Summary – Tommy's first day as a child and yet Jason's the one near tears.

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First Day Disasters

Jason

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(Hayley's CyberSpace)

"Here you go, this'll wake you two up." Setting the cups of steaming liquid before us, Hayley is amazing. Anyone who can make coffee magically appear like that is my new best friend.

"Thanks. Two hours checking out the town and not one Starbucks. How do you people survive?" Taking the red cup before me as Kat takes her pink one, I smile absently as I realize the woman's done that on purpose. "You know a gold cup would have worked too."

Smirking and wiping the counter she nods. "I know, but what can I say, I'm a sucker for the originals. I still give Tommy a green cup every time. Drives him crazy." Oh she's good. Well of all the people for Tommy to let in on his secret and ask for help I think she was the right choice. She is definitely some how related to Billy I know it. "Speaking of which, where is he? He didn't come in this morning before opening to get his usual caffeine and bagel fix."

Shrugging and taking another drink, I'm guessing he decided sleeping in was more important. "Well he was pretty banged up after yesterday's fight. His jeep was still there when we left this morning and we figured he probably wanted to sleep in so we didn't go and wake him." I hope he's okay. I mean I know he'll be okay, his powers will help him heal fast enough, but still, it's been a long time since I've seen him so wounded. However he has definitely changed over the years. I can pinpoint the differences between his little sixteen year old self and his now twenty eight year old form.

Recalling how my rage had flared up at seeing his bruised and slashed body yesterday, I barely hold back from going out and killing Mercer. I know Mercer himself is different from his Mesagog personality, but still kill one and the other dies too since they're sharing a body. Can't say that isn't a tempting thought after seeing what he did to my best friend.

"Jase? Hey Jason." Nudging me Kat brings me out of my musings and back to the present. "You still with us?"

"Yeah, yeah sorry. Was just thinking how much I'd love to be in this color again and go teach those freaks a lesson. God the last time I saw him even close to that bad was when he was the Red Zeo Ranger and Gasket had gotten hold of him." And by that cringe she apparently remembers all too well. Took a week of extra treatment in the med bay to get him completely fixed up. Gasket got his in the end though.

"Yeah that was definitely brutal. On a lighter note though, you can definitely tell he's been training. He's slimmed back down from his Turbo Ranger days, but geez, I don't think there's an inch of fat on him." Okay stop drooling in your coffee, Kat. Besides I'm well aware of his physical perfection. Not too built up, still smaller than me, firm completely round butt, flawless definition in his thighs and arms…

"Jason you're drooling in your coffee." Looking too amused Hayley moves my cup to push her humorous jab. "You okay there?"

Shaking my head clear and pushing those thoughts aside I focus back on the present. "Fine, just um, plotting my revenge on Mercer or Mesagog or whoever the hell he finally decides to be.

"Sure you were." What's that mean? Before I can ask however the topic is changed as Hayley turns back to Kat. "So are you going to make the cake? Or did you want me to buy it? I know the kids won't care either way, but Tommy did mention you made some cakes for charity events back in Angel Grove a few times and they rocked." They did. She can do some amazing stuff with boxed cake mix.

"Planned on making it. I'll make it here since you have the bigger area and it'll keep certain people from eating all the icing before I get it on. Just need to know the final head count." Hey why did you look at me when you said that icing thing? I don't eat the icing. Okay, well I don't eat as much of it as Tommy. He's the one that piped it into his mouth during the carnival not me.

"Let's see, well there's me, you, Jason, Kim, Adam, Jason's parents, Connor, Kira, Ethan…" Hm, we're going to have a fairly decent sized party here. Thinking over the list once more, Hayley drums her fingers on the counter. I think you forgot someone.

Smirking and sharing a look with Kat, we shake our heads. "Forgetting someone?" Like say perhaps the birthday boy?

"Don't think so." Counting them off again, she is clearly over worked running this café and being Tommy's technician and friend. Well no worries, I think she needs a day to relax as bad as Tommy, we'll handle the decorations and food and she can just kick back with him. They both deserve a day off.

Bursting through the doors of the place, the three Rangers dash over to us, clearly skipping school as this place doesn't open until three and it's only eleven now. "Guys it's Dr. O."

"Oh, oops right, and Tommy." Laughing with us and shaking her head, she sighs. "I need a vacation. Hey shouldn't you three still be in school? You know Tommy's going to be ticked off if you keep skipping out to come here for lunch every day. It makes you late getting back."

Stopping and catching her breath Kira looks at us like we've lost it. "What? No, Dr. O, he wasn't in school today." What? Okay now you've got our attention.

All of us looking at her and the two boys who are still panting, we try to keep calm. "What?"

Taking over, Conner steps up looking just as worried as the rocker girl. "He didn't show up, principle Randal was ranting about firing him if this kept up. We tried to call the house on our break but no one answered." Okay, okay calm down. Just calm down and think here. You are not an irrational teenager anymore, you know overreacting and jumping to conclusions does not get results.

"Well Tommy was hurt fairly bad in the battle yesterday guys. There's a good chance he just decided to stay in bed today and recover." Though that's really not Tommy's style. True he was a pain in the ass to get up on school mornings back in Angel Grove, but he never skipped unless he was in battle. I know he probably wouldn't start now. "We went out shopping and looking over the town this morning, but we didn't go to wake him figuring at the least he'd want to sleep in." Starting to wonder if that was a mistake.

"Well if he did just need to stay home he would have called in. It's not like him not to." At Hayley's nod, I feel my concern spike another level. "The only reason we stopped here first is because it was on the way and like I said no one answered at the house."

Grabbing my leather jacket off the back of the chair, I head for the door as the kids and Kat are right on my heals. "Let's go."

-ooooo-

(10 min. later, Oliver residence)

Pulling my Mustang to a stop in his gravel parking area beside the house, I don't know whether to be relieved or not when I see his jeep's right where it was this morning. Well at least we know he didn't attempt to go somewhere and got in an accident. That's a plus. "Well his jeep's still here."

Pulling his red convertible up beside me, Conner hops out, Ethan and Kira right beside him. "Well jeep's still here. So I guess the big question is, is that a good thing or a bad thing?" What are you my son? Okay squash that thought right now Jason.

Heading up to the house and finding the door still locked like we'd left it this morning, I dig for the extra key he'd given us yesterday. "Damn it, Kat do you have the spare key?"

"We got it." Removing her key from the lock Kira leads the way in. Okay why does she have a key? Wait, there are two house keys on Conner's chain too. And Ethan is putting one back in his pocket. Why do these kids have their own keys and I don't?

As if reading my mind, Kat leans over out of the kids range of hearing. "You live in New York, Jase. Why would you need a permanent house key? Especially since you've never been here before and won't be here for long."

Pushing down the small stick of pain that seems to bring, I force myself into leader mood and avoid looking at Kat's imploring gaze. "You three go check the lair. Kat check down here. I'll check his room." Heading towards the stairs I don't know when Kat became so insightful.

Knocking on the still closed bedroom door, I push Kat's comments out of my mind. Okay so number of things I've repressed in the past thirty minutes. Hmm, admiration of my friend's physic, Kat's psychic knowledge that I felt maybe just a tiny bit jealous for not having a key of my own even though technically that's my fault, fear Tommy is dead. Right back to the present and immediate problem. "Tommy?"

Getting no response, I heave a sigh and head in, relieved to not see blood staining the walls or floor. Always a good sign. Of course I also don't see my friend. Unless that too small, shaking bundle on the bed happens to be him.

Frowning and entering fully, I still keep cautious and search the room for any signs of hidden danger. Old habits die hard. Approaching the bed when I'm sure it's clear, I look closer at the curled up adolescent curiously. "Tommy?" Please say no. Please say no.

Hearing me for the first time it seems, the little boy stops sobbing and looks up, showing me teary eyes and his wet face. Don't be Tommy. Don't be Tommy. Sniffling and curling up more against the head board as he clearly does not recognize me, it's Tommy. I know it is.

Moving slowly and carefully so as not to scare him I sit down on the bed lost for what to do now. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it's not him. Picking up an article of clothing that'd fallen to the floor it takes me a minute to realize these are the black boxers he was dressed in yesterday. Along with the black shirt that is now hanging off of the child.

Tossing the underwear back on the floor I hold up my hands in a soothing manner. "Hey kiddo, it's alright, don't be scared. I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm just looking for my friend. What's your name?"

Taking a few sharp and bad breathes the puppy-eyed child is going to say it. I know he's going to. "T-Tommy."

Sighing and pinching the bridge of my nose, need an Aspirin. "That's a nice name, my friend's name is Tommy too. Why are you crying? Do you know where you are? Or what my name is?"

Shaking his head smally and building up fresh tears, if he starts sobbing and heaving again I'm going to drive over to Mercer's and start cutting off body parts. Human or lizard form, not caring right now. "I-I want my dad-daddy."

"Oh boy." He's crying, what am I supposed to do here? Where is Kat? She's the child expert. Okay, okay, no problem. I'll just get him to Kat and then she can do whatever it is she does with sobbing kids at the hospital. "Um…okay, okay, shhh. It's going to be alright. You're daddy isn't here, but my friend is and she'll know what to do to fix this. Okay?"

Suddenly getting a new spark of life, he lets out an ear piercing wail. "I want my daddy!" Okay forget diplomacy, grab him and take him to Kat.

Standing and going to pick the still screaming and howling boy up, I barely get him in my arms before he starts trying to kick and hit me. "Okay come here we'll go find- Tommy stop struggling I'm going to take you to Kat and she'll- damn it Tom sto-ow!" Dropping him back on the bed as he's just managed to kick me in the worst place possible, I drop to my knees trying to breath. That little son of a bitch. Oh my god, oh god, oh god, no more, please no more pain.

"No! Don't touch me! I want my daddy!" Curling back up by the pillows and headboard, he continues to scream for his father as I lay dying on the floor. Ice, I have to get ice. Kat come on already! Someone hear this kid screaming so I can get help here before I black out.

"What's going on in here?" Finally! Rushing into the room, the three Rangers right behind her, Kat hurries over to me, once again asking what happened.

"He kicked me." Grinding my teeth together and trying to breath through the pain, I know no amount of meditation and calming exercises is going to ease this away. Ice people!

Looking lost for a minute, she finally turns to the still crying, but now much more quiet child on the bed. "Jason what on Earth… Tommy?" Yep. "Oh my god." I know, but I need help first here Kat. Then we can worry about what happened to our friend. Our friend who's getting his butt kicked for this when he's back to normal.

"Kat I need-"

"You are so adorable!" What?! Making soothing noises and sitting down beside him, she reaches out and begins gently stroking his messy hair. "Oh sweety why are you crying?"

Sniffling and pointing to me, he better not be seriously blaming me for this.

"Oh poor thing. Did the mean man scare you?" What?! This is mutiny! I'm the one with the serious injury here. He technically attacked me. "Oh it's okay. He didn't mean to. Come here." That's it, I've officially entered the Twilight Zone. Okay maybe she's overlooking the fact the oh-so-adorable one just possibly rendered me unable to bare children.

"Yeah, adorable as a snake." Moaning as Ethan and Conner finally come out of their shock and help me up, I really need some ice guys. I mean at least the pain's subsiding to just a mind numbing agony now, but still.

"Oh you are so cute. He's so cute." Coming up beside Kat, now apparently over her own astonishment, Kira seems just as taken in by the tike as the former Pink Ranger. Must be a female thing. He kicked me in the crotch. That's not cute ladies.

Before I can manage a protest though, Kat quickly cuts me off as if once again reading my mind. "Jason shut up, he's the most precious thing I've ever seen." Great well than let's just forget about the fact he's supposed to be twenty eight then shall we? Sure we'll just keep the cute little tike as is and I'll just start wearing a cup on a regular basis.

"What on Earth happened to him? Do you think he even knows who we are?" Finally someone's asking the right questions.

Shrugging and sitting the little boy on the edge of the bed, Kat crotches down in front him, so she's on his level. "Tommy, do you remember who I am? I'm Katherine. Kitty Kat remember?" By that look I'm guessing not. So much for him telling us what happened than.

"You don't look like a cat." Hugging the covers tighter, he is definitely not going to be a help in figuring this out.

"Oh my god he's so cute!"

"That's great Kira, but maybe we should focus on why he's suddenly oh so cute and five years old." Leave it to the Red Rangers to be the voices of reason. Starting to like Conner more and more here.

Suddenly huffing and sitting up straighter, the child gives us a glare. "I am not five, I'm seven! And I'm going to be eight tomorrow so there." Oh boy.

"What do we do?" Good question. Don't suppose the fact you're in blue means you're anything like Billy?

"Well first thing's first, I say we get him something to eat as he's apparently been up here all morning starving and crying. You want to go with me into the kitchen and get some breakfast? I can hear your stomach growling from here." Well, why not. Not like we have anything else to go on at the moment.

Nodding smally and giving a sniffle, Tommy holds his arms out to her, apparently not having a problem with her carrying him. Exactly what is his problem with me than? I tried to carry him and geez if his little world didn't just end at that. However the pretty blonde female wants to carry him and suddenly all is well.

"I'm not sure I can carry you. How about if Ja…Conner gives you a ride down to the kitchen huh?" Yeah you better not say Jason.

Looking between her and the nodding Red Ranger, Tommy reluctantly relents and climbs onto the teenager's back without fuss. That's not fair at all. Wrapping his arms around the boy's neck, Tommy looks the definition of pitifully adorable in his small form, black shirt now coming down to cover him to his knees and shaggy, once again brown hair a mess. Well this isn't exactly how I had the day planned out. Should we get him some clothes?

"Come on." Pulling me after them, Kira and Kat are going to be good friends I can see that now. Hey ladies, you know technically he's not injured here, I am. Little sympathy and cuddling my way, huh?

Following the girls downstairs I hang back a bit as Kat briskly heads through the livingroom and into the kitchen just as Conner sets Tommy at the table where he barely sits tall enough to reach it comfortably.

"So, now what did you want to eat, Tommy? Oatmeal?" At Tommy's firm head shake no, Kat snickers as if knowing perfectly well he wouldn't eat that. Come to think of it I don't know what he'd eat. I don't think bagels and coffee was his breakfast of choice as a child. "No huh, well how about some fried eggs and toast, yummy stuff."

Shaking his head again and making a face, Tommy suddenly points to the cabinet where the cereal can be seen. "Can I have Coco Puffs?" Why does he have that anyway? Oh wait, by Ethan's flushed look apparently the kids drop by for snacks. Well that explains the gummy bears.

"Coco Puffs, you're sure now?" When the boy nods sternly, Kat shrugs as if giving up. Okay starting to see why she's moving up so fast in her hospital work. "Sure you don't want some liver and onions to go with it?" Laughing when the boy exclaims a very distasteful 'ew!' and shakes his head feverishly, she's growing far too attached to his younger form here.

"Is that a yes?"

"Kitty Kat noooo. Please, I want Coco Puffs." Giving her pleading, but insisting eyes, Tommy reaches for the cereal box, finally smiling happily when Kat hands it over and goes to get him a bowl and spoon.

Watching the exchange between the two, Conner and Ethan are clearly stunned at how easily Kat is handling their now young mentor. Yeah I was right there too, but now I'm starting to recall just what Kat's internship involved along with her charity work with children. "How'd she do that?"

"She's just good like that." Watching silently to see what else will occur, I only move forward a bit as the child climbs out of his chair when Kat begins hunting for a bowl, her back to him.

"Um, Kat." Pointing to Tommy as he pads to the fridge. I watch for a moment as he clearly has a bit of trouble trying to open the door with his fairly small muscles, but finally manages it and reaches for the jug of milk.

"Oh sweety, no, wait." Catching him before he can pull the gallon down on his head, Kat quickly dashes over to him and takes hold of it.

"I want to help." The boy responds reasonably, as clearly he hadn't really considered that since the fridge was so hard to open he might not be able to hold the large gallon of liquid effectively.

"I know, but I want to make you breakfast because you're so sweet and look a little tired." Nudging him back to the table, she really is good as her excuse works and she doesn't have to actually hurt his feelings by informing him of the mess we all know he would have made.

"Oh, okay." Sitting back down and finding that reasonable, he watches closely as Kat pours his breakfast before getting a cup of orange juice for herself. Digging into his food, it is painfully clear he's going to be in need of some cleaning up once finished. Watching as his hand is shaking slightly, causing him to spill drops of milk onto himself and the table through each bite that can't be a good sign.

Noting this too, Kat exchanges a worried look with me. "Tommy does you're hand always shake like that?" It sure didn't when he was sixteen. Maybe it has something to do with how small he is. He definitely doesn't look seven, well almost eight.

"Yes, but it goes away." And how do you know that?

Apparently not the only one noting that statement, Kira has a seat next to him, before getting his attention. "Tommy, how do you know it goes away?" Does he remember something? Maybe there is hope he can help us figure out just what happened to him here.

Frowning and suddenly becoming aware of what he'd said himself the boy shrugs smally. "I don't know, my daddy says it'll go away when I get older." At this his mind seems to rapidly dismiss the oddness of his previous statement and refocus back to his childhood priorities. "Where's my daddy?"

"Um, he's on a trip. He asked us to watch you." Well I suppose that's better than the truth. Wow, this would be right about the time when his dad died actually. Okay suddenly pretty glad he's only eight right now as another year tacked on would have resulted in one seriously depressed and heartbroken child.

"Oh." Seeming satisfied that that explains his strange surroundings and us, he continues eating enthusiastically for a few more minutes. Finally getting more food on him I think than in him. He is definitely going to need to be cleaned up and by his expression knows it too. Looking down at his messy shirt, he glances back up giving the girls puppy eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Oh don't be sorry, it's not your fault, you just, uh, you haven't finished growing yet." Grabbing a paper towel and dabbing some of the milk off him, Kat sets a fresh one down by his bowel, clearly trying to figure out just what's wrong with him.

Tapping his head with his finger he seems to try to get his mass of muddled thoughts to work with him for a moment, but I guess this isn't going to happen by his defeated look. "In my head." When we all give him curious looks, he tries again. "The troubles aren't just growing stuff, it's in my head too. You know a brain con…con..thing." He has a mental condition? I never knew that. Why didn't he tell me that?

Smiling softly as she gets the jest of it, Kat nods. "A brain condition?" At his relieved nod, she's begins thinking over some of the more common conditions that would cause his specific problems. "Are there any other problems you have besides the small shakes and you being so very adorable and a tab small for your age?"

Licking his lips and trying to think, he finally gives an answer hesitantly. "I fall lots and um, sometimes cry a lot. I forget things, and um, well iavccidents." What? Lost as to what he's muttered at the end, I join the group at the table, now a bit calmer as the pain has eased off a tad more.

"What was that last part?"

Swallow and playing with his spoon, he turns red before clearing his throat. "Have accidents sometimes." Okay well he was always accident prone so I don't see wh…oohh those kind of accidents.

"It's okay, sweety. You're small for your age, I'm sure once you get bigger those'll stop and so will the shaking. You just have to be patient." Yeah, he can be patient, we however need to figure out what happened to him now.

As Kat seems to have eased some of his worry, Kira gently tilts his now nearly empty cereal bowl, before smiling. "How's that cereal, you getting enough to eat?"

Nodding and taking another bite of the chocolate cereal, he quickly wipes up the spilled extra that has gotten onto the table.

Shaking my head I give Kat a small, but slightly amused smile. "He's gonna need a bath after this."

"Yep, and make sure you wash his hair really well while you're at it." What?

To be continued……….