Disclaimer: Don't own 'em!
Author's Note: The mature thing to do would be ignore the rude review I received from someone who did not even have the gall to sign anonymous instead of a name. But I'm not that mature yet, seeing as I've only recently relinquised standing as a minor. (If you want to know about my 'legal' button just ask!) Why must negative, silly reviews always be so long and usually badly written? In the spirit of the so eloquent "THIS STORY SUCKS!" I'll respond with three words: Bite me, jerkoff! That said I'd like to thank my previous thankees and especially to everyone who has had something nice to say in their review!
Chapter 5
A Costly Mistake
Tommy sighed as he put down the book he had been trying to read and blankly stared at a picture of Jason, himself, Billy, and Zack taken just before Jason and Zack had left for Switzerland. Tommy knew he would have failed miserably as leader if Jason hadn't been there to give him advice the first few weeks. Tommy had, at first, been scared to death of making a mistake that would cost more than he was willing to pay. Jason was the only one who really understood what he was feeling. And after Jason left the phone calls and frequent letters gave Tommy both the confidence and the sometimes needed advice that helped him succeed as leader of the Power Rangers.
Now, Jason was the one who needed support, the one who needed a shoulder to lean on. Tommy was willing to give it without question. But Jason knew his best friend well enough to see Tommy was hurting and let Tommy know it was okay to let his strength down. Tommy would cry, and had since the diagnoses, in front of Jason and only Jason. Sometimes, without meaning to let their positions reverse, Tommy would find Jason was comforting him while Tommy cried over losing his best friend.
The first time it had happened, about a week after the diagnoses, Tommy felt a rush of shame and guilt. But Jason, who was even then beginning to show signs of being ill, had assured him it was alright. Jason had even felt guilty since he had told Tommy and no one else. That put Tommy in a bad position since he could talk to no one but Jason about what seeing Jason begin to waste away was doing to him.
Tommy sighed getting up and walking into Jason's room. It helped Tommy to just sit with him. Even if Jason couldn't know he was there. He lay sleeping now and for a second Tommy watched his chest rise and fall with each even breath. Dr. Johnson had given him the first dosage of the heavier pain medication and it had made Jason drowsy. The doctor had assured him that it was only because his body wasn't used to being on drugs of this caliber and that the drowsy effect would soon lessen if not disappear.
Taking a seat in the chair beside Jason's bed Tommy let his mind wander. He thought back to the times when Jason had come through for him in a jam. Destroying the Sword of Darkness which freed him from Rita's spell, accepting him into the group with open arms---both on the battle field and off, helping him when he was losing the Green Ranger powers, being there when he lost them completely no matter how hard Tommy tried to push him away, Jason leaving Switzerland to take the Gold Ranger Powers, helping him regain his memory when Gasket had erased it...There were so many moments like those. Tommy knew he owed a lot to Jason.
Tommy leaned back and ran a hand through his long hair. The best memories were a mix of Jason helping him when he was in trouble, vise versa and then the ones of all the good times whether Ranger or not. Picnics with the other original Rangers, all day hikes with Billy and Zack, working on school projects together, teaching karate classes together, camping trips with everyone, camping trips with just the two of them, starting up their Dojo, seeing it become a success...There were more good memories than Tommy could possibly count.
Tommy sighed, wishing Jason would wake up. Adam was coming over after his last class in about an hour so Tommy could get some sleep. But Tommy wanted to be there when Jason woke up, knowing how much Jason detested being on drugs, it was important for him to be there with his friend. And Tommy just wanted to talk with his best friend. Jason had made it clear and fears, sorrows, uncertainties---anything Tommy needed to talk about he could still talk about with him, even if it was about Jason's fragile and rapidly failing health. Tommy had taken Jason up on the offer several times, feeling guilty the first time but never after that.
Tommy gently took Jason's hand in his knowing that all too soon the time would come when he would have to say good bye forever. To Tommy's surprise Jason's eyes fluttered open slowly. But there was something in them that made Tommy worry about his friend.
"Hey, Jase." Tommy said softly feeling Jason squeeze his hand.
"...Tommy...something is ...wrong..." Jason mumbled trying to form the words properly.
Tommy froze hearing the distress in Jason's voice and tried to keep his voice low and soothing, "Can you tell me what's wrong?"
"...sick...hot...dizzy..." Jason moaned before closing his eyes again.
Tommy gently put his hand on Jason's forehead and was horrified to find it burning with a fever. He noticed the unhealthy flush of colour on Jason's cheeks as he groped for the phone and quickly dialled Dr. Johnson's cell number. Jason could hear Tommy talking and opened his eyes to see his friend speaking frantically into the phone but the words were fuzzy and he couldn't quite make them out. As Tommy hung up the phone he noticed Jason looking at him and hurried to reassure his friend.
"Dr. Johnson is coming right now, Jase. Everything is going to be okay." Tommy said as soothingly as he could manage while he was panicking inside.
Jason only moaned softly in response, drifting back into a feverish sleep. The next time he managed to lift his heavy eyelids he saw Dr. Johnson peering over him while Tommy stood anxiously to the side.
"...what...wrong..." Jason mumbled almost incoherently.
Tommy was at Jason's side almost at once now that Jason was awake. Dr. Johnson looked from Tommy to Jason quickly, knowing what he was about to say would hurt them both. He hadn't failed to notice the odd relationship between the two young men. It actually reminded him of the relationship he had with his twin brother and knowing how he would take this news made Dr. Johnson almost cringe.
"It seems that Jason has a bad reaction to the medication he is on. It's an allergic reaction which is very strange because he was on the same medication for a short time when he was eight after he was in a car crash with his parents." Dr. Johnson replied. "There's something in his bloodstream now that is reacting to the medication."
"What do we do?" Tommy asked softly already assuming what that something was. Rangering had effected them in many emotional ways it was probable it had changed them physically as well, even if only slightly.
Dr. Johnson sighed dreading the giving the answer, "There is nothing that can be done. It will take about twenty four hours before the medication works its way out of Jason's system. Until then he will be feverish and probably sick at some point. I'll have the lab at the hospital start testing a blood sample of Jason's we have with different kinds of medication until we find one he's compatible with. He's still going to need to be on medication after this one has gotten out of his system."
Tommy looked down at Jason seeing that he had drifted to sleep again, the roller coaster ride his body was going through made it almost impossible for him to stay awake for long. The fever induced flush on Jason's cheeks did not conceal the fact that he had turned paler in the last hour. Tommy realized that this would have a bigger effect than twenty four hours of Jason feeling ill.
"What does this do to Jason's condition?" Tommy asked swallowing the lump in his throat. Dr. Johnson's sad look only made Tommy's hopes fall further.
"I'm sorry to tell you this but it will make him considerably worse. Being ill like this in Jason's already weak condition is very serious. It will make him weaker and the fever will be able to reek havoc of what's left with his immune system. Because his body is already fragile the cancer will be able to spread more quickly. It will shorten the time he has left." Dr. Johnson saw the crushed look in the young man's eyes that he quickly shoved aside.
"To what?" Tommy managed.
"A week or so is the best to hope for. In the worst case scenario it could kill him," Dr. Johnson replied softly, hating his job at that moment.
The shock and dismay on Tommy's face couldn't be hidden no matter how hard Tommy tried. 'More than a month broken down into a week or less?' Tommy thought to himself. 'That's not enough time! There were still things Jason wanted to do! The other guys weren't going to come for another two weeks. Aisha was coming early just because it was the only plane she could get. We haven't even got in touch with Billy yet and have no idea how to. Jason parents...they said they needed some time to absorb everything. I don't even know where they are right now!'
"I need to make some phone calls." Tommy said in a hoarse whisper. "Is there anything else I should know?"
"There are a few things you need to be prepared for..." Dr Johnson began slowly knowing that this mistake would hurt both his patient and Jason's friends, especially Tommy.
Tommy had been sitting with Jason ever since Dr. Johnson left. He had called Adam and then Rocky who had both come over until Adam had had to leave for a class he was teaching. Now Rocky was in the living room making phone calls while Tommy sat with Jason, using a cold cloth to try and keep the fever down.
From time to time Jason would stir in his sleep and had woken up a few times. Tommy thought it was better if Jason slept through this. He was barely conscious when he was awake and in pain. His best friend looking so very helpless tore at Tommy's heart. It was all Tommy could do not to break down into tears as Jason shuddered softly even in sleep.
Jason shivered as he moved restlessly, rousing to a semi-conscious state. He wished the feeling that was beginning to form in the pit of his stomach would go away and let him drift back asleep but had a feeling it wasn't going to.
"Try to sleep, Jase." Tommy's soft, soothing voice filtered into Jason's consciousness. But Jason's eyes snapped open and he looked slightly more alert than he had during the few times he had awakened to semi-consciousness before.
"Tommy...going to...throw up..." Jason managed to mumble already feeling the bile rise up in his throat.
Tommy had known this would happen---Dr. Johnson had warned him about it. Jason was too weak and sick to sit up on his own, let alone get to the bathroom in time. All Tommy could do was guide Jason towards the large pot he had brought into the room, which he was now holding under Jason's mouth. Jason's body heaved violently as he began to retch into the pot.
Rocky, who had been calling everyone since he got there, came into the room to see what was wrong. He paled considerably when he saw what was happening. Hesitating for a moment, Rocky crept closer to help. He took the pot out of Tommy's hands, holding it for Jason so Tommy could offer Jason some comfort. Tommy managed to hold Jason's body close enough to stop the wild thrashing Jason had no control over. Tears streaked Jason's feverish cheeks, partly from the pain but mostly due to the shame this caused.
"Shh. It's alright, it's alright." Tommy began repeating trying to soothe Jason. Jason couldn't speak, he could barely gasp for air between gagging.
Slowly, after about ten minutes, the convulsions began to let up. Tommy stroked Jason's hair gently, trying to calm him after that experience. Jason felt more exhausted and sick than he ever had. His body still shuddering softly, Jason slipped back into a fitful sleep. But that wasn't a complete relief, his body shook with spasms even unconsciousness couldn't suppress. They weren't as bad now; he was no longer throwing up. That was something, wasn't it?
Rocky barely managed to set the pot down before racing from the room and throwing up in the bathroom himself. Tommy winced at the sound and managed to settle his own churning stomach for the time being. Tommy took the pot into the kitchen and washed it out before joining Rocky. It was a good thing Rocky had the sense to get out of the way because Tommy couldn't hold his flip flopping stomach any longer.
'If this feels bad just think of how Jason must feel', Rocky thought to himself as he looked away. Watching Jason vomit had been bad enough, Rocky didn't think he could take seeing anyone else throw up. Rocky only looked back at his former leader when he heard the toilet flush and the tap start running. Tommy had gone paler than usual under his tan. 'After seeing that I don't blame him!' Rocky thought knowing he probably didn't look too hot himself. His own knees were shaking and he felt a little faint. Growing up with seven siblings, Rocky had seen people being sick before but he had never thought he would see Jason, one of the strongest guys he knew, so powerless---so helpless and it filled him with a sense of dread and sadness.
"Are you okay?" Rocky asked weakly as Tommy splashed washed on his face.
"I don't think anyone could be okay after seeing that." Tommy confessed, drying his face slowly as he tried to gain some composure.
"Is that what the pain attacks are like?" Rocky asked quietly. Tommy hesitated for a second; he had only told Adam and Rocky that the pain attacks were bad---not how bad they were.
"Yes, only...only the two pain attacks he's had have been worse. He hasn't thrown up during one yet but he's in so much pain..." Tommy trailed off feeling tears come to his eyes. "I can't even touch him to comfort him during the attacks. It hurts him too much. I learned that during the first attack..."
Tommy choked back a sob but managed to keep tears from spilling over. Rocky placed a comforting hand on Tommy's shoulder, feeling guilty for bringing the obviously sensitive and painful subject up.
"I'm sorry, Tommy. I didn't mean to make you think of it...I...I'm so sorry." Rocky stammered out the apology hastily.
"It's okay. You didn't know. I never told you and Adam about the attacks. I probably should have but...I just didn't know what to say or how to explain it." Tommy replied softly. "And I don't want you to ever see one of those attacks. They are too horrible. I won't put anyone else through seeing them."
Rocky was secretly glad of that decision and looked at the man he had once called leader with even more respect than he would have thought possible before that experience, "Jason is lucky to have you as a friend. We all are." Rocky said finally.
Tommy smiled weakly at the person who had been Jason's successor at one point and looked carefully at him. Rocky had gone slightly pale because of what they had witnessed. "Are you going to be okay? I would understand if you wanted to leave for awhile."
"I'll be fine. Seeing Jason like that is just hard to deal with. I'm staying until Adam gets here, at least." Rocky replied leaving no room for even Tommy to argue.
"Alright," Tommy said as Tommy made his way back to sit with Jason and Rocky started towards the living room to make more phone calls.
Tommy watched his friend head down the hall for a split second before speaking again, "Hey Rocko."
"Yeah," Rocky replied looking at Tommy.
"Thanks." Tommy said managing another brave smile. Tommy went to sit with Jason again as Rocky picked up where he left off, phoning their friends, the former Rangers and letting them know the bad news.
Author's Note: The mature thing to do would be ignore the rude review I received from someone who did not even have the gall to sign anonymous instead of a name. But I'm not that mature yet, seeing as I've only recently relinquised standing as a minor. (If you want to know about my 'legal' button just ask!) Why must negative, silly reviews always be so long and usually badly written? In the spirit of the so eloquent "THIS STORY SUCKS!" I'll respond with three words: Bite me, jerkoff! That said I'd like to thank my previous thankees and especially to everyone who has had something nice to say in their review!
Chapter 5
A Costly Mistake
Tommy sighed as he put down the book he had been trying to read and blankly stared at a picture of Jason, himself, Billy, and Zack taken just before Jason and Zack had left for Switzerland. Tommy knew he would have failed miserably as leader if Jason hadn't been there to give him advice the first few weeks. Tommy had, at first, been scared to death of making a mistake that would cost more than he was willing to pay. Jason was the only one who really understood what he was feeling. And after Jason left the phone calls and frequent letters gave Tommy both the confidence and the sometimes needed advice that helped him succeed as leader of the Power Rangers.
Now, Jason was the one who needed support, the one who needed a shoulder to lean on. Tommy was willing to give it without question. But Jason knew his best friend well enough to see Tommy was hurting and let Tommy know it was okay to let his strength down. Tommy would cry, and had since the diagnoses, in front of Jason and only Jason. Sometimes, without meaning to let their positions reverse, Tommy would find Jason was comforting him while Tommy cried over losing his best friend.
The first time it had happened, about a week after the diagnoses, Tommy felt a rush of shame and guilt. But Jason, who was even then beginning to show signs of being ill, had assured him it was alright. Jason had even felt guilty since he had told Tommy and no one else. That put Tommy in a bad position since he could talk to no one but Jason about what seeing Jason begin to waste away was doing to him.
Tommy sighed getting up and walking into Jason's room. It helped Tommy to just sit with him. Even if Jason couldn't know he was there. He lay sleeping now and for a second Tommy watched his chest rise and fall with each even breath. Dr. Johnson had given him the first dosage of the heavier pain medication and it had made Jason drowsy. The doctor had assured him that it was only because his body wasn't used to being on drugs of this caliber and that the drowsy effect would soon lessen if not disappear.
Taking a seat in the chair beside Jason's bed Tommy let his mind wander. He thought back to the times when Jason had come through for him in a jam. Destroying the Sword of Darkness which freed him from Rita's spell, accepting him into the group with open arms---both on the battle field and off, helping him when he was losing the Green Ranger powers, being there when he lost them completely no matter how hard Tommy tried to push him away, Jason leaving Switzerland to take the Gold Ranger Powers, helping him regain his memory when Gasket had erased it...There were so many moments like those. Tommy knew he owed a lot to Jason.
Tommy leaned back and ran a hand through his long hair. The best memories were a mix of Jason helping him when he was in trouble, vise versa and then the ones of all the good times whether Ranger or not. Picnics with the other original Rangers, all day hikes with Billy and Zack, working on school projects together, teaching karate classes together, camping trips with everyone, camping trips with just the two of them, starting up their Dojo, seeing it become a success...There were more good memories than Tommy could possibly count.
Tommy sighed, wishing Jason would wake up. Adam was coming over after his last class in about an hour so Tommy could get some sleep. But Tommy wanted to be there when Jason woke up, knowing how much Jason detested being on drugs, it was important for him to be there with his friend. And Tommy just wanted to talk with his best friend. Jason had made it clear and fears, sorrows, uncertainties---anything Tommy needed to talk about he could still talk about with him, even if it was about Jason's fragile and rapidly failing health. Tommy had taken Jason up on the offer several times, feeling guilty the first time but never after that.
Tommy gently took Jason's hand in his knowing that all too soon the time would come when he would have to say good bye forever. To Tommy's surprise Jason's eyes fluttered open slowly. But there was something in them that made Tommy worry about his friend.
"Hey, Jase." Tommy said softly feeling Jason squeeze his hand.
"...Tommy...something is ...wrong..." Jason mumbled trying to form the words properly.
Tommy froze hearing the distress in Jason's voice and tried to keep his voice low and soothing, "Can you tell me what's wrong?"
"...sick...hot...dizzy..." Jason moaned before closing his eyes again.
Tommy gently put his hand on Jason's forehead and was horrified to find it burning with a fever. He noticed the unhealthy flush of colour on Jason's cheeks as he groped for the phone and quickly dialled Dr. Johnson's cell number. Jason could hear Tommy talking and opened his eyes to see his friend speaking frantically into the phone but the words were fuzzy and he couldn't quite make them out. As Tommy hung up the phone he noticed Jason looking at him and hurried to reassure his friend.
"Dr. Johnson is coming right now, Jase. Everything is going to be okay." Tommy said as soothingly as he could manage while he was panicking inside.
Jason only moaned softly in response, drifting back into a feverish sleep. The next time he managed to lift his heavy eyelids he saw Dr. Johnson peering over him while Tommy stood anxiously to the side.
"...what...wrong..." Jason mumbled almost incoherently.
Tommy was at Jason's side almost at once now that Jason was awake. Dr. Johnson looked from Tommy to Jason quickly, knowing what he was about to say would hurt them both. He hadn't failed to notice the odd relationship between the two young men. It actually reminded him of the relationship he had with his twin brother and knowing how he would take this news made Dr. Johnson almost cringe.
"It seems that Jason has a bad reaction to the medication he is on. It's an allergic reaction which is very strange because he was on the same medication for a short time when he was eight after he was in a car crash with his parents." Dr. Johnson replied. "There's something in his bloodstream now that is reacting to the medication."
"What do we do?" Tommy asked softly already assuming what that something was. Rangering had effected them in many emotional ways it was probable it had changed them physically as well, even if only slightly.
Dr. Johnson sighed dreading the giving the answer, "There is nothing that can be done. It will take about twenty four hours before the medication works its way out of Jason's system. Until then he will be feverish and probably sick at some point. I'll have the lab at the hospital start testing a blood sample of Jason's we have with different kinds of medication until we find one he's compatible with. He's still going to need to be on medication after this one has gotten out of his system."
Tommy looked down at Jason seeing that he had drifted to sleep again, the roller coaster ride his body was going through made it almost impossible for him to stay awake for long. The fever induced flush on Jason's cheeks did not conceal the fact that he had turned paler in the last hour. Tommy realized that this would have a bigger effect than twenty four hours of Jason feeling ill.
"What does this do to Jason's condition?" Tommy asked swallowing the lump in his throat. Dr. Johnson's sad look only made Tommy's hopes fall further.
"I'm sorry to tell you this but it will make him considerably worse. Being ill like this in Jason's already weak condition is very serious. It will make him weaker and the fever will be able to reek havoc of what's left with his immune system. Because his body is already fragile the cancer will be able to spread more quickly. It will shorten the time he has left." Dr. Johnson saw the crushed look in the young man's eyes that he quickly shoved aside.
"To what?" Tommy managed.
"A week or so is the best to hope for. In the worst case scenario it could kill him," Dr. Johnson replied softly, hating his job at that moment.
The shock and dismay on Tommy's face couldn't be hidden no matter how hard Tommy tried. 'More than a month broken down into a week or less?' Tommy thought to himself. 'That's not enough time! There were still things Jason wanted to do! The other guys weren't going to come for another two weeks. Aisha was coming early just because it was the only plane she could get. We haven't even got in touch with Billy yet and have no idea how to. Jason parents...they said they needed some time to absorb everything. I don't even know where they are right now!'
"I need to make some phone calls." Tommy said in a hoarse whisper. "Is there anything else I should know?"
"There are a few things you need to be prepared for..." Dr Johnson began slowly knowing that this mistake would hurt both his patient and Jason's friends, especially Tommy.
Tommy had been sitting with Jason ever since Dr. Johnson left. He had called Adam and then Rocky who had both come over until Adam had had to leave for a class he was teaching. Now Rocky was in the living room making phone calls while Tommy sat with Jason, using a cold cloth to try and keep the fever down.
From time to time Jason would stir in his sleep and had woken up a few times. Tommy thought it was better if Jason slept through this. He was barely conscious when he was awake and in pain. His best friend looking so very helpless tore at Tommy's heart. It was all Tommy could do not to break down into tears as Jason shuddered softly even in sleep.
Jason shivered as he moved restlessly, rousing to a semi-conscious state. He wished the feeling that was beginning to form in the pit of his stomach would go away and let him drift back asleep but had a feeling it wasn't going to.
"Try to sleep, Jase." Tommy's soft, soothing voice filtered into Jason's consciousness. But Jason's eyes snapped open and he looked slightly more alert than he had during the few times he had awakened to semi-consciousness before.
"Tommy...going to...throw up..." Jason managed to mumble already feeling the bile rise up in his throat.
Tommy had known this would happen---Dr. Johnson had warned him about it. Jason was too weak and sick to sit up on his own, let alone get to the bathroom in time. All Tommy could do was guide Jason towards the large pot he had brought into the room, which he was now holding under Jason's mouth. Jason's body heaved violently as he began to retch into the pot.
Rocky, who had been calling everyone since he got there, came into the room to see what was wrong. He paled considerably when he saw what was happening. Hesitating for a moment, Rocky crept closer to help. He took the pot out of Tommy's hands, holding it for Jason so Tommy could offer Jason some comfort. Tommy managed to hold Jason's body close enough to stop the wild thrashing Jason had no control over. Tears streaked Jason's feverish cheeks, partly from the pain but mostly due to the shame this caused.
"Shh. It's alright, it's alright." Tommy began repeating trying to soothe Jason. Jason couldn't speak, he could barely gasp for air between gagging.
Slowly, after about ten minutes, the convulsions began to let up. Tommy stroked Jason's hair gently, trying to calm him after that experience. Jason felt more exhausted and sick than he ever had. His body still shuddering softly, Jason slipped back into a fitful sleep. But that wasn't a complete relief, his body shook with spasms even unconsciousness couldn't suppress. They weren't as bad now; he was no longer throwing up. That was something, wasn't it?
Rocky barely managed to set the pot down before racing from the room and throwing up in the bathroom himself. Tommy winced at the sound and managed to settle his own churning stomach for the time being. Tommy took the pot into the kitchen and washed it out before joining Rocky. It was a good thing Rocky had the sense to get out of the way because Tommy couldn't hold his flip flopping stomach any longer.
'If this feels bad just think of how Jason must feel', Rocky thought to himself as he looked away. Watching Jason vomit had been bad enough, Rocky didn't think he could take seeing anyone else throw up. Rocky only looked back at his former leader when he heard the toilet flush and the tap start running. Tommy had gone paler than usual under his tan. 'After seeing that I don't blame him!' Rocky thought knowing he probably didn't look too hot himself. His own knees were shaking and he felt a little faint. Growing up with seven siblings, Rocky had seen people being sick before but he had never thought he would see Jason, one of the strongest guys he knew, so powerless---so helpless and it filled him with a sense of dread and sadness.
"Are you okay?" Rocky asked weakly as Tommy splashed washed on his face.
"I don't think anyone could be okay after seeing that." Tommy confessed, drying his face slowly as he tried to gain some composure.
"Is that what the pain attacks are like?" Rocky asked quietly. Tommy hesitated for a second; he had only told Adam and Rocky that the pain attacks were bad---not how bad they were.
"Yes, only...only the two pain attacks he's had have been worse. He hasn't thrown up during one yet but he's in so much pain..." Tommy trailed off feeling tears come to his eyes. "I can't even touch him to comfort him during the attacks. It hurts him too much. I learned that during the first attack..."
Tommy choked back a sob but managed to keep tears from spilling over. Rocky placed a comforting hand on Tommy's shoulder, feeling guilty for bringing the obviously sensitive and painful subject up.
"I'm sorry, Tommy. I didn't mean to make you think of it...I...I'm so sorry." Rocky stammered out the apology hastily.
"It's okay. You didn't know. I never told you and Adam about the attacks. I probably should have but...I just didn't know what to say or how to explain it." Tommy replied softly. "And I don't want you to ever see one of those attacks. They are too horrible. I won't put anyone else through seeing them."
Rocky was secretly glad of that decision and looked at the man he had once called leader with even more respect than he would have thought possible before that experience, "Jason is lucky to have you as a friend. We all are." Rocky said finally.
Tommy smiled weakly at the person who had been Jason's successor at one point and looked carefully at him. Rocky had gone slightly pale because of what they had witnessed. "Are you going to be okay? I would understand if you wanted to leave for awhile."
"I'll be fine. Seeing Jason like that is just hard to deal with. I'm staying until Adam gets here, at least." Rocky replied leaving no room for even Tommy to argue.
"Alright," Tommy said as Tommy made his way back to sit with Jason and Rocky started towards the living room to make more phone calls.
Tommy watched his friend head down the hall for a split second before speaking again, "Hey Rocko."
"Yeah," Rocky replied looking at Tommy.
"Thanks." Tommy said managing another brave smile. Tommy went to sit with Jason again as Rocky picked up where he left off, phoning their friends, the former Rangers and letting them know the bad news.
