SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Andros had been gone for a couple of hours now. He had wondered all the way over to the beach of Angle Grove. He sighed heavily as he stared out at the ocean watching the waves hit the shore, birds flying in the sky. He wasn't paying attention to the people enjoying the nice clam day laying on the beach and kids playing in the sand making sand castles. His mind was on other things, things he needed to remember. And then there was the fear the CellBorgs could still be alive. Andros sighed, he hoped that wasn't true, with all his heart. Andros bit his lip hard. He knew no one would want to hear that Tommy's sacrifice was for nothing. In fact he didn't want except it. But Andros knew that was just wishful thinking. He had seen far too much, just to ignore what he was feeling. Something was going on, and they were going to have to take care of it, as soon as possible. However, Andros knew before they did anything. He needed to remember a few things. Things he had forgotten. Things Zordon may have taken away from him and the bigger question. Why would Zordon have done that? What could Andros possibly have known, that Zordon saw it as something he needed to forget? Right now Andros didn't have the answers to his questions, and he wasn't sure if he wanted them answered.
"Andros," said a soft voice. Andros gulped in, he knew who it was. He knew it was hard on her, but she stuck by him. Even though he seemed to push her away little by little, either out of fear or the unknown, he didn't know. "Everyone's really worried about you, were just trying to help," she said kindly, placing her hand on his shoulder. Andros turned around, taking her hand in his. He smiled at her briefly. He wasn't sure what he would ever do if something happened to her. He would be lost without her.
"I know. I'm sorry for the way I acted. I just thought it was all over and done with. And now this," said Andros sadly. Ashley nodded her head understanding. She too thought their days as rangers were over and done with. They thought they would finally be able to settle down, start a family. But now, it seemed as though it wasn't quite over yet.
"It's going to be okay. We've been through worse. And we always managed to make it through," she smiled trying to cheer him up. Andros smiled briefly, they have been through worse. They had fought so many battles, risked their lives countless times. This should be a piece of cake, but some how Andros knew it wouldn't be that simple. Andros pushed away that thought, as he put his arms around her shoulders.
"Come on let's go home. I'm sure will come up with something to help me remember, as for the rest will worry about that later," said Andros wanting to change the subject for the moment. He leaned in closer and kissed her gently on the lips. Ashley smiled there was the Andros she knew, the one who would never give up. Ashley leaned closer to him, as the two started for home.
Jason, Rocky and Adam were cleaning up the dojo for the night. They were putting away punching pads, boards and other equipment away. They had finished up the paper work within the last hours and were getting ready to head home for the night. "So Jason, you and Kim sure have been spending a lot of time with each other. Anything you want to tell us?" asked Rocky smiling, as he folded up one of the mats. Adam shook his head; leave it to Rocky to say something like that. Jason didn't seem affected by the question, as if it meant nothing.
"Yeah, well were good friends. We grew up together. What's wrong with that?" asked Jason, as he staked up the boards against the wall. Rocky then picked up the mats he had folded up and carried them setting them against the wall.
"Nothings wrong with it. What I meant was, you two are kind of close," said Rocky trying to point something out to his young friend, being a little too obvious. Jason looked at Rocky blankly, as if he wasn't sure what he meant or he was hiding something. Adam knew very well what Rocky was getting at. He too had thought about it once or twice, but hadn't yet pressed on the matter. There had never been a good time to bring it up. Adam walked over by Rocky after he finished packing away the punching and kicking pads.
"What I think Rocky is trying to say is, you like Kimberly don't you?" asked Adam. In a way that wasn't too much of anything, just a simple fact. Jason gave a blank look as if he didn't hear what Adam had said or he wasn't expecting it. The two young men stared at Jason trying to read his reaction. All that they could make out was either he didn't understand the point the two of them were trying to make, or he just didn't want to understand it at all.
"Of course I like her. She's my friend, like a sister," said Jason flatly. Adam and Rocky couldn't quite tell if their friend was being totally honest with them about his feelings for Kim or if in fact he wasn't too sure himself as to what his feelings for Kim meant. Rocky shook his head he didn't seem to be buying into what Jason was telling them. And he wasn't about to give up on it either.
"Yeah. We know you like her. What we're trying to say is? Do you like her, like her?" asked Rocky rolling his eyes getting his point across. If Jason knew what they were talking about. He wasn't showing it, which made it difficult for the two to get a straight answer from him. Jason looked at Rocky oddly.
"You mean you want to know, if I love her more then just a friend" asked Jason looking at the two. Rocky and Adam looked at each other nodding their heads.
"Yeah, so," asked Adam, as he crossed his arms against his chest. Adam normally wouldn't push for an answer, but if Jason was willing then what was the harm. Jason laughed lightly at the two. Adam and Rocky weren't sure what that meant
"No," Jason laughed, but it was the sort of laugh that someone used to laugh at a joke that wasn't funny. "Come on guys! Think about what you're saying. She was our best friend's girl. And besides when Tommy said to look out for her. I don't think that meant to fall in love with her," replied Jason making reference to their departed friend in hopes it might get the subject dropped.
"So, you do love her?" asked Rocky wasting no time. Adam dropped his head this was not how he wanted this conversation to go. He could just shoot Rocky about now. Adam could see that Jason seemed to be struggling with what to say next.
Could he?
"No…look, I mean, I love her, but as a sister, a friend, nothing else," his words seemed hesitant and rushed. "Look I…I got to go. I'll see you guys tomorrow," said Jason heading out of the dojo in a hurry, as soon as Jason was gone Adam walked up behind Rocky and hit him over the head.
"Idiot!" muttered Adam.
"Hey! What was that for?" yelled Rocky rubbing his head. Adam sighed, shaking his head.
"No, wonder you can't get a girl," said Adam, as he started heading for the door. Rocky got his confused look on his face. He ran to catch up with Adam.
"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, while Adam reached for the door.
"What it means is you jump into things too quickly, like with Jason for instance you asked him if he loved Kim, basically in a romantic kind of way. You can't just go out and ask that straight out. Come on Rocky think before you open your big mouth," Adam told Rocky, being very serious about the whole thing. Rocky put on his defensive look.
"Well I didn't mean anything by it. It just seems as if he sees it as a crime to fall in love with her," replied Rocky as the two walked outside into the parking lot.
"Well maybe that's because, Kimberly was married to his best friend. Think about it. How would you feel if you were in his shoes?" asked Adam looking Rocky straight in the face, Rocky finally got the point.
"Okay! Okay, I get it. I'll lay off," Adam gave a satisfied look. The two of them then started to walk over to the parking lot heading over to their cars. "But someone has to tell him he loves her and that it's okay," mumbled Rocky. Adam sighed. Rocky still wasn't quite getting it. But Rocky was right about one thing. Jason wasn't being honest about his feelings. And they both knew it, the question is, does Jason?
Jason walked into his small apartment. It wasn't much, but it was home. The living room and kitchen were joined together. There was a bedroom in the back, and the bathroom was right next to it. Jason seemed lost with his thoughts on what Rocky had said. Did he love Kim, more then just a friend? Jason slumped over to his couch and sat down, sighing deeply. He turned to the table that was right by the couch. He found a very old photo placed in a picture frame. It was taken the day Tommy and Kim had gotten married. Jason had been the best man, and Aisha was the maid of honor. The four of them were in the picture smiling. Jason sighed, while he looked at the picture, those were happy times. But those days were over, and life would have to go on without Tommy. Jason then remembered some of the last few words Tommy had told him, asked of him.
'I need you to be there for Kim, to hold her and let her know it's going to be okay. I need my child to have someone as a father figure for them. Can you do that for me bro?'
Jason took the picture frame in his hands, staring at the picture, as Tommy's words played over in his head. He had done just that. He had been there for Kim, he had held her as any friend would, and he had been there for Tom and Trent. Jason felt guilty he had everything Tommy ever wanted, a family, great friends, a job. Jason felt like he had taken that away from Tommy, even though he knew it wasn't true. Tommy was gone. Jason let out a loud sigh.
"I don't……..I can't" said Jason softly, not wanting to give into what he was feeling, as if it felt like a betrayal of friendship. "He said to be there for her, not to fall in love. So that's what I'm going to do. Be there for her. I won't fall in love, I won't," stated Jason. He sat up, setting the picture frame back down on the desk in a hurry and made his way to his bedroom.