Disclaimer: I still do not own the Power Rangers
A/N: It has been a long time. I hope there are still some people out there who will continued to read my stories.
Saturday afternoon.
The day of Derek's funeral found Kim walking in the park. She had been thinking of her newly discovered feelings for Jason and she was more confused than ever. She came to the lake and found a bench, sitting on it as she stared out over the lake. Tommy's face appeared in her mind, her feelings for him coming over her. She felt a warm affection for Tommy, he genuinely cared for her and was not ashamed of letting everyone know. But, as she sat there thinking things over, she realized that she did not love him as much as he seemed to love her. She cared for him, but her feelings were more of infatuation than love. She sighed lightly, and stood up, walking over to the edge of the lake. She had to talk to Tommy. She didn't want to hurt him, but she knew that she couldn't keep leading him on with false hope. She had to end things with him now, before it was too late. She turned from the lake and walked towards her home, wanting to call Tommy as soon as possible.
Billy walked into the youth center, looking over to see Trini and Zack sitting at their usual table. He walked over to them, giving them a small smile as he sat down. "You two looked as depressed as I feel. Want to talk about it?"
Trini sighed, looking at Billy with a slight frown. "I just can't believe that we are in the position that we are now. What if Jason really does leave us? What do we do then?"
Zack frowned, shaking his head. "Maybe Jason just needs time to think about this," he said. "I mean, maybe he was just over emotional when he said what he said." His eyes went to Billy, a hopeful look in them. "Do you think he will leave, Billy?"
Billy sat back, looking down at the table as he thought over what Jason had told him. He slowly looked up to meet Zack's eyes. "I think that Jason is feeling betrayed, Zack. He was genuinely hurt by the things that Tommy and Zordon said about him." He shook his head and felt a little angry as he thought about the exact words that Jason told him. "Everything they were pointing out was caused by Zedd. The accused him of acting on his own, but Zedd isolated him to where he had no choice but to defend himself."
Trini sat back as her eyes teared up. "I can't stand this," she said in anger. "I really wish they could see what we see. Jason has given so much of himself to being a ranger, putting himself last in almost every situation, and they don't seem to care. It's just not fair. How could they treat him like this?"
Zack looked at the other two. "We need to talk to Jason, just the three of us. We need to get this settled before he makes up his mind one way or another." He looked at the other two as they nodded in agreement. "Then, how about we talk to him tomorrow?"
Michael and Karen sat on their back porch, watching as Jason and Steven were taking turns shooting the basketball in their driveway. Karen sat back and let a small sigh escape her. "Did you get the feeling that something is wrong with Jason? I don't mean Derek's funeral, but there is something else that we are not seeing?"
Michael glanced at her, frowning slightly. "Not that I noticed," he answered. "What do you think is wrong?"
Karen shrugged, watching her son carefully. "I don't know, but he just seemed extra quiet last night," she sighed. "Like he had something other than the funeral on his mind. I didn't want to pry, but I could tell that something was bothering him. I wonder if it has anything to do with the rangers."
Michael turned his attention back to their son, watching him carefully. He couldn't see anything and looked back to Karen. "I really don't see anything, Karen," he said. "Are you sure you're not seeing something that isn't there?"
Karen sighed and put her hand on Michael's arm. "I'm not going crazy, Michael," she whispered. "Call it mother's intuition, but I know something is bothering him." She stopped talking as Jason and Steven waked over to the porch.
Steven rotated his shoulders, wincing slightly. He turned to Jason. "Please tell me your arms are as sore as mine," he said. "I don't think the basketball loosened them up at all."
Jason rotated his arms, grimacing slightly. "Mine are sore too," he answered. "I probably won't be able to lift them very much tomorrow. I just hope that I can still work out in football practice."
"Okay, now I'm curious," Michael said. "Why are both of your arms sore? What happened?"
"Let's just say that Jason let me use him as a personal punching bag and leave it at that," Steven answered.
Michael and Karen raised their eyebrows at their son, not saying anything as Jason shrugged.
"He needed to vent," Jason said simply. "I figured that it was better he vented at me than at someone who couldn't keep him away." Jason rotated his shoulders and winced. "Now that I think about it, maybe it wasn't such a good idea."
Michael and Karen let out little chuckles and shook their heads. "Well on that note," Michael stated. "I'm going to get ready for bed. I'm pulling a double shift tomorrow, so I need a good night's sleep." He stood up and looked at Steven and Jason. "Just try to keep the volume down tonight, please. Goodnight boys." He turned and walked into the house.
Karen stood up and looked at Jason and Steven. "I'm going to turn in as well," she said. "I have an early shift." She looked at Steven and smiled. "It was good to have you here, Steven. Come again sometime." She looked at Jason. "How about I pick up something for dinner on the way home?"
Jason nodded. "Sounds good. I might go to the youth center tomorrow, if that's okay."
Karen smiled and nodded. "That's fine, Jason. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon. Good night boys."
Jason looked at Steven as Karen went into the house. "How about we go put in a movie and relax," he asked. "I think we have some ice cream as well."
Steven nodded and walked into the house with Jason.
Michael was sitting on the side of the bed, deep in thought, as Karen walked into the bedroom. He looked up as Karen sat down on the bed beside him. "He's become a man before I was ready for it," he whispered. "I don't know how to handle this. I'm not ready to let him go, but I know I have to."
Karen put her arm around Michael's waist, putting her head on his shoulder and sighing. "I know," she whispered. "It happened so sudden." She raised her head to meet Michael's gaze as he turned to her. She managed to smile at him. "I think we should just enjoy every moment with him. We shouldn't try to hold him back, just keep loving and supporting him. He has turned into a young man that I am very proud of. I think we did our job just right."
Michael took her in his arms, pulling her close and kissing her. "You're right. He is quite a young man to be very proud of. It's like you said. We did the best job we could do with him." He looked into her eyes, then pulled her to him for another kiss. It was a little while before they went to sleep, their arms wrapped around each other.
Kim walked towards her front door slowly, letting out a deep breath before opening the door. She managed to give Tommy a small smile as he smiled at her. "Hi Tommy," she greeted. "Thanks for coming over. Would you take a walk with me? We need to talk."
Kim looked at Tommy as they found a bench in the park. "Tommy, I don't think we should see each other anymore," Kim began, "I don't feel the same about you as you feel about me. I'm sorry."
Tommy sat on the bench, pain and anger running through him as he listened to Kim's words. He stood up, turning away from her. "Why, Kim," his voice filled with pain. "Why now? Is it because Jason wants to leave the rangers?" He turned to face her as she came to her feet. "Or is it because you have feelings for him? Feelings that you just denied two days ago."
Kim looked at Tommy, seeing the hurt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Tommy," she said softly. "I never meant to hurt you. I care about you, just not in the way that you care about me. I don't want to lead you on when we can never be more than friends."
Tommy's anger took over as he glared at her. "That didn't answer my question. Do you have feelings for Jason?"
Kim looked down at the ground, drawing a deep breath before looking back up to meet his eyes. "Yes," her voice quiet. "I just realized it the other day. I'm in love with Jason. I have been for a while; I just wouldn't let myself give in to those feelings." She took a step towards him, tears coming to her eyes. "I really am sorry, Tommy. You need to know that. I never wanted to hurt you."
Tommy closed his eyes, feeling like she had taken a knife to his heart. He opened them to look at her, shaking his head. "What about Christine, Kim," he asked. "Jason is with her now. What are you going to do about her?"
Kim turned away from him, sighing in frustration. "I'm not going to ruin that, if that's what you're asking," she answered. "I'm not going to tell Jason how I feel, I can't do that to him and Christine." She turned back around to face him. "But I can't stay with you and pretend that everything is all right. I won't do that to you. I can't."
Tommy looked at her, the sadness in his eyes making the tears fall from her eyes. "Then I guess I'll see you around sometime," his said. "Take care of yourself, Kim." He turned and walked away from her, looking at the ground.
Kim watched him walk away, silent tears falling down her face. "You'll find someone else, Tommy," she whispered. "I know you will." She turned and headed towards her house, feeling miserable for what she had done.
Steven sat on the couch, looking at Jason as the movie ended. "Jason, I have to ask you something," he said. "How serious are you and Christine?"
Jason turned the TV off, turning to look at Steven. "Where is this coming from?"
Steven let his breath out in a long sigh. "I'm just curious," he answered. He saw Jason raise his eyebrows and glared at him. "What? She's, my friend. I don't want to see her get hurt."
Jason shook his head. "Try, you like her, and you don't want to step on anybody's toes," Jason replied. He stood up, gathering the bowls and met Steven's eyes. "You should ask her out." He walked out of the room without another word.
Steven got up and followed Jason into the kitchen. "Wait a minute," he growled, grabbing Jason's arm and pulling him to a stop. "What about you and the turnaround dance? Aren't you going with her?"
Jason turned to face him, shaking his head. "Christine and I talked last night," Jason said. "We decided that it would be wrong to go together when we both like someone else." He smiled at Steven as he pulled his arm loose. "You really should ask her out. You might be surprised."
Kim sat in her bedroom, looking at last year's school picture she had of Jason. She studied his face in the picture, going over in her head all of the things she liked about him. His smile that just seemed to radiate warmth. The way he laughed when something was funny to him. The look that came over his face when he became serious. She looked at his warm, brown eyes and sighed. She loved everything about him. She closed her eyes, thinking again about that kiss. His arms just felt so safe, like nothing would ever harm her when she was in them. She remembered the rock hardness of his muscles that were surprising gentle when they were wrapped around her back. Kim opened her eyes, a single tear falling from them as she realized that she could not tell him as long as he was with Christine. She set the picture down on her nightstand and crawled into to bed, turning out her light and going to sleep.
Steve lay on the couch, trying his best to relax and go to sleep. He had tried to go to sleep, but the things that Jason had said earlier were on his mind. He turned onto his side, glancing at Jason as he lay on the other couch. "Hey, Jase," he said softly. "Are you still awake?"
Jason turned on his side, looking at Steve through the dim light that shone from the hallway. "Yeah, I'm awake. You can't sleep either?"
"No. I keep thinking about what you said earlier," Steve sighed. "How did you know that I like Christine?"
Jason chuckled, sitting up. "Mainly because of the way you acted as her protector this week," Jason answered. "And the disappointment you showed when you asked me about the turnaround dance."
Steve sat up, shaking his head. "I can't believe you," he growled. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"Would you have listened," Jason countered.
Steve gave a grunt and lay back down. "Sometimes I hate you Scott," he griped.
Jason chuckled again, laying down himself and closing his eyes. "Well, the feeling is mutual. Goodnight Steve." He rolled over on to his other side and felt himself finally relaxing. He was asleep soon after that.
Zordon looked down at the man who stood in front of him, scowling in anger. "You can't be serious," he growled. "How can you expect me to give up the best ranger I have ever had? Jason belongs here with me in Angel Grove. I won't let you take him from me or the rangers."
The man glared at Zordon, his anger coming to the front. "You have your orders, Zordon," he snapped. "Jason is needed elsewhere. His time has come to lead a different team of rangers. The Elders of Eltar have decided this. Are you going to go against them?"
"I will not do this," Zordon said. "Jason is the heart and soul of this team. Tell the Elders that I changed my mind. I will not let Jason leave. I can't do this without him."
The man shook his head. "If you do not do this," he began. "We will remove you and find someone who will follow orders. Take a couple of days to think things over, Zordon. Unless you want to go back to Eltar, you will do as you are told." The man stepped back and disappeared from the command center.
Zordon sighed heavily, not liking the fact that he had no choice. He had to basically turn his back on Jason and make him believe that he was no longer needed here. He shook his head, knowing that this would be the hardest thing he had to do.
A/N: Until next time.
