A/N: Just a heads up, there is going to be mentions of depression and suicide in this chapter so if you don't like reading that kind of stuff, Don't read this chapter. I will add a brief summary at the end so you know what is going on.

In Kim's mind, Zordon sighed, My Precious Crane, you can't live in fear forever, you have to tell Tommy the truth before your heart breaks again. Kim groaned, Zordon was right, then again, Zordon was always right.

"Tommy, before I accept there's something you need to know."

"What is it?" Tommy asked, possibilities running through his mind.

"You aren't going to like it, and I understand if you don't want anything to do with us afterward. I just can't let you continue helping without you knowing the truth. The girls are growing attached to you and I don't want them to get hurt again."

Chapter 8 of Zordon Says:

Tommy frowned, "Why do you say that? What is it?"

Kim swallowed, wondering how best to tell him, "I don't really know how to tell you this, I'm pretty sure that you are going to overreact about this."

"Just tell me, Kim," Tommy pleaded, "tell me so that I can understand why you are so afraid to date me."

"I…" Kim trailed off; she just didn't know how to tell him this. You will feel better once you confide in someone else, Zordon said, encouraging her. Kim shook her head before trying again, "Itriedtotakemyownlife," Kim finally said as fast as she possibly could.

Tommy blinked, "Can you repeat that slower." Kim shook her head, it was hard enough saying it once, there was no way she was going to repeat it. Tommy sighed, "Kim please, I know you are afraid of telling me whatever it is that you want to tell me and I promise not to overreact. Now can you tell me slower?"

Kim took a deep breath to steady her pounding heart, why in the world did Zordon want her to tell Tommy this, why? She wanted to just leave it in Florida with all the other bad memories, "I tried to take my own life."

Time froze, or at least Kim felt like it did, as Tommy tried to figure out what to say, and what he was feeling. Sick, that was what he was feeling like he had been sucker punched in the guts. The feeling was like what he had felt when he first received her letter all those years ago, only ten times worst. He could have lost her forever.

"Tommy?" Kim called out, she shouldn't have mentioned it. She should have kept it to herself.

"Why?" Tommy asked softly, wiping at a stray tear that ran down his cheek.

Kim wiped at her eyes, honestly, what was up with her being so emotional, "The cards were stacked against me. I was trapped. I needed help but I didn't know where to find it."

Tommy nodded his head, drawing Kim towards him, "Tell me everything, help me understand."

"I had some severe complications when I had Inya and they ended up doing a hysterectomy," Kim looked at Tommy suddenly aware that as a single bachelor, he might not understand what she was saying, "Both of those are known to cause depression. Add in the fact that I was trapped in an abusive situation with no apparent way out and I really had a hard time finding a reason to live. Protecting the girls from Luke was pretty much the only thing I thought was important.

"Coach Schmidt offered me a job helping him train the girl's gymnastics team. That's what probably saved my life. It was a wet week and Luke was in an especially bad mood. I just remember that I wanted it all to end, I went into the bathroom at the gym," Kim shook her head, "Let's just say I woke up in the hospital several hours later."

Tommy nodded his head, "What happened next?"

"The doctor prescribed an antidepressant, but Luke was saying that I was costing too much as it was. He refused to pay for them, luckily Coach Schmidt, I think he was suspicious of Luke to begin with, insisted that he help cover the cost until I was approved for Medicaid. When I told him that I was planning on moving back to California as soon as I had enough money, he told me not to worry about giving him a two-week notice."

Tommy leaned against the back of the old second-hand couch that Kim owned, "I think I better call Coach Schmidt and thank him, we could have lost one of our best power rangers if it wasn't for him."

Kim looked surprised, "You aren't mad at me?" she asked in shock.

Tommy shook his head, "You know I suffered from depression when we were rangers together. The only difference was I was able to get the help I needed a lot easier than you could. So why should I be mad at you?"

Kim stared out into the distance, causing Tommy to wonder what she could see that he couldn't, "Luke told me that I was weak and pathetic and a disgrace to the ranger name, I guess after hearing it enough I started to believe it. I was physically and emotionally weak at that time, so the rest had to be true as well. It was only with Zordon's encouragement that I was able to face you and the others at all. I wasn't sure I could handle you telling me that I was a disgrace to the rangers or something like that."

Tommy was silent for a moment, wrapping his mind around what she had just said, "I always knew you were strong, but now I know that you are one of the strongest people I know."

Kim opened her mouth to say something before she really understood what was being said, Tommy could tell this when she suddenly said, "Wait What?"

Tommy smiled, it was a sweet, almost sad smile, "You never cease to amaze me, I knew you were strong, what with everything that you went through as a power ranger and Luke. I know how hard it is to fight depression, and I had a good support team on my side. The fact that you could do it on your own for so long is amazing."

Kim gave a snort, "If I'm as amazing as you say, how did I get into this mess in the first place?"

Tommy shrugged, "I've been thinking about that, and I've come to a conclusion, fate hates us."

Kim laughed, before sobering, "I'm not ready to start another relationship just yet. I need to take things slow."

Tommy nodded, "I'm not asking you out on a date, I'm asking you to Thanksgiving dinner. I'm willing to wait, and to go as slow as you need me to."

It was almost midnight when he left Kim's and headed home his mind a whirlwind as he tried to process the information that he had been given.

…

Tommy closed the door behind him, he didn't know what to do, the more time he spent with Kim and her girls the more he realized that he still loved Kim, and the more he started thinking of the girls as his own. He wanted more than anything to hear the girls call him dad, not that he could tell Kim this. He sighed, great just great, he hadn't been in a serious relationship since he and Kat broke up, and he couldn't figure out how to start another one.

He picked up his phone, debating on who to call, Zack would be the most likely one to still be awake, but Jason would probably give him the best advice. The question was this, did he really want to risk inquiring the wrath of a yellow ranger or not. He debated about it for a moment before coming up with the conclusion that the better advice and understanding was worth risking angering the wife.

…

It was almost midnight when the phone woke Jason up. He glanced over at Trini who muttered something about waking the baby and telemarketers before rolling over and falling back asleep, Jason answered the phone, "This better be important," he stated.

"I'm sorry Jason, I just need advice, I don't know what to do."

Jason sat up, still a little groggy, "What do you need advice for in the middle of the night?"

"Kim," Tommy replied, "I got her to open up a little bit more about Florida, and I don't know how to help her. She's scared to start another relationship and I…"

Jason suddenly was wide awake, "You still love her, don't you?"

"Yes," Tommy sounded a little sheepish, "and I don't know what to do. You're her older brother, surely you can tell me what to do, I don't want to scare her off by asking her out."

"Okay, what did you find out? She hasn't opened up to me yet." Jason asked.

"You might want to leave the room if you're still in bed, I don't want to wake Trini by accident."

Jason frowned, "If the news is bad enough that I might accidentally wake Trini, I better purposely wake her up and put you on speaker, that why she doesn't get mad at me for keeping this from her."

Jason leaned over and shook his wife awake, "Trini, wake up. It's Tommy and it's about Kim, we felt like you ought to hear it from him."

Trini sat up, groggily, "What?"

"Tommy wants to talk to us," Jason replied, pushing the speaker button on the phone, "Okay you're on speaker."

"Luke brainwashed Kim and I think Kim's only now starting to realize that that is what happened."

That statement woke Trini up, "What do you mean brainwashed?"

"Luke got her believing that she was weak, pathetic, and a disgrace to the ranger family. It took four months of Zordon and Coach Schmidt encouraging her for Kim to get enough courage to come home. She…" Tommy paused for a moment, "do you remember how I was near the end of my green ranger powers?"

"She's that bad?" Jason sounded alarmed.

"She's worst, and she's trying to hide it," Tommy shook his head, "Kim probably wouldn't even be here if Coach Schmidt hadn't intervened."

"I think I like this coach," Jason stated, "As for Kim, remind her that we see her as a strong, powerful pink ranger."

"What about," Tommy paused for a moment, "Luke pretty much has convinced Kim that no one will want to date her."

Jason felt fear enter his heart, not his sister, he couldn't have, not his sister, "Why? How? What did Luke do?" the last question came out as a low growl.

"They ended up having to do an emergency hysterectomy after Inya was born, and Luke took full advantage of it. Kim was fighting depression and trying to take care of three little girls at the same time. She didn't even stop to consider that Luke was wrong."

Trini spoke up, "The best thing to do is try to convince her to go out with you as a friend. Don't push it, have it be as casual as possible."

Tommy thought for a moment, "What if I have her bring one of her girls as some sort of chaperone, that way we won't truly be alone, at least until she feels more comfortable about dating."

Trini agreed, "That might help, just remember to let Kim call all the shots, listen to what she needs."

Jason added, "Thank you, Tommy, I just wish we can find Silverback and Luke so we can assure that Kim is safe."

…

A/N: Okay so Kim is suffering from depression and believes that that makes her weak and pathetic and no one would want to date her, but Tommy does and he's trying to figure out how to help her feel comfortable dating again.