Brother, My Brother
by Dagmar Buse

Tommy only half heard what his brother was telling him. He was way too busy to sort through his own muddle of feelings... irritation, anger, disgust, confusion... and yet, some part of him understood David, too. When he first came to Angel Grove and after he'd been freed from Rita's spell, it hadn't been easy for him to become part of a tightly-knit group of friends who had known each other for years and were extremely protective of each other. If it hadn't been for the instant rapport he'd shared with Jason, and Kim's badly-hidden attraction towards him, it was anyone's guess if, when and how he could have been integrated into the very first Ranger team. 'Outsider' didn't even begin to cover what he'd felt like at times!

Now, David was in his shoes. Only, he had it all wrong.

It had never been Jason or the Rangers who were the outsiders, as far as Tommy was concerned. It was David himself.

He was trying to form a bond with someone who already had a strong support group. Tommy was perfectly willing to include his brother in his activities, but he was equally unwilling to agree to any form of exclusivity. He knew his friends would accept David for no other reason than because he was of Tommy's family, they cared that much, but it was definitely a two-way street. Quite rightly, they expected the same kind of acceptance in return. David would have to do his own bit, too.

"You've got to try, Dave," Tommy said at last, very seriously. "I can see where you're coming from, and I want you to play a part in my life, but you gotta understand, I'm not giving up my friends for you. Or for anyone else. Ever. They come with me. Jason more so than the rest. Sorry, but you'll just have to deal."

"I know," David replied. "Only... I know I'm repeating myself, but what can I give you that he doesn't already? What good am I to you as long as you have him?"

He'd meant to say 'them', but somehow it all got back to Jason. Tommy's chosen brother. The big question, which David was shying actively away from, was whether that bond would prove ultimately stronger than the biological one—the only bond he had with Tommy, or so he believed.

Incredulously, Tommy blinked. He's not serious, is he? It was so obvious to him—could it really be that David didn't know, didn't see?

Apparently he didn't. Well, he'd tell him.

"Everything," he said simply. He shook his head in wonder when the puzzlement in David's eyes intensified.

"How? In what way?"

"It's so simple," Tommy mused, chuckling a little. He just knew, with sudden conviction, that David would understand once he explained. "I can't believe you can't see it!"

Idiot. David wasn't adopted, like you were. He also didn't move around so much as a kid. HIS life has always had stability and permanence. Not like mine until we moved here.

"Well, I don't," David grumbled when nothing more was forthcoming for a couple of minutes while Tommy just sat there, eyes glowing and a strange little smile played around his mouth as he absently toyed with the handle of his cup. "Are you gonna tell me, or what?"

The gruff question, and more so the genuine need behind it, startled Tommy out of his reverie. He leaned forward, nearly pushing his forgotten coffee mug off the table top in the process, and put a hand on his brother's forearm.

"You are giving me something nobody else can, David," he stated firmly. "Not my folks, not Jase, not any of the others." He drew a deep breath. After all, he was about to reveal a very personal thing, and that was never easy, brother or not.

David sensed the importance of what he was about to hear. He tensed in anticipation. "What's that?" he asked softly.

Tommy smiled, his look warm and affectionate.

"You're giving me roots."

"Roots?" David asked, bemused.

"Yeah. You see... my folks honestly are the best, I couldn't have better parents if I advertised for them, but... there's nobody else. We are the whole family. Neither Mom nor Dad have any sibs, I barely got to know the grandparents before they died, there are no cousins on either side... it's why they chose to adopt a kid in the first place. And they chose me partly because there seemed to be no biological family lurking in the background. Until you showed up, everybody thought I was totally orphaned in that car crash."

Tommy had been barely a year old when his parents had taken him across the country and gotten caught in a multiple-car pile-up on the highway. Their car and its passengers had been burned beyond recognition when the tank ignited; only by a stroke of sheer luck, the baby boy on the back seat was thrown out by the force of the explosion, escaping with only a few minor scrapes.

"I used to think it was just the three of us. Even my birthday... the folks set it up so that it's the date my adoption became final."

David had to smile at that. Strange how Tommy had never asked about such a personal detail before. "You were born on September 17."

"Really? Cool—that's Jason's birthday, too! Another thing we have in common," Tommy remarked without thinking. He blushed when he noticed David's grimace. "Oops, I did it again, right? Sorry. It's a nice coincidence, nothing more—trust me, after eighteen years of thinking my birthday is in November, I'm not about to change my official birthdate. Way too much hassle. Unless I can find a way to finagle double presents out of everyone," he laughed.

"Dream on," was all David said when he accepted the implied apology without further comment, but there was no doubt Tommy was pleased about this information. Guess I'd be tickled pink, too, if I had a friend like Jason, David was honest enough to admit to himself.

"Anyway, roots... yeah. Since there were no papers or anything when I was found by the State Troopers at the accident site where my other parents died, just wearing a bib with 'Tommy' embroidered on it, my folks pretty much had to create their own history for me. I was only 18 months old when I came to live with them, after eight months or so in a state orphanage, so I have no memories at all of before. Meeting you, finding out I do have a family besides the Olivers... this may sound pompous, but it filled a hole in me I didn't even know was there. And I can't wait for a chance to meet all those uncles and cousins and whatever Sam's been mentioning."

The prospect was rather daunting, but also very exciting.

"I'll take you to the next big tribe powwow," David promised. He hid a small smirk; Tommy had no idea what he was letting himself in for. All the elderly relatives wanting to know every last detail of one's personal life... and the unmarried girls looking for a husband... he was going to be lucky if he escaped without being scrutinized to death!

"Just make sure you'll have the time," David said blandly. If Tommy didn't, he would, he promised silently. It was going to be worth it to see how an essential loner like Tommy dealt with the tribe as a whole—an enormously large extended family in which everything was everybody's business. "You'll get roots up the kazoo," he murmured.

"Awesome! I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Grinning at Tommy's unfaked enthusiasm, David slowly finished his cooling coffee. Having learned that he had indeed a unique place in his brother's life, he felt more at peace within himself than he had in a long time. To be precise, not since he'd seen Jason and Tommy share an unembarrassed hug at the Scotts' residence that Saturday morning, before they went on their hike.

Which brought him back to his own problem—namely his envy of the relationship those two shared. Long discussions with Sam, the observations he'd been able to make of Tommy's emotional involvement with his best friend, and forcing himself to take a more rational look at his own situation had brought David to the grudging realization that he had tried to force something that demanded time to grow. Sure, instant rapport and friendship had sprung up between Tommy and Jason, but it was a rare thing. And even they readily admitted that the road to today's unshakeable bond hadn't always been an easy one for either of them, as they adjusted to dealing with another strong-willed character.

David knew now he needed time. Time to get to know his brother, to learn about the person he was (which included his family and friends), and to give Tommy the same opportunity in return. Because brotherly love was not just going to be handed to him. He would have to work for it in order to create something meaningful and lasting.

Tommy was willing to do that, he knew now; ergo, David couldn't do anything less. He had a feeling it was going to be worth it, though.

Even if it means putting up with Jason!

~*~

Tommy stared at the doorbell for a long minute, his palm sweaty around the stem of the exquisite pale-pink rose he'd purchased on the way. It was Kat's favorite flower, and the sweet, elusive scent was noticeable even here, out in the open. He knew that the flower was not going to make Kat magically forgive him, but he hoped it would at least gain him a hearing. And he really needed to talk to her—the very least he owed her was an explanation. Never mind the apology.

Butterflies were doing dive bombs in his stomach when he finally got up the nerve to push the innocuous brass button. Muted by the white-lacquered wood, he heard the musical chime ring somewhere in the Hillards' home. Soon after, a light, familiar footstep approached. Tommy closed his eyes, swallowed hard and sent up a prayer to whatever deity might be listening—Please, let me talk to her!—then the door opened, and he found himself face-to-face with his lovely blonde girlfriend.

"Hi Kat," he murmured. He hardly dared look at her, she seemed so miserable—a fact attested by her unusual pallor and the shadowed blue eyes. To know that it was he who was responsible for Kat's unhappiness sent a shaft of pain into his heart.

Oh man, I did that to her! She must think I'm such a jerk!

"Tommy," she said, staring at him. Her expression gave nothing away, and yet that very fact made Tommy feel even more like a cad. He awkwardly shifted on his feet and had to clear his throat twice before he could speak again.

"May... may I come in?"

The look in Kat's eyes grew suspicious—and even more pained. "Why?"

Oh boy.

He sighed. "Because I'd like to talk with you. Please?"

Kat looked hard at him, then exhaled heavily and silently stepped aside, her shoulders slumped in resignation. She wasn't exactly welcoming, but Tommy knew it was the best he could expect under the circumstances.

Can't say that I blame her, either. I screwed up—majorly.

Katherine led him into the living room, then left him standing by the door while she moved to the French doors leading into the garden, her back to him. Usually the understated elegance of the room, with its russet and cream color scheme, made Tommy feel very comfortable, but not today. He was way too nervous... and wished desperately Kat would speak to him, or at least look at him just once. No such luck.

Not knowing how to begin, he waited, then suddenly remembered the flower he was holding. Swallowing, he took a step closer.

"I, uh, I brought this for you." He gingerly touched her shoulder, holding out the rose.

Kat cast a fleeting glance at the bloom, but showed no reaction other than stiffening slightly under his touch. He withdrew his hand at once.

"It's your favorite, isn't it?" Tommy tried again, getting desperate. Still no reaction. "Aren't you going to at least put it in water?"

It wasn't the rose's fault. Even upset as she was, Kat acknowledged that much. Grudgingly, she turned and held out her hand. Tommy placed the slender stem on it.

"Thanks." There was no pleasure in the soft voice, nor any delight in the blue eyes.

"You're welcome."

Moving woodenly, Kat fetched a vase, filled it from a brass watering can and put the rose inside. She then left it on the coffee table. She stared at it for a full minute, then raised her face to Tommy's.

"Is this supposed to make me feel better?" She didn't wait for him to answer. It was as if by speaking to her boyfriend at all, the floodgates of her hurt and justifiable anger had been opened, and her feelings could no longer be contained. "Newsflash, Tommy—it doesn't. It wouldn't have mattered if you brought a whole bouquet. You hurt me too much for that!"

"I know," he said miserably. "And I didn't mean it like that. All I wanted was..." he trailed off.

"Wanted what?" Kat demanded sharply.

He blushed, then sighed. She wasn't going to make it easy on him, it looked like. Well, she was certainly entitled. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. Honestly. And I was hoping that you'd like it enough to at least let me explain..."

"Explain what? Why you practically rejected me in front of everybody? Why you embarrassed me, shut me out, then turned to your ex while I was standing right beside you, not caring at all whether I was hurt by it or not? Is that it?" Angrily, she dashed a hand across her eyes. She wasn't going to cry, not in front of him—she just wasn't! "Because if it is, you can leave right away again!"

"No!" Tommy exclaimed, shocked. This was worse than he'd imagined! "Kat, I know that I behaved badly, and I'm truly sorry, but please—can you a least believe that I never meant to hurt you? Please, just listen to me for five minutes," he begged.

Katherine snorted softly, but she knew that it wasn't in Tommy's nature to deliberately cause pain to anyone, much less one of his friends. She snuck a peek at his face, feeling a certain amount of satisfaction to recognize definite signs of anguish on the lean features. And the look in the brown eyes... a lost puppy dog had nothing on him. She felt herself soften a bit.

"I suppose," she conceded grudgingly at last, squelching the impulse to say 'let's forget it'. If their relationship was to have any chance at all to survive, they needed to have this out, no matter how difficult it was for either of them. And dear lord, how she hoped they would succeed! "You've got your five minutes. But it had better be good."

He ran a hand under his ponytail, massaging his neck. "I don't know if it's going to be 'good', exactly," he mumbled, "or if that's time enough, but I'll try." He'd rehearsed a speech all the way to the Hillards' house, but now that the moment had come to deliver it, the words just wouldn't come. If only Kat's normally sweet face didn't look so forbidding! But it was his own fault. So, Tommy gulped down his anxiety and guilt and tried to organize his thoughts.

"Kat... when I came out of Jason's room and you tried to comfort me, I wasn't 'rejecting' you. I'd never do that. I just knew that ... that if I let you—or anyone, really—get close to me, I was going to lose it. And I didn't think I could afford to. I needed to be, well, strong, I suppose," he said haltingly.

"Tommy, you're not Superman," Kat said exasperatedly. "For heaven's sake, we all know how close you and Jason are; nobody would've held it against you if the strain of the situation was too much for you! Least of all me! You don't have to be strong all the time!"

She was right, of course, but for that, he actually had an argument. "You're a very pretty girl," he said softly. "You don't need fancy clothes or makeup for anyone to see that. Why do you still dress up and stuff when we go out?"

Kat looked at him strangely. It was a most unexpected question, and the answer seemed so obvious... She gave it a moment's thought, though, then answered. "Because I... well, I guess it's because I'm going out with you; I want to make an extra effort... oh."

He grinned fleetingly, wryly. "Exactly."

She frowned. "Okay, I can accept that, I suppose. But why then—when you saw Kim, you didn't even think twice. You just went to her and broke down. And it didn't matter at all that everybody could see it, either. Why didn't you have to be strong for her?"

"I wish I knew," he sighed. "And I've been trying to figure that out ever since. Didn't have a lot of success, but... anyway, I... I suppose it's because she's already seen me at my worst—when I lost the Green Ranger Powers for good, the second time. I can't remember ever feeling so low. And Kim didn't mind, she stayed with me through it all, never criticized or anything..."

"And you think I wouldn't have, is that it? Do you really think so little of me? And have you any idea how that makes me feel?!?"

Oh damn, he was going about this all wrong! Tommy shook his head, denying her accusation.

"No, of course not. I know you would have been there, too; I know you're not like that," he hastened to assure the lovely blonde. His lips quirked. "And I think that you most likely felt pretty rotten."

"That's putting it mildly," Kat grumbled, giving him a baleful look. Understatement of the century, Tommy Oliver!

"I'm really, really sorry about that," Tommy repeated, cringing involuntarily. He hated receiving such looks—from experience, both with his mother and Kimberly; they usually indicated that he'd screwed up royally. Guess I have, at that. Aw man! "Only, Kat... please believe me, I didn't do it on purpose. I care way too much about you to ever want to cause you pain!"

"Well, you did!"

"Yes."

His quiet admission and assumption of responsibility did much to soften Kat's disposition towards him. Still, she wasn't ready to forgive him yet. But she did sit down on the couch, looking steadily at her boyfriend, waiting. After a moment, Tommy sat down, too—but at a slight gesture from Kat, he left most of the seat's width between them.

Tommy realized that he had to come clean once and for all; he didn't relish the prospect, but after what he'd put her through, Kat deserved the whole truth. He only hoped that their relationship would survive his confession.

"Kat... I've thought pretty hard about what happened, about how I reacted at the hospital," he began. "As I said, I didn't turn to Kim deliberately. It was... a kind of instinct, I guess. I've asked myself since why that's so, and I had to realize that despite all that time, despite that letter she sent me, I still wasn't completely over her. I just thought I was," he murmured haltingly.

Katherine felt her breath catch and she blanched. Did that mean Tommy was still in love with Kimberly? At that moment, her worst fears seemed to manifest. Tears rushed to her eyes and beaded her lashes.

"D-do you mean to tell me you're still in l-love with h-her?" she stammered.

Discomfited, Tommy closed his eyes. He knew this would hurt her. "I guess," he admitted softly. "A little, anyway." He winced when he heard Kat moan softly in acute pain, but didn't dare look at her. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the carpet at his feet.

Kat fought not to cry. But her voice was unsteady as she posed the question she didn't want to ask—the one with the answer she feared most.

"Does that mean you've come to break up with me?" she whispered. "Is that what you want to talk about?"

At that, Tommy's head snapped up. He took in the pale cheeks, the rosy lips which quivered despite Kat's best effort, and the tiny liquid diamond drops coursing down her face. Everything in him demanded he hug her right now, but he'd lost the right to do so. Only for now, I hope! Please! Restraining himself with difficulty, he kept his distance.

"Not unless you want it," he replied, equally softly.

That was not what she'd expected, and Kat felt her heavy heart do a sudden leap of renewed hope. "I... I don't understand." He's NOT breaking up with me? Thank You, God!

Tommy inhaled deeply. "Kat... when I met Kim, it was practically love at first sight. I never questioned what I felt or her, it just was, and boy, it sure felt great. All the time. I'd even started to hope it was going to be forever." Kat winced, but Tommy was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice. "When she dumped me... it felt as if my whole world had crashed around me. I honestly don't know what I would've done if you and Billy hadn't been there for me. Did I ever thank you for being such a great friend, by the way? Because you were—are, and I'd hate to think I never thanked you," he interrupted himself.

"I think so," Kat murmured. "Doesn't matter." He hadn't, not in so many words, but that was irrelevant now. She wanted to know how he felt about her, not Kimberly!

"It does, too, but... anyway, after I got over the first shock, I tried to forget her, to let go... and I honestly believed I had. I didn't know I was only kidding myself."

It hurt, but Kat had to concede that she couldn't blame Tommy for that. Heart and mind were funny things, especially when things like hurt pride and non-comprehension were added. She also believed that Tommy was being truthful about not realizing his state of mind at the time. He just wasn't deceitful by nature, and although her heart ached, she was pretty certain that he hadn't used her in any way. Still, she had a need and a right to know...

"Why did you ask me out in the first place, anyway?" she wanted to know. "I mean, it was long enough after the letter that you ought to have had time to sort through your feelings."

He shrugged. "I thought I had. But—you really don't know why I asked you out?"

She looked away. "I thought I did. Now, I'm not sure anymore." A very faint blush crept over her features as she remembered his endearing shyness when he'd first asked her to the luau at the Beach Club that went so disastrously wrong, his solicitousness when they went to the movies the next day, the gentlemanly behaviour when all she'd longed for was a good-night kiss... That had happened five dates later at last, and it had been a dream come true for her, especially after having to wait so long.

Seeing the trace of color return to her face made Tommy bold enough to scoot a little closer and take one of Kat's slim hands in his. Her fingers were cold to his touch, and he began to rub them gently, trying to warm them again.

"I asked you out because I'd grown to like you a lot," he said softly. "I may be pretty dense at times about a lot of things, but I could hardly not notice how hard you tried to cheer me up, how you did all sorts of little things for me, how you always tried to be there for me... and I really appreciated that. Still do. Besides, you're a wonderful person—talented, bright, a great Pink Ranger... not to mention one of the prettiest girls I know," he added.

Kat blushed. Tommy wasn't exactly stingy with compliments, always telling her she looked nice or when she'd done well at something, but a list like that... he'd never given her so much praise before!

"Really?"

Geeze, girl, you sound like you're twelve and just got a smile from the school hunk in the hallway! Kat frowned at the eagerness in her voice, hoping Tommy hadn't detected it.

"Of course," Tommy said matter-of-factly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He gently squeezed her hand, sensing that somehow, though, it wasn't enough. Well, he'd wanted to tell her something else before, anyway. Now, if ever, was the time.

"Kat... I dunno if you realize this, but... in all the time I've been with Kim, I've never even looked at another girl. Not until I met you, that is." She couldn't help raising a sceptical eyebrow, and he chuckled sheepishly, blushing a little. "Well, okay, I did look a couple of times, but that's all it was—looking. Sure, I noticed when a girl was pretty, but it was more like, um, seeing a pretty flower or something. Part of the scenery, so to speak. Somehow, I didn't care how attractive or charming another girl was; all that mattered was Kim. Then, I met you at the Youth Center. And for the first time, I noticed such a girl was flirting with me... and I didn't mind."

"Rita made me do that," Kat mumbled, embarrassed even after all this time. It had been so unlike her to come on to a guy the way she'd done! She snatched her hand back from Tommy's wonderful touch, as if even that slight contact was too much.

Tommy smiled. "I know that now, but not then—anyway, whatever the reason, I kinda liked the way it made me feel. You made me feel. Of course, I'd never have done anything behind Kimberly's back, but... it sure felt great!"

"Oh." Kat was beginning to feel rather great, too—hearing Tommy say that he found her attractive and charming did wonders for her bruised feelings. However, there was still the question of Tommy's current emotional involvement.

Is it me, or her? I've GOT to know!

"But what about you and Kim now?" she asked diffidently, her heart in her eyes. Which she tried to hide by gazing intently at her hands—so tightly clasped together that the knuckles showed white under her skin. "Do you... do you still want to get back together with her?"

It was Tommy's turn to look away. "Even if I did, it's no use," he replied slowly. "Kim and I had a talk the other day, just before she went back to Florida... the one we should have had instead of that stupid letter. She really has another boyfriend now." This was not the moment to tell Kat that at the time it had been a lie. "It's truly over between us."

The murmur of 'maybe' in his heart was ignored.

Kat felt her spirit soar. If Kim really was out of the picture, maybe she had a genuine chance for happiness with Tommy after all—without the shadow of her predecessor looming in the background.

"And now? What do you want to do now?" she asked. At his questioning look, she elaborated. "What I want to know is—what does that mean for us, Tommy? What am I to you? Am I just a substitute for Kimberly because you can't have her, or what?"

"Never that," he answered very seriously. "Kat... I care way too much about you for you to ever be a substitute for anything or anybody."

It wasn't a glowing declaration of love—not by a long shot. Deep down, Kat had hoped...

"You... care?"

Tommy had the grace to wince as he realized how lame the word sounded. But he couldn't be anything but completely honest.

"Yes. I'm not making you any promises, Kat. I can't, and I won't. I'd hoped for promises from Kim, and got my heart broken in the process. I really wish I could offer you more. I'm hoping I'll be able to in time—if you're willing to give me a chance. But I need a little more time to sort everything out in my head."

"I guess I can understand that," Kat said reluctantly. If what he said was true, the final breakup with Kimberly had occurred only days before. And confronting her almost certainly had opened the wound of her leaving afresh. Why the heck am I making excuses for him?!? He's the one who hurt ME! She tried to summon back her righteous anger, but Kat knew her heart wasn't really in it anymore. She already had forgiven Tommy—more or less. However, that wasn't going to get him off the hook. He was going to tell her where they stood, or else. With that thought fixed firmly into her mind, she turned her attention back to her boyfriend, who was still talking.

"But I'd like to try again with you... if you can find it in you to forgive me for hurting you, if you can give me the space I need right now and if you can wait for me," he finished in a rush, holding his breath. How would Kat react?

Kat thought about this proposal. "That's an awful lot of ifs," she mused, faint disappointment audible in her voice. As much as she wanted to deny it, she was too much in love with him not to grant him this favor—which was a rather sensible request in any case. Tommy sighed, rubbing the back of his neck once more.

"I know. I'm sorry. But it's the best I can do right now."

Tommy looked and sounded so contrite, and as miserable as she'd ever hoped he would, that Kat felt her resistance wane. It would take time for her as well to forget the kind of pain he'd caused her. She also realized with some surprise as she tried to read his true feelings in the chocolate-colored eyes that he'd never been so open and frank about his emotions before. It was a development she'd unconsciously waited for all the months they'd been dating—a willingness to share what was in his heart. Not the face he showed to everybody, but something special between just the two of them. Well, maybe Jason, too. But I can live with that. Even if it wasn't quite what she'd wanted to hear... it was a step in the right direction.

The question was, was she equally willing to take that step along with Tommy?

Kat's mind urged caution. Her heart cried yes.

As she'd suspected all along that it would, her heart won. Resignedly, but not at all unhappy, Kat let a tiny smile creep into her eyes.

"Your best usually is pretty good," she murmured, lowering her lashes. She wasn't going to make it that easy for Tommy. Let him squirm a little. He deserves to!

Tommy seized on the vague comment eagerly. "Does that mean you give me a chance?"

Sending a quick prayer to the skies, Kat drew a deep breath. Time to make her choice, for better or worse.

"A last one," she conceded. "But if you ever hurt me like this again..."

"I'll deserve to be shot," Tommy agreed with gratifying alacrity, his expression lightening up considerably. He was almost giddy with relief—he wasn't going to lose Kat! Now that the danger of that happening was apparently past, he could admit in the privacy of his own mind how much the mere thought had terrified him. Especially on top of having almost lost Jason, and having finally to let go of his first love. He sought to hide his reaction in a bit of silly banter. "Or hanged, drawn and quartered, put on the rack..."

Kat had to giggle involuntarily. "I'll think of something suitably medieval," she promised/threatened gravely. "I'm sure Tanya would love to help, too!" The Yellow Ranger had quickly gained a reputation for not getting mad, but getting even—and the guys knew it.

"Not Tanya! Help!" Tommy shuddered melodramatically, smiling broadly when Kat couldn't suppress a small, delighted laugh. He dared reach out and drew Kat towards him, so that their knees touched on the couch. To his joy, she didn't resist. Gently, he tucked a strand of silky blonde hair behind a delicate ear.

Looking deep into her eyes, he gave in to a sudden impulse. It wasn't really like him, but it felt right. "I love it when you smile," he whispered. "Your eyes shine just so..." Kimberly's eyes had sparkled, but that was a memory best forgotten. Tommy shook his head at himself. Luckily for him, the small gesture came across as bemusement, and nothing else. Kat deserved better than that from him, and he vowed that from now on, there would be no more comparisons between her and Kim. No matter how great the temptation.

Kat had no idea where the romantic comment had come from, it was unexpected to say the least, but it served to make the last bit of reserve melt.

"Thank you," she murmured, feeling her face heat up with pleasure. She reached out in turn, cautiously trailing her fingertips down a lean cheek. She gasped softly when Tommy turned his head, captured her hand in his and kissed it.

"No, thank you," he replied softly. Then, he smiled. "I know I said no promises, but... Kat, I will promise you this: I'll give what we have my best shot. I don't want to lose you, and I'll never be able to make it up to you that you're not giving up on us."

"I care too much about you to do that, Tommy," Kat admitted. "That's why you were able to hurt me in the first place, and that's why I'm not letting you go. Not without a fight, anyway."

"And the Pink Ranger has always been a good fighter," Tommy nodded, accepting the unspoken challenge. What she could do, he could as well. He hoped.

He leaned back against the couch then, pulling an unresisting Kat into his arms. She rested securely against his shoulder and threaded her arm around his waist. The two sat like that for a while, letting the rest of their stormy emotions settle down once and for all. Only when both felt at peace and their hearts beat in unison did Tommy tip Kat's chin up and looked a question into the sapphire eyes. She nodded minutely, and he lowered his head.

Soft as butterfly wings, their lips met, sealing a bargain that wasn't quite a promise. But it was forgiveness. Another chance. At hope, and at love.

~*~

Jason moved slowly around his hospital room, packing his bag. The breakfast trays had just been removed, he'd had a final check-up by Dr. Jenkins, and he was going to be released at 11 o'clock. His mother had promised to come by early and do the packing for him, but after days in bed, not allowed the slightest bit of exertion, he was sick of being waited on, of being treated like an invalid, like he had no mind or will of his own. In short, he was sick of being sick. So, he did what he could, even if it took him an hour and his leg hurt abominably with every step. He was just coming out of the bathroom, his shaving kit in hand, when the door to his room opened slowly.

Jason raised a curious eyebrow; who could that be? His friends had all promised to drop by his house for a farewell party tonight before he left for that rehab place in Montana tomorrow, it was too early for his folks, and he didn't expect any other visitors. A dark head with shoulder-length hair poked inside, and to his considerable surprise, Jason recognized David.

"Well, hello," he said, dropping his toiletries on top of the bag as he limped to the bed. "Look what the cat dragged in!"

Drawing himself up to his full height, David froze into an offended posture, and Jason would have bitten off his unruly tongue if he hadn't feared they'd keep him here even longer if he did.

"I wasn't dragged here," David huffed. "I'm here of my own free will." And prompted by a still somewhat guilty conscience and Sam's strong recommendation he should mend his fences, but Jason didn't need to know that, did he?

"Sorry," Jason grinned. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded. Good morning, and come on in."

Visibly controlling his temper, David did just that, closing the door behind him.

"Good morning," he replied stiffly. He stood rooted to the spot, however, just staring at Jason. He looked worlds better than the last time he'd seen him out in the desert, even if he was paler than usual and moved with exaggerated caution. Jason gestured to a chair, but David didn't move. Jason huffed exasperatedly.

"Will you sit down already? I'm trying to be polite here, and as long as you're standing, I can't do anything else, either, and frankly, my leg hurts too damn much to stay upright much longer!"

Oh. That made sense. Still, David couldn't help glare at the other young man as he lowered himself into the plastic seat. He'd come here to make peace with Jason if he could, and what happened? Within a minute of laying eyes on each other, they were squabbling again. Maybe we're just not meant to be in the same room. Town. Country. Whatever. How, though, could he explain that to his brother? David's thoughts were interrupted when with a sigh of relief, Jason plopped onto the bed and with a hiss/groan stretched out his injured leg onto a bolster, elevating the foot.

"Don't tell anybody, but this feels really good," he murmured. Strangely enough, this tiny attempt at boyish conspiracy washed away a great deal of David's irritation.

"Why were you up and around, anyway?" he asked, curious despite himself.

"Packing," Jason replied succinctly. "I'm blowing this joint in -" he glanced at his watch, "—exactly one hour and twenty-three minutes. I want to be ready the minute I can go. No way am I letting anybody keep me around just because my stuff isn't packed!"

David could relate to that with no problem whatsoever.

"But surely your mother would help..."

"Yeah, but I don't want her to," Jason interrupted. "I can do for myself. I'm not a baby, nor at death's door."

It was strange to find himself so in accord with someone he considered his nemesis, but there he was—finding himself agreeing inwardly with every word Jason said. David hated to be fussed over, too. And while Helen Scott had struck him as a very sensible person, she was also a mother who had nearly lost her only son. Of course she would be a little overprotective.

"Well, you aren't anymore now," he said a little lamely, not quite knowing how to react.

Which reminded Jason of something.

"Right—thanks to you," he smiled. "If you hadn't brought the antivenom, I'd be pushing up daisies already. Thanks, man." His sincerity was obvious.

David looked away, embarrassed. "Yeah, well, that made things almost worse," he mumbled.

"Not your fault, you couldn't have known," Jason shot right back, reiterating what his friends and family had already stated. "Hell, I didn't know myself I was allergic. But the doc tells me that without that shot you gave me I'd have died for sure, or at the least sustained damage to my kidneys and whatnot."

It was weird, but hearing it from Jason himself made David believe at last. He felt a weight he hadn't known he was still carrying lift off his shoulders. And yet, he protested.

"But..."

"Stop arguing already! Hasn't your foster father told you it's impolite to contradict someone who's trying to say thanks?" Jason demanded to know, hiding his grin. He'd encountered that type of behaviour before, from two of the most stubborn and mule-headed people it had ever been his pleasure to know. David was even more fun to tease than Billy—and neither had anything on Tommy, when it came to feeling guilty over something. Jason blithely ignored his own strong tendency to do just that as well.

"I, uh... er..." Confused, David looked at Jason. This conversation wasn't going the way it was supposed to at all! He was trying to apologize for endangering the guy's life, maybe even admit that he'd been just a tad wrong about the way he'd thought Jason was usurping his place, and he... he was teasing him?!?

I KNOW my name isn't Alice; why do I feel as if I've just stepped through the looking glass?

Banishing his whimsical thought, David assumed a resigned expression. On the way to the hospital he'd laid out a mental game plan of this encounter, having thought out the most likely sequence of events in advance. Jason was supposed to listen seriously to David's attempt at an explanation/apology, accept it in an effort to please Tommy, and both would then go their merry ways, agreeing to spend as little time as possible in each other's company. Only problem was, Jason wasn't playing.

Damn him anyway!

That was a way-too-familiar thought. Better not go there.

"Oh, okay. If you insist," David said gruffly.

"I do," Jason replied, disgustingly cheerful. Then, his deep voice grew suddenly serious. "And while we're on the topic of being polite, I'd like to apologize to you. I didn't realize at the time that Tommy and I were being inconsiderate of you in making you pick me up, or that we didn't make enough of an effort to include you in our conversations. I'm sorry about that; I'll try not to make that mistake again."

It was so much like what David had wanted to say, he felt as if someone had pricked him and all the air was escaping from his body. Furthermore, it took him completely by surprise. Jason was apologizing to him? That was not in the scenario he'd envisioned at all. What's more, it took all the steam out of his own apology. David knew that he couldn't hope to say what he had to with the same easy graciousness and sincerity that Jason had just demonstrated. Even on such a slight acquaintance as they had, it was unmistakeable that he'd meant every word.

It's going to look as if I'm apologizing just because he did!

"Damn you, you're doing it again!" he exclaimed, suddenly angry. "Why do you always have to show me up? Can't you let someone else be first, for a change? Do you have to be so fucking perfect all the time?!?"

Thoroughly taken aback by the unexpected outburst, Jason felt his jaw drop. Here he thought he was going to have a fight-free conversation with Tommy's brother for once, and David was harping on all the old, ridiculous stuff again?!? Where did he get that from, anyway? Me, perfect? Yeah, right. I'd laugh if it weren't so idiotic! However, he managed to collect his wits reasonably fast.

"Whoa, whoa, time out," he interrupted David, forming a T with his hands. "What the hell are you talking about? I wasn't trying to show you up, and I'm certainly not perfect," he snorted. "Whatever or whoever gave you that idea, anyway? All I was doing was try and apologize for being something of a jerk towards you!"

Guiltily aware that Jason was right, that his damnable temper had been too quick to take offense at what he feared was only an imaginary insult, David looked at the floor. He didn't know himself what had made him lash out again, only that having Jason apologize first made him feel thwarted. Inferior, somehow. And he didn't like that feeling one bit.

Neither did he enjoy having his own as-yet unspoken apology hovering over his head.

"That's what I was going to do," he mumbled in a surly voice, still not meeting Jason's eyes.

Uh huh. Sure you were. Rolling his eyes, Jason cranked up the bed's headrest with the remote control and lay back against his pillow. "Well, why haven't you?" he asked. "Nobody's stopping you!" Jerk!

Kicking himself for it, wishing he could recall the words the second they left his mouth, David nonetheless couldn't hold them back.

"I wanted to say it first."

~*~

The plaintive comment caught Jason unawares, and he looked sharply at David. Really looked at him. And for the first time, he was able to see past the overt hostility and standoffishness to the man underneath. What he saw was someone who was embarrassed, angry, confused, uncomfortable... a little bit of everything, really. That rearranged his perception of his visitor rather radically in the space of a few heartbeats. David wasn't an arrogant prick after all; it was just a defense mechanism for his insecurities. And a cover for his loneliness.

In that instant of clarity, Jason was reminded of both Billy and Tommy, in the early days of his friendship with either of them. Billy had been painfully shy, all too aware of his awkwardness in social situations, and unconsciously arrogant about his undeniably superior intellect. Tommy, on the other hand, was guilt-ridden about his time as Rita's Evil Ranger, unused to having friends—and just couldn't seem to grasp that the Rangers didn't hold his time under the spell against him. Both, in their own ways, had pretended not to care, had rebuffed overtures of friendship, and it had taken the concerted efforts of all four (or in Tommy's case, five) of them to crack through their shells. It had been worth it.

Boy, has it ever!

~*~

Jason's first impulse was to laugh, but he suspected correctly that David would take instant offense if he did. Where his friends would clearly see the humor in the little-boy-like complaint and join him, he just wasn't close enough to David to pull it off. And the very last he wanted was to widen the rift between them—if only for Tommy's sake. His best friend should not have to choose sides between him and his brother—and Jason knew that David agreed with him on that, at least.

Both of us might wish Tommy likes one better than the other, but it's not fair to HIM. And I didn't ignore all the little barbs on our trek for nothing!

So, instead of giving in to his mirth, Jason eyed David speculatively, waiting for him to look up. When he finally did, he hid every trace of a smile and spoke very quietly.

"So that's what it's all about, is it?"

David stared at him suspiciously. "That's about what?"

Jason snorted lightly. "You want to be first in something. Unique. Special. Most of all with your brother." He fiddled with the drawstring of his sweatpants, unable all of a sudden to hold the look. "Guess what? I can understand that. Much better than you probably imagine."

"Yeah, right," David scoffed. "When have you ever not been popular, or gotten what you wanted?"

"Often enough. You think it's always easy, trying to be a 'good' kid? You should have heard some of the names I've been called because I didn't cut class, tried to keep my grades up and preferred to study rather than hang out at the mall or wherever... on the football team, I was laughed at because I wouldn't drink. Just recently, I lost my girlfriend because I wouldn't do 'recreational' drugs or sleep with her unprotected. I know I disappointed my Dad when I told him I wasn't interested in joining his business. And never mind the phase I had at thirteen—bad skin, greasy hair, a weight problem, the works—my sensei had to kick me out of the dojo for a few weeks until I adjusted my attitude, let Mom take me to a nutritionist and Kim dragged me shopping with her." Jason made a face at the memory, showing half amusement, half chagrin. "Sure, compared to some other kids I may have had it easy, but it certainly wasn't all sweetness and light, either."

He knew he was veering off on a tangent that had very little to do with the basic problem, but he was feeling a certain need to justify himself before David. "If it hadn't been for the discipline I learned in karate or the support my friends have always given me, I don't know how I could have gotten through it without lashing out at something or somebody sometimes."

David looked surprised. What Jason had just told him could have been taken from his own life—during that time in his early adolescence when he'd attended an off-reservation school. Sam had made so many sacrifices to give him a chance at a brighter future! Only, he had had to put up with prejudice and racial slurs as well because of his Native American heritage. Not knowing how else to deal with it, he'd gotten into fights more than once. Jason hadn't had to suffer through that, true, but he certainly couldn't blame Jason for not belonging to a minority. In any case, after a year he'd begged Sam to let him come home, choosing the simpler education and familiar surroundings available on the Reservation over the chance at a college scholarship.

Only days ago, the realization that Jason had toughed it out when he hadn't would have caused another burst of intense jealousy. Now, however, David began to feel a connection to his brother's friend for the very first time. Which was a minor miracle, all things considered. Thoughtfully, he nodded.

"I wish I had friends like that."

Jason smiled. "Yeah, they're the best."

Both young men were silent for a few minutes, Jason mentally reliving a few instances when his friends had helped him over this or that particularly rough spot, and David musing over the gradual shifting of attitude towards him he could feel happening in his mind. Why had he ever just assumed that Jason had things handed to him on a silver platter? Sure, Tommy had praised his best friend to the skies often enough, but he had never actually said how Jason's circumstances were, or how he had become the person he was today.

I've jumped to conclusions because I was jealous. I didn't WANT to admit that the guy Tommy is so fond of might actually be someone worth knowing. And I couldn't see Jason's qualities because I deliberately closed my eyes where he was concerned. What does that say about me? Newly disgusted with himself, David ran both hands through his hair in a gesture very reminiscent of Tommy. I'm a self-centered jerk. Well, I can do something about THAT, at least.

David exhaled gustily. He may not have been able to apologize first, but he could be the first to offer an explanation for his unfriendly attitude. Still, he found he couldn't come straight out and say it; he had to do it in a roundabout fashion.

Jason was startled out of his reverie when David cleared his throat a bit awkwardly and began to talk in an offhand, almost casual manner.

"You know... one of the reasons I kind of hated you sight-unseen was that Tommy has this habit of talking about you as if you're the Dalai Lama, Bruce Lee, Abe Lincoln, Neil Armstrong and Robert Redford all rolled into one," he said. "No matter what I did, said or showed him, you had done it before. Usually better, faster, and more often, too. How was I supposed to ever measure up to such a paragon?"

"Ouch," Jason winced. "Yeah, I can see how that would irritate you. If I had heard that kind of nonsense about me, I would've hated myself, too. But that's Tommy for you—once he likes somebody, they can do no wrong in his eyes. You should've heard him going on and on and on about Kim, when they first started dating. According to him, she was friggin' perfect. He just forgot that Billy, Zack and I had known her since kindergarten, so we dismissed about 75% of what he said right away and took the rest with a grain of salt." He grinned, his expression suddenly decidedly sheepish. "To tell the truth, I've been told once or twice in Geneva that I should stop holding up my friends back home as examples of perfection and try meeting new people on their own merits. Sound advice, really. It wasn't easy, but once I stopped looking for another Billy or Kim, I did make a few new friends."

"What, you weren't looking for another Tommy?" David wondered, only half joking. He had a feeling he already knew the answer to that.

He was right. Jason shook his head, dark eyes suddenly very, very serious.

"No. Never. What's between me and Tommy... it can't be duplicated. Ever. I dunno how we connected, or why, but right from the start it was as if we'd been friends for years. Well, once he'd got over the urge to kill us, that is," he quipped.

"Yeah, that would tend to put a crimp on things..."

"No kidding."

David shook his head. "Anyway, what I was about to say is this—I didn't even give you half a chance when we met, never mind the circumstances. I didn't want to like you, so I didn't. What I did want was your relationship, your instant, deep rapport with Tommy, and I wanted it right now. And only for myself, too—I didn't want to share. At all. Only, it didn't work out that way. It kinda pissed me off, and that's the reason I let my antipathy take over. It shouldn't have happened. Sorry."

There, it was said. With a sigh of relief, David sat back in his chair. He wondered briefly how Jason would react, but by now was fairly sure that it would not be negatively. He waited for an acknowledgement of some kind—a joke, a plain 'okay', anything, but when nothing was forthcoming, he snuck a peek at Jason. He was still half-reclining on his bed, a pensive expression on his face as he just stared at his visitor. Finding that dark gaze slightly unnerving, David shifted in his seat. At last, unable to stand the continuing silence any longer, he cleared his throat.

"Jason?"

He only blinked. "Hmm?"

"Do you, um, believe I'm sorry?"

To David's surprise, Jason rolled over to lean on one elbow.

"Can I ask you something?" he queried, completely ignoring David's question.

"Huh? Sure," David replied uncertainly. "What is it?"

"When Tommy first mentioned me—what was your reaction? The initial one," Jason said.

David actually had to think about that. What had he felt?

"Curiosity," he finally decided. "When I heard he had a best friend, I wanted to get to know him. It was only later, when it was constantly 'Jason this, Jason that' that I began to dislike you even though we hadn't met yet."

"Were you happy for him?"

"Sure. I mean, I thought I'd lost my little brother along with my parents, and when we finally learned he had survived the car crash it took so long to find out where he was, that he'd been adopted... and the Olivers moved around the country so much... I was glad he had someone at his back at least for the last couple years. If we'd been together I would've looked out for him, but as I wasn't there, I'm glad someone was. Why?"

Jason ignored that admission as well. Instead, he glanced intently at David, as if gauging his sincerity. Apparently satisfied at last with what he saw, he chuckled lightly, but without mirth.

"You want to know what my reaction was?" Not waiting for an answer, he went right ahead. "I had just come home from Geneva. Things were pretty hectic, what with me having to take on the Gold Powers nearly right away, but as soon as we had a minute to breathe, the very first thing Tommy did was tell me about you. He was so excited, so enthusiastic and happy... 'I have a brother! Isn't that great?' were his exact words. I should have been happy with him—for him. Instead... all I could think was, 'Now he doesn't need me anymore'." Jason swallowed hard. Afterward, he'd been thoroughly ashamed of himself, but at the time, the thought had hit him right in the gut. And it had HURT.

David had trouble keeping his jaw in place. This echoed his own innermost feelings so perfectly, it was positively uncanny. And was just about the last thing he'd ever expected to hear—from Jason, anyway. Because, when he brought the idea to its logical conclusion, it meant...

"You were as jealous of my relationship with Tommy as I was of yours with him!"

"Yeah," Jason admitted softly, squirming and blushing. "Of course, once I was over the first surprise and had time to look at things rationally, I realized that I was doing Tommy an injustice—he's not the kind of guy who drops his friends just because someone new has come along. I really should have known better. But I couldn't help myself."

It boggled the mind. David had believed that the differences between him and Jason were nearly insurmountable, competing as they were (however subtly) for Tommy's affections. Instead, they were both coming to the realization that where the Red Ranger was concerned, they really weren't coming from such different positions after all. That made it much easier to dig a little deeper.

"I don't get it. Why would you be jealous of me? I mean, you both live in the same place, you see each other every day—or used to, anyway, until Tommy took up racing, you even were Rangers together... whereas I live out in the boonies and really have very little in common with him, all things considered. I couldn't live in Tommy's world—trust me, I've tried, and it didn't work out—and he's made it pretty clear that he has no plans to join me on the Rez."

Jason sighed. It had taken him hours of introspection to come up with an explanation that covered most of the facts and clarified his feelings... and he wasn't really the introspective type. But he'd had more than enough time when he was recuperating from losing the Gold Powers, and now he at least understood himself a little better. Which did not mean he particularly liked what he'd found out. Haltingly, he began to explain.

"It's pretty simple, really. I've always wanted to have a brother. Apart from the fact that Mom couldn't have any more children after me, it was also this—I didn't want an older or a kid brother, I wanted a twin. Someone my own age. When Tommy moved here and we just sorta clicked, it was as if that old dream had finally come true. We are as close as ay brothers I've ever seen. Only... deep down, at the farthest back of my mind, I always know that we aren't. Not really. We're just friends."

"About the best friends anybody has ever seen, or so your friends say," David interjected, fascinated.

"True, and I'm certainly not dissing that. Tommy really is the best friend I could wish for. And I know it'll last, too. For both of us."

"Then what's the problem?" His puzzlement showed clearly in David's eyes.

Jason grinned wryly. His recent ordeal had brought his secret fear poignantly to the fore. A sweeping gesture indicated his room, the hospital, the events which had brought him here.

"This, for example. I know Tommy was with me as often as he could, because my folks like him and accept him as part of me. They knew I'd want him close by. But what if they didn't? Or if they hadn't been around? There would have been no way Tommy would have been able to see me, at least not while I was out of it. What if it had been him instead of me? His parents kinda like me, too, but I'm not part of his family. Not the way my Mom and Dad consider him part of ours. I just wouldn't have had the right to stay at his side, no matter how much we wanted that."

That was true. In situations like this, only family were given access to critically-ill patients. Jason's next words clearly expressed his indignation at that custom, and his sadness that he could do nothing to change it.

"I'm not family. You are. If worse comes to worst, you'd even have the right to keep me completely away from Tommy, if he were ever seriously ill. Because you're his real brother, and I'm 'just' his friend. No matter that we're closer than most everybody, in a case like that I'd have to stay away. Even if he needed me. And that would just about kill me."

The last sentence was spoken in a rough whisper, which made it all the more believable to David. He'd seen first-hand the devotion his brother had for Jason, and by now there was no more doubt in his mind that it was returned in equal measure. At that moment, if it had been in his power, he'd have offered to share his relationship. But it wasn't, and so all that was left for him to say was a murmured "I'm sorry."

Jason shrugged. "Yeah well. Nothing to be done about it. I'll just have to learn to live with it. But I'd give an arm and a leg to be in your shoes."

David snorted at the irony.

"Funny. So would I."

~*~

The two stared at each other for a small eternity, then both started to grin reluctantly. Seeing their own reaction mirrored on the other's face let the grins grow into chuckles, then rueful laughter. It died down soon, though.

David was the first to sober up again. He stretched his long legs, working a few kinks out of his shoulders as he shifted in the chair. He hadn't even noticed how tense he'd been! But it seemed as if he was relaxing all over, now that the air between him and Jason had been cleared. A quick glance towards the bed confirmed that Jason, too, was shaking muscles loose as best he could while still lying down. Eventually, they were both done and shrugged sheepishly.

"Guess we have a lot more in common than we thought," Jason murmured at last. He wasn't sure why, but he found the idea strangely comforting. He didn't like being so at odds with someone as he and David had been.

"Yeah. Feels kinda strange, doesn't it?" David's grin was wry.

That surprised a short laugh out of Jason. "Does it ever!" But it was a good feeling nonetheless. For both of them.

There followed another brief silence, this time terminated by David.

"So where does that leave us?"

"What do you mean?"

"What are we going to do now? I mean, I'm glad we managed to apologize and explain things and all, but to be perfectly honest, I don't have any burning desire to buddy up with you."

"Me neither." Jason wasn't averse to forming new friendships, or even to adding David to his circle of friends eventually, but after the rocky start they'd had, he knew it wasn't going to be easy. After all, David may look a lot like Tommy, but he's nothing like him. At all.* But it was definitely something to look forward to, if it should ever come to pass. If not... well, they'd just remain casual acquaintances.

"So?" David asked.

Jason replied slowly, formulating his thoughts as he went along. "So... I guess we agree to a truce of sorts. After all, even when we had that fight at sunup, we both wanted to keep Tommy out of it. I'm pretty sure I can be civil to you around him; it's not as if we have to live with each other day in and day out, is it?"

"Nah. And I can be civil if you can." David displayed just a hint of smug superiority in his reply. After all, he was older, and supposedly more mature than the barely-legal Jason.

"You bet your ass I can!"

The not-so-faint challenge in Jason's voice and eyes made David's hackles rise once more, despite his best intentions not to let himself be baited by anything he might do or say.

And here I thought we were about to make a truce! Right. More like a cease-fire at best!

"Whatever."

He suppressed the impulse to add a nasty remark. If this thing between Jason and him should have a chance to work at all, they both better stop needling each other. And it was easier to resist temptation if it was as far out of reach as possible. Jason quite obviously couldn't leave; he was waiting to be officially released from hospital. Ergo, it was up to him. Without another word, David heaved himself to his feet and took a few steps towards the door. His hand already on the doorknob, he turned once more to face an equally mute Jason.

"So we're agreed then? We both try to be polite?"

Jason nodded decisively. "Yeah."

"Good." David opened the door, but just before he went into the hallway, he glanced back again. There was one thing he just had to say. Even if it wasn't entirely true anymore.

"You know... just because we both care about Tommy and found out we have stuff in common after all... I still don't really like you all that much!"

Jason frowned briefly, then he recognized the not-quite-teasing glint in David's eyes. His own lit up with almost unholy glee. So that's the way you want to play this? Okaaaaaaay... He chuckled.

"Right. And I still think you're an idiot and an asshole for even thinking I was trying to push you away from Tommy. Guess that makes us even—doesn't it?"

"For now." Nodding a brief farewell, David departed without further ado, leaving a be- and amused Jason behind.

~*~

Months later

"... and this is all, people. The Falcon's Pass Nature Reserve will open as planned tomorrow!"

Applause branded up in the Reservation's Assembly Hall as Douglas Rainsinger, the Tribe's attorney and official spokesperson, closed the thick folder he'd brought. It had taken a lot of hard work on everyone's part, the amount of governmental red tape had been enormous and there had been inevitable delays beyond everyone's control—like the nearly-unprecedented week of heavy rainfall which had only ended in the early hours of the morning—but the Big Day had come at last.

Now, everyone was justifiably excited and psyched; if Falcon's Pass was a success, it would mean financial security and a lot of prestige for the whole Tribe.

The audience slowly dispersed, chattering excitedly and making last-minute plans for the next day. There was to be a grand opening ceremony, with representatives from several Native American nations, as well as officials from the neighboring towns, the state's Educational Board, a number of environmental groups, the Forest Ranger service... even the Governor had promised to drop in for a brief visit.

TV crews were milling around, filming and interviewing everything and everyone who would hold still for just a minute, but the publicity for once was welcomed; after all, the project was supposed to benefit a lot of people, aside from preserving the area.

Small groups stood here and there, talking, laughing, arranging car pools and whatnot. David, Tommy and Jason waited a while for Sam to join them, but the old shaman was talking earnestly to Mr. Rainsinger, with two other Elders listening intently.

"I think this is gonna take a while," Tommy commented at last. "Dave, why don't we just leave word with someone and go ahead? I'm starving!"

"Uh-oh," Jason quipped. "In that case, we better hurry. Never get between Tommy and free food!"

David grinned at his brother as the three young men wended their way through the crowd towards the exit. "I thought Rocky was the bottomless pit among you guys?"

"He is," Jason said drily. "But that doesn't mean that Tommy can't give him a run for his money when he feels like it."

"Like you aren't drooling over the thought of Mrs. Sundancer's brownies?"

Jason looked extremely pious. "I'm not."

David snorted. "Right. But only because she's given you a whole tin just before the assembly started. I saw that."

Jason didn't even try to hide his smug grin. "What can I say? She likes me!"

"Wonder why," David muttered under his breath, dodging Jason's elbow jab with a quick feint. A faint smile quirked his lips, showing that his remark had been meant exactly as serious as Jason's retaliation. Meaning, not at all. He inadvertently bumped into an older man standing right behind him, who gave David a disapproving look. "Sorry!"

Jason just laughed and quickened his pace, being the first to step outside into the warm evening. The big party was going to be the next night, but there was still food aplenty to sample for everybody involved in the planning. David and Tommy followed, and together they walked to the central village square.

Tommy was feeling especially good; he had managed to get the weekend off from his rather hectic racing schedule, and he always enjoyed spending time with his brother and best friend—especially now that the hatchet between them had been buried. Well... except for the bickering, of course. He shook his head, listening to the two argue amiably.

~*~

When Jason had returned from physiotherapy, Tommy had deliberately invited him and David to his birthday. The two had been polite but distant at first, but at least the tension that had spoiled large parts of their ill-fated camping trip had been absent. They were both making an effort for Tommy's sake, and as a result managed to keep the atmosphere relatively easy among them.

At one point, conversation had turned to the plans for Falcon's Pass Nature Reserve, and Jason, who had been interested in the project right from the start, offered quite casually to call up several environmental agencies he'd come in contact with in Switzerland.

"Not that you couldn't do it yourselves, I know, but I've met a few of the national representatives personally, and trust me—even with them, Vitamin C counts!"

"Vitamin C?" David had asked confusedly.

Jason had just grinned and shrugged. "C as in connections."

"Oh."

"Hey, I have them, you need them—why not use 'em?"

David hadn't liked the idea of being obligated in any way to Jason, but he knew the other was right; so, for the sake of the project, he'd agreed to let him help. And it had helped. Before he knew how it happened, Jason was hip-deep involved in the cause, ingratiating himself with his easy manner to a lot of people. In consequence, Jason spent a lot of his weekends on the reservation, staying at Ruth Sundancer's house if he had to... and thus managed to pick up a lot of goings-on of daily life there. David was sceptical and very reserved at first, but in time got used to his presence, even learned to value Jason's input and contributions.

One advantage of Jason's involvement was that there were chapters of Greenpeace and other environment-conscious groups at Angel Grove University, which Jason now attended; he managed to persuade them to take an interest in this local venture, and the publicity was very welcome indeed—more so, because it didn't cost the Tribe anything but time and a concession to promote the groups at the Trading Post.

So, the two had become colleagues of sorts—with David representing the Tribe, and Jason working as liaison to official organizations. It did not make them instant friends, but having to work together built a mutual respect for their respective dedication and talents that left little room for jealousy or overt animosity.

Not that they still didn't verbally spar constantly. Tommy, their families and friends often rolled their collective eyes in exasperation when the two went at each other tooth and nail, but things had progressed to the point where it was more a case of who could come up with the most creative insults rather than who could put the other down most effectively.

~*~

"Mmm, I can smell the food even over here," Jason announced as the three approached the picnic area which had been set up on a piece of lawn right in the village center. A white fence enclosed the area, with several vine-covered arches marking the entrances and exits. Around the fence was a two-yard-wide strip of freshly-turned earth which was supposed to be filled with flowers, but the ground was still too muddy from all the rain they'd had to do any planting. A group of volunteers had offered to do that final chore very early the next morning, providing a chance for the moisture to evaporate overnight. Boards had been laid to protect the lawn from being trampled too much, but even that was still kind of slippery. "Let's get in line, guys; I want to try everything at least once!"

"If you do that, you won't be able to move afterwards," David predicted. "And I for one am not gonna carry you to the house just because you pigged out."

"Hah. Like you'll be able to resist all the goodies? I've seen you lurking around the kitchens, sniffing like a fox at the henhouse," Jason retorted. "Although, come to think of it, maybe the food wasn't the real attraction..."

To his gleeful delight, he saw David blush, despite the gathering darkness. He sniggered for good measure.

"Oh shut up," David muttered.

"Why?" Jason asked innocently. "Don't you want Tommy to know that there's a very lovely young lady in charge of the dessert table?"

Tommy's ears pricked up. "What?" David and a girl? What girl? This was certainly news to him.

Jason winked and grinned, while David could feel his face heat up even more. Damn Jason for noticing!

"Nothing," he said, trying for a nonchalance he didn't feel. "Jason's seeing things, is all."

The three young men stepped in line at one of the entrances, shuffling forward slowly with the crowd. A few yards behind them, just out of earshot, Sam and the two other Elders did the same, moving with stately dignity. Their age and stature on the Reservation ensured that nobody would jostle them; in fact, had they so wished they could have moved to the front without anyone protesting. But that was not in their nature; the older men took the opportunity to watch and observe, commenting quietly on this or that as the throng crept towards the enclosure step by step.

"I am so not seeing things," Jason protested. "Just this morning, you were talking to Melissa Runningdeer behind the Assembly Hall!"

"Yeah, so?" David challenged, fighting the urge to run his fingers behind his suddenly too-tight collar. "I was just making sure we have enough Five-Cup-Salad tonight; it's Sam's favorite dessert. What's so unusual about that?"

"Oh, is that what it was?" Jason said, his expression studiedly neutral. Only someone who knew him well could recognize the fiendish gleam in his dark eyes.

Tommy, who was listening and watching with great interest, mentally went on full alert. If he'd known about this, he would have loved to join Jason in teasing his brother; David had, to his knowledge, never shown any particular interest in a girl before. And Melissa was an absolute stunner. Way to go, brother! he cheered inwardly. Now if only Jason wouldn't take things too far; he wasn't at all sure how David was going to react to the kind of good-natured needling that was quite common among their circle of friends in all things romantic. He knew; he'd been there twice already.

"Of course. A perfectly normal, innocent reason," David replied. As soon as the word 'innocent' left his mouth, however, he could've bitten his tongue off. It gave Jason exactly the opening he'd been waiting for.

"Innocent. Right. Then I suppose you were only holding her hand because she was unsteady on her feet, or something?" Jason smirked and turned towards Tommy. "You know, maybe David was right to do that; after all, the ground behind the Assembly Hall is sooo unsafe to stand on!"

Despite himself, Tommy chuckled. Behind the Assembly Hall was a perfectly flat, paved parking lot.

"Uh-oh, Dave," he grinned. "I'd say you're busted!"

Flustered, David glared at Jason. "You had to go and open your big mouth, had you?" But he no longer denied the allegation.

He got an unrepentant grin in return. "Just payback for siccing your cousin Mary on me the last time I was here to bring Sam the Greenpeace brochures."

Tommy gasped, torn between laughter and shock. "David, you didn't!"

Mary Trueheart was all of thirteen and had developed a serious case of hero worship for Jason—much to his chagrin. Not that he was ever unkind to the girl, but it was quite embarrassing to have her hover around him all the time, blushing and giggling nervously every time he so much as glanced in her direction. And David had sent her to help him carry the boxes with information material inside... causing poor Mary to literally trip over her own feet because she was watching Jason more than where she was going. When Jason had solicitously tried to help her up, she'd suddenly thrown her child-thin arms around his neck and tried to kiss him.

It had taken all the tact and diplomacy at Jason's command to extricate himself from that situation; he didn't want to hurt the girl, but he also knew he had to nip her crush in the bud as gently as possible. He thought he'd succeeded, too, by hinting he himself was interested in a mysterious girl he wouldn't name, but it was enough to distract the thirteen-year-old—even if she shed a few tears over Jason's supposedly unrequited love.

"He sure did," Jason grumbled, shooting David a venomous look. "I'd have slugged you if you hadn't turned tail and run!"

"Did not," David replied, trying to look innocent and failing miserably. "I had to pick up my uniform." He'd completed his Ranger training a couple of months before, and was eagerly looking forward to his first official day of work tomorrow.

"Like that wouldn't have waited for you!"

"Guys, can it," Tommy interrupted. They were nearing the wooden walkway crossing the flower bed. "Don't let's spoil our appetites, shall we?"

"Nothing can spoil yours, Bro," Jason jibed good-naturedly. But he couldn't resist a last sly wink in David's direction. "I wonder—is Melissa as sweet as the desserts she's helped prepare? Because if she is, I may just discover my own sweet tooth!"

He wasn't serious, of course; while the lovely Miss Runningdeer was a genuinely nice person, his own tastes ran to blue-eyed blondes with a bit more spirit than her gentle nature.

David didn't think, he just reacted. Jealousy of an entirely different kind filled him suddenly, and fired his temper. Without further reflection, he balled a fist and punched Jason in the shoulder. As blows went, it wasn't even a very hard punch, but it was enough to let Jason's fighter's instincts kick in. He shoved back.

"Hey!"

"You keep your paws off Melissa!"

"Oh yeah? Why should I?"

"Because I say so!"

"So you are interested in her," Jason smirked. "I knew it!"

"That's none of your damn business," David hissed, calming down a little as he recognized the spark of amusement in Jason's dark eyes. This wasn't a threat to his budding romance, just another of the mock battles the two often engaged in. If he were honest, he even enjoyed them by now—as did Jason, he knew. Over the past months, it had become part of their relationship. 'Cordial dislike', was what Jason had called it once, which was pretty accurate. And yet underneath both were aware that they'd gone long past the stage where it would ever turn into hostility. He glowered at Jason. "Just leave her alone!"

"Make me," Jason challenged with a grin, shoving David again for good measure. He barely avoided being pushed off the slippery boards as David shouldered him aside. To keep his balance, he made a grab for the nearest arm—which just happened to be David's, yanking him nearly off-balance in turn. The ensuing shuffle looked rather alarming to Tommy, who was standing behind the two, and had completely missed the looks and grins passing between his brother and best friend. So, to head off what he thought was going to be a quarrel, he inserted himself bodily between the two.

"Stop it, guys!"

Jason let himself urged back willingly, but couldn't resist aiming another fake punch at David. Tommy blocked it immediately.

"He started it," he claimed in a child-like whine that escaped Tommy's notice.

"Did not! You did," David retorted, pouting unconvincingly as he tried to place a kick against Jason's shin—impossible to do with Tommy in the way. Neither noticed that the people in line before them had passed the entry arch. Everyone waiting behind them stayed well back, not wanting to get caught in a scuffle among three trained martial artists, no matter how benign it was. Several rows back, one of Sam Trueheart's friends turned to the old man.

"What are the young ones up to?"

"The usual," Sam answered placidly. He had observed the change in David and Jason's relationship during the past few months, and knew they wouldn't harm each other, not even in jest. "It's just high spirits, nothing more."

"Hmph."

Sam smiled to himself. Sometimes, his fellow Elders seemed to have forgotten how it was to be young. He glanced back at the still half-wrestling young men. David and Jason were resorting to name-calling now, with Tommy trying unsuccessfully to referee—and still vainly attempting to deflect various kicks, blows and punches, bearing the brunt of them in the process. He was starting to look slightly frantic, totally oblivious to the rather friendly undercurrents between the other two in his near-panic. To the older and wiser Sam, it looked mostly like a playground squabble among very young boys, not like fighting adults, and he smiled to himself. The melée was moving perilously close to the edge of the wooden boards. Only a step or two more to the left, and one or all of them would slide off...

"Injun!"

"Pale-face!"

"Karate klutz!"

"College geek!"

"I'll give you geek," Jason threatened, laughing soundlessly to himself. Ducking under Tommy's restraining arm, he landed a not-quite-gentle blow in David's midsection, who doubled over, his breath whooshing out of him in a rush.

"Oof!"

"Gotcha!"

"Oh yeah? Gotcha back!" David recovered quickly and swept his foot out behind his brother's back, hooking it around Jason's ankle.

Hopping awkwardly out of harm's way and windmilling his arms to keep upright, Jason was irresistibly reminded of the time when he and Tommy had trained for the Team Ninja Competition—each trying to outdo the other instead of working together. What had Trini said we needed to do? Oh yeah, 'Gung ho'. Working together. He smiled at the memory. Facing Titanos together certainly had cemented his friendship with Tommy in the end—and they'd won, as a team. Guess David and I have become a team of sorts as well by now—not as good together as I am with Tommy, but still a team. Good! It didn't stop him from trying to take David in a choke-hold—very difficult to achieve with a babbling Tommy in the middle... and in the way.

"Jason, stop! Dave, I swear, if the two of you don't cut it out right now, I'll clobber both of you!"

David was shaking with suppressed laughter. All his anger, embarrassment and jealousy had vanished, and behind his brother's back, he winked at Jason while pummelling a broad shoulder with rather weak blows. "You and what army?" he growled.

"Yeah, you couldn't take us on even if you were piloting Dragonzord," Jason jibed, returning David's wink. Really, sometimes Tommy was just too easy! He was so concerned about keeping peace between them, he didn't have a clue that they weren't even serious! Not that they weren't trying very hard to give just the opposite impression. Reaching across Tommy's chest, he gave David another shove. David shoved right back.

Desperate, Tommy took a step forward, interposing himself between the two combatants. He put a hand on either broad chest and pushed hard to keep them apart. However, in his eagerness to stop what he thought was an escalating fight, he neglected to watch his footing. The middle of the boardwalk had pretty much dried out after so many feet had already crossed it, but about a foot on either side was still saturated with rainwater. And therefore extremely uncertain, especially to the leather-soled shoes Tommy had chosen to wear.

His push had been harder than intended; all three lost their balance. Flailing about for a few seconds, David and Jason managed to stay upright, as their respective footwear—moccasins and hiking boots—gave them a much better purchase on the unexpectedly slippery surface. Too, they turned their punches into instinctive grabs towards each other's hands and thus barely managed to stay on the boards.

Not so Tommy.

Finding himself suddenly falling backwards, he shouted in surprise, desperately reached towards any kind of hand-hold... and found none, as David and Jason were busy holding each other up. As if shoved by an unseen hand, Tommy toppled over backwards... and landed with a loud, disgustingly squelching sound smack-dab in the strip of freshly-turned, moist, muddy designated flowerbed.

The wet soil splashed a little on impact, spattering Tommy with hundreds of tiny mud specks all over his clothes, face and hair. Within a split second, he looked as if he'd been walking under a shower of ink drops, or wet black confetti. One especially large glob had even landed on his nose and was now slowly dripping down.

Tommy's expression was... indescribable. Shock and surprise mixed with fury, confusion, embarrassment, outrage, incredulity... in a word, priceless.

David and Jason froze in a moment of stunned silence. They stared at Tommy, exchanged a single glance that conveyed a world of meaning... then, in complete and rare harmony, doubled over with laughter. In fact, they were laughing so hard, they couldn't even help their fuming comrade out of the mud patch, howling even louder when after a first scrambling attempt to get up on his own, Tommy lost his balance again and landed back in the mud—this time face-down.

Everyone in the immediate vicinity started laughing as well, as what had looked like a fight turned into slapstick right before their eyes. Tommy blushed crimson, but accepted the helping hands gratefully which gingerly assisted his mud-covered form back onto the boards. Heedless of his dirty clothes—or their clean ones—he glared impartially at the near-hysterical David and Jason, snatched both into choke-holds before they could get out of reach and marched them away, off the boards and back to the Truehearts' house. The amused crowd parted before the trio willingly enough, watching as they stumbled down the street. Tommy's angry mutterings could be heard as clearly as the others' sniggers while they simultaneously tried to avoid close contact with Tommy's clothes as well as get free from his death grip on their necks.

As the line towards the buffet tables reformed, Sam Trueheart met his fellow Elders' eyes.

"Yes?" he inquired mildly, seeing their disapproval of his foster son, his brother and their friend's behaviour.

"What an unseemly display," one of his friends huffed. "No dignity, no sense of decorum... and with everybody watching, too!"

"They are young," Sam soothed. "There was no harm done."

"Maybe not," his other friend grumbled. "Still, it was not what I expected of them. All three usually are more mature than that."

"Maturity isn't everything," Sam shrugged. "There are times when other considerations are of more importance—like sharing an embarrassing public experience to the amusement of others."

"Do you mean to tell me that you are not going to rebuke them for this?!?" The rheumy voice was very indignant.

"Of course not," the older Trueheart said placidly.

"And why not?"

"Because it is perfectly natural behaviour."

The two Elders looked at their colleague unbelievingly. "What is so natural about three young men fighting in public, behaving like unruly children and embarrassing each other and their family?" one wanted to know. Sam just smiled.

"Don't you see?" he asked.

"See what?"

"It is natural for David, Tommy and Jason."

"How so?"

The wise old eyes of Sam Trueheart gleamed in the light of dozens of lanterns as the three Elders walked into the picnic area at a stately pace. Just before they took their seats at a special table, Sam nodded sagely.

"All the bickering, the fights, the disagreements, the teasing... it is right for them. Because when all is said and done... it is what brothers do."

End

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