Disclaimer: I still don't own them and pending some weird occurance I never will!

Author's Note: I got my two reviews so I'm taking time off from studying stupid evil physics to post this. I'm just back from writing an essay and a short story in an hour and a half. (Don't ya' just love English?!) Next week I may be in a bad mood since we're getting our marks and I seriously doubt I'll be happy with my math mark. You can cheer me up by reviewing! :-)


Chapter 8
Moments Like This


After talking to Billy Jason had been exhausted but Dr. Johnson had come to give him a check up. Jason endured the brief explanations about the new pain medications well and had a few of his own questions about the new medications. Everyone was worried about him having another allergic reaction. After Dr. Johnson had reassured him, as well as Tommy and Billy, and had left, Jason had fallen asleep almost immediately. When he woke up Tommy was reading a book, having returned to his faithful post at Jason's bedside.

"How ya feeling, bro?" Tommy asked softly instantly realizing Jason was awake.

"Pretty good, all things considered." Jason replied in a slightly hoarse voice. The new drugs had kicked in when Jason had been sleeping and he was feeling better than he had before.

"I'm surprised I haven't gone stir crazy lying in this bed for most of these last few days but other than that, I'm feeling okay, better than I was before at least." Jason paused for a second before speaking again, "Where's Billy? Is he okay? He looked alright when I fell asleep."

"Billy went to let his dad know he was home and what's happening here. He's a little shook up but he's better than when he first found out." Tommy replied, knowing the fact that this hurt Billy and their other friends was hurting Jason worse than anything else.

Tommy tried to read the emotions that played across Jason's face. One of the stronger ones Tommy saw was a look of longing that he had learned to recognize well, "Since your feeling better why don't we go sit on the balcony. It's a perfect day out and you look like you could use the fresh air."

Jason smiled gratefully but sadness lined the grin, "As much as I would like that I don't think I have the strength to stand."

"You don't have to." Tommy told him as he wrapped Jason in a blanket to make sure he stayed warm. "I'll carry you."

For a second Tommy thought Jason was going to protest but the deep brown eyes softened and Jason only nodded slowly. Swathing the warm blanket around Jason's body Tommy gently picked up the now frail figure in his arms. It was disturbing to Tommy to feel how light Jason was now. Less than a year ago Jason muscle mass would have been larger than Tommy's but that seemed like a long time ago nowadays.

"You okay?" Tommy asked feeling how tense Jason's body was.

"I just hate the fact you have to carry me." Jason replied softly. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate this more than I could tell you but..."

"S'okay, Jase. I understand." Tommy said. "I know what you mean, I wish there was something else I could do."

"Tommy, you've done more than me anyone has, ever." Jason murmured relaxing his body as much as he could for his friend's sake. The ever present pain, even when masked by medication, would not let Jason fully relax even when he was safe in the arms of his best friend.

Tommy carried Jason outside onto his balcony. For a second Tommy hesitated, wondering whether to put Jason onto his own chair or keep Jason with him. Tommy knew that, though Jason wouldn't say anything, not letting him sit on his own would be a low blow to Jason's pride. Tommy settled Jason onto the reclining lawn chair before sitting in the lawn chair beside him.

"This is going to be the last time I'm outside." Jason said softly taking as deep a breath of the fresh air as he could manage.

"Jase..." Tommy began hating to think that this would be the last time they would have a time like this to talk, to just sit together without anything there to disturb them.

"Tommy, we both know I'm not going to last much longer. I probably shouldn't even be outside at this point." Jason sighed softly.

"I know, Jase, I know." Tommy said softly looking out at the park spread out below them.

How long had it been since they had been able to walk through those paths together, joking and laughing, without a worry in the world? It seemed, at times, that is had been years and years ago but at other times that it had only been days. When Tommy was holding Jason's hand as he rode out another pain attack it seemed like years since Jason had been well. But at moments like this found it hard to think anything was wrong. Though Jason's body was failing him quickly his spirit still soared. It was an inner strength Tommy couldn't have imagined
having.

Jason saw Tommy begin to get lost in his own thoughts, "Talk to me, bro." Jason said looking intently at his friend.

"Do you remember that time we went camping up in the mountains near the Command Centre?" Tommy asked still looking out to a place beyond the park.

"Yeah, the week end before I left for the Peace Conference. God, that seems like such a long time ago." Jason replied.

"I was so scared when you left. I thought I was going to fail miserably as leader, I was terrified of doing things without you around to push me in the right direction." Tommy remarked.

Jason chuckled a little, "I know, you told me then and during a few phone conversations during the first weeks I was gone."

"I think I upped my parents phone bill about a hundred dollars a month while you were gone," Tommy added, smiling a little.

"Most of the time you forgot about the time change, too. I was half asleep most of the times you called me worried about something or other." Jason added now grinning widely.

"And there was that one time I ah...interrupted you and Cleo I think her name was." Tommy chimed in.

"Oh, I could have killed you for that. Do you know how hard it is to explain to a girl that you have to talk to your best friend, right now, when the two of you are preoccupied?" Jason laughed at the thought, "She was so mad at me afterward and I couldn't exactly tell her that the leader of the Power Rangers was having a crisis. She kept going on about me choosing my friends over her until I told her straight out I would always choose my friends over my girlfriend."

"I'm sure that went over well." Tommy commented sarcastically.

"Actually, it went over better than I had expected it to. Something about it being sweet I cared for my friends that much. She was kind of pissed off when I disappeared for a day too. Once again, telling her I teleported home wasn't really an option." Jason remarked, lightly recalling the day when Kim had sent the 'letter' to Tommy.

"How did you get Zordon convinced to let you teleport anyway?" Tommy asked.

How Jason had gotten Zordon to let him teleport from Switzerland after Kim dumped him had always been a mystery to him. Jason had suddenly appeared beside Tommy when Tommy had been sitting near the lake, feeling as though his world had come apart at the seams. Tommy had been stunned to see his friend and Jason had spent the better part of the day comforting his heartbroken best friend. Jason had spent the night on Tommy's bedroom floor, almost getting seen by Tommy's mom. But Tommy had needed him and Jason had been there. He had teleported back to Switzerland in the morning where Trini and Zack had been covering for him by saying he had a twenty-four hour bug.

"Well, Adam called me and told me what had happened, you knew that," Jason replied. "I still had my communicator so I contacted Zordon and told him I was your best friend. I knew where you'd go and what to expect you to be like when I got there so he let me teleport here. Before he could tell me it was a misuse of the powers I told him that I had to be there for you. I just had to. He didn't argue after I said that."

"You really helped me get a grip on things that day." Tommy mentioned. "You've been helping me get a grip on things ever since we first met."

"Nah. I just gave you a push in the right direction a few times." Jason replied in all honesty. "You did most of the work yourself. I was just there to support you, as your friend."

"Best friend." Tommy corrected softly.

"Brother." Jason replied, looking at Tommy and meeting his gaze. "We're brothers in every way except biologically. We have been since that day on the beach."

"I know." Tommy whispered feeling tears come to his eyes. "God, what am I going to do without you around?"

"Be late more often." Jason remarked dryly. It was well known among their friends that Jason would often phone and remind Tommy about ten minutes before something so he wouldn't be late. Tommy laughed, glad for Jason's attempt to lighten the mood but the look on Jason's face told Tommy that Jason was going to bring up something serious.

"Do you remember what I asked you to do that weekend?" Jason asked softly.

"We promised each other a lot that weekend, Jase." Tommy reminded his best friend. It saddened Tommy to know most of those promises would go unfulfilled now.

"Yeah, we did." Jason echoed sadly. "I asked you to look after Billy for me. He doesn't need it anymore, not really, but I'm still worried about him. I can't help it."

"He told me, Jase. About what he tried to do when he was ten." Tommy admitted. Jason looked at Tommy for a second trying to gauge his reaction on that event. It was hard for Jason to image the scared, little boy Billy had once been in the incredible young man he knew now.

"Good, someone had to know for when I'm gone." Jason said letting a sigh he hadn't known he had been holding escape. "You know why I'm worried than. Billy...I don't think he'd ever do something like that now but when something upsets him he kind of withdraws from everything and everyone and tries to work it out on his own. It's not the best thing for him to do and I don't want him cutting himself off from you guys."

"I won't let him do that, Jase. I know what Billy is like, I won't let him isolate himself like he did when he gave up his powers." Tommy promised.

"Thanks, if something happened to him I would never be able to forgive myself." Jason confessed. "He really doesn't need to be protected, not like he used to, and he'd probably kill me for suggesting he did, but I can't help worrying about him. He always retained the little brother image to me."

"I know what you mean." Tommy replied smiling faintly. "It's like Adam. I was always worried about him going into battle and he's almost as good a fighter as I am. I know for a fact Adam can take care of himself but at first he struggled at little and it just makes him seem more..."

"Vulnerable." Jason filled in for him. "I'd never doubt Billy, or Adam for that matter, but I still worry. Left over leader instincts or something like that."

Tommy smiled in agreement, "I'll look after Billy, and the others, for you. I know you've always had a big brother role with them."

"Thank you." Jason said softly. Hesitating for a second, Jason continued his voice slightly rough with emotion. "Tommy, about the other promises we made..."

"Yeah?" Tommy prompted looking into Jason's midnight eyes.

"I had planned to fulfill them." Jason whispered holding Tommy's gaze. "I wish I could fulfill them. I'm so sorry I won't be able to."

"I wish you could too but we don't really have any control over this." Tommy said with a soft sigh. "I always thought you'd be my Best Man."

"I wanted you to be mine." Jason remarked softly. "I don't get that chance anymore. I didn't necessarily want a family now but someday I did. I wanted three kids and a wife I loved and even the damn dog in the yard..."

Tommy moved his chair closer and put his arm around Jason's shoulders gently. He had known Jason, like himself, had planned on having a family. Hell, they had, at one point, planned on being next door neighbours and teaching their kids karate together. The fact that they were cheated out of having that chance hurt, a lot, even if they had only planned it in youthful faith and idealism. Tommy could see the look of disappointment and sadness on Jason's face. Jason
accepted the offered embrace without hesitation, not crying but letting Tommy share a little of his pain.

"You would have made a good husband for someone one day, Jase, and a good father, but I think the dog would probably have been terrified of you." Tommy remarked softly.

Jason laughed softly at that, which had been Tommy's sole purpose of the dog comment, "It would have been if it ever peed on the rug."

Tommy chuckled as he pictured Jason yelling at a large mutt of a dog but sobered quickly when the fact that that scene could never play out crept into his thoughts. By the bittersweet expression on Jason's face they were thinking the same thing. Tommy gently tightened his arms around Jason, wishing he could take away more of the pain. Jason smiled sadly at him.

"God, am I going to miss this. All of this." Jason whispered. "I wish we had this 'Ranger Reunion' for a different reason. Last time we were all together must have been the opening of our Dojo."

"Yeah, that was fun, wasn't it?" Tommy grinned fondly at the memory of Jason, Rocky. Adam and himself cutting the ribbon to their brand new Dojo with all of their friends, minus Billy, gathered around, "It will never be the same again. It can't be any more. We'll always be one member short."

Jason didn't reply but moved closer to Tommy trying to ignore the quick flash of pain that blinded him for a split second. The medication he was on now had all but stopped the pain attacks. Occasional flashes of pain like the one he had just had usually signalled the beginning of what would have been a pain attack had the medication not masked the pain like it did. Tommy did not miss the flinch Jason's body gave in reaction to the sudden pain.

"Jase?" Tommy asked, worry creeping into his voice. Dr. Johnson had said the pain attacks would lessen considerably with the medication dosage Jason was now on but Tommy couldn't believe that until he saw it.

"I'm okay." Jason managed softly, grimacing from the pain. "It's not too bad but it still hurts. It's not nearly as bad as before."

"Are you sure?" Tommy asked gently trying to correctly read how deep the pain in Jason's dark eyes. Jason nodded slowly. Tommy hated to do it but he knew he should take Jason back inside the apartment. "I think I'd better get you inside. I don't want anything more to
happen to you."

"I know, Tommy, it's okay. Just give me another second. I want to remember this." Jason replied softly.

Tommy nodded not wanting to speak lest his voice break on him. It was all he could do not to break into tears as he watched Jason take in everything that could be seen from the small balcony. Any site, smell, or sound that was in range was enough for Jason. Tommy only wished he could have given Jason more moments like this, enough moments to make up for the lifetime he was missing. Taking one last look at the park where they had spent countless hours of their adolescence Jason hesitated for half a second and looked up at Tommy.

"Thank you for this." Jason said ever so softly.

"It was as much for me as it was for you." Tommy whispered as he gathered Jason into his arms and carried the light body back into their home.

Tommy sat on the edge of Jason's bed and suddenly found that he didn't want to let go of Jason. It comforted him to have Jason in his arms. It was almost as if by holding his friend like this Tommy could absorb a little more of his pain and offer a little more comfort to Jason. No matter how much he did Tommy never felt he was doing enough for Jason. Tommy couldn't save his best friend, it made him feel as though he wasn't doing every that could be done.

"Stay with me, please?" Jason requested softly, bringing Tommy out of his thought.

Tommy was surprised, Jason never asked him to stay. Tommy always did but Jason had never before actually asked him to, "Of course, Jase. I wasn't going to leave you anyway."

"I mean, don't let go of me." Jason whispered, snuggling his head closer to Tommy's chest. "It makes me feel...safer to have you here with me."

"Okay, Jase." Tommy felt tears welling in his eyes as he held Jason closer to him. For a few seconds Jason kept silent. Tommy could feel his friend's muscles spasm as Jason's whole body tensed up.

Sensing Tommy's worry, Jason said softly, "It's better than before, Tommy. Much better. I'll be alright."

"I just wish you didn't have to be in any pain at all." Tommy replied quietly. "I wish I could spare you that."

"Don't start, you know there is nothing more you can do for me." Jason whispered, closing his eyes as a wave of pain passed over him.

"Still..." Tommy began.

"Don't Tommy. This is just one of those things that are out of our control. All of what is happening to me is." Jason said in a hoarser voice than he normally possessed.

"I know." Tommy answered knowing he would never convince Jason of anything else. Seeing that topic was closed, for good, Tommy brought up another subject, hoping to keep Jason's mind off his clenching muscles. "Zack and Tanya arrive today. Trini, Kim and Aisha will be here tomorrow."

"I can't wait to see them all." Jason smiled faintly, gracefully letting the topic change without hesitation. "What are you going to say to Kim, by the way?"

Tommy didn't answer for a few seconds, "I don't know."

"You can't avoid her forever Tommy. I know you still care about her." Jason opened his eyes to make Tommy met his gaze. A blind man could have seen the fondness in Tommy's eyes at the mention of the petite gymnast.

"What can I do?" Tommy sighed. "She left me for some other guy, that's all there is too it. Happens all the time."

Jason hesitated for half a second before speaking, "You're wrong Tommy, that's not all there is to it."

"What do you mean?" Tommy asked softly glancing at his friend who had once again closed his eyes.

"The only reason I know is Kim called me, sobbing over the phone after she sent you that letter. And the reason I didn't tell you is because Kim made me promise I wouldn't." Jason replied somewhat awkwardly.

"Your word has always been your bond. You'd never break a promise if you could help it." Tommy murmured letting Jason know there were no hard feelings for not telling him.

"I'm only telling you now because Kim said I could when I asked her a few days ago, when she called to confirm her flight." Jason added. "There were things about the 'other guy' that aren't as simple as you think. I'm not even sure you want to hear them..."

"Tell me, Jase. Please." Tommy said softly.

"...But I'm going to tell you anyway because you need to know." Jason finished taking a moment to compose himself as he felt his muscles clench up violently again. "There was no other guy or not in the sense you think."

"Kim had a guy friend there, but it was no more than that. His name was Kyle and he was a gymnast as well. They had practice at the same time and sometimes they would go out with a group of the other gymnasts after practice. Everyone knew Kim was dating you, whenever she called me at the Peace Conference I could hear her roommate asking if she was talking to, 'her Tommy.' It drove me nuts." Tommy smiled at those words despite himself.

"On one of those phone calls, Kim told me Kyle had recently asked her out, a few times. She refused, reminding him that she had a boyfriend and that she was training too hard to go out anywhere anyway. Kyle kept asking though and got pushier about it. Finally Kim threatened to report him to Coach Schmidt for harassment." Jason continued. "Kim was practising like crazy by this time and spending all hours in the gym, sometimes without one of the trainers supervision. She always had a spotter but there wasn't always an instructor there."

"That's what got her into trouble. Her roommate was supposed to spot her but something came up and she couldn't. Not knowing about Kyle's aggressiveness she asked him to take her place as Kim's spotter. When he showed up Kim decided to skip the extra practice for the day because she didn't feel comfortable around him. Kyle had other ideas though." Jason grimaced slightly and this time it was only partly because of the pain in his body.

"I swear, if he laid a hand on her I'll kill him." Tommy said in a low dangerous tone.

"That's what I said when she called me." Jason commented. "Kyle tried to...force he into doing something she didn't want to do. Kim told him to get lost and he slapped her, hard. I talked to her roommate; she had a bruise for a couple of days afterwards. After he slapped her Kim tried to get away but Kyle grabbed her and pushed her up against the gym wall. Kim screamed and two trainers who were passing by rushed in to see what was going on. They came in just as Kyle was trying to kiss Kim."

"I'm going to kill that bastard." Tommy said trying to stay calm for Jason's sake. Tommy could tell his friend was straining his strength to finish telling him what happened.

"Kim wouldn't let someone just do that to her though. She flipped him and in doing so broke his arm." Jason told Tommy. "One trainer hauled Kyle away while the other tried to calm Kim down. It was hell for her, Tommy. She was crying so hard when she called me."

"Why didn't she tell me?" Tommy asked trying to hide his own hurt at the fact Kim, his girlfriend at the time, hadn't called him.

"She wanted to. I wanted to tell you, as well. But there was a bit of a controversy surrounding what happened. The faculty and Coach Schmidt knew Kim was the victim but the centre didn't want to release the information to the public or the other gymnasts. Before he left
Kyle spread some nasty rumours about Kim and some of the other students turned on her. After awhile she felt she had done something wrong. She broke up with you because she felt ashamed of herself, Tommy. She didn't want you to know what actually happened. Trini and I were the only ones who knew and we did everything to convince her it wasn't her fault but..." Jason trailed off.

"I wish I could have been there for her." Tommy whispered.

Jason muscles clenched up more violently than before and he whimpered softly as the worst part came. Tommy pushed all thoughts of his former love out of his mind, for now, and turned his attention to his best friend, who needed him. Hugging Jason as close to him as he dared, Tommy let Jason cling to him for the few minutes it took until the small attack passed. It passed quicker than Tommy expected it to, which relieved Tommy to no end. But it also exhausted Jason who had already pushed his reserves and overtaxed himself with the day's
events.

"Get some rest, Jase. I'll be right here when you wake up." Tommy murmured. "You need to rest."

Jason looked up at him before resting his head on Tommy's chest and closing his eyes. Within a few minutes Jason's breathing had evened out in sleep. Tommy thought for a moment about laying Jason properly on the bed but didn't want to disturb his peaceful sleep. Stroking Jason's hair gently, Tommy held Jason as he slept, letting his friend rally what little strength he had left.