Author's Note: As someone who has never, not once, seen any of Zeo except the arena portion of the "King for a Day" episode, I apologize profusely for the error of Aisha and not Tanya – I knew I was bound to make a mistake or two when entering this world. Thanks for pointing it out guys! Corrections are coming

Part 3

Kimberly and Tommy emerged from their teleport in a strand of trees just shy of the hospital's main entrance. He dropped her elbow, shoving his hands into his back pockets, and waited for her to move. She could see his reluctance for the upcoming reunion in the posture of his body - not that she could blame him. Guilt would be eating through his conscience from his actions; guilt for failing to recognize his friends and the guilt for hurting Katherine.

Striding forward, she entered the air conditioned facility, heading for the reception desk.

"Kim."

She stopped just shy of it, turning to find Jason waiting for them in a nearby hallway. He beckoned them over, and she went, confident Tommy would follow at his own pace. They entered the elevator and took it upwards several floors, stopping on five. Emerging into the extended care ward, they kept to one side of the hallway and Jason led them through the maze to Katherine's hospital room.

Tommy hung back as Kimberly followed Jason in. Jason smiled at Kat, looked pointedly at Kimberly - a clear message not to tire the Pink Ranger - and then left them alone. Kimberly examined her friend.

Katherine was propped up comfortably on one of the hospital's automatic beds. One arm was fastened securely across her chest, supported by a fancily tied sling. Her head was bandaged, white strips contrasting with her blonde hair. The worst though was the collar. The neck support held her head in place, focused on the door and able to see her visitor's reactions.

Kimberly found a smile as she approached the bed. "Hey."

"Hey yourself."

"How're you feeling?"

"As well as can be expected with my neck in this vice." Kat's smile was just a touch shaky. "I'm so sorry, Kimberly."

"Sorry?" Kimberly cocked her head at her friend as she settled into the chair. It was still warm and she knew without a doubt that Jason had been keeping Kat company. "What for?"

Kat's blue eyes clouded and tears lined her lashes. "I couldn't reach him. I couldn't-"

"Stop." Kimberly placed her hand on her friend's uninjured shoulder. "Just stop right there, Kat. That you couldn't reach Tommy is not your fault."

"If we'd been able to help him to better cope with your breakup-"

"It still might not have worked." Kimberly leaned in, hugging her friend carefully. "I can't believe you demorphed!"

"I had to try." Kat clung to Kimberly fiercely. "He was so lost, Kim. I thought maybe, if he could see us - see me - without seeing the Rangers we might be able to snap him out of it."

"Kat..." Kimberly squeezed her as hard as she dared. "You took a big risk today. One that could have gotten you killed."

"Maybe it would have been better if it had."

"Don't ever say that!"

"Why not?" Kat's look was miserable. "He hasn't been the same since your letter Kim. I mean, I know why you did it, and I understand - I really do - but Tommy doesn't. He's been drifting away from us the last few months and he called me by your name just last week while we were morphed!"

Kim arched her eyebrows, her eyes shining with humor. "He called you Kim? Wow, must have had a brain crunch or something - I'm at least a foot shorter than you!"

Katherine managed a faint smile, but it didn't hold for long. "I should never have accepted the Power coin from you, Kimberly."

"But you make an awesome Ranger!"

"I'm not you."

Kimberly flinched. "I didn't ask you to be, Kat. I only asked if you wanted to help protect the world, not try to fill my shoes."

"Didn't you, though?" Katherine pressed the buttons on the bed's control, tilting it upwards a little more until she was sitting almost upright. "You left a void I struggle to fill, Kim. Not only as a Ranger, but once you broke up with Tommy, as a friend - but he looks at me and he doesn't see me. He sees you."

"I doubt that."

"Maybe not physically, but in some ways." Kat closed her eyes for a moment. "I can't keep doing this, Kim. It's not fair to him or to me."

"So what are you going to do?"

The sorrow in Kat's gaze when her eyes finally opened was tempered with acceptance. "I'm going back home. I have some thinking to do about what I want to do with my life that I can't do here. Time and distance should be able to give me some perspective."

"Isn't that a little extreme?"

"It's necessary."

"And the Rangers? Do you have a replacement picked out?"

Kat smiled faintly, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I've discussed it with Zordon - there won't be another Pink Ranger, Kim."

"What?"

Kat held up her hand as Kimberly half-came out of her chair. "It's for the best. With Tommy as a part of the team, a Pink Ranger is more of a hindrance than a boon. It's distracting and reminds him of everything he's lost. He doesn't say that, of course, but it's there in his actions. Until Tommy's no longer a Ranger, the Pink Ranger powers are going to be retired and given back to Zordon."

"But... they need a Pink Ranger. Teamwork is key to their tactics and they can't form the Megazord without the Pink Ranger's zord!"

"It can be remotely controlled in the event the Megazord is needed - Zordon can call it from hiding."

"And what, pilot it remotely? You know as well as I do that the Megazord takes everyone working together to control it properly."

"The Rangers will adapt; they'll have to."

"Don't do this, Kat. Think about the team - they need you."

"No, Kimberly. They need you."

Her heart sank. "I can't. My place is in Florida now."

"But not forever. Once the games are over with, your schedule will open up. Who's to say you won't some day move back to Angel Grove."

"And what, be an absentee Ranger in the mean time?"

"You already have the crane coin - Jason told me."

"Only because Zordon wouldn't take it back. It's not fair to the Rangers or to me - I've been through this once already. How could I dedicate myself to my gymnastics knowing I could be called away at any moment? You saw what happened last time."

"I helped cause what happened last time." Kat's correction was succinct. "The new enemy doesn't know you, and their focus has been Tommy for several weeks - they know that we're weaker without him."

"Don't give him too much credit," Kimberly teased her friend. "Every one of the Rangers is important - it's just that he's the longest serving Ranger."

"My point is that they're focusing on him and would leave you alone."

"As if I'd be able to concentrate knowing that."

"Wouldn't it make it easier knowing you could do something about it, rather than wait for news from Tanya or I?"

Kimberly sat back in the chair. "He'd never forgive me."

"You'll never know if you don't try."

Rubbing her forehead with both hands, Kimberly turned her thoughts inward. Did she want to do this? To resume her mantle of the Pink Ranger? To bring herself back into the tight-knit circle she missed so dearly and into constant contact with Tommy? Tommy. What would he think if she did return? Would he be happy? Sad? Hurt? Or would he be ecstatic?

His image, sullen and withdrawn, popped into her head and somehow she found herself doubting that he'd be ecstatic, or happy in any way. In fact, he seemed anxious to be rid of her as quickly as possible and was only going to speak with her due to Zordon's threat.

She exhaled slowly. "Let me ask him first, okay?"

Kat's smile was grateful and she extended her good arm for a hug. Kimberly obliged, hugging her as tightly as she dared. "Be gentle with him, Kim. He's been through a lot since you last spoke and he's not had much of a chance to heal."

"Just fester." Kimberly managed a smile for her friend. "He has an apology to make to you before I can talk to him - will you see him?"

"Send him in; maybe I can soften the blow of my leaving a little before you ask about the Pink Ranger powers."

They shared a smile. "Call me, 'kay?"

Katherine nodded. "Before I leave and when I get home. I promise.'

The door opened as Kimberly approached and Jason appeared. She gave him a thumbs up sign, indicating that things were all good. "Kat wants to talk to Tommy."

Jason glanced back towards the hallway. "I don't think he's ready to talk to her just yet."

"Tough luck - I won't talk to him until he talks to her."

His eyebrows arched in surprise but he didn't argue as they stepped back into the hallway. Jason broached the subject for her. "Tommy - Kat wants to talk."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Good idea or not, until you talk to her, Kim says she won't talk to you."

"More blackmail?"

Kimberly managed not to cower at the bitterness in Tommy's voice. She simply tilted her chin stubbornly and crossed her arms over her chest. His eyes flashed, but she met him, anger for anger, silently daring him to show his courage by speaking with Kat. He caved within moments, remembering well how stubborn she could be and shot her a black look. Striding past Jason, he entered the hospital room and closed the door behind him.

Kimberly exhaled the breath she'd been holding. "He's pretty mad at me, isn't he?"

"He was mad at me too," Jason gripped her shoulder supportively. "He'll get over it. He just needs to stop bottling up what he's feeling. Hopefully your talk will help."

"It had better or you'll be finding yourselves with a new Red Ranger."

"So he said."

"You don't approve."

"I don't think Zordon should be stepping in." Jason corrected. "I think it would have been better to leave things alone rather than get involved. Finding out that you broke up with him for me wasn't easy."

"I bet." Kimberly's gaze went back to the room. "How'd he take the news that you decided we were better off as friends?"

"It's hard to say. Tommy's not as open as he used to be."

"And it's my fault." Kimberly folded her hands together in front of her. "Do you think talking to him will help?"

"I don't think it will hurt. He came around in the arena because you were talking to him; maybe the same will work now that he's got his memories back."

"I hope you're right Jason. Regardless, this isn't going to be easy."

"Is it ever if it's worth having?"