Note: All Disclaimers in Part One. If you think the shift in perception (read: between male and female pronouns) is confusing, try writing it! : ) Contains scenes of a sexual nature not suitable for minors. DB

Jason awoke to the sensation of being pressed against smooth, silky skin all along his body, and soft lips nibbling and licking at his mouth. He stretched sensuously, moaning his delight, without opening his eyes; his lover was doing incredible things to him, and he certainly didn't want to get distracted!

Mmh, Tammy.... he dimly wondered at her lack of inhibition as a warm hand skimmed down his side, over his hipbone and along his thigh. The warm lips closed over his, and a moist tongue-tip slid along the seam, gently teasing his mouth open. A sweet thrill coursed through him, and he reached out with his own tongue to return the caress. The taste was familiar and oh-so-intoxicating; arching into the hot body holding him close, he abandoned himself to sensation.

What a way to wake up!

The skilled mouth wandered lower, trailing tiny nip-kisses down his throat. Long strands of silky hair brushed against his skin, stimulating every nerve-cell on their way; Jason moaned again, and was rewarded with a wicked chuckle. Was it his imagination, or was there something wrong with both their voices? He tried to pry his sleep-heavy eyes open, but was distracted by the hot wetness fastening on his right nipple. He hissed sharply at the tingles shooting directly into his groin, and tensed for a moment, only to relax blissfully as a knowledgeable hand covered the juncture of his thighs and slipped between, to delve deeply into the damp folds. A finger dipped into the waiting channel, and Jason let his legs fall open to allow deeper penetration, when all of a sudden his brain registered exactly what he was feeling.

Dark eyes snapped open and he jerked up from the pillows, only to be met by a laughing pair of very familiar brown ones. Frantic, Jason looked around. It was daylight; the room was the same he'd entered last night with Tammy, only Tammy was not the person holding him possessively close. Instead of cuddling up to a lithe, willowy young woman, he was in bed, naked, with ....

"Tommy?!?" His voice was a startled squeak.

"Did you expect someone else, love?" Tommy's voice shook with suppressed laughter as he slid his hand teasingly deeper between the smooth legs. The sensation sent another flash of heat to the throbbing place between his thighs, and Jason let his eyes wander down there. Horrified, he noticed things he'd never expected to see on his own body: instead of a broad expanse of chest and sculpted abs, he saw full, nicely-rounded breasts, their brown tips still erect, and past the smoothly rounded curve of his belly, nestled between the triangle of dark curls, there was -- nothing?

"Oh my God!" Throwing Tommy off with desperate strength, he bounded out of bed to come to a halt in front of the dresser mirror. Jason stared at the reflected image. Only hours ago, he'd stood in the exact same place, holding Tammy close and caressing her sweet mounds; what he saw now was another young woman with short dark hair, tanned creamy skin and a knock-out figure.The worst thing, though, was that that young woman unmistakeably wore his own face.

Oh Lord.....I've been switched again! Something else occurred to him. Tammy -- what happened to you? He felt sick with worry and his own loss. Sending up a frantic prayer to the Powers-that-be, he could only hope that she'd gotten her 'own' Jason back -- and that his alter ego wouldn't hurt her when he suddenly found himself in bed with a girl he couldn't even remember kissing!

Talk about "morning-after" shock!

His own shock doubled as Tommy stepped up behind him and closed strong arms around his waist, pulling him gently against his naked chest.

"Jess?"

Jason groaned. Part of him wanted nothing more than to lean into that embrace, but he knew he mustn't. Before he could react, Tommy pressed a soft kiss against the side of his neck, sending shivers down his spine.

"What's wrong, love?"

The sensual, concerned voice wrapped itself around Jason's reeling mind, just as the strong arms wrapped themselves around his body, which was suddenly covered in goosebumps. His nipples contracted. Suddenly aware of his state of undress, Jason blushed hotly and tore himself free, casting about for some -- any -- garment. Snatching up a dark green terry cloth robe, he hastily covered himself.

Tommy watched him with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment.

"Don't you think it's a little late to go all shy on me, Jess? If I didn't know better, I'd say you're actually embarrassed for me to see you au naturel."

Jason tried to form words, but his voice seemed to have gotten lost. His face burning, he desperately looked anywhere but at the familiar naked body of his best friend. Tommy and he had showered together after phys. ed. or a workout often enough that they were used to each other; nudity had never been a problem. Now, however, Jason could hardly bring himself to look at his own body -- or at least the one he inhabited right now -- much less at the man who all too obviously was this girl's lover.

Tommy was getting worried. Jess and he had spent the night at his parents' house; he knew she was still a bit shy about sharing his bed whenever they were with family, but they'd been living together for almost two years now, ever since they started classes at AGU. However, she'd never reacted quite like this before. He didn't think he'd hurt her; after all, they often woke each other by a little seduction, if they had the time. Everything had seemed fine, her response to his lovemaking as sensuous and passionate as always, until he'd slipped a finger into her tight little pussy. Jess had never bolted like that, not even their first time, when she'd been still unsure of her sexuality. Now, she seemed almost .....terrified?

"Jessie, what is it?"

He tried to make his voice as soothing as he knew how as he stepped closer and reached out to draw her into his embrace. Panicked, she took a step backwards and caught up against the dresser. Her dark eyes, usually looking at him with love and trust, were wide with something he was hard put not to call fright. Her sweet lips trembled as she worked to formulate a reply to his question. When she finally found her voice, it was hoarse with strain.

"C-could you g-get...dressed?"

Tommy would do everything if it made her feel better.

"Sure."

He looked around, then quirked a smile at her.

"You're wearing my robe."

Jason looked down at the roomy garment. Dimly he remembered that it had been a Christmas present to Tommy from his grandmother shortly after he'd moved to Angel Grove. He hardly ever wore it, though. Fighting another blush, he cast frantically about, when Tommy's hand held out a smaller, peach-coloured robe. Taking it with trembling hands, he was about to unfasten the green belt, when he realized he couldn't change without displaying himself to Tommy once more. He helplessly closed his eyes. Tommy, bless him, seemed to understand his dilemma.

"Do you want me to turn around?"

" P-please?"

Tommy turned his well-muscled back towards Jason, and he swiftly slipped out of the terry robe into the lighter garment. The clingy material felt wonderful against his naked skin, but Jason hardly noticed. Hesitantly, he touched his best friend's arm with his robe and sighed with relief as they both were dressed -- well, almost, anyway.

"Is this better?" Tommy asked, as he tied his belt. Jess was looking less harried now, but still wouldn't quite meet his eyes. She slowly edged past him to sit on the edge of the bed they'd shared only minutes ago. She absently ran her hand over the rumpled cover, and Tommy had to fight the urge to simply haul her into his arms. She looked so lost sitting there, clutching the lapels of her robe tightly, that he almost couldn't stand it. Instead, he waited for her to make the next move.

"Y-yes."

"Jess, what's wrong? Whatever it is, it can't be that bad, can it? You know I'm there for you."

Jess didn't answer his anxious questions. Instead, she gazed up at him with a look he couldn't indentify, but it formed a cold ball of dread in his stomach.

"Jess?"

"Is that my name?"

"What?!?"

Tommy couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Suddenly weak-kneed, he sank down on the mattress next to her, stunned. It registered only marginally that she wasn't shying away from him any longer.

The woman he loved looked at him with a curious half-smile, and sighed.

"Please.....bear with me? I....I'll explain everything in a moment, but....I need to know a few things first. C-can you do that?"

"I.....of course. I'd do anything for you; you know that. I love you."

"Oh , Tommy..." she collected herself with a visible effort. Drawing a deep breath, she squared her shoulders in an all-too familiar gesture and looked at him with serious dark eyes. Tommy swallowed hard. "Shoot."

"Would you tell me who I am?"

Now thoroughly bewildered, Tommy stared at her for long moments. Reading only a genuine desire to know in her eyes, he shook his head once, but complied.

"You're Jess --- Jessica Leigh Scott, age twenty. Your parents are John and Helen, and you grew up here in Angel Grove. You're very active in sports, ever since school -- you were AGH's star pentathlete -- and you're studying to get your coaching license in track and field. We've known each other since freshman year -- since I moved here -- and we've been together for four years now. We.....we've been living together almost since graduation...." Tommy's voice trailed off as he noticed the blush spreading over her face, accompanied by the shadow of a smile.

"Track and field, huh?"

"Yeah; you've won every meet you ever competed in, at least for as long as I've known you."

"What about.....Martial Arts?" There was a strange wistfulness in Jess's smoky voice.

Tommy grinned ruefully.

"You never wanted me, or any of the others, to teach you. You always said you were fast enough to outrun any attacker, and that there was no need for it. Guess you were right, too.Why?"

"Later. What about.....what about the Rangers?"

Tommy froze. He'd always regretted the lies he'd had to tell her; he didn't like to think of the times he'd had to run out of her because of his communicator going off. Things were easier now with a new team in training; they'd served longer than Zordon had ever intended, and Dimitria told them it would not be much longer now. Thankfully, Jess had always trusted him enough not to ask, and he'd never told her -- the old promises still held. So, how could she.........

Jason noticed his reaction, but only because he was looking for it. It caused him a strange kind of pain to realize that in this reality, he'd obviously never been chosen by Zordon, had never known the feeling what it was like to morph, to defend his world from Evil.

"I was never on the team, was I?"

Her phrasing showed Tommy one thing: Jess -- or rather, the person who looked like the woman he loved but couldn't possibly be her -- knew about being a Power Ranger. About him being a Ranger; at least. Cautiously, he shook his head no.

Jess (what WAS her name? He couldn't keep on calling her by that name!) sighed again. Unconsciously, she reached for his hand, squeezing it gently.

"Tommy ---- I'm not from this reality. At least, my.....mind, or personality, I guess......isn't. I got caught in a 'random reality warp', I think Billy called it. What it amounts to is that I'm -- whatever makes me me-- being transferred into my counterparts' bodies in different universes, or realities. For example, back home I'm not yet twenty years old; I just turned eighteen, and I haven't graduated High School yet."

That wasn't all, not by a long shot; Tommy knew that as surely as he knew the sun was rising in the east each morning. Almost dreading the answer, but needing to know, he made himself ask.

"W-what's your name?"

This was the hard part. Blushing unaccountably --This isn't my fault! It isn't! -- Jason looked right into his best friend's eyes.

"Jason. Jason Lee Scott."

Tommy dropped his hand as if it'd suddenly turned white-hot. Blanching visibly, he gulped.

"Y-you're .... a guy?"

Jason couldn't help the snort of laughter. "Yeah. That's about the reaction I had when it happened to me the first time and I found you as a girl."

"Oh man." Tommy slumped on the bed. His reaction was so much like what Jason expected, he felt inexplicably better. Not much, but .... better. He knew that Tommy's experiences as a Ranger would help him accept the situation; if nothing else, it had taught all of them that nothing was ever so strange that it couldn't get stranger still. This whole thing had to take the cake, though. He waited for Tommy to take it all in.

Numbly, Tommy looked at the girl next to him. His mind would have liked to deny everything he'd just been told, but something in his gut told him it was true, weird as it sounded. It also explained Jess's -- no, Jason's -- reaction to finding herself -- himself, damnit! -- in bed with him. Involuntarily, he had to grin. He sneaked a look at the familiar curves, clad only in clingy apricot satin. He felt his unsatisfied passion rise again. Almost guiltily, he reined himself back in.

"What do I call you?" The question was so normal, for want of a better word, that both had to chuckle. It relieved a lot of the tension. The dark eyes sparkled mischievously. Tommy almost reached out to touch, the look on the gamine face was so familiar.

"Well, 'my' Tommy calls me Jase, or bro." Tommy felt something almost akin to jealousy at the unmistakeable warmth in the husky voice. He had to remind himself sharply that there was absolutely no call for that. This was not 'his' Jess talking, this was......

"I can't call you 'bro'!"

"No," Jason laughed. "What would people think?" Sobering again, he gave the matter some thought. "I guess 'Jess' is okay; it's close enough to Jase that I'll react when someone addresses me. Besides, it's easier for you. What with your faulty memory, and all..."

"What faulty memory? My memory's working just fine, thank you very much!"

"Oh." Her face fell, as if she'd just lost something dear to her.

A million and a half questions were whirling through Tommy's mind. Before he could voice even one of them, however, his mother knocked on the door.

"Tommy? Jess? Are you up yet? Breakfast's ready."

"Coming, mom!" Tommy looked at the stranger with his lover's face. "Listen -- we'll talk about this later, okay?" He received an affirmative nod. "We'd better get dressed and out of here; we can sort out everything at home."

"Okay."

Tommy got up, only to discover that his knees were slightly wobbly. He started to untie his robe, when he caught Je--Jase's expression. He grinned. "You....uh....want to use the bathroom first?"

"Yeah." She -- he -- damn, this was going to be hard! -- crossed over to the bathroom door. Suddenly, she stopped. Yet another flood of crimson stained her cheeks. "Uh....Tommy?" He looked up, a question in his eyes.

"Where are my clothes?"

Tommy picked up their overnight bag, rummaged around for his underwear and a fresh shirt, and handed the bag to Jess. He'd be damned if he confused himself any further; she looked like his Jess, and if her name and body were the only familiar things about her left, at least for the time being, he was not letting himself forget that! She took the bag with a mumbled thanks and disappeared from the room. Suddenly, a thought occurred to Tommy, and he nearly laughed out loud. If it really was a guy occupying Jess's body, he was in for a BIG surprise!

Jason hurried through his shower, angry at himself that he actually felt embarrassed washing himself. It just was too strange touching this soft, curvy body; he'd felt himself colour up as he ran his hands over the full, firm breasts and between his legs. This was so ridiculous! It wasn't as if he was feeling up a stranger; this was his body, at least for now! Towelling off, he automatically started to reach for the shaving kit. He'd already opened the can of shaving cream, when he caught his own face in the mirror. Sheepishly, he stared for a full minute until he slowly stowed it away again.

Well, that's one thing less to worry about!

Then, he pulled out the clothes his alter ego had packed.

"OH NO!!!!"

Tommy leaned next to the door, waiting for Jess to come out. He'd heard her shout and was grinning broadly as she stepped hesitantly back into his old room, fidgetting in the unfamiliar clothes. Her face was a bright shade of crimson, but her eyes were flashing dark fire.

"Not one word, Tommy Oliver; not one - single - word !"

"Who, me?" He ducked her arm --- only not fast enough; to his everlasting surprise, she grabbed him, executed a twisting motion, another swift turn and shove, and he found himself ignominiously held up against the wall, immobilized. He knew he could get out of her grip easily; after all, he had a good six inches on her, and the weight advantage, but Jess had never been able to do something like that. He looked at her, incredulously. She released him abruptly, stepped back and gave him a saccharine smile.

"Did I mention that back home, I'm not into track and field, but Karate? I'm a fourth Dan, just like you."

With an effort, Tommy controlled his voice. Her expert maneuver brought the change home to him like nothing else could have done.

"Guess I'd better be careful with what I say from now on, huh?" He had to keep this light for now, or he'd lose his mind.

"You bet." She turned away, the momentary spark gone again. "Go get ready; your mother's waiting for us." Without another word, Tommy vanished in the bathroom.

Jason wandered over to the dresser mirror once more. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. He'd expected the bra and the tiny panties -- only not that they would be so lacy and, well, provocative; when he'd ventured a look into the bathroom mirror once he'd figured out how to put the bra on (he'd tried leaving it off, but since his was an eighteen-year-old male mind, once he took a good look at himself he had to admit that that probably wasn't a good idea -- his counterpart had a dynamite figure, with generous curves), he'd nearly had a heart attack, he looked so sexy. He'd hoped for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt; instead, he got a short short denim skirt, and a skimpy white top that did not quite reach the waistband. Actually, he reflected, it was a lot like the things Kim used to wear when she wanted to drive Tommy to distraction. At least he wasn't punished with heels, as well; he'd found a pair of flats next to the bed. The woman looking back at him from the silvery surface wore his face -- the eyes were the same, but his mouth looked softer, somehow; his skin was smooth, he wore two earrings instead of one, and his hair......absently, he picked up a brush from the dresser and ran it through his locks. He'd tried a longer style once, but hadn't liked it; apparently, Jess thought so, too, because she had a sassy, feathery cut which emphasized her cheekbones and eyes. The dark strands, still damp from his shower, fell easily into place and would dry on their own.

Jason felt eyes on him and looked up. In the mirror, he saw Tommy a few feet behind him, looking at him with a puzzled, slightly sad smile. He turned slowly as Tommy came up to him and rested his hands on his shoulders, squeezing gently. Jason marvelled that he had to look so far up; while this body wasn't exactly short, it was definitely shorter than he was used to. Normally, he and Tommy were almost eye to eye.

"Don't worry; we'll find a way out of this mess. We just have to hang in there for a while -- both of us."

Jason nodded wordlessly. Tommy bent towards him as if to kiss him, but he stiffened; after a moment, the warm hands fell off his shoulder, leaving him cold inside and out. Instead, Tommy held out a hand.

"We're friends, right?" Tommy couldn't tell how he knew, but was certain of it.

"Best friends," Jason confirmed.

"That's what I thought. Come on. I'm with you, no matter what." It was something Tommy had told him countless times, back where he belonged. It sounded as if he'd said it not for the first time here, either. Jason let out a breath he hadn't been aware of holding, and put his own hand into his friend's. Together. The thought echoed through both minds, and was reflected in two pairs of brown eyes.

Simultaneously drawing deep breaths, they squared their shoulders and turned towards the door. Noticing the other's identical reaction, both had to chuckle. Tommy squeezed the slender hand once and smiled.

"Let's go."

Hand in hand, the two left the room.

.....and you get not one, not two, not five.....(Zap!) .....What is the Declaration of......(Zap!) .....And the price of this wonderful.... (Click.)

Disgusted, Jason threw the TV remote on the coffee table. He was bored out of his skull, and it was beginning to tell. It had been four days since he'd been transported into Jess's body, and the only times he ever got out of the tiny apartment his alter ego shared with Tommy was when Tommy was with him. He normally had no problem being close to his best friend, but these were hardly normal circumstances. Jess was no longer a High School student, but had been attending college for two years now; the risk of someone discovering that he was not, in fact, Jess Scott, was simply too high if he went in her stead. As a consequence, he was condemned to stay at home, ostensibly sick, while Tommy went to his own classes and arranged for someone else to copy notes for Jess. The long hours with nothing to do but read and watch TV were slowly but surely making Jason stir-crazy. While the apartment was big enough for two people who were as close as those two They're lovers, for heaven's sake! What did you expect?, it was not exactly spacious; after all, they were college students, with a student's budget. Tommy and Jess simply couldn't afford anything bigger. That fact added another worry -- he couldn't cook. Eating out every day simply was not an option; ergo, they had imposed on the Olivers twice already, or made do with canned food, which slowly but surely eroded their normally healthy appetites.

Jason would never have imagined how much the lack of personal space would affect him, either; he had nothing he really could call his own, from a room down to his clothes. He groaned as he thought of those. As if it wasn't disturbing enough that he was stranded in a girl's body, that girl also owned not one pair of really comfortable jeans. Instead, her closet was filled with skimpy skirts and shorts, tight shirts, and the only pair of jeans he'd tried looked as if they'd been spray-painted onto his legs. They showed every line and fold of those tiny little panties Jess favoured; what he wouldn't give for a pair of boxers! He'd tried Tommy's, but they wouldn't stay on; besides, it looked too ridiculous to wear roomy, baggy shorts with those lacy bras he had to wear as well. He groaned again and plucked at one narrow strap cutting into his shoulder. He desperately wished he could just leave the bloody things off altogether, but Jess was just a bit too... well-endowed to make that feasible. He'd tried it in the privacy of the apartment once, but found himself bouncing all over the place; while it hadn't been exactly uncomfortable, it had been damned distracting.......not only for him, but for Tommy as well.

Tommy.....now there was another problem, and it was fast becoming the biggest. Jason couldn't recall how many awkward and downright embarrassing moments they'd had once they'd returned to the apartment. At first, he'd tried sleeping on the couch, but it was just too uncomfortable; two nights ago, Tommy had all but jumped down his throat.

So, that night Jason had reluctantly settled to sleep in the comfortable double bed; true to his word, Tommy hadn't done so much as reached out a hand to him. Slowly, they were developping a routine, but it was more difficult than either had imagined. They had compared notes on personal histories that first night, and Tommy had even reluctantly taken him to the Power Chamber, but Dimitria hadn't been able to give them any answers, either. She'd promised that Alpha 6 would research the matter of random reality warps, but didn't hold out much hope for a solution. Jason had gotten the impression that she was more interested in training the new team she'd picked than in helping a civilian friend of the current Rangers.

Here, he couldn't even hang out with the rest of their friends; college had scattered them to the four winds, and they barely managed to keep in touch for Ranger business as it was. Sighing, he got up, walked into the tiny kitchen and poured himself a soda. It was still another two hours until Tommy would be home, and suddenly Jason couldn't stand it anymore. Changing into a pair of sweatpants -- the only ones Jess owned, and much too warm for the day, but he'd rather melt than wear those flirty shorts -- and an old tee of Tommy's, he pocketed his keys and went for a run in the park.

Jason finally slowed down. Jogging had always been a part of his exercise routine, but he found that Jess's training made the experience far more than simple exercise. Muscular memory enabled him to achieve speeds and endurance he hadn't had before, and today, he'd hit the Jogger's High for the first time. As a consequence, he'd run longer and further than he'd intended, and it was time for him to head home, or Tommy would be worried. Running had calmed his mind, and without thinking he took the turn into Raleigh, which would take him over Bay Bridge to the off-campus area where Tommy and Jess lived.

Just as he cleared the bridge, Jason suddenly became aware of footsteps behind him. He'd slowed to a brisk walk by now, letting his muscles cool down gradually, and was only another ten minutes from his destination. Dusk had fallen, and the area he was passing through largely featured office buildings, which mostly had already closed for the day. He tried to quicken his pace, but the footsteps stayed behind him. Alert, he scanned his surroundings without turning. No-one was about. Then, just as he passed a corner, two young men in their mid-twenties stepped out before him. They were tall, beefy, rather scruffy-looking, and wore leather jackets with some sort of gang symbol painted on the side.

"Well, lookee what we have here!" One of them leered at his companion.

Jason stopped, his heartrate escalating.

"Someone with a really nice ass!", a raspy voice came from behind him. "Man, you shoulda seen how she moves it!"

"If she jiggles in back the way she's jiggling up front, it's gotta be good," the third one grinned, showing missing teeth. "How about sharing some of your stuff with us, baby?"

Jason shook his head, incredulous. He was being mugged?

"Listen," he tried. "If it's money you want, I don't have any. How about you just let me pass?"

"Oooh, she has no money! Didya hear that?" All three cackled and closed in around Jason. He moved a few steps toward the closest building, to keep his back free.

"You got sumthin' else what you can give us, baby," the first one added, glancing meaningfully at Jason's chest. Jason did not look down, but knew that his tee was sweat-stained and showed clearly the outline of his underwear. Mentally readying himself to fight, he tried once more to reason his way out of the situation.

"Guys -- why don't you just forget you ever saw me, and I'll do the same?"

"Or what? You gonna stab us to death with those boobs o'yours? It's you who's gonna get stabbed, but someplace else, babe!"

"I tell you, let me go!" Jason demanded, getting annoyed. He didn't want to fight, but if he had to ......

"No way, Jose. You got sumthin' you gonna share with us, toots; the only thing you can tell is who of us is gonna be first!"

"Hey, I'm first!" Jason's pursuer protested, stepping closer. The other two exchanged glances, and shrugged. "Just make sure you leave 'er fit enough to take us all!"

Jason felt the adrenaline pumping in his veins. Stancing slightly, he warned his assailants.

"I can take you, alright; but I'm not sure it's the way you think!"

"Hey, I like 'em spunky," the second one grinned, and lunged for Jason's breast. He never connected. Jason grabbed his arm, twisted, and flipped the man over his head. He hit the pavement with a thud. His two buddies looked perplexed for a moment, then rushed in with bellows of rage. Jason kicked one in the stomach and engaged the third, while the first picked himself up. Lucky for him, the three were unarmed, relying on their superior strength and number to attack hapless victims. They hadn't counted on picking a fourth-grade black belt.

Jason fought with the three thugs for some time; normally, he should've been able to defeat them easily, but his timing was off due to the changed center of balance in his female body, and his punches and kicks had not quite the same effect as he was used to. He simply did not have the weight and sheer muscle mass to put as much power behind his moves. As a consequence, he was thrown about quite a bit before skill and determination conquered pure brawn and blind rage. Finally, one of the three ran afoul of a roundhouse kick, fell and broke his arm. His howl of pain stopped the attack. The other two punks grabbed him and hauled him off into the darkness, cursing and threatening until the gathering night swallowed them.

Jason leaned against the nearest wall, panting hard. He could have kicked himself for taking this route; even in his own Angel Grove it wasn't particularly safe for a lone woman to walk here after dark. He just hadn't thought; his actions had broken almost every rule he and Tommy had tried to teach in their Women's Self-Defense class all those years ago. Buddy system, yelling for help -- yeah, right! What's the saying -- 'Do as I tell you, not do as I do'? Idiot! Shaking his head at his own stupidity, Jason painfully made his way home, every step making him more and more aware of the scrapes and bruises the encounter had left him with.

Tommy was studying in the living room as he heard the key move in the lock and was off the couch in a flash. He'd come home to find a half-empty glass of soda in the kitchen and no trace of Jess. At first he tried to be reasonable; she was not a prisoner, although they'd agreed it would be better if she didn't go out on her own. Up to a point, he even sympathized with his unexpected 'guest'; if he were in Jason's shoes, he'd go bonkers at being cooped up so long, as well. However, when it got dark and Jess didn't return, he started to worry. Some instinct told him that this had gone way beyond the need of getting out, but he couldn't even imagine where to begin a search. Forgetting what Jason had told him about his fighting abilities, he was almost frantic for Jess; she was fast, yes, but there were situations where speed alone would not help her. Now that she'd returned, his worry was quickly replaced by anger. With a few long steps, he strode into the narrow hallway.

"Just what the hell did you think...........oh my God!" He was brought up short by the sight of Jess, clothes torn and dirty, an ugly bruise on her face, knuckles scraped and bleeding, as she limped through the door.

"Jess!"

He pulled her into his arms, careful not to hurt her further.

"What happened?" Absently, he shoved the door shut.

"I got mugged. They tried to, anyway."

"Mugged? They? God, Jess, what happened?" Carefully, he steered her into the living room, pushing his books and papers out of the way so she could sit. He winced in sympathy as she let herself down with a grimace of pain.

Jason looked up at him tiredly.

"I went running in the park; I didn't mean to stay so long, but it felt so good to be outside......anyway, I took the turn over Bay Bridge..." Tommy interrupted him.

"Jess, how could you? That area..." He put a grubby hand on Tommy's arm and squeezed gently.

"I know. It was stupid, and I won't do it again. As I was saying, right after I'd crossed the bridge, I noticed I was being followed. Then, these other two guys came round a corner, and when I told them I didn't have any money to give them, they went for something else, I guess."

Tommy's blood ran cold. How could she sit here, cool as a cucumber, and tell him that three hoodlums tried to ... to rape her? Jason saw the colour draining from his face. Hurriedly, he tried to reassure him.

"Tommy, I'm fine. Nothing happened!"

He exploded.

"Fine? Look at you! You say nothing's happened, and you look like you've survived a major disaster! How can you..."

Jason saw the fear and anger in Tommy's eyes, and knew he'd feel the same if their situation had been reversed. Tired, exhausted, aching in places he didn't even knew he had, he didn't think, he just reacted. He reached up, caught Tommy round the neck and pulled his head down. The kiss was a little fierce, a little angry, and very loving. It lasted far too long, and was over far too soon. Their lips clung, telling the other things that both had agreed in the beginning to leave unsaid. It was over almost as soon as it had begun. Jason's hand fell back, and Tommy reared back up. Both breathed just a bit harder. Jason let his head fall on the backrest of the recliner, and closed his eyes. He was too sore to think about what had just happened.

Tommy's head was swimming. The past few days had been so hard -- living with Jess and not being able to touch, reminding himself constantly that the person sharing his home was not really the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, but an eighteen-year-old former Power Ranger -- a male Ranger, at that -- who was stranded here through a fluke event in the body of his Jess. If only they weren't so alike! Jason's personality was a lot like Jess; more assertive, more aggressive in some ways, but they still shared the same values, the slightly wicked sense of humour, the warmth and honesty that had drawn him to Jess almost right away. Sometimes he just forgot that Jess wasn't really there, and reached out for a quick kiss, a brief touch. It had seemed to him that there were moments when Jason had the same problem, and he'd wondered at the kind of relationship he shared with that other Tommy. However, both of them had always managed to catch themselves in time. Not so tonight. Tommy ached with the need to hold that sweet body close, to bury himself within her and forget the outside world, but he couldn't. It wouldn't be fair to either of them -- and not to Jess, either. If only he didn't miss her so much!

Recalling himself to the present with difficulty, he took a closer look at the scrapes and bruises marring Jess/Jason's skin. Now that was something he could do something about!

"Let me get some peroxide and the band-aids," he suggested, trying hard to keep his voice from cracking. He still shuddered at the thought that Jess could have been hurt.

Jason blearily opened one eye. Moaning slightly at the thought of getting up (and unwittingly sending a jolt of arousal straight into Tommy's groin at the sound -- it was so much like when he made love to Jess!), he muttered a protest. Tommy, however, overruled him. He was gently hauled to his feet and propelled in the general direction of the bedroom.

"Go get into your sleepwear and come back here; I'll see to your injuries, feed you some soup, and then you can go to sleep. Don't argue!" He added the last with a tiny grin as he saw that Jess was about to protest. "Shoo!"

That surprised a small snort of laughter out of Jason. "Shoo? Did you just tell me to 'shoo'?"

"Yeah. You have a problem with that?"

Jason's mouth twitched with suppressed mirth.

"You bet I do. Just wait till I'm not so tired anymore; I'll get you for this, Oliver!"

Tommy grinned more broadly. "You and what army? Now scoot!"

His dark eyes promising dire consequences, Jason scooted. Once in the bedroom, he struggled out of his clothes. They were a total loss. Picking up the large t-shirt he slept in, he eyed it consideringly, then shuffled into the bathroom and climbed into the shower. Wincing, he let the hot water sluice the sweat and grime away. When he returned to the living room, Tommy had a bowl of soup ready and sat on the couch, first-aid kit next to him. Gently, he looked after the small wounds, to his everlasting relief finding them worse-looking than they actually were.

Jason gratefully accepted Tommy's ministrations. He'd had worse injuries while playing football for AGH, but it felt good to be so close to his best friend; for the moment, the barriers between them were down.

Tommy carefully dabbed peroxide on the biggest scrape which had been hidden by the torn sweats. He desperately wanted to run his hands along the silky thigh, but dared not; they were so close right now, he didn't want to spoil the moment. Finished, he sat back.

"All done. Now eat, and then go to bed."

"Yes, mom," Jason said in a small voice.

Tommy looked up, startled. Seeing the mischievous gleam in Jess's eyes, he almost pulled her close. Instead, he swatted her gently. "Don't sass me. Eat!"

Both shared a grin. Grumbling under his breath, Jason obeyed, then wandered off. Sighing, he snuggled under the covers, closing his eyes. Sleep was long in coming, though. Now that the adrenaline had completely worn off and he came to rest, he ached all over. He seemed unable to find a comfortable position, but could not toss and turn, he was so sore. After a couple of hours, he gave up. He was developping a headache; besides, he'd forgotten to take his Pill. That was another thing -- that first night, Tommy had handed him the small package, telling him that Jess practised birth control. Logical, yes, but damned embarrassing nonetheless. Jason knew very little about these things; none of the girls he'd been with had been on the Pill, but he didn't want to disrupt Jess's and Tommy's life more than his unwitting appearance had already done, so he resigned himself to swallowing one tiny yellow tablet every night before he went to sleep. Padding into the kitchen, he rummaged around for the Tylenol, poured a glass of water and took both at the same time.

On his way back to bed, he glanced in on Tommy, who was sitting at his desk, with his desk lamp the only light in the room. He held a small dark object in his hand, together with the large 8x10 of Jess -- the one inscripted with "I'll love you forever". Jason had often looked at the smiling face so like his own, wondering how the young woman fared in his reality.

Tommy looked so forlorn, Jason couldn't just turn away. On silent feet, he moved up behind Tommy. Coming closer, he saw that he held a jeweller's box. A sinking feeling spread through his stomach. What had his appearance cost those two?

Tommy didn't acknowledge his presence right away; he continued to look at the portrait. After a while, just as Jason was about to turn away again, he spoke into the darkness.

"I wanted to ask her to marry me."

Jason hardly dared to breathe. Swallowing past his dry throat, he whispered, "D-did you change your mind?"

"No. It's just....." Tommy paused. His voice turned a bit hoarse with pain.

"I.....I wanted to ask her on the 24th." That was a little over a week away, Jason knew.

"It's the anniversary of the day we first made love."

"Tommy....." Jason felt his throat constrict. His first 'stop' had lasted for a month; if there was a pattern, Jess might not be back by then.

Both were silent. Finally, at a loss for what to say, he asked the first thing that came to mind.

"May I see it?"

After a few moments, Tommy handed the small box over. Inside was a narrow gold band with a modest diamond, flanked by two smaller stones -- an emerald and a ruby. Red, white, green and gold. Jason looked at the ring for a long time. Handing the box back, he managed a whisper.

"It's beautiful."

"You think so?"

" Yes. I'm sure she'll love it -- whenever she gets it."

There was nothing else either could say. Silently, Jason padded back to bed, fighting his and Jess's tears.

Saturday dawned bright and clear, with the promise of heat to come. The past three days had been a curious mixture of closeness and strain for Jason and Tommy; they tiptoed around each other as if they were afraid to utter even one wrong word. They'd achieved a certain measure of peace nonetheless, or maybe it was fatalism; neither could say for sure. Today, however, Jason was extremely edgy. Tommy had promised his father to help with some yardwork; the Scotts were expecting them around ten. A part of him was just dying to see his parents, who had been away for a few days, but a bigger part was afraid he'd give himself away -- after all, next to Tommy, those were the two people who knew Jess best. There was no way, though, that he could stay home. His stomach in knots, he climbed into Tommy's 4x4, tugging at his shorts. He was rather uncomfortable wearing them; they exposed much more of his legs than he was used to, but it was way too hot for anything else.

"Will you relax?" Tommy admonished as they drew up to his parents' house. The familiar ranch-style home looked just as inviting as Jason was used to. "You're so antsy, your folks are sure to notice something's wrong; do you want us to get the Third Degree?"

"No, of course not." Jason shuddered. He didn't know who would be worse -- his father, or his mother, if they got suspicious. If Jess's parents were anything like his own.........he didn't want to think about that. He calmed himself forcibly.

"I'll be fine." He directed a shaky smile at Tommy.

He briefly touched Jason's cheek. "I know you will."

The morning dragged on. For a while, everything had been fine; Helen and John Scott were basically the same people Jason had known all his life, so he had no problem relating to them. Trouble began when after lunch the two men excused themselves to take a look at the lawnmower, leaving Jason back on the terrace with his mother.

Helen talked idly with her daughter, taking unobtrusive notice of the slightly panicked looks Jess was casting in Tommy's direction. She'd noticed the strain between those two almost immediately, but had decided to observe them a while longer. Normally, they could hardly be in the same room with each other without touching, or slipping quick kisses when they thought nobody was watching. Now all these small displays were absent.

She hadn't been exactly overjoyed when Jess and Tommy announced after graduating High School that they'd be living together, but they were responsible young adults; their relationship had always been solid and exclusive, and there was really no other objection than the fact that she'd preferred Jess would have waited for marriage to become intimate with Tommy. She respected her daughter's right to choose for herself, though. Rather than have her sneak around behind her back, Helen appreciated the honesty the two young people displayed about their relationship, and for the last eighteen months, both the Scott and Oliver families had been waiting for an announcement that the two had decided to make it official.

Finally, after Jess hadn't paid attention to something she'd said for the third or fourth time because her eyes were so anxiously following Tommy, Helen decided to step in. Maybe there was something a mother could do.... Pouring herself a glass of iced tea, she kept her voice deliberately casual.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Huh?" Jason hardly heard his mother; all his attention was focussed on Tommy, who had shed his shirt and was helping his father load the John Deere onto the truck bed. His leanly muscled torso gleamed in the sun, and Jason couldn't help feeling a shiver deep within himself. It was this sensation that had first alerted him to the fact that his feelings for Tommy had changed all those months ago. It was scary, it was exhilarating, and it was frustrating -- extremely so. Especially in the here and now, where he wouldn't even allow himself the small gestures of affection the two of them had always shared. Jason refused to let himself remember the last two weeks he'd spent with Tammy in that other reality. It was a week to the day that they had consummated their relationship, that he'd last kissed her soft mouth and lost himself in her long, luxurious locks.

He was suddenly startled out of his reverie by a hand on his arm.

"Jess, you haven't heard a word I said, have you?"

Jason blushed. "I'm sorry, mom. I was... woolgathering. Was there something you wanted?"

Mrs Scott shook her head. Jess was again staring after Tommy. No sense in beating around the bush.

"Jess?" She waited for her daughter to meet her eyes. "Jess, did you and Tommy have a fight?"

That got her attention.

"No! No, of course not! Whatever gave you that idea?" The dark eyes were honestly surprised. Helen believed Jess.

"Then what is wrong with you two? You haven't been this bashful around us since High School."

Jason didn't know what to say. He didn't want to lie to his mother, but he couldn't tell her the truth, either. Looking at her helplessly, he just shook his head. His mother got up and sat down next to him, draping a comforting arm around his shoulders.

"Baby, won't you let me help? You know your dad and I are always here for you, don't you? Maybe if you talk about whatever's happened, it will become clearer, and we can fix it together."

The loving words brought a lump to Jason's throat. He desperately wanted to bury his head in his mother's lap, as he'd done as a small boy, and tell her all his woes, but knew this was beyond anyone's experience. Then, he ventured a glimpse into the concerned blue eyes, and lost it. Tears that had been gathering too long finally overflowed, and he hung his head, wanting no-one to see his misery. His mother did, though.

Helen gathered Jess close and held her only child as silent sobs shook her slender frame. For all her maturity, she was still only twenty years old; whatever was wrong with her, she'd try to help her.

Jason tried to stop his tears, but couldn't; he knew that for all her support, his mom would want answers soon, and what could he tell her? Suddenly another presence was there. Without having to look, he knew it was Tommy. Strong arms drew him against a broad chest, and he relaxed against him, holding tightly to the sun-warmed skin. The solid strength and support calmed him as nothing else could, and after a few moments, he was able to sit up. Looking into the soft brown eyes, he produced a wobbly smile, embarrassed at his lack of control. Tommy pressed a gentle kiss against his forehead, smoothing the short dark hair back.

"It's allright, love."

Neither noticed how easy it was to show and accept each other's love and support.

Helen watched them carefully. One worry was laid to rest -- whatever the problem between them, the two still loved each other as much as ever. One had only to look at the way their eyes glowed at each other. Then what was wrong?

Jason sniffled slightly, and was handed a tissue by his mother. "Thanks." Blushing, he tucked it away. Screwing up his courage, he smiled hesitantly and gave his mother's hand a squeeze. "I'm okay, mom. Really. I-I just haven't been quite myself lately."

Tommy hid a wry grin. Now that was the understatement of the century!

Mrs Scott looked at her daughter and her boyfriend consideringly. Jess had dark circles under her eyes, and seemed to have lost a little weight; she was moody, burst into tears easily, seemed fixated on Tommy ---- was it possible....?

"Jess....Jess, honey, are you pregnant?"

Jason shot up as if stung. "No! No, I'm not!" He blushed hotly.

Helen looked a question at Tommy. He met her eyes squarely, although he, too, was blushing.

"No, Helen, Jess is not pregnant. We're sure of it." He kept pretty good track of Jess's pills, in case they might get carried away. "That is something we'll have in our future." It was the closest to a proposal Tommy had ever come, and Helen felt reassured, more so though by the grateful smile Jess directed at Tommy, and the hand she slipped into his.

Now, however, she had her daughter to consider.

"Why don't you go and lie down in your room, baby? Tommy can help your father unload the lawnmower at the shop, and drop me off at the mall; you have peace and quiet while you rest, there's food in the fridge, and later one or the two of you can pick us up again. How's that for a plan?"

"It's perfect, mom. Thank you." Jason really was grateful; he hadn't slept much the last two nights, and it was catching up with him. Slowly he made his way to his room. Inside, he looked around. It was at the same time familiar and strange. The layout was the same, but the colours were all wrong; instead of karate trophies, there were others for unfamiliar events that didn't speak to him, evoked no memories. Feeling lost, he stripped against the stifling heat, and lay down on top of the sheets, to fall into a fitful sleep punctuated by dreams about Tommy.

Jason slowly drifted back to awareness after too short a while. All around him, there was quiet; his parents had already left. He stretched a little, relishing the feel of air on his naked skin. Suddenly, there was a shift in the air currents around him -- someone was opening the door. He rolled himself up in the top sheet and pried sleep-heavy eyes open. Tommy was standing in the doorway, looking at him with an expression Jason was all too familiar with. It was one he'd hoped never to see again. Pain, sadness, confusion, tempered with the tiniest sliver of hope .... Tommy had looked like that exactly twice that he could remember: when Jason had destroyed the Sword of Darkness and freed him from Rita's spell, and when Tommy gave up his Power Coin to him to prevent the Green Power from reverting to the evil side. Jason reacted from instinct, just as he'd done those other times. He reached out to Tommy. It had been an outstretched hand the first time, a firm grip on the shoulder the second; now, he rolled off the bed in a single motion, and stepped right into his arms, hugging him tightly.

Tommy closed his arms around the slender frame, burying his face in the mussed dark hair. It had hurt beyond measure to see Jess cry earlier; he didn't care anymore that there was another in her body, that his Jess was God knew where; he needed the close contact, the physical comfort right now.

Both stood for long minutes, wrapped in each other, giving and taking support, drawing strength from the bond they seemed to share, no matter where and how they found each other. Jason could barely make out the words Tommy mumbled into his hair.

"Do you think she's alright?"

He didn't need to ask who "she" was.

"I'm sure of it. After all, everybody's still home; they will help her all they can." He was talking about the rest of the team.

"What if she's not in your reality?"

Jason considered that for a moment. Then, he shook his head.

"Don't ask me how I know, but I'm certain she is in my body. I can't allow myself to believe otherwise, or I'd go mad."

Tommy rested his cheek on Jason's head, tightening his embrace.

"I miss her."

"I know." The pain in Tommy's voice was almost his undoing. Unconsciously, he pressed himself closer. Hesitantly, he offered what comfort he could.

"Tommy, maybe we should stop fighting so hard. Neither one of us knows how long this is going to take; we're just making ourselves miserable. Maybe..." his heart began to pound as it dawned on him what his words implied.

Tommy raised his head and looked questioningly at his companion. He, too, sensed where this was leading.

"Maybe.....what?"

Jason met his gaze. Summoning his courage, he offered what he had to give.

"For as long as I'm here, let me be here for you, as you've been for me." He drew a deep breath. "Let me be Jess for you."

The tall Red Ranger felt his heart falter for a moment. Reading only honesty and ....love? in the dark eyes, he made a last-ditch effort to deny what everything within him screamed to accept.

"W-why?"

The softly curved lips smiled the same heart-stopping smile that had captured him so long ago.

"I love you. No matter who or what I am, or who and what you are, I love you. Always have, always will."

"Je --- Jase?" It was the first time Tommy had addressed him by his own name. Perversely, it convinced Jason that he was doing the right thing. Smiling tremulously, he stretched upwards and placed his mouth against the soft lips he'd dreamed about only a short time ago. The kiss was butterfly-soft, and said everything he couldn't find words for.

Tommy closed his eyes briefly. He could feel himself losing a battle he hadn't even known he was fighting. Helplessly, he lifted a trembling hand to the smooth cheek.

"I know I shouldn't be doing this, but......God help me, I'm not strong enough." With that, he lowered his mouth to rediscover the taste and feel of his lover. Need won.

Lips caressed each other, nibbling gently until their breaths mingled and tongues met. The slow, wet glide into warm depths caused breaths to catch and pulses to speed up. Hands began to wander and bodies pressed closer, until the need for air forced them apart. They could feel their hearts beating in their chests as they looked into each other's eyes. Then, very deliberately, never losing eye contact, Jason stepped back and slowly let the sheet fall to the floor.

Tommy drank in the sight of her like a starving man might look at a banquet. It had only been a week, but he'd never imagined how much he would miss Jess in his life. Looking at the enticing curves, he felt transported back to their first time. They'd lost their innocence with each other, and as then, his hands were trembling as he reached out to glide his fingers over the soft swells with their dark brown centers. They hardened under his touch, and he was lost. Drawing the beautiful nude form into his arms, he claimed the waiting lips once more, relearning the taste and feel of Jess with all of his senses.

Jason felt the tremors start deep within himself as Tommy touched him. It felt so right to be held by the strong arms, to press himself against the hard body and surrender to the demanding mouth. He moaned deep in his throat as his tongue made contact with Tommy's. The sound seemed to spur his lover on. Hands roamed across his skin as Tommy explored him. This was not the gentle road of discovery he had shared with Tammy, learning about each other -- no, this was two lovers meeting again, their reactions familiar and ever new, sweet and hot and sensuous, firing all their senses to a fever pitch.

Tommy forced himself to go slow, although everything in him demanded he bury himself in her tight channel. Instead, he sought out the areas on the undulating body he knew would excite her until she sobbed out his name in ecstasy. Her lips were hot and swollen by the time he released them, gliding his tongue-tip down her neck to the sensitive spot at the base of her throat. Licking the hollow, he waited for the throaty moan, then moved lower, to the full, firm breasts just begging for his touch. They swelled under his hands as he kneaded the soft mounds, lifting them until he could reach the throbbing nipples. Sucking them into his mouth, he swirled his tongue around the hard knots, switching from one side to the other, leaving them wet and glistening in the bright light. He moved lower still. His hands skimmed over the heated skin, molding her waist and gliding around the back, to squeeze the firm cheeks until her hips thrust forward, seeking him out. Tommy slowly sank to his knees and pressed his face into the soft abdomen, breathing in the scent of her arousal, and slid one hand up from the underswell of the firm little tush to the damp patch of dark curls. His fingers sought out the wet heat, dipping between the soft folds until he found the pulsating little kernel of flesh. He lowered his mouth to her core and licked gently, to be rewarded with a sharply-indrawn breath. Encouraged, he delved deeper, until his tongue was pressed into her nether-lips, drinking her sweet juices as he pleasured her.

Jason buried his hands in Tommy's long hair as he gave himself up to sensation. Nothing had ever felt quite like Tommy's hands on his skin, the hot mouth on his nipples or between his legs. For a while, he tried to retain his sanity by comparing this body's reactions to what he was used to, but to no avail. The skilled hands and tongue drove him slowly but surely into a sweet madness which he embraced wholeheartedly, drowning in the fiery spasms that tore through him. His breasts had never felt this full as when Tommy suckled on his nipples, his cock had never throbbed as much as the tiny bud hidden within his folds, and he ached for something -- someone -- to fill the emptiness opening up deep within him. His head fell back and his throat constricted as Tommy drove him deeper into sexual frenzy. As the maddening tongue lashed him higher and higher, his universe narrowed down to the throbbing place where his lover feasted on him, and he nearly collapsed as stars exploded deep within him, transporting him to a place he hadn't known before.

When his reeling senses returned to some semblance of normalcy, Jason found himself on his bed, with Tommy stretched out naked next to him. He had no idea how it had happened, but knew it was the only place he wanted to be. Hungrily, he reached out and kissed the firm lips, plundering Tommy's mouth as he had plundered his still-pulsing sex. Bodies twined, sliding skin against skin, as the lovers teased and excited each other, licking, kissing, stroking, until they knew every inch of flesh, every taste and nuance. Jason held Tommy's throbbing cock in his hand, marvelling at the texture and feel, learning his reactions. Desperate for a taste, he moved down the muscled body, pausing with his mouth only inches from the hot shaft. Tommy moaned deep in his throat, a sound that dispelled the last traces of uncertainty from Jason's mind. He lowered himself over the tip, sliding his lips down as far as he could, licking up the clear fluid seeping from the head. All too soon, Tommy lifted him up. Before he could voice his disappointment, Tommy's mouth closed over his, ravishing him until they were both out of breath.

"I need you. Now."

"Yesssss..."

Tommy lay back, desperate for release. He drew the supple body over him and guided his hard rod into place. Both moaned in unison as inch after inch of hot flesh disappeared in the tight sheath, filling the wet cavern to capacity. When he could go no further, Jess sat up, resting her hands on his chest. He reached for the heaving breasts with their hard tips, pinching and rolling them between his fingers, until she began to move. Sometimes, she would bounce herself on him, slamming her hips into his, but not so today. Instead, Jess began a slow rocking motion, sliding back and forth on his cock until he thought he'd go mad with desire. Their skin was slick with sweat, but neither paid any attention; all their concentration was on the joining of their bodies, the place where indescribable heat coiled and gathered, driving all thought away.

At last, it got to be too much. With an inarticulate groan, Tommy gathered her to him and flipped them over. Her arms clutched at his shoulders and her legs wrapped around his waist as he pounded into her, straining for that elusive spark which would send both of them over the edge.

Jason reached it first. He moved slightly under the hard, driving thrusts, and suddenly his body exploded, heat spreading out from that one spot deep within which only his lover could reach. He was dimly aware of screaming Tommy's name, but it all faded into insignificance as his orgasm triggered Tommy's. His inner muscles clamped around the pistoning shaft buried inside of him, and he suddenly felt a rush of hot wetness bathe his insides. Tommy moaned his release and thrust one last time, following him into the abyss.

It took a long time for their quivering bodies to relax. Finally, Tommy lifted his head to seek out the dark eyes of his lover. What he saw there sent new tremors through him. Although he'd climaxed only minutes ago, he knew that, given the slightest encouragement, Jess would be able to arouse him again in no time. Unfortunately, that would have to wait. Kissing the moist lips, he silenced the protest she was about to form as he gently slid out of her warm cunt.

"We can't, love." He didn't mind her hearing the reluctance in his voice.

"Why not?" The pout was unmistakeable, and he felt soft hands roam up his spine into his hair to draw him back. He indulged her for a few moments, but then withdrew again. He cupped a soft cheek tenderly.

"Because I promised your mother I'd pick her up around five. Much as I hate it, I'll have to go soon."

A glance at the bedside clock confirmed that they had only minutes left; Jason realized he must have slept longer than he'd thought. Resigned, he cuddled close, relishing the feel of Tommy's hard, sculpted chest under his cheek. He slid a teasing hand down to the softening genitals. A soft hiss of pleasure brought a tiny, smug grin to his face, and he ran a fingertip down the satiny skin, circling around the head. Before he could do more, though, Tommy plucked his hand off his all-too-interested cock and kissed the soft palm. "Don't."

Only the obvious regret in the warm brown eyes let Jason comply. He angled his head up for a heated kiss.

"Later, then?"

Tommy couldn't have resisted the hungry plea in the smiling eyes if his life had depended on it. Pressing himself close one last time, he thrust his tongue deeply into the willing mouth, calling forth yet another sexy moan.

"Tonight." He made the promise in a husky voice that sent shivers of delight down Jason's spine.

"Tonight," he confirmed.Tommy tore himself away; if he wanted to be on time, he had to leave now, or they'd never make it out of bed before morning.

A last lingering caress, and Tommy eased himself off the covers and went into the bathroom. After a quick shower, he returned to find Jess watching him, still sprawled out naked on the rumpled bed. Enjoying the view while he dressed, he kissed the swollen lips once more, then let himself out, images of the night to come swirling in his brain.

Jason continued to lie where Tommy had left him, until he began to feel just a bit chilly. He knew he still wore a satisfied smile, but couldn't care less; the sensations Tommy had made him feel still reverberated deep within him. He imagined that, if he concentrated, he could still feel the hot shaft filling him, throbbing hard and fast within. He could hardly wait for the night.

Sighing fondly, fantasizing about what he was going to do to his best friend and lover, he got up and ambled into the bathroom. He adjusted the showerhead to the right height -- Tommy was so much taller that it had to be placed at the highest point of the rod -- and stepped under the warm spray, luxuriating in the sensation. Suddenly, without warning, a black wave of dizziness engulfed him. This time, he recognized it for what it was. The flashes of intense cold and heat followed, and Jason braced himself against the tiles until his vision cleared again.