Ta dah! Anything for You has been resurrected! ^_^;;; Many thanks to Dagmar Buse, melly, agge, cmar, and Philip for your lovely reviews and patience. And a special thank you to agge, for reminding me that she was waiting for more. Sorry, but there actually isn't any slash or couplings in this one. At best there may be hints. Enjoy, guys!
Chapter 4:Videos
Jason looked at the video tape labled 'For Jason' dubiously. Amber had left it with him when she finally had to go home. Tommy had given it to her to pass on. He wasn't sure what was on it, and Amber said she hadn't asked. But then again, she'd never been all that fond of Tommy since the day he'd walked him home from the fall of the evil Green Ranger. The boys had talked and bonded on that walk, only to be forced to tell a frantic Amber his scrapes and bruises had come from an energetic sparing match. She'd hated Tommy ever since, convinced he was going to get her baby brother killed. He was a little surprised the tape had made it to him at all, but he supposed the trip they'd given her had granted him a bit of leverage.
He put it in the rec room's VCR, making sure no one else was around to see. Satisfied, he plopped down on the couch to watch.
The camera focused blearily on Tommy's face, far too close. There was a yelp.
"You got it, Rocky?" Tommy asked.
"Man, you have got to cleanse those pores, Tommy!"
"Give me that." Adam sighed in the background. The picture was jostled around a bit more, and at last focused on a highly amused looking Tommy. "You're on, Tommy."
"Hey, Jase. I know you, and you're busy worrying about how we're all doing."
"No kidding." he retorted, as though his friend could hear him through the TV.
If anything, the smile widened. "So to make sure you can sleep at night, we came up with the idea of sending you a video to prove we're all okay."
"Hey!" came an indignant voice. "Who's idea was this?"
Tommy chuckled. "Yours, Rocky."
Tommy was suddenly plowed out of the way by Kimberly, who huffed and rolled her eyes at the camera. "Hey, Jase. Ignore them. We're all fine. Really. Let's see..."
He smiled fondly as Kimberly pondered, then began to recount all the events he'd missed. He drank in the way she paused to toss her hair, then made a face at Rocky off-screen as he commented. It took over an hour of him sitting there, watching Rocky crack jokes, Billy inform him about the school's current programs, the way Adam quietly related information about the Rangers, and Aisha chattering about all the rumors flying, ranging from Ranger relationships to the usual bumbling of Bulk and Skull. At one point, Billy had even taken the camera into the Command Center to film an excited Alpha and a bemused Zordon.
When Tommy took over the camera again, it began to show Amber, driving to her job as an office secretary and going through her daily life. He couldn't help but wonder how he'd managed to film her singing. It was practically a dirty secret, and always got him in trouble when he'd tried to spy on her. Tommy had even caught her yelling at him about hassling her, and that it wasn't his job to watch her with Jason gone. The answer of 'I promised Jason' had thrown her for a moment, and he could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes. The camera had been hastily shut off after that, ending with a group shot, everyone calling their good-byes and well-wishes as they waved.
Jason sat in silence for a moment as the tape ran out. In the dark of the room, even a random passerby wouldn't have been able to see him suddenly rubbing at his eyes.
****
Jason smiled to himself as he popped his newest video into the VCR. It had been almost eighteen months since he'd watched that very first video. There had been several more since, and though he would never admit it, they were the highlight of his day. His work at the peace conference had almost ground to a halt as of late, due to arguments among the delegates. He was about ready to scream in frustration, so the sight of a new package had cheered him immensely. It had been awhile since the last video, which left him curious as to what was going on.
The camera turned on to focus on Tommy. He started at the sight of Tommy wearing a bright red T-shirt. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. What happened while he was gone?
"Hey, Jase." The smile was as warm as ever. He glanced down at his shirt and grinned. "Surprised? This is sorta the reason I haven't been able to make one of these for awhile. We're Zeo Rangers now, and King Mondo is more determined than Zedd and Rita were. He's kept us hopping."
As if to accent his statement, the camera man yawned.
"Stay awake there, Rocko." Tommy called.
"I am awake." his friend grumbled. "I'd be more awake if I hadn't had nightmares of you singing opera. Badly, might I add."
Tommy scowled at him. "Just keep filming."
Jason laughed in spite of his confusion. Tommy's singing voice wasn't that bad, as Kim had once sworn, but he was definately no opera singer. It made him wonder what had brought that on.
Tommy began to go on in detail about the changes in the team, both in power and members. He wondered what had made Billy give up the Power, and worried for his friend. There were other things that bothered him, as well. Tommy had a sort of darkness in his eyes now, not the same as the shadows from his evil Green Ranger days, but a more permanent seriousness that didn't suit him.
He knew about the breakup between Tommy and Kim. They'd both called him when it happened, both looking for a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. He'd listened to both sides and offerered his sympathy, though what he really wanted to do was smack their heads together and tell them to knock it off. They truly deserved each other as far as he was concerned, and this mess just proved it.
He had his supicions that Kim was part of the reason for the change in Tommy, but he didn't know what else could have caused it. The more he watched, the more his concern for his bro grew. That somewhat shy nature and friendly smile weren't there anymore. Soemthing had happened, and he wished he knew what. This just...wasn't Tommy. Not *his* Tommy, anyway.
The scene changed to an open desert, with Tommy behind the camera, announcing there was someone he wanted him to meet. Jason couldn't help but wonder at the barely reatrained excitement in his voice. It sounded more like the old Tommy, and he wondered what could make him so happy. It was a welcome change from the serious Tommy.
"David!"
The camera focused in on someone, and Jason started at the man's similarity to Tommy.
"Jase, this is my brother, David." Tommy declared proudly. "Say hi to Jason, Dave."
"Hello, Jason." David answered dryly, looking amused.
Tommy interviewed David eagerly, telling Jason all about how they met. David answered his questions wth a dry humor that was so unlike Tommy it made Jason smile a little. It worried him at first, that Tommy had a 'real' brother now, one related to him by blood. After awhile of listening however, he realized that even as he was telling him all about David, David was being told all about him. It was obvious that Tommy was making a conscious effort to show how much he adored both of them, and he felt silly for ever thinking such a thing.
He was smiling when the video ended, even if it did return that familiar ache that hadn't left him since he'd come here. It was good to know that his bro was happy, even if it was as seemingly simple a thing as finding he had a brother. He still worried over Tommy's newfound seriousness and Billy's decision to become support staff, but there wasn't too much he could do about either of them at the moment. He wished the new Zeo Rangers well, knowing they wouldn't allow themselves to fail.
He glanced up as Zack plopped down on the couch next to him. The friendship between them had gotten closer during their time at the peace conference. While he and Zack had always been great friends, there had always been the knowledge that Zack was the first of Kim's friends, and he was one of the last. They had a lot in common, but there was still a sort of distance between them from the things they didn't have in common. Yet throughout their stay, Zack had been the one who nagged him out of bed when he was too sleepy to get up, dragged him off to do things when he became depressed, and was the first to either back him up or point out the fault in his logic during debates. He was greatful to the other teen everything, and knew with utter certainty that without Zack's determination and Trini's sympathetic ear and gentle reprimands when he faultered in his duties, he never would have lasted as long as he had. He owed them everything, and he could only hope they understood.
"New video?" Zack asked, crossing his arms behind his bed.
Jason nodded as he took it out of the VCR. "You get yours?"
Zack merely grinned and held up a tape labled 'Zack's'. Just as Jason received his videos, separate copies came for Zack and Trini. While the tapes usually said almost the exact same thing, they always gave one another privacy during the viewings. Even if they doubted the others had meant for them to be so, the three of them considered watching their tapes to be a very personal experience. After the first viewing, it was open to share, but never without the other two. It was never something they'd discussed; just a mutual understanding.
He clapped Zack on the shoulder. "Enjoy." He paused as he stood, glancing back at his friend. "Hey Zack, do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Watch Tommy, would you? I'm not sure if it's just me or not."
Zack's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure if I'll be as much help as Trini probably will, but no problem."
"Thanks, man."
As he walked out, tape in hand, Jason hoped feverently that it *was* just his imagination. Tommy didn't need any more shadows to his eyes.
Chapter 4:Videos
Jason looked at the video tape labled 'For Jason' dubiously. Amber had left it with him when she finally had to go home. Tommy had given it to her to pass on. He wasn't sure what was on it, and Amber said she hadn't asked. But then again, she'd never been all that fond of Tommy since the day he'd walked him home from the fall of the evil Green Ranger. The boys had talked and bonded on that walk, only to be forced to tell a frantic Amber his scrapes and bruises had come from an energetic sparing match. She'd hated Tommy ever since, convinced he was going to get her baby brother killed. He was a little surprised the tape had made it to him at all, but he supposed the trip they'd given her had granted him a bit of leverage.
He put it in the rec room's VCR, making sure no one else was around to see. Satisfied, he plopped down on the couch to watch.
The camera focused blearily on Tommy's face, far too close. There was a yelp.
"You got it, Rocky?" Tommy asked.
"Man, you have got to cleanse those pores, Tommy!"
"Give me that." Adam sighed in the background. The picture was jostled around a bit more, and at last focused on a highly amused looking Tommy. "You're on, Tommy."
"Hey, Jase. I know you, and you're busy worrying about how we're all doing."
"No kidding." he retorted, as though his friend could hear him through the TV.
If anything, the smile widened. "So to make sure you can sleep at night, we came up with the idea of sending you a video to prove we're all okay."
"Hey!" came an indignant voice. "Who's idea was this?"
Tommy chuckled. "Yours, Rocky."
Tommy was suddenly plowed out of the way by Kimberly, who huffed and rolled her eyes at the camera. "Hey, Jase. Ignore them. We're all fine. Really. Let's see..."
He smiled fondly as Kimberly pondered, then began to recount all the events he'd missed. He drank in the way she paused to toss her hair, then made a face at Rocky off-screen as he commented. It took over an hour of him sitting there, watching Rocky crack jokes, Billy inform him about the school's current programs, the way Adam quietly related information about the Rangers, and Aisha chattering about all the rumors flying, ranging from Ranger relationships to the usual bumbling of Bulk and Skull. At one point, Billy had even taken the camera into the Command Center to film an excited Alpha and a bemused Zordon.
When Tommy took over the camera again, it began to show Amber, driving to her job as an office secretary and going through her daily life. He couldn't help but wonder how he'd managed to film her singing. It was practically a dirty secret, and always got him in trouble when he'd tried to spy on her. Tommy had even caught her yelling at him about hassling her, and that it wasn't his job to watch her with Jason gone. The answer of 'I promised Jason' had thrown her for a moment, and he could have sworn he saw tears in her eyes. The camera had been hastily shut off after that, ending with a group shot, everyone calling their good-byes and well-wishes as they waved.
Jason sat in silence for a moment as the tape ran out. In the dark of the room, even a random passerby wouldn't have been able to see him suddenly rubbing at his eyes.
****
Jason smiled to himself as he popped his newest video into the VCR. It had been almost eighteen months since he'd watched that very first video. There had been several more since, and though he would never admit it, they were the highlight of his day. His work at the peace conference had almost ground to a halt as of late, due to arguments among the delegates. He was about ready to scream in frustration, so the sight of a new package had cheered him immensely. It had been awhile since the last video, which left him curious as to what was going on.
The camera turned on to focus on Tommy. He started at the sight of Tommy wearing a bright red T-shirt. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. What happened while he was gone?
"Hey, Jase." The smile was as warm as ever. He glanced down at his shirt and grinned. "Surprised? This is sorta the reason I haven't been able to make one of these for awhile. We're Zeo Rangers now, and King Mondo is more determined than Zedd and Rita were. He's kept us hopping."
As if to accent his statement, the camera man yawned.
"Stay awake there, Rocko." Tommy called.
"I am awake." his friend grumbled. "I'd be more awake if I hadn't had nightmares of you singing opera. Badly, might I add."
Tommy scowled at him. "Just keep filming."
Jason laughed in spite of his confusion. Tommy's singing voice wasn't that bad, as Kim had once sworn, but he was definately no opera singer. It made him wonder what had brought that on.
Tommy began to go on in detail about the changes in the team, both in power and members. He wondered what had made Billy give up the Power, and worried for his friend. There were other things that bothered him, as well. Tommy had a sort of darkness in his eyes now, not the same as the shadows from his evil Green Ranger days, but a more permanent seriousness that didn't suit him.
He knew about the breakup between Tommy and Kim. They'd both called him when it happened, both looking for a sympathetic ear and a shoulder to cry on. He'd listened to both sides and offerered his sympathy, though what he really wanted to do was smack their heads together and tell them to knock it off. They truly deserved each other as far as he was concerned, and this mess just proved it.
He had his supicions that Kim was part of the reason for the change in Tommy, but he didn't know what else could have caused it. The more he watched, the more his concern for his bro grew. That somewhat shy nature and friendly smile weren't there anymore. Soemthing had happened, and he wished he knew what. This just...wasn't Tommy. Not *his* Tommy, anyway.
The scene changed to an open desert, with Tommy behind the camera, announcing there was someone he wanted him to meet. Jason couldn't help but wonder at the barely reatrained excitement in his voice. It sounded more like the old Tommy, and he wondered what could make him so happy. It was a welcome change from the serious Tommy.
"David!"
The camera focused in on someone, and Jason started at the man's similarity to Tommy.
"Jase, this is my brother, David." Tommy declared proudly. "Say hi to Jason, Dave."
"Hello, Jason." David answered dryly, looking amused.
Tommy interviewed David eagerly, telling Jason all about how they met. David answered his questions wth a dry humor that was so unlike Tommy it made Jason smile a little. It worried him at first, that Tommy had a 'real' brother now, one related to him by blood. After awhile of listening however, he realized that even as he was telling him all about David, David was being told all about him. It was obvious that Tommy was making a conscious effort to show how much he adored both of them, and he felt silly for ever thinking such a thing.
He was smiling when the video ended, even if it did return that familiar ache that hadn't left him since he'd come here. It was good to know that his bro was happy, even if it was as seemingly simple a thing as finding he had a brother. He still worried over Tommy's newfound seriousness and Billy's decision to become support staff, but there wasn't too much he could do about either of them at the moment. He wished the new Zeo Rangers well, knowing they wouldn't allow themselves to fail.
He glanced up as Zack plopped down on the couch next to him. The friendship between them had gotten closer during their time at the peace conference. While he and Zack had always been great friends, there had always been the knowledge that Zack was the first of Kim's friends, and he was one of the last. They had a lot in common, but there was still a sort of distance between them from the things they didn't have in common. Yet throughout their stay, Zack had been the one who nagged him out of bed when he was too sleepy to get up, dragged him off to do things when he became depressed, and was the first to either back him up or point out the fault in his logic during debates. He was greatful to the other teen everything, and knew with utter certainty that without Zack's determination and Trini's sympathetic ear and gentle reprimands when he faultered in his duties, he never would have lasted as long as he had. He owed them everything, and he could only hope they understood.
"New video?" Zack asked, crossing his arms behind his bed.
Jason nodded as he took it out of the VCR. "You get yours?"
Zack merely grinned and held up a tape labled 'Zack's'. Just as Jason received his videos, separate copies came for Zack and Trini. While the tapes usually said almost the exact same thing, they always gave one another privacy during the viewings. Even if they doubted the others had meant for them to be so, the three of them considered watching their tapes to be a very personal experience. After the first viewing, it was open to share, but never without the other two. It was never something they'd discussed; just a mutual understanding.
He clapped Zack on the shoulder. "Enjoy." He paused as he stood, glancing back at his friend. "Hey Zack, do me a favor?"
"Sure."
"Watch Tommy, would you? I'm not sure if it's just me or not."
Zack's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure if I'll be as much help as Trini probably will, but no problem."
"Thanks, man."
As he walked out, tape in hand, Jason hoped feverently that it *was* just his imagination. Tommy didn't need any more shadows to his eyes.