Jason shifted on the bench he was sitting on. He sat up as he watched the group of teens across from him disappear off behind some trees. He smiled bittersweetly before lowering his eyes back to the letter he stopped reading when the group had caught his eye.

Jason had only got another sentence in when he felt the air next to him change and he glanced up to see a familiar face. He smiled as the blond-haired teen sat down next to him and returned his smile.

"What's up, Billy?" Jason asked as he stuffed the letter back into the envelope and slid onto the bench next to him.

"Nothing much, I just wanted some fresh air," Billy replied as he leaned back and stretched ever so slightly.

"Couped up in the command center all day?" Jason asked as he stole a glance at his watch to see that it was growing late in the evening.

"Yeah, it's the Power Chamber now," Billy replied with a smirk and a shoulder shrug. Jason nodded his head and let out a small chuckle. "You know if you want to come by and see it, I can arrange it."

"Nah... I appreciate it but..." Jason hesitated.

"Not ready?" Billy inquired.

"I guess not," Jason replied with a shrug of his own as he leaned back into the bench and glanced around the park. He turned to Billy. "I don't know how you can be there all the time and not you know..."

"Be a Ranger?" Billy finished the thought for him.

"Yeah," Jason confirmed. Billy let out a noise somewhere between a sigh and a chuckle.

"I keep busy," Billy answered.

"I didn't mean to imply you weren't as much a part of the team because..." Jason began but stopped when Billy made a dismissive gesture with his hand.

"I know what you meant," Billy said. "It was tough at first but honestly... now I'd find it funny suiting up again."

Jason nodded.

"What about you?" Billy asked. He considered his longtime friend for a minute before smiling. "I'd think you could go back to being a Ranger tomorrow without missing a beat."

"I don't know," Jason replied. "Maybe."

"So I saw you had a letter..." Billy shifted the subject, sensing the subject was something Jason was a little closed off on.

"Yeah... Kimberly," Jason answered, absentmindedly running a hand along the bench until he found the letter to grip.

"I'm going to say yours was not as much of a downer as the one Tommy got," Billy stated. Jason turned to him and furrowed his brow. Billy registered his confusion. "You haven't talked to him?"

"Not in a couple of days... I just kind of keep to myself," Jason answered honestly. He sat up in the bench, suddenly concerned. "Is everything okay?"

"I guess it depends on how you feel about Tommy and Kimberly as a couple," Billy responded raising his eyebrows. Jason studied him, trying to piece together what he was being told.

"You mean?" Jason inquired.

"She broke it off with him," Billy confirmed. Billy watched Jason for a response and his face was mostly blank as if too many thoughts were going on his mind to process. "I guess he is pretty down about it."

"I'm sure..." Jason replied with a nod. He reached a hand up and cupped it over his mouth as he thought. "I feel bad... that I didn't know..."

"Yeah the gang has been trying to cheer him up, Kat especially... he seems to be better than when he got the letter," Billy explained.

"I'll catch up with him later... is there a battle going on?" Jason asked pointing across the park. "I saw them heading off to teleport out."

"No... Zordon just wanted to debrief them on the last battle," Billy replied.

"Oh... I'll call him or run by his place later," Jason stated.

"He'd probably like that," Billy said.

(***)

Jason reached for his telephone. He was going to check in on Tommy and see if he wanted to hang out. It rang before he could lift the receiver. It caused him to momentarily jump. He then picked it up.

"Scott residence," Jason answered.

"So formal," Kimberly's voice came through. Jason smiled upon hearing it. They rarely spoke on the phone due to the cost.

"Hey," Jason responded as he sat down on his bed.

"You got a minute to talk?" Kim asked. Jason detected an unsteadiness in her voice.

"Is everything okay?" Jason countered her question with one of his own.

"Umm... I'm not sure," Kim said. "Have you talked to Tommy?"

"Not in a few days," Jason replied. There was silence on the other end. "I heard about the letter though."

"Oh..." Kim's tone was quiet.

"Are you okay?" Jason inquired.

"He called me earlier," Kim replied. Jason leaned forward on the bed and prepared to listen.

"How'd that go?" Jason asked.

"He sounded hurt," Kim stated. Jason nodded. "But... we agreed it was for the best."

"You did?" Jason wasn't sure how he was feeling about this conversation. He just knew he wanted Kim to feel good.

"Yeah... I just.." Kim paused.

"What?" Jason pressed gently.

"Hearing his voice again... it made it real," Kim confessed.

"I'm sure," Jason understood. "You did the right thing though."

"I did?" Kim pried for encouragement. Jason smiled.

"I mean... if that's how you were feeling... it wasn't fair to either of you to just keep things going just because," Jason surmised.

"I know," Kim agreed. "We agreed to remain friends."

"Good," Jason replied with a small hint of relief.

"Friends is good," Kim said.

"Friends are the best," Jason countered. He somehow could tell Kim was smiling.

"Thanks, Jase," Kim replied, her tone more upbeat now.

"Anytime," Jason meant sincerely.

"I'd better go... this call is gonna cost," Kim stated.

"Send me the bill," Jason said.

"Silly," Kim counted with a small laugh. "I do have to go though... some friends and I are going out tonight."

"Good... sounds fun," Jason replied.

"I hope so... nothing crazy, just to eat and some dancing I think," Kim stated.

"Have fun," Jason said.

"I will... and Jase?" Kim said.

"Yeah?" Jason responded.

"Thanks for listening and everything..." Kim said.

"The pleasure was all mine," Jason replied. "Now go.. have fun..."

"K... bye," Kim replied.

"Bye," Jason returned in kind before hanging up the receiver. He sat in silence for a few moments before he picked it up again. He dialed a different number. It rang a few times and he was just about to hang up when someone finally answered.

"Hello," Tommy's voice came through the receiver.

"Hey bro, how are you doing?" Jason asked.

"Jason..." Tommy responded with seemingly a happily surprised tone. "Hey bro... I've been better."

"You busy?" Jason asked.

"Not especially," Tommy replied.

"Wanna meet up at the Juice Bar and talk?" Jason inquired.

"Yeah... yeah I would," Tommy said.

"I'm leaving for there now," Jason stated. "See you there.

"Okay," Tommy replied. "Thanks, Jase."

"No problem," Jason replied as the two mutually hung up at the same time. Jason got up and made his way past the dresser. He stopped and glanced down at the letter on top of it he had just received from Kim. He smiled bittersweetly before taking a deep breath and exiting the room to go be there for his friend.