Disclaimer: The power rangers or not mine and they never will be. That's just sad!
Authors Note: This is the third part to Fly Away From Here and The Pretenders call the name of the song I used in this "I'll Stand By You".
Tommy sighed as he carefully sat down on the couch in the living room of his house. It was Friday and he hadn't been in school since his dad's latest attack He knew that the rangers were worried about him, they had called countless times and all but threatened him over his answering machine. He knew he should call them or something but he was scared to see them. Scared that his dad might find out and then... Tommy shivered, letting the thought trail off as he switched on the television and began to aimlessly surf through the channels.
Tommy shifted on the couch and moaned as pain shot through him from his lower regions. Tears glistening in his eyes, Tommy slowly relaxed as the pain subsided. Dad really got me good this time. Tommy sadly thought as he wiped at his eyes. Tommy shut his eyes as his angry father having his way with him while he was tied to the tree came rushing back into his mind. Sniffling Tommy violently pushed the memory out of his mind He loves me. That's why he does what he does, to protect me. I just have to learn how to listen to him and he won't hurt me anymore. He's my dad and he wouldn't hurt me like this if I just listened to him. He's right; I'm the cause of all his troubles and worries. I...I just have to shape up and clean up my act is all then he'll stop hurting me. Tommy thought as brought his knees up to his chin and hugged them tightly.
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now.
Don't be ashamed to cry, let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too.
When the night falls on you,
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess could make me love you less
The sudden chime of the doorbell snapped Tommy out of his musings and made him jump. Tommy debated with himself over whether or not to answer it for a couple of seconds. Finally, scared that it was dad home early from business, Tommy slowly made his way from the living room towards the door. Tommy opened the large wooden door to reveal Jason standing on the welcome mat with his arms crossed and an angry look gleaming in his eyes.
Before Tommy could say anything or do anything, Jason rushed past him into the house. "Who the hell do you think you are Oliver!" Jason exclaimed as Tommy shut the door.
Tommy turned around to face Jason as he crossed his arms. "What do you want Jason?"
"Where have you been? Do you know how worried we've all been about you? Do you have any idea? Kim has been a total wreck! Do you even care?" Jason said as he gestured animatedly.
"No, I don't." Tommy lied through his teeth, surprisingly keeping his voice steady.
"What!" Jason exclaimed, totally floored by what Tommy had just said as he stood there looking at Tommy in shock.
"I don't care that any of you have been worried about me. I do what I want when I want and I don't care about any of you." Tommy spat at Jason as he privately begged: Go away Jason. Just leave me alone. Please. This is for your on good. Please just go.
Jason looked at Tommy as if he didn't him as he said his voice holding nothing but pure shock, "I thought we were friends, bro."
"You thought wrong." Tommy said, his voice flat and emotionless as he stared Jason down.
Jason stared at Tommy with hurt in his eyes for a moment before asking, "What has gotten into you Tommy? When you left my house a week ago you were fine. Bro, what happened?"
"I am not your 'bro'! I'm nobody's friend or boyfriend or 'bro'! I never wanted anything to do with any of you! I was forced to be your friend by Rita!" Tommy spat angrily before he could stop himself and mentally cringed when Jason visibly flinched at his words.
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you,
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you.
Tommy shut his eyes to fight back the tears as Jason pushed by him and went out the door, slamming it hard behind him. I'm sorry bro. It's for the best. You may not understand that right now but you will. Tommy thought as a tear streaked down his face and he silently watched Jason pull out of his driveway and speed away.
So, if you're mad get mad,
Don't hold it all inside,
Come on and talk to me now.
And hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
But I'm a lot like you.
When you're standing at the crossroads,
Don't know which path to choose,
Let me come along,
Cause even if you're wrong
Tommy watched silently from his seat on the couch as his father laughed at the TV show they were watching, pouring himself another cup of coke from the bottle on the coffee table.
His dad had just gotten home from his business trip to Switzerland and had even brought him back a handmade watch. It had been one week since he had the fight with Jason and none of the rangers had talked to or called him since. Tommy looked down as he felt sadness grip him. Why haven't they called or something? I mean they just gave up on me like I never existed to them. When we fight a monster together they don't even talk to me or care if I live or die. Kim dumped me with a letter that she left in my locker for heavens sake! I thought they loved me more then that. I guess my dad was right they were trash. Tommy thought in self-pity as the end credits began to roll on the TV.
"That Lucy, what a character!" Luke exclaimed as he switched off the television set and turned to face him his smile fading when he saw Tommy's bowed head. "Thomas, is there something wrong?"
Tommy's head snapped up at his dads question "Uhh no. Nothing's wrong dad, I'm fine."
Luke narrowed his eyes at him "You're lying to me."
Tommy swallowed hard when his dad stood from his position on the couch to tower over him. "No...I'm not dad. I'm fine, I swear." Tommy stuttered, not meeting his dad's eyes once as he lied through his teeth.
"You're lying to me boy! Don't lie to me!" Luke exclaimed his body beginning to show the warning signs of anger as he grabbed Tommy by his arm.
"No I'm not, dad. I swear. Please. I'm not lying to you. I swear." Tommy meekly said his voice no higher than a whisper as he looked up at his dad in fear.
"You've been seeing Jason, haven't you!" Luke screamed, his voice turning angrier at every passing second.
"No! No! I swear! I haven't talked to any of them in two weeks! I swear! Kim dumped me and I ran Jason off! I swear dad! I swear!" Tommy feebly cried out, as his dad's hold on his arm got tighter and his eyes got darker.
"Yes you have! You've been seeing them behind my back! Haven't you, Thomas! Haven't you!" Luke screamed as he shook Tommy by his arm.
"No. No. Please dad. I swear...I haven't seen them...in weeks. I swear. I'm not lying to you. I swear. I swear." Tommy cried, his voice cracking in fear.
"You liar! I told you not to lie to me!" Luke yelled as he yanked Tommy of the couch and began to drag him towards the stairs.
Tommy dragged his feet as he cried out for his dad to stop "No! I swear I haven't been seeing them! I swear! Please don't do this! Please! I'm not lying dad I swear!"
Tommy tried to stall his dad when he began to drag him up the stairs by grabbing onto the rail with his free hand and held to it tight. "No!" Tommy cried out in pain as Luke pried his fingers off the rail and began to drag him up the stairs once more.
"Please dad, no! I swear I wasn't lying to you! I swear! Please dad! Don't!" Tommy cried out from his father's cruel embrace as he was dragged down the hallway towards his dad's room.
"Help me!" Tommy screamed in vain as panic spread through him and he began to kick the air in hopes of getting away from his enraged father. None of Tommy's efforts at escape worked except to make his dad madder and his hold on him tightened as Luke dragged the panicked Tommy into his dark bedroom.
"Please dad. Please don't hurt me. I swear I haven't seen them. I swear I learned my lesson the last time. I swear." Tommy cried as his dad dragged him towards the bed.
Without saying a word Luke flung Tommy onto the large bed and before Tommy could even entertain the notion of getting up Luke was on top of him "No...please don't... do this to me." Tommy submissively whispered as his dad smacked him hard a couple of times in the cheek to shut him up before beginning to undo the button on his pants.
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you,
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you.
Take me into your darkest hour, and I'll never desert you.
I'll stand by you.
Jason sighed as he flipped through the various channels, not paying attention to the TV at all. There's nothing on! I bet if Tommy were here we would find something to...Jason shut his eyes at the thought and sighed. Tears began to sting at his eyes when his mind drifted back to the whipped cream war he and Tommy had one night when they got bored. I miss him. Jason thought sadly as he flipped off the TV and sat back with a tired sigh. This is what he wanted though...right? For all of us to go away, I am just giving him what he asked for, right? He wouldn't have said it if he didn't mean it right? Although he was acting odd that day, almost as though he was letting us go but why would he do that? Jason shook his head in frustration as he grabbed his cup from the table and headed to the kitchen slowly to fill it with water before heading to bed.
Jason only got halfway to the kitchen with a soft knock at the door caught him. Who could that be at this hour? Jason thought as he silently moved for the white door and cautiously opened it, trying not to wake his parents. His eyes flew wide with shock and concern when he was met with the scared, tear streaked, bruised face of Tommy. "Jason I..." Tommy started but couldn't finish as a sob ran through his body and escaped his throat.
"Oh Tommy." Jason breathed as he took the distraught boy into his arms and pulled him inside.
"I...I'm sorry about the other day. I...I was not feeling well and was cranky is all. I...I didn't mean it...I swear. My dad...we...we had a fight tonight and I fell down...the stairs when I was leaving afterwards." Tommy said as fresh tears began to fall from his eyes.
"I know you didn't mean it. It's all right Tommy. You can stay with me for as long as you like. I'm always here bro." Jason soothed as he hugged Tommy close, sat the cup he had been holding down on the table by the door and led him up the stairs and down the dark hall. He did not believe Tommy's story one bit, but that would have to wait until after he had gotten Tommy safe into bed.
And when,
When the night falls on you baby,
You're feeling all alone;
You won't be on your own
Jason shut the door of his bedroom quietly, hoping he had not woken his parents with all the commotion. When he didn't hear his parent's bedroom door open, he slowly led Tommy to his bed and gently sat him down on it. "You're ok Tommy. You're safe now all right? You're with me and nothing's going to hurt you." Jason soothed as he bent down in front of Tommy's shaking form.
Tommy managed to nod as he tried to get control over his sobs. "Let's try and get some sleep, ok bro? It's late and we can talk about this in the morning." Jason said soothingly as he looked into the sad scared eyes of his best friend.
Tommy nodded as he toed off his shoes and Jason moved to the top of the bed to pull the covers down and turn off the light. Slowly Tommy crawled back and snuggled under the covers with Jason close behind.
Jason's heart cracked when he heard sad sobs escape Tommy and felt Tommy's body shiver with fright from beside him. Slowly, so as not to startle Tommy, Jason rolled over onto his side and took the shivering form of his best friend into his arms. "I love you bro everyone does. It's ok. Everything is going to be ok." Jason whispered into Tommy's ear as he hugged him tight.
"I...I love you...too Jason. Please don't ever leave me." Tommy whispered through his sobs his voice a mixture of need and want.
"I'll always be here Tommy." Jason whispered and held Tommy tightly in his arms for the rest of the night.
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you,
Won't let nobody hurt you.
I'll stand by you
Take me in into your darkest hour and I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you.