The four rangers stared at Naomi, unsure what to say or do. Tommy looked at the other three and decided to break the silence.
"Uh, Naomi, how did you get in here?" He asked. Naomi didn't respond. Her eyes were trained on Ethan. Tommy went up to her and touched her shoulder. Naomi jumped slightly, pulling her eyes from Ethan and looking at Tommy. "How did you get in here?" He asked again. Naomi blinked, staring at him for a second, trying to let his words compute.
"Eric and I split up. We were running away from Cassidy and Devin and I ended up in the woods and next thing I know, I fell through a pit. I heard voices and I thought whoever it was could help me find my way out of here." Tommy sighed and stepped back.
"I knew I should've covered up that opening in the woods."
"What do we do now?" Kira asked. Ethan went over to Naomi.
"I'll take her home." He went to take her arm. What Naomi did shocked him, and the others. She pulled her arm away from him and stepped back.
"Don't you dare touch me." She snarled. Everyone stared at her.
"What?" Ethan asked.
"You've been lying to me all along." Naomi said. "I cannot believe you."
"Naomi, I couldn-"
"All this time, this was just some joke, wasn't it?" Naomi spat out, tears coming to her eyes.
"What?" Ethan asked.
"Make the stupid girl get all groupie like as a ranger, and then hear her gush about you as your alter ego."
"No, it wasn't like that!" Ethan exclaimed. Naomi refused to look at him. "Naomi, you've got to believe me." He pleaded. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"I said don't touch me!" Naomi screamed. She brought her hand up and slapped Ethan across the face. Ethan stumbled back, holding his sore cheek. The pain wasn't what shocked him so. No, it was the fact that right now she looked more fierce and angry then he'd ever seen her. The room was so quiet, that a pin drop could be heard.
"I-I'll take her home." Conner volunteered. He looked at Tommy, who nodded, agreeing that getting her out as soon as possible was best.
"I'll go with you." Kira said. Conner and Kira began to take Naomi up the stairs, but were stopped by Tommy clearing his throat. The two rangers looked at him.
"Maybe the other cave passageway is best." He suggested, referring to the passageway the raptor cycles departed from. Naomi didn't need to know that the base was underneath her science teacher's house.
"Right." Conner said. Conner and Kira led Naomi out. Ethan watched them leave. He sighed and sat down.
"All right, go ahead, say it." Ethan said.
"Say what?" Tommy asked.
"Say 'I told you so'. Or would you rather save it for when Kira and Conner are here, make it a more public flogging?" Ethan asked. Tommy sighed and pulled a chair up beside his student-slash-fellow ranger and sat beside him.
"I'm not going to say I told you so and there isn't going to be a flogging, public or otherwise." He said. "This was an accident, and once everyone, including Naomi, calms down, we'll all discuss it."
"I can't believe she slapped me." Ethan said. "I can't believe she thinks that this was all a joke."
"I'm sure she was just shocked. I mean, it can be a little too much to find out that one of your good friends and the super hero you've been seeing are the same person." Tommy slightly joked, hoping to lighten the mood. He knew it probably wasn't going to make Naomi feel better right away when she puts two and two together and realizes her science teacher is a power ranger too.
---
The car ride was eerily quiet. Conner and Kira sat in the front and Naomi was sitting in the back, staring out the window. Every so often, Kira or Conner would glance at the mirror to see Naomi and see if she was all right. She hadn't moved or made a sound since they had gotten in the car.
"Uh, so did I mention how grateful I am for the article?" Kira said, hoping to get something out of Naomi. Naomi didn't respond. Kira sighed. Conner soon pulled up to Naomi's house. Naomi quickly exited the car and walked up to her house without saying a word.
"See ya." Conner muttered. He sighed. They watch Naomi go inside her house. "This is so not good."
"Let's just hope no one else finds out." Kira said.
---
Later that night, after Ethan left, Tommy found himself flipping Kimberly's business card in his fingers. He wanted to talk to someone. No, strike that. He wanted to talk to her. He sighed and picked up the telephone. "She's probably not in her office." He thought aloud. "I guess I'll leave a message on her voicemail." He dialed her number and waited for the voicemail to pickup.
"Hello?" Kimberly answered. Tommy was floored. He didn't know what to say now that she was on the line. "Hello?" She asked again. "Tony?" She asked, her voice holding something that sounded close to fear. "H-How'd you get this number?" She whispered. "I told you never to call me-"
"Kimberly, it's me." Tommy said quickly. He heard her heave a sigh.
"Oh. Tommy, I..Hi." She said. "Sorry, I-"
"No, it's my fault. I didn't expect you to answer."
"Well, this is my office." Kimberly said with some traces of her old playful self.
"I mean, I didn't expect you to be in your office this late." Tommy said.
"Then, why did you call?"
"I was going to leave you a message."
"Oh. Well, what's up?"
"Plenty." Tommy sighed.
"What?"
"It's…..A long story…" Tommy said. "It's late. Maybe I shouldn't have called."
"No, it's all right." Kimberly said. "Listen, I was going to head back and relieve Carter from baby-sitter duty, but how about I take you up on that non-committal coffee you mentioned earlier?" Tommy couldn't help smile a bit.
"Yeah, that'll be great." He said.
"Okay. Well, how about you come over here, there's a little coffee shop within walking distance of the hospital."
"All right, I'll be there in fifteen minutes." He said.
"Should I expect you in an hour?" She joked, referring to his lack of punctuality when they were teenagers.
"Hey, I'm a teacher now, my punctuality is immaculate." He responded. Kimberly giggled.
"We'll see. I'll see you in a bit." She said. They both hung up. About ten minutes later, Tommy arrived at the hospital. He walked in. There was an older plumb woman behind the triage desk.
"May I help you, sir?" She asked.
"I'm just waiting for someone." He responded. He sat down. A few seconds later he saw Kimberly walking in to the waiting area. Her hair was up in a bun and she was wearing a white doctor's coat. She smiled when she saw Tommy.
"Hey." She said. She walked over to him. "You're on time. Early actually. Color me surprised." She smiled. Tommy grinned. He stood up.
"Ready to go?" He asked. Kimberly nodded. The two walked out and went to the coffee shop. They got a booth in the back and sat down.
"So, how have you been?" Kimberly asked once they were settled in. "Last I heard you were off on some island being all scientific."
"I've been all right." Tommy said, not sure whether or not it was the right time to lay all the cards on the table. "Yourself?"
"About the same." She said. The two fell into a bit of an awkward silence. "We're both a bunch of bullshitters." She said. Tommy looked at her.
"What?"
"We're giving such plain answered to each other. You'd think we were just some strangers or something."
"Well, we haven't seen each other for the better part of a decade." Tommy pointed out.
"Does that mean the atmosphere has to be so artic?" Kimberly replied. Tommy sighed as a waitress came by and filled their coffee mugs.
"I'm not being artic." Tommy said. He put some sugar and cream into his coffee. Kimberly put some sugar in hers. "You drink your coffee black? Isn't all that caffeine going to make you jittery?"
"I'm a doctor who's had to be up late many a nights in delivery room. I think coffee has lost all jittery like affect one me."
"You look well rested enough." Tommy said. Kimberly gave a sarcastic smile.
"Being a pretentious valley girl as a teenager has its perks-I know how to dab on the make-up."
"You weren't pretentious." Tommy said. Kimberly simply shrugged.
"If you say so." She said. "Now, enough about me, let's talk about you. I know there's something you're not telling me."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"You're hiding something." She said. Tommy took a sip of his coffee.
"I'm not." He said. "Besides, I don't think we've reacquainted ourselves enough yet to spill the beans."
"But you admit there are beans to be spilled?"
"Maybe. I'm sure you've got some of your own."
"Nope." Kimberly said. She took a sip of her coffee.
"Who's Tony?" He asked. Kimberly choked on her coffee and let it fall back into the cup. She set the cup down and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"No one you should concern yourself with." She finally said.
"Well, you sounded pretty upset when you thought I was him on the phone. So maybe I should be concerned." Tommy countered.
"You know what, you're right. We haven't reacquainted ourselves enough yet." She said. Tommy stared at her. He leaned in.
"Fine, you want me to spill my beans?" He asked. Kimberly waited for him to continue. "What if I was to tell you that I have picked up an old occupation of ours?" He asked. Kimberly stared at him, confused for a bit, and then gasped softly as it dawned at her.
"You don't mean-" Tommy cut her off with a nod.
"I've dusted off the old spandex, in a different color of course." He said. Kimberly stared at him for a second.
"Black?" She asked.
"How'd you know?"
"Hello, I was one too. I remember the strange impulse to wear clothing that was the same color. It took me months to get out of the pink phase when I went to Florida. So, what is this, fourth color you've got under your belt?" She paused for a second. "Let's see, green white, red, black." She thought aloud. "Fourth."
"What can I say? I've seen my fare share of ranger duties." He said.
"I think Adam comes a close second with two."
"Well, he and Jason are tied." Tommy pointed out. Kimberly's joking tone and expression left at the mention of Jason. "Something wrong?" He asked. Kimberly was silent for a while. "Kim?" He asked.
"It's nothing." She said.
"Liar." He said. "Beautiful, I know you. I know something's wrong." The sentence slipped out without thought, and the use of his old nickname for her caused Kimberly's head to snap up.
"Wow. I just remembered how much I loved it when you'd call me that." Kimberly said softly. Tommy reached across the table and took her hands in his.
"I remembered how much I loved calling you that." He said, staring into her eyes. Kimberly blinked.
"Well, I think your Kim-dar is off, nothing's wrong." She said.
"Well, I spilled the beans, so it's only fair you do the same." He said. Kimberly seemed to get a little anxious.
"Not now, okay?" She asked a desperate pleading tone in her voice. "I'll tell you, just not yet." Tommy realized that if he tried to push the issue any further, it would only result in Kimberly totally shutting him out. He patted her hand with his other hand softly.
"Okay." He said soothingly. "I can wait its okay." He released her hand and the two continued drinking their coffee.
"So, what's it like being in uniform again?" Kimberly asked. Tommy sighed.
"It's weird when you're the oldest one there."
"What? Don't tell me…Teenagers?"
"Oh, even better, some of my own students." Tommy said. Kimberly covered her mouth to keep from laughing. "I'm beginning to pity Zordon and Alpha for having to deal with all of us and our teenage drama."
"You're seeing a fair share of that?" Kimberly asked.
"Two of them are seeing each other, and the other one…Well, it's not good."
"What do you mean?"
"Imagine what would have happened if Zack tried to woo Angela as the black ranger. Now imagine us and Zordon finding out. Now imagine Angela stumbling onto the command center, finding out about Zack, and not being too happy about it."
"You're saying one of the rangers broke one of Zordon's cardinal rules of ranger-dom?"
"He took one of the vehicles out and gave her a romantic moonlit ride."
"Oh boy." Kimberly said. "So this girl found your base of operations?"
"Accidentally." Tommy said. "She slapped him."
"Ohh." Kimberly winced.
"It seems that she thinks it was all a joke."
"You think she'll tell anyone?" Kimberly asked. Tommy thought for a second.
"I don't think so. But maybe that's just me being a wishful thinker."
"I'm sure everything will turn out all right."
"I hope so." Tommy sighed. Kimberly looked at her watch.
"Oh, gosh, it is really late. I should get back. Trini's probably worried." She went to pull out her wallet.
"I've got it." He said. Kimberly looked at him.
"Are you sure?" She asked. Tommy nodded. He picked up the check and the two walked back to the hospital. Tommy walked Kimberly to her car. "Well, it was nice seeing you again." She said.
"Yeah, I'm glad I called you."
"So am I." Kimberly said. She stared at him. Maybe it was force of habit from when they were younger, or maybe it was the feelings she still had for him, but something made her lean up to him and kiss him on the lips in the soft, timid way they did back then. Once it ended, Tommy stared at her. "Goodnight, Tommy." She said.
"Uh..Yeah, goodnight." He said. Kimberly got in her car and drove off, shocked by her own actions. Tommy couldn't help the corners of his mouth turning up in a lovesick smile. "I guess that answers the question as to whether I have a chance with her still." He muttered. He went to his car.
----
Saturday morning found Kimberly in bed. She and Trini shared the queen sized bed in the guesthouse. Carter had offered to put a cot or something in the room, but Kimberly said she and Trini didn't mind. The first few years of Trini's life, she and her mother had to share a full size bed. They lived in a tiny apartment in a not so great part of town as Kimberly was busy juggling working as a waitress at a family restaurant and medical school. After she graduated and got a residency, the two of them moved up in the world of course. Kimberly was able to buy a nice cozy house where Trini even had her own room. At the moment, the mother and daughter were sleeping peacefully in the bed. Both were lying on their sides. Trini was huddled in Kimberly's arms and had her head against her chest. A gentle knock on the door took Kimberly out of her slumber. It wasn't enough to wake Trini, but after waking up for late night feedings when Trini was a baby and listening for her beeper to go off if she had to do a late night delivery, Kimberly had trained herself to wake up at the slightest noise. She slowly eased Trini out of her arms and tucked the blankets around her. She adjusted the pants of her pajamas and the top as well as she walked over to the door. She opened it and was surprised to see Tommy standing there.
"Tommy, wow, this is a surprise." She said. Tommy gave her that trademark smile of his. The one that made her swoon for him the first day they met, when he chased Bulk and Skull off. "Are you stalking me?" She joked. Tommy laughed.
"No, no, of course not. You mentioned you were staying with Carter and Dana, and since he and I have kept in touch, I just knew where to find you."
"Mmm-hmmm, a likely response." She smiled. She stepped aside to let him in. "You can come in, just be quiet, Trini's still sleeping." Kimberly whispered as Tommy stepped in.
"No, I'm not." Came Trini's voice. Kimberly spun around to see Trini sitting up in bed.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Tommy asked. Trini shook her head.
"I just wasn't sleepy anymore." Kimberly smiled and sat beside her.
"Well, missy, do you want some cereal?" She asked. Trini smiled and nodded. "OK, but you know what you've got to do first, right?" Trini jumped and threw her arms around her mother and gave her a big kiss on the cheek.
"Good morning mommy." She said. Kimberly smiled and hugged her.
"Well, I actually meant, go brush your teeth." She said. Trini sighed and climbed off the bed. "Scoot." Kimberly said as Trini scurried to the bathroom. Kimberly smiled and turned to Tommy. "So, what brings you here?" She asked. She stood up and went to the kitchen alcove. She got out a bowl and grabbed the cereal from the cupboard. "Can you pass me the milk?" She asked. Tommy went into the fridge and got the milk. He placed it on the table. "Thanks." She said. Kimberly poured the cereal and the milk in the bowl and set it by one of the chairs.
"I wanted to see an old friend and her daughter. Is that a crime?" He asked. Kimberly smiled.
"No, it's not." She said. Trini came back from the bathroom. Kimberly kneeled before her. "Let me see your teeth." She said. Trini gave a wide grin, displaying all of her teeth. Kimberly inspected them. "All right." She said. She kissed Trini's forehead and got back up. Trini climbed up into the chair and began happily munching on her cereal. Kimberly went back to the bed and began straightening it up. Tommy followed her. "So, have you been able to fix that problem you told me about last night?" She asked Tommy. He shook his head.
"No," he said. "I think its best if we all leave her alone for a while, let her think about stuff."
"You're just stalling because you don't know what to say." Kimberly pointed out with a smirk. Tommy chuckled.
"Okay, that too. Maybe by Monday morning, she'll have calmed down and my team and I will be able to figure out what to do."
"Speaking of your team," Kimberly said as she pulled the comforter up which had fallen on the floor while she and Trini were sleeping. "Will I be able to meet them?" She asked. "I mean, you know, get to know the folks that fight alongside my friend and all."
"I guess, I don't see how that would be a problem." Tommy replied. Kimberly finished making the bed and looked at him.
"Good. I'm eager to meet them. Pass on my knowledge in the career they currently have." Kimberly smiled. Tommy couldn't help return the gesture.
"Mommy, all done." Trini announced. Kimberly went and put the bowl in the sink.
"OK, baby, I want you to go get dressed. I need you to spend the day with Auntie Dana. Mommy needs to work and meet with new patients." Kimberly said. Trini pouted.
"But, mommy, can't I go with you? Auntie Dana's boring. She just lies in bed and says stuff about her fat feet."
"Katrina Aisha Hart, don't say that about your aunt." Kimberly chastised. "And I'm sorry sweetie, but mommy has to work." She kneeled down before her daughter. "And do you remember what happened the last time I took you to work with me?" She asked. Trini sighed. "Come on, what happened?"
"I don't want to say." Trini said, feeling a little ashamed.
"You wandered off and had me very worried. I had to get five orderlies to find you." Kimberly said. Trini still pouted. Kimberly sighed. "Okay, how about we make a deal? If you stop pouting and be a good girl for Auntie Dana, I'll take you out for ice cream when I get back." Trini's face instantly broke out into a huge smile. "I thought that would get your attention." Kimberly smiled.
"Can I get a sundae?" Trini asked, already excited about the idea.
"We'll see. Now, go get dressed." She said. Trini ran and grabbed the clothes Kimberly had laid out for her the night before and went to the bathroom. Kimberly stood back up and looked at Tommy, who had a smile on his face. "What?" She asked.
"Nothing, it's just," he said.
"It's just what?" Kimberly asked.
"It's just nice to see you like this. You've always been a caring and nurturing person. When we were younger, I always thought you'd make a great mother for our kids someday." He said. He stopped, realizing what he had just said.
"You imagined us having kids someday?" Kimberly asked, feeling a little awkward.
"Well, yeah…I mean, we were together for a long time, I guess my mind would wander to the future sometimes." He said. The two fell into an uncomfortable silence.
"Listen, Tommy, about last night, I-"
"Mommy, can you put my hair in pig tails?" Trini asked as she came out from the bathroom dressed in an overall dress with flowers on the chest and a white shirt under it. She also wore white socks that had the frilly material by the ankles. Kimberly looked at her.
"Sure. Go get the brush. It's in my bag." Kimberly said. Part of her was relieved that Trini came out right then. She wasn't sure if she could really explain the kiss. She walked over to the bathroom and waited for Trini to join her. Trini came and handed her the brush. Kimberly began brushing her daughter's hair. After a little while, she put her hair in the desired style. "All right, all done." She said. Trini left and sat down by the door as she got her shoes on. Kimberly went to her bag and pulled out a shirt and jeans. She looked at Tommy. "I'll be right back." She said. She retreated to the bathroom. Tommy stood by and watched Trini struggle with tying her laces. She groaned and kept trying. Tommy went over to her.
"You want some help?" He asked.
"Uh huh." She said.
"All right, then." He said. He picked her up off the ground and put her on one of the chairs by the dining table. He kneeled before her and tied her shoes slowly, making sure she saw how he did it. "First you make a knot like this," he said, demonstrating it. "Then you make a loop like this," at that moment, Kimberly came out of the bathroom, putting her hair in a ponytail and stopped at the sight. "Then you take this part and wrap it around the loop. And you make it into a loop, and you make a knot. See?" He asked.
"Yeah." Trini said.
"You want to try the other shoe?" He asked. Trini nodded. She lifted her foot up and did exactly what he had just said.
"There's the knot.." She began. The rest of her words were lost on Kimberly as she became submerged in her own thoughts. The truth was, she did think about having a child with Tommy when they were younger. And now, those thoughts were returning. He barely knew Trini yet Kimberly was sensing a warm, gentle tone as he sat with her. "All done!" Trini exclaimed, pulling Kimberly out of her revere.
"Excellent." Tommy said. "High five." He said, putting his hand up. Trini giggled as she did so. Kimberly walked over.
"Having fun?" She asked.
"Yeah, mommy. He taught me how to tie my shoes."
"That's great sweetie." Kimberly took Trini's hand as she hoped off the chair. She looked at Tommy. "I'll be right back." She said. Tommy nodded. Kimberly and Trini left. Tommy sat down and waited for Kimberly to get back. A couple of minutes passed and she came back in.
"I should've called or something." Tommy said. "I didn't know you were working today."
"I'm not." Kimberly said. Tommy gave her a confused look. Kimberly sighed and threw her hands up.
"OK, I'm a terrible mother. I lied to have a day to myself." She said.
"You want me to go?" He asked. Kimberly shook her head.
"No, it's okay." She said.
"Do you want to go somewhere or something?" He asked. "There's this place downtown that a friend of mine owns. You'd like her."
"Oh. Girlfriend?" Kimberly asked, suddenly feeling a little guilty about the kiss. Tommy chuckled and shook his head.
"No, no. We met in grad school. It was a symbiotic friendship. I helped her with science and she helped me with computers."
"Ah." Kimberly said.
"So, my jeep's parked outside." He said.
"Right, let me just get my purse." She said. She went and grabbed and walked back to Tommy, slinging it over her shoulder. "Okay, let's go." She said. Tommy nodded and the two left.
----
Ethan, Kira, Conner and Eric were sitting in Cyberspace. Ethan looked completely miserable, Conner and Kira looked worried about him and Eric looked confused.
"So, is anyone going to let me in on what's up with him?" Eric asked, jutting his thumb to Ethan. Ethan just lowered his head to his arms which were folded on the table.
"He's worried about a paper for English class." Kira said, covering up the truth.
"Oh." Eric said, accepting the lie. He put a comforting hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Don't fret, my man. I'm sure it'll be fine." He said. The front door of the café opened up. Ethan's head shot up at the sound and groaned. He had wished it was Naomi, but it was just Dr. Oliver and some woman. He seemed to look around until he saw them. He whispered something to the woman and the two headed over to the table.
"Hey guys." Tommy said. Ethan sighed and put his head down again.
"Dude, our teacher showing up at the hangout…That's a little freaky." Eric said. Tommy chuckled, the woman beside him giggled softly.
"Hey, Dr. O, would you guys care to join us?" Conner asked.
"Thanks." Tommy said. He pulled two chairs from an empty table. They sat down. "Oh, sorry, guys, this is an old friend of mine, Kimberly." He said, introducing her to the others. "Kimberly, this is Conner, his twin brother Eric, Kira and Ethan." He said.
"It's nice to meet you all." Kimberly smiled. She looked at Ethan and then back at Tommy. The two shared a look which was lost on the others. Eric looked at his watch.
"Oh, man, I have to go. Mom wants to take me shopping for new clothes; I'm supposed to meet her at the mall in half an hour." He said, getting up to his feet.
"Good luck man." Conner snickered. Eric sighed. He turned to Kimberly.
"It was nice meeting you." He said.
"Same here." She smiled. Eric walked out. Kimberly turned and stopped, seeing Kira was staring at her. "Do I have something on my face?" She asked. Kira blinked.
"Huh? Oh, no. I'm sorry. You just look really familiar." She said. Tommy laughed slightly.
"Guys, I'd like you to meet the original pink ranger." Tommy said in a hushed voice.
"Seriously? Whoa." Conner said. Kimberly couldn't help giggle again.
"Let me guess." She said, looking at them. "Conner, red. Kira, yellow. And the boy slumped over is blue." She said, going by the colors they were wearing.
"Give the lady a prize." Ethan said sarcastically. Tommy looked at Ethan. He would've normally chastised the boy for being rude, but seeing as what was going on, he decided to let it pass.
"So, I guess no one's heard from Naomi." Tommy said. As if on cue, the door opened and in walked Naomi.
"Speak of the devil." Conner said. Naomi saw them all sitting there, with expectant looks on their faces. She took a deep breath and walked past them to the counter. Haley looked at her.
"Hey, Haley." Naomi said. "Can I get a mint mocha smoothie, to go." She said. Haley looked at the others and then back at Naomi.
"Sure." She said. She went and began to prepare the drink.
"I'm going to go talk to her." Ethan said, getting up to her feet. Conner put a hand to his arm.
"I don't recommend that." He said.
"Conner's right, she needs some space right now." Kira said. Nearby, Trent was watching what was going on and struggled to hide the smirk. Apparently the power losers little friend is mad at them. This could work to my advantage. He thought to himself. Naomi waited for Haley to finish making the drink. She was beginning to get a little anxious. She didn't want to talk to the others.
"I have to talk to her." Ethan said, shaking Conner's hand off him. He went up to her just as Haley handed her the drink.
"Thanks." Naomi said, paying her. She turned to leave and stopped short, seeing Ethan right there.
"Naomi, hey." He said. "Can we talk?" He asked.
"I have to go." She said, not even looking at him.
"Naomi, please."
"Get out of my way." She said.
"Naomi, look, I know that things seemed a little-" Ethan tried to say, but was cut off by Naomi shoving past him. Ethan turned and gently grabbed her arm. While all of this was going on, Trent was slowly inching himself closer to the area of the two. He now stood at the counter. Naomi spun around and splashed her drink in Ethan's face.
"Don't ever touch me again!" She screamed. Ethan coughed, shocked and having to deal with smoothie in his nose and mouth. He blinked and looked at Naomi. "Let go." She said. Everyone in the café was staring at them. Trent decided this was his time to swoop in. He came over and pulled Ethan away from Naomi.
"You heard the lady." He said gruffly, pushing Ethan towards the counter. He turned to Naomi. "You all right?" He asked, his face sincere and soft. Naomi nodded. She looked pretty shaken up. She turned and ran out of the café. Ethan glared at Trent. Haley grabbed his shoulder to keep him from doing anything stupid.
"Here." She said, handing him a dishtowel. Ethan sighed and wiped his face.
"Maybe today wasn't a good day for you to meet the team." Tommy muttered to Kimberly, who was just shocked by everything that had just happened.
"I think you're right." She replied.
---
Author's note from Becky: Sorry for the mega-length of this chapter. Just couldn't stop writing, LOL.