Jason's mouth open and closed, his lips numb and heart racing. David continued to grin at him like a cat with a canary. No one else at the table uttered a sound, realizing that the worst possible person to discover a secret was now aware of its existence.
"Finally mustered up the balls, did we, Tommy?" he then smiled at the White Ranger.
A muscle in the younger Ranger's cheek twitched and he worked to calm his breathing.
"What do you mean, asshole? What does Jase's ring have to do with me?" he muttered, attempting to act nonplussed.
David rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically.
"Oh, please, Thomas. I know you're the lucky guy. You all seem to continue to forget the acuteness of my hearing. I heard you out in the yard," he teased, eyes twinkling. "I also understand that you are concerned about my darling discovering your news."
Jason's temper got the best of him this time. He slammed a fist down on the table, rattling the glasses.
"Hasn't he been through enough, old man? You're really going to dump this in his lap right now?" he hissed. "I think you've done more than your share of damage!"
David crossed his arms.
"Who says I'm going to be a tattle tale?"
Skull gave the man an incredulous look.
"Really? You keep a secret that big, one that could potentially hurt someone else? Sorry, not sorry, but you'll probably pop like the Goodyear blimp," he deadpanned. "Their relationship has nothing to do with anything we've already got on our plate. It would just be you sticking it to Jamie out of pure viciousness."
Billy took a calmer approach to the unpredictable toddler wielding a potential H-bomb.
"How do you think he would process the two of them being engaged?" he asked. "Would he be able to reconcile that different dynamic?"
Skull leaned over the table and stared directly into David's eyes.
"Or better yet, how would RED react? On top of causing Jamie emotional pain, we need to remember Red could do physical damage to us. And he'd be sure not to overlook your ass, David. Don't forget what you used to spout. 'There's worse things than death.' Remember?"
David shrugged and waved Eugene's statement away.
"I'm not sure what Jamie would feel about this cloak and dagger game of Tommy and Jason's. As far as Red goes, everything pisses him off. I've managed to get the jump on him when he's escaped his kennel before, but that was pure luck. Believe me, he was eager to rock my shit."
He leaned back in his chair.
"I've no desire to wrestle his wild ass over those two lovebirds."
Jason let out a sigh of relief and relaxed in his chair. Tommy continued to stare at David angrily.
"There's a lot I want to say to your hateful face right now but for Jamie's sake I'm not getting into it with you here," he warned with a growl. "But now that you know about Jason and I being together, I'm going to tell you crystal clear. Stay away from him. Obviously, you would know I don't like to repeat myself, so don't tempt me with a good time."
"Whatever," the man muttered.
The door to the front entrance opened again and both Jamie and Kim ducked inside. The sky outside had gotten darker and they were right on time. Mark had arrived balancing a larger tray with plates of food.
"Jamie, you better now, friend?" he asked with a frown, placing his plate in front of him.
The man gave a soft sigh and smiled gently.
"I think so. I'm sure not eating much today on top of the stress just got to be too much," he admitted, not entirely sure that was all of it.
But that was all his exhausted brain could come up with at the moment.
Billy was still leafing through David's artwork; however, he kept the sketchbook discretely on his lap as the store owner delivered each of their meals. Skull glanced over at the images as one by one the Blue Ranger examined each oddball depiction in detail.
More animals, more stars, more Latin. A few additional portraits of the hound and the Fox Ranger. The last was a self portrait of Drakkon prior to his space walk. Long, dark greying hair, black veins, cruel smile.
But his eyes were an icy blue, not David's hazel ones.
"Guess we better eat up, Billy boy. That mutt's going to show up again. I wonder what fucked up upgrade it will have next time?"
After enjoying the delicious meal and having a lengthy discussion, it was decided that the group would accompany Jamie and David back to the little house in the woods. Kimberly had tried to argue with Jamie that she did not want to put him out, that he had enough on his plate as it was; however, the man stubbornly waved her concerns away. In her heart, the Slayer was relieved, having no desire to leave the two concerning individuals alone together in the middle of nowhere.
With food in their bellies, the trek back home was much different than the previous one. Kimberly walked beside Jamie, regaling him with stories of the other Coinless and what had happened since his 'death.' She positively glowed when she began recounting the history of her relationship with Farkas Bulkmeier.
"Are you serious?" David snorted from his wheelchair as Skull pushed the chair along the trail. The former Sentry had offered, allowing Jamie to have a little extra breathing room from the tyrant.
"Shut up," Kim snapped, glaring back at her old master. "Bulk is one of the kindest, most compassionate men I've ever met. Under that sarcastic bluster of his, he is truly warm and loving. I know that Trini and Zack are in good hands with them. He has a way of mothering those he cares about in a way that they don't even register it. So they end up doing what's best for themselves."
She laughed.
"I can honestly say I would never have pictured myself with him. But there was a whole other side of him, I'd never seen until your squirrelly ass came to power," she pointed out. "At least you were good for something."
"Glad to be of help," he snarked in reply.
Turning back to Jamie, she smiled.
"Speaking of couples, Zack and Trini are together. Finally. It took a long time but they eventually confessed their feelings. I think they both thought the other would be disgusted they were having romantic feelings in that dystopian paradise."
Jamie's brows raised in amusement.
"I remember Trini and Zack from the palace. She ran after me, trying to get Red to listen. Because of her, Red learned the truth about being drugged," he explained, eyes gazing off ahead of them. "Drakkon denied doing something so pathetic. But then, he turned right around and drugged your Jason in front of him. If anything, that discrepancy jarred him the rest of the way awake."
He looked over his shoulder at the little worm and narrowed his eyes.
"So, how do you think they will take the news that I'm still alive? Some form of Jason anyways?"
Kimberly smiled up at him.
"Of course, everyone will be overjoyed to see you."
Jamie's teeth dug into his lower lip lightly, but he said nothing.
Back at the little house, Jasper's face was illuminated in the window, having escaped from wherever Jamie had cloistered her prior to leaving. To the man's relief, he could also see Bear jumping excitedly through another.
Snagging the little beast's collar as he carefully opened the door, he grunted an apology to his guests.
"Sorry, let me deal with fuss bucket here. I can't let her start becoming David's unofficial guard. Go on in. I'll be back."
Tugging on the creature's tinkly collar, Jamie hauled her off towards the barn, knowing just the place to corral her ass for the night.
"There's too many people for you to be running amuck inside the house," he explained, still irritated with the beast for its traitorous behavior.
She bleated in defiance, but to no avail.
Watching Jamie walk away with Jasper in tow, she turned her focus to her team.
"I really appreciate him letting us stay here. He might claim its no trouble, but he's not used to be crowded like this. Let's keep things calm and quiet so what happened earlier doesn't happen again."
She stared at both Tommy and David as she addressed the group. The two men rolled their eyes at the other but neither truly wanted to risk Jamie having a break down or having to exchange punches with Red. The tyrant mumbled under his breath before turning to look up at the White Ranger.
"Look, I'm aware of our chaotic history, but I agree with the Slayer. Let's table our disagreement for now. At least until after we dispatch that hound and its handler," he muttered.
Tommy looked surprised by the man's offer.
"You're actually doing something somewhat selfless for once? Probably so you don't get snatched up by Red, right?"
"I wouldn't relish squaring off with that fucking mutt, but I also don't want to harm Jamie. You can think what you want, I don't give a solid fuck, but just like you love Jason, I love Jamie."
Tommy pulled a face and swallowed the scream on the tip of his tongue.
"You feel love? Bullshit! What you did to him isn't love!" he hissed.
David crossed his arms and his eyes darkened.
"I know I'm a fucked up piece of shit! We share history so.." he started.
Tommy immediately cut him off.
"So, nothing! I didn't do that to Jason! You could have joined the team, became friends, and maybe later, more would have happened. But you had some malfunction and this shit happened!"
Kimberly moved between the two, while Skull pinched the bridge of his nose and Billy subtly rolled his eyes.
"Enough both of you!" she hissed. "What if he can hear you out there?"
Skull gave a loud yawn just then.
"This is enough sunshine and rainbows for me. I'm beat so we can skip the bloodshed and threats until later?"
The Ranger Slayer stalked off into the living room, needing space from her two problem children. The room was warm and inviting with an older couch covered by a brightly colored throw. Side tables with various green plants were positioned near windows. Several large white canvases were leaning against the wall waiting to be framed and hung.
The vivid jewel toned colors against the stark white invited further attention. Wandering over to where they were propped, Kimberly carefully gazed at each beautiful image. There were hummingbirds with royal purples, emerald greens, and bright sapphire blues. Other birds with equally bright plumage. Flowers drenched with exquisitely colored blossoms.
Some of the paintings were watercolor, others acrylic. They were obviously Jamie's creations and she couldn't help but remember Jason. Art class had been like pulling teeth for him. He would always become frustrated and bored, preferring more athletic endeavors. She imagined she could still hear his groan of anguish when he looked at the clock and discovered class was not even close to over.
How things changed!
Kim was lost in thought, not hearing Jamie's approach until he was standing right beside her.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he quipped, laughing slightly when she gasped in surprise. "Sorry, I thought you heard me."
She shook her head, her eyes strangely beginning to burn with threatened tears.
"Kim, what's wrong?" he whispered. "Why are you crying?"
Trembling lips tried to smile reassuringly. She briskly brushed at her face embarrassed.
"It's nothing, I'm sorry," she sniffed.
"No," Jamie frowned. "Something's wrong. Is there something I can do to help?"
Kim turned to fully face him.
"There's nothing to help though, Jamie. I'm just being selfish," she murmured. "It's my issue to work through."
Clearing his throat again, Jamie nervously adjusted his glasses.
"I know you've had a rough time. Loosing Jason. Seeing me is probably really hard on you, isn't it?" he offered. "Even after all the explanations."
The small sob was all the answer he needed.
"It's ok, Kim," he soothed.
"No, its not ok! It's selfish of me to want Jason back. I should be happy for you. Happy for your life here and that you're not suffering anymore. Happy you aren't trapped as Red, angry and alone," she cried. "I shouldn't be sad for myself."
Timidly, Jamie reached out a hand and wiped the tears glistening on her reddened cheeks. She leaned her face into his palm, needing to feel his presence in some form.
"It's not selfish, Kim," he said gently, shaking his head. "This whole thing is confusing, even to me."
Feeling braver, he pulled the Ranger Slayer into a warm embrace, hugging her to his chest. Kim curled against him, her head pressed against his body, hearing the beautiful thump of his heart. Then she stiffened, remembering.
"Is this too uncomfortable for you? I keep forgetting you don't like being touched," she whispered.
Jamie stroked her hair reassuringly.
"I'm ok. For a long time, touch meant pain, but its different now if I expect it or initiate it," he explained. "Talk to me Kim. I think you'd feel better if you let it out."
She nestled quietly in his arms, thinking how to begin. Memories flooded her mind of Jason, his loud laugh, his protective demeanor, his teddy bear gentleness with his friends.
Suddenly, she blurted, "I miss Jason!"
And began to sob brokenly.
Jamie said nothing as he held her and gently swayed with her in his arms. He continued stroking her hair as she let the deep emotion out, her body shaking with her sobs.
Minutes passed before she began to calm, shame and embarrassment consuming her.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you, Jamie," she croaked finally. "I know you wouldn't exist if…"
She stopped unable to continue.
"I know. It's a complicated mess," he murmured softly. "It's understandable you'd want your friend back. You don't really know me. Not as Jamie, anyways."
That statement touched on what Kimberly's bigger fear was concerning.
"I'm scared," she admitted, embarrassed.
Pulling her head back, she looked up into Jamie's dark eye nearly obscured by his thick grey hair and black frames. His face tightened in concern seeing Kimberly's quivering lips.
"What are you scared of?"
Quickly glancing toward the kitchen doorway, Kimberly could hear the opening and closing of the outer door as Tommy, Jason, Skull, and Billy went outside to view the night sky scattered with twinkling stars. David didn't appear in the doorway and honestly, she just didn't care where the fuck he'd gone off to.
Sniffing, her breath hitched and then the words were tumbling out as she buried her tear streaked face into Jamie's chest.
"I'm scared that I'll wake up in the morning and this will be a dream. I'll be laying in my bed in the palace, the feeling of your warmth and your smell disappearing back into time. I'm scared that even if this is reality that you don't feel the same way about me as Jason did, that you don't see me as your little sister. Just a stranger," she cried, stumbling over her words breathlessly. "It would be easy for you to just disappear again and leave me."
Jamie's mouth hung open in astonishment and he was at a loss for words, considering the small woman's overwhelming emotion.
"Kim," he breathed softly. "Hey, look at me, please."
The pent-up grief that always simmered under the surface of Kimberly's days poured forth, regardless of finding the former Red Ranger still alive. She shook her head vigorously, too ashamed to show her face in its current torrent of tears.
Jamie merely hugged her tighter and inclined his mouth near her ear.
"Of course, you're my little sister! I still have tons of memories of us. I remember there was some type of giant flea monster we fought together. I also remember working out at the Youth Center while you flipped on the beam. You always had a strawberry-banana smoothie afterwards."
Nervously, Kimberly pulled her head back and looked at Jamie's warm smile. He brushed a tear from her cheek.
"I promise I'm still your big brother, even if I'm a little different than I used to be. I also promise that I will NEVER hide away again. You have my word on that."
Sniffing, the Ranger Slayer wiped her eyes and nodded uncertainly.
Gesturing towards the vivid birds and flowers, she attempted to change the subject.
"Did you make those? They're beautiful," she managed. "They remind me of art he used to have in the palace. Those paintings were a few of the things I didn't have burned."
The similar work she mentioned, Bulk had hung artistically in their bedchamber. Kimberly hadn't been on board initially as she didn't want any of Drakkon's creations displayed in such an intimate area.
"Look at it this way. They have beauty where beauty has mostly died. And because of him, we also blossomed together," Bulk had explained his peculiar reasoning. "Beautiful things can bloom from trash too."