"Kim...?" Tommy whispered, his eyes widening as he spotted Kimberly Hart....Ex-girlfriend. "What are you doing in Angel Grove?"
Kimberly shrugged. "Just am."
"TOMM-IE!" a voice shouted. It was Kat's voice from the other side of Angel Grove Park, where they happened to be.
"I gotta go. Bye." he quickly jogged away. His mind was spinning.
"Tommy, what's wrong?" Katherine Hillard asked as Tommy appeared at her side.
"No-o-thin'. Why?"
"You seem pale." Kat commented. "Did Divatox attack you?"
"No." Tommy said quickly. "Look, I need to go. Can I call you later?"
"Sure..." Kat said. She shook her head as she watched Tommy quickly run away. What was he hiding?
~*~
~*~
"Kimberly Hart! Is that you?" an unfamiliar voice screeched.
Kimberly turned to the voice and saw Lt. Stone walking over to her. Kimberly vaguely remembered him as the Lieutenant who had hired Bulk and Skull as Junior Police Men.
"Hi Lt. Stone.." Kimberly whispered.
"So, what brings a gold medalist to little ol' Angel Grove?"
"Just decided to come home."
"Kim?" another voice asked. Kimberly turned to the voice and saw Katherine Hillard. Kat looked pale.
"Kat....Hi." Kimberly said smiling softly at her.
"Hi. How are you?"
"Good...You?"
"Fine..." Kat said. She looked at her feet uncomfortably. _What am I suppose to say to my boyfriend's ex?_ then another voice popped up. _But she is your friend too. Long before she broke up with Tommy._ "So, I heard through the grapevine that you won a gold medal. Any truth to that rumor?" Kat asked and offered a half smile.
Kimberly's face brightened at that topic. "Yeah. I won, or rather tied, with a girl from South Dakota for first."
"Cool." Kat congratulated.
"And I'm leaving for Utah soon."
"Utah?!" Kat exclaimed.
"I'm gonna be in the Summer Olympics for the year 2000." Kimberly explained and broke up into a huge smile.
"But that's not for another 2 years!" Kat exclaimed. "And can't you train at home?"
"Yes...But Coach Schmidt suggested I train for the next two years there....It has the best trainers...Plus the best gymnasts from around the world go there!"
"How long are you here for?" Kat asked.
"For the summer. From July 'til September." Kimberly explained. "September 21st to be more specific."
"That's neat." Kat said. "Where are you staying?"
Kimberly's face fell.
"What's wrong?" Kat asked.
"I forgot to book a room when I arrived earlier today." Kimberly said. "I bet all the rooms will be full now..."
Before Kat knew what she was saying, she said "You can stay with me at my apartment."
Kimberly looked at Kat in surprise. "You'll let me stay with you? For three months?!"
"Sure." Kat said with an easy grin. "What are friends for?"
"Thanks a million, Kat." Kimberly said with an excited grin and skipped out of the room.
~*~
"Okay. Mind if I use the shower?" Kimberly asked.
"No...But make sure you're out by 6. I need to get ready for a date with Tommy."
"Okay. No problem." Kimberly said quickly and went inside the bathroom.
As soon as Kat realized what she had said, she mentally slapped herself. _Why did I mention Tommy in front of Kimberly? Espically mention a date between myself and Tommy?_
Kat sighed and headed into her bedroom. It was decorated in pink and purple —her two favorite colors— and went to her closet, looking for something to wear. _What to wear? What to wear...?_ she thought. She looked through her skirts, but couldn't find the one she was looking for. So she decided on a pink dress, with white flowers etched on it, and each flower was lined in colored thread. She grabbed her white sandals and headed to the bathroom. Just as she got there, Kimberly came out.
"All yours." Kimberly said with a smile.
Kat nodded her thanks and went inside. She slipped out of her jean skirt and pink t-shirt and slipped into the shower, the hot water trailing down her back in a delicious feeling. Closing her eyes, she thought about the days events. First she and Tommy had been eating at the park when Tommy had decided to explore for a moment. Kat had asked to go, but he insisted he wanted to go alone. He was gone, for what seemed like forever, and finally came back. All confused. He gave her a lame excuse and ran off. Then, a couple hours later, Kat ran across Kimberly when returning to the Juice Bar from a piraonatron attack in the park.
"Kat, you okay?" Kimberly's voice was heard. With a start, Kat realized she'd been standing in the shower for over 15 minutes.
"I'm fine." quickly, but carefully, Kat washed her long hair and stepped out of the shower and into her white bathrobe.
Drying her hair, she stared at her complexion in the mirror. She smoothed a hand over her cheek. Sighing, she dressed and left the bathroom and went back to her room. She picked up her lipstick and carefully lined her lips in the light rose colored lipstick. Adding a bit of blush she stood back to admire herself.
"Not so bad, if I say so myself." Quickly she headed back into the living room, where she found Kimberly on the phone. Covering the mouthpiece, Kimberly asked,
"You don't mind, do you?"
Kat shook her head no and sat on the couch, waiting for Tommy to show up.
15 minutes later the door rang and Kat answered it. Tommy stood on the welcome mat, holding a long stemmed rose in his hands.
"I'm sorry I was such a jerk earlier. I shouldn't have deserted you at the park." he said handing her the flower and kissing her cheek.
"Not a problem." Kat said as she sniffed the flower. "Let me tell Kimberly I'm going."
"Kim's here?" Tommy asked.
Kat nodded as she watched Tommy's reaction. He seemed to go slightly pale. But his face remained passive.
"Oh."
Kat said nothing as she went back into the living room. "Kim, I'm going."
"Okay. Have fun! And don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
Thinking about that remark, Kat took Tommy's extended arm and followed him outside to his 4x4.
"You've been really quiet." Kat said quietly. She knew why, though. He was thinking about her again.
Her is Kimberly Hart, who had come to Angel Grove for the rest of the summer, meaning September 21st, the day after Tommy's birthday. Kimberly had also dropped the bombshell on her: Kim was moving to Utah when she left Angel Grove to train at a very well talked about school for the 2000 Olympic Games.
"I'm sorry." Tommy sighed. "Let's go —" just then a familiar six-tone signal rang out.
"Just great." Tommy muttered as he and Kat stood up. "Yeah Dimitria?" Tommy asked as they stood in the back of the cafe.
"Yo Tommy, it's Alpha here." Alpha six's voice screeched out.
Kat covered her ears as she heard Alpha's high pitched whiny voice. Kat leaned up and whispered, "I never knew how much I was going to miss Alpha 5's voice!"
Tommy nodded. "Sorry Alpha. Okay what's wrong, this time?"
"About a dozen piraonatrons attacked Adam at the studio."
"Okay. We're on our way!" Tommy said and turned to Kat. "Ready?"
"Yea." Kat nodded. "Shift into Turbo!"
"Wind-Chaser-Turbo-Power!"
"Red-Lightening-Turbo-Power!"
The two Rangers landed in the parking lot of the studio, but found it completely demolished. And no Green Ranger, or Adam, was in sight.
"Tommy...Where's Adam?" Kat whispered, her eyes growing with fear.
Tommy said nothing but ran up to the rubble. "Help me search." just then two more streaks, one Yellow and the other Blue appeared.
"Where's Adam?" Tanya Sloan demanded.
"I — I don't know." Kat murmured. The Pink, Yellow, and Blue Rangers ran to help Tommy.
"We have to find him!" Tanya cried as they began to dig.
"NOOOOO!" a loud voice moaned. The Rangers went to Tommy's side who was lifting off a huge rock off of something. "I found him, guys."
Kat looked away, as she felt herself get sick. His face was bruised and scratched. Many cuts covered his cheeks.
"We got to help him." Tanya croaked. Her Turbo helmet lay at her feet and she had tears streaming down her face.
Kat tried to comfort her best friend, but it was very hard to do. Tommy and Justin Stewart picked Adam up and teleported to the Power Chamber.
"Let's go," Kat said and handed Tanya her helmet and in a blink of an eye, they were at the Power Chamber.
Kat sat her helmet on a table and ran over to the medical bed where Adam lay. His condition looked a lot worse.
"What's wrong with him?" Tanya asked meekly.
"Severe head injuries. A broken ankle and a fractured rib." Alpha 6 reported. "I can fix the ankle and rib, but we need to get him to the hospital for the head injuries. I need someone to take him there."
Kat looked at Tommy, who for once, was being extremely quiet. He didn't offer to take Adam. Kat wondered why.
"I'll take him," Tanya offered, but she broke down crying again.
"Tanya you can't. I'll take him." Kat said sighing. "Besides I'm the second strongest."
Nodding, Tanya agreed.
In a flash, Katherine (Fully Morphed) and Adam arrived at the hospital.
"I need some help here!" Kat cried and a nurse came running over with a bed in tow.
"Lay him here." the nurse directed. "What happened?"
"Piraonatrons attacked the Studio where he stunt doubles and he was injured. We were able to fix the fractured rib and broken ankle, but he has severe head injuries."
"Okay, thank you Pink Ranger. We'll take it from here."
Kat nodded and in a flash she was gone.
~*~
"Tanya, we have to." Pink Ranger said sternly as she rang the door bell of the Park's house.
"But to see their faces..." Tanya choked out.
Kat sighed but silently agreed. How can you tell one of your closest friend's family their son may die?
"Hello...?" Dawn Park, Adam's mother, asked sticking her head out the door.
"Wow." a child's voice exclaimed. "The Pink and Yellow Power Rangers!"
Kat smiled sadly down at Devon Park-Lee, Adam's nephew.
"What may I help you with?" Dawn asked politely.
"We need to talk to you." Kat said in a quivering voice.
"Is something wrong?" Dawn asked, going slightly pale.
"It's about your son, Adam." Tanya choked out.
"What's wrong with Adam?" Dawn demanded.
"You better sit down." Kat advised and led Dawn to a chair in the living room. "Earlier today, Adam was attacked at the studio where he stunt doubles at."
"Oh no!"
"Piraonatrons, supposedly set off a detonator and Adam was hurt." Tanya continued.
"How badly?" Dawn whispered.
"He's in the hospital with severe head injuries." Kat said staring down at her feet.
"Oh my God." Dawn whispered. She went deathly pale. "I'm going to the hospital."
The Rangers nodded.
"We're very sorry." Kat said.
"It's not your fault." Dawn assured them as she stood up. "Thank you for telling me straight out, Pink Ranger."
Kat nodded and she and Tanya teleported out.
~*~
"I hope he's okay," Rocky whispered, his eyes shining with tears.
"It's gonna be okay, Rocky," Tommy said in his leader voice, but everyone could tell it was taking a lot from him not to break down and cry.
Just then, two doctors came into the waiting room.
"Any word yet?" Dawn asked with frightened eyes.
"I'm afraid it's too early to tell." Dr. Moore, the head Emergency Room (ER) doctor said, his voice showing no emotion.
"Can we see him?" Dawn asked, her voice breaking.
"I'm sorry. But he's in too critical condition to have a visitor."
"Even his own mother?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. We'll tell you as soon as he can have visitors." Dr. Moore left.
The second doctor, who's name read: Dr. Chan, spoke in a soft voice. "I think it would be best if you all went home."
"Why?!" Tommy exclaimed, his eyes widening.
"What good can you do? I'm not meant to be mean," he rushed ahead, his face flushing as he got a glare that could kill from Tommy. "But, what can you do just standing out here worrying?"
"Yes, Tommy, Doctor Chan is right," Dawn agreed.
"Yeah, we'll call as soon as we hear anything," Alex Park, Adam's father, said softly as he wrapped an arm around his wife's shaking shoulders.
"Do you want me to watch Devon?" Kimberly offered Melody Park-Lee, Adam's older sister, who looked like death had already come.
"Thank you Kimberly." Melody said softly, as her fiance, Mark, wrapped an arm around her.
"No problem. C'mon Devon," Kimberly said leading Devon outside, Rocky trailed after her, assisting he wanted to help.
"Let's go to the beach," Kat said to Tommy, who looked to refuse.
"Please go Tommy," Alex said gruffly. "We'll contact one of you as soon as we know."
"Okay," Tommy sighed.
~*~
"It probably was," Tommy agreed as he cradled her in his arms. "I just wish the others had taken it easier."
Kat agreed. When they had told Kimberly about it, she had fainted and it took an hour to wake her up. Rocky DeSantos took it harder, although he didn't faint. He stood in shock for an hour. And it was all they could do to get him to the hospital in one piece.
Tanya had called Aisha, who immediately began to cry. She promised she'd take the next flight from Africa as soon as possible.
They called Jason, but it was hard to reach him because he's on a cruise with his girlfriend, now fiance, Emily.
Billy had been called, and had told them he'd be there as soon as possible, but it was hard to leave Aquitar because they were in a major war with a rival planet.
They were still debating to tell the others. No one else knew him well, so they didn't know if they should worry them.
"Shhh. It's okay..." Tommy whispered stroking Kat's hair as she cried softly. She had taken control earlier and hadn't shed a single tear until now and it didn't look like it was going to stop for a long time.
"It's...Just...Not...Fair..." Kat sobbed.
"I know..." Tommy murmured as he held her.
For an hour, Kat continued to cry. Finally as the sun began to set, they stood up.
"Do you want me to walk you home?"
"Yes, would you?" Tommy nodded and took her and and they headed down the boardwalk.
Soon they reached Kat's apartment, and Kimberly was waiting at the door for them.
"What's wrong?" Tommy asked, his voice soft. He still was confused about seeing Kimberly and was trying to hide it as they dealt with Adam.
"Adam's mom called." Kimberly said, her eyes welled with tears.
"What's wrong?" Tommy asked, his voice cracking slightly.
"He's in a coma...They don't know for sure if he's going to wake up."
"Dawn called." Kimberly Hart said her eyes glistening with terror. "He's worse."
"Dammit!" Tommy Oliver cried. "I knew if we left he'd take a turn for the worse!"
"Tommy, calm down. It won't do Adam any good for you to get mad." Kat said, her voice shaking slightly.
"Yea, the doctor's are trying to stabilize him, if they can get the swelling down."
"But what happens if they can't get the swelling down?" Kat whispered, dreading the answer Kimberly was going to say.
"If the swelling doesn't go down, he'll..he'll..." Kimberly shook her head and took a deep breath. "He'll die."
"Oh no!" Kat gasped, her eyes filling with fear. Fear of never talking to her friend again, fear that Tommy may go off the deep end if they don't save his best friend, fear that the team may never be the same again.
"Let's go to the hospital," Kimberly said softly.
"Let me get my family's van," Tommy said and hurried away.
"How's Rocky doing?" Kat asked, as they headed inside Kat's apartment.
"Not so well, look." Rocky lay on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. On his lap, laid a picture of the Zeo Team. The picture was in a gold frame, a present from Adam and Tommy on Kat's 18th birthday.
"Hey Rocky, you okay?"
"How do you think I feel?" Rocky snapped, then immediately regretted it when he saw Kat's expression. "I'm sorry." he sighed.
"I understand how you feel...It's hard to go through this..." Kat said. "Tommy'll be here soon and we're going to go to the hospital to see him. Do you want to go?"
Rocky shook his head. "I can't go....Not when he looks like that."
"You must." Kat said softly. "If something...May happen to him, you'll regret it for life!"
"Fine...I guess I'll go." a minute or two later Tommy's family's white van appeared in the parking lot of the apartment complex.
"Let's go."
~*~
"What's wrong with him?" Tommy asked coming up besides Adam's parents, Dawn and Alex Park.
"They got the swelling down." Dawn said her eyes filling with happy tears.
"Good." Tommy said, his eyes filling with relief.
"He's stable, but he's still in a coma, and it's still risky."
"Is he well enough to have visitors?" Dawn asked hopefully.
"Normally, I'd say no, but I recently got a visit from the Blue Ranger, who talked me into it." he said with a nod. "But only his parents."
"Really....You did?" Tommy asked his eyebrows raising. He looked at Kat, who merely shrugged. He leaned down and gave Justin a hug. "Thanks, Justin. You don't know what that means to Dawn and Alex." he whispered into his ear.
"I know." Justin said simply.
"Follow me." Alex and Dawn hurried after the doctor, happy to finally be able to see their youngest child.
Relived, at least he was okay for the moment, the Rangers, plus Kim and Rocky sat at a table with Melody Park-Lee, and her husband, Mark Lee.
"Will you play with me Kimmie?" Devon asked.
Kimberly shook her head, "Not now, sweetie."
"Kat, will you play with me?" Devon asked hopefully.
Kat shook her head. "Later, K, Devon?"
"I'll play with you," an unfamiliar voice offered.
The Rangers turned and saw a pretty girl, who looked to be around 16.
"Hi, I'm Cassie Chan."
"Like, as in Dr. Chan?" Rocky asked.
"Yea, that's my father." Cassie said with a shrug. She looked at Devon. "I'll play with you, if you like."
"Can I Mama?" Devon asked looking over at his mother, Melody.
"Sure. But be careful,"
"C'mon, Devon. There's a couple kids I'd like you to meet." Cassie said leading him away.
"I think you guys should go home," Melody said as the Rangers and company sat in quiet.
"Why?" Tommy demanded.
"You guys need sleep, and it wont do any good for you to stay up all night, just worrying." Mark advised.
Instead of arguing, after all it was Midnight, the Rangers agreed and split up.
Outside Tommy lightly kissed Kat and jogged home. Kat shook her head, thinking about what he must be going though.
"Ready to go home Kim?" Kat asked. Kimberly nodded, and the two girls,
rather tired, headed home for the night.
South Valley, California, at the Valley Convention Center: The Next
Day,
11:30 am
"Now you try." Ashley Hammond said with a bright smile
as
she lead nine thirteen year olds through a cheer. They were in South
Valley, a city near Angel Grove, and they had signed up to teach some
younger kids sports. They were only for kids who's family's didn't have
a
lot of money.
The cheer went perfectly and Ashley smiled.
"You should become a teacher," a voice recommended.
Ashley spun at the voice and smiled when she saw her friend, Carlos. "Hi Carlos."
"You by chance free for the rest of the day?" he asked with a shy smile. "My last class just ended, and well, I was hoping you'd like to spend rest of the day with me in South Valley before the bus goes back to Angel Grove."
"Sure Carlos." Ashley said flashing him a smile. "My last class ends at 12. How's that?"
"Great." for the next half hour, Carlos watched as Ashley explained the cheers, demonstrated them, and then helped anyone who had trouble with them.
"You were great." Carlos said as he and Ashley walked out of the Convention Center.
"Thanks. I love cheering, but I love fashion design even more."
"Fashion design? Sounds hard,"
"It isn't, actually."
"Oh. Want to go to the boardwalk?"
"Sure." Ashley said with a smile as she and Carlos walked.
The two headed down the sidewalk and soon they came to a booth.
"Hungry?" Carlos asked with a grin as he heard her stomach growl.
Blushing, Ashley nodded.
"How about a corn dog, and cotton candy for dessert?"
"That must have a thousand calories in it!" Ashley exclaimed as she burst out laughing.
"It's not like you have to worry about it." Carlos pointed out.
Ashley looked up at him startled, then blushed as she saw his intense gaze. "That's sweet."
Those words made Carlos blush as he quickly counted out change for their food.
Ashley shook her head as she noticed Carlos' sudden shyness. Why hadn't she ever noticed this before about her long time friend before?
~*~
"I hope he's doing okay." Kat said quietly.
Just then, their communicators rang, and they jumped with surprise.
"Great. DivaToxic struck again." Tommy said angrily.
Rocky suddenly burst out laughing.
Tommy shot Kat a worried look then looked back at him again. "What's so funny?"
"You've been fighting Divatox for a couple months, and just now you figured out an insult name for her. Which fits her perfectly!"
Tommy shook his head. "Kim, will you take him back to Kat's place?"
"Sure. C'mon Rocko," Kim said with a half sigh as she pulled her red-clad friend away.
"Let's go," they were gone within seconds, and Kimberly sighed again. Why had she ever given up her Powers?
In the Power Chamber
"Okay, Alpha. What's wrong?" Kat asked as they materialized into the
room.
"Divatox has decided to send down Grievator, a monster that will make everyone long for their lost loves."
"And that's bad because...?" Justin mused. "Isn't it good to be able to lust for someone, even if they aren't with you any longer?"
"JUSTIN!" Kat exclaimed in a horrified voice. "How do you know that word? And the meaning for it!?!"
"Oh right, like you don't know! You're a gorgeous knock out who teaches at my school. I'm surrounded by 16 year old boys, who are in your classes, and who have more teenager ideas in their head then just their math homework!"
Kat had no response, because she knew it was true. After all, she heard the gossip in the hallways.
Anyway, back to the TOPIC. Dimitria said calmly. Justin, normally it would be fine, but in this case, Grievator's spell will also bring any hatred from their hearts. Angel Grove as we know it will never be safe again. Unless we stop Grievator.
Just then a Yellow streak stopped in the middle of the room. Tanya rushed over to them. "Sorry I'm late, guys. I was helping Dawn do something with Devon."
"It's okay." Tommy assured her. They quickly filled her in on the monstrous mess.
"But, what will we do without Adam?" Tanya whispered.
I have feared a day like this, and have been watching four teens for the past month, and I will present Adam's replacement.
"A replacement." Tanya replied dully. "Wont he be able to rejoin when he gets better?"
We'll see when the time comes, Dimiteria told her gently. But for now, I would like you to meet Carlos.
A sudden energy, with another one, clinging to it's side teleported in.
"Where am I?"
Carlos, I'd like you to meet the Power Rangers.
To be Continued.....