Jason is sure that the old Tommy will be back in no time…

8 Safe

Tommy

There's warmth in this place; not the scalding heat I remember but the soft warmth that dimly reminds me of blankets…I think I've felt it before. It's the warmth of safety; I think I'm safe here.

They came and took me away, those faces from my head; I hadn't known they were real I thought I was crazy and maybe I am but those faces were real and I think they're safe. Everything still hurts but it seems further away somehow as though I am floating above my body. Am I dying? I can't make myself care if I am; maybe it would be better if I did. It would all go away then.

I can't seem to open my eyes and I can't move. Just thinking about makes the panic set in, it rises in my throat until I want to scream but I know I can't do that either; my voice gave up on me a while ago.

If I can't move they can get me! What if they come back? I can't do anything, I have to move, I have to get up. I need to hide; I'm out in the open!

There are hands and voices on me, I struggle more. They're back! They came back to get me, they're going to hurt me again…and then I listen to what they're saying, it sinks into my panicked brain.

"Easy bro, easy. Its okay you're safe here, we're your friends Tommy. It's me Jason." Jason? Those words mean something but I don't remember any Jason, I don't know who these people are…I don't know who I am.

"Please Tommy lie still for us." It's another voice, a girl I think. I remember that voice I used to hear it sometimes; it meant something once, I'd dream of it and wake in that place…no, no she wasn't there. I feel that irrational anger and sorrow for a betrayal I don't remember, don't understand.

"It's me Kat." The voice says again. Kat? I'm not…I don't know…I can't remember. They are things, memories, I don't have anymore; I don't remember these people I don't remember me and I don't even really remember what happened…

There's a sharp pain in my leg; I panic again but already my limbs feel like lead, what did they do to me? I can't sleep, you should never sleep because that's when they come for you; they sneak up on you in the night and then there's only fear.

"Sleep, its okay Tommy. We're here for you, you're safe."

That soft voice tries to reassure me but I don't really know the person that speaks; I don't really know anything any more, am I really safe here? I slip into darkness, and I don't care if I never wake up again.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Jason

He seems too tired to struggle as I give him the sedative. I'm not really sure if he knows what's going on around him; he hasn't spoken yet but he struggles as though trapped in a nightmare; he's scared and that's what makes me think he's unaware, why would he be afraid of us?

He's lost so much weight, he was always lean; slim and athletic with a muscled and rangy body but now it's like so many contradictions. His body seems hardened somehow; hardly surprising if the monsters have been playing Gladiator with him. I growl in my throat at the thought; it makes me angry to think of what they did to him. He's underweight but his muscles seem sturdier; fighting took it out of him he's so weak but fighting everyday for nearly eight months must have improved his stamina.

Zordon says we should be gentle with him especially he wakes up, it goes without saying of course but he seems more worried than he should be. No doubt he's worrying about Tommy's rate of recovery or wondering whether Tommy will blame him for what went wrong. We're like his children and I know he has a little bit of a soft spot for Tommy, like a parent he seems to be going overhaul on the TLC.

It's so good to have him back again. I can see it on everyone's faces; we're relieved, the tension has eased and we're all glad to see him alive. I know they'll all sleep easier with him back; they've regained their leader and their friend.

Kat still looks a little lost when she looks at him but happiness is back in her smile, the relief is stark in her eyes when she looks up at me and smiles. I watch her stroke his head as he lies in the med bay, that content look on her face and I feel like a load is lifted from my mind.

I didn't fail either of them; I brought him back to where he belongs among those who love him, he'll be back up again in no time, saving the world and laughing with his friends and team like nothing has happened. We have our Tommy back again. I smile, because right now everything is perfect and he's safe.

A/N Okay peeps, this is the end of the first part; the second part is coming soon! I was going to make it one long thing but I'm off to uni so the first couple of weeks might be hectic so I thought breaking it into two or three stories might give me time to get my bearings and give me time to space my writing out. Anyways let me know what you think so far and watch out for the next part entitled 'Remember Me.' xxx