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 11 / Kimberly
Reefside Hospital
Kimberly still laid there in the hospital bed. Tommy and Kat were at the bed side when a nurse in royal blue scrubs entered the room.
She was of Asian descent; from the Philippines to be exact. She was about 5'6", light black hair, dark brown eyes, and with moderate dark skin. She spoke with an accent of a couple of years being in America.
"Hello" she started, "you've been here quite a while", she spoke to both of them.
Tommy, who was sitting on the bed at Kimberly's feet holding in his hand the control to the bed, TV, nurse, and lights, which had a thick white wire running from it, looked at her and said, "Yeah, we know, but we don't wanna leave until we know what's wrong with her."
The nurse just saw him with eyes of being delusional. She didn't mean to be rude, but it wasn't the first case she had seen where a guy would do anything in the world for the girl who was in the hospital bed.
She had even seen a case where a girl was committing suicide right there in the room because she said she was performing an act of sacrifice to bring back her father. After many strange cases, she didn't really want to deal with this one. Although it was a little after nine o'clock, she decided to let them stay a little longer; at least after her shift was over. She would then tell them that it was time to go. She knew she wouldn't get in trouble, the security guards did the same thing when they felt a family member needed more time with that person.
Katherine went over to Tommy, while the nurse prepped Kimberly for a blood sample she was sent to get.
"Tommy, are you gonna be alright?" She asked with concern in her voice.
Tommy looked up to meet her blue eyes, "yeah, I just wish I knew what was wrong with her."
Katherine didn't want to say anything else. She knew what he was feeling. Although she didn't feel so much love towards Kimberly at that moment, she couldn't help it feel bad for her. If she was feeling like that, she could just imagine how Tommy was feeling at that instant. Since she knew him better than anyone, she decided to just leave him alone with his thoughts so he can just cool off like any other situation they had been through.
Tommy was like her in a way. They both dealt with pain in much the same way. They would both hide their pain until the last drop of blood would come soaring through their cheek for lack of communication with another human being. At that point, one was just about to explode, but they both had their time in talking to another person about their feeling. Luckily, they had each other to lean on.
She then went to sit down on the visitor's chair and dug her head deep in its cushion.
The nurse was now circling a cotton swab on Kimberly's left arm. Katherine noticed her cleaning her spot in an outward circling motion. The tourniquet was wrapped around her upper arm to stop the blood flow and pop her veins up immensely. She placed her right pointer and middle finger together and tapped on Kimberly's vein. She then saw her air out the alcohol, and then with her left thumb, she pulled the skin down a bit. The nurse then proceeded in sticking in the needle while watching the needle's bevel go inside her patient. The tourniquet was then removed and Kat noticed her retrieving tube after tube of Kimberly's blood. She could count three, but they seemed like a lot more. The nurse then swiftly pulled out the needle and threw it inside a sharps-container.
"You know you infected her spot again." Katherine told the nurse after she was done with her patient.
The nurse turned around and asked, "What do you mean?"
Kat then responded in a tone, "After you had cleaned the area of penetration, you proceeded to place your fingers back on the clean spot. You clean it with alcohol for a reason. Even if you have gloves on, it doesn't mean you can go back and touch the area that will be penetrated. It could change results drastically on a patient's blood sample if 'God forbid' you had something on your glove."
The nurse nodded her head. She knew Katherine was right, so she went ahead and got more supplies, and retrieved Kim's blood from the other arm.
After she was done, she noticed her shift was over in about thirty minutes. She went ahead and gave them a warning of it being 'after hours' before she left the room.
Tommy, seeing the nurse had exited, went over to where Kat was sitting. He got the foot stool that was under the bed and placed it in front of Katherine. Tommy opened Kat's legs a bit and placed his in between before sitting on the foot stool to talk to her.
He began caressing her legs a bit while saying, "Wow, I didn't know you knew about blood drawls."
"I don't." She stated. "It's common sense when you think about it."
"Wait a minute; didn't you take like a health care class in High School or something?"
"It was 'Parenting', Tommy, and you were in that same class with me." She raised her voice a little at the end, not believing that Tommy, although being forgetful as he was, had completely forgotten about that.
"Oh, yeah, the baby right?" He asked.
"Is that the only thing you remember about that class?" She asked in disbelief.
"No, I do remember looking at you for the whole fifty minutes and not being able to get my eyes off of you." He said in a flirtatious way.
Katherine smiled at Tommy. He always did know the perfect timing for compliments, she had to admit.
Tommy felt her smile as a sign of joy in him, the first one in a couple of hours; he then leaned his head in towards hers and kissed her passionately. She returned the passionate kiss as well.
His hands made their way from her outer thighs to her inner thighs. He started to prance his fingers upwards but was stopped by her.
"Tommy, this is a hospital." She reminded him.
"And?" He asked.
"And?" She repeated. "Need I remind you this isn't the time nor the place."
"Oh, come on Kat, you heard her, we've got thirty minutes, remember, that's more than enough time for a quickie." He said, while making his way up her blouse.
Katherine thought about it, but then realized it wasn't the hospital that was drawing her back, it was Kimberly. She turned to look at her and saw Kim lying there. She somehow wasn't at peace. She wasn't gently sleeping for a reason Katherine couldn't put her finger on. She then thought about what people had said; that unconscious people could still hear what was going on in their surroundings. She didn't know if it was true or not, but she was in no position to find out.
She then pushed Tommy away from her gently and said, "Tommy, really, I don't think we should be doing this. Not in front of her. You have to have some respect for Kim, it doesn't matter how much she's hurt me or you."
He looked deep into her eyes and realized that it was a sense of disrespect towards Kimberly. He didn't know what had gotten over him. He guessed it was the simple fact that he was so incredibly happy in being back with Katherine that he didn't quite realize where he was at that precise moment; especially who was at their side, lying unconscious in a hospital bed for reasons yet still unknown.
There wasn't much he could do at this point for her anymore. Tommy then told Katherine that they should get going before it gets too late. They both had to go to sleep early since they had work the next morning.
They started talking a bit longer after the conversation of leaving, when all of a sudden, the nurse that had been assisting Kimberly came into the room.
"Oh" she stated, "still here I see."
"Yeah," said Tommy, "We're about to leave, don't worry, we won't make any trouble for you."
He knew all too well that they could get her in trouble, so he decided instead to go on ahead and leave.
"Come on, Kat" he said with easiness.
Kat nodded her head and simply said, "Yeah", understanding why he was leaving.
Katherine went to Kimberly's side, and just simply felt sorry for her now. She didn't know what she was going through. Katherine was never one to judge, so she merely caressed Kimberly's soft brown hair and gave her a small kiss on her left cheek.
Tommy, witnessing this, noticed Kat's tears roll down her face. He was standing to her far left, but still could see with closeness that his girlfriend was crying. Not because of what happened between him and Kimberly, but for Kimberly was going through.
He had to admit, he started feeling a bit regretful at that point. He honestly thought that Katherine, in getting back home, or even there, was going to act differently. He hated thinking it, but he really thought she was going to act like a snob. In not letting him stay there so long, or asking him questions about Kim, or even whining that he was there for Kimberly.
All of that had gone through his head on the drive to the hospital. They followed the ambulance the whole way in silence. Tommy thought that Kat was quiet because she was upset. Now he knew. Now he knew his girlfriends true feelings about Kim. He knew he loved Kim, and he would do anything for her. Yet, he also knew he was in love with Katherine, and he wouldn't let anything happen to her.
Katherine turned to look at Tommy, wiping tears from her cheeks. He moved towards her with concern in his face. Katherine smiled at him and caressed his face. She cocked her head to one side while stepping to her left to let him pass. She shook her head gently in showing him to go towards Kim, instead of her.
Tommy obediently stepped about two feet towards the bed and looked down at Kimberly. She was as beautiful as he remembered. He somehow looked at her as a friend whom he cared for very much. There was no doubt in his mind that Kimberly was on something. He was going to do everything in his power to figure out what it is and help his dear friend.
Katherine turned to see Tommy looking at Kim with deep concern. She cared for her so much now. In a way, she hadn't seemed to believe that Kimberly was much of a drama queen. That led her to believe that Kimberly was having problems. She thought about their ranger days and how they became friends. She had to admit though, she didn't become as close with Kimberly nor Aisha as she was with Tanya, but none the less, she became her friend.
Katherine was one who never hesitated to help out another. She had enrolled in so many community projects in her life. She first did it to gain application references, but after her first community project, she was hooked. She became addicted to helping others, especially became very concerned about the future's doctors and lawyers; kids. Kat felt a sense of need to help out those who needed it.
Then and only then did it make sense about what Tommy had said. She went back to their argument they had in the afternoon. She never thought about it, but he was right. Why was Kimberly any different? Just because she's Tommy's ex doesn't mean she should turn her back on someone in need. With that, she saw Tommy's next actions.
Tommy then leaned down and kissed her where Kat had kissed her. He then turned and took Katherine's hand while they both left the hospital hand in hand, not saying a word to one another because each was in their own thoughts about how they can help their friend out.
Both Kat and Tommy were getting ready for bed. Katherine felt a bit silly about doing this, but she just had to say something. The uneasiness was getting the best of her.
"Tommy," she said, "is it safe here in Reefside?"
Katherine didn't want to go straight to the point. In one way she wanted to just blurt out that she wanted to stay with him. But on the other, she didn't know how he felt about that. She instead came out with a subject that will lead to her getting her answer.
"Yeah," he simply replied.
Katherine looked down as if disappointed. Then she heard the question she was aiming for.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well," she quickly started, "by getting an apartment and all, I really wanted to know if it was safe around town."
Tommy's eyes quickly widened.
"What!" He said. "Kat, I thought you were going to stay with me here, since I proposed to you and all. I mean, come on, we're gonna get married…"
"Okay, okay, don't hurt yourself." She said laughing. "We'll talk about this some other time." She said with lenience trying to sound as if she wanted an apartment still and was going to mention it later. She was smiling at him, yet inside she was jumping up and down hysterically in Tommy telling her that she was to stay there with him.
Tommy went inside the bathroom to take a shower. I know if I take a shower right now, I'll just be quicker in the morning, he thought.
Katherine was in the bedroom. She had decided to take a shower in the guest bathroom since all of her bath stuff was in there any ways. She went over to the bed and laid down. She just started reminiscing about their High School years in Angel Grove. How Tommy and her would spend the night together if the parents of either weren't home. It was as if she could be taken away by so many memories she held with him.
At that, Tommy came out of the bathroom in some AC/DC pajama bottoms and a towel around his neck. Katherine looked up at him and turned over to her side. She noticed what a great body her fiancé had. She had seen his body before, but not with such a great angle.
Tommy went over to a chair in his room and hung the towel there. He then went over to the alarm clock and put the alarm at 6:00 am.
"I hope I don't put it to wake up at six in the afternoon", he said loudly so Katherine could hear him.
He felt a pillow hit him in the back as he was laughing and heard a "yeah, keep on laughing, Oliver" come out of his girlfriend.
He turned around and headed in the direction of the bed.
"I put it with that annoying buzzing sound. The radio just rocks me back to sleep." He said to Kat.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I see you don't do a good job at waking up."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, the alarm clock is at your desk. You have to get up to turn off the alarm."
"Yeah, it forces me in a way to not stay in bed." He said, while laying next to her kissing her on the forehead. "Mmm, your hair smells good."
"That's called shampoo and conditioner, you should try it some day", she said with a smile on her face.
Tommy mocked her at this, "ha, ha, ha," he said sarcastically, "need I tell you, I had great hair in High School, which should let you know I took great care of my hair." Tommy flung his head back in a feminine motion while closing his eyes and whisking a lock of invisible hair from him.
Katherine, seeing his actions couldn't help but laugh at what she was noticing.
"Dr. Oliver, Mr. Macho-Man, acting…FEMININE?" She said with a voice of disbelief.
"Yeah, well you know what they say, college changes people."
"Is that why you got rid of your hair?"
"Why, you don't like it?"
"I love it, now I can see your face in the wind." She said running her fingers through his hair in a loving way.
He smiled and kissed her on the lips.
Katherine moved towards him pressing her breasts on his chest. She kissed him lustily and ran her nails gently around his nipples and down to his abs.
Tommy at this, shuttered a little to his liking. He then remembered the events that had happened in the hospital.
"Oh, I see now you wanna do something", he told her slyly.
"Come on, it was a hospital."
"Oh, no, I've been rejected by you far too many times. I'm sorry Ms. Hillard, I just can't do this." He was speaking in an innocent voice and just trembling it purposely.
"Well, what if I want to make it up to you?"
His eyes became interested with her deal, "hmm, that might be something."
She started kissing him again while he circled his mouth around hers slipping in his tongue to meet her warm mouth.
He pulled away after that trying to play hard to get.
"Oh, no I can't Ms. Hillard" he said, "You're my teacher. I feel you're trying to seduce me."
Katherine thought about what he was saying and countered with, "EWW Tommy, that's gross. There's nothing more disgusting than a teacher and a teenage student. I'll role play with you, but not that."
Tommy laughed at her answer and said in between his laughter, "Okay, okay, sorry, didn't know you felt like that."
"Well, you should feel like that too, don't make me think wrong of you now."
"Oh, no, I would never get with a student. It's immoral, illegal, and above all just plain disturbing."
Katherine looked at him deeply to see if he was telling the truth, she then smiled at him and said, "Good, now we can get to sleep."
She turned around and covered herself with the blanket.
Tommy was watching her not knowing what to think.
She plopped herself down and smiled while doing this knowing Tommy wasn't seeing her facial expression.
"Umm," he started, "I thought we were going to…"
"Oh, no", she said, "feeling's gone."
Tommy opened his mouth and raised his eyebrows, "But Kat…" he sounded like a little boy at this.
Katherine laughed and turned to him, "all right. It's not like I don't want to either. So, you want to do something then?" She asked while moving towards him slowly.
Tommy kissed her and parted his lips from hers, "oh, and for the record, you never have to ask me that question again."
Katherine smiled at him. She kissed him again while he ran his hands all over her body.
The next morning, Tommy and Kat went to work. Katherine had decided to go to Randall's office to talk about the assistant teacher position.
She knocked at the door and heard a 'come in' from the other side. She walked in and saw Randall at her desk as usual with papers in front of her.
"Umm, Ms. Randall…"
"Ms. Hillard, back so soon. I thought I told you to come back later."
"Well, you did, but I decided that today was best."
"Okay," she sighed sarcastically as usual, hinting that she wanted Katherine to speed up the process, "what's your answer?"
"I've been thinking about it and I've come to the conclusion that it might be better to get a more experienced dancer."
"Okay, fine." Randall was not about to have more seconds of her life wasted on Kat. She dismissed her and Kat left the office feeling a sense of regret on her part.
Maybe I should've taken it. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? Then again, I haven't been dancing for two years. I 'could' get back in shape. Oh, but by that time…who am I kidding? I'm too old already. It's not like I'm 20 anymore any ways.
She went thinking all the way to her class.
"Oh, Mrs. Foster, how are you?"
"I thought I told you to put some meat on them bones" Edna said.
"I know you did, but I'll try." Katherine said with a smile.
"Well, I just came by to say hello. So, hello."
"Hello. Oh, I didn't ask, how did the track meet go?" Katherine asked, remembering the last time she had seen Edna.
"It was great. Two of my students had scouts there; one from Reefside University and the other from UCLA."
"Wow, you must be proud. So did they take them?"
"One did, we lost, but it was my pride in knowing that my team did great. We ended up in second place in the district. Not too shabby if you ask me."
Katherine nodded her head in agreement. "I guess this school has a number of good athletes, huh?"
"Yup, we do. You should check out the summer games. They get pretty intense."
"Okay, maybe I will; as long as you're going, right?"
It was Edna who nodded this time saying, "Yes, wouldn't miss it for the world."
The bell rang, and Edna left Katherine to her teaching duties.
Katherine decided that after school she could go ahead and talk to Tommy about going to the hospital and visiting Kimberly; which she knew all too well he would immediately say yes to. I wonder if we'll find out today what's wrong with Kimberly,she thought. She went ahead and continued with her lesson of the day after all of her students had arrived.
A/N: I'm so sorry, so sorry, so sorry, so sorry. I know this one took me forever. I also know that not much went on either. I know we're at the same place as always, but I'm really really sorry that I made you guys wait so long. I'm coming up with two other stories, which hopefully you'll like. One is from my favorite PR time: Power Rangers Zeo. They're going to be in High School and I'm going to go back in time a bit. It'llexplain why Kat is where she is and why Tommy is where he is.I hope you guys aren't mad. And I really hope you liked this chapter.
You're probably thinking… 'this is what she had us waiting for?' Again, I'm sorry for that.
