Chapter Ninety-nine

Follow That Cab!

One hour later, Zack had finally managed to get Ethan, Kira and Trent back to the hotel. They'd forgotten about morning rush hour, so Zack had made a few poor choices when it came to plotting a course back to the Mercedes. Now, however, they were safely in the elevator, after narrowly avoiding Jenny on their way across the lobby.

They ran into Kimberly in the sixth-floor corridor. She had showered and changed into an outfit, rather than pajamas, and she was carrying Trini's belongings. "Here," she said, handing them to Zack. "Trini left her stuff in my room last night."

"Um… but…" Zack began, but Kimberly didn't wait for an answer; she was already moving quickly down the hallway. "That was weird," he said. He jerked his head at Kira. "Go make sure she's okay."

Kira nodded and started to follow Kimberly, but paused when Kimberly entered their room and shut the door behind her. Kira turned back to Ethan, grimacing. "I, uh… need my key."

Everyone politely averted their eyes while Ethan fished it out of his shorts and handed it to her. Kira pinched it between thumb and forefinger, wrinkling her nose. "Jason said two, so… I guess I'll come get you guys at one-thirty or so," she said, then headed off down the hall. Ethan and Trent said their goodbyes to Zack and headed for their own room.

Kira unlocked the door to room 640 and hastily tossed the keycard on her desk. To her surprise, she found Kimberly packing shoes into her suitcase.

"Kim? You okay?" Kira asked.

"Yeah. I just… I'm trying to get this place organized."

"Oh," Kira said, figuring that Kimberly had already picked out which shoes she planned to wear for the next two days and was putting away the spares. "Um… I'm gonna go… shower."

"Fine," Kimberly said distractedly.

Kira stared thoughtfully at her. She seemed upset, not that that was much of a surprise after the night she'd had. Kira glanced around the room, noting that the trash had been thrown away and several minor messes cleaned; she wondered if Kimberly was trying to tell her something, like maybe she wanted Kira to help her clean.

Kira gathered up the few articles of her dirty clothing that she hadn't already piled in the closet and added them to her pile, then put her guitar back in its case. Kimberly didn't say anything; she just went to the dresser, grabbed an armload of clothes that she'd dumped back in the dresser after Tommy's theft, and began refolding them. Kira sighed; she was tired, she was grimy, and as much as she wanted to help Kimberly, Kimberly didn't seem to be much for conversation at the moment. She decided she'd try a bit more after she got the black filth off the soles of her feet, and grabbed her oversized yellow nightshirt from her bag.

It took her a while to get out of the bathroom; a hot shower had been just the sort of therapy she needed. By the time she'd gotten clean, dry and dressed she was even more ready for a good long nap… but all thoughts of sleep flew right out of her head the moment she stepped out of the bathroom and she realized just what Kimberly was doing.

Kimberly was packing.

"Kim?" Kira half-whispered. "Kim, what—?"

"I need you to start packing," Kimberly said woodenly as she stuffed her makeup case into her travel bag.

"But—"

"Now."

Kira jumped and hastened to obey, struggling to come up with a reason for Kimberly's packing. "Kim, are you—?"

"Later. Just start packing. Might wanna get dressed, too." With that, Kimberly scooped up her travel case and went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Kira could hear several loud thuds as Kimberly tossed her various beauty products back into her travel bag.

Kira blindly yanked off her nightshirt and changed back into the top and shorts she'd worn the night before, tying her hair back with the first scrunchie she could find and stuffing her belongings into her bags. Think. Think, Kira. Why is she packing? Did something go wrong while you were in the bathroom?

"Kim?" Kira called. "Did we get kicked out of the hotel or something?"

"No," Kimberly replied stiffly, exiting the bathroom with her newly packed bag. "I just have to go."

"But why?" Kira demanded in exasperation even as she went to collect her own belongings from the bathroom. "Is there an emergency back in L.A. or something?"

"I really don't want to talk about it."

Kira huffed indignantly and crammed her plastic bag of damp hygiene products into her book bag with a little more force than necessary. "Well, you'll be back tomorrow, right?"

Kimberly didn't answer her. Kira's uneasiness threatened to turn into fear as Kimberly continued packing.

"Kim? You… you are coming to Power Rangers Day, right?" Again, Kimberly remained silent. "And… to the party. The party tonight, at Adam's?"

"I don't know," Kimberly said finally. "I suppose, at the very least, I'll have to drop my suit off there."

"Your suit?"

"For Kat. Or… or whoever else wants to wear it."

"You mean… your Power Rangers suit?" Kira shrieked.

"Hush. I have no idea how thin these walls are."

"Kim… Kim, you can't just…"

Someone knocked on the door. Kimberly went to open it. A bellhop stood in the hall with a luggage cart. "Ah, good. Start with these, please. I've still got one more bag to pack up."

"Kimberly…"

"Finish packing, Kira."

The bellhop started to say something, but, sensing the tension between them, fell silent and began loading Kimberly's luggage onto the cart.

"Kimberly," Kira tried again, swallowing, "you have to come to Power Rangers Day. You—"

"I don't have to do anything, Kira!" Kimberly shouted, making Kira cringe and the bellhop speed up his work. "Kat's on her way into town and Aisha's about my size and no one will ever know that I'm not there! I don't have to go. I don't want to go. What I want is to get out of this place and go back to my life!" Kira stared at her, shocked and horrified. Kimberly sighed. "Kira, I'm sorry. You'll have to stay with Trent and Ethan. But hey, at least Conner's at Jason's, right?"

Kimberly forced such a shaky smile that any further protests died in Kira's throat. Though she hadn't known Kimberly long, Kira felt she knew Kimberly well enough to know that Kimberly wouldn't kick her out and run back to Los Angeles without a damned good reason.

"Okay," Kira said with a sigh, and turned back to her luggage.

Zack was just crawling into bed when Tommy returned to the hotel room. "Oh, hey," Zack muttered sleepily. "Some night, huh?"

"I'll say," Tommy agreed. "Like Hayley always says—when it rains, it floods, and then you have two problems." Zack chuckled and Tommy sighed. "I'm just glad Hayley's here now. Nothing like a Hayley in a crisis."

"Maybe I should get me one," Zack joked. "Know where they sell them?"

"Oh, I think they're only available at Wal-Mart," Tommy said dryly.

"Aw, damn! I just got banned from there last night. Of all the luck."

Tommy shook his head, smiling in spite of himself. Then he frowned, noticing the pile of luggage in the corner as he kicked off his sandals. "Who's stuff is that?"

"Trini's. Kim dropped it off."

Tommy frowned. "That's weird."

"Yeah, I know." Zack shrugged. "Another day, another mystery, you know?"

Tommy nodded. "Here's hoping that's the worst thing today throws at us."

"Come on, Tommy. I know they say you should aim high—but that's not hopeful, that's delusional." Tommy grinned tiredly at him. "So," Zack continued, obviously trying to sound nonchalant. "What was it like?"

"What was what like? Being trapped in a closet all night?"

"Making out with Kim again."

Tommy sighed. He decided not to answer and hope Zack fell asleep, but after a few minutes Zack cleared his throat impatiently. Sighing again, Tommy muttered, "Dream come true."

"Gonna keep dreaming?"

"I don't know anymore. Guess we'll see later tonight, eh? Kim's not going anywhere for a few days. I've got some time to work it out."

"You've had eight years, Tommy," Zack said sternly. "If you keep waiting, it's going to be too late."

"Here," Kimberly said, handing the bellboy a rather large tip. "I'll be down to the lobby in a second." He nodded and began wheeling her luggage down the hall. Kimberly turned to Kira, who was sliding her arms into the straps of her backpack.

"Well, this is it," Kimberly said. "I'll… I'll see you when I see you, okay? Keep in touch. You have my cell number, right?"

"It's still programmed into my phone," Kira replied.

Kimberly came over to her for a hug. "Okay. Goodbye, Kira."

"Later," Kira said awkwardly. Kimberly turned and left. Kira sighed, shouldered her duffel bag and picked up her guitar case. She couldn't believe Kimberly was really leaving. Was she even going to say goodbye to Trini, or Billy, or…?

Dr. O. She was leaving because of Dr. O. She'd been down since being trapped in the closet with him and…

Kira's eyes narrowed. Conner's plan might have been the worst idea of the century, but Kira had to agree that the sentiment was true. Kimberly and Dr. O needed to see each other again. They hadn't talked for eight years until this vacation… and if Kimberly left, they probably wouldn't talk again until the next time someone got the entire gang together. Who knew how long that would be if they left things like this? She couldn't let Kimberly run out like this!

Kira raced out of the room, ignoring the reverberating slam of the door behind her as she dashed towards the elevator. It had just started descending. Kira fumbled with the guitar case for a second, trying to stab the button, before realizing that she probably had very little chance of convincing Kimberly to stay. But maybe, just maybe…

Kira rushed back down the hall.

"Dr. O!"

A loud banging began on Tommy and Zack's door, sounding more like multiple objects being rammed into the door than actual knocking. Tommy flung open the door and a frantic Kira tumbled in.

"Kira? What's wrong?" Tommy asked, concerned. He frowned at the three pieces of luggage she was hastily dropping on his floor. "Did Kim kick you out or—?"

"She left!" Kira wailed. "I tried to stop her, I really did, but she wouldn't listen and she left and she said she'd tell me later and I can't believe she left!"

"What?" Tommy roared, and to Kira's complete surprise, he nearly knocked her over as he barreled out the door.

"Damn it," Zack complained, flinging back the blankets. Kira began rummaging through her duffel bag for her flip-flops, but all she could find were her knee-high black boots. Sighing, she began to shove them on as Zack jammed his feet into his sneakers and threw on a T-shirt. Together, they chased after Tommy.

They made it out the front doors just in time to see Kimberly's Mustang speeding through the parking lot towards the street, Tommy running after it as fast as his bare feet would carry him. She didn't slow down as she turned onto the street, fishtailing for a moment before accelerating hard. Tommy skidded to a halt, accepting the fact that his chase was futile. Kira and Zack dashed over to him.

They pulled up short as he stood there in the middle of the parking lot, staring thoughtfully after the Mustang. "Dr. O?" Kira asked hesitantly.

"Any idea where she's going?" Tommy asked, his expression and tone unreadable.

"Home, I think. L.A. She, um, said something about dropping her suit off at Adam's to give to Kat or Aisha or—"

"Tell me you're going after her," Zack interrupted.

Tommy smiled faintly. "Not in bare feet, I'm not." With that, he turned and began walking back towards the hotel. Kira opened her mouth to say something, but Zack shook his head. Kira figured Zack's hopeful expression meant he recognized something in Dr. O that she didn't, and she fell silent.

They got into the elevator together, Kira and Zack standing so that they could see Tommy's face. It was obvious now that he was thinking, hard, occasionally nodding to himself, his facial features twitching on occasion to reflect his thoughts. The longer they watched, the wider Zack's grin became. Kira looked at Zack for answers, but he ignored her.

Tommy was the first one out of the elevator. "Round up the gang," Tommy told Zack.

"What are you gonna do?" Kira asked.

"I gotta get a few things from my room. Meet me at Jason and Trini's house."

"Right behind you, bro," Zack said cheerfully, and went to pound on the door to room 603. Kira, at a loss, followed Zack, figuring that Tommy would have said "us" instead of "me" if he'd wanted her to come with him.

"This is ridiculous!" Ethan raged, pulling the door open after a long period of knocking. "I can't even sleep when Conner's been banned from the hotel!"

"What's wrong?" asked a bleary-eyed Trent, stumbling over behind Ethan.

"Mount up," Zack announced. "Get your shoes and come on. We're heading for Jason and Trini's place."

"What? Why?" Trent asked.

Zack grinned. "Because I think it's time you met Tommy, former leader of the Power Rangers."

Trini had, upon going to bed, insisted upon leaving the door unlocked, despite Jason's protests. Tommy, however, didn't bother to stop and try the knob. The sound of wood splintering once again echoed throughout the house.

"That's it," Jason sighed as Trini rolled away from him and pulled the sheet up. "We're moving. Far, far away from everyone we've ever met, and we're not making any new friends when we get there."

"She's gone," Tommy announced, his voice even and completely controlled.

"Who's gone?" Trini demanded, sitting up.

"Kimberly. Kimberly's gone back to L.A."

"What? No! Why?" Trini exclaimed. Even Jason realized this MIGHT be more important than sleeping with his wife; he scooted over to the side of the bed and reluctantly reached for pants.

"I don't know and I don't care," Tommy replied.

"Tommy, how can you say that?" Trini demanded incredulously.

"It's not important," Tommy said with a shrug. "I don't care where she is—as long as it isn't Florida—because I'm going after her. If you're coming with me, let's go."

Tommy walked out of the bedroom, leaving Jason and Trini to scramble from their bed and pull on their clothes. As Tommy reentered the living room, he nearly ran into Zack, who burst through the front door with Ethan, Trent and Kira close behind.

"Jesus, Tommy, you drive like a maniac," Zack complained. "I lost you two streets from the hotel."

"What's going on?" called a bewildered Billy, sitting up on the couch.

Before Tommy could answer, Hayley stumbled out of her makeshift bed on the family room couch. "Tommy?" she asked sleepily. "What's wrong? I heard shouting."

Tommy marched over to the guestroom door and pounded on it. "Conner! Get out here, now!"

"No! You're gonna hurt me! I was just trying to help!" Conner wailed from within.

"I know. That's why I'm asking you to help me now. We've got a situation, and I'm gonna need you."

"Really?" Conner called suspiciously. "What for?"

"Getting Kimberly back."

There was a pause, then the sound of heavy furniture sliding across the carpet. Conner opened the door a moment later, grinning. "That's great!" he said cheerfully. "Cuz I've been working on some new angles. See?"

Conner held up Trini's dry erase board. He'd drawn three columns, with numerous cockamamie ideas in red in the first column, reasons to implement each idea written in green in the second column, and reasons against each idea in pink in the third column. The words, "The (Very Top Secret) Mission to Reunite Dr. O and Kim" were scrawled across the top in black.

Tommy stared at the board for a second, frowned at some of the ideas and regarded others thoughtfully, then shook his head, glared at Conner, and turned to the group as a whole. "Now then. We've got a situation."

"Tommy, what is it?" Hayley asked in concern.

"Kim left," Kira said, wringing her hands. "I tried to stop her, I really did, but—"

"What?" Billy spluttered, hurrying over.

"She left?" Conner asked in shock.

"Why did she leave?" Trini demanded, emerging from her bedroom with Jason reluctantly in tow.

"Gee, I wonder," Hayley muttered under her breath.

"It doesn't matter," Tommy repeated. "Because a Ranger never gives up, remember? I'm going to L.A. and I'm going to get her back. My only question is, who's with me?"

"I think a better question might be, who isn't?" Zack said.

No one refuted this claim. Jason, Trini, Billy, Zack, Conner, Kira, Ethan and Trent regarded Tommy steadily, looking as battle-ready as ever. Seeing this, Hayley cleared her throat.

"Tommy," Hayley said quietly, "I'm not sure—"

"I know you think I'm being an idiot," Tommy interrupted bluntly. "And I gotta tell you, I don't care. I love Kim, and I'm going to get her back, and if you don't like that you're welcome to stay here. But I'm going to get her back, with or without you."

Hayley sighed. "I'll come. You know I'll come, you idiot. When have I ever said no to helping you with some insane mission or another? Besides, you lunatics are going to need someone sensible along."

"Thanks," Tommy said simply.

"You know how I feel about Kim, Tommy. This isn't over. But I can't stop you. That's the only reason I'm coming. I've spent the better part of seven years helping you, and I'm not going to quit on you now. But I meant what I said, Tommy—I'm not going to let you get yourself hurt again."

Tommy stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. "I'm not the smartest person in the world, Hayley, or the luckiest. But I can take anything the world throws at me, and if the world thinks a letter and a couple of arguments are going to keep me away from Kimberly then the world's got another thing coming. I don't know what happened with Kim. Call it fate, call it whatever. But not even fate can stop me now, get it? Anyone that wants to take Kim from me has got a hell of a fight coming—a fight eight years overdue. I'm through being hurt, Hayley. No more whining and pining and wondering. Now I kick ass. It's what I'm best at, especially with you guys beside me."

There was a moment of silence as they all reflected on this. Then Jason shrugged.

"It's about frigging time, man," Jason said, grinning. "Let's do it."

Tommy gave a slight smile and grabbed the green marker from Conner. Using his shirt sleeve, he erased Conner's pro/con list, ignoring Conner's indignant protest. Tommy grabbed a picture frame hanging in the hallway, lifted it down from its hook, handed it to Trini, and hung the dry erase board in its place.

"All right, then," Tommy said, beginning to write just beneath the heading "The (Very Top Secret) Mission to Reunite Dr. O and Kim." "This is what we're going to do."

Author's Notes: Sorry it's taking so long to get to chapter 100. It's just really sobering to realize that you just typed the words "One Hundred" after "Chapter."