"That's it for the sedation- but we do still have her on rather strong pain meds," Robert said as Tommy nodded and let out a sigh. He wasn't sure how long she'd stay unconscious, but she had never been one that woke up quickly in these situations. He had learned years ago to prepare for it to be much longer than the doctors liked and that his nerves would be completely frayed by the time she awoke. "She's going to be extremely sore, it was…"
"I know," Tommy said as he walked over to his son and picked him up. "Once she wakes up, I'm going to need to get some real rest- is there anyone guarding the room?"
"Jason is finishing up his shift and then I think Adam will be relieving him," Robert stated as Tommy nodded and he looked around the room. There were too many ways that someone could get to Kimberly and he was not sure that one person would be enough to stop David. He had just killed the man's father, that was bound to amp up his hatred even more. "Do you want someone in here with you?"
"If Thomas or Katy could come…I don't know that I'm up to playing nice with anyone today," Tommy said as Robert gave him a concerned look.
"We're not expecting you to play nice with anyone right now. David nearly killed her and my brother was aware that his son was not to be trusted and he did nothing. I think we all understand if you're a bit leery of anyone in this world," Robert stated as Tommy gave him a grateful nod and he then walked out of the room.
Tommy leaned back in the chair as he settled his son on his chest. He was exhausted. Between taking care of a newborn, watching over his wife, and the general fatigue after a major battle- he was not sure how he was still on his feet. He had slept in fits and starts and while he was thankful for the doctors- he really wanted a four or five hour stretch where no one had to come in to check on something.
"Hey, Robert mentioned you needed someone to hang out in here for a bit," Katy said as she slipped into the room and Tommy looked up at her. "Have you slept?"
"Not really and I'm going to need to get some quality sleep soon. I'm hoping she'll wake up before that happens, but…" Tommy trailed off as Katy nodded and she settled in the chair on the other side of the bed. "Kat…"
"So I was Kat in your world?" Katy asked with a smile as Tommy barely nodded. There was so much he wanted to say, but it wasn't to her and it wouldn't be fair to unload it on her. "I take it that we never…"
"It's not that simple. I didn't talk to Kimberly for…ten, twelve years. I also didn't end our relationship well and…I apologized to her, but not…I should have never dated anyone else," Tommy whispered as Katy gave him a sad smile and he shook his head. "Before we came here- I had to ask Katherine's husband to let his daughter come to the Ranger Academy and I see how your life is here and I just…"
"Our worlds are meant to be different, Tommy. Thomas and I have a great marriage, but I know that he'd do anything to have her back. He was her soulmate here too and I've only seen him after she died. From what everyone has told me, he was a lot more like you before," Katy said as she leaned in closer to him. "But she's it for you and I'm sure Kat would have understood that."
"We didn't know…we were only told that soulmates existed because we had to commune with the Command Center," Tommy said as Katy met and held his gaze. He could see the horror and fascination in her eyes. Apparently she knew about the customs, but it hadn't been necessary for the Power Rangers on this world in a very long time. "We've both been taken over by it- I was in a coma for two months. She just went to bed early one night because she's a prophetess. A lot was taken from us to make sure that she lived long enough to keep me alive."
"Get some rest, Tommy. I'll wake you as soon as those brown eyes pop open," Katy said as Tommy barely nodded before leaning his head back against the wall and closing his eyes. His snores soon filled the room and Katy chuckled. Apparently his snoring was the same in both worlds too.
Kim heard the beeps around her and desperately tried to open her eyes. She was so tired, but she knew that she was still in danger. She knew that David must have found a way to take her son and she felt that if she could just wake up- she would be able to stop it. Or she would at least be able to make enough noise to let Tommy know where she was.
She forced her eyes open and glanced from side to side. Tommy was asleep with a bundle on his chest and Katy was sitting in a chair near the door. She tried to move her hands, but found that her entire body felt heavy. What had happened to her? She vaguely remembered being in labor, but it got so fuzzy after that.
"Hey…let me wake him up," Katy said as she walked over and grabbed her hand and Kimberly barely nodded. "He'll be so glad you're awake. You gave us a real scare."
"Wha…what happened?" Kim rasped out as Katy glanced at her and then shook Tommy's shoulder. Tommy slowly sat up and then quickly locked eyes with her and she saw the relief flood his face. "Tommy? What…is he okay?"
"Yeah, yeah he's good," Tommy whispered as he let the tears fall and he cradled their son where she could see his face. "I think the jury is still out on who he takes after more."
"Why do I feel like I've been hit by a mack truck?" Kim forced out as Tommy and Katy exchanged a glance before Katy ducked out of the room. The doctors were going to want to do checks as soon as they knew that she was awake. "I remember David taking me and going into labor and then…it goes a bit blank."
"I'm glad you don't remember it," Tommy said as placed their son in the bassinet and then pulled down one of the rails to sit on the edge of the bed. He grabbed a cup of water and passed it to her and she greedily drank it. "David decided he didn't want to take you to Kiros anymore and that, that…"
"I thought we agreed to Luca," Kim said as Tommy smiled at her as she derailed the conversation. It was obvious that she was more concerned with their son than anything else and he was happy to let her be distracted. "You were waiting for me again?"
"You've changed your mind a lot this time," Tommy stated as she rolled her eyes at him and then motioned for him to go on. "David decided that he just wanted to take Luca to Kiros and he…I'm just glad they got you here quickly."
"He ripped me open?" Kim whispered as Tommy nodded and pulled her into his side and she looped her arms around him. "It's what I saw. I just didn't know if it was this world or another world. Is he alive?"
"He is. Kiros isn't," Tommy stated as she stared up at him and he shook his head. He didn't like any of the memories that were running through his mind right now. "Dr. Schutely is going to have a hay day with this one."
"Ah…Kimberly- it's good to see you awake," Robert said as he walked into the room and she glanced over at him before giving Tommy a questioning gaze. "I don't think we ever told you that I was a surgeon- you're at the Power Ranger hospital and…well…you gave us all a scare. Tommy- can you give us a couple of minutes to chat?"
"There's no way in hell I'm leaving this room until she's able to- so do what you gotta do Doc," Tommy stated as Robert chuckled, but held his hands up in surrender. Tommy gently placed Kimberly back against the bed and stood up to let Robert have full access to her. Robert walked over to Kimbelry and slowly propped her up a bit more and she let out a groan. "Robert."
"We need to get her up and moving- it will help, but the first part of that is making sure that everything is still holding well. If it is- we'll get a physical therapist in here to help her get moving safely," Robert explained as Tommy crossed his arms and then motioned that he could continue. Kim glanced between the two of them before grabbing Robert's hands for a moment. She stared into his eyes and he stilled- he had seen that look before, years ago, and it shook him to his core to see it again. "I know, but your son is fine and this wasn't your time."
"Thank you," Kim said as he pulled up the hospital gown and she got the first glimpse at how extensive her injuries were. Gauze covered most of her stomach and she noticed drainage tubes coming from multiple places, a glance at Tommy told her that he had not seen the damage up close either. Robert gently removed the gauze and she gasped as she saw the extent of what her scars would be. Her previous c-section scar had nothing on this- David had intended to kill her and that very thought made her blood run cold. "To-Tommy…he…he can't…"
"He's being treated for his wounds and is under around the clock guard. I'm not leaving this room unless you're with me. They will be deciding his fate before we leave," Tommy stated as he caught the terror in her eyes and he walked back over to her. She threw her arms around him and Robert took a few steps back. Everything looked fine and it was much more important that she be with her soulmate. "Baby…"
"Can I hold him?" Kim asked as she glanced over at Robert and he nodded before Tommy unwrapped his arms from around her. He picked Luca up and he let out a yawn before snuggling into Kimberly's arms. "Hey Luca, I'm your mom."
"Heard she woke up," Thomas said as he knocked on the door and Tommy looked up from feeding Luca and nodded for him to come in. "You need to get some rest."
"Are you the night guard?" Tommy asked and Thomas nodded as he settled down across from him. "And Katy is alright with that?"
"Tyler and Devin have karate tonight. It goes better when I don't go…the Sensei isn't a fan of having someone more experienced in the room," Thomas said as Tommy gave him a confused look. "Blake Bradley. I rode his ass a bit when he was a ranger. He's not in the mentorship pipeline, but he has a great dojo and the boys love him. He still hates my guts."
"I shouldn't find that funny…" Tommy trailed off as he tried to force back a laugh, but utterly failed. "Blake was a handful though."
"Want me to take him? And is there a reason you don't have a cot?" Thomas asked as Tommy grabbed a burp cloth and then placed Luca on his chest. Thomas patted the boy's back and watched as Tommy moved Kimberly over in the bed before crawling in. "That explains it."
"Now that she's awake- they want us to use every bit of our soulmate bond. I don't know that either one of us truly realized how much we helped each other heal when we were teenagers…" Tommy trailed off as Thomas just nodded and he let out a sigh. "Wake me if he gets too cranky."
"I think me and little dude will be just fine. Rest…I'll only wake you up if I have to leave," Thomas said as he heard Tommy's snore and he let out a chuckle. Katy had told him that Tommy was barely keeping his eyes open, so it didn't really surprise him that he dropped so quickly. Thomas looked down at Luca and let out a sigh. He looked so much like JJ- even more than their other son did. He could not help but be jealous of Tommy and all the years he was going to get with Kimberly. However, he knew that he had fit in a lifetime of loving his Kimberly while he had her and if the choice was never having Kimberly or losing her- he would take having her every single time.
"They left you on stand in dad duty?" Jason joked as he knocked at the door and Thomas looked back at him with a grin. "I'd be more worried about you taking off with Luca than anyone else."
"It's a good thing he is solidly knocked out, but you probably shouldn't joke about that again," Thomas said as he settled Luca on his legs and the little boy stared at him with wide eyes. "You're here to see how I'm doing?"
"Yeah, there have been a lot of changes in the last couple of months. JJ is in line to be top of his class and has prophet powers- which is a hell of a combo. David helped get Kiros to Kimberly- twice. Your soulmate is back with a different version of you as her husband and she's obviously lived past twenty. I think we have a right to be a bit concerned," Jason stated as he pulled up another chair and blocked the doorway. Thomas raised an eyebrow and Jason let out a sigh. "David knocked out Scott and Flynn- the entire hospital is in lockdown. We knew you were headed in here for the night- so we didn't broadcast it, but…"
"We're also doubling down on no one getting in here that isn't supposed to," Thomas provided and Jason nodded. "I hate to say this, but he should have killed him."
"I know and if they had the same code we have- he probably would have," Jason stated as Thomas let out another sigh and Luca let out an exponentially cuter one in his lap. "He looks so much like JJ."
"I know- their oldest son is named after you too, but he didn't look this much like JJ," Thomas said as the door cracked open and they both looked up to see Rocky peeking his head in. Jason moved back and let Rocky in. "You have news?"
"No, they sent me here to give you some extra back up," Rocky stated as Thomas let out a groan. "This isn't on Scott or Flynn, Thomas. Don't go too hard on them."
"I wasn't planning on it- I know the training that David had. I also know he dropped me, Tommy, and Katy to get to her. Are we sure he's still in the hospital?" Thomas asked as they nodded. "How are we sure of that?"
"Because he said he wanted to finish what he started," Jason stated as Thomas let out a string of curses. "We should probably wake him up."
"No- he hasn't slept for more than a few minutes at a time in three days," Thomas said as they gave him a questioning look. "We want him to be semi-fresh if David does get in here- he can still tap into his ranger powers."
"Seriously?" Rocky asked as Thomas nodded that that was the case. "How?"
"When I was in their world- I had some time to look through their Command Center logs. I may have had two sets of powers, he's had six- it's fused with him," Thomas said as they stared at him. "I told you- their world is behind in many ways and apparently ahead in others. JJ, Kira, and this little guy all have inherited powers…I'm a tenth generation Power Ranger and don't have that."
"You know we're going to have to put David before a tribunal," Jason stated and Thomas nodded. "Can you do that?"
"He's an accomplice in Kimberly's death- I think I won't have a problem," Thomas retorted as they nodded. "So- who decided it was a good idea to have three reds in here?"
"Robert suggested it and I guess technically, it's probably four," Rocky said as he nodded towards Tommy and Thomas nodded his head in agreement. "Do we really think he'll be stupid enough to even attempt this?"
"He walked into my house to abduct her- he's absolutely willing to try this," Thomas said as Luca let out a cry and he moved him to his shoulder and gently bounced the baby boy back to sleep. "I do hope they find him first, I don't want to have to tell my mom that I killed my brother."
Kimberly stretched against Tommy's chest and slowly opened her eyes. She hadn't expected him to climb into the hospital bed with her, but she was so grateful he did. The soreness in her body had almost disappeared and she felt like she could take a deep breath without pain. She tested that and let out a contented sigh before she looked around the room. She froze as she saw Jason and Rocky laid in front of the door. Thomas was softly singing to Luca and doing the patented parent bounce.
"What's happened?" Kim whispered as Thomas froze and looked over at her. He grimaced before Luca let out a cry and he then started singing and bouncing again. "Pass him here and tell me what's going on."
"David escaped his guard," Thomas stated as Kim closed her eyes and she looked over at Tommy. She felt the fear creeping up and tried her best to fight it down. "They've locked down the hospital, but they haven't found him yet."
"He…he can't…" Kim stuttered as tears streamed down her cheeks and Thomas closed his eyes. He hated seeing her look like this. When he opened his eyes, Tommy had wrapped her in his arms and was giving him a confused look.
"David escaped his guard," Thomas repeated and Tommy nodded as he rocked Kim back and forth. "That's it?"
"He won't walk out of here if he's stupid enough to walk in here," Tommy seethed as Thomas nodded. "There a reason you didn't wake me?"
"They showed up about three minutes after you passed out," Thomas said as he motioned towards Jason and Rocky and Tommy turned around to see them on the floor. "Plus- we tried somewhere around 2 am and you weren't waking up for anything short of well…apparently her being upset."
"He will not get you. Either of you," Tommy whispered as Kim shook in his arms and he felt his anger rising. They had been in lots of horrible situations, but this was the first time that she had gotten this close to death. While he was still her comfort- this terrified her in ways that he had never seen before. "Beautiful…we're all getting home."
"How do you know that?" Kim said, wildly, as her breath started to become uneven and Tommy quickly grabbed both sides of her face and tilted her eyes to where they would meet his. "How can you…"
"Hey, hey, hey…breathe with me," Tommy whispered as she finally locked eyes with him and he watched her match his breathing. Over the minutes he slowly got her to calm down, but he felt that the panic was just right there, it would not take much to tip over.
"I'm sorry…I don't know what's going on with me," Kim muttered as he pulled her into his chest and she let the sobs roll out of her. "I've never been this…this way after…"
"We can go get someone if you want," Jason said as Tommy gave him a grateful look, but shook his head. Jason's phone rang and he stepped outside so that Tommy had a chance to calm Kim.
"Remember after the twins?" Tommy whispered as she nodded her head against his chest. "Remember how you went from sobbing to pissed off to insanely happy in like three minutes?"
"Yeah," Kim whispered as she pulled back ever so slightly to look up at him. "Shit."
"Yeah, it's fine. This time is just a bit more intense and comes with someone trying to kill the both of you," Tommy stated as she let out a sigh and then nodded. "We can stay here as long as you need to, hun."
"They found him," Jason said as he put down his cellphone and they all turned towards him. "Can we borrow you for a bit Tommy? He's refusing to talk to anyone else."
"Go. Between Thomas and Rocky- I think we'll be okay," Kim said as Tommy let out a heavy sigh, but nodded. If David wanted him- he was going to get him.