Summary – Zedd gives Tommy the gem but only in exchange for a promise.

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Back in Black

Tommy

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Sitting up on the bed, knees drawn up under my chin I continue to watch the special on sea serpents really just wishing to lose myself in the show long enough to forget about the day I've had.

This of course doesn't happen easily as the antibiotics Zedd eased onto my wounds are still burning ever so slightly, just enough to remind me of the injuries there. Just enough to keep picking at the corners of my mind. Just like the claws which not only tore my flesh but sickeningly caressed it. Just like the look of pure darkness and rage filling Zedd's eyes when he found out.

Letting my head fall and releasing a miserable groan I briefly consider going to find Zedd and requesting a stronger sedative as whatever he's already given me is not working well, only to dismiss the idea still unsure of what type of mood he may be in.

"You're still up?"

Looking up at the surprised but oddly enough soft voice, I wonder if perhaps he took something himself. "I couldn't sleep."

Moving into our bedroom slowly and almost cautiously he sits down beside me on the bed, hand coming out stroke through my hair soothingly. "It's been a hell of a day huh." Understatement of the century. "I'm sorry Thomas. I'm just, I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't your fault. I wasn't careful and-"

"No not that. Though that probably is in a way my fault too, but right now I'm talking about earlier. How I behaved towards you it was inexcusable. I under no circumstances should have pushed you or raised a hand to you. No matter how angry I was." Taking a deep breath and looking for all the world like he's been through hell himself, he shakes his head smally. "I want you to know that I'd never want to harm you. Not for anything."

"I know."

"However sometimes what we want isn't what we can do. Thomas I can make the conscious decision to change. To behave and do what's right. But I have held dark power for so long that it's never going to leave me. Not fully. What you saw today, that's a part of me I can never change or eliminate. All I can do is try and repress it and control it. Before you I never really had a reason or desire to do either." Raising a hand to cup my face gently he looks carefully into my eyes. "I love you, but it is still a very real possibility that some day something might happen where I could pose a threat to you."

Swallowing hard and knowing he's right, knowing it all too well after what I saw in him earlier today I give a shaky nod of understanding knowing he wouldn't tell me unless he was truly worried about it.

"So that's why I'm going to give you something. Something I really never wanted you to have again for fear of losing you. But I see now it's the only way to keep you safe as ironic as that seems." Opening his free hand and showing me the black gem from the laboratory, the gem Mesagog wanted me to free he holds it out shakily for me. "If you want it Thomas, really and truly want to hold the power again all you have to do is take it."

"It's a dino gem." Ignoring the rush of questions racing through my mind, most of which involving how it got into Mesagog's hands, I study the gem carefully though not yet reaching out to take it. "It's mine?"

"Yes."

"You're sure?"

Hesitating only a moment, knowing it's my only chance of surviving not only Mesagog and possibly other members of the Evil Alliance that may still be holding a grudge but also him if he was to ever lose control, his response comes in a strong voice. "Yes."

Reaching out to touch the stone my fingers nearly graze its shimmering surface when he suddenly pulls it back. "There's just one catch." Isn't there always. "If you do this, I need you to make me a promise."

"What promise?"

"You have to promise that if I ever get too far away, let the darkness over take me fully, to the point where I may actually hurt you, you have to kill me. It will not be a choice between you or myself, you will choose you and you will do what you have to do to save yourself. Agreed?" Just couldn't give me the gem could he. Not enough I will be battling monsters again. Balancing a normal life with that of a Ranger again. No just has to add in being the grim reaper for him if he has a complete mental break. Well guess what it's not happening.

"I can't do that."

"You have to. Because I have to know that you will be alright if something happens. Thomas you never saw half of what I was capable of. I was incredibly subdued around you from the start. I…what Mesagog did to you today I could do worse. You have to promise me."

"Zedd I will chain you up, lock you in a cage, or ship you off to the far reaches of the galaxy, but I will not kill you so you can either give me the gem so I can help the kids fight and protect myself against whatever may come my way, which may very well include you at some future date, or keep the thing and run the risk of Mesagog getting hold of me again." Unable to help the small shiver that runs up my spine at that thought I close my eyes against the worry I know is clear on his face.

"I could protect you."

"You can't protect me forever Zedd. And honestly I wouldn't want you to. I don't want to be your pet or your burden, I want to be your equal and I can't do that if you feel the constant need to hover over me for fear of what might happen when you're not around. I know you're afraid of losing me one way or the other but at least with the gem I have a fighting chance." Seeing his continuing turmoil I heave a weary sigh taking his hands in mine and guiding him to place the gem down on the bedside table. "Are you that afraid I'll die on the battle field? I've carried powers and fought longer then any other and I'm still alive. I'm a good fighter Zedd I won't be taken down easily."

"It's not that. At least not all of it." Struggling to work through whatever it is that's plaguing him he finally tells me something I don't think I'd ever really thought of. "If you hold the power again what good am I to you? What would you need me for? I'm aware of how selfish that sounds, I never claimed to be unselfish though. I want what I want and I normally get it. However there are exceptions. I just… I don't see what will stop you from growing tired of my presence if you in fact don't need me to at least a degree. Why would you stay?"

"Because I love you." Swallowing hard as the words leave my mouth without thought, the very words I'd struggled to say only weeks prior, I wrap my arms around him as tightly as my wounds will allow. "I don't stay with you because I need you Zedd, I stay with you because I love you and I want to be with you. Besides who else would put up with my crazy insecurities like wanting to keep my shirt on when we have sex, or taking thirty minute showers, or make me soup from scratch when I get sick."

"Hayley?"

"Okay first of all ew, she's practically my sister. And second really not my type. She's nice all but just a little too good. I prefer my mates to be a little more dangerous and evil." Smiling as I use his word for what we are, I lean my forehead against his accepting the kiss that's offered for my reassurance. "I love you so much and aside you trying to kill me there's really nothing you could do or offer that would make me leave."

"In that case I demand you allow me to take care of you for the remainder of the day."

"What?" Laughing as I'm suddenly picked up off the bed, still a little unnerved by the fact he can do that so easily thanks to his species much greater strength, I wrap my arms around his neck praying everyone's gone home as I'm carried bridal style out of the room.

"You heard me. As your mate it is my duty to tend to you when you're hurt and pet you are despite your bravado very hurt right now." Entering the main bathroom and flipping on the light with his shoulder he places me down in the tub gently before starting up the water.

"Hey still dressed here!" Scooting back from the water as I'm still dressed in my black boxers and blue t-shirt I'd changed into when we'd gotten back to the house, I give him a bit of a look. "And what about the gem, are you going to give it to me or do I have to sign a contract saying I won't leave you before hand?"

"You can have the gem after I tend to you. Just let me enjoy you being powerless for a few more hours alright." Oh brother.

Sighing, but deciding I can at least give him that as I know he gets a small thrill out of being naturally so much stronger then me, a strength which I can almost balance out when morphed, I give a nod of agreeance. Besides I'm still not exactly feeling up to much now anyways.

"Good. Now get undressed I'll be right back." Taking off once he seems certain I will not, he really is weird at times.

"Get undressed, get in the bath, don't eat that, don't touch the gem, stop setting the alarm for six in the morning. Geez I pick the bossy ones." Still though he's at least an attractive and caring bossy one, I suppose that's something.

Still caught up in my musings and random thoughts about the gem still waiting for me in our bedroom I'm only brought back to the current situation as a rather annoyed growl meets my ears. "You're still dressed."

Re-entering the room a bottle of Dawn dishwashing soap in his hands he gives me an impatient gesture. "Come on off with them, and before you get into it I don't care what you say the shirt is coming off too. So don't even start with me."

Rolling my eyes and stripping off the now soaked clothing I hand it over to him watching as he tosses it in the laundry basket.

"Good, now here this should make you at least partly happy." Dumping in the dishwashing soap and seeming pleased with himself as the water begins to fill with white bubbles, I finally see what he was going for. A bubble bath. Cute.

The gesture almost too sweet, I offer a humorous jab pleased when he snickers. "What no rubber duck?"

"Maybe next time." Killing the water as it reaches my stomach he quickly strips off his own clothing before urging me forward and sliding in carefully behind me. "Lean back."

Doing as asked and unable to help the small flinch as our skin makes contact, I silently curse myself for letting what Mesagog did affect me so much. It wasn't even that much really, all he did was fondle me and run that disgusting snake like tongue up my neck, and it's not as if I haven't been with Mercer, still though…

"Shh, relax pet, not going to hurt you." Nuzzling against my neck and placing soothing kisses along my jaw as I know he felt the nervous shake it's clear he's going to go back to handling me with kit gloves for the next few days, our rough and tumble sex placed on hold till he feels certain I'm past what happened there.

"I know." Bringing his arms up around my waist I do my best to get situated, very glad for the large tub he had installed when he was designing the bathroom. "Just jumpy I guess."

"Think you're jumpy now wait until you go downstairs."

"Why? What's downstairs?" It better be something good because I seriously don't think I can take much more trouble today.

"You really want to know?"

"Not anymore, but I suppose I'd better find out as it's probably something I'll either have to fix, replace, or stop from burning the house down. You didn't try to use the microwave again did you?" Honestly who doesn't know you don't put tinfoil in a microwave, please tell me.

"No and you know what if you're not supposed to put that shiny metal stuff in the microwave they should say so on a warning label for crying out loud. I still say you should have let me sue." Yeah wouldn't that have been a successful use of our time and money.

Deciding it's best to get him off of this particular train of thought before he once again tries to convince me to bring the microwave manufactures to justice I return his focus back onto the original topic. "Anyways, so what exactly is downstairs?"

"Huh? Oh yeah right downstairs. Probably eating all our food the freeloader." So it's a person then. Conner? Ethan? That's about it considering he said 'he' and those are the only two male friends of sorts we have.

"He who?"

"Zordon."

"Zordon?!" Sitting up straight and ignoring the flare of pain the jerky movement sends through my wounds, I twist around to look back at the still calm Zedd. "Zordon is here? Here in the house? In the house downstairs?"

"Calm down pet, it's not like it's James Marsters or anything. It's just Zordon." Rolling his eyes and pulling me back to him he is being far too calm about this. "Still annoying, still bossy, still an ever constant pain in my ass Zordon." Leaning his head back he closes his eyes with a sigh.

"But, but why is he here?" Growling as his hold on me tightens just enough to not allow me the freedom of fidgeting and turning again, it would seem I'm going to relax whether I like it or not.

"Why else, to be a constant pain in my ass."

"Zedd." Drawing his name out in a pleading manner, really just wishing to be free of his arms and the bath now so I might go see Zordon finally in the flesh, I tug at his arms fruitlessly.

"Thomas be still, this is supposed to be a relaxing bath and comforting gesture, however if you keep begging and squirming against me it will end up being anything but."

About to ask just what he means by that I stop myself as I can suddenly feel what he's driving at pressing against backside. "Well I wouldn't have to squirm if you'd let me move a little."

"No because I know the second I let you go you will be out of this water and racing downstairs to see that moron. Now lay back and for crying out loud please relax and settle down." Voice demanding but at the same time holding clear desperation and concern he really is trying hard to help, even if it's just getting in my way at the moment.

"Fine." Giving in and figuring I at least owe him the opportunity to 'comfort me' after forbidding him to kill my tormentor and rapist I reluctantly settle back down against his chest, mind still on our company though. "But I still want to know why he's here." As a rather troubling idea bites into me I struggle to look back at his mainly peaceful face. "It's not because he wants you to go back with him is it?"

Breath suddenly in my ear he gives a tired but nevertheless amused chuckle. "No I think it's safe to say that is definitely not what he's after. To be honest I'm not exactly sure why he's here aside to deal with the issue of seeing that you got the black gem. Beyond that though I imagine you'll just have to ask him yourself."

"Do I even want to know what he has to do with Mesagog and the matter of the gem?"

"No you definitely do not." Tone leaving no room for argument, he sits up a bit straighter hand reaching for the washcloth on the side of the tub. "Besides I already took care of it. And before you get mad I know you don't like for me to interfere or behave as if you need me to protect you, but this, this had to be dealt with by me, please just trust me on that."

"Alright." Knowing he wouldn't have stepped in if he wasn't either deeply concerned or homicidally mad, I sit up at his urging moaning in a mix of relief/pain as my back is washed as gently as he can.

"I'll put more medicine on your wounds after we're done. The majority of the cuts aren't very deep, they shouldn't cause you much pain for more then another day or two. Especially after you receive the power of the gem. Let me know if I get too rough though alright?"

"Okay."

Moving to my chest I remain compliant allowing him to wash me fairly certain he needs the comfort of touching me more then I do at this point. Fingers following the washcloth and soap. Brushing against a particularly bad gash under my ribs his apologies come even before I'm done hissing at the flare of pain. "Shit, I'm sorry Thomas." Bending forward to offer a soothing kiss to my mouth he finishes the act of cleaning fairly quickly apparently not wanting to prolong the lack of medicine on me much longer.

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"Feel better?" Both of us now dressed in dry workout pants and t-shirts he climbs back onto the bed with me, arms coming around my middle pulling me to lay back down with him.

"Much." Stifling a yawn and allowing my eyes to close I give one last look to the black gem still sitting untouched on the nightstand. "You?"

Hand coming up to grab the gem, he resettle beside me with all the fluid grace of a cat. "Not yet, but I will."

Feeling the stone pressed into my hand as I begin to slip off into a much needed sleep I can't help but smile as the sudden rush of warmth and power washes through me.

"Please be careful Thomas. Just please be very very careful."

To be continued…….