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. ________________________________________________________________
On Sunday, Tommy gave me a phone call. Kimberly had been taken to the hospital. She was having severe pain in her head and upper back. Cristina and I went in to see her as soon as we heard. Jason was there too, but he was standing in the hallway. Tommy was down the hall talking to the doctor.
"Hey." I call .to him.
"Hey Rocky." He answers me in a very blah tone.
"How is she?" I ask.
He sighs and says, "She's still alive. Not much more to say. I don't know for how much longer though." I nod and walk into the room. Her eyes were closed and I started to turn around to leave, but I heard her call "Hey Rocky."
I turn around and smile at her. "Hey Kimberly, how are you feeling?"
"I've been better!" She says looking at her monitors. "I hate being a doctor at this time, they can't candy coat my status for me" She smiles.
"So what's the verdict?" I ask.
"Tommy's down there now, but I know the answers. I'm probably not going to be going home." She says.
"Well, maybe you can...."
"Rocky, I'm dying. I know I won't be around much longer. I am kind of glad I'm in the hospital because I don't want my kids to walk in on me when I have died. I don't want them to be the ones to find me. This is hard enough on them as it is."
"Have they come in at all yet?" I ask her.
"Yeah, but only for like an hour. Tommy's mom took them."
"Well that's good."
"Yeah, the hospital really isn't a great place for kids to hang out all the time." She says smiling.
"No I bet not."
"Where's Cris?"
"She's outside talking to Jason. She'll be in."
"Oh ok."
We talked for a bit and then we left. She needed to rest. Before I left she said, "Hey Rocky?" I turn around and look at her. She smiles and uses her catch phrase she has said so many different times, "Catch you on the flip side."
I smile and say, "You bet you will."
"Who knew that this phrase would actually mean something one day?" She says.
I walk over to her and hug her. "I love you Kimberly. I always have. I'll see you soon."
"You will, but I have a feeling this is the last time I will be seeing you." She says. "Thanks for being such a great friend Rocky. I love you too."
"No Kimberly. Thank you." I say, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you soon."
"Good bye." She says to me.
"Good bye." I say and walk out of the room
Kimberly was right, this was the last time she ever saw me, or at least remembered seeing me. She knew what was coming and did not want to make it seem like it wasn't going to happen. The last time I talked to her was that day. She died on Tuesday. A few hours before she went I got the phone call that I was expecting but was dreading.
"Rocky. The doctors only think she has a few hours left." Tommy says.
"I'll be right over." I say and hang up.
When I got there, almost everyone was there, except for Trini and Billy who would be over after there done work which will be in about an hour. Kim's kids were there, but will be leaving soon. Kim was in and out of consciousness, but when she was awake she wasn't herself. Her breathing was something that I never heard before. I guess this was what the death rattle sounded like.
The twins were standing close to Tommy, Brad was on the other side of the bed next to Kimberly and Jordan was in the back corner, viewing from afar. I go back to where Jordan is and put my arm around her shoulder. I couldn't even imagine loosing a mother at the ages of 12, 10, and 8. This is going to be a long time healing process for all of us. About an hour later, Tommy's parents come and pick up the kids. They all say goodbye to both Kim and us and leave. They don't need to be here for the last moment. I look around the room, and everyone has a blank stare on their face. Aisha was sitting next to her trying desperately not to cry, Zack is standing behind her with his hand on her shoulder looking extremely sullen. Jason is over next to Tommy just watching her. Katherine is standing to the back of the room, almost seeming like she was hiding from the inevitable. Trini and Billy came in and it vas quite obvious that Trini has been crying, though when she came in she was quite composed. Tommy looked white. He looked absolutely horrible, but who could blame him. He was loosing his partner and best friend. We all sat there in silence. At 1:46pm we watched her take her last breath. It was over just like that. She took in a labored breath, blew it out, and that was the end. Our best friend was gone. The doctors came in to see what was going on, turned off the machines and gave us a few minutes alone with her. Once again I look around the room. The girls are all crying, and I am numb to the sound. Jason wipes a tear away quickly and walks back to comfort Katherine... Trini is a wreck. Billy has his arm around her just looking at Kim's lifeless body. Tommy I was shocked did not cry at all. He just picks up the phone and calls his mother to tell the kids that their mom had died.
After about an hour we all got up and drove home.
"I can't believe it's over." Cris says to me during the drive home, which seemed to take forever.
"Me neither." I say.
"Do you think the kids will be ok when they hear the news?" She asks looking out the window."
"They'll be fine. They knew it was coming." I tell her, not really wanting to talk, but not wanting to be rude to my wife. Finally we pull into the drive way and walk into the house. Adam is in the living room watching TV. He looks over at us.
"She died didn't she?" He asks.
"Yes, she did." I reply. He nods and turns his head back to the television, not trying to look upset that his aunt is gone.
"Adam honey, where are the others?" Cristina asks him.
"Julia is upstairs, Angela is down the street and Tristan is in the basement."
"Julia! Tristan! Come down and up here please." I call to them. Julia walks down the stairs and sits on the bottom step. Tristan comes running up and goes over with Adam on the couch.
"Is she gone?" Julia asks.
"Yes." I tell her.
"Oh." Julia says wiping a tear away from her eye.
"I'm sorry kids."
"Me too Dad." Tristan says.
"Did she suffer?" Adam asks.
"No. She went very easy."
"Were you in there when she died Dad?" Tristan asks me.
"Yes I was."
"How is everyone else?" Julia asks me.
"Everyone's the same as us, very sad."
"I'm glad she isn't suffering anymore." Adam says.
"Me too." They all cried a bit, but not too much. I think the were like myself, just in shock. Angie came home about an hour later and basically said the same my other 3 children."
Later on that night, I give Tommy a call just to make sure he and the kids were all ok.
"Hello?" Natalie says.
"Hi Nat, its Uncle Rocky."
"Hi Uncle Rocky." She says.
"How are you, sweetheart?" I ask.
"I'm ok, how are you?" She asks.
"I'm ok. Is your dad there?" I ask her.
"Yes he is. Hang on." I hear her put down the phone and a few seconds later Tommy picks up.
"Hey." He says.
"Hey. How ya doing?" I ask him.
"I'd be lying if I said fine." He says sighing. "But what can I do? How are you?"
"Bout the same as you Tom." I respond.
"Good." He says to me.
"Well, listen, if you need anything just call me."
"Alright, thanks Rocky, and the same goes to you too." He replies. "If you can drop over tomorrow. I'll talk to you then. Everyone else is coming. We have to pick out pictures for the." he pauses trying to regain his composure..."for her funeral."
"I'll be there Tommy. What time?"
"Say 6." He says.
"Alright. See you then." And we hang up. After our conversation, I remember how hard Adam's funeral ways, and I know Kimberly's is going to be just as hard.
She was buried on May 2nd at 11:00 am. That was another one of the hardest things we had to do as a group. The viewing was hard on all of us. So many people that Kimberly knew came. Everyone was shocked that she had died so young. Tommy kept composed for the most part. Brad was doing alright. He cried a bit, but not too much. The twins stayed with Toms Parents most of the time. They cried the most. Jordan was having a rough time. Half way through the viewing she walked out of the room and didn't return.
"Jason, have you seen Jordan anywhere?" I head Tommy say to him.
"No, not in a while." He replies.
"Shit. Alright, I better go look for her." Tommy says, but I cut him off.
"Jason and I will." I say. He nods and Jason and I walk around the funeral home. Jason was Jordan's godfather. They were very close.
"She can't be far." He says to me. "Let's go look in the different 'Quiet' rooms. She's like Kimberly, never wants to be around a huge crowed at a time like this." I nod and we begin to look around for her. We find her in a room looking out the window.
"Hey Jord, whatcha doing in here kiddo?" Jason asks her.
"I'm sick of people telling me how sorry they are." She says wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You alright honey?" I ask.
"Yes, I'm ok. I just don't want people teling me how sorry they are and giving me hugs and telling me how much me and my sisters look like her." She says frowning.
"Yeah, I know how tough it can be." I say. "But you know something, its hard on us all too. We loved your mom just as much as you did."
"I know that Uncle Rocky. I just wish people would stop. I know my moms gone for ever and I wont ever see her again. Dad tells us that she's around, but I don't believe that. I can't see her or hear her so how can she be?"
"You know what Jordan, you mom lives inside of you. You are exactly like her when she was your age." Jason tells her.
"You always say that Uncle Jase." She says crossing her arms.
"Yeah, but its true. You have the exact personality as your mom. And you will never forget that because she passed it onto you." He says putting his arm around her.
"It's just not fair." She says crying a bit. "I don't understand why she had to die. Its just not fair. Why my mom?" She says.
"It was." Jason begins, but is cut off.
"Yes, I know it was her time, but I don't understand why it had to be." She raises her voice.
"No one ever knows why, it just happens kid, and your right its not fair" We all jump a bit and turn to see where the voice is coming from. "You know what though? You are your mother. Uncle Rocky and Jason are right." Tommy says.
"I miss her daddy." Jordan says, getting up from the couch and walking over to him.
"I do too Jordan." Tommy says. By this point Jordan has lost it. She is crying. Tommy kneels and hugs her. Jason and I get up and walk out feeling that they have to talk before re-entering the area where Kim is laying.
The ceremony was beautiful, but sad. Aisha, Trini and Jason gave the eulogies. Then it was time for the cemetery. Though sunny, there was a breeze that made it a bit chilly. Everyone put the flowers on the coffin, and walked out. That was it. She was gone forever. With one last glace over all of our shoulders; we left for Tommy's house. That was the last tragedy we had for a while in our group, thank God. I don't think we could have handled another one like that; this one took us too long to get over. All the stages of grief set in just like it had with Adam. Now, instead of one grave, I had 2 too visit in that cemetery. I remember praying that I would have no more for a long time.
My thoughts are shaken after hearing the door open and my wife comes in with a smile on her face. "How was the movie?" I ask her.
"It was cute. I enjoyed it." She says, sitting down on the couch next to me. "Oh and guess what, tomorrow Luke is going to bring over the baby." She says. Luke is Julia's oldest child. He is now 24.
"Oh great. I can't wait to see her." I say. I haven't seen my great- granddaughter yet. She was 2 weeks old now. Her name was Hailey Anne.
"Me neither. It will be great to have a baby here again." She says to me.
"Yes it will be." I say.
"My gosh, have you ever wondered where the years have gone Rocco?" She asks me.
"All the time. I was thinking about everything that has happened over the years these past few days. They all seem like they happened yesterday, but Adams been dead for about 60 years, Kimberly about 45 years."
"Has it been that long? My gosh." She says opening the newspaper. The time has gone quickly, almost too quickly. I remember my mother saying 'Take one day at a time, because it goes way too quickly.' And I just shook my head at her and said,
'It won't go quick. It's so long away!' Well its not so long now is it?
TBC
Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate getting them!
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. ________________________________________________________________
On Sunday, Tommy gave me a phone call. Kimberly had been taken to the hospital. She was having severe pain in her head and upper back. Cristina and I went in to see her as soon as we heard. Jason was there too, but he was standing in the hallway. Tommy was down the hall talking to the doctor.
"Hey." I call .to him.
"Hey Rocky." He answers me in a very blah tone.
"How is she?" I ask.
He sighs and says, "She's still alive. Not much more to say. I don't know for how much longer though." I nod and walk into the room. Her eyes were closed and I started to turn around to leave, but I heard her call "Hey Rocky."
I turn around and smile at her. "Hey Kimberly, how are you feeling?"
"I've been better!" She says looking at her monitors. "I hate being a doctor at this time, they can't candy coat my status for me" She smiles.
"So what's the verdict?" I ask.
"Tommy's down there now, but I know the answers. I'm probably not going to be going home." She says.
"Well, maybe you can...."
"Rocky, I'm dying. I know I won't be around much longer. I am kind of glad I'm in the hospital because I don't want my kids to walk in on me when I have died. I don't want them to be the ones to find me. This is hard enough on them as it is."
"Have they come in at all yet?" I ask her.
"Yeah, but only for like an hour. Tommy's mom took them."
"Well that's good."
"Yeah, the hospital really isn't a great place for kids to hang out all the time." She says smiling.
"No I bet not."
"Where's Cris?"
"She's outside talking to Jason. She'll be in."
"Oh ok."
We talked for a bit and then we left. She needed to rest. Before I left she said, "Hey Rocky?" I turn around and look at her. She smiles and uses her catch phrase she has said so many different times, "Catch you on the flip side."
I smile and say, "You bet you will."
"Who knew that this phrase would actually mean something one day?" She says.
I walk over to her and hug her. "I love you Kimberly. I always have. I'll see you soon."
"You will, but I have a feeling this is the last time I will be seeing you." She says. "Thanks for being such a great friend Rocky. I love you too."
"No Kimberly. Thank you." I say, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you soon."
"Good bye." She says to me.
"Good bye." I say and walk out of the room
Kimberly was right, this was the last time she ever saw me, or at least remembered seeing me. She knew what was coming and did not want to make it seem like it wasn't going to happen. The last time I talked to her was that day. She died on Tuesday. A few hours before she went I got the phone call that I was expecting but was dreading.
"Rocky. The doctors only think she has a few hours left." Tommy says.
"I'll be right over." I say and hang up.
When I got there, almost everyone was there, except for Trini and Billy who would be over after there done work which will be in about an hour. Kim's kids were there, but will be leaving soon. Kim was in and out of consciousness, but when she was awake she wasn't herself. Her breathing was something that I never heard before. I guess this was what the death rattle sounded like.
The twins were standing close to Tommy, Brad was on the other side of the bed next to Kimberly and Jordan was in the back corner, viewing from afar. I go back to where Jordan is and put my arm around her shoulder. I couldn't even imagine loosing a mother at the ages of 12, 10, and 8. This is going to be a long time healing process for all of us. About an hour later, Tommy's parents come and pick up the kids. They all say goodbye to both Kim and us and leave. They don't need to be here for the last moment. I look around the room, and everyone has a blank stare on their face. Aisha was sitting next to her trying desperately not to cry, Zack is standing behind her with his hand on her shoulder looking extremely sullen. Jason is over next to Tommy just watching her. Katherine is standing to the back of the room, almost seeming like she was hiding from the inevitable. Trini and Billy came in and it vas quite obvious that Trini has been crying, though when she came in she was quite composed. Tommy looked white. He looked absolutely horrible, but who could blame him. He was loosing his partner and best friend. We all sat there in silence. At 1:46pm we watched her take her last breath. It was over just like that. She took in a labored breath, blew it out, and that was the end. Our best friend was gone. The doctors came in to see what was going on, turned off the machines and gave us a few minutes alone with her. Once again I look around the room. The girls are all crying, and I am numb to the sound. Jason wipes a tear away quickly and walks back to comfort Katherine... Trini is a wreck. Billy has his arm around her just looking at Kim's lifeless body. Tommy I was shocked did not cry at all. He just picks up the phone and calls his mother to tell the kids that their mom had died.
After about an hour we all got up and drove home.
"I can't believe it's over." Cris says to me during the drive home, which seemed to take forever.
"Me neither." I say.
"Do you think the kids will be ok when they hear the news?" She asks looking out the window."
"They'll be fine. They knew it was coming." I tell her, not really wanting to talk, but not wanting to be rude to my wife. Finally we pull into the drive way and walk into the house. Adam is in the living room watching TV. He looks over at us.
"She died didn't she?" He asks.
"Yes, she did." I reply. He nods and turns his head back to the television, not trying to look upset that his aunt is gone.
"Adam honey, where are the others?" Cristina asks him.
"Julia is upstairs, Angela is down the street and Tristan is in the basement."
"Julia! Tristan! Come down and up here please." I call to them. Julia walks down the stairs and sits on the bottom step. Tristan comes running up and goes over with Adam on the couch.
"Is she gone?" Julia asks.
"Yes." I tell her.
"Oh." Julia says wiping a tear away from her eye.
"I'm sorry kids."
"Me too Dad." Tristan says.
"Did she suffer?" Adam asks.
"No. She went very easy."
"Were you in there when she died Dad?" Tristan asks me.
"Yes I was."
"How is everyone else?" Julia asks me.
"Everyone's the same as us, very sad."
"I'm glad she isn't suffering anymore." Adam says.
"Me too." They all cried a bit, but not too much. I think the were like myself, just in shock. Angie came home about an hour later and basically said the same my other 3 children."
Later on that night, I give Tommy a call just to make sure he and the kids were all ok.
"Hello?" Natalie says.
"Hi Nat, its Uncle Rocky."
"Hi Uncle Rocky." She says.
"How are you, sweetheart?" I ask.
"I'm ok, how are you?" She asks.
"I'm ok. Is your dad there?" I ask her.
"Yes he is. Hang on." I hear her put down the phone and a few seconds later Tommy picks up.
"Hey." He says.
"Hey. How ya doing?" I ask him.
"I'd be lying if I said fine." He says sighing. "But what can I do? How are you?"
"Bout the same as you Tom." I respond.
"Good." He says to me.
"Well, listen, if you need anything just call me."
"Alright, thanks Rocky, and the same goes to you too." He replies. "If you can drop over tomorrow. I'll talk to you then. Everyone else is coming. We have to pick out pictures for the." he pauses trying to regain his composure..."for her funeral."
"I'll be there Tommy. What time?"
"Say 6." He says.
"Alright. See you then." And we hang up. After our conversation, I remember how hard Adam's funeral ways, and I know Kimberly's is going to be just as hard.
She was buried on May 2nd at 11:00 am. That was another one of the hardest things we had to do as a group. The viewing was hard on all of us. So many people that Kimberly knew came. Everyone was shocked that she had died so young. Tommy kept composed for the most part. Brad was doing alright. He cried a bit, but not too much. The twins stayed with Toms Parents most of the time. They cried the most. Jordan was having a rough time. Half way through the viewing she walked out of the room and didn't return.
"Jason, have you seen Jordan anywhere?" I head Tommy say to him.
"No, not in a while." He replies.
"Shit. Alright, I better go look for her." Tommy says, but I cut him off.
"Jason and I will." I say. He nods and Jason and I walk around the funeral home. Jason was Jordan's godfather. They were very close.
"She can't be far." He says to me. "Let's go look in the different 'Quiet' rooms. She's like Kimberly, never wants to be around a huge crowed at a time like this." I nod and we begin to look around for her. We find her in a room looking out the window.
"Hey Jord, whatcha doing in here kiddo?" Jason asks her.
"I'm sick of people telling me how sorry they are." She says wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You alright honey?" I ask.
"Yes, I'm ok. I just don't want people teling me how sorry they are and giving me hugs and telling me how much me and my sisters look like her." She says frowning.
"Yeah, I know how tough it can be." I say. "But you know something, its hard on us all too. We loved your mom just as much as you did."
"I know that Uncle Rocky. I just wish people would stop. I know my moms gone for ever and I wont ever see her again. Dad tells us that she's around, but I don't believe that. I can't see her or hear her so how can she be?"
"You know what Jordan, you mom lives inside of you. You are exactly like her when she was your age." Jason tells her.
"You always say that Uncle Jase." She says crossing her arms.
"Yeah, but its true. You have the exact personality as your mom. And you will never forget that because she passed it onto you." He says putting his arm around her.
"It's just not fair." She says crying a bit. "I don't understand why she had to die. Its just not fair. Why my mom?" She says.
"It was." Jason begins, but is cut off.
"Yes, I know it was her time, but I don't understand why it had to be." She raises her voice.
"No one ever knows why, it just happens kid, and your right its not fair" We all jump a bit and turn to see where the voice is coming from. "You know what though? You are your mother. Uncle Rocky and Jason are right." Tommy says.
"I miss her daddy." Jordan says, getting up from the couch and walking over to him.
"I do too Jordan." Tommy says. By this point Jordan has lost it. She is crying. Tommy kneels and hugs her. Jason and I get up and walk out feeling that they have to talk before re-entering the area where Kim is laying.
The ceremony was beautiful, but sad. Aisha, Trini and Jason gave the eulogies. Then it was time for the cemetery. Though sunny, there was a breeze that made it a bit chilly. Everyone put the flowers on the coffin, and walked out. That was it. She was gone forever. With one last glace over all of our shoulders; we left for Tommy's house. That was the last tragedy we had for a while in our group, thank God. I don't think we could have handled another one like that; this one took us too long to get over. All the stages of grief set in just like it had with Adam. Now, instead of one grave, I had 2 too visit in that cemetery. I remember praying that I would have no more for a long time.
My thoughts are shaken after hearing the door open and my wife comes in with a smile on her face. "How was the movie?" I ask her.
"It was cute. I enjoyed it." She says, sitting down on the couch next to me. "Oh and guess what, tomorrow Luke is going to bring over the baby." She says. Luke is Julia's oldest child. He is now 24.
"Oh great. I can't wait to see her." I say. I haven't seen my great- granddaughter yet. She was 2 weeks old now. Her name was Hailey Anne.
"Me neither. It will be great to have a baby here again." She says to me.
"Yes it will be." I say.
"My gosh, have you ever wondered where the years have gone Rocco?" She asks me.
"All the time. I was thinking about everything that has happened over the years these past few days. They all seem like they happened yesterday, but Adams been dead for about 60 years, Kimberly about 45 years."
"Has it been that long? My gosh." She says opening the newspaper. The time has gone quickly, almost too quickly. I remember my mother saying 'Take one day at a time, because it goes way too quickly.' And I just shook my head at her and said,
'It won't go quick. It's so long away!' Well its not so long now is it?
TBC
Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate getting them!