Disclaimer: The Power rangers are not mine. That's a fact that just makes me want a lay down and cry. *Does a dramatic sniffle*
Authors Note: This is the fourth part in the Fly Away From Here Series and the song I used in it is "Have A Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt.
Special Thanks: A very special thanks goes out to Bhotanni for helping me out when I hit a block on this story and wanted to hit my computer with a sledgehammer over it. Thank you for keeping me sane and giving me an idea.
The next morning dawned cool and clear in Angel Grove. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when the alarm clock beside Jason's bed began to buzz loudly. Jason moaned as he reached over the still sleeping form of his best friend Tommy and wearily smacked the sleep button. Jason rolled over onto his back and rubbed his face before looking at Tommy's curled up form. "Tommy. Bro, time to wake up." Jason soothed as he slowly shook Tommy.
Tommy moaned as his eyes slowly opened and then closed "What time is it?" Tommy asked, his voice horse from sleep.
"It's six thirty and almost time for school." Jason said in no more then a whisper as he threw back the covers.
Tommy groaned in annoyance as he rolled over onto his stomach and buried his head in his pillow, "Come on Tommy, time to get up!" Jason exclaimed as he pulled the cover off of Tommy.
Tommy sighed as he slowly got on all fours and crawled off of the bed "I still don't get how you can be so damn cheery in the morning." Tommy muttered as he stretched and yawned.
"It's a curse." Jason said as he shrugged and also stood up from the bed.
"Yeah well, it's a curse that you should remedy very quickly." Tommy said sarcastically before he began to move slowly for the bathroom.
"Hey, don't take two hours in there this time! I need to get dressed too!" Jason yelled after Tommy.
"I do not take two hours in the bathroom." Tommy muttered as he shut the door, as Jason laughed from the other room.
When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark
And have a little faith in me
When Tommy emerged from the bathroom some time later he had his hair down covering half of his bruised cheek shielding it from view. He hoped no one would notice it at school and if they did he hoped that they would believe his lies. Dad must have been pretty angry to hit me like that especially in the face. He usually beats me in places that I can hide from view. That is unless he lets his anger build but that only happened a couple of times. This one on my cheek will be here for a while though, I wonder what got dad so angry with me? Does he dislike my friends that much? Maybe I'll fix dinner tonight and we can watch the football game together and that'll smooth things over. There's only been one other time that he's ever hit me in the face and that was when I got suspended from school for smoking. Man I had to do some major ass kissing that time to get him calmed down from that one even after he hit me. Tommy shivered at the memory and swallowed to get his composure back before entering Jason's room once more.
Jason was combing his hair when he entered so Tommy, not wanting to get in his way, went and sat on the edge of his bed. "Look, Jase, about last night. I had a huge fight with my dad and..." Tommy started but was cut off by Jason.
"Did he give you that bruise on your cheek Tommy or did you fall down the stairs again?"
Tommy looked down at the floor of Jason's bedroom, "I was leaving and I was in a hurry to get out of there. I wasn't watching where I was going and I tripped over my shoelace and smacked my cheek hard on the end table we have beside the door. My dad tried to see if I was ok but I was to upset to let him touch me." Tommy softly lied.
Jason sighed as he turned to face Tommy and threw his brush on his dresser "Tommy, it's always 'I fell down the stairs' or 'I hit my back on the counter.' This time it's 'I hit my cheek on the end table.' What's it going to be next time, Tommy? Or is next time going to be the time your dad goes too far and puts you in the hospital?" Jason asked his voice low and full of concern for his best friend.
"I love my dad Jason. He's all I have. We fight sometimes but doesn't every son and father? You fight with your dad Jason does that mean he's hurting you?" Tommy asked as he looked up to meet Jason's eyes.
"No, my dad would never lay a finger on me. I love my dad too, Tommy, but if he ever hit me I would tell someone about it. Tommy, hitting is not a sign of love, it's a sign that the person need's professional help. You may lose your dad for a while but you both will be better off in the long run. Tommy, if you don't do something or tell someone then next time he might kill you." Jason soothed, trying his best to get through to his best friend and praying to whoever was up there that his suspicions were right.
"My dad would never kill me Jason, and for that matter he would never hurt me either. I love my dad and he loves me too. I'm the only thing he's got left in the world. I take care of him a lot and without me he would fall apart. He told me so himself. I fell and hit my cheek on the end table last night." Tommy said, his voice steady and anger laced as he never broke the eye lock he had with Jason.
When the tears you cry
Are all you can believe
Just give these loving arms a try
And have a little faith in me
Jason sighed as he shook his head "What's it gonna take, Tommy? What's it going to take for you to stop protecting him? Is it going to take him putting you in ICU for you to see that what he's doing to you is not right? Is that what it's going to take or are you going to defend him to the grave?" Jason asked, a little harsher then he meant it to.
Tommy slowly stood from his perch on the bed "I guess I'll defend him to the grave. You don't understand, Jason. You have a mother and a sister. You've lived in Angel Grove your whole life and have lots of friends. All I have is my dad. My mom left when I was only two years old. My dad and I stuck together through it all. I never had a mom or a family Jason. I never got to grow up in one town or have even one close friend. We've moved three times in the last three years. My dad is all I have to talk to. He took care of me and raised me even though he didn't have to and I love him a lot for it. Yeah we fight but that's natural. That doesn't mean that I don't love him, it's exactly the opposite actually. I love and admire him more then anyone or anything." Tommy said, his voice low and daring as he stared Jason down.
Jason let out a deep breath and rubbed his face tiredly, "Then he'll keep hurting you Tommy but do not expect me to stand around and watch it happen. I can't do that because you are my best friend and I love you too much. I love you too much to see you like you were last night. If you are going to allow him to keep hurting you like he has been doing then I want nothing to do with you. The next time he hurts you, and trust me there will be a next time Tommy, do not come over here because I won't answer the door. Until you are ready to tell me how you really bruised your cheek then stay away from me and stay away from the others too. We all talked about this Tommy and we all agreed that until you are ready to get help then we want nothing to do with you because it hurts us all too much." Jason said, his voice holding steady much to his surprise.
Tommy stood there for a moment in utter shock before he took a step back towards the door, "Fine Jason. Have it your way." Tommy whispered before he quickly turned and exited the room.
Jason shut his eyes in pain and hoped that he had done the right thing when he heard the front door slam.
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Tommy let out a deep breath as the bus he was traveling on came to a complete stop finally. It was pouring and when it rained in Angel Grove it was no joke, as Tommy had come to find out. It was officially monsoon season as the locals called it, triggering mudslides, electrical surges, and car accidents, which is what was stalling Tommy's bus at that very moment. What idiot would slam on his breaks on a slippery street going eighty-five miles an hour? Don't people know that it causes wrecks? The person shouldn't have been speeding in the first place! Tommy rolled his eyes as he leaned his head on his hand and sighed.
After an uneventful field trip to the Stone Canyon Museum of Art Tommy was ready to get home and take a warm shower to soothe his aching muscles from the bumpy bus ride. Plus, he hadn't exactly gotten permission to go on the field trip to the museum from his dad. He had mentioned it that morning to his dad but his dad had told him that he was not allowed to go. When Tommy had asked why his dad had promptly said "because I said so" and had given Tommy a look that clearly said the conversation was over or he wouldn't be going to school that day period. Tommy had mumbled something under his breath about how weird parents were before his dad smiled at him "Have a nice day at school, Thomas." He had said smugly before Tommy promptly grabbed his backpack off the counter and stomped out the door leaving his dad chuckling at his childish behavior.
When he got to school that morning he had seen all his fellow classmates bouncing with excitement as they loaded the bus for the field trip and his heart had cracked. Not knowing why his dad had told him he couldn't go and after a lot of self-debate, he had quickly forged his dad's name to the permission slip at the last moment and was the last person to board the bus. He had thought at the time that he would be back before his dad got home from work and his dad would never know that he had gone on the field trip at all. Now it was reaching six thirty and Tommy knew he was going to have to do some pretty fancy talking when he got home to get himself out of trouble. If it hadn't have been for this damn wreck we would have been back an hour and half ago! Tommy rubbed his face in aggravation when they finally turned off the road and into the school parking lot.
Tommy quickly stood and grabbed his backpack from the rack over the seat. He patiently waited as the students passed him by one by one filing out of the bus in a straight line not giving an inch. Tommy sighed deeply and began to tap his foot as he looked down in frustration then a sweet familiar voice met his ears "Tommy you can go in front of me."
Tommy's head popped up and a small smile washed over his face when he saw Kim smiling at him, gesturing for him to go ahead. Tommy quickly got in line in front of her as the people behind her pushed her onward. Once he was clear of the bus, he threw the hood of his green rain slicker up and began to run for his passport a couple yards away, not looking forward to the drive home in the least. His thoughts strayed to the rangers for a moment because their houses were much closer to the school then his was but he swiftly shut the door on that idea. They had all shut him out of their lives unanimously until he told them what they wanted to hear. In turn, he was stuck driving the thirty minutes it took to get to his house in the monsoon dreading what his father would do to him when he got there.
When your secret heart
Cannot speak so easily
Come here darling
From a whisper start
To have a little faith in me
Tommy was driving down an old country road on his way to his house when he began to fiddle with radio not seeing the deep puddle of water in the road until he waded through it and his car stalled. He cursed to himself and got out of the car. "Man, can anything else go wrong tonight?" At that moment, a giant flash of light arced across the heavens and suddenly two squadrons of putties appeared.
"Oh, this is just great." Tommy muttered before he moved into a fighting stance and the first wave of putties rushed him. His footing was slippery and his water-soaked body was sluggish in attacking. He was knocked into a tree before he realized he was greatly out numbered and tried using his communicator for help.
"Uh...guys I need help!" He called into it his voice a mixture of panic and fear. He received nothing but static. "Zordon, Alpha... Anybody?" The only answer he received however was dead air. "Shit!" He swore as he just barely dodged another assault made by the putties.
After fending off enough putties to get some breathing room, Tommy tried his communicator again to try and teleport but it was in vain. He was trapped there with no one around for miles to help him. "I guess there's only one thing left to do..." He said before he reached behind him and pulled out his Morpher. "Dragon Zord." He called out and a surge of power ran through him as he morphed into the Green Ranger.
All the activity attracted the electricity of the storm and suddenly right after Tommy felt the surge of morphing, fire surged up from the ground through him and into the sky in a giant arc of lightning. Tommy's already draining powers surged then flickered out completely. He panted heavily trying to stay conscious thanking god for the power or else he would be close to dead right then. The putties, however, didn't relent on him and rushed him full force. He was all but beaten before he caught his second wind and managed to drive them back and get out of the area.
He limped through the various streets trying to make it back to town, soaked to the bone. Have to find someplace safe until... until I can think clearly. Tommy panting for air wondered through the nice neighborhoods of Angel Grove and before he knew it, he was at a familiar house. His eyes blinked back the water from the melon-sized raindrops that were falling as he hobbled up the front walk quickly. Tommy pounded on the door scared that the putties were following him and heard someone slowly heading for the door. Tommy's legs nearly gave out in relief when Jason answered "Tommy? What? What are you doing here?" Jason said his eyes wide as he took in his condition.
Tommy gasped out. "Car broke down... putties..." He panted out of breath and shut his eyes as another wave of pain shot through his knee.
Jason started to step to the side to allow Tommy to enter but stopped. "I...nice one, Tommy. Using putties as a cover up for your dad thinking it would get to me. Cute. When are you going to learn that covering up for your dad isn't the answer?" Jason asked as he shook his head.
Tommy sputtered, "But...But it wasn't my dad! I swear! I was attacked by putties!" Tears began to fill his eyes as Jason looked at him with unbelieving eyes and closed the door on him.
"No! Please Jason, I'm telling the truth. You can't leave me out here! I don't have anywhere to go!" Tommy cried out with fear and helplessness. The light over the front door went out and Tommy dropped to his knees in agony at what his best friend and teammate had just done.
And when your backs against the wall
Just turn around and you will see
I will catch, I will catch your fall baby
Just have a little faith in me
Tommy hobbled down the streets, shivering with cold and not knowing where to go next. He knew that walking on the knee he injured in the fight with the putties wasn't such a good idea and already the black eyes he received from one of the putties were swelling immensely. Soon he was unable to see out of his left eye and could barely see out of his right. His jaw was swollen as well as his wrists from the force of the strikes and limbs hitting them not so correctly when he was thrown on them. Tommy almost fell over when he stumbled up the brick walk of Trini's house praying that she would help him. Taking a calming breath, he tapped lightly on the door. "Who..." Trini began as she opened the door but her voice increased in volume when she saw Tommy's current state "Tommy! What happened to you!?"
Tommy looked up at her pitifully. "Putties... car died... no where to go." He coughed out between chattering teeth.
Trini looked at him with pity in her eyes. "I want to help you Tommy, but in order for me to do that you have to tell us the truth." Trini said soft but stern.
Tommy's lip quivered as sobs threatened to overtake him as he hoarsely pleaded, "I am telling the truth. Please...Trini...please let me come in. I'm...scared."
Trini shook her head and rubbed her eyes, 'I fell down the stairs', 'I tripped and fell on to the end table', 'I was sparring too roughly with someone you don't know.' You're always telling the truth Tommy, to hear you tell it, so who's to say that you are not lying to me right now?" Trini asked, tiredly.
Tommy hung his head for a moment in shame before getting his nerve back. This time he really was telling the truth and he wasn't going to back down! "Comm. and teleportors are out. I tried to call for help but all I got was dead air. Please Trini! I'm not lying!"
Trini's eyes softened for a moment before she set her jaw in determination. "I'm sorry Tommy. It's ... it's best this way." Trini said, her voice cracking before she closed the door and turned out the light.
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Trini sighed as she plopped down on her bed That was low even for Tommy. Using the power rangers as an excuse when we all know what really happened. I just can't believe that Tommy would stoop that low to protect his dad. Trini shook her head as she brought her communicator to her lips to contact Jason and tell him about Tommy. She clicked it on but realized rather quickly that it was dead. She tried to teleport and that too was not functioning. "Oh no, what... what if Tommy was telling the truth?" Trini asked out loud as her heart began to race.
"Shit." She cussed as she quickly grabbed her rain slicker and boots and rushed out the door trying to find the wayward ranger praying that he was all right and cursing herself for not letting him in.
After an hour of searching through the pouring rain with no luck, Trini returned to her house and waited by the radio for the storm warning to be lifted so that she could use the phone to call Jason without worry. God I hope he's all right and someone let him stay with him or her for the night. Trini brought her legs up to her chin in fear for her friend and teammate as the radio lengthened the storm warning.
In the command center, Zordon and Alpha were helpless to do anything for the wayward ranger. They had seen all the events that had happened to Tommy since he'd been attacked by the putties. "Ai yai yai yai Zordon. There has to be something we can do. But this storm has rendered the communications and teleportation grids inoperable!" Alpha exclaimed as he hit the computer nearest to him in frustration.
Zordon closed his eyes in an attempt to stay calm. "I am aware of that Alpha. One can only hope that the Rangers will help him." Zordon said as he watched Tommy hobble through the streets.
Zordon watched as first Jason and then Trini turned him away. "This saddens me Alpha. Though I understand their reasons, it is still sad to see them turn away one of their own." Zordon said as he shook his head and Alpha could have sworn that he saw a tear fall from Zordon's eye as he watched Tommy limp through the dark streets hurt and alone.
Well, I've been loving you for such a long time now
Expecting nothing in return
Just for you to have a little faith in me
One thought rampaged through Tommy's fuzzy mind, the only hope that was left for him. Kim. Even if she wasn't supposed to let him in, she would. He knew she would. She cared about him too much to let him wander the streets hurt, but Tommy's limp had become worse and he couldn't see. Before he knew it he was on a dark street that he didn't recognize and realized that he had got turned around and was now lost. He walked for what seemed like hours, his body thoroughly drenched from the pouring rain still falling from the dark sky. Flashing lights suddenly filled his senses and a siren squealed once. Tommy stopped trying to turn himself to the sound when he realized it was futile. "You OK, son?" A soft male voice called to him.
"I got hurt... and lost." Tommy stuttered out through chattering teeth, trying desperately to see the car with the flashing lights.
He heard a car door open and close and footsteps approach him. "You do look bad, son. Let's get you taken care of." The same male voice soothed as a hand gently landed on Tommy's arm and began to lead him to the police car a couple yards away. The gentle hands wrapped blanket around his shivering form that the man's partner had gotten out of the trunk before he opened the back door.
"Easy does it their. My you're warm. I'm going to take you to the clinic and get you checked out." The voice, full of pity, soothed to Tommy as the soft hand brushed some wet stringy hair out of his beaten face.
"Thank you. Sir." Tommy managed to mutter as he pulled the warm blanket around his shivering form more.
"What's your name, son?" Another gentle lower voice asked as Tommy shut his eyes.
"T-t-Tommy. Tommy Oliver." Tommy managed to get out before he sat back in the seat, knowing that he was going to get it when he got home.
You see time; time is our friend
'Cause for us there is no end
And all you gotta do is have a little faith in me
Tommy moaned as he was moved out of the comfortable car seat and carried a short distance to be laid down on his back on a soft surface. "He was hurt pretty bad when we found him wondering around on Franklin. He's been in and out of consciousness since we picked him up. He said he hurt himself and then got lost. His name is Tommy Oliver and he should have some ID on him. Poor kid was probably at the wrong place at the wrong time. His parents are probably worried sick." Tommy heard the now familiar male voice say to someone he couldn't see.
"We'll take good care of him officer. You don't need to worry about that." Another female voice said as he felt himself being raised up and then the sensation of movement filled him.
When the sensation ended, a bright light felled his right eye as it was painfully held open. Tommy jerked his head and moaned when the light was moved to the other eye. Before the pain had time to calm down, the same female voice he had heard talking to the policeman outside felled his ears "Tommy? Tommy can you hear me?" The voice soothed and all Tommy could do was moan hoping she would get the message.
"My name is Dr. Kerry Ross Tommy and this is St Anthony's Mission. Officer Peterson and Officer Mills brought you in just a moment ago. We are not going to hurt you, Tommy. We just want to take a look at you and get you patched up. You are going to feel a small pinch in a moment Tommy, do not be alarmed. It's just a mild sedative that we give to our patients to help them relax a little while we look them over and patch them up." The doctor said in a calming voice that made Tommy trust her judgment.
True to the doctor's word, a couple moments later Tommy felt a small sting in his upper right arm. His body almost instantly started to relax before he gave into the darkness that had been threatening to overtake him the whole night.
Tommy groaned when he opened his eyes to see bright sunlight shining directly into them and instantly shut them again. Tommy turned his head to the side gently and slowly reopened them to see his father sitting in a chair beside his bed with his arms crossed. Fear struck Tommy's soul as his dad looked at him with dark eyes, telling him that he was not at all pleased with him or what he had done. "Dad I..." Tommy began hoarsely but was cut off by his dad's hand motioning him to stop talking.
"Don't. Just don't, Thomas. I do not want to hear it right now." Luke said his voice low and dangerous.
"I'm sorry." Tommy muttered as he took a deep breath and looked down in shame.
"What were you thinking, Thomas? Huh? Do you ever use your head? Or are you an idiot twenty-four hours a day? I told you not to go on the field trip for a reason. I am not trying to be mean when I tell you no Thomas! I only have your protection and safety in mind when I tell you that you cannot go somewhere or do something. I knew that they were calling for heavy storms yesterday and that is why I did not want you going on the field trip. Furthermore do you know how scared you made me when you didn't come home or call to tell me where were last night? Do you have any concern for anyone other then yourself? I didn't know where you were and I was about to call the police when I got a call telling me that my idiotic son had just been brought in beaten severely! That's all they could tell me and they were even reluctant to call me in the first place last night due to several electrical surges and phone related injuries during storms! They put themselves in danger because of my stupid son!" Luke exclaimed, keeping his voice as low as possible.
Tommy flinched at the anger in his dad's voice and knew he was holding back greatly. If they had been at home, his dad would not have wasted time with words. "I...I wasn't thinking." Tommy said, his voice cracking, knowing that he was going to get the beating of his life when he got home if he didn't calm his dad down a little.
"Oh I am well aware of that fact, Thomas! You never think! You never use your head before you do anything! Well this time you paid the price for your dumb actions and you are going to pay more for them when we get home!" Luke said, his voice not even coming close to conveying the anger he felt at that moment.
Tommy swallowed hard but before he could say anything more the doctor walked in cutting him short. "Well look who's awake! It's about time. We thought we were going to have to keep you for another day!" The doctor exclaimed as she smiled and opened the sliver clipboard she was holding.
Tommy managed to fake a small smile before she started speaking once more, "You are a very lucky young man Tommy. You have some overstretched tendons in the left side of your right knee that will take a few weeks to heal. If you had walked on your knee for even a minute longer we would have had to do surgery on it. We wrapped it up tight and put a leg brace on to give it some added support. I want you to keep it wrapped and keep the leg brace on for two weeks. We also are going to give you some crutches so that you can keep the pressure off of it for a couple weeks and when you go to bed at night, keep it elevated. Your wrists and ribs sustained some bruising and swelling but should heal with in a few days. You also have a slight case of walking pneumonia in which I want you to stay in bed for a week and take the medication I prescribe. Your dad can get you anything you need, I'm sure. After this period, you can get up and start to get back to your regular routine again."
Tommy nodded when the doctor was through speaking, "Alright well, I'll leave you alone to get dressed and then we'll get you checked out and on your way home." The doctor said, her voice full of life, as she closed her clipboard and exited the room slowly.
Tommy bit his lower lip before he threw back the covers and sat up halfway. Tommy watched as Luke moved from his chair heading for a small black duffel bag sitting on the counter on the opposite side of the room. Not saying a word to Tommy, Luke took out a pair of baggy black jeans and a button up green flannel that Tommy recognized as his. Tommy watched with fear-filled eyes as Luke walked back over to him and placed the clothing in the chair he had been sitting in moments earlier. Luke helped Tommy sit on the side of the bed then proceeded to dress him without saying a word to Tommy.
The car ride home was a silent one, which worried Tommy. Whenever his dad was silent, it meant that he wouldn't be able to sit down for a couple of days or even weeks. The last time his dad had been silent was when he was suspended from school and that didn't turn out well for him at all.
When they got home, Tommy slowly exited the car and hobbled up the walk on his crutches, smiling when he saw his passport parked in its normal parking space in the driveway. Dad must have found it last night. His smile quickly faded however when he entered the house behind his father. Tommy gulped in fear as his father shut the door behind him and walked a couple of steps out in front of him. "Go to your room right now Thomas and get in bed. You are grounded for five weeks from your car and from going anywhere after school. I will take you to school and pick you up. The only time you are to leave this house is for school. You will get your keys and license back at the end of the five weeks. You can spare and work out here in the basement room we set up. I had to cancel a very important business trip that I was supposed to be leaving for today because of you. I do not want to see you come out of your room or get out of bed for anything and if I do, I will tie you down to the bed myself. I will deal with your punishment later. Do you understand, Thomas?" Luke said his voice low and anger laced as he looked at Tommy with rage-filled eyes.
"Yes sir." Tommy said meekly as he hobbled past his enraged father as quickly as he could. Tommy, after some time, managed to get up the stairs and down the hall that led to his room. Once he had shut the door to his room, he tiredly limped over to his bed on his crutches and as gently as he could he slid into the comfortable bed. Almost as soon as he laid back, sleep overtook him and he didn't hear or see his father open the door a little and peek in to check on him.
I said I will hold you up, I will hold you up
Your love gives me strength enough
So have a little faith in me
Tommy sighed as he balanced his crutches under his arms and got another book out of his locker. This was his first day back since the attack and it wasn't going well at all. He couldn't get up the stairs to get to his English class so he had to go to the Library for it and to top it all off his dad was still pretty pissed at him. "Hey Tommy." A voice, low, soft and familiar, made Tommy look up to meet Jason's warm puppy dog eyes.
"What do you want?" Tommy asked his voice dull, as he looked back at his locker unable to look at Jason.
"I am really sorry about the other night. Zordon told us what really happened. I was just doing what I thought was..." Jason started reaching out to touch Tommy's shoulder, but Tommy cut him off.
"Don't touch me!" Tommy exclaimed as tears began to shine in his eyes. "Just stay away from me Jason! I'm...just the emergency relief now so just stay away from me. I want nothing to do with you or any of the guys for that matter ever again." Tommy said, his voice high but not yelling.
"Tommy we only did what we thought was right." Jason said his voice full of pain and pleading for Tommy's forgiveness.
Tommy looked at Jason with hurt angry eyes, "That's bullshit, Jason! You don't turn friends away! I haven't had that many friends and even I know that! It doesn't matter what they are doing or what they are going through! If my dad is hurting me, which he's not, then it's my problem, not yours! Your job was to be there for me NOT to live my life and make my choices for me! I am not Billy and I am not Zack! I don't need daddy Jason looking after me and making my decisions for me! All I wanted was for you to be my friend but you couldn't do that! Now I don't want you as my friend anymore! Stay away from me and I mean it Jason Lee Scott!" Tommy yelled, Tommy slammed his locker hard and hobbled down the hallway on his crutches away from the sorrow felled Jason as fast as he could not looking back once.
Tommy stretched his leg out slowly on the blue mat in his basement work out room and stood back up. It had been five weeks since the attack and Tommy could now do some light free sparing with his knee almost healed. The last weeks had been pretty uneventful. He had avoided the rangers like the plague and when it was impossible to avoid them he would simply ignore them. He had started to work out at home instead of at the youth center in order to avoid the rangers and then there was that whole thing of being grounded for five weeks that came into play with him not making any appearances at the youth center lately. Even when he was ungrounded, he wasn't sure that he would go to the youth center again at least not when the rangers were there.
Tommy popped his neck and cleared his mind of all his problems. He shut his eyes to concentrate as his body began to go through the motions of a relaxing kata not noticing the dark eyes watching him from the stairs. When Tommy was through with the kata he opened his eyes slowly and smiled softly to himself, feeling more at ease then he had moments before. His smile quickly faded when a low voice sounded from behind him, "How are you feeling Thomas?"
Tommy's heart sank at the danger held in the voice as he turned around slowly to meet the dark eyes of his father who was standing on the last step. Tommy thought about lying, but in the end he took a deep breath and told the truth, praying that his dad would take it easy on him, "I'm feeling much better. My knee isn't hurting nearly as much as it did a couple of weeks ago and I can get up stairs now with virtually no pain."
An evil smile crossed Luke's face when Tommy finished speaking as he stepped off the last step and slowly approached Tommy. Luke reached Tommy with the same evil smile still on his face and suddenly reached up and grabbed a hand full of Tommy's hair at the base of his neck. Luke made sure he had a good grip before he jerked Tommy's head back roughly. "Good." Luke said, his voice dripping with anger, as Tommy looked at him with absolute fear in his eyes. Luke looked away from Tommy before he threw him to the mats roughly and began to rain hit after hit and kick after kick down upon Tommy. All Tommy could do was scream, as Luke took out all the anger he had let fester during the last five weeks on his defenseless body.
When Luke was finished, Tommy lay on the mats beaten and barely conscious. "You're not going to run to Jason tonight, Thomas!" Luke yelled as he grabbed Tommy up off the floor by the collar of his shirt and dragged him up the basement stairs.
Luke dragged him up the second floor steps and halfway down the dark hallway until he reached a closet that he knew was empty. He quickly opened the door and pulled Tommy inside letting him fall to the floor of the small closet. "This is your room for the night, Thomas and if you're lucky I'll let you out in the morning. Don't ever go against me again." Luke said, his voice low and stern as he bent over Tommy's barely conscious form.
Standing once more Luke walked out of the closet, closing and locking the door from the outside. Tommy laid on the wooden floor of the dark closet long after his dad had left, warm tears streaking down his face and his knee throbbing in pain.
I said hey
All you gotta do for me is
Have a little faith in me