Disclaimer: We don't own the Power Rangers only the lucky Saban does. Damn him!!!! We aren't out to do this for a profit of any kind.
Author's Notes: Thank you again for all your wonderful reviews and support. As Promised we brought you Chapter 13 as fast as we could. Please keep in mind that Italics are thoughts and don't forget to review!!!
Timeline: This is occurring directly after the last scene in Chapter 12. Enjoy!…
Rocky anxiously paced the length of the waiting room. "When are we going to be able to see him?"
"Dr. Oliver said she'd let us in after they're done checking him over." Jason looked around the group. "Where are Zack and Billy?"
"Right here," Billy responded as he and Zack joined the group. "We had to pick something up."
Zack held up a white board and a dry-erase marker. "We thought this might come in handy. You said he couldn't talk, right Jase?"
"No, he can't. I'm not sure if he's strong enough to write either, but we'll see." Jason smiled at his two oldest friends. "That was a great idea, guys."
"It's good to see you smiling," Zack said, putting his arm around Jason's shoulders. "And it will be good to see Tommy smiling too."
"Mr. Oliver," Adam said, being the first to spot the man approaching them. He stood up, and the others followed his lead. "How is he doing?"
"He seems to be just fine, Adam. So far everything has checked out, and the doctors think he's going to have a full recovery."
"Thank God," Tanya said, and the others murmured agreement.
"I'm sure you are all anxious to see him. Just don't get him too excited, all right?"
"We'll do our best," Kat said. "Can we go now?"
"Go right ahead."
Tommy's face lit up as his friends walked into the room. Kat immediately rushed over and wrapped her arms around him. "God, we were so worried!" He managed to lift his arm enough to weakly return the hug.
"Here, brought you a present," Billy said, placing the white board on the bed.
Finally! Some form of communication! I should have know that Billy wouldn't let me down. He held out his and Billy handed him the marker. Focusing all of his energy on the coordination of his hand, he wrote: THANK YOU!!
The group laughed. "Ask us anything you want," Zack said.
"Here, let me." Billy grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and wiped the board clean.
WHAT HAPPENED? Tommy wrote.
"You got sick," Rocky replied, earning an exasperated look from Tommy.
"I think he figured that one out, Rocko," Adam said with a laugh. He looked at Tommy. "You caught pneumonia, and it got really bad. You were really out of it - delirious and hallucinating from your fever. Then about a month ago you..." Zack laid a hand on Adam's arm, shaking his head slightly. "You went into a coma and your parents brought you here," the Green Zeo Ranger finished.
It was blatantly obvious to Tommy that something was omitted from that story, but he chose not to comment at the moment. Instead he looked at Billy, who took the hint and wiped the board clean once more. MONDO? he wrote.
"I knew it! Question #2!!" Rocky said exuberantly. "What did I tell you guys? First and foremost a Power Ranger!" He moved between Kat and Tanya, putting his arms around them. "I believe someone owes me an ice cream sundae!"
"Great," Tanya said, exchanging a look with Kat. "There'll be no living with him now."
"You're telling me," the blonde replied. "He'll be bragging about this for a month."
Tommy joined in his friend's laughter, feeling the weight of his illness dissipate in the presence of his friends' playful banter. Rocky always does know how to lighten the mood.
"It's been tough, but we've managed," Adam said.
"Jason did some serious ass-kicking," Rocky added. "I actually felt sorry for the cogs!"
At the mention of the Gold Ranger, Tommy's eyes finally met Jason's. In an instant silent apologies and forgiveness passed between them. Tommy could see the relief in that gaze, as well as all of the questions Jason was waiting to ask as soon as he had the chance. But there was something else there, something that Tommy couldn't identify, something that burned with an intensity that made his skin tingle. He wanted to look away, but it was like his eyes were locked with Jason's. For a split second everything around them disappeared, and the two of them was all that was left of the world.
Billy's hand on his shoulder jarred Tommy back into reality. He finally tore his eyes away from Jason's. It was just a hallucination. There is no way that Jason could ever think of me like that…is there? He heard his name and looked up.
"Is there anything else we can get for you?" Billy asked. Tommy smiled and shook his head.
"Okay, gang," Dr. Oliver said, walking into the room. "I know that you all want to spend time with Tommy, but you'll have to do that tomorrow. Now it's time for Tommy to get some sleep. So everybody out!" She looked at Jason. "That means you too, Jason."
Kat and Tanya each kissed Tommy on the cheek. "Sweet dreams," Kat said.
Rocky squeezed Tommy's shoulder, and Adam leaned forward to give him a hug. "We'll come by right after school tomorrow."
Zack and Billy smiled at him. "Take care," Zack said. They turned to follow the others.
Tommy looked toward Jason, who still held that intense gaze. Suddenly Tommy knew that he had to get an official answer to the question that had been on his mind since he woke up. Motioning Jason to come closer, he scribbled his query on the board. ARE WE OKAY?
He held it up and was amazed to see a tear slip down Jason's cheek. Without speaking, Jason sat down on the bed, leaned forward and pulled Tommy into his arms. Tommy closed his eyes, completely surrendering to the warmth and safety of his best friend's embrace. Jason held on for a long time before reluctantly pulling away. He wiped away the few tears that had escaped down his cheeks and gave Tommy a smile. "We're better than okay. I love you, Bro. You know that, right?"
Tommy nodded. He started to erase the white board, but Jason grabbed his hand. "You don't have to write it down. I know that you love me too." For a moment his smile seemed to fade, and Tommy thought he saw a shadow of sorrow pass over his face. But before he could make an attempt to analyze it, it was gone.
"Okay, Mr. Scott, out!" Dr. Oliver said, shooing Jason off the bed. "Go home, get some sleep, and get your butt to school tomorrow." She held up her hand at the start of his protest. "No excuses! I am not going to let you into this room until three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Now get!" Jason gave one last wave to Tommy as he was pushed out the door.
Dr. Oliver turned around. "Now you are going to eat something, young man, and then you are getting some sleep!" She brought a tray containing a container of jell-o and a bowl of applesauce. Picking up the bowl of applesauce, she took a spoonful and held it in front of Tommy's mouth. He gave her an exasperated look and held up his hands. "I know that you can do it yourself, but tonight you're going to let me take care of my baby. Now open up."
With a sigh he humored her. Man, I haven't even been awake for a full day and already I want out of here!
Tommy closed his eyes, savoring the welcome silence. He hadn't had a moment's peace since he opened his eyes. Between his mother's friends from the hospital and his father's friends from the police station he'd had a constant stream of well-wishers that lasted well into the evening. Although he appreciated the concern, he was thrilled when his mother finally put her foot down and gave him a welcome reprieve. Finally he had some time to process everything that had happened to him.
He wasn't even one step closer to knowing the true reason for either his coma or the real details of his battle with the Green Ranger. He knew that his own stupid act of standing in the rain all night after his fight with Jason had led to his illness, but to what end? Was his combatant really nothing more than a manifestation of the infection burning its way through his body? It would be easy to explain away his green nemesis as a fevered delusion, but it seemed so much more than that to Tommy. From the detailed dreams and scattered memories he retained from his ordeal, the Green Ranger really did feel like a separate entity, a dark shadow of the Red Zeo Ranger.
Whoa, slow down Tommy. You're entering into the world of Psychology, a field that goes way beyond your realm of understanding. It's going to take a lot of professional insight into the human psyche to even begin to delve into the origins of my alter ego. He sighed. Professional insight, right. I'd love to hear a shrink's opinion on my life. "So I was kidnapped by a space witch and forced to be her evil ranger. I killed dozens of innocent people and almost destroyed the Earth before the spell was broken. Now that evil has developed its own personality and is trying to kill me." They'd lock me up before I could shut my mouth. He laughed silently at himself. That is, if anything came out when I opened it.
Probably the most frustrating thing that Tommy had to deal with since he woke up was his inability to speak. He had so many questions that still had not been answered. And I need those answers before I can figure out what was real and what was delusion.
Tommy kept running through the lines that came to him in his dreams. There was one he couldn't get out of his head, something his arch nemesis had repeated over and over. "I am you and you are me." For some reason that phrase repeated itself over and over in his mind. That's what it boils down to, doesn't it? I am him and he is me. We are one and the same.
Tommy pondered that for a moment. It did make sense. For years he had been strong and healthy, able to keep his evil persona at bay without having to think about it. But when his illness weakened him it created a crack in his defenses that let the Green Ranger slip through. It all makes sense. I get so sick that I can't fight anymore, and that sick, twisted psycho takes over. But even if that is the answer, there's so many more questions that present themselves.
Tommy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. I thought I destroyed the Green Ranger. But if he was right and we are the some, why am I still here? Shouldn't I have destroyed myself when I destroyed him? I should be dead! Another scenario ran through his head, one that made him tense. Maybe I didn't destroy him. Maybe I just pushed him back into my subconscious. But if that's the case, it means he might surface again. I can't let that happen!! Next time I might not be able to stop him.
He could feel the adrenaline starting to pump through his veins as his natural defenses kicked in. He drew in a few deep breaths, trying to center himself. Just relax, Tommy. You don't even know that any of this is real! Maybe I was just creating a reality for myself in which I could combat my disease. Maybe I just needed something concrete to fight. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. God, I feel like I'm going in circles! OK, I need to just stop thinking about this. Think about something positive. Think about your friends.
A smile crossed Tommy's face. His mother had regaled him with stories of the vigil his friends had kept through his coma. I really do have the most amazing friends in the world. Not that I ever doubted their loyalty. It just feels good to have it confirmed. I like hearing that my friends never left my side. He smiled. I like hearing that Jason never left my side.
That was another reason he hated his inability to speak. He wanted so badly to talk to Jason, to apologize for everything. He wanted to verbalize how much Jason's friendship and support meant to him. I need to tell him how much his presence helped me fight this illness.
Tommy wasn't stupid. He knew that he didn't have the strength to combat the Green Ranger on his own. Something tipped the scaled to favor him in the end. Actually, it would be more appropriate to say someone. I know that it was Jason. He was there holding my hand when I was seeing those awful visions that almost undid my will to fight. He was there when I couldn't fight anymore on my own. He gave me the fortitude to win when I needed it the most. Even after all the horrible things I said, he was still by my side.
He could feel his eyelids getting heavy. All this thinking about the Green Ranger wore him out. At least I know one thing. No matter what happens, Jason will be by my side. He fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Dr. Cordieh entered the sleeping boy's room as quietly as possible. Gently she punctured Tommy's skin, sighing in relief at the lack of reaction. She filled the vials needed, applied a band-aid and turned to check the other monitors. At the sound of sheets rustling behind her, she returned her attention to the bed. She was taken aback for a moment at the drastic change in the short time her back was turned.
Tommy no longer lay in a relaxed sleep. His entire body had become tense, every muscle so taut that he was literally shaking. His forehead had broken into a sweat, and his eyes were moving rapidly beneath his closed lids. I should probably wake him before he hurts himself. Gently she shook him. "Tommy?" He didn't respond, and she shook him a little harder. "Tommy, sweetheart, wake up."
Tommy's eyes flew open and he sat up, pushing the doctor away. He opened his mouth in an attempt to speak, but nothing came out. Dr. Cordieh put her hands up in a gesture of surrender, not attempting to touch the panicked patient. "Easy, Tommy. I'm not going to hurt you." She spoke quietly and soothingly. "I'm Dr. Cordieh, a friend of your mother's. We met this morning, remember?"
The calm words broke through the panic that had taken over when he woke. Jesus, I am going to give myself a heart attack if I don't calm down! Relaxing back onto the bed he took a few deep breaths, trying to slow his racing heart. Relax, Tommy. She's your doctor and is not going to hurt you. Finally pulling himself together, he gave her a small smile.
"Don't worry, I'm all done with my tests," she said with a smile. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Seems like you were having a pretty intense dream."
Intense doesn't even begin to describe it, Tommy thought, trying to push the disturbing images from his mind. He could still feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. How long is this going to haunt me?
Dr. Cordieh placed her hand on his arm. "You were trying to say something when you woke up. Is there something I could get for you?"
Another brilliant move, Oliver. Try to yell when you can't even whisper. Why don't you just totally kill your vocal cords? His throat felt raw and painful, like someone had taken a piece of sandpaper to it. He grabbed the white board that his friends had given him that morning and wrote THROAT HURTS.
She smiled. "Well, I can certainly do something about that. I'll be right back." She walked out, returning a few moments later with a bottle of chloraseptic that looked like salvation to Tommy. He opened his mouth and let her spray the medicated mist down his throat, grimacing at the hideous taste. She laughed at his expression. "I know that it tastes awful, but I promise it will help."
Sure enough, a few seconds later the pain subsided, leaving his throat feeling wonderfully numb. He gave the doctor a grateful smile. Wiping the white board clean, he wrote WHEN WILL I TALK?
"It depends on you, really. It could take days, weeks, even months. Some people are never able to communicate at the level the were at before their comas." A look of panic crossed his face, and she gave him a reassuring smile. "I don't think you need to worry about that. From what I've seen and heard, you are an exceptionally strong young man with incredible determination to survive. I'm sure you'll be speaking in no time at all." She laid her hand over his. "Just remember that it will take time. You're going to have to work at getting the muscles accustomed to use. So just be patient, okay?"
Tommy nodded and picked up the marker once more. THANKS.
She smiled. "No problem. Is there anything else you need?" He shook his head, and she picked up her clipboard. "Get some sleep." Dimming the lights, she walked out of the room.
Tommy relaxed back onto the pillow and closed his eyes, but he knew sleep wasn't going to return for quite some time. He didn't mind, though. He had quite a bit to think about. Like the nightmare he just had. Actually, more like waking up from the nightmare I just had.
The nightmare in itself was horrifying. He had been tied to a chair, forced to watch as his evil clone tortured and killed Adam and Kat. But when he awoke, it wasn't Adam or Kat he had called for. There had been one name in his mind, one name he cried out. Jason.
Why Jason? I mean, I know we've been through a lot together, but that was a long time ago. Why didn't I call for Adam? He's my best friend now. Hell, I entrust him with my life every day! Why wasn't he the one I automatically reached for? Why was it Jason? Why is it always Jason?
He already knew the answer to that question. It was the same reason he spent all night in the rain under Jason's window, the same reason that he couldn't defeat the Green Ranger until Jason was at his side. It was something he had known in his heart from that fateful day the Sword of Darkness was destroyed and a handshake had made him and Jason a team. More than a team. He's always been more than just a teammate, or a best friend. He's my soul mate. I've known that from the moment I met him.
He quickly clarified the term to himself. Soul mates as best friends, of course. He knew that Jason would be there for him until the end of time, as he would be there for Jason. No matter what the odds were against them, they would unite to aid each other. There was no doubt in Tommy's mind that Jason would die for him in a second. And I would die for Jason. That's what best friends do, right?
Tommy tried desperately to shut off the little voice in his head that was telling him that wasn't enough anymore. Lines from the conversation Jason and Zack had in his dream, or whatever happened to him while he was fighting his illness, kept running through his mind. Why am I even thinking about this? It's not like it was a real confession. It was just a hallucination, another delusion that bastard used to torture me. But that damn little voice wouldn't go away, and it was starting to make sense. Why would Jason being in love with me be torture? He closed his eyes, picturing the broken and grieving version he had seen of his best friend.
Jason shook his head, letting out a strangled sob. "I can't breathe, Zack. I feel like I can't breathe. I never knew anything could hurt this bad. I feel like somebody ripped everything inside me out. I can't…" His voice dissolved into another sob, and he took a shaky breath before he finished his thought. "I can't do this. I just want to die. God, why can't I have died with him?"
"Do you really think Tommy would want that? For you to give up your life as well? He loved you, Jase. He would want you to keep living, you know that."
"Zack, why was I such an idiot? Why did I let my stupid feelings push me away from Tommy?"
"Hey, your feelings for Tommy are not stupid," Zack admonished. "Plus, this wasn't your choice. It's not like you tried to fall in love with him."
Jason closed his eyes. "I don't know what to say. I loved him. More than I ever thought possible. So much, that sometimes it totally scared the hell out of me."
Zack nodded sympathetically. "You guys went through a lot together. It took a while for us to get used to him being part of the team. But you two had an instantaneous connection that was electric. We all knew that we couldn't compete with that." He smiled. "It made Billy and I really jealous at first."
"I know. In a way he was right when he said that he was never part of my team." Jason sighed. "It was just…he was really vulnerable after his experience as the Green Ranger, and for some reason he let me in. It meant so much to me that he confided in me, that he could be honest with his emotions, even that he could cry in front of me." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I never asked him why he chose me. I mean, it's not like the rest of you didn't offer him a shoulder to lean on. Why me?"
Zack put his hand on Jason's shoulder. "I think that Tommy and you were soul mates. I mean, I know you're not like me, Jase. You've never expressed an interest in any other male, and you still quite enjoy scoping out the females. I'm 100% converted to chasing down the hunks." He smiled at Jason's small chuckle. "But the love you have for Tommy – I've never seen anything like it. In real life, anyways."
"So where have you see it?"
"Romeo and Juliet."
The thing that really got to Tommy was that Jason's admission of love didn't bother him. Actually, it made his heart jump to hear it. What the hell is wrong with me? I can't be in love with Jason?
He took a deep breath, calming himself. He had to come at this logically. How did he feel about Jason? Tommy racked his brain in an attempt to pull out his true feelings. Jason is everything to me. He makes me feel strong; I can do anything if he is behind me. That's being a best friend, right? But that comment of us being Romeo and Juliet hit home. He completes me.
Tommy thought of his life before he came to Angel Grove. I was so lost. I wasn't really even living, just existing. Then Jason came along and gave me a purpose. For the first time in my life I was a part of something. And not just the team, I was part of a friendship I never imagined possible.
Memories floated through his mind of the turbulent times he went through after Jason left for Switzerland. I felt so lost, so alone. It was like a part of me was missing. Adam helped a bit, but he already had best friends in Rocky and Aisha. Plus, Adam wasn't Jason. No one could replace Jason.
Tommy wasn't lacking in intelligence to see the truth starting him in the face. He just couldn't bring himself to admit it. Jason is my best friend. That's how I love him. That's all. Sleep was starting to kick in again, Tommy could feel himself drifting off. It's probably the drugs that they have me on. That's gotta be it. The drugs are messing with my mind. He pulled the blanket tighter around him, snuggling into the warm cocoon of his bed. Tomorrow I'll wake up and realize how ridiculous this all is. That I don't…I don't love…