The Choices She Makes

by SparksJSH

Tommy learns the reason behind the letter.

2. The Choices She Makes

Chapter Eight

"Hey, Kim, you need a hand?" Tommy stood in the kitchen doorway watching her as she stirred the taco meat in a large skillet.

She flashed him a small smile. "I'm just about through now. What's Drew doing?" After the two year old had been woken from his nap, Kim had spent over an hour trying to get him back down but Drew refused to go back to sleep. Though he was irritable and cranky for having had his nap interrupted he had a room full of attentive newcomers to check out and he wasn't about to miss a moment of it. Kim consoled herself with the knowledge that the lack of nap would mean he was go to bed earlier than usual.

"He's enjoying being the center of attention."

Kim smiled a litter bigger. "He gets that from Trent."

"Seems like I remember you always liking the spotlight as well." Tommy joked back. "Right now, Aisha, Trini, and Tanya are spoiling him like there's no tomorrow. The guys meanwhile are busy playing with his toys."

Kim laughed. "I'm not surprised. I've already caught Billy and Jason building with Drew's blocks."

Tommy grew serious as Kim eased by him to get the colander from the cabinet. As she drained the excess liquid out of the taco meat, Tommy fixed her in his gaze. "Jason told me you didn't want the others to know the truth about Drew's parentage. I won't say a word if you don't want me to, but Kim, I think you are making a mistake."

"It's my mistake to make, Tommy." She sighed as she put the bowl of meat on the counter with the toppings she had already prepared. She turned to the sink to wash up some of the mess she had made. "Trent and I have talked about this over and over again. Right now, Drew isn't old enough to understand what happened but one day he is. It's going to be hard enough explaining to him that while Trent and I love him very much, we aren't his real parents and that his real father murdered his real mother. We don't want to have to worry about him finding out from anyone other than the two of us. I trust everyone in this house with my life but this secret is too big to tell everyone."

"But you have to know what they are thinking."

Kim matched his gaze. "That I'm a cheating slut who slept with the first guy who came along when I reached Florida. Either that or they're thinking I'm a heartless witch for keeping your child a secret from you." She took a deep breath and continued before Tommy could protest. "Okay, they are my friends, they won't put it quite that harshly but that's the essence of what they are thinking. I know because that's what Jason and Rocky were thinking the moment they saw Drew. And don't try to deny that you weren't thinking the first one because you more or less said it to my face."

"Kim, I ..."

She stopped him with a shake of her head. "It's okay. I can handle it, Tommy. I've grown past the need to have people think only the best of me just for the sake of looking good. I know the truth about Drew; Trent knows the truth and one day so will Drew. I told you because you deserved to know for your peace of mind. That's all that really matters, Tommy. Don't worry, I'll make sure they all know that Trent is Drew's father."

"I don't mind if they think I'm the father."

Kim laughed and spooned up a small plateful of meat from a second bowl of meat. "Don't be silly, Tommy. I think they've had enough of surprises for one visit. Before Trent gets here, I want them to know all about him."

She opened the freezer and set the plate on a shelf. Tommy frowned; she must be more frazzled than she wanted to let on. "Kim, that is the freezer."

She smiled patiently. "I know. It's the quickest way to cool off Drew's food before he gets a hold of it. He's not exactly patient about waiting once he's seen it. Tell everyone to come fix their plate while I pour the drinks."

As they lined up to the counter to make their tacos, Adam laughed when he saw the huge glasses she was filling. "Those glasses going to be big enough, Kim?"

Kim gave the glasses in question a once over. "No, but they're the biggest ones Jason has. Don't worry, I'll put the pitcher on the table for quick refills."

Adam laughed again. He didn't believe for a second the tacos could be as hot as Kim was making them out to be. Kim said nothing more. He would find out soon enough.

She took Drew's plate from the freezer and tested the meat. Satisfied it was cool enough, she topped the meat with tomatoes and cheese. As she carried the plate to the living room, Drew ran to her, eager to eat. He followed her to the table. Seeing two big phone books in one of the chairs, Kim smiled. Jason would make a good father some day. She sat the plate on the table and helped Drew up in his chair before turning back to the line to fix her own plate.

Rocky watched as the toddler shoveled bite after bite into his mouth without incident. He smiled. 'Caliente, huh?' He thought. 'Right, not the way Drew is eating.' Opening his mouth, he took a huge bite out of his taco. Immediately, his mouth felt like it was on fire.

Kim laughed as she returned to the table with her plate. Rocky had already drained his glass and was reaching for the pitcher with a shaky hand. She helped him refill his glass much the way she was used to doing for Drew. "You okay, Rocky? I thought spicy food didn't bother you."

The former Red/Blue Ranger nodded. "This is beyond spicy; this is more along the lines of flames of Hell. What's in these things? And how is Drew eating them like he is?"

Kim's eyes widened as she realized what Rocky had thought and felt only the tiniest spark of pity. "Drew is eating regular taco meat. Give me some credit, Rocky. His stomach couldn't handle the spices. By the way, there is more regular meat in the kitchen if anyone doesn't like these. As for what's in them, Rocky; don't ask. When Maria first told me I almost couldn't eat them again." She took a regular size bite. Though her mouth burned and she longed to quench the fire with the cool liquid refreshment, Kim forced herself not to take a drink. It earned her a glare from Rocky which was the reaction she was hoping for.

The others learned from Rocky's mistake and took small cautious bites. By the time everyone was halfway through their first taco, Kim had excused herself to get a second pitcher of tea from the refrigerator. While in the kitchen, Kim eased her burning mouth with an ice cube. Once the worst of the fire had been extinguished, Kim returned to the table.

As Tommy drained his third glass of tea, he shot Kim a disbelieving look. "Kim, I've eaten a lot of spicy food in my life without batting an eye but Rocky's right, these are beyond spicy. They're great but hot; yet you are still are on your first glass of tea. You're eating a regular taco aren't you?"

Kim laughed. If only he knew how much will power it had taken her not to abandon her glass and go straight for the pitcher itself. "Would you like to try mine?" She held up her taco invitingly. Tommy bit into it and his eyes watered. When he could speak again, he shook his head. "How do you do it?"

Deciding she had tortured them and her mouth enough, Kim took a long drink of her tea, draining the last half of the glass in one long swallow. Setting the glass back down she grinned. "I confess, they kill my mouth too but after what happened to Rocky, I couldn't resist. I knew it would drive him crazy to think I wasn't fazed."

Zack laughed. "Our Kim with a wicked streak. Where did this warped sense of humor come from?"

"From Andi." Six pairs of eyes watched her. She realized they had instantly thought Andi was a guy and maybe Drew's father. "She was my roommate in Florida. She was this real calm sedate person until she pulled a practical joke. Then you'd better watch out. Once, everyone was on edge because Coach was really drilling us hard. Things were so tense that something had to be done before we all snapped. So, Andi sent Coach a singing telegram. You should have seen everyone's face when the guy in a gorilla suit showed up at the gym and sang the Banana Boat song to Coach." Kim smiled at the memory. "I guess she rubbed off on me. These last two years raising Drew, that sense of humor has come in handy. I sometimes think that it's the only thing that's kept me sane."

Picking up her napkin, she wiped Drew's hands and mouth and helped to the floor. With a hug, she sent him off to play with his toys while everyone else finished eating. Trini waited until the toddler was out of the room before broaching the topic on everyone's mind.

"Kim, who is Drew's father? Where is he?"

Kim laughed. "I was wondering when that was going to come up. Andi's brother Trent is Drew's father and my fiancé. Right now he is getting ready to win a race. You'll get to meet him before the dance. He's a great guy."

Kat stole a sideways look to see how Tommy was taking the news. The tall blonde knew this had to be hurting Tommy terribly. Even now she could tell he was having to force a smile.

"Well, if he's getting ready to win, it's only because I'm not there to beat him." He looked at the others. "That's how we met up with Kim again. I've known Trent for months now but never realized who he was engaged to until Kim showed up at the racetrack."

Kim laughed. "My, we are cocky tonight. I seem to remember Trent being in the winner's circle the last two races I saw. Jason, Rocky, isn't that what you saw?"

"She's got a point, Tommy. I mean, the races were close but he did beat you." Rocky affirmed.

Tommy smiled as he stood to take his plate to the kitchen. "I let him win."

"Ha, you wish, Oliver." Kim countered.

"It's true. I had to let him look good in front of you."

Nobody else said a word as they helped to carried their plates to the counter. They were surprised to see the former couple lapsing so easily back into an easy banter. Jason, however, hated to see it because he knew it would get Tommy's hopes up that he still had a chance with Kim.

"Who's going to do the dishes?" Jason interrupted.

Trini and Aisha exchanged a look. They were both eager to question their friend without the boys around. "We'll make you a deal. We girls will do the dishes tonight if you do them the next meal we eat in."

"I'm game. I know how bad this stuff stains. I don't want Mrs. Scott coming after me. You girls have fun." Rocky assured them.

Zack jabbed Jason in the arm. "Hey, Man, you still have that basketball goal in the back?"

"Yeah, we can go three on three. After the girls finish, they can join us."

Tommy looked back at Kim. This could be a good time to show her that he was good with kids. "Can Drew come out with us? I promise I'll keep a close eye on him."

That wicked streak Zack had commented on earlier resurfaced and she smiled devilishly. "Drew, come here."

After a second, the two year old answered his mom's call. She knelt down to his eye level. "Want to go outside and play ball with the guys?"

Drew's eyes lit up. "Ball. 'side. Play."

Tommy picked the two year old up. "Okay, little man, let's go play ball."

Kim waited until the guys were safely outside before shaking her head. Tanya looked at her. "What's wrong? Don't you trust them with Drew?"

"Oh yeah. Rocky and Jason have already baby-sat for me a couple of times at the racetrack and Drew was none the worse for wear. But I think all six of them are going to regret Tommy asking to take him out real quickly. They don't know what they are in for. Drew just heard three of his favorite words: play, ball, and outside. They'll be screaming for relief soon."

Kat frowned. "We'd better get to those dishes. Rocky's right, they will stain."

"All that's really left is the plates we ate on. I usually clean as I cook. It's easier that way with a child. And if we rinse the plates in cold water before we wash them the stain should come right off. Maria taught me that tidbit when she gave me the recipe."

In the kitchen they learned that Kim was right, there wasn't much left to do. Aisha started to dry the pots and pans already in the drain board while Kat and Tanya began to rinse off the plates and stack them in the sink. Kim went to the counter and busied herself with finding tops and covers for the bowls of left over food. Trini put an arm around the petite girl's shoulders.

"Okay, Kim, we want to know all about you and Trent. How did you two meet?"

Kim sighed. She should have known there was a motive behind Trini volunteering them for clean up. "Like I said, his sister was my roommate. She introduced us."

Tanya leaned against the counter as she waited for Kat to hand her a plate to rinse. "What does she say about you two being together?"

"She never knew. At first, Trent and I weren't even friends." Kim struggled not to cry. "Andi died and I guess you could say her death is what brought us together."

Aisha could tell Kim was trying to keep the tears from forming. "It's too bad she never got a chance to know Drew."

Kim forced a smile. "Not a day goes by that I don't think that. It's hard on Trent. Except for Drew, Andi was the last of his family. Their parents died in a car accident seven years ago. Losing his sister on top of that was devastating to him."

"But he has you and Drew." Trini smiled.

"Yeah, when we can be together. He's been on the circuit for the last year so we only get to see each other at holidays. But it pays good money, enough to pay the rent and my tuition. He's hoping he'll have made enough by the end of the circuit that he can quit. When school starts back, he wants to try to get a job with university security so we can be together."

"When are you getting married?"

"We haven't set a date but we want to be married before the end of summer."

"Why have you waited?" Kat handed the last plate to Tanya and folded her arms across her chest.

Kim frowned. How could she explain it to them in a way that would be telling the truth but make sense since they thought they had conceived Drew? "I don't know. We haven't wanted to rush into things. I guess because of my parents' divorce I want to make doubly sure before I make that big of a commitment. We wanted to be sure we were marrying because we truly love each other not because we feel obligated because of Drew."

"How did he propose?" Aisha asked as they went into the living room.

Kim let the memory wash over her as she checked on Drew through the sliding glass door. "It was so sweet. It was just before dark on Christmas day. We put Drew down early because he had been going hard all day, excited about all the gifts he had gotten. Trent asked Maria to come over and baby-sit. He wouldn't tell me where we were going; all he would say was that he had one more gift he wanted to give me. Now, December in Waco usually isn't known for it's extremely cold Decembers but a freak snow storm a couple of days before had given us the closet thing to a white Christmas that I've ever seen. Trent drove me out to a ranch owned by one of the coaches at the gym I work at. There was a horse and sleigh waiting on us. We rode through the woods until we got to this clearing complete with a gazebo. Coach Dermott had decorated it to look really special. Trent had made this tape of slow romantic songs and we danced. Even though the temperature was hovering near freezing, I didn't feel the cold. It seemed like hours and no time at all had passed when the tape ended. Even then we didn't release each other.

** "Kim, this past year and a half has been incredible. With each day that goes by I love you more and more. I don't know how I survived before you came along. But now that you have, I don't want a day to go by without you in my life."

Sinking down to one knee, Trent slipped her glove off her left hand and kissed her chilled knuckles. Reaching into his coat pocket, Trent pulled out a small ring box.

Her heart skipped a beat and tears filled her eyes as Kim realized what he was about to do. Her now bare hand was shaking, not from the cold but in anticipation of what was to come. Trent slipped the small engagement ring on her finger.

"Kimberly Ann Hart, you will make me the happiest man on earth if you'll say you'll marry me."

Too overcome to force sound past the lump in her throat, Kim simply nodded. Dropping down to her knees, Kim threw her arms around his neck. She kissed him softly.

"You said yes? Thank you. If you had said no..."

"How could I say no?" Kim found her voice at last. "You make me me. Without you, I'm not a whole person. I love you, Trent Aaron Connerey and I would be honored to be your wife. **

Trini had tears in her eyes. "That's so romantic." Aisha an Tanya echoed the sentiment. None of the girls had noticed that sometime in the middle of Kim's story Kat had left the room.

"Yeah," Kim agreed with them softly. In her mind she could still see the rest of what happened in the gazebo but she said nothing. That was a special memory meant only for Trent and Kim. "I can't wait for all of you to meet him. Now, I better get out there and rescue those boys from my son. They may be used to battling monsters but they probably have met their match with mine."

*********

"You should have seen him, Trent. He was so cute chasing after that ball. He thought he was just another one of the guys. He'd get the ball and yell 'Ace, Ace' and wait for Jason to pick him up so he could dunk the ball in the net." Kim smiled into the phone at the memory.

Trent chuckled warmly in her ear. "Ace? He calls Jason 'Ace'?"

"Un huh. He has renamed all the guys. Rocky is now Wocket; Billy, B'ly; Zack, Ack; Adam, 'dm; and Tommy, Me. Jason is convinced that he is Drew's favorite because he has the 'cool' name. I don't have the heart to tell him that Drew is trying to call him Jase like we do but can't quite make the J sound."

"He probably wouldn't believe it anyway."

"Point. Anyway, Drew was so worn out that he was in bed sound asleep by seven thirty."

"Everything's going okay there, then?"

"Except that I miss you like anything. I can't wait for you to get here."

"I'll be there soon. I miss you, too. I've got a race tomorrow night so I'll page you when I'm free and then you can call me whenever you get a moment."

"Sounds great." Kim glanced up as Kat entered the living room. Giving the tall blonde a welcoming smile, Kim turned her attention back to the phone. "Be careful racing tomorrow. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Nothing is going to happen except I'm going to win. I love you, Angel."

Kim closed her eyes and for a minute she could almost feel Trent's arms around her. "I love you, too. I don't want to hang up. I don't want to go join Drew in that lonely bedroom."

"At least you'll have Drew with you. I knew I was going to get used to holding you in my arms at night. I don't want to hang up either but I bet you are as worn out as our son was. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Reluctantly, they said their good-byes and Kim hung up the phone. Wiping at her eyes, Kim twisted on the couch to look at Kat. The tall blonde had perched on a nearby chair and didn't look happy.

Kim bit her lip. "Kat, is everything okay? You've been so quiet all evening."

Kat shot her a look of almost pure hostility. "No, Kim, everything is not okay. Things haven't been okay since you sent Tommy that letter. Do you realize how much you hurt him?"

Kim picked up a throw pillow from beside her and hugged it to her. She had figured that if there were anyone else she would have to answer to about the letter, it would be Kat. Kim nodded. "As much as it hurt me to write and send it, probably more so. I had no choice though; I had to think of Drew."

"And that's another thing, Kim. I can't believe you showed up here like this with a child. Everyone is acting like it so cool that you are a mother but I can't. Honestly, Kim, did you even stop to think about how this would make Tommy feel? You had another man's baby." Kat shook her head, hostility now mixing with pain and loneliness. "I can't believe how wrong I was about you."

Kim drew her knees up. She owed it to Kat to sit here and listen to her vent. Two years ago Kim wouldn't have been able to face Kat's icy anger. But she had to face the consequences of her actions. No matter how noble they had been, people had still been hurt.

Seeing that Kim wasn't going to say anything, Kat continued. "I gave you the benefit of the doubt when Tommy got that letter. I didn't believe for one second you had found someone else. You and Tommy were too close for something like that. I wasn't sure what was going on but I knew that letter was a cover-up."

Kim blanched. How could Kat have known that?

"Don't look so surprised, Kim. We may not have known each other long when you gave me your powers but I thought we had gotten to know each other pretty well. I thought maybe you had gotten scared that the distance would be too great for your love to survive. Maybe because of your parents divorce you were afraid that Tommy would end up hurting you so you hurt him first."

Kat looked away, her eyes full of tears. "I even came up with some pretty wild explanations. Maybe Coach Schmidt made you break up with him or maybe someone on the team who had a crush on you sent the letter to break you and Tommy up. Then when it seemed like Tommy was starting to have feelings for me, I came up with the wildest theory of all. I decided that maybe you had given Tommy just so he could be with me. But I was wrong. With all the theories and reasonable rationalizations, the truth of the matter was exactly like you said in your letter. There was another guy all along."

Kim pulled a couple of tissues from the box on the coffee table and then offered the box to Kat. The blonde ignored the friendly gesture so Kim set the box on the couch within Kat's reach. Kim wiped at her eyes. "You were partially right, Kat. I knew you would be there for Tommy. I had seen how much you liked him and I hoped he would turn to you for comfort in getting over the hurt. Tommy deserved to be happy and I was sure you were the one who could do it."

Kat scowled. "How nice of you. Tommy and I were happy. When he was with me, he forgot all about you. Especially when we made love."

From the way Kat flung the statement out, it was clear she hoped to hurt her predecessor. Kim ducked her head. There was a time not that long ago when hearing that Tommy and Kat had slept together would have hurt her terribly even though she had given Tommy up. But that had been before Drew's first birthday when she realized Trent was the man she loved.

"Kat don't do this to yourself."

"Why, can't you handle the truth? You didn't want him, you were too busy sleeping with Trent to give Tommy any consideration at all. Answer me this, what did Trent have that Tommy didn't that made him a more appealing lover? Trent must have done something to get you over your sexual hangups in a hurry. That's right, Kim, Tommy told me all about how you would freeze up every time he even mentioned the two of you having sex."

This time Kim did react as if she had been struck. That was uncalled for. She couldn't believe Tommy had talked about her while he and Kat had made love. She thought he had understood her reasons for not wanting to go too far too soon. Her decision not to sleep with Tommy or Trent for that matter had nothing to do with any hangups as Kat put it. She had merely made a decision long ago to wait for her wedding night. She had explained that to Tommy the first time they had almost got carried away. She longed to explain it to Kat now, but she knew that it would sound phony and unconvincing since they all believed she and Trent were sleeping together. So instead, Kim tried to compose herself and think of a suitable reply.

"I'm not going to answer that, Kat. Not because I can't but because I choose not to give you an answer. My love life is not your concern, neither is yours mine. Besides, out of anyone you should be the most happy that I broke up with Tommy."

"Happy? How could I be happy? You broke his heart. It took him months to reach a point where he trusted me enough to ask me out. But even then he didn't trust me enough not to break up with him. That's why when I found out I was going to England, Tommy decided we should just be friends. That way our friendship was intact and he didn't have to worry about me finding someone else and doing to him what you did. Kim, I loved Tommy; I would never be that cruel and heartless to him. But in the end that didn't matter because I lost him anyway."

"Never say never Kat. Two years ago I didn't believe there was anything in the world that would have made me give Tommy up. But sometimes things happen that change everything. You asked me earlier if I had given any thought to what it would do to Tommy to find out about Drew. Kat, I didn't think Tommy would ever have to find out. I didn't know he was going to be at that racetrack with Trent. But he was and we've talked. He understands what happened and he forgave me for what I did. He and I are friends again. I am sorry for what happened and I hope you can forgive me too."

Kat rolled her eyes and stood. Walking over to the sliding glass door, she stared out into the darkness. "I don't suppose you really care if I forgive you or not. All you care about it making Kim happy."

Kim sighed. This was even harder then talking to Tommy had been. "That's not true, Kat. I do care about yours and Tommy's feelings but I can't force you to forgive me and I can't change what happened. The only thing we can change is right now. Kat, try to work things out with Tommy. Maybe it will work this time."

Kat turned to face Kim, her blue eyes haunted. "You make it sound so easy. You know that I don't have a chance with Tommy. The same problem is there."

Kim shook her head. "No, it's not. Like I said, Tommy and I talked. I told him things I can't tell anyone else. Things are different now."

Kat rubbed her arms wearily. "The most important thing is still the same. I don't have a chance with Tommy because he still loves you."

Kim joined Kat at the window and made the tall blonde look at her. "You're wrong Kat. Tommy knows I'm happy with Trent. I'm getting married within the next two months. Tommy is not still in love with me."

"You don't really believe that do you? All you have to do is look at Tommy to see that he still loves you. Heaven only knows what he might still see in a two-bit slut like you but he does." Kat shook her head, obviously disgusted. "You know what Kim, you aren't even worth fighting with. I'm going to bed."

Kim stood there long after Kat disappeared into Jason's parent's bedroom. Kim was shaking more from the implication Kat had brought up than from her harsh words. Kat was wrong; she had to be. Tommy wasn't in love with her still. He couldn't be. She believed that with her whole heart. She had no choice but to believe that.

Tommy didn't still love her because she didn't love him. She couldn't feel for anyone else what she felt for Trent. Therefore, Kat was wrong.

'You hope she's wrong,' an inner voice told her. 'Because you know that if she's not then you are going to break his heart all over again. Are you ready to do that?'

With a sigh, Kim left the living room to join Drew in the bedroom. As she changed into her gown and slipped under the covers she had to admit the answer was no. Though she didn't love Tommy anymore, part of her would always care for him deeply. She couldn't hurt him a second time.

Chapter Nine

'Mm, smells great." Jason smiled as he snitched a still warm chocolate chip cookie from the cooling rack.

Trini slapped his hand. "Those are for dessert. Why aren't you outside playing ball with Billy, Rocky, Adam, and Zack?"

"Without Tommy, the teams wouldn't be even."

Aisha checked on the pan of cookies in the oven and straightened. "I noticed him playing with Drew. What's up with that?"

Tanya stopped stirring the cookie dough for a minute. "Does he still have a thing for Kim? That's how he's acting but come on, Kim's engaged."

"Where is Kim? Kat, too?" Jason sidestepped the question.

Trini sighed. "When we told Kim we were going to make cookies, she got real quiet and pale. She asked it we'd help Tommy keep an eye on Drew while she went for a walk. As for Kat, she's been avoiding everyone all day. I think she and Kim had a fight last night after the rest of us went to bed."

"I'm not surprised." Tanya looked at her three friends. "Seriously, Kat really cares for Tommy. She's been mad at Kim since the day that letter arrived."

Trini touched Jason's arm. "Jase, I'm really worried about Kim. Will you find her and see if she's okay?"

"Sure." Jason promised as he grabbed a small handful of cookies. He wondered briefly if she was still upset about what happened with Trent the day before. But then he decided it probably had more to do with her argument with Kat.

He didn't have to go far to find her. As soon as he stepped out on the front porch he noticed she was sitting on the swing. She never heard him come out she was so lost in her thoughts. "Mind if I join you?"

Kim didn't look at him but gave him a slight nod. She looked across the yard. "Does the Jerk still live next door?"

Jason laughed. "Kim, Mr. Reynalds hit Dusty almost seven years ago. I've gotten over it and he was my dog. Why can't you forgive him?"

"Simple, he never asked anyone to."

Jason sat down and set the swing in slight motion. He held up a cookie. "Want one?"

She started to reach for it but stopped herself, her eyes full of tears. She turned away from him. "No thanks."

"Trini, Tanya and Aisha looked like they were having a lot of fun in there. Why aren't you in there with them?"

"Because they are having a lot of fun. I don't want to drag them down."

"Is it because of something Kat said last night?"

Kim glanced back at him in surprise. "How did... Trini heard us, huh? No, Jase, I'm a big girl. I can handle Kat. She has a right to be upset. It's the cookies."

Jason frowned, puzzled. "What's wrong with cookies? I seem to remember you being able to eat your weight in cookies at one point."

"Just hours before Drew was born and Andi died we were cooking cookies and having a grand old time. We were having so much fun, oblivious to what was about to happen. I can't bake cookies without remembering Andi and getting upset."

Jason frowned. He hated to see his friend upset. He put an arm around her shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulder. He wished he could say something to help her but what? He had never been through what she had went through.

"We were so naive, Jase. All those times we morphed into battle against Goldar, Scorpinia, or whichever one of Rita's monster of the week happened to appear. We never stopped to think one of us might not come back. Even when Tommy was losing his powers, we never thought about him dying as a result."

Jason said nothing. He seemed to realize she needed to talk, needed someone to listen to her. If that's all she wanted, it's what he would give her.

Suddenly, there I was in the worst situation of my life. There was no monster, just Donavon, but I was more scared of him that I have ever been of one of Rita or Zedd's goons. I would have given anything to have had my powers back for five minutes. I relive that night over again every night in my dreams."

She fell silent and the two sat there for several minutes in companionable silence. Finally, Kim sighed. "Jase?"

"Yeah, Kim?"

"You're Tommy's best friend and he tells you just about everything, right?"

"Just about everything. Why?"

"Kat told me last night that she thought Tommy still loved me. She's wrong, isn't she?"

Jason shut his eyes. "Kim, don't bring me into this, please. I love you like a sister and Tommy is my best friend. I don't want to see either of you hurt."

"Too late for that. I've already hurt Tommy, two years ago when I sent that letter. I didn't have any choice but it hurts just the same. I was a basket case that first year. I was grieving for my friend, feeling inadequate as a mom, but the guilt was the worst. I felt guilty that I hadn't saved Andi, guilty that Trent was being so great to me when I had been positively hateful to him, and guilty over what I did to Tommy."

She pushed herself out of the swing. Bracing her hands on the porch railing she hopped up to sit where she could face Jason. Her wrist and ribs responded with only the briefest twinge of pain. She was glad she had been able to quit wearing the brace before she came here. She would have hated to have to explain to everyone about her "mugging."

"Jason, I love Trent. I don't feel the least bit guilty for that and I won't apologize for it. I never planned on falling for him and I can't even tell you when it actually happened, but suddenly while we were eating cake and celebrating Drew's first birthday, I realized I hadn't thought about Tommy not even once in a whole month and that I had sought out Trent's company as much as I could."

"Kim..."

"I don't love Tommy any more. At least not in a heart-stopping, breath-taking way. But I don't want to hurt him again. It wouldn't be fair to him. So what do I do?"

Jason stood in front of her and cupped her face in his hands. "Talk to him Kim. He's going to have to hear it from you. Tell him what you just told me. Ultimately he just wants you to be happy. But I won't lie to you Kim, it's going to hurt him. There's no avoiding that. But it's not your fault. You didn't ask for your feelings to change or for his not to."

Kim sniffed and nodded. "You're right. Once I put Drew down for a nap, I'll ask him to go to the park with me. Will you keep an eye on Drew while Tommy and I talk?"

"Sure, besides there's a whole house full of people who can help me."

*****

"Man, it's a beautiful day. Coming here to the park was a good idea. I'm glad you suggested it." Tommy smiled at Kim.

Kim stuffed her hands in her shorts pockets. "We need to talk, Tommy. That's why I asked you to come here. I didn't want everyone coming in on us and interrupting."

Tommy turned toward her and touched her cheek. "You're right, we do need to talk. Kim, I'm sorry you had to go through all that by yourself. But you don't have to be alone anymore."

"Tommy, I'm not alone. I have Trent."

Tommy's soft brown eyes met her gaze and refused to let go. "And I'm glad he was there for you when I couldn't be. Kim, I won't lie to you, that letter hurt more than I can say. But now that I know why, it doesn't matter. I still love you: I don't think I ever stopped."

"Tommy, I..."

"No, let me finish, Kim. Losing you two years ago almost killed me. I can't lose you again. I know things will be awkward with Trent for awhile but I'm okay with that. He can still see Drew. Kim, I want you to marry me."

Kim turned away from him. "I can't, Tommy. I'm already engaged -- to Trent."

"Kim, it's okay. You don't have to marry him now. I can take care of both of you and Drew. I'll buy into Red Dragon Dojo with Rocky and Jason and you and I can get a house."

Kim shook her head. "I'm not marrying Trent because I have to marry him, Tommy. I'm marrying him because I want to be his wife. I love Trent."

"How could you love him? Kim, it's his fault that Donavon found you and almost killed you."

"And he has made up for that mistake every day since then. I can't hold it against him."

"How can you not? If he'd kept quiet, Andi wouldn't have died and you wouldn't have had to give up everything to raise her child. How can you forgive him for that?"

Kim growled in frustration. "Tommy, Jason is your best friend, right? Okay, so let's say Emily got pregnant..."

"I don't think Jason and Emily are sleeping together. Besides, what does that have to do..."

"Thomas Jared Oliver, for once let me finish without interrupting. Please work with me on this. So Emily is pregnant but she and Jason are fighting over what to do about it. She and I go off for the weekend to let things simmer down and only you know where we are but you aren't supposed to tell anyone. Jason comes to you with a ring and tells you that he's been stupid for letting this go on as long as it has. He wants to propose to Emily before he loses his nerve. Do you tell him where to find her?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

Kim sighed. "Then how can I be mad at Trent for doing the same thing?"

Tommy took her arm. "Wait a minute, Kim, there's a difference. Jason's not a psychopath."

"Neither was Donavon as far as Trent knew. I struck out at Trent right after it happened out of grief and anger. A week later I regretted what I had said. Tommy, a lot has happened in two years. Things change, feelings change."

"Mine haven't."

"Mine have."

Tommy just stopped to and stared at her in disbelief. Kim took a deep breath, her eyes suspiciously dry. "I don't love you anymore, Tommy. At least not the way I did before I left for Florida. I'm sorry, Tommy. The last thing I want to do is hurt you again. If I gave you even the faintest idea that there could be something between us again, then I apologize a hundred times over. I'm happy with my life the way it is."

Tears filled Tommy's eyes. "What about what we had?"

"Tommy, what we had was wonderful. Past tense. But it's over and we can't get it back."

"Yes, we can, Beautiful. Just say the words and we can have it back."

Kim hung her head. Why was he making this so hard on her? She wanted to let him down easy but he wasn't listening to her. "Tommy, I don't want what we had back. I loved every minute of the time we had together, don't get me wrong. If things hadn't happened the way they did, you and I would probably be married right now. But Tommy, things did happen. It wasn't your fault and it was only partially mine but now things can never go back to where they were before Andi died and Drew became my responsibility. Trent was there for me at a time when I was too scared to admit that I needed anyone. He stood by me, knowing that I loved you and he never asked me to change the way I felt. But I did. I love Trent, Tommy. Trent, Drew, and I are a family. We belong together. I'm sorry, Tommy. I will always have a place in my heart for you but Trent is the man I am going to marry."

She turned her back to him, hoping that this time he had heard her. She hugged her arms to her chest. Why did life have to be so complicated? Would it have been better if she hadn't run into him at the racetrack? The lie would still be on her shoulders and she wouldn't have had this time with her old friends but at least she wouldn't be hurting Tommy all over again.

"I told Jason the other day that I the only way I could let you marry Trent is for you to convince me that it is what you truly want."

Kim turned to face him, relief clearly etched in her face. Tommy touched her cheek, his expression unreadable. "Kim, I'm not convinced."

Her face fell. "Tommy, what's it going to take to convince you that I love Trent?"

Cupping her head in his hands, Tommy stared into her eyes. "Kiss me, Kim."

"No, Tommy. I can't do that."

"That's because you know if you do I'll know you still love me." With those words, Tommy lowered his head until his lips touched Kim's.

Kim didn't react in any way to the kiss. Tommy finally pulled away. "I love you, Kim. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me."

Suddenly Kim whirled around and scanned the tree line. Tommy frowned. For a minute she reminded him of the times she had scanned for putties the same way. Only this time there was on fear in her eyes. "What is it Kim?"

"Trent is here."

"Where? I don't see him."

"He's gone now. But he was here and he saw you kiss me." She started to run toward the tree line but Tommy grabbed her arm.

"Kim, Trent's getting ready to race. He's not in Angel Grove."

"No, he was here; I felt him. What he must be thinking right now. I have to find him and explain."

"Kim..."

Suddenly Kim shoved him with the same intensity he had seen her use on putties. "Grow up, Tommy. There is a former Pink Ranger who does love you but I'm sorry, Tommy, it isn't me. Go to Kat, you both deserve to be happy. Now I have to go find the person who makes me happy."

*********

Aisha hung up the phone as Jason came in holding Drew. She smiled at the toddler. "Hey, look who woke up. That was your daddy on the phone. He's in town and wants to see you."

Jason frowned. "Trent is in Angel Grove?"

"Yep, he said he missed Kim and couldn't stay away. I told him Kim wasn't here but he said that was okay. He'd paged her and asked her to meet him at the lake. He asked me to bring Drew to meet them."

"I'll take him."

"You sure? I don't mind."

"Aisha, I've met Trent, you haven't. Kim would have a duck fit if you trusted someone at their word that he was Drew's father."

Aisha laughed. "Good point. I'm glad you thought of that."

Jason bounced Drew a little. "Come on Drew. Let's go see your Daddy."

*******

"Trent?" Kim frowned as she scanned the lake for her fiancé. Not seeing him she glanced down at her pager to reread the message she leaving Tommy.

Meet me at the lake - T

Well, here she was; where was he? She had to explain to him what he had seen. After everything she had put him through while she was still pining for Tommy, she knew he had to be worried about what it meant.

A masculine arm grabbed her around the waist. "Hello again, Kim."

Kim's heart skipped a beat and her blood ran cold. The voice that had haunted her dreams for two years now was breathing in her ear. "Donavon. How?"

He laughed. "Did you really think you could get away from me so easily? Our little meeting in Waco was just a teaser. Oh, don't get me wrong, if that couple hadn't interrupted me in that parking garage, I would have killed you. Lucky for both of us that they came by. If I had killed you then I would have never found out about Drew - my son."

He knew about Drew. Could things get any worse? She struggled to get free. She had to get away from him; had to get back to Jason's and get Drew. Once they were safely out of Angel Grove, she would call Trent and they would decide on a place to meet.

"Quit squirming, Kim. I could kill you now but I need your help with Drew."

"You'll never get your hands on my son. My friends won't let you."

Donavon Black laughed. "You give them too much credit. Drew will be here any minute now. Your friend, Aisha is bringing him. All I had to tell her was that I was Trent. Now I need you out of site until I have the baby. Say goodnight, Kim."

Even as she struggled, Kim felt the prick of a needle in her arm. Her limbs grew heavy as he dragged her toward the parking lot. She felt him slip her pager off her waistband. With her drugged body already betraying her, her only defense was her voice. "Don't do this, Donavon. Please, do what you want to me but leave my baby alone."

Donavon tossed her into the trunk of his car. The last of consciousness was slowly ebbing away but she heard his final words before darkness of the drug induced sleep and the closing of the trunk robbed her of remaining light. "He's my son, Kim and now he'll know it."

********

"Fishie, Ace?" Drew pointed to the water. He strained in Jason's arms, obviously wanting down so he could run toward the water.

"There are a few fishies in there I guess, but you aren't going near them. You mommy would kill me if I let you anywhere near the water."

"Mama." Drew nodded as if he understood what Jason was saying.

"Hey, Drew." A man who was not Trent stepped out from behind a tree. He smiled at Jason. "Hi, you can't be the one I talked to on the phone; Aisha, I think her name was. I'm Trent Connerey, Kim's fiancé. I'll go ahead and take Drew; Kim will be here in just a minute."

Jason frowned. Obviously, this guy didn't know he knew Trent. Jason held Drew a little tighter. "Can I see some ID? Kim would kill me if I just handed her son over to someone without making sure of who you are."

The smile faded from the man's face. "Can you believe I left my wallet in the car? Don't worry about it, um, which one of Kim's friends are you? Tommy, Billy, Jason?"

"Jason." Obviously whomever this guy was, he knew a lot about Kim.

"Jason, right, I should have figured that. Anyway, as I was saying, I'm sure Kim will be okay with this. Come here, Drew, come see Daddy."

Drew rested his head on Jason's shoulder. "No Dada."

Jason could see a darkness growing in the man's eyes and took a step backward. He knew he should get Drew out of there but he was afraid that if Kim did show up she would be in danger. He couldn't leave her to face it alone. "Maybe I should just wait until Kim shows up. I'd feel better that way."

"Give me my son!"

Suddenly it hit Jason who this must be. Had Donavon found out about Drew and traced Kim to here? What Jason wouldn't have given for his communicator right then. He took another step backward.

"Where are you going, Jason?"

"You aren't Trent. I've met Kim's fiancé. I'm not letting you get your hands on her son"

"He's my son, Jason. Kim stole him from me."

So that confirmed it; the man standing in front of him was Donavon Black. Jason's eyes darkened. If he didn't have Drew to worry about, he would make this sorry scum pay for what he had done to Kim. But he did have Drew to think about.

"No, you forfeited that right when you killed his mom. I'm not letting you near Drew."

Jason continued to walk backwards. There was no way he was turning his back on this psychopath. Donavon's next words stopped him in his tracks. "Then I guess I have to go back to where I have Kim stashed and kill her. She's worth nothing to me alive if I don't have Drew. Walk away if you want, Jason, but you'll never see your friend again if you do."

"How can I be sure you have Kim?"

Donavon held up Kim's page. "Would I have this if I didn't have her?"

"All I see is a pager. It could be anyone's."

Donavon tossed the pager to Jason. With one hand Jason caught it and thumbed through the saved messages. He hung his head when he saw the one from Trent that he had saved for Kim in the Jeep yesterday. He pocketed the pager without a word.

Jason was torn. He knew he should get Drew away. He knew that would be what Kim would want him to do but he couldn't just walk away if Kim was in danger. He had already faced this dilemma once, when he had to abandon his mission to keep the green candle from burning away all of Tommy's power to help the rest of the team. That time, it had cost his friend his powers, what would be the cost this time?

"Tough choice, isn't it? Who do you save, Drew or Kim? I won't hurt Drew. He's my son. But I won't hesitate to kill Kim. You know that. Can you really do that to her?"

Jason hung his head. If he left, Donavon would kill Kim and probably come after Drew again. If he went with Donavon willingly he might have a chance later to get both Kim and Drew to safety. "Okay, take us to Kim."

Donavon smiled. "I knew you would see things my way. Walk toward the parking lot. Don't get any ideas or sweet Kimberly will pay for your stupidity."

Donavon opened the back door of his car. Jason looked around. "Where's Kim?"

"Hidden. I'm not stupid, Jason. You look pretty strong. If you knew where Kim was, you would probably try to be a hero. Put Drew in the back seat and get down on your knees with your hands behind your head."

Reluctantly Jason obeyed. He silently asked Kim to forgive him. Donavon tied Jason's hands tightly behind his back. It chafed Jason not to be able to fight back. Donavon pushed Jason into the back seat and slammed the door. Drew was crying now and climbed up into Jason's lap. Jason wished his hands were free so he could comfort the toddler.

"Ace? Want Mama."

Donavon jumped into the front seat and started the car. "Sorry I don't have a car seat yet. I'll get one."

"Mama." The two year old cried again.

"She's not your mama but you'll see her again. For a little while at least; then it will be just you and me."

'Not if I can help it.' Jason promised silently. 'It will be a cold day in Hell before I let you get away with this.'

Chapter Ten

Tommy Oliver eased down on the front steps of Jason's house. He wasn't ready to go inside; wasn't ready to face anyone. He wondered if Kim was back or if she was still at the park pretending to look for Trent. He didn't believe she had seen Trent at all. He thought she was using her fiancé as an excuse to avoid him. He sensed nothing in her kiss that convinced him that it was over between them. He didn't know why she couldn't admit it.

The front door opened and someone sat beside him. Tommy didn't look to see who it was. A slender hand touched his shoulder. "Tommy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing Kat."

"Don't give me that, Tommy. We are too good of friends for that. I know you too well. What has Kim done now?"

"I love her, Kat. I know I probably shouldn't be telling you this but it's the truth."

"Tommy, Kim is engaged to the father of her child. You're setting yourself up to be hurt. Wasn't Kim hurting you once enough to last you a lifetime?"

Tommy looked at his former girlfriend. "Kim's not going to hurt me this time. She's confused right now but she'll see. We belong together. So, is Kim back yet?"

The beautiful blonde frowned. "No, Tommy. Her fiancé called about a half hour ago. He wanted to surprise Kim and Drew at the lake. Jason's gone to take Drew now."

Tommy nodded. So Trent had been at the park He sighed. He wondered what they were talking about right then. He hoped that Trent seeing them together would make it easier for Kim to admit her true feelings.

"Tommy, I don't understand. Kim went and slept with another guy and got pregnant by him. She betrayed you in the most hideous way. How can you still love her?"

Tommy shook his head. "It's nothing I can explain, Kat. I just do."

Kat frowned when she saw a stranger walk up Jason's driveway. He was tall and good looking but the expression in his eyes was haunted. "Who's that?"

Tommy looked up. His eyes widened in surprise. "Trent."

Trent barely could look at his friend. "Tommy."

Kat studied the man Kim was engaged to. He noticed her for the first time. He smiled and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Trent Connerey. You must be Katherine Hilliard. Kimber's told me all about you. It's nice to finally meet you. Are Kim and Drew inside?"

Tommy looked at him sharply and then looked to Kat. "I thought you said Jason was taking Drew to meet Kim and Trent."

"What?" Trent stared at her in alarm.

Kat nodded. "Aisha talked to you on the phone. She was going to take him but Jason offered to go instead."

Trent paled. "I didn't call. Where were they supposed to meet me at? I have to get to them."

"The lake. Why would someone pretend to be you?"

Trent's face was frantic with worry. He didn't want to spend this time explaining. Kim was in horrible danger and so was Drew.

"Donavon, it has to be."

Tommy shook his head. "I didn't think he even knew about Drew, let alone where to find Kim."

"He found her in Waco. Tommy, Kim wasn't mugged. Donavon beat her to a pulp in the parking garage of our apartment building. He must have followed her from there. And now he knows about Drew. Come on, maybe we can get there in time."

As the two boys took off down the driveway, Kat called after them. "Who's Donavon?"

Trent sparred only enough time to fling two words back to Kat before he disappeared. "Drew's father."

*****

Jason grunted as Donavon tried him tightly to a chair. He could already feel the circulation being cut off to his hands. Drew was on the floor crying. And Donavon had yet to produce Kim.

"Okay, you sicko." Jason growled through clenched teeth. "Where's Kim?"

Donavon laughed. "Relax, tough guy. I'm going to get her now."

As soon as he left the boat shack he had brought them to, Jason strained against his bonds but it was no use. Donavon had tied them too tight. If only Drew was old enough to untie him. His heart went out to the small toddler whose face was splotchy red from crying.

"It's okay, Drew. I'm going to get us out of here."

"Don't lie to him." Donavon re-entered, an unconscious Kim slung over his shoulder. He dumped her unceremoniously to the floor in a heap.

Jason doubled his efforts to get free and he looked Kim over for any signs of injury. He could see none. "What have you done to her? So help me, if you've...."

"She's merely asleep thanks to a friend who works for a vet. He gave me a syringe of sedative they use to knock out large animals. She'll be out of it for a while yet. Now, I've got to get some supplies. We'll be hiding here until Drew trusts me enough that I don't need either of you. Don't get any ideas; I'll be back in ten minutes."

As soon as Donavon left the room, Drew toddled over to his mom's side. "Mama!" He patted her face expectantly and insistently. He couldn't understand why she wouldn't answer him.

Then to Jason's amazement, she moaned. Encouraged, Drew continued his efforts and Jason joined him. "Come on Kim, wake up. We need you. Wake up!"

Slowly her eyes opened but wouldn't focus on anything. She mumbled almost incoherently. "Trent? I'm sorry. Don't love Tommy, love you."

"Kim, it's Jason. Come on, wake up all the way. Please, we don't have much time."

"Jase? Oh, no, Donavon." She struggled to sit up and pull Drew into her lap. Though she was awake, it was obvious that the drug still had her body paralyzed and she was unable to do what she wanted. She would be no help in freeing them. It was all she could do to put her arms comfortingly around Drew as he laid his head on her shoulder.

That's how Donavon found her and Drew when he returned minutes later. He sat a box on the counter and smiled. "Good, you are awake. Now you can begin to pay."

*****

"And Kim and I have been raising Drew every since then. We didn't think Donavon could ever find us in Waco but apparently he did two weeks before Kim joined me at the track. He's got her and this time he's got Drew and Jason too."

The others sat around the living room stunned. Trini found her voice first. "Why didn't Kim tell us?"

Trent paced back and forth. "Kim's sole consideration these last two years has been Drew. I've never seen anyone sacrifice so much and still remain so sweet and generous."

"That's our Kim all right. She'd do anything for family." Billy agreed. Kat looked stricken and turned away from the others.

Trent punched the sofa as he passed it. "We can't just sit around here doing nothing. Donavon will kill Kim. Can't you contact Zordon and see if he can track her?"

Everyone got deathly still. When nobody said anything Trent rolled his eyes. "Come on guys. We don't have time for all that secret hero stuff. Yes, I know that you are Power Rangers. Kim told me one night when Drew was a few months old. She had been up for two days straight with Drew. He had an ear infection and bronchitis. Kim was in the midst of a highly emotional wig out and let the information slip. But that's not important now. Can Zordon help us?"

"We aren't Rangers anymore." Rocky explained. "And Zordon has left Earth. Trust us, we'd do it if we could."

Adam grabbed the phone. "Donavon won't be thinking we would know who he was to trace him so he probably left a trail. I know who can help us."

"Who?" Aisha asked as he started to dial.

"Bulk and Skull."

*******

Donavon knelt in front of Kim, a wicked gleam in his eye. "You really thought you were something, didn't you? Did you really think you could get away with stealing my child and claiming him as your own? Answer me, Kimberly."

Kim's eyes were red and her body still refused to obey her brain. All she had managed was wrapping her arms around Drew. "I didn't steal him. Andi told me to raise him."

"That stupid little wench. I enjoyed killing her. Just like I'm going to enjoy killing you."

"Leave her alone." Jason ordered as he pulled against his bonds.

"SHUT UP!" Twisting away from Kim, Donavon slammed his fist into Jason's stomach.

Jason forced himself not to react. "Is that your best shot?"

"Do you really want me to show you my best shot?" Donavon spoke in a low menacing voice.

"If you think you are bad enough." Jason knew it was crazy to egg him on but at least Donavon was ignoring Kim. Maybe it would give her enough time to recover. Suddenly the barrel of a revolver was thrust into Jason's face.

"Oh, I'm bad enough."

"Donavon, stop it." Kim shouted at him. "If you care about Drew at all, stop it."

For several long minutes, Donavon stood there with his gun trained on Jason. Jason barely dared to breath. Kim forced her heavy arm to shield Drew's face from the scene that faced them but she couldn't take her eyes off Jason. She couldn't lose another friend. Finally Donavon put the revolver in his waistband and turned to Kim.

"Always trying to save your friends, huh, Kim? You didn't save Andi. You left her behind. You should have been there the first time I plunged the knife into her stomach. She didn't scream like you did. That made me mad so I pulled the knife out and stabbed her again and again but she never screamed."

Kim's eyes burned with the need to cry but the tears refused to form. Even her tear ducts seemed to be paralyzed. "That's because she didn't care what you did to her. Her baby was safe; that's all that mattered to her. She knew you weren't going to let her live and there was no way she'd give you the satisfaction of hearing her scream."

Donavon backhanded her across the cheek. Drew cried harder and clutched at Kimberly tighter. Her cheek stung but she refused to show any reaction. Her eyes narrowed. "Keep that up and you'll never get Drew to trust you."

"I'll make him trust me." Donavon wrenched the two year old from Kim's arms. Both mother and son screamed for each other. Kim tried to reach out for him but her drugged body betrayed her and she landed on her face.

Donavon laughed at her. "What's wrong, Kim? Too weak to protect your son? Pathetic. Good thing I'm taking him. No telling what would happen to him if he stayed with you."

Gathering up every ounce of strength she could muster from her drug laden limbs, Kimberly drew herself up to her knees and lunged forward. All Kim managed to do was slap at his waist but it was enough to dislodge the pistol. It clattered to the ground but fortunately didn't go off. Before Donavon could do anything; Kim snatched up the weapon and trained it on him.

"Put Drew down and untie Jason. Do it, Donavon."

"Or what? You won't shoot me, Kim; you might hit Drew. Not that you could hit the broadside of the barn."

Kim's hand shook as she thumbed back the hammer. Jason held his breath. He knew what a crack shot she was. He'd seen her spend hours at a target range practicing with a hand gun and a bow and arrow. Jason waited for her to pull the trigger.

Kim slowly started to lower the gun. She could easily put a bullet between his eyes without batting an eye. But Donavon was holding her son and she didn't want Drew to see her shoot someone.

With a steely laugh, Donavon wrenched the gun from her slender hand. His booted foot flashed out catching Kim in the stomach. Kim reeled backward with a groan. "Nice try, Kim.."

Donavon's head jerked around as he heard a vehicle coming down the gravel drive. He swore. Clutching Drew close to him, he moved to look out the window. A motorcycle with a side car was coming up the road. It stopped next to the pier. The driver, a tall skinny guy with a shock of black hair, removed his helmet. The passenger, a hefty guy with a crew cut, stepped out of the sidecar. Both boys totally ignored the boathouse as they pulled a picnic basket and a fishing pole from the sidecar.

"Just a couple of punks out for some fishing. Nobody make a sound and I won't kill them."

"Dada." Drew called out tearfully.

Donavon held the little boy tighter. "That's my boy. See Kim, he already knows who I am."

Kim hung her head. She couldn't believe Drew would ever call Donavon "daddy." Then she saw Jason motion to the window. Glancing back, she caught a glimpse of Trent peeking in. She almost cried out in relief. This nightmare would soon be over but she had to get Drew out of Donavon's arms. Then she spied his diaper bag on the floor behind Jason's chair.

"Donavon, can I change Drew's diaper? If he gets too wet, he gets a really bad diaper rash."

Donavon thought about it for a second and then set Drew on his feet. The two year old ran for Kim and threw his arms around her. She kissed his tear stained face. "I love you slugger. Go get a diapy for Mama."

For a second she didn't think he would go but obviously his diaper was really wet because he took off toward the diaper bag. Kim didn't take her eyes of Drew. Suddenly both the front and back doors slammed opened. Rocky, Zack, and Adam came in the front door while Tommy, Billy and Trent burst in from the back door.

Donavon's face grew red in anger. Pulling out his gun, he leveled it on Kim. She saw the look in his eyes and knew he was going to kill her. She refused to close her eyes as he cocked the gun and slowly pulled the trigger. She braced herself for the bullet to rip into her body.

Though the shot was fired, the bullet never hit her. Instead, Trent lunged forward in front of her at the last second. The bullet hit him square in the chest and he fell at Kim's feet. He looked up as consciousness rapidly left him. "I love you, Kim" was all he could say before he passed out.

Chapter Eleven

Author's note: The song used in this chapter and the next is "I Will Be Here" by Steven Curtis Chapman and is used without permission (but it fits Kim and Trent so well.)

Everything became still and silent in that split second after the gun went off and Trent collapsed. But then activity resumed. Aisha grabbed up a screaming Drew and ran out of the shack taking the toddler to safety. Adam and Tommy double-teamed Donavon, knocking him to the ground. Kat kicked the gun away, sending it skittering to the corner. Trini and Zack untied Jason. Rocky knelt beside Trent as two familiar figures entered the shack.

Kim looked stunned to see Bulk and Skull join the others as Billy knelt in front of her. Skull joined him as Bulk went to help Rocky. "Kim, are you okay?"

"Trent? How's Trent?" Kim ignored Skull's question as she tried to get to her fiancé's side. Her body still refused to cooperate and she sank back into Billy's arms, her eyes frantically seeking out word on Trent's condition.

Skull touched her arm. "Don't worry, Kim. Bulk and I called for back-up and an ambulance before coming in here. Paramedics should be here shortly. Are you hurt anywhere?"

Tommy looked over at his former girlfriend; he expected to either see her crying or in a faint. Those were the two reactions he was used to seeing with Kim. Instead she was simply sitting there shaking in Billy's arms staring at Trent's fallen body. A light had gone out of her eyes; a light he had never noticed was there until it was missing. In that instant Tommy was convinced; Kim truly loved Trent

Tommy hung his head. Kat touched his arm briefly as she handed Adam the rope that Donavon had used to tie up Jason. Once Donavon was securely tied, Tommy left him to Adam and Kat and joined Billy and Skull with Kim. "How is she, Bro?"

Billy was worried about her. Kim hadn't said much and her body felt heavy in his arms. He looked at Skull and raised his eyebrow. The former bully took a second more to check out Kim and then looked back at Tommy.

"I think she's in shock. I'm going to go help Bulk and Rocky with Trent. You two stay with her. See if you can get her to respond."

Sirens grew louder as an ambulance and police car sped down the gravel drive. Jason joined Bill and Tommy. He took a moment to explain about the sedative Kim had been given. Billy and Tommy alternately tried asking her questions but Kim ignored all of them. Kim was aware of the presence of only one and he was lying prone on the floor, blood gushing from the chest wound. She heard nothing but the repeating sound of gunfire as her mind replayed Donavon shooting Trent.

Three paramedics and two police officers entered the already crowded boat shack. As Junior Patrol officers, Bulk and Skull handled explaining the situation. One officer led Donavon out of the shack while the other tried to clear the room of everyone but the injured. Nobody wanted to leave Kim behind but finally she was alone with just the paramedics, Jason, and Trent.

"He's going to be okay, isn't he? He's got to be. I can't survive without him."

Jason sank to the floor beside her and put an arm around her. He wasn't really hurt, just bruised, but if allowing the medics to look him over meant he could stay with Kim then it was worth it. "They're doing everything they can for him, Kim."

Leaving the other two medics to work on Trent, the third knelt beside Kim and Jason. Sensing Kim was the worse off of the two, the medic concentrated on her. "What about you? Where are you hurt?"

"I don't matter. Just help Trent."

"I can't find a pulse; we're losing him. Grab the AED."

"NO!" Kim tried to lunge forward but Jason kept tight hold of her. The paramedic stepped in front of her, blocking her view. He hoped that would help calm her down but it was obvious the girl was inconsolable.

"The guy who kidnapped us gave her a pretty powerful animal sedative a couple of hours ago. She's been awake for a little over an hour but she's still sort of out of it." Jason explained.

The medic stopped in mid-search through his drug bag. He'd been about to sedate her but couldn't given the fact that she had already been drugged. Since that was out of the question, he would have to go to plan B, physically removing her from the building. "Okay, can you help me take her out to the ambulance?"

Jason nodded. Between them both, they lifted Kim to her feet and practically dragged her to the door. Outside on the porch, the former Rangers had gathered on one side of the porch while the officers including Bulk and Skull were exchanging Donavon's ropes for handcuffs.

When Kim saw Donavon, she pulled away from Jason and the paramedic. Using all of her energy, she tried to attack the man who had tormented her life. Skull caught her before she could reach him or fall. She strained in Skull's arms. "You, I hate you! You murdered my best friend and almost killed Drew and me. You attack me at my home and now this. You kidnapped Drew, Jason and me. You may have killed the most important person in my life outside of my son. I hope you rot in Hell."

Donavon struggled against the officer's hold. "He's my son. You kidnapped him from me. My father will take care of this. I will have my son. I promise you that."

Skull looked back at the officers. "Can you go ahead and get that piece of trash out of here? Bulk and I will make sure you get everyone's statements."

The officers agreed and led Donavon away. The others were about to gather around their injured friend when the two medics shot out of the shack with Trent on a stretcher. Though they were no longer doing CPR, it was clear Trent was still in bad shape. Skull lifted an almost hysterical Kim into his arms and carried her to the ambulance.

Jason took only enough time to make sure the others were going to follow them to the hospital before allowing the medic to lead him to the front of the ambulance. The back doors closed and the ambulance shot off down the road.

The eleven somber teens watched as the ambulance disappeared down the road. Rocky took Drew from Aisha and absently patted the toddler on the back, hoping to comfort him. Aisha looked at her friends, concern evident in her eyes. "Trent's going to be all right, isn't he?"

Rocky and Bulk, who had spent the most time working on him, looked at each other. Rocky couldn't face his teammates. "I don't know. He was losing so much blood."

"He'll be okay." The others looked at Tommy, surprised by his quiet assurance. "He has to be. Because if he's not, I don't know how Kim will make it."

********

"Trent?" Kim opened her eyes and sat up. Her body still felt incredibly heavy but at least it was obeying her brain's commands. She looked around. It was obvious she was in a hospital room even though it was dark. Jason was stretched out on the small couch sound asleep and Billy was in the chair beside her bed also asleep. But hearing her call out, Billy opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"Welcome back. We were starting to get worried."

"Where's Drew? Why am I here in this hospital bed?" She looked around worriedly. Billy gave her arm a reassuring squeeze.

"Relax, Drew is back at Jason's asleep. The others are taking really good care of him. You passed out in the ambulance. As far as the doctor can figure, that sedative Donavon gave you was strong enough to knock out an elephant. You've been asleep for almost ten hours."

The events of the afternoon rushed back to her then and she remembered Trent being shot. She clutched Billy's arm. "How's Trent?"

Billy hesitated. Kim caught the look on his face and assumed the worst. A sob rose up from the depths of her soul and she doubled over on the bed as it burst forth. Jason woke with a start as Billy left the chair to sit beside her on the bed. "Kim, Trent's alive. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hesitated and scared you like that."

It took a moment for his words to register but when they did, she looked up at him. "Promise?"

Jason sat on the other side of her. "Kim, I won't lie to you, he's in bad shape. The bullet grazed his heart and it did a lot of damage. He's one floor up in ICU."

"I have to see him."

"Kim, he's in ICU, they won't let you in. I talked to the doctor earlier; they'll let us know in here if there are any changes. Now come on, lie back down and go back to sleep."

Kim stubbornly shook her head. "Not until I see Trent. I don't care what they say; I want to see Trent now. You can help me or not but either way, you had better hand me my robe or else you will be seeing whatever this gown doesn't cover."

Billy sighed and picked up the phone. He punched in four numbers and waited for someone to answer. "Hi, this is Billy Cranston again. Kim Hart just woke up and is pretty anxious to see her fiancé. She's not going to relax until she does. Is there anyway she could spend a few minutes with him?" He listened for a minute and nodded even though the person he was talking to couldn't see him. "Thanks."

Hanging up the phone, he leveled Kim in his gaze. "Okay, the night nurse said you can see him for ten minutes."

Jason touched her shoulder. "If you are going to do this, let us prepare you. He's not on life support but he does have a tube down his throat and he's hooked to a lot of monitors. Are you sure you want to see him like that?"

"No but I want to see him, so I have no choice."

Jason handed her a robe. "Okay, then, let's go."

Kim was stronger now that the sedative was mostly out of her system but she still leaned heavily on her two friends as they walked down to the corridor to the elevator. Billy noticed that she was trembling but had to wonder if it was from the sedative or from fear of what she was going to find in Trent's room. The nurse met them at the entrance to the unit. She smiled at Kim.

"Honey, you look like you should still be in bed yourself, but I guess I would be the same way if it were my fiancé in there. Before you go in, though, why don't we all have a seat in the conference room so I can update you on his condition."

Kim nodded and squeezed Billy's hand tightly. She allowed her two oldest friends to lead her into a small room. Once they were all seated the nurse began. "Okay, the bullet barely missed the left ventricle of his heart but it did sever a coronary artery. Those arteries are what feed the heart. The doctor was able to stop the bleeding and make repairs by performing a single heart bypass. Trent lost quite a bit of blood…"

"We have the same blood type; I can donate." Kim offered.

"We'll see. We are low on his blood type and have been using O negative instead. However, with you being admitted to the hospital, I'll have to check with your doctor and see if we can take and use your blood. If you can donate, I'll arrange things. Trent is unconscious. The sooner he wakes up the better we think his chances of making a full recovery. The next seventy-two hours are critical."

"Can I see him now?"

"Sure, your friends can wait in here for you."

The nurse led her into the cubicle where Trent lay completely flat in the hospital bed. Kim eased into a chair next to the bed and took his hand in her own. The nurse touched Kim's shoulder. "I'll be at the desk if you need me. Talk to him. He probably can hear you even if he can't respond."

Kim waited until she was alone with the man that she loved. "Oh Trent, you have to be okay. Why did you have to jump in front of me? I would much rather be the one lying there. I am so sorry you saw Tommy kiss me. It didn't mean anything. You are the one I love now and for always. I told him that."

As she sat there holding his hand and listening to the beeps of the various monitors, she spoke to him softly. She reminded him of all the happiest times they had already shared. Her voice caught as she got to the night he proposed. What she had told the girls had only been the start of the perfect evening. The memory swept her back to that cold gazebo.

** Trent took her in his arms and kissed her once again. "I don't think I could be any happier than I am right now."

"Me either. This is for real, isn't it? I'm not going to wake up and find it was a dream?"

"It's real, Angel. I've been trying to figure out how to make this night as romantic as possible and until yesterday afternoon, I still didn't know what I was going to do after you said yes. All those romantic movies you love so much always have the guy singing to the girl or reading a beautiful love poem. Well I can't carry a tune in a bucket and none of the poems I looked at said exactly what I wanted to say to you. I was about to give up hope with coming up with just the right thing when I heard this song on the radio yesterday. I had to pull off the road and listen because this song was straight out of my thoughts for you. It was like someone had listened to my most private thoughts and set them to music. I drove all over town until I found a copy of the song. I want to play it for you. I know it's not the same as singing to you myself but I think you would prefer it this way. You can always close your eyes and pretend it's me singing."

Trent led her to the bench and sat down with her in his lap. He twisted long enough to change the tapes in the player and hit play. Kim obediently closed her eyes. Soon, the soft music began and a strong masculine voice began to sing.

Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the sun does not appear, I, I will be here.

If in the dark we lose sight of love, hold my hand and have no fear

Cause I, I will be here. I will be here when you feel like being quiet.

When you need to speak your mind, I will listen.

And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying;

Through the winning, losing and trying; we'll be together, cause I will be here.

Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the future isn't clear, I, I will be here.

As sure as seasons are made for change, our lifetimes are made for years

So I, I will be here. I will be here and you can cry on my shoulder.

When the mirror tells us we're older, I will hold you.

And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty

And tell you all the things you are to me. I will be here.

I will be true to the promise I have made to you and to the one

Who gave you to me. I, I will be here.

And just as sure as seasons are made for change, our lifetimes are made for years

So I, I will be here. We'll be together. I will be here.**

Kim clutched Trent's hand tightly. "Trent, I'm holding your hand and the laughter is definitely crying right now. There has never been a time when the future is more unclear than it is now. You promised you would be here. I can't let you go back on our word. I just can't. You have to live, if for no other reason than because of Drew. I don't know what would happen to him if you died because I don't know that I can go on living without you in my life."

"You can and you will." Billy knelt beside her chair. Kim leaned against him and let him comfort her. "Kim, I've only known you as a mother for a couple of days but you've already shown me that you do what ever Drew needs you to do. If Trent doesn't make it, you'll find the strength to go on because Drew will need you."

Kim's voice shook as she replied. "Even if I don't want to?"

"Even then. But I bet you are worrying for nothing; Trent doesn't strike me as the type of person who would give up on your love. If there is anyway around it, he'll live just to see your smiling face."

Kim smiled wanly and gave Trent's slack hand another squeeze. "Wake up, Trent. We've got a wedding to plan. I'm going to be right here until you wake up."

"I'm sorry, Kim, but the nurse sent me in here to tell you your time is up. She said you'll have to leave and come back at the regular visiting time."

Kim sniffled. "When is that?"

"Ten a.m. It's a little after four now. Why don't we go back to your room? You need the rest."

Kim didn't want to leave but knew she had no choice. She leaned over Trent wanting to kiss him but the tube in his mouth made that impossible. So instead, she nuzzled his neck and kissed his cheek at the base of his jaw. "Stay strong, Trent. I love you."

As Billy helped her from the cubicle, the nurse smiled at her. "Go and get some rest, Miss Hart. I'll keep an eye on him."

"What about giving him my blood?"

"Your doctor should be making rounds in a couple of hours. I'll ask him as soon as he comes in and I'll let you know."

"Thanks." Kim answered softly. Despite the fact that she had slept for so long she was already tired again. She leaned heavily on her friends as they helped her back to her room.

By the time she climbed back in bed she was half-asleep and sobbing quietly. She clutched her pillow close as she cried. Jason and Billy looked at each other, wondering what they could do for her. Billy caressed her hair.

"What is it, Kim?"

"What if Trent just gives up?"

"Why would he do that?" Billy probed gently.

"He saw Tommy kiss me. It meant nothing but I never got a chance to explain what happened. What if he thinks I still have feelings for Tommy? He probably hates me."

"Trent doesn't hate you, Kim; he loves you. You should have seen him when he realized Donavon had you. There is no doubt how he feels about you." Billy tried to console her but she would have none of it. Jason reached into his pocket and his hand closed around Kim's pager. He pulled it out and thumbed through the saved messages.

He sat beside Kim on the bed and put the pager in her hands. Then he eased her backward until her back rested against the bed. "Trent does love you. If you doubt that at all, look at that message until you fall asleep."

Kim glanced down at the message he had selected and smiled through her tears.

I love you too, Angel. I'm sorry I let you go for even a second without saying it. Call me soon; I miss you, Kimber.

Jason settled back on the couch and Billy returned to his chair. Kim continued to stare at the message even though her vision was blurred with tears. The words to their song floated through her weary mind. If in the dark we lose sight of love, hold my hand and have no fear, cause I, I will be here.

Kim sniffled. She couldn't hold Trent's hand but she hung onto his message just as tightly as she would have his hand. After awhile sleep claimed her once more the pager still clutched firmly in her grip.

Chapter Twelve

"Mama."

Rocky held the two-year-old a little tighter as Drew tried to pull away from him. As soon as he, Trini, and Tommy entered the hospital room, they had noticed that Kim was sleeping fitfully in the bed. Billy looked up and smiled at them.

"Hey, guys. Come on in."

Tommy nodded toward Kim. "How is she?"

Billy shrugged. "Emotionally she won't be better until she knows Trent is going to recover but physically she's doing okay. She regained consciousness around four a.m. and insisted on seeing Trent. It took us awhile but we finally got her to go back to sleep. About an hour ago, her doctor came by; he was going to release her but she really wanted to donate blood for Trent. The doctor really didn't want to let her because she was already so weak but you know Kim. She's been out every since they took blood."

"Mama." Drew called out again.

Rocky looked at him. "Mama's asleep. We don't want to wake her."

Drew instantly teared up and his lowered lip began to quiver. "Mama, Wocket, want Mama."

Rocky sighed. "He's been like this all night. I doubt he's ever been away from Kim for this long before. I put him in bed with me since he's spent more time around me than anyone else has at the house but he still tossed and turned and cried all night.

Kim didn't wake up as Drew began to loudly cry but her sleep did become more restless than it had been. The door opened behind the newcomers and Jason slipped in carrying two Styrofoam plates. He greeted his friends and handed Billy the plates.

"Come here, Drew. What's with the tears? I bet you've missed your mama, haven't you?" Jason took Drew from Rocky and carried him over to the bed. The others started to protest but stopped once Jason settled Drew in Kim's arms.

Drew quit crying and rested his head on Kim's chest. At the same time, Kim's arms closed protectively over his body and she settled into a more peaceful sleep. In no time at all both mother and son were sound asleep. Jason smiled. "I guess they missed each other."

Trini smiled. "I guess so. What's the latest on Trent?"

Billy sighed. "No better, no worse. His night nurse came by earlier to check on Kim. She said his vital signs are stable and they are going to try taking the tube out of his mouth. They really won't know anything until he wakes up. What's the latest on Donavon?"

Rocky smiled. "He's being held without bond. Bulk and Skull said he screamed all night about his father being a Florida judge. They all took turns reminding him that this was California, not Florida. After awhile they got tired of listening and threatened to gag him if he didn't shut up. Jason, they did say they need you to come in to make your statement as soon as you can."

"I guess I can go now if you guys are going to be here for Kim."

Trini smiled. "Why don't both you and Billy leave for awhile. I bet you two didn't get much sleep either. We'll be here if Kim needs us."

Billy hated to leave but he had to agree with Trini. He was worn out from trying to sleep in that chair all night. "Sounds great. Just please make sure that Kim is awake an hour and a half so she can make the ten o'clock visitation. If she sleeps through that and has to wait until two, she is not going to be happy."

Tommy nodded. "We'll make sure she's there."

Rocky eyed the Styrofoam containers Jason had brought in. "Is that breakfast?"

Jason nodded. "The cafeteria is in the basement. They close in thirty minutes if you want something."

Trini put a hand on Rocky's shoulder. "Come on, Rocky, I'll go down with you. Tommy, do you want anything?"

Tommy shook his head. He was watching Kim as she slept. Part of him wanted to be hurt that she didn't love him anymore but he couldn't be. Right now he was just scared. Scared that Kim would hate him for being so persistent. But mostly he was scared that Trent would die before he could apologize to both Trent and Kim for being so pigheaded.

Trini squeezed his shoulder and she and Rocky left the room with Jason and Billy. Tommy eased into the chair next to he bed. In all the time he had known Kim, he had never really had the chance to observe her while she slept. He marveled at how similar Drew and Kim were and how much Drew favored both Trent and Kim. It was obvious how much of a family they really were. How had he been blind to that?

"Kim, I'm so sorry for all the pain you've been through."

Kim shifted in the bed and slowly opened her eyes. She looked around, for a moment unsure where she was. Then she noticed Drew in her arms and smiled. Kissing the toddler's head she looked over at Tommy. "When did Drew get here?"

"About ten or twenty minutes ago. He missed you."

Kim raised the bed a little higher. "I missed him as well. The two of us have at least shared a room every night since we left the clinic. Lately, he's even been sleeping the same bed. I never thought I would miss him kicking me all night. Any word on Trent?"

Tommy shook his head. "Nothing new. You still have about an hour before visiting time. Do you want something to eat?"

"No, thanks. Billy and Jason practically force-fed me my breakfast before I gave blood. Tommy, what's going on with Donavon?"

"Don't worry about him, Kim. We aren't going to let him near you or Drew again. Bulk and Skull have given their word that he wasn't going to be released."

Kim shifted Drew's weight a little. "I was surprised to see them there."

"They were responsible for us finding you so quickly. They traced Donavon's credit card purchases to find out he had rented that boat shack. They've changed a lot since getting back on the police force."

Kim glanced back down at Drew. "I guess we all grow up some time."

Tommy reached over and lightly caressed her cheek. "It just takes some of us longer than others. I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday. I love you and I want you to be happy, even if being with Trent is what makes you happy.'

Tears welled up in her eyes once more. "Do you mean that or are you just saying that because you think Trent is going to die?"

"Kim, I…"

She shook her head. "No, Tommy. I know that sounds really bad but I have to know. Because if you think you can, I don't know, give me your blessing now and wait until Trent is dead to swoop in and console me, it's not going to work. If Trent dies I don't want to live either. I will because Drew needs me and I love him too much to abandon him. But if Trent dies and I live to be a hundred I will never fall in love again."

"I really mean it, Kim. Actually, I probably knew it from the night I watched you and Trent dancing but I couldn't admit it to myself. Trent is going to make it, Kim. I just know he is. You two are going to get married and raise Drew, have kids of you own, the works."

Our lifetimes are made for years. Kim smiled. "You're right. Thanks. I'm sorry for what I said. I have no excuse except that I'm so worried about Trent."

Tommy shook his head. "Don't think about it. Why don't I go find someone and see about you getting released? By then, it will be just about time for you to see Trent."

******

Kim squeezed Trent's hand tightly. "You can wake up any time now. Drew wants to see his Daddy but they won't let him back here."

Trent remained unresponsive, lying there in the hospital bed. The doctors had removed the tube form his mouth but he was still hooked to various monitors. Kim suppressed a shudder.

"This isn't fair, you know. I can't handle sickness or injury the way you can. I'm useless when it comes to playing nurse. Remember all those times you had to take Drew to the pediatrician for his shots because I couldn't stand to see the doctor hurt him? This is even harder than that."

Kim glanced at the wall clock. She knew the nurse would be running her out in a few minutes. There was so much she wanted to tell him, things that would reassure him that everything would be okay. "Donavon is in jail so I don't think we have to worry about anything. If his dad comes and tries to cause trouble about who Drew belongs to, I'll get one of the guys to take him out of town until you are able to travel. I hope it doesn't come to that because I don't want to be away from either of you."

"Miss Hart, time is up. You can come back at two." The nurse smiled at Kim while checking the monitors.

Kim nodded even though she hated that she couldn't stay. "How's he doing?"

"His vitals are stable but his condition is still serious. We won't be able to say for certain that he's out of danger until he wakes up. We are doing everything we can for your fiancé."

"Can't you give me something better than that?"

"I'm afraid not. Why don't you go and relax for a little while. We'll let you know if there are any changes."

Reluctantly, Kim left the small cubicle. As she walked down the hall to join her friends she discovered that she didn't feel all that much better than when she had left his side the first time.

In the waiting room, Drew ran to her as soon as she stepped inside. She swung him up in her arms and hugged him tightly. "Hey Slugger."

"Dada?"

"Daddy's asleep right now. You can see him soon, I hope." She looked around the room. With the exception of Billy, Jason, and Kat, all of her friends were there. She blinked back tears. For the past two years, she had had only Trent to lean on when things became difficult. She had almost forgotten what it was like to have such an abundance of support. Kim didn't know how she would get through this without them.

Trini put an arm around her shoulder. "Why don't you come back to Jason's with us. We can leave the number at the desk for them to call you if there's any change."

Kim shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Even if I can't be in the room with him, I want to be as close as I can."

"Kim, it can't be good for you to stay here all the time." Tanya argued. "Trent wouldn't want you to sit around here all day."

"Maybe not but he'd do it for me. I can't ask anything less from myself." Drew wiggled in her arms and she set him down. She was glad to see that he didn't seem to be suffering form what had happened. How wonderful the way kids bounced back. "But there's no sense in all of you staying."

Zack grinned. "Hey, no way. If you are staying, we are staying. That's what friends are for."

Kim kissed his cheek. "Thanks, I appreciate that but really it isn't necessary. You didn't come all this way to sit around here holding my hand."

Adam shook his head. "You're right in a way. We came here to have a reunion and that's what we are doing. So quit worrying about what we are doing. You've got enough to do worrying about Trent. Let us worry about everything else. Okay?"

Kim willed back the tears. Once again she was glad that she was surrounded by such good friends. "Okay, if all of you are sure. I can't tell you what all of you have done for me means."

"You do the same for us."

"Mama!" Drew came running back to her and jumped up in her arms. "Outside, play."

Kim ruffled his hair. No matter how little sleep he got, he was always ready to go strong the next day. She had long since learned how to push her own fatigue aside to keep up with him. One look at Rocky, who had appointed himself Drew's chief baby-sitter, told her he hadn't developed that skill.

"Oh, Sweety, maybe later. Go easy on these guys, how about it? They don't run off those pink bunny batteries like you do."

"Pink bunny batteries, no wonder I can't keep up with him." Rocky joked back. "Kim, why don't you switch those batteries for some less potent ones?"

He was pleased to see her smile. She swung Drew around in her arms, making the toddler giggle. "I would if I could, believe me."

Trini recognized the look on Kim's face. She had seen it plenty of times while Kim's parents were going through their divorce. It was the look that said Kim was only going through the motions of every day life for the benefit of others. Inside she was emotionally dying. Trini didn't know how long Kim would be able to keep up the act.

"Kim, would you like for a few of us to take Drew back to Jason's? That way you don't have to worry about him getting restless around here."

Kim smiled gratefully. "That would be great but I hate to put him off on all of you. You've done so much already."

Aisha shook her head. "Think nothing of it. We wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, Drew is an angel."

Tommy noticed the way Kim stiffened at the word angel. He recalled that Trent would call her Angel. He would give anything to take her pain away.

Finally it was decided that Rocky, Trini, Aisha and Zack would take Drew back to Jason's. Tommy, Adam and Tanya would stay with Kim at the hospital. They tried to make Kim promise to go back to Jason's as well after the two o'clock visit but Kim wouldn't make any guarantees.

Around eleven, Adam and Tanya left the waiting room to run down to the cafeteria. It was their hope that they could then convince Kim to go with Tommy to eat lunch upon their return. They hadn't been gone ten minutes when Kat entered the waiting room. She looked around, a bit uncomfortable.

Spotting Kim staring out the window, Kat took a deep breath and joined her. Tommy watched them silently from the couch. "Kim?" Kat began tentatively.

Kim glanced at the blonde before looking back out the window. "Hey, Kat; you didn't have to come."

Kat hung her head. "I know and I wasn't but Bulk and Skull called from the police department. They really need you to come down to the station and make your statement. Apparently, Donavon's father has arrived and is making a lot of noise about getting Donavon released. The department wants all the necessary paperwork so the DA has no choice but to keep him."

Kim rubbed her arms absently. As much as she wanted to stay near Trent, she wanted Donavon behind bars just as badly. "Okay, let's get it over with. I hate to ask but can you give me a ride? I don't trust my reflexes right now behind the wheel of a car."

Kat gave her a slight smile. "Sure, I have Jason's car downstairs."

"Let me tell Tommy."

"Tell me what?" Tommy joined the two girls.

"I have to go the station and make my statement. Will you stay here in case there's any change?"

"Sure. How can I get in touch with you if we need you?"

Looking around, Kim scooped up a pen and piece of paper from a nearby table and scribbled a number on it. She handed the paper to Tommy. "Here's my pager number. Call me if there is any change."

******

Kim waited until they were in the car on their way to the station before saying anything directly to Kat. "I appreciate this. I know I'm not your favorite person."

"Why didn't you tell us the truth about Drew?" Kat didn't take her eyes off the road.

"It was the best thing for Drew's sake."

"But not for you. Kim, when I think about the things I said to you the other night. I was so cruel and hateful."

"No, you were upset and hurt. You were speaking your mind. I don't blame you for being mad or avoiding me."

"Kim, I haven't been avoiding you today because I'm mad at you. I figured you hated me for those horrible things I said."

Kim laughed to avoid crying again. "Kat, I don't hate you because that. You are my friend; I could never hate you. I'll admit there was a time that I wanted to hate you. I hated the fact that while my life was turning upside down, you had my powers and probably my boyfriend. Even though I had given Tommy up, I didn't want anyone else to have him. Pretty selfish, huh?"

"Maybe a little, but you were going through so much. I probably would have hated me too. What's going on with you and Tommy now?"

Kim sighed. "You were right about Tommy still having feelings for me but he knows now that there can never be anything more between him. Give him a little time to get over the hurt but don't let him get away a second time. You two deserve to be happy."

Kat pulled into the closet space she could find at the Police station and turned to face Kim. "You really think we have a chance?"

Kim smiled. "Yeah. Now let's get this over with."

********

It only took her twenty minutes to make her statement. Emotionally drained, Kim left the interrogation room. Bulk, Skull and Kat were waiting for her in the hallway. "You okay, Kim?"

"I will be once this is all over with and Trent is okay and Donavon is rotting under some jail cell."

"How is Trent?"

Kim shrugged. "The doctor and nurses won't tell me too much. I want them to tell me he's going to be okay, even it it's a lie. So, what's going to happened to Donavon?"

Bulk smiled. "He's going to rot under the jail. And that's no lie. The DA has taken an intense dislike to both Donavon and his father. So, he's pressing the case hard. You don't have to worry about either of them bothering you again. Skull and I will see to that. And you know the two of us when we get something in our heads."

Kim thought about all the times Bulk and Skull had tried to discover the Ranger's identities and had to smile. If they were looking out for her then she would be okay. The pager on her waist vibrated. Her heart beating wildly, she glanced down at the readout.

Kim, return to the hospital as soon as possible.

**********

Kim rushed into the hospital with Kat, Bulk and Skull right on her heels. She bypassed the waiting room all together and headed straight back to the ICU. Turning the corner, her heart skipped a beat when she saw that Trent's bed was empty. As she was about to hit the floor, Tommy caught her.

"Easy, Kim, I'll take you to him."

Her legs were the consistency of jelly as she allowed Tommy to lead her across the corridor to a different set of cubicles in another unit. He took her right past several doctors and nurses and led her into a large cubicle. Kim's eyes were downcast; she wasn't ready to face what she might see.

"Hey Kimber. I missed you."

Kim looked up, stunned to see Trent smiling at her from the bed. The bed had been raised to where he was almost sitting up. He looked weak and pale but at least he was awake. For a moment, she just stared at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't cry, Angel. I'm okay."

As if suddenly freed from the temporary paralysis that had kept her rooted in place, Kim rushed forward and hugged him tightly. "Thank God! I was so scared. When you weren't in your room, I just knew something bad had happened." She glanced back long enough to glare at Tommy. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

Tommy looked sheepish. "I'm sorry, Kim. I was going to tell you he was awake but the phone cut off before I could finish. I didn't mean to scare you."

Kim was too relieved to stay upset. She stared at Trent as if scared that he would suddenly disappear if she took her eyes off him. Trent reached up and tenderly wiped away her tears with his thumbs. "Are you okay, Kimber? Did Donavon hurt you?"

Fresh tears formed in Kim's eyes. Neither Trent nor Kim realized the others had left the room to give them privacy. "I'm fine thanks to you. You never should have jumped in front of me like that. What were you thinking?"

"That Donavon was about to take away yet another person that I loved more than anything. I was thinking that if he succeeded, my life wouldn't be worth living without you. No matter what happens between us, I can handle it as long as you are okay and happy."

"I've been thinking the same thing. But, Honey, the only thing that is going to happen between us is a lifetimes of happy years together."

"You meant that?" Trent asked. His voice was getting fainter and it was obvious the conversation was draining him.

"More than I have ever meant anything else I have ever said. But we've got time to plan the rest of our lives. For now, get some rest."

"Will you stay?"

Kim kissed him lightly on the lips. "Let them try to run me out of here."

"Then climb up here in bed with me."

Kim wanted nothing more than to do just that but she hesitated. "I don't want to hurt you."

"The only way you could do that is to walk out of my life."

Kim eased up on the bed beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. She was careful not to jar any of his wounds. "That's something you won't ever have to worry about."

Epilogue

"If anyone one can find just cause why these two should not be married, let him speak now or forever hold his peace."

Nobody in the small church said a word as the man in the white tuxedo and the woman in the beautiful wedding gown pledged their love to each other. The minister smiled. "Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Tommy Oliver smiled as he lifted Kat's veil and tenderly kissed her. As the congregation applauded, the newly married couple marched down the aisle arm in arm. Directly behind them, Trent Connerey grinned at his very pregnant wife and took her arm as they followed the couple out.

In the vestibule of the church, Trent took Kim in his arms and kissed her. "It doesn't seem like it's been almost a year since we made that trip, does it?"

Kim grinned. "Only when I look in the mirror and see how fat I've gotten. Let's go rescue my mom from our son and wish Tommy and Kat well."

As they made their way to the reception hall, Kim thought about all the changes that had occurred in just a year's time. Trent and Kim had decided to make Angel Grove their permanent home. Her parents had finally met Trent and Drew. Her mom had been so delighted to finally know the truth that she and her husband had moved back to Angel Grove as well so she could be near her grandson. Kim and Trent had married in the same church where Kat and Tommy had just said their own vows.

Donavon had been found guilt of assault, kidnapping, and attempted murder and was currently serving a life sentence at the State Penitentiary. Judge Black had tried unsuccessfully to get custody of Drew but the judge that heard the case ruled that he didn't have sufficient proof to refute Kim and Trent's claim to parentage. The nightmare was passed them and they were really and truly happy.

Inside the reception hall, Kim noticed that Rocky and Aisha were dancing with Drew on the dance floor. When Drew saw Kim and Trent enter, he ran toward them and jumped up into Kim's arms. As she caught him, a hard cramp rippled across her stomach.

Kim groaned. It was the third such cramp that she had had since the beginning of the wedding. She believed she knew what was happening. Handing Drew over to Trent, she kissed his cheek. "I'm going to go speak to Kat and Tommy. Why don't you go ask Mom if she's ready to keep Drew for a couple of days."

Trent's eyes grew wide. "Is it time? Are you…"

Kim nodded. "Yeah, but relax; we have plenty of time."

Trent kissed her again before going off to find his mother-in-law. He stopped along the way to tell all of their friends what was going on. Kim smiled and headed toward the food table where Kat and Tommy were feeding each other cake. "Hey guys, congratulations." She hugged them both.

Tommy smiled. "Thanks. We're glad you and Trent stood up for us."

Kat nodded as she leaned her head on Tommy's shoulder. "Yes and we're glad that someone didn't decide to come early so you could."

Kim winced as another contraction hit her. Her hand was on her lower back, gently massaging the tight muscles. "Yeah, well I think the wedding got over just in time though. It looks like it's going to be a great party and I'm sorry that Trent and I aren't going to be able to stay, but…"

Kat squeezed her hand. "You're in labor?"

Kim nodded. "Trent's getting Drew settled and then we are on our way to the hospital."

"We'll come as soon as the guests clear out."

"No you will not. You two have tickets to Hawaii. I don't want you to miss your honeymoon."

Tommy hugged her again. "We won't but we can't leave until we know about you and the baby. We'll see you in a little bit. Good luck."

"Thanks." Kim smiled as Trent appeared at her side, his arms around her waist.

"Ready, Angel? Sorry, we're cutting out so early but…."

"Don't worry about it. Go take care of her and that baby."

*****

Five hours later, Trent stepped into the waiting room. All the former Rangers were there, having flown in to attend the wedding. Ernie, Bulk, Skull, Drew, and Kim's parents were also sitting around the couches. They all looked up as Trent entered the room. He looked tired but happy.

"It's a girl. A wonderful seven pounds, twelve ounces little girl who is every bit as beautiful as her mother." Everyone cheered and hugged each other. Rocky and Zack even high-fived each other.

"How's Kim?" Mr. Hart wanted to know.

"She's great. She's too happy to even be exhausted or in pain. She wants you all to see the baby but only a few at a time. She of course wants Drew back there now but she also asked that Kat and Tommy go first if you were still here."

"She's more worried about our honeymoon than we are." Tommy laughed.

Trent scooped Drew up and led the newlyweds down the hall to Kim's room. The new mother was sitting up in the bed staring at the small bundle in her arms, a soft smile on her lips.

"Mama." Drew called out happily.

"Hey, Slugger. Come meet your little sister."

Drew's eyes lit up as the baby moved in Kim's arms. "Baby. My baby."

"Our baby, Slugger, she's our baby." Kim glanced over at Kat and Tommy. "You two should be almost to Hawaii by now."

Tommy shrugged. "We'll take a later flight. There's no way we would have missed this."

Kat took the baby from Kim and held her close. "Oh, Kim, Trent, she's just beautiful. Have you decided on a name?"

"Erin Ann Connerey." Kim supplied. "She's named after her parents and the aunt Andi."

"Besides Erin being the female spelling of my middle name, it was Andi's middle name as well. Of course you know that Ann is Kim's middle name."

"That's lovely." Kat returned the baby to Kim.

Kim stifled a yawn but the newlyweds saw it. Tommy leaned down and kissed Kim's cheek. "You get some rest. We'll come see you when we get back next week."

Kim nodded sleepily, the baby clutched protectively to her. "You two have a great trip. Send my parents back okay?"

"Okay." Kat and Tommy said their good-byes to Trent and Drew and slipped out of the room. Now that the family was alone Trent kissed Kim.

"Well, Mrs. Connerey, you're a mother once again. How does it feel?"

"Wonderful. I just hope I learned something the first time."

"Drew and Erin are lucky to have you as a mother. I'm pretty lucky, too. I love you, Kimberly Ann Connerey."

"And I love you, Trent Aaron Connerey. You know, I bet Andi is really smiling right now. When she was alive, she just wanted us to be friends. I bet she never thought we would end up this happy together."

"Was it worth all the pain to get to this point?" Trent asked tenderly.

Kim looked from the child she had raised from birth to the baby to whom she had just given birth and finally to the man she had pledged to love for the rest of her life. "I don't regret a single day of my life or a single choice I've made."

THE END