And there it was. The ultimate ultimatum. A choice that Kimberly Hart never dreamed she would have to make. To risk the life she had carefully built on the off chance that she may be able to save her first love. She had spent a year trying to erase Tommy Oliver from her mind, to convince herself it was best for the both of them if they never saw one another again. The possible fallout from being in the same room with her ex was terrifying. All the hurt she had caused him. The lies she'd told... Was there any chance to make amends?
What if he woke up and hated her, angry over her believed unfaithfulness? What if they fought and the last words they ever said to one another were spoken in anger? It would devastate her to hear cruel things spat in her direction from Tommy's perfectly bowed lips. Or worse what if Aisha or Billy told him what she had been up to, before she could make a quick exit back to Florida. All of the scenarios that played through her head seemed terrible.
But there was one possibility that was worse than anyone. What if she chickened out, didn't go to help and she really was the only one that could save him? Tommy would never wake and the world would never be the same. The Power Rangers needed him to lead them. The citizens of Angel Grove needed him to protect them. And Kim herself needed him… She needed to know there was someone out there on this crazy spinning orb, that wonderful. That there was a man so strong, kind, loyal and true living in this world. It gave her hope for life and a sense that maybe if someone so genuinely good was real, that the future of the planet, her daughter's future was bright.
She closed her big eyes gently, dragging her tongue nervously over her bottom lip before tucking her lip between her teeth. Then she drew a deep breath, exhaled hard and nodded to her friends, "Okay. Okay, I'll go and try to help. BJ can stay at the daycare facility here until 5PM. So you teleport me in, I kiss Tommy, and Alpha sends me straight home,"
Her demands were simple. To get in and out with the least amount of drama and heartache as possible. If everything worked perfectly she could wake Tommy and disappear before he even realized it was she that saved him. They could avoid the obligatory thank yous and words of praise. Avoid the awkward first encounter of an after breakup conversation. And most of all she could avoid being there to witness Katherine running to her boyfriend's side and holding him. The mere thought already had Kim's stomach churning. That was absolutely not something she wanted to see.
Billy and Aisha however didn't really like the idea of their friend just completing her task and running right off. They really thought she and Tommy needed some time together to talk. Not just about the baby, but to bring some closure to both. Their relationship ending the way in had by letter hadn't given either the opportunity to talk out their feelings and move on entirely.
But the Blue and Yellow Rangers also weren't in any position to try to negotiate. They needed Kimberly's help. Despite knowing her well enough to know, she never would just leave their leader unconscious and weak just because she wasn't getting her way, they didn't push her. Instead, they agreed to send her back as fast as they could. And once again promised not to speak a word to anyone about Bianca Jade.
When Kimberly took one last deep breath, then nodded that she was ready, Aisha tapped her communicator, spoke the words, "Okay Alpha, we're ready," And the trio vanished from the dorm room before Kim could change her mind.
Kimberly had almost forgotten what it felt like to travel by teleportation. It was almost like being unmade and reassembled all at the same time. It was a bit disorienting if you weren't used to it and if it lasted longer than the few seconds that it did, it would likely drive a person mad. And it could certainly make you sick to your stomach. She was luckily able to hold herself together.
When her feet touched the tiled floor of the Command Center for the first time in over a year, Kim's large brown eyes scanned every surface. Her lungs filled with every scent. And her ears buzzed with every sound. Nothing had changed since she had last set foot there. Every sight, every smell and every noise was exactly how she remembered.
Even the feel of Alpha 5's hug as the small automaton exclaimed, "Kimberly," And waddled over to hug her.
Adam and Rocky both looked so pleased to see her. Zordon welcomed her with his knowing, gentle smile. The Command Center felt like home. As though she had ever left. For an instant she had forgotten that she had. For just that second it was as though she were right where she belonged.
And then suddenly she remembered why she was there. Tommy… Her Tommy needed her help. This wasn't the time for heartfelt reunions, for words of Zordon's wisdom or hugs from long lost friends. It was the time to act. To be the hero she had once been. To save a life. And not just any life, but the life of someone that had meant everything to her, not long ago.
Biting her lower lip nervously she faced the men who had been such a big part of her life. "Hi guys," She waved toward the Red and Black Rangers with a friendly smile then turned her attention to Zordon, their mentor and friend. The father figure that had been there with guidance and love when her own father had been far away, "Billy and Aisha said you needed me Zordon, where's, Tommy,"
From the back of the room came a voice that caused Kim's whole body to stiffen. Her skin prickled at the sound as her eyes closed tightly trying to contain her emotion. She was here. Katherine Hilliard. The Pink Ranger. Of course she would be. It was her boyfriend in peril, where else would she be.
"He's over here," Said Kat, as she stood slowly from where she had been perched at Tommy's beside. Tall and lean, agile and graceful, the pretty blonde made her way down from the platform where her lover slept. Her movements were almost feline, like a tiger ready to pounce on her prey. And Kimberly was the antelope.
It was a show of course. A way of marking her territory, of reminding Kim that she no longer had any claim on the spellbound boy. Making it known that Tommy was her's now, and the bond they had shared couldn't be tampered with even by the young man's ex. A bond based on their shared past as Rita's puppets and the emotional toll it took. As if it were all a game that had been played to perfection, ending with Kat winning the trophy.
But Kimberly didn't have time for games. For trophies, or drama. She had no time to play. Not with Kat, not with anyone. And as she looked past the saucy Aussie, all she saw was the father of her child in need of her help.
She had walked right by Katherine without a word of acknowledgement, up the two stairs to where Tommy lay, peacefully. Still dressed in his uniform, his helmet on the floor by the bed. He looked like he was only resting. Full lips parted slightly to breathe, and those deep, dark eyes closed lightly. Twitching beneath his lids signaling he was lost in dreams of happy things.
God he was so perfect. She looked at him for the first time in a long time and it felt as though her own heart ceased in her chest. Love was all she felt. It hummed throughout her entire body, spilled from every pore. She had loved him then and loved him still. she only hoped that would be enough to end the spell. Gently she lowered herself to the bedside, taking his gloved hand in her own, squeezing it supportively. She could do this. She had to do this.
Through their relationship, he had always been the hero. Always there to help her when she needed it. To protect her, support her, to save her. Eyes stinging with unshed tears that she had not even felt building, the pretty brunette swallowed a lump in her throat that threatened to choke her. She free hand, reaching over to lay tenderly and affectionately on Tommy's handsome face, "Hey beautiful, it's time to wake up," She whispered mimicking something he had said to her what felt like forever ago. Then summoning all of her bravery she leaned in and gingerly pressed her lips against those that she had missed.
And nothing happened.
Tommy didn't move. Not a twitch of his fingers, not a flutter of his eye lids. Not a thing about his state change. But everything in the room did.
The hopeful atmosphere seemed to be replaced in that moment with one of surprise, fear and confusion. If the kiss of true love didn't work, how on Earth would they wake their slumbering leader? Where would they go next? What would they try?
"I knew it wouldn't work," Katherine declared, "Tommy doesn't love her anymore. She shouldn't even be here. She isn't a Power Ranger," The girl's words were spat like venom, poisoning Kimberly's breaking heart in the process.
Maybe Kat was right. It hadn't worked, his condition hadn't changed. Maybe the letter that she had written to him, ending their relationship, had had more than just the desired effect. Perhaps Tommy didn't love her at all. Maybe he never really had. And Kim was just a fool to hold on. To think that perhaps even after all that time, her place was still in his heart, even if he'd allowed another woman to take her spot at his side.
The tears in her eyes were now spilling down her face, flowing over her cheeks and dropping heavily onto Tommy's shoulder. She was still clutching his hand in hers as she felt her heart crumbling to pieces in her chest. It was a physical pain that she hadn't expected. A stabbing ache just behind her breast, a broken heart. She had failed him. All the times he had saved her since they'd met, defending her that first time from Bulk and Skull in the hallway of Angel Grove high to rescuing from Rita and Zedd's machine that had drained her powers… But when he needed her, when it had been her job to save him, she had failed.
"I'm so sorry, Tommy," Kimberly's voice was so soft, so small as she gazed down at her former flame. She heaved a quivering breath, about to stand step back down from the platform. She needed to go. To leave. She didn't belong here. It was time to return to her life. To her daughter. Their daughter.
The other Rangers had all been silent through the whole interaction Kim and sleeping ex. They had watched with bated breath for a miracle and all but Kat had been shocked and disillusioned when it didn't work. They were out of ideas. Out of hope. Until Adam realized something that they had all forgotten, "Wait a minute… In the story it's not just true love's kiss. It's true love's first kiss,"
In a sense that made Kimberly feel slightly better. Maybe it wasn't that Tommy hated her now. Maybe it was simply a matter of the fact that they had shared many kisses before. Knowing that may have eased the pain of feeling as though the strong connection they once shared was lost. But it didn't change the fact that she couldn't help him.
"Wait! There may still be a way to save him then," Billy said, his eyes lighting up as the thought dawned on him. True love's first kiss… Someone Tommy would love completely but had never kissed before. He knew someone that fit that description. He only had to figure out how to get there. All wasn't lost. Not yet.
Kimberly watched as the realization rolled over her lifelong friend, wondering what he could possibly be talking about. When all of a sudden it hit her too. Bianca... He wanted to use her daughter to save the baby's father. And in the process shove her dark secret into the light,"Billy, no!"