Disclaimer: Still don't own them. Still wished I did.

A/N: The next day after Derek's funeral. Hope you like it.

Sunday morning.

Trini opened her door as she heard a knock on it. She smiled as she saw Kim. "Hey Kim," she greeted. "I was just heading out to meet Billy and Zack at the youth center."

"Mind if I walk with you," Kim asked. "I need to talk to you. I could really use a friend right now."

Trini smiled at Kim as she closed the door. "Of course," Trini replied. "What do you want to talk about?"

Kim walked down the sidewalk beside Trini, not knowing where to start the conversation. She took a deep breath and met Trini's gaze as they got to the park. "I broke up with Tommy last night," she said quietly.

Trini's eyes widened and she grabbed Kim's arm. "What?!" She pulled Kim over to a bench, having her sit down as Trini faced her. "Why? What happened?"

Kim sighed. "I realized that I didn't feel the same way about him as he felt for me," she stated. "I couldn't pretend that everything was all right. I didn't want to lead him on when I don't love him like he loves me."

Trini sat back on the bench, shaking her head. "What brought this on," she asked. "Is it because of what happened between him and Jason?"

Kim shook her head. "No, it's because I realized that I have feelings for Jason," Kim answered. "I realized that I am in love with him."

Trini was so shocked that she couldn't say anything for a few seconds. She finally cleared her throat, facing Kim once again. "Kim, are you sure about your feelings," she asked softly. "I mean, just a few days ago, you denied being jealous. Now you say you're in love with him?"

Kim stood up, taking a few steps before turning to face Trini. "I'm sure," her voice confident. "I can't stop thinking about him. He is everywhere I turn. I see his eyes, his mouth, his smile. The way his hair falls onto his forehead." She sat back down beside Trini. "I still feel his arms wrap around me when I kissed him. How those strong arms were so gentle as he pulled me against him. It felt so right. Like it was where I'm supposed to be."

Trini put her hand on Kim's arm, waiting until she met her eyes. "Kim, he's with Christine now. He's going to the turn around dance with her. You do realize that, right? He's with someone else now."

Kim leaned forward, putting her face into her hands. "I know Trini," she sighed. "I know he's with someone else. I know I can't tell him what I feel as long as he is with Christine." She lowered her hands and looked at Trini. "I want to just rush over to his house and tell him everything, but I can't. It wouldn't be fair to Christine." She got up again, wrapping her arms around herself. "I've had these feelings for a while, I just was so infatuated with Tommy that I didn't pay attention to them. Now that I realize what I'm feeling, I can't do anything about it. This is driving me crazy."

Trini stood up, putting her arm around Kim's shoulder. "I wish I knew what to say," Trini whispered. "I wish I could tell you what to do, but I can't. I'm sorry."

Kim looked at Trini. "I know. I just needed to talk to someone about this. I'll figure out what to do, but I appreciate you listening. I'll see you later." She turned and headed for her house, wanting to spend some time alone.

Jason was in the family room of his house, working on his history project that was due tomorrow. He was just finished with it when there was a knock on the front door. He got up and went to the door, opening it to see Christine standing there, her arms folded. "Chris," he greeted. "You okay? Do you want to come in?"

Christine slapped him on the arm, glaring at him. "No, I don't want to come in," she said as she walked past him into the house. She turned to face Jason as he closed the door behind her. "How could you tell Steve that I liked him?"

Jason took her arm and steered her towards the kitchen. "I didn't tell him," he said, amusement in his voice. "I told him that we weren't going to the dance together because we both liked someone else. That's all." He steered her towards the table. "Would you like something to drink before you bite my head off?"

"Iced tea," Christine snapped. "Don't think that getting me something to drink is going to get you out of this, Jason. I'm still angry at you."

Neither one of them spoke as Jason got them both some iced tea. He silently handed her the drink, then moved to sit down across from her. "Why are you angry? All I did was answer his questions about you."

"Did you tell him to ask me out," Christine snapped. "Or is that something I made up myself?"

Jason tried to hide his smile behind his glass as he took a drink. He set the drink down and looked at her, not able to keep a straight face. "Did you say yes?"

"That is not the point, Jason," Christine said. "You didn't answer my question. Did you tell him to ask me out?"

"I told him he should ask you out." Jason met her gaze, smiling as she glared at him. "You didn't answer my question, did you say yes?"

"We're going to the movies tonight," Christine answered. She shook her head at Jason as his smile grew wider. "Don't give me that smug look, Jason. Why would you do this?"

"Because you like him and he likes you," Jason stated. "Just what is the problem?"

"The problem is you are too perceptive," Christine answered. "I hate you sometimes."

"So does Steve," Jason laughed. "So you can both hate me while you enjoy the movie tonight."

Trini looked at Zack and Billy as Zack pulled his car to a stop in front of Jason's house. "I hope we're doing the right thing," she said softly. "I hope Jason won't take this the wrong way."

Billy looked at her as he opened his door to get out. "Relax, Trini," he said. "We're not here to confront him. We just need to hear his explanation as to why he wants to leave the rangers. He can't get mad at us for that."

They had just reached the top of the stairs when the door opened and Jason walked out of the house.

Jason didn't shut the door as he looked at the three of them. He stood to the side, waving his hand towards the inside of the house. "Come on in," he invited. "It looks like you all have something on your mind." He shut the door and followed the rest of them into the family room, sighing lightly as he knew some tough questions might be thrown his way.

Zack looked at Jason as they all found a seat. "I'm just going to come straight to the point, Jase," he stated. "Why do you want to leave the rangers?"

Jason looked at the floor, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. He met Zack's eyes and opened his mouth. Before he could say anything, there was another knock on his door. Jason sighed and got up from his chair, heading out into the hallway and going to the door. He opened it, not surprised to see Tommy standing there. Jason opened the door and let Tommy come in, pointing him towards the family room. "Might as well join the others," he stated as he closed the door. Jason followed Tommy into the family room, gazing at the other three rangers. "I think we need to go to the command center," Jason stated. "We can have Kim join us and get all of this out in the open." His eyes met Tommy's. "Agreed?"

Tommy nodded without looking at the others. "I think that would be a good idea, Jase," he replied. He looked at Billy, Trini and Zack. "You three agree?" When they all three nodded, he looked back to Jason. "Lets do this."

Kim looked around the command center as she teleported in, her eyes meeting Tommy's before he looked away. She saw the others standing off to the side and walked over to join them. She turned to face Jason and Tommy who stood in the center of the command center, waiting for one of them to speak.

Zordon looked down at the rangers, his eyes going to Jason. "What brings all of you here, Jason," he asked, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

Before Jason could say a word, Tommy opened his mouth, looking up at Zordon. "I think you should make Jason the leader again, Zordon," Tommy stated. "After all, that was when all of this started. He's much better at it than I am."

Jason turned to Tommy, shaking his head. Before he could speak, Zordon replied to Tommy's comment.

"I think we should hear what Jason has to say before we make that decision, Tommy," Zordon stated. He turned to look at Jason. "Would you accept the leadership back Jason?"

Jason shook his head, looking up at Zordon. "No, Zordon. I don't want the leadership back." He looked at Tommy. "Do you even know me? You're supposed to be my best friend. Do you think this is all about being the leader? If you do, then you don't understand anything about what happened."

"If you don't want to be the leader again, Jase, then what is this all about? Did I miss something?"

"When I was fighting Zedd, Goldar, Scorpina and Gary," Jason began, "I thrust my sword at Gary. You shouted at me to stop. What did you think I was going to do to him? Did you think I was going to kill him?" He watched Tommy's face closely, seeing him hesitate before answering him. "Tell me the truth, Tommy."

Tommy met Jason's eyes, his gaze never wavering from it. "Yes, Jason," he answered. "I thought you were going to kill him. I didn't know that you were going for his power coin."

Jason turned away from him, trying to find the right words to get through to him and Zordon. "That's where the problem started,"he said. "That's where you lost all trust in me." He turned back around, meeting Tommy's gaze.

Zordon frowned, finally understanding what the problem was. "You think we don't trust you, Jason," he asked. "What makes you think that?"

Jason turned to him. His face showing his frustration. "You and Tommy accused me of being a rogue ranger," Jason said. "After all this time, you lost faith in me. The confrontation with Goldar, that was my choice. I did it to save my parents. But the other matters, Zedd had me isolated. I had no choice but to defend myself. How did you expect me to respond to your accusations?"

Tommy walked up to Jason, putting his hand on his shoulder. "I trust you, Jason," he said. "I've always trusted you."

Jason turned on him, anger showing on his face. "Stop lying to me, Tommy," he snapped. "You don't trust me or you and Zordon never would have said the things that you did." He stepped back, clenching his fists at his sides. "When I go into a battle, I fight by instinct. I don't plan out how I'm going to do it, I just react to the situation. How am I supposed to go into a fight with you when every move I make will now be second guessed by you and Zordon? If I have to stop and think of how I react, someone could get hurt or killed. I can't do that. I won't do that. "

Tommy stepped back from Jason, conflicting emotions running through him. He watched Jason as he turned to the others rangers.

Kim, Trini, Zack and Billy looked at Jason as he turned towards them. Kim saw the pain in his eyes and took a tentative step towards him. She stopped as Jason shook his head at her.

Jason looked down at the floor, trying to find the right words to say to the four of them. He looked back up, meeting each one of their eyes. "I'm sorry, guys. I'm sorry if I'm letting you down, but I can't do this anymore. I can't fight with or for someone who doesn't trust me." He looked pointedly at Zack.

"I don't want any of you to quit the rangers because of this. You are good at what you do. Keep on protecting Angel Grove." He turned back to look at Zordon. "I'm giving you one week, Zordon," he said. "One week." He lifted his communicator and teleported out of the command center.

Dead silence fell in the command center as Jason left. Kim felt her eyes tearing up as she looked between Tommy and Zordon. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I don't know what you expect us to say," she quietly stated. "Jason has given his all to being a power ranger. He has put himself last so many times, putting all of us before himself to keep us safe." Her eyes went to Zordon.

"And you repaid him by making someone else the leader. Betrayed him by accusing him of going rogue. I don't know about the others, but I need to do some serious thinking before I make a decision of whether or not to stay a ranger." She quietly lifted her communicator and teleported out of the command center.

Tommy looked over to Zack, Billy and Trini, not sure what to say to them. "Do you three need time to think things over as well," he asked. "I understand if you do."

Trini walked over to Tommy, putting her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Tommy," she said. "I know I have to think things over before giving you an answer. Give me a couple of days, okay?"

Tommy nodded, looking over at Zack and Billy. "Why don't you guys take a couple of days as well," he said. "You can all give me your answers on Wednesday." He stepped away from the control panel, looking up at Zordon. "I'm heading for home, Zordon. Contact me if you need me." He pushed the button on his communicator, disappearing in a white light.

Zordon's eyes went to the other three rangers. "I don't want to lose you," he began, "but I understand if you decide to leave. Give me your decision by Wednesday."

Billy, Trini and Zack nodded. They lifted their communicators and teleported out of the command center.

Alpha turned to Zordon. "Should I start looking for a replacement for Jason, Zordon," he asked.

Zordon sighed and nodded. "Yes, Alpha," he commented. "I know that Jason will not accept being a ranger anymore. See who would be a good candidate to take his place."

Jason had appeared in the park, landing near the lake. He walked over to the edge of the lake, letting his breath out slowly. He stood there for a few moments, then turned and headed for his house. He had only taken three steps when he found himself surrounded by putties.

The putties grabbed a hold of him before he could try to defend himself.

Jason looked up as Finster appeared in front of him, holding a needle and syringe.

Finster walked up to Jason as the putties holding Jason's left arm tightened their holds, keeping him from moving it. Finster poised the needle above Jason's arm, ready to inject him and draw some of his blood.

A/N: That's the end of this chapter. Next one up soon.