Losing the Blues
by Kittie

Shanie had seen it, too, and she knocked Katie aside and ran toward the tree. "Shanie, don't!" Shanie paid no heed, and ran to the fallen body, turning it over onto its back.

Katie ran to her and got there in time to hear Shanie gasp in amazement. "It's a boy!"

It certainly was. He looked about Katie's age, maybe a bit younger, but his clothing was burnt and torn. Katie recognized the strange material he was wearing as denim, which was strange since denim had been totally uncool since the 2008's. He had honey-brown hair, just slightly darker than her own, but it looked like it had been dyed, since his bangs were blonde. Katie grimaced. Also way uncool. Brown was the color. She decided to take charge. "Shanie, you stay here and watch him. I'm going to get help."

"Is he dead?" Shanie breathed, staring wide-eyed at him.

"No. Look, he's breathing, see?" She pointed out the slow rise and fall of his muscular chest. Shanie just sat there mutely, not acknowledging her sister's words. Katie rolled her eyes. "Okay, change in plans. I'll stay here with him and you get help."

"But I want to—"

"Stare at him with your mouth hanging open, I know. But he needs care. So go!"

"Bossy." Shanie stomped away.

Katie wiped some of the soot from his face and realized why Shanie had been staring so intently. He was cute. She took off her jacket and covered him with it; he was starting to shiver.

Shanie returned in what seemed like forever with two police officers. "He just fell out of the sky! Really!" She was insisting. The cops looked annoyed until they saw that there actually was a body under the tree. They ran over.

"What have we got?" one of them asked, kneeling down next to Katie.

"He's hurt," she said curtly.

"Did you try a scan yet?"

Katie shook her head. "I wanted to wait for help."

The cop nodded and, taking off his black gloves, switched on his mini-scanner. "Hold him still," he said, reaching for the boy's neck. When the scanner made contact, he was rewarded with a flash of blue light. He shrieked and jumped back, dropping the scanner. Katie flinched. Shaken, the cop put his sore fingers in his mouth. "He's a freakin' healer! Dammit!"

Shanie's eyes grew wide again, and the other cop shot his partner an evil look. "There's kids present," he said.

"I am not a kid!" Shanie shrieked. "I'm already seven, and soon I'll be eight, and—"

"Yeah, yeah, shaddup," said the first cop. He patted the boy down, looking for a wallet or any kind of identification, but found none. "Unregistered," he remarked. Then he stood. "Nothing we can do. He'll heal on his own."

Katie reached out a hand to stop him. "Can't you take him to a hospital or something?"

The second cop shook his head. "No healers allowed, you know that. Too complicated."

"Then what am I supposed to do with him?" she demanded, hands on hips. She was starting to get annoyed.

The first cop backed away. "Just leave him, kid. He'll be fine." He motioned to his partner and they walked off.

Katie looked back down at the unconscious healer. "Great. Now what am I gonna do?"

~*~

"He is not heavy, Martin," Katie shot back. "You're just out of shape."

"Hey! You needed me to help you get him here, didn't you?"

"Shaddup." She examined the healer quickly, making sure not to try any more scans. Sure enough, his burns and bruises were decreasing in size and severity, but he was very sooty, and some of that soot was rubbing off on her pillow. "Darn it!"

"He could use a bath," Martin remarked, looking distastefully at the black smudges on his hands.

"You'd need a bath too, if you'd fallen out of the sky," Katie scowled.

"I wasn't complaining!" protested Martin. "It was just an observation."

"Well keep your stupid observations to yourself," Katie ordered, arranging the covers around her new houseguest.

Martin slunk out of the room, muttering under his breath. "Women."

~*~

The two cops from the park were cowering on the other side of the room. "I'm sorry, Lt. Bulkmeier, sir, we thought—" began the smaller one.

"YOU DID NOT THINK!" interrupted Bulkmeier. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!"

The cops scurried out of the room before they could be demoted to mall security guards. Bulkmeier struggled to catch his breath. Then he picked up his phone and hit a phone number on the memory controls. "Hello," said a sleepy voice.

"Sgt. Skullovitch, you are needed at the station."

"But Bulkie, it's my day off—"

"NOW, SKULL!"

"Yes, sir, Lt. Bulkie, sir."

~*~

~*~

Bulkmeier looked up wearily. "Come off it, Skull. The door's closed."

"Right." The smaller man dropped the salute and immediately fell into a slumping position, chomping noisily on what looked like bubblegum.

Bulkmeier rolled his eyes, then spoke. "We've got a situation. An unregistered healer, injured in the park."

"So?"

"So, those idiots some people call officers just left him there with two young girls!"

"Oh. Didja fire 'em?"

Bulkmeier sighed. "I didn't have the heart. They reminded me of the old days."

Skull sighed too. "Yeah, the old days."

"Anyway," Bulkmeier snapped out of his reverie. "We've got to find him and get to the bottom of this."

"Yes, sir! On to the Bulkmobile!"

"Skull, quit it with the Bulkmobile thing, ok? It's a police car."

"Right. You got it, Bulkie."

~*~

Katie thought fondly of her parents. They'd roll over in their graves if they knew she had a healer in the house. Well, another healer. They'd died before her accidental discovery by the lake last year....

~*~

~*~

The boy on the bed moaned and opened his eyes. "Kim?" Katie jumped to her feet and stood over him. He looked confused. "You're not Kim."

Katie shook her head. "No, I'm Katie. Are you all right?"

He sat up and looked around. "I don't know. What—"

"Shanie and I found you in the park."

"Shanie? The park?"

Katie decided to try a different approach. "What's your name?"

He thought for a second. "Billy."

"Where did you come from?"

"I must have fallen out of my—" His eyes went blank and he stopped suddenly, as if realizing something.

"Your what?"

"Nothing."

Katie was about to question him further when Shanie walked in. "Katie, where did you put the—" She saw Billy sitting up with a confused look on his face. "EEEEE!" She squealed and hid behind Katie, trembling.

Billy jumped. "WHAT?!"

Katie smiled slightly. "This is my little sister, Shanie." Then she grinned evilly. "She thinks you're cute."

Shanie kicked Katie on the leg. "I do not!" She ran out of the room, bright red.

Billy turned a similar shade and turned away. _Awww. He's shy._ "Do you feel okay?" Katie asked.

He nodded but didn't speak.

"You should get cleaned up. I'll show you the shower." She helped him to his feet and led him to the bathroom. "Here. You can use this towel I put out for you. My shampoo is in there, too. It smells like apple pie, but it's all I've got."

He blanched.

"When you're done you can use my robe." Katie closed the door behind her.

~*~

_We were fighting Chopper-Tractor, I lost control of my Zord...._ He was starting to get a headache. _Then what? The control panel! I got... electrocuted?_ "Am I dead?" He stared into the mirror. "This is heaven? A bathroom and a pink robe?" He shook his head and immediately regretted it; a wave of pain crashed against his skull. "Ow!" He stumbled and fell backwards into the tub.

"Ow!" he said again, banging his wrist on the faucet. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes against the pain. "Ow, ow, ow, ow!" He suddenly felt very much like crying.

There was a knock on the door, and Katie poked her head in. "Are you decent?" she asked, eyes averted. Billy didn't answer. She looked over at him and arched an eyebrow. "Where I'm from, we fill the tub before we get in. Also, taking off your clothes would be a good idea. It's hard to get clean, otherwise."

Billy just stared at her, and to his great mortification, began to cry.

She was there in an instant, pulling him out of the tub and awkwardly putting her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Billy wrapped his arms around her slender body and tried to catch his breath, but he only started to cry harder. "I'm— where am I?" The question came out as a hysterical, screaming wail, and Shanie appeared wide-eyed in the doorway, curious as to what was causing all the noise.

Katie waved her sister over. "Get the tissues," she whispered, motioning to the hall closet. "They're on the bottom shelf, so you can reach." Shanie obediently trotted out and Katie turned her attention back to Billy. "Okay, calm down, Billy. I'll try to explain."

He broke away from her and scrambled over to the toilet, retching. Katie waited patiently until he was finished, and then had a glass of water waiting for him. He was calmer now, still tearful, but his breathing was easier. He slumped against the wall and closed his eyes, looking frightfully pale.

"You okay now?" she asked. Shanie settled down next to him and handed him the box of tissues.

"Thank you," he said, and blew his nose. "I guess."

"I'm Katie Peters, and you're in my house."

"Why?"

"We found you in the park," answered Shanie helpfully. "You fell in a tree."

"What?" His breathing started to get erratic again.

"What Shanie means," Katie quickly said, "Is that we were walking in the park when... um... we saw you climbing a tree and you fell out of it. You must have hit your head."

"I was climbing a tree?" He sounded doubtful. "I thought we were—" He broke off, finishing the thought in his head. _Fighting a monster...._

"That's the second time you neglected to tell me what you think you were doing," Katie said sternly. "What's up with that?"

"I— I forgot," he lied.

Katie glared at him, but gave up. "Fine." She began to draw the water for the bath. "Just get cleaned up, okay? And I'll fix dinner. Are you hungry?"

He shook his head.

"Well, you'll need to eat, anyway. You drained a lot of your energy when you healed."

"Healed?"

She looked hard at him. "You are out of it, aren't you?"

He blushed and looked down at the floor. Shanie gave him a little hug. "Don't worry, Billy, Katie will take good care of you and soon you'll remember everything because she takes really good care of people right Katie?"

"Right, sure. Come on, Shanie, we'll let him take a bath."

Shanie followed her sister out of the room. "Billy," she called just before she left, "Use my bubble bath. It feels good." And he was alone again.

He just sat for a while, still confused and in shock. He snapped out of his trance when he realized that the water was about to overflow. He shut off the faucet and slowly took off his clothes, noting their ragged appearance. _Burns? Rips and tears? What the hell happened to me?_

He noticed a full-length mirror on the back of the door, under Katie's robe, so he draped the robe over the shower rods and examined himself. _No burns, no cuts... nothing. How in the world did I shred my clothes like that without...._ He couldn't think of an answer. He realized all at once that his communicator and morpher were gone. _Oh my God, what the hell?_

His mind was whirling, trying in vain to come up with an answer. _Come on, Billy, you can figure this out. Am I going crazy?_ Unable to find an answer, he sank into the tub and tried to collect himself. His head throbbed, so he closed his eyes against the pain. Then he realized suddenly that his skin was wrinkled, and the water had grown cold. He'd blanked out somehow.

This worried him, but he tried to push his tortured thoughts from his head. He grabbed the bar of soap that was waiting for him in the holder, and began to wash the soot from his body. It was unlike any soap he'd ever seen: completely clear, and it smelled just the way it always did just before it rained on a hot summer night. The lather was thick and luxurious, and when he rinsed himself off, he noticed that there was no residue left over, as there always was at his home. _I've got to ask her where she got this._

He took his time washing up, partly since his muscles were so sore, and partly because he was lost in thought. This Katie girl... who was she? And why did she look so familiar? The light brown hair and blueish eyes; he swore he'd seen her somewhere before, but where? Why couldn't he place her? Usually he had instant recall with faces and names. He pushed another tortured thought away. Maybe this was just shock. his recall had to come back sooner or later. He gave up on trying to figure things out and began to wash his hair.

As it turned out, her shampoo was as nice as her soap. It really smelled like apple pie, as opposed to the familiar "shampoo-that's-supposed-to-smell-like-apple-pie" smell. As he lathered his hair, his stomach started to growl. "How does she stand it," he muttered. "I'd eat pie all day long if I used this stuff."

He was done in minutes, and reluctantly wrapped himself in the purple towel Katie had provided. _Doesn't she have anything that's... not pastel?_ He mentally berated himself for being ungrateful and, once dry, put on the pink robe. He sighed as he caught sight of himself in the mirror. _I look like Kim. Only... uglier._ He sighed as he thought of her. Lately, she was all he had left to cling to, with everything changing. First Trini had left, which broke his heart though he'd never admit it. Not to her face anyway. Jason and Zack leaving was bad too, but Trini.... He pictured her gentle brown eyes and smiled a little. At least Kim was still around. Somewhere. She was so easy to talk to. She knew about his crush on Trini, and had tried to help him tell her, but his insecurities won out, and she had left for Switzerland without knowing. In a way, he was glad. _I don't think I could have handled that rejection._

He sighed again and opened the door, stepping outside. The smell of Katie's freshly cooked dinner immediately hit his nose, and his stomach lurched uncomfortably. "Easy, boy," he told himself, rubbing his churning stomach. "First we'll get dressed, then we'll eat." He headed toward the smell. "And then maybe I'll figure out what the hell is going on."

~*~

Though the food looked and smelled delicious, no one was eating. Billy still had his headache, and besides, he was too lost in thought to eat. Shanie was oggling him too intently to eat. Katie was too sickened by the whole thing to eat. She sighed. "Shanie, stop staring at the poor guy. Take a picture. It'll last longer."

Billy's head snapped up and he stared at her.

"What? What's wrong?" She looked at him strangely.

"N... nothing. You just... reminded me of someone."

"Kim?"

He seemed surprised, but nodded.

"Was that something she used to say?"

"Actually, I said it. But she was with me."

Katie raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes.

He blushed and looked down into his food again. Shanie jumped to his defense angrily. "I know what you're thinking Katie, and he is not!"

She looked at him moon-eyed and he managed a smile. "Thanks. I think."

There was a knock on the door and Katie jumped up, warily. "Quick, under the table," she said, grabbing Billy and shoving his head down.

"Ow! Hey!"

"Get down!" she hissed. He did as he was told and she marched to the door. She took a deep breath as she opened it. "May I help you?"

Two cops were standing there, looking a trifle uncomfortable. "Lt. Farkus Bulkmeier and Sgt. Eugene Skullovitch here, ma'am. We have reason to believe you are holding an unregistered healer in this house," said the bigger one.

Shanie came up behind Katie, hands on her hips defiantly. "We are not! Go away!"

The smaller cop smiled and kneeled down to face her. "You're Shanie, right?" His voice was calm and friendly.

Shanie nodded, too surprised to be angry.

"I'm Sgt. Skullovitch. But you can call me Skull. All my friends do."

Katie snorted rudely. No way was Shanie going to fall for that phoney friendly cop routine. "Okay, Skull," she heard behind her, and flinched.

Skull stood and took Shanie's hand. "This is my friend Lt. Bulkmeier, otherwise known as Bulk. Right, Bulkie?"

Bulk smiled uncomfortably. "Uh-huh. Now I'm sure you're aware that all healers must be registered for medical benefit—" he stopped in mid-sentence, staring in disbelief at something behind her.

Katie blanched. _Please say he didn't come out, please say he didn't come out..._

"Bulk? Skull?" It was Billy's voice.

_Damn, damn, damn!_

Skull's mouth fell open, as did Bulk's. Bulk caught himself and poked Skull, who closed his mouth as well. "I am Lt. Farkus Bulkmeier. And you are?" He stared at the strangely clad young man before him. He swore the guy looked just like.... _No, that's impossible. He'd be in his mid-thirties by now._

The guy in the oversized clothes spoke again. "It's... it's me, Billy. But why are you so... old?"

Skull slid to the floor in a dead faint.

~*~

"Shut up, Skull." Billy was curled up in a ball on the floor, crying his eyes out. Bulk almost wished they hadn't told him what year it was and why they were there. He'd never seen anyone have a panic attack before, but he figured that had to be it. Finally, the worst of it was over, but Billy was still a trembling wreck.

Katie was angry. "You didn't have to upset him like that," she huffed. "He's had a bad day. And how did you find us, anyway?"

Bulk blushed. "We talked to the cops you met in the park."

"Yeah." Skull giggled and poked his partner's arm. "We made 'em look in every yearbook from every school in the city until they found you!" Katie gave him a dirty look and he shut up.

Bulk spoke up again, sounding a little guilty. "He asked, didn't he? Besides, he was gonna find out eventually."

Katie sulked silently. She knew the cop was right, but she hated seeing her new houseguest so upset. His sobs had turned into sporadic hiccups, but he hadn't gotten up yet. Skull was sitting with Shanie, who had fallen asleep with her head in his lap. She had taken to him rather quickly, and for some reason, seemed to trust him as much as she did Katie.

Skull gently lifted the girl's head and laid it on a couch pillow. Then he approached Billy. "Billy?" Billy just hiccupped in reply. "Look, everything's going to be okay. We're going to help you."

Billy's hazel eyes were red, and he was still shaking, but he nodded. "Okay," he whispered. Skull turned to Bulk and gave the thumbs-up sign. "Where is my father?"

Skull was silent. This was definitely going to cause another panic attack. "Um...."

Bulk jumped in. "Don't worry about that, Billy. We'll get you a place to live and—"

"Where is my father?" His voice rose in volume and Skull placed a calming hand on his shoulder.

"Billy... he's dead, Billy." Billy just stared at him. He hiccupped again. "He sold your house and moved out of Angel Grove. He..." Skull stopped. Billy didn't have to know this part, did he?

"He what?"

"He... committed suicide." Billy flinched. "He... shot himself."

"It was quick," put in Bulk, who had visited the scene. "He didn't feel a thing."

Billy looked at him. "How do you know?" The room was suddenly very quiet. Billy stood shakily. "My house. My father. My friends.... everything is gone."

Bulk spoke quickly. "Your friends aren't gone. They're around, just not in Angel Grove."

Billy whirled around.

Bulk took this as encouragement and continued. "Zack's in Hollywood somewhere producing a few TV shows. Jason and Tommy own a martial arts school in Sacramento, Trini teaches kindergarten in Melrose, let's see.. who else? Oh! Aisha's a veterinarian, Adam- well, he was in therapy, but I hear he's better now."

Billy's eyebrows went up.

"Um... Rocky's an MD and certified physical therapist..." Billy's mouth fell open. "I know. Unbelievable isn't it?" Billy nodded. "But Kimberly—" he stopped suddenly and winced. He hadn't wanted to go there.

Billy was suddenly right in front of him, eyes flashing. "What's wrong with Kim?"

Skull grabbed his shoulders and sat him down firmly. "Just be cool, Billy, okay?"

"What—"

"I'll tell you, but you have to promise to be cool, you hear me!"

Billy was breathing hard. Katie looked away. She couldn't stand to see him looking so tortured. Skull shook him gently. "Promise me!"

Billy nodded, his hands shaking. "What happened to Kimberly?"

Skull sighed and sat down next to him. "She... went a little nuts. She was really... bothered... by your disappearance. She started drinking—"

"No!" Billy gasped, and Skull put a calming hand on his arm.

"Let me finish. She started drinking and got thrown out of school. Her mom moved her to Paris, hoping it would help, but she just got worse. Finally, she moved back to the states and went into the Betty Ford Clinic. Last I heard, she was still there."

Billy was crying again, and shaking violently. "Oh, Kimmie..." Skull put an arm around him and Billy let himself go.

~*~

Billy started to cry again. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Skull was taken aback. "I'm a nice guy!" Billy actually laughed. "No, really, I am! Bulk and I, we were young then. Insecure. We didn't know any other way to get attention."

Billy looked incredulous.

"It took years of therapy to tell me that," Skull continued solemnly. "Bulk convinced me to go after his therapist 'changed his life.' I couldn't say no."

Billy looked at him carefully. "I'm happy for you, Skull."

Skull smiled and nodded. "I was lucky."

Billy was silent for a while. "What happened to Adam? Why was he in therapy?"

"I'm not sure about that one. I heard from a few sources that he was depressed. He was always kinda quiet, wasn't he?" Billy nodded. "In our senior year, he was so doped out on happy-drugs he could barely talk," Skull said grimly. "I never agreed with that tactic."

Billy shook his head sadly. "I hope he's okay."

Skull nodded. "I think he is. He was in and out of hospitals for a while there, but I haven't heard of any relapses or anything. Maybe he's finally working things out."

After a moment of quiet, Billy spoke again. "Can I have the remote back?"

Skull glared at him. "Only if you promise not to flip the channels so much."

"Agreed." Skull gave Billy the domain over the clicker, and promptly wished he hadn't. Those science shows Billy seemed to find so fascinating were really boring.

~*~

Skull stood there looking sheepish. Behind him were Billy, Katie, and Shanie. They were surrounded by suitcases. "Sorry, Bulkie," he said. "We just went out and bought a whole bunch of clothes and supplies and stuff.... I guess we got excited."

Bulk sighed and yawned. "I found them," he said, holding up the printout.

Billy ran forward and grabbed it from him, scanning the list. "They're all here!" he marveled. "Even Kim!"

"I said I found them, didn't I?"

Billy grabbed him in a bear hug, surprising everyone. "Thank you, Bulk. I owe you one."

Bulk smiled slightly. "You owe me about a thousand, but who's counting?"

"To the Bulkmobile!" shouted Skull and Shanie together. Bulk and Katie rolled their eyes. This was going to be a long day.

~*~

Skull, from next to her, answered gently. "Soon, sweetie. See? Hollywood's only three miles away!"

Billy was in the front seat with Bulk, watching the map. It had become obvious early on that he was the only one in the car who could read a decent map, so he got shotgun. Katie, Skull, and Shanie were crammed into the backseat. "Why do I have to ride in the middle," whined Shanie, wriggling around. "You're skwishing me, Katie!"

"You're the smallest," answered Katie irritably. "So shut up." Long car trips didn't agree with her either.

"Calm down, you guys," scolded Skull good-naturedly. "Remember, we're doing this for Billy." That quieted them.

"Turn right at the next exit," Billy ordered, and Bulk obediently pulled into the right lane.

"Turn on the siren!" begged Shanie, beginning to jump up and down as far as she could under the seat belt.

"No!" Katie moaned. She already had a headache.

Bulk glanced back at her. "No can do. Only for official police business."

"But we're looking for a missing person, right?"

"Sorry."

She pouted a little, but didn't ask again.

Ten long minutes later, they reached the lot of Warner Bros. Studio. The guard stopped them at the gate. "Can I help you," he said nastily.

Bulk held out his police shield. "Official business with Mr. Zachary Taylor."

The guard scowled and waved them through. Billy could feel butterflies doing the polka in his belly. "I'm going to be sick," he said, and Bulk screeched the car to a halt. Billy returned a few minutes later, looking very pale.

"You okay?" Billy nodded and took his seat, but he didn't look very good. Bulk decided to take it slow. He wasn't about to let Billy ruin his new leather upholstery.

~*~

"Hi, Tony," said Bulk pleasantly. "We need to see Mr. Taylor."

Tony nodded. "Jack said some cops were here. Somethin' wrong?"

"Nothing wrong. Just need to talk to him." The guard directed them to a parking lot and then led them into a room marked The Green Room. "Wait here. Mr. Taylor will be with you in a moment."

The visitors took seats on the comfortable couches lining the wall. Shanie made straight for the candy dish on the center table. Katie merely sighed and lay down. Her headache was starting to go away, but this light wasn't going to help.

Billy was very quiet. He was sitting hunched over, his hands clenched between his knees, and his legs were vibrating nervously. Skull got fidgety just looking at him. "Hey, relax, okay?" he said. Billy placed a shaking hand on his knees to stop them from moving, but it only made his teeth chatter, too. Skull sighed and leaned back, just as Shanie jumped into his lap and shoved a handful of M&M's into his mouth. "Mmmfff!"

Bulk laughed out loud. Then, the door opened.

A tall, nice looking black man stood there, with a grey tinted mustache and a pleasant smile. "Hiya, people," he said. "How ya doin'?" Billy looked up, his face white, and the man in the doorway froze, his smile fading. "My God..."

Bulk stood quickly. "Zack, I'm Lt. Bulkmeier. You know... Bulk."

Zack just nodded, still stunned.

"Sgt. Skullovitch over there. I guess you recognize Billy."

Zack walked slowly toward his old friend. He fell to his knees in front of him and took Billy's shaking hands in his own. "How? What—? You're alive!"

Billy nodded, feeling tears rise in his eyes. "Hi, Zack."

~*~

Zack turned to him and smiled. "I thought I'd never see you again, ya little nerd!"

Billy grabbed Zack in a big hug. "Well, here I am, ya big lug!"

"Aaaawww!" Shanie shouted obnoxiously.

Zack stuck his tongue out at her and she giggled. "Do the others know? Jason and—"

"No," Bulk answered. "You're the first one we contacted. They're next."

Zack seemed to think for a minute. "You know where they are?"

Billy nodded, pulling the wrinkled print-out out of his pocket. "Bulk found all of you and gathered the addresses together. See?"

Zack took the paper, deep in thought. Then, he smiled mischievously. "Boy, would I love to see the looks on their faces when you show up!"

Shanie shook her head firmly. "No! No more room!"

Katie grabbed Shanie's arm, mortified. "Shanie!"

Zack laughed. "You're right, kiddo. Guess we'll just have to take my private jet!"

Everyone stared at him, shocked. Zack just laughed. "Man, I love pulling that one on people! Come on, it'll be fun! I've got room for an army in that thing!"

Billy looked to Bulk. "Come on, Bulk, can we? Please?"

"What am I, your new guardian? Jeez, you age eighteen years and suddenly you're old," he grumbled.

"Please?" begged Shanie, yanking on Skull's pant-leg. "Please, Skull? Pleeeeeeese?"

Skull looked to Bulk, smiling. "Come on, Lieutenant, don't be a party-pooper."

Even Katie had to giggle at that one. Bulk sighed. "All right."

"Yesss!!" Shanie jumped up and gave Skull a high-five. "I get to ride in a plaa-aane!"

~*~

Billy was starting to feel sick again. He couldn't imagine what Trini would look like. Part of him desperately wanted to see her, but another part wanted to run away. Everyone had grown up without him. Zack was married and divorced... It scared him.

Katie noticed his silence and sat down next to him. "You okay?"

He nodded gratefully. "I guess. Just nervous, that's all."

Zack overheard. "What's there to be nervous about? She'll be ecstatic to see you!"

"I suppose," mused Billy. "It's just...."

"What, that we're old?" Billy looked up, shocked, and Zack laughed. "Hey, bro, as far as I'm concerned, 35 ain't old. That's how old I am, anyway. These grays were earned." he said, fingering his mustache. "You would not believe some of the weirdos I've worked with!"

Billy chuckled. He might be old and rich, but he was still the same old Zack. The pilot announced that they were ready to land, and the travelers buckled up and waited.

~*~

Everyone was a bit tired, but managed to keep up. It had been a long walk from the landing site, but Zack didn't even seem winded. Billy had to keep reminding himself where they were going and why. Everything was beginning to overwhelm him.

They reached the front door of Melrose Acres Private Preschool and Zack walked in. Preschoolers immediately surrounded him, clamoring for autographs. He smiled. "I'll sign your books if you'll take me to Miss Kwan." The kids turned and began to run away. Zack turned and grinned. "I guess that was a yes."

They were led to a door gaily decorated with a dozen children's names. The major color was, of course, yellow. Billy felt a smile grace his face. _Same old Trini._

Zack turned to him. "Let me introduce you. Please?"

Billy hesitated. Zack wasn't the most sensitive of people. _Oh well._ He nodded.

"Yes!" Zack grinned. "Watch the Zack-man in action." He opened the door and poked his head in. "Trini?"

"Zack!" Billy heard Trini's familiar voice, and his heart dropped into his stomach. "What are you doing here?"

"I have a surprise for you," Zack said mischievously. "Guess who I brought?"

"Um... Jason?"

"Nope."

"Kim?"

"Nope."

"Who? I give up."

"Come on in, Buddy," Zack called.

With some hesitation, Billy stepped into the room. Trini gasped. "No!" She ran to him and grabbed his shoulders, wild-eyed. "No, it can't be! Billy?"

He nodded. "Hi."

Trini began to sob and held him so tight he thought he would suffocate. He didn't mind in the slightest.

~*~

Billy nodded. "Yeah. I guess he's pretty popular." He couldn't stop staring at Trini. She was beautiful, with luminous black eyes and long, silky, black hair. She didn't look a day over... 27.

She noticed his gaze and smiled sadly at him. "I know," she said. "I'm old, aren't I?"

Billy gasped and shook his head. "No! You're... beautiful."

She blushed and turned away. When she was finally able to look at him, her eyes were filled with new tears. "I got a letter from my parents in Switzerland. They said you were missing and probably dead. Billy, I cried for days. Zack did, too. Jason was like a rock, but I knew he was hurting. He tried so hard to be strong for us...." Her voice trailed off when she saw tears forming in Billy's eyes. She laughed a little. "I'm sorry, now I've gone and made you cry, too!"

Billy shook his head and took her hand. "No, you didn't."

"I thought I'd lost my best friend! No—" She looked into his eyes. "You were more than a friend, Billy. And I never told you. I thought you'd... died... thinking I didn't care."

Billy felt his breath catch in his throat. "I knew you cared...."

She shook her head. "No, you didn't. I loved you." Billy turned bright red, and Trini laughed sadly. "I loved the way you used to turn all kinds of colors when you were embarrassed. I loved the way you could say things like 'nuclear particle accelerator' without stumbling over the words. I loved the way you could build amazing machines in just hours. I loved you, Billy. I still do"

Billy was speechless. "But... Richie?"

"I thought I loved him, but I didn't. He was cute, and he was sweet, but he wasn't you. He didn't have two brain cells in that pretty little head." Billy choked back a laugh, and Trini looked defensive. "Well, he didn't! And he used to make fun of you. It's true! Once he called you a four-eyed geek. That was the day I dumped him."

"You dumped him? For me?"

Trini nodded. "When he said that, I felt all of these emotions rushing over me, and I realized what I was really feeling."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know. I was afraid. Afraid you would reject me. Afraid it would ruin our friendship. I was just... afraid."

They sat in silence for a long time, holding hands. Billy finally spoke. "This is wrong. You're 18 years older than me."

"No I'm not." Trini turned to look at him, and her lips seemed to fill his vision. He swallowed hard and leaned forward....

"Hey, guys!" Skull's voice shattered the moment and they jumped apart. "Zack's finally done autographing," he continued, obliviously. "We should go and get Jason and Tommy!"

Trini recovered quickly. "We?"

"Sure. Don't you want to come?"

Trini looked at Billy and he blushed again. "Of course I want to. But my job...."

"Get a substitute," shrugged Skull. "You guys have a lot of catching up to do."

He backed out of the doorway, smiling. "Do you think he saw?" asked Billy nervously.

"Who cares!" Trini grabbed him and pulled him close, kissing him aggressively on the lips.

"Mmmfff!"

~*~

"No," she growled, embarrassed and mortified.

Undaunted, Zack just laughed. "Well, it's possible! He was quite the lady-killer in high school, you know."

Bulk and Skull shot each other a look and rolled their eyes. Shanie climbed up into Skull's lap. "I'm tired."

"What?" Skull stroked her hair gently. "It's not even seven yet."

"I was running a lot," she said, closing her eyes and yawning.

"Yeah, Billy and Trini were busy, too," joked Skull, and Bulk poked him in the side. "Ow!"

"Quit corrupting the youth." But Shanie was already asleep.

~*~

Katie groaned and rolled over. "Shanie, get off!"

"Get up, get up, get up!"

Katie sat up suddenly, knocking Shanie to the floor. She howled. "Darn it," said Katie, tiredly getting out of bed. "All right, all right. What hurts?"

Shanie pointed to her arm. It was bright red and was sure to bruise if left untreated. Katie winced. "Sorry, kiddo. She took Shanie's arm and closed her eyes, concentrating.

Shanie pulled her arm away after a second. "I'm fine, now. You're quick!" She bounced to her feet, completely recovered. "Let's go wake up Skull!"

"You go ahead. I'm going to take a shower."

Shanie ran next door and knocked loudly. The door opened almost immediately. "Hey, kiddo," said Skull, his eyes still closed with sleepiness.

Shanie walked into the room. "How did you know it was me?"

"Who else?" Skull yawned and closed the door. "What time is it?"

Shanie glanced at her digital watch. "10:17. You want breakfast?"

Skull laughed. "I've got to get dressed first, Shanie."

"Oh. But you're not naked."

Skull blushed. "No, I'm not. But I can't go to breakfast dressed like this!" He gestured to his wrinkled courderoy shorts and ripped black T-shirt.

Shanie considered. "Why not?"

~*~

"Yes," Katie agreed. "I thought all superstars were snobby and mean, but Zack is different."

"He's cool!" clarified Shanie, her mouth full of pancakes.

"Shut that mouth," scolded Skull good-naturedly. "I have my own pancakes, I don't need to see yours!"

Shanie giggled, but obeyed. Trini smiled at him. "You'd make a great father, Skull."

Skull blushed and looked down at his plate. "No time," he managed.

Bulk looked conspiratorially at Trini. "No women."

"Shut up!"

Katie couldn't believe a great guy like Skull was unattached. She made a note of it and decided to dedicate herself to finding him a girlfriend.

At the other side of the table, Zack chattered away, telling Billy about all of his latest projects. Billy listened wide-eyed, almost forgetting to eat. Trini listened for awhile, then turned to Bulk and Skull, determined to make further conversation.

"What about you, Bulk?" she said curiously. "Are you attached?"

Bulk shrugged. "All of this... bulk... isn't exactly attractive to women. Can't seem to lose the weight no matter how hard I try."

"Have you tried martial arts?"

"No way! I had enough humiliating experiences with that in high school."

"Put that behind you, Bulk. You can change if you want to, and martial arts might just be the way to do it. I'll teach you, if you want."

Bulk shook his head. "I don't think so, Trini. You live too far away. And besides, my job keeps me busy—"

"Doesn't seem like that now, does it?" Trini pointed out coyly.

Bulk pouted. "I'm using my vacation days, thank you very much."

Billy heard him and turned around, interrupting Zack in the middle of a sentence. "You gave up your vacation for me?"

Bulk blushed a little. "No. I... wanted to see your friends anyway."

Zack began to laugh loudly. "Yeah right, Bulk. Sure!"

~*~

Zack was busy paying the two cab drivers, but he turned to Billy and smiled. "Amazing, isn't it? They've done wonders with this place."

"It used to be a real dump," explained Trini. "But Jason used his inheritance to fix it up."

Billy looked confused. "Inheritance?"

"From when his father died," she said gently.

"Oh." Billy felt a flash of pain in his head, but shook it away, looking at the building with a new respect. "Poor Jason."

Zack shook his head. "Good old Scott was getting old. His heart gave out. We expected it. Jason did fine."

Billy nodded. Jason had always been rather stoic. They went inside. The familiar sounds of Tommy's battle-cry wafted through the air. "SEEG-HAI!" There was a muffled thud as an unlucky student hit the mat. Billy flinched, a smile forming on his face. "I remember that feeling. He must have drop-kicked me a dozen times." Katie raised a questioning eyebrow. "Teaching me stuff, you know."

Shanie walked up to the front desk. "Scuse me, lady, we want to see Jason and Tommy."

"I suppose you are referring to Mr. Scott and Mr. Oliver?" The receptionist, a short, gray-haired woman, didn't even look up. "Are you in one of their classes?"

"No, I—"

"You have an appointment?"

"No, but—"

"You've gotta have an appointment."

Skull stepped forward. "I'm sorry, Ma'am," he said, pulling out his badge. "Police business."

She finally looked up, squinting to scrutinize the crest. Then she glared at the group. "Sit down." With that, she stalked into one of the rooms behind her.

"What a grouch," said Shanie rather loudly, wrinkling her nose. Skull shushed her and she was quiet.

After a few moments, the receptionist came back out, and she did not look happy. "Mr. Scott will see you now," she sulked, gesturing to the room she had just exited.

Trini grabbed Zack's arm. "Let's go! Both of us will do it this time!"

Billy rolled his eyes as they went in excitedly. They moved closer to the door to hear what was going on.

"Zack! Trini!" That was Jason, his voice as loud and strong as ever. Billy had to smile. "What are you doing here?"

"We brought something for you," said Trini, her voice gleeful.

"Yeah," said Zack. "Wait'll you see this!"

"What?"

"Come on!"

Trini appeared in the doorway, holding Jason's arm. "Look!" she said, pointing at Billy.

Jason froze and his eyes widened. "Billy?" His voice was quiet, shocked.

Billy stepped forward shakily. "Um... hi, Jason. You look... great."

Jason broke away from Trini and approached him. "Is that really you? You're... you're so young...." His voice was still unnaturally quiet.

"I know. It was a time hole, Jason. I wasn't killed. I fell through a time hole."

Bulk looked at Billy strangely for a second, but he was soon distracted again as Jason walked up to him and hesitantly touched his arm, as if he expected Billy was a ghost. "Oh my God...." Jason Scott burst into tears.

~*~

Billy found himself staring at his old friend. Jason hadn't changed much at all. He was still muscular and self-confident, and his hair was still the same dark brown. No grays. Apparently he didn't suffer from the stress problems Zack did. He was wearing a red karate suit with a black belt, much like the ones he'd always worn in the old days, and was barefoot. According to Zack, Jason rarely wore shoes anymore.

Skull stopped spinning Shanie, who protested loudly. He picked her up out of the chair and deposited her in her sister's lap. "Hey, I need a break!" he said, collapsing in a heap on the floor.

Jason laughed. "I never would have figured you to be so comfortable with kids, Skull."

"Neither did I," said Skull breathlessly from the floor. "But she's irresistible!"

There was a knock on the door. "Mr. Oliver to see you, Mr. Scott," said the surly receptionist, opening the door.

Jason stood. "Hold on. I've gotta talk to him." Jason left his office, closing the door behind him. The group waited in silence, barely able to contain their excitement. They could hear Jason and Tommy's voices outside, the but the words were inaudible. Then the door opened and Jason stepped in, Tommy following. Billy felt his heart jump. Tommy somehow looked older than he'd expected. His hair was still long, but it was streaked with silver. His face was lined and his eyes sad. Billy's headache suddenly got a little worse.

Tommy stopped short in the doorway, seeing Bulk first. "Is that you, Bulk?" Bulk grinned. Skull raised a weary hand from the floor and waved. "And Skull?"

"And that's not all," said Jason dramatically. "Look around, brother!"

Tommy did, and froze when he saw Billy. "That's not—"

"Hi."

Tommy whirled around and ran from the room.

"What the-" Jason stared after him.

Billy stood. "I'll get him." He ran out of the door, and the rest of the group merely looked at each other in confusion.

~*~

"It can't be you." Tommy's voice was choked. "You... died. A long time ago."

Billy shook his head, forgetting Tommy couldn't see the movement. "No, I didn't. It was a time hole."

Tommy turned this time, and Billy saw that his face was covered with tears. "It exploded. We all saw it. Your morpher just... fell."

Billy's eyes widened. _The Zord exploded? My morpher was fried? How the hell did I survive that?_ "It must have..." he thought aloud. "My Zord must have been too big for the time hole. It ran into the edges of it and exploded."

Tommy turned his face away again. "I thought it was my fault."

Billy was shocked. "What? Why?"

"I was supposed to be the leader! I was supposed to protect you guys and—" His voice broke off, and he choked on his anger.

Billy grabbed his former leader's shoulders and forcefully turned Tommy to face him. "It was not your fault. I would have hit that time hole no matter what! The controls shorted out when I hit, and I lost consciousness. By the time you could have even moved, it was already over. Forget about it, Tommy."

"I can't."

Billy put a reassuring arm around Tommy and led him back into the school.

~*~

Skull shook his head, amazed. "She is so easily pleased!"

They were all sitting on the floor of Jason's office, munching out of little white containers. Billy was still staring at his, marveled. Chinese food boxes sure had changed in the past 18 years. These were round, with a bit of flatness on the bottom to keep them from rolling. Instead of the little metal holders he had gotten so used to, there was a removable cap made of a plastic-like material he didn't recognize. Jason had called it "Shalak," or something.

At first, Billy had been too busy turning the strange little disk over and over in his hand to eat. Then his stomach growled and Trini grabbed the thing from him. "You can stare at your container later. Right now, you need to eat!"

While they had waited for the food to arrive, they caught Jason and Tommy up on everything that had been happening. Eventually, they got into what happened in Angel Grove after Billy's disappearance.

"The Blue Ranger was killed, Billy," Skull had explained. "You wouldn't know that part, I guess."

"Actually," said Bulk slowly, "I think he might."

The friends glanced at each other, and Billy blanched. "What?"

"I noticed something you said, Billy," Bulk continued. "You told Jason you weren't killed. But as far as any of us knew, you had just disappeared."

"What are you saying, Bulk?" Katie was completely confused, but she knew the man must be right about something, because of the palpable silence in the room.

"I'm saying that Billy was the Blue Ranger," said Bulk. "Am I right?"

Billy gulped, and then nodded. "Um... yeah."

Skull's mouth fell open. "You mean, all that time...?"

"It was Billy. And Jason must have been one too, if he thought... but wait, you were in Switzerland." Bulk frowned, lost in thought.

Jason sighed. Actually, I was the Red Ranger, but when I went to Switzerland... the title passed to someone else."

"Who?"

"Um...." Jason glanced around at the others, but their faces were blank. "Actually," he finally said, "We were all rangers. Tommy, Zack, Trini, Rocky, Adam, Aisha—"

"No way! I don't believe this," Skull shook his head and sat up. "You? Billy? Rocky and... My God."

There were a few more minutes of silence. Finally, Billy spoke up again. "Um.. actually, I sill don't know what happened after I—"

"Oh! Right!" Skull resumed his story. "Well, Rita and Zedd wasted no time in taking advantage of the situation. The Power Rangers... um... your friends... they couldn't fight very well since the MegaZord had only one arm, and they were forced to surrender."

"What?!" Billy gasped.

"Yeah," confirmed Zack. "Zedd said either they surrender, or he'd kill everyone in Angel Grove. I'd say they had little choice." He looked pointedly at Tommy, who didn't respond. "So they surrendered, and Rita and Zedd took over."

"But— Angel Grove is still standing! Why?"

Skull laughed. "Seems they got bored with no one to challenge them. After about a week they made an announcement on TV that they were leaving to find someplace more fun to conquer."

Billy's mouth fell open. "No!"

"Yes!" put in Bulk. "I think they went to Mars or something. Who cares?"

"Didn't they destroy anything first?"

"A couple buildings. And... the Power Rangers said something about a Command Center or something that was destroyed?" He looked to Jason for confirmation.

Billy paled. "It's okay, Billy," Jason told him quickly. "Alpha's... fixable. And Zordon, um... well, he's in some other dimension somewhere. Don't worry about it."

Skull looked at him curiously, but Jason just shrugged.

"Um... right. Anyway, no one was seriously hurt," Skull continued. "You could see those giant insect-thingys coming from miles away. When they realized no one was going to try to stop them, they lost interest."

Billy shook his head. "Well I'll be—"

Jason nodded. "Zack, Trini, and I came back and heard the whole thing from Adam. He was absolutely stumped!"

"Speaking of Adam," Zack had said, "Maybe we should see him next."

Then the food had arrived and most talking stopped. Now that they were finishing up, Billy was staring at his container again, lost in thought. _Zordon? Gone? Alpha? Fixable? What does that mean? Where is he?_ His eyes were staring to hurt, and his constant headache was worsening. _Calm down,_ he told himself. _You're just making yourself sick. They'll take care of you...._ He was jerked out of his thoughts as Trini put a warm hand on the back of his neck and kissed his cheek. "Put that thing down and pay attention to me," she pouted.

Billy smiled a little, _Trini will take good care of me,_ and kissed her. "How's that?"

"Nice," she answered, taking the disk away and placing it on the floor.

Skull cleared his throat, indicating Shanie, who was obliviously playing with Jason's chair.

"We weren't going to do anything," said Billy defensively.

"Don't be so sure of that," whispered Trini's husky voice in his ear. Billy turned an improbable shade of purple again and the group had a good laugh.

~*~

Jason shook his head. "I wish I could, but someone has to watch the school while Tommy's gone." He smiled and placed a hand on Billy's shoulder. "You have to promise me you won't disappear again!"

Billy shook Jason's outstretched hand. "Agreed."

"Okay, let's go," Zack called from the plane. "Adam awaits us!"

~*~

The group trudged up the long dirt driveway, Billy and Tommy bringing up the rear. "This is so weird," Billy said, trying to make conversation. "It's like the Wizard of Oz, or something. Like I'm Dorothy and all of you are... the scarecrow and stuff. You know?"

Tommy nodded slightly. "I guess. Who's the wizard?"

Billy thought about it for a second. "Um... I don't know. You can be the tin man, though."

Tommy laughed a little and Billy silently congratulated himself. Maybe all Tommy needed was some time and a few laughs.

Trini knocked softly on Adam's door. "If you startle him, he might lose his train of thought," she explained.

"What?" Billy was confused. "His train of thought for what?"

"He's a freelance writer," she clarified. "Articles, fiction, and poetry. He's won awards."

The door opened a crack. "What?" The voice was Adam's, and he wasn't too happy.

"Adam? It's me, Trini."

He opened the door further and smiled a little. "Oh. In that case, I'll forgive you."

Billy stared at Adam from behind the Lieutenant's massive bulk. He looked like he hadn't shaved for a few days; his face was shadowed by the beginnings of a beard. The crows feet by his eyes were deeper, and he had a few lines on his face, but he was obviously still the same Adam.

"I knocked quietly," Trini protested, and Adam gave her a hug.

"I know, I know. S'okay." He noticed the group behind her. "What's all this?"

Bulk stepped forward. "We found somebody we thought you'd like to see."

Billy took this as his cue and stepped up to the door. "Hi, Adam. Surprise!"

Adam's mouth fell open. "No way!"

Billy chuckled. "Yeah. It's me. So you're a writer now?"

Adam grabbed his arm and dragged him into the house. "How did you...? What...? We thought...?"

"Thought I was dead. Yeah, I know. I—"

"Fell through a time hole," chorused the group behind him.

Adam just stared at them. "Who are these people?"

Billy made the introductions, skipping over Zack, Trini, and Tommy, of course. Adam asked about Jason and they explained that situation, too. When everyone was relatively clear on what had been going on, Adam invited them to have a seat in the living room. "Make yourselves comfortable," he said.

"I thought you were working?" said Katie, concerned.

"Nah." Adam shrugged. "I can find a new train of thought anytime. People only come back from the dead once in a blue moon." He paused. "I gotta use that. Hold on, I gotta write that down!" He scrambled for a pen and paper as the group watched him in amusement.

Once he had settled down, the question and answer session began. Bulk started things off. "So, Adam, you look a lot better. Last time I saw you, you were floating around on cloud nine."

"Yeah. Prozac, I think it was. That stuff was amazing!"

"I'll say," snorted Skull. "You could barely form a sentence!"

Adam nodded. "I went through a few different shrinks before I finally found one I liked. She stopped shoving pills down my throat and actually talked to me. It was nice."

"Wait, when did all this happen?" Billy interrupted, trying to form a consecutive timeline of events.

"Well, I had my first major nervous breakdown during summer break, the year you disappeared," said Adam matter-of-factly. "My parents freaked out and I spent most of the summer in the Psych ward of Angel Grove Memorial. They let me out for school and all, but they gave me all kinds of drugs to control my moods. Now I can't even remember my senior year. I'm surprised I managed to graduate." Billy just stared at Adam, who noticed the look on Billy's face and smiled. "Talking about it makes it easier," he explained. "Most of the time, people appreciate it when you're honest. I have lost a few jobs, though, so that's why I'm freelancing."

"Oh."

"Also, I'm still on a mood regulator. But I'm not as doped out as I used to be, thank God."

Shanie stood and walked over to Adam, looking up at him seriously. "Are you a crazy person?"

Katie let out a strangled gasp and turned bright red. Adam just laughed. "Actually, yes I am. I'm as nutty as a fruitcake. Am I the first nut you've met?"

Shanie nodded. "You're a nice nut."

"Thank you." Adam gestured to the candy bowl on the mantle. "Have an M&M." He looked back toward Billy. "Where was I?"

"Um... freelancing?"

"Right. I've been writing since I was really little, but I never showed it to anyone. My shrink, the one who talked to me, asked me if she could see some of my stuff, so I brought in a bunch of it. It was through my writing that we worked out a lot of stuff I'd been afraid to face before. It was pretty cool, really. After that I started writing a lot more. I wrote about everything."

"It's true," put in Zack. "You wouldn't believe the letters he'd send us. They'd be 23 pages long, and those were the short ones!"

"I'd like to see some of your work," said Billy, somewhat shyly. He couldn't get over how confident Adam seemed. He was like a different person.

"Sure," Adam said brightly. "I always keep a few extra copies...." He took three hardback books from the bookshelf. "Two of these are poetry and one's short fiction. Want me to autograph them?" Billy nodded, speechless, as Adam signed each one in turn. "Don't read them in front of me," Adam ordered, finishing the inscription on the first book. "It makes me nervous." He looked up suddenly. "I look terrible, don't I? If I'd have known you were coming I'd have shaved or something. You probably think I'm a slob now, don't you?"

Billy vehemently denied that, and the group continued their small talk as Adam put lengthy notes in each of the three books. When he finished, he handed the books to a grateful Billy, who held them carefully in his lap. "Thank you."

Adam nodded and smiled. "No problem. Why don't I get you a drink? Come on into the kitchen with me." Billy handed the books to Trini and followed Adam into the other room.

As Billy and Adam disappeared into the kitchen, the rest of the group remained strangely silent. After a time, Skull could no longer stand the silence. "Hey!"

Everyone jumped. "What?!" Tommy nearly fell out of his chair.

"Just wanted to make some noise," said Skull apologetically. "All that quiet was making me nervous."

Trini looked to him with a smile. "I know. I was thinking the same thing."

"So what should we talk about?" Katie frowned. The group had been together for the past few days, and it seemed they had already talked about everything imaginable.

Shanie stood up. "I have a question."

"What is it," asked Zack, leaning forward.

"I want to hear the story," she said eagerly.

"The story?" Trini asked, confused. "What story?"

"When you were little and Billy was little with you. I want to hear the story!"

"Oh, you mean what happened when he disappeared?" Skull clarified.

"Yeah! The story!" Shanie sounded exasperated, as if what she had wanted was obvious.

Zack shot a look at Trini. "It's kind of a sensitive subject—"

"No, it's okay with me," she said quietly. "Tom?"

Tommy didn't answer at first. He wasn't sure if he could handle bringing back all those bad memories, but Billy was right there in the kitchen.... After a moment's thought, he nodded wordlessly.

There was a pause. "I guess I'll start," said Skull, "since Zack and Trini were out of the country when it happened, and my guess is, Tommy doesn't feel like talking...."

Tommy looked at him gratefully and Skull smiled. "Okay, this is how I remember it...."

~*~

Skull looked at him fearfully. "What?" An evil grin crossed Billy's face. _Oh, man. Just get it over with. What kind of humiliation is he going to make me endure now?_ Billy was beginning to speak. _Oh God..._

"You have to promise me you'll never call me a name again."

"That's it?!"

Billy nodded. "Yup."

Skull glared at him. "Fine."

So now here he was, on time for once, ready to learn, and nerd-boy -_I mean Billy_- hadn't even shown up. Skull looked at his watch. Billy was already an hour late. He stood. _Oh, well. Kaplan can't say I didn't try._

No one saw Billy at all for the next few days. Skull didn't know anything was up until after the whole Rita-and-Zedd fiasco was over, and it was on the news that Billy had disappeared. Once the news got out, the whole school was talking about it. There was a rumor that Billy had finally gone off the deep end and jumped off the water tower in the Warner Bros. Studio Lot, but there was no body, so that one died moderately quickly.

They searched for him for over a year, but he never turned up. Finally, in August of 1997, the police officially declared the case "unsolved," and the death certificate of seventeen- year-old Billy Cranston was signed in Angel Grove's City Hall. His father began to make arrangements for a memorial. Not a service, since his family had never been very religious, but just a gathering for friends and family. It would be a chance to formally say goodbye.

Half of Angel Grove High showed up at the Cranston home on August 28th, including Billy's recently graduated best friends Tommy, Rocky, Aisha, and Kimberly. Even Adam, on leave from an extended stay in the psych ward of Angel Grove hospital, showed up, as did Jason, Trini and Zack, having flown in from Germany. They would stay in town for a few weeks, saying final goodbyes. Bulk and Skull stood uncomfortably in a corner, unsure of what to say or do. Finally, they just left, after a short expression of sympathy to Hank Cranston.

By the end of the day, only the eight teenagers remained. They sat silently on the couch as Mr. Cranston busied himself in the kitchen. He came out of the kitchen holding a videotape, and there was a strange look on his face. "Kids," he said, facing them, "I was hoping you'd stay. There's something I'd like you to see."

He pushed the tape into the machine and spoke as he rewound it. "I found this in Billy's drawer, under a bunch of socks. He made it not too long ago.... Well, I'll let him tell you." Mr. Cranston pushed the play button and went back into the kitchen. "I can't stand to watch it again, but I thought you'd like to see it," he called as the tape began.

There was a bit of white noise, and then Billy's smiling face appeared on the screen. "Hi!" He backed away from the camera a bit, positioning it just right. "You are watching the video will of one William James Cranston the Third. Actually I was kidding about the 'the Third' part, but it sounds cool, doesn't it? You're probably wondering why in the world I would have a video will, but the reason is quite simple. I had a dream. Several dreams, really. Don't laugh. Usually, I'm not one to go off the deep end over a couple of weird dreams, but these were over the top!

"In the first one," Billy began to wander around his lab as he spoke. "I was with this guy. I don't know who he was, he was just an imagined guy. I knew him in the dream, though. Anyway, this guy asked me to hold his muffin. Blueberry, I think. So I took it, and he told me not to lose it. I agreed, and I'm standing there in the middle of nowhere holding this guy's blueberry muffin. So he comes back a bit later, an the muffin is gone. He's mad. He says, 'Where's my muffin?' And I say, 'I don't know. It disappeared.' At this point he gets really mad, pulls out a gun, and shoots me three times in the chest. And then I die.

"Weird, isn't it? It had me pretty freaked out. I couldn't go near a blueberry muffin for days afterward. So now you're saying to yourself, what does this irrational fear of muffins have to do with a video will? Well, the thing is, I died in this dream. I always thought people wake up before they die. You know, you're falling off a cliff and just before you hit, you wake up on the floor. But not this time. I felt the bullets, though they didn't hurt, really. I felt them go in, and I felt my heart stop and I felt myself not breathing, and then I sank. That's the only way I can explain it. Then I woke up really abruptly and I wasn't breathing so I said to myself, 'Billy, you're not breathing. Take a breath, go on' So I breathed and I was fine again, but I didn't get any more sleep that night.

"Anyway, that's kind of a long-winded and useless dream description, but the point is , that dream, in combination with a few others even weirder than the first, spooked me enough that I'm filming a video will. Pretty stupid, huh? But then, if anyone besides me is watching this, I guess I actually died." He paused, considering. "Wow."

He shook his head as if to clear it and went to sit down at his desk chair. "Now we get to the nitty-gritty. I—" He stopped again, staring blankly at his computer screen. "Nitty-gritty? What the hell does that mean?" He seemed to come to himself again, jumping slightly. "But I digress. What I meant to say was, I actually do have some stuff to say. As you can see, I'm in my lab right now. It's full of all kinds of useless gadgets, and some that could be quite useful if the right person got them. That's why I'm leaving my lab and almost everything in it to you, Adam." Billy smiled at the camera. "You have a great mind, even if you don't realize it. You can speak techno-babble along with the best of us when you want to, and you're a quick learner. So you can use any of this stuff you feel you might need. Enjoy it!

"Okay, next we have my extensive CD collection." Billy gestured vaguely to a dark corner behind him. "That goes to Tommy, with the exception of the Sting CDs, which also go to Adam. This isn't favoritism, really, it's just that he and I have a common interest in Sting. Other than that, the whole thing now belongs to one Mr. Thomas Oliver. I decided on this because I feel like we never really understood each other fully, Tommy. I choose my music very carefully, and if you listen to the lyrics, maybe you'll finally start to understand where I'm coming from. Ask Adam if you can listen to some of the Sting songs, too.

"Rocky, you're next. I don't have much of anything that would be of interest to you, so I'll chicken out and give you my TV, VCR, video collection, and souped-up SEGA Playstation. You tended to look at those rather longingly when you were over, anyway. Yeah, it's a cop-out with absolutely no sentimental value at all, but... it's the thought that counts.

"Aisha, I'm leaving you all of my books and my bookcase. You have an inquisitive mind and are eternally optimistic. I'm sure you'll have fun with my numerous nature books, as well as a few curiosities like 'Magick: The Lost Legend' that I have left over from freshman year. Or was it sophomore year? Ah, well, it all blurs together now. That's how you know you're getting old.

"Zack, you get my stereo system with the huge speakers. You've always been a big music lover, so I know you'll enjoy them. Of course that'll have to wait until you're home from Switzerland or wherever you are now, but by the time I die you'll probably be back, so never mind." He sighed again. "I really should forget this whole thing, it's getting ridiculous." But he continued.

"Jason, you get my stuffed animal collection. I know that sounds dumb, but there's a simple reason why. When I first met you, I was afraid. Very afraid. Then I got to know you and realized you were, as Kim would say, just a big teddy bear. So in honor of the coolest teddy bear I know, you get the animals. Okay? Okay.

"Now, Kimberly. I just have to say that you have been my best friend for a long time, and I really appreciate all you've done for me. Some days, I wouldn't have survived without those silly impromptu park picnics you were always inviting me to. No matter what you brought, fish sandwiches included, I loved being with you. With that said, I also have absolutely nothing to leave to you. Except, that is, for this necklace." He pulled a beautiful gold pendant out of his shirt and held it up to the camera. "It's the only piece of jewelry I ever owned, and I've worn it close to my heart for years." He stopped and looked down at the tiny pendant. "For some reason..." He began to loosen the clip. "I feel like I should take it off. It's yours now, I guess, and I don't feel right wearing it." He laughed at himself as he put the necklace aside. "Billy, you have gone completely nuts. You haven't even died and you're giving stuff away! Well, back to the world of the mentally balanced.

"Last but definitely not least is Trini." He looked into the camera again, his eyes sad. "You were the first person I ever felt really comfortable with. You always knew what to say when I was upset, and you never laughed at me when I did something stupid. Well, rarely, anyway. I can't believe I'm telling you this, but here goes. I've had a major crush on you since freshman year. I never told you because I figured you'd just reject me. In a nice way, of course, but it would be a rejection nonetheless. Besides, you had Richie, so what would you want with a little guy like me? And then you went away on that silly peace conference, and we lost touch...." His voice trailed off. "What I'm trying to say, Trini, is that I still love you and I always will. This is going to sound stupid and childish, but I'm giving you my old glasses and some old books from when I was little. There's some Dr. Seuss in there, and Shel Silverstein.... It's basically my childhood, all in one little box. It's in my lab, hidden under my baby blanket, which is hidden under the box my computer came in before I souped it up. Hopefully, you'll never see this tape and I can share this stuff with you in person—" he blushed. "Maybe.

"Well, that's the end of my video will. Any possessions I've left out can be distributed by my Dad in whatever way he sees fit. If Dad's not around, it can go to Trini for safekeeping and distribution. If Trini's not around, God forbid, it goes to Adam. And I'm not going any farther than that because this is already depressing the hell out of me. I just put my whole life on a videotape.

"Okay, time to say goodbye." He chuckled. "I can't say that with a straight face, so I won't. See you on the flip side!" He laughed and got up to stop the recording. Then there was just white noise.

There wasn't a dry eye in the room. The tape kept running, the sound of the static overwhelmed by the sniffles and sobs coming from the couch. Finally, Jason stood and turned off the television.

~*~

If she guessed right, he had turned bright red after Trini hugged him ferociously. Her suspicions were confirmed when she heard Adam laugh, "Billy, you look like a ripe tomato!"

The group, excepting Tommy, who looked like he was in a daze, dissolved in laughter, grateful for a break from the heart-wrenching story.

"But what happened?" Shanie asked insistently when the laughter died down.

Tommy finally spoke, staring down at his hands. "We moved on. Or tried to. We took what he gave us and moved on. What else could we do?"

Zack got up and took a seat next to him, putting an arm around him. "Nothing."

~*~

"It's not a problem," he said. "This house is way too big for just me anyway. And besides, Billy and I still have a lot of catching up to do."

She sighed and shrugged. _Well, if he doesn't mind, I guess I don't either._

Shanie came up to him holding the empty M&M dish. "I finished it," she said solemnly. "Do you have any more?"

He took it, amused, and shook his head. "You ate all of it?"

She nodded. "And I'm still hungry."

Bulk spoke up from the other side of the room. "Now that you mention it, I'm pretty darn hungry myself." The group agreed.

Adam thought for a moment. "There's a pretty good pizza delivery place near here. Shall we order?"

~*~

"He's half asleep! He won't notice," Katie was saying. "Just read a few poems."

"No. I have to wait. If he catches me—"

"What's he going to do?"

"I just can't!"

Katie sighed and began browsing through the bookshelf. "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, The Making of the Wizard of Oz?, Heavy Cloud But No Rain, (He gave you that one, didn't he, Billy? It's dedicated to you, I think...)"

Billy couldn't help himself. He flipped open the one called Heavy Cloud But No Rain and found that it was indeed dedicated to: "my old friend Billy. I miss you." He glanced over at Adam, who was watching him sleepily. He blushed and closed the book hurriedly. Adam just smiled and closed his eyes again.

"...The Fall of Freddie The Leaf, by Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D. I had that one when I was little," remarked Katie as she continued browsing the shelf. "It's good. Everything I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten... Wow." She continued browsing silently, barely noticing as Billy came up behind her and browsed the titles with her.

"Look at this," he said, pulling an old science journal off the shelf. "I used to have a subscription to this."

Katie glanced at him. "Why?"

He shot her a look but didn't answer, sitting down on the floor and opening the book. "Wow, this one's from 2007. I've missed a lot of scientific advances, and I really should catch up. Maybe I can renew my subscription."

"I'm sure they have special deals for people who've had unfortunate accidents with time holes," Katie said rudely, and immediately regretted it. Luckily, Billy didn't say anything. He was too busy reading.

"Katie," he said thoughtfully a minute later, "Weren't you saying something about being a healer earlier?"

She whirled around. "What?"

"Bulk and Skull said you'd found an unregistered healer in the park. I assume that's me."

"Oh." She was relieved. For a moment, she thought he knew about her. "Right."

"There's an article in here about it."

Katie was at his side in a second. "What? What does it say?"

He seemed surprised at her sudden interest, but flipped to the first page of the article and began skimming. "Let's see.... there was an aspirin-like drug taken in the sixties and seventies that apparently caused mutation in certain cells of the human body, the effects of which were... accelerated healing?" He looked at her, amazed.

"Keep going!" she said excitedly. "What else does it say?"

"Once a person was affected by the drug," His eyes were moving back and forth rapidly as he absorbed and condensed what the article said. "Their genes were permanently mutated, and these mutations could be passed on to their children. The mutated gene is a recessive one, so very few people are now full healers, but there are several carriers of the gene."

"Recessive?" Katie was beginning to wish she'd paid more attention in biology class.

"You have a total of 46 chromosomes," he explained quickly. "23 from your Mom and 23 from your dad. Each gene is a combination of your Dad's and Your Mom's. Recessive means if you get that chromosome and another one, the other one wins."

"Uh-huh," she said, not understanding.

"Okay, think of it this way." He held up two fingers on one had and one on the other. "These two fingers," he wiggled them. "Are the brown-eyed gene from your Mom. This one," he wiggled the single finger. "Is the blue eyes from your dad. See how your Mom is stronger than your Dad?"

Katie nodded, fascinated. Billy's explanation was much easier to follow than the garbled nonsense they'd thrown at her in her classes.

"That means your Dad's chromosome is recessive. You'll have brown eyes. Get it?"

She nodded. "The mutation is one finger."

"Exactly. The only way you can have blue eyes is if both parents give you the blue eyed gene." He held up one finger on each hand. "That's why you have blue eyes and Shanie's are brown."

"So, our parents must have both been carrying the mutated gene!"

He looked at her strangely. "Our parents?" Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened. "You're a healer too?"

"No! I mean, yes, but you can't tell anyone!"

"What do you mean? Why not?"

"Didn't you hear what Bulk said? An unregistered healer! Like another holocaust! Next thing you know, we'll be wearing bright blue H's on our clothes!"

Billy looked back down at the article and read on. "Actually, according to this," he said slowly, "Healers just have to be registered so they can be examined twice a year. And the only reason for that is because they're still not sure of the complete effects of the mutation. It's for our own protection!"

Katie just stared. "Really? But...." She was silent. So why were her parents so fearful of healers? Why did they tell her they were all locked up and exterminated? She had been so frightened all this time.... She turned to ask Billy another question, but he was completely involved in the article. She tried to read it over his shoulder, but found that the article was written in much more complicated language than Billy had been using. She couldn't understand a word of it. "Well, thank you for translating," she said finally, and went back to browsing the bookshelf. She was too busy reflecting over what she'd just learned to concentrate.

She jumped, startled, as there was a loud knock on the door. Adam was up in a second. "Whoever is at that door is in big trouble. Everybody knows my knocking rules."

Again, the loud, insistent knock. Adam opened the door. "Jason, you git, I should have known it was you!"

Billy jumped up and ran for the door. "Jason?"

Jason laughed as he stepped inside. "I was hoping you guys would still be here! Christine wanted to meet you!"

"Hi," a petite, shy-looking woman with light hair stepped out form behind Jason. "Are you Billy?"

Billy looked at Jason, and at Christine, and back at Jason. "Um... yes?"

"This is my wife, Billy. Christine."

Billy gasped. "You're married? To her? I mean... What I meant was...."

"It's okay," said Christine softly. "A lot of people have that reaction."

"Opposites attract, right?" said Jason, winking at him.

"Right." Billy wandered aimlessly back into the living room, much to the confusion of his friends.

"Ah... well, that was random," remarked Adam. He shrugged. "Come on in. I've got a houseful of people here." As he closed the door he called into the living room: "Tom! Jason and Chris are here!"

Tommy met them halfway into the living room. "I know," he said quietly. "Hi."

"Tom, are you okay?" Christine put a tiny hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah," he managed. "I'll be all right. I just... I need time."

She nodded and they joined the group in the living room for a few hours of small talk and reminiscing, before the couple excused themselves for the night. "Some of us have to work," teased Jason as they left.

~*~

He had been staring at the book's cover for some time, debating on whether or not to read it. Adam was asleep, so didn't that count? He wasn't even on the same floor of the house.... He opened the book and read through the table of contents. One title immediately caught his eye: "running from infinity (for billy)" As Adam's dedication floated through his head, he turned to page seventeen and began to read.

Running From Infinity
(for billy)
I went there to die.
A vast open
field
dropped off to reveal
a world beyond
my comprehension.
My arms outstretched
I ran;
twisting turning laughing crying,
my voice raised to a sky that could not
(would not)
hear me.
From the edge I could see
the horizon far off; a line
etched as if by a hand from the clouds
or from space, infinite and empty.
The trees below;
small, yet tall.
Green and vivid,
yet as grey as my heart;
as my perception
of my heart.
Greyness and vastness above the lives and the people
I could not see.
My hands reached out to that horizon, my feet
following slowly. I longed to join that greyness,
to feel the wind rushing past me,
the ground dashing me to pieces,
tofeel something other than the cold,
ruthless beating of my heart.
I jumped. My feet left the ground and I flew.
For a moment, suspended in air, I felt
the wind.
I felt something and I fell and I twisted
and my hands clutched;
clenched at the ground and I caught.
Hanging there, suspended, I felt.
I felt the bitter salt of tears on my cheeks
and the crumbling dewy wetness of the ground under my fingertips and I pulled
myself up and lay,
my tears mixing with the grass, the soil and I felt the Earth beneath me.
I lay there and I turned to see the greyness of the sky and
it was blue.
Bluer than any blue I could imagine ever imagining
and I reached my hand to the heavens
and I smiled.

When Billy finished, there were tears in his eyes. "He dedicated this to me?" he whispered aloud.

"Yes," said a quiet voice from the doorway, startling him.

Billy whirled around and saw Adam standing there, T-shirt and hair rumpled from sleep. "Adam! I thought you were asleep! I didn't—"

Adam chuckled. "It's okay. No biggie." He sat at the table across from Billy. "Which one did you read?"

"Running from infinity," Billy answered, closing the book softly. "It was beautiful."

"That's the one I wrote just for you," Adam smiled.

"I know."

Adam took the book from him and turned to the last page. "Read this one. It's about me."

Billy hesitated. "It won't make you nervous?"

"Yes. But I want you to read it anyway."

Billy took the book back. "Sandman?"

He is of sand.
A man of few words.
A gentle breeze would

He looked up at Adam, who was staring at him with moist eyes. "This was about you?"

Adam nodded. "For a while, yeah. By the time I wrote it, I was better. That's one of the ones I wrote while I was in therapy with Janice. I have a whole journal full of poems like this one. This is the only one that got published, though. The others are... a bit intense."

"Janice is the good therapist?"

"Yeah. I still see her every other week, just to make sure I'm hanging in. Which I am." Adam yawned and chuckled a little. "I should go back to bed."

"Why'd you get up?" Billy asked quietly.

"I wanted to make sure you were still here." Adam stood and started toward the doorway, then he turned and faced Billy, who was surprised to see tears streaking his face. "You are really here, aren't you?"

Billy stood and hurried to Adam, who immediately grabbed him in a fierce hug. "It's finally hit me," Adam was sobbing into his shoulder. "You're really back. You're okay...."

Billy swallowed hard. "Yeah. I'm okay, Adam."