NOTE - "/Speech bracketed like this signifies Japanese./"
CHAPTER 51
Ash ran out the door just a little behind Tommy, exiting out into a large empty field. "What the fuck?" he said, seeing no sign of his little brother anywhere.
Max, Ibe, Shorter, and Eiji joined him. "Where'd the kid go?" Max wondered.
"I was right behind him," Ash said. "There's no fucking way he coulda been outta sight before I got out here. This is insane! It's not humanly possible!"
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Tommy was out of sight before Jason recovered enough from his shock to stand. When he stood, the other four Rangers followed him to the platform Tommy so recently vacated. Jason looked at the coffins with mixed feelings then turned to the gathering and stated, "Tommy's right. This is no funeral for my parents nor is it for me. It's for you, to wallow in your fears. I have no desire to be part of this. The best man here just walked out the door. - Let's go home."
The five of them walked out of the still gobsmacked room.
"Command Centre?" Trini asked as the door closed behind them.
Jason nodded. "That's probably the best bet, Tommy does tend to visit his Dra-"
"Guys!" Billy interrupted, motioning towards the five strangers silently watching them. The Rangers fell silently, their expressions guarded, naturally falling into a ready stance.
"Tommy," Ash demanded. "Where the fuck is he?"
"Sorry," Jason said. "Don't know anyone by that name."
"You just walk around talking about people you don't know? Don't shit with me, kid. Where is he?"
Billy responded almost coldly, "If you wished to see him so badly, it would have been advantageous of you to have followed him yourself."
"What the hell do you think we're doing out here?" Shorter said to this.
Ash growled, "My baby brother's hurting and-"
"You're his brother?" five voices said as one. Kim stepped closer, commented, "You do sorta look like him. Except for that blond hair." She giggled. "A blond Tommy."
Incredulous, Ash questioned, "Are you laughing at me?"
"Powers!" Kim gasped as her eyes met Ash's. "You have his eyes."
Trini stepped forward. "You're really his brother?"
"When's your birthday?" Jason demanded, still not quite believing.
Ash bristled but answered the question.
"You're his brother," Jason breathed. He glared fire at the other boy. "Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how much you've hurt him? You know, don't even bother! There's no excuse for abandoning him like that!"
"I did not abandon him!" Ash growled. "Don't speak on things you know nothing about."
"You sure as hell weren't here! You weren't anywhere he could reach you! Do you have any idea the hells that kid's been through? No, because I was the one holding him, I was the one telling him he wasn't to blame! I'm the one that patched his wounds and I'm the one that got him to just relax and enjoy life once in awhile! You weren't here! You have no right to come in here and demand any place with him now! If you think I'm gonna let you near him to hurt him again, your-"
"It's not your choice," Zack cut him off, just on time to stop Ash from silencing him.
"What?" Jason demanded, turning on his friend.
"It's not your choice," Zack reiterated. "It's Tommy's brother, it's Tommy's choice. You told him you would never take that away from him. So shut up, bro, stop trying to prove yourself a liar and let Tommy have his choice."
Jason's anger melted away, leaving a tired and worn teenager behind. "Yeah. You're right," he admitted.
Ash relaxed as he looked the teens over. He met Jason's eyes and said, "My baby brother really means a lot to you."
"I'd die for him in a second," Jason stated, meeting Ash's eyes unflinchingly. "My only regret would be that my death would hurt him."
"You live for him," Ash stated and smiled when Jason agreed. "I can't say I like you much right this moment, but I saw enough in there to see this is your parents' funeral so I'm sure you're not at your best right now. You care about my brother, you're trying to watch out for him, that I respect. So I'll overlook the attitude for the moment and start over here. Where can I find my baby brother?"
Jason wasn't sure how exactly to take that. Trini stepped forward and said, "We don't know where Tommy is right now but you could meet us in a couple hours at the Youth Center, Tommy will be with us then."
"We just drove in town," Ash pointed out. "We don't know where shit is."
"How'd you find the funeral home?" Billy questioned curiously.
Kim giggled. "He's Tommy's brother. You know what Tommy would say."
"It's where he 'needs to be'," Kim, Billy, Zack, and Trini said as one.
Trini gave directions, ending with, "And if you have any trouble finding it, ask anyone. Everyone knows the Youth Center."
The Rangers walked towards the back of the building while Ash led the way back around front to their van. Once they were clear, the Rangers teleported to the Command Centre.
Tommy was leaning casually against the side of one of the consoles when they appeared, his arms crossed at his chest and his head down, his hair hanging loose and hiding his face from view. The other Rangers immediately went to his side. Jason spoke his name softly, drawing his attention, then hugged him. The others joined in. Tommy looked surprised but he barely flinched at the touch this time and he relaxed in their embrace, though he didn't return it. After a moment they stepped back, giving him space but staying close.
"Thanks," Jason then said in a soft tone, looking Tommy in the eye. He didn't find it at all surprising that the first words Tommy spoke would be in defense of his friends. Tommy just looked confused at this so Jason explained, "For standing up for us there."
Tommy shrugged. "Couldn't just listen to them say those things about you guys."
"They were saying it about you too," Billy pointed out. Like Jason, he spoke softly - all five were acting like they were handling a fragile and precious thing.
"It doesn't matter, they do that all the time. I'm used to it," Tommy brushed it off.
"That's the saddest damned thing I've ever heard," Zack stated.
Tommy wasn't sure what to say to that so he ignored it. "Besides, it wasn't my family's funeral."
"They didn't hate you," Jason told him, knowing that was part of what was hurting him so badly.
Tommy didn't comment. He lowered his head again, letting his hair fall in a curtain around him.
"They didn't," Jason reiterated. "They wouldn't have followed you to the park that day if they did, bro. They were worried about you going off on your own to fight, with no one to watch your back. Hell, I worry about you when we have to split up like that. One of these days, I'm gonna figure out how you convinced us that's the best plan."
Tommy still didn't comment, didn't move.
"Tommy? Bro?" Jason sighed tiredly when he received no response whatsoever. "Come on, Greenman." He laid a gentle hand on Tommy's shoulder - and quickly jerked back, blocking the almost punch that suddenly came his way. "Easy bro! You're home, you're safe."
Tommy's eyes were wide with shock as he realized what happened. "Damn-it Jas! Don't do that. I didn't … I wasn't here."
"I kinda figured that one out," Jason responded wryly. Jason held his arm out to Tommy, inviting but not forcing anything. Tommy just looked at him for a long moment, measuring, then he stepped into the offered embrace, laying his head on Jason's shoulder. Jason carded his hand through Tommy's hair, tried to think of something to say.
"I'm sorry," Jason finally said. Tommy pulled back slightly and looked at him in confusion. Jason smiled sadly. "I failed you." He wasn't just talking about this time.
"You saved me," Tommy disputed, and he wasn't speaking of this time at all.
"Then why doesn't it feel like you've been saved?" was the wry response. Looking deep into Tommy's haunted green eyes, he implored, "Don't leave me."
When Tommy didn't respond for a long moment, Jason said, "I'm not saying to stay here forever or anything. Just … Distances on one planet are negligible for us, we can go anywhere. Just don't … I need you. Don't leave me behind and don't …" The word caught in his throat, he changed his wording and continued, "I need you alive and well."
"Jas," Tommy breathed the name. He hesitated. "I - it's just, I can win that way. Or at least not lose."
Jason felt a tear fall down his cheek at this confirmation of what he'd seen in Tommy's eyes. In a voice tight with emotion, he said, "Your death is not a loss I can live with."
"I -" Tommy started, but he couldn't promise forever. Not even for Jason. Not with Lord Zedd's interest in him. "I'll try. I can't promise… But as long as I can, I'll live for you."
Jason smiled as he held Tommy close, though tears still filled his eyes. In that moment, it was enough.
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Continued - Let me know what you think. Review
