GOOD ENOUGH

DISCLAIMER

Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban and Nickelodeon. One shot taking place in the "Red Poison" reality shortly after "Bomber In The Summer". I use one line from the movie "Free Willy".

Things had been pretty peaceful at the outdoor café. People were eating and drinking, and Ernie was taking orders. Suddenly, the door banged open and Jason came stomping out of Ernie's Gym And Juice Bar, Emily at his heels.

"Jason, come on. He was just being a jerk. Don't let him get to you," she said.

"Don't downplay this, Emily! Don't you dare downplay this!" he growled.

"I don't even know what this is!" she exclaimed in frustration. Honestly! I know Rick was out of line, but why is Jason getting so worked up? she wondered. Tommy, Katherine, Adam, Tanya, and Rocky looked at each other in surprise and concern.

"What's going on?" Adam asked.

"I think I know," Billy answered. Though it wasn't shown very often, Jason did have a temper, and there was one sure-fire way of igniting it. Billy stood up and approached them.

"Jason, come on. I've seen you handle jerks before. Why are you getting so worked up over this?" Emily wondered.

"He was making fun of me! I don't like being made fun of!" Jason shouted.

"Uh, Jason, why don't we go talk down by the beach?" Billy suggested, grabbing his friend's wrist. Before he had a chance to answer, the former Ranger led his friend away from the crowd and stopped at a secluded spot near the rock quarry. "So, what happened?" he asked.

"It was Rick Lyons. You know how much of a jerk he is," came the answer.

"What'd he say?" Jason averted his gaze. "Jason…what did Rick say?"

"Only losers get dumped by their parents."

"He said that?"

"Not in so many words, but he was definitely implying it." With a cry of rage, he kicked the rock wall, causing his friend to wince.

"What, does he think, I'm stupid? I'm well aware of the fact that I wasn't good enough for them, and that's why they dumped me at Little Haven!" Jason shouted.

"Now wait a minute, Jason. You know that's not true," Billy told him.

"Isn't it?" Jason asked with a scoffing laugh. "I had to have done something wrong, or they wouldn't have walked out on me," he continued.

"Jason, you did nothing wrong. They were the ones who decided they couldn't handle being parents and left you to pick up the pieces. It wasn't your fault," Billy insisted.

"They left me, Billy! Just dropped me off at the door and sped off! Didn't slow down, didn't look around…heck, they didn't even check the rearview mirror! You tell me what that says about me! If I can't even manage to keep my own parents around; what does that say about me!" Jason shouted.

"It says that you got a raw deal, which none of us will ever deny! But it was not your fault!" Billy yelled back.

"Then why did they dump me?" Jason spat out. Billy watched as Jason's eyes started to brim with unshed tears. "I don't get it, man. I did my best to obey them and I didn't backtalk or anything…and yet they just…they dumped me. I don't know why they dumped me. I just want to know why. Can you tell me why?" he continued.

"No, I can't," came the soft answer. The two stood there as the Gold Ranger's tears began to flow freely. The ex-Ranger stepped forward, intending to give him comfort, but Jason pulled back. Then, he sank to his knees. Billy knelt down, and began to pull him close. At first, Jason fought against the hold, but then leaned into his friend, letting his tears soak the other boy's shirt.

THE END