Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter twenty-six of "Running From Here." There is some Tommy/Kim and Alan/Ellie. Ranger action is coming in the next chapter or so. I am so ready to do that. Stay tuned for chapter twenty-seven.

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Chapter 26: Getting a Little Closer

The Power Rangers, the dinosaurs, and the survivors saw the fence coming into view ten minutes later. They stopped a short distance away from it. Rexy and Mia lowered themselves, allowing their riders to get off. John, Alan, Ellie, Ian, Jason, and Billy stretched their arms above their heads. They did the same to their legs. Jason and Billy headed for the fronts of Rexy and Mia. They proceeded to pet their snouts.

"I enjoyed riding Rexy, but I was ready to get off for a few minutes," John said honestly.

"You're not the only one, John," Alan replied and put his arm around Ellie's shoulder.

"Jason and Billy have to be the stiffest of all the riders. They rode Rexy and Mia the longest," Ian added.

Jason and Billy continued petting Rexy and Mia. They listened to them purring in much pleasure. They inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. They cleared their throats before letting out loud snorts.

"That feels really good," Rexy growled softly. "Thank you."

"You are welcome, Rexy," Jason responded and gave her snout a gentle pat. "I have no doubt you are happy the journey is nearly over."

"Oh, I am," Rexy admitted and looked up at the top of the fence. "I remember this fence very well. I couldn't cross it here when the power got turned back on. I had to head back to the hole I made in it."

"Is that hole far from here?" Jason wondered.

She bellowed. "No, it isn't very from here. However, it would take us even longer to get to the Visitor Center. I know you can't waste time right now."

He nodded in agreement. "You are right."

Billy petted Mia on her nose horn as she put her front hoof back somewhat. She nudged him very gently before emitting a soft snort.

"Thank you for petting me," Mia said gratefully.

"You are welcome," Billy responded while saluting her. "I wish the journey didn't take so long, though."

"We've managed to make it this far. That counts as something," Mia pointed out matter-of-factly.

"That is true," Billy agreed. "We are nearly to the Visitor Center. Who knows if the power is still on?"

"We'll have to test that possibility," Mia said, looking up at the fence. "We should it do on this fence right now."

"Yeah," Billy agreed and spotted a stick laying on the ground. "Wow! A stick! It's our lucky day!"

Billy rushed over to pick up the stick. He looked it over rather carefully. He turned toward the fence. Tommy came to his side, his hand going to the back of his neck. Rexy and Mia rose to their full heights. They swung their tails from side to side.

"You have a good eye, Billy," Tommy complimented.

"Thanks, Tommy," Billy responded. He made his way over to the fence and swallowed hard. "I hope this fence is not electrified."

Tommy put his hands on his side. "It's time to find out."

Billy threw the stick at the fence in which it hit the middle. An electric surge went through it, burning to a crisp. It fell to the ground, smoking rather badly. He emitted a nervous chuckle.

"That definitely means the fence is electrified," Billy said honestly.

"Kim suggested we use the Blade Blasters and Saba to blast a hole in it while we were climbing that hill," Tommy pointed out.

"That's a great idea, Tommy," Billy responded with a snap of his fingers.

Trini chuckled. "It sure is."

"If you blast a hole in that fence, we should get to the Visitor Center quickly!" Tim said excitedly.

"Once we hack into the computers, we will be home free!" Lex shouted and squealed delightfully.

John shushed softly. "Lex, quiet down. We can't alert that Allosaurus to our presence."

"Sorry," Lex whispered in a sheepish way.

Tommy waved his hand toward himself. "Come on, team. Let's get a hole blasted in this fence."

Jason, Trini, Kim, and Zack came to Tommy and Billy. The Red, Yellow, Pink, Black, and Blue Rangers unsheathed their Blade Blasters. They moved them to gun mode. The White Ranger got out Saba.

"Let's start firing at the top of the fence on my mark," Tommy instructed carefully.

"Okay, Tommy," Kim replied with a nod.

Trini shuddered. "Let's hope it doesn't fall on us."

Tommy exhaled sharply as he and the others aimed their weapons. "Now, fire!"

The Rangers growled determinedly and fired at the fence's top. They proceeded to go downward. Alan, Ellie, Ian, John, Lex, and Tim moved over to Rexy and Mia. They bit their lips.

"I really like how coordinated the Rangers are," John whispered, warmth showing in his voice.

"Teamwork is the main reason why we have gotten to this point," Alan said, crossing his arms.

"Not once has any squabbling occurred between any of us," Ian said while touching his temple.

"Tim and I didn't argue while we were climbing this fence, but we did share some playful banter. I said I would reach the other side of it before he could. He asked what it would give him. I said respect. Dr. Grant scolded us for behaving like we were in a race," Lex explained.

"Then the alarm rang out as I reached the midway point on the other side. I got shocked when the electricity came back on. It made my heart stop as Dr. Grant told me. It didn't last long as I started coughing," Tim added.

The Rangers reached the fence's bottom. They shot three bolts each at the final line. The wires hung downward, creating a huge hole in it. Tommy, Kim, Jason, Trini, Billy, and Zack laughed in much delight.

"We can go through the fence now, guys," Tommy said, looking over his shoulder at the survivors as he sheathed Saba.

"That is wonderful, Tommy," John answered as Jason, Kim, Trini, Billy, and Zack moved their Blade Blasters to sword mode and sheathed them.

"We better get moving right now," Jason said, going over to Rexy. He eyed Billy, who did the same with Mia. "Zedd's goons are likely coming after us."

"That is a good idea," Ian said, nodding sharply.

Rexy and Mia lowered themselves. This allowed Jason, John, Alan, Ellie, Billy, and Ian to get on their backs. They rose to their full heights. They made their way through the hole one at a time. They took great care not to touch the sparking wires. Tommy, Kim, Zack, Trini, Lex, and Tim followed them close behind. The entire group started going down the tour road.

"We're getting closer to the Visitor Center by the minute, Tommy," Kim whispered, her breathing turning into shudders.

"We sure are, Kim," Tommy agreed with a soft chuckle. "Thank God for our weapons being able to create a hole in that fence."

"We had to be really careful not to touch the sparking wires," Kim mumbled, cringing a bit. "We would have gotten quite the shock if we touched them."

"Ten thousand volts of electricity going through your body is nothing to laugh about. That's for sure," Tommy added.

"Yeah," Kim responded. She and the others picked up their pace a bit as bullfrogs hopped behind them.

00000

The entire group was still going down the tour road six minutes later. Lex and Tim looked around. Rexy growled in a soft manner. She blinked three times as Jason patted her neck. Billy took hold of Mia's frill with both hands. She raised her head high. She let out a quiet bellow. She lowered it, a sneeze coming from her. The children turned to each other.

"I remember us coming to this area after we escaped the Gallimimus Paddock," Lex whispered in amazement.

"Me too," Tim agreed. "I am sure Dr. Grant remembers too."

"I do remember, Tim," Alan said, looking over his shoulder at the duo along with Ellie. "You had a hard time walking after I revived you from that electric shock."

"He carried you for most of the way to the Visitor Center," Ellie added and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's waist.

"All that electricity fried my brain," Tim joked.

"I wouldn't joke about that if I were you," Lex responded sternly and elbowed him in the shoulder lightly. "You could've died."

"I know, but it's okay to joke when we are in serious situations sometimes," Tim pointed out and patted his chest. "Humor helps calm the soul."

"That is true," Lex commented and pulled her hair behind her neck. "I have to admit you have a good sense of humor."

"So do you," Tim added. He wiggled his eyes while snickering under his breath. "Of course, my sense of humor is better than yours is."

"Sure, it is," Lex said sarcastically.

The children put their arms around each other. They and their friends came upon the Tyrannosaurus Paddock. They halted themselves close to the hole in the fence. Lex, Tim, Tommy, Kim, Zack, and Trini headed over to it. Tommy and Kim gasped in amazement.

"This is where Rexy broke out!" Tommy exclaimed.

Kim turned her head and raised her eyebrows at what she saw. "There is the tour car."

"Wow. I can't believe it is still intact," Zack said, going over to the car and putting his hands on his sides. "You would think Rexy would've have torn it to shreds after the survivors escaped."

"No kidding, Zack," Jason agreed. He grunted at Rexy's going to the hole. He looked down through the trees. He gasped amazingly at what he saw. "I can see the other car on the ground down there."

Alan exhaled. "Tim actually told me he got sick when I climbed up the tree to get him."

"That wasn't my finest hour," Tim admitted while walking up to Rexy.

"I can't exactly blame you for feeling sick," Alan said, glancing down at him along with Ellie. "You were really worried the car would fall out of the tree before I got to you."

"I was freaking out about how Mr. Gennaro left Tim and me," Lex said as she came to her brother's side. She shuddered fearfully at remembering that moment. "I never thought an adult would abandon us."

"I wasn't about to do that to you, Lex," Alan commented gently. "You and Tim needed my protection."

Lex smiled. "You did a great job protecting us."

Mia walked over to the demolished bathroom. She sniffed the area close to the toilet. Ian rubbed his chin as his heart skipped two beats. He laid his hands on his legs.

"I don't know how long I laid in that pile of palm leaves until Robert and Ellie rescued me. They told me I had been there for at least an hour or so," Ian explained. He felt his body shake a bit. He looked up as Rexy came to Mia's side. "I was in a lot of pain."

"I hired some people to come here to retrieve the remains of Donald and Robert, so they could be properly buried," John whispered, sighing heavily. "It was the least I could do for their families."

Ellie cringed. "I actually thought I was going to throw up when I found a part of Donald. I never want to see another dead human body."

"Who wants to see such a thing?" Billy wondered.

"When you live in the wilderness, you get used to seeing carnivores feeding on carcasses. However, it does not mean you won't ever feel sick to your stomach," John explained.

Tommy walked up to the group. "Guys, we better get going."

Trini joined his side. "He's right."

Tommy and Trini resumed walking. The others followed suit rather quickly. Rexy and Mia swung their tails from side to side. Kim rushed up to Tommy, who looked at her.

"I never thought we'd see the damage that was done to the Tyrannosaurus Paddock," Kim whispered.

"I didn't either," Tommy replied, taking her hand into his. "I imagine Rexy thinking about two things. They were keeping others out of her territory and looking for food."

"She didn't have to go far to find food. The Gallimimus enclosure was back that way," Kim said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. "She couldn't help…"

As Tommy and Kim continued talking, Jason gasped when he sensed Rexy's distress. He touched her neck very gently.

"You okay?" Jason asked.

"I am okay, though I feel a bit of regret consuming Donald," Rexy responded guiltily.

"You couldn't help it. You were hungry. You weren't even being malicious," Jason assured.

"I know, but I still shouldn't have done it," Rexy commented and grunted softly. "I feel like a murderer of humans."

"You are not a murderer of humans. You were following your instincts," Jason said firmly. "Not a single survivor blames you for this. They never will."

"Thank you," Rexy growled in relief. "Thank you so much."

Rexy got a gentle pat on her neck from Jason. Mia bobbed her head as Billy moved his hands apart. She felt him tighten his grip a tiny bit. She swung her tail from side to side.

"I am so glad we are nearly to the Visitor Center, Mia," Billy said in relief.

"So am I," Mia responded. "I never thought I would befriend superheroes and the Jurassic Park survivors."

"It feels so unreal, doesn't it?" Billy asked.

"Yes, it does," Mia agreed and scanned her surroundings. "It has been a long but satisfying journey."

He touched her neck. "We could have run into danger along the way, but we didn't."

"It is very risky living on this island, but it is well worth it. I don't ever want to leave it," Mia admitted. "It is the only place where my kind live."

"Let's not forget Isla Sorna," Billy pointed out.

She snorted. "That island too. If anything, the Triceratopses there have formed bigger herds."

Billy patted Mia's neck, getting a pleasurable bellow from her. They and the others picked up their pace somewhat.