Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Power Rangers (*sob!*)
Summary: Some of the Rangers have to face one of their worst fears when tragedy strikes a former teammate.
*** *
To Hell and Back -
Chapter Four: Enter Jason
* **
"What time does Jason's flight get here?" Aisha asked Tommy quietly.
The longhaired Ranger sighed. "Sometime later this morning." It was five in the morning, and all the Rangers, except for poor Billy, who had been completely distraught, had stayed over at the girls' apartment, barely sleeping.
Adam glanced up. "Someone will have to go pick him up. He can't arrive in AG after an urgent phone call and find no one waiting for him. He'll panic."
"If Kim were here, Adam, she'd snort and tell you that Jason never panics." Aisha managed a weak smile. "God, I wish she was here."
"Nevertheless," Adam continued, obviously hurting at that topic, "Someone does have to meet Jase."
Tommy shook his head. "I'm sorry. I can't do it. He'll want to know, and I just can't be the one to break the news to him. He's my best friend after all, and he was the closest of all of us to Kim. He loves her."
This didn't come as a surprise to any of the others, who could always see the sizzling chemistry between the two ex-Rangers. But none of them were able to even crack a smile; they were all too grieved.
"I can't believe she's gone." Kat murmured, looking at the floor. "I won't." she blinked back tears.
Aisha slid an arm around her. "I miss her." And she began to cry into Kat's shoulder.
Rocky looked at her with a pained expression in his eyes, and then he stood up. "I'm going to go home and have a shower. Then I'm going to the Command Centre to check on Billy. Of all of us in AG right now, he'll be taking it the hardest."
"Kim's mom's flight from Paris is getting here at noon." Adam added. "I could go pick her up if you want."
Rocky smiled wryly. "Anything to keep from telling Jase, Adam? Can't blame you, but Jase has a right to hear it."
Aisha continued to cry, and Kat stroked her hair, a rather lost expression in her eyes. Tommy cracked his knuckles, itching to punch the wall - anger was always his defence against pain. Adam bowed his head and shed a few silent tears for their lost friend and for the young man who would soon be walking into the shattering of his life.
Swallowing hard, Rocky watched them for a moment and then, shoulders hunched, deep in his own grief, he turned around and walked out slowly.
***
The flight from New York touched down in the runway at 9 a.m on Saturday morning, less than eight hours before the scheduled funeral. It took another twenty minutes before the plane came to a complete halt, and the passengers began to disembark in the beautiful little city of Angel Grove.
Twenty-two-year-old Jason Lee Scott was one of last ones off the plane. Carrying only one camping black-and-red backpack, anyone watching him would have gotten the impression of a handsome, strong young man with tired eyes.
He surveyed his surroundings as he walked slowly towards the exit. If anyone was here waiting for him, he assumed they'd be at the baggage claim. The only person he wanted to see right now though was Kimberly, but something inside screamed at him that she wasn't going to be there . . .
That was when he saw a flash of a red shirt.
Across the platform, Jason Scott's deep brown eyes locked with Rocky DeSantos'.
"Jase," Rocky greeted softly, using all his energy to give the original Red Ranger a genuine smile.
Jason returned the smile, his heart hammering. What had happened? Had Rocky been crying? "Hey, Rock," he received a quick hug from the Ranger. "How've you been?"
Rocky smirked. "I've been better. Come on; let's go."
Jason followed him silently to his Jeep and got into the passenger seat, tossing his backpack behind. Rocky started the engine and pulled out of the airport parking lot. They were cruising along the highway when Rocky asked: "You got a place to stay?"
"I've been thinking about moving back to Angel Grove," came Jason's surprising answer. "Until I get an apartment, though, I'll have to stay at Kim's or in a hotel." He deliberately mentioned Kimberly and watched Rocky closely. It felt like ice had flooded his stomach when a spasm of pain flickered across Rocky's features.
"Stay at my place." Rocky offered. "Believe me, you won't want to be in a hotel right now."
The former Ranger turned his head to look his friend in the eye. "Tell me why I was called here, Rock. Tell me what's going on."
Rocky sighed. "This isn't easy, Jase." He took a deep breath, and Jason noticed it was exhaled rather shakily. Rocky swallowed and said quietly: "It's Kim, Jase. She had an accident yesterday afternoon. The doctors tried everything, but she - she was gone before ten last night."
He looked at Jason out of the corner of his eye and felt his heart break as he saw the expression on the young man's face. It was worse than receiving a body blow. It was worse than anger. It was worse than pain. Worse than agony. It was worse than grief.
Rocky could have never described it in a million years. But tears stinging his eyes, he decided that the closest word that could come to it was death.
Jason's heart was shattering. His worst fear - his worst nightmare was coming true. Could fate really be so cruel that it stole the life from the woman he loved? No, it couldn't be -
"No." he choked out. "I can't lose her, Rock. Tell me it's not true."
"I'm sorry, Jase." Rocky's voice sounded oddly croaky. "Everyone's taking it really badly. Kat is in denial and Aisha's a wreck. Tommy's hiding his grief behind anger and Adam's trying to be strong for all of us. Zordon - Zordon would have cried today if he could, and Alpha didn't even say 'ayi ayi ayi ayi ayi'."
The former Ranger looked at Rocky with stricken eyes. "Have her parents been told?"
"We couldn't reach her dad, but her mom will be here by noon. Adam and Tommy said they'd pick her up."
"Trini, Zack?"
"Trini broke down over the phone, according to Aisha, and Zack had to fight to stay calm. Neither of them can make it back to AG now, and it's probably better for them anyway."
There was a pause, and then, his voice shaking, Jason asked: "And Billy?"
Rocky couldn't help but smile slightly. That was Jason all over - worried more about his teammates and friends than himself. Then he winced. "Billy can't understand. He's trying to hide behind his science, trying to figure out how Kim's life left her body so suddenly and unexpectedly. He's pretty broken up over it."
"She was like his little sister." Jason mumbled.
"She was everyone's favourite little sister." Rocky paused and then added sadly: "Even Tanya was upset when she heard. She barely knew Kim, but she knew enough. She can't make it back either, but otherwise I know she would have."
Jason shook his head. "This can't be happening. Everyone loved Kim. Why did it have to be her? She didn't deserve to die this way - so soon." His voice grew angry as he said: "Dammit, Rock, she'd just turned twenty-one."
"I know, Jase. I know." Rocky whispered.
Silence dominated the Jeep for a minute or two, while to Jason it felt like his entire world was crashing all around him. A voice kept screaming over and over again in his head:
-Why her? Why not me?!-
"Where do you want to go now?" Rocky asked gently, breaking the silence as they approached the inner town. "My place? Or the girls', where the others are? Or the Command Centre?"
Jason swallowed hard. "Your apartment, I think. If you don't mind, Rock, since you can teleport, I'll borrow your Jeep and go over to the Command Centre in a couple of hours."
Rocky nodded. "Sure. I'll take you if you want." He felt the horrible lump in his throat as he added: "You'll see the others at the funeral. This evening, five o' clock."
"Funeral . . ." Jason's voice sounded strangled. "God, Rocky, she can't be gone. My Kimmie - my angel . . ."
The driver of the Jeep forgot his own hurt as he saw the immense grief the other man was experiencing. He felt his own heart break wide open as Jason, original leader of the Power Rangers, bowed his head and wept.
***
It was almost one o' clock when Jason took Rocky's Jeep to the Command Centre. Tommy and Aisha had stopped by Rocky's earlier to see how Jason was doing, and they had strongly objected to his driving in his current condition.
As Kimberly had always known, it was futile to argue with Jason Lee Scott. When he had finally gotten control of himself and was able to suppress the ravaging pain within him, he got into the Jeep and headed over to the secret entrance that Zordon had created for ex-Rangers.
He headed to the live-in quarters of the Centre; sure that he would find Billy there.
"Anyone home?" he called softly as he stood in the open doorway of the small apartment.
There was no response. Sighing, Jason decided to go and see Zordon and Alpha. Just as he was turning around, however, he heard a familiar voice call softly.
"Jase?"
"Billy?" Jason looked around, and finally found Billy. He was sitting deep in the window seat, hidden from view from anyone standing at the door. Jason saw his shadow fall across the floor and walked slowly towards him.
The former Blue Ranger climbed to his feet and turned around to face a best friend he hadn't seen in months.
Billy's eyes were sad and weary, and his face was drawn. Jason guessed with the pang that the younger man must have been working in the lab all night, searching for some scientific explanation as to why Kim had left them so suddenly.
"You heard?" Billy asked quietly.
Jason was a few feet away from him. "I heard." He mumbled.
Neither of them knew what happened, but the next instant they hugged each other like brothers. Both clung tightly for a moment and then separated. Through his tears, Billy smiled at the man who had been his and Kimberly's protector for years.
"I'm glad you're back, Jase."
"Likewise." Jason cracked a smile. His eyes darkened as he added: "If only I had been in time, Billy. I couldn't protect her."
Billy shook his head. "Don't even think about blaming yourself, Jason. If Kim had any coherent thought at all before she - she was hit, she wouldn't have wasted it on blaming you."
Jason sighed. "Her funeral is today."
"Rocky says Katherine has agreed to sing." Billy told him. "Kat wanted to ask one of us whether we knew a song that Kim might have liked to be sung."
For a moment, Jason thought about this, and then slowly, a memory came back to him. "Yeah," he said softly, searing red-hot pain slicing through him. "I think I know just the song."
** TBC.
**
A/N: (*sniffle! Choke!*) Are you feeling for Jason, and for the others and Billy, too? Please R&R, I'd love to have feedback so I know what you guys want from me. Tell me what you think. 'Chapter Five: Let Them Grieve' will be up soon, and will be a little shorter. Catchya soon!
Summary: Some of the Rangers have to face one of their worst fears when tragedy strikes a former teammate.
*** *
To Hell and Back -
Chapter Four: Enter Jason
* **
"What time does Jason's flight get here?" Aisha asked Tommy quietly.
The longhaired Ranger sighed. "Sometime later this morning." It was five in the morning, and all the Rangers, except for poor Billy, who had been completely distraught, had stayed over at the girls' apartment, barely sleeping.
Adam glanced up. "Someone will have to go pick him up. He can't arrive in AG after an urgent phone call and find no one waiting for him. He'll panic."
"If Kim were here, Adam, she'd snort and tell you that Jason never panics." Aisha managed a weak smile. "God, I wish she was here."
"Nevertheless," Adam continued, obviously hurting at that topic, "Someone does have to meet Jase."
Tommy shook his head. "I'm sorry. I can't do it. He'll want to know, and I just can't be the one to break the news to him. He's my best friend after all, and he was the closest of all of us to Kim. He loves her."
This didn't come as a surprise to any of the others, who could always see the sizzling chemistry between the two ex-Rangers. But none of them were able to even crack a smile; they were all too grieved.
"I can't believe she's gone." Kat murmured, looking at the floor. "I won't." she blinked back tears.
Aisha slid an arm around her. "I miss her." And she began to cry into Kat's shoulder.
Rocky looked at her with a pained expression in his eyes, and then he stood up. "I'm going to go home and have a shower. Then I'm going to the Command Centre to check on Billy. Of all of us in AG right now, he'll be taking it the hardest."
"Kim's mom's flight from Paris is getting here at noon." Adam added. "I could go pick her up if you want."
Rocky smiled wryly. "Anything to keep from telling Jase, Adam? Can't blame you, but Jase has a right to hear it."
Aisha continued to cry, and Kat stroked her hair, a rather lost expression in her eyes. Tommy cracked his knuckles, itching to punch the wall - anger was always his defence against pain. Adam bowed his head and shed a few silent tears for their lost friend and for the young man who would soon be walking into the shattering of his life.
Swallowing hard, Rocky watched them for a moment and then, shoulders hunched, deep in his own grief, he turned around and walked out slowly.
***
The flight from New York touched down in the runway at 9 a.m on Saturday morning, less than eight hours before the scheduled funeral. It took another twenty minutes before the plane came to a complete halt, and the passengers began to disembark in the beautiful little city of Angel Grove.
Twenty-two-year-old Jason Lee Scott was one of last ones off the plane. Carrying only one camping black-and-red backpack, anyone watching him would have gotten the impression of a handsome, strong young man with tired eyes.
He surveyed his surroundings as he walked slowly towards the exit. If anyone was here waiting for him, he assumed they'd be at the baggage claim. The only person he wanted to see right now though was Kimberly, but something inside screamed at him that she wasn't going to be there . . .
That was when he saw a flash of a red shirt.
Across the platform, Jason Scott's deep brown eyes locked with Rocky DeSantos'.
"Jase," Rocky greeted softly, using all his energy to give the original Red Ranger a genuine smile.
Jason returned the smile, his heart hammering. What had happened? Had Rocky been crying? "Hey, Rock," he received a quick hug from the Ranger. "How've you been?"
Rocky smirked. "I've been better. Come on; let's go."
Jason followed him silently to his Jeep and got into the passenger seat, tossing his backpack behind. Rocky started the engine and pulled out of the airport parking lot. They were cruising along the highway when Rocky asked: "You got a place to stay?"
"I've been thinking about moving back to Angel Grove," came Jason's surprising answer. "Until I get an apartment, though, I'll have to stay at Kim's or in a hotel." He deliberately mentioned Kimberly and watched Rocky closely. It felt like ice had flooded his stomach when a spasm of pain flickered across Rocky's features.
"Stay at my place." Rocky offered. "Believe me, you won't want to be in a hotel right now."
The former Ranger turned his head to look his friend in the eye. "Tell me why I was called here, Rock. Tell me what's going on."
Rocky sighed. "This isn't easy, Jase." He took a deep breath, and Jason noticed it was exhaled rather shakily. Rocky swallowed and said quietly: "It's Kim, Jase. She had an accident yesterday afternoon. The doctors tried everything, but she - she was gone before ten last night."
He looked at Jason out of the corner of his eye and felt his heart break as he saw the expression on the young man's face. It was worse than receiving a body blow. It was worse than anger. It was worse than pain. Worse than agony. It was worse than grief.
Rocky could have never described it in a million years. But tears stinging his eyes, he decided that the closest word that could come to it was death.
Jason's heart was shattering. His worst fear - his worst nightmare was coming true. Could fate really be so cruel that it stole the life from the woman he loved? No, it couldn't be -
"No." he choked out. "I can't lose her, Rock. Tell me it's not true."
"I'm sorry, Jase." Rocky's voice sounded oddly croaky. "Everyone's taking it really badly. Kat is in denial and Aisha's a wreck. Tommy's hiding his grief behind anger and Adam's trying to be strong for all of us. Zordon - Zordon would have cried today if he could, and Alpha didn't even say 'ayi ayi ayi ayi ayi'."
The former Ranger looked at Rocky with stricken eyes. "Have her parents been told?"
"We couldn't reach her dad, but her mom will be here by noon. Adam and Tommy said they'd pick her up."
"Trini, Zack?"
"Trini broke down over the phone, according to Aisha, and Zack had to fight to stay calm. Neither of them can make it back to AG now, and it's probably better for them anyway."
There was a pause, and then, his voice shaking, Jason asked: "And Billy?"
Rocky couldn't help but smile slightly. That was Jason all over - worried more about his teammates and friends than himself. Then he winced. "Billy can't understand. He's trying to hide behind his science, trying to figure out how Kim's life left her body so suddenly and unexpectedly. He's pretty broken up over it."
"She was like his little sister." Jason mumbled.
"She was everyone's favourite little sister." Rocky paused and then added sadly: "Even Tanya was upset when she heard. She barely knew Kim, but she knew enough. She can't make it back either, but otherwise I know she would have."
Jason shook his head. "This can't be happening. Everyone loved Kim. Why did it have to be her? She didn't deserve to die this way - so soon." His voice grew angry as he said: "Dammit, Rock, she'd just turned twenty-one."
"I know, Jase. I know." Rocky whispered.
Silence dominated the Jeep for a minute or two, while to Jason it felt like his entire world was crashing all around him. A voice kept screaming over and over again in his head:
-Why her? Why not me?!-
"Where do you want to go now?" Rocky asked gently, breaking the silence as they approached the inner town. "My place? Or the girls', where the others are? Or the Command Centre?"
Jason swallowed hard. "Your apartment, I think. If you don't mind, Rock, since you can teleport, I'll borrow your Jeep and go over to the Command Centre in a couple of hours."
Rocky nodded. "Sure. I'll take you if you want." He felt the horrible lump in his throat as he added: "You'll see the others at the funeral. This evening, five o' clock."
"Funeral . . ." Jason's voice sounded strangled. "God, Rocky, she can't be gone. My Kimmie - my angel . . ."
The driver of the Jeep forgot his own hurt as he saw the immense grief the other man was experiencing. He felt his own heart break wide open as Jason, original leader of the Power Rangers, bowed his head and wept.
***
It was almost one o' clock when Jason took Rocky's Jeep to the Command Centre. Tommy and Aisha had stopped by Rocky's earlier to see how Jason was doing, and they had strongly objected to his driving in his current condition.
As Kimberly had always known, it was futile to argue with Jason Lee Scott. When he had finally gotten control of himself and was able to suppress the ravaging pain within him, he got into the Jeep and headed over to the secret entrance that Zordon had created for ex-Rangers.
He headed to the live-in quarters of the Centre; sure that he would find Billy there.
"Anyone home?" he called softly as he stood in the open doorway of the small apartment.
There was no response. Sighing, Jason decided to go and see Zordon and Alpha. Just as he was turning around, however, he heard a familiar voice call softly.
"Jase?"
"Billy?" Jason looked around, and finally found Billy. He was sitting deep in the window seat, hidden from view from anyone standing at the door. Jason saw his shadow fall across the floor and walked slowly towards him.
The former Blue Ranger climbed to his feet and turned around to face a best friend he hadn't seen in months.
Billy's eyes were sad and weary, and his face was drawn. Jason guessed with the pang that the younger man must have been working in the lab all night, searching for some scientific explanation as to why Kim had left them so suddenly.
"You heard?" Billy asked quietly.
Jason was a few feet away from him. "I heard." He mumbled.
Neither of them knew what happened, but the next instant they hugged each other like brothers. Both clung tightly for a moment and then separated. Through his tears, Billy smiled at the man who had been his and Kimberly's protector for years.
"I'm glad you're back, Jase."
"Likewise." Jason cracked a smile. His eyes darkened as he added: "If only I had been in time, Billy. I couldn't protect her."
Billy shook his head. "Don't even think about blaming yourself, Jason. If Kim had any coherent thought at all before she - she was hit, she wouldn't have wasted it on blaming you."
Jason sighed. "Her funeral is today."
"Rocky says Katherine has agreed to sing." Billy told him. "Kat wanted to ask one of us whether we knew a song that Kim might have liked to be sung."
For a moment, Jason thought about this, and then slowly, a memory came back to him. "Yeah," he said softly, searing red-hot pain slicing through him. "I think I know just the song."
** TBC.
**
A/N: (*sniffle! Choke!*) Are you feeling for Jason, and for the others and Billy, too? Please R&R, I'd love to have feedback so I know what you guys want from me. Tell me what you think. 'Chapter Five: Let Them Grieve' will be up soon, and will be a little shorter. Catchya soon!
