DISCLAIMER: Nope still not mine.

SUMMARY: Tommy and Tara have been traumatized by an attack at the school. Can Tommy help his love to regain a sense of security?

That night, Tommy walked Tara up the stairs to bed with a gut feeling that neither of them would get much sleep that night

That night, Tommy walked Tara up the stairs to bed with a gut feeling that neither of them would get much sleep that night. 'Maybe not for many nights to come. She's going to be so shaken by this that it's going to take a long time to make her feel safe again. I just have to be patient with her.'

He slipped her into bed before going into the bathroom to change into his sweats. He knew that the last thing she needed right then was for him to snuggle up next to her naked after the threat that had been made against her.

Tara sat up on the bed right after Tommy shut the bathroom door behind him. She was determined not to go to sleep until he was beside her. She quickly climbed out of bed and changed into her sleeping clothes.

Tommy walked back into the room just as she pulled the covers back over her and smiled at her from the doorway. "Are you going to be okay?"

Giving him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, Tara nodded. "As long as I have you, I'll be fine."

He stretched out on the bed and she curled up next to him. They were both asleep just shortly after.

Two hours later, Tommy woke up to Tara thrashing about in the bed and crying. Sitting up in the bed, he wrapped his arms around her and simply pulled her in close. He started stroking her hair and just held her.

His mere presence seemed to calm her down for the time being. She settled down and snuggled in closer to Tommy's chest. He kissed the top of her head and lay down with her firmly in his arms. She was still whimpering as he cradled her gently against him.

Not even an hour later he was awake again soothing the woman he loved. He was kicking himself; he hadn't taught her to protect herself, which allowed her to be put in the situation they had faced.

He talked to her this time. Soothing nonsense that helped to calm her and make her realize that she was safe in his arms. She settled down again. He picked her up and moved her to the window seat with him. Settling her between his legs with her head pillowed against his chest, he leaned his head against the cool glass.

The two slept again. Both were restless but neither one woke again until morning.

"Oh my God! Tommy! Tommy, wake up! We're late!" Tommy opened his eyes to see Tara across the room from him, turning off the alarm clock. "It's almost nine!"

He stood up and stretched. "Ok. Our first class is at 9:45. You go get your shower and I'll call the school. I'll explain things to Elsa and we'll be okay. When you're done, come downstairs for some coffee while I take my shower and then we'll head out."

She grabbed her robe and ran for the bathroom. Tommy headed down the stairs, feeling so domestic that it wasn't even funny. But he knew the ribbing he'd take from some of his old friends if they could see him. He smiled; it didn't matter now.

"Thanks, Anton. I'll tell her. So no classes until Monday then?"

"That's right, Tommy. We thought it would be best to give the students a chance to deal with this whole incident before throwing them back into the classrooms that it all happened in."

"Classrooms? Plural?"

"The same thing happened in more than one classroom. In fact, Coach Scott had the same thing happen in his gym class. Apparently, Kimberly was there and she helped him fight off the thugs. We still don't know what was behind the whole thing. The police thought it would be good to give them a chance to investigate the reasons behind the invasion for lack of a better word for it."

"Thanks, Anton. I'll talk to you later."

"Rest, Tommy. Both of you need it. But make her talk about yesterday. She needs to. And you need to too. Don't bottle it up."

"Anton, you're my friend. Thank you. We'll be okay. I'll see you Monday."

"See you then, Tommy. If you think you need someone outside the situation to talk to, call me. I'll set you up with someone."

"Thanks again. Bye."

"Bye." Tommy hung up the phone and headed back up the stairs to give Tara the good news.

Tara was in the guest room where she and Tommy had put all of her clothes. She was trying to find something to wear when Tommy stepped into the doorway. "Tommy, come on. We need to get ready."

"School's cancelled until Monday. We don't have to worry. I just got off the phone with Anton. I guess the same thing happened in other classrooms besides ours yesterday." He took a deep breath. "Including Jason's."

He watched as she turned pale and started shaking. He walked over to her and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. "Tara, breathe. Breathe, honey. He's okay and so is Kimberly. They fought the guys off together."

"Why? Tommy, why did this happen?" She murmured with her head resting against his chest. She just wanted to stay wrapped in Tommy's arms forever. She loved how safe she felt with him.

"I don't know, Tara. The police want a chance to investigate before they let the kids back in. Everything's going to be all right. I'm going to protect you. Jason's got Kimberly safe and I've got you."

"I'm still scared, Tommy. I'm afraid that it's going to happen again."

"I will protect you. You know that, right?" When she nodded without looking up at him, he cupped her chin and turned her face to look at him. "Do you trust me to keep my word to you?"

"Of course I do, Tommy. I c-c-can't help it if I'm s-s-scared." Tears ran freely from her eyes.

His heart nearly broke at the sight of her tears. "I don't blame you for being so scared. I just need to know that you trust me to keep my word to you."

"I do trust you. But why does the world have to be like this? I just don't understand."

"I know, baby. I know. I don't understand it either. I guess that's why the Power Rangers are around." He noticed that she wasn't shaking quite so badly anymore and he bent over to kiss her gently. "Just remember that I will protect you. No matter what."

"Just don't leave me, Tommy. I don't think I could take that."

"By the way," he started, pulling back just a bit. "How would you like to spend Christmas with my family this year? Jason was bullied into promising your mother that he and Kimberly would spend Christmas there this year and he brought up the topic to me. My mom's already okayed it and, in fact, is looking forward to having you at the house."

"She won't try to make us sleep in separate rooms again will she?"

"I made her promise to not even bring up the subject. We had a nice long talk about the whole thing the other day. We'll be allowed to sleep in the same room and even the same bed so long as all we do is hold each other."

"I g-g-guess that w-w-would be okay." Tara was nervous about the whole thing because she understood that Marissa was old fashioned and she didn't want to alienate Tommy's mother the way she had her own.

"I won't go if you don't want to go."

"Tommy, I love your mother. She makes me feel the way a mother should make a child feel. She accepts me and she's nice to me. I really like your mom a lot. I'd be honored to spend Christmas with you and your family."

"Good. Because I kind of already made the arrangements."

"Tommy!" Tara scolded. "What am I going to do with you?"

"How about just be with me and love me?" The look in his eyes made her heart flutter.

"You and your looks," the young woman laughed. "How can I resist that look?"

She snuggled back into him and smiled as she heard his laughter rumble through his chest. "I'm glad you can't, sweetheart. And you won't be sorry."

About noon that day, Tommy and Tara were out in the backyard where Tommy was teaching his girlfriend some basic self-defense moves. She was learning quickly and Tommy was more proud of her than ever before.

Jason and Kimberly pulled into the driveway, wanting to see how Tara was coping with the situation. When they walked into the house and heard the shouts from the backyard, Jason ran to the door, thinking he would have to defend his baby sister.

He just smiled as he watched Tara defend herself against Tommy's mock attack.

"Kim, come and watch this." Kimberly stepped up beside him and smiled as Tommy came at Tara again only to be knocked away by a kick.

"He's teaching her to defend herself." Kimberly was pleased. She knew that these two wouldn't need her matchmaking skills if Tommy was so worried about her that he would teach her the moves to keep herself out of trouble.

Jason opened the door and stepped out onto Tommy's back deck. Tara caught the movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to wave at her brother only to have Tommy catch her with a punch to the chest. She went down and Tommy was immediately by her side.

Jason and Kimberly ran over only to have her climb to her feet just moments later with a smile on her face. "I guess I should keep my mind on what I'm supposed to be doing."

"Tara, I'm sorry. I was so wrapped up in our lesson that I didn't see them come out on the porch."

"It's okay, Tommy. You just knocked the wind out of me. Besides, it drives home a good point. Don't get distracted."

"Too true, sissy," Jason started. "In the case of someone attacking you, you need to stay focused on them in order to keep them from getting a hold of you."

"I just feel bad that she had to learn that lesson the hard way."

"Tommy, if you hadn't scored at least one good hit on me, I would have known that you were seriously holding back on me. That wouldn't have been fair. You can't exactly teach me anything if you hold back like that."

Jason laughed. "She's got a point, bro. You can't treat her like a china doll if you're going to teach her to protect herself."

"Still, I don't like the fact that I hurt you. Are you really okay, Tara?"

She chuckled. "I'm fine, Tommy. Really. I am."

"Anyway, you guys want to join us at the Cyber café for some lunch?" Kimberly asked.

"Okay. Just let us go shower first. Okay?"

Kimberly nodded and the couple went into the house to shower.