But I'm thinking that you must have really ran her ragged in Nevada."
"I did not." Jason grinned. "If anything, she was the one that was running me ragged. God that case was just crazy."
"And it looks like it's not going to end for some time," Billy took the kettle from the stove as it shrieked in protest over the hot steam being forced through the whistle. "Mind if I sit in on it for a while. Maybe I can learn a thing or two."
Jason had his doubts on Billy's motives on wanting to sit in but with Trini's mind so full of this case, he doubt that she's even noticed. "Sure, why not. Don't blame me if you end up falling asleep half way through Trini's interrogations. Half the things she says is completely incomprehensible for someone that's not gone to law school before."
"Oh come on, I'm sure it's not that bad." Billy grabbed a box of biscuits for the tea. "I'm going to guess that she's going to be hungry too in a while.
"I'm betting on it." Jason picked up the tray and headed back to the library. "Though I'm hoping that she's be too sleepy to eat. The girl sleeps less than I do and I can get by with five hours a night."
"True, but I think she tries to make up for it on weekends." Zack grinned then stop just inside the door.
Trini, who had been so diligently working on the brief, had fallen asleep over her mountain of notes. Her hair had been pushed back away her face and she had one hand supporting her face from the oak surface and one hand still clutching the pen she had been using. She was so dead to the world that she did not even stir when the three guys came in.
"Sleepy, you think?" Zack asked quite amused with then whole thing.
"How does she do that?" Billy asked quietly as he took the pen gently from her. "I usually toss and turn for about an hour before falling asleep. And here she is completely gone at a drop of a pin."
"She must be real exhausted." Jason shook his head as he picked her up slowly, careful of her fragile arms. "I can't believe she fell asleep in the space of the time that it took me to make tea for her."
"This case is really bothering her isn't it?" Billy asked, as he shut down the computer and neatly stacked her papers, leaving them where they were.
"Yeah, she thinks the other side is pond scum." He grinned over his shoulders at them. "She actually called them the 'Weaseal Brothers.' I think the other side took it as a compliment."
Zack opened the door to Tommy's slightly disheveled room. He had taken the effort to clean some of it up but still left a good pile to finished laundry in the corner of the room. "Looks like some things don't change." Zack picked up the quietly discarded robe on the bed.
"And thank goodness for that." Billy pulled the blanket back as Jason lowered the exhausted woman on the sheets. "I don't think I could stand it if everything changed with time. Where would the continuity of the world be for us if those that we hold dear in our hearts should be shifted with the passage of time and space? Should that we, as human being, then have to turn to some object of..."
"Billy," Zack placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do me a favor, don't think so much."
He laughed softly. "Some times definitely don't change."
~~~~~
"Do you really think that they'll keep us up here all night?" Aisha asked as she stared through the little window of the attic.
"I don't know." Rocky watched her from the mattress halfway across the room. "If Adam is in charge of this little scheme, I wouldn't expect to be out until seven o'clock sharp tomorrow morning. Or is it tomorrow already?"
She glanced at her watch. "It's 11:59. Thirty more seconds to go."
He nodded. "We should get some sleep."
"I know." She turned to look at him, her eyes shadowed. Her heart still ached with the little lost of hope she was delivered tonight. But at least she knew that he'd always be there for her, no matter what. As I will always be here for you, Rocky. Always. She could almost feel herself weakening again. "I think I'll sleep by the window tonight. It's a full moon out."
He could see that she wanted to keep their old friendship at the top of her list of things to do. He smiled reassuringly. I can handle just friendship. He almost winced at the knifing pain in his heart just thinking about it. Yeah right. And pigs are going to be walking up to the front door tomorrow with jet packs on their back asking for gas money. Who the hell are you trying to kid here? You can at least be honest with yourself even if you can't be honest with the woman that you're in love with.
Aisha watched him in the darkness, his eyes slightly far away. He was thinking of something that obviously was not giving him pleasure if the slight wrinkling of his usually smooth brows were any indication. "A dime for your thoughts?"
He smiled slightly. "Dime?"
She shrugged. "Inflations and all."
He nodded. "We should really do something about that you know. I mean the Federal Reserve is something that the government should not have any control over. The whole purpose of it was to allow the directors to serve seven-year terms at a time and insulate them from the political views of the world and current administration. But the way that our government is really working..."
"Rocky," she looked at him as if he had gone mad. "You're rambling."
He clamped his mouth shut immediately. Take a few deep breaths he tried again. "Sorry. I guess I'm just..."
"Not comfortable yet." She nodded her head with understanding. Good job, Aisha. You just turned your friend into a stranger. Could you possibility be more stupid?
"No, that's not it." He looked over at her with steady eyes. "I guess I just want us to be...us again." Liar, liar, pants on fire...
"Me too." Liar, liar....
He nodded, trying to put that thought solidly in his mind. "We should get some sleep. Want to share the mattress? That floor looks rather uncomfortable." The minute he said it, he regretted it. YOU IDIOT! What are you doing?
Aisha felt her heart jumped several beats as her breath caught in her throat. Take it easy, it's just for comfort purposes, very practical of him. Don't make something out of completely nothing. Let's just make it through the night and.... Damn it, Aisha. You're rambling in your own freaking head! "I don't need...."
"Don't be silly," he shook his head, wondering why he would be torturing himself with her closeness like this. Probably because it's the only chance you're ever going to get of being this close to her again and you're heart is jumping at the chance. If I didn't know better, I'd say that I am one sick puppy. "If we don't share the bed, one of us is going to be too sore tomorrow to stand much less work."
"Who says it's got to be you on the floor?" She wished to hell she had phrased that question better. But it was out of her mouth and out of her control.
Calm those hormones down, boy. She didn't mean it the way it sounded. "Being the gentleman that I am, I can hardly ask a lady to do the honors here." He glanced at the two sleeping bags in the corner along with a big bottle of water, and wine provided probably by Tommy, two glasses and some yummy cookies of Trini's making. Someone really thought this through. "Now unless we're stupid and decided that the only thing that is fair is to have both of us on the hard and uncomfortable wooden floor, I suggest that we get in the sleeping bags and get on the mattress." He winced again at how that might have sounded.
Deep breath girl, just breathe! "Okay."
Rocky picked up the blue one and unrolled it with cautious moves. Okay, it's just one night. You can do this. He then glanced at the pretty young woman that he's been in love with more than half his life, and decided that it was going to be the longest night of his life. God help me.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"You know, I can get use to this." Tommy stared at the fish tank and tightened his embrace on the woman that he's waited all his life for. What do know, looks like Jason is right for once in his life!
"What are you talking about?" Kimberly asked as she snuggled closer. The couch may be good for resting on, but it was definitely too small to fit too comfortably.
"I like this. Being you after making incredible love until my bones ache. It kinds of gives me this warm and fuzzy feeling." He smiled and noticed that there were six fishes in the tank. He seem to recall Kim saying something about the number being of some significance but he couldn't quite remember what it was. He'll have to remember to ask again later.
"Hum..." She leaned her head back and looked at him with slightly glazed eyes. Passion had filled them only half an hour before, but even now she looked beautiful with her face all a glow from the aftermath of their loving. "I like this too."
He tilted his head and leaned back a little more so she was laying more comfortably on him. "Do you ever wish that we can have this all the time?"
"I'd get kind of sore, don't you think?" She teased, her full lips curled slightly into a smile.
"I mean at nights." He patted her arm lightly. "And you know very well that I'm not talking about the sex part of all this." His arms squeezed her gently. "I like reaching out a night and holding you. I like that the last thing I see as I fall asleep is you and the first thing I see as I wake up is you. I like that I get to sing in your shower and watch you dry your hair. I like driving you to work and making you coffee in the morning. I like..."
She put two fingers on his lips. "I get the point." Her lips replaced her fingers gently. "I like all that and the bag of chips you put into my briefcase." Her arms wrapped itself around his bare torso and absorbed his warmth with a sigh. "I like it very much."
"So why don't we..."
Kimberly's hand came over his mouth. "Whatever you are going to say can wait until tomorrow." She blinked at him. "I'm sleeping and can barely keep my eyes open much less concentrate. Can we talk tomorrow?"
Tommy's eyes searched hers, trying to decide if she was serious or if he dug himself into a hole here. "We'll talk tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I want to hear what you have to say about us but I'm so tired right now." She kissed his lips again. "I want to be awake, alert and concentrating on what comes out of your mouth. Besides which, it's your fault that I'm so tired. You wore me out." She pouted prettily at him.
He shook his head then picked up her easily. "Okay then, I guess we head to bed now."
"Sleep?" she asked questioningly.
Tommy laughed. "Yeah, sleep this time." But tomorrow, we talk serious. Cause believe it or not, my love, we're about to make a new start.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Question?" Billy asked as he and Jason settled down in the living room with cups of tea after Zack had gone up to the third floor to join Adam and Tanya in dreamland.
"Shoot," Jason leaned back into the chair gratefully.
"Tommy's theory, is it correct?"
He eyed him with caution. "What theory would that be?"
Billy smiled; no one ever called Jason a dummy. "That you're in love."
He nodded his head. "Not theory; fact." He had feeling that Billy was getting close. Time for a little diversion. "Question?"
Only seemed fair. "Go right ahead."
He arched one brow. "Kat?"
Billy could feel a smile tugging at his lips. Yep, definitely not a dummy. "Yeah."
"You going to do something about it?" Jason sipped the warm tea and his mind drifted slightly to the woman sleeping one room down from his own. Funny how life seem to work out in strange and mysterious ways.
"I don't know." Billy shook his head tiredly. "I just don't know."
Jason watched Billy closely noting all the signs. Hell, the man is half way there already. "Want to hear some advise given freely and with the knowledge that I don't understand women half the time?"
"Well that's whole better than not understanding them all the time."
He smiled. "Tell her. Take a chance, you'd be surprised."
"Surprise is something that is not always good when it comes to relationship." Billy pointed out with much consideration to the problem. "Case in point, my ex in space."
"You know what you're problem is?"
"I have a feeling that you're going to tell me."
"You think too much." Jason grinned. "Don't think, just act."
"And if the result turn out not to be favorable to me?"
Jason nodded his head. "Then accept and move on." He looked at the small glass window and the moon that was full and bright outside. It was a beautiful night to be in love and know that the person you loved returned the feeling. "Until you've settle this, you're not going to have any kind of meaningful relationship with anyone. And there will always be that regret in your heart that you never spoke of it."
Billy eyed his friend with the same amount of respect that he's always had for the man and added a dash of amusement. "Is this from experience, Jase?"
He smiled. "What are you asking?"
The two long time friends eyed each other with a great deal of fondness. Billy shook his head in enjoyment over this conversation. "Honest answer?"
"Don't I always?" Jason asked.
"Not when you are trying to avoid giving one. Then you can talk circles around a man better than ten lawyers in Congress."
He honestly had to laugh at that. "I'll try to give you one."
"Your mystery woman? I know her well, don't I?"
Jason smiled rather mildly. "I'll answer it if you answer me something first."
Billy had a pretty good idea what was going to be asked. "Go ahead."
"Are you going to go see her?"
There was silence. Billy's brilliant mind has always solved his problems for him in the past. But when it came to his heart's dilemmas, his brain simply doesn't have answers. "You took a chance?"
He nodded his head remembering that first night and the kiss that started it all. "A monster size one."
Billy accepted it. It had to have been a huge chance; a good friendship had been on the line. He sighed knowing that Jason had known the answer to the question before he did. "Then yes, I'm going to go see her soon."
Jason nodded his head with understanding.
"Now answer mine."
Watching the smile creep slowly onto Jason's face was something akin to watching the sunrise in the east. There was so much joy in his eyes that Billy wondered how the others hadn't guessed already. "Yes."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teaser Line from the next Chapter: "Did I say something funny?"
For those of you that thought that something was going to happen between Aisha and Rocky, don't hurt me. I have other plans for these two. Be on the look out for Chapter 37 for the big payoff. Right now, I'm working a little plot setup.
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: Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your fan fic go?
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 Thirty-Five
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Okay, I guess this would bring our evening to a close." Jason grinned with a great deal of satisfaction over a job well done. "I'm glad I had someone clean that place out before I moved in."
"Yeah," Tanya laughed and looked around. "So, do I get the futon tonight?"
"Sure," Zack offered. "I'll go sleep in Rocky's room."
"And Trini can have my room again." Tommy said as he grabbed his overnight bag from the closet.
"Wait a minute," Kimberly looked slightly befuddled. "What's going on?"
Trini grinned. "Your boyfriend has very politely kicked me out of my house for the evening so he can spend some quality time with you. And he now owes me a huge favor which I will be collecting in the near future."
Tommy smiled innocently at Kimberly who was scowling up at him. "Thomas Edward Oliver, how could be do something so...."
"Guy-like?" Tanya offered with a sweet smile for her friend. "Oh relax, we don't mind."
"Yeah," Trini nodded her head. "Besides which, I needed to pick Jason's head about the Venetian project. This works out fine." She turned to a groaning Jason. "Now none of that, you knew that this was coming."
"I didn't know it was going so soon. I don't even have half the new construction plans up yet." Jason complained.
"Well, they'll have to wait for now, besides, I don't need those things. I just need your expertise on architecture. Oh, and don't let me leave here without setting a date for you to be deposed. I think we may have to go back to Nevada for that one." Trini frowned as her mind began to churn with possibilities. "Unless I can talk the opposing side to depose you here which means that..."
"What do you mean by depose?" Jason asked confused with all the balls in the air now. He was having trouble following Trini's line of thought.
"I want to take your deposition, set you up as our expert witness since you are the leading man on the firm that took over, which can point to a conflict of interest but I can get around that. Plus, you've seen the place and what's been done to it. A first hand account is always a good thing." She grabbed her briefcase from near the door and started toward the library. I hope I bought my tape recorder. "Can we work somewhere that has lots of lights?"
"Hey, wait a minute!" Jason chased after her.
Zack grinned with amusement. "I sincerely hope that Trini doesn't turn Jason's brain into mesh by the end of the evening. Every heard her in court? Never doing that again. Had a headache for three hours afterwards."
"You're telling me!" Billy grinned and glanced behind the two rapidly disappearing couple. He was going to have to take the time to talk to them one-on-one sometimes soon. He really didn't like being left in the dark anymore than the next guy.
Adam's eyes suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree. "Hey, if Trini's staying the night, this means we get real breakfast tomorrow morning!" He and Zack gave each other high fives.
"Okay, my dear. Let's go." Tommy said with a smile for his still glowering girl.
"You are so going to get it!" She growled low as she pushed passed him.
He merely smiled indulgently. "I certainly hope so."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Katherine Hallard's Residence
58 Pondarosa Road
Sydney, Australia
Kat sat there rather pensively staring outside her window. The sun was just beginning to set and threw a beautiful golden light over the city. She kind of regretted not living in the countryside with her aunt Jane but her job kept her close to the city. Besides, she wasn't sure she could go back living under the authority of another since her relatives will always see her as the baby in the family.
The ringing phone really begged to be thrown out the window when she was in this kind of mood. Picking up the offending objection, she answered it in a sharp clipped tone, strongly discouraging anyone of the other line to be quick about it. "Hello?"
"Well good evening to you too, Kat." Billy frowned into the phone, concerned that she was not her usual cheerful self.
"Oh Billy," her voice immediately softened and she smiled as she recognize the very familiar voice. Her night just started to look up again. "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you."
Billy smiled, sensing that she was, once again, back to her usual good-natured self. It always bought up his spirits not to mention his heart to hear her voice. "I'm going to have get you a caller id box before I ever call again. What's up? You sound upset with the world here."
"Nothing much." She sat down in the big cushy chair, ready to enjoy a nice conversation with a good, good friend. She missed him terribly. "I was just thinking about things and didn't want to be interrupted by trivial things in life like the encyclopedia salesman or something."
"Hum... I'll have to remember that. Not to sell you anything if I don't want to have my head snapped off with a good twist." Billy sat down on his bed and glanced briefly at his cell phone to make sure there was enough charge on it for a good conversation time. "So now that we've established that we must never try to sell each other any frivolities of life, want to hear the really crazy things that happened today?"
"Sure," she leaned her head back and stared out the window again. It was a beautiful night to be with someone special. "Tell me everything."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"They mean well you know," Rocky said haltingly as he continued to stare at his socked feet. He's been doing that for the past fifteen minutes now, not sure what to do or say that may make this situation better. Aisha hadn't even looked at him in the entire time. Instead, she sat with her back to him studying the fine silver tea set on the ground.
"Don't you realize that I know that already?" Aisha sighed, feeling all her years now on her shoulders. Even knowing that her loved ones were doing this for what they perceived was her own good, it certainly didn't make the situation any better. "I know that they think that we should talk and..."
"Have an out," he smiled. "Yeah, I know."
She glanced briefly at him. "But I really don't see any point in it."
He nodded, somewhat hurt that she didn't believe their friendship at least was worth ten minutes out of her life. "If that's the way you feel about it," and he was beginning to believe that it was, "Then we just won't talk then."
"Fine," she nodded and clinched her teeth against the sudden pain in her heart. She couldn't believe that he won't even... What is it with you, girl? Do you want him to talk about it or not? Don't send the poor guy mix signals, that's the one sure-fire way to drive him further away from you. But do you really want him to be near? Always a constant reminder of what could have been? She rubbed her arms, feeling the goose bumps there. She was sure of anything anymore now. Talk to him, you idiot. You leave in a few more days and this may be your last chance at salvaging your friendship with the boy. "Rocky, I..."
He turned in the dim room and looked at him with those wonderfully intense eyes. "Yes?"
Just like that, she lost her nerve. "Nothing."
He nodded and turned away. He didn't want to sit there the whole night staring at her, imagining what could have been. Don't torture yourself, Rocky. She's made her opinions very clear, just walk away from this... from her. But he knew that that was simply impossible. It would have perhaps been easier for him to simply cut out his own heart. "Say something, Aisha. It's so quiet here."
He could have slapped himself then and there. He wasn't sure what possessed him to say that, but he was sorry that he said them. His voice held so much pain that he winced. He hadn't meant to sound so desperate, so much like a lost little boy, so very... lonely.
Aisha glanced at him. She wasn't sure what he meant, only that the pain in her heart was going worse and she couldn't stand it, it was a like a loud beating drum in her ears. "Rocky, we..." She didn't know what to say, only that what she wanted to say must be kept silent.
"I don't want to lose us." Rocky blurted out, it hurt too much to keep it in.
She sighed and refused to look him in the eyes. She was too afraid that her emotions would show too much if she did. "Me either. I don't think I can stand it if we weren't friends anymore." She could feel tears in her eyes and blinked to keep them back. Oh God Aisha, don't be such a watering pot. You stop that at once!
The way her shoulders were hunched over, the way she twisted her hands, and the way she... He knew that she was in pain. And he was the cause of it. That perhaps hurt worse than his own pains. "Please... Please don't cry."
She shook her head, hiding her face with her hair. "I'm not." But her voice gave her away the same way it would have had she shouted it at him. Stupid, stupid, weak girl!
He reached out to her, touched her shoulder and she jumped as if he had stabbed her with a knife. Her face was still turned down, with all that wonderfully long hair covering it. So, he did the only thing he knew how, he tucked the hair back and tipped her chin up with his hand. He could see the tears now; they were big bullets in his heart. "Aisha, don't cry. Please don't cry." He pulled her gently into his arms as she gave only half-hearted resistance.
"I can't lose you." She murmured against his shirt, her arms tight around his torso, trying to absorb some of the warmth in him as she seemed to have gone cold inside.
He could feel her trembling within his arms. God, don't you realize that the day you lose me is the day that I'm six feet under? "I'm always going to be here for you, no matter what Sha."
She let herself a moment to dream. He was here now, he was there holding her within his arms, she could savor that for now. "We'll be friends no matter what, right?"
Rocky felt like crying himself now. "Yeah, we'll always be friends." I don't want to be your friend, Aisha. I don't want to be just your friend anymore. But he won't every do that to her, he won't ever say those words out loud to hurt them both. For now, he would get to hold her and give a little bit of comfort. I love you, Aisha. I just wish I could say it to you.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Tommy, I can't believe you kicked Trini out of her house!" Kimberly sighed and flopped down on the couch. "That was rather tacky and immature and..."
"It's only cause I love you." Tommy sat down next to her and kissed the top of her head. "Besides, Trini said that she didn't mind. Apparently this case she's working on with Jason is going to get really intense and she wants to move as quickly on it as she can. She was going to ask Jason if she could come over tonight anyways."
"So, this works out well for both of you right?" she asked deceptively mild.
"Yeah," he answered missing the look in her eyes.
"If you fell for that one, I'm surprised you are the same guy that led us to victory against Rita and Zedd." She punched him in the stomach. "She was saying it just to help you out. Everyone knows that a civil case can take up to three years to go court on. She doesn't need to be there tonight at all."
Tommy blinked. "Oh."
She rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."
"No, just in love. Which some philosophers would say is the same thing."
Kimberly laughed and reached around to settle into his strong arms. While she always complains about her demur height, she was happy that she just the right size when it came to Tommy's embrace. "You know, I don't believe that I've been this happy in a long time."
"You mean you weren't this happy when we were in high school?" Tommy asked with a rather devious grin. "I mean aside by the fact that we now have a rather mature and adult side to our relationship."
"By that I assume that you mean the sex part." She looked up at him with great resignation. "You and your one track mind."
"You didn't seem to mind it before." He nibbled on her neck. "If fact, I believe you were rather..."
"You going to talk all night or are you going to make love to me?" Kimberly asked with a glint in her eyes.
"Oh demanding," Tommy pulled his shirt off in one smooth move. "I love woman that can take charge."
Kim grinned and tugged on his belt. "Trust me, Tommy. You haven't seen anything yet."
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Okay, I'm going to need a documentation of that and you'll have bring it as an exhibit for the deposition."
Jason sighed and leaned back in his chair, as Trini was busy scribbling on her legal pad. "Are we going to be at this all night?"
"No," she shook her head without looking up. Her mind was immersed in the case already. "I still need a couple of answers then you can take off. I'll draw up a couple of motions and get this case rolling in the Nevada Superior Courts. I've got to call Stephen McClure tomorrow and set up a day for him to fly up here. He's going to be our hands and feet in the West for this one."
He always felt it rather interesting to watch her work. She was so intense when she was in lawyer mode. "Okay, then this is probably going to be a long night. Want coffee?"
"Tea," she made a face and pushed a lock of hair back before turning back to her notes again. "I want to get some sleep tonight. I'm really tired."
Jason frowned and touched her hand. "I thought you said that you were going to go see a doctor about this little problem."
"I am," she tapped the end of her pen against the legal pad as she glanced up at him. "Don't worry so. I've made an appointment to go see Dr. Chabay during my lunch break tomorrow. She's going to check on me, make sure that I'm still healthy and kicking. Then she's going to give me some flu medicine and send me on my merry little way."
"You call me if you need me, okay?" He said with a shake of his head as he headed into the kitchen for some of that tea she wanted.
There was no understanding intelligent woman. He had always accepted the concept that men were from Mars and women were from Venus, they were inherently different on some level or other and will probably never come to a complete understanding. But the illogic of some of Trini's actions simply baffles him. She could cook like a world class chief but eats like a bird, and not a vulture either. She spends her evenings working on cases that has nothing to do with her but can't take more than a hour off to get her health checked for her own sake. It simply defies logical.
"Hey," Zack smiled as Jason came into the kitchen. "Trini's done rearranging all your brain cells yet?"
"No, I'm afraid not." Jason sighed and took out the tea set. "She wants to go over my answers for the deposition first then write up a Notice of Complaint for the courts, whatever that means. And then she wants to schedule a time when I can be sworn in for a real deposition. She's going to drive me crazy before this is over." He shook his head and put the kettle to boil.
Zack chuckled his pity. "Well, at least it's night time. She might fall asleep soon."
"Don't count on it, I've seen her go three days in a roll before." Billy predicted as he came in. "I'd say that she's going to be up all night to perfect things. Better put on the coffee, Jason."
"No, she wants tea. Said that she's got to sleep tonight. Otherwise I don't' doubt that she probably could keep me up all night with questions of structural integrity." Jason took out three big tea bags from cupboard. "Have you guys noticed that she seemed to be real run down lately? I mean, she use to be able to run a marathon and still have enough energy to go three rounds with Tommy and me."
"Who hasn't noticed?" Zack poked through the freezer looking for some ice cream. He needed something sweet. "But I'm thinking that you must have really ran her ragged in Nevada."
"I did not." Jason grinned. "If anything, she was the one that was running me ragged. God that case was just crazy."
"And it looks like it's not going to end for some time," Billy took the kettle from the stove as it shrieked in protest over the hot steam being forced through the whistle. "Mind if I sit in on it for a while. Maybe I can learn a thing or two."
Jason had his doubts on Billy's motives on wanting to sit in but with Trini's mind so full of this case, he doubt that she's even noticed. "Sure, why not. Don't blame me if you end up falling asleep half way through Trini's interrogations. Half the things she says is completely incomprehensible for someone that's not gone to law school before."
"Oh come on, I'm sure it's not that bad." Billy grabbed a box of biscuits for the tea. "I'm going to guess that she's going to be hungry too in a while.
"I'm betting on it." Jason picked up the tray and headed back to the library. "Though I'm hoping that she's be too sleepy to eat. The girl sleeps less than I do and I can get by with five hours a night."
"True, but I think she tries to make up for it on weekends." Zack grinned then stop just inside the door.
Trini, who had been so diligently working on the brief, had fallen asleep over her mountain of notes. Her hair had been pushed back away her face and she had one hand supporting her face from the oak surface and one hand still clutching the pen she had been using. She was so dead to the world that she did not even stir when the three guys came in.
"Sleepy, you think?" Zack asked quite amused with then whole thing.
"How does she do that?" Billy asked quietly as he took the pen gently from her. "I usually toss and turn for about an hour before falling asleep. And here she is completely gone at a drop of a pin."
"She must be real exhausted." Jason shook his head as he picked her up slowly, careful of her fragile arms. "I can't believe she fell asleep in the space of the time that it took me to make tea for her."
"This case is really bothering her isn't it?" Billy asked, as he shut down the computer and neatly stacked her papers, leaving them where they were.
"Yeah, she thinks the other side is pond scum." He grinned over his shoulders at them. "She actually called them the 'Weaseal Brothers.' I think the other side took it as a compliment."
Zack opened the door to Tommy's slightly disheveled room. He had taken the effort to clean some of it up but still left a good pile to finished laundry in the corner of the room. "Looks like some things don't change." Zack picked up the quietly discarded robe on the bed.
"And thank goodness for that." Billy pulled the blanket back as Jason lowered the exhausted woman on the sheets. "I don't think I could stand it if everything changed with time. Where would the continuity of the world be for us if those that we hold dear in our hearts should be shifted with the passage of time and space? Should that we, as human being, then have to turn to some object of..."
"Billy," Zack placed a hand on his shoulder. "Do me a favor, don't think so much."
He laughed softly. "Some times definitely don't change."
~~~~~
"Do you really think that they'll keep us up here all night?" Aisha asked as she stared through the little window of the attic.
"I don't know." Rocky watched her from the mattress halfway across the room. "If Adam is in charge of this little scheme, I wouldn't expect to be out until seven o'clock sharp tomorrow morning. Or is it tomorrow already?"
She glanced at her watch. "It's 11:59. Thirty more seconds to go."
He nodded. "We should get some sleep."
"I know." She turned to look at him, her eyes shadowed. Her heart still ached with the little lost of hope she was delivered tonight. But at least she knew that he'd always be there for her, no matter what. As I will always be here for you, Rocky. Always. She could almost feel herself weakening again. "I think I'll sleep by the window tonight. It's a full moon out."
He could see that she wanted to keep their old friendship at the top of her list of things to do. He smiled reassuringly. I can handle just friendship. He almost winced at the knifing pain in his heart just thinking about it. Yeah right. And pigs are going to be walking up to the front door tomorrow with jet packs on their back asking for gas money. Who the hell are you trying to kid here? You can at least be honest with yourself even if you can't be honest with the woman that you're in love with.
Aisha watched him in the darkness, his eyes slightly far away. He was thinking of something that obviously was not giving him pleasure if the slight wrinkling of his usually smooth brows were any indication. "A dime for your thoughts?"
He smiled slightly. "Dime?"
She shrugged. "Inflations and all."
He nodded. "We should really do something about that you know. I mean the Federal Reserve is something that the government should not have any control over. The whole purpose of it was to allow the directors to serve seven-year terms at a time and insulate them from the political views of the world and current administration. But the way that our government is really working..."
"Rocky," she looked at him as if he had gone mad. "You're rambling."
He clamped his mouth shut immediately. Take a few deep breaths he tried again. "Sorry. I guess I'm just..."
"Not comfortable yet." She nodded her head with understanding. Good job, Aisha. You just turned your friend into a stranger. Could you possibility be more stupid?
"No, that's not it." He looked over at her with steady eyes. "I guess I just want us to be...us again." Liar, liar, pants on fire...
"Me too." Liar, liar....
He nodded, trying to put that thought solidly in his mind. "We should get some sleep. Want to share the mattress? That floor looks rather uncomfortable." The minute he said it, he regretted it. YOU IDIOT! What are you doing?
Aisha felt her heart jumped several beats as her breath caught in her throat. Take it easy, it's just for comfort purposes, very practical of him. Don't make something out of completely nothing. Let's just make it through the night and.... Damn it, Aisha. You're rambling in your own freaking head! "I don't need...."
"Don't be silly," he shook his head, wondering why he would be torturing himself with her closeness like this. Probably because it's the only chance you're ever going to get of being this close to her again and you're heart is jumping at the chance. If I didn't know better, I'd say that I am one sick puppy. "If we don't share the bed, one of us is going to be too sore tomorrow to stand much less work."
"Who says it's got to be you on the floor?" She wished to hell she had phrased that question better. But it was out of her mouth and out of her control.
Calm those hormones down, boy. She didn't mean it the way it sounded. "Being the gentleman that I am, I can hardly ask a lady to do the honors here." He glanced at the two sleeping bags in the corner along with a big bottle of water, and wine provided probably by Tommy, two glasses and some yummy cookies of Trini's making. Someone really thought this through. "Now unless we're stupid and decided that the only thing that is fair is to have both of us on the hard and uncomfortable wooden floor, I suggest that we get in the sleeping bags and get on the mattress." He winced again at how that might have sounded.
Deep breath girl, just breathe! "Okay."
Rocky picked up the blue one and unrolled it with cautious moves. Okay, it's just one night. You can do this. He then glanced at the pretty young woman that he's been in love with more than half his life, and decided that it was going to be the longest night of his life. God help me.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Trini Kwan's Condo
168 Apple Grove Drive #A
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"You know, I can get use to this." Tommy stared at the fish tank and tightened his embrace on the woman that he's waited all his life for. What do know, looks like Jason is right for once in his life!
"What are you talking about?" Kimberly asked as she snuggled closer. The couch may be good for resting on, but it was definitely too small to fit too comfortably.
"I like this. Being you after making incredible love until my bones ache. It kinds of gives me this warm and fuzzy feeling." He smiled and noticed that there were six fishes in the tank. He seem to recall Kim saying something about the number being of some significance but he couldn't quite remember what it was. He'll have to remember to ask again later.
"Hum..." She leaned her head back and looked at him with slightly glazed eyes. Passion had filled them only half an hour before, but even now she looked beautiful with her face all a glow from the aftermath of their loving. "I like this too."
He tilted his head and leaned back a little more so she was laying more comfortably on him. "Do you ever wish that we can have this all the time?"
"I'd get kind of sore, don't you think?" She teased, her full lips curled slightly into a smile.
"I mean at nights." He patted her arm lightly. "And you know very well that I'm not talking about the sex part of all this." His arms squeezed her gently. "I like reaching out a night and holding you. I like that the last thing I see as I fall asleep is you and the first thing I see as I wake up is you. I like that I get to sing in your shower and watch you dry your hair. I like driving you to work and making you coffee in the morning. I like..."
She put two fingers on his lips. "I get the point." Her lips replaced her fingers gently. "I like all that and the bag of chips you put into my briefcase." Her arms wrapped itself around his bare torso and absorbed his warmth with a sigh. "I like it very much."
"So why don't we..."
Kimberly's hand came over his mouth. "Whatever you are going to say can wait until tomorrow." She blinked at him. "I'm sleeping and can barely keep my eyes open much less concentrate. Can we talk tomorrow?"
Tommy's eyes searched hers, trying to decide if she was serious or if he dug himself into a hole here. "We'll talk tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I want to hear what you have to say about us but I'm so tired right now." She kissed his lips again. "I want to be awake, alert and concentrating on what comes out of your mouth. Besides which, it's your fault that I'm so tired. You wore me out." She pouted prettily at him.
He shook his head then picked up her easily. "Okay then, I guess we head to bed now."
"Sleep?" she asked questioningly.
Tommy laughed. "Yeah, sleep this time." But tomorrow, we talk serious. Cause believe it or not, my love, we're about to make a new start.
~~~~~~~~~~
July 29, 2004
Jason Scott's Residence
138 Haven Ave.
East Brunswick, New Jersey
"Question?" Billy asked as he and Jason settled down in the living room with cups of tea after Zack had gone up to the third floor to join Adam and Tanya in dreamland.
"Shoot," Jason leaned back into the chair gratefully.
"Tommy's theory, is it correct?"
He eyed him with caution. "What theory would that be?"
Billy smiled; no one ever called Jason a dummy. "That you're in love."
He nodded his head. "Not theory; fact." He had feeling that Billy was getting close. Time for a little diversion. "Question?"
Only seemed fair. "Go right ahead."
He arched one brow. "Kat?"
Billy could feel a smile tugging at his lips. Yep, definitely not a dummy. "Yeah."
"You going to do something about it?" Jason sipped the warm tea and his mind drifted slightly to the woman sleeping one room down from his own. Funny how life seem to work out in strange and mysterious ways.
"I don't know." Billy shook his head tiredly. "I just don't know."
Jason watched Billy closely noting all the signs. Hell, the man is half way there already. "Want to hear some advise given freely and with the knowledge that I don't understand women half the time?"
"Well that's whole better than not understanding them all the time."
He smiled. "Tell her. Take a chance, you'd be surprised."
"Surprise is something that is not always good when it comes to relationship." Billy pointed out with much consideration to the problem. "Case in point, my ex in space."
"You know what you're problem is?"
"I have a feeling that you're going to tell me."
"You think too much." Jason grinned. "Don't think, just act."
"And if the result turn out not to be favorable to me?"
Jason nodded his head. "Then accept and move on." He looked at the small glass window and the moon that was full and bright outside. It was a beautiful night to be in love and know that the person you loved returned the feeling. "Until you've settle this, you're not going to have any kind of meaningful relationship with anyone. And there will always be that regret in your heart that you never spoke of it."
Billy eyed his friend with the same amount of respect that he's always had for the man and added a dash of amusement. "Is this from experience, Jase?"
He smiled. "What are you asking?"
The two long time friends eyed each other with a great deal of fondness. Billy shook his head in enjoyment over this conversation. "Honest answer?"
"Don't I always?" Jason asked.
"Not when you are trying to avoid giving one. Then you can talk circles around a man better than ten lawyers in Congress."
He honestly had to laugh at that. "I'll try to give you one."
"Your mystery woman? I know her well, don't I?"
Jason smiled rather mildly. "I'll answer it if you answer me something first."
Billy had a pretty good idea what was going to be asked. "Go ahead."
"Are you going to go see her?"
There was silence. Billy's brilliant mind has always solved his problems for him in the past. But when it came to his heart's dilemmas, his brain simply doesn't have answers. "You took a chance?"
He nodded his head remembering that first night and the kiss that started it all. "A monster size one."
Billy accepted it. It had to have been a huge chance; a good friendship had been on the line. He sighed knowing that Jason had known the answer to the question before he did. "Then yes, I'm going to go see her soon."
Jason nodded his head with understanding.
"Now answer mine."
Watching the smile creep slowly onto Jason's face was something akin to watching the sunrise in the east. There was so much joy in his eyes that Billy wondered how the others hadn't guessed already. "Yes."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teaser Line from the next Chapter: "Did I say something funny?"
For those of you that thought that something was going to happen between Aisha and Rocky, don't hurt me. I have other plans for these two. Be on the look out for Chapter 37 for the big payoff. Right now, I'm working a little plot setup.