By: Morgan
Disclaimer: Saban owns all PR material and characters. I only own the stuff I make up myself. Please, oh, please don't sue me.
Rating: R for violence, adult situations, and language.
Distribution: Anywhere as long as you inform me first as to where you want to put it.
Time Line: This story takes place four years after Kim left for Florida. Kim did break up with Tommy. No one made her write "The Letter" or anything like that. She really did meet someone new. Most of the characters are 22, and some are 23. Okay, that's good enough I guess.
My Notes: Special thanks go out to Hanspam, Shawn (Ozmandayus), StarryNights, Kristine, zee-zila, Arielle, The Girl In The Red Jacket, and kimberlyluvstommy. Thank you guys for always reviewing and supporting me. You guys keep me writing. Thanks. ~Morgan~
*****
Tommy's Apartment
Wednesday, September 25, 2000 8:43 A.M.
Angel Grove, Ca
Kim picked up Tommy's black cordless phone off the kitchen counter and dialed a familiar number. She gave Tommy a slight smile as he put some ice in an ice pack for her eye, grateful for his caring help.
"Hello," an Australian accented voice answered on the other line.
"...Hey Kat, this is Kim..." Kim shifted the phone to her other ear as it created a dulling throb to spread over the left side of her face.
There was a slight pause on Kat's part, but she spoke up. "Oh, hey Kim. What's up?" Kat's heart jumped in her throat as she recognized Kim's voice. Her first reaction was to just slam the phone down and change her number so she would never have to face her about this whole ordeal. But Kat knew that wasn't very logical.
'She doesn't know does she? Oh, God, what do I say?'
Kim twisted the phone cord around her finger and gave Tommy a silent thank you as he handed her the cold pack wrapped in some paper towels so that it wouldn't be too cold on her sensitive face. Tommy wanted to give the two a moment to speak alone so he left the kitchen to fold the blankets sprawled out all over the couch and make his bed. Kim discarded the ice pack and sat in on the table for the time being.
"Nothing much Kat. I was just calling to see what you were up to. I thought that maybe we could go grab a bite to eat or something if you didn't have plans for lunch. You know, catch up on old times or whatever."
"Yeah, that sounds great." Kat's palms were sweaty as she grasped the phone with a near death grip. "Hey Kim, you haven't talked to Tommy today right?" If Kat would have checked her caller ID box she would have figured out the real answer to that question.
"Nope, why?" Kim rolled her eyes and sighed.
'This is pathetic. Why do I even bother?'
"No reason. I was just wondering. So, where do you want to meet and what time would be good for you?" Kat rolled her eyes, not really wanting to meet up with her former friend at all.
"How about at 12:30. We can go to that little restaurant on Baker Street. What's it called?"
"Um, Donna's Kitchen?"
"Yeah, that's the one. Have you ever eaten there?" Kim was starting to feel sick to her stomach that Kat could hold a normal conversation with her after what had happened. A real friend would have all ready told her she had slept with her man. But she kept the conversation going waiting to see if Kat had any integrity left.
"No, but I hear they have pretty good salads. I'll see you then. Bye Kim." Kat hung up the phone before Kim could even say bye back to her.
"Bitch!"
"Whoa, what happened Kim? Did she say something about it on the phone," Tommy queried as he walked back into the small kitchen. "You need to put this on your eye and keep it there," he scolded as he picked the ice pack up off the table and gently pressed it to her already bruised and puffy eye.
"I know, I'm sorry. And no, she didn't say a thing about it. She just acted like everything was peachy which really pisses me off!"
"I know Kim, but there is nothing we can really do about it. While you were in the restroom earlier Trini called and wanted to know if you wanted to meet her and some of the others at the park before it got too hot to do anything. You feel up to that?" Tommy walked behind her chair and massaged her tense shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess that would be okay. How are we going to explain my mangled face? And your hand? You know they are going to want to know what happened. I mean, who wouldn't wonder about a friend who has a huge bruise covering the left side of her face and one that has bruises and cuts on his hand."
"We'll just tell them the truth. There is no reason to hide what happened. We didn't do anything wrong. Trevor and that fat guy started everything in the first place."
"I guess you're right...Hey! Where's *your* ice pack buster? If I have to freeze my face you have to freeze your hand. It's only fair Buddy..."
"You're mean when you're pissed," Tommy teased as he hunted for another one.
*****
"Hey Trini, this is Tommy. We decided to go after all." After Tommy had drawn Kim a nice, hot bubble bath to soak her troubles away, he remembered that he needed to call Trini and the others and tell them that they could make it to the park.
"All right, that's great. Hey, don't forget to bring your swimsuits. Rocky says the water is great first thing in the morning. Maybe we can play a little volleyball or something too." Trini combed out her long, wet hair and wrapped it around a couple times into a tight bun.
"Sounds great. We'll see you guys there. What time do we need to meet you?" Tommy heard the water from the bath splash a little and turned his head to the ajar door. He smiled wistfully as he caught sight of Kim relaxing, eyes peacefully closed, amidst the frothy bubbles. Oh what he wouldn't do to be one small bubble, laying on the side of her neck or on the curve of her supple brea...
"Tommy? Are you still there?"
"Oh, yeah. Sorry Trini. I spaced out for a second there." Tommy silently swore at himself for ogling Kim when she wasn't looking. She just looked so good.
"That's all right. We were going to say about ten if that's okay with you guys." Trini rummaged through her drawers until she found her bathing suit and then tossed it on her bed.
"That sounds okay. I'll ask Kim, but I'm sure that will be fine with her too."
Trini smiled with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, "I was meaning to ask you why Kim was over at your apartment..." She was trying to be subtle, without giving the fact she knew Tommy and Kim were meant to be together away.
'I wonder what those two are up to? Heck, even when I was still around they couldn't keep their hands off each other. It wouldn't be that far of a stretch for the two to just go back to the way things were...' Trini knew that they both had other partners, but she didn't want to give up her own hope that the two would find their ways back to one another. 'Damn, Trini. You have got to find yourself a man. Look at you, prying in on other people's love lives.'
Tommy grinned, "We are just spending some time together Trini. You know, the way you and Jason are always spending time together..."
'That was a low blow Tommy.' He couldn't help but smile.
'He couldn't know could he?'
Trini blushed, thankful that no one was in her bedroom with her. "Okay, I believe you." Trini didn't want to admit it to Tommy, but if he and Kim were spending time together like her and Jason were 'spending time together', the group was in for surprise.
'I wonder what would happen if one of our friends ever cheated on another? That would be really awkward...' Trini scolded herself for that last thought. 'Kim and Tommy would never do anything like that.'
"I guess we'll see you later then. Talk to you then Trini. Bye."
"All right, Bye Tommy."
"Hey Kim..." Tommy walked over to the door and made his way inside the bathroom where Kim was still laying in the tub.
"Uh huh?" She had the modesty to check and make sure everything was covered up.
"You know you don't have anything I haven't seen before..." Tommy gave her that smart ass look again and she almost swatted it off.
"I know, but...but it would not be right for you to see it again. Take a cold shower Tommy. I know I'm incredible sexy, but you are just going to have to suppress your desire to jump in and take me right here in this bathtub." She had been caught off guard at first, but she quickly regained her equilibrium.
"As much as I would love to play this little game with you, we can't. I just talked to Trini and we have about forty minutes until we need to meet her and the gang at the park. So get out of the bathtub, dry your sweet ass off, and get ready." Tommy thought he now had one up on her.
But Kim stuck back quickly. She stood up in the tub, the only thing on her body was water and bubbles. "Would you hand me that towel over there Tommy? I can't reach it without getting the floor all wet..." She made a snug face at him.
"Uh...Yeah, here you go Kim."
'Oh. My. God. She still looks good enough to eat. Get a hold of yourself Tommy, she is just trying to catch you off guard...'
It worked.
'He never looked that hard when we were dating. Ha, I won this battle.'
"Thanks, Tommy. Are you going to stand there all day starring at me or are you going to get dressed?"
"I'm going, but before I do I just have to say one thing..."
"And what would that be," Kim asked in a sweet, innocent voice.
"Yowzaaa!"
"Tommy, get out of here," she laughed right before swatting his behind with her towel.
*****
Angel Grove Recreational Park
Wednesday, September 25, 2000 9:32 A.M.
Angel Grove, Ca
"Yo, Tommy. Glad you could make it my man," Zach greeted as Tommy and Kim walked up to them. "Hey Kim. What's up? What the hell happened to you?" Everyone turned to look at her and then question after question bombed her about the ugly bruises on both her arm and the one donning her left eye.
"Who did that Kim?"
"That could only have come from a fist."
"Geezus Kim, when did that happen?"
"Guys, it's just a bruise. Trevor and I got into a fight and one thing led to another...You don't have to worry about me because Tommy all ready handled everything."
Jason balled up his fist at the mere thought that someone had hit his long time friend. Kim was like a sister to him. He had the sudden urge to smash something. Zach, Rocky, Billy, and Rocky had similar feelings. Trevor was definitely not liked with this group of people right now.
Trini couldn't believe something like that had happened to her best friend. Sure, she knew that domestic abuse was out there, but she would have never thought it would happen to one of their own. She now felt pretty guilty for giving Tommy the third degree about him and Kim's relationship. Aisha gave Kim a hug and offered her a listening ear whenever she needed one. It hurt her to see her friend in pain.
"Kim, what happened? What did you two fight about that would be so bad that he would hit you? Look at your face..." Trini asked as she inspected her swollen eye. Kim has tried to cover as much of it up as possible with makeup. But while makeup can do wonders, it was not a miracle maker.
"It's not like it was the first time he had hit me guys..." The looks on their faces said it all. Kim wanted to knock herself upside the head for letting that closely guarded secret out. She didn't want them to think she was weak or pathetic. Them knowing the truth would definitely change their views of her wouldn't it?
Tommy immediately stepped up to her, rage and question in his now dark eyes. "Kim? What do you mean it wasn't the first time he has hit you? He hit you before today too? Talk to me Kim, I need to know..." He halfway gently grabbed her arms, making her face him.
She lied. "He was drunk one night and I got on his bad side, that's all. He didn't know what he was doing at the time guys. I just got in his way." He loosened his hold a little.
Inside, Kim thought something that she didn't think any of them could handle. 'If only you knew what happened time after time again...And I just let him do it to me.'
"No, Kim! That is not an excuse for him hitting you! Why didn't you tell someone? One of us, a family member, the police? Once is enough..." Tommy yelled, shaking her a little. His old, almost scary side from his days as a new ranger showing once more.
Kim yanked her arms from where he held him. "Look, he doesn't even remember doing it. There is no reason to dig all that back up again. I'm sorry I even said anything. Now, are we going to swim or what?" Kim knew that this conversation was over for now, but she couldn't dodge it forever. She was getting agitated.
"All right, but you never answered my question..." Trini couldn't believe Kim was acting this way. She didn't seem like the sort to let something like that go on, especially to herself. Trini wasn't going to just let Kim go without a valid explanation for her situation, not that there was one. Under no circumstances should a man hit a woman. It was just wrong.
"He cheated on me okay! Is that what you wanted to hear? I wasn't good enough for him so Trevor fucked Kat."
They all wore blank expressions, not quite believing what they had heard.
Rocky spoke up. "Kat? Our Kat? Katherine Hillard?" He looked to Tommy to see if it was true. His face told him it was.
"Oh, man."
*****
Okay, I know I promised you guys the Kim/Kat confrontation like two chapters ago, but I got all messed up and now it will have to wait for another chapter. I seriously have all these scenarios running around in my head and the next chapter won't be ready until I can figure out where this story is going. Sorry about that. But on the other hand, the story has just gotten a lot longer with the new stuff I have planned. So hang in there guys. I will hopefully have the next one up by the end of the week or weekend.
Next Chapter (hopefully): The Kat fight that was supposed to have been written two chapters ago... Another quarrel between Trevor and some of the gang. Will Kim be able to talk to someone about the abuse? I don't even know yet so that *will* be a surprise.
I'm also working on the next chapters to Infernal Destiny and Don't Take The Girl, so be on the look out for those. I have been playing around with a little NC-17 stuff too, but I don't think I'm brave enough to post it. Hehe. We'll see about that too...
~Morgan~