Chapter Eleven
"Sorry to interrupt, Alex. We have breaking news of an attack in downtown Manhattan. There are reports of unidentified creatures terrorizing people out on the streets. It is advised at this time to stay inside and avoid the area if you are able. If you are currently in the area, please seek shelter immediately," Kimberly read from the teleprompter, not fully comprehending what she was saying. For a moment she was calm and then she felt her stomach reel. Something was here. Something had come to New York. Did Tommy know? Was Tommy going to stay out of this like he had promised? Would this thing come for Tommy?
"It appears that a new set of Power Rangers have appeared to handle the issue," Alex recovered as he joined her at the desk and she felt her face pale. Another group of Power Rangers. Here. In New York. "While the Power Rangers are normally found in California, this is not the first time there has been a threat that they have been called to handle outside of California's borders."
"We will try to get a camera crew in the vicinity to get a better idea of what is going on. Until then- we urge you to stay away from the area and allow the Power Rangers to do their jobs," Kimberly forced out and she frantically signaled for a commercial break. The director caught on and quickly signaled them out. She sprinted off the set and to the nearest bathroom she could find. Between morning sickness and the sudden anxiety spike- she was a bit of a wreck.
"Kimberly," Megan said as she rapped on the door and then gently opened it. She tried to look up at her, but soon was throwing up again. "Do I need to call Tommy?"
Kim barely nodded her head yes and closed her eyes. Thank goodness for Megan and the other show PAs. She had been forced to tell the morning crew about her pregnancy earlier than she liked, but her morning sickness had been vicious this time around. This was not the first time that one of them had had to call Tommy for her to leave the show early. She just hoped he would answer this time. If he had seen the news- there was no telling how it would affect him.
"He said he'll be here as soon as he's done with group," Megan whispered as she squatted down next to her and Kimberly tried to hide her tears. "Kim…is something wrong?"
"Other than morning sickness-no. I just hate throwing up," Kim lied and she forced a small smile. She was terrified that she would lose her husband when he saw the news. She was terrified that this was going to come back in to their lives and take everything from them, again. She heard Megan leave the bathroom and she closed her eyes to try to beat back the panic. She lost track of time as she fought the panic attack that was rising in her body. She focused down to her breathing and trying to keep it steady.
"Hun," Tommy muttered as he knocked on the bathroom door and she eyes popped open. Had she just lost hours sitting on the bathroom, trying to pull herself together? "Kimberly?"
He peaked in to the bathroom and she felt the relief flood her body. He was okay. He was there and in one piece, but one look at him also let her know that he did not know what had happened. There was no way he would be this calm if he knew what had happened. She tried to climb to her feet, but felt the shakes hit her from the panic attack she had been struggling against. His arms were around her before she could collapse back to the ground and she melted in to him.
"Megan said you had a rough morning. What happened?" Tommy whispered and she nestled her head in to the crook of his neck. She wanted to breathe him in. She wanted to pretend that this morning had not happened. How could she break this news to him? "Kim, you're scaring me."
"There was an attack this morning. The new Power…" Kim trailed off as the sobs hit her and she felt herself come apart in his arms. This was supposed to be over. This was supposed to stay in California. This was never supposed to follow her here.
"Oh hun. It's going to be okay. I promised that I was out- I'm out," Tommy stated as she felt him rock her back and forth. She felt like a giant, naked nerve- where anything could set her off and only he could calm her. The sobs continued and she stopped fighting them. She was just going to have to let it run its course. She heard the door creak open again, but she didn't look up. She couldn't.
"Dr. Oliver…" Megan started and she felt Tommy shifting to face Megan, but protect her. "Our director wanted to chat with you for a few minutes before you leave."
"Okay, you up to moving?" Tommy murmured and she felt herself nod. She just wanted to get home and into their bed, moving would certainly make that happen the fastest. She felt him pull her to her feet and she closed her eyes as a wave of dizziness overtook her. "When's your next appointment?"
"Tomorrow," Kim whispered and when she met his eyes she saw the worry. She'd be lying if she said she was not worried as well. In the three weeks since they had returned from California- this had happened more days than she could count. Even if it wasn't during the show, at some point during the day, she found herself barely able to function from nausea. "I just want to get home."
"I know…can you grab your things while I go see what they want?" Tommy asked and she barely nodded. She was not completely sure that she could, but she was going to try. She forced herself through the maze of hallways and back to her dressing room. When she arrived at her chair, she was not happy to see Alex standing there.
"Alex- I'm asking for something tomorrow," Kimberly defended and Alex shook his head. She was surprised that he was not mad at her. This was the third time this week she had had to run off the set to throw up and the second time this week that it had been so bad that she could not return to set. "You're not mad?"
"Far from it- we're going to make a killing in the ratings once we can tell the world you're pregnant," Alex stated and she glared over at him. Of course- he was being kind because this would play out great in the ratings. "You're from Angel Grove, right?"
"Yes," Kimberly stated and she met his gaze. She did not like how sharp Alex could be at times.
"It's funny that the Power Rangers come out here shortly after you disappear for several months and show up with a husband- after going to Angel Grove, California," Alex proposed and Kim tried to keep her features neutral. He could not know. She could list the number of people who knew that for sure. "But that was to get away from your stalker?"
"Yeah, good thing I did take that time. We all know what happened when I came back," Kim rebuffed as she grabbed her backpack and started towards the door. She did not need Alex to grill her any further on the topic. Alex was good at his job, he would be able to sniff out that she was not telling him the truth. "Have a good day, Alex."
"I'm trying…but this is just how it is. Hopefully the doctor can give her something tomorrow…" Tommy stated and she held her breath outside of the door. She did not want to listen in on them, but she also did not want to interrupt. "Do you think I like seeing her like this?"
"It's not that, Tommy. It's just…she's been unreliable lately and the execs are starting to notice. If we could tell them…" Gary trailed off and she could only imagine the look on Tommy's face that had forced the older man to quiet.
"We want to get a little further in, just to be safe. She's already showing- it's not going to be much longer before there will be speculation anyway. The execs can shove it," Tommy said and she heard him heading for the exit. She quickly stepped a little further down the hall and retraced her steps towards the door. When he stepped out his eyes met hers and she saw the fire in them. She saw the protectiveness that was always right below the surface when it came to the two of them. "You ready?"
"Yeah, let's go," Kim whispered and she melted in to his side as he took her bags.
"I'm going to get you settled in, then I've got to get to the university," Tommy muttered and she barely comprehended what he had said. The nausea was rising again and it was going to take all of her concentration to not get sick on the way home. "Kim?"
"Yeah," Kim forced out and her eyes lifted to meet his. "I will ask tomorrow. It is much worse this time."
"I just want the two of you to be safe," Tommy murmured into her ear and she relaxed. Of course. Of course, she could count on him to just want what was best for them and not anything else from her. She felt the gratitude sweep through her as she realized that he was the only person in her life that she could say that about. She just hoped that things would stay this way.
