Disclaimer: The Power Rangers belong to Saban and not to me; I'm just borrowing them for a little bit, with no thought of profit. Also, this has adult content and deals with the subjects of homosexuality and bisexuality, so if this stuff makes you uncomfortable... you have been forewarned. This one is for Willow, who's been wanting to see me do a story where Jason and Emily wind up together. CR June 2000 And Dagmar who's been after me to finish this. CR June 2002.

Secrets That We Keep III
by Cheryl Roberts

One:

"You're home early," Kimberly noted as her husband of almost two years entered the kitchen and made a bee-line for the refrigerator. "Don't go spoiling your appetite; I'm making dinner."

"Something smells good," Tommy answered without removing himself from the appliance.

"Grilled chicken breasts, spinach salad and tangerine slices," his wife replied.

"Sounds great. Save me some."

"Tommy...."

"I can't stay, Beautiful. Jason and I have to stay late at the dojo tonight. We've got books to look over, files to update, belt tests to schedule...."

"And old friends to chat with online," Kim concluded, giving him a who-do-you- think-you're-fooling look.

Tommy flashed her a sheepish grin.

"Did it ever occur to you that I might like to talk with the other guys, too?" the one- time gymnast asked, even as she put the finishing touches on the salad. She stood on tiptoe, trying to reach a bowl in the cabinet but couldn't quite snag it.

"Allow me," Tommy offered with an affectionate smile for his petite spouse. "You'd be bored if you came tonight. All we do is talk about our students and...."

"And share guy-talk about your wives, lovers and girlfriends," she finished for him. She sealed the salad in the bowl, pulled the aluminum foil out of the drawer and proceeded to wrap up two of the chicken breasts. Then, she began sectioning the fruit.

"Have you been eavesdropping on our conversations?" her long-haired husband teased, plucking a grape out of the fruit bowl and popping it into his mouth. He was trying to work his way towards the door; he'd told Jason that he'd only be gone for a few minutes.

"No, but it's what us girls do when we get a chat going talk about our significant others," she answered. Satisfied with the food preparations, she turned to the dish drainer and collected two sets of tableware.

"One of these nights, you can join us," Tommy promised, slipping her a quick kiss. "Tonight, we're really busy."

"Don't worry, Tommy; I won't cramp your style tonight," she said laughingly.

Her comment brought Tommy up short. "And just what do you mean by that?"

Kim favored him with an understanding smile. "You've got the 'itch' again, and I think you'd prefer ogling Jason without me there."

Tommy was speechless in the face of her accurate assessment. He couldn't even muster the words to ask her how she knew.

"You know, you could always ask him if he'd be interested," Kim continued, as she stacked the containers of food in a sack. "The worst he could do is say no."

Her husband was still reeling when she pressed the bag into his hands.

"What's this?" he muttered.

"Dinner for two," Kim replied. "I had a feeling you guys would be staying late tonight. You usually do on Mondays."

"You're amazing, you know that?" Tommy said as he pulled her close for a stirring kiss.

"Mm... you can tell me all about it later," she sighed as she released him, although thoughts of dragging him upstairs were hard to resist. She loved it when he wore a tank top instead of his gi jacket.

"What will you do about dinner?" Tommy asked guiltily.

"What I usually do," she responded with a shrug. "I have a couple of extra pieces of chicken to toss on the grill. I'll be fine."

"Why don't you give Emily a call," the love of her life suggested. "I don't think she was too happy with Jason when he called home."

"She probably doesn't like eating alone any more than I do," Kimberly agreed. "You'd better get going."

Stealing another kiss, Tommy head for the door.

She watched from the doorway as her husband hopped into his car, and as he drove down the street, she wondered if she should ready the 'toys' for tonight.

~*~

The students were gone, and Tommy and Jason sat in the office of their school finishing up their paperwork and their dinners.

"Thank Kim for thinking of me, bro," Jason said as he began clearing up his dishes. "For dinner and for inviting Em over. I might not have to sleep on the sofa after all."

Though his friend's tone was light, Tommy had to wonder....

"Was she really upset about you staying late again? I could have handled this by myself."

"Oh really? Then how come I'm still helping you with your accounting homework?" Jason laughed. Since retiring from racing, Tommy had been trying to catch up on the necessary business classes he needed to better operate the dojo. "While she did tell me I could find my own dinner tonight, I know she's not really mad at me. If I thought it was serious, I wouldn't have stayed. Emily knows Monday is our late night. She's just been out of sorts lately... maybe it's pms."

"You mean you don't know?" Tommy gaped, incredulous. Identifying Kim's monthly quirks had been high on his list of husbandly survival skills when they'd first been married. Though he and Kim had been lovers for quite some time prior to their tying the knot, he had never experienced her mood swings at close range.

"Hey, I've only been married three months," Jason shot back in his defense.

"It's a wonder you're still alive," his friend and business partner wisecracked.

"Watch it, or I'll tell Kim and Em what you just said!"

"Traitor."

"I'd rather face Lord Zedd again then those two once a month."

"That just gave me a horrible thought," Tommy groaned, "about Rita and Divatox...."

"Don't even go there! I don't want to know!"

Laughing, the two turned their attention to the computer.

"Let's see if any of the others has checked in yet," Jason suggested. Their tight-knit circle of friends had spread out quite a bit since their high school days. "I wonder if Billy will drop in tonight."

While they knew where all the others had gotten to, the whereabouts of the original Blue Ranger was still unknown. Apparently he was able to keep track of all of them, since he occasionally put in an appearance during their Monday night chats. For the most part, they assumed he was back on earth, but the one time he was asked, Billy had not been very forthcoming, and the others had agreed to respect his silence. But he knew that whenever he felt ready to talk, they all would listen.

"If he is, we'd better not tell Kim," Tommy said as he logged into their account. "She reminded me before I left that the guys are her friends, too."

"And if she knows if she missed Billy... she'd lop your ponytail off," Jason concurred.

"Well, maybe not that; she likes my hair long too much," Tommy replied with a sly smile.

"I seem to remember that," the former Red and Gold Rangers added with a knowing grin of his own.

Kimberly's other words drifted back to Tommy as Jason hovered just over his shoulder. She'd been right about the 'itch.' Lately, he'd been fining himself more and more drawn to other men in general... and his best friend in particular.

While he always noticed and appreciated a handsome devil, his longings for a male partner seemed to hit him in cycles. He'd be fine with his and Kimberly's lovemaking for a while, then he'd get the urge and find himself seriously scoping out potential partners. And Kim always seemed to know just when the need was at the worst. She wouldn't say anything, but she'd get out the toys and try to get him through his cravings.

Since that once with Jason, he hadn't been with another man. Not because of Kimberly's objections; she had assured him that, in spite of their wedding vows, she had no objection to him having a male lover. He just hadn't found anyone he wanted as much as he had Jason.

It wasn't that he was still obsessed with his best friend. The all-consuming desire had abated with having his fantasies fulfilled, but he still very much loved Jason. For him to find another partner, it would have to be someone he cared for, respected and trusted as much as he did his long-time friend. That was going to be a tough order to fill.

At the moment, Jason was standing so close, Tommy could feel his heat. When he took a deep breath to steady himself, his senses were filled with his companion's musk. Jase had shucked his gi jacket and was bare to the waist. It was extremely difficult to keep his hands off those smooth, hard muscles. Tommy was grateful he still had on his roomy white pants. Rocky had better not make any comments about his sexual preferences tonight. They were all in fun, but he wasn't sure he could laugh them off right now.

"Yo, earth to Tommy," Jason said suddenly, and the long-haired instructor jumped in his seat.

"Thinking about what you're going to do to Kim with your hair when you get home?"

He can only say no, Tommy reminded himself. "Actually, I was thinking that you are in serious danger of being kissed right now."

Jason regarded him, eyebrows arched in surprise, eyes twinkling and the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement.

"Am I?" he asked softly, his eyes slowly roving over his companion as if searching for evidence of just how badly he wanted him.

It was a decidedly sexy look, and Tommy found his pulse racing.

"That isn't helping," he gritted out, caught between laughter and a needful moan.

"Well... do you have any idea as to how much danger you are of the same thing?"

Tommy's eyes widened in astonishment, and before he could utter a reply, Jason had him by a handful of hair and pulled him into a fierce kiss.

The taste and feel of his best friend's mouth was everything Tommy remembered and more. How he had missed the rasp of razor stubble and the firm lines as he traced his fingers along the strong jaw, and the struggle for dominance as their tongues dueled and the kiss deepened.

It had been so long... too long.... four years long.

Four years... the one and only time they'd been together had been the summer before Jason and Kimberly had started their Junior year of college and he'd still been racing. Two years passed, and his friend and fiancé had graduated, injury had forced him to retire from racing, and he and Kim had married. And now, he and his wife would be celebrating their two year anniversary in November.

Yet, the memories... the emotions... of that afternoon were as vivid as they'd ever been—and more—as he tasted Jason once again.

Tommy didn't understand why this was happening, only that it was. And he couldn't resist the desires that surged within him. His hands began to roam the chiseled plains of his partner's body.

Jason's mouth slid off his, but Tommy continued to consume the delectable flesh in a series of frenzied nips and licks and bites.

"Tommy...." Jason moaned, swiftly losing himself in the heat of the moment. Tommy was every bit as passionate as his wife... Emily.... "Tommy, no. Stop. I can't...."

It took a supreme effort, but the long-haired martial artist did as requested.

"Jason?" he panted, excruciatingly aroused and very confused. He couldn't quite decipher the look in his friend's eyes, but he was pretty sure there was a full measure of desire and regret. Suddenly, Jason looked away, embarrassed.

"No," Tommy said firmly, turning the other man's face towards his. There was too much between them for them to hide from what just happened. He abandoned the chair and guided Jason into it. "Talk to me, Jase."

Jason regarded his best friend and saw concern out-shining desire in those chocolate brown eyes. What had just taken place was the culmination of something that had been building in him for some time now.

"This isn't easy for me to say, because I don't really understand it, but right now, I want you as badly as you want me," he began.

"What don't you understand?" Tommy wondered.

"Guys still don't turn me on, but the thought of making love to you again has really been turning me on lately."

The statement took Tommy by surprise. As close as he and Jason had been, he'd never had any inkling that Jason felt that way. He was willing to swear that the one-time Red and Gold Ranger was as straight as they come, their one time notwithstanding. In spite of the kiss they'd just shared, he was still willing swear to it. And so, according to his own words, was Jason, which was why he was so confused.

"I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about," Tommy began, trying and finding a logical explanation that his friend could accept. "The sex we had was awesome; we had a great time, and it was a good experience. If you enjoyed it, why wouldn't you want to try it again?"

"I know I had a good time, but I never realized I liked it enough to want to do it again."

"It's not a crime to enjoy having sex especially not with a good friend as long as everyone's okay with it."

"I know. It's just... Emily," Jason sighed heavily. "If I wasn't married, I'd have probably no problem doing it again with you, but... I don't think Em would understand."

"Why not? You told her about our three-way, didn't you? How'd she take that?" Tommy had always thought Emily was a reasonable woman. To his knowledge, she'd never displayed any resentment towards the bond that he and Jason shared. He'd never received the impression that she was intolerant of gay lifestyles; after all, she'd never treated him any differently than any of their other friends.

"She doesn't know about that," Jason confessed.

"Jase!" Tommy gasped. "How could you not tell her? I know a lot of guys wouldn't, but you're not like that. Besides, you know what keeping secrets almost cost me and Kim."

"I tried to tell her," Jason insisted, trying not to let his frustration get the better of him. "Back when we first got engaged... the night we first made love.... I tried telling her, but she didn't want to hear it. She said that whatever happened while we were apart was in the past and didn't need to be brought up. At the time, I didn't press her; I honestly never thought it'd be an issue.

"Do you think I like keeping secrets from my wife? Do you have any idea how much it eats at me to be unable to even tell her I was a Power Ranger?"

"I know we gave Zordon our word, but he's gone now. And even if he wasn't, I don't think he'd mind if you took Emily into your confidence. He always trusted our judgement," Tommy said softly. He had never truly appreciated what a gift he had in that his wife knew all his old secrets. "I take it, then, that Emily doesn't know I'm bi."

Jason shook his head. "It's never come up. I've tried bringing up the topic of homosexuality and bisexuality, but every time I do, Emily gets really uncomfortable and changes the subject quickly.

"Tommy, I'd truly like to be with you again, but I won't do anything that would hurt my marriage."

"I wouldn't ask you to," Tommy assured him.

"I know; thanks."

Jason let out a sigh, as if a great burden had been taken from his shoulders; Tommy could appreciate that sentiment all too well, but he also knew that the weight wouldn't totally be removed until his friend could work this out with his wife.

"Would you mind if asked you something kind of personal?" Jason asked hesitantly. Seeing Tommy's nod, he continued, "I was wondering... since we'd slept together that one afternoon, have you ever been with any other guys?"

They had always respected each other's privacy in such matters, sharing only that which they truly wanted to share. For all of that, though, they had shared a great many intimate details over the years, so Jason had found it strange that Tommy had never much discussed his interest in other men. While he didn't want to pry, he had to admit to being curious and to hoping that everything was working out for his friend.

The question rather stunned Tommy at first. He'd never talked much about his other interests with Jason mainly because he never thought that he'd want to know. It wasn't as if he had anything to hide from him.

"I've had a couple of opportunities but nothing ever came of them," he answered.

"Oh?"

Tommy had to chuckle at his friend's tone. "The first one happened about six months or so after our first time. Another driver on the circuit... but all he was interested in was some quick action nothing more than a blowjob, but it just didn't feel quite right."

Jason could understand that, knowing that casual sex wasn't Tommy's style any more than it was his.

"The other was a member of Uncle John's crew. Rick was a little older than me, and he noticed me checking him out. He was built a lot like you but was a blue-eyed blond. Anyway, we got to talking he'd at least come out to himself, if not his family and we both got to thinking we wouldn't mind seeing where things might lead, but Rick had to leave the team for a while for family reasons, and while he was gone, I retired...."

Retired.... Tommy squirmed inwardly; if anything, he disliked discussing his reasons for leaving the track more than his lovelife. To this day, he had no memory of the crash which ended his racing career, save what he'd been told by others. Even the race itself was a blur. His first clear memory was waking up in the hospital and seeing Kimberly's ashen, tear-streaked face. She looked so haggard, as if she hadn't slept in days. He knew by her expression that whatever had happened had been serious; however, it had been his mother's expression, which had mirrored his fiance‚'s, that had told him just how close a call it had been. Everyone had been grateful when he decided to return to the martial arts after that. Even his uncle had said, "If you hadn't decided to leave on your own, I'd have done it for you."

"What did Kim have to say about all this?" Jason wondered.

"She doesn't know about the first one, but I talked to her about Rick. Like when she'd caught us in bed together, she said she trusted my judgement."

"Man, you are so lucky," Jason murmured.

"And so are you," Tommy reminded him. "Jase, Emily's a wonderful woman; one of these days, you're going to have to talk to her about this. It isn't just going to go away. Frustrated desires just grow stronger, and secrets can do more hurt the longer they're kept."

"I know," came the defeated sigh. "I just need to figure out how."

"Hey, I'm here for you if you need me."

"Thanks. But it'll keep for now. Looks like Rocky's finally on line."

~*~

While Tommy and Jason were finishing up their dinner, Kimberly and Emily Scott were finishing up theirs.

Kim hadn't really gotten close to Jason's pretty blonde wife as well as she'd have liked, considering how close their husbands were. They didn't seem to have a lot in common. In school, where Kim was always the center of social life, Emily seemed to have been more along the fringes. It hadn't helped that she had transferred to Angel Grove so late; Emily might have been quite a different person at her old school. And the crowd she'd run with before meeting Jason had been a little rough; although, having met Eddie at their wedding, Kim had to admit that he was a decent guy, someone who looked out for his friends. She could understand that.

Of course, she hadn't met Jason's future wife until long after high school; there had been the occasional double date when Tommy would be in town between races. Other than that, though, they hadn't really spent much time together, at least, not until Tommy was home for good and they were planning their wedding.

Emily wasn't a shy person... just reserved. Kim had the feeling that she didn't make friends easily, but that once she did she could be as open and friendly as any one. It probably didn't help matters that she, Tommy and Jason were such a tightly-knit group with a long-standing friendship. They'd never deliberately excluded Emily, but Kim could see how Emily might feel left out, so could Tommy. It was how she'd felt when she had gone to Florida to train with Coach Schmidt and how Tommy had felt when he first joined the team. They made every effort to make Emily feel included, like a part of the family. The blonde seemed to have warmed up to Tommy, but she was still a little distant with her. However, Kim was not deterred in the least.

"Thanks for inviting me over," Emily said as she helped Kim clear the table. "Dinner was great, and I really didn't feel like eating alone tonight."

"Same here. I don't know why we didn't think of this sooner, but since our husbands are almost always late on Mondays, let's make that our dinner night," Kim suggested. Between her work at the daycare and Emily's work at Scott's Construction, they didn't really have much opportunity to just hang out.

"I think I'd like that," Emily agreed, feeling a little guilty. Kimberly had always been friendly and had tried to make her feel welcome in their close circle, but for some reason, she always seemed to keep the vivacious brunette at a distance. Maybe it was just she'd known too many people like Kim at least on the surface. They'd make a great show of being your friend to your face, but the minute your back was turned.... However, time and again, Kimberly Oliver had proven that her warmth was genuine. She seemed to like her for herself and not just because she was Jason's wife. And Emily wanted to like her in return. Especially now. It seemed, of late, that she really missed having a confidante, someone she could turn to and share all her troubles and secrets with. "Tell you what; next week, I'll cook... oh!"

"What?"

"I just realized... since I came over, there isn't anything for Jason to have for dinner." She blushed but didn't have the nerve to tell Kim that in the heat of the moment, she'd told Jason to fend for himself. And while she was still put out at him, she was enough of a newlywed that she sometimes second guessed herself when asserting herself. Also, she didn't want Kim to know that she and Jason had had a fight.

"Don't worry," Kim assured her. "Before you and Jason were married, I'd gotten in the habit of sending dinner for him along with Tommy's."

"Oh," Emily mumbled, feeling rather embarrassed that Kim should have to look after her husband, too.

"Is something wrong?" Kim asked, noting that her companion seemed unusually upset. Actually, Emily had seemed a bit dispirited all evening. She sincerely hoped that her friends weren't having troubled; she knew how much Jason adored his wife, and if anything happened to their marriage, he'd be devastated.

Emily considered carefully before answering. She didn't like discussing the private aspects of her relationship with others, but mere moments ago, she'd been wishing for a confidante. Who better than one of her husband's long time friends? If anyone could explain his recent behavior, she could.

"I'm not sure," Emily sighed, deciding to take the plunge, as the two of them started washing the dishes. "Jason's been acting very odd lately. It's as if he's distracted by something... or someone."

That piqued Kimberly's interest. She hadn't noticed anything unusual about Jason's behavior, and she certainly hadn't picked up on anything that might indicate an interest in another person. She wondered if maybe Emily was feeling a little insecure in their relationship. Considering the break up and all, she would be kind of skittish about losing Jason again.

"Just how close are our husbands?" the blonde pursued.

"Best friends. Brothers in all but blood. They'd die for each other without a moment's hesitation," Kim replied, handing her anxious companion a plate to dry. She was a bit taken aback by the query; she had no idea where Emily was heading with it.

Jason's wife accepted the dish unthinkingly and scrubbed it with the towel.

"Are you sure it isn't anything more?" Emily asked before she chickened out.

"How so?"

Emily wanted to die. She should have thought before opening her big mouth. She couldn't tell Kim what she imagined about Tommy! Or her husband, for that matter. Still, the petite brunette was waiting for an answer, and if she wanted to get to the bottom of the matter, she'd have to broach the subject sooner or later. Screwing up her courage, she continued.

"I don't even know how to tell you this," she fumbled, and Kim gave her a patient smile, which only made her feel worse. "It's probably just my overactive imagination, but the other day, I could have sworn I saw Tommy... well... giving Jason some looks... like he was scoping him out." When Kim made no outcry, she pushed on. "Then there's Jase... the other night, in bed, he wanted to try something... different. He wanted me to use my finger to...." She couldn't say, but her blush, no doubt, spoke volumes. "Anyway, in the heat of the moment, I thought I heard him call out Tommy's name."

Now, Kim was truly surprised. "I knew Tommy had the 'itch,' but I never thought Jason would get it."

Emily was positively dumbfounded. She had practically come out and accused their husbands of fooling around together, and Kim wasn't even the tiniest bit upset? And yet, all she could think of to say at that moment was, "The 'itch?'"

Kim handed Emily a soapy glass. "That's what I call it when Tommy's in the mood to be with another guy."

"WHAT?"

The sound of shattering glass accompanied Emily's exclamation, and Kim turned to find the blonde staring at her in complete astonishment.

"I wouldn't worry about Jason," Kim said casually, as she stooped to collect the large shards from the floor. "Tommy may be bi, but Jase isn't. It's probably just that they had such a good time that once, and...."

Her voice trailed off as Emily's continued silence registered. She glanced up to find her companion regarding her with the most shocked expression she'd ever seen.

"Emily?" Kim prompted, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of her stomach.

"Tommy's bi?" Emily gulped out, her thoughts a whirl.

"Yes. While he doesn't make any grand declarations, it's not some deep, dark secret anymore. I thought Jason had told you, if not outright then when he told you about the threeway...." Something in Emily's expression gave Kimberly pause, and she guided the stunned young woman over to a chair.

"He did tell you about that, didn't he?" she asked, her tone pleading. How could Jason have not told his wife something like that! She could see some men keeping having had sex with his best friend from their wives but not Jason. He was far too honest, and keeping something like that from someone he loved and trusted would eat at his soul.

"He tried," Emily eeped out so softly, Kim could barely hear her, "but I wouldn't let him."

Her mind flew back to one of the happiest nights of her life: the night Jason had proposed. Everything had been so perfect, and as they kissed when he slid the ring on her finger, Emily had known that it was to be the night she gave herself to him at last.

"Are you sure?" he asked, hanging back as they reached her bedroom door.

"I didn't want to hear it," she confessed. "I told him that whatever happened while we were officially not a couple didn't matter. However, he had said enough for me to figure out that he'd had a three-way with you and Tommy. I didn't really want to hear the details of him and Tommy having sex with you; it hurt more than I wanted to admit to myself."

Kim began to wonder if that was the reason why Emily had never really warmed up to her.

"Of course, by the time Jason proposed, you and Tommy were married, so there was no need to feel threatened. It was something that had just happened and it wouldn't happen again, so I put it out of my mind."

"But it was important," Kim broke in. In the back of her mind, she knew Emily should be hearing all this from Jason, but she also couldn't let the poor woman hanging until her husband got home from the dojo. "Our menage a trois was more than just the guys doing me. In fact, that part of it was more an afterthought. The threesome came about because I walked in on Tommy and Jason making love."

She reached out and placed a hand over Emily's tightly intertwined fingers. Silence filled the kitchen.

"Tell me about it," Emily requested at last.

"You should probably talk with Jason about this first," Kim recommened.

"Please. I-I'm not sure if I can... talk to him first."

"Why not? He tried to tell you once. I know Jason, Emily, and I can tell you that keeping this from you is probably killing him. He loves and trusts you; he doesn't like keeping secrets form you."

"He doesn't? Could have fooled me," Emily snapped bitterly, astonishing both of them with her sudden mood shift. Yet, this was something that had been eating her up inside longer than her suppositions about their husbands being lovers. "If he doesn't like keeping secrets... if he trusts me so much, why hasn't he ever told me about...."

Suddenly, she snapped her mouth shut, but Kimberly knew without a doubt what the woman was referring to. The former Ranger smiled quietly to herself. Though bothered that Jason seemingly didn't trust her, Emily was not willing to betray her spouse.

"It's all right; I already know," she assured her distraught companion. The blonde regarded her dubiously, so Kim took the burden of secrecy off her shoulders. "I know Jason was a Power Ranger."

Relief, then hurt, fluttered across Emily's face. Kim could almost guess her thoughts and laughed. "Jason didn't tell me; he didn't have to. I was recruited for the team at the same time he was."

"You were a Power Ranger?" Emily gasped. Every since learning Jason's secret, she had suspected that Tommy might have also been one of the teen heroes, but she would never have imagined that Kimberly had also been one. "Tommy, too?"

"Tommy, too. Jason and I were two of the original five, then Tommy became our sixth as the Green Ranger. Jason was Red; I was Pink," the one-time heroine confirmed. "How'd you find out?"

"By accident. When Jase and I were first dating, he got real sick so he said. One afternoon, he dozed off on me while we were picnicking in the park. He started having some kind of nightmare and was talking in his sleep. That's how I found out he was the Gold Ranger and that his 'illness' had to do with him losing his Powers."

"And you never mentioned this to him?"

"I realized that this was a pretty big secret to stumble across, so I'd always hoped that he'd tell me himself."

"He can't, as much as I know he wants to. We all took a vow never to tell anyone about being a Power Ranger."

"You just did," Emily said accusingly.

"Only because you already knew. But this isn't about me; it's about Jason. You know him. Once he's given his word, he won't go back on it."

"I know," was the quiet response.

"Tell him you know," Kim advised. "That will free him from having to keep it hidden. I promise you, he'll be so relieved to be able to share this with you."

"You really think so?"

"I do." Kim reached over to give the trouble young woman a reassuring hug. "Jason loves you so much! He would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. Talk to him, Emily. You'll see."

"A-all right," Emily agreed hesitantly, then she favored Kim with a grateful smile. "Thanks... for everything."

Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

E-mail: kittiec@starpower.net