When the familiar chime from their communicators interrupted Katherine and Tanya's discussion of medieval poetry, Kat looked around to be sure no one could overhear before answering Zordon.
"Zordon, it's Kat. What's up?" she asked softly.
"Katherine, you are needed in the park immediately."
"Right. Tanya's with me, we're leaving now," she replied briskly, nodding at her companion.
They arrived at Angel Grove Park to find the three boys already morphed and battling a small platoon of cogs. Joining the fight, the girls helped turn the tide to their favor, breathing a sigh of relief as the last of the mechanical menaces disappeared.
"Wonder what's up," Tommy muttered, looking around. "Come on, guys, let's go check in with Zordon. I don't like the feel of this."
The ancient mentor checked Alpha's reports on the activity in the Machine Empire and turned to his youthful charges. "I see no indication that Mondo is planning anything special at this time, but we will continue to monitor him, as well as Rita and Zedd, closely. At this time it is all we can do. We will contact you as soon as the situation changes."
Hearing the dismissal in his voice, the Rangers turned to go.
"Guys, I think we need to talk. Let's go someplace quiet, where we won't be disturbed. Maybe our favorite table at the park?" Tommy requested.
"Good idea," Adam consented, while the others nodded their agreement.
They teleported to a cluster of trees which would shield them from being observed, then went to the isolated table sitting in the shade of one of the huge elms. Settling down comfortably, they waited for their leader to speak.
"I guess you guys want to know what happened between Billy, Jason, and I this morning, right?" he started.
"We talked to Billy and Jason," Rocky said matter-of-factly. "Though we'd like to hear your side, too."
"My side? They're wrong, that's my 'side'. There's just no way my dad would ever, EVER do something like that," Tommy declared emphatically. "My dad has worked with underprivileged kids - getting them medical and financial help. He helped set up a program to care for drug-addicted babies when he found out the hospital couldn't handle them properly. He coaches Little League, for God's sake. And soccer. Has for years. He would never hurt anyone, and certainly not like they're saying he did."
The other teens watched Tommy pace angrily, understanding their friend's reasons for being upset, and knowing Roland had a reputation for being a champion of kids who needed help. All of them except Tanya had spent time in the Olivers' home, had met Tommy's father, spent time around him. But they had also seen Billy and Jason's faces and body language when they told them what had happened. They hadn't been lying, of that they were sure.
"We understand that, Tommy, but the looks on their faces, the way they reacted, I'm telling you, SOMETHING happened to them, something bad," Tanya countered. She barely knew any of them, being so new to the team, so she felt she could be a bit more objective.
"Are you saying you don't believe me?" Tommy asked angrily.
"I'm saying that I believe you, AND I believe them. How both could be true, I don't know, but at this point that's the only way I can see it," the Yellow Ranger explained in a reasonable voice.
"It's pretty obvious they've been through hell, or rather it's obvious with Billy," Adam added.
"You think I'm not going through hell? This is destroying my dad, my mom is in tears most of the time, we're getting harassing calls already," the longhaired teen countered, then stopped, realizing he had said more than he had planned. It was not his intention to foist his problems onto his teammates.
"It'll be okay, Tommy," Kat said gently, putting her hand on his shoulder in an unconscious mirror of the comfort she'd offered Billy earlier.
"I don't understand how they could do this to me," the Red Ranger repeated, suddenly sounding defeated. The worry about his parents was bad enough, without adding in the sense of betrayal he was experiencing when he thought of Jason and Billy's roles in this nightmare.
"I don't understand how anyone could do that to them," Rocky countered, a touch of anger coloring his voice. He could understand that Tommy believed fully in his father's innocence, but that didn't mean Rocky agreed with him. He'd never cared that much for Roland, and quite frankly he could imagine him beating and terrorizing a smaller opponent far too easily, though he would never say that to Tommy. After all, one of the universal laws was that you protect family. He looked around at the others, and could tell by their expressions that Tanya and Adam were entertaining similar thoughts, while Katherine seemed intent on comforting Tommy.
A feeling of deep, abiding sorrow welled up suddenly in the Blue Ranger, as he realized at some level that a rift was starting in the team that would eventually tear them asunder.
PRPRPR
Zordon deactivated the Viewing Screen with a silent sigh of displeasure. He had discretely been watching the Rangers since Billy suddenly quit working in the Power Chamber, suspecting something was going wrong. Events of the day had proved his suspicions in a way he could never have suspected. Now, watching the team interact in the park, he was forced to a decision he had dreaded.
"Alpha, begin searching for suitable replacements for the Zeo Ranger team, please," the ancient being said sorrowfully.
"Right away, Zordon," the little 'droid replied, giving a mechanical sniffle. He hated when Zordon had to fire a team, but it was sometimes necessary in order to protect the young people who held the Powers.
A team in turmoil was a team that could get hurt.
PRPRPRPR
Roland Oliver had not become a successful attorney by allowing people to walk over him. He insisted on, and usually got, his way. When he found out that the charges against him were going to be followed up on, and vigorously, he insisted the trial be moved to the earliest date possible. He found it inconceivable that he could be convicted of the crime of which he was accused, so his attitude was the sooner he got it over with, the better. To that end, he pulled every string he could, and ended up with a court date only two months in the future. He selected his partner, Victor Manning, to represent him.
The District Attorney's office would be handling the prosecution, and assigned their most experienced attorney, Richard Perkins, to the case. Richard, the father of two teenage daughters and a 21-year-old son, was a calm, pleasant man who inspired confidence. He read all the information available so far on the case, did some discreet inquiring on his own, then met with the two families, along with the D.A.'s chief investigator, Donald Bradford.
"Folks, I think we need to ask the most important question first," he began, looking around at the Scotts and Cranstons with a serious expression. He then focused on the two teens. "Everything else depends on the answer to this. Are you sure you want to prosecute on this case? Absolutely positive this is what you want to do?" Seeing both young men nod their heads, Richard continued. "I'm not going to kid you about this. This is very likely to get ugly. Rape cases have a lower rate of conviction than almost any other crime, and you two have the added disadvantage of being males. Conversely, there is likely to be more sensationalism of the case because of that fact. You will be called fags, wimps, queerboys and worse. People will assume you were 'looking for it'. Jason, you in particular, because you didn't report the crime immediately, will be called a liar. You will be required to tell, in exacting detail, what was done to you, how it was done, how it felt, what you did about it. Billy, the pictures taken of you in the hospital will be shown to people you don't know, and you will also have to repeat, in detail, what happened to you. You're not going to have much recovery time to learn to deal with what happened, either. In short you will both be harassed, harangued, doubted, second-guessed, ridiculed, and reviled. You'll be the chief freaks in a media circus," he concluded looking at the two teens intently.
"And here we wondered what we were going to do with our summer," Jason joked weakly.
Billy quirked a rueful half grin at his friend, which wasn't missed by the sharp-eyed attorney. That told him what the boys' answer would be, and at that moment he dedicated himself to the case, even knowing full well it was one he might very well lose.
"Looks like we're in," Jason confirmed after a quick look at their parents. They'd already been told that they would be supported fully, no matter which choice they made.
"Good. Next question, what do you want from this? Obviously, you want a conviction of the man who hurt you, I know that much. But the question is: why? What will that accomplish?" His estimation of his two young clients grew as they paused to consider the question.
"I ... I don't want him to ever do this again to someone else," Jason said at length, looking at Richard with an intensity the older man found disquieting. There was something else in those dark eyes, something sad and painfully guilty.
"Yeah," Billy agreed. "And, I want it recognized that he did something wrong."
"You want him punished," Richard concluded.
"No, not exactly. I mean ... well ... yeah, he should be punished, but that's not what I meant. I want it affirmed, I guess, that what he did was wrong. It's hard to explain, but if he gets off, then it's like they're saying 'he didn't do anything wrong, hurting them wasn't a bad thing', and it was. What he did hurt us, it was wrong, and I want that acknowledged," Billy said with a determined frown.
Richard considered them with growing respect. He had pretty much expected they would want to pursue the case, but the expectations they had were interesting, different than he had anticipated.
"Okay, then. I'm going to lay out my strategy, and what I need from all of you. We're in this together, folks, and I'm going to tell you right now, I play to win."
PRPRPRPR
Trini Kwan hung up the phone softly, then sat staring at it with unseeing eyes, lost in her thoughts, until Zack poked his head in the door.
"Did you call him? How's he doing? Can we go now?" he asked in typical rapid-fire style. He stopped when he saw the expression on her face.
"What happened, Trini? Is he okay?" The former Black Ranger sat down beside his friend, his eyes searching her face. He knew Trini had been worried about Jason, who hadn't called them since leaving Geneva a week before.
"Jason's okay," she murmured, tears beginning to slip down her cheeks.
"Then what's wrong," he prompted her.
"Mr. Oliver got Billy; just a few days before Jason got home. He was injured enough that they hospitalized him for a day. Then they had a blowout with Tommy, who thinks they're lying about what happened. You can imagine how well Jason took that. Plus, I think being around Billy is making it harder for Jason, reminds him of what he went through, not to mention what Billy is going through," she explained, wiping at her moist cheeks.
Zack put a comforting arm around her shoulders, fighting back his own anger and dismay that yet another friend had been victimized. "You think it's time we went home, huh keed?" he asked gently.
She answered with an expression of combined anxiety and relief. "I think we're needed more there than here."
"I have to agree. Come on, let's see about booking a flight and blowing this dump," Zack said with a smile, wanting to lighten the mood a little. Despite his efforts, all the former Yellow Ranger could manage was a ghost of a smile.
PRPRPRPR
"Kat! Telephone!" Mrs. Hillard's voice carried down the hall to where her daughter was working on her homework and listening to CDs.
"Thanks, Mom," she called back as she picked up the receiver and turned down the music. "Hello?"
"Hi, Kat? It's Kimberly. Kat, what the hell is going on? I just had a visit form a Don Bradford of the Angel Grove District Attorney's office asking me very strange questions about Tommy's dad." The distance between Florida and California did little to soften the irritation in the original Pink Ranger's voice. She sounded seriously pissed.
"He didn't tell you what the case was about?" the Australian asked.
"No. Just said it was a 'sexual misconduct' case. But the questions he was asking me ... well ... it was upsetting," Kimberly replied.
"Yes, I can imagine," the blonde agreed. "The whole situation is a mess."
There was an uncomfortable silence for a few moments, then Kim's voice returned, the irritation replaced with concern. "Kat, what's happened? Is Tommy okay?"
It was, Kat considered, a natural enough question, coming from Tommy's ex-girlfriend. She replied quietly. "Tommy's fine, Kim. No, his dad is accused of attacking someone else."
"Who? Is it someone I know?"
"Kim, it was ... Billy and Jason," she said as gently as she could, knowing it would upset her Pink predecessor.
"What? Kat, are they okay?" the former Ranger asked in a slightly wavering voice.
"They're doing okay, I guess. Jason, he's had a year to recover, and get help. Billy, it's only been a bit over two weeks. I'm not really sure how he's doing, to tell you the truth. He's hard to figure out sometimes. And we don't see him a lot, neither of them, really," Kat explained.
"I can't believe this. Jason was attacked a year ago? That was when I was there, and I never knew? And, 'attacked'? The detective said 'sexual misconduct' ..." Kim's voice trailed off, and even over the phone lines Kat could all but hear her mind making the connection.
"Oh, my God. Kat, are you saying Tommy's dad RAPED them? Is that what you're saying?"
"That's what the charges are, yes. That's what Jason and Billy say happened," Kat replied numbly. She was still having a very hard time dealing with the idea of what had been done to the two teens. She knew it was possible, but the very idea repulsed her in ways she couldn't explain.
"You sound like you don't believe them," Kim said, anger again coloring her voice.
"I do believe them, Kim. But ... I'm just having a really hard time dealing with this, okay?" She couldn't help the defensive way her voice sounded.
"I understand, Kat. Sorry, I ... I shouldn't have jumped on you like that. I'm just surprised. Look, I'm going to call the airlines and get a flight home. Would it be possible for me to stay with you for a while? Or is that too much for your parents?"
"You'd be welcome, I'm sure. But, Kim, your gymnastics ..."
"I didn't make the team, Kat," the gymnast said flatly. "I've been helping coach the last month. I just didn't want to tell everyone, yet. Cowardly of me, I know, but I was waiting until I came home to explain. But now, it looks like I have some friends who need me. I'll call later with the details, okay?"
"I'll expect your call. And, Kim? I'm glad you're coming."
There was a deep sigh at the other end. "I'm glad to be coming home, I just wish it wasn't for this reason."
PRPRPRPR
Zordon looked down at his Zeo Ranger team with an expression of mingled determination and sorrow. The last week, since the disagreement at the Youth Center, the ancient mentor had been dreading this moment, even as he realized it was necessary. Delaying the inevitable would be cruel, so he looked the assembled teens over once more and began to speak.
"Rangers. Since you first joined the team, each of you has more than lived up to the expectations I had for you, serving mankind in the battle against evil with incredible fortitude and courage. But, there comes a time when things must change, and I am sorry to have to say this is one of those times. In a couple of weeks you will all be graduating from high school, and moving on with your lives and futures. While being a Power Ranger is certainly an important duty, it is not your primary duty. That is to live your lives in such a way the future of all mankind is assured, and to do that will require the freedom to move and grow. A freedom not permitted while holding the Powers. Therefore, I am requesting you give up your Powers at this time, so you can enjoy your last two weeks of high school, and the upcoming period of vacation, to its fullest."
The five teens stood in the Power Chamber, staring at Zordon in shock.
"Give up the Powers?" Tommy asked in disbelief. "Who ... who will defend Angel Grove?"
"I have found a new team willing to take on the responsibility ..."
"You've been planning this a while, huh?" Tommy interrupted bitterly.
"I am aware of your ages, Rangers. Aware of your upcoming graduation. Mondo's attacks are certain to escalate in the coming weeks. And Rita and Zedd are probably plotting something as well. Passing the Powers during this lull seemed well advised," Zordon explained reasonably.
"I ... I guess so," Rocky said softly, calling up his zeonizers. Since the mess with Jason and Billy and Tommy, he'd been less and less enchanted with being a Power Ranger. He wasn't sure why that was, and he supposed it didn't matter anymore. He laid them down along with the blue-banded communicator.
"Yeah," Adam murmured, setting his down by Rocky's. The girls both followed, muttering their agreement until only Tommy remained.
The Ranger leader called up his own zeonizers and removed his communicator, holding both in his hand and staring at them with a solemn expression. Memories swirled in his mind, all the different Powers, all the different teammates, with the only constant being Zordon and Alpha. **And Billy**, his mind provided stubbornly. That thought brought the teen up short, reminding him that what was going on at home was more urgent than fighting Mondo's monster of the week.
He finally set the items down resolutely on the console and stared up at Zordon. "You're right. Nothing lasts forever, no matter how much you might want it. Things, and people, change."
"Thank you, Rangers, for all you have done, for all you've been. You have been the finest group of Power Rangers it has ever been my privilege to work with. For now and always, may the Power protect you," Zordon said gravely. "Send them home, Alpha."
Five beams of purest white streaked away from the Power Chamber, never to return.
PRPRPRPR
"When did you say Kim was going to get here, Kat?" Rocky asked, looking at his watch again.
"Her plane is scheduled to arrive at 1:15, and you know your watch is seven minutes fast, so settle down, Rocky," Katherine answered with a smile.
"So I'm anxious. I skipped lunch to be sure I was on time, and I'm hungry! I hate waiting anyway," the former Ranger groused, continuing his restless pacing.
Katherine sighed, and decided to ignore his complaints for the time being. She looked at the others, but Tanya and Adam were deep in conversation and no help to their Australian friend. Billy and Jason had not been able to accompany them, and Tommy ... well, Tommy was another problem altogether.
Since Zordon had relieved them of their Power Ranger duties, Tommy had secluded himself at his home, and refused to talk to any of the others. Kat knew he was upset about the Powers, but even more about the problem with his dad. She suspected the erstwhile leader was struggling with feelings of betrayal, depression, and probably loneliness. She was determined to stop by and visit him later that day, to offer what slight comfort she could. Kat recognized that Rocky and Adam pretty much sided with Jason and Billy, and were in some odd way angry at Tommy, even though it was quite clear from what they'd learned that Tommy had had nothing to do with the attacks, and in fact probably was completely ignorant of his father's actions.
Tanya and Katherine had talked about the situation between the two of them, and had found they had the same feeling about it: that Billy and Jason were telling the truth, and that Tommy was reacting basically the only way he could react under the circumstances. They both felt incredible sympathy for all three boys, even Jason whom they barely knew, though they couldn't figure out anything they could do for any of them except be there as their friends.
"Look, that's Kim's flight taxiing up," Rocky announced, pulling Kat from her thoughts. Adam and Tanya joined them at the window, watching the jet taxi into position to let its passengers out. They watched until it was clear the passengers were leaving the plane, then hurried to the area where they'd enter the terminal. Scanning the arriving passengers anxiously, Adam was the first to spot their former teammate.
"There she is. Come on," he called out, leading Tanya toward the petite, chestnut-haired young woman looking around curiously.
"Adam!" she cried out happily when she spotted the former Black Ranger. Without hesitation she hugged the Asian teen tightly, then repeated the action with Rocky and Kat. Releasing Katherine, Kim turned to the pretty African-American girl quietly watching them.
"You must be Tanya," she smiled, then gave in to the impulse to hug the yellow-clad young woman. "I'm glad to meet you, Kat's told me all about you."
"And she's done the same about you," Tanya laughed. "Maybe we should trade stories later and see how much she exaggerated."
That earned some good-natured chuckling from the boys, and a blushing laugh from the tall blonde.
"Come on, Kim, let's go someplace to visit. The Youth Center, maybe?" Rocky said, retrieving Kim's luggage.
"He skipped lunch to meet your plane," Tanya explained with a smile. "If we don't feed him soon he'll fade away to nothing."
"Oh, well, we can't have that happen. And honestly, lunch sounds good to me, as well. I can never eat on planes, I'm always too nervous."
"Well, come on then," Rocky urged them, ushering his companions out the door.
The Youth Center wasn't very crowded, and they quickly secured a table off to the side where they could visit without much fear of being overheard. Small talk eventually gave way to more serious considerations.
"The case is really going to trial?" Kim asked at last, after hearing the others' account of what had happened.
"Yeah. My mom works in the court; she said it's scheduled for just a bit less than two months from now. Jason said they'd already met with the prosecutor. They elected to press charges," Adam told her.
"Wow." The petite gymnast looked around curiously. "How's Tommy taking all this?"
"He won't talk to us," Kat replied sadly. "Though I'm going to try again later today."
"Maybe I'll go with you, if that's okay," Kim decided. She'd seen the looks that flitted across the two boys' faces, and understood without being told that Tommy could not expect a lot of sympathy from them at this time.
"Shall we make it a threesome?" Tanya offered.
"Okay, it's a plan, then," Kim agreed.
"Always good to have a plan," a new voice chimed in from behind Kim. They all looked up in surprise, having been too distracted by their conversation to notice anyone approaching.
"Zack!" Kimberly cried out happily, launching her small self at her childhood friend. "And Trini! Oh, geez, it's good to see you!" she gushed, giving Trini a greeting every bit as enthusiastic as the one she'd given Zack. "When did you get back?" she demanded as she released Trini.
"Early this morning. How about you?" Trini replied.
"Less than an hour ago," Kim reported. She stepped aside for a moment, letting Rocky and Adam greet the two ex-Rangers they'd met so briefly a year ago. Adam introduced Kat and Tanya, then they resettled around the table.
"So, is the peace conference over, then?" Kim asked them brightly.
"No. But we found out what was going on here, and decided this is where we need to be," Trini answered, watching the other teens' reactions. She hadn't been sure if they knew about the attacks, but their reactions indicated clearly they did.
"It's so awful. I just can't believe this happened," Kim sighed, looking down at her half-eaten lunch.
"I know. But it did, so we deal with it," Zack stated simply. "Do Jason and Billy know you're coming?"
Kim shot a questioning look at Katherine, who gave a slight smile. "No, I didn't have a chance to tell them. We had some other things going on as well."
"Oh?" Kimberly prompted her.
"Yeah. We're not Rangers anymore," Katherine reported.
"What? Why?" Trini asked, surprised.
"Zordon said it was because we are all graduating, but I think it's because of what happened," Rocky grumbled.
"Why would that ..." Kim started to ask, but was interrupted by Tanya's no-nonsense tone.
"We have a little dissention regarding our former leader, it seems," she stated plainly. "Some people seem to think Tommy is a guilty party as well."
"I don't think he did anything to hurt Billy and Jason, I just can't believe he didn't know what was going on, what his dad is capable of," Rocky retorted.
"Oh, come on, Rocky! How much do you know about YOUR parents' sex life, huh?" Kim chided him.
Rocky opened his mouth to reply only to find he couldn't come up with any sort of response. His basic honesty made him stop and think about it, while the question also caused an unwilling blush to creep up his face. "Good argument, Kim," he mumbled at last.
"It's just really hard," Adam spoke up for the first time. "I know it's not Tommy's fault, but when I'm around him, I just can't deal with it."
Kim flashed him an understanding look. "That's okay, Adam. I guess I can accept that, even if I don't completely understand."
"Guys, Jason's heading our way," Zack announced quietly, then looked up at his approaching friend with a huge grin.
"You're late. You forget how to find your way here?" he asked in his humorous way, as if they'd just seen each other hours instead of weeks ago.
"Just giving you plenty of time in case YOU forgot," the burly teen replied easily, looking around the table. When his gaze landed on the first Pink Ranger, his dark eyes widened in surprise. "Kimberly!"
"Hey, you!" she laughed as she was enveloped in a tight hug. "Geez, you are not getting any weaker, that's for sure!" she mock-groaned.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be training?" he demanded with a suspicious look.
She looked down, obviously embarrassed. "Well, actually, I ... um ... I didn't make the team. So, I decided to come home for a while," she explained.
Various utterances of dismay surrounded her, and Kimberly found herself recounting her experiences in Florida to her friends as the afternoon faded toward evening.
PRPRPRPR
Tommy was lying on his bed, staring at the featurless ceiling, considering how completely his world had disintegrated in the last few weeks.
Everything he held dear was either gone or threatened. He no longer had Powers, he was forbidden to contact his two closest friends, even if he'd wanted to, and his family was being torn apart by his father's arrest and the charges brought against him.
There was a hollowness inside him the Powers used to fill with their glowing strength. When Zordon stripped them of the Zeo Powers Tommy had felt as if he'd taken along a piece of his soul as well, as if a sort of intra-spiritual bleeding had begun, which continued still.
It would have been helpful to be able to discuss the feeling with his friends, all of whom were either going through the same process now or had gone through it. But that comfort also seemed to be denied to him, and it was a tossup as to which hurt worse.
A cold sorrow filled him when he thought of Jason and Billy, and what they were doing to his family. Tommy had always had problems trusting others, making friends. But Jason's friendship had happened so naturally, so easily ... filling the lonely teenager with a warmth he'd never known before. The sheer novelty of having someone to do things with at a moment's notice, not having to wonder if he was being kept around just for what he could give, of feeling he was valued simply for who he was ... Jason had completed him in some unknown way, and if Tommy'd ever doubted the value of that friendship it was proven now in the pain of having lost it.
With Billy it had been a much slower, subtler process. They were too different to make the instant connection he and Jason had. There was the long period of their observing each other, doing things together with the group, getting used to each other's company, learning each other's quirks. When their relationship changed from being acquaintances to being friends, Tommy could not quite say, it was too gradual to pinpoint. But in the end Billy had become as important to Tommy in his own way as Jason had. And had hurt him just as badly.
Almost as badly as Kimberly had. He knew she was back in town, he'd been driving by the Youth Center the day she arrived, and the sight of her had almost caused him to lose control of his car. He knew the other former Zeo Rangers sided with Jason and Billy, and he figured the former Morphin' Rangers would, too. He couldn't remember a time he felt so abandoned, so alone. He'd gone from having a large group of friends to being essentially friendless.
There was a corner of Tommy's mind that he tried studiously to ignore, a small part that tried to tell him to back off, to look at things logically. Jason and Billy were not the sorts to cheerfully try to destroy someone like this. But, there was no spell on them, and he KNEW his dad wouldn't do what they accused him of doing, so he was stuck having to make a choice. And his father was the choice he made. So he tucked away his doubts about his erstwhile friends' willingness to engage in malicious, hurtful accusations, and gave his father his full support.
He noticed a dark car pulling up the drive. Victor Manning. Tommy didn't much like his father's partner, but he had to admit the man seemed to know what he was doing. He'd heard enough of their conversations to know the plan was to completely discredit Jason and Billy, a plan Tommy heartily agreed with. He hadn't argued when Victor told him to keep away from his former friends for fear their association could be construed as harmful to their case. Victor was already talking about how they would sue Roland's two accusers once the case was won.
Roland was handling the stress well, considering, even though he'd had to cease working on any cases himself pending the outcome of the trial. He continued to do research for Victor, who would now be handling everything, and doing as much 'behind the scenes' work as he was allowed. He didn't speak of the case to Tommy or Virginia, however, beyond saying it was going well and that they'd win.
Virginia Oliver wasn't doing quite as well as her husband was. She was trying to carry on as normal, but had already taken more sick days in the last few weeks as she had in the previous ten years. Most evenings, while Roland met and talked strategy and work with Victor, Virginia sat in the den watching television and sipping a seemingly endless stream of gin-and-tonics.
Tommy spent his days mostly alone except for school, which would be ending in a couple of weeks. He didn't want to get a summer job, he wanted to be free to attend the trial, to stand by his father as a good son should. So the days passed slowly, silently, inexorably forward toward the day his father would be proven innocent, and his faith justified.
PRPRPR
"Okay, guys, how do we attack this?" Kimberly asked, looking at the others with a perplexed expression. "All at once, or in small groups?"
"I think small groups would work best," Jason decided as he looked around at the gang: Kimberly, Katherine, Tanya, Adam, Rocky, Trini, Zack, and Billy. "You guys agree?"
"Sure thing, Oh Fearless Leader Guy. We could do it in pairs even, to get maximum coverage," Zack suggested jauntily.
"Okay, wise guy. Let's see ... Rocky, you and Tanya and Adam take north, Zack, you and Katherine take south, Trini and I will take East, Kim and Billy west. Let's move out, troops!" Jason commanded, generating a general round of laughter as the nine teenagers headed toward the Stone Canyon City Center Mall. "We'll meet at the food court at high noon, agreed?"
"Agreed!"
The last week had been a quiet one, with Kim, Zack and Trini settling back into life in Angel Grove. Adam, Rocky, Tanya, and Katherine had all been busy with getting ready for final exams for their upcoming graduation. Billy and Jason were both seeing a court-appointed therapist, which seemed to be helping them a lot, especially Billy, who appeared to be making tremendous progress in dealing with what had happened to him. The only real problem was Tommy's continued, seemingly self-imposed isolation from his friends.
This foray to the mall was to give the girls a chance to look for dresses for the dance following graduation, and shirts and slacks for the guys, as well as any other sundry items they might want. There was really no hurry; they had all day to enjoy themselves so they had also planned to see a movie at the Cineplex there as well.
"Billy, what do you think of this hat?" Kim asked, turning to her companion with a straw hat adorned with daisies perched on her head. She was having a wonderful time, and had been pleased to see Billy smile occasionally as they browsed the shops.
"Uh, nice Kim. Very ... springy?" he replied hesitantly. He really had no idea why someone as beautiful as Kimberly would want to wear a hat that hid part of her face, but didn't know how to tell Kim that without embarrassing her ... or himself. The crowd at the mall was making him a little uneasy, something else he didn't want to tell her; he'd had enough of people fussing over him recently.
"You know, you could dredge up just a little enthusiasm," Kim said, smiling to take the sting out of her words.
"I'm sorry. I'm just not really into hats," he admitted contritely.
"No kidding," she mumbled, setting the hat back on the shelf. "What would you like to get?" she asked, since he hadn't made a single purchase yet.
"I don't need anything," he replied with a shrug. "I just wanted to spend time with my friends."
Kim's smile lit up her face.
"Billy! That's nice of you to say so," she grinned. "Since you feel that way, I guess it's okay if I try on a couple more outfits, right?" she commented, ignoring his theatrical expression of dismay. But a glance at her watch changed her mind.
"Ohmigosh! Look at the time. Come on, we'll have to hurry! They're probably all waiting for us," she groaned. "I hate when I'm late!" She and Billy hurried toward the food court, moving at a fast walk.
They rounded a blind corner at the precise moment two other persons came from the opposite direction. The four collided awkwardly, just avoiding knocking each other down. As both teens regained their balance they looked to see who they'd hit, and Kim gasped in surprised recognition.
Roland and Tommy Oliver.
Tommy seemed equally surprised to see Kimberly as Roland looked over the two teens, suddenly recognizing the young man who'd walked into him. The moment spun out as the four of them stared at each other in shock.
Billy couldn't breathe as he recognized Roland and his mind was suddenly awash in memories of that afternoon in the cool basement of the Oliver home. The sights, the sounds, the smells ... and worst of all, the feeling. It was all there; he experienced the assault once again. Then terror overwhelmed his mind with the frantic cry to flee, to get as far away from there as he could. He turned and bolted, his panic lending him additional speed.
Kimberly had turned to Billy a split second before he ran, just long enough to register his bloodless face and wide, terrified eyes. Then he was gone, and she was racing after him as quickly as she could, calling out desperately for him to stop.
Tommy had also seen the expression on his former teammate's face, and instinctively started after Kim and Billy, only to be restrained by his father.
"No, Tommy. You can't go after them. Remember, you are not to have any contact with either the Cranston or the Scott boy. Victor and I have both told you that could hurt our case. Come on, let's get out of here. I don't know what's wrong with that boy, but he's got others who can take care of him."
Roland led his son on toward the exit they'd been heading to before their ill-fated encounter. When he'd seen the pale, shocked expression on the teenager he'd had a momentary flash of that same expression, accompanied by a hoarse, barely audible voice, stuttering "N ... n ... no. P ... p ... please." He had no idea where that thought came from, and dismissed it as the result of falling asleep in front of the television.
To be continued...