THE REASON - Part Thirteen: I Know, But You Don't

Summary: The teenage Rangers confront their teacher about his morning visitor. Ethan knows far too much, but can't speak of any of it. Will Dr. O spill the beans about what has been going on?

Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs and 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). And, yes, before I forget, the main title of the story does tie in with Hoobastank's "The Reason". Gotta give you guys credit, so don't sue me, please!

"There are some things one cannot say, even if it needs to be discussed in the future. Patience, and the reward will come." –Eclyptyk Neo
BRING!

Final bell of the day.

Ethan slowly treaded out of his last class, head hung low. "Man, this must have been one of the longest school days all year."

"You're telling me." Conner came up beside him, head also hung low.

They greeted each other with a welcoming gesture, coming to a stop by a drinking fountain. Ethan took a quick drink and looked around, seeing the familiar face of their ranger counterpart walk over to them. She had a light smile on her face, as she came to rest on the wall close by.

"Hey, guys." Kira greeted. "How was your day?"

"Brutal." Ethan said simply.

"Yeah." Conner nodded. "I can't stop thinking about that girl Dr. O brought to class. I mean, I swear, I've seen her somewhere before."

"Ooh, Conner has a crush.." Ethan joked, but got an elbow from Kira at the comment.

"Yeah, I know." Kira agreed with Conner. "But did you see how they looked at each other. I mean, looked like Dr. O was hiding something, like who she really was or something."

Ethan swung back and forth on the heel of his shoes, avoiding anymore say in the conversation. He looked around, trying not to bring any attention to himself.

Kira looked at him with confusion, eyebrows raised. "You know something, don't you?"

Ethan looked up immediately, a panic look on his face. "Huh? Who me? No. No. Of course not." he shook his head, scratching away absently at the accusation. "I don't know anything. And even if I did, I probably wouldn't want to say anything with the way Dr. O has been acting lately."

"So, this does involve Dr. O?" Conner grew interested. "It has to do with him bringing Kim to class, doesn't it?"

"I honestly don't think he would. Not after what happened last night."

"Something happened last night?" Kira perked up.

Ethan groaned internally. "Okay. See? That's why I didn't want to say anything. I made a promise to Dr. O that I wouldn't say anything."

"Well, I don't care if you made a promise or not, this is concerning the way he's been teaching class. And who knows how it will affect his abilities as a ranger." Conner stated in his best leader voice.

Kira nodded. "I agree. Maybe we should just go talk to him."

They turned away, heading up the hall toward the science wing of the school. Ethan groaned again, hoping that he hadn't said too much to them. This time he was at the receiving end of the blows and disses. He didn't like it one bit, and couldn't really find a way out of it. Now, he knew how it was like for Conner getting the blows from him and Kira every time he said something wrong. But he didn't think it would be wrong to set up clues because he wasn't really telling them what had happened. But than again, he also saw Dr. Oliver's dark side and it wasn't something he truly wanted to mess with.

-----

The final bell rang.

Tommy stood there in his empty classroom, letting out several, relaxing breaths. Then he quickly retreated to his desk, pulling out his cell phone from his laptop case. He began to dial Kim's number with some agitation and anxiety.

The receiver began to ring. Each ring felt like another year lost in their relationship. Lost between them.

Tommy tapped his fingers on the desk with some frustration. "C'mon. C'mon. Damn it. Pick up the phone."

"Hello?" a cherry voice answered.

Tommy relaxed. "Hey, you."

"Hey." she said with a bright smile. "I was wondering when you were gonna call. So, made it through the day?"

"Hardly." he admitted sheepishly. "Couldn't stop thinking about you. About that kiss you gave me before you left."

"Oh, sorry about that. I must have tripped." she said innocently.

"Ha-ha. Very funny." he said sarcastically, knowing exactly that it was a tease. "Something like that doesn't end up being an accident."

"I would have thought you'd come back to sweep me into one of those mind- numbing kisses you loved to give me," she stated. He shook his head. "Don't jump to the conclusion that we've gotten that far just yet, Kim."

"But it will. I mean, you couldn't stop thinking about me all day."

"That kiss now scars me."

"At least none of your students saw it."

He chuckled again. He didn't know how he'd get out of a situation if his students caught them groping in his classroom. "Yeah, but knowing some of them, they wouldn't seem to mind making it some big story on the school news. So, you still up to meeting somewhere?"

"Sure." she said quickly. "Of course, Tommy."

"Well, all right. There's a nice, quiet cove just outside of town called Bluestar Cove. It'll give us a chance to talk with no interruptions."

"Okay."

Tommy looked at the clock again, figuring he'd stop by his house first. "So, I'll see you in an hour?"

"Sounds like a plan." she agreed.

Then there was a silence. Neither of them could really say good-bye.

The classroom door opened, making Tommy look over his shoulder at who decided to disturb him. He held a confused look, that turned to annoyance when he saw the students coming in. Conner. Ethan. Kira. They each greeted him with a small wave.

He turned away, giving them a minute to settle in. "Hey, I gotta go. Got some students roaming around."

"Okay. That's fine. I'll see you later. Bye, Tommy."

"Bye," he hung up the phone. He turned back to his students, shying a smile. But it was obvious, he was annoyed that his ranger counterparts decided to interrupt him at this time of the day. Don't they have things to do? "Hey, guys. What's up?"

Conner looked around the room in confusion. "Hey, where'd Kim go? I never got a chance to talk to her."

"She had to go take care of a few things." Dr. Oliver concluded, hoping it wouldn't turn out to be a long interrogation process. But the way his students stood, he figured he may not get far. So, make things as simple as possible. He looked back at Ethan, who gave him a look that he didn't mention anything about the previous night to his partners of crime- fighting.

Kira was the first to bring up something after the silence. "Well, no offense, Dr. O, but this Kim character seems to have a big effect on you."

Dr. Oliver fixed his glasses, growing interested at his student's comment. "Oh, really. How?"

Conner shrugged. "I don't know. But we saw the way you looked at her. Appeared more than just an acquaintance sorta bond or whatever. I don't know, did you guys go out or something?"

The teacher chuckled, scratching his head. He didn't figure his students would be asking these kinds of questions, but figured it would eventually come out. Yet, he still couldn't figure out why his students haven't pinpointed where they had seen his female friend from. Besides Ethan, who actually had as many questions as them, if not more. "We go back awhile, yes. But I can assure you guys that there is nothing more going on between us. She's just a friend here for a visit. That's all."

"Yeah, I don't really think Principal Randall would like that all too much," Ethan tried to make a joke out of the situation. The look on his teacher's face didn't seem to agree with his joke at all. He looked away, guilty. "Ooh. Sorry."

"And there is nothing going on between me and Randall either." Dr. Oliver shook his head.

"Okay." Conner decided to drop his next comment. He pointed at the bandage on his teacher's hand, hoping to get answers on that. "So, we never got any answers on what happened to your hand..."

Dr. Oliver held it up, for them to see better. 'It's nothing. Just a sprain. It'll be gone in a few days. I heal pretty fast."

"But how did it happen?" Conner rephrased the question.

"I was working out." he shrugged, giving it one final conclusion. The look on his students facing knew that it wasn't the truth, but he ignored it. "I missed the punching bag and hit the wall, instead."

They shook their heads, not believing it at all.

"Well, that's what happened." he concluded. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some things to do. So, I'll see you guys later."

He turned away, headed back to his desk, and slipped in some papers into his shoulder pack. He sealed up his laptop case, and left the classroom without saying another word.

The three teens exchanged a look and shrugged, leaving the room.

tbc........

A/N: And the tension builds. It appears the teens are growing a little concern to why their teacher can't seem to answer their questions. Is it really the work of Kim that seems to have Dr. Oliver keep quiet about her connection to his past and their ranger heritage? Check it out in the next chapter.