Author's Note: Hey guys! The next chapter is finally up and I know you're all wondering what's going to happen next! Well, I won't stall any longer, so you guys can go ahead and read this next chapter lol
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers, any of its series, characters, or the entire plot to the story. I own a few made up characters and all of the changed lines and parts of the plot. The plot was originally thought up by the writer and creators of "Days of our Lives."
Two Lives at Stake
"You're pregnant aren't you?" Tommy asked as he stared at Kimberly with wide eyes. Kimberly looked up at him nervously at first, but the nervousness disappeared and was replaced with anger.
"How dare you!" she shouted as she stood up from the bed. "I don't know who taught you your manners when you were younger, but you should take a refresher course! You should never insult a woman's weight! It's the one thing she's the most sensitive about!"
"Kimberly, I wasn't born yesterday, and I know for a fact that you are pregnant, not overweight."
"No I'm not!" Kimberly protested as she walked around him and over the fridge.
"This explains so much now… The peanut butter and pickles, the constant mood swings, your need to sleep for longer than eight hours, and the other night that I heard you throwing up in the bathroom. It all makes sense now."
Kimberly frowned and bowed her head.
"What were you thinking?" Tommy asked. "Why didn't you say anything about being pregnant? This changes everything…"
Kimberly sighed as she felt tears burning at the brim of her eyes.
"Why Kimberly?" Tommy asked her again.
"Because… I didn't want anyone to know…"
"So I'm the only one that knows that you're pregnant? What about the commander? Wait a second, no. He doesn't know because if he did, he wouldn't have put you into witness protection, something else would've been arranged. Kimberly… who else knows besides you and me?"
"My friends… Trini, Jason, and Billy… I told them a few days before the incident at the cabin."
"And that Collin guy, the father of your son… is he the father?"
Kimberly nodded as she blinked a few tears free. "Why wasn't he one of the people you told?" Tommy asked.
"Because," she sighed, "I don't want him to be the father of my child…" Kimberly grabbed the jar of pickles from the fridge and the peanut butter before walking back over to take a seat on the couch. Tommy sat beside her and watched her as she unscrewed both lids and began eating her usual craving.
"Why?" Tommy asked as she bit into one of the pickles.
"It's complicated."
"Well, you've got plenty of time to explain."
Kimberly sighed as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked up at Tommy with sadness in her eyes. "Well… last week, my friend Trini suggested that I go to the doctor's office for a checkup. I hadn't been feeling too well and the sickness was starting to interfere with my job at the Youth Center. I'm a gymnastics teacher there and I kept leaving class early to get sick or because I was having strong abdominal pains. So I went to the doctors and they told me that I was two months pregnant."
Tommy nodded. "So you found out you were pregnant. Then what?"
"Well, I went to the park to clear my head. I was there for almost three hours sitting on the bench. I didn't know how to tell Collin. Things had been going south between us for a while and I didn't know how a baby would affect that. He was always out late at parties, leaving me alone with Jacob. Don't get me wrong, he loves our son, it's just that… ever since Jacob was born, things just weren't right between us. When I finally went home, I found out why. Collin had been avoiding me out of guilt because he'd been cheating on me with this bitch named Katherine. She and I used to be friends until we both started liking Collin. She had him first, I'll admit, but he left her for me and after I had Jacob, he started sneaking around with her again. And that's not even the worst part! I come to find out that the two had been sleeping together and now, Katherine's pregnant too!"
"Whoa…"
"I know! So, I packed up a few things, took Jacob, and I went off to Billy's house. That's when the whole killer thing started."
"So… you didn't tell this Collin guy because he cheated on you?"
"Not just that, it's also because I don't want my children exposed to their father's bad behaviors or their grandfather's and I most definitely don't want that bitch within ten feet of my children!"
Tommy nodded as he played her explanation through his head another time. "Well, I'll admit, that's some story, but… I kind of have to call my boss and let him know about your predicament."
"What! No! You can't!"
"Yes I can and I will. Kimberly, your being pregnant changes everything. We're probably going to have to move you to a more secluded location. Probably somewhere like solitary confinement."
"Absolutely not! Tommy, you can't!"
"Kimberly, look, I'm sorry about the way I've been treating you these past couple of days, but I have to do this. Your child is now my main concern."
Kimberly felt her eyes burning as she glared at him. "If you really want to make it up to me, you won't call your chief! I don't want anyone else finding out about this! What if word gets back to Collin or his father? I can't even imagine what will happen if they find out!"
Tommy pulled his cell phone out and dialed a number. He held his finger to his lips to silence her. "Hello? Yes, this is agent Oliver speaking. I need to speak to the captain."
Kimberly began to panic. He was really going through with this.
'I have to stop him!' she thought. 'But how!'
Suddenly, an idea hit her. Kimberly gripped the edge of the couch as she gasped in pain. Tommy's eyes moved to her. Her eyes were shut tight and she was clutching her stomach. Something was wrong with her baby.
"Hey, I'll call you right back." He said into the receiver before hanging up his cell. "Hey Kimberly? Are you alright?"
"Do I look alright to you?" she said in a tight breath.
"Okay, stay calm. I'm gonna call 9-1-1."
Kimberly's eyes widened. She stopped her acting and stared up at Tommy. "Wait a second!" she said. "There's no need to call 9-1-1. I'm fine now. It was just a small pain."
"No, I should call them, just to be on the safe side. I'd hate for anything to happen to your baby on my watch."
"Tommy… really. I'm okay. Look, if I feel any more pains, then we can call them. I think that I'm just hungry. That's all. After all, I missed dinner because you locked me in the bathroom!"
Tommy rolled his eyes. "Okay then. Since you're fine now, I guess I'll go ahead and call my boss back."
"No! Tommy… please don't do that. I don't want anyone to know."
"That decision isn't yours to make anymore. I have to call my boss because your pregnancy changes everything."
"No it doesn't! I mean… it doesn't have to."
"What are you getting at here?"
"Tommy, you've been watching me all this time right?" Tommy nodded. "Right. And I was pregnant then and everything was just fine. So, why can't you continue watching me without worrying about my baby? What's the difference?"
"The difference is there are two lives at stake."
"There were two lives at stake before!"
"And I didn't know that!"
Tommy and Kimberly glared at each other. Kimberly's eyes softened a few minutes later. "Look…" she said. "What's it gonna take for you to not make that call? I'll be your slave? I won't talk for a whole week. I'll…"
"Kimberly, this isn't some kind of wager. This isn't a game. This is an unborn child we're talking about here."
"And I know that. But listen here and listen good agent Oliver… It's your job to protect me and my baby. And if you tell your boss and my ex or his father find out, it's game over for me. They'll take my children from me and who knows what else would happen. If you really want to protect us, you'll keep your mouth shut and you'll continue doing what you've been doing all week. Watching me while getting on my nerves."
Tommy stared at Kimberly as he took in her words. He then stared back at the cell phone within his hand. With a heavy sigh, he slid it back into his pocket. Kimberly's eyes lit up as she smiled. "Thanks." She whispered.
"Don't make me regret this." He said sternly.
Kimberly nodded as she threw her arms around him in a hug.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Thank you…" she said again.
"Yeah, yeah. Just let go of me."
Kimberly giggled as she released him. "I'm… gonna go and put on my pajamas now."
Tommy pointed at them on the couch where he'd left them. "Knock yourself out."
Kimberly grabbed them off the sofa and headed into the bathroom.
"This is gonna be harder than I thought." Tommy muttered before sitting on the couch.
Angel Grove: The Ignalis Mansion
Katherine stared at her naked reflection in the bathroom mirror with a smile on her face. Her hand ran gently over her swollen belly as she released a giggle. "This is really happening!" she exclaimed. "I'm having a baby! Who said miracles couldn't happen?"
Yes, Katherine's pregnancy was a miracle indeed. A couple years ago, Katherine had been in a serious accident that resulted in her having to undergo major surgery. After the procedure was completed, she was informed that she was never going to be able to conceive children. Well, she had proven the doctors wrong. She was pregnant and it was the child of a man that she loved and cared for deeply.
Katherine jumped out of her thoughts when she heard a knock on the door. "I'm getting dressed." She said over her shoulder.
"Ms. Hillard," a voice came from outside the door, "Master Collin requests your presence in the library."
"Tell him I'll be there shortly." She responded.
"As you wish."
Katherine walked over to the counter as the butler's footsteps disappeared from earshot. She grabbed her undergarments and her silk night gown and dressed herself quickly. After examining her reflection one more time, she left the room and headed towards the study.
"Hello darling." Collin greeted as she appeared in the doorway.
"Hello love." She smiled as she walked over to him. "It's rather late. I didn't expect you to still be up.
"I could say the same to you." He laughed. "You should be resting."
"I know, but I wanted to take a nice relaxing bath. Your father's bathrooms are amazing!"
"They're our bathrooms now too you know."
Katherine giggled. "I just can't believe this. Your father is loaded and living in this fabulous mansion while you were busy living in town in that small townhouse. Why on earth would you live there when you were once living in the lap of luxury?"
"I left the luxury for Kimberly."
Katherine's smile disappeared quickly and was replaced with a frown. "Why must we bring her up?"
"Because you asked me a question and she was the answer my love. Now, don't get all worked up over Kimberly. I'm over her and I am happy with you, Jacob, and this new baby that will be coming in the near future."
Katherine squealed as she hugged Collin. "I'm so excited! I can't wait!"
"Me neither." Collin smiled. "Now that you're here, there's something I wish to discuss with you."
"And what would that be my love?"
"Next month, I want us to go on a little vacation."
"Ooh, really? And where exactly do you plan on taking us?"
"There's this beautiful mountain retreat about half an hour from here. There's a hot spring, a spa, a luxury suite and so much more that I know you're going to enjoy."
"All you had to say was mountain and hot spring. I'm all for it babe."
"Good. So, make sure that your work schedule is cleared at the ballet studio because you and I are going on a small lovers get away."
Katherine squealed again as she began placing small kisses on Collin's cheeks and forehead. "Yes! I'm so excited!"
Collin smiled at her. "I thought you might be."
"Well, I'm gonna head to bed now. I need to get my beauty sleep."
"You do that my love."
Katherine kissed Collin's cheek one last time before disappearing from the study. Collin's smile faded as soon as she was out of sight. He walked over to the large wooden desk and took a seat.
"This vacation is exactly what I need." He declared. "It will get me out of Angel Grove and it will give me some alone time with Katherine. This is just what I need to get over Kimberly."
Collin sighed as thoughts and images of Kimberly crossed his mind. Even though he'd claimed that he loved Katherine more and that things were over and done between him and the beautiful brunette, he knew deep in his heart that things weren't done. He could still feel things for her that he would never feel for Katherine and he couldn't deny that. Part of him wished that she was the one carrying his child and not Katherine.
"Kimberly…" he said into the emptiness of the room. "I hope that wherever you are, you're safe. And I hope that you know that I will always love you."
Safe House
"Achoo!" Kimberly sneezed as she emerged from the bathroom in her magenta night gown.
"Bless you." Tommy said turning around to stare at her.
"Thanks."
"You aren't coming down with a cold or anything are you?"
"Nope. Someone's probably thinking about me. That's all."
Tommy smiled as he admired the night gown she was wearing. It was a beautiful shade of magenta and it was very loose fitting. He could see how fit she was by the shape of her muscles in her arms and legs. She was beautiful. Annoying, but beautiful nonetheless.
"So, are you some kind of athlete?" Tommy asked.
"Huh?" she responded as she pulled the blankets back on her bed and climbed in.
"I asked if you were an athlete. You have impressive arm and calf muscles."
"You like?" she asked with a seductive smile. Tommy's cheeks reddened.
"I was just wondering."
Kimberly giggled as she noticed the blush. "Well, I'm a gymnast. I've been doing gymnastics for almost fourteen years. I'm also an instructor at the Youth Center back in Angel Grove."
"Oh yeah. You mentioned that earlier."
Kimberly smiled as she lay back on the bed.
"So… are you feeling okay now? No more pains?"
"Nope." She smiled as she stared up at the ceiling. "I'm perfectly comfortable."
"Okay then. Goodnight."
Kimberly smiled as the room filled with darkness.
"Tommy?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for not telling your boss. Thank you for keeping my secret."
"Goodnight Kimberly."
"Goodnight."
Author's Note: And so ends another chapter! I really liked this one and the next one is going to be even better! So, leave a review and sit tight, because the next chapter's coming to you soon!
