AN: Thanks for all the reviews gals and guys, keep 'em coming! Read, enjoy and don't forget to review!
Chapter 6: Fill Me In
Tommy and Kimberly sat on their flight to New York City. They had just been married, and spent the weekend in a blissful peace. No worries since they said their 'I do's. Tommy wanted to give their new marriage a bit of a re-fresh before they get to work. He knew the next few months would be critical, especially if they expect to get their son back by Christmas. It was just November now. Kimberly took Tommy's hand, as the pilot came on requesting attendances take their seats for arrival in JFK airport.
"You okay?" Tommy asked as Kimberly sighed again. He squeezed her hand.
"Yeah," Kimberly said.
"Excited to be coming home?"
"This is not my home. You are my home." Kimberly touched his face and kissed him.
"Does that mean you will be moving to California now that we are married?"
"Yes. I can't stay there, not without you. I want to make my, our family in my first home. My only true home, California. Besides, I love Reefside, it was so beautiful and it would make a great home for our family," Kimberly said.
"Good."
Kimberly and Tommy took a cab to her place. It was early in the night, around 7pm when they arrived to NYC.
"We can stop at the office first. I know I may no longer have a job there, but there is still some people that may be able help us."
"Why would you not have a job?" Tommy asked.
"I disappeared, I left everything in a mess without any word to anyone for over a month now. If Jennifer had to come back, she is none too happy. She was promised 2 months maternity leave, not 2 weeks. I am fired, I know it."
"Maybe not. I mean, you were beaten up, they couldn't expect you to come back…."
"Tommy, I'm fired, okay. But that doesn't matter now, what matters most is getting our son from Zedd."
"Okay."
Tommy put their bags down once she unlocked her doors and turned on all the lights. "Wow, this is nice."
"Thanks." Kimberly saw her phone had 240 messages flashing.
"It's as big as my place."
"Not quite," Kimberly laughed. She sighed as she walked to her home phone. "At least 50 are from Aisha." Tommy smiled. Kimberly hit the messages. First few were from Aisha of course. Tommy watched Kimberly go over to her computer. It was still turned on from a month ago. The last page was with her airline tickets being made and printed up still left on screen. Kimberly rebooted the computer before she searched for her second lifeline. Her cell phone, as the messages continued to played on in the apartment. Aisha left a screaming message next.
"You better call her."
"I will soon." Kimberly looked through her place for her cell. She had totally left tons of things when she rushed to California. She completely left her cell phone behind in a rush to leave the city. She knew her family and especially Aisha would be calling her after a few days without hearing from her. Kimberly picked up her cell and saw it was dead. "I better charge this and then I will call my parents and Aisha. God, help me." Kimberly shook her head. "Make yourself at home."
"Okay." Tommy walked around. He went into the kitchen and opened her fridge before slamming it shut quickly. Kimberly came over and scrunched up her nose.
"What the hell is that smell?" Kimberly asked as she slightly gagged.
"Uh, I think something in there died."
"Oh, sorry. I probably got tons of spoiled foods in there."
"Yeah."
"Oh, great," Kimberly said opening it again before slamming it as well. "I have mask and gloves in the hall closet. Could you maybe…?"
"Deal with the toxic foods?" Kimberly nodded. "Sure, Beautiful. Call your parents and Aisha."
"Okay." She kissed his cheek. Tommy went to work on the fridge with bleach, gloves, a mask and the broom to hit whatever moved in her refrigerator.
Kimberly hung up the phone with her father after just getting a nice tongue lesson from her mother. She had called her parents from California just to inform them that she was alive and they didn't put a missing report out on her, but that was still not enough. Kimberly dialed the dreaded final number next with a long sigh.
"Hello?"
"Hi, it's me, Sha," Kimberly said.
"Well, well, been a month! I thought you were dead."
"I'm sorry, Aisha. I just…well, got back to town tonight."
"Where have you been?"
"California."
"Why? For what?"
"My son."
"Your son? Your son is dead?"
"No, he's not dead."
"What! How is that possible!"
"Zedd."
"Zedd? He's alive still! How? When did you find out? What happened?"
"Yes, Zedd is still alive. I know it's hard to believe but, but it's true. Tommy and I fought him."
"Tommy! Tommy is there with you right now?"
"Yes, we are here to prove that the son we buried is not our real son. Then we can go back to California and fight the paternity of Carl."
"We? Carl? Who's Carl? And what's this talk about 'we'? Are you two back together or something?"
"Something like that. We got married a day ago."
"What!" Aisha screamed, causing Kimberly to nearly drop the phone. "How could you go off and get married like that without even calling me! What about your parents, his parents…your friends, your family! What is going on here!"
"We wanted to get married so we could have a better chance to get our son. We haven't yet told our parents, that'll come next, once we finish this business here in the city."
"Do you love each other?"
"Of course!"
"Then why a rush to get married!"
"I told you why," Kimberly said. "Look, Tommy and I have to arrange some things before the day is completely over with. I'll call you later, tomorrow morning."
"Wait…Kimberly, wait! Talk to me now…we have to..."
"I can't now, I'm sorry. I have to do some things, Sha. I promise, I will call you tomorrow." Kimberly clicked off her phone. She felt Aisha's scream all the way in Chicago. "I'm going to pay for that later." Tommy nodded as he closed the bag with all the food from her fridge.
"We both are," Tommy said holding up the huge bag of deadly toxic foods.
"Trash is down the hall to the right." Tommy nodded. "I'll order some Chinese, you're probably hungry. I know this great place."
"Okay. Whatever you want is fine by me, baby."
"We have to do a lot tonight, Tommy."
"I know and we will get everything done we need to do." Tommy kissed her cheek and left to throw out the trash.
They went to Kim's office, finding it bare with most of the people leaving for home. Alice rushed to Kimberly and hugged her tightly.
"Oh, Alice, can't breath!"
"Oh, sorry! How are you!" Alice asked.
"Okay."
"Did you find him?"
"Yes."
"Oh, and who is this?"
"Hi, Tommy Oliver."
"Hi, Alice." They shook hands. Alice smiled widely.
"He's my husband."
"Husband!"
"We got married." Kimberly held up her hand.
"What? When?" Alice examined the rings on Kim's hand. Tommy held up his left hand with the gold band.
"A couple days now." Tommy nodded.
"Wow. Congratulations!"
"Thanks."
"Well, everything you asked from the plane is here and waiting. If you need anything else boss, you can have it. I am here to help. Just fill me in."
"Boss? I'm not your boss anymore?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm fired right?"
"No! Jennifer took back over the department while you were gone. She saw the office and when she heard about what happened, she wouldn't dare let you go. She knew you just needed time away. She understands why you had to go. She said she would go to the depths of hell to get back her baby girl. She gave you off all those vacation weeks with pay."
"I'm not fire," Kimberly said looking up to Tommy. He put his arm around her.
"See, I told you," Tommy said kissing the side of her head.
"Thank you, Alice. I needed to hear that. We have a lot to do and I don't want to waste any more time."
Next morning
Kimberly woke up to find her doorbell ringing. Tommy and her just got to sleep around 4 am, having spent all night with Alice working on everything about Carl, the Edwards, all the foster families before. They needed evidence of his imaginary friend, 'Ed' to help them with the case. Tommy and Kimberly knew they couldn't explain the connection of being former rangers and Lord Zedd, at least not in the courts yet. Kimberly called the cemetery, leaving a message about a meeting for tomorrow at their son's gravesite. The doorbell kept ringing. Tommy's head moved deeper into Kim's hair as he moaned. Kimberly groaned, pulling Tommy's arm off her body. He moaned and lifted his head up.
"What time is it?"
"I don't know, like 8," Kimberly said sitting up.
"Then who the hell is that?"
"I don't know."
"Wait, don't answer it, it could be…"
"I don't think Zedd would attack us at daybreak. It might be Alice." Kimberly stood up and wrapped her robe around her as she went out her bedroom to the door. She wiped her eyes. "Who is it?" Nothing, but another ring at the door. "Hang on, damn! I'm coming!" Kimberly opened the door. "Aisha?"
"No, the boogeyman." Aisha walked pass her inside the place.
"What are you doing here!"
"I flew of course. I didn't appreciate our last call."
"I said I was sorry." Aisha took her hand and examined the ring and gold band. She rolled her eyes letting her hand go.
"Can't believe you went off and got married without me."
"It was a very impulsive day."
"I see." Tommy came out the bedroom, pulling on a t-shirt. "Well, well, look what dragged in."
"Aisha? Aisha!"
"Don't Aisha me!" Tommy stepped back with his hands out, knowing he wasn't getting a hug from Aisha right now.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"How dare you jump up and marry her without me!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was a requirement to discuss my life and what I do with it to you at all the time, Aisha," Kimberly said going to her coffee machine.
"Listen here, bitch…you go off, after I hear from Alice that you have been beaten up in your office a month, and I am not suppose to be worried!"
"I forgot my phone! Damn! I said I am sorry!" Kimberly pulled down 2 mugs. "Please, it's too early and I don't need this." Kimberly covered her face as she started crying. "Excuse me." Kimberly went to walk away, but Aisha stopped her.
"Hey, look at me." Aisha held her arm. "Look at me! I am not mad at you, I'm not upset either. I'm just… just sad. I wanted to be there for you. I thought we promised each other to always be there for one another, especially after what has happened to us through the years."
"I know."
"You didn't even tell me that Zedd was alive or your son could be. I thought we told each other everything?"
"We did! Do! I do! I just got so crazed with my son being alive, I wasn't thinking clearly. I only wanted my son." Aisha hugged her. "I just want him in my arms."
"I'm sorry I yelled," Aisha said.
"I'm sorry too." Aisha let Kimberly go and turned to Tommy.
"Come here, you big lug." Tommy smiled and hugged Aisha. "I'm happy you two are back together and married. So very happy."
"Thanks."
"So how was the wedding?"
"Quick…"
"And just right," Kimberly said. "But I know you will help us do it perfectly."
"Of course. Now, how do we get your son back?"
"We do need help and I am so happy you are here to help."
"Of course. Anything for my sister and best friend. Now, I brought some documents on court cases to prove paternity. It's not much, but maybe it help." Kimberly smiled. "And of course I called Jason, Adam, Rocky, Billy, Tanya, Katherine, and Zack. They should be here by tomorrow at the earliest."
"All of them!"
"Of course. You need help and I couldn't think of a better team, than us to help you two."
"Aisha!" Kimberly hugged Aisha.
"Wow, a ranger reunion," Tommy said. "Finally."
That afternoon
Tommy and Kimberly stopped by the cemetery before they went to the hospital with Aisha and Alice after calling them all morning about a meeting, conference to talk about their son's birth. It was a little emotional at the cemetery for the couple. Kimberly rubbing down the headstone, she would always visit her baby, at least once a month. Tommy hadn't seen the place in a few years, not that he wanted to forget it, but the pain of it still hurts him badly. Tommy and Kimberly had to bring themselves back to slight normal before going to the hospital. They didn't want to come across as a wreck, though that was how they felt inside.
"You are the Olivers, I presume."
"Yes."
"As head of the hospital, I have already told you everything I have on that file."
"Yes, we know that, but…"
"But nothing, Mrs. Oliver. We are sorry for your lost, but there is nothing more we can do. Our reports show that your son dead that night. No other baby died on that night in this hospital."
"There must be a mistake, someone had to see something. A security guard, a nurse….somebody!"
"Mrs. Oliver, I will gladly give you the report from that night if it will make you feel better."
"Make me feel better! I want my son back!"
"Kimberly, calm down…"
"Calm down! No! I will not calm down!"
"Kim…" Tommy grabbed her arm.
"There must have been some mistake! That cannot be true!" Tommy hugged Kimberly to get her to hush.
"Excuse us." Tommy took Kimberly out the office. Aisha picked up the file.
"I'm gonna need a list of everyone working that night in the hospital."
"What?"
"You heard me," Aisha said. "Every nurse, doctor, security guard, tech, maintenance workers, electrician! Everyone! My friend lost a son that night and I am not giving up until I help her get him back."
"We can't give out that information."
"Do you want me to force it out of you," Aisha said staring at the chief of the hospital. "I want that information and I will do what I must to get it, criminal even."
"Yeah, me too." Alice stood up beside Aisha. "Now, hand them over." The doctor went over to his computer and brought up all ancient history from 9 years ago.
Next morning
Kimberly was scrambled more eggs as Rocky was still hungry from his all night long flight from Texas. There was a lot of commotion going on in her apartment with the arrival of all the former rangers. Jason arriving first at nearly daybreak, followed by Katherine, Adam, Billy, Tanya, Zack, and Rocky finally.
"More juice please," Katherine asked holding her glass up. Tommy poured some into her cup. "Thank you." Tommy smiled and patted her shoulder.
"So, how long would we have to wait to dug up the grave?"
"The clerk said maybe tomorrow. It just takes a few days to get the correct paperwork in order."
"I can go through the list of hospital workers with my computer. I should be able to locate them for you today," Billy said.
"We tried to set up an appointments with many of them from the list the hospital gave us, but nothing so far. Lots of them are either dead or not working there or in the city anymore. I mean, the doctor that delivery the baby is dead and more than ¾ of the staff is new, they just have our records from that night. Nothing more."
"We can still find the living members of that staff that was working that night and try to talk to them. We just need to get everyone's stories straight. Anything we get can help your case. Anything."
"I've been working on that with Alice. Maybe our computer genius will be able to do a lot more. I want to help," Aisha said.
"Sure, that would be great," Billy said smiling at Aisha.
Tommy pulled Kimberly into his lap. She had been fixing breakfast for all, making sure everyone is gets feed, without taking care of herself. Tommy kissed her cheek as she settled in his lap.
"I'm hoping to get something, some news soon, all this waiting is getting tiresome. I don't know how much longer I can be here, knowing my son is with that monster thousands of miles away."
"I hear you," Tommy said kissing Kim's cheek again.
"So, how's it feel to be married finally?" Zack asked.
"Yeah, I mean, we always knew it would happen," Katherine said. "How does it feel?"
"I don't know," Kimberly said looking at Tommy. "It's not even been but a few days."
"But it's been a great few days. Best in my life."
"That is has." They kissed again.
"Trying to eat here," Rocky said. Kimberly glared at him and threw a piece of toast at him. Rocky moved perfectly to catch it in his mouth. Everyone laughed.
"I'm just happy that I finally have this lug back in my life."
"Same here, Beautiful. I love you."
"Mmm…I love you too," Kimberly said cupping his face as she kissed him. Tommy looked around at all his best friends, together again. They were all smiling at the happy couple. Tommy and Kimberly smiled back. Tommy knew with them, anything was possible.
That afternoon
Kimberly groaned loudly, as she got another answering machine.
"What is it, Beautiful?" Tommy asked. She plopped down into his lap.
"Why is everyone out of town!"
"Another answering machine?" Billy asked.
"Yes! Unless…"
"Unless what?" Jason asked.
"Zedd? Maybe he got to them, like the lawyers. He is that sick."
"But why would prevent us from talking to anyone? We already know he stole your son," Aisha said.
They had just returned from the hospital a few hours ago again. Billy had been able to go through papers of documents and newspapers from 9 years ago. There seem to be a different account of that night from a nurse. So, Kimberly and Tommy finally got to talk to an old security guard that mentioned a nurse claiming some bizarre story about a man in the nursery. It was disputed because no tapes in the halls or nursery showed a man with a baby leaving the nursery. Her accounts were neglected from the records, only a few documents even counted her accounts from dozens of articles. Kimberly knew that nurse saw Zedd that night, but was hushed up with the baby found dead since she left her station unprotected. That is a serious 'no-no' in the hospital to leave your station without a guard or someone watching. The hospital wouldn't want that in their reports, so did the smart thing and shut that nurse up and fired her within the end of the year.
"Doesn't mean, he won't stop us from getting some proof," Tommy said holding Kimberly.
"Yeah." Billy was on his computer typing away. He hadn't moved hardly today.
"Where has Zedd been hiding out?" Katherine asked.
"I don't know."
"I have been using the computer to find any orbiting ships in Earth's atmosphere," Adam said. "But nothing so far, maybe Zedd's craft is cloaked or maybe he is back on the moon."
"I don't that," Tommy said. He remembered when he went with the many of the former red rangers to battle on the Moon. "The Moon has been deserted for many years. I don't think Zedd would do that. I think our best bet is a floating fortress."
"Then where?" Jason asked, knowing the same, since he was with the group of red ranger leaders battling on the Moon against some of the Machine Empire's generals.
"I found her!" Billy cried out.
"Found whom!"
"The nurse! The one that you said took the baby to the nursery. Nurse Irene Clark, she still lives in the area. I got everything on her. It's Upstate New York." Kimberly jumped up from Tommy's lap and went over to the computer. Billy pulled out the print out and handed it over.
"It should take maybe 2 hours to reach her house and it's almost 5 now. Let's go."
"Wait, Kim…"
"Wait! We have to talk to her today!"
"It's late and you said it yourself, 2 hours away. I don't think it's wise to go to her place at 7 o'clock at night and ask her questions about something that happened 9 years ago."
"I don't care!"
"Tommy's right, Kim," Aisha said.
"Yeah. Call her and set up a meeting tomorrow," Tanya said.
"We already have to dig up the grave tomorrow and Billy has to run DNA tests. I need to speak with this woman as soon as possible. Before Zedd gets a chance to corrupt her, or worst, kidnap her."
"You really think he would go that far."
"Yes! Zedd will anything and everything to keep Chris to himself."
"I'll go to the gravesite, Kim. You go talk to the nurse."
"I don't want you to deal with that alone."
"I'm not alone. I can it."
"Still, Tommy, I…I want to be there with you."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. We'll just have to make time. I mean, we have to do this right. We can't afford mistakes at this time." Tommy nodded taking her hand. "I want to do everything right, so we can get our son back."
"If it requires a DNA test to prove the paternity of the buried boy, that might take a few hours," Billy said. "I can do that while you go talk to the nurse."
"That sounds good. Thank you Billy. Thank you all for…helping….us…"
"Are you kidding me," Jason said. "Rangers stick together."
"We are with you guys through anything. We will do what we must to help you," Aisha said.
"We will help you get your son back and we will defeat Zedd once and for all."
"We promise," Katherine said. Kimberly shook her head to the tears rolling down her cheek as she hugged Aisha and Katherine.
"Thank you."
Next morning
Kimberly and Tommy stood holding hands as they stood before the gravesite of their 'alleged' son as it was being dug up. Kimberly held back her cries with deep breaths. Tommy put his arms around her to steady her. Tommy knew this would be hard. The memory of burying their son would be strong right now, it was expected. Tommy never knew how much this would hurt to be standing here in this moment, about the raise a coffin.
It was a gray morning, the day they decided to have the funeral for 'Christopher Thomas Hart-Oliver'. It was sad stormy day, as expected. Kimberly's eyes told the horror, the sadness. Her face had been drained of any emotions, but her eyes showed it all. She looked paled, her hair just super-straighten, her attire, all black as mostly expected. Tommy stood next to hes with her mother on her other side. Tommy's hand gripped her hand and squeezed it often to get some response. Kimberly would simply squeeze back, but they still hadn't talked much since the hospital. Kimberly refused to talk to him, her mother, Aisha, anyone since that night her son was pronounced dead. She had just kissed and hugged her son before the nurse took him to the nursery, only to find him dead an hour later. Kimberly hadn't cried much, maybe once truly since the death. Everyone around her would tell her it was okay, but she would hold it in. Tommy stood there with tears in his eyes, as the priest blessed their child and he was lowered into the ground.
The ceremony had ended 20 minutes ago now, but Kimberly hadn't moved. Tommy would squeeze her hand and pull her, but she refused to move. No expression on her face, when he tried. Everyone passing by with a rose would hug and kiss her, but she barely stirred. She barely looked up from the site before her. Dirty covering her son's coffin. Her son, her baby was gone forever now. There was no means to get him, to save him now. He was truly gone.
"Kimberly….Kim, you coming? Kim?"
"Just give her a few more moments, Tommy," Mrs. Dumas said patting his back, as Tommy pulled at Kim's arm again.
"I don't…"
"Come on." Mrs. Dumas pulled Tommy with the rest of the crowd. They walked toward the cars and limo waiting. Tommy gave his hugs and thanks to everyone again as they went into their cars. Tommy looked back up at Kimberly. She still hadn't moved.
"Just give her a few more moments," Kim's mother said as Tommy was staring back at her.
"She'll come when she's ready," Kim's father said. Tommy nodded.
An hour passed since the ceremony finished. Tommy came up behind Kimberly.
"Kimberly…Kimberly, come." Tommy placed his hand on her shoulder, only to have her pull away. "Kimberly, come!" Tommy said sternly. She turned her head slowly at him with tears in her eyes. A lone tear rolled out her eyes down her cheek. Tommy touched that cheek and pulled her to him. They hugged. "Let it out baby, it's okay. Just let it out." Kimberly just stared to the side, as Tommy rubbed her back. And then it happened. Kimberly screamed and it opened all the floodgates to such sadness. Tommy held her, hugging her through it all. They both fell to the ground, crying, hugging, and letting their soul be free of this sadness, knowing that will never happen.
Tommy kissed the side of Kim's head as tears rolled down her face finally. Kimberly pulled away.
"No."
"Kimberly?"
"NO! I can't…!"
"Kimberly!"
"I can't do this!" Kimberly pulled away from him. She slipped.
"Kimberly!"
"I'm sorry!" Kimberly pulled off her shoes and ran as hard and as fast as she possible could. Tommy chased after her. She wasn't going to stand there and watch this happen.
Tommy caught Kimberly when she stumbled. She was crying hard. He hugged her body tight against his body.
"I can't watch that! I just can't!"
"Shhh….it's okay! It's okay."
"I can't!"
"I understand." Tommy fell to his knees with her. "It's okay."
"That was our baby, that's our baby!" Kimberly cried out. "That was my baby!" Tommy rubbed her head, kissing her cheek.
Aisha brought over Kim's shoes as the couple just sat there, Kimberly was just staring ahead with Tommy rubbing her back. Tommy nodded and took the shoes from her.
"The man is ready to open the casket guys."
"We'll be right there." Aisha nodded and left them. Tommy slipped on Kim's shoes.
"You okay now?" She nodded as Tommy fixed her shoes on.
"I'm sorry about going to pieces like that. I don't know what came over me. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. It's hard, I know. We did buried a son here, whether or not he was ours, we still buried him here. Of course this would be hard to go back and reopen."
"I just… I know Carl is our son now, and we still lost him that night. But, another baby was lost that night, and he's here. He's still here, a baby was still lost here."
"I know, Beautiful."
"And what about all that time we lost with Carl? And all that time he was moved from house, from family to family and he spent with that monster he calls a friend, or worst, a father figure. How do we change that? How do we…?"
"We won't get that time back we lost with Carl, I'm sorry. But we still have plenty of time left to enjoy with him. He's still young, he's not too old. We're definitely not too old. We will have plenty of time, Kim."
"I guess that is true. We do still have time to share with him. To teach him." Tommy kissed her again.
"Come on." They stood up. Tommy brushed Kim's jacket and skirt free of grass and dirt. Kimberly wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. "I love you."
"I love you too," Kimberly whispered as her face was buried against his chest.
"Can you do this now?" Tommy asked holding her shoulders back so he would see her face.
"I don't know."
"I'm right here, I'm never leaving you again." Tommy wiped her face down with a handkerchief. "I love you." Kimberly nodded and hugged him again. Tommy rubbed the back of her head and back.
"Okay, lets go."
"You sure? I can do it alone, you can go talk to the nurse or wait in the car."
"No. I want to…I need to stay with you and do this."
"Okay."
"I know I can do it. With you holding my hand, I can do anything."
"Good." Tommy put his arm around her and they walked back to the gravesite.
They all stood as the casket was above ground, about to be opened.
"Are you ready?" Tommy nodded to the guys about to lift the top. "Miss, are you ready?"
"Just…just do it," Kimberly said to them, squeezing Tommy's hand. Kimberly closed her eyes as it was cracked. She squeezed Tommy's hand again, he did the same. The top slowly opened to gasps all around. Kimberly turned and buried her face against Tommy. He hugged her, closing his eyes with her. Everyone around them had peered into the casket and gasped loudly. Tommy opened his eyes and looked into the casket as well.
"Where's the body?" Tommy asked.
"What?" Kimberly's eyes opened and she looked as well. "Why is it empty!"
"Where's the body!"
oooo...dumdumdum! What does Zedd have in store next? 'A Case of the Year' is the next installation. Hoping to get around to that when I get more free time. I'm a teacher now, only took me a year to decide my life after college, warping the minds of our future youth. Scary, but fun. Bad ass children in Jersey, watch out:P
'Til next time :)
don't forget to review please :P