Disclaimer: I do not own the characters to the Power Rangers, they are owned by Saban Entertainment. I do however, own the characters Sean, Marcus, and Daniel.

BLAM!

Shots echoed from the house, reverberating into the neighborhood. Officers recoiled in horror, pistols and shotguns were at the ready as the radios crackled with reports.

Suspect down.

Kimberly sat up from her hospital bed. Her wrists were bandaged with white cloth, minor compared to Tommy whom, as far as she knew, was on respirator somewhere in the same hospital.

"Oh my gosh," thinking to herself, "I can't believe that this happened. How could this happen? Why us? What did we do?"

All it was much to bear. Just a paper. That was all they were suppose to do. A few pages then Tommy would have some time with her for the night before mother returned. Mind was running a mile a minute. Last few hours were a blur. Trying to think about those events, picture the faces of her captors. Brian, could see his face. That innocent face. He was no threat. Daniel, Marcus, and that Sean. Now she could call upon their names, and there faces, all resembled evil. Sean more than others. Daniel and Marcus were just goons like the Putties Rita has sent down dozens of times ago. Speaking of that, with Tommy out of action, Angel Grove was vulnerable. Their leader and best defender was down, disabled, could they hold against a determined attack? She prayed. For Tommy and then for herself, to heal as quickly as possible to get back into action. These cuts were not going to keep the spunky brunette from action. If Rita wanted to attack Tommy while he lay in his bed, then they would have to go past her.

"Alright, get him out of here," an officer shouted. A body bag was brought into the house on a gurney. Reporters were kept at a good distance as it re-emerged from that dark, lonely place. Someone was inside it. Light bulbs flashed and cameras rolled as the voices increased in crescendo, asking whom was inside that black case. None of the officers bothered to answer. Most did not know themselves. Just a boy whom had flipped his lid. There had already been enough blood shed for this night. Three boys, in their youths, lay dead, two of the kidnappers, and one innocent bystander whom was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Plus two more suffered an ordeal of being tortured and threatened with death, now one lay on the threshold of falling into the abyss. No one deserved what was dealt, except Sean. He was shot twice in the chest as he charged towards SWAT members. Those two brought down the criminal master mind, the very one whom transformed a seemingly innocent raid into a hostage crisis. No signs of sympathy was shown by the police as they wheeled Sean on board a ambulance to be taken away. To hell with him.

As Kimberly was being finished up in the hospital, she was told that Tommy was due for surgery. For what wasn't disclosed. She was unable to coax an answer from the nurses, might as well as been so, Kimberly couldn't take another episode. It was also here that Kimberly was told that mother had returned. Her home was abuzz with activity. Unable to enter, she was told that her daughter was taken to the nearby hospital for treatment. She nearly fainted. Fearing the worst, she hustled off, calling Trini and Zack to come by as well for emotional support. None of the other Rangers were aware at this time of the crisis. When it did became out, they were stunned.

Mother was a stubborn women. Ignoring the imploring of nurses and staff, she pushed her way through to Kimberly's room where she was up, sitting on the edge of the bed. Seeing mother was a welcome sight. Leaping to her feet, spunky Kim jumped into her mother's loving arms and held on for dear life and cried into each other's shoulders. "Oh, my baby" mother kept saying over and over. Kimberly was unable to say anything just wept until it stained her mother's blouse.

Some time later, Zack and Trini entered. No one wished to break up the hugging. Seeing her friends standing there in the doorway, Kimberly offered them into the circle and all four hugged together.

"I love you guys" Kim wept.

"Sweetheart," mother said, "What happened?"

"It was aweful," Kim responded, "I…I…can't talk about it."

No one egged her any further. She broke away from the circle and sat on her bed. Sitting beside her, Trini wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "How's Tommy?" she asked.

"I don't know. They won't say."

"Well, they told me that you can leave. I'll have to buy a hotel room for the time being. So give me a moment." mother told them, stepping out of the room.

"You can have some of my clothes," Trini offered.

"You know. You can come stay at my house," Zack offered, "For as long as you need."

Politely refusing his offer, Kimberly stated that it would impose on their freedom:

"It's my suffering, not yours"

Fifteen or so minutes later, mother returned and ushered the children out of the hospital. There was some press outside, waiting for news, but they bypassed them entirely. "I forbid you from answer those feins," mother spat at the friends. "they are leaches and don't care about anything."

"I'll go to my house and pick out some clothes for Kimberly" Trini offered, "Where are you staying Mrs. Hart?"

"At the Holiday Inn. I wrote it down for you." giving a slip of paper.

"You know. Kimberly is so fortunate to have friends like you. She's under a lot of stress. Try anything you can to help."

"We will, Mrs. Hart. Don't you worry." Zack smiled. "She's strong and spunky."

Wednesday rolled about fast. Now, they were in the hotel room. Fatigue was showing on the two as they tried to make a living in the room, trapped together for so long. It had only been one night, but neither one was able to sleep for obvious reasons. Calls were made to the hospital requesting updates on Tommy's situation. Nothing. They did not give in. Kimberly wanted to go and be at his side, but mother refused to let her. There were other things to do. School for one, plus she needed time to rest.

It was long past the dead line to turn in the paper. Not sure what Mrs. Appleby would say to that, perhaps she would forgive under the circumstances but that paper was the furthest thing in her mind. Minutes stretched into hours. Sitting at the edge of the bed, staring at the phone, each time it rang surged her blood to answer it. Whom would it be? Mostly, it was Trini. She was a great friend. Offering to take her shopping or out to talk. Then, late at night, it rang again. Slow to answer at first, she picked it up eventually, asking whom was there.

"Is this Kimberly?" a frail, female, voice asked.

"Yes?" reprehensive.

"This is Brian's mother. You remember my son?"

"Yes"

"I remember you. I just heard what had happened to the leader of your captors and I must say I'm glad. How are you feeling?"

Kimberly stood shaken as she answered the mother's questions. "Alright, I guess."

Detecting her broke voice, the mother tried to ease the tension, "Sweetheart, you need to relax. I spoke with your mother awhile ago. It's perfectly fine. We know each other from awhile back. Listen, Brian is being laid to rest tomorrow," his mother said, "It's a private ceremony in the local cemetery. You can come if you wish."

Kimberly hesitated for a moment, holding the receiver next to her ear.

"Hello?"

"I'm sorry. I…I just don't know…."

"Listen, sweetheart. We don't hold anything against you. You did nothing wrong. Those punks forced Brian to your house. It was them that killed my son, not you. Don't hold that against yourself. It's not healthy."

Tears were forming in Kimberly's soft eyes. It was becoming difficult to hold the phone. She had to sit down on the couch as Brian's mother continued.

"You only knew him for a short time, but you were one of the few friends he had. We would very much appreciate it if you come and see our son laid to rest tomorrow."

"I'll be there" Kimberly replied, sobbing lightly before hanging up the phone.

Time came to leave. Mother was already up and moving. She was always trying to be fancy and presentable. She hair had to be done the right way, make up and clothes were must. If anything was out of place, then it was all wrong.

"Come, come, Kimberly. We're going to be late." insisting on going.

"Mother…I can't go…it's too much."

"Oh, my child. I know it is. But you can't stay in this room and weep. You have to go out and say good bye. Talking to a tombstone won't be as fulfilling." Mother said, "go out and say bye to Brian. It will make you feel better."

How could it be better to say bye. Saying bye is so negative and ending. Saying bye is a termination or abrupt end. If she says bye then that would be it. No more, the friend ship ends just as two friends move away from one another. "I can't say bye."

"I know, sweetheart. Then, don't say bye. Just be there for him."

"Alright….I'll go."

Going through narrow streets of Angel Grove, the sidewalks and fields were cleared of people. Dark clouds had gathered. It was going to rain. And It did. Very lightly. Trip to the cemetery was long and quiet. Kim just stared out the window. When they arrived, they found that a small group had gathered around the plot. Each face there was a stranger. No one stood out as familiar. Not a eye was directed her way as Kimberly stepped up. By then, the priest had begun the sermon, giving out Brian's brief life on this earth and how it was taken abruptly. Brian's parents were there. Dressed in black, a veil over her face, the mother could not be made out. They stood there, quietly, staring at the grave. Words given by the ministers were to remembered by the two. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, they laid Brian in the Earth's crust. Sullen, quiet, no other words were spoken. Grieving the kept silent, tears rolled down women's cheek, men stood like statues. When the ceremony was over, the crowd slowly began to melt away into the scenery. Waiting in place, Kimberly was teary eyed to see the parents as they stood over the grave of their one son, their only child. No parent should have to bury their child. When they finished, they looked up to see Kimberly and her mother sitting in the nest of chairs. They said nothing to one another and kept on walking. Not sure what they were thinking. Did they hold her responsible for the death of Brian? If so, they didn't say it.

When the priest completed his speech, he took up a small amount of dirt from a pile and cast it upon the casket covered in white roses. The casket was lowered slowly into place. Not a word was said, just the mechanical whir of the device that placed him lower into his final resting spot. It came slowly and every eye was focused slowly on it as the rain continued to drift down light from above. It was light and steady. No umbrellas were there. They endured the cold and rain to say their final farewell to a boy. Slowly, they began to fragment away. Words were muffled and inaudible. Didn't matter.

Now it was just the two. Kimberly and Mother standing at the foot of the grave.

"Are you going to be alright?" mother asked.

"Will I ever?" Kimberly replied, "It all so much for me to bear."

"I know. But just remember. You have so many good friends out there to help you."

For one in a while, the girl smiled lightly, "You know, you're right."

"A mother always is," mother smiled back and nudged her daughter's shoulder. "Did you know Brian that well?"

"No, I did not. But, now that he's gone, I miss him. Well, at least he's in a better place," Kimberly said as her mother took place an arm over her shoulder. Together, they walked off the field as the rain began to slacken off and through the dark over head came a beam of light that warmed the earth.