The Fallen

Chapter Four: Secrets and Shadows

Note: See Chapter One

I need more

All I want is to break

My circle of regrets

Circle of regrets

Is there any solution?

I want to find the way to escape... to go away

Circle by Lacuna Coil

The next thing Kim knew she was being held by Tommy, his strong arms unwilling to let her go, and at that moment that's all she wanted. All she could think of was Trini falling, her body lying bloody on the floor, over and over in her mind she was reliving the moment that her best friend was shot. Trini was still in surgery; the doctors insisted relentlessly that she would be fine in a few days, and that the most she was suffering from was the blood loss. The other Agents were all were sitting in chairs watching her with silent pity, they were close to Trini but knew that Kim and Trini were closer than they could imagine. Tommy could feel Kim's tears soaking through his shirt, and shed his own tears, when he saw them bring in Trini then saw Kim soaked in Trini's blood he didn't even want to think about the horror Kim had seen. A few minutes later, the doctor came from the ER, still coated in blood, and approached the group.

"Agents Mackenzie, Nash, Cameron and Detectives Cassidine and Hart?" he asked, the group gave a collective nod and the doctor pulled down the mask that had covered his mouth. Tommy could see nurses and other doctors moving Trini out of the ER in a bed, now she was cleaned off, and she was wearing a gown, her skin was still and eerie pale but she seemed to be doing fine.

"Agent Kwan is fine, she'll be out for a few more days but don't worry, she'll be good as new." The doctor reassured them, Tommy could feel Kim relaxing in his arms.

"Can we see her?" Kim asked, her voice shaking, the elder man nodded and before Tommy could blink Kim was running down the hall and following the stretcher to Trini's new hospital room.

How far down would you fall

If you never came up again

'Cause you're so sick of it all

And you want to change everything

Just how deep will you go

To see through it all?

Sick of it all by Finger Eleven

Kira didn't know what had happened, she heard someone screaming and people running, crying and then the crawl space door was opened and the man who took her jumped down. She steadied herself the best she could, though through her eyes the room was still spinning, without saying a word he grabbed her by her hair and began to drag her into a dark corner. She opened her mouth to scream but he saw and slapped her hard in the face. The blow stunned her and she couldn't speak, and then realized she was safer that way-until he slammed her head into a wall and the darkness immediately swallowed her. She didn't know how long had passed, whether it had been hours or days, when she awoke again, this time she was chained to a huge metal structure by her throat. The man was watching her, she could feel his eyes on her and finally saw his face, his face was disfigured and so was his body. She backed away as he approached her but she couldn't go far, he smiled at her and she could see the lust in his eyes. Finding her voice she asked the only question on her mind.

"Why me?" He just laughed, the noise was cold and harsh, and Kira backed as far away as she could, her back now against the metal framework. She opened her mouth and let the Petra scream rip from her throat and he flew back, slamming into a wall so hard that he left a blood trail down the wall. She knew that he'd be out for a while but when he awoke would angry with her, falling to her knees she slammed her eyes closed and felt hot tears fall down her face.

"Someone please help me" she sobbed, aloud, knowing no one could hear her.

Tommy had just closed his eyes, his body exhausted, and his mind was weary. He was so worried about Kira, they had grown close over the weeks he had been trapped in his Ranger uniform and he could honestly say that she was the closest Ranger to him. He had to admit to himself that he cared deeply for her, that losing her would kill apart of him inside. He sighed heavily, as he opened his eyes again, his time to look at his sleeping companion. Kimberly had finally let him remove her from the hospital after hours of watching Trini sleep. Now she lay wrapped in his arms, tears drying on her cheeks, even in her sleep. Then he though he heard someone sobbing, he knew it wasn't Kim and he had no one else in the house and he had no neighbors. He let his mind drift and the crying got louder.

'Who's crying?' he asked his mind and then heard a soft voice.

'Me' then he realized who the voice belonged to, it was Kira.

'Kira?' he asked, and heard her voice calming down.

'Dr. O, how is this possible?' she asked, wonder in her voice, he smiled to himself.

'Remember when you first became Rangers? I told you had telepathy to communicate with your zords. I guess our channels have become broader because we've spent so much time together.'

'Oh, you're right. Are they trying to find me? What happened to Cassidy?'

'The killer was about to do something to her when Trini and Kim, the original pink and yellow rangers.' He paused briefly; picturing them in his mind, hoping the images got to her, then continued. 'They burst in and he shot Trini in the stomach and threw Cassidy on top of Kim to prevent her from getting to him, then the other Agents who are working this case came. By that time he had already taken you away, now we have your location but they are waiting until the morning to move in again, they don't want to have the same mistake.'

'I'm probably going to be dead by then, I knocked the guy out with my Petra scream and I know he's going to hurt me when he gets up. He's chained me to his metal structure and I can't really move. Don't let him hurt me, Dr. O'

'I'm sorry Kira, can you give me details of the building that you're in?' the images of a room with metal all over the place came in and the image of the man lying in a heap on the floor. Then Tommy could only watch through her eyes as the killer woke up and began heading to her, fire poker in hand, she screamed in pain and then everything when dead and he knew she was unconscious.

"Kim, wake up, I know where Kira is!" Kim woke up and rubbed her eyes and waited for him to elaborate.

"Where Tommy?" she asked, and he began to tell her everything Kira showed and told him before she was knocked out. Kim rolled over to the nightstand on her side of the bed and grabbed her gun, and since she was still dressed, grabbed her coat.

"Tommy, I'm going to tell the others, don't worry. I'm bringing Kira back safely." Kim said, and put the gun in its holster.

"Be careful too, I don't want anything to happen to you." Kim leaned down and kissed him deeply and tenderly, and smiled as she left his room. Tommy stared at his hands, then to the dormant morpher on his wrist and realized he hadn't felt this helpless in his life. He grabbed his phone and called Conner and Ethan, who immediately came over, both dressed in boxers and bathrobes.

"Dr. O, its 3 am." Ethan said, yawning as he sat down at the kitchen table, Conner was awake, but barely.

"I know, but I heard from Kira, we were using telepathy to communicate, and I wanted you two here so when Kim leads the attack on the murderer we'd be together to know what's happening, Conner nodded numbly, his eyes still focused down at the table top.

"Conner, did you get any sleep?" Tommy asked, the boy shook his eyes, and groaned.

"You caught me leaving the hospital, I just left Cassidy and Devin. Devin's up and about now, Cassidy is sort of awake and Trini was still out when I passed but there was a man in there with her. I recognized him, he didn't see me, but I think he knew I was watching him. It was Billy, the original blue Ranger." Conner explained, Tommy almost dropped the coffee cup he was pouring.

"What?! Are you sure?" Tommy demanded, wiping up the coffee that he had spilt on the counter and on the floor.

"Yeah, he was older of course and really muscular from when I first saw him on the tape." Conner explained Tommy had been hurt that he hadn't gotten to say good bye to his friend and couldn't wait until visiting hours began again so he could see Billy once again. Then Conner yelped loudly and jumped, clutching his right eye, Ethan jumped back in his seat, almost taking it to the ground with him as he fell. Ethan got back up and he and Tommy were staring at Conner who was still holding his eye.

"Conner, what's wrong?" Tommy asked, Conner didn't remove his hand, but said between his clenched teeth.

"I think he's hurt Kira." He managed to spit out.

"What makes you think that?" Ethan asked, Conner lowered his hand, the palm was splattered with blood. A long gash stretched from the top of his eyebrow down to his cheekbone.

"That's why." He stated simply.

To Be Continued in Chapter Five: Twilight Awakens (The Last Chapter)