'TIL I COLLAPSE - PART TWENTY: BREAKING NEWS (PG-13)
SEQUEL TO: ORDINARY WORLD
SUMMARY: In hopes to clear his mind of the recent news, he heads home to fall into the comfort of his wife's arms. But he finds out more startling news that could change the outcome of being a Power Ranger in active status.
DISCLAIMER: Power Rangers is not mine. I just own this adventure and the series this connects to. If you haven't read "The Reason" or "Ordinary World", you might want to go back and look at those again. But I do own the property of those evil guys destroying the lives of the rangers.
A/N: Hi! I know what you're thinking after that last chapter, I may be slacking quite a bit. I can admit that I am, I really am sorry about that, but it's so hard. I can't seem to concentrate anymore on anything. Oh man, the weeks just go by, and cruel world, you're pulling me closer and closer to the day I've waited so long for. My high school graduation. But, before I ramble on pulls out stun gun, aims at head and fires ... Now, back to the story. I hope you like my twist.
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"I am not entirely surprised of the outcome of that news, I just never would have thought it could happen.
But maybe I really am too blind to see what is set out in front of me since my mind is on how to protect this planet from destruction. Can it get any worse? I really hope not." -Eclyptyk Neo
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The hours had passed slow. Though, the next deadline for yearbook didn't need to be sent for another two weeks, Dr. Oliver had stayed late that night with Anika to make sure that all of the other pages were in check and getting close to be completed. They knew, as did everyone else, that they wouldn't make another mistake regarding a set of yearbook pages.
Ms. Obie couldn't stay since she had a doctor's appointment after school. But it was clear that the staff was left with some scars that may not get healed at all. But, they would have to move on.
But as it was approaching the 5 o'clock hour, it was clear they would call it a night. Anika still had work and homework to complete, and Dr. Oliver had to finish off some grading before really calling it an evening.
On the drive home, Dr. Oliver relayed the news he had heard about one of his students. About one of their editors-in-chief had left town and got back together with her ex-fiancÉ. It was, in fact, the worse news he could hear about someone, let alone the feeling of betrayal to all. He never could take to it well, as much as he had done it and dealt with it in his past. He just hated it for the feelings and scars it could leave on someone else.
He shook his head as he found out he was now home, sitting in the jeep, dazed and confused. He knew the best thing to do about the situation was to cuddle with Kim until they both fell asleep. He got out of the vehicle and headed into the house.
He had dropped off his briefcase in the study and slowly staggered into the living room, where Kim was watching TV. He had greeted her with a kiss to the lips before absently heading into the kitchen for something to drink.
Kim looked at him with raised eyebrows as he slowly returned and collapsed on the couch beside her. She leaned over him and laid a kiss on his lips, before he took a sip of the beer can in hand. "Hey, Handsome. You look like you had a rough day. What happened in yearbook?"
Tommy sighed as she moved to find a comforting spot on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, sighing. "It seems our ex-editor-in-chief ditched town and headed to New Mexico with her ex-fiancÉ."
"No," Kim breathed, not believing the news. "Are you serious? Nicole ditched town."
Tommy nodded before taking another drink. "And that's not all. I don't know how I could have missed it, but apparently, she also didn't send in those senior baby picture pages that was supposed to be sent off last year. They were still sitting there in the classroom just waiting to be sent."
Kim sat up, looking into her husband's eyes to see if he was lying. She wasn't convinced, but the look in his eyes were no lie. It was true. She just couldn't believe that. And she knew how he felt around betrayal. "But you guys are okay, right?"
"I think many of us are psychologically unstable at the moment. But many of the students want to go on a manhunt to find her," Tommy admitted.
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised. After a stunt like that, it seems like no one could object."
"I just hope that whatever happens, I don't have to see her face. I mean, you know exactly how I am around those who have betrayed me in any way."
Kim sat up and laid another kiss on his lips. When he had pulled her closer to him, she knew he was looking for a mind-numbing kiss that would push all those thoughts away. She didn't blame him as she moved to straddle his lap and deepen the kiss.
After a few moments, Tommy had pulled her close to him as they held each other closer.
Tommy laid a hand on Kim's stomach, letting out a breath. "How are you doing? You don't seem to be stressing out so much now."
Kim managed a smile as she nodded, laying her hand atop his. "Well, I can admit that those little jokes you make, as offensive as they could be, has made my day a little better. And I do like when you stop by to see me at lunch or whatever."
"I miss you too damn much," he had to admit. "I don't know, I guess I still haven't gotten used to you teaching at the school, though you've been there for a few months now. I just got to keep so many things..."
Kim covered his mouth shaking her head. "No. You need to stop worrying so much. You need to relax."
Tommy pulled her hand away but not before laying a kiss on it. "When I'm around you, nothing else seems to matter. Sometimes, I kinda wish we were back in high school just so I can see you more often. I feel like I've been neglecting you more now than I did in the past."
"Times change, but I'm not upset. Because we are together, Tommy. We got a set of rings to prove that to those who don't believe it," she laid a quick kiss on his lips. "I love you and you love me, that's all that should really matter."
Tommy smiled lightly. "Yeah. You're right. Thanks, Beautiful."
They exchanged another passionate kiss, before Kim had moved away. She began to fiddle through the papers and envelopes on the table. Mail call.
Tommy leaned forward, sighing. "Another thing I miss about high school, is not worrying about bills."
Kim giggled. "Yeah, I should really back off all that shopping."
"Yeah. Ya think?" Tommy mocked her. "You need to stop maxing out our credit cards. That's why I don't use credit card. Only check or cash. Credit card is only in an emergency."
"Hey, I pay it all back," Kim said as she backhanded Tommy on the shoulder. "Besides, I haven't been that bad lately."
"But it's still a bad habit."
"Do you want me to go back to our discussion about you men being assholes?" she countered.
"And how you like to have an asshole to train?" he smiled before she smacked him in the shoulder. "But then again, I can show you who is right by being my rebellious self. Admit it, you miss seeing me that way."
Kim didn't say anything. As much as she could admit that he had a rather unique rebellious side, she had preferred the more clean-cut image of him. But he was always full of mystery, that she still had left to discover about him. Not that she didn't like that, she liked surprises.
Tommy wrapped his arms around her, before laying a few kisses on her neck. For awhile, she didn't oppose, but liked the touch he was giving her. But she had pushed him away when she noticed a manila envelope marked with Tommy's status as a US soldier.
"Um...Handsome," she patted him on the head, to get his attention. She pulled out the envelope, looking at it with some confusion.
Tommy turned to see the envelope in her hand. It was addressed to: 'Staff Sergeant. Thomas A. Oliver. c/o US Army National Guard. 1992 Valencia Road. Reefside, CA, 90205.' And it was from: 'Philippine Military Academy. c/o Clark Air Base.' He took it from her, unsure what to make of it.
"I thought you were no longer part of the Army," she said. urging him to open it up and see what it was.
"I never said I was no longer apart of it, I was just not on active duty. I'm more on a vacation, if that's what you want to call it," he said. He didn't actually quit, or retire, he was just not recognized for active status since his dino research became his priority. Many soldiers couldn't see him pass up an opportunity to work with a famous scientist as Dr. Mercer, so they let him go. And he had went back for a few months before getting a job as a teacher. And he still wasn't on retirement, just a break.
"But why would you be getting a letter from the Philippine Military Academy?"
"I was stationed over there while doing study-abroad at CalTech. I was a soldier and a college student at the same time, and helped train some soldiers in the Philippine army. US relations with the Philippine Military had been having some problems, and several troops were sent over to re-establish our alliance with them. I don't know why I would get a letter from them though without being informed by my general, first."
"Maybe you should open it and find out," Kim asked even more curious to see what was in the envelope.
Tommy was just as curious, but slightly worried with the news. He had to admit that during his time at the air base he made many friends among the soldiers, even had a relationship with one of the female soldiers. And he knew that the Philippine Military wasn't exactly liking President Bush's decision to invade Iraq and send so many soldiers out there. There were a few Philippine troops in the Middle East, but there were still protestors on government grounds trying to pull Philippine troops out of there. They had their own problems to worry about regarding terrorists in their own country.
Tommy forced out a breath as he opened up the envelope, sliding the bundle of papers out of it. He began to read it slowly to himself, most of it in Tagalog.
"What does it say?" Kim asked, wrapping her arms around his neck looking down at the cover letter.
Tommy scratched his head absently, shaking his head. "It says they send their regards toward the loss of my research with the dino technology." He scanned through the letter picking out key points to say. "And they appreciated the work I did for the troops there along with the other US soldiers." He furrowed his eyebrows as he slowly scanned the letter, as he got to his feet. "...due to the recent events regarding the war in Iraq, several foreign soldiers had been placed on active status in the Middle East. ...but we have now lost one of our own... ...you now have custody over six-year-old Serena Julianne Oliver... ...please notify me if you are willing to take her into your hands, or we would have no choice but to put her into an orphanage until she can find a home..."
Tommy had mumbled all of that information to himself, and as he stood there, he couldn't seem to move. He was lost in his own blankness of space. He felt his stomach churn, but couldn't even begin to think. It was like he was paralyzed in time and couldn't say anymore. He didn't know if it was merely a joke, or it was true.
He looked down at the cover letter again, read those last few lines stating custody of a Serena Julianne Oliver. He slowly flipped through the other papers, a picture of a young girl in a school uniform used by kids in the Philippines, legal documents that had his name signed on it regarding status as a US soldier at Clark Air Base, a copy of the birth certificate for Serena, a letter from Serena written to her father telling him more about her, and a letter/will from the mother of Serena, Elena. From a love that could have been but never was. He absently dropped the papers to the ground as he felt tears well up in his eyes. He felt fear run down his entire body.
"Tommy," Kim called out to him as he slowly turned to look at her. The look in his eyes worried her. He never looked so scared in his life as she slowly walked over to him. "Handsome, what's wrong?"
As she was hoping he would fall into her embrace, hold her close, he didn't. He couldn't. He stepped back like a scared pup not wanting to be bothered even by the most caring of gestures.
Kim stopped, dropping her hands. Her face fell into a wall of concern and worry, as she looked down at the scattered paper on the floor. She looked back up at her husband, still unsure what had him so scared. "Tommy, what is it?"
Tommy forced air back into his lungs as he looked at the scattered papers on the floor. The news ran through his mind like a nightmare. He wanted it to be a dream. It should have been a dream. But it wasn't at all. He felt it in his soul. He looked up to meet his wife's eyes, and as he wanted to cry, he couldn't. "Kimberly, I have a kid."
to be continued...
A/N: Huh! What! Hold up! Did I just hear that right? Tommy has a kid that wasn't conceived by Kim! You bet you did. You bet that they both did. And you're probably thinking, 'What the hell... are you trying to destroy their marriage?' You might hate me right now, but see what happens next in the next chapter. I just love putting in all these twists. Heh. Heh. See ya when I do. Isang diwa. Isang mahal. May the Powers Always Protect You.