AN: As things are happening in the last chapter, so goes this chapter. They are in sync. 'N Sync, haha! Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Lonely

Tommy woke up to his blaring alarm. It was just the start semester of his 3rd year at Reefside High. Tommy pressed the button to his alarm and laid back to his back, staring up at his ceiling. Year One as Science teacher had its ups and down. He was back in high school, the new guy, but this time, he was not the student, but the teacher. Everything was new, being the authoritarian figure to the youngsters. Tommy had a lot to learn with this new role in life. And sure becoming a ranger again, new color, though not the leader, was eventful since Tommy Oliver felt the thrills of saving the world once again. But came the heartache he suffered in high school with the grief and slight sadness of knowing the end would come once Mesagog was defeated. After the miraculous first year, with the reign of the Dino Thunder Ranger, one of the strongest ranger teams, it had been a quiet few months of summer. Second year at teaching found the challenges of keeping focus on school a bit easier without the constant worry about an attack on the city, of course.

The snooze alarm went off, causing Tommy to open his eyes and look at the flashing numbers.

"Another day," Tommy said pulling back the covers. Tommy stood and stretched to the new day before dropping to do some push-ups. His norm these days. An early morning exercise to waken the senses. He missed his karate training, he used to do everyday, but now as an adult, teaching and helping his students was his main goal. His karate though his love, was a hobby these days, not a main focus. He went to shower and get dressed. Tommy was tying his tie as he came across a photo that caused him to smile. Tommy looked over at a photo of his former students, Ethan, Kira, Connor and Trent. He picked it up, remembering the time. It was taken the last day of school.

"Great times, guys. I hope you all are well," Tommy said putting the picture frame down. He poured himself some coffee and made sure he had his papers in order. Tommy looked in his schedule book. He realized this week was parents' conferences. Though it was early in the semester being just September. He knew today he would be setting up with several students' family a day to get a feel of how their son/daughter are doing so far in the semester.

Tommy walked down the halls of Reefside High, feeling a bit alone. Being a teacher had its advantages, of course, but he could remember his days in high school surrounded by his friends. His only friend, colleagues these days, fellow teachers in the school, oh and Hailey of course. And though he wasn't alone, he felt lonely. Tommy walked into his room and found one of his young students already in class.

"Morning Dennis?" Tommy said putting his briefcase on the teacher's desktop.

"OH, hi Doctor Oliver."

"What are you doing here so early?"

"I couldn't finish my homework at home last night." Dennis was new to Reefside, having just moved here a few days ago.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you find the homework difficult last night?"

"No, the homework was fine."

"Then what is it?"

"Well, it's…just moving into the new house and getting use to the new place," Dennis said.

"I understand." Tommy pulling out his book from his briefcase to the counter.

"And then there is Carl."

"Carl?" Tommy asked.

"My young brother. My younger adopted brother."

"Is there a problem?"

"Not really, he's always been this way, ever since we got him."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he's 8, well, about to be 8 soon, but so stubborn, hotheaded and quiet. He's brilliant, but he's always wanting to be left alone." Dennis laughed.

"Well, maybe he is just getting use to the new place too."

"No, he's been like since the beginning," Dennis said.

"Don't worry, things get easier once you get the handle of it. Once the excitement of everything being so new has faded, things will be back to being normal for you. Just hang in there, once your family gets settled in, everything will be fine."

"I hope so. Thanks, Dr. Oliver." Dennis looked at Tommy. He made a funnylike face.

"What? Is there something else?"

"Are you married?" Tommy laughed at Dennis's question.

"No."

"Did you have a child, a son? Maybe?" Tommy paused a moment, thinking. His mind could only go to one place. One person. Kimberly. Tommy's smile faded.

"No, I don't have a son any more," Tommy said.

"Any more?"

"He died right after birth."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Dr. Oliver," Dennis said.

"Hey, it's fine. Need some help with that homework?"

"Uh sure." Tommy went to helping Dennis with the assignment.

Tommy took the time before going over last night's assignment to set up with the students' conferences over the week. After the bell, Dennis stayed behind a second.

"I don't know if both my Mom and Dad can come."

"It's okay, Dennis, as long as one parent is there. It'll be fine."

"Okay."

"And Dennis…"

"Yes, Dr. Oliver?"

"Don't hesitate. If you ever need to talk to someone, feel free to just stop by my office when the door is open. I know what it feels like to be the new guy in school."

"Thanks, Dr. Oliver." Dennis left.

Tommy was going over the week schedule for the week ahead in bed after dinner. Once he got home, he had to make sure he got all the student's files in order for the parents conferences. Tommy finally realized what week this was. His heart ached a bit in that realization. He picked up his phone then placed it back on the hook.

"I shouldn't bother her. She probably already knows." Tommy went to checking over his students' homework to give them the credit they needed. He closed his work and got under the covers. Tommy went to turn off the lamp when 2 eyes caught him in a photo. Tommy stared at the phone. He looked at his phone, debating in his head whether or not to pick it up. 'Do it! No! She doesn't need to hear from you, especially over that. Do it, you know you have to. You can't forget it.' Tommy sighed.

"It won't kill me." Tommy picked up his phone finally. He dialed the familiar number. It didn't even ring once before the line was disconnected and the operator came on. Tommy looked at the phone, thinking something went wrong. He dialed the number again and got the operator again. Tommy shook his head. "It's late. I should try her in the morning." Tommy turned off his lamp and went to bed.

A few days later, Tommy was just finishing up one student-parent conference when Dennis and his father came into his classroom.

"Mr. Edwards, hi, nice to meet you." Mr. Edwards seem a bit off when Tommy held his hand out to shake. They did shake hands.
"Doctor Oliver is it?"

"Yeah, come, sit."

"Sorry, I am late. I had to drop Susan to pick up Carl."

"Not a problem. This will be quick. I have Dennis's files from his other school. I can only expect him to continue the great work he did for his other schools."

"His mother and I are very proud of Dennis and his work output."

"So, I hear you all just moved from New York City."

"Yes we did just last week. A major change."

"I'll bet."

Once Tommy had completed his chat with Dennis's father, he walked them out since Dennis was his last chat of the day.

"Dr. Oliver, are you married by any chance?" Mr. Edwards asked.

"Uh, no. Why?"

"You just seem very familiar, like I know you from somewhere?"

"Well, I don't believe you can. I have never been to New York City, not even for a visit," Tommy said.

"Oh, it's a great city."

"I hear that all the time. Well, goodbye."

"Goodbye." A car pulled up. Tommy finished shaking Mr. Edwards hand and walked to his black jeep. Tommy got into his car and just as he started it, he looked to the Edwards's car as he drove pass him. In the backseat, he saw a small boy. Tommy couldn't believe it, as he felt as though he was looking into a mirror. Tommy looked ahead, and then back at the car. Tommy shook his head, knowing that was impossibly.

Friday afternoon, Tommy dismissed his last class. Dennis rushed to hand in some last minute homework.

"Here you go, sorry about that."

"I told you not to worry about it," Tommy said taking the pages.

"It's just my stupid brother. He said his friend Ed took it."

"Who's Ed?"

"His imaginary friend."

"Your little brother has an imaginary friend?" Tommy asked.

"Yeah. Anyways, I should hurry."

"So, when did you parents adopt Carl?"

"About a year now," Dennis said.

"From New York?"

"Yeah, he supposedly was passed from family to family through his years, moving a lot. My parents thought our family would benefit from adopting him. Why?"

"Just wondering. See ya Monday."

"Bye, Dr. Oliver." Dennis left.

That night, after Tommy finished the work he needed, he found himself in his attic going through some boxes. He had forgotten where he put an old address book. He needed to contact Aisha and see if he had Kim's right phone number. Today was the day his son was born, though it died shortly afterwards. He knew he needed to call Kimberly. He couldn't let this day go by and not hear from her. Tommy picked up a photo of him and Kimberly. They were smiling as they were caught kissing, though that didn't stop them. Kimberly always took perfect photos. Tommy smiled as he caressed the photo of them.

"I miss you." Tommy put the photo back. Tommy closed the box and went back downstairs. He found Kim's number and called her. He knew the day would be hard for her.

'Hi, you've reached Kimberly Hart. I'm not available to answer your call right now. I'm sorry. But if you leave your name, number and quick or long message, I'm pretty sure I will get back to you asap. Babye.'

Tommy smiled. Beep!

"Kimberly, hi. It's Tommy. I haven't talked to you in so long…too long. I'm sorry about that. How is the City these days treating you? Can't believe you are the only one living there. I expected maybe Aisha or Jason even, but not you. Everything is good on my end of country. No PR in 2 years now. Well, I just wanted to…well, you know, tell you how much I miss you and…Not day goes by I don't think about you and CT. Call me back, please when you get this. I love you, Beautiful. Bye." Tommy put his phone on the hook. His eyes closed to the tears.

Kimberly looked up as she arrived to Reefside, California. It was raining as she stepped out the airport that Friday night. She immediately left the City once she was examined by the paramedics, packing up a few bags quickly. She knew she had to get to California and save her son from the evil of Lord Zedd. He wasn't going to have her son anymore. Kimberly got into a cab. She showed the address.

"I need to go here immediately!"

"Right away missss." The cab took off. Kimberly was looking through Carl's file inside the cab. She couldn't believe how many homes Carl was moved in and out of in just his short years. The family always claiming how bad of a child Carl was to handle, especially with his imaginary friend, Ed. Kimberly looked up to see the cab turn down a weird road.

"Uh, where are we going? This is not where I…" Kimberly was punched back into her seat. She was knocked unconscious with the hit from the putty.

Kimberly groaned, as she woke up. She felt cold as she sat up. It was pitch dark. Kimberly touched her head and found blood. She tried to look out the window. Kimberly's hand raised up and went to open the door and found it locked. She sat up quickly. She rushed to the other side, and found the door locked as well. With just the slight shift, the car rocked. Kimberly gasped. She looked over and found the car over a cliff. Kimberly leaned back.

"Awake now, I see." Kimberly looked back to see Lord Zedd standing behind the car. "Too bad. You should have just slept." Kimberly slowly moved down to lift her suitcase up and balance herself. "It would have been so much easier on you."

"When I get out of here, I'm gonna knock that smile off your face."

"If you get out." Kimberly looked around once the car seemed balanced. "I don't know, looks bad."

"Looks are deceiving." Kimberly pulled out her hair clip and went to the lock.

"Oh no you don't. Putties! Shove it over." Kimberly gasped and quickly started working on the lock. She reached to the other side for her briefcase, but it was just out of her reach. The putties put their hands on the cab and started slowly pushing the car over. Kimberly screamed as she stretched for the briefcase again and unpicking the lock.

In the last moment, the door opened and Kimberly fell free from the cab before it fell down the cliff to a small edge below. Kimberly took a quick back as she stood up quickly in a fighting stance.

"You can't win this, Kimberly. Give up and become my queen."

"Never!" She fought the putties. Zedd raised his hand and his staff appeared. Kimberly cried out, as she was electrified to her knees. Zedd walked over to Kimberly.

"I told you to just give up." Kimberly cried on her knees. "We can be a happy family together." Kimberly picked up a rock and slammed it into Zedd's head. She took off running.

Tommy was down in his lair. He was checking through some things. Though Zeltrax destroyed it, he had taken these last few years to build it up. Not as technical as before since his days as a ranger was over with, he still has the computer system set on the city just in case. These days he used it as extra storage. He knew with the dino gems no longer useful, the threats to the city from evil beings were down to a minimal. Tommy was about to head back upstairs through the steps, when a slight beep stopped him. Tommy thought he was just hearing things. Past memories of being in this room still haunting him. Then the beep came again. Tommy went to the computer and opened up to the screen. A scream caught his eyes. The scream from the person will always be burned in his memory. He knew that person. Tommy rushed out the backdoor. He jumped into his jeep and rushed into the woods.

Kimberly rushed through the woods, tripping over roots and rocks with the putties right behind her. Kimberly slipped down a hill, screaming the whole way down. Kimberly hit her head against the rocks as she hung onto the small cliff edge. She struggled before pulling herself up to the ledge. Zedd grabbed her by the hair, pulling her.

"NO!" She beat the hand, holding the top of her head. Kimberly was shoved back into a tree.

"Say you will be my queen!"

"Fuck you!" She was slapped.

"I don't want to force you to my will, but I will if I must…" Zedd raised his staff and stopped, as a car headlights appeared in the distance. "Until next time, Kimmy." She was punched unconscious to the ground. Tommy parked his car as he saw a figure lying on the ground not moving. Tommy quickly got out his car. He rushed over to the figure, bending down to her. Tommy looked around the woods and found it was quiet and empty expect for them. Tommy touched the woman's shoulder, getting a groan from her.

"Kimberly?" Tommy gasped moving some hair from the girl's face. "No."

Kimberly woke up to a warm soft bed. A cloth over her head, as her eyes was still cloudy. Kimberly moaned, feeling around. A hand took her hand. Kimberly gasped, pulling her hand away quickly.

"Hey, hey. It's okay. It's just me." Kimberly looked up. Her hand reached up to touch the face.

"Christopher," Kimberly gasped out as tried to sit up.

"No, it's me, Tommy." Tommy took her hand and sat on the bed. "It's me, Kimberly. Tommy." Tommy pushed her to lay back. Tommy had spent the last 30 minutes wiping Kim's face and bloody hands. The cut on her forehead scaring him along with the cut in the back of her head. She had a badly bruised cheek, her knuckles busted, whatever did this to her meant to severely hurt her, break her, torture her, almost to the point of killing her. Kimberly barely moved as Tommy tended to her injuries, which worried him deeply.

"Wha…where am I?"

"My place."

"Tommy?" Kimberly asked as she moved the cloth.

"Yeah, it's me Tommy."

"Zedd…he's…."

"What?" Tommy asked.

"He's back."

"Who's back?"

"Lord Zedd and his putties!"

"That's not possible."

"Yes it is!" Kimberly sat up. "I saw it. I saw him with my own eyes!" Tommy tried to get Kimberly to calm down. "NO! I have to find my son!"

"Our son is dead Kimberly."

"NO! Our son is alive!" Kimberly yelled.

"That is impossible, Kimberly. Zedd and Rita were…turned back to normal when Zordon was….when Zordon died," Tommy said.

"NO! My son is alive!"

"Kimberly you hit your head, you aren't thinking…"

"My son is alive!"

"Our son is dead!"

Crack!

Tommy's head turned to the side from her hard blow. She slapped him, she slapped him hard. Tommy turned back to Kimberly as she was sitting up. As angry as she probably wanted to be, her eyes showed sadness, not from hitting him, but from his words. He knew it. He could always read her eyes.

"Fuck you, okay. I know my son is alive. Our son was taken by Zedd." Tommy looked away. His memory flashed back to the little boy in the car. The eyes. They were his eyes. He knew it.

"No. It can't be," Tommy whispered.

"How can you not believe me!"

"It's not that I…"

"But you have to know that Christopher is alive!" Kimberly looked at Tommy with tears in her eyes. "Don't you feel it? Don't you feel our son is alive?" Tommy looked at her as she placed his hand over her heart as she placed her hand over his heart. "I feel it in here, Tommy." Tommy closed his eyes and felt her heartbeat beneath his hand. He nodded. "You saw him. You saw our son!"

"I don't… I mean, it was him, but how...I don't know."

"You saw Christopher or Carl, whatever they call him!"

"Yes, I saw him."

"Was he okay? Did he look okay? Did he see you?" Kimberly asked.

"I don't know. I only saw him from a distance, but I thought my mind was playing tricks on me because it was this week, but..."

"No, he's alive. Our son is alive, Tommy! He's alive!" Kimberly hugged him, tightly. Tommy held her back just the same, kissing the side of her head, though he still felt confused. His son, his son was alive?

dumdumdummm...cue suspense music now...:P

As you can tell, these chapters are a bit longer than my norm, so expect updates to come a bit farther apart. I will try to keep things in order, but with a new job and getting old (waaah) I take my free time with naps now. But don't worry, it will be well worth any wait. Until next time...babye!