A/N: Well, one review so far, and yes, poor Rocky. I'm going to keep writing this because I want to. Just with slightly diffrent points of view for each characters. It's fairly AU from the show, I know, but one guy just can't be that cheerful all the time, and Adam has to see more than what he says. Each of the teens will have something to say, what, I'm not sure. Much thanks to the best editor a guy could have, and the best girlfirend. Luv ya, Jo!
Disclaimer: Power Rangers are sole property of the Mouse with the People Traps. I'm not a mouse, even if I have spent time in...nevermind.
Adam stared in horror as Rocky went flying from his motorcycle. He had known something was wrong with Rocky, had known for years. His friend had seemed to drift amongst his relatives since he was twelve, staying in this house or that without seeming to notice where he was. Moving to his aunt's home in Angel Grove had seemed to perk him up, for once; his friend had truly meant his smiles and laughter, in stead of acting the part. Especially after becoming a Power Ranger, it was as if the shadows that had once haunted his friend had faded away and he had been free. Then, today, all of his old shadows had been there, he had screamed pain with every gesture, from the way he had refused to join the others, to his unnatural silence, to his moving away from Aisha. Aisha hadn't ever seen Rocky when it was bad, when Rocky's demons had sent him fleeing from everything, to be dragged back by police. Adam had been there each time, had even run with him a time or two. He had seen Rocky through everything, even when he didn't know what was going on. He had offered, and every time, Rocky had refused to accept his friend's offer.
Now Adam knew the name of Rocky's demon, homophobia. He hadn't recognized it when he'd gone over to Rocky's, hadn't understood. Now, he did. "Did you know?" Tommy asked Adam quietly, jarring him from his contemplation. "Adam, did you know about this?"
"No." Adam said, "He was always afraid to tell me. I always knew something wasn't right, especially after he turned twelve, but he wouldn't say." Adam's hands clenched, "He could have told me!" Rocky's betrayal shook Adam to the core, he had shared every secret he had with Rocky, and he'd known Rocky wasn't doing the same, but this? Adam wasn't sure what he wanted to do. Especially with Rocky lying in the street, struck by car in some desperate bid for freedom or relief from nightmares none of them could understand.
"Adam," Aisha said, "this is why he didn't want to go home at night, isn't it?"
Adam nodded, "I don't know what happened, but since he was twelve, Rocky just drifted, sleeping at what ever relative's house he happened to be at. It wasn't until his aunt here, his mother's sister, took him in that he seemed to be better. I hoped, prayed, wished, that whatever demon he'd found in Stone Canyon had disappeared. I guess it found him."
"We should talk to Zordon," Billy said, he held Rocky's communicator and morpher.
"Give me his communicator," Adam said, holding out his hand, "even if you don't want him on the team, we'll need a way to keep him safe until he's able to take care of himself."
Billy put the communicator in Adam's hand silently; it was Tommy who spoke, "Adam."
"Rocky's my best friend, and I'm not going to abandon him." Adam replied quietly. "I leave the rest of you to do what you will." He gripped the communicator and raced down the hill, heading for Rocky. He reached his friend as the ambulance did.
"What happened?" One of the men asked as Adam reached the center of the circle.
"He just pulled out of the park like he wasn't paying attention to anything," a woman said, "I tried to stop, but, he was too close." She was wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt and was crying.
"Does anyone here know him?" The paramedic asked.
"His name is Rocky DeSantos," Adam said, stepping forward, "he lives with his aunt on Hill Street. He's allergic to morphine and aspirin."
"You are?"
"Adam Park. Rocky and I have been best friends since we were in diapers." Adam replied.
"I'm Aisha," Aisha said, stepping beside Adam and gripping his free hand tightly. She glanced at Adam, "Our other friend, Billy, went to tell Mrs. Ramos about what happened. Is he going to be ok?"
"He hit his head hard," one of the paramedics replied, "and he's probably broken a few bones, it's hard to tell." They loaded Rocky into the ambulance, "We're taking him to Angel Grove Memorial."
"We'll meet you there," Adam replied. He backed up as they drove off, and then turned to Aisha. "You don't have to pretend," he told her softly, "his mom does enough of that for both of us."
"Adam, I'm not," Aisha said, "I'm not going to leave Rocky high and dry. Not for anything. None of us are, I think. Tommy and Kim went to talk to Z about what happened to Rocky and Billy went to get Mrs. Ramos. Tommy said it'd be a cold day in hell before he accepted what Rocky did without a full team discussion."
Adam smiled at her, then gestured, "Let's cut through the park, we can get to Memorial faster that way."
The police were questioning people, but Adam and Aisha managed to avoid them and once they were in the park, they sprinted to their favorite teleportation site. In moments; black and yellow beams of light streaked to the command center.
Tommy was facing Zordon while Kim leaned against his shoulder, "That's when he got hit. Zordon, we don't want to chose a new Ranger right now. Not with Rocky like this. We have to talk to him before we make that choice."
"It may be necessary to choose a temporary Ranger, Tommy. Depending on how Rita and Lord Zedd react to what has happened, we may need all six Rangers." Zordon replied.
Adam stepped forward, "Whoever it is will be temporary," he said softly, but with conviction, "or else you'll be finding a new black ranger to." He hit the button on his communicator and teleported to the hospital, arriving in an alleyway that had been their designated place since they'd first had to rush to the hospital for a friend. He hurried inside and up to the desk, "Excuse me," he said to the nurse.
"Can I help you?" The nurse asked.
"My friend was in a motorcycle accident, Rocky DeSantos. I was wondering if you could tell me where I can wait for news. I know about the policy concerning family, but I'd like to at least be waiting here in case something happens." Adam said, nervously.
The nurse smiled, "There's a waiting room just down this hall and to the right, and you can wait there." She gestured the right way, "Is any of his family coming."
"His aunt," Adam said, "as soon as she can get here, that is." The nurse nodded and Adam smiled tightly, "Thank you." He hurried down the hall to the waiting room and settled into the uncomfortable plastic chair until Mrs. Ramos arrived.