Chapter 3: Another Sad Love Song

Kimberly held her head as she tried to get up again.

"No, you need to rest," Tommy said.

"I'm fine! I have to go to him now!"

"You need to rest!" Tommy pushed her to lie down. Tommy examined her head along with the bruise across her face. "You hit your head pretty hard."

"This is nothing. All of this is nothing, until I…"

"Kimberly, you have bruises all over your body as if..."

"I said I was fine! Zedd is not going stop me!" Kimberly stood up quickly. "Zedd is…not…stop…me..." Tommy caught her as she just took 2 steps and fell back. She passed out against his chest.

"Kimberly? Kimberly!" Tommy laid her back to the bed and examined her. He held her face trying to shake her awake, but nothing worked. Tommy called for a doctor after that.

Tommy watched as the doctor examined her.

"I just got word with an urgent message about a Kimberly Hart releasing herself from a New York hospital earlier today despite doctors orders."

"What?"

"She left knowing she was injured, after being found beaten, and thrown through a glass door." Tommy looked at Kimberly.

"Beaten? By whom?"

"That was not reported. However, her office was practically destroyed by the paramedics' account. Whoever did this, intended to kill her at best. She should be in a hospital right now."

"Is that an order or a request?" Tommy asked.

"Tommy, she could have internal bleeding around her brain, which is serious. The doctors in New York weren't given the proper time to examine her thoroughly. Her stitches are undone; her bandages are torn from her body. By the looks of her I am worried. I mean, she could be fine and I am just being a worried doctor. Or she could be seriously injured. I need to run test to see that. I can only do some much here in the home. I need proper medical equipment to examine her thoroughly."

"Okay then. Let's go to the hospital. I don't want to take any chances with her health. Do what you have to do, doctor."

"Thank you. I'll call for ambulance."

Hours later, Kimberly's eyes blinked open. She gasped, bringing her hand up, finding lines and a cloth wrapped around her hand and wrist. Tommy woke up and sat up as he saw her trying to sit up.

"Hey, hey, hey. No, don't do that." Tommy got up and sat on the bed to push her back. "Don't do that, okay." Tommy pulled her hand from her face and pinned it to the bed. Kimberly groaned to the pain finally and stayed down.

"Where am I?" Kimberly asked.

"Hospital. You just got out of CAT scan."

"I don't need a CAT scan."

"Well, you have been unconscious for a while," Tommy said as he covered her more.

"What time is it?"

"Like 2 in the morning." Tommy rubbed his face down. "Just rest. I'm here."

"I have to go…I have to find him, find my son, and save him from Zedd."

"We'll deal with that later. What happened in New York?"

"Zedd is what happened. He's back. He attacked me in my office. He took our son years ago."

"Why?" Tommy asked.

"Why else! To hurt me, to hurt us!"

"But it doesn't make any…."

"Sense! I know! But it's true! I saw him, I saw him with my own eyes! That bastard! I fought him for god's sake! How do you think I got all of this? He's back! He's back." Kimberly had tears in her eyes. Tommy lifted her up as she cried. "He's back." Tommy hugged her, as she cried against his chest, while he rubbed her head and back.

"Tell me what happened, the whole story." Tommy handed her some tissues as she laid to her back again. She explained how Zedd posed as a worker in her department, trying to keep her finding out about Carl being their son. And then when she finally saw the photo of Carl and figured out the connection, he attacked her. He left her unconscious after he threw her through the glass door. She knew she should have stayed in the hospital, but she knew Zedd would stop at nothing to get to their son, so she flew here as quickly as possible.

"I don't…I mean, I thought he was…"

"Gone?"

"Yeah."

"Well, that bastard isn't, Tommy. That bastard is alive and ruthless as ever," Kimberly said.

Kimberly fought with Tommy and the doctor on orders to stay as morning came.

"I strictly think it is in your best wishes that you stay another day or so."

"I don't really give a damn what you think."

"Kimberly! The doctor has done nothing but helped you!"

"I don't care! I am leaving now. Where are my clothes?"

"As you wish. Nurse, her clothes if you please."

"Right away, Doctor."

"Tommy, if I could talk to you outside…" Tommy followed the doctor as the nurse helped Kimberly with her clothes. "You must convince her to stay. How is she conscious right now, boggles me. She should be in so much pain, she should only want to sleep, not move. Her mind is outweighing her body and that might kill her. She has to stay here, you have to make her see that."

"She won't listen to me, doctor. She never has and never will. I'm so sorry. Thank you for all your help to her. I really appreciate everything you have done for her. I can handle her now. I'll watch her closely."

"You don't understand. Though every test we ran came back normal, things could change. One slip, another blow to the head, she could go into coma, or worse, die."

"I'll watch her, Doctor. I promise you," Tommy said to the Doctor. "I'll take care of her." The doctor sighed.

"Fine. Any headaches, black-outs, any nausea, weakness in the limps, anything of the abnormal, you bring her right here."

"I will." Tommy led Kimberly to his jeep. He went to help her get into the jeep.

"I'm not helpless!" Kimberly pulled from his help and got in. "We have to go back into the woods."

"Why?"

"I need to get those files."

"Fine." Tommy got into the jeep and drove off.

They searched the woods for the spot where the cab was last seen. Kimberly walked around determined to find the cab and her things. She was pushing herself; she knew it and felt the pain of it. The only real reason she was able to move was from her past. Her powers of the past from being a ranger had strengthened her body beyond the norm. She knew she could push her body and mind farther than most people thanks to that extra boost that will never leave her. Besides, this was her son; she would fight with the last breath in her body, with every fiber of her being to get him back to her again.

"Maybe we can go back, use the computer scanner…."

"No! I know it's around here!"

"It was raining and pitch dark when you were brought here! You don't know where you are!"

"I do!" Kimberly held on to a tree, struggling to breath. Tommy stood before her quickly.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing…nothing." Kimberly looked up into his eyes. Tommy knew she was lying.

"C'mon."

"No."

"Kimberly Ann Hart, if I have to throw you over my shoulder…" She stepped away, only to have Tommy grab her arm.

"Wait! No! No, no!" Tommy lifted her with ease over his shoulder. "Put me down!"

"Not until I feed you and you rest a bit."

"Put me down!" Kimberly beat on his back. Tommy groaned as her punches and slaps. Tommy opened his car door and put her down.

"Get in."

"No."

"I will make you get in, so get in."

"No." They shoved each other, before Tommy grabbed her by the waist and got into the driver side. He pushed Kimberly into the passenger seat.

Kimberly slammed the door as they arrived to his house. Tommy went to make them breakfast, knowing all she has had was IV's. Kimberly went straight for the bathroom and slammed the door. Tommy finished the eggs and sausages. He went to get Kimberly. Tommy knocked on the door softly.

"Kimberly…come on, Kim, I got breakfast." Kimberly was sitting on the ground crying. "Kimberly?" Tommy tried the door. He opened it and found her sitting there. "Hey."

"Go away!" Kimberly wiped her face.

"I can't do that. Not now."

"I just want my son."

"I know." Tommy sat on the ground with her. "And we will get him." He put his arm around her. "But not if you don't take care of yourself." Kimberly wiped her eyes again. Tommy kissed the side of her head.

"Come on." Tommy helped her stand up. Kimberly looked down at their hands.

"Promise me something."

"Of course. Anything."

"No matter what happens, to me…no matter what happens, you will get him back. You will get our son away from Zedd."

"I promise, WE will get our son away from Zedd." Kimberly's arms went around his waist as she hugged him. She cried against his chest.

"I don't want to lose him again. I don't think I can handle it again."

"I know." Tommy rubbed her head and back. "We'll get him back." Tommy kissed the top of her head. "You just have to keep faith and know that I will do everything in my power and more to get our son."

The lights to the former Dino lair were turned on as Tommy walked down the short steps. Kimberly hesitated to walk down ever since she saw him pull down the dinosaur mouth and trapdoor opened. Tommy held his hand out for her. Tommy had the place redone, not as before since the danger was no longer present, but a means to keep himself in the mix if something else was to happen.

"What is this?" Kimberly asked taking her first steps around. Tommy went to turn on all the lights.

"I guess, my own Command Center."

"What?"

"This was the base for the Dino Thunder rangers," Tommy said.

"Below your house?"

"Yeah. I always knew since I found the Dino gems, they would probably one day be used to save the world, so with the help of a friend, I made a base here below my house where I knew I could keep them safe until the time was right to use them."

"Wow." Kimberly ate from her plate. Tommy went over to the computer; he hit a few keys to turn it on from standby.

"Take a seat." Kimberly did as Tommy turned a chair for her. She watched him work the computer with ease. Tommy started typing up views of the woods and scanned the woods from the satellite. The computer was working fast through video.

"There!" Kimberly stopped him, grabbing his arm. "We took that road! There!"

"That's a good 20 minutes away."

"Let's go!" Kimberly said pulling at his arm as she stood up.

"You should stay here and let me go check it out."

"Like hell I am! What if you get attacked or, worst…taken?"

"I won't. I'll be careful."

"No. You promised me, together. You said, we would do this together." Tommy sighed.

"Fine, then you are resting."

"Fine, as soon as I get the papers I can…"

"No, you will rest," Tommy said sternly. "No ands or buts about it, Kim."

"Fine, I promise."

"Let me get some things then, ropes and clips."

"Fine."

They got into his jeep and drove to the spot led by Tommy's handheld computer. Kimberly followed Tommy to the cliff. She gasped, as the wind picked up around them. Tommy put his arm around her as she grasped his side.

"That's a long ways down."

"I should go," Kimberly said.

"What?"

"I've been rock climbing, many times before."

"Kimberly you just got out of the hospital. The hospital!"

"I need that file!"

"No."

"I am the smallest! You can hold me by the tree and yourself. I'll be quick. And I'll be fine." Tommy sighed. She was right. It would be easier for him to anchor her and not the other way around if something were to happen. Tommy had no experience with rock climbing.

"Tommy, please…"

"Okay, I'll get the rope." Tommy went back to the jeep. Kimberly stood at the edge as Tommy tied the knot around her waist. "Is that too tight?"

"No, it's fine." She touched his hands. "I'll be fine." Tommy nodded as she cupped his face. "Tommy, I'll be fine." She kissed his cheek. Tommy smiled with her. Tommy went to the nearest tree and checked that knot as well.

"Okay, go ahead." Tommy held the rope as Kimberly slowly went down.

"Catch ya on the flip side."

"Just go slow, Kimberly." Kimberly smiled as she held the rope and disappeared below.

Kimberly opened the car door slowly. She was on the roof, as the car was partially hanging off the smaller rock edge.

"Okay, I have the car door open." She eased off the roof.

"Kimberly, hurry up, that edge isn't looking safe from up here! It could go at any moment."

"Thanks," Kimberly muttered as she slid into the car slowly. Kimberly pulled out her briefcase with the file and secured it in her hand. She pulled at her suitcase, only to feel the car shake. She gasped.

"Kimberly!"

"I'm okay! Just a tiny shake!"

"Get out!"

"I'm coming out!" Kimberly slowly moved to the door with her suitcase in hand as well. Kimberly climbed on the back of the car to anchor herself after putting the briefcase there first before her suitcase. "Send down the other rope."

"Climb up now!"

"I can't climb holding these, please! The car is slipping!"

"Fine!" Tommy rushed to tie off another rope and sent the line down. Kimberly tied off her suitcase and briefcase. "I'll pull you up first."

"No! Get the bags," Kimberly said doing another knot.

"Kimberly!"

"Do as I say, please!" Tommy pulled slowly at the line with her suitcase.

"Damn, what is in that bag!"

"Shut up!" Tommy finally got a hold of the bags and pushed them aside. He looked down as Kimberly was slowly climbing up herself. Just as she lifted herself from the back of the car to the rocks of the cliff, the car shook as the edge was loosened. Kimberly was just a few feet when the car finally slid down off the edge. Kimberly gasped as she looked down to see the cab crash into the ground below.

"I told you," Tommy said as he was kneeling over the edge, Kimberly about a good 15 feet away.

"Oh, shut up," Kimberly groaned as she pulled herself up a bit more. She wanted to take it slowly, knowing she had Tommy to help. Her hand searched for a steady rock.

"Hold up, Kim. You look tired. I'll pull you up the rest of the way."

"Okay."

"Well, well…the lovers are back together." Tommy turned to find Zedd with an army of his putties at his side.

"No." A putty cut the line against the tree, causing the line to run between Tommy's hands. "Kimberly!" Kimberly screamed as the line started to go down.

"Tommy!" Tommy caught the end of the rope with one hand. Kimberly had been screaming on the fall down, then abruptly stopped once Tommy caught the line. Kimberly slammed against the cliff with a loud gasp.

"What's going on up there!" Kimberly screamed up.

"Hang on!"

"Going to fight me with one arm Tommy?"

"That's all I ever needed. Kimberly, can you climb!" Tommy wrapped his hand in the rope to steady her.

"Uh, yeah. I guess."

"Then do it fast! We've got company."

"Okay! Just hold on!" Tommy fought back the putties as they rushed forward. Kimberly quickly climbed. Just as she lifted herself up Tommy was knocked to the ground. Kimberly rushed to him, undoing the knot at her waist. She lifted him to sit up, unwrapping the rope from his hand. His hand was raw and bleeding from anchoring her that long.

"Are you hurt?" Tommy groaned asking her.

"Shouldn't that be my question," Kimberly said with a smile. "Your hand."

"I'm fine." Tommy groaned and fell back slighly, holding his side. Kimberly looked up to Zedd with fire in her eyes. She stood up slowly.

"Ready to fight Kimmy?" A putty ran toward her. Kimberly hit him square on the 'Z' of his chest. Another one jumped to kick her, but its kick was stopped. Tommy stood next to her, holding the leg. Kimberly hit the 'Z' on its chest.

"Give us our son back."

"Never." Tommy and Kimberly rushed to fight Zedd.

Kimberly groaned, trying to lift herself up after Zedd struck her in the back. Tommy was hit the ground next to her once he was hit by a blast of Zedd's staff. She fell back down to her stomach due to the pain. Tommy tried to get up as well from his back after the kick to his chest.

"Here is some good advice for you two. Stay down or I will make sure you never get up again. And stay away from your son, because you will never have him." Zedd disappeared laughing. Tommy sat up, holding his chest, groaning. Tommy looked at Kimberly not moving.

"Kimberly!" Tommy quickly crawled to her side and turned her to facing him. She gasped as her eyes opened. She grimaced as well when he sat her up. "Are you hurt? Your head or…"

"I'm fine." He helped her stand up. Kimberly was a bit wobbled on her legs, as Tommy steadied her. He put his arm around her waist to hold her up. "What do we do now?"

"We prepare ourselves. We have a major war ahead of us. And we don't have any powers to help." Kimberly wrapped her arms around his waist as she buried her face into his chest. Tommy hugged her as well.

Tommy and Kimberly slowly made it back to the jeep. Kimberly felt as though her sides were broken in, every time she breathed. She knew it was from slamming into the rocky cliff. Tommy heard her wince again. "What's wrong?"

"Just my side." Tommy faced her, and lifted her shirt. "Tommy!"

"Let me see your ribs." Kimberly bit her bottom lip, as Tommy squatted before her, lifting her shirt. He felt her ribs, Kimberly groaned. "I don't feel any breaks, just a bad bruise."

"I don't think it's broken."

"We should go to the hospital and make sure."

"Your hand?" Kimberly said looking at the hand Tommy used to anchor her. "It's so raw."

"It's fine."

"No, it's not." Kimberly ripped her shirt sleeve down and wrapped his hand.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Let's go." Kimberly nodded.

Tommy was driving back as Kimberly was looking through the file.

"We have to see him today. He lives at…"

"I know where he lives, Kimberly. His older brother is in one of my classes. They just moved here from New York."

"Good, we can go see him."

"I don't think that is wise," Tommy said turning his car to the road to his house.

"Why not?"

"Look at us! We were just in a fight!"

"I don't care! I want to see him! I need to see him right now! Make sure, he's okay."

"Kimberly, it is not wise to just…"

"I don't care about what is wise or not! I want to see him!"

"Fine, but let's change first."

"Fine!"

Tommy looked up as Kimberly came downstairs from her shower and changing the muddy clothes from their battle with Zedd. His eyes on her as she paused to fix the strap to her tan slingbacks. She looked up at him.

"What?"

"Nothing." Kimberly pulled at her khaki colored linen jacket to straighten it out more.

"Is it too much?" Kimberly asked.

"No." Kimberly was dressed in an aqua tank top, khaki jacket and matching pants.

"Too businesslike?"

"No. You look fine," Tommy said.

"Then don't scare me like that." Kimberly shook her hair out as she bent over; it was still damp, looking crimped and beautiful as always. Tommy knew the wonders of make-up, but the way she looked, not a bruise in sight. Kimberly looked as though she was about to walk a runway, with her long crimpy hair, and clean dress attire. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah."

"Good." Kimberly picked up her briefcase and purse. Tommy followed her, his eyes still on her.

Tommy looked over at Kimberly as she stared off, on the drive to the Edwards house. Tommy pulled the car into park, as they were right before the house on the street. Kimberly looked at the house.

"You okay?"

"Is it weird to be nervous and scared?"

"No," Tommy said touching her hand as they both sat there looking at the house. "Come on." Tommy took her hand as she came around the car. They walked to the door holding hands. Tommy raised his hand to ring the doorbell.

"Wait!"

"What?" Kimberly held his hand.

"Maybe we shouldn't. What if Zedd…"

"Look, he's not going to take him in front of them. We are just here to talk." Kimberly nodded. Tommy rang the bell. Dennis opened the door.

"Dr. Oliver? What are you doing here?"

"Are you parents around, Dennis?"

"Yeah, let me get them. Come in." Kimberly followed Tommy inside.

Tommy and Kimberly looked around the living room as Dennis disappeared to find his parents. The place was barely cleaned up from a birthday party yesterday. A 'Happy Birthday' Banner still hanging caused Kimberly's heart to ache. Tommy put his arm around her, feeling the same.

"Dr. Oliver? What do we owe this visit?" Mr. Edwards asked as he appeared.

"We need to talk."

"Is something wrong? Did Dennis do..."

"No, no. Nothing about Dennis. Could we maybe talk in private?"

"Of course," Mr. Edwards said. "Dennis, could you give us a moment alone?"

"Uh, sure." Dennis went upstairs to his bedroom. Kimberly looked around briefly.

"Has Dennis done something in school?"

"No. This isn't about Dennis. This is about your other son."

"My other son?"

"Yes, Carl," Kimberly said.

"Oh, I'm sorry. This is…" Tommy looked at Kimberly. "Kimberly Ann Hart, a friend of mine."

"Hi, nice to meet you." Kimberly stepped forward with her hand out. Mr. Edwards shook her hand.

"Hi," Mr. Edwards said. "I think I have seen you before."

"Yeah, you came to my department about adopting a child 2 years ago in the City. My associate, Jennifer Banks was your social worker in New York."

"Yes, Mrs. Banks was a great help. How is she doing these days?"

"Oh, she had a beautiful baby girl."

"Wow, tell her congratulations for us."

"I will."

"Well, is there something wrong with Carlton?"

"No, no. That is not the problem here. You see, 8 years ago, I had a baby. A beautiful baby boy, but mistakenly that baby was taken from me."

"Oh, that is sad."

"Yeah. You see, I was told my baby had died, when in reality my baby was very much alive, just taken away."

"Oh my god! Who would do such a thing?" Mrs. Edwards asked as she finally appeared.

"That is not why we are here today to discuss, however," Tommy said.

"Yes, you see. My son is here. You call him Carlton, or Carl."

"Excuse me." Kimberly explained the whole story to the Edwards, with Dennis listening upstairs.

"Now, you see, your son is our son."

"You told me, you wasn't married."

"We aren't married," Tommy said to Mr. Edwards. "Kimberly and I were together a long time ago."

"But you had a son."

"That I was believed to be dead."

"Exactly. We thought our son was dead, but until recently I found out the truth."

"How recently?"

"Yesterday."

"How can this be true!"

"All I know is you have my son now," Kimberly.

"No!" Mrs. Edwards said coming into the living room. "That is impossible."

"No, it isn't," Tommy said.

"It is a lie," Mrs. Edwards said.

"We are not lying!" Kimberly said.

"They mean to take my Carl. This is some sick joke. They just want to take my baby."

"Wait, wait, no one is saying we have to take Carl now, but eventually…"

"No! That is my son!" Mr. Edwards hugged his wife.

"I'm sorry, my wife gets very emotional at times, especially when concerning her children. You see, we lost a son too, 3 years ago. And that little boy has meant the world to my wife. So, when we decided to adopt, it wasn't as if we wanted to replace our dead son, but move on. So, you cannot come here and expect us to just hand him over to you."

"But that is my son!"

ooooooo...next installment: 'Self Destruction' A face-to-face meeting with true evil. Why are lawyers such bastards:)