On to chapter five. Yep, another superquick update!

(I've just really gotten into this story)

Oh, and I know everybody wants Dawn to get the ass-kicking she deserves. ;-) But, if that does happen, it'll be after Jase cuts her loose and he WILL.

This chappie contains another kitchen encounter, but, not with Kim.

(Next day- Tuesday afternoon)

Jason was in his mother's kitchen, making a couple sandwiches for himself. It was a light rainfall outside and the house was silent. Dawn was upstairs in his old room. His mom and friends were, of course, at work.

Dawn walked in then and up to him. She leaned against the counter and looked at him. Jason hadn't said much to her since last night. "Jase, is it gonna be like this between us from now on? I said I was sorry," she said.

"Yeah. And I bet you'll be sorry again when Kim, I don't know, walks past me," he said dryly.

She winced. "I'm embarrassed by the way I've treated Kim. But, I'm sure she'd understand if I explained to her what I've gone through," she said.

"Why don't you just say as little to her as possible?" Jason suggested lightly.

"I won't go off about anything. I promise. Jase, I'm willing to work through my insecurity issues. For us. I've been thinking of what you said about therapy and well it's just a scary idea," she said.

"Therapy doesn't mean you're insane, Dawn. It's just counseling," he said.

"I know. That's why I'm gonna do it," she said.

He finally looked at her. "You just said it was a scary idea," he said.

"Yeah, but, I'm willing to go through with it if it helps. I just don't wanna lose you. I love you. I don't wanna lose us. That's why I'm gonna check it out when we go home," she said.

"I hope you mean that, Dawn. Because Kim's a part of my life and that's not gonna change. We've been tight since preschool and if you can't learn to cope with- " he was saying.

"I will. I will. Like I said, I don't wanna lose you. You and what we've built together means everything to me," she said, placing her hand on his arm.

He threw her a half-smile. He really did hope she'd get whatever help she needed for the sake of their relationship. Otherwise, they didn't stand a chance in Hell. No way could he hold onto someone who'd never accept his friends. Especially his oldest and closest friend.

She grinned at him. "I really do wanna get to know Kim, you know. I guess I go off because you have such a special relationship with her and it's like she knows a part of you I never will," she said.

"I'm not gonna lie to you, Dawn. We do have a special connection. It's always been that way. It always will be. But, nothing's ever gone on between us," he said.

"But you wanted something to happen once. I, I heard you tell Steve you had a crush on her in junior high," she confessed.

"The keywords? Junior high. A lifetime ago. Besides, all that faded the summer before high school. Dawn, nothing ever happened between us and nothing will happen. There's nothing to worry about. Your job is to work on believing that, all right?" he said, looking into her eyes and speaking in a low voice.

"You're right. I love you, Jason," she said.

"I love you, too," he said. "You want any lunch?"

"Nah, I'm good. I'll just have some iced tea," she said, standing and walking to the fridge. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Well, Tommy invited us out to his house in Reefside for dinner," Jason said.

"Us? As in me and you?" Dawn asked- hoping "Pinky" wasn't included.

"Nope. All of us," Jason said.

Dawn gripped the fridge door's handle til her knuckles whitened.Her eyes blazed. She'd vowed to play it his way, but, actually spending another evening with that little twit would drive her right up the wall. 'It better not be like this the whole time we're here. I'm not spending every single day around her. Someone might get hurt,' she thought, slightly cocking her head. Jason's voice broke into her not so pleasant thoughts and she looked over her shoulder at him, silently hoping her eyes didn't give anything away.

"You okay there?" he asked, his eyebrows slightly raised.

She smiled sweetly. "I'm fine, honey," she said innocently.

(Tommy's House)

Jason laughed when Billy pulled up to Tommy's house. "Tommy values the hell outta privacy," he said. His friends hadn't been kidding.

Kat laughed. "That's what Zack and Rocky said," the lovely, Australian blonde said. The other former rangers had only been here a few times. Tommy lived in a secluded area. No neighbors. It cracked his friends up everytime they were here.

Billy grinned. "Tommy definitely holds the "weird" title now. It's was time I surrendered it anyway," he quipped. His three passengers laughed. They all got outta the car just as Zack's car pulled up. Adam, Tanya, Rocky and, probably Aisha were here already. Another car was here also, a black Rodeo. Probably Vanessa's.

Zack cut his engine and got outta his car. "What's up, peeps?" he said.

Jason grinned at his other best friend. "Hey, Zackman," he said.

Before anyone else could speak, Trini and Kim got outta Zack's car, also. Hellos were then exchanged and the seven adults headed up to Tommy's house. When they were at the door, Trini rang the doorbell and the door was yanked open several moments later by Rocky. He grinned. "Hey, guys. Get in here," he said, stepping aside.

"Wow. Whatever's cooking smells great," Kat said as they headed for the living room.

"Tell me about it. I wonder what we're having," Trini said after they exchanged hellos with Aisha, Adam and Tanya.

"I don't even care. I'm hungry enough to eat a water buffalo right now," Zack said as he sat down in one of the folding chairs set up in the room.

"Hey, Taylor, a line like that's supposed to come from me," Rocky said, grinning.

"Yeah, Zack. Rocky's King Glutton. Don't try and steal his crown. That's just mean," Tanya said, mock serious. Everyone laughed and Rocky smirked.

"They're having roast chicken, two different kinds of potatoes, baby peas, buttered rolls and salad," Adam said, sliding his arm around Tanya's shoulders. Rocky rubbed his stomach and looked over at his Aisha. His fiancee held up her hand.

"Yes, Rocky, I want my rolls," she said.

"I resent that," he said. "I wasn't gonna say anything about rolls."

She cocked a brow. "Is that right?"

"Yeah. I was gonna ask about the potatoes," he said casually- causing her to roll her eyes and everyone else to laugh. Tommy came in, then, and said hello to the guests who'd just arrived.

"Is that Vanessa's truck outside, Tommy?" Kim asked.

"Yeah. She's in the kitchen right now," he said.

"When will the eats be ready, Tombo?" Rocky asked.

Tommy laughed and shook his head. "Never change, Rocko. But it'll all be ready soon," he said.

"Do you mind if I get a drink of water?" Dawn asked.

"No, of course not. The kitchen's down the hall. In the very back. Can't miss it," Tommy said.

Dawn smiled and stood. "Thank you," she said politely. Kim watched her leave the room. The brunette was determined to watch Chi-town's top public menace's every move.

When Dawn reached the kitchen, she found Vanessa at the stove, stirring something in a pot. "Hi," the blonde said.

Vanessa looked up and grinned. "Hi. Do you need anything?" she asked.

"I just came in to get a drink of water," Dawn said.

"Oh. The glasses are in the cupboard," Vanessa said.

Dawn nodded and headed over.

"You know, Jason's a really nice guy," Vanessa said, just making conversation like any normal person.

Dawn, of course, noticed things in her tone that weren't actually there. She slammed the cupboard door shut, causing Vanessa to jump a little. The blonde whirled around and glared the black-haired woman. Her eyes were shooting sparks. She charged up to her. "You have a boyfriend. Don't ogle mine," she said fiercely.

Vanessa's blue eyes widened. What! "Ogle? You're joking, right? I mean, I only said he's a nice guy. What's the big deal?" she asked.

"Yeah. Next thing I know you'll be using every little opportunity you get to touch or sit next to him. I won't have it. Not from you or that damned Kim," Dawn said angrily.

Vanessa just gaped at her. Was this for real? The blonde had seemed so pleasant the day before. Had Jason hooked up with some random wack job and was unaware of it? "I love Tommy and would never do anything to hurt him. And Kim certainly wasn't 'ogling' Jason, in my opinion. Maybe you should have your water and calm down a bit," Vanessa said lightly.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do," Dawn snapped. "I know what I'm talking about. First, it's compliments. Next, comes not-so-subtle flirting. Finally, you have him in bed. I know the type. 'He's a nice guy.' Right. I won't stand for it. If you really think for a second that I'm gonna stand on the sidelines while random skanks fall all over Jason, you better think again real fast. I heard what you didn't say, okay? I heard it."

"Are you seriously freaking kidding me with this?" Vanessa said in a bewildered tone. She didn't get it. Did Dawn have some kinda "Jekyll and Hyde" thing going on here? Wow! The seemingly unbalanced blonde grabbed her arm, then. "Sweetie, you don't wanna piss me off in a room with knives, so, drop the arm," Vanessa said quietly.

Dawn scoffed and released her hold on the other woman. "Just don't make the stupid mistake of thinking this is a joke. You, Kim or anyone else doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell with Jason," she said venomously.

"Look, I don't have time for this. So maybe you could be a paranoid psycho some other time. I'll check my schedule and let you know when I'm free. But, right now, I'm in the middle of helping prepare dinner for thirteen people. So, why don't you get your water and go?" Vanessa said, looking Dawn squarely in her more than slightly wild eyes.

"Jason is mine. Just do the smart thing and remember that. I won't lose him," Dawn said hotly, then, turned and stormed out.

Vanessa stared after her with stunned eyes. 'Unbelievable. What a fruitcake! She'd better hope I don't lace her food with rat poison. Frigging cuckoo bird,' she thought, shaking her head.

If you want more, stay tuned!