Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, or any of the characters in this story. Not even the ones I made up. Go ahead and use them, I don't really mind.

Blooming

Chapter 4 / A Long, Long Ride

The next morning turned out to be a beautiful day. The clouds were a bright white just covering the slightest bit of the sun; a perfect day to go to the park and walk, have a picnic, or just sit around. Everything was calm and peaceful.

Inside the Oliver house was a bit of a different story.

In the kitchen Tommy was making toast,…well, sort of…"Oh my God, I can't believe I burnt the toast!" Tommy yelled.

Meanwhile in the guest bedroom, Kat was having a bit of a problem herself. "Damn, I can't find my purse! What happened to it? I think I'm having a slight case of Tommy-itis. Oh, here you are," Katherine said while picking up her planner, "I've been looking all over for you, now, to find my purse!"

"How in the hell could I burn toast? How could anyone in their right mind burn toast for heaven sake." Tommy yelled at himself while throwing the burnt toast away and going to the counter and getting two fresh slices. "You just pop it in the toaster, pull the lever down, and wait. It even has a timer by itself. It's not like one has to wait right by it and just tap their fingers on the counter while waiting to pop the lever up themselves."

Katherine came downstairs fiddling with her get up. She had her hair down curled up in the back, a navy blue button up blouse, black dress pants, and black high-heel boots. She had her planner under her arm and her purse in her hands. She came down quickly thinking that Tommy was already waiting for her, but to her surprise found him in the kitchen eating toast with butter and jelly with some coffee on the side.

"Hey, how's it going in here?" she asked.

"It's okay, have some toast, I would've made something else, but, we're already late."

"Oh, no thank you, I'm not very hungry."

"And? I didn't ask if you wanted to eat the most important meal of the day, I said have some breakfast. Now sit." He said pointing to the seat in front of him.

"Didn't you just say that we're late already?" She asked while sitting down.

"Yeah, but don't worry, as long as Randall doesn't see us, it's alright. Let's just hope she's not right in front of the door as we walk in."


To Tommy's surprise, Randall was nowhere insight. They both headed to their classes three minutes after the tardy bell had rung.

"Hello class, I hope you're all here." Kat said, as she walked/jogged inside the classroom.

She then took row, and started her lesson.

Tommy got to his class a little after Kat got to hers. "So, looks like we're missing two students today." Tommy said after taking row. He then too began his lesson.


As the bell for lunchtime rang, Tommy wanted to literally be the first one out the door. After everyone left, his four usual alumni approached him.

"Hey, haven't heard much out of you Dr. O." Ethan told him in a sly voice.

"Well, you do know rumor has it he arrived here with Ms. Hillard." Conner directed his statement towards Ethan.

"Oh, not only that Conner, but late." Ethan said.

"Uh, oh, did someone have a late night last night?" Trent asked, bringing himself into the conversation.

"I think a certain someone didn't get enough sleep yesterday." Kira said, which came as a surprise to Tommy.

"I think a certain someone didn't get any sleep yesterday." Conner said in a malevolent tone.

"Okay, that's enough alright guys." Tommy said with a bit of annoyance in his voice. "Yes, I did come in with Kat, but, she's an old friend of mine from High School. We are not dating," he said and looked at Conner. "We are not seeing each other," he said as he looked at Ethan. "We are not thinking about it," he said while looking in Trent's direction, "and you guys are not going to butt in anymore," as he was going to look at Kira, she stopped him, by saying,

"Hey, don't look at me, I have nothing to do with this. I'm just here to see who's gonna give me a ride to Hayley's."

"I will, so, are you coming Dr. O?" Conner said.

"Na', you guys go ahead. I'll catch you later." Tommy assured.

"Alright, come on guys, before we have to eat in a hurry." Trent said.

Ethan then said to himself out loud, "thank God for open-campuses."

The others nodded their heads as they headed out the door.


Tommy quickly put his things away, and headed to Kat's classroom.

"Hey," he said, upon arriving there.

"Hey yourself." She said with a warm smile.

"So, have you been thinking about the U-Haul?"

"Well, yeah, but, I dunno, I just have to hear it from you one more time."

"Ok,… Kat, would you please give me the honor of driving you to Angel Grove and helping you with your things?" He asked in a non-question tired voice.

"Ok, I'd love to have you help me. I do need strong masculine arms to help me with this." She said.

"Alright."

"So, can you call Jason?" She joked, before getting a dirty look from Tommy.


That night, Tommy was exceptionally happy; being with Katherine on a road trip for eight hours. I have a feeling that it's gonna be great, he thought. Maybe I could confess all that I'm feeling for her. Then again, she could just turn me down flat. I don't even know if she has a boyfriend. At that last thought, Katherine walked in gently into his room where he was laying on the bed.

"Hi," she said.

"Hey," he countered.

She stood in the doorway not knowing if she should step inside or not.

"What's up, Kat…everything alright?" Tommy asked in a very sincere worried voice.

"Umm, yeah…well, no…well… I just can't seem to get to sleep, that's all."

"Oh, you wanna talk about it?"

She hesitated for a while, then looked into his eyes, as she was somehow now at the feet of his bed.

"Well, I just keep having a nightmare… I guess it's just a bit childish, huh?" She asked with embarrassment in her voice.

"Of course not Kat. Everyone has nightmares, and some are bigger and more realistic than others," he said as he walked over to her and caressed her face.

She couldn't help but look down at the embarrassment. Why am I feeling embarrassed? It's a horrible dream, she thought.

At that instant, she felt the love of her life staring at her. She looked up from the floor, and caught him looking at her with intensity. She didn't know what to do at this point, her head was throbbing for some reason, and her hands started to shake uncontrollably. His lips came just half of an inch away from hers. She started to lean in, but stopped. Katherine looked down and cleared her throat.

"Tommy… I don't think we should be doing this" she said with grief in her voice. "I mean, I just got here, and I'm living in your house, I don't have an apartment of my own…"she continued until Tommy stopped her by putting his thumb over her lips while holding the left side of her face.

"Shhh, Katherine, all I want is to be with you", he said with a slight whisper.

"Tommy, I'm sorry, but I…"

"Okay look, how 'bout this, we go to sleep, and we'll just forget about this." he said, trying to end his embarrassment.

She again looked down and just nodded her head.

"We'll leave at six in the morning okay?" He asked as if he was asking a child.

Kat yet again looked down and asked, "you still want to take me, after…"

"Kat, you're my friend. I'll do anything for you," he said while looking in her eyes profoundly.

Kat just couldn't help feel mortified for what had just happened. She then decided it was better if she just left his room. She spoke while leaving; "I'm sorry I came here Tommy, I just…"

"Kat, don't worry about it. These things happen. I mean, just try to get some sleep. Be careful with that huge rat in your room," he said trying to make her laugh.

She smiled, then added, "Oh, you mean the one that somewhat resembles your 11th grade picture?"

He couldn't help but laugh, "hey, everyone blinks sometimes when taking a picture" he retorted as she stepped out of his room.

"Yeah, but not as funny as you" she then turned around towards him and mocked his high school picture with a facial expression of closing her eyes and slightly opening her mouth in a dumfounded way leaving her tongue kind of sticking out of it.

He just laughed as she smiled and left to the guest room.

Tommy could sense the pain of rejection coming upon him. He threw himself backwards on his bed landing on his back flustered with his thoughts.


That morning, Katherine got up extra early to make sure she had everything she needed for the long trip. Should I pack pajamas? Then again, it's only an eight hour drive. I have pajamas at the apartment. Oh, but what if he decides to stop somewhere? Na', it's gonna be a one day thing. She was still thinking deeply into her thoughts as she got into the shower. I wonder if he'll bring up last night. I guess I should just try to avoid the question completely. It's going to be a 'long' ride.

Tommy woke up around the time when Katherine was in the shower. He gathered his belongings and headed for the master shower in his bedroom. He too was deep in his thoughts, man, what happened last night? I must have acted like such an idiot to her! I should've known she would have never wanted to get back with me. She's a grown woman, and things just change. Too bad my heart hasn't…


Tommy quickly went out to his jeep and checked under the hood as he had done the day before. He saw that everything was ready to go then went over to the back and checked the extra tire bar to see if it was tight enough not to get loosened up.

"You must have done that about three-hundred times by now," Kat said, as she was coming out of the house with a small cooler holding sodas and bottles of water. On top of the small cooler was a plastic grocery bag with sandwiches, fruit, and some napkins. She headed over to the back of the cabin of the jeep and placed the cooler in the middle of the long seat before going over to the front and placing the bag in the center of the two front seats. She then thought; they had just had breakfast and would not want to eat until sometime in a couple of hours in the trip, so she reopened the back door and placed the bag next to the cooler.

Tommy, witnessing Katherine go from the back of the cabin to the front, then back again; he laughed internally.

Katherine heard his small laugh and asked, "And what might be so funny?" She said, while placing both hands on the sides of her tightly arched hips.

"Nothing," Tommy answered still chuckling, "it's just that I've never seen you nervous before, that's all."

"Oh, nervous, Mr. 'I have to check everything a million times before we go'," she mocked.

"What? I'm not nervous, I'm just cautious."

"Mmm, hmm, cautious, more like edgy, anxious, worried, and over-sensitive to me." She said in a fast joking manner.

"And you forgot generous, handsome, gorgeous, and fine-looking if you ask me."

Kat just laughed at his comment while closing the back door to the jeep.

She then went back inside and retrieved her purse and wallet.

Tommy met her at the door while she was walking out and made a gentleman-exaggeration in bowing and stretching his hand out silently to motion her out.

She exaggerated as well in doing a curtsy, and tilting her head a bit with a smile.

They both laughed and headed to their last minute rumblings.


While pulling out of the driveway, Katherine reminded Tommy somewhat of his lack of good memory. "Now, are you sure you checked everything, nothing's on, everything's locked, everyone knows that you won't be home?" She asked in a joking, conversation-starting, serious-being, voice.

"Yes…mom," Tommy nodded his head for the forth time as she spoke.

"Did you remember to pee?"

"Oh crap!" Tommy slowed the truck down a bit making them both start laughing hysterically at what they were playing.


Four Hours inside the Drive

Tommy stopped at a gas station to pump gas. Katherine really needed to go to the restroom, but knew what was coming if she did. She decided to put her pride aside, and got out of the jeep.

"Where you going?" Tommy asked.

"Umm, to get something", she answered.

"Going to the restroom aren't you?" He stated with a sly smile on his face.

"Hey, it's all the water I drank."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, save it for the judge." He said before adding, "Did you remember to pee before we left?" He asked in a joking smug way.

"As a matter of fact, yes, but I'm not going to wait the other four hours for another rest stop."

"True," Tommy said, and decided to go to the restroom himself.

Tommy came out a little before Kat did. He went up the counter and paid for the gas. He then went outside to pump it. As he was putting the gun back, he wondered why Kat wasn't out yet and smiled internally thinking she was doing a little more that peeing in there. He got back in his truck and drove it to the front of the convenient store. About two minutes after parking, Kat came out.

"Took you long enough," he said jokingly as she was making her way onto the passenger seat. "Did the queen have to sit on her throne for a while?" He asked with a gagging smile on his face.

"Urgh, don't remind me. I go in, sit down, do my business, finish, and then, and only then do I realize there is no toilet paper" she began.

Tommy by this time was feeling a smile cross his face while she continued.

Katherine, while speaking and expressing her opinion was using her arms and hands expressively for motioning her frustration.

"How can a convenient store run out of toilet paper, don't they sell it here? Besides, how can they actually have toilet seat covers and no toilet paper?"

Tommy was starting to laugh at this point while Katherine went on with her story.

"It's either you have both, or none. I was going to clean myself with another toilet seat cover but just thought of the pain that comes with it. Just to think that thin, raspy, rough material against my Kiwi just was not going to do it."

Tommy at this point was chuckling silently just hearing Katherine keep on with her problem.

"So I just decided to wait for someone to come in and ask them for some from another stall."

"So, did someone come in?" Tommy asked quickly before starting to laugh again.

"Let's just say, I'm in a lot of scratchy, itchy pain right now." She said embarrassingly in between small chuckles.

Tommy burst out laughing holding the steering wheel with one hand and clutching his stomach with the other while putting his head back to keep laughing hysterically.

Katherine was about to snap at him but couldn't help but laugh at herself as well. She, like Tommy was now laughing uncontrollably at the incident that had just happened.


They were back on the road when Tommy got a bit hungry. He was a tad embarrassed for some reason to ask Kat for a sandwich so he just kept quiet for the ride to come.

Katherine could feel her butt getting numb and became very uncomfortable. She wanted to tell Tommy to get off at the next exit but decided to wait until they got to Angel Grove to stretch her legs. She didn't know why she didn't want to ask Tommy to stop. She too for some reason decided to stay quiet and keep her thoughts to herself.


Angel Grove was about an hour away now. Katherine could feel the relief inside herself now in just thinking that soon she'll be getting off that truck to walk around.

Tommy on the other hand was just about to explode; he was so hungry, was mentally slapping himself for not telling Katherine anything. When he was about to ask Kat for a sandwich, his stomach growled. Tommy's face got red and he didn't even look in Kat's direction next to him.

"Hungry?" She asked while chuckling silently.

She reached back and got the bag of sandwiches. She retrieved one for him and unwrapped it out of the foil. He then eagerly took it.

"Thanks", he said in a low voice. "I am a little hungry."

"Tommy, a little hungry was two hours ago. Now you're just famished. I thought for a second your stomach was eating itself." She said with laughter in her voice.

"Yeah, well, it feels like that." He said still embarrassed.

"Why didn't you just tell me to get you a sandwich?" She asked innocently.

"I don't know. I just guess I could've waited until we got to Angel Grove. Stupid huh?"

"No, because then that'll make me stupid, and I will certainly not have that." She said joking in a conceited way.

"Why do you say that?" He asked before taking a bite of the sandwich.

"Because…well…the truth is, my butt has been numb since Parkview," she said with distress. "I've wanted to ask you if you could stop so I can stretch my legs but I just don't want to make it back to Reefside too late." She lied.

"Well, if you wanna stop, I'll stop. I feel like stretching my legs too." He assured.

"You sure?" She asked uncomfortably.

"Yeah."

He then went a couple of more miles until he got off on an exit. They were both relieved to see a rest area up ahead with not a lot of cars parked there.

When they parked, Tommy quickly got off and grabbed a soda from the back seat of the jeep.

As Tommy was getting the soda, Katherine got off and the first thing she did was stretch her body up as high as she could making her belly exposed to Tommy. She cocked her head from one shoulder to the other with eyes closed.

Tommy couldn't help but stare at what a great body Kat had. Her stomach was nice and flat. He appreciated her jeans, which exposed the top of her curves around her hips. Her breast curvatures were also showing under her white tank top. They were a bit larger than average which he did not mind at all. Her face was like a lovely seraph with blue eyes and a body to match.

He then realized he was staring at her too long and decided it was the best time to go back to his soda before she figured what he was doing.

She opened her eyes just in time to see Tommy opening his soda and was a little disillusioned when she thought he hadn't been looking at her. She then walked away from the jeep to take a walk around the rest area.

"Aren't you gonna eat, Kat?" Tommy stopped her before she left.

"Oh, yeah, in a little bit. I'm just gonna take a walk for a while." She answered.

"Oh, okay." He said while she turned and left.

As she was walking away from him, he felt as if Katherine wasn't herself anymore. She wasn't eating properly, she wasn't looking into his eyes like she used to, and she was just not acting like herself.

As he too walked away from the jeep, he kept thinking.

He went ahead and thought a bit more for a second about what he was feeling. He then, only then, did his realize that she had changed because she's human.

As much as it hurt him to think this but it was true.

All he wanted more in his heart is for her to have the same feelings he held towards her. He then accepted it into himself; she did not love him, and belonged to herself. He is just going to have to get out of her way, as much as he could.

That didn't stop him from going over to her, though.

"Hey, mind if I walk with you?" He asked without the charm.

"No, I don't mind. I'd actually prefer it." She said, before giving him a warm smile. "You know, I really like having you as a friend Tommy."

"And I really like being your friend Kat. You know, you've always been there for me when I felt down; and you always managed to pick me back up." He said with sincerity in his voice. He then added, "Thanks, I really appreciate it."

She couldn't help but blush at what he was saying. She never realized that she had been there for Tommy in so many occasions. Yet, it didn't stop her from reminiscing all the times he was there for her.

"Tommy, you speak as if I was the only one there for you. Yet, all this time, I've forgot to say how grateful I am to have you here with me. You were there for me as well, remember? So many times, you were my Knight. You saved me from the worst situations possible."

"Kat, you're talking battles, I'm talking personal, emotional distress. I was never there for you. You were the one that somehow, let me realize that I can open up." He said, while looking at her now.

"Tommy, I never told you this, but, you were not the only one in our group to get hurt from a person you cared for like that. I too had my ways of feeling about love; but you came into my life, and showed me that it was alright to love again. Not just because you're a leader of something Tommy, do you have to feel that you should always keep your guard up in any way."

"Yeah, I was sort of like that, wasn't I?" he asked sheepishly.

"Sort of? My, my, my, do you have a way with words. You practically put up a huge brick wall every time anyone would get near you to talk for any reason. You somehow managed to push a lot of people away from you that just really wanted to help you get through your stress."

"You're the only one for some reason I let my guard down with, Kat. And truth be told, I don't even know why. I guess it's because you never seem to judge people and you really just try to look for the positive even in the worst situations."

"Yup, that's me, Mrs. Bright Side." She quoted one of her favorite songs. Except for 'my' situations, she thought.

"What was your reason for not opening up to us, though?"

"Same reason I think you didn't open up to any of us either. Fear of getting looked at like an overprotected child I guess."

Tommy was trying his best to try to figure out what was in Kat's mind and why she was acting so distant. He decided to drop the conversation instead and holding up another one like a white flag of surrender showing his comprehension in the situation she was in. She still didn't want to open up, and he understood.

"So…what are we getting from your apartment?" He stated.

"Well, just a couple of my clothes." She said with easiness, "and some furniture from the storage."

"Your friend got the storage after all?"

"Hey, I can't speak for Jess. It was his idea actually. But, I'll pay him back."

"And in how much time do you think we'll do that? I mean, so you know, we can start planning the trip back."

"Oh, well, that depends on how much fits in the U-Haul. I really just want to get the essentials, like the couches, bed, dresser, you know?"

"Yeah, like the every day things?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, so, does Jess have strong arms."

"Na', he's just there for show and tell, watch." She said with a chuckle. Tommy chuckled as well, and they both went back to the jeep to continue their destination towards Angel Grove.