Disclaimer: All hail the Disney Empire! They own the characters and the show. I'm a broke college student earning nothing from this story or it's posting.
Author's Notes: I'd like to thank everyone who's hung on. This story has dragged on longer than I ever planned it to. Only one more chapters left until the end .

Give those gifts from Heaven no way to vanish
Don't let humanity and self instinct fade away
Let the ground beneath our feet keep shining by the morning light
Then we can keep the light within as long as we live under the same sun
(Translation of bahasa indonesian from Chapter IV)

Chapter V: Je Suis à Toi

"I'm open!" Justin yelled out as he ran down the field. Taylor nodded and kicked the soccer ball, passing it to the pre-teen. Justin caught the ball just before Erin could steal it away. He searched for an opening but they had him blocked in pretty tight against scoring a goal. He paused on the field preparing to fire the ball into the goal when he faked the shot and whipped it back to Taylor, with a chip pass, whom immediately drilled it into the net.

The small crowd on the sidelines cheered as the game ended. The Angel Grove Saints had just won there fourth victory in a row. Justin was slapped on the back by every team member for his great team play that won them another victory when his communicator went off. He quickly scanned the crowd to find to find Carlos and Ashley whom had been watching the game in the small bleachers. They spotted him and motioned him away from the field and the crowd. "Alpha says there's a monster attacking the business district." Ashley spoke when Justin had drawn near. Justin nodded and then the three Rangers morphed and teleported to the battle.

The monster was a typical monster Divatox sent whenever she had nothing better to do, and in between insidious plots to capture, kill, or maim a Ranger. None of her attacks had been as hard hitting as the one that nearly destroyed two cities as per Dimitria's prediction. She was still licking her wounds and testing the new Turbo Rangers finding out their weaknesses on the field. This was neither the time to be stupid or to show everyone's best hand. About a week ago, a new Ranger had appeared out of no where. The Phantom Ranger was a mystery to everyone and a few of the Rangers and former Rangers thought it was Tommy or Billy until Dimitria notified them after an appearance that Tommy and Billy were catching up on old times via the subspace communications network when the Phantom Ranger made one of his appearances.

With the monster destroyed a second time after going building size, the Rangers teleported to the Power Chamber to assess the damage to their Zords. They also needed to find out if there were any other annoyances Divatox had thrown at them while they were distracted by the monster, as well as the ever depressing scanning for casualties that didn't make it to evacuation areas before the battle hit.

When they arrived they saw the rare presence of Tommy in the main chamber. "Hey Tommy!" TJ spoke up. "What's up?"

"Just watching the battle." Tommy mumbled then teleported out.

Cassie watched as he left. "What's wrong with him?" The others shrugged.

"I think he's probably a little down that he couldn't help." Ashley surmised and the others nodded in agreement.


Two hours Earlier...

Tommy laid in bed contemplating the past few months. Next month the current Rangers would be starting a new year at Angel Grove High; Jason would be starting his first semester in college along with most of the others; Kat was moving back to Australia; and Tanya was going to stay around a bit and go to Angel Grove Community College with Jason, Adam, and Rocky. They'd all discussed going to UCLA or another big school right out but most of the other people they'd known that went to the major universities regretted taking their basic classes at smaller schools. "The only thing you really have to worry about is making absolutely sure that your classes transfer. Oh, and don't bother going for their degree programs if you know what university you want to go to. Just talk to one of the program specialists there and ask them what classes you'll need to concentrate on the field you want to go into. That way you save a big wad of money and have more hands on experience in some cases." Jason's cousin had told them.

He'd gotten a video message from Billy a few months back letting them all know how he was doing on Aquitar and that he'd actually managed to secure a position doing ship design research at one of their shipping yards in orbit. It was nice to hear from him even if most of their communications weren't direct. Most of the others got together once a month or so and sent messages keeping him in the loop as much as possible. Sometimes it seemed that Billy was closer to them now than the last few months he was on Earth.

David had come and visited him a few days ago. He wanted him to meet Nathan, his sixteen month old son. It was still hard to believe that he was an uncle at the age of nineteen. But there it was, his brother had shown him a picture of his son last week. The child was a spitting image of him. When he'd looked at the photo he got a strange thought into his head. He supposed it wasn't so strange when he really thought about it.

The Vortex had done more than strip him of his Powers and activate the repressed abilities he'd kept locked away for the better part of his life, it had also made him incapable of having children. It was something that only Dimitria, Alpha, and David knew. He saw no reason to let the others know. He took a sharp breath in and shook away the bitter and envious thoughts he had for his brother whom had continued their rather cursed line.

His thoughts were washed away by the tone of his communicator going off. He sighed. "Time for another treatment." with a tired voice he answered the summons. "Is it that time Alpha?"

Instead of Alpha's perpetual chipper voice Dimitria's voice came through the communications device. "Tommy, please teleport to the Power Chamber, there is a matter we must discuss."

Tommy blinked. That was new. "Alright, I'm on my way." Tommy was grateful that Adam and Alpha had figured out the imbalance that caused the teleport system to try and rip him apart when he they tried to use it on him. He hated Dimitria having to use her powers to teleport him separately from the rest of the group.


In the main chamber of the Power Chamber, Dimitria awaited him in her accustomed spot. "Tommy, am I correct in assuming you would like to discontinue the weekly subcutaneous neural suppressing injections?"

"Would I?" Tommy said excitedly. Then he paused. "What's the catch? Am I going to have to leave now?"

"You are correct in assuming that there is a catch, however, I do not believe the time is right that you leave now. Do you?" Dimitria smiled.

Tommy turned as he heard Alpha VI enter the main chamber. "Hi Tommy. I have something for you."

"Adam, Alpha and I have worked on a device that would act more as a filter than as an inhibitor to your unveiled abilities. However, as Adam put it, you would rather die than where a device that made you look like you rode the," she paused a moment making sure she used the correct phrasing Adam used. "the special bus to school."

Tommy silently thanked Adam. "Adam thought right I guess. At this point I'd do almost anything to get out of taking that stuff. Afterwards I always feel groggy and Jason too even though he doesn't take it." He thought for a moment. "He doesn't take the same stuff does he?"

Dimitria gave him a straightforward answer, something she'd been doing gradually over the past few months. "No, we realized very quickly that the two of you had formed a bond and giving you both inhibitors may prove taxing on both of you. Alpha? If you would please?"

Alpha nodded, "Right Dimitria." with that, the android presented Tommy with a small ring size box. Tommy took it questioning and then opened the box. Inside he saw a thick ring with a slight bend to it. He took it out of the box and realized that the ring wasn't complete. He looked up questioning.

"Place it on your left ear. The device was designed to conform to you and only you." Dimitria answered directly again.

Wary, Tommy did as told and the ring attached firmly to the upper part of his ear. After a slight bit of pain as if he was getting a piercing, the pain subsided and he could no longer feel the ring on his hear. "Oh, it's an ear cuff." He spoke to the air.

"How do you feel?" Dimitria asked.

Tommy was silent for a moment, listening within and without. "I don't feel any different." He spoke after a moment's pause.

"Good, Alpha and I worked on making the device without adverse side effects as well as making it as small and as comfortable as possible. We will continue to monitor your vital signs in order to ensure compatibility with your system." At that moment the monster alarms went off and Tommy observed the view screen to see a monster attacking the business district. His heart longed to go back into action but he knew he was still healing and Powerless. "Alpha please contact the Rangers, and Tommy, might it be reasonable that you stayed here until the battle has ended?"

Tommy sighed inwardly. "Yes, I'll stay here." He watched enviously at the battle until it's predictable conclusion.


September had arrived, and the current team of Rangers were preparing for a new year in High School while Adam, Rocky, Jason, and Tanya prepared for their first semester at Angel Grove Community College. After much debate, Kat decided to attend a prestigious dance school in Australia. She wanted to stay around but the school had offered her a full scholarship with extra money left over for comfortable living expenses. If she'd still been a Ranger, she would have turned them down; however, now she was free to follow her dreams. She'd left with a party and a smile three weeks prior with a vow to return over Christmas break. As for Tommy, Dimitria had already discussed plans for him to leave for Phaedos as soon as he'd healed enough to make the trip safely.

Adam and Tanya sat in the Park family living room watching a movie and eating theater-style popcorn. A scene in which an angry mother cornered her kids and chocked the truth out of them, reminded Tanya of the story Cassie told her last month when Mrs. Scott suddenly teleported to the Power Chamber and after a moment's awe, only a moment's awe, she preceded to bitch the veil off of Dimitria's face. She chuckled, she was sure Cassie was exaggerating a bit but that still didn't make the mental image any less humorous.

"OK the scene wasn't that funny." Adam prodded her when she actually laughed out loud.

"Oh it's not the scene itself, It reminded me about the story Cassie told me when Mrs. Scott teleported to the Power Chamber." She chuckled a bit more not noticing Adam's squirm. "How do you suppose she got a hold of Jason's old communicator? And I could have sworn that only someone with Powers could teleport without someone in the Power Chamber lowering the security protocols." She noticed Adam's guilty look. "Adam? How did Jason's mom teleport to the Power Chamber? Don't tell me you.. You did! Adam how could you?" Tanya looked sternly at her boyfriend. "Zordon entrusted us to keep our indentities a secret from everyone!"

"You don't understand! That woman was on the war path! I dropped Tommy off and she cornered me!" Adam buckled.

"You've thrown her off the path before, what was different three weeks ago?" Tanya crossed her arms. Adam was glad that Tanya and Pat didn't compare notes on how to torture the truth out of someone just by speaking to them.

"She asked directly this time. She named us all! Well except for the new team. But she had us all pegged! She even knew Rocky and Justin were Rangers!" Adam stood up and walked toward the kitchen to grab a glass of water and perhaps a bottle of milk of magnesia now that he thought about it.

Tanya got up from the couch and followed him into the kitchen, the movie completely forgotten. "That still doesn't mean you should have told her the truth. You could have just left."

"First Middle Last Tanya.. She used my full name.. Jason tried to help me escape but she called his full name too.. You know there's no defense against the full name." Adam pleaded.

Sighing Tanya patted Adam on the back. "It's OK honey, I understand.. Now spill the beans." She spoke the last bit firmly while grabbing his chin to face her.

Adam looked her in the eyes and knew there was no escape. "Jason gave her his old morpher and his communicator so that she could get in." Tanya looked like she was going to have an objection. "The only reason why we both went along with it is because both he and Tommy have been talking in their sleep." Adam left it up to Tanya to figure out what might have been said during either of their former teammates dreams.

"Would you like to hear some good news?" Tanya smiled. Her boyfriend merely looked at here with a bland face. "I got the internship with KAGV Radio." Adam's face immediately lit up.

Jumping up he engulfed his girlfriend in a hug. "That's great.. Let's tell the guys." He started for the door when Tanya grabbed his arm. "Can we celebrate privately first?"

Adam stumbled when 'privately' hit his ears. He gulped. "What time is it?" He looked past her toward the microwave clock, it was half past six. "My parents won't be back until ten." There was a long pause between the two of them before they both darted to Adam's bedroom at the same time.

To celebrate her promotion and internship at KAGV Radio that allotted her a very nice scholarship towards a Broadcasting degree from Angel Grove Community College, Tanya set up a semi-formal dinner for the occasion. Fall was in full swing and Sweetest Day was two weeks away. She'd made reservations at the Rainforest Cafe in one of their private rooms to fit the large group of Rangers, and former Rangers including David.

Rocky, Adam, Tommy, David, Tanya, and Jason arrived at roughly the same time at the restaurant awaiting only the current Rangers to finish cleanup duties after a bomb threat had nearly cancelled their entire dinner. Just as the matre'd seated them in the closed off room, the Rangers showed up slightly out of breath. "Sorry we're late, we had to take care of.." TJ trailed off as he noticed the waiter coming in and filling their water glasses. "that extra assignment." he finished lamely.

"That's fine, we just got here as too." Adam reassured the new leader.

"Hey Tanya, you think they have any of that mahi mahi? I had some last summer and it was delicious!" Rocky asked his one time teammate. Everyone groaned at Rocky's customary food statement.

"Um, Rocky, isn't mahi mahi dolphin?" Justin asked playfully.

Rocky's eyes bugged slightly when he heard this. "But it's so good! how could it be a dolphin?"

Adam laughed and patted his friend on the shoulder. "It's a dolphin fish, not a dolphin. You're safe, bro. You didn't eat Flipper." Rocky sighed in relief and picked up his menu as he took his seat.

Everyone else took their seats as well around the expanded table. In an almost unconscious manner, the group sat opposite their counterparts with Jason and David sitting across from each other, and Ashley with no one directly in front of her. The talk centered mostly around Tanya's promotion and the two crazy monkeys hanging around that Mr. Stone had taken in. "So do you think the humane society will make detective. I mean Mr. Stone hand over the monkeys?" Justin asked Cassie.

"No, I think they'll let him keep them. At least for a while, they seem to behave themselves for the most part; and Stone has demonstrated that he can take care of them." Cassie replied thoughtfully.

Justin's expression brightened. "That's great. I'm glad they'll have a decent home instead of being in a lab cage somewhere."

Nods went around the table as the the food arrived and Rocky's eyes went large as he noticed Carlos had a pile of food larger than his when the servers had finished bringing everyone's orders. "Hey! How come you got more than I did? No fair!"

"Rocky, don't you ever think of anything else besides food?" Adam asked.

Rocky mocked horror. "Food is not the only thing I think about, I'll have you know! It just happens to be what's all around."

The table conversations became non sequitur as everyone settled in and began to enjoy themselves. When it became time to order dessert, Tommy felt a growing migraine in his head as the dinner progressed. He tried to concentrate on the conversations around him but his vision began to swim. Jason looked over at him worriedly, but he managed to focus enough to reassure him that it was nothing more than a mild headache. He excused himself and went to the restroom at the back of the establishment.

Once inside he grabbed a large wad of paper towels, locked himself in a stall, rolled up his sleeve and stared at the intricate cuts on his upper left arm that trailed down just below his elbow to where to the first cuts without thought to a design began. The pain from cutting himself always seemed to help him focus, to help him see what was real and dull the pain of the voices in his head. He'd managed to hide the cuts from Jason for the past month but he knew he'd eventually find out. But for now the pain had to go away. That's all that mattered now, he started with a small cut and then twisted the knife so it arched downward around his biceps.


Jason sat across from David with a worried expression, everyone seemed to think that Tommy was doing better, but somehow he sensed that it was all a charade. Tommy was hiding something from him and he couldn't quite figure out what it was. "David, have you noticed Tommy acting, I don't know, strange lately?"

David shook his head. "I don't get to hang around him that much, so I'm not sure what his normal reactions are in the group. But I do know there's something he wants to tell you, but hasn't known how to ask."

"What do you mean? What is it?" Jason asked, Tommy's brother.

"I don't know what it is that he wants to tell you, I just know that he has something on his mind that he wanted to tell you." David replied softly so that the others wouldn't pay attention to their conversation. "Something about a broken promise."

A sudden foreboding came over Jason. "Excuse me."

The others noticed his abrupt rising. "Hey Jase, is everything OK?" TJ asked.

Jason bit back the bile rising in his throat. "Yeah, I think I'm going to go see how Tommy's doing." Then he quickly left for the restrooms.


Mama D walked onto the bridge of her daughter's ship with a flare. "I see you still haven't disposed of your pitiful cousin."

Divatox turned to face her mother with arms stretched wide, "Mama! You're back!" The two approached each other with a smile and arms open wide for a hug.. just before contact was made however they gagged and stopped. "So," Divatox spoke after recovering. "What brings you back so soon? Is it time to start the next step in the plan?" She asks her mother eagerly.

Mama D shakes her head. "I just came to check up on how things are going? Is he torturing himself yet?" There was of course no need to specify about whom they were speaking.

Divatox responded. "Oh beautifully, he's actually cutting himself. It sends shivers of excitement through my spine every time he does it. Torturing from afar is so fun!"

"We have to have patience dear. I know you want to speed up his torture but what we have planned only has one chance of succeeding. We can't mess it up by acting pre-maturely." Mama D consoled her ambitious daughter.

"I know that. But it's tough wasting money on those second rate dolts to keep the Rangers from figuring out our plan." She grumbled.

"Don't think of it as wasting money but buying your distraction for the major payoff. This will be the last generation of Power Rangers Zordon ever rears." The two cackled as they watched Tommy self destruct.

When Jason entered the men's room he made a bee-line for the stall he knew Tommy was in and forced it open. There on the stool was Tommy with a hunting knife in his hand cutting his arm. Jason's ire was so great his face turned red but he didn't say a word. It took him several moments to gain enough control to move and when he did he went for the paper towels and cleaned Tommy's arm up noting the other healed scars on his arm. He looked at Tommy's face but the young man wouldn't look him in the eye. He wrapped the towels around so that they wouldn't show and took the knife away from his friend. His former leader and subordinate made no move to reclaim the sharp object.

He led Tommy back to the entrance to the private room the Rangers had reserved. "Hey guys, Tommy's not feeling well, I think I'm going to take him home. I'll catch up with you guys tomorrow alright?" Jason said as calmly as he could.

The others sensed there was something going on but had the sense not to make a scene. "Hey sure thing, see you guys later." David spoke up knowing or at least having a fairly good idea of what was going on.


Even though the ride back to Jason's house was only fifteen minutes the weighted silence that engulfed the vehicle made it seem much longer. Tommy eyes stared blankly out of the side window while Jason's eyes were positioned pointedly forward. Once they reached the house Tommy didn't move and Jason didn't bother looking over at him he simply got out of the car and walked around to the passenger door and yanked his friend out of the car and led him woodenly to the door.

Pat noticed Jason's car pulling into the driveway earlier than she expected. When she looked out of the kitchen she saw the serious look on Jason's face and the utter blankness on Tommy's face. She knew immediately that something was wrong but by the looks of it she'd get nothing now. She decided to test her theory when the two walked into the house through the kitchen. "Hey boys, How was dinner?" Neither looked in her direction or even acknowledged her presence. This is serious. She thought. She was going to give them one day to sort everything out, and then it was her turn.

When Jason got to his room he deposited Tommy on his desk chair and went to his private bath and grabbed his first aid kit. He redressed the cuts with a proper dressing without word. When he completed his task he put the first aid kit back in the bathroom where he kept it and then sat on his bed staring at his friend, saying absolutely nothing.

After an eternity of silence Tommy spoke without looking at Jason. "I'm sorry. I.."

Jason cut him off. "How long?" Tommy looked up at him, opened his mouth but nothing came out. "How long have you been doing this?" Jason asked again.

Tommy wanted to look away but he knew he couldn't keep it to himself any longer. "About six weeks." His voice was soft but it didn't quiver. After a moment he tore his eyes away and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Jason asked at the ready.

"To pack my things." came the wooden response.

"What for? You aren't leaving." The last was said with such demand that Tommy plopped right back into the chair he'd been sitting in. "We have to talk."

"You mean I have to explain." Tommy said mildly defeated. When Jason remained silent he inhaled and started at the beginning. "Ever since.." His throat closed up. "I can't do it." He shook his head.

"You have to. If you don't it'll eat you alive." Jason told him in a calming voice. He noticed Tommy's expression and knew that he really did want to confide in him, however, there was something keeping him back. "Why can't you tell me?"

The former Red Zeo Ranger gathered his strength but it still wasn't quite enough to speak what he was feeling so he did the only thing he could think of. Got up from his chair and walked over to his friend and grabbed his wrist. This is what I can't tell anyone. Was the only preamble he gave Jason before a torrent of memories rushed through their link.

After only a few moments Jason broke contact, staggering slightly. "I thought.." Jason spoke as he processed what had just occurred."I thought I knew most of it. I was wrong." Jason squelched his desire to have Dimitria suggest a way for him to get professional counseling. "I'm here for you, Bro. You aren't alone. Know that. Believe it." He grabbed Tommy's shoulders and looked him firmly in the eye. Tommy nodded silently, and Jason felt that some of the proverbial weight had lifted from his former teammate's shoulders.

Tommy suddenly sniffed the air and looked around. A second later Jason joined in the sniffing. Their bodies unconsciously nearing the door. "Do you smell that?" Tommy asked in a near hypnotized voice. "It's chocolate and walnuts."

Jason took in a deep breath "No, dear god! It's not chocolate. It's fudge! Mom's making fudge brownies!" His mouth began to salivate. As Tommy neared the door, Jason came back to his senses. "NO Tommy don't! Don't open the door! It's a trap!" But it was too late, his best friend has already halfway down the stairs. He thought to himself before heading after the poor unfortunate soul, I swear mom could give the Spanish Inquisition a run for their money! She probably noticed how early we got back from the restaurant and is now going to pry the information out of us by force of food. If Adam thought he had a tough time standing up to the cookies, Tommy had zero chance of remaining unscathed after the brownies. Those wonderful confections were a pound of pure heaven.


Pat gave the boys a full hour before she set her plan into motion. She knew that if the reason for her son and Tommy's early return had to do with their dreams or more specifically—Tommy's dreams by the looks of things—she would more than likely get nothing out of them no matter how hard she prodded. Which would probably depress both of them to sulking around for a month. To forestall this, she decided on the perfect preemptive strike; brownies, not just any brownies would do however, her triple weighted fudge brownies with walnuts were the perfect attack.

Soon after the boys headed upstairs, Pat went to her friend's shop where she usually bought her chocolate from. Diane had the best supply of ingredients you could buy without leaving the country. She was world famous with her small shop, but not very many people in town knew about her. After chatting with her for a few minutes, Pat returned home and did a quick check for the boys. "Good, they're still upstairs." She spoke to herself. Just as the brownies were ready she grabbed a fan from the closet and positioned it by the stairs. The way the vents in the house were made, it sometimes took as much as an hour for smells downstairs to reach the upstairs. This would not work for her plans, for the best results, the brownies needed to be warm. After turning the fan on, she returned to the kitchen and waited patiently by the confectionery delight.

Less than two minutes after the fan was turned on Pat heard the sound of a teenager running for the stairs and then her son's voice. "...door! It's a trap!" Smiling she picked up the plate of cooling brownies and held them out for the teen rounding the corner with the best large-watery-eyed-lost puppy look she'd ever seen. She nearly felt guilty for wanting to pry after he took the first bite.. nearly. "I didn't think you guys were at the restaurant long enough for dessert, so I made some brownies." She said the best Mrs. Beaver impression she could muster.

"Is it really OK?" Tommy asked with a voice that seemed to have reverted to a ten year old's.

Pat smiled. "Yes you can have one. Just one, they're a bit.." Two brownies had already disappeared from her plate. She looked up in bewilderment only to see that the boy in front of her was licking his fingers and not a single trace of the missing desserts could be seen, not even a crumb on the side of his face. "Oh, well that' s..." Pat was left speechless as Jason came up and snatched his own.

"Thanks, Mom." Jason patted her on the shoulder seeing that she was still in shock.


Two days later, Pat had just returned from her office when she heard a knock on the door. She looked out the curtains to see who it would be since it was a slightly irregular time for someone to stop by—especially knocking on the front door. She saw a delivery van parked in front of the mailbox. "I hope Walter didn't buy another one of those god awful lamps again."

She opened the door to receive the package. "Hi, I have a delivery here for." The deliver guy paused to check the name on his clipboard. "Tommy Oliver."

"I'll sign for it, he's not here at the moment." Patricia's curiosity churned until she saw the return address. Trini Kwan and Zack Taylor. After signing for the package, she set it down on the kitchen counter for Tommy after he and his friends returned from the matinee.


David, wanting to spend more time with his brother came along after the matinee was over.

When the three teens got to Jason's home his mother came down the stairs and said, "Oh, hi boys. Tommy, you got a package from Zack & Trini. I left it on the kitchen table for you." She turned to Jason. "Remember what I said, 'dull roar.'"

Jason nodded. "Make sure we make at least a dull roar of noise, got it." He smiled at his mother who gave him a stern look. "I know I know, keep the noise down. Come on guys, let's see what Zack & Trini sent."

The four teens bounded into the kitchen, an uneasy feeling came over Tommy but he quickly dismissed it. He opened up the package to see that there was a letter attached to another sealed package. He quickly read through the letter.

Dear Tommy,

in Zack's handwriting Hey, what's up? It's been awhile since we've been able to see everyone. We appreciate how everyone's kept in touch over the past couple of years. When Jason told us what happened last May, we tried our best to get back but the recent attack on the embassy increased the security around the campus so teleporting out without being noticed or getting clearance to go back to the States was out of the question. We know you're probably internalizing everything so we thought it would be a good idea for you to keep a journal.

in Trini's handwriting A while back Zack & I befriended a girl from England that we had classes together with. Her dad is a leather smith and so after what happened we asked her if her dad would make a journal for you. Zack and I came up with the symbol on the front and the seal on the side from memory. We thought it would be the best way for you to vent since you never really tell people exactly what's bugging you. It's about time that you healed those old wounds. We contacted Dimitria and she cast a spell on the side strap that has the seal. It'll only open to you or whoever else you want to read it if you decide to share it. The incantation to unlock it to others is on the inside. Take care of yourself little dragon

in Zack's handwriting Yeah, take care of yourself and just between you and me. there's someone real special that wants to go out with you from the old team but never asked you. Personally I think the two of you would make a great couple. The only thing you have to do is convince 'em that you're interested. You'd be crazy not to be.

See ya at Christmas,

Trini & Zack

in Trini's handwriting PS You had better read this letter first before opening the package or else buddy!

Tommy passed the letter to Jason and then opened up the second package. He dropped the book as soon as he saw the cover. The journal was made from a very high quality soft lamb skin dyed a dark hunter green. On the cover of the journal was the symbol of the Green Dragon Dino Coin. It was the journal that couldn't exist. The journal from a reoccurring dream that always ended in death.

David bent down and picked up the blank journal. "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the symbol?" he asked having discerned that the embossed symbol on the cover had caused his brother to drop it.

Tommy regained his composure and took the green journal back from David with slightly shaking hands. "Nothing really. I wasn't expecting to see that symbol ever again." He paused looking at his brother whom he knew was waiting for a further explanation. "That symbol is from the first Powers I held. The Powers I held as the Green Ranger. My memories of that time aren't.. the best." He half explained. David knew it was only a half answer but knew enough that half an answer was the only one he'd get for now.

Jason froze as he read Trini and Zack's letter, He wouldn't have, why did Zack have to say something? Jason pondered quietly, very quietly. Forcing himself to act normally, he realized that the journal was the perfect solution to Tommy's troubles. He could the journal as a catharsis—the purge all of his fears and doubts into the journal—in order to heal.


Rocky turned up the radio to his favorite song that was playing on the radio as he headed to the shelter to pick up Justin. The day was an average warm bright sunny day. He pulled into the parking lot and headed inside to look for his former teammate. Upon entering he bumped into Karen, one of the volunteers.

"Hey Karen, Sorry for bumping into you." Rocky apologized.

"It's nothing. So, How are you doing Rockwell?" Karen asked. She was one of the few people to actually use his full first name without a scolding tone. It was a nice change.

"Oh, I'm doing fine. Um.. you wouldn't happen to know where Justin is by chance would you?" Rocky couldn't figure out why he was so nervous all of a sudden.

"Oh he's in the back playing basketball with some of the other kids." She smiled with a brilliance Rocky hadn't quite noticed before.

He shook his head quickly. "Thanks. I'll catch up with you later OK?" He finished as he headed for the basketball courts behind the building.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan." She called after him.

Just before he reached the doors that led to the courts, Rocky spotted Justin walking toward him with his backpack. "Oh, sorry I wasn't out front." Justin apologized. "I was playing a game with Eric and the others."

"No worries." Rocky replied. "So, are you ready to go to the park?"

"Yeah. Oh, and did you see Karen?" Justin said Karen's name slower for emphasis.

Rocky responded oblivious to Justin's intimation. "Yeah she told me you were back here."

Justin rolled his eyes. Adults, they could be so clueless sometimes. He thought.


For several nights after receiving the journal Tommy had the same dream every night. The dream never changed, the events played out in the exact same order, the people in his dream always wore the same exact clothing, and said the same exact things. Three days before Sweetest Day he put away his fears and opened the journal that Trini and Zack had sent him. Inside the front cover was a paragraph that wasn't in english. The ink appeared to be a different color from different angles.

With his mind made up he grabbed a pen and began to write. He wrote about everything on his mind. Before he knew it he'd already written ten pages before finally falling back to sleep, the journal laying half open on his lap with the pen still in his hand.

The next morning Pat knocked gently on Tommy's door, when he didn't answer she opened the door and peaked in. She saw the journal laying on the bed and for a brief instant thought about reading it. The thought was quickly put out of her mind and she walked over to the bed, closed the book without looking at a single word and took the pen out of Tommy's hand. She left the room to go knock on Jason's door to find that he was already up and showered.

"Is Tommy up yet?" Jason asked his mother.

"No, I thought I'd let him sleep a little longer." Pat spoke as she turned around to head down stairs.


The first week of November was affectionately known as Hell Week for freshmen at Angel Grove Community College, during this time the most grueling of mid-terms were scheduled. Jason managed to luck out with his classes and only ended up having one mid-term paper to write which he'd finished earlier in the week leaving his weekend completely open. His father had just returned from one of his business trips and decided to go on a weekend getaway with is wife, with a stern warning to Jason not to have a house party.

A house party was far from Jason's mind this weekend. He'd just started a new job at one of the local donjons as a part-time instructor. Between his classes, volunteering at the Youth Center, and his new job he wanted this weekend to vegetate in front of the TV. Tommy had begun spending most of his mornings training with Dimitria and participated in the same after school volunteer program as he did teaching karate to kids at the Youth Center. Jason felt time slowing, without having to worry about being called out of class to save the day and the daily activities that surrounded being a Ranger.

Before retiring for the night, Jason stopped by the Blockbuster two blocks away from his house and rented a couple movies. He rented Heat with Al Pacino and Dune directed by David Lynch. He'd seen Heat before but had only heard mixed reviews for the latter film. He decided to go with Dune, deciding from what he knew of the director his mind would be thoroughly engaged in the film in order to get through it.

When he returned home, he found Tommy laying on the couch watching TGIF without bothering to look in his direction the teen greeted him. "Hey Jase, did you get Legend?"

"No, they didn't have it. I picked up Dune instead and Heat for backup." Jason replied.

Tommy snickered and sat up looking at his best friend. "Backup huh?" Jason gave him an unamused look. "Ok, So it was only funny to me. So are we watching it here or in the basement?"

Jason shrugged, "Since Mom and Dad won't be back until Sunday, I guess we can watch it in here." Tommy nodded. Before taking his place on the large couch, Jason took off his jacket and put the movie into the VCR making sure to grab the remote while he was at it.

As the short-haired teen pressed play, Tommy asked. "Which version is this? I don't think I can watch the regular version. I think it caused permanent brain damage."

"It's the director's cut relax, bro. I wouldn't put us both through that torture. The reviews were mixed as it was for this version." Jason replied rolling his eyes.

"I saw the theater version, it was bad. I thought I saw hints of good story, but.." he shuddered. With no further objections Jason started the movie.

As the movie droned on Tommy stretched out on the couch much to Jason's utter discomfort for the long haired half-alien rested his head on his lap. "Do you have to do that?" He asked uncomfortably.

"I pulled something in my hip earlier today sparring with Adam and laying down makes it feel better. Move if you want." The response contained a challenge. Not one to back down, Jason stayed exactly where he was.


"Father.. Father! The sleeper has awaken!" Came the quote from the screen. Jason couldn't take it anymore.

The longer Tommy's head lay upon his lap the more he wanted his friend. It was becoming exceedingly difficult to remain calm. That's when he heard a sigh of disappointment from the other teen. It must have been his imagination.

Tommy closed his eyes for a brief moment and then grabbed the remote turning off the movie in the process. Jason starred down at him in confusion. "We need to talk." Jason's heart raced.

"Why'd you stop the movie, bro?" The short haired teen tried his best to think of anything besides the head on his lap. The face that stared back at him as impassive. Frustrated, Jason stood up moving Tommy off of him. "We don't have to have this conversation." He started walking toward the stairs.

"We needed to talk about this four years ago." Brown eyes stared accusingly at the dark haired teen's back.

"You couldn't handle it four years ago." Came the dead response.

"I can handle it now." The voice was directly behind Jason.

With great determination forced what he was feeling to the back of his mind and decided to play unfairly. "What about Kim?" He could almost feel his friend's shudder.

"That's not fair Jason."

"You still care about her. The two of you should be together. You and I both know that there was no other guy." Jason needed to play dirty. It was too much to ask for anything else. Tommy was his best friend and things were going to stay the way they were. He turned around and looked at his hurting friend.

"I don't care. She made her decision. After the island we had a talk and I realized that I couldn't trust her again. She wouldn't tell me why she dumped me. And for some reason I get the impression that even if she did tell me why, it would take a very long time to forgiver her. Any relationship we could have had died there." The long-haired teen's voice cracked. Jason had nearly found out the reason for Kim's rash actions two years ago when they went scuba diving. Divatox's intervention however ended any chance he would have had about getting to the bottom of the break up of two of his closest friends.

Jason sat down on the second to last step of the stairs. He wished that they could hold off this talk a little longer. "After that I called Zack." After hearing that all hopes Jason thought he had of escape were gone.

Praying that Zack would have kept his mouth shut, but after the message he got a week after Divatox had kidnapped him and his letter to Tommy only a week ago eliminated all but one possible topic. "So what did he have to say?"

Tommy's shoulder's dropped as he looked down at his friend. "What do you think he said? He didn't say anything. But he didn't deny anything that I asked him either."

"I'm gay." Jason said with his head down, barely above a whisper.

"I couldn't here you." Tommy spoke. Jason raised his head with a look of mild defeat.

Through clenched teeth Jason repeated his declaration. "I'm gay." After a short pause he added looking away. "Are you happy n—"

The short-haired teen didn't get the chance to finish his sentence before Tommy engulfed him in a warm hug. "Thank you for telling me. I've been waiting four years for you to say that." He backed away slowly and sat on the floor at the foot of the stairs with his back against the wall.

"So, you aren't going to say the same thing?" Jason asked.

Tommy smirked. "Are you kidding? I'm straight. I just wanted to hear you tell me that you were gay so that we could get rid of all this tension."

"You can't be serious. I've been keeping this secret from you and that's all the reaction I get?" Jason asked.

"Look. I'm pretty sure that you told Kim, Trini, Billy, and Zack before I showed up and then had them stay silent about it after I became the Green Ranger. Am I right?"

"Yes." Came the dry response.

"I could have handled it then Jase. It wouldn't have changed things between us." Tommy paused for a moment unsure if he wanted to continue. "You being in love with me. That. That's what I had trouble dealing with."

Jason's eyes flew wide. "I'm not.. I." He stammered. The link between them was wide open, and he knew there was no denying his feelings. "So what does that mean for us now."

"What do you want it to mean?" Tommy moved from the floor to the bottom step looking at him intently.

"But you told me you were straight." Jason responded.

"I am. But that doesn't mean that I have to turn away from my friend." Tommy told him earnestly.

Jason stood up angrily. "That's not what I want from you!"

Tommy joined him. "And I don't want to die alone!" His eyes widened not believing his own words. Suddenly becoming uncomfortable the long-haired teen turned from the stairs, going into the kitchen.

"Tommy wait." Jason chased after him. Catching up to him before the other teen could grab his keys from the key rack by the counter. "What's going on?"

Tommy debated on how much he could tell Jason. "The journal." he began. "I dreamed about it before Trini and Zack sent it. I died in the dream." He watched Jason take a seat on the stool near the high counter before taking the high stool next to him. "Every time I have the dream it's always the same it never changes. I hadn't had the dream for a week after I started writing in it. Until last night."

Jason soaked everything in. "How long have you been having the dream?"

"Since the Vortex." He replied quietly.

"The dream was a part of what you showed me." Jason searched and was rewarded with a nod. "Were you alone?"

"Until last night, yes. Until last night the dream always ended with me breaking my promise to you. My promise not to kill myself." He added quietly.

"What changed?" Jason tried to remain calm.

"I made a choice. I let you in." Tommy couldn't look at him. Jason got the impression that if he could see his friend's eyes, they'd be red.

"So you lived at the end of last night's dream?" Jason asked hopefully.

"I died at peace with myself and the knowledge that my friends' lives were safe." Came the correction.

Jason's heart quickened. "When you're old and gray, right? When you're old and gray?" he pleaded.

"No." Tommy's voice was little more than a whisper. Jason stood up and embraced friend tightly. A moment later, Tommy's arms raised and returned the embrace.

Jason asked no more questions and sent a silent curse to the powers that be for giving him what he'd asked for. He silently led Tommy to his room. When he went to turn away, the other teen refused to let him go. "Stay."

"Tommy, I don't think I can—" Jason stopped. "Ok. But in the morning we're going to have another talk."


Pat couldn't believe her husband had gotten them a weekend getaway in Puerto Nuevo. After getting checked into Las Rocas they headed straight to the resort's main beach and watched the sun set. She couldn't remember the last time Sam had done something like this. It almost felt like they were dating again. She fell in love all over again.

"Well you see honey, the hotel in San Diego double booked us. The company that owns the hotel also owns the resort. I made a couple of phone calls and let them know how serious an infringement upon our company this was, they gladly set us up in the penthouse here." Sam explained later that night when Pat asked how they'd managed to get such a deal.

"You had nothing at all to do with the double booking?" Pat asked, suspicious.

"I have no idea who Mr. U. S. Grant could possibly be." Sam replied straight faced.

Pat gave him a stern look. "That was underhanded and down right sneaky, Sam!" her face melted into a smile. "I love you."

"That's why I married you."


The next morning Pat decided to check in on the kids. She decided to wait until eleven before calling giving the boys ample time to sleep in. She tried the house line and after several rings got the answering machine. She left a quick message with the change of the hotel, before trying Jason's line which connected to both Jason and Tommy's rooms. After getting his machine Pat became worried. She knew it was irrational. She tried it one more time before getting a very groggy "yeah."

"Jason, honey?" Pat asked.

"Nope, got Tommy." God, he sounds dead. Pat thought to herself.

"I'm sorry to wake you is Jason up?" Pat's worry meter went up. Those boys had better not have had a house party last night. Over the line she hurt the phone drop and a loud curse followed by a long string of curses in Spanish and English she wasn't aware Tommy knew.

"Mom?" Jason's voice held extreme surprise.

"Jason? Is anything wrong?" From the sound of it, Jason had been in Tommy's room. Good lord! What were those two doing last night? Pat let her mind travel a few inches and immediately thought better of asking.

"No, just woke up. Um. How's the hotel?"

"Oh, there was a mix up and so your dad and I are spending the weekend in Puerto Nuevo at one of the resorts. I left all the information on the answering machine in the living room. Make sure you check it and write it all down. We'll be back Sunday evening no later than 10pm." Pat paused debating whether or not to ask about the party. Deciding to be the good nosey mother, "So, did you guys have a party last night? It's awfully late to sleep in."

There was a long pause and hushed voices before Jason answered. "No, mom. Tommy and I had a talk. It was a bit draining."

Pat sighed. Jason's message was clear. They'd finally talked about his sexuality. She unconsciously thought back to her earlier assumption and quickly replaced it. "So I take it that you two are—"

"No! No, we just talked. We're friends that's it." I think you said that a little too quickly Jason. Pat thought.

"Well just be safe. Before we left your dad left a box for you in your sock drawer. Just in case." Pat smiled.

She could here Jason choke on the other side. "What!"

"Have fun dear." Pat hung up the phone. Sam's last trip was to Seattle with one of his co-workers who happened to be a lesbian. After Sam told her about his son. She went to a toy shop and bought a gift box to take home to his son. Pat had been mortified, however the box contained pamphlets that her son would probably find interesting and perhaps keep him safe.


Tommy lay in a deep dreamless sleep. He heard an alarm go off and slapped his arm around until he had the alarm clock and threw it across the room. Once it hit the wall, the sound stopped and he fell once again into a dreamless sleep. The alarm sounded again this time a bit louder to his ears and realized around the third or fourth ring that it was the phone he was hearing. "yeah." He muttered when he picked up the phone.

"Jason, honey?" Pat's voice came through the receiver.

"Nope, got Tommy." He muttered, consciousness slowly creeping its way from whatever dark hole it had crawled under.

"I'm sorry to wake you is Jason up?" Tommy wiped the sleep from his eyes and finally noticed that his bed was a little too warm. He turned around to see Jason's head and necked shoulders laying against him. He dropped the phone, jumped out of bed and yelled out a string of obscenities that shocked even his own ears.

"What are you doing in my bed!" Tommy thought enough to look down and to stock of his own state of dress. Though he wasn't wearing a shirt he still had on the pants he was wearing last night He looked at Jason who seemed to be taking a similar self checklist and noticed that he too was wearing his pants. Still trying to assimilate what was going on he pointed to the phone lying on the floor. "Mom, your mom's on the phone." He stammered.

Jason shakily picked up the receiver. "Mom?" Tommy heard Pat's voice and watched as Jason sought calm. "No, just woke up. Um. How's the hotel?" He nodded several times taking in the information his mother was giving him. He rolled his eyes and put his hand over the phone. "Mom, wants to know what happened last night. I want her to know."

Tommy nodded. "Just don't go into details yet. We still have things to talk about."

Jason nodded. "No, mom. Tommy and I had a talk. It was a bit draining." That was all the information his mother needed. At least it had better. Jason's face turned beet red. "No! No, we just talked. We're friends that's it." I think you said that a little too quickly Jason. Tommy thought. "What!" Jason choked out. Then stared at the phone as if it suddenly turned into a nine headed snake.

"What'd she say?" Tommy asked wondering what could have gotten a reaction like that out of his best friend.

"Um, nothing. I'll tell you later." Jason switched topics. "So, breakfast or lunch?"

"Breakfast. You beat the eggs. I'll cook the sausage."


"Mama, mind if I invite someone to Thanksgiving dinner?" Rocky asked his mother nervously.

"Sure baby, who? Karen? She's such a nice girl. Her mother's always telling me what a fine girl she is. Get's straight A's—" Rocky's mother carried on as she folded clothes.

"Mama!" Rocky couldn't believe her. "Fine, fine. Yes I asked Karen, her parents live in Miami and she doesn't have enough money to pay for two round trip tickets so she's going to buy tickets for Christmas break."

"Oh and she's not dating anyone right now she'd make an excellent—" His mother rattled on.

"Mama!" Rocky dropped his shoulders and gave up trying to talk to her.


"So was this supposed to be poached, scrambled, or fried?" Tommy asked poking at his eggs.

"Poached." Came the dry response.

"I think you should ask your mom for some more cooking lessons." Tommy ducked as the wet wash cloth came flying toward him. "So. About that talk."

"A bit anxious aren't we?" Jason sat across the table trying to pretend that his staring was anything other than what it actually was.

"Well, with you undressing me with your eyes every chance you get, I do feel a little nervous." Tommy told him pointedly.

"I'm sorry. It's just that—"

Tommy cut him off. "So where do you want to start?"

"Well, let's start by the fact that you said you're straight." Jason picked up the dishes and took them over to the sink.

"I am. You're just you." Tommy said.

"So, if say. Rocky came on to you?" Jason asked after rinsing off the plates.

"I'd turn him down. The only reason I'm even thinking about this is that stupid li—" Tommy stopped, he'd said the wrong thing. Now Jason would think that he was confusing his feelings. "Jase, you're my best friend. My best friend."


After a long Sunday drive back to Angel Grove, Pat and Sam pulled into the driveway of their home both breathing a sigh of relief that at least the exterior of the house looked intact. Upon entering they received the shock of their lives. The house was actually clean. The only sign Pat saw of the two boys was a blanket left carelessly on the couch. "It's enough to make a mother proud." Pat smiled. "Boys! We're home!" She called out loudly.

When she didn't hear a reply she become concerned. "Boys?" It was only half past nine, too soon for either of them to be asleep and both of their vehicles were still in the driveway. She padded softly up the stairs, Sam close behind her.

They reached Tommy's room first. Sam came around her and rapped softly on his door. "Tommy? We're back." Again no answer and this time Sam peaked his head into the room and noticed that the room was empty. He leaned backed and shrugged. "He's not in there." Continuing on to Jason's room. Sam repeated the process. Knocking lightly on Jason's door. "Jason?" When again he received no reply he peaked into the room. He saw Tommy laying in bed next to Jason fully clothed yet intimately entwined with his son. He turned back to Pat and they quietly entered the room and pulled to covers over the two boys. Pat leaned down and kissed the two teens on the forehead. "Be strong for one another." Both she and Sam exited the room.

"Do you think they'll be OK?" Sam asked.

"I think they'll be fine." Pat answered her husband and the two went to find their own room.


To be Continued..