Disclaimer: See part one.
Author's Note: Is it just me or is the spelling of crowd weird? Thanks again to Cassandra!
A Face In The Crowd.
"See you tomorrow morning," Jason called as Billy and Zack headed in the direction of Zack's house. Both boys turned and waved before Jason and Tommy turned a corner and could no longer see them. The girls had opted to run to Trini's quickly first as she didn't have any work out clothes with her.
"I hope Rita doesn't send down a monster today," Jason commented nonchalantly, thinking of the Black Ranger's studying, "She did once when I was studying for a test. I almost flunked it."
"I think she won't be sending anything for awhile," Tommy remarked. Then his voice lowered in shame and pain, "She spent too much effort on me."
Jason spared his new teammate a concerned glance, seeing Tommy starting to get lost in the memories of being the evil Green Ranger, "Don't worry about it, man. Your on our side now, that's all that matters."
"Still, I feel guilty about what I did," Tommy confessed glancing uncertainly at his newfound friend.
"Tommy, you weren't in control of your own actions. That evil witch was," Jason reassured the grievous boy next to him almost using a stronger word than witch, "None of us blame you for anything that's happened. It's not your fault Rita decided to make you her evil Ranger."
"I almost killed you though," Tommy said softly still baffled that he could be forgiven this easily.
"Hey, I'm still around. You didn't kill me and I don't mind the scar. Makes me look more macho," Jason joked.
Tommy's head snapped up quickly, his eyes wide at Jason's words, "Scar?" Tommy echoed.
Jason meet his teammates gaze, "Yeah, your sword just nicked me. Not badly or anything, it didn't even bleed a lot because of all that special equipment we've got at the Command Centre."
"I didn't know...Oh God Jason, I'm so sorry I..." Tommy began stuttering out an apology. The Green Ranger had paled at Jason's words, unaware that he had managed to leave such a lasting mark on the Red Ranger.
"Don't worry about it. I'm okay, it's just a scar, nothing I can't handle," Jason replied not quite sure of how to put his teammates uncertainties and guilt to rest. After all, they didn't have the handbook on how to deal after a witch makes an evil Ranger out of someone who's becoming your friend or what to do after the spell is broken.
"How can you forgive me this easily? After all I've done..." Tommy had wanted to ask that question since Jason and Billy had been kind to him this morning but hadn't had the guts to. He almost didn't want to hear their answer.
Jason simply shook his head and smiled benevolently at Tommy, "It's not really your fault, is it? I mean, you couldn't help what you did because of Rita's spell and it's not like you asked her to pick you for her evil Ranger."
Seeing Tommy still wasn't sure of himself Jason reached out and slung an arm around Tommy's shoulders. It surprised both boys Tommy because the last thing he had expected was for Jason to be so understanding when he'd try to kill him and all his teammates and Jason because he was not the hugging type and very rarely showed any time of physical affection, "If I had thought we couldn't trust you or that you didn't deserve the Powers I would have said something to Zordon. I've seen first hand how good your fighting skills are and from what I've seen when you're in your right mind you are a good person. There's no reason why I shouldn't forgive you."
Tommy stared at him for a few seconds, flabbergasted for what seemed like the millionth time that day. He finally whispered a soft, "Thank you."
Jason smiled but before he had a chance to make another comment Tommy went on, "No body has ever accepted me this readily before. I'm not used to it. Before my parents adopted me I..."
Tommy stopped abruptly. He wasn't ready to reveal those memories yet. As close as their friendship was getting already it would take longer for Tommy to open up about those things. Jason waited for a few moments seeing if Tommy was going to elaborate. Sensing the subject was a sensitive one that Tommy would breach in his own time, Jason said nothing when Tommy didn't pick up the hastily cut off sentence again.
"If you need to talk I'm here," Jason told the Green Ranger quietly sensing that the surface he had just scrapped was something Tommy would eventually need to get off his chest, "and when you're ready to tell me what that last sentence is about I want to hear it."
Tommy smiled gratefully at Jason, understanding he wasn't going to get out of revealing his somewhat murky past but also knowing that none of the Rangers would push him for the painful answers. Jason just smiled back with genuine kindness and support, letting his new teammate know without words he was one of them now and always would be.
"Come on, the girls are probably waiting for us at the Youth Center. I think it's my turn to treat to smoothies anyway." Jason's eyes twinkled with the type of life and compassion Tommy wasn't used to. The friendly affection and protective nature Jason had for all his friends was something Tommy had never experienced first hand before. It was a wonderful feeling to receive.
"Sounds good to me, bro." Tommy the word slipped out of his mouth easily and for a split second Tommy wanted to take it back, unsure of how Jason would react. But Jason only grinned warmly knowing he couldn't have summed up their relationship better.
As the began to walk in the direction of the Youth Center Jason put a strong hand on Tommy's shoulder and squeezed gently before letting his hand rest there. Tommy felt his soul warm and leave behind a heavy weight at the gesture Jason gave without thinking twice. Smiling at his best friend and his newfound place in the small town, Tommy knew for the first time in his life that he was no longer just a face in the crowd.
Author's Note (Again!): I have something In mind for a sequel that would be about Tommy's past that I alluded to in this story. If you want me to write it let me know! If you've got any suggestions I'd love to hear 'em cuz I've just got some sketchy ideas as of now.
Author's Note: Is it just me or is the spelling of crowd weird? Thanks again to Cassandra!
A Face In The Crowd.
"See you tomorrow morning," Jason called as Billy and Zack headed in the direction of Zack's house. Both boys turned and waved before Jason and Tommy turned a corner and could no longer see them. The girls had opted to run to Trini's quickly first as she didn't have any work out clothes with her.
"I hope Rita doesn't send down a monster today," Jason commented nonchalantly, thinking of the Black Ranger's studying, "She did once when I was studying for a test. I almost flunked it."
"I think she won't be sending anything for awhile," Tommy remarked. Then his voice lowered in shame and pain, "She spent too much effort on me."
Jason spared his new teammate a concerned glance, seeing Tommy starting to get lost in the memories of being the evil Green Ranger, "Don't worry about it, man. Your on our side now, that's all that matters."
"Still, I feel guilty about what I did," Tommy confessed glancing uncertainly at his newfound friend.
"Tommy, you weren't in control of your own actions. That evil witch was," Jason reassured the grievous boy next to him almost using a stronger word than witch, "None of us blame you for anything that's happened. It's not your fault Rita decided to make you her evil Ranger."
"I almost killed you though," Tommy said softly still baffled that he could be forgiven this easily.
"Hey, I'm still around. You didn't kill me and I don't mind the scar. Makes me look more macho," Jason joked.
Tommy's head snapped up quickly, his eyes wide at Jason's words, "Scar?" Tommy echoed.
Jason meet his teammates gaze, "Yeah, your sword just nicked me. Not badly or anything, it didn't even bleed a lot because of all that special equipment we've got at the Command Centre."
"I didn't know...Oh God Jason, I'm so sorry I..." Tommy began stuttering out an apology. The Green Ranger had paled at Jason's words, unaware that he had managed to leave such a lasting mark on the Red Ranger.
"Don't worry about it. I'm okay, it's just a scar, nothing I can't handle," Jason replied not quite sure of how to put his teammates uncertainties and guilt to rest. After all, they didn't have the handbook on how to deal after a witch makes an evil Ranger out of someone who's becoming your friend or what to do after the spell is broken.
"How can you forgive me this easily? After all I've done..." Tommy had wanted to ask that question since Jason and Billy had been kind to him this morning but hadn't had the guts to. He almost didn't want to hear their answer.
Jason simply shook his head and smiled benevolently at Tommy, "It's not really your fault, is it? I mean, you couldn't help what you did because of Rita's spell and it's not like you asked her to pick you for her evil Ranger."
Seeing Tommy still wasn't sure of himself Jason reached out and slung an arm around Tommy's shoulders. It surprised both boys Tommy because the last thing he had expected was for Jason to be so understanding when he'd try to kill him and all his teammates and Jason because he was not the hugging type and very rarely showed any time of physical affection, "If I had thought we couldn't trust you or that you didn't deserve the Powers I would have said something to Zordon. I've seen first hand how good your fighting skills are and from what I've seen when you're in your right mind you are a good person. There's no reason why I shouldn't forgive you."
Tommy stared at him for a few seconds, flabbergasted for what seemed like the millionth time that day. He finally whispered a soft, "Thank you."
Jason smiled but before he had a chance to make another comment Tommy went on, "No body has ever accepted me this readily before. I'm not used to it. Before my parents adopted me I..."
Tommy stopped abruptly. He wasn't ready to reveal those memories yet. As close as their friendship was getting already it would take longer for Tommy to open up about those things. Jason waited for a few moments seeing if Tommy was going to elaborate. Sensing the subject was a sensitive one that Tommy would breach in his own time, Jason said nothing when Tommy didn't pick up the hastily cut off sentence again.
"If you need to talk I'm here," Jason told the Green Ranger quietly sensing that the surface he had just scrapped was something Tommy would eventually need to get off his chest, "and when you're ready to tell me what that last sentence is about I want to hear it."
Tommy smiled gratefully at Jason, understanding he wasn't going to get out of revealing his somewhat murky past but also knowing that none of the Rangers would push him for the painful answers. Jason just smiled back with genuine kindness and support, letting his new teammate know without words he was one of them now and always would be.
"Come on, the girls are probably waiting for us at the Youth Center. I think it's my turn to treat to smoothies anyway." Jason's eyes twinkled with the type of life and compassion Tommy wasn't used to. The friendly affection and protective nature Jason had for all his friends was something Tommy had never experienced first hand before. It was a wonderful feeling to receive.
"Sounds good to me, bro." Tommy the word slipped out of his mouth easily and for a split second Tommy wanted to take it back, unsure of how Jason would react. But Jason only grinned warmly knowing he couldn't have summed up their relationship better.
As the began to walk in the direction of the Youth Center Jason put a strong hand on Tommy's shoulder and squeezed gently before letting his hand rest there. Tommy felt his soul warm and leave behind a heavy weight at the gesture Jason gave without thinking twice. Smiling at his best friend and his newfound place in the small town, Tommy knew for the first time in his life that he was no longer just a face in the crowd.
Author's Note (Again!): I have something In mind for a sequel that would be about Tommy's past that I alluded to in this story. If you want me to write it let me know! If you've got any suggestions I'd love to hear 'em cuz I've just got some sketchy ideas as of now.
