AUTHOR'S NOTE Okay, this one is winding down soon. Some pretty
serious things are going to start happening over the next few chapters.
I'm hoping you guys have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing
it. I do have a question for anyone out there who might know the answer.
I'm looking for a specific fanfic set in the ZEO era. I don't know the name
or the author (Yeah I know that doesn't leave much to go on). The basic plot
behind it was that when Jason came back as the Gold Ranger Billy was in pretty
bad shape emotionally and physically. He and Tommy had a major fight over
how the other rangers had been treating Billy, and Jase points out
to him that when they were the Morphin Rangers, each Ranger took care of
their own Zord. I'm trying to find it, but can't. If anyone could
help me I would appreciate it.
Kevin smiled over at Jase, as the two put the dishes away after supper. As was their habit that had grown over the past year, they spent every Wednesday night at Jase's house. First it was supper- just he, Jase, and Trini Anne- then the dishes, and then a couple of hours of board games. Kevin understood what Jase was trying to do- he was trying, and succeeding, in getting the young girl to accept the idea that there was someone else in his life. He knew that Jase had no idea how good that made him feel. "What?" Jase asked.
Kevin chuckled and replied, "I was jut thinking that this last couple of years has really been pleasant."
Jase smiled back at him, "I know." Then he gave Kevin an even look, but the twinkle in his eye was pretty made it clear that Jase was teasing. He said, "You know we were set up don't you?"
Kevin gave him a confused look, "What do you mean?"
"Trini Anne, and Jay," Jase said. "They set us up. Sort of kept trying to push us together until one of us asked the other out."
Kevin raised an eyebrow. He had always wondered why the girl had been so accepting of his relationship with her father. "As a matter of the fact I didn't." He looked past Jase into toward the living room where Trini was getting out the Risk game. He'd noticed lately, that Trini had been showing an interest in strategy games over the usual board games they started the year off with. She'd even gone so far as to borrow Rocky's copy of Axis and Allies and Fortress Europa. "But to be honest with you, I wouldn't be surprised." He smiled at Jason, "Did I tell you that when she was in the hospital, she asked me if I had a partner? Not did I have a wife, but did I have a partner."
The look of surprise and chagrin on Jase's face was both amused and somewhat scandalized. "She was planning on setting us up from the beginning?" he asked.
Kevin smiled, "I think so. That girl has one keen set of gaydar."
"I'm not sure how I feel about that," Jase said.
"Don't worry, Jase." He looked past her, "I don't think you have to worry about her. I think she's sort of got her bonnet set for Jay."
Jase chuckled, "I'm not sure that makes me feel any better."
Before Kevin could reply, Jason's ears seemed to prick up. He too thought he'd heard an old familiar tune. An instant later, Trini came into the room carrying a notebook, "Dad, I just remembered, I have to take some notes from chemistry over to Jay's before it gets too late. I won't be out long."
Kevin and Jase looked at each other. "Uh okay, honey. Be careful."
Trini bounced up and kissed both men on the cheek before heading out the door. Jase noticed he never heard the sound of her jeep starting up. He looked over at Kevin and asked in awe, "Did what I think happened, just happen?"
Kevin chuckled, "I think s…, shit!" So awed by the circumstances surrounding Trini's departure, his grip on the glass he was drying slipped. He reached for it as it tumbled from his hand to hit the side of the granite counter top. Quickly he readjusted his aim to try to catch the wandering drinking container, only to have its pieces slice into his palm.
Jason's smile quickly turned to concern as he came over and looked at the gash in Kevin's hand. "It's all right Jase. My monster healing factor should take care of it." He put his hand under the running water to wash the blood away, only to see that it WASN'T healing.
"I wish you wouldn't call it that," Jase said coming up behind him.
Kevin shrugged, "It's what it is isn't it?"
Jason pulled him into a strong embraced and said, "No. It's a gift you have. You are NOT a monster."
Kevin chuckled as he looked at his still bleeding palm. "You may be right." He winced and pulled the piece of glass from his hand. "It doesn't seem to be healing."
"Let me see," Jason took Kevin's hand in his own and looked at it closely. "I thought you healed almost immediately?"
"I do," Kevin said. "Not that I've needed it much lately."
"Well, you're not healing now." Jason looked the wound. He smiled, "I guess you're just going to be stuck healing the old fashion way like the rest of us mere mortals."
Kevin looked at his hand wondering, "You may be right."
Trini teleported into the Power Center deep beneath the surface of Angel Grove. "What's the emergency, Scorpina?" she asked.
The lithe Asian woman looked at her and half smiled, half scowled, "I've asked you not to call me that Trini. I'm no longer that person. Please call me Tabitha."
Trini smiled, "I know. I just like to tease you." She looked around as the other Rangers teleported in. "What's up?"
"I've been getting some strange readings from Lolth's lair. It looks like she's putting together an assault team. I want you five to be on your guard. We don't know what she's got planned but I've got a bad feeling about it."
"Any clues to…," Aiden began
"… what she's up to?" Alex finished.
Tabitha grinned at the Black and Yellow Rangers, "Not yet boys. I'm still watching. I think she's planning a major assault though."
"Great," Mina said. "We've got a major family gathering this weekend. If she attacks then it would be a major disaster."
"Trust me, I know," Tabitha smiled and told the Pink Ranger. "When I was on the other side of this war, we used to plan these things to be as inconvenient as possible."
"You think the Spider Queen may try to do the same?" Jay asked.
"Count on it," Tabitha told him. "She can track you by your Power Crystals, and trust me, she's been watching you."
Trini groaned. "Just great, right when I've about got my dad convinced to actually go, we get news like this."
"What do you mean, convinced him to go?" Jay asked. "He never misses the picnic."
Trini looked at Jay carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was upset her blue clad friend, especially with what seemed to be building between them, but there really was no hiding what had been going on between her dad and Mr. Oliver lately. "He doesn't want to go without Kevin, uh… Dr. Carstonn."
Jay just shrugged, "So? Why can't Dr. Carstonn come?"
Mina stepped in to save her team leader, "Because when Uncle Tommy and Dr. Carstonn get around each other, you can cut the tension with a knife. I don't think Dr. Carstonn feels comfortable around your dad, Jay," the smile on her face combined with the tone of her voice made it clear that there was no condemnation in her voice.
Jay shook his head, "Dad wouldn't HURT Dr. Carstonn," he protested. He shook his head, and then looked guiltily over at Trini Anne. He hadn't failed to notice the ice in his father's eyes when ever Uncle Jason's date was discussed. "I just think he doesn't trust him for some reason."
"Why do you think that is?" Tabitha asked.
Jay shrugged, "I dunno." He sighed, "I think it has something to do with Uncle Billy." Jay promised himself two years ago that he wasn't going to walk on eggshells about Trini's deceased parent. It hurt his mom and Uncle Jason too much to think that nobody wanted to talk about the man.
Tabitha just nodded, and Trini got the feeling that she knew more than she was letting on. Finally, trying to lighten the mood she said, "But I think I got him convinced to come." Looking over at Mina she quickly added, "Both of them."
The Pink Ranger smiled at her, "Good. I LIKE Dr. Carstonn."
Trini smiled, "So do I." She blushed deeply remembering her father looking at a set of gold bands at the jewelry store last week, "I think they're thinking of making it official soon."
"That's great news!" Mina said, patting his friend on the back.
"Yeah," Aiden said coming up behind the Pink Ranger and putting an arm around her waist. Trini couldn't help but notice the strange look his twin gave him. She wondered how they would react to one or the other of them starting to take an interest in girls. Poor Alex was suddenly left out of the mix. Laughing to herself, she thought, I guess we're just going to have to get ourselves a sixth Ranger.
"Okay children, I just wanted to let you know to be on the lookout. You'd better get back home before your parents miss you."
"Sure, Tabitha," Alex said giving Mina a less than friendly look. "Maybe we DO need to get home."
"Trini," Tabitha said, "stay a minute."
"Yes, ma'am." Trini nodded as the others teleported out.
"What can I do for you, Tabitha?" she asked.
Tabitha sat down in one of the chairs at the console and bade Trini to take the other. "Two things really. One is your personal life which is none of my business but I'm going to ask anyway. The other, however has to do with the team."
Trini smiled and took a seat across from her Mentor. "Okay, let's take care of team business first. What's up?"
Tabitha smiled at her professionalism. It was hard to believe she was only sixteen years old. She was doing a good job of stepping into her father's shoes. "You might want to keep an eye on Alex," she said. "I don't think he's too happy right now."
Trini thought about it, "You mean about being jealous of Mina?"
Tabitha nodded, "Yeah, I'm afraid he might see her as trying to come between him and his brother."
Trini nodded, "Yeah, I know. I guess we're just going to have to find him a girlfriend."
Tabitha chuckled, "That might be hard. Rangers tend to date Rangers. It's easier that way."
"How do you know about Rangers dating Rangers?" Trini asked.
Tabitha smiled, "Because I watched what went on between the first Green and Pink Rangers. Then I watched as other Rangers paired off."
"You KNOW who the original Rangers were?" Trini asked.
Tabitha nodded with a strange smile, "Of course. I've even been keeping an eye on one or two of them since I switched sides after the Golden Wave."
"Huh?" Trini asked.
"Long story. Let's just say, I've had an interest in making sure one or two of the former Rangers were safe and happy for a long time."
Trini dropped her gaze to look at her mentor through lidded eyes, "You're not going to tell me who they were are you?"
Tabitha shook her head, "No, I'm not. They've served their time, and they don't need to be pestered by the new team. Besides, if I did that, I would have to tell them your identities, and I don't think you would like that."
Trini smiled, "Okay. What about the second thing?"
Tabitha leaned back in her chair and frowned at herself before continuing. "Like I said, it's your personal life, so if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to."
"Go on," Trini said evenly.
Tabitha sighed and leaned forward in her chair, locking gazes with her Red Ranger, "How do you feel about your dad and Dr. Carstonn getting married?"
Trini gave her a confused look before saying, "I'm thrilled about it. I didn't go to all that trouble to push those two together two years ago, just to be whimsical. I think they're good for each other, and it's about time that Daddy let Dad go."
"That's kind of harsh, Trini," Tabitha told her.
Trini shrugged, "I never knew him," she said. "I would have liked to have known him, but I never got the chance. I do love him, but it's in an abstract sort of way. People keep telling me I'm a lot like him, but I don't know. What can I say about something with which I have no experience? I know Daddy though, and he deserves to be happy, and I think Kevin makes him happy."
"How do you feel about Kevin then? Do you think he might be trying to take Billy's place? Does that bother you?"
Trini smiled and shook her head sadly, "How can he take somebody's place who was never there? I'm not my dad, or Uncle Zack, or Aunt Trini, or Aunt Kim or Mr. Oliver. I didn't know him, so there's no place to take. He's made his own place in my life. One I'd like to see there more often."
"How about your friends? How do they feel knowing your dad's gay?" Tabitha asked.
"You think they'd be my friends if it was a problem?" Trini asked. There was a fierceness in her voice. "My Daddy has been father, mother, and grandfather for me. He hasn't had it easy, I know that. He's been lonely, and there's always been a little sadness to him. If ANY of my friends had a problem with him being happy, then they wouldn't be a friend of mine. However, I DO know for a fact, that Jay and the rest of the gang are as happy as I am about it."
Tabitha leaned back in her chair with a smile, "Okay, I believe you." She chuckled and locked gazes with Tabitha again. Now it was time to test the real strength of this team. She had no illusions about what was building between Tommy and Jason, and she wasn't happy that her friend was going to be caught in the middle of it. She was even less happy that it could rip her Ranger Team apart. "What do you think Jay will do if your father and his have a falling out about Kevin?"
Trini shrugged, "I don't think Jay would let it come between us," she blushed. "I know I wouldn't want it to." She sighed, "But still, he's my Dad, and Mr. Oliver is his dad. I just hope we can work through it."
"I'm sure you can," Tabitha told her, hoping for the best. Whatever was building wasn't a good thing, and she wasn't sure the Rangers could weather it. Not when families were involved.
Kevin sat back on the couch with Jason with his hand bandaged. Jason seemed worried that his healing factor hadn't kicked in. How could he explain it to his lover that he thought this was a good thing, that it meant he was moving away from being a monster created by Zedd to destroy the Rangers, to being a human being. Smiling at the concerned look on Jase's face, he said, "Don't worry about it Jase. It's already stopped bleeding."
"I just don't like surprises, Kevin," Jason told him.
Kevin raised an eyebrow, "Are you upset about the cut or what we heard before Trini left?" He smiled again, "The cut will heal."
"How is it that you know me so well after only two years?" Jason asked.
"Because I still have eight years of memories before that." He shook his head, "To be honest Jason, the only gaps in my memories of what you and Billy shared come from my creation forward. I still remember the same things he did. I remember the hiking trip in Angel Grove Forest that went so bad. I remember when we got stranded on that island." He smiled wickedly, "I even remember switching bodies with Kimberly. I know they didn't happen to me, to this body, but I remember as if they did."
Jason chuckled at him, "I know. It's still a little strange every now and again." He leaned forward, "You know I love you for who you are, not because of who you were, don't you?"
Kevin smiled. This was something Jason was worried about. He was afraid that Kevin would think Jase only stayed with him because he was Billy's clone. Kevin knew the dark eyed man better than that. It was nice that he shared Billy's history, and he wished he could let the others know that he did so, but he also realized that he wasn't Billy, and he knew that Jase knew that too. "Of course I know that. That's one of the reasons it was so easy to fall back in love with you."
Jason nodded, "Good, because there's something I want to ask you."
Kevin smiled, "What love?"
Jason grinned, and wiped his palms on the legs of his jeans. He took a deep breath as if steeling himself, reached over and took Kevin's hand and smiled. "Would you be willing to make our relationship legal? Do you want to stand up with me in front of all our friends and pledge forever?"
Kevin could see the look of hope in Jason's eyes. Kevin wanted this so bad he could taste it. He'd wanted it since he broke Zedd's spell. But he wasn't fooling himself. There was still something standing in his way. Something that had to be dealt with before they could do that. Smiling up at Jason he said, "I want it more than you can know Jase."
Jason could hear the unspoken "but" in his voice. He voiced it, "But?"
"There's something you have to do first. You have to get things worked out with you and Tommy first. I won't be party to breaking up your friendship."
Jason shook his head, "Kevin, you're not breaking up our friendship. Tommy's being an ass. He was an ass about Billy and he's being an ass about you."
Kevin shook his head, "You never told me what happened between you and Tommy that caused this rift. I gather that after Billy died it healed somewhat, but I never knew what caused it."
Jason raised an eyebrow. During the whole time they'd been dating, Kevin had never pried into what had caused him and Tommy to fight. Jason got the feeling that Kevin was waiting on him to tell him in his own time. "Do you want to know?"
Kevin gave him an even look, "Not if it would open old wounds."
Jase shook his head, "The wounds are already reopened, Kevin. Telling you won't make a difference. It might help you understand why I was so angry too."
"Okay, if you want to I'd like to know," Kevin said. "My last memories of Tommy were pleasant. I can't imagine him becoming so harsh."
Jase sat back in on the couch and began, "It started not long after Billy got back from Aquitar and took up his duties as coadjutor in Power Chamber- after I'd left the team to heal from what the Gold Powers had done to me. I got a call from Adam saying Billy had fallen from Tommy's 'zord. That he was in critical condition at Angel Grove General."
Jason sighed and leaned forward again, rubbing his hands against his temples. He hadn't lied when he'd told Kevin that these wounds had been reopened. In some ways they were still fresh, made fresh again, by Tommy's repeat performance of how he'd acted back then. "I'd gone to the hospital to see Billy, to make sure he was still alive, that he was GOING to be alive. I guess I was starting to realize that what I felt for him was more than just a little brother, that if he died, that my world would turn to ashes."
He smiled again, looking up. "Later, after we'd finally crossed the line from friends to lovers, I told him that. He just smiled. Sometimes I think that's why he gave in to Mom so easily about children. I think he might have suspected he was dying and he wanted to make sure I had a reason to live- not to follow him."
Kevin just smiled. That sounded like something he'd do in that situation, and God knows that was as close enough endorsement for the idea as you could get. "Go on. You were telling me about after the hospital."
Jase nodded his head, "I wanted to know what had happened. I was pissed off. I'd already talked to Adam, and according to him, outside of him and Kat, the rest of the Rangers hadn't even come to the hospital."
"I find that a little hard to believe of Aisha and Rocky," Kevin said.
Jason shrugged, "Rocky and I talked about it. He said that he'd been a couple of times, but hadn't told anyone. He'd started to realize what had been happening and was feeling guilty about it."
"What had happened?" Kevin asked.
"Mondo had just kept pushing and pushing. The Rangers were still in High School so they had that stress. Billy had graduated early, and had pretty much taken up residence in the Command Center. It seemed that the more battles the Rangers fought, the more they needed what little free time they could get to finish their studies or just unwind. What nobody stopped to consider was that the less they did of their own maintenance, the more that was left for Billy to do."
"Seems reasonable," Kevin said. "Billy could have said something."
Jason nodded, "I know that now. But anyway, Tommy was at the time hot in pursuit of Kat, and the other Rangers had all their other responsibilities, and they just figured Billy would handle it." Jason shook his head at the memory. "I checked the work log in the 'Zord bay from when Billy had fallen. "He'd gone into the Bay on Friday morning. According to the computers, he'd worked straight through until he collapsed on Sunday afternoon." Jason looked steadily over at Kevin, "Do you know where the other Rangers were?"
Kevin shook his head, "At home resting I guess."
Jason chuckled bitterly, "They were on a campout at Billy's uncle's resort. The only reason they found out he fell was because Alpha found him."
Kevin shook his head, mentally forcing himself to stay neutral in this. He told himself that Billy should have called for help, but he understood where he wouldn't have. Finally, he said, "That's harsh."
"When I found that out, I hit the roof. I found Tommy in the 'Zord bay cussing because his 'Zord wasn't repaired. I lost it. We fought. We said some pretty harsh words to each other. I accused him of trying to kill Billy, of being lazy." Jason sighed. "I really shouldn't have tried to talk to him when I was so angry, but I couldn't help it. Billy could have died from that fall."
Kevin could see the tears starting to well up in Jase's eyes. "Jase, you don't have to go on if you don't want to."
Jase just shook his head, "Tommy said he didn't realize Billy had been working that hard. That he thought that since he wasn't in school and didn't have to out actually BE a Ranger, he could get it all done. Then he made some comment about over estimating Billy's abilities and I almost hit him. I told him exactly what I thought of him as a leader, as a person, and as a man."
"I bet that went over like a load of bricks," Kevin said.
Jason smiled, "You guessed it. He came back at me. Told me exactly how glad he was the Billy wasn't a Ranger anymore. How he was glad he didn't have to watch out for him, to protect him in battle anymore, that he was worse than Kimberly. He said that geeks with brains were a dime a dozen, but fighters, real Rangers were rare."
"I can't believe Tom would say something like that," Kevin said.
"I guess he was still hurting from the letter Kim had sent. It was a low blow, and I told him so," Jase said. "At that point he told me that if I was that worried about him, that I should come back and take over the team, or better yet marry him."
Kevin laughed. "So you did."
Jason smiled, "Yeah, I did." He sighed, "What I didn't realize, what I was too angry at the time to realize, is that Tommy was hurting too. He was blaming himself and my coming and sticking my nose into it just made it that much worse, so he lashed out at me, through Billy."
"So you took Billy back to LA with you?" Kevin asked.
Jason nodded, "And the rest is history." Leaning in to face Kevin he smiled, "Now about what I asked you?"
Kevin smiled, "Jason, I want to marry you so bad it makes my hair hurt," grinning he reached up to his receding hairline, "what's left of it that is."
"But?" Jason said.
Kevin grinned wryly as he looked down at his hand, and thought about what his lack of a healing factor meant. Suddenly coming to a decision, he smiled up at his lover and shook his head, "No buts, name the date."
Trini Anne slipped upstairs, her head and her heart in turmoil. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard her father tell Kevin. She was ecstatic about Kevin saying yes, but the story her father told. He'd been a Ranger? Uncle Adam and Aunt Kat were Rangers too? Even dad, Billy, had been a Ranger! Most startling of all, was that Kevin was some kind of clone- of her father no less! No wonder Tabitha chose them to be the Geoforce Rangers!
Kevin smiled over at Jase, as the two put the dishes away after supper. As was their habit that had grown over the past year, they spent every Wednesday night at Jase's house. First it was supper- just he, Jase, and Trini Anne- then the dishes, and then a couple of hours of board games. Kevin understood what Jase was trying to do- he was trying, and succeeding, in getting the young girl to accept the idea that there was someone else in his life. He knew that Jase had no idea how good that made him feel. "What?" Jase asked.
Kevin chuckled and replied, "I was jut thinking that this last couple of years has really been pleasant."
Jase smiled back at him, "I know." Then he gave Kevin an even look, but the twinkle in his eye was pretty made it clear that Jase was teasing. He said, "You know we were set up don't you?"
Kevin gave him a confused look, "What do you mean?"
"Trini Anne, and Jay," Jase said. "They set us up. Sort of kept trying to push us together until one of us asked the other out."
Kevin raised an eyebrow. He had always wondered why the girl had been so accepting of his relationship with her father. "As a matter of the fact I didn't." He looked past Jase into toward the living room where Trini was getting out the Risk game. He'd noticed lately, that Trini had been showing an interest in strategy games over the usual board games they started the year off with. She'd even gone so far as to borrow Rocky's copy of Axis and Allies and Fortress Europa. "But to be honest with you, I wouldn't be surprised." He smiled at Jason, "Did I tell you that when she was in the hospital, she asked me if I had a partner? Not did I have a wife, but did I have a partner."
The look of surprise and chagrin on Jase's face was both amused and somewhat scandalized. "She was planning on setting us up from the beginning?" he asked.
Kevin smiled, "I think so. That girl has one keen set of gaydar."
"I'm not sure how I feel about that," Jase said.
"Don't worry, Jase." He looked past her, "I don't think you have to worry about her. I think she's sort of got her bonnet set for Jay."
Jase chuckled, "I'm not sure that makes me feel any better."
Before Kevin could reply, Jason's ears seemed to prick up. He too thought he'd heard an old familiar tune. An instant later, Trini came into the room carrying a notebook, "Dad, I just remembered, I have to take some notes from chemistry over to Jay's before it gets too late. I won't be out long."
Kevin and Jase looked at each other. "Uh okay, honey. Be careful."
Trini bounced up and kissed both men on the cheek before heading out the door. Jase noticed he never heard the sound of her jeep starting up. He looked over at Kevin and asked in awe, "Did what I think happened, just happen?"
Kevin chuckled, "I think s…, shit!" So awed by the circumstances surrounding Trini's departure, his grip on the glass he was drying slipped. He reached for it as it tumbled from his hand to hit the side of the granite counter top. Quickly he readjusted his aim to try to catch the wandering drinking container, only to have its pieces slice into his palm.
Jason's smile quickly turned to concern as he came over and looked at the gash in Kevin's hand. "It's all right Jase. My monster healing factor should take care of it." He put his hand under the running water to wash the blood away, only to see that it WASN'T healing.
"I wish you wouldn't call it that," Jase said coming up behind him.
Kevin shrugged, "It's what it is isn't it?"
Jason pulled him into a strong embraced and said, "No. It's a gift you have. You are NOT a monster."
Kevin chuckled as he looked at his still bleeding palm. "You may be right." He winced and pulled the piece of glass from his hand. "It doesn't seem to be healing."
"Let me see," Jason took Kevin's hand in his own and looked at it closely. "I thought you healed almost immediately?"
"I do," Kevin said. "Not that I've needed it much lately."
"Well, you're not healing now." Jason looked the wound. He smiled, "I guess you're just going to be stuck healing the old fashion way like the rest of us mere mortals."
Kevin looked at his hand wondering, "You may be right."
Trini teleported into the Power Center deep beneath the surface of Angel Grove. "What's the emergency, Scorpina?" she asked.
The lithe Asian woman looked at her and half smiled, half scowled, "I've asked you not to call me that Trini. I'm no longer that person. Please call me Tabitha."
Trini smiled, "I know. I just like to tease you." She looked around as the other Rangers teleported in. "What's up?"
"I've been getting some strange readings from Lolth's lair. It looks like she's putting together an assault team. I want you five to be on your guard. We don't know what she's got planned but I've got a bad feeling about it."
"Any clues to…," Aiden began
"… what she's up to?" Alex finished.
Tabitha grinned at the Black and Yellow Rangers, "Not yet boys. I'm still watching. I think she's planning a major assault though."
"Great," Mina said. "We've got a major family gathering this weekend. If she attacks then it would be a major disaster."
"Trust me, I know," Tabitha smiled and told the Pink Ranger. "When I was on the other side of this war, we used to plan these things to be as inconvenient as possible."
"You think the Spider Queen may try to do the same?" Jay asked.
"Count on it," Tabitha told him. "She can track you by your Power Crystals, and trust me, she's been watching you."
Trini groaned. "Just great, right when I've about got my dad convinced to actually go, we get news like this."
"What do you mean, convinced him to go?" Jay asked. "He never misses the picnic."
Trini looked at Jay carefully. The last thing she wanted to do was upset her blue clad friend, especially with what seemed to be building between them, but there really was no hiding what had been going on between her dad and Mr. Oliver lately. "He doesn't want to go without Kevin, uh… Dr. Carstonn."
Jay just shrugged, "So? Why can't Dr. Carstonn come?"
Mina stepped in to save her team leader, "Because when Uncle Tommy and Dr. Carstonn get around each other, you can cut the tension with a knife. I don't think Dr. Carstonn feels comfortable around your dad, Jay," the smile on her face combined with the tone of her voice made it clear that there was no condemnation in her voice.
Jay shook his head, "Dad wouldn't HURT Dr. Carstonn," he protested. He shook his head, and then looked guiltily over at Trini Anne. He hadn't failed to notice the ice in his father's eyes when ever Uncle Jason's date was discussed. "I just think he doesn't trust him for some reason."
"Why do you think that is?" Tabitha asked.
Jay shrugged, "I dunno." He sighed, "I think it has something to do with Uncle Billy." Jay promised himself two years ago that he wasn't going to walk on eggshells about Trini's deceased parent. It hurt his mom and Uncle Jason too much to think that nobody wanted to talk about the man.
Tabitha just nodded, and Trini got the feeling that she knew more than she was letting on. Finally, trying to lighten the mood she said, "But I think I got him convinced to come." Looking over at Mina she quickly added, "Both of them."
The Pink Ranger smiled at her, "Good. I LIKE Dr. Carstonn."
Trini smiled, "So do I." She blushed deeply remembering her father looking at a set of gold bands at the jewelry store last week, "I think they're thinking of making it official soon."
"That's great news!" Mina said, patting his friend on the back.
"Yeah," Aiden said coming up behind the Pink Ranger and putting an arm around her waist. Trini couldn't help but notice the strange look his twin gave him. She wondered how they would react to one or the other of them starting to take an interest in girls. Poor Alex was suddenly left out of the mix. Laughing to herself, she thought, I guess we're just going to have to get ourselves a sixth Ranger.
"Okay children, I just wanted to let you know to be on the lookout. You'd better get back home before your parents miss you."
"Sure, Tabitha," Alex said giving Mina a less than friendly look. "Maybe we DO need to get home."
"Trini," Tabitha said, "stay a minute."
"Yes, ma'am." Trini nodded as the others teleported out.
"What can I do for you, Tabitha?" she asked.
Tabitha sat down in one of the chairs at the console and bade Trini to take the other. "Two things really. One is your personal life which is none of my business but I'm going to ask anyway. The other, however has to do with the team."
Trini smiled and took a seat across from her Mentor. "Okay, let's take care of team business first. What's up?"
Tabitha smiled at her professionalism. It was hard to believe she was only sixteen years old. She was doing a good job of stepping into her father's shoes. "You might want to keep an eye on Alex," she said. "I don't think he's too happy right now."
Trini thought about it, "You mean about being jealous of Mina?"
Tabitha nodded, "Yeah, I'm afraid he might see her as trying to come between him and his brother."
Trini nodded, "Yeah, I know. I guess we're just going to have to find him a girlfriend."
Tabitha chuckled, "That might be hard. Rangers tend to date Rangers. It's easier that way."
"How do you know about Rangers dating Rangers?" Trini asked.
Tabitha smiled, "Because I watched what went on between the first Green and Pink Rangers. Then I watched as other Rangers paired off."
"You KNOW who the original Rangers were?" Trini asked.
Tabitha nodded with a strange smile, "Of course. I've even been keeping an eye on one or two of them since I switched sides after the Golden Wave."
"Huh?" Trini asked.
"Long story. Let's just say, I've had an interest in making sure one or two of the former Rangers were safe and happy for a long time."
Trini dropped her gaze to look at her mentor through lidded eyes, "You're not going to tell me who they were are you?"
Tabitha shook her head, "No, I'm not. They've served their time, and they don't need to be pestered by the new team. Besides, if I did that, I would have to tell them your identities, and I don't think you would like that."
Trini smiled, "Okay. What about the second thing?"
Tabitha leaned back in her chair and frowned at herself before continuing. "Like I said, it's your personal life, so if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to."
"Go on," Trini said evenly.
Tabitha sighed and leaned forward in her chair, locking gazes with her Red Ranger, "How do you feel about your dad and Dr. Carstonn getting married?"
Trini gave her a confused look before saying, "I'm thrilled about it. I didn't go to all that trouble to push those two together two years ago, just to be whimsical. I think they're good for each other, and it's about time that Daddy let Dad go."
"That's kind of harsh, Trini," Tabitha told her.
Trini shrugged, "I never knew him," she said. "I would have liked to have known him, but I never got the chance. I do love him, but it's in an abstract sort of way. People keep telling me I'm a lot like him, but I don't know. What can I say about something with which I have no experience? I know Daddy though, and he deserves to be happy, and I think Kevin makes him happy."
"How do you feel about Kevin then? Do you think he might be trying to take Billy's place? Does that bother you?"
Trini smiled and shook her head sadly, "How can he take somebody's place who was never there? I'm not my dad, or Uncle Zack, or Aunt Trini, or Aunt Kim or Mr. Oliver. I didn't know him, so there's no place to take. He's made his own place in my life. One I'd like to see there more often."
"How about your friends? How do they feel knowing your dad's gay?" Tabitha asked.
"You think they'd be my friends if it was a problem?" Trini asked. There was a fierceness in her voice. "My Daddy has been father, mother, and grandfather for me. He hasn't had it easy, I know that. He's been lonely, and there's always been a little sadness to him. If ANY of my friends had a problem with him being happy, then they wouldn't be a friend of mine. However, I DO know for a fact, that Jay and the rest of the gang are as happy as I am about it."
Tabitha leaned back in her chair with a smile, "Okay, I believe you." She chuckled and locked gazes with Tabitha again. Now it was time to test the real strength of this team. She had no illusions about what was building between Tommy and Jason, and she wasn't happy that her friend was going to be caught in the middle of it. She was even less happy that it could rip her Ranger Team apart. "What do you think Jay will do if your father and his have a falling out about Kevin?"
Trini shrugged, "I don't think Jay would let it come between us," she blushed. "I know I wouldn't want it to." She sighed, "But still, he's my Dad, and Mr. Oliver is his dad. I just hope we can work through it."
"I'm sure you can," Tabitha told her, hoping for the best. Whatever was building wasn't a good thing, and she wasn't sure the Rangers could weather it. Not when families were involved.
Kevin sat back on the couch with Jason with his hand bandaged. Jason seemed worried that his healing factor hadn't kicked in. How could he explain it to his lover that he thought this was a good thing, that it meant he was moving away from being a monster created by Zedd to destroy the Rangers, to being a human being. Smiling at the concerned look on Jase's face, he said, "Don't worry about it Jase. It's already stopped bleeding."
"I just don't like surprises, Kevin," Jason told him.
Kevin raised an eyebrow, "Are you upset about the cut or what we heard before Trini left?" He smiled again, "The cut will heal."
"How is it that you know me so well after only two years?" Jason asked.
"Because I still have eight years of memories before that." He shook his head, "To be honest Jason, the only gaps in my memories of what you and Billy shared come from my creation forward. I still remember the same things he did. I remember the hiking trip in Angel Grove Forest that went so bad. I remember when we got stranded on that island." He smiled wickedly, "I even remember switching bodies with Kimberly. I know they didn't happen to me, to this body, but I remember as if they did."
Jason chuckled at him, "I know. It's still a little strange every now and again." He leaned forward, "You know I love you for who you are, not because of who you were, don't you?"
Kevin smiled. This was something Jason was worried about. He was afraid that Kevin would think Jase only stayed with him because he was Billy's clone. Kevin knew the dark eyed man better than that. It was nice that he shared Billy's history, and he wished he could let the others know that he did so, but he also realized that he wasn't Billy, and he knew that Jase knew that too. "Of course I know that. That's one of the reasons it was so easy to fall back in love with you."
Jason nodded, "Good, because there's something I want to ask you."
Kevin smiled, "What love?"
Jason grinned, and wiped his palms on the legs of his jeans. He took a deep breath as if steeling himself, reached over and took Kevin's hand and smiled. "Would you be willing to make our relationship legal? Do you want to stand up with me in front of all our friends and pledge forever?"
Kevin could see the look of hope in Jason's eyes. Kevin wanted this so bad he could taste it. He'd wanted it since he broke Zedd's spell. But he wasn't fooling himself. There was still something standing in his way. Something that had to be dealt with before they could do that. Smiling up at Jason he said, "I want it more than you can know Jase."
Jason could hear the unspoken "but" in his voice. He voiced it, "But?"
"There's something you have to do first. You have to get things worked out with you and Tommy first. I won't be party to breaking up your friendship."
Jason shook his head, "Kevin, you're not breaking up our friendship. Tommy's being an ass. He was an ass about Billy and he's being an ass about you."
Kevin shook his head, "You never told me what happened between you and Tommy that caused this rift. I gather that after Billy died it healed somewhat, but I never knew what caused it."
Jason raised an eyebrow. During the whole time they'd been dating, Kevin had never pried into what had caused him and Tommy to fight. Jason got the feeling that Kevin was waiting on him to tell him in his own time. "Do you want to know?"
Kevin gave him an even look, "Not if it would open old wounds."
Jase shook his head, "The wounds are already reopened, Kevin. Telling you won't make a difference. It might help you understand why I was so angry too."
"Okay, if you want to I'd like to know," Kevin said. "My last memories of Tommy were pleasant. I can't imagine him becoming so harsh."
Jase sat back in on the couch and began, "It started not long after Billy got back from Aquitar and took up his duties as coadjutor in Power Chamber- after I'd left the team to heal from what the Gold Powers had done to me. I got a call from Adam saying Billy had fallen from Tommy's 'zord. That he was in critical condition at Angel Grove General."
Jason sighed and leaned forward again, rubbing his hands against his temples. He hadn't lied when he'd told Kevin that these wounds had been reopened. In some ways they were still fresh, made fresh again, by Tommy's repeat performance of how he'd acted back then. "I'd gone to the hospital to see Billy, to make sure he was still alive, that he was GOING to be alive. I guess I was starting to realize that what I felt for him was more than just a little brother, that if he died, that my world would turn to ashes."
He smiled again, looking up. "Later, after we'd finally crossed the line from friends to lovers, I told him that. He just smiled. Sometimes I think that's why he gave in to Mom so easily about children. I think he might have suspected he was dying and he wanted to make sure I had a reason to live- not to follow him."
Kevin just smiled. That sounded like something he'd do in that situation, and God knows that was as close enough endorsement for the idea as you could get. "Go on. You were telling me about after the hospital."
Jase nodded his head, "I wanted to know what had happened. I was pissed off. I'd already talked to Adam, and according to him, outside of him and Kat, the rest of the Rangers hadn't even come to the hospital."
"I find that a little hard to believe of Aisha and Rocky," Kevin said.
Jason shrugged, "Rocky and I talked about it. He said that he'd been a couple of times, but hadn't told anyone. He'd started to realize what had been happening and was feeling guilty about it."
"What had happened?" Kevin asked.
"Mondo had just kept pushing and pushing. The Rangers were still in High School so they had that stress. Billy had graduated early, and had pretty much taken up residence in the Command Center. It seemed that the more battles the Rangers fought, the more they needed what little free time they could get to finish their studies or just unwind. What nobody stopped to consider was that the less they did of their own maintenance, the more that was left for Billy to do."
"Seems reasonable," Kevin said. "Billy could have said something."
Jason nodded, "I know that now. But anyway, Tommy was at the time hot in pursuit of Kat, and the other Rangers had all their other responsibilities, and they just figured Billy would handle it." Jason shook his head at the memory. "I checked the work log in the 'Zord bay from when Billy had fallen. "He'd gone into the Bay on Friday morning. According to the computers, he'd worked straight through until he collapsed on Sunday afternoon." Jason looked steadily over at Kevin, "Do you know where the other Rangers were?"
Kevin shook his head, "At home resting I guess."
Jason chuckled bitterly, "They were on a campout at Billy's uncle's resort. The only reason they found out he fell was because Alpha found him."
Kevin shook his head, mentally forcing himself to stay neutral in this. He told himself that Billy should have called for help, but he understood where he wouldn't have. Finally, he said, "That's harsh."
"When I found that out, I hit the roof. I found Tommy in the 'Zord bay cussing because his 'Zord wasn't repaired. I lost it. We fought. We said some pretty harsh words to each other. I accused him of trying to kill Billy, of being lazy." Jason sighed. "I really shouldn't have tried to talk to him when I was so angry, but I couldn't help it. Billy could have died from that fall."
Kevin could see the tears starting to well up in Jase's eyes. "Jase, you don't have to go on if you don't want to."
Jase just shook his head, "Tommy said he didn't realize Billy had been working that hard. That he thought that since he wasn't in school and didn't have to out actually BE a Ranger, he could get it all done. Then he made some comment about over estimating Billy's abilities and I almost hit him. I told him exactly what I thought of him as a leader, as a person, and as a man."
"I bet that went over like a load of bricks," Kevin said.
Jason smiled, "You guessed it. He came back at me. Told me exactly how glad he was the Billy wasn't a Ranger anymore. How he was glad he didn't have to watch out for him, to protect him in battle anymore, that he was worse than Kimberly. He said that geeks with brains were a dime a dozen, but fighters, real Rangers were rare."
"I can't believe Tom would say something like that," Kevin said.
"I guess he was still hurting from the letter Kim had sent. It was a low blow, and I told him so," Jase said. "At that point he told me that if I was that worried about him, that I should come back and take over the team, or better yet marry him."
Kevin laughed. "So you did."
Jason smiled, "Yeah, I did." He sighed, "What I didn't realize, what I was too angry at the time to realize, is that Tommy was hurting too. He was blaming himself and my coming and sticking my nose into it just made it that much worse, so he lashed out at me, through Billy."
"So you took Billy back to LA with you?" Kevin asked.
Jason nodded, "And the rest is history." Leaning in to face Kevin he smiled, "Now about what I asked you?"
Kevin smiled, "Jason, I want to marry you so bad it makes my hair hurt," grinning he reached up to his receding hairline, "what's left of it that is."
"But?" Jason said.
Kevin grinned wryly as he looked down at his hand, and thought about what his lack of a healing factor meant. Suddenly coming to a decision, he smiled up at his lover and shook his head, "No buts, name the date."
Trini Anne slipped upstairs, her head and her heart in turmoil. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard her father tell Kevin. She was ecstatic about Kevin saying yes, but the story her father told. He'd been a Ranger? Uncle Adam and Aunt Kat were Rangers too? Even dad, Billy, had been a Ranger! Most startling of all, was that Kevin was some kind of clone- of her father no less! No wonder Tabitha chose them to be the Geoforce Rangers!