Disclaimer: Is not mine. Is Saban's.

CHAPTER THREE

Sunlight streamed in the blinds. Adam rolled over in his sleep and caught a faceful of sunlight. "Whoa." He rolled back over and buried his head in the green and white blanket. He glanced at his watch. It was 6:15 AM. "Ugh." He hadn't slept well. He'd dreamt of Marissa, Sarah, Aisha and Tanya. And none of it had been good. "New day, Adam," he told himself. First thing-a run. After that….well, Rocky and Amber would be back. Probably with a ton of stories and a bunch of pictures. New day. One day at a time.

It was funny. He couldn't remember it hurting this much after Tanya left. He wondered what'd changed. He rolled over, still in his sweats from the night before, and sat up. He peeled off his sweatshirt and threw on a plain green t-shirt. He ditched the sweatpants for a pair of silver athletic shorts, found a pair of socks that matched and went downstairs to find his tennis shoes. He tugged them on and found his iPod laying on the kitchen table. He stuck the buds in his ears and grabbed his house key. He dropped his cell phone in his shorts pocket on the way out and hit PLAY. He was just locking in the door when the first strains of heart-pounding bass invaded his ears, and for twelve solid minutes, that was all he heard. He wasn't even really paying attention to where he was running. When the song playing ended, he realized he'd ran all the way to the park. Well….since I'm here…. A new song started, and Adam took off down the sidewalk. The morning was already getting warm but he hardly noticed it, he was so intent on the rhythm of his feet pounding the pavement and the guitar riffs in his ear.

Someone grabbed his shoulder. Adam reacted out of habit, grabbing the offending hand and throwing the person over his shoulder. He looked down, and his eyes widened. He pulled the headphones from his ear.

"Oh man. I'm so sorry!"

From his prone position on the ground, Tommy Oliver couldn't help but laugh. "Nice to see you too, pal," he said with a chuckle. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I shoulda realized how into your run you were." Tommy was dressed for a run in a white cutoff t-shirt and red shorts. Adam noted his friend had cut his hair short and spiked it. A much better look than the retro ponytail.

Adam reached out a hand and pulled his former teammate to his feet. "What're you doing in Angel Grove?" he asked.

Tommy rubbed his shoulder where he'd landed on it. "Weekend, thought I'd come up and say hey to everyone. I don't have to be back in class til Tuesday, we've got a long weekend." He glanced around. "By the way, Kira says to say hello."

Adam smiled. Kira Ford was one of Tommy's students. She'd been recalled by Sentinel Knight as well when the Overdrive Rangers had been disconnected from the Morphing Grid. "Tell her hi back. She finish her CD yet?"

"Post production," Tommy replied. "Release party is next month. You should totally hit Reefside and come. We're having it at the Cyber Café."

Adam shrugged. "We'll see. Rocky's beginner classes usually have an exhibition around that time. But maybe he can handle it without me."

Tommy laughed. "Speaking of, how is he?"

"Good." Adam filled Tommy in on Rocky's new girlfriend, and how things at the dojo were going. "So what," Adam said, as Tommy offered to join him in his run, "you came all the way to Angel Grove at 7:45 a.m. for a run?"

"I got in last night," Tommy replied. "I'm crashed at Billy's."

"No way, I called him last night and he didn't even say anything," Adam said.

Tommy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Must've been before I got there. I wanted to get all my midterms graded before I left. I hate doing homework."

Adam grinned. "I bet your students say the same thing."

Just then, Adam's cell phone rang. He fished in his pocket and pulled it out. "Speak of the devil," he said. "Hey Billy."

"Hey Adam. You got a second?"

"Yeah," Adam replied. He held up a finger to Tommy, and Tommy nodded, stretching out his shoulder.

"I found the identity of your mystery caller," Billy told him. Adam heard the clink of what sounded like a coffee mug on the end of the line. "It was very interesting, to say the least." There was a smile in his tone.

"So spill," Adam said. "Who was it?"

"The number is an Angel Grove cell, and it is registered to a Rachel Connors."

Adam paused. "That's weird."

"Uh….not the reaction I would've expected." Billy sounded confused.

"Well, I mean, her daughter's in my kung fu class. So she knew I was in class when she called. I wonder why she called me…" Adam was as confused as his friend.

"I'll leave that little mystery for you to solve. My work here is done." Billy smiled. "Hey, so Tommy's in town for the long weekend, we should all get together."

"Yeah, I know, I ran into him this morning," Adam said with a wink at Tommy. "Rocky gets back today too, maybe if he isn't too jet lagged we could all hook up. My place is open."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Billy said. "Well, I'd better get moving, there's a lecture at the Science Center today and I'm introducing the speaker. I'll catch you later."

"Later, man." Adam hung up and looked at Tommy. "Billy wants to get together later. That work for you?"

Tommy nodded. "I'm free all weekend. Sounds good to me." He looked at his watch. "How about we do one more lap around the park, and then I'll spring for smoothies at Ernie's?"

"Only if you give me a ride home afterward," Adam replied. Ernie's was on the other side of the park from where he lived.

"Done deal," Tommy said. "How about you set the pace?"

"Can you still keep up old man?"

Tommy grinned. "I may be old, but I can still pull it off," he said. Adam started off at a jog, and Tommy followed. "Hey, speaking of which. How'd you feel putting on the ol' morpher again?"

Adam thought about it. "Old," he said finally.

Tommy chuckled. "Yeah, tell me about it. Nothin' like putting on the suit with kids that are young enough to be your own."

"Or ones that haven't been born yet," Adam said.

Tommy glanced at him. "Say what?"

Adam sighed. "Never mind. Gives me a headache trying to think about it." The two ran in silence for a lap around the park. "You ever miss it?" Adam asked when they finished.

"Miss what? Being a Ranger?" Tommy asked. Adam nodded. Tommy grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and used it to wipe his forehead. "There are parts of it I miss. The rush….feeling like I was doing some good…" He stopped for a moment, and Adam was pretty sure he knew what else Tommy missed about being a ranger. "I think that's why I became a teacher. That way I felt like I was still helping the world somehow, you know?"

"Says the racecar driver," Adam teased, and Tommy smiled. "Says the stuntman," he countered back. "I'm betting you and Rocky didn't open that dojo just to make money off your mediocre kung fu skills."

"Mediocre?" Adam replied, mock insulted. "Pretty sure that I can still take you any day-how's that shoulder treating you?" He looked pointedly at Tommy's arm. "And Rocky's back is doin' really well these days, not that the handicap would make a difference."

"Oh really?" Tommy replied, and Adam grinned. Just then, he had an idea. "Hey. What would you say to a little exhibition at the dojo? You're one of the best fighters I know, and I'd love to have the kids see you in action."

"I don't know…." Tommy almost seemed embarrassed.

"Oh come on, man. The kids would get a kick out of it, and Rocky and I miss sparring with you." Adam swatted Tommy with the back of his hand. "Whaddya say? For old time's sake."

Tommy sighed. "Fine. But only 'cause it's you two asking." He smiled to show it was no big deal. "Hey," he said. "Speaking of asking….what's this I was hearing about a girl and a phone call?"

"Oh..." Adam shrugged. He followed Tommy over to his car, a black pickup. "Hey, nice ride."

"Thanks. The morphing grid decided to bring me back in black too, decided I liked it better than white or red."

"Or green," Adam added, and Tommy laughed. "You're changing the subject, pal," Tommy said. "Spill. Who's the girl?" He frowned. "Did you and Tanya-" He stopped short at the look on his friend's face. Apparently, even after all these years, Tanya Sloan was still a touchy subject and he mentally kicked himself for bringing it up.

"Her name is Rachel," Adam replied after a moment. "Her daughter Jenna's in my kung fu class two times a week."

"And she calls you on a regular basis?" Tommy asked. "Adam, that's great news."

Adam climbed into the truck. Tommy hopped in the driver's seat and started it up with a roar. "Actually," Adam said, as Tommy pulled away from the curb. "That's just it. We've only ever talked when it has something to do with Jenna or classes."

"Okay, so then what was with the phone call that you had to get Billy involved?"

"I had a missed call. During class yesterday," Adam explained, leaning on his hand and bracing his elbow in the windowsill. "It was a number I didn't recognize but I had Billy backtrace it for me."

"He traced the phone number?" Tommy shook his head as he made a right turn. "Whatever happened to calling the person back?"

Adam didn't answer. Tommy glanced sideways at him. "Adam. Dude…seriously?"

"Hey, I called it back," Adam said defensively. "The person on the other end didn't answer. For all I knew it was a psychopath or a wrong number or-"

"A pretty girl?" Tommy teased, and Adam shook his head. "Dude, you're too old for this."

"Yeah well, when you've gotten your heart broke once before, you're not exactly in a hurry to do it again," Adam shot back. Then he froze, remembering who he was talking to. He looked at Tommy. "Hey, man, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"It's fine, Adam," Tommy said. "Really." He took a hand off the wheel and clapped Adam on the shoulder. "Old news."

Adam kept his mouth shut on the drive to the Youth Center, afraid he'd stick his foot in it again.