Disclaimer: Saban owns Power Rangers and the characters within, not I.

"Tommy!" Trini called out as she watched the Green Ranger fall to the ground. The surprise of him had given the team an upper hand for a time. Once Zedd, Rita, and Goldar realized what was happening they had slowly begun to turn the tide on the team again.

Currently, Trini found herself flying through the air, courtesy of an attack by Goldar. She had her eyes on Tommy as he fought to get to his feet, even as she came crashing down on her chest on the hard asphalt.

"Are you okay?" Jason asked as he made his way over to Tommy and helped him back to his feet.

"I've been better," Tommy replied honestly.

"Maybe it's time you..." Jason started to suggest. Tommy vehemently shook his head.

"No... there is still power," Tommy countered. He suddenly pushed Jason down as a blast from Zedd's staff hit him squarely in the chest and knocked him to the ground. Jason turned to find Tommy and saw him lying on the ground with Zedd standing over him.

"Give me the coin... last chance," Zedd snarled as he picked the Green Ranger off the ground by the throat.

"Never..." Tommy's reply was bold but his words were choked out.

"Have it your way," Zedd responded before slamming Tommy hard back to the ground. He moved his staff to his throat.

"Nooo!" Jason called out as he got to his feet. He started to dash towards Tommy but was cut off by a charging Goldar. The force of the tackled sent Jason back into Kimberly who was also racing to get to Tommy.

Trini watched as the energy began to crackle around Zedd's staff. She fought to get to her feet just as Rita slammed her own staff across her back and knocked her back flat out. Trini looked up at Rita as she attempted to fight through the pain.

"He'll... kill... him," Trini got out before collapsing fully. Rita glanced over to see the scene unfolding. Jason and Kimberly were in a heap together. Goldar was currently mauling both the Blue and Black Rangers. And Zedd stood over a defenseless Tommy, charging his staff for what would likely be a fatal blow.

Rita's mind was racing as she watched the armor flicker in and out on Tommy's body. He was writhing and attempting to summon what strength he had left. Zedd's body glowed a bright shade of red, as it did when he was angry or even joyful. Rita wasn't sure which he was currently but it didn't matter.

"Wait!" Rita called out as she raced over and batted his staff off Tommy's chest with her own. Zedd turned to her, his body glowing a blinding shade of red now.

"What!?" Zedd snarled.

"If you kill him... we'll never get the power," Rita reasoned.

"He's not going to give it to us anyway," Zedd countered. Rita turned to Tommy and she knew that much was true. Tommy would die fighting. She learned that about him in their shared captivity.

"Give us the coin... save your life," Rita implored Tommy as he tried to roll over onto his side to gather his bearings.

"I..." Tommy hesitated. He looked at Zedd and then up at Rita. "I can't do that."

"You see..." Zedd began. "If he won't give it to us... then I have no more use of him."

Zedd's staff began to charge again. Rita closed her eyes. She felt helpless. She didn't want to see Tommy die. Something about him... it reminded her of what she had lost all those years ago when she walked away from the Rangers. She couldn't fight Zedd though. She knew this. Still, she gripped her staff tighter and opened her eyes prepared to face him.

"Ah!" Zedd called out in pain as a laser blasted him. Rita turned in surprised to see the Pink Ranger's Zord flying overhead. She glanced behind it to see the rest of them were joining the fight as well. The Rangers had recovered and were now entering their Zords. Rita turned back to Tommy.

"Get out of here," Rita said quietly to him.

"That's... not my mission," Tommy said as he finally made it to his feet.

"Don't..." Rita's voice was nearly begging him now as she watched him brandish his dagger. Rita turned to see Zedd was finally making it back to his feet with the help of Goldar. The ground beneath her began to shake as the newly formed Megazord was now mere feet away from them.

Tommy charged at Zedd with his dagger set to do maximum damage. He batted Goldar away first with a kick and then moved in topple Zedd with his dagger over his throat.

"I've been waiting on this for awhile," Tommy said through gritted teeth as he pressed the dagger in enough to pierce the alien's flesh.

"Then do it..." Zedd mocked him. "You won't."

"I will," Tommy said. "I... don't have anything to lose."

"Then give in... do it," Zedd taunted once more. Tommy felt a tear of anger and frustration form in his eye and he blinked it away before tensing his muscles in preparation for delivering the fatal stab. He was suddenly struck by a blinding light from behind and everything went black.

"Tommy!" Jason called from his spot in the Megazord as it towered over the scene below. He watched in horror as Rita blasted Tommy from behind with her staff and he crumpled forward onto Zedd. In an instant, his armor was gone and Zedd tossed his body aside like garbage.

The Megazord reached for its sword and was bringing it down at Lord Zedd in one motion. Before it could hit its target he vanished. Along with him went Rita and Goldar. The sword stopped just above the asphalt and within seconds the Rangers were leaping to the ground and Jason had scooped Tommy up into his arms.

(24 Hours Later)

Jason looked behind him as he found the perfect rock to lean up against. He got comfortable and folded his arms. He looked out over the horizon at the sun as it began to disappear behind the nearby hillside. He took a deep breath and relished the cool air as it bathed the side of his face.

"Hey bro," Tommy's voice came from his left. Jason nodded in response to it. Soon he felt the presence of the slightly taller teen right next to him. He could see from the corner of his eye that Tommy had adopted a similar pose to his own.

"How are you feeling?" Jason asked.

"Like crap," Tommy replied with a small chuckle.

"I..." Jason paused.

"Don't," Tommy cut him off, sensing the approaching apology.

"You were almost killed," Jason protested.

"I wasn't," Tommy countered. Jason finally turned to look at him.

"It was a stupid idea," Jason stated.

"It worked," Tommy responded with a shrug and half smile.

"Yeah..." Jason said before letting out a big sigh. "But now... they are still out there... and you..."

"Well... that was the plan," Tommy replied.

"I just wish there was some way to... your powers bro... it shouldn't have to be like this," Jason said.

"Hey... I wish there was another way too... but we've been down this road before," Tommy stated. He reached over and placed a hand on Jason's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. Jason turned to him.

"So what are you going to do?" Jason asked as Tommy stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked out over the horizon.

"Heading back..." Tommy answered.

"With your uncle?" Jason questioned.

"Yeah," Tommy responded.

"For good?" Jason asked. There was a hesitation on Tommy's part.

"I... I don't know," Tommy answered honestly.

"Well... listen," Jason began. "You do whatever you feel like you got to do... get some rest... clear your head... you've earned it."

"Thanks, man," Tommy responded with a grateful smile.

"But... I think you'll find your way back here... to the team... Ranger or no Ranger," Jason stated.

"We'll see," Tommy reacted with a nod. "I uh... I'm going to go find the rest of the team and say my goodbyes."

"Okay," Jason responded as he straightened up to face Tommy and extended his hand. Tommy looked down at it and then back up at Jason and shook his head before pulling him into a tight hug. Jason returned it and then like that Tommy broke it and was walking away. Jason turned to resume his position against the rock.

(****)

Trini smiled as she smelled his cologne. She looked up from the book she was reading to see him standing on the bottom step of her porch stairs. She placed the book next to her on the chair and stood up to walk over to the top of the steps.

"Did you walk?" Trini asked as she looked at the driveway behind him.

"Yeah... uh... just felt like you know... having one last look around," Tommy responded.

"Last?" Trini questioned.

"Yeah," Tommy responded.

"Leaving again?" Trini inquired.

"I am," Tommy replied with a few nods of his head.

"Oh," Trini responded as she placed her hand on the nearby railing and began to absentmindedly run it across it.

"I'm sorry..." Tommy began. Trini looked up at him. "For... I... I feel like the way things went with us, it's um my..."

"No..." Trini dismissed this with a shake of her head. "I don't want you to feel that way."

"I don't... know how else to," Tommy responded.

"I thought we agreed that it's what is best for both of us?" Trini questioned. Tommy looked at her for a moment before looking down at the step he was standing on as he gathered his thoughts. Trini watched him and waited expectantly for his response. She felt a wave of feelings for him crash over her and she began to open her mouth to speak.

"Yeah... it's what's best," Tommy spoke first before she could get any words out. Trini felt a sadness overcome her at the words that she quickly pushed away.

"So... friends?" Trini asked.

"Of course," Tommy responded as he offered her a smile. She couldn't resist returning it. She moved a couple of steps down to stand on the step above his so their heights were now even. They both went for the hug at the same time. Trini closed her eyes as she felt his arms wrap tightly around her. She wasn't sure she was over Tommy. Maybe she never would be. But she had to believe it was for the best.

"When are you leaving?" Trini asked as they pulled apart.

"Tomorrow morning," Tommy answered.

"Packed?" Trini asked with a grin, suspecting the answer.

"Well... I... I kind of started... but..." Tommy replied.

"Need some help?" Trini inquired. Tommy's smile told her the answer.

"I could use some..." Tommy answered.

"Come on," Trini said as she hopped off the second step to the ground and turned to him to see that he was gonna follow.

(****)

Kimberly got closer to the mirror to inspect a cut below her eye. She winced as she applied some cream to it. It was a part of the job. But she really hated trying to explain to people why she suddenly looked like a prize fighter on the losing end of most of her fights from time to time. She would have to come up with some new excuses soon.

Kimberly stepped back and glanced down at her arms and her chest covered by a pink tank top. She searched for any more places that had not healed yet. She didn't find anything too noticeable but she did catch a glimpse of Jason standing in the doorway to her bedroom. It startled her briefly but once she recognized him she turned to him with a smile.

"Hey," Kim greeted him. She saw that his posture was slumped and his hands were stuffed into his pockets. "You okay?"

"Your family coming back anytime soon?" Jason asked with a gesture towards the hallway he was standing half in.

"Not for awhile I don't think," Kim replied. He nodded and then pointed to her bed.

"Do you mind?" Jason questioned. She shook her head to indicate she didn't and watched as he walked over and lied down on it with his feet still on the ground and his hands resting on his chest. She smiled as she walked over to lied down next to him.

"You are not okay," Kim suggested. He turned to her and after a moment he smiled.

"I am now," Jason replied. Kim rolled onto her side and moved her hand across his chest to take his into hers.

"Wanna talk about it?" Kim questioned studying his deep blue eyes.

"No..." Jason replied. "I just want to be here... with you."

"We can do that," Kim replied as she moved in to give him a soft kiss. She pulled away and saw him looking at the cut on her face. "It's nothing."

"It's never nothing when you are hurt," Jason countered.

"Don't worry," Kim responded, crinkling her nose at him. It got the desired response as he cracked a smile.

"I love you," Jason said. The sincerity in his voice struck Kimberly.

"I love you too," She responded before resting her head on his chest.