Disclaimer: I just own Jeff Carter.
Chapter 4 Returning to Your Roots
May 26, 1996
"Five days on the road is too long," Kim yawned.
"You're telling me, Kim," Tommy said.
He turned her way and half smiled. Tommy was glad for her to be coming home.
"How much longer?" Kim asked.
"Not much. Have you called the complex?" Tommy wondered.
"Yeah, they say the rooms are new. That's why I brought the bed," Kim said.
"I'm glad Billy found it," Tommy smiled.
"Me too," Kim said. "I never got to ask you what Jason wanted."
"He's been having that weird feeling lately," Tommy sighed.
"Premonitions?" Kim guessed.
"Yeah," Tommy said.
"Have you told Zordon about them?" Kim asked. "They could mean something from the future."
"He's stubborn like you. He doesn't want me to right now," Tommy laughed.
Kim rolled her eyes and also laughed.
"Stubborn, huh," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
"Still love you though," Tommy winked.
"Good," Kim smiled.
xxx
Everyone was at the apartment waiting for Tommy and Kim.
"Shouldn't they be here by now?" Adam asked.
"Calm down, Adam," Billy laughed. "What's ten minutes?"
"Hey, is that them?" Rocky asked excitedly.
Everyone turned, only to see a truck pass.
"No," Kat sighed.
"Does Tommy's parents still think he's with you, Adam?" Tanya asked.
"Yeah. When he called saying Kim and him were driving back, I had to tell them that we were planning a big surprise party. I hated lying," he said.
"You really didn't," Billy noted. "The party's still on, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Kat answered.
Rocky's eyes caught another moving truck entering the apartment complex.
"I hope that's them," he said.
"It is," Tanya smiled.
When the truck stopped, Kim did not give Tommy the chance to open her door. She ran out of the truck and hugged everyone. Tears of happiness ran down her face. She had not seen them since Christmas.
"Oh my God you guys. I've missed you all so much," Kim cried.
"Us too, Kim," Billy said.
Kim and Tanya finally came face to face for the very first time.
"I heard a lot about you, Tanya. It's good to finally met you," Kim replied.
"Same here," she said.
Tommy walked up to them and put one hand on Kim's shoulder. This time, she did not flinch.
"Let's get you moved in," Tommy smiled.
xxx
Kat walked in with the last box.
"Is that everything?" she asked.
"I think so, Kat," Kim said. "I really want to thank you all again for helping me out with this."
"No problem, Kim," Rocky smiled.
Adam looked over at Tommy.
"Everything's ready at the Youth Center," he whispered.
"Perfect," Tommy smiled.
"Off to the Youth Center," Rocky yelled.
"May I ask why?" Kim asked.
She had hoped to be able to sleep.
"You'll see, Kim," Tanya smiled.
She lowered her eyebrows and looked over at Tommy.
"Thomas Oliver, you better tell me what's going on," Kim said.
"Don't look at me, Kim. I have no clue what's going on," he lied.
xxx
Kim held her breath as they all entered the Youth Center.
"Surprise," everyone yelled.
"Oh my God," Kim gasped.
The place was all decorated, complete with a banner saying 'Welcome Home'.
"Welcome home, Kim," they yelled.
Kim shot her head towards Tommy.
"You knew about this?" she asked.
Kim playfully hit Tommy in the chest.
"And what if I did?" Tommy laughed.
"Let's get this party started," Rocky yelled.
"Easy, Rocky," Kat laughed.
"This is totally great," Kim said.
"Glad you like it, Kim," Adam smiled.
"It feels so good to be home. I missed this place," she cried.
Everyone in the room could tell Kim was overwhelmed by what they had done for her.
"It's good to have you back home, Beautiful," Tommy said.
Kim then spotted the one person who was like her and Tommy's messenger if neither one of them was there.
"Ernie," she squealed.
"Why, Kimberly, you sound much happier," he noted.
"Oh I am. I was beginning to think that I would never see this place again," she said.
xxx
Adam dropped off Kim with Tommy also in the car.
"Do you need me to come over tomorrow to disconnect your car and drop the truck off?" Tommy asked.
"I'll need someone," Kim laughed.
"All right, I'll be here," Tommy smiled.
He opened Kim's door and kissed her goodbye.
"Night," Kim said.
"Night, Kim," Tommy smiled.
"Night, Adam," Kim waved.
"Night, Kim," he said. They drove off, leaving Kim alone. Adam laughed as he noticed Tommy still looking back. "Take it easy man. You've been with the girl for a week."
"I hate leaving her like that," Tommy sighed.
"I know you do, Tommy," Adam said. "I'm sure you're parents would like that see you, too."
"Aw man, I totally forgot. What did you tell them?" he asked.
"That you were staying with me. Now, I need to get you home," Adam laughed.
"Sorry you had to do that," Tommy said.
"No problem," Adam laughed. "Besides, I know how important it was to get Kim out of Florida."
xxx
October 16, 1996
Jason, Trini, and Zack were in Angel Grove for a demonstration that Tommy, Rocky, and Adam were hosting at the Youth Center.
"Look at them go," Zack said.
"Tommy said that the group had been improving," Jason informed them.
"They really have," Billy said.
"I'm glad you guys could make it," Kim smiled.
She sighed and looked down. She did not want them to know yet, but she would have to tell them some time. Keeping this secret from them was the single hardest thing she ever had to do.
"We're glad too, Kim," Trini said.
"Can you believe this is our last year at Angel Grove High?" Kat asked.
"I can't," Tanya said.
"Me neither," Jason joked.
"You don't even come here any more, silly," Kim laughed.
The laughing really helped her cope with everything. Kim had not told Tommy, but she had been having nightmares of that night. She could sometimes feel her head hit the floor.
"Neither did you until a few weeks ago," Jason said.
Zack pointed to a young boy wearing blue that was in the demonstration.
"Hey, who's that?" he asked.
"His name's Justin," Kat said.
"He's really good," Zack replied.
"Yeah, he is," Jason said.
He suddenly put his hand on his forehead.
"You're not having that premonition again, are you?" Kim asked.
"A little," Jason said.
She rolled her eyes. He was so stubborn not to ask for help.
"We need to have Alpha check you out while you're here," Billy insisted.
"Do you really think it's serious, Billy?" Tanya asked.
"If it's a premonition of the future, don't you want to at least try to prevent it?" he wondered.
"What if it's something that can't?" Jason asked. "If it can't be prevented, and I embrace this felling, I'm telling you all to be prepared and try to break it."
xxx
October 18, 1996
Jason tried to sleep on the plane back to New York, but he just could not.
"Are you going to be all right?" Trini asked.
Jason turned his head from the window and found Trini's eyes looking at him.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I was just thinking about what Zordon said earlier," he sighed.
"It's going to be all right bro," Zack said. Jason leaned forward and saw Zack. "You're going to get through this."
"Yeah, you weren't a Power Ranger for nothing," Trini whispered.
"Maybe you can take a vacation in the summer," Zack said.
"You guys don't want to come?" Jason asked.
"Can't," Trini frowned.
"Besides, you need some time to yourself," Zack said.
"Maybe Kim will come. That's if Tommy allows her to," Jason laughed.
Jason did not care if he spent time alone. He just needed to know everything was going to be fine.
xxx
April 30, 1997
The team had been called to the Power Chamber. Kim tagged along with them like she always had for nearly the past year now. She helped Billy the best she could before he had left in March.
"Zordon, what is it?" Tommy asked.
"Oh no, not cogs again," Adam moaned.
"You must stop them before they do anymore damage," Zordon said.
"Those things still give me the creeps," Kim shivered.
"That's because you were used to fighting putties and tengas," Alpha said.
"Man, it took me a long time to get over the creepy feeling of those putties," Rocky laughed.
They all gasped when they saw who was being attacked.
"Oh my God, they have Justin," Kat cried.
"It's morphin' time," Tommy yelled.
xxx
The five appeared where Justin was.
"Hold on, Justin," Rocky called.
Rocky ran over to his side.
"No offence, Blue Ranger, but I think I got it handled," Justin said.
Rocky could not help but give a little laugh. Justin had always been one to do things on his own.
"That you do, but isn't it nice to always have a little help?" Rocky asked.
"All right," Justin sighed.
"Man, these creeps are something else," Tommy said.
To everyone's surprise, Justin was holding himself pretty good. Then again, it was not too surprising. He had learned everything he knew from the best.
xxx
Kim could not believe what she was seeing.
"Tommy! Zordon, they have him surrounded," she panicked.
"There's nothing we can do, Kimberly," he said.
"Isn't there something I can do?" she asked.
"I'm afraid not," Alpha said.
"Man, I wish we still had the Gold Ranger's powers with us," Kim sighed. Kim could not stand looking at the viewing globe anymore. "Damn it, I wish I could morph." She turned back to look at the viewing globe. "Oh no, they're kicking him to the ground."
xxx
The battle had left Tommy's helmet cracked, revealing part of his face.
"Tommy?" Justin asked. Justin stood in shock. His karate teacher was a Power Ranger? "If you're the Red Ranger, then…" He turned towards the other rangers, who began to take off their helmets. "Unbelievable."
TBC
