**************** Command Chamber*******************
Tommy closed the door to his room in the command chamber. Right now he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. He was failing. As a leader, as a power rangers, as a boyfriend and as a friend. He rubbed at his face, feeling the start of day old stubble. A moment later heard the gentle knock. There was Katherine right on time. Ever since Kimberly had moved out, Katherine seemed to always be hanging around him. Ready for any moment where she could be alone with him.
Sure he liked the new pink ranger well enough and he admitted there kiss had made him feel fantastic but her constantly wanting to be around him seemed to only confuse him even more. He couldn't deny just how beautiful Katherine was. How sweet she was. How charming she was with that accent. Sometimes when they were in battle or sparring or even just hanging out in the command center, he would get a glimpse of her and his heart would start racing, his body wanting to touch her, to hold her to his chest and...
And it was starting to get annoying...
The knock came again and Tommy chose to ignore it. Laying down on his bed with a sigh. Maybe she would just go away. Why couldn't Kimberly have been the crane? Then everything would have been just fine. She would still be here and they would still be together.
Kimberly's running away was Tommy's fault and his fault alone. That thought tasted bitter in his mouth.
He should have killed Zedd when he had the chance. It wouldn't have fixed anything but it would have made him feel a lot better. The white ranger closed his eyes and thought of Kimberly. Her smile, her laugh, the very way she seemed to sparkle. She was perfect. The joy in his heart, his very reason for living. His twin soul flame. What he wouldn't give just to see Kimberly, just to be near her once more.
"Tommy...?"
Tommy opened his eyes with a snort of frustration. Katherine just couldn't leave well enough alone. He stood and crossed the room but didn't open his door. "I'm fine Kat. I just need some time alone." He hoped that would be enough to get her to leave.
"Are you sure? I'm here if you want to talk."
Tommy had to bite down on his tongue to keep from snapping at her. He just wanted to scream and rage. She wasn't the one he wanted! He wanted Kimberly back! He wanted Kimberly as the crane ninjetti ranger, not Katherine! He needed Kimberly! He couldn't be himself without her around. The girl who had helped free him from Rita's spell of evil. The girl who had saved him. The girl he had sworn in his heart to protect for all time.
Tommy sighed and spoke softly without anger in his voice. "I'm good Kat. I'm just going to take a nap."
"Alright..." Came the reply.
Tommy leaned against the door for a few moments making sure Katherine was gone before returning to his bed and flopping down on his belly.
He was losing it. He was just a teenager... who had been kidnapped to the moon. Been tortured and abused by a witch. Made evil against his will, made a ranger and just... this wasn't his fault.
It wasn't his fault.
***************************Medical**************************
Billy rubbed at his eyes. God he was tired but he couldn't stop now. He had to keep pushing forward but... it was getting harder and harder to concentrate. If Kimberly was here she would scold him for not taking care of himself. Maybe a quick nap would do him some good. It had been awhile since had had slept last. Billy looked over at the cot he used as a bed. Nope, for once that bed consisting of a metal frame with a layer of canvas would not do. If he was really going to recharge he needed a good sleep in a real bed.
Billy stood, there was only one option. After all there was only one unused bedroom in the command chamber. Billy made his way down the hall. Gosh it was quiet. The other rooms doors were closed. Meaning the other rangers were probably already asleep and had been for a few hours. He vaguely wondered what time it was. He so rarely left medical anymore... but it must be late to be this quiet. He reasoned as he pushed the door open to the unused room. Pink walls greeted him, along with a white and pink dresser and a soft bed with a pink down comforter.
Billy kicked off his shoes and pulled the covers down. "Kim. I miss you." he whispered quietly as he climbed into the bed and closed his eyes. Billy fell into a deep sleep full of strange dreams that twisted all around his mind. At one point he moaned softly, twisting in the fabric and another moment he laughed in his sleep at the visions playing in his head. Suddenly he awoke with a start sitting up.
Not exactly the restful sleep he had planned. Billy stretched and rubbed his eyes. What had that dream been?
The other bedrooms were open now and he could hear chatting voices floating down the hallway along with an amazing smell. Ernie really was spoiling them with good food. Billy knew that compared to what everyone else got in angel grove the rangers were eating like kings.
He hoped Kimberly was getting enough to eat.
"Hey Billy, come join us." Rocky greeted with a smile but it faded slightly. "Are you okay?"
Billy yawned. "Yeah I'm good. I... what is everyone staring at." Indeed the breakfast table of rangers all seemed to be looking right at the ex blue ranger.
"It's nothing Billy." Aisha said quickly, returning her gaze to her food.
"I have a cleanser that can help." Katherine offered.
"You can hardly even notice it." Adam added.
Billy felt a chill. "Notice what?"
"You've got a huge zit. Right here." Justin tapped the center of his forehead.
Billy reached his hand up. There was a lump alright, about the size of a quarter and perfectly round. It felt hard and hurt a little as he poked it. "Great..."
"It's really not that bad." Katherine said, scooting over so Billy could sit down and eat. "I'm sure it will go away soon."
"Or we could try popping it." Rocky offered brandishing his fork in a menacing manner.
Billy put a hand over the lump. "I'll pass on that. Say where's Tommy?"
"Still in his room." Aisha replied.
Adam played with his food a bit before speaking. "Should we talk about... you know?"
Rocky nodded. "I'll handle it. So don't worry."
"Well we should do something soon."
Billy sighed. If ever a team needed a team building workshop it would be this group. He rubbed at the collar around his neck suddenly missing his mistress.
No, his friend.
************************** Trini's bedroom**********************
Kimberly rolled over. She felt awful. Rubbing at her face she sat up. It was late in the morning already. Odd that Mrs. Kwan hadn't come to wake her. Then again it was Sunday. The one day a week she had no obligations. Getting out of bed she glanced in the mirror. "This is going to take more than make up..." She mumbled to herself taking a comb to her hair. It was so knotted and tangled she almost took scissors to it.
"Kimberly sweetheart! Are you up?"
"Yes Mrs. Kw... Mom." Kimberly called back. "I'm sorry I slept so late."
There was a knock on the door but Mrs. Kwan was already opening it without waiting for her answer. "That's alright sweet heart. You deserve some time to rest. Oh your hair! How did it get so tangled?"
"I had some bad dreams last night." Kimberly said softly. "From when I was..." she trailed off. Anytime she hinted about the moon Mrs. Kwan always stopped asking questions.
"Here. Let me." Trini's mother took the brush and began to gently work out the knots while humming softly.
Kimberly had to admit it felt really good to have someone comb her hair and gently scratch her scalp. So much so she felt like she was going to fall asleep again. Only Mrs. Kwan's kind voice drew her back. "There all done." She had put Kimberly's hair into a simple long braid. "That will help keep it from getting tangled. Maybe you should lay back down. You really don't look well. I can bring up a lap tray with some breakfast."
"No, really I'm okay." Kimberly tried to assure but Mrs. Kwan was having none of it as she placed her hand on Kimberly's head.
"You're a bit warm. Back in bed. I'll make some tea."
"But I was suppose to see my friends today. Bulk and Skull." Kimberly argued back softly. She had made plans to go hang out with Bulk and Skull. You know just wander around, maybe play cards or something, normal teen stuff.
"Back in bed young lady." The mother's tone left no room for argument. "If you're feeling better later we can see if your friends can come over."
"Yes mom..." Kimberly replied quietly while doing what she was told. She didn't feel sick per say... but she didn't feel good either. She waited until Mrs. Kwan was out of the room before picking up her communicator. She ran her finger over the blue before sighing. She would have to risk a morning communication to Billy.
After all... she had promised.
*********************** Command Chamber**********************
"Adam do you think we can practice some before I have 'school'?" Justin asked, using quotations for the word school. It wasn't normal lessons like art class or English class but once a day Justin had lessons with Billy, usually involving science and math that lasted on average 3 hours or so.
"Sorry Justin but it's my turn to do the dishes." Adam said starting to clean up. He was always diligent about what chore was his. Today he was on dish duty.
"You can spare with me." said a voice to the side.
"Tommy! We were wondering if you were going to come to breakfast." Rocky replied.
"I saved you a plate." Katherine offered.
"Thanks Kat." Tommy said taking the plate of food. "And everyone I'm sorry. I know we've been having some growing pains as a team and I just wanted to apologies for my behavior. I know I haven't been helping much right now. I've been doing a lot of thinking and I think that maybe..."
*Beep beep beep beep Beep Beep*
Billy covered his communicator quickly hushing the noise but the damage had been done. Only Billy's communicator had gone off. Not eveyone's, that meant a direct communication! But Bulk or Skull would probably call Zordon if there was trouble. He doubted either of them would call Billy directly... so that only left...
Tommy's eyes went wide. "Answer it Billy."
Billy froze for a moment before speaking. "I'll take it in the lab." he stood quickly and hurried down the hallway.
"Wait Billy!" Tommy moved to follow his friend when Rocky stopped him by grabbing his arm. Tommy frowned. "Let go Rocky."
"Tommy don't. If it is Kim calling. We don't know what command she gave Billy. You knowing about it, it might do something bad."
"But..."
"Rocky's right Tommy." Katherine said. "You wouldn't want to risk Billy's life, just to talk to Kimberly, would you?"
Tommy dropped his head in shame. "Your right. I wouldn't."
Rocky patted his back. "So don't worry about it man. Billy will tell us if it's something serious."
**********************Medical Lab***********************
"This is Billy." Billy spoke into his communicator, after making sure he was alone.
"Billy, thank goodness. I was getting worried. I didn't think you were going to answer." Kim's voice came over the line. Her words sounding slightly off. Even as they sounded relieved to hear his voice.
"Are you okay Kim?" She never called him in the day time. Too much of a risk.
"I'm sorry to call Billy but... I'm sick or something." She admitted softly.
As soon as she said those words Billy began to move around the lab, packing his travel doctor bag. "Just stay calm Kim. I'll be there as fast as I can."
"Mrs. Kwan told me to rest. So we'll have to be really quiet after you teleport in or she'll hear us."
Billy frowned. If it was serious he would be bringing Kimberly back to the command chamber even if her vanishing upset Mrs. Kwan. "I'll be there in five."
"See you then," Kimberly disconnected.
Billy sighed and ran through what was in his bag. He paused only for a moment to slap a bandaid over the zit on his forehead. He'd lance it later.
Billy teleported into Trini's room. It was strange being here again and even stranger seeing Kimberly surrounded by yellow. She was curled up in Trini's bed seemingly sleeping. Billy took this moment to give her a once over with his eyes. She did seem paler than usual. "Kim?" Billy called softly touching her shoulder. "Hey Kim?"
"Mhhm... Billy?"
"Hey." He smiled at her placing his doctor bag on the bed. "How you feeling?"
"About the same."
Billy took out a scanner. "Okay I'm going to give you a base scan to start. Then we can..."
"Kimberly! Is everything alright?" Mrs. Kwan's voice called.
"Yes!" Kimberly called back as Billy moved to hide in the closet. He barely got the door shut when Mrs. Kwan opened the bed room door. She looked around puzzled. "I thought I heard voices?"
"Oh I was sort of talking to... Mr. Ticklesneeze." Kimberly quickly picked up the doll from the night stand. "I'm sorry. I won't do that anymore. Talk out loud, to a toy, I mean."
"Sweet heart you do whatever you need to, to feel better. I know you haven't wanted to tell me about what you went through on the moon and that's okay. If talking to Mr. Ticklesneeze makes you feel better you can talk to him as much as you want." Mrs. Kwan said putting a tray down across Kimberly's lap. "Here's some warm tea and crackers. I'll have to go to the community center to see about getting some chicken to make soup. I won't be long but I want you to rest while I am gone."
"Yes mom."
Mrs. Kwan leaned down and gave Kimberly a kiss on the forehead. "Good girl."
Kimberly tried not to bristle as Mrs. Kwan closed the door. That was weird. A loving mother thing sure but... It was just unexpected. She hadn't been prepared for it. She wasn't ready for a replacement mother.
"Kim? What's going on?" Billy asked. He had heard her call Mrs. Kwan mom. When she didn't answer him, he called her name again. "Kim?"
Kimberly gave her head a shake. "Geez... I must be sicker than I thought to zone out like this." She smiled up at Billy but it was a sad smile. "Mrs. Kwan wants to adopt me."
"She can't." Billy said pulling the scanner from his bag before realizing how rude that sounded. "I mean or at least not yet, not until I cure you."
"Cure us you mean."
Billy nodded but honestly, Kimberly was always his top priority. He started to scan her. "Do you want Mrs. Kwan to adopt you?"
Kim looked away shyly. "Honestly no. I haven't given up hope yet that my mom is alive and..." Kimberly trailed off going quiet.
"And?" Billy prompted after a moment.
Kimberly's brown eyes were heavy with tears as she looked at Billy. "I think she wants me as a replacement for Trini."
Billy's gaze was soft with understanding, even as he studied the read outs. "Everything seems fine. No sign of fever or infection and your base line is still the same as last week but here..." he pulled out a plastic bag from his doctor bag. Inside were several olive green pills. "These are vitamins I have been making. They will help boost your bodily systems. I am sure your nutrition has been lacking. Ours has been too, so these compounds became a necessity for me to create. I'm sorry but it did take some time away from your cure... er... our cure." Billy corrected seeing how Kimberly gave him a glare at him for not including himself.
"Billy I don't care if other things come up that you need to work on. Sometimes our cure won't be top priority." She shook her head. Billy always wanted to put her well-being first but as rangers that just couldn't happen sometimes. "So how many should I take?"
"One a day should be sufficient." Billy replied, pulling out one of the pills. "Take the first dose now and I'll sit with you for a bit if you want. Keep you company for awhile."
Kimberly nodded even as she swallowed the pill. "I'd like that alot Billy or should I say Mr. Ticklesneeze?" She giggled at that.
Billy picked up the funny looking doll and sat on the bed by Kimberly's legs. "If it keeps Mrs. Kwan from butting in. You can call me Mr. Ticklesneeze." he teased her with a twinkle of mirth in his blue eyes. "But if you weren't feeling poorly. I would be living up to my new nickname." He reached down and ran a finger over the sole of her foot. Even though it was under the blanket, Kimberly gave a squeal of a laugh she hurried to muffle.
"Billy!" She chastised but she was not upset with her friend. Far from it in fact. Billy being around always seemed to make her feel better.
"Sorry Kim. Couldn't resist." He laughed, teasing her. Happy to see that she still had a spark of playful energy. That was a good sign. He'd stay as long as he could to keep her company and keep her happy.