Dedicated to V.W., J.T., and C.
Chapter 12: Bad Timing
Kimberly was intrigued when their course took them off of the main streets of Reefside onto a winding dirt road. It seemed to have taken ten times as long to get to the wedding as it did to get back. The sexual tension between her and Tommy was held in check for the time being as they used the trip to talk about music, politics, travel, and current events. A few times, she tried to get him to tell her what he was so intent on showing her, but he simply wouldn't budge. All he would say was that she'd be very surprised.
If Kim had been asked to describe the type of home she pictured Tommy Oliver living in, the grey wooden bungalow set out in the woods probably wouldn't be it. She just never pictured him as a country boy, but she had to admit it was charming. Just the size of the property alone amazed her. The gravel driveway had been practically hidden amongst the trees, but once they passed through the foliage, the large yard was amazingly open.
Tommy parked the SUV next to a black Jeep on the side of the house. As always, he went around and opened her door, then helped her out. He retained her hand, telling himself that he'd hate for her to trip on his rocky driveway in her high heels, but any reason to touch her would do. Kim followed him up a few steps onto a large porch with a picnic table and some comfy-looking chairs. She had heard that you could learn a lot about a man by how his house was decorated, so she looked forward to taking in the environment he surrounded himself with.
The natural architecture found outside continued indoors in a small office just beyond the front door. The walls were paneled in a rich pine, and there were prehistoric artifacts scattered throughout the room on the bookcases, walls, and the desk. A skeleton of a dinosaur was displayed on a table in the center of the room on top of a richly-patterned oriental rug. It was at this point that Tommy stopped and turned to look at her, a nervous, but serious expression on his face.
"Kim, you might find what I'm about to show you a little strange. Sometimes it's still seems strange to me."
"Tommy, what's with all this cryptic talk? Whatever it is, you know you can tell me."
"I know, it's just hard, that's all. I don't know…I mean I'm not sure if you won't want to see me again once you know what's going on."
"Listen to me. There's nothing you can say to me that would make me not want to see you again. If you could forgive me for what I did to you, I can certainly overlook anything you've done."
"It's not just what I've done, but what I'm doing, as well. Not that it's bad…" After taking a few steps in her direction, he drew in a long, deep breath and let it out with a sigh. Then he pushed up the left sleeve of his jacket and shirt to reveal a wide silver bracelet encrusted with an irregularly-shaped black stone.
"That's beautiful, Tommy. Where'd you get that?" she asked innocently.
"The gem is very old. I found this one and a few others like it on a dig. They're pieces of the asteroid that crashed into the Earth millions of years ago, completely wiping out the dinosaur population."
"Seriously? They must be worth a fortune. Why'd you make a bracelet out of it? You could lose it."
"You wouldn't believe what they're worth, and I have to wear it." His speech slowed down, and he looked her straight in the eye.
"You're not making sense, Tommy. Now what is all this mystery about?" She tried not to get exasperated with him, but it was just a stupid bracelet, no matter how much it was valued at.
"Imagine the amount of power a gem like that would have." He said nothing else, and then closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them it was to look down at the black stone.
Kim was staring at him like he grew another head, but that changed to an astonished expression when with a quick flick of his wrist, the bracelet transformed to into a black and gold dinosaur head-shaped figure. Although she had never seen one quite like it, she still knew exactly what it was.
Initially, she couldn't remember how to form any words at all, but eventually the slew of half-questions and nonsense that spilled forth from her mouth, combined with her frantic pointing at the morpher, communicated her puzzlement well enough for him to understand. "That's…You've…How did you…? Why did you…? When did you…? …Black?"
"Shhh. Slow down a minute." Tommy placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her because he knew she had a penchant for fainting when she was astounded. "Yes, it's a morpher," he began to explain in a gentle voice. "I'm a Power Ranger, again, black this time. But that's not all." Satisfied that she wasn't going to fall over, he reached over to the dinosaur skeleton and pulled down on the jaw. Instantly, a trap door built into the floor boards raised up to reveal a concrete staircase leading down to a basement or cellar of some sort. "Come on."
Kimberly followed him down the steps to a large, cavern-like room with stone pillars and walls and an enormous amount of electronic equipment. She wandered wordlessly around, occasionally touching the fixtures, an awestruck expression on her face. Tommy allowed her this moment to process the information he'd just sprung upon her. After a while, he slowly approached her from behind and turned her around to face him.
"This is the command center for the Dino Thunder Power Rangers. I created this place after I found the gems on an island where I was doing my graduate research. I understood the enormous amount of power they contained, and after our lab was attacked, I realized that others with destructive, self-serving objectives knew what they could do as well. I didn't have a choice."
"And so you just came up with all this yourself?" Kim had always knew Tommy was bright, but this was Billy-type stuff. She didn't realize that he was absorbing all of that knowledge back then.
"The theory, yes. I knew what I needed to be able to do, but as far as engineering it all, I had a lot of help. A brilliant friend I met in graduate is a rocket scientist. She engineered the morphers, set up the tracking equipment, and helped design the zords. I did the dinosaur DNA manipulation to make it compatible with her fusion-powered technology. That was part of my PhD. thesis. Unfortunately, someone got a hold of my research and made some mutations of his own. Now there is a creature called Mesogog who is intent on returning the Earth to the time of the dinosaur."
"Dinosaurs? Like the prehistoric days?"
"Yep. No humans. He needs the gems to be able to do it, though so he's after us."
"Who's us? Who are the others? How many of you are they?"
"Five, including myself. Obviously, I have other functions. I go out into the field with them about seventy-five percent of the time. In that case, Haley, the genius, stays here to monitor the battles and control the zords. The other four Rangers are students of mine. The whole thing was relatively accidental, but you know how it is when you become a Ranger. You don't choose it, it chooses you."
Kim caught the feminine name 'Haley' right away, but she didn't want him to know that it bothered her. But he did say 'friend', and did say he was single. "I read about Ranger activity in this area from time to time in the news, but it never occurred to me that you were involved. I should have known better. You always were the best of us."
"I never wanted to still be doing this, but it has to be this way. For whatever reason, this life keeps pulling me back in." He started towards the stairs, as he felt that was enough heavy information for tonight. It was time to show her the rest of the house. They could talk Ranger more later, but for now, he wanted to draw her attention away from it as much as possible.
Tommy led Kimberly to a comfortable living room, done in warm, masculine colors with more fossils and artifacts strewn throughout. "Would you like a drink? Maybe some coffee?"
"Sure, coffee sounds good." He left her alone while he went to the kitchen to make her some Starbucks. While he was gone, she wandered around the room, absentmindedly checking out the artwork and photographs on the walls. There were several mementos of his martial arts accomplishments: belts, trophies, and plaques. Pictures of his parents and David and his family were displayed in frames and albums on the end tables. To her surprise, there was even a large picture of the six original Rangers, herself included, posing at Ernie's Juice Bar. They looked so happy. The overstuffed, chocolate-colored chenille sofa looked comfortable, so once her curiosity about all of Tommy's stuff was satisfied, she took a seat.
He retuned after a few minutes with a cup of coffee in a blue mug. He shyly sat down next to her, not knowing what to say after giving her the stunning news. Anything else would seem anticlimactic at this point. She surprised him by laying a hand on his wrist over the bracelet. The next thing she said would leave him speechless for weeks every time he recalled it. "Tommy, Zordon would be very proud of you."
The only thing he could do was look into her tawny-colored eyes, silently communicating his gratefulness for the profound compliment. He never considered the reality that he fulfilled the same function for the Dino Thunder Rangers as Zordon did for them. The thought suddenly had him feeling rather inadequate. Zordon was, well, Zordon. An interdimensional being. Tommy Oliver was just a human, no where near wise enough to make the kinds of decisions required to not only save the world, but keep the Rangers safe, as well.
Kim immediately picked up on the sudden flash of Tommy's self-doubt. It was so ironic to her that the most capable Ranger ever had such a big problem feeling worthy of the honor. Her sharp, natural instinct that always used to move in to catch him before he fell into his pit of guilt seemed to still be sharply honed. Lifting his chin gently with a finger, she looked deep into his eyes. "You have a gift, Tommy. The rest of us, we did our tours of duty, and then moved on with our lives. Being a Ranger may have changed us forever, but you changed what it means to be a Ranger. You raised the bar, actually became the definition of a Power Ranger. The one that all others aspire to be like. If you aren't worthy of mentoring a team, who is?"
Tommy's heart swelled with the weight of her words. Kimberly had always known just what to say exactly when he needed to hear it. He took her hands in his like he had already several times this evening, but this time, the spark of electricity that jolted through them at the other's touch induced a poignant moment of clarity. They were being drawn back together. Whether it was through karma, or fate, or God's will didn't matter. And there was no use fighting it.
Letting nature take its course, the distance between them slowly narrowed until their faces were mere inches apart, lips parted in anticipation. Before going further, Tommy's eyes sought permission, and finding no resistance, closed the gap between them. The kiss was soft, brief, and light, reminiscent of their high school days. They pulled apart after a moment, mentally readjusting to the sensation. After what seemed like an eternity to Kim, Tommy lowered his lips to hers again. There was no hesitation this time. Their mouths fused together with mounting pressure, heads tilting for a better angle.
Kim's body gradually moved closer to Tommy's, her arms automatically winding around his shoulders to grasp the back of his neck. He held her tightly, as near to him as he could in the awkward face-to-face sitting position. His hands glided over her satin-covered waist up to her silken bare shoulders. Tentatively, he parted his lips to taste her, and was encouraged when her soft tongue ventured out to meet his. The kiss deepened exponentially from there as Tommy slowly devoured her mouth. They were completely lost in one another, at last fulfilling the fantasy that they both had dreamed of for so long.
Eventually, their breathlessness forced them to part. When Tommy pulled back, he could only gaze at her wet, slightly-parted lips. The degree of passion and desire in her eyes hit him like a ton of bricks, and the realization that he was the cause of it momentarily stunned him. At that moment, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he wanted her so badly it was physically becoming very uncomfortable. He kept searching her face for any sign of protest, but finding none, he shifted to sit back on the couch and carefully lifted Kimberly into his lap. Just as he moved to kiss her again, she froze. His heart skipped a few beats with the fear that he had gone too far, but the smile that followed set his mind at ease.
"Tommy, why didn't you ever kiss me like that in high school?" Her face held a playful expression.
"You have no idea how badly I wanted to. I was just too scared."
"Do you know how silly that sounds? This guy who piloted enormous zords and single-handedly fought larger-than-life monsters was afraid to kiss his girlfriend."
"Well, we're not kids anymore." He knew she was teasing him, so he played along, leering suggestively.
"I know, and we have a lot time to make up for." This time, Kim initiated the kiss, descending on his mouth with a need that she didn't understand and couldn't control. They kissed long and deep, tongues exploring and tasting the other's until they knew every detail by heart.
Tommy could no longer resist his desire to discover the soft skin of her throat. His lips traveled down her jaw until he reached her neck, licking and nipping at her pulse point, hands wandering over her hips and waist. Kim's head fell back with a soft moan, giving him easier access. He continued to kiss her neck, slowly moving down to her shoulders, then back up to her ear. Tommy paused for a moment to fully appreciate the picture before him, but he had to taste her lips again. As they kissed, their bodies gravitated closer until Kim found herself straddling his lap, her slender dress riding up her thighs to bunch around her hips. His hands ran up and down her bare legs, seemingly of their own accord. The natural motion of their passion caused her to grind into him, his hardness evident against her.
Tommy had no idea how they ended up in their precarious position, but he wasn't complaining. Kimberly seemed to be just as enthusiastic about their activities as he was, but he wondered where this was going. He had no doubt that he wanted nothing more than to carry her upstairs right then and make love to her all night, but he wasn't sure if that would be the smartest thing to do. They did just get reacquainted after many years apart, but he still couldn't shake the feeling that they were brought together because that's where they belonged. From a practical, rather than spiritual, standpoint though, if they didn't end up in bed, then where did they draw the line? The question was soon forgotten, however, when her warm, wet mouth began blazing a trail over his cheek to a sensitive spot beneath his left ear, drawing a spontaneous groan from Tommy.
It took Kim almost no time to grasp how much Tommy loved the attention she was paying to his neck. He had lowered his head to rest on the back of the sofa and his hands were digging into her thighs as he gasped for air with each caress of her lips. She knew that she had to make a decision, and soon. Things were becoming very hot and heavy, very quickly. Already, her dress was disheveled, and although he had not made any move to touch her anywhere private, it was inevitable at the pace they were going. She admitted to herself that she wanted nothing more than to make love to Tommy, and he obviously desired her. This might not be the most responsible thing to do, though. Pregnancy wasn't a consideration, since she had been on the pill since the accident when she was just seventeen. The question that bothered her was what would he think of her if she slept with him so soon? Under any other circumstances, she wouldn't really have given it a second thought. But since he knew about how quickly she agreed to sex with a guy she'd practically just met in high school, he might think that she sleeps around all the time. The fact was, she hadn't been with a man in two years. Casual sex was a mistake that she was sure she would never make again.
This didn't feel like casual sex, though. The connection Kim felt to Tommy was more than physical. From the first time she saw him walking towards her on the sidewalk outside the bank, she knew that they belonged together. As kids, it was love at first sight. Now that they were adults, and had each experienced both passion and betrayal in their past relationships, neither of them could risk being that naïve anymore. Something was brewing between them, though, besides basic lust. These feelings were both new and familiar. They were no longer the same people that they were as teenagers. Grown-up responsibilities and ideologies had long replaced the impetuousness of youth, but the chemistry between their adult selves seemed only heightened by maturity. It was exhilarating, confusing, and terrifying, all at the same time. And beyond either of them to control.
The confinement of Tommy's formal clothing had so far hindered the skin contact that Kim was desperately craving. While her legs, shoulders, and upper back were exposed for his exploration, she could only grasp at his heavily muscled body through the layers of his jacket and shirt. He hadn't even loosened his tie. She knew that he was probably feeling hesitant about moving things forward out of respect for her. That's just how he was, so once Kimberly decided that she wanted their activities to progress, she began to take the initiative, starting at the top.
The striking silk tie was the first to go. Kim fumbled with the knot while they remained in a passionate lip-lock until Tommy realized her intention and took over the task. Once freed of that constriction, he unfastened the collar, exposing more of the tanned column of his throat. The scent of his cologne had been driving her crazy all evening, so at this first access, she buried her face in his neck and inhaled deeply, kissing and biting his salty skin. In an intense, involuntary response, Tommy tightly grasped her tiny waist and sharply thrust his hips up off the sofa into the juncture of her legs, a loud moan escaping his throat.
Kimberly was more turned-on than she thought possible. She had to feel more of him, so remaining latched to his neck, she began to claw at his jacket. Although he was loathe to do anything to cause her to stop her assault on his throat, in order get out of his suit coat, he had change position. Tommy's powerful strength allowed him to stand up while still holding her to him, and once upright, she sensually slid down his body to the floor. Their hands worked in tandem to remove his jacket and unfasten the rest of his shirt buttons. Kim reveled in each new inch of skin she revealed. Their kisses came at a frenzied pace now, the tone of their activity distinctly sexual by now.
For a split second, Tommy stopped, his brain momentarily winning the struggle it was having with his male anatomy for attention. Catching their breath, their eyes met, both asking and answering the question on both of their minds. If either wanted to stop, they needed to say so now, because they were approaching the point of no return. Once both were assured of the other's intention, Kim reached out and took Tommy's hands in hers. She led them behind her back to the zipper of her dress, resting them there, then snaked her arms back around his neck to pull him down into a searing, encouraging kiss.
Tommy fingered the zipper, uncertainty filling his mind again. This time, though, his debate with himself had nothing to do with whether or not he wanted to pull the tiny sliver of metal down, revealing her amazing body. That was a given. Whether he wanted to do it in the middle of his living room was the question. After a split second, he decided that they would be much more comfortable in the bedroom.
The sudden tearing apart of their lips startled Kim. Her first thought was that he had changed his mind, but when he looked down at her, the desire and need written all over his face explained his actions before he even spoke. "Maybe we shouldn't do this right here." His voice was breathy and deep. Kimberly could only nod her consent. Leaving his jacket and tie strewn haphazardly on the floor, he motioned for her to follow him to his room.
Descending the stairs proved to be difficult. At least every other step, they stopped to kiss and grope each other. Eventually, though, they reached their destination. Tommy led her inside and immediately engulfed her in his arms. They kissed deeply, Kim's small hands pulling the shirt from his waistband and off his shoulders. Once she could feel the sharply defined muscles covered with smooth, tanned skin, she had to have more. His hands returned to the zipper behind her, slowly and deliberately inching it downward, just like he fantasized about doing earlier in the evening. The style of the dress left no room for complicated undergarments, so when the dress fell to the floor, Kimberly was left standing before him in nothing but a pair of white lace panties and silver heels. The blue topaz gem dangling just above her breasts shone in the dim light, beckoning him in its direction.
In order to even out the score, Kim reached for his belt, but Tommy stopped her. He still had on his shoes and socks, so he sat down on the edge of the bed to remove them. Once finished, he stood back up to allow her to continue her exploration. Quickly, the grey trousers landed on the floor with the royal blue shirt, completely forgotten. The sight of her was making Tommy a bit weak in the knees, so he pulled her to him as he lowered himself to lie on the bed.
Kim willingly followed, and from there, passionate lovemaking progressed to a shattering crescendo. Their collective moans and gasps and the creaking of the bed against the hardwood floors pierced the silence of the quiet country house, echoing off the loft-like ceiling of his room. Both being very physically active people, they ravished each other with the energy and drive only the extremely fit could achieve. The linens were completely demolished, and there was a paint chip on the plaster of the wall above the headboard. The lovers lay spent, a tangled mass of limbs fused together with sweat and contentment. Tommy caught a quick glance at the bedside clock to note the time. It was nearly two-thirty. The likelihood of Kim wanting to return to her hotel was slim, so with a nudge, he maneuvered them under the covers. In no time, they were asleep.
Morning came quickly, and for the first time since he could remember, Tommy didn't bound from the bed promptly at seven. Consciousness came gradually, and with it the reality that the night before hadn't been a dream. A glance over his shoulder told him that Kimberly Hart was indeed lying next to him, naked. The sex had been out of this world, and as he emerged from his deep sleep, he soon noticed that at least one part of him had awoken already and was looking for an encore.
Sometimes the light of day, however, brought regrets. Though not very experienced in the one night stand department, Tommy at least knew that much. He didn't know what he would do if Kim woke up and decided sleeping together had been a huge mistake. The morning sun was harsh in his eyes since he was turned toward the window, but her rejection would be much harsher, so fought the desire to roll over and take her in his arms like his body was urging him to do. The alarm clock read nine o'clock, and from the absence of movement behind him, it seemed as though Kimberly was still sound asleep. If she were the one to wake first, she could adjust to the situation on her own before having to face him. His mind made up, he forced himself to close his eyes against the brightness and concentrate on dozing off again.
Not ten minutes went by when the touch of Kim's warm lips against the back of his neck sent a jolt through him, threatening to throw him from the bed. She held him tightly though, sucking and nipping a spot just below his hairline. Aside from the erotic feelings her ministrations were invoking in him, Tommy also felt a wash of relief. She obviously had no regrets, and seemed to be just as interested in a repeat performance as he was. Deciding that it would be more fun to be an active participant rather than a passive audience, he suddenly turned over and flipped her on her back, landing above her. A deep 'good morning' kiss followed, and before long they were swept back into a wave of desire. Making love in the daylight brought the sensation of being able to watch the other's reactions, heightening the passion. The tentativeness of the night before was gone, their bodies now familiar territory. Without any inhibitions this time, they enthusiastically brought eachother pleasure beyond anything either of them had ever experienced before.
Sunday mornings were not usually very busy at the cybercafé. Trent was opening up, so Haley felt OK about taking some time to kill two birds with one stone. She had been working on a transponder to increase the frequency of the Ranger's communicators. If her adjustments worked, they would now function at a distance more than twice what they did presently. Since Mesagog had been rather quiet lately, she knew that it wouldn't be long before another attack. Delivering and installing the mechanism to the Ranger command center in Tommy's basement was the first order of business on this bright and sunny day.
There was an ulterior motive, though, to Haley's unscheduled trip to Tommy's house. She had been mentally preparing a plan since she had made up her mind yesterday to finally reveal her feelings for him. Finding the right time was crucial, since there couldn't be any intrusions. After much deliberation, she decided that the early morning would be best. The other Rangers usually slept in on Sundays, but she knew that Tommy would be up.
It was around nine when Haley left her spacious condo with the transponder in tow. Tommy Oliver was a creature of habit, and arriving at this time would mean that his workout and shower would be over with. He would probably be having breakfast and grading papers. There would be no better time. She had worked up her momentum all last night, considering all outcomes as any overly-analytical genius would do. Feeling ready for whatever he might say or do, she pulled her new, green VW Beetle into the gravel driveway of 1992 Valencia Drive.
Haley parked in the back of the house in order to enter the command center through the forest entrance. Out of respect for Tommy's privacy, it was understood by her and the Rangers that while they were all welcome in the command center anytime, unexpected visitors were not to use the trap door in his house. This arrangement would be perfect for her needs this morning, since the transponder gave her a valid excuse to be there. She planned to drop it off downstairs, and come up through the house after announcing herself. The script she memorized that would tell him how she felt firmly intact in her head, she pulled down on the large dinosaur skeleton jaw in the cave. The door slid open, and she took a deep breath. There was always the possibility that he would be down there, and if that was the case, she would just let nature take its course.
A quick glance around told Haley that the command center was empty. She placed the transponder on the main control desk, and walked towards the stairs leading to the house with as much confidence as she could dredge up. Why wouldn't he want me? I'm smart, trustworthy, and we both have a common goal to beat Mesogog. My technology and friendship have saved his ass more times than I can count. So what if I'm not the most beautiful woman in the world. He's not a shallow man. That's why I love him so much.
Haley reached the top of the steps and paused before tripping the switch that would raise the floor board. Once open, she stuck her head up through the hole and glanced around for any signs of Tommy. From there, she could see through to the kitchen, and he wasn't seated at the table having breakfast like she expected. She knew he was home. Both the Jeep and the Durango were parked out front. Maybe he wasn't done with his workout and was in the backyard.
As soon as she ascended the rest of the stairs and was standing in the office, she heard an odd noise, and then another. Haley couldn't place the nature of the sounds, so she quietly tiptoed in their direction. The noises were coming steadily now, and as she moved towards the living room, they became louder and louder. Her first inclination was that Tommy was being attacked in his own house. Fear for his life overtook her respect for his privacy, and she forged on.
Once in the living room, the rhythmic, pounding noises began coming at a rapid pace. Haley was still scared for Tommy, but soon a sinking feeling overtook her as she spotted a suit jacket and tie lying crumpled on the floor in front of the sofa.
Then came the voices. Haley's dread intensified when she heard what was clearly a feminine voice cry out Tommy's name. The thumping sounds came faster, and now they were interspersed with varied groans, moans, and gasps. She could just make out a few breathless words. "Tommy...just like that…don't stop…almost there!" was followed by his deep grunting and a few "Oh God's".
Haley couldn't believe it. She knew it was kind of perverted to just stand there listening, but she was frozen in place. Tommy was upstairs, having wild sex with some woman. Some woman that wasn't her. The weight of this knowledge buried itself in the pit of her stomach, twisting and turning, making her feel ill. The normally rational woman became crazed with anger at the realization. Angry at herself for not making her move sooner, but mostly angry at him, though her intellectual side knew she had no right. Here I am, ready to pour my heart out, and where is he? Upstairs banging some slut he picked up at the wedding last night, probably a bridesmaid. Well, see what I'll ever do for you again, Tommy Oliver.
Her reverie was interrupted abruptly when the pounding ceased and several passionate cries signaled what was obviously their mutual climax. Haley couldn't take it anymore, and with tears in her eyes, fled the house through the front door.
Author's notes: And there you have it folks. Tune in next time...