Chapter Forty-seven

Beauty and the Beast

"Why are you asking all these questions about Dr. Oliver?" Cassidy demanded. For the past half hour, the guy had asked them all sorts of weird things about Dr. Oliver. She was only refraining from telling him off because he was somewhat good-looking. Hayley seemed annoyed by him too, as well as the two random guys Cassidy had never seen in the café before. They were drinking smoothies like nothing else, playing video games loudly, and occasionally yelling something out to Don about going to check out the rest of their leads on the Power Rangers. Hayley looked ready to tear her hair out.

"Cass, I'm sure he's just…" Devin trailed off. "Wait. Why are you asking us about Dr. O?"

"Well," Don said, leaning back, "I'm investigating a purse snatching in which Dr. Oliver intervened."

"Investigating? You're a reporter, too?" Cassidy asked in surprise.

"No, actually, I'm a police officer."

"Oh." Cassidy frowned. "Intervened, as in helped?" she asked. He nodded. "Oh. Well, that's not a crime! Why would you be investigating that?"

"Well, there's a little confusion as to whether the person who took out the purse snatcher was Dr. Oliver, or the original Black Ranger. As Dr. Oliver would be easier to put on a witness stand should the case go to trial, we'd like to talk to him. Unfortunately, it appears he's vacationing in Angel Grove for the upcoming Power Rangers Day and we're having trouble locating—"

"Oh, my god! Devin!" Cassidy interrupted, turning to Devin. Both Devin and Don leaned in, Don hoping she had a revelation about Tommy and Devin just curious. "Power Rangers Day! We have to go to it. If we can get an interview with the original Power Rangers, Mr. Cormier might give us our jobs back!"

"That's a great idea, Cass!" Devin exclaimed.

"And I bet lots of other Power Ranger teams will show up," Cassidy continued happily. "We might even be able to figure out who someone is! Someone other than—" Cassidy's words ground to a halt, remembering Don just in time.

"Other than who?" he asked.

"Oh, we…" Devin began helplessly.

"They tried to uncover the identities of the Dino Rangers," Hayley said dryly. "They nearly got themselves killed." She looked down at Don. "With all due respect, I think it's time you left. This nonsense about Tommy has gone far enough."

Don stood up and shrugged. "Fine. I should talk to a few other people before I head back to Angel Grove." He headed over to Bulk and Skull.

"Okay, what was that all about?" Cassidy whispered to Hayley.

"He thinks Tommy's a Power Ranger," Hayley murmured.

"We didn't tell him anything important!" Devin said quickly.

"I know. I was listening. I had this highly detailed plan to stop you if you started to say too much."

"You did?" Devin asked, impressed.

"Yes. I was going to cream you with a blender. Then play it off, like you had a bug on your head."

"Oh." Devin looked at her nervously. "Is there anything we can do?"

Hayley looked at them thoughtfully. "Think you can follow him? Covertly?"

"Of course we can. Duh, we did it to Dr. O and the Power Rangers all the time," Cassidy said.

"Good. Do it. Call me and tell me who he's talking to. Be careful. If he sees you, he'll be even more suspicious of me."

"You got it, Hayley."

Meanwhile, Don approached Bulk and Skull. "Hey, guys."

"What?" Skull demanded, engrossed in cheering Bulk on as Bulk tried to reach high score on the arcade game in the corner.

"I want you two to stay here. Keep talking to customers and that Hayley woman. Try to figure out what people know. Remember, Tommy may or may not be a Dino Ranger."

"What about you?" Bulk asked.

"I'm going to go check out those other leads. Alone."

"But—"

"Don't worry. This woman's his close friend; she's the best shot at figuring out more about the Rangers. I'll talk to the other two and meet back here."

"You're not driving the van," Bulk said sternly.

"I'll walk," Don replied quickly, never wanting to set foot in the shuttle bus again.

"Okay. We'll keep an eye on things here."

Don nodded. "Good." At least he wouldn't have to put up with them anymore.

"Oh my god, are you serious?" Trini squealed, feeling as if she was about twelve years old and discussing how so-and-so dumped so-and-so on their three-week anniversary, but not really caring. Jason, Billy, Zack and Trini were now sitting inside the Escalade, windows up as Jason divulged the tale of Tommy's breakdown.

"It was great," Jason said with relish. "She was just waylaying him like nothing else. And Tommy's trying to stay calm, or flirt back, and he's just… failing. Miserably. It was hysterical."

"You know you have an onion in your hair?" Zack asked, pointing.

Jason reached up and brushed it out, letting it drop down onto the mess covering Zack's car's floor. Jason frowned. "Only thing I can't figure out is what was up with him before that. Tommy was already swerving before she started messing with him—"

"Zack, crack a window," Billy instructed. Zack obliged, and the Dino Rangers' voices floated in through the gap in the window. Conner, Kira, Ethan and Trent were standing on the curb on the side of the SUV opposite the Jeep, chattering away.

"I told you today was going to be a bad day," Ethan growled.

"Whatever, Ethan. So then Dr. O swerves again, and I notice the mirror's all crooked and that I can see right down Kim's shirt as she's trying to get all these fries out—"

"Awesome," Trent said enviously, grinning. Kira hit him. "I mean, that's really crude of you, Conner."

"That's why Dr. O was swerving," Ethan explained, looking thoroughly disgusted at the thought. It wasn't that they were completely opposed to the idea of Tommy having a social life. They had, after all, thought him getting shot down by Elsa was pretty funny, and Ethan was still racking his brain for ideas to get Tommy and Kimberly together. It was just the idea of Dr. O having a sex life that got extremely icky. Only Conner seemed to find the concept funny and worthy of gossiping about, like he would with a peer—though even Conner had limits. Ethan knew Trent wouldn't find the story nearly as interesting if he'd actually been in the car; Conner was telling it as though Kimberly had practically been naked, not still fully-clothed and spouting innuendo at Tommy.

"You should have been there, Trent," Conner said happily. "Too bad you were riding with Zack."

"Yeah. Damn," Trent said with a sigh. Kira hit him again. "OW!"

Zack rolled the window back up. "Well, that explains that," he said with a mischievous grin.

"Swerving and all," Trini said with a smile. "God, Tommy's an idiot. All he'd have to do is ask her out."

"Have you even mentioned that to Tommy?" Jason asked dryly.

"No. My way's more fun," Trini said wickedly.

"I don't know if she'd say yes," Billy said thoughtfully. "I think they should take it slow."

"Well, regardless, they're… damn cell phones," Jason interrupted himself as his phone went off. He changed his tune at the sight of the caller ID and answered it quickly. "T.J.! How'd it go? Yeah? Oh, thank god. I appreciate it, man. Definitely. So I'll see you at Power Rangers Day? Yeah. We probably shouldn't try to hang out too much. I imagine there will be reporters there, so we shouldn't be seen together much, since you'll be recognized. Andros and the gang coming? Really? Awesome. All six of us are going. Haven't talked to Rocky, Adam, Tanya, Kat and Aisha though. Justin too? Great! Oh, yeah, the Dino Rangers are with us, so they'll be there. Hey, can you keep an eye on the news for us? We're getting out of Angel Grove for the day, just in case. Don't want to be answering any questions. Okay. Thanks again, man. I owe you one." Jason hung up. "All clear on Walter."

"T.J. rough him up?" Trini asked.

"I don't think so, no. But, then, it's T.J. He's intimidating enough without being a Power Ranger." Jason grinned. "Almost makes me wish we'd gotten exposed, too."

"Not me," Billy said with a shudder.

"He also said the whole Space crew is going to be there on Saturday," Jason continued. "T.J., Cassie, Andros, Ashley for sure, maybe Zhane. Justin's gonna have a hard time getting here by Saturday from MIT, but he's gonna try."

"That's great! We really should call up a few other teams. See who all's coming," Trini said. "In fact…" She pulled out her own phone. "I think I'll call Rocky. Maybe he'll want to come with us today, if he's not doing anything."

"Trini?" Rocky exclaimed loudly halfway through the first ring.

"Hi, Rocky. How's it go—"

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" Rocky bellowed. Trini jerked the phone away from her ear. "Tommy—the news—and Jason—and T.J.—and Kim answered Tommy's phone!"

"Yeah, she's kind of on a torturing-Tommy kick right now," Trini said wryly.

"Excuse me? What's happening over there? Adam's morpher wigged out last night and Kim's acting like her and Tommy are bestest friends with benefits and some random person named Conner who called Tommy 'Dr. O' picked up Tommy's phone and—"

"ROCKY!" Trini yelled, cutting him off. "Let me get a word in edgewise, and I'll explain, okay?"

"Okay, okay. Hang on. Let me put you on speaker." Trini put her phone on speaker as well, so the others could hear.

"What the hell is going on, Trini?" Adam demanded a moment later. "Carlos said the news said Tommy—"

"Is the Black Ranger. We know. Don't worry. We've handled it."

"How did that even happen?" Rocky asked.

"Tommy beat up a purse snatcher, and we thought it might look a little suspicious this close to Power Rangers Day if the six of us turned him in, especially since Tommy and the Dino Rangers are with us—"

"They are?"

"Yeah."

"The guy who answered Tommy's phone was the Red Dino Ranger," Jason cut in. "Conner. Bit of a goof, but pretty sharp for a rookie."

"He was part of Tommy's new team? Why'd he keep calling Tommy 'Dr. O' then?" Adam asked.

"How much do you know about the Dino Rangers?" Jason asked.

"Just that Tommy's the Black. He's been really busy, you know?"

"Yeah," Rocky added. "What with him working days and being a Ranger, and me working afternoons, and Adam's been filming nonstop since August—"

"We haven't talked much since all this started happening," Adam continued. "I mean, Hayley called to tell us he got trapped in rock, but she said it was probably better for us to keep a low profile, didn't want Mesogog getting any ideas about capturing ex-Rangers to extract their energy when Tommy was trapped in a giant yellow rock… how did that happen, anyway?"

"Yeah, that's kind of weird," Rocky said. "Even for us."

"There are way too many stories to tell on this one," Trini said wearily, rubbing a hand down the side of her face.

"Then start with the most important one," Adam said. "Why is Kim answering Tommy's phone?"

"Kim and Tommy are here," Trini replied. "Power Rangers Day is for the Red, Black, Yellow, Pink, Blue and White. So… they're both in town."

"Hey, wait a second," Adam said slowly. "I'll get back to Kim and Tommy in a second, but… you said there were six of you. Who's the sixth? You, Jason, Tommy, Kim, Zack—"

"Me," said Billy. "I am the original Blue Ranger, after all."

There was a long moment of silence. Then Rocky and Adam started screaming at once.

"BILLY!"

"You're BACK?"

"When did you get back?"

"How come no one told us?"

"What's going on?"

"You came all the way back for Power Rangers Day?"

"Billy's BACK! Yes!"

"Guys!" Trini screamed. "Calm down!"

"When did he get back?" Rocky demanded.

"Uh… Saturday," Billy replied.

"Saturday? You've been here since Saturday?"

"Didn't you get my email?" Jason asked. "I told you guys he was coming in."

There was a long pause. "You sent us an email?" Adam asked slowly.

"So if you guys didn't know, it's Trini's fault," Jason said defensively. "She knows better than to leave something electronic up to me."

They all laughed. "We should have called," Trini said apologetically. "It's just… what with all the excitement…"

"I should have figured you'd be wanting to see Billy and wondered why you hadn't called," Jason said. "I'm sorry, guys."

"No problem," Adam said. "But we want to see Billy! What are you guys doing today?"

"We're going to Stone Canyon," Trini said. "You guys want to meet up?"

"Hell yeah!" Rocky exclaimed. "Where are you—?"

"Wait!" Adam interrupted. "Blue! The Blue light! Billy, was it you who used Zack's morpher last night?"

"Yeah…"

"That explains a lot. It freaked out, sparks flying everywhere. I thought Tommy was the one who was using it, after that conversation with Carlos and everything—"

"It was me. We figured, since no one expects me to be on the planet, the others would all have alibis if I used Zack's morpher."

"So we turned the purse snatcher over, but it turns out he'd seen Tommy," Zack continued. "So everyone assumed that Tommy was the Black Ranger."

"And that's why you sent T.J. to rough up Walter," Adam said, realization dawning. "Get him to change his story."

"Yeah. Everything's all good and handled. Carrie—you remember the story about Carrie?" Jason asked.

"Carrie who?"

"Carrie from the Sentinel," Trini said.

"Oh! Yeah. Oh, she's the insider at the media?" Rocky asked. "Awesome. That's a relief."

"So that's all handled," Jason said. "Trini, why don't you tell them where to meet us? Someone should go check on Tommy. And I should probably move his Jeep."

"Right," Trini said, grinning. She took them off speakerphone and hopped out of the car, so the others wouldn't overhear their destination.

"Whew," Billy said. "The day might have started out negatively, but it appears to be improving."

Tommy stared wearily at the mirror as he patted his face dry. He'd heard splashing cold water on one's face when stressed was a good way to calm down, so he'd tried drowning himself in the sink.

He really wished Kimberly would stop torturing him. Under normal circumstances, he'd have found it fun, or at least taken it with a good-natured laugh. But things were different now. He didn't want to think about her in that way, not now. It was hard enough to control his thoughts when she wasn't enticing him just because she thought it was cute.

"Should've just jumped her," he muttered to himself. Wouldn't solve anything, and would probably make things worse in the long run, but at least if he jumped her he'd be getting something out of the whole mess.

It's partly your fault, you know, said the inner voice that sounded a lot like Hayley. You shouldn't have been looking down her shirt. She was just getting revenge.

But still, he argued back. And by the way, that's MY shirt.

Problem was it was all too easy. Too easy to pretend he was still that teenager who lived his life under the pretense that no matter how hard things got, he had Kimberly and his friends. They'd all fallen back into their old habits so well. Billy dumbing down his speech patterns, but trusting Trini to help him out when he couldn't reword. Zack being goofy and yet throwing in a surprisingly perceptive insight here and there. Trini playing puppet master, lending out her shoulder and her ear while she translated Billy down to three words or less. Jason being… well, Jason. And Kimberly, bouncing through life and flirting with Tommy.

Tommy knew better than to sink too far back into their old ways. The teens' presence helped, kept him grounded in the now. Unfortunately, it really wasn't as easy to stray from his former image. He hadn't changed much. He was kinda... well, kinda bitter now. He was slightly more organized, because Hayley had managed to beat a few habits into his head. He was more responsible. Stronger. But at the end of the day, he was the same old Tommy. And he didn't want to be the same old Tommy around Kimberly. (After all, the "same old Tommy" was the one that wanted to jump her.) That could only lead to something he wasn't ready for. And to giving his students blackmail opportunities.

He had to get Kimberly out of his car. But how? Trini wouldn't swap with her; she'd want to keep Tommy and Kimberly together. Billy might, but not if Trini glared at him hard enough…

Kira, he thought suddenly. Of course. She would help him out. She was as tough as every other woman to wear her color, but she also had a soft side that couldn't stand to see a friend suffer. And he could manipulate that, if he played his cards right. Besides, he doubted Ethan was going to want to ride with him again, and Trent would probably get suckered into swapping with him, so Kira would have added incentive.

Tommy finally exited the gas station's lone bathroom, ignoring the glowers from the long line of people waiting to use it. When he went back outside, he was relieved to see Kimberly was now out of his Jeep, which Jason was parking in a more logical fashion. Zack, Billy, Kimberly, Trini and Kira were standing on the curb, chattering away, while Conner, Ethan and Trent were standing off to the side, whispering. Making a mental note of that, Tommy approached the older Rangers and Kira.

"Hey, Tommy!" Zack said cheerfully, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened during the drive. Great; that meant Zack knew everything, which meant they all knew everything. "Guess what," Zack continued. "Adam and Rocky are going to meet us in Stone Canyon."

"That's great," Tommy said distractedly.

"I called Rocky and apparently he and Adam are hanging out and they've been freaking out all night about, you know, the mess," Trini said, glancing around for eavesdroppers. "But I explained everything, and they're going to meet us in the parking lot. Provided we actually get there. We were supposed to get off the interstate about six exits ago."

"That's nice," Tommy said, struggling to find a way to separate Kira from the group. Failing to come up with anything, he simply seized her wrist and hauled her down the sidewalk, around the corner, and back behind the gas station.

"You were right, Ethan, don't you see?" Conner whispered eagerly. "Kim still does like Dr. O."

"I'm not sure I care right now," Ethan said, still trying to suppress images of his science teacher "driving one-handed."

"Come on, Ethan," Trent urged. Like Conner, Trent wasn't all that perturbed—mostly because he hadn't been there. "We owe it to Dr. O. He's devoted his whole life to the Rangers. It's about time he settled down and got himself a girlfriend."

"We just need a plan," Conner continued. "It's not like we can convince him to ask her out. He'd make us shut up. Like that time when I told him he should go after Principal Randall."

"Right before he chased you out of the kitchen with a mop," Ethan said dryly.

"So we need a plan," Trent insisted.

Ethan sighed. "I still think the Secret Chamber might work. We'd have to get them both to Jason and Trini's house and in the basement, and we'd have to get the key from Trini… it needs work, but I'm sure if we could just get the two of them stuck somewhere together for a long time they might just talk it out."

"Although it would mean we'd be running the risk of Dr. O killing us," Trent said reluctantly. "I don't think he'll be very happy about it."

"He will if he works things out with Kim in the process," Ethan argued.

"Maybe we need to get them talking first," Conner suggested. "You know—remembering the good times. It seems like they've had a lot."

Trent shifted uncomfortably, thinking of how well things were going with him and Kira, and praying he didn't lose her the way Dr. O had lost Kimberly. Sighing, he looked over at her… to discover she was gone. A jolt of irrational panic went through him.

Without a word, he marched over to Trini, Zack, Billy and Kimberly, Conner and Ethan following, confused. "Where's Kira?" he demanded.

"Tommy dragged her off behind the gas station," Zack said with a shrug, turning back to his friends. "Anyway, Rocky said that—"

Trent ran off. Conner and Ethan chased after him, now a tad worried.

"HEY!" Kira complained as Tommy halted next to a Dumpster. "Dr. O! What did I do?"

Tommy swung her around to face him and took hold of her shoulders, staring into her eyes intently. "Kira, I need to talk to you."

"Oh, man, is this where you beg me to trade places with Conner and ride with you?"

He blinked. "Actually, Kim. Although, come to think of it, I should probably find someone to switch with Conner, too. Do you think Trent—?"

"Look, I'm sorry, Dr. O, but I'm enjoying a nice, peaceful ride with Zack, wherein I listen to your friends make fun of the way you drive and afterwards there's a funny story to hear. And no one cares if I snuggle up to Trent."

Tommy gave her his best pleading look. "Kira, please. Do this for me. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"You're still supposed to make up for yesterday," Kira pointed out.

"I'll make up for them both. I swear. Come on. Jason will be driving; I think he stole my keys at some point."

Kira regarded him thoughtfully for a second, then frowned and asked, "Did someone give you a swirly or something?"

Tommy blinked, confused. "What?"

"You're soaked. You look like someone shoved your head in a toilet bowl."

Tommy looked down at his shirt; the shoulder area was dark with water. He shrugged. "Tried to drown myself in the sink," he said with a sigh. He waited for this to take effect. Sure enough, her face began to form a sympathetic expression. Ha! He was almost there…

"Stop trying to look like a kicked puppy," Kira demanded even as the feminine side buried deep within her said, "Aww, poor guy."

"Kira, please. I'll do anything. Anything. I can't let Kim back in that car! Please, please—"

"Stop begging!" she whined, knowing she was about to cave and struggling to fight him off. He really did look like a kicked puppy. Or rather an annoying puppy that she wanted to kick but just couldn't because the darned thing was too cute.

"What's going on?" called a suspicious voice. Tommy rolled his eyes; Trent had arrived.

"Hey, guys," Kira called, twisting her shoulders a bit to try to get Tommy to let go, but he wouldn't. He was too desperate. Conner, Ethan and Trent stopped, looking from Kira to Tommy and trying to puzzle out the reason behind him gripping her shoulders and begging.

Tommy sighed. He knew Trent had jealous tendencies; Trent often complained about how often Kira chatted to the Ninja Storm team, particularly Blake and Dustin. Tommy was pretty sure Trent knew the very idea that Trent would need to be jealous of Tommy was ridiculous, but he understood Trent's newfound tendency to glare at him; Tommy had glared at many a guy on behalf of his girlfriends and friends alike. However, he couldn't afford any interruptions, and therefore ignored the arrival of Conner, Ethan and Trent completely.

"Kira, please. Ask Kim to switch places. Conner can switch with Trent. Ethan can stay in the Jeep." Trent breathed a small sigh of relief as the reasoning behind Tommy's kidnapping of Kira became clear.

"No way am I getting back in there!" Ethan interrupted vehemently.

"One of you has to," Tommy said grimly. He frowned and thought hard. "Okay. I got it. Trent, you and Kira go to Kimberly. Tell her that Ethan suckered Trent into switching with him, and Kira wants to ride with Trent, so would Kim please switch with Kira. That should do the trick. Lay it on thick, but don't do overdo it. Then me, Jase, Conner, Kira and Trent will take the Jeep."

Kira sighed. "What do you think, Trent?"

"Um… give us a sec," Trent said, frowning. He pulled Conner and Ethan into a huddle. "Should we do it?" Trent whispered.

"No way," Conner said. "We want to keep them together, not split them up!"

"But Dr. O's had it with her, or he wouldn't be asking us to do this," Ethan pointed out.

"Good point," Conner agreed reluctantly.

"She was coming on kinda strong," Ethan continued.

"But my idea of locking them in the trunk of the RADBUG together worked really well," Conner argued.

"Yeah, but I don't think Dr. O can take any more Kim moments today. It took him fifteen minutes to go Thelma and Louise on us. Thank god we weren't near any cliffs." Ethan shuddered.

"So you're cool with this?" Trent asked.

"Yeah. As long as I don't have to ride in the Jeep."

"All agreed?" Conner asked. They nodded. The three boys broke the huddle and turned back to Tommy and Kira, who were staring at them suspiciously. "We'll do it," Conner announced, keeping his expression as casual as possible.

Tommy warred with himself for a moment, wondering if he cared more about Kimberly not riding with him than he did about what was up with the three guys. Then he shrugged, gave them a grateful nod, and wandered off.

"What's going on?" Kira asked slowly.

"What do you mean?" Conner asked innocently.

"Nothing's up. Nothing at all," Ethan added.

"Trent?" Kira demanded, her eyes narrowed.

Trent knew Kira would never buy a "nothing, honest!" response from him and heaved a fake sigh. "We were taking bets on how long it would be before Dr. O has to be committed," he replied as apologetically as he could.

"Oh. Then I've got twenty bucks on Saturday morning," Kira told him, coming over and taking his hand. "Come on; let's go save his butt."

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Zack took the lead, ensuring that there would be no more getting lost, as Trini knew exactly where they were going. Kimberly switched seats with Kira without much of a fight, and Conner, Kira and Trent spent the remainder of the drive in Tommy's backseat, speculating about what the surprise was while Jason drove and Tommy reclined in the passenger seat, eyes closed in a near-meditative state. It was one of the calmest moments of the entire vacation for him.

That is, until Jason whispered, "That's my girl," and Tommy's eyes snapped open, then widened in disbelief.

"Oh, no," Tommy breathed, staring in horror at the enormous trap Trini had just sprung upon him.

End Notes: See you guys in about a week!