Adam was at Kim's home keeping her and the babies company. He was getting ready to hang up the phone when Kimberley walked into the living room she had just finished putting Tom and Trent down for their napes. "Thank you, Mr. Collins…….I'll let her know…….You to sir, oh and tell Wes to be careful……Bye, sir" Adam hung the phone up and meant with Kim's eyes as she walked into the living room.
"Wes?" Adam nodded his head gently. The last they knew Wes was in a coma. Kim took a seat next to Adam on the couch.
"Yeah. Wes woke up out of his coma a couple days ago,"
Kim smiled. "That's great!" The look Adam had on his face, showed signs of something bad was up. "Isn't it?" she asked concerned. Adam bit his lip.
"Yeah. But I guess yesterday Captain Mitchell contacted Mr. Collins, telling him that Chad and Kelsey sent word that they needed backup..." Kim nodded her head. Where was this leading to? Did Adam have to leave?
"Does this mean you have to leave?" asked Kim concerned. She already had two close friends on the mission. She wasn't sure if she was ready to have another. Adam laughed softly. He wasn't sure why. Kim didn't seem to find the humor in it. This was no laughing mater. Adam caught that look from her. He his smiled faded away.
"No, I'm not going. They already have a two man team setup. Leaving today," Kim gave a sign of relief, but tried not to show it too much. Adam had been great company with Jason gone. And in some way's Adam was easier to talk to about certain things.
"Who's going then? You're acting as if it's the end of the world," Adam had to admit he was very shocked about what Collins had told him. Although he wasn't too surprised either, almost would have suspected it.
"Joel will be going…….and so is Wes," those last few words Adam mumbled. Kim's eyes lit up
"For a minute there I thought you said Wes is going on the mission," Adam just looked at Kim not saying a word. "Oh my….You did say Wes is going. Is he nuts? He just woke up out of his coma. He's going to get himself killed if he goes on that mission….."
"His dad tried to talk him out of it, but no go," Kim just shook her head. What is it with red ranger being so hard headed? They all think they are invisible and do whatever they please.
"Well what did Jen have to say about this? Because if I know Jen she'd have a few words to say about this," announced Kim. She knew there would be no way Jen would allow Wes to do much of anything in the condition he would be in.
"Apparently Jen doesn't know. None of the rangers on the mission know who's being sent in as backup,"
"Well once Wes gets there he's going to wish he stayed back home once Jen get through with him," There was something about the way Kim had been talking that had been bothering Adam. But after those last words he began to catch on to something. Kim was talking about Wes and Jen, but there was something behind it. She was talking as if Jen would be furious that Wes came on the mission to help, rather then be happy to see him alive. Something wasn't right here, although Adam knew Jen wouldn't be pleased with Wes decision of going on the mission, especially in the condition he is in.
"You don't think she would be happy to see him alive?" questioned Adam seeing if his theory was true, that there was more to this.
"Not if he gets himself killed, while being there. Wes is being a real idiot and it's a huge risk on his part," Kim's voice seemed harsh to Adam. He then began to understand, she was angry or trying to be, but not at Wes. She was comparing him to someone else. But who? The only two guess he had was Tommy and Jason. And he knew it couldn't be Jason. So it had to be Tommy. Was she angry that Tommy did what he had to do, to save all them at the cost of his life, or was there more to it? There had to be more. And that's when Adam remembered seeing Kim watching out the window as Rocky and Jason left with Andros and Zhane. The look in her eyes, what it told him. She cared a great deal for Jason. Could she possibly be using Wes's choice comparing it to Tommy, as a reason to be angry with him? Does she feel in order for her to have any feelings with Jason, so it doesn't feel like she's betraying Tommy, that she needs a reason to be angry with him? There was one way to find out. Adam braced himself, not sure how Kim would react.
"You know it's okay to be angry with Tommy, but don't use that as an excuse to have feelings for Jason…."Kim gave Adam a blank look. Adam wasn't sure if that was good or bad.
"What are you talking? I thought we were talking about Wes," Adam knew she was lying.
"No. I was talking about Wes. You were talking about something else and we both know that," Kim looked away from Adam and sighed heavily. She didn't want to believe it was true, but it was. She had tried hiding and denying what she was feeling, but she couldn't hold it in any more. She began crying, feeling herself break down. Adam moved closer to her and put his arm around her.
"It's okay Kim," His voice was gentle and understanding.
"No it's not. I still love him. I've tried to be angry with him, but I can't…" Kim looked up at Adam with tears glowing in her eyes. Adam wiped away one of her tears with his finger.
"And you always will. No one will ever deny that you loved him Kim," Kim sniffled a little nodding her head.
"I don't know what to do Adam. I have feelings for Jason, but I'm not sure what they mean…." Adam sighed. He knew this was hard on Kim, especially after losing Tommy. And it probably didn't help maters that Jason was Tommy's best friend. Adam answered her the only way he knew how.
"What does your heart tell you?" asked Adam looking into Kim's eyes.
********************
The backup ship was ready for Joel and Wes to take off, and to go and join their friends on the mission. Wes was saying goodbye to his father while Joel was saying goodbye to his family. Wes faced his father knowing very well his father didn't want him to go. But he knew his father understood why he was going. Wes wanted to be with Jen, to assure himself that she was alright. The whole car ride here Wes ignored all pain he felt in his chest. He had a few broken ribs that would need time to heal and not to mention his right shoulder and arm was still banged up and in a sling. Everyone had tired to talk Wes out of going, due to his injuries, and they all knew once he morphed he would be fine, but the second he unmorphed he would be in extreme pain. "Be careful, son, watch yourself out there," Collins stepped closer to his son, gently pulling his son into a hug. Wes moved his left arm around his father and patted him on the back.
"I will dad," Wes stepped back looking at his father once more, before heading over to the ship.
"Now you be a good girl for mommy, while daddies away okay," Joel was lifting his young daughter up in the air, making all sorts of goofy faces at her. Jasmine laughed and giggled at her father. Joel then brought her down and kissed her on the cheeks, before putting her into his wives arms. "I love you honey," said Joel as he kissed Angela on the lips. Angela retuned to kiss with one of her own.
"I love you too," Joel took once last look at his little family. He then turned to the small table off to the side where his cowboy hat was and grabbed it. He put the hat on his head as he started towards the ship. "Oh and Joel," Joel turned around grinning, having some idea what it was about. "This is not one of your stunt planes, so no flip flops, twills, or whatever else you were planning on doing," announced Angela her eyes looking right into Joel. Joel snickered. He knew that look all to well. He better listen or he'll pay for it later.
"You really know how to take the fun out of everything," laughed Joel as he made his way towards to small two person ship where Wes was waiting for him.
The two got into the ship. Joel was sitting in the controller's seat, while Wes had the passenger's seat. Joel strapped his belt over his chest tightly. Wes winced and cringed in pain as he fastened his belt. "Man you better not hurl is all I got to say," Joel commented as he started up the engine. Wes laughed lightly, but not too hard. The pressure from the belt was painful as it is.
"I'll probably pass out before that happens," replied Wes.
"Okay Joel, I'm opening up the dome be ready for take off. Once your in space the ship should navigate itself to the others," Captain Mitchell's voice came from the radio. Wes and Joel heard a loud noise above them. They both looked up and saw the ceiling opening up. Joel and Wes looked at each other. There was no going back now.
"Time to see what this baby can do!" Wes didn't respond or maybe he couldn't. He was coming to grasp the pain in his ribs and shoulder, as the ship began to shake a little. The ship began to hover off the ground and began to make its way up to the opening in the ceiling. Wes took little breaths at a time. Joel could see that Wes didn't look to good. Wes's face was covered in sweat. "Man you okay? You don't look so hot," Wes turned and looked at Joel, he took a breath in.
"I fine. Let's just keep going," replied Wes ignoring the pain he was in. The sooner we get out of here, the sooner I get to see Jen. Joel just looked at him shaking his head. He knew very well Wes was lying, but wouldn't press on it. Not to mention they were more then half way up to the ceiling. Going back down would only waste time, which is one thing they didn't have.
"Your funereal,"
Down below Captain Mitchell, Mr. Collins, Angela and Jasmine all watched as the ship flew out of the building heading up to the sky into space. They all had concerned looks on their faces, for different reasons, but they all shared on in common. Would this mission succeed? And then there were each of their individual concerns and fears.
Mr. Collins fears were not only for his son because of his injures, but also for Eric and Jen. Now he had three people to worry about. Three lives that was very important to him. Three lives he was not prepared to lose.
Then there was Angela. Although, it had been her to push Joel to go this time around, it did not mean she didn't have fears of him not coming back. She was very afraid, probably more then she was willing to admit to herself. She wasn't sure. What she would do if he didn't come back alive? There was almost a pang of regret for what she did, but she knew if the CellBorgs were not defeated there, they would come here. And that couldn't happen. She had a daughter to be concerned about. Angela held Jasmine close to her, praying that the man they both loved would come back to them.
Captain Mitchell was probably the most scared out of all of them. Although he primarily only had his son to worry about up there. He felt responsible for the others that were up there, probably more then he should. Although going on this mission had not been his decision. It had been here where the ships were taken care of. It had been here where everyone worked on the ships. It had been here where the ships left to go off into space. What if they missed something? What if something happened to ship and it doesn't work right? What if Joel and Wes get lost in space? What if the ship never makes it back? It would be his fault, at least that's how he felt. He knew if anyone of those things happened, no one would blame him, but that still didn't take away any responsibility he felt towards them.
If you're looking for action there will be plenty of it. Stay tuned for the next chapter. Plus how will Wes react when he finds out about the situation with Jen?
