ZEDD

I watch the girl leave, once again struck by how much she reminds me of Thomas. I wasn't lying to her when I said I liked her, she has potential I don't normally see or bother to look for in many people, especially human children, and having her around might give Scorpina an actual female companion that I know she lacks in our family, and Thomas some sort of connection to his friends and family here.

Thinking over ways to tempt her join my business when she matures a bit more I head back inside to my once again calm mate. No sooner do I reach the kitchen than I hear Jason ask him, "Are you sure about this, bro? I mean, if it's going to be a problem-"

"It's kind of already a problem Jase, if I don't do it your boss is either going to hold you responsible for me taking off or come find me himself, neither of which would end well."

"Tommy I don't care if he wants to try and lay blame at me for you taking off, if you can't do this then that's the end of it. There's no way in hell I'm going to force you to, especially not if you're still having trouble dealing with what happened. You're my family Tommy, you're way more important to me than what my boss thinks, and honestly had I known you were still struggling to deal I never would have even mentioned it to you." Well that's one point in his favor I suppose. Recalling how the girl had pointed out the Red Ranger's lack of observation concerning his best friend's behavior during our time here so far, I again wonder myself how he did miss such obvious signs of distress.

"You'll get in trouble."

"I'll be fine."

"No, you won't, but it's not exactly just about you either, no offense. Besides Kira gave me a suggestion, Jase, that I think might help. Plus if Zedd's relatively nearby, he might be able to help me through the bond." Oh don't worry Zedd will be nearby, as in three inches away from you at most nearby. Already displeased that this man refused to listen to Jason where the matter was concerned, and is pushing my mate despite others having gone through the same things, he'll be lucky if he survives my initial introduction to him.

I enter the kitchen fully as Pina asks, "What was the suggestion, Tommy?"

He blushes fiercely. "She loaned me a little something to take with me as a reminder of her support. She suggested that I get small things from each of you as well and when I start to have a problem, find one of them and let it remind me that you all are here for me." And the girl just got few more points in my book.

"What did she give you, Thomas?"

"Lent not given" he corrects me. He holds out his hand, showing me a small almost triangular piece of plastic. Puzzled, I look at him. "Remember I told you that Kira has a band? She also plays guitar and this is used to do that. She said that it's important and asked me not to lose it - which I wouldn't want to anyway."

We all try and think of something that we could let Thomas use. "It can be anything?" Dar asks.

"Something small" Thomas nods. "I want to be able to put things in various pockets or wear them." At this, Jason suddenly hurries out of the room. Shortly after, so do Pina and Dar. Unfortunately, I'm coming up with all of nothing and despite my desire to be there with him, I still feel a bit bad I can't think of something to give him as well.

"I'm sorry, Thomas. I can't think of anything right now."

"It's okay, Zedd. You'll be nearby and I'll be able to feel you through the bond." Still, I'd like him to have something, if anything just so it'll distract and comfort him if I'm busy killing his friend's employer.

Shortly, the three return. Jason hands him a red tie, Pina gives him a small scorpion pin and Dar hands him a small charm that would go on a necklace. Thomas gives them all questioning looks. Jason speaks first. "The first color you knew me by and something you can wear - plus it's the only color we shared."

Smiling a bit, Thomas shakes his head. "We shared green too" he reminds his friend.

"Yeah, but that wasn't under the best of circumstances."

"True." Looking at what Pina handed him next he doesn't seem overly surprised by her choice. "Scorpion pin."

Pina says, "It's the first thing I bought for myself after I changed my name." Looking at the charm her mate had given him, she adds something that honestly surprises me. "Though I see Dar went in the opposite direction with his token of affection."

Dar reddens slightly, something I rarely have seen him do without anger being involved. "It's - my family crest" he explains, making me realize suddenly how far he has actually come to caring about my mate and viewing him as family now. Especially given the fact I myself have never seen or been told what family he comes from, despite him being aware of mine. "I keep it to remind me what I left behind and why."

We all look at him curiously, but he shakes his head. "It's a story for another time."

I get a quick look at the crest before Thomas closes his hand around it. It seems familiar, but I can't place it just now. "I'll be very careful with it" he promises.

"I know. I wouldn't have lent it to you otherwise" Dar responds, still looking slightly uncomfortable.

Sparing my friend any more embarrassment, I say, "Now you just need things from the female and the boys."

He nods. "Wonder what they'll come up with." He looks at Pina. "Before I forget, would you look at my back? It feels a lot better today and I'd rather you look before Zedd does and threatens to resurrect Mesogog so he can kill him all over again."

Pina nods and they head out of the room. In their absence, Jason clears his throat. "Zedd, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course." Already wondering what the problem is as he clearly has waited until my mate has left the room to bring it up, I give him my full focus.

"Listen, I wanted to apologize to you. I shouldn't have snapped at Kira and I shouldn't have acted like I'm the only person who knows Tommy. It was just instinct, you know. I mean…he's my brother, blood or not, that's who he is to me and I love him and the thought of someone else trying to tell me who he is it just…"

"I get it" I say calmly, knowing exactly how he feels, as despite him knowing Thomas longer than I have, the bond alone makes me just as defensive of my position in his life. It's also quite probably why he was so hostile when Thomas had his drinking session - to put it nicely.

"I know you do. Apparently better than I do these days."

"He didn't offer up anything to me, if that's what's upsetting you Jason. If I wasn't around him constantly and able to use the bond to check on him I honestly would have no clue how upset and affected he still is over the matter."

"Yeah, um, speaking of that…listen there's a part of this you aren't going to like. I didn't think initially would even be an issue, but after what you told me and how he first reacted to the notion of talking about all this I think it's something I'm going to have to bring up now."

Instantly, I'm on alert and ready to fight. "What?"

He hesitates. "Tommy has to go in alone." And that's not happening.

"Not a chance."

"There's not really a choice. They have to know that his statement is his own and not coerced in any way." At least he has the sense to look unhappy, though that's still not going to do anything to win me over on this matter.

"I don't care! I will not make him face this alone and if you try and make him do such a thing I will take him home, your boss and the entire matter be damned!"

I'm surprised when Dar interjects. "Not that I'm overly fond of the idea myself having seen some of his panic attacks before, but he has improved a lot recently."

Narrowing my eyes, I give him a heated glare. "What's your point?"

Sighing and looking reluctant to continue, he in the end says exactly what I don't wish to hear. "It might do him some good, Zedd. Especially if he has the opportunity to face his tormentors."

Astounded, I turn to him fully, certain he's lost his mind. "Are you serious?"

"If you did as much damage to this human he calls Big John as you think you did, it would certainly show Tommy that he's no threat anymore."

"Not to mention that his testimony would get you out of trouble as well" Jason adds.

"Excuse me?"

"Technically, as far as anyone knows, you're human, as explaining just who and what you are would lead to a whole new mess of issues and questions that would very likely expose other parts of Tommy's life he doesn't need exposed."

"I really don't see what that has to do with-"

Holding up a hand he cuts me off quickly. "Let me finish. As a supposed human, despite them still not being able to identify who you are, thankfully, in their eyes you're still guilty of breaking and entering, kidnapping, and assault and battery given the fact you attacked three other humans after breaking into the facility and before kidnapping Tommy" Jason points out. "By our laws, you should be in jail yourself." You must be joking.

"But I was protecting Thomas!"

"I know that, you know that, and Tommy knows that, but until they hear the story from him, there's no proof of that - just your word against John's."

Thomas' quiet voice comes from the doorway. "And what does John say happened?"

Sighing unhappily and looking to his friend, Jason is clearly not pleased over the matter. "He said that you were out of control, had a history of assaulting the staff, and that he and the others were just trying to get you back to your room without anyone getting hurt in the process when Zedd showed up out of nowhere and attacked them all. He said he made an effort to protect you but Zedd managed to get the upper hand, almost killing him and taking you once he was down."

Looking as disbelieving as I am, Thomas shakes his head slowly. "You've got to be kidding."

"I'm not. And again while we all know it's a load of bull, and my boss for the most part believes that as well, your history in martial arts, combined with your well documented hatred and refusal to cooperate with anyone in the medical profession, thanks to your self-releases from the hospital against medical recommendation in the past makes his story just believable enough to not be instantly dismissed. Well that and his completely pulverized wrist and massive head trauma."

"As well as the damage Zedd did to your other attackers, I'd wager" Goldar adds, making Jason nod in agreement.

"So thus the problem of him accusing Zedd of being the actual threat."

"As if" Thomas snorts. "That's not even close to what happened."

"Again, I know" Jason agrees.

"Fine, so I attacked them. Whatever. They think they can capture me, I welcome them to attempt it" I inform the human, hardly worried about their simple little laws or the inept enforcers of them. "However given that I was only there long enough to injure them and snatch Thomas, I don't see how that buys them an excuse for all of the other humans that they harmed there. I may be fast, but not fast enough to do damage to every patient in the building."

"Yeah, they're not blaming you for that, as like you said there's no real way to. However, right now most of the patients are so bad off, they can't testify due to either being too afraid, too injured, or still so damaged from the drugs they have no clue where they even are right now. Tommy is actually one of the few that can and it'll hold any kind of weight."

"So I already said that I'd do it. Why did it come up again?"

"I told Zedd that you'd have to do it alone." Again - not happening.

About to reassure him that I won't allow that to come to pass I'm stunned into brief silence at what comes out of my mate's mouth. "Well, yeah. So what?"

"But Thomas-"

"They have to know that I'm not being intimidated or coached in any way, Zedd. They have to know that it's me saying it and not because I'm afraid."

"I'm your mate, there's no reason for you to be afraid of me" I reason, earning a somewhat indulgent smile from him.

"I know, but that's not quite how things work here, Zedd. They don't know anything about bonding, or our history together. All they know is you showed up and took me, and while yes it was for a good reason, there's a good chance they may not believe that if you're standing there holding me."

"But again, we're mates. Bonding aside, the fact that we share a bed should be enough to convince them I'm not going to harm or threaten you."

"Actually, that might make it worse" Jason says, taking me by surprise once more.

"What?"

Sharing a look with Thomas, who doesn't disagree, the former Ranger continues seriously. "Listen, again, we know you love Tommy, I'm not arguing that at all. However here…look, think of it like this, say you didn't know me okay? Say I'm just some random person. Now Tommy's sick, he's in the hospital, as far as you know getting treatment for being sick. One day I come along and just take him from said hospital, no explanation, no reason that you know of, I just beat the hell out of the nursing staff and take him. What would you do?"

"Find you and kill you."

Nodding and seeming fine with this, Jason continues. "Fair enough. Okay, now in that same scenario, say you didn't find me and kill me, say I eluded you for a few months and then all of the sudden one day I show back up with Tommy, just out of the blue. He's seems fine, I seem fine, but I won't let him tell you anything about why I took him or what I did with him while I had him. What would you do?"

"Still kill you."

"Okay. Still same scenario, only now, before you can kill me, I bring Tommy to you and tell you that you can't kill me, because despite kidnapping him, holding him captive, as far you know, and letting him have no contact with his friends or family, again as far as you know, that he now loves me and has been having sex with me on daily basis. Now what would you do?"

"Tear you the hell apart piece by piece."

"Why?"

"Because you're not going to stand there and convince me that my mate willingly let you bed him after-" Fuck.

"After what?" Freaking humans.

Sighing and knowing I've been defeated, I fix the former Red Ranger with a hateful look. "After you took him and kept him from me, for all I know against his will."

"Exactly."

Laying his hand on my arm and no doubt feeling my anger through the bond, Thomas is fast to reassure me. "It'll be okay, Zedd. I'm not going to let them think bad of you or of us."

"Then if I can't go in, what about Jason? It's his boss, he'll know he's not forcing you to say anything against your will and at the very least it will be some kind of comfort and reassurance you're safe."

"Probably not" he responds even as the dark haired male in question shakes his head. "Which is why I want you as close as possible. At least if I can feel you through the bond, it'll help." Right, until you get upset and I lose my temper and call an end to the entire thing.

Seeing that I'm getting all of nowhere, I shake my head. "I still don't like it."

Thomas sighs and switches to Eltarian. "Get out of protector mode, kalleimat."

I sigh myself. "Sorry. It's just what I do. You're my mate, and despite you disliking my need to protect you I can't help but still feel compelled to do it. After all, you were upset by the mere mention of the idea not all that long ago." And I need to find a way to reward the young woman who brought the calmness about.

"Yes, I was but I'm not now. And I trust Jason. If he says it's necessary, then it must be."

The former Ranger in question looks suspicious. "What are you saying about me?"

Both of us looking to him and unable to help laughing at his look and paranoia, Thomas returns to his native language to reassure his friend. "Sorry, Jason. I was saying that I trust you and if you say it's necessary for me to do this then it is." I'm still not happy about it and I don't see that changing in the near future, though I suppose for now I don't have much of a choice but to go along with the human's way of doing it.

"He lies, he said you smell funny."

Rolling his eyes at my immature jab, Thomas smacks me lightly on the arm. "I did not, now go behave before I chase you out into the woods."

"Tempting."

Ignoring our jabs for the most part, Jason is still focused on the matter at hand. "You're sure about this."

"I'm sure."

Slowly, Jason pulls out his phone. "I'll let him know that you'll do it. When?"

"As soon as possible, but preferably tomorrow." At Jason's questioning look, Thomas says, "It'll give me a chance to get the rest of the tokens."

Jason nods and heads out of the room, saying, "I'll call Hayley too about something for you to take."

A COUPLE HOURS LATER

Thomas and I are curled up together on the couch, watching TV and occasionally trading kisses. Pina says that by tomorrow Thomas' back should be almost back to normal, which will be nice as not only have I been concerned about him accidentally hurting himself while tossing in his sleep, I'd be lying if I didn't say I greatly miss being able to take him properly without fear of making his injuries worse.

"So, just a thought, but why exactly do the humans on this show believe everything these other humans say so blindly with absolutely no proof given and no way to actually mate with them?"

Smiling and looking up from the show, Thomas shrugs slightly. "It's how people are sometimes. They desperately want to believe in love and so they ignore certain rather obvious signs that something is wrong and the other person is lying to them."

"And what does that have to do with catfish?"

"It doesn't really have anything to do with the animal, they just call the show 'Catfish' because that's become a term they coined for people who use the internet to meet other people and use lies and deceit to make them fall in love with them and think they will become mates." Odd, odd species.

"But even if they weren't lying they still can't mate if they're not physically together."

"Well yeah, but…I don't know, it's what was on." Laughing and handing me the remote he shakes his head. "Here you can try to find something else but there's not much on at three in the afternoon."

"There was that one show about the four children with round heads."

"If anyone would have told me a year ago I'd by laying on the couch with you watching 'South Park' I swear I'd have had them committed."

"Well we could always turn the TV off and do a bit more than just lay on the couch together" I offer.

"Really now, that might just be-"

We're both startled when there's a sharp knock at the door, making us both groan slightly in annoyance. "Who is it?" Thomas calls out, apparently unwilling to leave my arms now that we've found a comfortable position for us both.

"It's us!" That's not a name, red boy.

Thomas gives me a parting kiss and a look that promises more later as he extracts himself from me. "Come in!"

All three of the boys troop in and it's all I can do not to tear them apart for interrupting. "Hey, Dr. O. How're you doing?"

"Pina says that I'll be almost back to normal by tomorrow" he answers. "What are you guys up to?"

The blue one speaks. "Kira came by to see us."

Thomas winces. "I wish she hadn't done that. I was going to call you guys later."

"No big deal" Trent shrugs. "Either way, we brought you some things."

Conner pulls a small cloth bag from his pocket, commenting, "This is from Hayley." I can already smell the coffee it contains and so can Thomas. The teen continues, "She said that she would have sent a pen, but she didn't have enough time to find the one she wanted - whatever that means."

Thomas bursts out laughing. "I know what she wanted to send. It has to do with how we met." At the questioning look, he explains, "She was on her way to class and dropped her pen in the stairwell. She bent over to get it and dropped her books. Just then I came around the corner, late for class as always and fell over her."

Once the laughter settles down, Conner digs in his pocket again. "Here."

The other two also hand him small things. I look over Thomas' shoulder. A small medal with a red ribbon and I don't know what the other two things are but Thomas seems to recognize them and smiles. "Thanks guys. I'll get them back to you as soon as I can."

"It's cool, though I don't suppose you're gonna tell us what you want them for" Conner questions much to my and Thomas' surprise.

"I thought you said Kira came by to see you."

"She did, but all she'd tell us was you had something you had to do and you needed something small from each of us to do it." Clever girl.

"I uh, yeah, it's complicated" Thomas says with much more calm than I know he actually feels. "I'll explain later."

"All right, well we'll let you get back to your program" Conner says, waving his hand at the TV.

"You guys don't have to rush off" Thomas protests.

"Actually, we do. We have a ton of homework. The new science teacher is kind of rough - even for me." Ethan shakes his head. "We'll see you later."

They leave quickly, much to my relief, but Thomas' slight disappointment it seems. "What did they give you, love?"

"This is some kind of medal. Knowing Conner, it has something to do with soccer. This is a flash drive, used for storing computer files which is right up Ethan's alley. And this one is an art eraser - Trent's an artist."

Once more, I feel bad that I can't think of something to give him - to have in the room with him since I can't be. I know he can feel it too when he suddenly puts the small objects down and snuggles into my side. "Don't worry about it, Zedd. I'll be able to feel you. It'll be enough. Honestly, I'm more worried about you staying calm if I get upset."

If? Is he serious? Doesn't he mean when? Not about to argue his statement, however, I just sigh and turn my attention back to the screen. Well, I pretend to as I'm still trying to think of something - anything really - to give him. Suddenly, he stands up, surprising me. "I'll be right back."

Puzzled at his sudden departure, I wait impatiently for my mate's return. When he does, I can't help but ask, "What was all that about?"

"I was thinking that the token idea might work for you, too. I mean I know you'll be close and I don't doubt you'll keep a very close watch on me through the bond so to speak, but I figured this way you'd have something to hold and focus on since you can't hold me."

"That's very sweet love, but, Thomas, what in the hell could you give me that-" I stop dead as I see what he holds out to me. Slowly, I take it. "You still have this?"

"Obviously." He sounds amused. "I wasn't about to let anyone else get their hands on it and find a way to recharge it. That's all we needed - another evil Green Ranger running around to battle. However since you're not exactly in that line of work anymore and I know I'm the only Ranger you want, I don't know, it just seems appropriate to give it to you now."

I close my hand tightly around the cold coin, knowing that there is indeed a way to recharge it and it would be dark magic, just like before. Unreasonably grateful that he kept it safe, there's a lump in my throat and I give him a tight hug.

"Jeez, had I known it'd get you this worked up I would have given it to you before now" he jests, hugging me back and looking a tad confused now.

"You have no idea." I clear my throat and ask, "Did you know that Rita borrowed this from me?"

He frowns as I release him and he reclaims his seat next to me. "I don't think so."

"She borrowed it from me and manipulated the magic in it so that she could control whomever she gave it to."

Thomas considers this for a minute and then says something that, while showing me just how far he's come from when I picked him up, also scares the hell out of me. "I wonder if that's how we became bonded all those years ago."

Instantly, I'm on my feet. "No!"

Looking surprised by my outburst he much to my agitation continues not realizing just how grave of a thing he's saying. "What? Zedd what's wrong? It's just if the coin was yours and connected to you I mean it's logical the think that maybe that's how- "

Not about to have this, I cut him off firmly, unable to hide the desperation in my voice. "Don't say that, Thomas! Don't ever say that! I wouldn't- I didn't-"

There is confusion and concern in his eyes. "Easy, Zedd. I'm sorry. What did I say wrong?"

I can't explain. Thankfully, Pina speaks from the stairs. "Because, Tommy, that's one way to create a forced bond. His magic was in that coin."

Thomas frowns as he thinks about this. I'm all but holding my breath as I wait to see how he'll react to this new information. Pina and Dar come over and sit down, Dar in the armchair and Pina perched on the arm, as they wait too. Finally, he says hesitantly, "Okay, so…Do you not want to be bonded anymore then?"

I really don't know what to make of his question, and my own fear and agitation is making it hard for me to focus and decipher the reason for the hurt I now feel from him. "Do you?"

He shrugs and leans back into the couch, hissing slightly in discomfort. "I'm fine with it, but you seem to be really upset. I'm not sure why you're so upset, as I thought you liked being bonded to me, so I don't really understand what it matters now how or why we are, but obviously it does to you." I can only blink at him. Does he truly understand what he may have stumbled upon? Can he grasp the magnitude of it? Even Pina and Dar are staring at him incredulously.

"I don't think you really understand" Dar comments.

Thomas takes a breath. "Okay, so explain it to me then. What's the difference between a regular bond and a forced bond?"

Pina's tone switches to doctor mode. "A forced bond is usually used for control. In this case, with Zedd being full Eltarian and as it was his magic, he'd be able to - command you and you'd have no choice but to do as you were told. You'd be compelled to obey."

"A forced bond is what some do with pets" Dar adds seriously. "It's not something any of us approve of, but it is why despite your bond to Zedd some will still believe you to be a pet, because a bond doesn't all of the time mean equals or mates by choice."

Suddenly he starts laughing. "Well, then this definitely isn't a forced bond. Even when I held the coin but wasn't evil anymore, I'd be contrary just because. He'd tell me to surrender or come back to their side and I'd argue and defy him." In my distress, I'd forgotten about that. "And really, it's no different now. Even as strong as the bond has become and since I've gotten better, I'll still defy him if I feel it's necessary. Remember the argument we had about me working in the lab so much?"

"When you refused to sleep in our bed? Too well."

"If this was a forced bond, would I have been able to do that?"

"Well, no, but as I recall, you didn't sleep that night at all."

"That was because I was angry and I was afraid I'd have a nightmare and have to come running to you" he admits much to my surprise. "It would have defeated my purpose at the time - to make you see I was serious, and that I needed you to take what I said seriously."

As much as I hate to admit it, him coming to me because of a nightmare would have definitely undermined his purpose - and I'd have been an unbearable ass because of it, without a doubt. "You were rather angry when you perceived my request to curtail your hours in the lab as an order."

Now that my own emotions are settling once more, I can feel the irritation flicker in him. "And I told you that saying you wanted to spend more time with me didn't make it less of an order."

Stopping the argument before it can really get started, Pina says, "Okay, enough. So it's not a forced bond, which is a good thing. But, yes, Tommy, odds are if it was a forced bond then we would have tried to find a way to break it without hurting either of you as you would eventually find yourself rather unhappy with the situation and Zedd would very likely drive himself crazy trying not to say or do anything that you could perceive as a command or order."

"You would huh?"

I nod emphatically. "I don't want you with me because you have to be, Thomas, but rather because you want to be. I would never force someone to be with me against their will, I would never want someone to be with me against their will."

"I understand" he assures me. "And trust me Zedd, I want to be with you. I wasn't trying to upset you by implying I was with you for any other reason, all I meant was maybe the coin was what drew us together. I mean how do we know that's not what started the bond in the first place?"

"Because we aren't bonded by magic" I answer. "Again, that would be a kind of forced bond - where it's bridged by magic. More or less resulting in the same situation with one mate dominating the other."

"Unless" he says, tone teasing "that is the case." What now?

"But you said you didn't feel compelled to obey me" I remind him.

"Right. I don't feel the need to obey you, but what if I'm actually the dominant one and you have to obey me?" Really now?

Dar sighs. "As amusing as that thought is, I highly doubt it's the case Tommy. As again, the arguments you've been having make that impossible as well."

Smiling and giving a nod he at least seems to agree. "Which is good, despite the fact it would be, as you said, amusing for a brief time. In the end though I wouldn't like that either."

"Nor I" I agree. The mere idea of being under someone else's control like that makes my skin crawl.

"So it's fine. I want to be with you Zedd. No one forced anyone, okay?" he asks/states looking at me seriously. "I know how I'd feel if I didn't, Zedd. Trust me, I'm going tomorrow to talk about just that, so please believe me when I say I'd know the difference between doing something with you because you want me to, and doing something with you because I want to."

"Still wish you'd let me go in with you."

"I know, but you can't. And that too should prove it's not a forced bond."

"What if something goes wrong?"

Sighing and looking at Pina and Dar for help Thomas rolls his eyes as he only gets shrugs and curious looks from them in response. "Okay fine, something goes wrong then you have my permission to jump to the rescue and save me, but until then, you have to behave and not kill or maim any people, or destroy any property. Deal?" This may be difficult.

"Deal."