Disclaimer: The Power Rangers belong to Saban, yada yada yada.
Authors Note: Here's the thing. I had about 5 more chapters that were ready to be uploaded and posted, but the computer decided that it wanted to die. So it did. Yeah. So now, I have this new, wonderful machine, but I don't have my chapters. I was patient enough to re-write this one, but I wasn't very happy. Unfortunately, it's going to take a lot longer than expected to get all of this up and posted, so I apologize to all the anticipating readers (thanks, pinkK.whiteT). I'll try my very best to work quickly. So now, without further adieu, I give you chapter three.
The Visitor, and some Words of Truth
Ernie watched from behind the bar as the tight group of high school friends sat at their usual table and enjoyed Kat's surprise going-away cake. Picking up a dish towel and a rinsed smoothie glass, he resumed drying dishes. Looking up at the sudden steps of hurried feet, his eyes spotted a tall man dressed formally in a suit and tie who carried a travel bag in one hand, and what seemed like an address book in the other. Ernie noticed the man approach the bar, leafing through the pages of the address book. "Excuse me sir... Is there something I can help you with?"
The man raised his eyes from the book to the Juice Bar owner. "Oh, yes. Perhaps you can. I'm Steve Hart. You may remember my niece, Kimberly?"
Only a few feet away, Tommy's curiosity perked at the mention of Kim. He turned in his chair to see whom Ernie was talking with.
Ernie set down his towel and glass once more. "Why sure I do. I couldn't forget such a sweet girl. How can I help you?"
"Well, I'm looking for Tommy Oliver." Tommy excused himself from the table, where the other four teens were now interested in the conversation between the two men as well. "I called his house this morning, but his mother mentioned that he might be here. Have you seen him around?"
Ernie smiled. "Of course. Here he comes now. Tommy, this is Mr. Hart, Kimberly's uncle!" Ernie announced with enthusiasm. Tommy and Mr. Hart shook hands, and Ernie excused himself from the conversation. "Well, I've got to put these glasses away. It was nice to meet you, Steve."
"Likewise." Mr. Hart raised a hand to Ernie, and then turned to Tommy. "I don't know if you remember me..."
"I do. You wanted to speak with me?" Tommy became a little concerned. "Is...is Kim okay?"
Mr. Hart chuckled at Tommy's wrinkled brow. "Oh, she's fine. She's flying in from Florida tomorrow -I guess her coach gave the team a month off- and I promised to pick her up from the Angel Grove Airport, until I was notified that a business partner needed my help on a trip in Russia. I've got to catch a plane myself in-" he stopped to check his wrist watch. "-about an hour and a half! To make a long story short, I've got a favor to ask you. Would it be possible for you to pick her up for me? You'd be doing me a tremendous favor. We have no other relatives here, and I wouldn't feel safe getting her a cab. I know you two had some sort of fall out; I spoke to her on the phone just yesterday. I informed her about the substitute pick-up, but I didn't tell her who it was. I'm really sorry things didn't work out between you. But again, it would be great if you could help me out. I could pay for your gas, or anything else-" Tommy managed to cut Mr. Hart off, although he was speaking at a rather fast pace.
"It's okay, Mr. Hart. I'd be happy to pick Kim up from the airport," Tommy looked happy on the outside, but inside, his feelings were very mixed. Mr. Hart sighed with relief. "That's wonderful, Tommy. You're a good man. It's no wonder Kim was so fond of you," He stopped when Tommy gave a sad shrug. "Well, I better get going. Her plane should land some time around 4:30 p.m. Again, I can't thank you enough." He replaced his address book into his back pocket, and then looked as if he remembered something. "Oh, and one more thing. She'll be staying at my house, not too far from the park. Could you give her this when you drop her off?"From his pocket, he pulled out a silver house key and rested it in Tommy's open hand.
"Sure thing, Mr. Hart." He smiled slightly.
"Alright. Thank you again, Tommy." He began for the exit, and called out from the hall. "And tell Kimberly I said hello!" Then he was gone.
Looking at the key in his hand, Tommy dragged his feet back to the table with the others. They all looked curious.
"What was that about, Tommy? Is everything okay? Who was that man?" Who else but Katherine would speak first. She leaned in closer to her friend.
Tommy spoke plainly, looking a bit pale. "That was Kim's uncle Steve." He paused and looked up to meet the other's faces, then his eyes darted his napkin. "She's coming home."
The others exchanged glances. Adam was the next to speak. "What did her uncle want?"
Tommy blinked, and fiddled with the key which was now on the table top. "He asked me to pick her up from the airport tomorrow. He's got some meeting to go to..."
Tanya was a bit confused. "Well, isn't that good?" She turned to Kat. "Wasn't she the one who gave you her powers?" Kat nodded once, never looking away from Tommy. She watched as he raised himself from the table.
"I think I'm going to head home, guys. I'll catch you all tomorrow." With that, he left the juice Bar.
Tanya looked at Adam and Rocky. "Was it something I said?"
Rocky responded. "It's a long story, Tanya." He turned to Adam briefly, and then to Kat.
"I'll go see if I can cheer him up." Kat excused herself as well, and followed Tommy's trail.
Once Kat was out of earshot, Rocky went on. "Tanya, do you remember that letter Tommy got from Florida?"
* * *
Kat descended the steps in front of the Youth Center and stopped to scan for Tommy. She found him trudging along a path in the park not to far from where she stood. She jogged over to his side.
"Hey. You left in a hurry. Are you all right?" Her eyes wandered all over Tommy's somber face.
"I'm okay, just a little nervous, I guess." He didn't make eye contact with anything but his shoes, but stopped to talk with the blonde. "What am I supposed to do? I don't know what to say to her, but I can't pretend nothing happened."
"You don't have to. When the time feels right, just ask her about it. You deserve a better explanation. She can't deny you that." She rested a hand on his arm.
"Yeah, I know. But it's weird. It's like, until one of us is brave enough to say something... I don't know. I don't like the fact that we won't be able to look at each other and feel comfortable anymore." He sighed and shook his head, then looked at Kat. "I really miss her."
She lowered her gaze. "I know you do." She looked back at him. "You two will work things out. You had a strong connection, and nothing as simple as a letter can keep you apart for too long." She flashed a fake smile, and then observed the grass sprouting from a crack in the sidewalk path.
Tommy felt Kat's sudden discomfort, and took a step closer. "Kat, I know I haven't exactly been honest with you lately, about... well, about how I feel." She met his gaze with a raised eyebrow. "You are a really special person, and I'm glad we've become the close friends we are. I've always thought about maybe reaching a next level, but my feelings aren't strong enough. I guess what I'm trying to say is-"
"You've always held on to the slight chance that Kimberly would come home and you could be together again. I know." She shrugged her shoulders and placed her hands in her pockets. Tommy looked at her with sorry eyes. "I couldn't imagine a more perfect couple than you and Kimberly, to be completely honest. There were some times when I wished that I could be the one holding your hand, or walking alone with you along the lake shore..." She shook her head and looked down. "But now, it's as if, I dunno, the feeling has completely gone. When I was under the spell, I felt a sort of competition between Kim and myself, but as soon as she entrusted me with her powers, all jealousy and false hatred disappeared. I knew that I still felt something for you, but it wasn't so strong. Sure, I still like you, more than you would know, but I can't interfere with destiny,and Kimberly is surely yours." She smiled gently, her gleaming eyes comforting her friend. Before she could say anything more, Tommy placed his hands on her shoulders, and leaned in, planting an innocent kiss on her cheek. Touching it with her fingertips, Kat now looked to Tommy with shock.
"That's for being so understanding." Tommy smiled easily now. "I don't think I could trade our friendship for anything else in the world, Kat. It's stronger than what we share with the others, and it'll always be there to help us get back on our feet at the worst of times. Thank you." She said nothing, but instead stood with watery eyes and a caring smile. "Well, I'm going to head on home. I'll see you at the Juice Bar tomorrow." He left her in the park, where she stood still touching the side of her face.
'I did the right thing,' she told herself. 'Tommy needs Kim, and she needs him. It's the only way he can ever be at his happiest'. Lowering her arm to her side, she walked back to the Juice Bar with a sigh and tearing eyes.
Authors Note: Here's the thing. I had about 5 more chapters that were ready to be uploaded and posted, but the computer decided that it wanted to die. So it did. Yeah. So now, I have this new, wonderful machine, but I don't have my chapters. I was patient enough to re-write this one, but I wasn't very happy. Unfortunately, it's going to take a lot longer than expected to get all of this up and posted, so I apologize to all the anticipating readers (thanks, pinkK.whiteT). I'll try my very best to work quickly. So now, without further adieu, I give you chapter three.
The Visitor, and some Words of Truth
Ernie watched from behind the bar as the tight group of high school friends sat at their usual table and enjoyed Kat's surprise going-away cake. Picking up a dish towel and a rinsed smoothie glass, he resumed drying dishes. Looking up at the sudden steps of hurried feet, his eyes spotted a tall man dressed formally in a suit and tie who carried a travel bag in one hand, and what seemed like an address book in the other. Ernie noticed the man approach the bar, leafing through the pages of the address book. "Excuse me sir... Is there something I can help you with?"
The man raised his eyes from the book to the Juice Bar owner. "Oh, yes. Perhaps you can. I'm Steve Hart. You may remember my niece, Kimberly?"
Only a few feet away, Tommy's curiosity perked at the mention of Kim. He turned in his chair to see whom Ernie was talking with.
Ernie set down his towel and glass once more. "Why sure I do. I couldn't forget such a sweet girl. How can I help you?"
"Well, I'm looking for Tommy Oliver." Tommy excused himself from the table, where the other four teens were now interested in the conversation between the two men as well. "I called his house this morning, but his mother mentioned that he might be here. Have you seen him around?"
Ernie smiled. "Of course. Here he comes now. Tommy, this is Mr. Hart, Kimberly's uncle!" Ernie announced with enthusiasm. Tommy and Mr. Hart shook hands, and Ernie excused himself from the conversation. "Well, I've got to put these glasses away. It was nice to meet you, Steve."
"Likewise." Mr. Hart raised a hand to Ernie, and then turned to Tommy. "I don't know if you remember me..."
"I do. You wanted to speak with me?" Tommy became a little concerned. "Is...is Kim okay?"
Mr. Hart chuckled at Tommy's wrinkled brow. "Oh, she's fine. She's flying in from Florida tomorrow -I guess her coach gave the team a month off- and I promised to pick her up from the Angel Grove Airport, until I was notified that a business partner needed my help on a trip in Russia. I've got to catch a plane myself in-" he stopped to check his wrist watch. "-about an hour and a half! To make a long story short, I've got a favor to ask you. Would it be possible for you to pick her up for me? You'd be doing me a tremendous favor. We have no other relatives here, and I wouldn't feel safe getting her a cab. I know you two had some sort of fall out; I spoke to her on the phone just yesterday. I informed her about the substitute pick-up, but I didn't tell her who it was. I'm really sorry things didn't work out between you. But again, it would be great if you could help me out. I could pay for your gas, or anything else-" Tommy managed to cut Mr. Hart off, although he was speaking at a rather fast pace.
"It's okay, Mr. Hart. I'd be happy to pick Kim up from the airport," Tommy looked happy on the outside, but inside, his feelings were very mixed. Mr. Hart sighed with relief. "That's wonderful, Tommy. You're a good man. It's no wonder Kim was so fond of you," He stopped when Tommy gave a sad shrug. "Well, I better get going. Her plane should land some time around 4:30 p.m. Again, I can't thank you enough." He replaced his address book into his back pocket, and then looked as if he remembered something. "Oh, and one more thing. She'll be staying at my house, not too far from the park. Could you give her this when you drop her off?"From his pocket, he pulled out a silver house key and rested it in Tommy's open hand.
"Sure thing, Mr. Hart." He smiled slightly.
"Alright. Thank you again, Tommy." He began for the exit, and called out from the hall. "And tell Kimberly I said hello!" Then he was gone.
Looking at the key in his hand, Tommy dragged his feet back to the table with the others. They all looked curious.
"What was that about, Tommy? Is everything okay? Who was that man?" Who else but Katherine would speak first. She leaned in closer to her friend.
Tommy spoke plainly, looking a bit pale. "That was Kim's uncle Steve." He paused and looked up to meet the other's faces, then his eyes darted his napkin. "She's coming home."
The others exchanged glances. Adam was the next to speak. "What did her uncle want?"
Tommy blinked, and fiddled with the key which was now on the table top. "He asked me to pick her up from the airport tomorrow. He's got some meeting to go to..."
Tanya was a bit confused. "Well, isn't that good?" She turned to Kat. "Wasn't she the one who gave you her powers?" Kat nodded once, never looking away from Tommy. She watched as he raised himself from the table.
"I think I'm going to head home, guys. I'll catch you all tomorrow." With that, he left the juice Bar.
Tanya looked at Adam and Rocky. "Was it something I said?"
Rocky responded. "It's a long story, Tanya." He turned to Adam briefly, and then to Kat.
"I'll go see if I can cheer him up." Kat excused herself as well, and followed Tommy's trail.
Once Kat was out of earshot, Rocky went on. "Tanya, do you remember that letter Tommy got from Florida?"
* * *
Kat descended the steps in front of the Youth Center and stopped to scan for Tommy. She found him trudging along a path in the park not to far from where she stood. She jogged over to his side.
"Hey. You left in a hurry. Are you all right?" Her eyes wandered all over Tommy's somber face.
"I'm okay, just a little nervous, I guess." He didn't make eye contact with anything but his shoes, but stopped to talk with the blonde. "What am I supposed to do? I don't know what to say to her, but I can't pretend nothing happened."
"You don't have to. When the time feels right, just ask her about it. You deserve a better explanation. She can't deny you that." She rested a hand on his arm.
"Yeah, I know. But it's weird. It's like, until one of us is brave enough to say something... I don't know. I don't like the fact that we won't be able to look at each other and feel comfortable anymore." He sighed and shook his head, then looked at Kat. "I really miss her."
She lowered her gaze. "I know you do." She looked back at him. "You two will work things out. You had a strong connection, and nothing as simple as a letter can keep you apart for too long." She flashed a fake smile, and then observed the grass sprouting from a crack in the sidewalk path.
Tommy felt Kat's sudden discomfort, and took a step closer. "Kat, I know I haven't exactly been honest with you lately, about... well, about how I feel." She met his gaze with a raised eyebrow. "You are a really special person, and I'm glad we've become the close friends we are. I've always thought about maybe reaching a next level, but my feelings aren't strong enough. I guess what I'm trying to say is-"
"You've always held on to the slight chance that Kimberly would come home and you could be together again. I know." She shrugged her shoulders and placed her hands in her pockets. Tommy looked at her with sorry eyes. "I couldn't imagine a more perfect couple than you and Kimberly, to be completely honest. There were some times when I wished that I could be the one holding your hand, or walking alone with you along the lake shore..." She shook her head and looked down. "But now, it's as if, I dunno, the feeling has completely gone. When I was under the spell, I felt a sort of competition between Kim and myself, but as soon as she entrusted me with her powers, all jealousy and false hatred disappeared. I knew that I still felt something for you, but it wasn't so strong. Sure, I still like you, more than you would know, but I can't interfere with destiny,and Kimberly is surely yours." She smiled gently, her gleaming eyes comforting her friend. Before she could say anything more, Tommy placed his hands on her shoulders, and leaned in, planting an innocent kiss on her cheek. Touching it with her fingertips, Kat now looked to Tommy with shock.
"That's for being so understanding." Tommy smiled easily now. "I don't think I could trade our friendship for anything else in the world, Kat. It's stronger than what we share with the others, and it'll always be there to help us get back on our feet at the worst of times. Thank you." She said nothing, but instead stood with watery eyes and a caring smile. "Well, I'm going to head on home. I'll see you at the Juice Bar tomorrow." He left her in the park, where she stood still touching the side of her face.
'I did the right thing,' she told herself. 'Tommy needs Kim, and she needs him. It's the only way he can ever be at his happiest'. Lowering her arm to her side, she walked back to the Juice Bar with a sigh and tearing eyes.