Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers. I do own Jeff Carter.

Chapter 8 Dr. Anton Mercer

June 30, 1999

Hayley walked into the classroom with her head down.

"Hayley, what's wrong," Kenny asked.

She looked up at him and sighed.

"I'm moving," Hayley said.

"Do you have to," Kenny asked.

"Would you if your mother's dieing," Hayley sobbed.

"Hayley, I had no… I'm sorry," Kenny apologized.

Kenny comforted her by putting his hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright. Um, listen, I'm on my way out. Will you tell Tommy goodbye for me," Hayley asked.

"Yeah, sure," Kenny said.

"Thanks, here's the number you can reach me at," Hayley replied.

Kenny looked at the paper at put it in his folder.

"Where you headed," he asked.

"Reefside," Hayley said.

With that, she walked out of the room.

xxx

August 3, 1999

During Kenny and Tommy's class a week later, they had a guest speaker come in.

"It's my pleasure introduce Dr. Anton Mercer and his partner, Dr. Lother Smith," Dr. Rogers said.

When Tommy and Smith's eyes met, a chill came over Tommy. There was something eerie about him that Tommy didn't like.

"What's wrong," Kenny asked.

He couldn't help but notice his friend's dazed look.

"There's just something about Smith guy that I'm not liking," Tommy said.

Dr. Anton Mercer then walked over to their table.

"Tommy. Tommy Oliver," he asked.

"That's me," he said.

"You professor has informed me that you're the top student in this class," Anton replied.

Tommy really wasn't paying attention to him.

"I wouldn't know," he said.

Tommy was still eyeing Lother from time to time.

"How would you like to have a job with my company," Anton asked.

"But, I'm only starting my second year. I won't get my masters for another year," Tommy said.

"Oh, it doesn't start for a few months. You'll get your masters by just working for me. You'll also have to transfer schools," Anton told him.

"Well, can I get back with you on that," Tommy asked.

"No problem," Anton said.

Another chill came upon Tommy as Smith glanced at him.

"Who are you," Tommy asked himself.

"Dude, you have to take it," Kenny said.

"You think," Tommy asked. "I don't know. I have to talk to Kim about it."

xxx

Tommy just picked at his food at dinner. He really didn't want to tell her the news that they may by moving.

"Something on your mind," Kim asked.

"I was offered a job with Anton Mercer," Tommy said.

"Tommy, that's wonderful," Kim smiled.

Her smile faded when she saw Tommy look down.

"No, it's not. You're due next month," Tommy said.

"What does my due date have to do with anything," Kim asked.

"Anton's plant is in Reefside," Tommy told her.

"Reefside's not that far from Angel Grove," Kim laughed.

"Sure, if you like driving an hour and an half while in labor," Tommy smarted off.

Kim could tell it was really bothering Tommy about this.

"When does he want us to move," she asked.

"A month or two," Tommy sighed.

"Maybe you can get a week off so we can still go to Angel Grove Hospital," Kim said.

Kim flinched a little and pleased her hands on her stomach.

"You okay," Tommy asked.

"She just kicked. Come over here and feel your daughter," Kim said.

Tommy smiled as he felt his daughter kick his hand.

"This one's going to be a fighter. Just like her mom." he said.

"And her father," Kim smiled.

Tommy leaned in to kiss his wife.

xxx

August 12, 1999

Tommy and Kim met Anton and Lothor at a little café for lunch.

"Tommy, trust me," Anton said.

Kim could not help but glance at Anton's partner. There was something about him that made her uncomfortable.

"You mean you'll pay for my PhD while I'm working for you," Tommy asked.

"Of course. If you're seriously into learning about Paleontology, this is the perfect way to earn it," Anton said.

Tommy looked over at Kim, who only half smiled.

"I don't know what to say," he said as he turned back to Anton.

"Will you take this offer," Anton asked.

Tommy once again looked over at Kim.

"What do you think, Kim," he asked.

"I say take it. Under one condition though," she said.

"And what might that be," Lother asked.

He loved Kim not knowing who he really was. Jeff was a little surprised when he saw the eight month pregnant Kim walk in with Tommy. He had come up with a new identity for himself in order to get close to her.

"Tommy and I wound like to come back here when I have the baby," Kim said.

Anton simply nodded without looking at Lothor.

"I see no problem in that," he said.

"Are you two married," Lothor bluntly asked.

Kim gave the man sitting across from her a stern look. It was the same look she had given him the day she and Tommy had stormed into the gym looking for him. For a moment, he thought that she had figured him out.

"What does that have to do with anything," Tommy asked.

"Kids these days are always having babies and not being married," Lother said.

"For your information, Tommy and I aren't kids anymore. We're happily married," Kim shot back.

xxx

Kim was seating on the bed writing in her lyrics book when Tommy walked in.

"Did you get the same bad vibe I did today," she asked.

Tommy got into bed as Kim closed her book

"What kind of vibe," he asked.

"About Lother. That guy just makes me not feel right," Kim said.

Tommy wasn't shocked that Kim had had the same feeling about the guy.

"I agree. I got that cold feeling when our eyes met," he told her.

"He didn't have to look at me to get a feeling," Kim said.

xxx

August 13, 1999

Jason walked into the studio with a smile on his face, which was unusual. He was never a morning person.

"Alright people, I got news," Jason said.

Kat and Zack turned to Jason.

"What is it," Kat asked.

"Tommy and Kim are moving to Reefside," Jason said.

"Why," Zack asked.

"Tommy's working with this guy named Anton Mercer," Jason said.

"So, where's Kim going to have the baby," Kat asked.

"Oh, they're going back to Angel Grove a week before Kim's due date in September," Jason said.

xxx

Tommy walked into the bedroom after talking to Jason. Kim was doing some last minute packing.

"You sure you want to do this," Tommy asked.

Kim turned around and gave him a reassuring kiss.

"Like you said, we'll just transfer schools," she said.

"Why don't you just start school after you have the baby," Tommy suggested.

"Yeah, I was thinking about that too," Kim admitted.

Tommy then took hold of both of Kim's hands. Her belly was barely touching his stomach.

"So, we're going to do this," Tommy asked.

"Yes," Kim smiled.

"Alright then, Reefside and Hayley, the Oliver's are coming to town," Tommy said.

"How's her mom doing," Kim asked.

She had remembered Tommy calling her to tell her the news.

"The doctor said she might not last another month," Tommy said.

"Oh, no," Kim gasped.

She could not imagine having to lose her mother at this time in her life. It was bad enough that she had already lost her father and brother.

AN:

Jeff is in the picture again. Will he keep a low profile and not reveal his identify, or will he go

after Kim and her unborn child? You'll have to keep reading to find out.