TOMMY

Mr. Scott left me alone with Jason after a little while. I've talked to him about everything I can think of, mostly the old days and the gang, hoping something will get some kind of response. He hardly looks like himself. Between the machines, the bloody bandages on his chest and how pale and thin and small he looks in the bed, I could almost convince myself that it's a mistake, that it's not really him. But then my eyes will stray to scars from old battles and I know how he got many of them and I can't deny the truth, as much as I'd like to.

After what seems like far too little time, a nurse comes in to chase me out. After telling Jason that I'll be back tomorrow, I leave the room reluctantly. Kira's gone, but the rest of the adults are here and seem to be getting along, though Zedd does seem a bit more fidgety than normal. That in mind I suddenly feel a little guilty that I hadn't thought of Zedd once since I went in and I know I was in there for quite a while if the clock on the wall is anything to go by. I'll make it up to him later - even though he doesn't know that there's anything for me to make up for. There's a nagging thought that he'd be the same way if it was Goldar in there, but I push it away. He's not and Jason is.

Trudging towards the group, I'm not surprised as Zedd sees me first. I answer his questioning look. "Nurse kicked me out."

Immediately, he comes over and takes me in his arms. I have no doubt he can see how hard this is for me, not to mention he can always tell when I've been crying. It doesn't happen nearly as often as it did when he first rescued me, for which I'm grateful. After a while, he says, "Why don't we go back to the house, get some food and rest and come back later?"

"I guess." Really, what else is there to do? It would be nice if I could get my hands on the bastard that did this. I wonder if Brady would let me beat on the guy for a while - a long while…until he's nothing but a puddle. For the moment, I bank the spark of revenge that's burning in my heart. First thing's first. I have to know if Jason's going to make it so I know whether or not to kill the son of a bitch. I bring myself back to the here and now. "Let's go."

We say our goodbyes and head out to the car, though not before Jason's mother exchanges one more look with my mate. Wanting to ask him about it I however can't bring myself to focus enough at the moment to. In all honestly I'm so shaken I can't even put the keys in the ignition when we get settled in the jeep. After a few tries, Zedd takes them from me. "Why don't you let me drive, love?"

Okay, what now? "Since when do you drive?"

He sighs. "Just because you haven't seen me do it, doesn't mean that I can't, Thomas." Good, solid, kindergarten logic right there.

Sighing and shaking my head, I try to be reasonable and as polite as possible when I can finally bring myself to respond. "Zedd this isn't exactly like the ships" I inform him seriously.

"Thomas, no offense love, but your planet is hardly that advanced. And you're right, it's not like the ships."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning if I can manage a space cruiser, I think I can handle your Jeep." Oh really now.

My eyes narrow. "So you really think you can drive. On Earth. A stick shift."

"It's not rocket science. I'm sure I can figure it out." This could be amusing if I don't have to replace the entire transmission first. Well, or he will.

I unbuckle my belt and get out. "Okay. Go ahead."

We change places and refasten our seat belts. I watch, growing more and more amused, as he fails to even get the Jeep started. After his tenth failed attempt he growls, "What the hell? I've seen you start this thing a dozen times."

"Apparently you weren't watching as closely as you thought. Or you were distracted by the scenery." I give him a few more tries before I stop him. "I'm fine now, kalleimat. I'll drive."

We change once again and in no time, I have the vehicle started and backed out of the parking spot. "What in all the hells did you do differently?"

"Used the clutch," I answer dryly. Since I know that he's now paying more attention to the procedures than the driver, I deliberately exaggerate my movements so that he can see how to do this. In no time at all, we're back at the house and he's fuming.

"I've conquered entire planets and I was defeated by a simple lever! Who in all the hells designs a vehicle that damn complicated? It makes no sense!" It's really all I can do to keep my amusement under control at his rant - until his next statement. "It's bad enough that woman figured out that I'm the same Lord Zedd that nearly enslaved this horrible planet, but then to be beaten by a machine - it's enough to make me want to destroy something!"

"Wait, what? What do you mean that Mrs. Scott figured out you were the same - what the hell did you - how did she - just what?"

The look he's wearing now very clearly says 'oops'. Once more his mouth has gotten him in trouble, this time with me. He clears his throat, now looking more than a little nervous. "Now, Thomas, love, don't get upset."

"Explain, quickly, and then we'll see how upset I am" I instruct seriously.

Sighing, his response is not really helping his case or my mood at the moment. "I didn't tell her, exactly. She's just a lot more insightful than most of your species and none of us accounted for that."

"Okay, but how?"

He sighs again, but at least gives me a clearer idea of what occurred after I left the room. "Apparently, it was a combination of things. The way I speak, the look I exchanged with you and our amusement, something she called mother's intuition and she - guessed - from there. If it helps she seemed somewhat okay with it after Hayley and Kira explained that Jason knew and felt you safe with me." Yeah that's not helping.

Knowing it's not really his fault, I'm about to press further on her reaction when something he said catches up with me and I frown in confusion. "The way you speak? When would she ever have - oh." Abruptly I remember there were a few times that Zedd was featured on the news back in the day when some 'lucky' news crew just happened to be nearby filming something else when he'd take it upon himself to actually show up in person. "Oh hell." Also recalling how he'd always called me Thomas when facing off against me I feel the color drain from my face. "Zedd, what exactly did she say about me when she realized who you were?"

"Nothing really as she seemed far too focused on me at the time and any possible threat that I might pose to you." Okay, still not helping. He's quick to reassure me however. "She seems to understand that I am no longer that person though and that I do really have your best interests at heart. Kira and Hayley assured her of as much as well, since she can't confirm it with Jason. Although it did seem to irritate her quite a bit that a former student of yours saw more of you on our last two visits than she did. Oh, and we owe Kira again for covering for us on that, too."

Never mind that she was quick on the name thing to keep Mr. Scott from jumping Zedd, but she saved us again? "What did she do this time?"

Zedd chuckles lightly. "Actually, she told Jason's mother that she'd had a crush on you when you were her teacher and that she'd come over quite a bit without being invited - until she figured out that we were together."

Head in hand, I respond, "I don't know what she's going to college for, but if it's anything that doesn't require her to think fast in stressful situations, her skills are going to be wasted."

"All the more reason for her to figure that out and come work for me - well, with us."

"Give her time, Zedd, she's barely starting her life. Besides, it's embarrassing enough when Goldar and Scorpina walk in on us when we're spur of the moment mating or making out somewhere besides our bedroom. I really don't want Kira to see that too." I can feel my face redden. "Not that I mind the variety though."

"You were particularly fond of our round in the turret" he agrees. He comes over and takes me in his arms. "Wouldn't like to try for a repeat, would you, love?"

I stare at him in disbelief. "Zedd, I don't know when Hayley will be home and I'm not sure where Jason's parents are staying and I definitely don't want them to walk in on us thinking one of us is killing the other…or you know, fucking the hell out of one another."

Now he looks definitely unhappy. "So what are you suggesting? That we stop mating until we go home?"

I roll my eyes at his pitiful expression as well as his dramatic take on my refusal to mate in the middle of the living room. "Of course not. I'm suggesting that we stay in the ship where we can be as loud as we want without disturbing anyone or being disturbed. After we eat. Food" I add quickly, seeing the gleam in his eyes and knowing what he's going to suggest.

He sighs. "All right, Thomas. If you insist."

I kiss him quickly and head for the house, getting in swiftly. A quick sniff in the house tells me that, yes, Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been staying here with Hayley which means we might not just be mating on the ship but actually crashing there as well as I'm uncertain where we'd sleep here now. Deciding to figure that out after dinner, I head for the kitchen, Zedd on my heels. I find a note from the boys basically telling me that they had to go and we'll have to do pizza another day. I sigh and head for the fridge, hoping that there's something to work with.

Poking around, I realize that it's not well stocked, but I've managed to make meals with less - either because I was nearly broke or because I was so busy I didn't get to the store. Sighing again, I pull out what I need and get started. In no time, I've got the meal going and my thoughts return to Jason - and the desire to punish the one responsible. For some reason, I'm really having a hard time shaking the need for revenge. I mean, yeah, it was there when I was dealing with Annwyl, but once I knew that Zedd was going to be okay, it wasn't so bad. Maybe that's all I need? To know that Jason will be okay? Or is it because we've been in each other's lives for so long? Too many battles covering each other and getting revenge for each other?

"Thomas, your pot is boiling over." Zedd's voice brings me back to the present.

"Huh?"

He points to the stove. Cursing, I deal with the situation. Fortunately, nothing was ruined by my distraction and I get the meal finished with no further mishaps in spite of my difficulty in keeping my mind on task. I realize that Zedd notices my distraction when he says, "What's on your mind, love?"

I look up from my plate and see the concerned look on my mate's face. "I'm sorry, Zedd. I haven't been very attentive, have I?"

"No apologies needed. You're worried about Jason. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. I just have a deep desire to go beat the hell out of the guy that put him there."

He nods calmly. "I'd be surprised if you didn't. At least with Annwyl, you were able to get your hands on him right away. This time, you can't and it's frustrating."

"Oh, I probably could. One phone call to Brady to find out where he is and I could do it. And, believe me, it's very tempting."

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" What now? Zedd suggesting that I restrain myself? I stare at him, confused. "After all, you know that anywhere they keep him is going to have cameras and you really don't want to deal with that mess. I'm sure you want to be able to keep coming to visit and it'll be difficult if you're a wanted man."

"You'd be surprised what the Ninjetti powers are capable of, Zedd."

I jump slightly and then pale at the sound of Mr. Scott's voice and what he says. "Don't do that, please, son. You're better than that to misuse your powers."

"I - what?"

Mrs. Scott smiles gently at me. "Honey, we've known for a long time about you and Jason and the rest. We'd seen you all spar with Jason so often, did you really think we wouldn't recognize your different fighting styles? You, Zack and Kim all had very distinctive ways. Never mind once you joined them instead of fighting against them and somebody with a big mouth insisting on calling you by name."

Zedd reddens, but quickly defends himself. "On most worlds, Rangers aren't required to keep their identities a secret. I mean, when Rita first turned him evil, it made sense so that the other Rangers couldn't try and break the spell outside of battle, but otherwise, it usually just isn't done."

Seeing the confused looks on the Scotts' faces, I nod in agreement. "Andros, the Red Space Ranger, is a prince on his planet and Trey, the Gold Ranger, is a high ranking lord on his. The way I understand it, on their worlds, they start training when they're about the equivalent of ten years old or so." I wave a hand at the stove. "There's food ready. It's not fantastic, but it's something."

The three head for the stove as Hayley says, "I'll move into Jason's room while you're here so that you can-"

I cut her off. "No, Hayley. I know that the agreement was that I'd be able to stay here when I come to visit, but we didn't expect something like this. Keep your room, Sis."

"Well, then we'll go to a hotel" Mr. Scott says.

"No, you'll stay right where you are. We're going to stay on the ship. It's comfortable enough for a long trip, we made sure of that, so it won't be a problem." Which reminds me of something. I turn to Zedd. "We'll need to have Dar look at the food replicator, by the way. The coffee that thing makes is awful."

"I noticed. I just wasn't sure you had with the quantities you were drinking it in."

The others have their plates and sit with us at the table, Hayley on the other side of Zedd and Mrs. Scott next to me. Mr. Scott pins me with a look. "All that aside, now that you know we know that you were a Ranger and who he was or is or whatever, can we finally get the whole story? And I mean from then until now, including how your former enemy is now your boyfriend."

I sigh, refill my and Zedd's coffee. "Well, you remember when I moved to Angel Grove…"

Several hours later, they're caught up. Fortunately, Zedd was willing to fill them in a bit on some of his history so that they understood how and why he had been sent to take over from Rita. Since we're done with that, Zedd changes the subject. "So when can we go back and see Jason? Dar and Pina are waiting for word on his condition, especially if there's something that Pina can do to speed his recovery."

"Not until after eight in the morning" his mother replies. What the hell am I going to do with myself for the next ten hours?

Hayley goes into the den and comes back with a small stack of papers, which she hands to Zedd. "Here. Jason has a note on file at the agency that he's to get all copies of his medical records if he has to go into the hospital for something."

He flips through the pages quickly. "This should help her considerably. I suspect that by the time they'd get here though, we'll know either way if he'll make it or not. At that point, all she'd be able to do, maybe, is literally speed his recovery."

Soberly, I say, "I don't even know if his current powers are helping him or not."

Zedd frowns. "You should have been able to feel it if they were working."

I shake my head. "I don't have the practice to feel for such a thing, mate. Plus, I couldn't have focused enough anyway."

We all fall silent for a minute. Finally, Zedd says, "Well, there is a way." We all look at him. "If I could get precise coordinates, I could teleport into his room and see what I can find out."

"I don't want you getting banned from the hospital, Zedd. If something happens, I'll want you nearby. Preferably without a battle and destruction."

He waves this off. "Thomas, you'd be surprised how easy it is to deceive your species. Jason's parents aside" he admits, with a nod to them.

Mrs. Scott speaks up. "It would be nice to know. I think it would ease all our minds if the powers are helping him." Of course, what none of us is saying is how frighteningly slowly they seem to be helping him. Or worse, if they've abandoned them like the Black Dino Thunder powers did me. Then it would be a race to see what kills him first - his wound or the damn powers since it's the remnants of his Red and a bit of the Gold that are keeping the Ninjetti powers in check.

Hayley leaves the room for a minute or two and comes back with a small slip of paper. "Here. This is as precise as I can get you."

He stands up, grabbing both the stack of papers and the small slip. "Stay here, Thomas. I'll be back as fast as I can. I'm going to send these to Pina and Dar too, so please don't assume the worst if I'm not back as fast as you think I should be."

He kisses me quickly and heads out the door. Trying to keep busy, I clean up from dinner and put the leftovers away once the others are finished. After an hour, I'm starting to pace and worry. Where the hell is he? He should be back by now! Has he been discovered? Captured? Hurt?

I hear the back door open and I hurtle myself toward it and swiftly into the arms of my mate. "Kalleimat, are you all right?" Something's happened, as exhausted as he looks. Like he's had to use a lot of his power… "Zedd, what happened?"

"I told you not to worry, Thomas."

"No, you told me not to assume the worst. Of course I was going to worry! What's wrong?"

"Pina thinks she can help him and they're on their way."

He's being evasive about something. I fix him with a look. "What else, Zedd?"

"The powers are working, but very slowly. Based on what I can tell, and I'm not entirely sure mind you, since my powers are different and I can't read his like I can dark power, his powers nearly depleted their immediate stores keeping him alive until human help could take over."

"So, the powers are more focused on restocking than healing right now?"

"Basically."

"What the hell does that mean?" Mr. Scott asks.

I come up with the best analogy I can. "Think of it like this. It's like if Jason was a rechargeable battery. Almost all the power he had stored in himself was used keeping him alive until the doctors were able to help him - remove the bullet, stitch him up and whatnot. Now the powers are trying to recharge him, but at the same time, heal the damage. When we use our powers normally, we only use a small portion at a time and that's fairly easily replaced and usually at a slow rate so it doesn't interfere with normal life. Right now, he's not able to charge much. Going back to the battery thing, it's like he's on a trickle charger while still trying to use the energy coming in. He might have two percent coming in, but if he's using one percent of that to heal, he's not going to do either one quickly."

"Which means that the powers are helping him just not noticeably" Mr. Scott says.

"Pretty much."

"But they are helping him?" Mrs. Scott says pleadingly to Zedd, who nods tiredly.

Hayley's voice is shaky when she speaks next. "That's something, at least. Let's all go to bed. It's late, we're all tired and I know we'll all want to be there in the morning as soon as visiting hours start."

We all agree and Zedd and I head for the ship. As much as I want to know what happened, it's going to have to wait. After we get there, I turn my full attention on him. "Come on, mate. Something obviously happened, so please let me take care of you tonight." My concern ratchets up another notch when he simply nods in agreement. I head for the bedroom ahead of him, going straight through to the bathroom to run him a bath. It's not nearly as large as our tub at home, but he'll be able to get a relaxing soak while I ready a few other things. I help him get undressed and into the tub, a few soothing caresses given while I do. As much as I'd like to do other things, I can tell this is what he needs for now. "Relax, kalleimat, for a while. I'll be back to get you in a bit, okay?"

He nods tiredly and sinks a bit lower in the steaming water. I hurry out of the room. In short order, I have drinks ready, lights dimmed, temperature raised, relaxing music playing softly, massage oil warmed and the bed turned down, covered with another sheet in case of spills. He looks up with a slight smile when I return. "Missed you, love."

"I wasn't gone all that long, lover. Come on, let's get you out of the tub and on the bed." I help him out and quickly dry him so that he doesn't get chilled. He kisses me softly.

"Don't worry, love. Jason and I are both all right. Nothing bad happened, I promise."

"I know." At his puzzled look, I explain, "If something had happened, you're not stupid enough to keep it from me this long. You know that if I found out about it later, I'd be beyond angry and it really wouldn't be worth it for either of us. Let's go."

In short order, I have him settled on the bed with his drink close at hand. I strip out of my clothes, keeping my boxers, of course. After all, mating is not the goal right now. In just a minute, I have a bit of the warmed oil on his shoulders, back and neck and start working the tight muscles until they start to loosen. The silence is comfortable and neither of us is willing to break it with unnecessary talking. I continue working until he's completely relaxed and well into the half asleep state. I wipe off the excess oil and wordlessly coax him under the covers. I can feel him half watching me as I clean up from the evening's efforts before I slip in next to him. Once I settle against him, he sighs quietly and is asleep in no time. Unfortunately, I'm not nearly so relaxed and lay awake for a long time, worrying about my mate and my brother.