Disclaimer: They're not mine. Good? Good.
Author's note: Thank you for all the reviews; they've made me feel a whole bunch better about my writing. Keep 'em comin they boost my ego! Kidding, I'm just glad to hear people like what I write. Thank you. Now, on with the show!!!!!
Tommy rushed past Andros as he made his way to the infirmary, and when he was through the doors, his smile faded, and he looked over at Kimberly. She was covered in bumps and bruises and she had an oxygen tube hooked up to her nose, with an iv in her hand to dilute the drugs Brad had given her out of her system. He moved to the chair beside her bed, and took her hand in his. She opened her eyes and smiled at his touch, and Tommy noticed how tired she looked. He sighed, trying to get control over the tears that threatened to fall.
"Hey," he smiled, leaning in closer, "it's good to see you awake."
"It's good to be awake." Kim smiled weakly.
"Do you remember what happened?" Tommy asked.
"Most of it. The only part I really don't remember was just before you came. Brad put some kind of sedative into me..." she said distractedly. Tommy frowned at the pause, and was about to ask, when she continued. "But, I do remember the beatings and the cuffs digging into my wrists, Brad yelling at me.." she says shakily, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Hey, don't do that to yourself. You can deal with all of that later. Right now, you have to concentrate on getting better so that you'll be strong enough to handle it." Tommy said.
Kim sighed and smiled. "Yes Zordon." She said.
Tommy smiled as Kim let her eyes close. She tried to pull them back open, to no avail. "It's okay, get some rest. I'll wake you up later." Tommy said, stroking her hair gently. Kim sighed sleepily and nodded absently as she turned her head to the side, and fell asleep. Tommy sat back in the chair, still holding her hand. "Three hours and counting. D.E.C.A., if I'm asleep when Kim needs to be woken up, can you wake me?"
"I will set an alarm on the console to your right. It will sound when the intended amount of time has elapsed, and you can disarm it by pushing the lower left blue button." D.E.C.A. answered.
"Thanks." Tommy said. He looked over at Kim and felt his eyelids growing heavy. He hadn't realized how tired he was as he drifted off to sleep.
***
Tommy awoke to a mild beeping and reached out blindly to his right, pushing the blue button. The alarm shut off and he rubbed his eyes.
"Hey Beautiful time to-'' Tommy began, opening his eyes...but the bed was empty. He looked around frantically, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her huddled in the circular sill of the large window in the corner of the room, gazing out into the sea of stars. He rose and treaded over to her, touching her shoulder to get her attention. She jerked slightly, and winced in pain. This threw her off balance and Tommy caught her as she fell into him.
"I am so sorry. Are you okay?" he asked worriedly as he set her back into place.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll live. Finally awake?" she said, exhaling as she readjusted herself.
"You shouldn't be out of bed, you need your rest." Tommy said, taking a seat on the remainder of the sill.
"I was bored. Besides, it was an accomplishment walking across the room." Kim said matter-of-factly.
"I'm glad you walked across the room, and I'm sorry that I wasn't there to see it, but what if your stitches had popped, huh? What if you just fell?" he said, mildly angry.
"Then D.E.C.A. would wake you up and you'd help me back to bed and I'd eventually get re-stitched. You're missing the point here, big accomplishment???" Kim hinted as she shook her head.
"An accomplishment that will have to wait until your body won't collapse from it. Come on, back to bed." He said getting up and putting his arms out. Kim rolled her eyes, but obeyed, throwing her good arm around his shoulder as he gingerly hooked her legs. She groaned lightly as he carried her over to her bed. Tommy placed her gently back onto the bed and she readjusted herself, and then leaned back into the soft pillows behind her.
"Thanks." She sighed.
"So," he smiled, taking his seat beside her again. "What got you up?"
"I woke up and I saw you sleeping. You looked so cute and peaceful, that I didn't want to wake you. So I got up, and I forced myself to walk across the room. I wanted to get a look at those stars. From Earth, I mean they're nice, they're gorgeous, but up here, up close....I was in total awe, just drawn to them. They're peaceful, and calming, I just started thinking you know? Thinking about Brad, and the rangers...and ....and us." She ventured, looking sideways at him. Tommy's head jerked up at that.
"Are....are you sure?" he asked cautiously. "I mean, are you ready?"
"I've always been ready...I was just scared. I was sort of going through this whole denial phase, you know?" she smiled.
"I understand. I went through the same thing when I lost my powers...four times to be exact." He laughed.
"Me too," Kim smiled. "Once." She clarified.
Tommy smiled and there was a brief uncomfortable silence between the two. "So," he began, "what have you been thinking?"
"That....that I'm sorry." She said, looking down.
"Sorry?" Tommy frowned. "For what?"
"What do you mean for what! For leaving, for meeting Brad, for the letter, for not trying harder to get away, for causing you so much pain!" she cried.
"None of that was your fault! You did your best; you and I both know that. Please, please, PLEASE, stop blaming yourself. I know I sound like a broken record, but none of it was your fault. When are you going to believe that!" he said exasperatedly.
"When I KNOW it's TRUE! And I won't believe that until I know that I can stop running, that he's not chasing me anymore. Until I know that you're safe, and until I'm ready to believe it!" she said angrily, as she glared at him.
There was a pause as Tommy let her breath through the serge of anger she felt. "Um, speaking of which...two questions. First, how did Brad know that we were rangers?"
Kim looked over at him and sighed. "I was always showing him pictures of you guys, always talking about...all of you. I didn't know that it would make him obsessively curious at the time, but I came home one day and found him reading my diary. I was so angry at him, but when I questioned him about how he got in and why the hell he was reading my diary, my room mate came out of the bathroom and he tossed it aside. I figured she'd let him in, but I asked him about my diary again later. He said he found it open on my night stand, but I never leave it open, it has stuff about us and our identities in there. I always leave it locked up in my nightstand, and I'm the only one who has a key, which I'd lost two days before. I kept the key under my mattress, so I figured that it'd fallen on the floor under my bed, and I never got around to looking for it. I figured it was locked, no harm done; everyone keeps things locked in their nightstands. Then he started asking about the rangers, and if I'd ever seen them before, if I knew who they were. The questions caught me off guard, so I guess I acted peculiar, which I assume got him suspicious. Now I assume it anyway, then I just figured he was curious, star struck. He started throwing random questions at me about the rangers, but I never figured that he knew who we were! Then started calling me 'pinky,' saying that I always wore pink, just like the pink ranger. He said he'd figured that it would give me a link to home, being reminded of the rangers. I couldn't out right ask him if he knew, because then he'd really know. So I just hoped that he hadn't made the connection...." She sighed.
"I do have to admit that we weren't really that careful. I mean we all became obsessed with our colours for some weird reason. He must've seen from the pictures that we always wore our the same colours as the rangers, all the time...Oh well, what's done is done." He said distractedly. "Anyways, we can worry about that later. My second question is more important."
"What! Tommy! Brad knows who we are, what if he tells someone!" Kim cried.
"Why does everyone assume that he made it out alive!" Tommy said, rolling his eyes. His eyes darted to Kim's face and immediately regretted blurting it out like that, as she stared at him in a shocked silence and wide teary eyes.
"What are talking about!" she breathed.
Tommy sighed. *Great job Oliver; just blurt it out like that. Real subtle. Okay, let's try to make it right.*
"Did Brad have any family?" he asked after a moment.
"Why? Tommy, what happened!" Kim said.
"Just..just please. Did he have any family?" he said again.
Kim shook her head. "No. He was an only child and his parents died when he was nineteen. He'd already moved out at that point, for college, so he was on his own. When they passed away, he left town, dropped out of school and pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth until he arrived on my doorstep just looking for a good time. Now what happened." She demanded.
"Good." Tommy said, relieved. "Good. Um...W-while you were out, Brad walked in and we started fighting and-'' Tommy began.
"Tommy, just the end." Kim said.
"Right. Sorry. Um...Kat got shot in the leg-''
"Is she alright?"
"Yes, she'll be fine. She was in here for a bit while you were asleep, but Cassie let her stay in her own quarters cause she didn't want Zhane waking you up....He's been kinda obsessive over her." He nodded.
"Understandable....Now, what else happened?" Kim asked.
"Well, let's see where was I.... Right, Kat got shot in the leg, then you got shot in the leg, then me and Brad fought-''
"Tommy...." Kim intervened, getting angry.
"I'm getting there Beautiful, just listen." Tommy retorted, getting slightly irritated with her impatience. He sighed. "Sorry. I know this is big thing for you to hear it's just-''
"Apologize later. Tell me what happened next!" Kim growled. Tommy drew back a bit, mildly scared of her temper.
"Brad and I fought....then....then ...Kat shot Brad." He paused, and braced himself for an outburst of some kind, but Kim just stared at him, so he confirmed her hopeful gaze. "Brad is dead Kim. HE'S GONE." He said, emphasizing the last words in his statement.
Kim just sat there, her breath coming out ragged as the words sank in. Tommy, who sat watching her, was getting worried.
"Kim....Kim, say something. You're scaring me." Nothing. Kim was silent. "Come on. You can stop running now. He can't hurt you, or anyone else, anymore."
Kim looked over at Tommy and then up at the ceiling, squeezing her eyes shut as she sighed shakily. She sighed again when she opened her eyes, and took a deep breath, bringing her hands up to her sides before placing them on the mattress. She pushed upward, trying to bring her upper body into a sitting position. Tommy hooked an arm around her waist, taking the pressure off her tired muscles as she pulled her legs closer on the bed. Once she had herself in a sitting position, she looked over at Tommy as he sat back again in his chair.
"Are you alright?" Tommy asked, leaning forward.
"Yeah, I mean. It's a lot, you know? I mean, I've been thinking for.....a long time, that this was all somehow my fault, that.... if I hadn't met Brad, hadn't kept meeting with him, that......that I'd still be normal. I'd still be strong....I'd still be with you. And I know that thinking like that won't change the past, and I couldn't have known that it was coming....but I just can't help thinking it you know? What if.....that's how I've survived Tommy. On what if's. What if I was in Angel Grove right now, what would I be doing...you guys....you were my lifeline. And now, after a very long time of holding on, of surviving, wondering what if, of running....he's stopped chasing me. I don't have to run anymore, I don't have to survive. I can live. But, you see....I forget how." She said, tears now streaming freely down her face. Tommy embraced her as she cried softly on his shoulder.
"Hey," he said pulling back. "Don't worry, you'll remember. We'll do it together....if you want me that is." He said hesitantly, absently stroking her face as he spoke.
Kim laughed briefly and took his face in her hands. "Always." She breathed. Tommy let out a breath of relief he hadn't realized he held. Gravity worked its magic and Tommy and Kim's faces drew closer to one another. For the first time since Kimberly had left for Florida almost three years ago, their lips met. The kiss was sweet, simple, and safe at first. They felt each other's apprehensiveness, each other's excited fear, and as the emotion that had been so forcefully quieted so long ago, found its voice again, the kiss deepened. Kim's arms found their way around Tommy's neck, pulling him to her, and Tommy wrapped his arms around her waist, and hung on for dear life. No, more than dear life. He held on for *her* life, for *their* life. He pulled her closer, tighter to him, as tight as her injuries would allow, and kissed her. He had missed her kisses like he would miss air underwater. Her touch sent shivers down his spine. Kim's spine felt exactly the same. She suddenly felt at home, felt safe. She knew Tommy would be there for her when she couldn't be there for herself, would help her when she felt helpless, would love her no matter what. A wave of release swept over her and she felt her whole body melt into him. Brad was still in there somewhere, but they would take care of it together. God, she loved him.
The two finally felt the pull of their lungs, and separated, still hovering mere inches from each other's faces. Breath heavy, tears dry, feelings known, they smiled. Kim ran her fingers through his hair and he cupped the side of her face, as the two reunited lovers gazed into each other's eyes.
"I love you Handsome." Kim murmured.
Tommy grinned. "I knew it....I love you too Beautiful." He kissed her quickly on the lips again, planted another kiss on her forehead, and pulled back. "Now, get some sleep," he began, as Kim snuggled back under the covers. "I'll wake you in a few hours, and we'll try to get you walking again. Without falling." Kim smiled as he tucked her in, and sighed, letting her eyes close. "Goodnight Beautiful. I love you."
"Love you too." Kim sighed. Tommy stayed until she drifted off to sleep before glancing at his watch and, with one more glance at his love, left the infirmary, meeting Kat outside the doors.
"Kat, hey. How are you!" Tommy smiled.
Kat, with the help of the two crutches which propped her up, stopped to talk with her ex-boyfriend. "I'm doing good. Walking, well hobbling actually, is getting steadily easier. How's Kim doing, I thought you'd be glued to her side until....actually forever." She laughed.
Tommy blushed as he chuckled. "She's asleep."
"Good, good. Hey, how did you sleep? My bed was a mess by the way." Kat smiled.
Tommy frowned. "Sorry about that. I didn't actually sleep that great....I had a nightmare."
Kat's smile faded into a look of concern. "What was it about?" she asked.
"Well, I dreamt that I was the old me, the green ranger in Kim's quest......I.....I felt all the same anger, and.....I liked it. I was in the fight with her, the one in the quest, but *I* was winning....I just kept going, hitting her and hitting her, and she was getting so tired. I couldn't stop, I didn't want to stop.....and I killed her. And I was happy about it......That's when I woke up." Tommy explained, silently replaying the images of his dream in his head.
"Tommy, listen to me." Kat said after a moment. "These dreams, they don't mean anything. That was the old you, under a spell by the way. Your conscience, no your imagination, is playing tricks on you, trying to make you think that that thing in the quest is still a part of you, which it is not. So, ignore it. You hear me? Ignore it, and concentrate on helping Kim get back to the way she was, the Kim we knew before that freak destroyed both of your lives. And along the way, you'll have good times. There won't be too many in the beginning, but there will be good times, and you enjoy them. You make up for the time that was ripped away from you by the heartless chunk of ice that I shot in order to get that happiness back. Understand? I SHOT him to get your happiness back. And even though I know that he was a horrible horrible person who is better off dead, I somehow still feel guilty that I took a human life. But if it means that we have back the happiness that we once had, then I can deal with it. I can deal with it as long as you love her. You take the life that has been returned to you and you spend every waking moment loving it. That's all I ask. A life for a life. I took his to give you back yours, so don't worry about me, I'll be fine. You just......be grateful." She said firmly. Tommy stared into her eyes as she spoke and saw the turmoil that lived there, saw the guilt for shooting Brad, the guilt for not being sorry about it, the guilt that she had taken the life of another. But he also saw the faith, the hope, that he would honor her sacrifice, and do as she asked. He sighed.
"Thank you." He simply replied, then embraced her. "Thank you for everything."
Kat pulled back and looked at him, softer now. "Any time.....You promise?"
Tommy smiled and put his hands in the air in defeat. "I promise, I promise."
"Good, cause I'm going to keep an eye on you." She smiled, poking him in the chest.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. You're a great friend Kat."
"I try." She smiled.
***
"Right in the heart? Wow, you never told me that part Tommy." Kim said as she swallowed the last bite of her dinner. Tommy had brought it to her when she woke up, and now the whole team sat around her bed, joining her in the meal.
"Yeah, Kat where did you learn to shoot like that?" Cassie asked.
Kat shrugged. "Lucky shot."
"Bulls eye is not beginners luck." T.J. smiled, "come on, you can tell us."
"You guys, lay off. Kat's been through a lot. It was self defense, lucky shot, leave it at that, alright?" Kim said sternly, as she put her tray aside. The rangers nodded and there was a moment of silence. "Kat, I just wanted to say thank you." Kim smiled.
"For what?" Kat frowned.
"For saving my life. If it wasn't for you...for both of you," she paused and squeezed Tommy's hand, "I'd be dead, and Brad would be free to do this again to someone else."
"No thanks needed. I only did what I would naturally do for any of my friends." Kat smiled.
"Always modest. I love that about you." Zhane grinned as he put his arm around her.
"Awe jeez!" Cassie cried rolling her eyes. "Me, Teej, and Carlos are the only ones left! You guys are always making googily eyes at each other. Well, we may be out numbered, but we will stick together!" Everyone laughed at her mocking statement, and the three couples glanced at one another.
"Love conquers all." Andros grinned, causing everyone to chuckle lightly again. Once the laughter died down, Ashley leaned forward.
"Hey Kim? What are you going to do with Brad?" she asked cautiously.
Kim sighed and pondered the thought a moment. "Well," she began, "he doesn't have any family left, no friends that I know of, so I thought we'd just bury him in an unmarked grave." She said solemnly.
The rangers nodded in agreement. "We should also agree on a story, should anyone ask about him." Andros pointed out, causing another round of nodding.
"You should be recovered enough to leave the ship in a day or so, did you want us to wait?" Cassie asked.
"Um...I don't know." Kim hesitated.
"Kim I'll stay if you don't want to go. It's completely up to you." Tommy said.
"No, I'd better go. I won't believe I'm safe until I know that he's gone, and I won't know that until I see it." She said firmly.
"Are you sure?" Carlos said.
"Yeah, I need to know that it's finished. That he can't hurt anyone else." She said.
"Alright, we'll go tomorrow." Andros announced as he rose.
"Could we go today?" Kim interjected.
"Kim, I don't recommend it. You're still weak." Cassie said.
"I feel fine. Please?" she begged.
After a moment, Andros sighed. "If you're sure."
Kim smiled. "I'm sure. Could someone help me get dressed?" she asked, looking to the female rangers.
"Of course. You guys go get ready and we'll help Kim, and meet you in the cargo bay. Can you get Brad's body there?" Cassie asked.
"Not a problem. See you in a bit." Andros said as the guys filtered out of the room. Tommy kissed Kim quickly as he left, throwing a smile over his shoulder before he was gone.
"Okay, let's get you ready. I want you in the wheelchair though. I am not risking anything, understand?" Cassie said firmly.
Kim nodded as she pulled back the covers. "Got it. Let's finish this."
Author's note: Well??????????? I hope I resolved most of the stuff that needed resolving up until this point. We're on section 'X' (of the phone book you dirty people). Kidding. Anyways, here's a teaser line. I'm really growing to like these things!
"I forgive you."
Not much of a tease, but hey, there are still surprises to come!
Author's note: Thank you for all the reviews; they've made me feel a whole bunch better about my writing. Keep 'em comin they boost my ego! Kidding, I'm just glad to hear people like what I write. Thank you. Now, on with the show!!!!!
Tommy rushed past Andros as he made his way to the infirmary, and when he was through the doors, his smile faded, and he looked over at Kimberly. She was covered in bumps and bruises and she had an oxygen tube hooked up to her nose, with an iv in her hand to dilute the drugs Brad had given her out of her system. He moved to the chair beside her bed, and took her hand in his. She opened her eyes and smiled at his touch, and Tommy noticed how tired she looked. He sighed, trying to get control over the tears that threatened to fall.
"Hey," he smiled, leaning in closer, "it's good to see you awake."
"It's good to be awake." Kim smiled weakly.
"Do you remember what happened?" Tommy asked.
"Most of it. The only part I really don't remember was just before you came. Brad put some kind of sedative into me..." she said distractedly. Tommy frowned at the pause, and was about to ask, when she continued. "But, I do remember the beatings and the cuffs digging into my wrists, Brad yelling at me.." she says shakily, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Hey, don't do that to yourself. You can deal with all of that later. Right now, you have to concentrate on getting better so that you'll be strong enough to handle it." Tommy said.
Kim sighed and smiled. "Yes Zordon." She said.
Tommy smiled as Kim let her eyes close. She tried to pull them back open, to no avail. "It's okay, get some rest. I'll wake you up later." Tommy said, stroking her hair gently. Kim sighed sleepily and nodded absently as she turned her head to the side, and fell asleep. Tommy sat back in the chair, still holding her hand. "Three hours and counting. D.E.C.A., if I'm asleep when Kim needs to be woken up, can you wake me?"
"I will set an alarm on the console to your right. It will sound when the intended amount of time has elapsed, and you can disarm it by pushing the lower left blue button." D.E.C.A. answered.
"Thanks." Tommy said. He looked over at Kim and felt his eyelids growing heavy. He hadn't realized how tired he was as he drifted off to sleep.
***
Tommy awoke to a mild beeping and reached out blindly to his right, pushing the blue button. The alarm shut off and he rubbed his eyes.
"Hey Beautiful time to-'' Tommy began, opening his eyes...but the bed was empty. He looked around frantically, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her huddled in the circular sill of the large window in the corner of the room, gazing out into the sea of stars. He rose and treaded over to her, touching her shoulder to get her attention. She jerked slightly, and winced in pain. This threw her off balance and Tommy caught her as she fell into him.
"I am so sorry. Are you okay?" he asked worriedly as he set her back into place.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll live. Finally awake?" she said, exhaling as she readjusted herself.
"You shouldn't be out of bed, you need your rest." Tommy said, taking a seat on the remainder of the sill.
"I was bored. Besides, it was an accomplishment walking across the room." Kim said matter-of-factly.
"I'm glad you walked across the room, and I'm sorry that I wasn't there to see it, but what if your stitches had popped, huh? What if you just fell?" he said, mildly angry.
"Then D.E.C.A. would wake you up and you'd help me back to bed and I'd eventually get re-stitched. You're missing the point here, big accomplishment???" Kim hinted as she shook her head.
"An accomplishment that will have to wait until your body won't collapse from it. Come on, back to bed." He said getting up and putting his arms out. Kim rolled her eyes, but obeyed, throwing her good arm around his shoulder as he gingerly hooked her legs. She groaned lightly as he carried her over to her bed. Tommy placed her gently back onto the bed and she readjusted herself, and then leaned back into the soft pillows behind her.
"Thanks." She sighed.
"So," he smiled, taking his seat beside her again. "What got you up?"
"I woke up and I saw you sleeping. You looked so cute and peaceful, that I didn't want to wake you. So I got up, and I forced myself to walk across the room. I wanted to get a look at those stars. From Earth, I mean they're nice, they're gorgeous, but up here, up close....I was in total awe, just drawn to them. They're peaceful, and calming, I just started thinking you know? Thinking about Brad, and the rangers...and ....and us." She ventured, looking sideways at him. Tommy's head jerked up at that.
"Are....are you sure?" he asked cautiously. "I mean, are you ready?"
"I've always been ready...I was just scared. I was sort of going through this whole denial phase, you know?" she smiled.
"I understand. I went through the same thing when I lost my powers...four times to be exact." He laughed.
"Me too," Kim smiled. "Once." She clarified.
Tommy smiled and there was a brief uncomfortable silence between the two. "So," he began, "what have you been thinking?"
"That....that I'm sorry." She said, looking down.
"Sorry?" Tommy frowned. "For what?"
"What do you mean for what! For leaving, for meeting Brad, for the letter, for not trying harder to get away, for causing you so much pain!" she cried.
"None of that was your fault! You did your best; you and I both know that. Please, please, PLEASE, stop blaming yourself. I know I sound like a broken record, but none of it was your fault. When are you going to believe that!" he said exasperatedly.
"When I KNOW it's TRUE! And I won't believe that until I know that I can stop running, that he's not chasing me anymore. Until I know that you're safe, and until I'm ready to believe it!" she said angrily, as she glared at him.
There was a pause as Tommy let her breath through the serge of anger she felt. "Um, speaking of which...two questions. First, how did Brad know that we were rangers?"
Kim looked over at him and sighed. "I was always showing him pictures of you guys, always talking about...all of you. I didn't know that it would make him obsessively curious at the time, but I came home one day and found him reading my diary. I was so angry at him, but when I questioned him about how he got in and why the hell he was reading my diary, my room mate came out of the bathroom and he tossed it aside. I figured she'd let him in, but I asked him about my diary again later. He said he found it open on my night stand, but I never leave it open, it has stuff about us and our identities in there. I always leave it locked up in my nightstand, and I'm the only one who has a key, which I'd lost two days before. I kept the key under my mattress, so I figured that it'd fallen on the floor under my bed, and I never got around to looking for it. I figured it was locked, no harm done; everyone keeps things locked in their nightstands. Then he started asking about the rangers, and if I'd ever seen them before, if I knew who they were. The questions caught me off guard, so I guess I acted peculiar, which I assume got him suspicious. Now I assume it anyway, then I just figured he was curious, star struck. He started throwing random questions at me about the rangers, but I never figured that he knew who we were! Then started calling me 'pinky,' saying that I always wore pink, just like the pink ranger. He said he'd figured that it would give me a link to home, being reminded of the rangers. I couldn't out right ask him if he knew, because then he'd really know. So I just hoped that he hadn't made the connection...." She sighed.
"I do have to admit that we weren't really that careful. I mean we all became obsessed with our colours for some weird reason. He must've seen from the pictures that we always wore our the same colours as the rangers, all the time...Oh well, what's done is done." He said distractedly. "Anyways, we can worry about that later. My second question is more important."
"What! Tommy! Brad knows who we are, what if he tells someone!" Kim cried.
"Why does everyone assume that he made it out alive!" Tommy said, rolling his eyes. His eyes darted to Kim's face and immediately regretted blurting it out like that, as she stared at him in a shocked silence and wide teary eyes.
"What are talking about!" she breathed.
Tommy sighed. *Great job Oliver; just blurt it out like that. Real subtle. Okay, let's try to make it right.*
"Did Brad have any family?" he asked after a moment.
"Why? Tommy, what happened!" Kim said.
"Just..just please. Did he have any family?" he said again.
Kim shook her head. "No. He was an only child and his parents died when he was nineteen. He'd already moved out at that point, for college, so he was on his own. When they passed away, he left town, dropped out of school and pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth until he arrived on my doorstep just looking for a good time. Now what happened." She demanded.
"Good." Tommy said, relieved. "Good. Um...W-while you were out, Brad walked in and we started fighting and-'' Tommy began.
"Tommy, just the end." Kim said.
"Right. Sorry. Um...Kat got shot in the leg-''
"Is she alright?"
"Yes, she'll be fine. She was in here for a bit while you were asleep, but Cassie let her stay in her own quarters cause she didn't want Zhane waking you up....He's been kinda obsessive over her." He nodded.
"Understandable....Now, what else happened?" Kim asked.
"Well, let's see where was I.... Right, Kat got shot in the leg, then you got shot in the leg, then me and Brad fought-''
"Tommy...." Kim intervened, getting angry.
"I'm getting there Beautiful, just listen." Tommy retorted, getting slightly irritated with her impatience. He sighed. "Sorry. I know this is big thing for you to hear it's just-''
"Apologize later. Tell me what happened next!" Kim growled. Tommy drew back a bit, mildly scared of her temper.
"Brad and I fought....then....then ...Kat shot Brad." He paused, and braced himself for an outburst of some kind, but Kim just stared at him, so he confirmed her hopeful gaze. "Brad is dead Kim. HE'S GONE." He said, emphasizing the last words in his statement.
Kim just sat there, her breath coming out ragged as the words sank in. Tommy, who sat watching her, was getting worried.
"Kim....Kim, say something. You're scaring me." Nothing. Kim was silent. "Come on. You can stop running now. He can't hurt you, or anyone else, anymore."
Kim looked over at Tommy and then up at the ceiling, squeezing her eyes shut as she sighed shakily. She sighed again when she opened her eyes, and took a deep breath, bringing her hands up to her sides before placing them on the mattress. She pushed upward, trying to bring her upper body into a sitting position. Tommy hooked an arm around her waist, taking the pressure off her tired muscles as she pulled her legs closer on the bed. Once she had herself in a sitting position, she looked over at Tommy as he sat back again in his chair.
"Are you alright?" Tommy asked, leaning forward.
"Yeah, I mean. It's a lot, you know? I mean, I've been thinking for.....a long time, that this was all somehow my fault, that.... if I hadn't met Brad, hadn't kept meeting with him, that......that I'd still be normal. I'd still be strong....I'd still be with you. And I know that thinking like that won't change the past, and I couldn't have known that it was coming....but I just can't help thinking it you know? What if.....that's how I've survived Tommy. On what if's. What if I was in Angel Grove right now, what would I be doing...you guys....you were my lifeline. And now, after a very long time of holding on, of surviving, wondering what if, of running....he's stopped chasing me. I don't have to run anymore, I don't have to survive. I can live. But, you see....I forget how." She said, tears now streaming freely down her face. Tommy embraced her as she cried softly on his shoulder.
"Hey," he said pulling back. "Don't worry, you'll remember. We'll do it together....if you want me that is." He said hesitantly, absently stroking her face as he spoke.
Kim laughed briefly and took his face in her hands. "Always." She breathed. Tommy let out a breath of relief he hadn't realized he held. Gravity worked its magic and Tommy and Kim's faces drew closer to one another. For the first time since Kimberly had left for Florida almost three years ago, their lips met. The kiss was sweet, simple, and safe at first. They felt each other's apprehensiveness, each other's excited fear, and as the emotion that had been so forcefully quieted so long ago, found its voice again, the kiss deepened. Kim's arms found their way around Tommy's neck, pulling him to her, and Tommy wrapped his arms around her waist, and hung on for dear life. No, more than dear life. He held on for *her* life, for *their* life. He pulled her closer, tighter to him, as tight as her injuries would allow, and kissed her. He had missed her kisses like he would miss air underwater. Her touch sent shivers down his spine. Kim's spine felt exactly the same. She suddenly felt at home, felt safe. She knew Tommy would be there for her when she couldn't be there for herself, would help her when she felt helpless, would love her no matter what. A wave of release swept over her and she felt her whole body melt into him. Brad was still in there somewhere, but they would take care of it together. God, she loved him.
The two finally felt the pull of their lungs, and separated, still hovering mere inches from each other's faces. Breath heavy, tears dry, feelings known, they smiled. Kim ran her fingers through his hair and he cupped the side of her face, as the two reunited lovers gazed into each other's eyes.
"I love you Handsome." Kim murmured.
Tommy grinned. "I knew it....I love you too Beautiful." He kissed her quickly on the lips again, planted another kiss on her forehead, and pulled back. "Now, get some sleep," he began, as Kim snuggled back under the covers. "I'll wake you in a few hours, and we'll try to get you walking again. Without falling." Kim smiled as he tucked her in, and sighed, letting her eyes close. "Goodnight Beautiful. I love you."
"Love you too." Kim sighed. Tommy stayed until she drifted off to sleep before glancing at his watch and, with one more glance at his love, left the infirmary, meeting Kat outside the doors.
"Kat, hey. How are you!" Tommy smiled.
Kat, with the help of the two crutches which propped her up, stopped to talk with her ex-boyfriend. "I'm doing good. Walking, well hobbling actually, is getting steadily easier. How's Kim doing, I thought you'd be glued to her side until....actually forever." She laughed.
Tommy blushed as he chuckled. "She's asleep."
"Good, good. Hey, how did you sleep? My bed was a mess by the way." Kat smiled.
Tommy frowned. "Sorry about that. I didn't actually sleep that great....I had a nightmare."
Kat's smile faded into a look of concern. "What was it about?" she asked.
"Well, I dreamt that I was the old me, the green ranger in Kim's quest......I.....I felt all the same anger, and.....I liked it. I was in the fight with her, the one in the quest, but *I* was winning....I just kept going, hitting her and hitting her, and she was getting so tired. I couldn't stop, I didn't want to stop.....and I killed her. And I was happy about it......That's when I woke up." Tommy explained, silently replaying the images of his dream in his head.
"Tommy, listen to me." Kat said after a moment. "These dreams, they don't mean anything. That was the old you, under a spell by the way. Your conscience, no your imagination, is playing tricks on you, trying to make you think that that thing in the quest is still a part of you, which it is not. So, ignore it. You hear me? Ignore it, and concentrate on helping Kim get back to the way she was, the Kim we knew before that freak destroyed both of your lives. And along the way, you'll have good times. There won't be too many in the beginning, but there will be good times, and you enjoy them. You make up for the time that was ripped away from you by the heartless chunk of ice that I shot in order to get that happiness back. Understand? I SHOT him to get your happiness back. And even though I know that he was a horrible horrible person who is better off dead, I somehow still feel guilty that I took a human life. But if it means that we have back the happiness that we once had, then I can deal with it. I can deal with it as long as you love her. You take the life that has been returned to you and you spend every waking moment loving it. That's all I ask. A life for a life. I took his to give you back yours, so don't worry about me, I'll be fine. You just......be grateful." She said firmly. Tommy stared into her eyes as she spoke and saw the turmoil that lived there, saw the guilt for shooting Brad, the guilt for not being sorry about it, the guilt that she had taken the life of another. But he also saw the faith, the hope, that he would honor her sacrifice, and do as she asked. He sighed.
"Thank you." He simply replied, then embraced her. "Thank you for everything."
Kat pulled back and looked at him, softer now. "Any time.....You promise?"
Tommy smiled and put his hands in the air in defeat. "I promise, I promise."
"Good, cause I'm going to keep an eye on you." She smiled, poking him in the chest.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. You're a great friend Kat."
"I try." She smiled.
***
"Right in the heart? Wow, you never told me that part Tommy." Kim said as she swallowed the last bite of her dinner. Tommy had brought it to her when she woke up, and now the whole team sat around her bed, joining her in the meal.
"Yeah, Kat where did you learn to shoot like that?" Cassie asked.
Kat shrugged. "Lucky shot."
"Bulls eye is not beginners luck." T.J. smiled, "come on, you can tell us."
"You guys, lay off. Kat's been through a lot. It was self defense, lucky shot, leave it at that, alright?" Kim said sternly, as she put her tray aside. The rangers nodded and there was a moment of silence. "Kat, I just wanted to say thank you." Kim smiled.
"For what?" Kat frowned.
"For saving my life. If it wasn't for you...for both of you," she paused and squeezed Tommy's hand, "I'd be dead, and Brad would be free to do this again to someone else."
"No thanks needed. I only did what I would naturally do for any of my friends." Kat smiled.
"Always modest. I love that about you." Zhane grinned as he put his arm around her.
"Awe jeez!" Cassie cried rolling her eyes. "Me, Teej, and Carlos are the only ones left! You guys are always making googily eyes at each other. Well, we may be out numbered, but we will stick together!" Everyone laughed at her mocking statement, and the three couples glanced at one another.
"Love conquers all." Andros grinned, causing everyone to chuckle lightly again. Once the laughter died down, Ashley leaned forward.
"Hey Kim? What are you going to do with Brad?" she asked cautiously.
Kim sighed and pondered the thought a moment. "Well," she began, "he doesn't have any family left, no friends that I know of, so I thought we'd just bury him in an unmarked grave." She said solemnly.
The rangers nodded in agreement. "We should also agree on a story, should anyone ask about him." Andros pointed out, causing another round of nodding.
"You should be recovered enough to leave the ship in a day or so, did you want us to wait?" Cassie asked.
"Um...I don't know." Kim hesitated.
"Kim I'll stay if you don't want to go. It's completely up to you." Tommy said.
"No, I'd better go. I won't believe I'm safe until I know that he's gone, and I won't know that until I see it." She said firmly.
"Are you sure?" Carlos said.
"Yeah, I need to know that it's finished. That he can't hurt anyone else." She said.
"Alright, we'll go tomorrow." Andros announced as he rose.
"Could we go today?" Kim interjected.
"Kim, I don't recommend it. You're still weak." Cassie said.
"I feel fine. Please?" she begged.
After a moment, Andros sighed. "If you're sure."
Kim smiled. "I'm sure. Could someone help me get dressed?" she asked, looking to the female rangers.
"Of course. You guys go get ready and we'll help Kim, and meet you in the cargo bay. Can you get Brad's body there?" Cassie asked.
"Not a problem. See you in a bit." Andros said as the guys filtered out of the room. Tommy kissed Kim quickly as he left, throwing a smile over his shoulder before he was gone.
"Okay, let's get you ready. I want you in the wheelchair though. I am not risking anything, understand?" Cassie said firmly.
Kim nodded as she pulled back the covers. "Got it. Let's finish this."
Author's note: Well??????????? I hope I resolved most of the stuff that needed resolving up until this point. We're on section 'X' (of the phone book you dirty people). Kidding. Anyways, here's a teaser line. I'm really growing to like these things!
"I forgive you."
Not much of a tease, but hey, there are still surprises to come!