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If Your Not the One Part 4 By Starfire and Kimber Purple Star
Somewhere in Florida
Somewhere on the other side of the States, near the training facility a man sat in a chair surrounded by files and records. Sounds of clicking sounded in the room, they came from the keyboard currently in front of him, "You can't hide from me Ann...I'll find you." He whispered huskily, his aqua blue eyes shimmered slightly in the dim light giving him a cat like quality. Blonde hair sparkled a bit, while the pallor of his skin gave his Irish blood dead away. A few more clicks and he leaned back in his chair. "Well, well I found you now. Wait for me Ann, you need to be punished for what you've done...that's right...isn't it Ann.
"His fingers trailed down a frame of glass, where brown hair and dark chocolate eyes smiled happily through the frame. "Wait for me I'll be with you soon." Printing something off his computer came next. Standing up he took the paper that was a receipt for online plane tickets. Walking over to the phone he dialed a phone number, "Ah...Miki sorry about this, but I have a family emergency. Can you tell the editors that my book won't be coming out just yet, since I am taking a leave for my family? Ah thank you, you're a gem. Bye then." Getting up he walked to his suitcase, picked it up then walked out into the light.
Back in Angel Grove, Jason's House One Week after the Accident
It had been a week since the accident that had laid Kim up at had happened. Her busted ribs and fractured ankle were still mending but the concussion and most of the cuts and scrapes had already healed.
Kim sat on the couch in the Scott residence with her ankle propped up on pillows as she watched some daily television. It hadn't been an easy recovery by any means, in fact it had been quite painful. The broken ribs weren't a new thing though, she'd had to deal with one or two here and there when she was in Florida. Shaking aside those dark thoughts she click the channel changer on the remote.
Jason walked in his arms loaded with bags of food, "I'm home!" He called out, "and I brought tons of goodies..." He smiled in amusement, when he closed the door behind him then sat the stuff on the counter. "So how are you feeling Lilo Kim?"
There was little amusement showing up on her face these days but she humored her friend with a soft smile. "Like I got hit by a car a few days ago?" After she had regained more equilibrium Jason had filled her in on what happened. It had been a bit shocking to say the least. She frowned at him slightly. "I told you never to call me that."
Jason just laughed, ignoring the pissed look on her face, "So which booboo do you want me to kiss all better Lilo Kim?" He winked in a flirtish way, while putting away some of the items from the bag and bringing out a glass of water with some pills. "Ah...here we go the pain killers...take two and let me kiss it all better...alright?"
Kim chose to just ignore his foolish behavior, it seemed since she had been released from the hospital it was the way he was going to behave. She looked at the pills in front of her with complete and utter distaste. "I don't need those right now Jase. I'm not in any pain right now alright." She pushed them away with a bit of crankiness.
Jason stared at her, "Don't lie Kim." His eyes shifting a bit until they were more serious, "I know you don't like staying in here anymore then you enjoy me picking you up and carrying you around the house." Touching her face gently, "I also know you're still hiding things."
Kim pulled his hand off her face. "Just give it a rest Jason. I don't need you to baby me alright. She pushed herself up from the position she was sitting in wincing a bit. . "I'm not going into this with you right now." Kim knew exactly where he was leading this to and there was no way she was going there today. She quickly put her attention back on the television as best she could.
Sighing slightly at her stubbornness, "Kim...you really got to stop running away, it's hurting everyone around you, and even yourself more." Standing he turned around and walked to the kitchen, "Tommy is still waiting for some answers too and you know what? You're lucky I don't want to press you for more today." Inwardly he was pissed off, though he remained calm, "As for babying you...I do that so that I can reassure me that you're not a dead corpse..."
He was so unrelenting sometimes that it frustrated her to no end. Blowing air through her teeth, "Look, I'm sorry. I.I just don't want to talk about this right now. When I'm all healed then maybe." She paused. "As for Tommy, I don't think it matters anymore really." True he had been kind when she was in the hospital and when she had come home so to speak but it wouldn't last long. He was just there because he had been there when she had been hurt. It hurt to admit that but it was true.
"You're still lying Kim." Jason lowered his head a bit and laughed softly, "Didn't I tell you I'll give you your space, but I know 100% when your heal you won't tell us." He fisted his hand a bit, "Tommy does matter too, inwardly you know, though your ashamed of something...that's why your pulling away...your not the only one in the world too feel this way..." Stacking up a few papers here and there, he brought out some glasses from his pocket and put it on so that he could read some of the bills.
*Oh hell no, he didn't just go there* She fumed inside and mumbled under breath. "What the hell do you know about how I feel." A bit louder she spoke up, "Jason just get off my back for one day alright." She tried to pull herself off the couch but only managed to fall to the floor in pain.
Jason didn't look up from his bills; he was rather too pissed off to glance back at what was going on. "I know a lot Kimberly Hart." In a way he supposed he could be a sadist in all sense, well he did like hitting bricks with bare hands sometimes. "Besides I gotten off your back I just made a statement. So don't get your panties up into an uproar."
She tried to push herself up but the pain in her chest was excruciating. She moaned under her breath and it wasn't a pleasant moan. Once again she tried to pull herself up but collapsed right back down to the floor with a loud thud. "Ahh..." She made a bit louder moan of pain this time.
Jason glanced up slightly, "Having trouble Kimberly?" His eyes hooded in a way one part of him felt guilty for what was happening, but a smaller part of him whispered that it wasn't his business since she did refuse the painkiller.
She would have glared at him if she could see him from where she had fallen. Through clenched teeth she shook her head. Her ankle wasn't helping her situation seeing as though it was in a rather bulky cast. "Not.at. all." Quickly trying to block out the pain she pulled her body back onto the couch. Once there she wiped a few beads of sweat off her forehead, leaned her head back and sighed in despair.
Jason went back to his calculations on the forms in front of him, tapping his glasses a bit here and there. "Suit yourself Kimberly. By the way Tommy will be over in a couple of minutes, I also gave him your and Billy's gift too, so it was easy for us to keep in contact. If you lost your communicator, I could always send for another one from Billy."
Kim squinted her eyes in pain and chose not to comment on that bit of information. Tommy coming over was just him feeling sorry for her and as for the gift, well, she was glad that it had finally made its way to him anyhow. Her fingers went to the chain around her neck; the locket that had once been around it was no longer dangling from it though. HE had ripped it off her during one of their fights. Kim shuddered as she thought about that particular fight but then shook herself out of its memory. "Whatever." Not even through most of the day and she was already in a sour mood.
Jason lifted his head, when he heard the door bell ring, "Ah speaking of the devil." Standing up he walked toward the door and open it. "Ah finally man..." His eyes still were set in angry position.
Kim just looked away from him and back at the television as Jason walked through the living room to the door.
Tommy had stood outside for about five minutes before he had rang the doorbell. It had been a nerve wracking day and seeing Kim again today just added to it. When the door opened he immediately noticed Jason's look of anger. "Hey Bro, sorry I'm a bit late. Is everything alright?" He asked his friend as he stepped inside.
Jason just put on a fake smile. "Sure it is Bro...If you don't mind I have some work to do, you can keep Kimberly company." Inward he steamed a bit and tapped a few buttons on his communicator. "Billy!" He mumbled when he went into the kitchen leaving the two alone.
Kim chose to ignore the fact that Tommy was sitting down in the chair that was at the foot of the couch. Her eyes remained on the television and not on the man who she had hurt in so many ways. It didn't matter anymore anyway and besides what did she possibly have to say to him.
Billy glanced up from his studies when his pocket watch beeped at him. Picking it up he quickly opened it. Pressing a button it opened the channel to a screen of his hologram. "Hey Jason, is anything wrong?"
Jason smiled a bit readjusting his glasses, "Hey Billy." His felt his face sour from the thoughts of Kimberly, "Do you have the back up lockets for the communicators that we made for each individual?"
"Yeah Jase." Billy looked puzzled, "Who do you need it for?"
"I need Kimberly's back up." Replying grimly the former ranger picked up a can of soda and popped the lid. "If you're wondering she is fine...just fine, just hiding stuff from us like usual."
"Well that's Kim for you." Billy laughed, while going to a hidden panel and opening it up revealing some of the items he had stocked up for each of their members. "Do you want special features installed?"
Jason nodded his head, "Yes, can you put the tracking device in the locket and send me another tracking chip, with the solution that I can use on hand to hand contact?"
Billy stared at his friend's face in surprise. "You think something is going to happen?"
"Billy you know my gut instincts are never wrong, let me tell you it is going off the chart on this one." Finally he turned his head to look at the other two who were remaining silent in the other room. "I need the solution so that she doesn't suspect Billy. This can mean a life or death thing."
"I understand." Billy nod his head, "How do you want it sent?"
"Anyway you can get it here...this is very important Billy." He wasn't thrilled at what he was feeling.
"Well I'll have Trini deliver it to you tomorrow if that's fine?" Billy smile, "We'll be in the area to visit since we heard about Kim's accident."
"Thanks you're a pal." Jason smiled a bit, "I'll talk to you later bye."
While Jason had been busy in the other room, Kim had maintained her silence as she listened to the song currently playing on the music station.
Me and my shadow are wrestling again. Look out stranger there's a dark cloud moving in.
But if you could hear the voice in my heart it would tell you. I'm afraid I am alone. Won't somebody please hold me release me show me. The meaning of mercy, let me loose. Fly.
The words struck a chord inside her and it only made Kim even angrier. Not at Jason though but at herself. She felt alone inside even though Jase had been trying to help. *No one knows what I'm feeling though not even Jason and for now its gonna stay that way.* She thought to herself.
Tommy meanwhile had been fidgeting in his seat as he watched her. She didn't look too happy but who does when they are laid up for who knows how long. Maybe some small talk would help, her mood a bit. "So.how are you feeling today Kim?"
The look of pure vileness that she shot him made him rethink the small talk right away. *Man, I've never seen her look at anyone that way.* He noticed the glass of water on the table and the pills next to them. "You should take them, they'll d wonders. Ask Rocky, after his back injury he said he was going to buy a factory." Tommy jokingly said.
Kim had to smile at that. Rocky had been the fun loving one, the comedian in their group after Zack left. What she wouldn't give to see both those knuckleheads again. Quickly she covered the smile she knew Tommy had seen." I'm alright; I don't need either of you shoving pills down my throat."
Tommy had seen a look of happiness at the mention of Rocky's name but Kim washed it away just as quick. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to force anything on you." He knew she was probably cranky but this was a bit much.
Jason rubbed his temple after finishing some of his accounting items. He leaned back sipping more on the can of soda and sighed, "Understanding..." Frowning slightly, he started to call the others on his communicator typing in a message to them. Sending it he stared at the holograph shifting a bit around the area until he realized something.
Tapping in another message to only Billy he wrote,
A response came back immediately stating,
Shifting her position, Kim closed her eyes with a sigh. She wasn't gonna be able to avoid taking those painkillers for much longer. Her ribs where killing her and since she had fallen before her ankle hadn't felt much better. Damn she'd be happy when at least she could walk around on crutches. Again she shifted positions, trying to sit up was such a witch to do now.
Tommy hesitated on trying to help her but since Jason was busy he made his move. "Here let me help you out there little lady." Maybe, just maybe he could break through this ice queen wall she was putting up and get to the bottom of it.
"I'm.perfectly.capable of..sitting up.on. my.own." She finally through gritted teeth managed to spit out.
Jason walked into the room, "Your back up communicator will arrive tomorrow Kim." He tilted his head slightly, "Which reminds me how did you manage to lose your first one?" Eyes shaded a bit to not give away anything of what he is feeling.
If looks could kill, Kim would have put Jason in his grave. "I'm not sure, I guess somewhere in Florida." A shit-eating grin on her face as she said it. *Your not gonna get anything Jase so give it up.* She fumed inside.
Jason scratched his cheek, "Very odd since you used to carry it around all the time. Especially since it was full of holograms of Tommy."
He was going to play dirty, she knew it. "Well, people can lose things even if they have them on their person. If you'll recall you lost a pair of glasses one time and they had been right on your head beforehand." She didn't care if he hated her after this, what did it matter. In the end they were all going to hate her anyway.
Jason stared at her, "Well true, but you've never been forgetful, your also not growing old like me..." His eyes seemed bright, "You also don't need to have glasses..." Turning away, "Like I said your device will be given to you tomorrow...do yourself a favor don't lose it like you lost your heart..."
That was it; he had driven her past all reasoning with that one. "Hey Jason, do me a favor and try to worry about your own love life instead of mine." Pulling herself up a bit more till she had swung her legs over the side of the couch she used the arm of it to pull herself to her feet though a bit awkwardly.
Jason stiffened, "Love life...at least my love life is just a bit happier then yours, since you keep on running away. But trust me...if this keeps on your going to lose....more then your own soul..." His anger was violent, and tempered beyond his limits.
Tommy had watched the whole thing play out before him with silent eyes but now things were getting a bit too heated. "Whoa guys calm down; I'm sure there's a perfectly logical solution to whatever's."
She ignored him once more as she pushed past all the pain and slowly stumbled closer to Jason. "What the hell do you know about anything that happened to me." She almost spat the words at him as she got right into his face as best she could, her hand bracing her upright against the wall. "You have no idea.you.think just because you saw a few bruises and cuts you knew exactly what was going on, well guess again." She almost sobbed the last part out as her strength started to fail her. "You don't.have.a clue. what he did." She finally broke down and slid down the wall.
"I know you were abused Kim." Jason spat out, "I know very well because I've seen this type of thing. I saw one of my friends, a girl, raped tied up bleeding, and she had more then what you had! I'd been next to her for five months straight before leaving the convention early. You want to know what, she died in my arms!" He shouted back, then turned away from her, and walked away. "I would know. I know the symptoms and I refuse to see this again! I am going out...call me if you need me Tommy you know how." With that he walked past Tommy toward the door to try to cool off.
Tommy grabbed Jason's arm. Enough was enough and he wanted some answers. "What the hell are you both talking about Jase? I'm not letting you go till you give me some answers." He gave his bro a look that had once been part of his Evil Green Ranger persona. He was tired of being jerked around.
Jason stared at him for a bit, "I've wanted to tell you, but it's Kimberly who hasn't. I try to give her the space but all she does is run away. Did you know that's it been three months of time I given her to explain everything to me?" His voice was filled with fury. "Three freaking month's man! But let me tell you what happened three months ago, I found her in the hospital! She had cuts and bruises and bruised ribs. She wouldn't tell me how she got them, but I've been watching her. I'm smart enough to figure out that she's been abused and I gave her the space to recover, but she closed herself off." He pulled his fist back and slammed it into the couch.
Tommy released Jason's arm and looked at him with anger and shock. "What the hell do you mean abused? Kim would never let anyone hit her, she'd pummel them first." What Jason was telling him couldn't be true. Kim would have said something, wouldn't she?
By now Kim had slumped to one side having cried herself out she just stared into space. It was all over. Jason would tell Tommy everything he knew, they'd both put two and two together and realize just what a disgusting and horrible person she had become.
Jason stared at him angrily, "WAKE UP MAN! Abuse itself knows no limits. It goes mental and physical...damn it I lost a good friend to it, she was even raped....do you honestly think that it's easily explained." He shook with fury, "I am not blind, and you should have figured it out too, the behavior the icy exterior the cuts bruises, it has to be a bastard that did it to her. But the one truth I want to know is why Kim wrote that damn letter, was it forced or not. I want to know if it was that guy that she dumped you for that hurt her abused her!"
Tommy paled at the mention of the 'other guy' that Kim had mentioned in the infamous letter. Before he could say anything else Kim's small voice could be heard. "It was.it was all my fault. I shouldn't have come here. I'm just making it worse." She kept staring and talking to no one in particular. "Please stop.stop." Tears streaked down her face.
Jason stared at her, "This is part of the symptoms, self denial, upset ness and fear of making things worse..." He rubbed his temples, "The only thing is that she won't tell me who did it..."
"This can't. oh god. Who would do this to her?" Tommy asked out loud. Anger started to fill him but also extreme sadness at what had become of Kim. "Do you mean to tell me you knew about this and didn't tell me?" He now looked at Jason with anger in his eyes
Jason stared at him, "I didn't want to tell you until I made some confirmation with her, besides every time I try to talk to you regarding her you go haywire on me!" Reminding him of what happened one week ago.
Tommy immediately backed off at that. It was true, every time Jason had brought up Kim's name Tommy had done his own version of running away. "I'm sorry bro, didn't mean to take this out on you." He looked back to Kim. "We've got to do something Jase. I...we can't leave her like this."
Kim rocked back and forth murmuring to herself. "Please leave me along.I didn't mean it. Please stop hurting me.Aaron, No.NO!!" She suddenly tried to get to her feet but fell back down to the floor in pain.
Jason shook his head, "It's going to be hard....trust me we might lose her...but I am more worried regarding this Aaron." Hearing the name slightly, "Tommy can you do me a favor...I'm going to have to sometimes go out and work...I need you to look after her, and keep connected to her. I can't be the one she needs...."
"Of course.I don't know how much good it will do but.I'll try." He sighed a bit then he started to think about whoever the hell this Aaron guy was. "We also have to find out about this Aaron guy. I want to know everything about him. This creep is going to pay and pay big time." Another look crossed his face and anyone who knew Tommy as the green ranger would have been worried he'd been turned evil again. The sneer that came over his face was reminiscent of the many he had given Jason and his team that first week they had known him.
Jason nodded his head, "I'll get Trini to do the tracking..." He made a face, "Surprisingly she's a good hacker and I'll have Zack pull some strings to get some information on this guy in the records. I hope Kat is up to me being busy as hell again." He sighs slightly at the thought of the massive communication line. "Also when Billy arrives we three have to talk together."
"I'm sure she'll understand man." He clapped his hand on Jason's shoulder. "We should get everyone here as soon as we can bro. She's gonna need all of us now I think." He paused as he looked over at Kim.
"I'll send a e-mail through the communicator, I have some other idea's but right now I need you to make sure Kim doesn't do anything drastic..." Jason rub his temple slightly, "I don't want her to kill herself or go off the deep end and run away like Isabella did..."
Tommy shook his head. It seemed to horrible to think about Kim trying to kill herself. Then again maybe she had tried to when she ran out into the traffic. Pushing that thought aside, "Don't worry man no one is going to let that happen. Kim was always strong for me I think its time I be strong for her." He moved over to Kim and knelt down right beside her. "Jason, you have to tell me about this Isabella, so I know how to make sure she doesn't turn out like her." The deep concern in his eyes showed he still cared. The anger, the resentment and the hurt he had held against her no longer mattered.
Jason slid onto his couch exhausted, rubbing his temple, "It's a long story, I never told anyone, because I didn't want them to see how much pain it could be for a single individual. But if you want to hear it, then I'll tell you, just let me put some coffee on so we have something to drink." Rubbing his neck a bit, "But first I think you should set Kim down into a more comfortable position and make sure she has enough medication in her."
He was already on that idea when he knelt down. Kimberly had sobbed herself to a point of exhaustion. Gently he picked her up, stood up slowly and walked over to the loveseat to put her down. "There you go." he smiled at her as her sleepy eyes looked up at him. "You need to take your medicine and then get some rest." He moved over to the coffee table where her pills and the glass of water still where and picked them both up. "Come on, here you go."
Kim so exhausted from her crying jag couldn't put up much of a fuss anymore and swallowed the pills with a sip of water to wash them down.
Jason smiled slightly from the view, got off the couch, and headed toward the kitchen. "You want coffee or something else Tommy?" Tilting his head in a gesture of amusement, while hiding his hands in his pocket.
Not lifting his gaze from Kimberly, he pushed back a lock of hair, "Coffee will be fine Jase, thanks." Kim had fallen asleep already but he still kept his eyes on her. Whispering gently to her to keep her calm. "Its alright now Kim. You don't have to be afraid anymore. Just sleep and when you wake up we'll all be here."
Nodding his head, he turned away and walked into the kitchen. Getting some of the items together, he started to make coffee, his eyes slowly moving to the window then back down to his pocket. Pulling out a few bottle of pills he felt his hands shake slightly. *No not now.* He thought in frustration, when he finally managed to open the bottles, glancing over his shoulders he swallowed two pills, and got a glass of water from the faucet to down it quickly. Finding himself steady he slipped the pill bottle back into his trouser pants. Satisfied, he took out some of the coffee cups and placed them into the saucers on the tray. *Come on Jase...that's it...breath* Reassuring himself, he poured the coffee into the cups then headed into the room. "How is she now?" He asked quietly when placing the metal tray onto the cofee table.
Tommy finally turned his gaze away from Kim to look over at Jason. "She sleeping, nodded off just before you went to get the coffee." He stood up and stretched his legs as he moved over to the couch and the coffee table. "You alright yourself bro? Maybe you should get some sleep too. You really didn't have the greatest of nights on that stool." He picked up one of the coffees and started to fix it the way he liked it.
Jason laughs, "To not feel is to not live." He picked up his coffee a bit, "I think it would be better if we clear up everything first, then I can get some rest." Leaning back into the couch smiling. "Don't worry, I am m ore concern with Kim right now."
A small laugh came from Tommy, "Too true bro, too true." Taking a sip he let it sit for a bit before swallowing. "I'll take care of the clean up if you want as for Kim... Its gonna be a long road isn't it? You said something about this Isabella, was she the one that went through this, the one who..died?"
After sipping his coffee he set it down and pulled out his pocket watch, clicking a few words into the screen, he then sent out his short message to everyone. "It's a long story, but I'll begin."
Fidgeting a bit he pressed a few keys on a pad, so that a picture of a 20 year old girl appeared. She had green emerald eyes and amber red hair. Irish in her descent dressed up in a cute green dress with a violin posed in her hands ready to play. "Isabella." He handed the watch for Tommy to look at, "One of my pure joys and a wonder to know, a famous protégée in the violin, an absolute brilliant mind, until...." Composing himself, "I met Isabella, during one of my conferences in Geneva, we hit it right off, she was playing the violin during the celebration. We met we talked, she was 17 at that time..." Laughing coarsely, "I was like her spiritual brother you can say, she is Irish, and I've always been fascinated by Ireland, to make this short, I got a call and I left the Geneva conference because of her. She ended up with some bad kids you can say...they kept on bugging her one of the bastards even thought he owned her."
Tommy listened with and eager ear, if whatever Jason could tell him would help Kim then it was extremely important that he did. He took another sip of coffee and asked, "How could this guy think that. I mean I knew a few guys back in LA that acted like that sometimes when it came to their girlfriends but they were never serious."
"He was some rich mans son, during one of her performances that he went to he fell for her, wanted her you can say. His name was Zanith Miller. He kept on harrassing her, until one day, he beat her up, and raped her. He made her say she loved him, tortured her, got a kick out of it." Slowly he gathered his hands together, "I wanted to kill that bastard so badly, I wanted to strangle that little jerk. I swore never to do violence but god I wanted to kill him." Hissing slightly to calm down from his emotions, "He even made her write a nasty letter to me, when I was still in the conference, saying that she didn't care about being my friend, which I found odd. It wasn't until later, when she finally ran away, made a break from him, that she phoned me, telling me that she was sorry for all she said, that she didn't mean it." Rubbing his shoulder he shivered a bit, "I believed her, asked her where she was, to my surprise it was in a hospital."
Tommy listened with and eager ear, if whatever Jason could tell him would help Kim then it was extremely important that he did. He took another sip of coffee and asked, "How could this guy think that cause he was rich he could do that?" he thought about one part of what Jason said in particular. The letter, could that have been what happened to Kim. Had this Aaron asshole made her do something similar? "So I gather you went their to see her?"
"Yes, what I saw wasn't pleasant..." Jason adjusted in his seat and took back the watch, his finger slowly skimed over the image. "She was in worse condition then Kim. She had burns on her arms and bruises along her face, what was worse was she was raped repeatedly." Closing his eyes struggling to keep the tears at bay, "So young and her light was almost gone by the time I got to her. She tried to pretend nothing was wrong, but....it was useless I could tell, she had fractured her leg, even an arm, and a couple of broken bones. I am amazed she managed to get away."
Shaking his head sadly "I'm sorry you had to go through that Bro. No one should ever see someone they care about go like that." He took another sip of his coffee after trying to comfort Jason as best as he could. "Did they ever nail the guy's ass to the wall for it?"
Jason leaned forward a bit placing his head in his hands, "No, he was bailed out, they let him go, he however did go after Isabella again, I had to pull a few strings around the area to make sure she would be fine. We did manage to nail the bastard, when he tried on another girl that we had undercover for FBI." Shaking his head, "It took me two years to finally get that guy. Before I came back to Angel Grove and got recruited by the rangers again." Feeling a little bit sour at the
memories, "But during that two years, I tried to help Isabella, I moved into an apartment and watched her constantly, while doing work on the side at home. She kept on pretending everything was fine but it wasn't true. She even tried to run away claiming she made things worse then it was before for me." Reaching out to his cup his finger shook, "One night I came....back home and the floor was covered with blood."
Tommy looked at his friend with sorrow. "You don't have to go on Jason. I'm sorry to make you relieve a painful experience." It was a horrible thing to lose someone so young in your life especially when they too where young and so full of potential. His eyes flitted over to Kim who was sleeping a bit less peacefully then before. "That's not gonna happen to Kimberly Jason, you believe that don't you?" He asked his friend.
Jason stared at Tommy a bit, "She is at a stage that she will push us all away...she will make us mad hate her loath her then she will start to hate herself more and end it." Breathing a sigh, "I have to tell you though, we are going to keep a tracker on her just in case this guy tries anything."
He shook his head comprehending. "I'm not going to lose her Jase. None of us are. You have to believe that." Finishing off his coffee and put the cup down on the table. "Its good idea the tracker nice thinking. I'm glad you told me. Now I think you should get some sleep besides she's not going anywhere. I'm going to stay here tonight if you don't mind to keep and eye on her.
Jason stared at Tommy then smiled. "Oh...so your not going to lose her eh?" While leaning on the side of his chair, "Well right now we are fixing some minor issues me and Billy. I also asked him for teleportation devices on our new communicators." He shakes his head, "I can't really sleep that much lately...I have work to do...even though I should sleep."
Tommy just looked at Jason, "Jase please, I just... I lost her once before and I didn't even have the balls to find out why. Its time I started taking the first step instead of her. Besides, we can discuss my love life of lack thereof later." He started to clean up the coffee stuff and picked up the tray. "You need to get at least a few winks. What say you lay down on the couch for an hour or so. There's plenty of the day left to do whatever needs to get done. When the gang starts to arrive you'll want to look well rested else Trini will be all over you."
Jason grimaces at Trini's name. "Knowing her she would start yelling at me, for not fixing anything." He shakes his head, "Why me....she is going to kill me..." Sighing, "Fine fine I'll sleep," rubbing his eyes, "Could you call Zack to find out what he found on regarding Kim's so called abuser?"
"Sure not a problem. And I've got my handy dandy new giftie to do it with." He smirked at Jason as he pulled his own watch/communicator out of his pocket. Opening it like Jason showed him before; he looked for the correct button for Zack. "BL0, there it is." He pressed it then walked into the kitchen to send his message. "Zack, this is Tommy, you there?"
A startled bang of pots and pants was heard in the background, then the hologram popped up. "Tommy is that you man?" Zack glanced into the hologram to see his friend. "WOW it is you!" He is amazed, "This is the bomb man...." Taking off his chef hat to place it on the kitchen counter.
He smirked at the one time black ranger. "Yup it's me in the flesh. These things incredible, Jason just gave mine to me. Sorry I don't have time for a lot of small talk but I don't know if you got the message yet from Jason but we need everyone to come here for a bit. It's about Kim. He also asked me to see what you've dug up about Kim's so called abuser." He gritted his teeth as he said it. If he ever got five minutes in a room alone with this guy, well lets just say, he'd be screaming a lot longer than any woman he ever hit had.
Zack took out a soda from the fridge, "Yeah I'll be there in two days, but from the stuff I got the name of her bf in Florida was called Aaron Phillip, he is a writer in books and it turns out he had a very odd childhood. There were reports of him having some fights. His profile isn't enough to get him but there have been some reports of missing girls when he was around the area." Tilting his head a bit, "You think Kim got some trouble with this guy?"
Tommy fumed but held it in check for the time being. "Yeah she said his name a bit ago. Her and Jase kind of had a blowout a few minutes ago. She got real upset, he blurted a few things out and she just lost it I guess." He felt sorry for both his friends. They were both in so much agony. Jase having to almost relive his friend Isabella's problems and Kim for obvious reasons.
Zack nodded his head slightly, "Ah I see, it seems rather hard then for Kim, by what I can tell in Jase's message she really is going through difficulties. Well I'll try to dig up on more on him; I know that Trini is working in the computer system trying to find stuff about him."
"Yeah Jason told me she's trying to get a tracking system worked out so that we can keep a close eye on Kim. Might be good for all the girls actually, if this guy is truly scum he might not stop at Kim." He let his meaning hang in the air.
Zack thinks for a bit, "Tracking device is wise then...hopefully things work out, anyways keep me up to date....and you might want to make sure that everyone is coming."
Tommy nodded his head at the hologram of Zack. "Okay Zack. Thanks for the help I know Jase appreciates it and Kim will too. Keep us posted on what you find. I think Jase sent a message out to everyone but I'll send another just to be sure. As soon as I figure out how to work all the doohickeys on this thing." He smiled.
Zack nodded his head, "Well I have a meeting with some of my friends that are cops at the station I work at, hopefully they can get some strings pull on the FBI."
"I'll let you go and hey Zack." He smirked as he remembered the chef hat he saw Zack take off in the hologram. "Try not to burn down any kitchens will ya."
"Very funny Space boy." Zack stuck his tongue out at the hologram and turned it off.
Tommy shook his head with laughter as he turned his end off and set about for a long day ahead of him.
To Be Continued
If Your Not the One Part 4 By Starfire and Kimber Purple Star
Somewhere in Florida
Somewhere on the other side of the States, near the training facility a man sat in a chair surrounded by files and records. Sounds of clicking sounded in the room, they came from the keyboard currently in front of him, "You can't hide from me Ann...I'll find you." He whispered huskily, his aqua blue eyes shimmered slightly in the dim light giving him a cat like quality. Blonde hair sparkled a bit, while the pallor of his skin gave his Irish blood dead away. A few more clicks and he leaned back in his chair. "Well, well I found you now. Wait for me Ann, you need to be punished for what you've done...that's right...isn't it Ann.
"His fingers trailed down a frame of glass, where brown hair and dark chocolate eyes smiled happily through the frame. "Wait for me I'll be with you soon." Printing something off his computer came next. Standing up he took the paper that was a receipt for online plane tickets. Walking over to the phone he dialed a phone number, "Ah...Miki sorry about this, but I have a family emergency. Can you tell the editors that my book won't be coming out just yet, since I am taking a leave for my family? Ah thank you, you're a gem. Bye then." Getting up he walked to his suitcase, picked it up then walked out into the light.
Back in Angel Grove, Jason's House One Week after the Accident
It had been a week since the accident that had laid Kim up at had happened. Her busted ribs and fractured ankle were still mending but the concussion and most of the cuts and scrapes had already healed.
Kim sat on the couch in the Scott residence with her ankle propped up on pillows as she watched some daily television. It hadn't been an easy recovery by any means, in fact it had been quite painful. The broken ribs weren't a new thing though, she'd had to deal with one or two here and there when she was in Florida. Shaking aside those dark thoughts she click the channel changer on the remote.
Jason walked in his arms loaded with bags of food, "I'm home!" He called out, "and I brought tons of goodies..." He smiled in amusement, when he closed the door behind him then sat the stuff on the counter. "So how are you feeling Lilo Kim?"
There was little amusement showing up on her face these days but she humored her friend with a soft smile. "Like I got hit by a car a few days ago?" After she had regained more equilibrium Jason had filled her in on what happened. It had been a bit shocking to say the least. She frowned at him slightly. "I told you never to call me that."
Jason just laughed, ignoring the pissed look on her face, "So which booboo do you want me to kiss all better Lilo Kim?" He winked in a flirtish way, while putting away some of the items from the bag and bringing out a glass of water with some pills. "Ah...here we go the pain killers...take two and let me kiss it all better...alright?"
Kim chose to just ignore his foolish behavior, it seemed since she had been released from the hospital it was the way he was going to behave. She looked at the pills in front of her with complete and utter distaste. "I don't need those right now Jase. I'm not in any pain right now alright." She pushed them away with a bit of crankiness.
Jason stared at her, "Don't lie Kim." His eyes shifting a bit until they were more serious, "I know you don't like staying in here anymore then you enjoy me picking you up and carrying you around the house." Touching her face gently, "I also know you're still hiding things."
Kim pulled his hand off her face. "Just give it a rest Jason. I don't need you to baby me alright. She pushed herself up from the position she was sitting in wincing a bit. . "I'm not going into this with you right now." Kim knew exactly where he was leading this to and there was no way she was going there today. She quickly put her attention back on the television as best she could.
Sighing slightly at her stubbornness, "Kim...you really got to stop running away, it's hurting everyone around you, and even yourself more." Standing he turned around and walked to the kitchen, "Tommy is still waiting for some answers too and you know what? You're lucky I don't want to press you for more today." Inwardly he was pissed off, though he remained calm, "As for babying you...I do that so that I can reassure me that you're not a dead corpse..."
He was so unrelenting sometimes that it frustrated her to no end. Blowing air through her teeth, "Look, I'm sorry. I.I just don't want to talk about this right now. When I'm all healed then maybe." She paused. "As for Tommy, I don't think it matters anymore really." True he had been kind when she was in the hospital and when she had come home so to speak but it wouldn't last long. He was just there because he had been there when she had been hurt. It hurt to admit that but it was true.
"You're still lying Kim." Jason lowered his head a bit and laughed softly, "Didn't I tell you I'll give you your space, but I know 100% when your heal you won't tell us." He fisted his hand a bit, "Tommy does matter too, inwardly you know, though your ashamed of something...that's why your pulling away...your not the only one in the world too feel this way..." Stacking up a few papers here and there, he brought out some glasses from his pocket and put it on so that he could read some of the bills.
*Oh hell no, he didn't just go there* She fumed inside and mumbled under breath. "What the hell do you know about how I feel." A bit louder she spoke up, "Jason just get off my back for one day alright." She tried to pull herself off the couch but only managed to fall to the floor in pain.
Jason didn't look up from his bills; he was rather too pissed off to glance back at what was going on. "I know a lot Kimberly Hart." In a way he supposed he could be a sadist in all sense, well he did like hitting bricks with bare hands sometimes. "Besides I gotten off your back I just made a statement. So don't get your panties up into an uproar."
She tried to push herself up but the pain in her chest was excruciating. She moaned under her breath and it wasn't a pleasant moan. Once again she tried to pull herself up but collapsed right back down to the floor with a loud thud. "Ahh..." She made a bit louder moan of pain this time.
Jason glanced up slightly, "Having trouble Kimberly?" His eyes hooded in a way one part of him felt guilty for what was happening, but a smaller part of him whispered that it wasn't his business since she did refuse the painkiller.
She would have glared at him if she could see him from where she had fallen. Through clenched teeth she shook her head. Her ankle wasn't helping her situation seeing as though it was in a rather bulky cast. "Not.at. all." Quickly trying to block out the pain she pulled her body back onto the couch. Once there she wiped a few beads of sweat off her forehead, leaned her head back and sighed in despair.
Jason went back to his calculations on the forms in front of him, tapping his glasses a bit here and there. "Suit yourself Kimberly. By the way Tommy will be over in a couple of minutes, I also gave him your and Billy's gift too, so it was easy for us to keep in contact. If you lost your communicator, I could always send for another one from Billy."
Kim squinted her eyes in pain and chose not to comment on that bit of information. Tommy coming over was just him feeling sorry for her and as for the gift, well, she was glad that it had finally made its way to him anyhow. Her fingers went to the chain around her neck; the locket that had once been around it was no longer dangling from it though. HE had ripped it off her during one of their fights. Kim shuddered as she thought about that particular fight but then shook herself out of its memory. "Whatever." Not even through most of the day and she was already in a sour mood.
Jason lifted his head, when he heard the door bell ring, "Ah speaking of the devil." Standing up he walked toward the door and open it. "Ah finally man..." His eyes still were set in angry position.
Kim just looked away from him and back at the television as Jason walked through the living room to the door.
Tommy had stood outside for about five minutes before he had rang the doorbell. It had been a nerve wracking day and seeing Kim again today just added to it. When the door opened he immediately noticed Jason's look of anger. "Hey Bro, sorry I'm a bit late. Is everything alright?" He asked his friend as he stepped inside.
Jason just put on a fake smile. "Sure it is Bro...If you don't mind I have some work to do, you can keep Kimberly company." Inward he steamed a bit and tapped a few buttons on his communicator. "Billy!" He mumbled when he went into the kitchen leaving the two alone.
Kim chose to ignore the fact that Tommy was sitting down in the chair that was at the foot of the couch. Her eyes remained on the television and not on the man who she had hurt in so many ways. It didn't matter anymore anyway and besides what did she possibly have to say to him.
Billy glanced up from his studies when his pocket watch beeped at him. Picking it up he quickly opened it. Pressing a button it opened the channel to a screen of his hologram. "Hey Jason, is anything wrong?"
Jason smiled a bit readjusting his glasses, "Hey Billy." His felt his face sour from the thoughts of Kimberly, "Do you have the back up lockets for the communicators that we made for each individual?"
"Yeah Jase." Billy looked puzzled, "Who do you need it for?"
"I need Kimberly's back up." Replying grimly the former ranger picked up a can of soda and popped the lid. "If you're wondering she is fine...just fine, just hiding stuff from us like usual."
"Well that's Kim for you." Billy laughed, while going to a hidden panel and opening it up revealing some of the items he had stocked up for each of their members. "Do you want special features installed?"
Jason nodded his head, "Yes, can you put the tracking device in the locket and send me another tracking chip, with the solution that I can use on hand to hand contact?"
Billy stared at his friend's face in surprise. "You think something is going to happen?"
"Billy you know my gut instincts are never wrong, let me tell you it is going off the chart on this one." Finally he turned his head to look at the other two who were remaining silent in the other room. "I need the solution so that she doesn't suspect Billy. This can mean a life or death thing."
"I understand." Billy nod his head, "How do you want it sent?"
"Anyway you can get it here...this is very important Billy." He wasn't thrilled at what he was feeling.
"Well I'll have Trini deliver it to you tomorrow if that's fine?" Billy smile, "We'll be in the area to visit since we heard about Kim's accident."
"Thanks you're a pal." Jason smiled a bit, "I'll talk to you later bye."
While Jason had been busy in the other room, Kim had maintained her silence as she listened to the song currently playing on the music station.
Me and my shadow are wrestling again. Look out stranger there's a dark cloud moving in.
But if you could hear the voice in my heart it would tell you. I'm afraid I am alone. Won't somebody please hold me release me show me. The meaning of mercy, let me loose. Fly.
The words struck a chord inside her and it only made Kim even angrier. Not at Jason though but at herself. She felt alone inside even though Jase had been trying to help. *No one knows what I'm feeling though not even Jason and for now its gonna stay that way.* She thought to herself.
Tommy meanwhile had been fidgeting in his seat as he watched her. She didn't look too happy but who does when they are laid up for who knows how long. Maybe some small talk would help, her mood a bit. "So.how are you feeling today Kim?"
The look of pure vileness that she shot him made him rethink the small talk right away. *Man, I've never seen her look at anyone that way.* He noticed the glass of water on the table and the pills next to them. "You should take them, they'll d wonders. Ask Rocky, after his back injury he said he was going to buy a factory." Tommy jokingly said.
Kim had to smile at that. Rocky had been the fun loving one, the comedian in their group after Zack left. What she wouldn't give to see both those knuckleheads again. Quickly she covered the smile she knew Tommy had seen." I'm alright; I don't need either of you shoving pills down my throat."
Tommy had seen a look of happiness at the mention of Rocky's name but Kim washed it away just as quick. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to force anything on you." He knew she was probably cranky but this was a bit much.
Jason rubbed his temple after finishing some of his accounting items. He leaned back sipping more on the can of soda and sighed, "Understanding..." Frowning slightly, he started to call the others on his communicator typing in a message to them. Sending it he stared at the holograph shifting a bit around the area until he realized something.
Tapping in another message to only Billy he wrote,
A response came back immediately stating,
Shifting her position, Kim closed her eyes with a sigh. She wasn't gonna be able to avoid taking those painkillers for much longer. Her ribs where killing her and since she had fallen before her ankle hadn't felt much better. Damn she'd be happy when at least she could walk around on crutches. Again she shifted positions, trying to sit up was such a witch to do now.
Tommy hesitated on trying to help her but since Jason was busy he made his move. "Here let me help you out there little lady." Maybe, just maybe he could break through this ice queen wall she was putting up and get to the bottom of it.
"I'm.perfectly.capable of..sitting up.on. my.own." She finally through gritted teeth managed to spit out.
Jason walked into the room, "Your back up communicator will arrive tomorrow Kim." He tilted his head slightly, "Which reminds me how did you manage to lose your first one?" Eyes shaded a bit to not give away anything of what he is feeling.
If looks could kill, Kim would have put Jason in his grave. "I'm not sure, I guess somewhere in Florida." A shit-eating grin on her face as she said it. *Your not gonna get anything Jase so give it up.* She fumed inside.
Jason scratched his cheek, "Very odd since you used to carry it around all the time. Especially since it was full of holograms of Tommy."
He was going to play dirty, she knew it. "Well, people can lose things even if they have them on their person. If you'll recall you lost a pair of glasses one time and they had been right on your head beforehand." She didn't care if he hated her after this, what did it matter. In the end they were all going to hate her anyway.
Jason stared at her, "Well true, but you've never been forgetful, your also not growing old like me..." His eyes seemed bright, "You also don't need to have glasses..." Turning away, "Like I said your device will be given to you tomorrow...do yourself a favor don't lose it like you lost your heart..."
That was it; he had driven her past all reasoning with that one. "Hey Jason, do me a favor and try to worry about your own love life instead of mine." Pulling herself up a bit more till she had swung her legs over the side of the couch she used the arm of it to pull herself to her feet though a bit awkwardly.
Jason stiffened, "Love life...at least my love life is just a bit happier then yours, since you keep on running away. But trust me...if this keeps on your going to lose....more then your own soul..." His anger was violent, and tempered beyond his limits.
Tommy had watched the whole thing play out before him with silent eyes but now things were getting a bit too heated. "Whoa guys calm down; I'm sure there's a perfectly logical solution to whatever's."
She ignored him once more as she pushed past all the pain and slowly stumbled closer to Jason. "What the hell do you know about anything that happened to me." She almost spat the words at him as she got right into his face as best she could, her hand bracing her upright against the wall. "You have no idea.you.think just because you saw a few bruises and cuts you knew exactly what was going on, well guess again." She almost sobbed the last part out as her strength started to fail her. "You don't.have.a clue. what he did." She finally broke down and slid down the wall.
"I know you were abused Kim." Jason spat out, "I know very well because I've seen this type of thing. I saw one of my friends, a girl, raped tied up bleeding, and she had more then what you had! I'd been next to her for five months straight before leaving the convention early. You want to know what, she died in my arms!" He shouted back, then turned away from her, and walked away. "I would know. I know the symptoms and I refuse to see this again! I am going out...call me if you need me Tommy you know how." With that he walked past Tommy toward the door to try to cool off.
Tommy grabbed Jason's arm. Enough was enough and he wanted some answers. "What the hell are you both talking about Jase? I'm not letting you go till you give me some answers." He gave his bro a look that had once been part of his Evil Green Ranger persona. He was tired of being jerked around.
Jason stared at him for a bit, "I've wanted to tell you, but it's Kimberly who hasn't. I try to give her the space but all she does is run away. Did you know that's it been three months of time I given her to explain everything to me?" His voice was filled with fury. "Three freaking month's man! But let me tell you what happened three months ago, I found her in the hospital! She had cuts and bruises and bruised ribs. She wouldn't tell me how she got them, but I've been watching her. I'm smart enough to figure out that she's been abused and I gave her the space to recover, but she closed herself off." He pulled his fist back and slammed it into the couch.
Tommy released Jason's arm and looked at him with anger and shock. "What the hell do you mean abused? Kim would never let anyone hit her, she'd pummel them first." What Jason was telling him couldn't be true. Kim would have said something, wouldn't she?
By now Kim had slumped to one side having cried herself out she just stared into space. It was all over. Jason would tell Tommy everything he knew, they'd both put two and two together and realize just what a disgusting and horrible person she had become.
Jason stared at him angrily, "WAKE UP MAN! Abuse itself knows no limits. It goes mental and physical...damn it I lost a good friend to it, she was even raped....do you honestly think that it's easily explained." He shook with fury, "I am not blind, and you should have figured it out too, the behavior the icy exterior the cuts bruises, it has to be a bastard that did it to her. But the one truth I want to know is why Kim wrote that damn letter, was it forced or not. I want to know if it was that guy that she dumped you for that hurt her abused her!"
Tommy paled at the mention of the 'other guy' that Kim had mentioned in the infamous letter. Before he could say anything else Kim's small voice could be heard. "It was.it was all my fault. I shouldn't have come here. I'm just making it worse." She kept staring and talking to no one in particular. "Please stop.stop." Tears streaked down her face.
Jason stared at her, "This is part of the symptoms, self denial, upset ness and fear of making things worse..." He rubbed his temples, "The only thing is that she won't tell me who did it..."
"This can't. oh god. Who would do this to her?" Tommy asked out loud. Anger started to fill him but also extreme sadness at what had become of Kim. "Do you mean to tell me you knew about this and didn't tell me?" He now looked at Jason with anger in his eyes
Jason stared at him, "I didn't want to tell you until I made some confirmation with her, besides every time I try to talk to you regarding her you go haywire on me!" Reminding him of what happened one week ago.
Tommy immediately backed off at that. It was true, every time Jason had brought up Kim's name Tommy had done his own version of running away. "I'm sorry bro, didn't mean to take this out on you." He looked back to Kim. "We've got to do something Jase. I...we can't leave her like this."
Kim rocked back and forth murmuring to herself. "Please leave me along.I didn't mean it. Please stop hurting me.Aaron, No.NO!!" She suddenly tried to get to her feet but fell back down to the floor in pain.
Jason shook his head, "It's going to be hard....trust me we might lose her...but I am more worried regarding this Aaron." Hearing the name slightly, "Tommy can you do me a favor...I'm going to have to sometimes go out and work...I need you to look after her, and keep connected to her. I can't be the one she needs...."
"Of course.I don't know how much good it will do but.I'll try." He sighed a bit then he started to think about whoever the hell this Aaron guy was. "We also have to find out about this Aaron guy. I want to know everything about him. This creep is going to pay and pay big time." Another look crossed his face and anyone who knew Tommy as the green ranger would have been worried he'd been turned evil again. The sneer that came over his face was reminiscent of the many he had given Jason and his team that first week they had known him.
Jason nodded his head, "I'll get Trini to do the tracking..." He made a face, "Surprisingly she's a good hacker and I'll have Zack pull some strings to get some information on this guy in the records. I hope Kat is up to me being busy as hell again." He sighs slightly at the thought of the massive communication line. "Also when Billy arrives we three have to talk together."
"I'm sure she'll understand man." He clapped his hand on Jason's shoulder. "We should get everyone here as soon as we can bro. She's gonna need all of us now I think." He paused as he looked over at Kim.
"I'll send a e-mail through the communicator, I have some other idea's but right now I need you to make sure Kim doesn't do anything drastic..." Jason rub his temple slightly, "I don't want her to kill herself or go off the deep end and run away like Isabella did..."
Tommy shook his head. It seemed to horrible to think about Kim trying to kill herself. Then again maybe she had tried to when she ran out into the traffic. Pushing that thought aside, "Don't worry man no one is going to let that happen. Kim was always strong for me I think its time I be strong for her." He moved over to Kim and knelt down right beside her. "Jason, you have to tell me about this Isabella, so I know how to make sure she doesn't turn out like her." The deep concern in his eyes showed he still cared. The anger, the resentment and the hurt he had held against her no longer mattered.
Jason slid onto his couch exhausted, rubbing his temple, "It's a long story, I never told anyone, because I didn't want them to see how much pain it could be for a single individual. But if you want to hear it, then I'll tell you, just let me put some coffee on so we have something to drink." Rubbing his neck a bit, "But first I think you should set Kim down into a more comfortable position and make sure she has enough medication in her."
He was already on that idea when he knelt down. Kimberly had sobbed herself to a point of exhaustion. Gently he picked her up, stood up slowly and walked over to the loveseat to put her down. "There you go." he smiled at her as her sleepy eyes looked up at him. "You need to take your medicine and then get some rest." He moved over to the coffee table where her pills and the glass of water still where and picked them both up. "Come on, here you go."
Kim so exhausted from her crying jag couldn't put up much of a fuss anymore and swallowed the pills with a sip of water to wash them down.
Jason smiled slightly from the view, got off the couch, and headed toward the kitchen. "You want coffee or something else Tommy?" Tilting his head in a gesture of amusement, while hiding his hands in his pocket.
Not lifting his gaze from Kimberly, he pushed back a lock of hair, "Coffee will be fine Jase, thanks." Kim had fallen asleep already but he still kept his eyes on her. Whispering gently to her to keep her calm. "Its alright now Kim. You don't have to be afraid anymore. Just sleep and when you wake up we'll all be here."
Nodding his head, he turned away and walked into the kitchen. Getting some of the items together, he started to make coffee, his eyes slowly moving to the window then back down to his pocket. Pulling out a few bottle of pills he felt his hands shake slightly. *No not now.* He thought in frustration, when he finally managed to open the bottles, glancing over his shoulders he swallowed two pills, and got a glass of water from the faucet to down it quickly. Finding himself steady he slipped the pill bottle back into his trouser pants. Satisfied, he took out some of the coffee cups and placed them into the saucers on the tray. *Come on Jase...that's it...breath* Reassuring himself, he poured the coffee into the cups then headed into the room. "How is she now?" He asked quietly when placing the metal tray onto the cofee table.
Tommy finally turned his gaze away from Kim to look over at Jason. "She sleeping, nodded off just before you went to get the coffee." He stood up and stretched his legs as he moved over to the couch and the coffee table. "You alright yourself bro? Maybe you should get some sleep too. You really didn't have the greatest of nights on that stool." He picked up one of the coffees and started to fix it the way he liked it.
Jason laughs, "To not feel is to not live." He picked up his coffee a bit, "I think it would be better if we clear up everything first, then I can get some rest." Leaning back into the couch smiling. "Don't worry, I am m ore concern with Kim right now."
A small laugh came from Tommy, "Too true bro, too true." Taking a sip he let it sit for a bit before swallowing. "I'll take care of the clean up if you want as for Kim... Its gonna be a long road isn't it? You said something about this Isabella, was she the one that went through this, the one who..died?"
After sipping his coffee he set it down and pulled out his pocket watch, clicking a few words into the screen, he then sent out his short message to everyone. "It's a long story, but I'll begin."
Fidgeting a bit he pressed a few keys on a pad, so that a picture of a 20 year old girl appeared. She had green emerald eyes and amber red hair. Irish in her descent dressed up in a cute green dress with a violin posed in her hands ready to play. "Isabella." He handed the watch for Tommy to look at, "One of my pure joys and a wonder to know, a famous protégée in the violin, an absolute brilliant mind, until...." Composing himself, "I met Isabella, during one of my conferences in Geneva, we hit it right off, she was playing the violin during the celebration. We met we talked, she was 17 at that time..." Laughing coarsely, "I was like her spiritual brother you can say, she is Irish, and I've always been fascinated by Ireland, to make this short, I got a call and I left the Geneva conference because of her. She ended up with some bad kids you can say...they kept on bugging her one of the bastards even thought he owned her."
Tommy listened with and eager ear, if whatever Jason could tell him would help Kim then it was extremely important that he did. He took another sip of coffee and asked, "How could this guy think that. I mean I knew a few guys back in LA that acted like that sometimes when it came to their girlfriends but they were never serious."
"He was some rich mans son, during one of her performances that he went to he fell for her, wanted her you can say. His name was Zanith Miller. He kept on harrassing her, until one day, he beat her up, and raped her. He made her say she loved him, tortured her, got a kick out of it." Slowly he gathered his hands together, "I wanted to kill that bastard so badly, I wanted to strangle that little jerk. I swore never to do violence but god I wanted to kill him." Hissing slightly to calm down from his emotions, "He even made her write a nasty letter to me, when I was still in the conference, saying that she didn't care about being my friend, which I found odd. It wasn't until later, when she finally ran away, made a break from him, that she phoned me, telling me that she was sorry for all she said, that she didn't mean it." Rubbing his shoulder he shivered a bit, "I believed her, asked her where she was, to my surprise it was in a hospital."
Tommy listened with and eager ear, if whatever Jason could tell him would help Kim then it was extremely important that he did. He took another sip of coffee and asked, "How could this guy think that cause he was rich he could do that?" he thought about one part of what Jason said in particular. The letter, could that have been what happened to Kim. Had this Aaron asshole made her do something similar? "So I gather you went their to see her?"
"Yes, what I saw wasn't pleasant..." Jason adjusted in his seat and took back the watch, his finger slowly skimed over the image. "She was in worse condition then Kim. She had burns on her arms and bruises along her face, what was worse was she was raped repeatedly." Closing his eyes struggling to keep the tears at bay, "So young and her light was almost gone by the time I got to her. She tried to pretend nothing was wrong, but....it was useless I could tell, she had fractured her leg, even an arm, and a couple of broken bones. I am amazed she managed to get away."
Shaking his head sadly "I'm sorry you had to go through that Bro. No one should ever see someone they care about go like that." He took another sip of his coffee after trying to comfort Jason as best as he could. "Did they ever nail the guy's ass to the wall for it?"
Jason leaned forward a bit placing his head in his hands, "No, he was bailed out, they let him go, he however did go after Isabella again, I had to pull a few strings around the area to make sure she would be fine. We did manage to nail the bastard, when he tried on another girl that we had undercover for FBI." Shaking his head, "It took me two years to finally get that guy. Before I came back to Angel Grove and got recruited by the rangers again." Feeling a little bit sour at the
memories, "But during that two years, I tried to help Isabella, I moved into an apartment and watched her constantly, while doing work on the side at home. She kept on pretending everything was fine but it wasn't true. She even tried to run away claiming she made things worse then it was before for me." Reaching out to his cup his finger shook, "One night I came....back home and the floor was covered with blood."
Tommy looked at his friend with sorrow. "You don't have to go on Jason. I'm sorry to make you relieve a painful experience." It was a horrible thing to lose someone so young in your life especially when they too where young and so full of potential. His eyes flitted over to Kim who was sleeping a bit less peacefully then before. "That's not gonna happen to Kimberly Jason, you believe that don't you?" He asked his friend.
Jason stared at Tommy a bit, "She is at a stage that she will push us all away...she will make us mad hate her loath her then she will start to hate herself more and end it." Breathing a sigh, "I have to tell you though, we are going to keep a tracker on her just in case this guy tries anything."
He shook his head comprehending. "I'm not going to lose her Jase. None of us are. You have to believe that." Finishing off his coffee and put the cup down on the table. "Its good idea the tracker nice thinking. I'm glad you told me. Now I think you should get some sleep besides she's not going anywhere. I'm going to stay here tonight if you don't mind to keep and eye on her.
Jason stared at Tommy then smiled. "Oh...so your not going to lose her eh?" While leaning on the side of his chair, "Well right now we are fixing some minor issues me and Billy. I also asked him for teleportation devices on our new communicators." He shakes his head, "I can't really sleep that much lately...I have work to do...even though I should sleep."
Tommy just looked at Jason, "Jase please, I just... I lost her once before and I didn't even have the balls to find out why. Its time I started taking the first step instead of her. Besides, we can discuss my love life of lack thereof later." He started to clean up the coffee stuff and picked up the tray. "You need to get at least a few winks. What say you lay down on the couch for an hour or so. There's plenty of the day left to do whatever needs to get done. When the gang starts to arrive you'll want to look well rested else Trini will be all over you."
Jason grimaces at Trini's name. "Knowing her she would start yelling at me, for not fixing anything." He shakes his head, "Why me....she is going to kill me..." Sighing, "Fine fine I'll sleep," rubbing his eyes, "Could you call Zack to find out what he found on regarding Kim's so called abuser?"
"Sure not a problem. And I've got my handy dandy new giftie to do it with." He smirked at Jason as he pulled his own watch/communicator out of his pocket. Opening it like Jason showed him before; he looked for the correct button for Zack. "BL0, there it is." He pressed it then walked into the kitchen to send his message. "Zack, this is Tommy, you there?"
A startled bang of pots and pants was heard in the background, then the hologram popped up. "Tommy is that you man?" Zack glanced into the hologram to see his friend. "WOW it is you!" He is amazed, "This is the bomb man...." Taking off his chef hat to place it on the kitchen counter.
He smirked at the one time black ranger. "Yup it's me in the flesh. These things incredible, Jason just gave mine to me. Sorry I don't have time for a lot of small talk but I don't know if you got the message yet from Jason but we need everyone to come here for a bit. It's about Kim. He also asked me to see what you've dug up about Kim's so called abuser." He gritted his teeth as he said it. If he ever got five minutes in a room alone with this guy, well lets just say, he'd be screaming a lot longer than any woman he ever hit had.
Zack took out a soda from the fridge, "Yeah I'll be there in two days, but from the stuff I got the name of her bf in Florida was called Aaron Phillip, he is a writer in books and it turns out he had a very odd childhood. There were reports of him having some fights. His profile isn't enough to get him but there have been some reports of missing girls when he was around the area." Tilting his head a bit, "You think Kim got some trouble with this guy?"
Tommy fumed but held it in check for the time being. "Yeah she said his name a bit ago. Her and Jase kind of had a blowout a few minutes ago. She got real upset, he blurted a few things out and she just lost it I guess." He felt sorry for both his friends. They were both in so much agony. Jase having to almost relive his friend Isabella's problems and Kim for obvious reasons.
Zack nodded his head slightly, "Ah I see, it seems rather hard then for Kim, by what I can tell in Jase's message she really is going through difficulties. Well I'll try to dig up on more on him; I know that Trini is working in the computer system trying to find stuff about him."
"Yeah Jason told me she's trying to get a tracking system worked out so that we can keep a close eye on Kim. Might be good for all the girls actually, if this guy is truly scum he might not stop at Kim." He let his meaning hang in the air.
Zack thinks for a bit, "Tracking device is wise then...hopefully things work out, anyways keep me up to date....and you might want to make sure that everyone is coming."
Tommy nodded his head at the hologram of Zack. "Okay Zack. Thanks for the help I know Jase appreciates it and Kim will too. Keep us posted on what you find. I think Jase sent a message out to everyone but I'll send another just to be sure. As soon as I figure out how to work all the doohickeys on this thing." He smiled.
Zack nodded his head, "Well I have a meeting with some of my friends that are cops at the station I work at, hopefully they can get some strings pull on the FBI."
"I'll let you go and hey Zack." He smirked as he remembered the chef hat he saw Zack take off in the hologram. "Try not to burn down any kitchens will ya."
"Very funny Space boy." Zack stuck his tongue out at the hologram and turned it off.
Tommy shook his head with laughter as he turned his end off and set about for a long day ahead of him.
To Be Continued
