I am so sorry this is late. I had it finished Saturday night but thanks to being a pain, I couldn't upload it until just now. So blame it, not me. I know how badly all of you wanted this chapter :P

Chapter 43 Talking Amongst Silence

Tommy and Kimberly landed in a wooded area of the park. Kimberly sucked in her breath. She couldn't help but feel that the two would be attacked at any moment by a group of Rita's Tengas. Her eyes shifted back and forth as she scanned the area. She was startled when Tommy spoke to her. "Kim? Are you all right? You seem nervous," observed Tommy as he pushed her wheelchair forward.

"After everything that's happened, I'm afraid Rita will attack again," admitted Kimberly.

"Where would you like to go?" asked Tommy as he maneuvered her wheelchair to the paved pathway

"I'm not sure. Billy said we should stay out of the public eye." Kimberly looked down at her body, frowning at the various scratches and bruises still visible. She knew that if a stranger saw them and then Tommy, they might think Tommy was abusing her. She couldn't give any other explanation that would make sense. Anything she did think of involved the use of her legs, and no one would believe that if they saw her in a wheelchair.

Tommy looked down at her. "You're right."

He was silent as he continued pushing Kimberly along. For awhile, neither of them spoke. Very few people were on the pathways and for this Tommy was glad. He noticed that every time someone passed the two, Kimberly shrank into herself, and tried her best to cover her bruises and scratches. She was nervous and was scared. Tommy could see that as plain as day. He kept an eye out for any place the two could talk, anywhere that would allow them some privacy. Finally, there was a turn in the pathway that led to a shaded grove of trees. Picnic tables dotted the landscape, but Tommy saw no one there. It was as close to private as they were going to get. "Kimberly, let's go over there," he suggested, pointing his finger.

Kimberly nodded. "All right, Tommy." Her stomach was full of butterflies. She hadn't been this nervous since... since I first liked Tommy she thought. She was scared. She'd have to tell the whole story again. She didn't want to; she was embarrassed about what she had done and the pain she'd caused. It had seemed like such a smart move then, but now it seemed like the dumbest thing she'd ever done. She knew she'd caused irreversible pain to Tommy. What hurt so much is that she'd fallen into Rita's hands. Rita had wanted her to do that; she'd wanted her to get rid of Tommy. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn't noticed Tommy had stopped. "Kim?" he called softly.

"Huh? Oh sorry, Tommy… I guess I zoned out." She laughed nervously. She looked around. Tommy had chosen a picnic table farthest from the pathway, one that would allow them the most privacy if anyone should happen to turn their way. He had wheeled Kimberly to the end of the table. He smiled at her before taking a seat on her right side.

"So…" he began.

"Ummm…."

The two teenagers glanced nervously at each other. Who would start? Each of them knew that their future relationship hung in the balance. It didn't matter whether they ended as friends or as a couple again. This conversation would decide their fate. It was only a bunch of words though, right?

Kimberly stared intently at the table before her. The weathered wood had cracks throughout, the large knot prominent. She rather stare at the knot for the next twenty minutes than face Tommy. "Kim? We can't kept avoiding this you know. We've got to talk about this."

Kimberly sighed. "I know Tommy, I know." She fiddled with her fingers. "Where do I start?"

"Tell me why, Kimberly. I want to know why." Tommy rested his arms on the table, his hands balled into fists. They weren't tight, but he was on the defense.

"You didn't need me like this, Tommy. That was what I thought about. It was all I could think about. How I had stupidly paralyzed myself. I ruined my life, or so I thought then. You didn't need me. You were a Ranger, strong and saving the world. I was paralyzed, without the use of my legs, bait for being captured."

"Kim…" Tommy interrupted.

Kimberly shook her head and held up her hand. "Let me finish Tommy. I sent you that letter to keep you safe. I didn't want you harmed and I didn't want you to have to choose between the world or me. You didn't ever need the burden of that on your shoulders. And so I sent you the letter, Tommy. I know I caused you more pain than I'll ever know, but I had to keep you away from pain later on. I was ashamed of myself and what I had done. So I hid behind the letter. It was the wrong thing to do, Tommy, but it was all I could do. No one ever asked why I sent it, not even you."

Only then did Kimberly really look at Tommy's face. A pained looked crossed it and Kimberly could swear he was ready to cry. He spoke, his voice faltering at times. "I… I couldn't Kim…Kim you broke my heart…what was I to do? You told me…there was someone else… and I believed you… I was too upset to let you… not move on."

Kimberly reached out and patted Tommy's hand, laying her hand on top of his. "Tommy, you had every right to be angry at me. You still do. I'm telling you now though that writing that letter was a mistake. Rita wanted me to do that. I know she manipulated my dreams somehow. In my dream, she told me you didn't need me, didn't want me like this. And…" Kimberly's voice became almost a whisper. "I believed her." Here she stopped explaining her story, a tear falling down her face. It upset her too much to think of how easily she had given in. She wiped her eyes; she wouldn't cry. She couldn't…but the tears still fell.

Strong arms suddenly wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close. She hadn't expected that from him. His scent wafted to her nose, that familiar scent that made her close her eyes and simply relax. "Kim," he murmured, "I see why you did it now… but Rita isn't a threat anymore. She's not going to get you again."

"We don't know that, Tommy. For all we know, she could be planning another attack right now. You're still a Ranger and you're still off saving the world."

Tommy pulled away, and Kimberly feared she'd said something wrong. However, Tommy reached out and took her hand, using his left hand to raise her chin so that her eyes met his. "I'm a Ranger, Kimberly, but it's my duty to protect the world. I could stop if I wanted to, but saving the world is something I want to do. I'll never be known for my actions, but inside, I'll know what I did. This is my way of helping others in need. But I'd give up my Ranger duties if it meant you were in my world, Kimberly."

"Tommy," Kimberly whispered. She was shocked. After everything she'd done, everything that'd happened, he wanted to give her another chance. He wanted to give them another chance. "How can you say such a thing after everything that's happened?"

Tommy looked at her and gave a soft smile. "Kim, at first, I wasn't going to. You'd hurt me in such a way I never wanted to forgive you. I was angry and hurt. When we first found out Rita had captured you, I didn't want to help, at all. In the end though, I did it because it was my duty. In doing my duty, I've found I was wrong. Kim, we all make mistakes. That's life. It all depends on how we judge them. I could choose to judge you on writing the letter and never have you again, or I could choose not to and have you back. One mistake shouldn't be your downfall. I see that now."

Kimberly was shocked and speechless. What Tommy had said was slowly sinking in. Regardless of the mistake she made, he still wanted her back. Her heart skipped a beat at this news. Then she wondered if she wanted him back. Her mind screamed in protest. Of course you do! He loves you, no matter what mistake you made with the letter! However, something was still bugging her. She had to bring it up or it would never leave her alone. "Tommy?" she asked in a low voice.

"Yes?" asked Tommy, wondering what she wanted to ask him.

"I… look at me, Tommy. Look at what I've become. I'll never walk again, never have any feeling below my waist. My dreams are gone. I have to find new dreams to follow. How can you love me like this?" It seemed harsh now that she'd said it. It had seemed somewhat softer in her mind. She watched Tommy for a reaction. He appeared to be thinking.

Tommy took a deep breath before answering Kimberly. He'd not expected her to ask this question, but with the accident had come a lowering of her concept of herself. She was scared to be the way she was, and he knew that. She offered him a challenge of taking her on, paralysis and all. Could he live with the fact that she would never walk again, would always be confined to the wheelchair. Could he live with the fact that Kimberly would need some help throughout her life? Could he live with the fact that Kimberly would never be able to feel anything sensual below her waist? All of these questions kept swarming through his mind. Kimberly wanted an answer. He had one for her, but was it the answer she wanted? "Kimberly, some of those questions, I can't answer, don't know the answer to. I want to be with you. Your paralysis doesn't matter to me. It hasn't changed what's inside you. You've only changed in appearance, but your heart and mind are still as strong as before the accident. Those are the two things I loved about you when I first fell in love with you. I still feel that way. The chair, your legs, none of that matters to me, as long as you are happy with your own life. I want to help you though. I want to be the person you confide in and love. I don't want Rita's interference to be the thing that drove us apart."

Kimberly nodded slowly. "I don't want it to be either, Tommy," she whispered.

Tommy leaned over and kissed her cheek before taking her hand. "Kimberly, will you be my girlfriend again?" he asked, smiling brightly.

"Yes, Tommy. Yes I will." She squeezed his hand.

Tommy leaned down and kissed Kimberly softly. He was hesitant to, but relaxed when Kimberly returned his kiss, resting her hands on his face. They soon broke apart, smiling at each other. "Shall we head back?" Tommy asked after a few minutes of silence.

Kimberly nodded in agreement. "Billy might get worried if we don't return soon."

Tommy laughed. "Let him worry, beautiful. He can always check up on us on the viewing screen."

Kimberly's face tinged pink when Tommy used his nickname for her. She hadn't heard it since the last time she'd talked to Tommy on the telephone. It felt good to hear it again. She thought back over what had just happened. It was finally over. They had talked things over and they had worked out. Rita hadn't broken them apart for good, and for that, Kimberly was thankful. She was thankful she had Tommy back in her life.

Tommy pushed Kimberly's wheelchair back onto the paved pathway and out of the wooded area. He'd gone in nervous, but came out relieved. Kimberly was his girlfriend again and he wanted to make sure that he stayed as such. Tommy pushed Kimberly slowly along the pathway, and smiled when she raised her right hand to rest it against his. "I can move my own chair you know," she said, laughing.

Tommy placed a hand to his chest. "I'm hurt! Here I am trying to do something kind for you and you want to push your own chair! Well, my lady, you may push your own chair, and teleport yourself back to the Power Chamber!" Then he burst into laughter at his own joke. Kimberly joined him. "Seriously though, if you want, I'll let you take control," he suggested.

"I just don't like you being stuck behind me. I'd rather you were walking beside me."

Tommy released his old on Kimberly's chair and moved beside her. He fell into step and the two moved along in silence, simply enjoying the day before them. Neither wanted to go back just yet because they knew they'd face a barrage of questions from their friends. Everyone wanted to know what had happened and if they were together again. Kimberly knew Billy would want to check her injuries again. She just wanted some peace back in her apartment. Well that, and a good dinner. She was hungry. Her stomach growled to illustrate this point to her. She turned red, embarrassed.

Tommy looked at her face and laughed. "I think that's a sign we should get back to the Power Chamber. I'm sure there's some kind of food there. Billy would know. If not, I'm sure we can get some."

"It's too bad we can't go too far into the public… otherwise we could get some good food from Ernie," replied Kimberly.

"I know what you mean."

"How is everyone doing?" Kimberly asked.

"Fine so far," Tommy answered as his communicator beeped. He glanced around quickly before answering it. "Tommy here."

"Tommy, I hate to interrupt you and Kimberly, but we need to find Katherine. She ran off over an hour again into the depths of the Power Chamber. We've left her alone for now. I think Kimberly may be able to help her. She was very upset over what had happened."

Kimberly looked up at Tommy, concern across her face. "Tell them I will, Tommy."

"We're on our way back, Billy," Tommy answered before signing off. Without a word, he took control of Kimberly's chair again, and headed for a patch of bushes in the distance before teleporting the two back.

Power Chamber

Billy turned around when he heard the familiar teleportation sound. The flash of electricity cleared away, revealing Tommy and a concerned Kimberly. "Welcome back you two," he greeted them.

"Why did Katherine run off?" Kimberly asked suddenly.

Billy sighed. "The entire ordeal has affected her mind more than any of us realized. She's upset and needs someone to help her out. Kim, you've been through something like she has. You passed your power coin onto her, seeing the good inside. Can you help her again?"

"I can, but I need someone to help me get around the Power Chamber until we find her."

"Tommy can lead you around," answered Billy.

"Billy, do we have any idea where's she's run off to?" asked Tommy.

"Negative. All we have is a vague idea. Her communicator is pinpointed to the southern area, but she could have taken it off. I don't want to teleport or wander down there and scare her. She was very upset at the time."

Tommy looked at Kimberly. "Let's go." He took control of Kimberly's wheelchair and guided her into the hallway of the Power Chamber. They began their search, unsure of how they'd find Katherine.

Well you all got your wish...but now there's more trouble around the bend...

Next time on Windmill into the Fall: Kimberly and Tommy head off to search for Katherine. Can Kimberly bring her out of her funk?