Here's the next installment.
Please keep the support coming.
On we go...
"Oh, man. This can't be happening," Jason said nearly six hours later. Jason, his mother, Kim's mother and Dr.Winfield were standing outside of Kim's room. Kim'd just given birth to Amy and Austin about twenty minutes earlier.
Anyway, the doctor had just informed them that the twins had RDS- respiratory distress syndrome. In other words, breathing problems. Karen Scott squeezed her son's arm.
"You shouldn't be alarmed, though, Mr. Scott. In a way, your children were very fortunate. There are far more serious complications due to prematurity than RDS. Anyway, the babies are on respirators. I'm going to give them a drug to coat the lung tissue," Dr. Winfield said, rubbing his hands over his face.
"Everything's gonna be fine, sweetie," Karen said to Jason in a soft voice.
"Jason, would you like me to tell Kim?" Paige Hart asked. She and Kim hadn't been on the best terms throughout the pregnancy, but, Paige hated that Kim had delivered earlier than she should've. Prematurity could cause very serious problems.
"No, thanks, Ms. Hart. I'll do it," Jason said, then, turned and headed into the room before anyone could say anything else.
Kim- who was exhausted beyond belief- was staring up at the ceiling. She desperately tried to sit up when Jason reached her side.
"Kim, you just pushed two humans outta your body. Take it easy," he said.
"I wanna see the babies," she said. She hadn't even gotten to hold them! They'd been cleaned off, then, rushed out of the room- increasing her and Jason's worry. "What happened? What did the doctor say?"
"They have respiratory distress syndrome. Breathing trouble. They're on respirators," he reported with a sigh.
Kim paled and heart squeezed. "How long do you think they're gonna have to stay on them?"
"I don't know. Maybe not very long- since they aren't that small," Jason said.
Her eyes widened. "But what if something else goes wrong? Jason, what if-" she was saying.
"Nothing else is gonna go wrong. Everything's gonna be fine, Pinky," he said, stroking her hair gently.
Kim stared at him for several long moments, then, struggled to sit upright once again. "I need to see them."
"You can't right now, Kim. You have to rest for awhile," he said quietly.
"I'll rest when I'm dead, Jason," she said snappishly, unable to help it. "Now, take me to them."
Jason closed his eyes and shook his head. He understood her need to see them, be near them. Hold them. He wanted that, too. But it just couldn't be done at the moment. The former red/gold ranger opened his eyes.
"Kim, I'd love nothing more than to take you to our children. I wanna be with them, too. Believe me. You know I'd take you if I could. But now is not the time. Don't fight me on this. Please," he said, keeping his voice low and even.
Kim looked away, gripping the sheet. She couldn't stand this. She now felt an overpowering urge to see her children. But she knew Jason was right.
"I need you to rest, Firebird. I mean, I was already worried you'd have a difficult time delivering. And now the twins are having problems breathing on their own because they showed up six weeks too soon. It's all so... just don't argue with me about this," he said, a plea in his tone.
Kim softened and looked at him. He'd gone through so much lately. "I'm sorry. I just... I hate this. This isn't supposed to be happening."
"I'm with you on that one," he said.
"Where's Jade? Did everyone end the party?" Kim asked.
"No. They kept it going for a few hours to keep her from worrying and being scared. I told them it was best to just keep things normal," Jason said. "She's at the house now with... Gina." A fresh wave of fury crashed over him. Gina. Damn her. Damn her. He still had no idea what she'd said to Kim, but, if it wasn't for her, the twins would still be safe inside of Kim for another month and a half.
Kim watched her boyfriend's eyes darken and she took his hand. She knew what he was thinking. She was pissed at Gina as well.
"What did she say to you?" he asked calmly.
"She didn't want me at the party and said that I should leave. Also, I shouldn't be living with you guys because I'll eventually turn Jade against her. She wouldn't back off," Kim said with a heavy sigh.
Jason's blood began burning even hotter. Why the hell had Gina even showed her face again? She'd ruined everything. His kids weren't even supposed to be here right now. But Gina had badgered Kim. Because of her jealousy. The twins couldn't breathe on their own properly because of Gina's jealousy. Jason'd never actually despised anyone... until this very moment. And the emotion was so strong. So fierce.
Just then, Paige poked her head in. "Hey, sweetheart."
"Mom. Hi," Kim said, smiling faintly. She was happy to see her mother, but, she was much too tired and worried to be all perky.
"I don't mean to intrude, but, I just really wanted to see-" Paige began.
"It's okay, Ms Hart. I'm glad you came in. You can keep Kim company while I go off and deal with something," Jason said.
"Jase, what are you-" Kim began.
"I won't be long, angel. I promise," he said, then, headed for the door.
Paige looked at Kim questioningly and Kim just shrugged.
Jason entered his house a short while later. He'd driven around for a little while in an attempt to calm himself down. It hadn't really worked. Only one thing would make him calm. He found Gina and Jade in the den, watching TV.
Jade noticed him before he could speak and her eyes lit up. She hopped off the couch and raced over to him. "Hi, Daddy! Uncle Adam told me Kim had the babies. Can I see them now?"
Jason lifted her up in his arms. "Not right now, cupcake."
"But why?" Jade whined.
"Well... they're not ready for visitors yet. Soon, though, all right?" he said.
"Promise?" Jade asked, her eyes wide and innocent.
He smiled and nodded. "Promise. Did you have fun today?"
"Yup," Jade said cheerfully.
"I'm glad to hear that. Listen, baby, you can tell me all about it later. I really need to talk to your mother about grown-up stuff. Why don't you go to your room and play for awhile?" he said, setting her down.
"Okay," she said, then, raced out of the room.
Jason looked at Gina- who stood slowly. She looked nervous. The blonde began fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
"How are the babies?" she asked tightly.
"What the hell do you care? You don't give a damn about anybody but yourself," he said, walking up to her. His voice was low and cold. He really could kill her right now. Seriously.
"Jason-" she began.
"Shut up. Just shut up. No apologies or excuses. I don't wanna hear it anymore. I just want you to go back to wherever the hell you came from. That's all I want," Jason said, looking into her eyes. He could've yelled and ranted and raved. But Jade was home and he just didn't even feel like it.
"But Jade-" she began.
"Will be just fine without you. She managed eight months. She's gonna be fine no matter what. Because I'm gonna make sure of that," he said icily.
"I can't just leave, Jason," she said quietly.
"It wasn't such a problem the first time around," he said, glaring hatefully at her.
"You say that like I made some selfish, heartless decision. I was thinking of our daughter and-" Gina was saying.
"My daughter. Mine," he said.
"I understand why you're angry and that you probably hate me. But I gave birth to that little girl. I carried her for nine months. You can't just cut me out of her life," she said, her eyes flashing.
"I wasn't going to at first. But... when I was driving around, it hit me. She really is better off without you. All you do is hurt people. Until she's eighteen, you won't be seeing her again. I'll do anything to keep it from happening," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"You can't-" she began.
"I can and will. Just try me, Gina. You don't wanna be a mother. You wanna be around her when it's convenient. For you. She's not a coat you can take out of the hall closet whenever you feel like it. I'm not gonna let you set her up for some big heartbreak," he said.
"And what are you gonna tell her? Huh? She's gonna wanna know why-" Gina was saying.
"I'll explain it the best way I can. Don't worry about that. Just leave. Get out of my house, my life and don't ever come back," he said.
"You can't just force me out of town. You don't own Angel Grove, Jason," she said hotly.
"I don't care where you go. Just don't come back to this house. If you do, I'm taking legal action. Simple as that. Get out," he said.
"I'll leave- for now. First, I'm saying good night to Jade. This is so far from over," she said fiercely.
"Keep telling yourself that. Now, go on and say goodnight, then, disappear. I don't wanna look at you," he said, shaking his head.
She glared at him, then, exited the room.
Hope everybody liked. If not, don't fret. It'll get better. ;-)