THE REASON - Part Eight: No More Hurting
Summary: Kim doesn't want to hurt Tommy anymore. Tommy doesn't want to live with the pain anymore. But they can't seem to come to good grounds, and an unlikely source sees the distance between the once inseparable pair. And in the end, Tommy isn't ready to accept her apology.
Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me. It will always belong to Saban Entertainment, BVS Entertainment Inc., Renaissance Atlantic Entertainment, Village Roadshow KP Producations Limited, ABC Kids, ABC Family and Disney. And to all other affiliates with the Power Rangers concept (ie. Sentai–the original Power Rangers). The main title of the story does tie in with Hoobastank's "The Reason".
A/N: First off, this chapter is really long. I must apologize for that, but it does have some action. It's sorta building up this suspense between the characters and everything. And if I tried to shorten the chapter, it wouldn't really work out. And it seems like there is more to deal with than the presence of an old adversary. And this is the first real tie-in to the main title "The Reason." And credit to Hoobastank, this isn't my song, it's yours. Don't shoot. Hope it will make some sense. Later Daze. May the Powers Always Protect You.
"There is no acceptance in trying to get rid of a past full of pain, if it's not ready to be settled." –Eclyptyk Neo
He slowly walked over to the front door, and for a second, felt no breath escape his mouth. What the hell is going on? What's wrong with me? He found his right hand tighten around the handle of the door. The other hand went to unlock the array of locks that sheltered him even more from the rest of the world. He pulled the door open, looking to the ground. It wasn't that I was annoyed about the disturbance, I just figured it was someone who must have gotten lost.
When he finally looked up, his heart stopped dead. His eyes widened. He nearly collapsed, but clung to the side of the wall, hoping it was a dream.
"Hey, you." the small petite women whispered.
It wasn't a dream.
There she was standing on his doorstep. The one person he had hoped to avoid for just a little bit longer. But now, he just couldn't. It was her. It was Kimberly Anne Hart, the woman he swore to love forever, standing only a few feet in front of him. She wore a dark, blue denim outfit with a small tight pink baby t-shirt underneath. Her hair was cut into an array of layers and highlighted of a more golden brown color. She held a weak smile on her face, as he stood there with astonishment. He could only look at her and smile with admiration for keeping with her ranger color. Yet, no other emotions could be displayed. The coldness in his heart wielded with the pain burning in his eyes. As much as he wanted to and needed to–to just take her into his protective embrace and never let go–it just could not be done.
She looked at him, taking in the very feelings rising up inside her. She gave him a once-over look, trying to hide the rise and fall of a quicken heartbeat in her chest. She was falling for him all over again. She melted when their eyes made contact for a brief moment. Her muscles tensed. Oh, baby, how I just want to greet you with a warm hug, and lay a gentle kiss upon your lips–I can't. I can't seem to move.
Tommy's heart began to race. And it wasn't due to the work-out. The lump in his throat grew, as his heart seemed to skip a beat every time he wanted to move. His mind would not permit him to move forward. To speak a word. His heart cried out in pain and agony to stop the madness and sweep her into his arms, and do what had to be done. But he couldn't.
He gave her a once-over look as she had done to him, and saw what he had seen there all those years ago. The beauty. The charisma. The talent. The intelligence. The brave and gifted crane of his dreams. The girl he had called his pterodactyl. His crane. His angel. His lifeline.
No, Oliver. He told himself like a dog. Don't do it. Let her live with the same pain she hit you with.
"How are you doing?" She asked after a long silence, hoping to break away the distance between them.
He blinked slowly. "I'm fine. And you?"
"Fine." she said, shying a little innocent smile she only gave to him alone.
He turned away, slightly embarrassed. Please, Kimberly. Don't do this. Not now.
She met him eye-to-eye, noting the isolation in his eyes. And she knew he had been in this state her some time. If she would start conversation, it'd better be good. Better be worth the drive across the country to go see him. She looked up at his hair, noting the change. "A new look. I guess I didn't really notice it at the funeral. Jason told me about it, but I didn't believe him."
"And?" he said slowly, but firmly.
"It looks good," she said quickly with some defense. "It gives you a more sophisticated look. Yet, somewhat of a rebel. I like it. You pull it off well, because most guys can't seem to pull off that spike look and still look like a nice guy, ya know."
He looked down, nodding slowly, wiping his face with the towel. He took another step back, trying to figure out what to say. "Um...thanks."
Kimberly's eyes darted to the ground, trying to avoid making any eye contact with the defined muscles shield behind the not so concealed towel. She could tell he was working out, showing the definition of each muscle on his chest and arms. She looked at his arms, seeing the ink marks left with his stature of a ranger. It didn't cover his entire bicep, but it was noticeable. His right bicep housed a Chinese dragon intertwined with a white tiger, with a Chinese symbol in the background. She pondered what it meant. Perhaps, leadership. Or power. Then the other bicep housed a falcon flying across a sky shaped as a star. She couldn't help but recall that the man before her would never get a tattoo, due to the fear of multiple uses of a needle to create a work of art. But I guess, once a rebel. Always a rebel. It looks good, baby. I like that you haven't forgotten your ranger roots. But of course, you always loved to surprise me.
Tommy looked away, slightly uncomfortable with the silence. Yet he wasn't surprised. She was taken him in, grasping what she had missed out on for nearly eight years. Well, three since they last saw each other. He had done the same, but with more of a revealing viewpoint, which was so hard to fight with her standing right there in front of him. But this isn't one of your fantasies, Tommy, this is real. She's standing right there. So, make with the apologizes and give her what you wanted to give her for too damn long.
But he couldn't. Caught in a world of loss and confusion for the intrusion. He looked back at her. Tasting and smelling her fear like a tiger could. Watched as an alert dragon. He knew Kim far too well, waiting for her to jump on him and lay kisses wherever possible. But she could not do it.
Caught in the fear of intruding more than she needed to at the moment.
He turned away, walking back into the house. Kim wasn't sure if it was an invite or a statement for her dismissal. He stopped, peering over his shoulder. "You gonna come in or let the breeze make this place an igloo?"
She blinked, and stepped into the house. He came up slowly beside her, to catch the door and close it behind her. But his eyes never left her. Those falcon, sharp eyes never left her as if she had walked onto his deadly territory. She knew if she couldn't win now, she many never win him again.
He directed her into the living room, never losing his stride. Or sight of her.
She sat down on the far end of the room, and looked around at the quaint living room. A set of furniture of black texture. A coffee table full of papers yet to be graded. A small end table housing an oriental-style lamp and phone. A flat screen tv across the way, aside from the entertainment system in the corner of the room. In the far distance, the kitchen stood which, as Kim noted, wasn't in much use for more than the microwave and coffee machine. It wasn't crowded, but it wasn't at all, too cheap. And he was well-situated for a bachelor.
He crossed his arms, looking at her. Looking at the awe and confusion in the body of his uninvited guest. "Can I get you anything?"
She jumped, grabbing her chest and looked at the man who had asked the question with what seemed like a booming thunder voice. "Um...just some water, please."
He stepped out of the room, and disappeared into the area of little use, the kitchen. She looked about the room, seeing the many picture frames plastered to the wall. Of friends, old and new. Of family, adoptive and biological. Of him, around the world. Many of them she recognized, even surprised to see a picture of him and her at the homecoming dance back in their sophomore year in high school.
Well, at least he didn't forget me completely. But I figured he would have taken those down, due to the fact he probably can't even think about me. And here I am intruding without even calling first, but just sort of barging in. Nice, Kim. Real nice.
She looked at one of the pictures, with some confusion. She had heard about Tommy's recent thesis–or not so recent experiments–on developing dino technology. The two men wore business suits with white lab coats over it, shaking hands with an agreement. One, of course, was Tommy. The other, was the multi-millionaire scientist, Dr. Anton Mercer. Wow, Tommy. It's been so long since I've seen you in something nice, but damn you look so good. But anything seemed to work for me. I wasn't that picky. Just as long as you were comfortable with what you wore.
Tommy returned with a glass of water and a coaster, placing it on the table before her. He still could see her uneasiness in how she sat, closing herself to a confided area on the couch. He found a seat in the lounge chair aside from the small end table, watching her with alert, sharp eyes. Kimberly sensed his eyes beaming on her like a deer caught in the headlights, her heart racing with more fear. Why am I afraid to talk to him, now? I mean, how hard can it be? I was the one who came to visit, right? But it was hard. This was the man she had hoped she would spend the rest of her life with. She had called him her little dragon. Her brave white tiger. Her soaring falcon. But now, she couldn't look at him without seeing hurt and pain in his eyes. She wanted to change that. Become friends again. Just hearing his voice would be a go. To be friends again. Start off slow, and hopefully re-create a stronger relationship that would bring them into the church and under oath of marriage. That's what she still wanted. Had hoped he still wanted that, too.
He set the towel on the arm rest of the chair, leaning forward to wait for the news that brought her to his doorstep. His eyes never left her form for anything. He saw the nervousness. Felt the cold chills run down her spine. Felt the crushing distance between them. C'mon, Kimberly. Don't forget you're the one who came knocking on my door. So, you seem to have something to say. I'm here. I ain't going anywhere. I'm listening.
Kimberly took a deep breath, and took a quick drink from the glass he had set for her. She couldn't do this. Didn't like the uneasiness. The leering eyes of him watching her as prey. She got to her feet, wiping her sweaty hands on her pant legs. "Um...ya know, maybe I should just go. You seem a little busy right now. I could just come..."
"Kimberly." He said firmly in the leadership tone, she got used to hearing. And missed, but obeyed no matter what. "I didn't let you in for any reason than to turn it away. And if you came all this way after three years, there is some thing that has to be said. So, sit down."
She complied like an obedient dog, not wanting to let his leadership skills turn into drill-sergeant mode. She looked at her hands, peering over at the serious, empty man to her right. "Tommy, I..."
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Saved by the door. She relaxed a little bit.
But he didn't move. His eyes grew to narrow slits as he appeared to grown impatient by her hesitation. Unless he didn't hear the knock.
Their eyes finally met after the long bet to avoid it. She held a look of forgiveness. Apology. Fear. Acceptance. He held a look of pain. Sadness. Anger. Fear. Emptiness.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
The knocking came more forcefully, instructing more attention to its request rather than the task at hand.
Tommy let out a breath, excused himself, and retreated to answering the door.
He opened the door, to reveal the wondering and searching eyes of Ethan. He let out a sigh. "Ethan, what are you doing here? Don't you have a paper to work on?"
Ethan scratched his head, absently. "Um..hey, yeah, about that paper, Dr. O, ya know. Why bother, right? It's somewhat pointless."
"Pointless?" He shied a smile, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe. "It's worth a big chunk of your grade, Ethan. Look, I know I am a little harsh about all this research and writing, but it's what you need when it comes to the real world. Some things can and must be taught in school. Others just have to be set for experience."
Ethan nodded slowly, agreeing with his mentor's last statement. "Okay. Okay. You're right..."
"What do you want, Ethan?" Dr. Oliver cut him off. "If it's about an extension, I can't do that."
"Aw, c'mon, Dr. O. You're killing me..."
"And so is Mesogog with his pathetic plans, but I cannot do it, Ethan. I have to give a fair deal to everyone. And besides, you weren't even sick at all when I gave you the assignment, so you can't even get in any extra sick days."
Ethan sighed and pulled up his hands in surrender. "Okay. Okay. That works, but also the fact that, you've seen how I write. It's like hella small..."
"I told you to type the assignment, Ethan." Dr. O stated clearly. "If it's in writing I will throw it away and not grade it at all."
Ethan tried to hide his anger of another loss, and tapped about at his blue flannel shirt. "Oh. Okay, well, how about when you were driving? Ya know, I bet you couldn't see things that clear."
"If this is about my glasses, I can see fine without them. I'm not some blind prophet without them. I can see with or without them just fine."
"But, you didn't let me finish." Ethan slowly pulled out a prize from his pocket. He extended out his hand, and dropped the glasses into the waiting hands of his teacher. "Let me make a proposal. Since, you did in fact leave your glasses at the café, I should be given at least two days extension. I mean, coming out here is a trip."
Dr. O couldn't help but laugh. "Funny. But no. I told you that it's due tomorrow, and it's due tomorrow. No exceptions."
Ethan's eyes dropped to the puppy eye look. He wanted so badly to drop to his knees, and beg and plead, but figured it wouldn't be much good. "Well, fine. Okay. You gotta at least straighten out this whole dinosaur era. Ya know, Jurassic, Triassic, Cenozoic, or whatever. I mean, you are the expert on that whole field. So, as long as you help me out on that, I'm all good."
Dr. O shook his head in disappointment. "If you would have paid attention in class, I wouldn't be needing to re-teach you all of this info." Ethan groaned. "Aw, c'mon, Dr. O. You're killing me."
"Are we going to go through this again?"
Ethan whined. But it was quickly demolished when he saw his mentor in a whole new light. "Wow. I didn't realize you looked so tough and strong, Dr. O. Ya know, hiding behind a suit and tie, it doesn't do much to attract a whole lot of girls. And the tattoos sort of add to that rebellious side I keep hearing about. I mean, you did mention that you didn't have anyone, and the option is still open for Principal Randall."
Dr. O revealed an annoyed smile. "What? Do you think that making such comments as that will change my mind for the paper? No. N-O. That's final."
Ethan jumped about like an annoyed kid trying to get his way. He wasn't going to give up. Didn't want to. "Well, hey, ya know, it's getting late. I mean, you can't possibly make me walk home after dark, especially out here in the woods. And ya know, I'm a little hungry from the walk here, so got anything to eat?"
"Ethan." Dr. O revealed a stern mentor tone.
"Hey, when you hungry you gotta eat, right?" he slowly walked into the room. "So, got any visitors or whatever, because that other car doesn't look all too familiar."
Dr. Oliver groaned, not wanting to answer anymore of his smart-ass remarks. He slowly closed the door, figuring his student wasn't going anywhere until he got some help. Or answers. He dropped his head for a second, releasing a huge set of air from his lungs. When he looked up, he saw that his student/ranger counterpart had disappeared without a proper approval to roam freely through the house. Oh, dip. Kimberly. Oh no.
He rushed into the living room, and stopped short as the two other guests looked at each other with confusion. Ethan slowly turned to his mentor for some guidance in the stranger in the room, but all Tommy could do was sigh.
"A friend of yours?" he asked slowly.
Tommy nodded, pushing him forward to greet the woman in the room. "Yes. Ethan, this is Kimberly. Kim, this is Ethan, one of my students."
She took his hand in a firm handshake, a smile to her face. "Ethan. I was wondering when I was going to get a chance to meet some of Tommy's students."
"So, how do you know Dr. O, because you look familiar..." Ethan began.
Tommy turned him away, pushing him out of the room. He looked back at Kim, a look of apology in his eyes. He walked back out into the hall, Ethan looking at him with a sense of confusion.
"What's the deal? I thought you were introducing me to her."
"I was. But there's something she doesn't need to know."
"But, wait. You said she was a friend of yours..." he thought for a moment. Than a light in his mind went off. "Hey, isn't she the original pink ranger? That's the Kim we saw in the video diary, right?"
Tommy dropped his head, nodding. "Yes. That's her..."
Ethan headed back into the room, but Tommy grabbed him throwing him into the wall. "Hey, what's the deal, Dr. O? I just thought I could spread a little ranger love to her."
Tommy shook his head. "No. You can't. You won't."
"But..."
Tommy's eyes narrowed, glaring at his student. "She doesn't know. She doesn't need to know."
"Well, doesn't she need to know? I mean, why else is she here? And what about Conner and Kira?"
Tommy forced out a breath. "We haven't spoken in a long time, Ethan. And right now, I don't think is the right time to mention that to her. But, I cannot allow you to tell Conner or Kira about this either."
"But..."
Tommy's eyes became more attentive. "No one. I don't care who it is. No one."
Ethan held up his hands in surrender. "Okay. Okay. So, I won't say anything. But you're gonna tell her eventually, right? I mean, you guys were a thing back in high school, right?"
Tommy nodded slowly. "Look. Why don't you head down to the "study" and I'll come help you with your paper when I'm done with this? It shouldn't take that long, Ethan."
Ethan nodded slowly walking down the hall into the study. And down into the basement where he figured was the best place to stay out of trouble, until he could find answers for himself.
-----
Tommy returned to the room, seeing the confusion on Kimberly's face. "Sorry about that." he apologized.
"Is everything all right?" she asked with concern.
He shook his head. "Nah. It's cool. Ethan's always like that. Trying to get me to give him some extensions on the projects I issue out." He collapsed on the couch beside Kim, tossing his glasses on the coffee table.
"School never does change." Kim sighed, remembering the multiple times they would try to convince their teachers for extensions on projects. "Does he always come out here?"
"Only when he has to," he shrugged. "And since he seems to worry about his grades too damn much."
She looked at him, wanting to ask him more questions, but figured he wasn't in any mood to go through some long interrogation process. She could see he had been through a lot in the past few years. He needed someone to hold. To talk to. To comfort him. She decided to change subjects. "I didn't think you would go that far with the intellectual look. Since when did you start wearing glasses?"
Tommy could only shrug. "Since my vision decided to go a few years ago. But I can still see fine without them. I guess you can't blame me for pulling off the Clark Kent/Superman look so well."
It does. I kinda like that. She thought. But I never seen you look so unhappy. Every time I saw you, you were always happy. Now, I'm not sure how much of an effect I must have had on you through the years. I'm so sorry, baby. She looked about the room, trying to think of something else to say. "So, how's life? How's Reefside?"
He looked at her as if she had said something wrong, but shook it away. "It's all right. Quiet. Calm. Teaching at the local high school is okay, when the principal isn't riding on my ass about something wrong. Nothing new. Reefside is okay. Nice beaches, private coves, the woods. It's a good place to be to find time to yourself or hang with friends."
She nodded. Conversation just wasn't getting anywhere, and Kim was running out of ideas. "So, whatever happened to the race tracks? I actually thought you enjoyed that."
Tommy shrugged. "I did. I suppose. But after awhile, the hype or adrenaline just wasn't there. I guess I got tired of going around in circles three million times or something."
She shied a smile. At least he's talking. Just hearing his voice is relaxing for me. But I want to know what you're really thinking about, Tommy.
Tommy interlocked his hands, looking at his palms. Just keep going, Kim. Ask away. There's no sense in lying to you about what I've been up to in the past few years.
-----
Ethan slowly came down the stairs to the underground lab. The eerie silence of the humming computers and machines was all that met him as he came. Not that he got used to the strange greetings every time he came here alone, he just didn't like knowing the fact that a fellow ranger was in Dr. O's home and he couldn't ask her things that his mentor didn't want to discuss.
Being a ranger hadn't come easy at all. For all of them. He was never seen around such characters like Conner, the star soccer player, or Kira, the independent songwriter, in school, but after they got pulled into the little detention trip with Dr. Oliver, things would change forever. Dr. Oliver had sent the three out into the woods to go find some ancient artifacts, and instead they stumbled into a sinkhole and into a lab–this very lab–which would hold the gems that would give them their newly-owned ranger powers.
They were the new generation of power rangers. And for nearly a month, didn't exactly understand Dr. Oliver's connection to the power rangers. Not until Mesogog had captured him, and the teens had stumbled onto his video diary depicting his life as a ranger, and the past generations of rangers. That's when Dr. O had gotten ahold of the black Dino Gem and the powers of the Black Dino Thunder Ranger. Now, he was like a father and mentor to the team, making sure that they wouldn't do anything too stupid with their powers.
Hayley acted as the technical advisor, informing the rangers about her connection to this franchise of heros. Though she never really was a ranger, she had been a great help to Tommy after all these years of re- collecting data on his thesis, and the rangers respected what help she has been for the entire team.
But, the three teenagers had questioned how much trust Dr. O was giving them. They had many questions to ask him about his past. About his life as a ranger. But never found the guts to talk to him about it. He didn't really look like he wanted to discuss that with anyone. But of course, he did trust the new team greatly.
Ethan took a seat at the main console, strumming at the keyboard, trying to think of something that could entertain him. Why doesn't he want her to know about the new Power Rangers? I mean, he is one of us, too. Dr. O did mention about the other rangers, the originals, but never once have we gotten a chance to meet them. And now, here was one right before me. Would it hurt to get another's perceptive on how this life was? He leaned forward, cracking his knuckles, running codes into the system. "Well, it wouldn't hurt to see if Dr. O's got any more information on us rangers."
Minutes passed.
Passwords were required for access. But that didn't stop Ethan from cracking the code. He was a computer genius after all. "And if it wasn't that hard to stumble onto his video diary, there's got to be more here."
Several more minutes passed.
But that was all he needed.
And that's when he stumbled onto another video diary–the full, completed story of Tommy's adventures as a Power Ranger. His story. "Welcome. My name is Dr. Thomas Anthony Oliver, and if you're not me, than you obvious stumbled onto something you really shouldn't have. But, I guess I can't stop you." an image of Dr. O stated on the screen, he was wearing his black ranger uniform, minus the helmet. "If I could, I'd probably kill you right now, but since you've stumbled onto that other diary–the one displaying the generations of Power Rangers up to present day- -you're looking for more answers to the Power Rangers. Well, this is my story as a Power Ranger from my beginning to the present day. I hope that this will help answer some of your questions about me and the Ranger teams..." He was making it clear that he didn't want anyone to see this side of the story. Not yet. If not at all.
Ethan forced out a breath. "Well, don't blame me for snooping, but don't leave your stuff on something that could get accessed by outside hackers."
"So, this is my life as a Power Ranger. From the beginning to the end of my time as a ranger. Green. White. Red. And, well, now, Black. .." the video continued.
Ethan sat back in the chair, taking in the video as much as he could.
-----
Another silence fell over the two of them.
Kim tried to get more comfortable in the chair, but couldn't really find a nice spot. She looked at him, still seeing the isolation in the way he sat. "So, after the race tracks, you went to college and got a degree in Paleontology?"
He nodded. "Yeah. A doctorate's degree. Something I know Billy would have went out for. But, hey, aren't we all full of surprises? Look at Adam. Dr. Park, MD."
She smiled again. It was good to know that he was keeping track with the old crew. So was she. Yet, in the back of her mind, she could only question why they hadn't kept in contact with each other. It was clear that they had no idea how the other was doing, and the crew wasn't providing much help in their struggle to get back together.
Tommy peered over at her. Wanting to ask so many questions about what she has been up to. Who she was recently seeing, if she even was dating.
What life was like in Florida. What was the deal with her gymnastics. And her song-writing. There was so many things he wanted to know, but found it a waste to try and ask questions that didn't seem all to relevant in trying to save their relationship. If that's what Kim's trying to do. But what's been done has been done. As much as I hate it, you gotta accept the pain as I have.
"So, what else have you been up to these past few years?" Kim asked.
Tommy shrugged his shoulders again. "Not a whole lot. Hung with the guys every now and then. Talked to the others. Not much. How about you?"
She shrugged. "Not a whole lot, either." she figured it was best to stay out of the big conversation. If he wanted to know, he'd ask. "I was thinking about opening up a school, either here in California or Florida."
"That be nice," Tommy nodded with some acknowledgment. "But you can't possibly be thinking about that now. I mean, what about your training..."
"I can't compete in the Olympics, Tommy." she said sadly. "I took a really nasty fall–a hamstring injury–and now, I can't compete. They say the healing won't be completely finished for at least six months. Trials are in less than three."
Tommy looked at her leg, with some concern. He wanted to run his hand down it, hoping he could find out how bad the injury was, or just make her feel better by just holding it, massaging it, but couldn't do it. "But you're okay? You can still walk fine?"
"I can." she said with a light smile. "I'm fine, Tommy."
He didn't want to ask the next question lingering in his head, but he had to know the truth. "But even if you wanted to start your own school, you possibly can't with an injury like that..."
"Yeah. But I have some teachers in mind." she answered sincerely, but knew that the question she was dreading was on his mind for a long time.
"Yeah, I figured. But, what are you doing here, Kim? I know this visit is more than an invite to have me become a teacher at your school, so why are you here?"
Kimberly looked away with some embarrassment. She wanted the question to be the last thing on his mind, but knew that it was the very first question that popped into his mind the moment he laid eyes on her after so long. "A little reunion?"
Tommy shook his head. "Did Jason put you up to this about this huge old crew/ranger reunion he keeps talking about?" "No. Of course not, Tommy. But..."
"But what?" his voice rose.
"Tommy, please!" her voice came out like a squeak.
"No." he got to his feet. "Don't even. Don't give me that 'Tommy, please' bullshit!"
The rage was there, taking Kim by surprise. The fear swelled up in his heart. He never really walked around with an attitude, not like this anyways. Not where every word felt like a knife stab to her chest. But times did change. This was the first time they really made contact in over eight years. The distance was still there at the funeral, and the others would try to get the two to talk, but came out unsuccessful.
"Hear me out, Tommy." she tried to match his loud demanding voice.
It had no effect on him. He eased closer to her, forcing her back onto the couch, his breath burned with heat. "Hear you out? No, Kimberly. You will hear me out." he caught his breath, his hand held up in a threat. "You don't get it. You just don't get it. Eight years, Kim. Eight long damn years. And you don't think that not a day goes by that I don't think about you. Think about what you've done to me. But what gifts you've given me. No. You never had a clue. And you were hoping that Kat could save me from years worth of more pain." he scoffed, turning away. "That's more bullshit right there. What I had with her could never compare to what I shared with you. Nothing. How could you do this to me? Do this to us? I thought we had something. No, I knew we did. I just don't know where your heart was in all this. But what you gave me was love. It was true love. It was you, Kim. It was you!"
Kimberly could barely breathe. She had not realized how much pain he was in. He was now shaking with fear. She never saw this side of him. This rage. And it never scared her more to even see it. She wanted to hold him. Comfort him. Apologize for all the pain. Put the past behind them and start off new, but now she wasn't sure if he was going to let it happen.
-----
Ethan held his breath, hearing the loud booming voice escaping through the floor from above. "Whoa. Looks like Dr. O ain't too happy with how this turned out."
"...Don't give me that 'Tommy, please' bullshit!" Tommy's voice was muffled by the floor.
Ethan couldn't make out what Kim was trying to say, but figured it was an apologize.
"...hear you out? No, Kimberly. You will hear me out." There was a pause. "You don't get it. You just don't get it... ...How could you do this to me? Do this to us? I thought we had something. No, I knew we did. I just don't know where your heart was in all this. But what you gave me was love. It was true love. It was you, Kim. It was you!"
Ethan slowly got to his feet. "Hey, Dr. O, relax. Just relax."
He wanted to run. But figured it wouldn't do much good. He knew too much, but still too little. He was just afraid to even ask about what really happened between them. And how much he can have his mentor spill about his past without giving too much away.
-----
Kimberly slowly got to her feet, stepping toward him. Each step she took toward him, he stepped back like a frightened puppy. "I never knew, Tommy." She barely said above a whisper. "I had no idea..."
Tommy scoffed. "No idea! No idea? Bullshit, Kimberly!" he spat, forcing her back onto the couch. "I think you knew. You knew from the very beginning, didn't you! Didn't you?"
"No." she cried, shaking her head. "Please, Tommy, you had to understand..."
"Understand? Understand that a long distance relationship wasn't gonna work? Is that it? Let me tell you something, Kim. There are so many people in this world who wait for love. Others go out to search it out. But ya know what, I was lucky. I didn't expect to fall in love with such a
bright, beautiful girl as yourself. But I did. I didn't think you'd give me a chance after what had happened to me, but you did. And I gave you a chance. And I never felt so happy. I never felt so complete. And I thank you for that. But, now, every time I look at you, I feel angry. I feel pain. I never felt so betrayed."
Kimberly caught her breath. She watched as he clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to control the anger he had inside. She didn't know what else to do. But she knew she didn't want to give up on him. She began the rage, and now, she wanted to tame it. Tame him. Help him. Be with him.
"Tommy, please." she pleaded quietly behind the escaping tears. "Let me explain. Let me talk..."
Tommy cried out in rage and forced his fist into the wall at his side. He forced out a breath, and slowly removed it to reveal bloodstains on the wall and cuts on his hand. There was a dent in the wall where he struck it. "Don't even, Kim. As far as I could tell, you made it as clear as day in that letter you no longer wanted to be with me." he let out another breath. He turned to his shaken ex-girlfriend. "I've learned to accept it. Now, you gotta live with the pain of your mistakes. Get outta here, Kimberly. We have nothing more to discuss."
She slowly got to her feet. "But..."
"Go." he forced out behind a croaked voice. "I don't want to hurt you, anymore, than you've done to me."
She nodded, setting something on the coffee table before she headed out of the room. Tommy followed after her, keeping his distance. She didn't even look back as she closed the door behind her.
Tommy peered out of the side window beside the door, watching as the convertible drove away. His heart ached. His muscles never felt so stiff. He turned away, as the tears began to finally fall after the long confrontation. Then the rage sparked up and he forced his already cut hand, his right hand, into the window. Glass broke away, showed an impact of a hard hit, as glass dug into his skin. The smell of blood filled his nose as he slowly pulled his hand away. He collapsed to his knees, holding his sprained hand close to him.
The tears fell, and he didn't need to force them out.
-----
Ethan slowly got off the chair, hearing that the confrontation had finally stopped. He heard the impact of a fist hitting a wall with a loud thud. Heard a car drive off in a rush. Heard another impact into what sounded like glass.
He cautiously headed up the stairs, and peered out of the door into the hall. It was calm. It was quiet. "I'd better get outta here before Dr. O releases his anger on me. I mean, not that he would, I just don't want to be here when he comes out."
Ethan slowly crept out of the stairwell and into the hall. He looked around to find that no one was around. He cleared the way, heading for the door, catching his breath seeing the damage on the side window by the door. He gulped, reaching for the doorknob.
A figure came into the hallway, clearing its throat.
Ethan peered over his shoulder seeing his mentor looking at him, while wrapping his sprained hand with a bandage. His karate jacket draped over his shoulders, but not fastened. A cool look upon his face, with a tinge of anger. "Oh, hey, Dr. O. Look, ya know, I could just get the notes from Conner or something. It's cool, ya know. I didn't mean to bother you."
"You found my other video diary, didn't you?" his mentor directed him, but it didn't sound like he was upset or surprised at his student's discovery.
"Um...no." he tried to hide the light smile on his face. "Of course not, I mean, ya know, why would I be going through your things..." "You always tend to. Just like you broke into that one about every generation of Power Rangers." Dr. O stated clearly with no hesitation.
Ethan couldn't deny that. He was the one who cracked the code to reveal a diary his teacher had created about the past generations of rangers. "Look. I swear, I didn't mean to. And besides, I was trying to find some information for the report..."
Dr. Oliver held up a hand, silencing his student. "I can't blame you for that, Ethan."
"You're not mad?"
Dr. Oliver forced out a breath. He shook his head. "No. I don't really think so. Eventually, you're gonna find out things you really don't want to know, but it will provide you with answers that will prove plausible to the future. C'mon, I'll give you a ride home."
"Nah, really, Dr. O." Ethan shook his head. "I could walk."
"Ethan, it's almost dark out. And you still got a paper to finish."
Ethan couldn't argue with him. He complied and followed his empty, mindless, teacher out of the house.
tbc...
A/N: So, what will happen next? Unfortunately, Tommy doesn't want anything to do with Kim, or so he is making it seem that way. Kim won't give up to bring them together. Ethan knows so little, but still so much. How will the outcome be? Stay tuned.