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AN: Thanks for all the reviews! Here's chapter 10, we hope you like it! Enjoy and please review!
Quiet Evil
Chapter 10
By Andrea McPherren
Lilacmoon@hotmail.com
Billy woke up the next morning wrapped around a sleeping Kim. But something was different about this morning. He felt a slight twinge in his neck, where the initial snakebite had been. He no longer felt himself being influenced by the evil venom.
'Am I back to normal? And if I am, can I turn Kim back as well?' Billy thought to himself. He slipped his pants on and went to run some tests. He hoped that Kim would sleep a little longer.
~*~*~*
Trini had thought about what Jason had said. It was time for her to get over Billy. Even if they could bring Billy and Kim back, Billy loved Kim. And it would hurt if she had to hate her best friend. Trini had stayed at the command center that night, and soon heard the others' arrival by teleportation.
"Good morning Trini. Listen, I'm sorry about being so harsh with you last night. I just refuse to believe that Billy and Kim are beyond help," Jason said.
"I know Jase, and I'm the one that should be sorry. I should have more faith in our friends," Trini said. Jason smiled.
"That's my Tri," Jason said, as they joined hands and went to see the others.
~*~*~*
Billy finished the scans and they had confirmed his theory.
"My God, what have I done? I almost killed my friends. But I do know that I love Kim. That was something never influenced by evil. But how could I expect the rangers to ever forgive us? Or even trust us?" Billy wondered aloud. He ran his fingers through his hair and glanced at the readout. The EMP pulse had reversed the effects of the venom. It acted like an antidote and cured him of the evil. The good news was that Kim wouldn't have to go through something so painful to be cured. She could be cleansed of the evil the same way she was made evil. He smiled at that. He definitely had no problems with what he would have to do to make her good again.
But after that, where would they go from there? What if the rangers refused to have anything to with them? The powers were permanently linked to them, so he supposed that they would help fight evil. Even if the others refused their help. He only hoped that their friends could find the means to forgive them.
"What are you doing up so early?" Kim asked, as she sauntered in, dressed in barely anything.
"Just running some scans and making sure that I'm okay," Billy replied, knowing that it wasn't really a lie.
"Come back to bed," Kim almost ordered. Billy smiled and followed her into the bedroom.
He wrapped himself around her and nibbled at the juncture of her neck and shoulder, silently thanking whatever deity allowed them to fall in love and for the pleasurable way in which he was going to bring her back to the light. Billy was very gentle and loving with making every kiss and nibble count in making her good again. He looked deep into her eyes while making love to her, smiling as he saw the subtle change in her eyes. Once they had come down from their sexual high, Kim opened her eyes and found Billy staring at her intently. She shook her head minutely as if to clear it. And then her eyes went wide as she realized what they had been doing to their friends and how close they had come to destroying their hometown, family, and teammates. Billy looked at her as the emotions played themselves out over her features. She looked down as the reality hit her that they had screwed up royally in every sense of the word.
"What the hell have we done Billy? They will never forgive us now, and Tommy has lost his mind literally." Kim sniffed as a tear tracked down her face. Billy reached over and wiped it away.
"I know baby, but we have to offer to make amends at least. Hopefully Tommy can be saved; and if not then we will have to learn to live with what we had become. If nothing else, I should thank Tommy for using that EM pulse on me, despite the fact it nearly killed me," He rolled over on his back and stared up at the ceiling. He closed his eyes and sighed, trying to stave off the tears that were threatening to fall. He hated to let anyone see him cry, but after all they had done who could blame him for bawling like a kid? He finally sat up and held his hand out to Kim.
"C'mon, let's get cleaned up and face the music. The powers are bound to us for all time so no matter what we will wield it. Now we have to decide what side we stand on. Let's just hope the others can forgive us and let us back on the team," Kim nodded and joined him for a shower. They got dressed and headed to Billy's house to call the others and hope for the best.
~*~*~*
As Billy dialed Adam's number, Kim sat next to him, clutching his arm.
"Hello," Adam answered.
"Adam, it's me, Billy. Please don't hang up, hear me out," Billy said. Adam noticed that Billy's voice sounded normal and not menacing in the least bit.
"All right," Adam replied.
"Adam, I really don't want to explain the details over the phone, but something has happened. When Tommy hit me with the EM pulse, it reversed the effects of the venom. I'm back to normal," Billy said.
The first thing that Adam thought was that it was Billy and Kim setting a trap. But what if it wasn't? Could he take that chance?
"What about Kim?" Adam asked.
"I was able to turn her good again the same way I turned her evil," Billy said, purposely omitting the details on that.
"How do I know this isn't a trap?" Adam asked.
"Can we meet at the youth center. It's in public, and you'll see that we're back to normal. But if you and the others choose to have nothing to do with us, we'll understand. We've done some horrible things that we're sorry for, but we'll have to deal with them," Billy said, ready to hang up the phone in defeat.
"I'll get the guys, and we'll meet you in an hour at Ernie's," Adam said.
"Thank you Adam, and for what it's worth, I'm sorry," Billy replied, as he hung up the receiver.
"That went better than I thought," Billy said, as he looked at Kim. He saw her struggling to hold back the unspilled tears. He pulled her into his arms and she broke down crying into his chest. Billy rocked her and kissed the top of her head.
Kim eventually dried her tears and she and Billy left for the youth center. As the two lovers prepared to go in, Kim held back.
"I don't know if I can do this Billy," Kim said. Billy hugged her to him.
"No matter what happens, we'll be together and I'll protect you," Billy said, as he gave her a quick peck on the lips. They joined hands and entered the youth center.
Billy and Kim entered the youth center to find their friends waiting for them. They went up to them, expecting the worst. Billy went to Jason, and looked him in the eye as he spoke. Billy flinched as he saw the pain and hurt in Jason's eyes at their transgressions. He steeled himself under his leaders gaze and started to speak, willing himself not to crumble under the intense glare coming from Jason.
"Jason, Adam, Rocky, Aisha, Trini, and Zack we owe you all a huge apology first and foremost for our behavior over the last few weeks. I should have spoken up when I was bitten. But we are now back to normal, we have come to ask your forgiveness. Kim and I realize you may not be able to open your hearts to us again and we are prepared to accept it, no matter how badly it will wound us. I..I'm sorry for all I have done and attempted to do to you all. Please forgive me...us," Billy finally looked down, unable to stand the fury in Jason's expression. He knew that it would be hard for them to accept that they were back to themselves, and he really didn't think that they would ever be friends again, but to see the raw anger and hurt on Jason's face had unhinged him in a way he couldn't articulate. While he awaited their censure Kim spoke up.
"Guys, I really can't add more to what Billy has said but know that I regret what we have done to you. Yes, I was made evil by Billy and the venom we were exposed to brought out the worst in both of us, but please be able to see past that and see that deep down we are still the people you cared about as your friends before all this happened. I really don't expect forgiveness or even our friendship to be there again, but I, we figured it was the least we could do and hope for the best. I ask you to forgive me..us for what we have done as well," Kim stepped back, trying to not cry in front of them despite wanting to run out and never look back. Jason went to Billy and roughly pulled his face up to meet his gaze.
"William Cranston, I once considered you my best friend and brother. Now it hurts me to look at you or even think of you. DO you honestly expect to waltz back in here and apologize and then things will go back to normal? How do we even know it's not some trick to get us out in the open for one last battle royale?" Jason accused. Billy closed his eyes, and tried to pull back from Jason's grip. He finally opened them and let Jason see the unshed tears in his eyes, hoping that Jason could get past his anger at them and see his sincerity.
"That's why Jason...I am sorry for what I've done, sorry for destroying our friendship. Please just let me leave and be alone now. I see that you will not forgive me and I'll have to deal with that and hope that one day you will see that I am being as honest and open with you as I have ever been," Jason let's go of Billy and stepped back. He looked back to the others who are a little shocked at his display of anger. Adam came to Billy and Kim, speaking quietly with them.
"Guys, I believe you. Here probably isn't the best place to discuss it. Call me later, and we can talk ok?" Billy merely nodded, and Kim gave him a brief hard hug. Rocky is glaring at Jason, wondering why he is being so hard on two people who he considered family.
"Jason, why won't you see that he is being honest with us? You damn near tore his face off...is it because of Tommy?" Rocky questioned. Jason let his gaze fall on Rocky for a second, something dark and menacing playing in his eyes.
"Don't go there Rocky, not at all. You want them back fine, it's going to take me some time to think about it. You know where to find me once a decision has been made," With that Jason left the youth center and went home, steaming about the fact that they more than likely had lost Tommy since he went over willingly. Jason really missed his bro', like a part of his soul was missing now that Tommy was gone from the team. He entered the house to find it empty of his family, and a note on the kitchen table. He stopped short when he recognized the small neat script.
"Tommy?..." was all Jason whispered as he picked up the note.... Meanwhile in the youth center the others were standing around in awkward silence until Billy and Kim decided to leave while they still could. Billy was still stunned by Jason's words and hurt. He let Kim do all the talking until they left. As he walked aimlessly with Kim leading him home all he could think about was the rage Jason had let loose on him. Once they were at his place he opened the door, laid on the couch and curled up vacantly staring at the television. Kim stayed and let him rest his head in her lap, sensing he needed comfortable silence and reassurance from her. They dozed off like that, leaving Mr. Cranston to come in and find them knocked out on the couch. He smiled and went to cover up Billy, but Billy opened his eyes as his father came near. He gently disentangled himself and stretched Kim out in a more comfortable position and walked with his father to the den.
"Hi dad, sorry we fell asleep like that. We were both really tired," Billy sat at the table as Hank starts to make some tea for them, as is their evening ritual. He notices the look in his son's eyes, like he lost his best friend.
"Son, what's wrong? Something happened to you today. I can tell by the way you look," Billy swiped at his face, taking the mug of tea silently wondering how to tell his father without giving him the whole story.
"Well, dad...Jason and I fell out today. Mostly because of this whole thing with Tommy and Kim. Things had been different since he's been back anyway. Like we both changed, and not for the good of our friendship. It hurt me to lose him as a friend dad, I mean I've been crying in front of Kim...that's how much I'm hurt by it," Billy said. Hank pulled his son into a hug, knowing words wouldn't be sufficient to soothe his son's heart and that they would only get in the way. He held him close, wishing he could take some of Billy's pain away.
~*~*~*
The purification ritual that Dulcea had performed on Tommy had been unsuccessful. Dulcea refused to free the evil Tommy, for she knew he would only cause pain on Earth. She had found that something had counteracted the venom in Billy and Kimberly and was glad that they had been brought back to the light.
Suddenly, a dark shadow engulfed the planet Phaedos.
"By the powers of the sacred animals..." Dulcea uttered, as she stared up at the skull shaped space cruiser. Tommy disappeared into the ship and the ship left Phaedos as quickly as it came.
"Where the hell am I?!" Tommy called.
"No need to be hostile dear boy," a villain chuckled.
"Who the hell are you?" Tommy asked.
"He's my pops! And he wants the same thing you want Tommy boy!" Rito said.
"Yes, I am Master Vile, and I want revenge on the ones called Billy and Kimberly for the death of my daughter Rita and her husband Lord Zedd," Vile said. Tommy smirked evilly.
"That's definitely something I can help you with. And at the same time, I can deliver the other rangers on a platter to you, on one condition of course," Tommy said.
"And what's that?"
"Promise me that Billy will die painfully, but you allow me to claim Kim as my own," Tommy said, as though Kim was simply a piece of property.
"Very well, you get Kim, and I get domination over the earth," Vile said.
~*~*~*
Jason read the note that Tommy had left or rather planted their from Master Vile's ship, though Jason didn't know Tommy was conspiring with the villain.
"Jase...meet me in the park tonight at 8:00. I know that I have become evil, but I know that you agree something must be done about Billy," the note read.
~*~*~*
Adam, Rocky, and Aisha were determined to mend their friendship with Billy and Kimberly. Trini had sided with Jason and would have nothing to do with them, especially Kim. And Zack wasn't sure where he stood. He almost wished he was still in Switzerland, things had been easier there.
Adam, Rocky, and Aisha left the youth center for Billy's house. It was around 7:30, so they figured the group of them could talk, while taking a walk in the park. They arrived at the Cranston residence, and Hank Cranston answered the door.
"Oh hello kids, let me see if Billy's feeling up to company," Hank said.
Soon, both Billy and Kimberly, who had just woke up, came to the door.
"Hey guys," Billy said.
"Hey, you guys want to go for a walk and maybe talk," Adam suggested. Billy glanced at Kim, and she nodded.
"Sure, we'd like that," Billy replied, as he and Kim left with the three friends.
Billy walked with Kim silently, unsure of how to even proceed with the simple task of getting on with his life since Jason and Trini had seemingly deemed them unworthy of redemption. Kim tugging on his arm gently brought him out of his thoughts.
"Billy, earth to Billy...we are here. Are you ok?" Kim queried gently as they sat at a bench and waited for someone to make a move. Adam sat next to Billy and clapped him on the shoulder, hoping to get him to talk or move. It seemed that Jason's rebuke cut him to the quick. "Billy, I know it's hurting you to have Jason come down so hard on you, but give him some time. Maybe he will come around and forgive you," Adam said while staring Billy straight in the eye. Rocky and Aisha came over and waited for a response from either Kim or Billy. When one wasn't forthcoming, Rocky threw in his two cents.
"Kim, Billy I know this hurts, but Jason and Trini may never forgive you," As Rocky said that, Jason came up to the group, wondering why they were falling for Kim and Billy's trick.
"Make that never Rocky. I still can't see why you are falling for this. After all they did, they are suddenly back to themselves?" Billy stood up and locked his gaze on Jason.
"Jason Scott, I have opened my heart to all of you here, and damn it, I will not be called a liar of all things. I am back to normal, at least as much as I can be with my former best friend hating me. I've tried to make amends and if you cant accept it, then so be it. But you do not have to make my life more difficult than it already is by throwing in little jabs at every opportunity," Kim came behind Billy and stared down Jason, wondering why he was being so hard hearted about this. After all, they came to them and offered an apology. Then a light went on....*This is all about Tommy and losing his bro'. well can't he see he's lost someone else in all this too.* Jason saw her gaze locked on him and gave her a smirk
"Very well, I'm leaving before you all gang up on me. But the only way I'll ever have them back is if Zordon says ok...and I haven't heard him say so. Now if you will excuse me, I have somewhere more important to be," Jason said, as he left to find Tommy standing in a clearing waiting for him.
"Greetings, bro'...how nice of you to join me," Tommy said, venom dripping from each word. Jason stands arms length away just in case he needs to mix it up with Tommy. He thought that it was sad that he couldn't trust any of his supposed friends anymore...
"I'm here, what do you want?" Jason asked. Tommy smiled, letting the distance stay between them.
"No Jase, it's what I can do for you, we have a mutual problem, and I want to suggest a mutual solution that will benefit us both," Tommy replied. While Tommy and Jason verbally spar, Billy has left after the confrontation with his former friend without so much as a word to anyone. The fact that Jason was being so harsh and unyielding was really bothering him. Kim dashed off after him once she had said her good byes. She found Billy heading home at a fast clip.
"Billy, wait for me," Billy stopped and looked back to let Kim see the hurt and anger wreaking havoc on him. Kim stopped and offered her hand, knowing words would not help her beloved at that time. Billy looked down and took her hand and continued home with her in tow. They reached the Cranston residence to find Hank reading quietly in his recliner. When he looked up and saw the expression on his son's face, he got up to see what he could do. Billy vetoed it with a shake of his head regret coloring his voice as he spoke.
"Thanks Dad, I just need to be alone right now. Kim, please let me be for a while...it's not you. I need some down time alone. Dad, would you mind dropping Kim off at home?" Billy asked. Hank looked to Kim and back at his son.
"Not a problem. I'll be back whenever you need me," Billy didn't say a word, just continued up to his room and shut the door. Hank looked at Kim, a million questions in his eyes.
"Allow me to walk you home Kimberly?" Kim nodded, unsure as to how this whole fiasco was going to turn out.
"Sure Mr. Cranston," As they walked towards Kim's house, she looked to him knowing he wanted to know what had happened.
"Mr. Cranston, as you may or may not know...we all have had some strain put on our friendship by the whole breakup. Jason is taking it much harder than I imagined, harder than Billy ever thought either. We were in the park, trying to mend fences when Jason verbally slapped Billy. It's hurting him in a way no one can help him with. I'm just afraid he's gonna close himself off the way he usually does," Kim said. Hank nodded, silently cursing himself for not being more nurturing in raising Billy.
"Thank you Kimberly. I'll give him some time, but I won't let him suffer alone either. Give my regards to your mother," With that Hank left Kim on her front porch and headed back home to find the door to Billy's room cracked and a concerto by Bach wafting out into the house.
"Damn, he really is upset, but the door is open so to speak," Hank went up and knocked on Billy's door.
"Room for one more?" Hank asked his son.
"Sure dad," Billy replied, as his father joined him, and they began a long conversation.
AN: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. Chapter 11 should be out soon. Don't forget to leave a review! Thanks! Laterkins!
