Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers, or the settings where they have
taken place. They are owned by Saban. I don't wish to get sued. The names
of the children and also Cristina are mine.
Setting: Between 1997-2060
F.Y.I: You are going to have to use your imagination a bit. In this story I have it so all the Rangers, new and old know each other for the most part. There are many flashbacks throughout this story also. ________________________________________________________________
Kimberly and Tommy asked us to come over for dinner one night. They said that they had something to let us all know. It was something none of us ever expected a 35 year old to tell us.
"Cancer?" Aisha says.
"Stage 3." Kim replies.
"Ok, pretend we know NOTHING about cancer for a second and explain it in English." I tell her.
'I have one more stage to go before I die." Kimberly says very bluntly.
"Does this mean its incurable?" Katherine asks taking Jason's hand.
"This means that my chances of survival are slim, but still around. There is however a high chance that I will not survive this." She tells them.
"Are you even going trying to fight this?" Jason asked her.
"I am doing Chemotherapy and Radiation to see if that works, and hopefully it will." And that was her only response to us.
I could not believe how calm she was through this dinner. I was ready to jump out of my skin. I lost Adam 13 years before; I don't want to lose another that soon.
"How are the kids with the news?" Zack said.
"They're ok. Jordan and Brad understand it the most obviously being 9 and 7. Natalie and Anna just understand I'm gonna be sick for a while. They will be fine."
"If this treatment doesn't work, how long do you have Kim?" Cristina says.
"Not long at all." Kim says. "But, I am just going to take one day at a time. That's all I can do."
That night when we went home I told my kids. "Adam, Julia, Angela, Tristan, I need you all down here please." I yell to them, and hear footsteps running into the room where I was.
"What's up dad?" Adam, my oldest says.
"Guys and Girls, I have some bad news ok? This is going to be a bit shocking."
"What is it Dad?" Julia asks.
"Aunt Kimberly is sick. She has cancer." I say as I look at my kids.
"Is she dying?" Tristian asks now 7.
"She is going to be getting some medicine called Chemotherapy. They hope that this works. I need you all to pray for her though ok?" I say trying not to acknowledge his question about her dying, mostly because I did not want to believe it at the time.
"Ok dad." Angela says.
"Good kids. Now get back to your homework." I say, but Julia hangs behind. "You alright Julia?"
"Oh, yeah, great. it's just, Laura's dad died from cancer. Aunt Kim may too right?"
"That is possible yes, but we aren't going to think that way. We are going to think positive. Alright?" I say to her.
"Alright Dad." She tells me.
"Good, now go up and finish your homework." I tell her. She nods and runs up to her room. I sit down in the den and go off into thought.
We did just what Kim said we had to do and that was take every day as it came. Nothing changed during the time of her treatment, and surprisingly she wasn't as sick as she though she would be. Everyday I prayed for her to be cured, every single day. Almost a year later we get a phone call. This was the day Kim knew if she was to live or die.
"Hello?" Cristina answers, "Yes Tommy, he is, one minute." She puts the phone down and walks out to the living room. "Rocky, it's Tommy." I get up and get the phone.
"Talk to me." I say nervously, twisting the phone cord around my index finger.
"Hey." Tommy says to me. His tone says it all. "It didn't work." He tells me.
"Shit." I curse. "Is this the end? Are there other things that can be done?"
"It's over. She says she can't take anymore." Tommy says, a bit choked up.
"Is she there?"
"She is, but she doesn't want to talk right now."
"Understandable." I tell him. "How long does she have?"
Tommy was silent for a few seconds, "2 months, tops."
"That soon huh? Wow." I say.
"Yeah, that soon." He replies to me.
"Yeah." I say, not knowing what else to say. Why do you say when your friend tells you that his wife is dying? I still don't know to this day!
"Well, listen, I have to go call Kat and Jason, I'll talk to you later." Tommy says.
"Alright, I'll talk to you later." And we hang up. "It didn't work Cristina."
"My god." She says to me. "How long?"
"2 months tops." I say, as a single tear rolls down my face. I go over to my wife and hug her.
"Should we tell the kids?" She asks me.
"They have every right to know." I say.
"I suppose." She nods.
"Hey gang? Come down here for a minute please." I shout to my kids. They all come out.
"What's up Dad?" Adam asks me.
"Aunt Kimberly's treatment didn't work." I say. They are all silent for a minute, but then Angela pips up and says, "What does that mean dad?"
"It means she's dying dumbass!" Julia shouts.
"Julia Elisabeth!" Cristina shouts at her. "I don't want you to EVER say that word again do you understand me?"
"I don't care right now mom!" She shouts back at her. Kim and Julia were close because she coached my daughter in gymnastics on the side of her being a doctor. "How long does she have dad?" She asks.
"2 months." I reply. Julia runs up to her room and slams the door shut. "You guys ok?"
"It's not fair dad." Angela says.
"Yeah Dad. Isn't there anything they can do?" Adam says.
"Unfortunately not." I say.
"So she's dying?" Tristan says.
"Afraid so buddy." I say.
"You kid's ok?" Cris asks.
"Yeah, nothing we can really do." Adam says. The other 2 just nod.
"Alright, well get back to doing your homework ok?" She says. I go up and check on Julia.
"Julia? Can I come in?"
"No dad, go away." She yells at me.
"Too bad, I'm coming in." She is laying on her bed with her back to me. "How are you doing kiddo?"
"Fine." She says short.
"I know it's a shock Julie, but this is reality. This is life." I say.
"But why dad? Aunt Kim isn't old! She was healthy her entire life! Why is it that she dying! Why does it have to be Aunt Kimberly and not someone else?"
"You know I can't answer that Julia. It's just her time to go. No one ever deserves death, it just happens. You just have to take the time left you have with her, and make the best of it."
"It's not long enough to do anything dad. She's dead."
"She's not dead yet Julie." I say. I give her a kiss and walk out of the room, hoping she understands where I am coming from.
The next weeks were pretty rough. We spent a lot of time together, because we knew it would be coming to an end all too soon. I tried to get over to Tommy's and Kim's a few times a week to help out with anything they need, but for those who know Tommy, he was always able to handle anything, except for this one day. I went up to the doorstep and knocked on the door. Jordan answered.
"Hey Uncle Rocky!" She called. Jordan is 13 going on 20 and is the spitting image of Kimberly.
"Hey Jordan, where's your dad?" I ask, giving her a kiss.
"He's in the basement trying to fix something." She says.
"Well, then it's a good thing I came over to stop him! He could hurt himself!" I say, and she giggles. "Where's your Brother and Sisters?"
"Natalie is in moms room watching TV, Anna is down at a friend's house, and Brad is over Uncle Jason's and Aunt Kat's." She says.
"Oh alright!" I say. "Well, I'm gonna go down and see your dad! Ok?" I tell her.
"Yeah sure!" She smiles and runs back into the family room.
I walk down the winding stairs to the basement.
"DAMMIT!" I hear Tommy's voice come from the back room.
"Yo Tom? You down here?" I call out.
"Yeah Rocky, I'm in the back." He calls back.
I take a walk into the back and see him hunched over something. I am not sure what it was. "What's going on?" I ask.
"Not too much, yourself?" He replies.
"Just came over to see if you needed any help."
"No, but thanks." He says gruffly.
"Ok. Well, um, whatcha working on?" I ask.
"Rocky, if you are just here to small talk I really don't have time for it." He shouts at me. "I have too much work to deal with besides your bullshit."
"Oh, ok. Well I'm just gonna go up and see Kimberly."
"You do that." He says frowning. "Be quiet though. I know that comes difficult to you."
I almost lost it on him when he said that, but I knew he was just hurting because Kim was gonna be leaving us all too soon. I walk back upstairs, I figured I'd try and talk to him again after I say hi to Kimberly. I knock on her closed door quietly.
"Come in." Her tired voice says.
"Hey Kimberly." I say.
"Hey Rocky." She says, sitting up.
"Hi Uncle Rocky!" My 7-year-old niece Natalie says running over to me.
"Hey Nattie." I say and pick her up in a hug.
"Natalie honey, why don't you go downstairs with Jordan for a bit and let me talk to
Uncle Rocky, ok?" Kimberly says.
"Ok mommy." She runs out in search of Jordan.
"Have a seat." Kim says smiling.
"How ya feeling?" I ask her.
She smiles and says, "Compared to what?"
I laugh. She is such a smart ass.
"I feel ok, thanks."
"Are you scared Kim?" I ask her.
"A bit, but mostly for Tommy and the kids. I am worried about how they will be after I die." She says, and I shudder at that word. "Have you seen Tommy?"
"Yeah, he told me that he didn't have time for my BS and to leave."
"Rocky, I'm sorry. he is just."
I cut her off and reply, "Don't be sorry. I would act the same way if I were in his shoes. I don't blame him."
"I'm gonna miss you Rocky." She says, finally loosing her smile.
"I'll miss you too Kimberly." I say, but decide I should change the subject. "How are Brad and Anna doing?"
"Anna is double trouble, and Brad is triple trouble. How are yours doing?"
"About the same, Julie's really beginning to be a pain in classes. Her teachers are complaining that her work isn't up to capacity so we have to sit her down and have a little talk." I say. Kimberly shakes her head. We continue talking for a bit, but I decide that she should really get some rest. "Well listen, I'm gonna go back down and see one last time if Tom needs anything. I love you, I'll see you tomorrow." I tell her, and give her a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too Rocky, bye." She says. I walk out of the room and close the door, pausing a second to run my hands through my hair. I can't believe that the 2 months is almost here. I walk back downstairs and hear Tommy cursing up a storm. "Tommy, you sure you don't need any help?"
"Yes Rocky I am absolutely positive! Christ all mighty would you stop asking that! Just stop it!" He yells.
"Ok Tommy, ok. I'll talk to you later." I say very calmly and turn away.
"Rocky." His tone changes and he turns around and looks me dead in the eyes. The man I see is not Tommy. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. it's just all this shit! I am not ready to loose her yet Rocco.
"I'm not either Tommy, but there's nothing we can do about it. Just take every day as it comes. Don't waste any of them." I say.
"How am I going to do this with out her? We have been a team since we were teenagers." He says with a waver in his voice. "She's my everything."
"You will get through this Tom. It's like when we lost Adam, we are all going through it together."
"I know, but." He says, and just stops.
"You aren't alone Tom. I feel the exact same way that you do. You have to be there for your kids though. They need you just as much as you need them." I tell him flat out. "We are all behind you Tom, just remember that. We'll all get through this. It's just gonna take a while. Everything will be fine." I say hoping to help comfort him in a way, though I feel my attempt is failing.
"It's too hard." He says but I cut him off.
"It's life Tom. No one said life was gonna be easy." I say. "If you ever need anything, just ask." I say.
"I just can't stand watching her die. I keep on trying to find things to keep me busy, but it just doesn't help."
"But you can't shut her out either. Tom, if you don't spend the time with her, you are going to just regret it. It's only a little while longer. Don't waste any of it alright?"
He just focuses on what he was fixing and nods. "Well listen, I have to run to the office to finish up a case. If you need anything just ask Tommy."
"Thanks Rocco." He says. I nod and head back upstairs.
"You leaving Uncle Rocky?" Jordan asks me.
"Yeah kid. I'm leaving. I have to go to work for a bit." I smile at her.
"Ok! I'll see you later! Tell everyone I said hi!" She says, giving me a hug.
"Ok I will. Bye sweetie." I say and head out of the house.
That Tuesday Tommy called me to tell me that they rushed her to the hospital. She was having difficulty breathing, and that was the first time reality set in that she was going to be dying very soon..
TBC
Setting: Between 1997-2060
F.Y.I: You are going to have to use your imagination a bit. In this story I have it so all the Rangers, new and old know each other for the most part. There are many flashbacks throughout this story also. ________________________________________________________________
Kimberly and Tommy asked us to come over for dinner one night. They said that they had something to let us all know. It was something none of us ever expected a 35 year old to tell us.
"Cancer?" Aisha says.
"Stage 3." Kim replies.
"Ok, pretend we know NOTHING about cancer for a second and explain it in English." I tell her.
'I have one more stage to go before I die." Kimberly says very bluntly.
"Does this mean its incurable?" Katherine asks taking Jason's hand.
"This means that my chances of survival are slim, but still around. There is however a high chance that I will not survive this." She tells them.
"Are you even going trying to fight this?" Jason asked her.
"I am doing Chemotherapy and Radiation to see if that works, and hopefully it will." And that was her only response to us.
I could not believe how calm she was through this dinner. I was ready to jump out of my skin. I lost Adam 13 years before; I don't want to lose another that soon.
"How are the kids with the news?" Zack said.
"They're ok. Jordan and Brad understand it the most obviously being 9 and 7. Natalie and Anna just understand I'm gonna be sick for a while. They will be fine."
"If this treatment doesn't work, how long do you have Kim?" Cristina says.
"Not long at all." Kim says. "But, I am just going to take one day at a time. That's all I can do."
That night when we went home I told my kids. "Adam, Julia, Angela, Tristan, I need you all down here please." I yell to them, and hear footsteps running into the room where I was.
"What's up dad?" Adam, my oldest says.
"Guys and Girls, I have some bad news ok? This is going to be a bit shocking."
"What is it Dad?" Julia asks.
"Aunt Kimberly is sick. She has cancer." I say as I look at my kids.
"Is she dying?" Tristian asks now 7.
"She is going to be getting some medicine called Chemotherapy. They hope that this works. I need you all to pray for her though ok?" I say trying not to acknowledge his question about her dying, mostly because I did not want to believe it at the time.
"Ok dad." Angela says.
"Good kids. Now get back to your homework." I say, but Julia hangs behind. "You alright Julia?"
"Oh, yeah, great. it's just, Laura's dad died from cancer. Aunt Kim may too right?"
"That is possible yes, but we aren't going to think that way. We are going to think positive. Alright?" I say to her.
"Alright Dad." She tells me.
"Good, now go up and finish your homework." I tell her. She nods and runs up to her room. I sit down in the den and go off into thought.
We did just what Kim said we had to do and that was take every day as it came. Nothing changed during the time of her treatment, and surprisingly she wasn't as sick as she though she would be. Everyday I prayed for her to be cured, every single day. Almost a year later we get a phone call. This was the day Kim knew if she was to live or die.
"Hello?" Cristina answers, "Yes Tommy, he is, one minute." She puts the phone down and walks out to the living room. "Rocky, it's Tommy." I get up and get the phone.
"Talk to me." I say nervously, twisting the phone cord around my index finger.
"Hey." Tommy says to me. His tone says it all. "It didn't work." He tells me.
"Shit." I curse. "Is this the end? Are there other things that can be done?"
"It's over. She says she can't take anymore." Tommy says, a bit choked up.
"Is she there?"
"She is, but she doesn't want to talk right now."
"Understandable." I tell him. "How long does she have?"
Tommy was silent for a few seconds, "2 months, tops."
"That soon huh? Wow." I say.
"Yeah, that soon." He replies to me.
"Yeah." I say, not knowing what else to say. Why do you say when your friend tells you that his wife is dying? I still don't know to this day!
"Well, listen, I have to go call Kat and Jason, I'll talk to you later." Tommy says.
"Alright, I'll talk to you later." And we hang up. "It didn't work Cristina."
"My god." She says to me. "How long?"
"2 months tops." I say, as a single tear rolls down my face. I go over to my wife and hug her.
"Should we tell the kids?" She asks me.
"They have every right to know." I say.
"I suppose." She nods.
"Hey gang? Come down here for a minute please." I shout to my kids. They all come out.
"What's up Dad?" Adam asks me.
"Aunt Kimberly's treatment didn't work." I say. They are all silent for a minute, but then Angela pips up and says, "What does that mean dad?"
"It means she's dying dumbass!" Julia shouts.
"Julia Elisabeth!" Cristina shouts at her. "I don't want you to EVER say that word again do you understand me?"
"I don't care right now mom!" She shouts back at her. Kim and Julia were close because she coached my daughter in gymnastics on the side of her being a doctor. "How long does she have dad?" She asks.
"2 months." I reply. Julia runs up to her room and slams the door shut. "You guys ok?"
"It's not fair dad." Angela says.
"Yeah Dad. Isn't there anything they can do?" Adam says.
"Unfortunately not." I say.
"So she's dying?" Tristan says.
"Afraid so buddy." I say.
"You kid's ok?" Cris asks.
"Yeah, nothing we can really do." Adam says. The other 2 just nod.
"Alright, well get back to doing your homework ok?" She says. I go up and check on Julia.
"Julia? Can I come in?"
"No dad, go away." She yells at me.
"Too bad, I'm coming in." She is laying on her bed with her back to me. "How are you doing kiddo?"
"Fine." She says short.
"I know it's a shock Julie, but this is reality. This is life." I say.
"But why dad? Aunt Kim isn't old! She was healthy her entire life! Why is it that she dying! Why does it have to be Aunt Kimberly and not someone else?"
"You know I can't answer that Julia. It's just her time to go. No one ever deserves death, it just happens. You just have to take the time left you have with her, and make the best of it."
"It's not long enough to do anything dad. She's dead."
"She's not dead yet Julie." I say. I give her a kiss and walk out of the room, hoping she understands where I am coming from.
The next weeks were pretty rough. We spent a lot of time together, because we knew it would be coming to an end all too soon. I tried to get over to Tommy's and Kim's a few times a week to help out with anything they need, but for those who know Tommy, he was always able to handle anything, except for this one day. I went up to the doorstep and knocked on the door. Jordan answered.
"Hey Uncle Rocky!" She called. Jordan is 13 going on 20 and is the spitting image of Kimberly.
"Hey Jordan, where's your dad?" I ask, giving her a kiss.
"He's in the basement trying to fix something." She says.
"Well, then it's a good thing I came over to stop him! He could hurt himself!" I say, and she giggles. "Where's your Brother and Sisters?"
"Natalie is in moms room watching TV, Anna is down at a friend's house, and Brad is over Uncle Jason's and Aunt Kat's." She says.
"Oh alright!" I say. "Well, I'm gonna go down and see your dad! Ok?" I tell her.
"Yeah sure!" She smiles and runs back into the family room.
I walk down the winding stairs to the basement.
"DAMMIT!" I hear Tommy's voice come from the back room.
"Yo Tom? You down here?" I call out.
"Yeah Rocky, I'm in the back." He calls back.
I take a walk into the back and see him hunched over something. I am not sure what it was. "What's going on?" I ask.
"Not too much, yourself?" He replies.
"Just came over to see if you needed any help."
"No, but thanks." He says gruffly.
"Ok. Well, um, whatcha working on?" I ask.
"Rocky, if you are just here to small talk I really don't have time for it." He shouts at me. "I have too much work to deal with besides your bullshit."
"Oh, ok. Well I'm just gonna go up and see Kimberly."
"You do that." He says frowning. "Be quiet though. I know that comes difficult to you."
I almost lost it on him when he said that, but I knew he was just hurting because Kim was gonna be leaving us all too soon. I walk back upstairs, I figured I'd try and talk to him again after I say hi to Kimberly. I knock on her closed door quietly.
"Come in." Her tired voice says.
"Hey Kimberly." I say.
"Hey Rocky." She says, sitting up.
"Hi Uncle Rocky!" My 7-year-old niece Natalie says running over to me.
"Hey Nattie." I say and pick her up in a hug.
"Natalie honey, why don't you go downstairs with Jordan for a bit and let me talk to
Uncle Rocky, ok?" Kimberly says.
"Ok mommy." She runs out in search of Jordan.
"Have a seat." Kim says smiling.
"How ya feeling?" I ask her.
She smiles and says, "Compared to what?"
I laugh. She is such a smart ass.
"I feel ok, thanks."
"Are you scared Kim?" I ask her.
"A bit, but mostly for Tommy and the kids. I am worried about how they will be after I die." She says, and I shudder at that word. "Have you seen Tommy?"
"Yeah, he told me that he didn't have time for my BS and to leave."
"Rocky, I'm sorry. he is just."
I cut her off and reply, "Don't be sorry. I would act the same way if I were in his shoes. I don't blame him."
"I'm gonna miss you Rocky." She says, finally loosing her smile.
"I'll miss you too Kimberly." I say, but decide I should change the subject. "How are Brad and Anna doing?"
"Anna is double trouble, and Brad is triple trouble. How are yours doing?"
"About the same, Julie's really beginning to be a pain in classes. Her teachers are complaining that her work isn't up to capacity so we have to sit her down and have a little talk." I say. Kimberly shakes her head. We continue talking for a bit, but I decide that she should really get some rest. "Well listen, I'm gonna go back down and see one last time if Tom needs anything. I love you, I'll see you tomorrow." I tell her, and give her a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too Rocky, bye." She says. I walk out of the room and close the door, pausing a second to run my hands through my hair. I can't believe that the 2 months is almost here. I walk back downstairs and hear Tommy cursing up a storm. "Tommy, you sure you don't need any help?"
"Yes Rocky I am absolutely positive! Christ all mighty would you stop asking that! Just stop it!" He yells.
"Ok Tommy, ok. I'll talk to you later." I say very calmly and turn away.
"Rocky." His tone changes and he turns around and looks me dead in the eyes. The man I see is not Tommy. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. it's just all this shit! I am not ready to loose her yet Rocco.
"I'm not either Tommy, but there's nothing we can do about it. Just take every day as it comes. Don't waste any of them." I say.
"How am I going to do this with out her? We have been a team since we were teenagers." He says with a waver in his voice. "She's my everything."
"You will get through this Tom. It's like when we lost Adam, we are all going through it together."
"I know, but." He says, and just stops.
"You aren't alone Tom. I feel the exact same way that you do. You have to be there for your kids though. They need you just as much as you need them." I tell him flat out. "We are all behind you Tom, just remember that. We'll all get through this. It's just gonna take a while. Everything will be fine." I say hoping to help comfort him in a way, though I feel my attempt is failing.
"It's too hard." He says but I cut him off.
"It's life Tom. No one said life was gonna be easy." I say. "If you ever need anything, just ask." I say.
"I just can't stand watching her die. I keep on trying to find things to keep me busy, but it just doesn't help."
"But you can't shut her out either. Tom, if you don't spend the time with her, you are going to just regret it. It's only a little while longer. Don't waste any of it alright?"
He just focuses on what he was fixing and nods. "Well listen, I have to run to the office to finish up a case. If you need anything just ask Tommy."
"Thanks Rocco." He says. I nod and head back upstairs.
"You leaving Uncle Rocky?" Jordan asks me.
"Yeah kid. I'm leaving. I have to go to work for a bit." I smile at her.
"Ok! I'll see you later! Tell everyone I said hi!" She says, giving me a hug.
"Ok I will. Bye sweetie." I say and head out of the house.
That Tuesday Tommy called me to tell me that they rushed her to the hospital. She was having difficulty breathing, and that was the first time reality set in that she was going to be dying very soon..
TBC