KIRA
I head over to Dr. O's house. None of the seniors have school today since the younger students have to take some kind of standardized practice test, which is fine by me as it gives me extra time to work on my psych paper. I'm not going to write my paper on Zedd and Dr. O, exactly, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to observe them. For one thing it helps me get a better idea of how two alpha males that are together handle being together and not kill each other in the process. For another, if I'm honest, they are kind of a cute couple, and with how protective Zedd is over Dr. O it definitely shows a different side of my mentor I've never seen before.
I open the front door and I'm just about to announce my presence when I hear Dr. O. "I'm sorry! I can't!"
Quickly I head into the kitchen in time to see him disappear out the back door. Instantly, I switch to fighting mode. "Who did what?" I demand, more than a little surprised Zedd isn't instantly doing the same.
Jason sighs. "Nothing for you to worry about, Kira." Oh really now.
"With all due respect, Jason - wrong answer."
"It's complicated, young one" Pina says, though definitely looks concerned herself.
"Try me" I challenge.
"If I didn't know better I'd swear she was Zedd's child" Goldar remarks with a smirk.
Ignoring them for the most part I point to where my former mentor has just disappeared into the trees. "Someone just upset my mentor and teammate - former or not - and while you all seem just fine with that I'll be damned if I'll just stand by and not do something."
Jason sighs again. "Kira, I just asked him about giving a statement about the rehab facility and he got upset." You have got to be kidding me. No way is he that stupid.
I can't really curtail the tone in my voice - not that I'm really trying. "Oh, well, just that." I glare at him. "Are you kidding me? What the hell is wrong with you? Have you been taking lessons in cluelessness from Conner or is this all you?"
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah, excuse you. You know I'm not quite as clueless as the boys pretend to be and you apparently are. I have a damn good idea of what went on in that hellhole by how he flinches whenever it's brought up, or how he instinctively reaches for Zedd when someone mentions anything relating to injuries or medical attention."
"Clever" Zedd remarks thoughtfully.
"No just observant" I correct before turning back on Jason. "So you asked him to give a statement about what happened to him that he's obviously still struggling to cope with and chances are, you just dropped it on him like a ton of bricks."
Before I can go on, Jason snaps back, "No differently than I would have anything else. I know Tommy - and better than you do!"
I open my mouth to snap back, but quietly Zedd steps in even as he places a restraining hand in my shoulder. "You do know Thomas, Jason, but anything related to this still affects him very strongly. Several things still send him into an anxiety attack, not to mention he still has flashbacks."
This little bit of information stops Jason in his tracks. "He does?" he asks uncertainly.
Zedd stands up. "Yes, he does. I know you're in a bad position with your job Jason, but him reliving what occurred... It's very likely not going to happen and if it somehow does chances are you will have to be there to keep me from killing your employer when he upsets him. I'm going to go find him and make sure he's all right."
Impulsively, I say, "Let me." All the adults look at me, startled. "Please."
I head for the door in the stunned silence. I'm already outside before they react. I head into the woods. Dr. O was so upset he went through here like an elephant so it's not all that hard to follow him. Finally, I see him sitting on a log.
He sighs and says, "I'm a coward."
"No, you're not, Dr. O."
He jumps and spins around. "Kira! What are you doing here?"
I cross over to him as I answer. "Looking for you."
"Aren't you supposed to be in school?" Ever the teacher and adult.
"Nope. Seniors have off today and tomorrow for some testing thing."
"Oh."
"You seem disappointed" I tease, doing my best to lighten his mood even a bit.
"No, you know I'm always happy to see you, it's just..."
"You thought it'd be Zedd to come after you."
"He has a habit of it" he admits with a slight smile.
"I kind of beat him to it." Refocusing on what he'd said when I'd found him I dare to breach the topic at hand. "You aren't a coward, so why do you think you are? And please don't treat me like the others just did - like I don't have a clue."
He slumps on the log. "Yes, I am."
"Why?"
"Jason's boss wants me to give a statement about what happened before Zedd came for me, but I can't do it."
"Why?"
He's quiet for a long time. "Because - because I'm afraid" he admits.
"Everybody is afraid of something sometime. There's nothing wrong with it. It's how you choose to deal with it that matters. Didn't you tell me, Conner and Ethan that way back when we first became Rangers?"
"Did I? I don't remember that." Fantastic.
Recalling something else he's told us when we were having trouble dealing with being Rangers I give it a go, "How about this? You give me three good reasons to do it and three good reasons not to do it."
He thinks for a minute. "To help the patients that can't help themselves, to make sure it doesn't happen again and - and I guess Zedd would say for justice for me."
"Good. And three reasons not to?"
"I'm afraid, I don't want to remember it again and - and -" He falls silent.
"And?" I prod.
"And those aren't good reasons. They are reasons, but not good ones." I wait, sure that he'll come to the right conclusion. When he does speak again, his voice is stronger. "I need to do this."
"For your own closure, if nothing else" I agree.
"I don't know how I'm going to do it, though. If I lose it during the interview, Zedd is going to kill Jason's boss and then Jason is going to need a new job, and then it's going to be this whole big thing on top of me freaking out."
I think for a minute. "What you need is reminders that we're all behind you." I dig in my pocket for a minute. When I find what I'm looking for, I press it in his hand. "Take this with you when you go. Get a small something from Zedd and the others, too. When you start to get overwhelmed, find one of these tokens and remember that we're all here for you. Your friends, your students, your mate and his family - everybody."
He looks surprised. "That - might work. Thanks, Kira."
I nudge him with my shoulder. "You've helped us a lot, Dr. O. I'm glad I could help you a little bit." I stand up. "Come on. Let's go back before Zedd tears up Jason and or the house." He chuckles a little and stands as well. "And don't lose that. It's important."
He opens his hand to see what I put in it. "Why is this guitar pick important? I mean, besides it's yours."
"It's very old but I think you need it more than I do right now." At his curious look, I say, "One day, I'll tell you, but not right now."
I lead him back to the house. We barely clear the tree line before the back door flies open.
"Thomas!"
"Tommy!"
It feels like I did something good today. I head around the house to leave. The grown ups need to talk, and I can come by tomorrow to work on my paper, after all. I'm almost to the car when I hear Zedd hail me. "Girl - Kira - wait."
I can barely contain my amusement as I turn. "Girl?"
He shrugs. "At least I remembered your name - and that because I like you and not because I want to destroy you. I can never remember the males' names."
I raise an eyebrow at this. "Oh really? And how do you refer to them?"
"By their colors - or annoying habits."
I can't help but laugh. "Then I'll take it as a compliment."
"You should. Just so you know, I was serious about you joining us when you get tired of Earth life." At my surprised look, he continues seriously. "Thomas likes you. He talked about the other children while recovering, but mostly about you. I think he views you as a younger sibling or daughter of sorts and after today I can in a way see why." I'm startled into silence. "Thank you for helping my mate."
"Sometimes it's all about perspective. I'll come by and see him after he does give his statement. I'm saving some things to tell him for afterward."
Now he looks curious. "We'll let you know."
"Thanks. See you later." I get in and leave, thinking about what the boys could contribute to help our mentor.
