Chapter Five

They arrived at the airport several hours before their scheduled departure. While Kimberly might be able to whiz through TSA- Tommy had never bothered to get the 'whiz through TSA' verification. It wasn't really something he needed as a paleontologist. And after last year- he really didn't want to travel by airplane ever again. Kimberly might have been forced to with her job, but he had avoided it.

"We need to get you pre-check," Kim remarked as he joined her and she saw the guardedness in his eyes. This trip was a test, for the both of them, even if Tommy didn't realize how much of a test it was for her. While he was actively attempting to get a handle on his PTSD, she barely talked to him about hers. Yes- she suffered from it too, although her therapist had not suggested that she move to a specialist, yet. Considering how 'mild' it was- it seemed almost selfish to bring it up to him. She had vowed her way out of the ranger life when she was 18 and she had avoided everything that had reminded her of it. The only thing that could have ever pulled her back in was him, but he hadn't known that. None of them really had. She had only found out as she read up on how she could help Tommy what her symptoms were.

"The last time we were here…" Tommy trailed off and she took in a shaky breath. She did not want to relive that day. She did not want to think about that day. She just hoped he was in a place where he didn't need to relive it. "Don't mind that- it'll be good to see my parents when we land."

His parents. The words punched her in the gut. She had been shocked by how well Gayle and Russell received her back in to their lives. She had been shocked by a lot of things Tommy's parents had done for them in the last year, but every time she saw them it hurt. She knew that there would come a time when they would ask for what had happened and she wanted to avoid reliving that at all costs.

"Have you thought about the DeSantos and the Campbells?" Kim asked and she watched him barely nod. She had also thought about them and thought about the one question she did not want to get- why were the two of them alive when their children were dead? The parents all knew who had died and they knew who lived. They knew the only ones that were alive. How could they even begin to explain that? None of the parents knew that they were Power Rangers. Or at least they assumed none of the parents knew.

"If they ask- I'll tell them what I know. The same for Ish's parents," Tommy stated and she found herself staring at him. The strength that it took to decide that he would actually answer them- it was something that she didn't have. It was something that only Tommy had- of all the rangers.

"How's Marjorie?" Kim asked as they settled down near their gate, with Tommy's back firmly against a wall. These were the things that neither of them had talked much about, but they had to face now. They had to face thinking about the children that had been left behind. Luckily, Aisha and Rocky were one of the few ranger couples, but there were still far too many children that had lost a parent during that four month span. Apparently those children weren't destined to be rangers, at least not from what the Command Center had told them about why it was so important that they had children.

"Adjusting- she's nearly 8, but Ish's parents said that she's doing remarkably well- considering everything that has happened. They'll all be there Wednesday and they've already asked us to join them for a meal afterwards. I'm planning to go, but I won't make you," Tommy said and she barely nodded. Aisha had been one of her best friends, but she hadn't seen her in years. Instead it started as letters, moved to emails, and eventually became facebook messages back and forth about each other's lives. Aisha understood why she never came back. She was the only Power Ranger that had understood it, as she had almost made the same choice. "I need to visit…"

"Me too," Kim whispered as she took his hand in hers. They both needed to set foot in the Command Center again. They needed to assure themselves that the safe haven hadn't disappeared, just in case they needed it again. "When are you thinking?"

"Tomorrow. I'd rather not wait," Tommy stated and she barely nodded- waiting was not something that either of them were good at.


"There they are," Gayle whispered as she spotted Tommy and Kimberly wading through the crowd, heading for baggage claim. For the first time in years, her son had asked them to meet him at the airport and one look at him let her know why. The weight that she had seen in that hospital room had not lifted from them. If anything, it was heavier.

"She's still not pregnant," Russell remarked and Gayle snapped her head around to look at him. She had been there when Kimberly was taken back for the procedure to remove their dead child. She had seen the baby and how much it had shattered the both of them to lose her. "After last year…"

"Russ- no. You didn't see the aftermath. You didn't see how torn up the both of them were. Tommy said they're still working through that. Trust me- they'll give us more than enough grandchildren if we're patient," Gayle interjected and then turned her eyes back to trying to connect with her son. She knew the moment that he saw her as a smile spread on his face and he visibly relaxed. She'd forgotten that he even had that look when he came home. He had come and gone so much over the years that she had gotten used to his 'I'm home' face.

"Mom," Tommy whispered as she was pulled in to a strong hug and felt her son sink in to her. She had been a bit surprised that he agreed to be a part of the dedication, but she could feel how important it was to him to show up. It was almost as if he thought this would put him on some path to redemption and she had no idea what he thought he needed redeeming for. He had nearly suffered the same fate as so many of his friends.

"Tommy…" Gayle started as he pulled away a bit and she saw watched him barely shake his head. Not here. Not now. Maybe never. "Luggage?"

"We've got a bag," Tommy said and she looked over at Kimberly- who was far tenser than she had seen her in years. She wanted her to be able to relax around them, but she felt that it had more to do with the reason they were here than them. Kimberly had been about as carefree as they had ever seen her on the night they got married. She hoped that carefreeness would come back soon. "And someone got airsick."

"Oh Kim…" Gayle trailed off as the younger woman gave her a small smile, a hopeful smile. "Why don't we go to the car- the two of them can grab the bag."

"Gayle…" Russell started and she barely shook her head. This was a conversation that he did not need to be privy to just yet. "We'll get the bag."

"Thanks," Kim whispered and she watched Tommy give her hand a quick squeeze before walking off.

"Air sick?" Gayle asked when they made it outside and Kimberly gave her a sheepish look. She watched as Kimberly reflexively smoothed the shirt over her stomach and looked back to see where Tommy was. "You haven't told him."

"I'm not sure that I am. I was going to take a test yesterday, but time got away from me. Please, don't tell Tommy what you suspect. It would crush him if we're not," Kim whispered and then hastily wiped her eyes.

"I forgot to get chicken broth for dinner. We'll have to grab that on the way home," Gayle stated as Tommy wrapped his arm around Kimberly's shoulders and she watched the girl sigh with relief. She had been in her shoes, but she had never been fortunate enough to get pregnant. Adopting Tommy had been the best thing to ever happen to them. "Let's get a move on- throwing up anywhere is no fun."