Homecoming
by Naomi Tilley

Chicago, 17th precinct
Jason Lee Scott sat in silence at his desk, staring at the single sheet of paper in front of him. It had only two words on it, each cut out of the newspaper and stuck crudely on the clean note paper. YOU'RE DEAD

It was all the message said, but it was enough. He sighed inwardly. It wasn't the first time he'd been threatened, but each time worried him more. He feared that at some point, the threats would be directed at his family.

Jason pushed the paper away from him. He hadn't had it checked for fingerprints; he knew the responsible party would not have left any clues.

"Hey, Scott, you coming for happy hour, or what?"

Jason looked up, and offered a weary smile in the direction of the man who had spoken.

"No, not tonight. I think I'll go straight home.... Spend the night with Trini and William."

The young man, Sid Ellis, hesitated, then stepped into the room. "Look, Jase, don't let those threats bother you. We all get them at some point."

Jason grimaced. "As often as I do? I can cope with it, Sid. It's Trini that's getting the high blood pressure. She hates knowing that each morning might be the last morning she sees me."

"Hey, she knew what she was getting into when she married you. You were already a detective by then...."

"I know. She's always supported me, even after that case with Bernard Stravinsky. But it isn't just Trini anymore, either. I have to think about William."

"Yeah, I guess you do. What are you thinking?"

Jason slid open a drawer and pulled out a number of papers, showing them to his closest friend.

"Transfer papers?" Sid stared at Jason in shock. "You're gonna ask for a transfer?"

"I already have," Jason confirmed softly. "It was approved this afternoon. I'm transferring to the Angel Grove PD at the end of the month."

Sid came all the way into the office, and sank into the nearest chair.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jason sighed heavily. "Because I was worried you might try talking me out of it. The truth is, I don't really want to go, but it's for my peace of mind as much as Trini's."

Sid looked crestfallen. "You're gonna break up our partnership?"

"I'm sorry, Sid," Jason apologized. For a long while, silence reigned, and then Sid offered Jason a lopsided smirk.

"End of the month, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well, at least I found out in time to organize the biggest party ever."

Jason's smile fell from his face. "Hang on, Sid...."

"Aw, don't say it, Jason. Everyone's gonna want to see you off. Don't deny them that. You can't just slip out the back door, brother."

Jason finally conceded, if somewhat reluctantly.

"Okay.... Okay. Just nothing to rowdy, all right?"

"Of course not," Sid assured him, but Jason didn't miss the gleam in his friend's eyes.

Two weeks later
Jason stood frozen on the outside of an aging wooden door, gun drawn and ready to act at the smallest disturbance. Three days to his transfer home, and here he was, tracking down a serial killer on the killer's own turf. He shut his eyes for a bare second, wondering why he was taking such a foolish risk, and then he remembered all the children the man had murdered.

One of those kids could've been William.... Gritting his teeth, Jason spun around and, using his karate skills, kicked the door wide open.

Nothing. Jason looked around, his heart beating hard as the adrenaline pumped through his system. The room was empty but it was only the first room. Many more to search, many places to hide.

"Jason, are you clear?"

Jason lifted his radio, never taking his eyes off all possible entrances to the room.

"So far. Where are you?"

"At the north end. I'm moving in."

"Okay, keep in contact."

Leaving the radio on standby, Jason moved slowly into the building. Trini was praying for him right then, he could almost feel it. She had known he would be going after the Angel of Death that day, and though she' d said nothing, her expression had said it all.

Of course, he could have left the case to someone else, and simply forgotten it but it was impossible for him to do. If another officer had been wounded or killed in his place while trying to bring the killer in, he would never have forgiven himself. He had the experience and the instinct that some of the other officers in the precinct would never have, and he knew it. It had to be him that went after the murderer, and no one else.

He froze in mid-stride, his sharp hearing picking up the sound of soft laughter behind him. He turned fast, only to face nothing. Then, the lights went out.

"Christ..." Jason fumbled with his radio, caught momentarily off-guard.

"Sid? Sid!" Silence. "Damn it, Ellis, answer me!"

"Och, I'm right here, Cap'n," came the reply in an unmistakably bad Scottish accent. Jason groaned softly.

"You moron! Are the lights out where you are?"

"Uh huh. Any suggestions from the brilliant Jason Scott?"

"Yes. Did you bring in a flashlight?"

"Of course. I take it you didn't."

Jason felt his face heat up in the darkness. "Slipped my mind."

"Oh, won't the boys love that at the party!"

Jason clenched his jaw, refusing to grace the statement with a reply. It was then that he heard it. A soft scraping sound, coming slowly towards him. Jason froze, his heart pounding.

"Captain? Come in, Jason...."

"Shut up, Ellis," Jason said through clenched teeth, trying desper- ately to determine which direction the scraping was coming from. There came a sudden hiss, and a snarl, and something shot through the middle of Jason's legs. Taken by surprise, Jason cried out sharply and fell heavily to the floor. He lay there for a long moment, winded, when he felt soft fur brush lightly against his cheek. Looking around, he groaned as he just made out the silhouette of a cat in the dark.

"Jason? Jason, what's wrong?"

"It's okay," Jason replied as he sat up and scooped the cat into his arms.

"It was just a stupid cat. Look, go back to the car. If that son of a bitch was here, he's probably been warned off by now. We'll never get him like this. Fumbling around in the dark like goddamn idiots...."

"Sure, whatever you say, boss. You're the one who gets to make the excuses to the Chief."

Jason sighed again. "Yeah, right." He looked the cat over, and was just able to make out the blood that encased one paw. The scraping sound he'd heard must have been the cat dragging its paw on the wooden floor boards. Shaking his head, he started to get up.... and froze at the gun barrel that was suddenly pressing in between his shoulder blades.

"You found my cat. Thankyou."

Jason didn't dare move, didn't dare speak. The gun prodded him harshly.

"Get up."

He got up slowly, letting the cat go. A moment later, he felt a hand at his side, searching down the length of his body, removing the gun from his hand, and the smaller pistol from the ankle holster he wore.

"That's all, isn't it?" a grating voice asked right in his ear. "You don't carry anything else. I know, I've been watching you. Don't you try any of that Kung Fu shit, though. I'll blow your head off."

Jason hesitated, then started to glance around. He was rewarded with a blow to his jaw from the barrel of the sawed-off shotgun.

"Don't look at me, pig. You don't look until I'm ready for you to look. Just walk, that way to the stairs." Jason walked, knowing he had little choice. He might have been able to knock the gun away, but he doubted he could avoid any serious injury, and a blast from a sawed-off at close range would be fatal. He had to bide his time, and wait.

"Don't you have anything to say?" his captor asked, and Jason detected a note of curiosity to his voice. "Don't you want to know who I am?"

"I already know," Jason ventured. "Your name is Kyle Bennett. Alias the Angel of Death."

"Very good," Bennett purred. "You're smart, pig. Smarter than a lot of pigs that I've killed."

Anger flushed Jason's face. The one thing he hated, above all else, was being called a pig. Behind him, Bennett snickered to himself.

"Pigpigpigpigpigpigpigpigpigpig....."

"Son of a bitch," Jason hissed under his breath. The gun slammed into his shoulders, and Jason went down with a crash, landing at the topmost step of a steep stairwell.

"Get up, you clumsy little boy," Bennett said in a chiding tone. Jason got slowly to his feet. He had jarred his right wrist in that fall, and it was starting to throb already. Bennett prodded him again.

"Down the stairs. Right to the bottom. I've got a little surprise for you, piggypig."

_This guy has lost it totally_ Jason thought numbly as he made his way carefully down the stairs. _Totally fruit loops_

They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Jason found himself being ushered across to a far wall.

"This is where I teach the boys and girls their lessons," Bennett announced. He pushed Jason roughly up against the wall, then stepped back.

"Now, turn around."

Jason turned slowly, and finally found himself face to face with the serial killer that he'd been working so hard to catch. Kyle Bennett was a pasty-faced man, less than six foot tall, with flat, greasy, brown hair, and dull eyes. The man was a few sandwiches short of a picnic, that was certain, but he was also the one with all the firepower. Jason dared not move against him. Bennett giggled.

"You're useless without your guns, aren't you? Oh, you gotta see this. I did it especially for you. Look!"

Bennett flicked a switch, and the lights all came on, leaving Jason momentarily blinded. For a moment he couldn't see anything, but then, he looked around, and started in shock. The wall he was now standing in front of was plastered with photos and news articles, all of and about himself. Bennett looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

"I've been watching you for a long time. A very long time. Even before I realised my true calling. By the way, you have a pretty wife. And a beautiful son. I'll have to pay him a visit." Bennett smiled, showing teeth that were too white. "I'll bet they miss you plenty."

Jason waited no longer, but charged Bennett, slamming his full body weight into the other man. The shotgun went off, but if it found its target, Jason never felt it. He brought Bennett to the ground in a full tackle, and tried to pin the murderer to the cement floor, but he'd underestimated Bennett's strength. The Angel of Death snarled in anger and managed to turn the tables, nearly pinning Jason down instead.

Fighting hard, Jason eventually squirmed free and, snatching up his small pistol, fled for the stairs, pausing only to switch off the lights and shoot out the switch.

"Bastard..." Bennett hissed. Scrambling to his feet, he collected his shotgun and went after the young officer.

Sid Ellis looked around with deepening worry. It had been a good five or so minutes since Jason had ordered him to go back to the car. Although five minutes wasn't really that long, Ellis knew from experience that it took less than that for one police officer to lose his life. Jason should have been out of the building by then, and his failure to appear meant only one thing as far as Ellis was concerned.

Turning, he leaned into the car and activated the CB radio.

"Car 32 to Base."

"Base to car 32, what's the problem, Sid?"

"I need backup at the warehouse located at 146 Franklin Avenue. There's a possibility that...."

Sid faltered, looking back over his shoulder at the sharp crack of a gunshot from somewhere inside the building. Several long seconds passed, and then a second gunshot followed. Sid turned back to the radio, fighting the urge to panic.

"There's been gunfire inside the building. I repeat, shots have been fired! Captain Scott is inside there now, and I'm going in after him. We need backup, now!"

Leaving the radio, Sid drew his firearm and bolted back to the ware- house.

Jason reached the top of the stairs and ran around and through into a new room, only to find himself in the middle of a maze of heavy wooden crates. Glancing back over his shoulder, he knew Bennett wasn't far behind, and he hurried into the maze.

Bennett was halfway to the top when Jason disappeared off to the left. He smiled coldly to himself. The cop had just gone into a room from which there was no other exit. That, plus the trail of blood he was leaving behind clearly let him know where the cop was. Chuckling softly to himself, he pulled back the hammer on the shotgun and continued his pursuit of the fleeing officer.

It didn't take Jason long to realise he'd cornered himself in the room. There was no other way out, and he'd just started to make his way back to the door when he heard it being shut and locked.

_Shit_

He did the only thing he could, and dropped to the ground in a dead-end alley of crates on the far side of the room, hoping he would see Bennett before Bennett found him. It was only then that he saw it, the thin trail of blood that he had left behind him. Panic and fear caused Jason's stomach muscles to contract painfully, and he glanced downwards to finally see the bullet wound in his hip. He'd left a trail of blood that even a child could follow....

Wiping the sweat from his eyes, he waited for the confrontation.

Bennett giggled to himself as he followed the blood around the boxes, and finally halted at the point where the trail of blood disappeared around a final corner. He paused there, knowing the police captain was on the other side, wounded and exhausted, but probably ready to fire with the gun he'd stolen back. Bennett was willing to die for his twisted beliefs, but not just then. After a moment of indecision, he walked slowly down the length of the crates on the opposite side to Jason.

"I spy with my little eye," Bennett chanted softly, "something beginning with 'P'. You there, pig? I know you are."

Jason shut his eyes. Bennett' s voice floated to him from the other side of the crates. The man was out of sight, but definitely within shooting range.

Bennett giggled again, his grip on sanity starting to falter. He lifted the shotgun and, aiming indifferently, he fired into the crates.

Jason bit back a cry of fear as one crate exploded in a lethal shower of wooden splinters. The other crates, piled on top of the one which had been shot through, teetered dangerously, ready to come crashing down at any second. He could hear Bennett on the other side, giggling like the madman he was, and he wondered desperately where Ellis was.

Sid Ellis stopped inside the first room of the warehouse, listening anxiously for anything that would tell him where his commanding officer was. His heart was going a mile to the minute, and he was starting to find it difficult to breathe.

_Please God don't let him be dead_

A third gunshot resounded through the empty building, and Ellis took off in the direction the sound had come from.

Knowing he had no other chance, Jason lifted his own gun in an ever- steady grip and fired off all but one of his bullets, hoping to God that one got through the crates to their intended target. Silence fell, and Jason's hopes rose. Maybe, just maybe....

Faint giggling met his ears, and his confidence died.

"You really think you can just shoot me?" Bennett asked gleefully. "Maybe you're not as smart as I thought."

Bennett's gloating was interrupted by a sudden, heavy thump against the door, which Bennett had locked.

"Jason!"

Jason could have almost cried with relief at the sound of Ellis voice.

"In here!" he yelled back. "We're in here!"

Outside the room, Ellis heard Jason call back, and responded by slamming hard into the door, sending it almost flying off its hinges. Stumbling, but not falling, Ellis aimed his gun directly at Bennett.

"Drop your weapon now! This is the police!"

Bennett stood frozen, neither obeying, nor making any further aggressive move. Ellis was frustrated; he could not legitimately open fire on Bennett unless Bennett made some hostile action. He tried taking a step forward.

"Drop your weapon," he repeated forcefully. "More police will be here any minute. Now put it down!"

Again, Bennett didn't respond. Then, finally, a small, cold smile flickered across his face, and he swung the shotgun around, firing it once more into the now dangerously unstable crates. There was a loud crack as the bullets ripped through the wood, and a moment later all the crates fell inward and came crashing down on top of Jason. The young man gave a sharp cry of fear and pain that was cut off as abruptly as it had begun, only to be taken up Ellis, who screamed in rage as he opened fire on Bennett.

The killer crumpled to the ground, rendered unconscious by a single bullet. Then, not bothering to check on the man, Ellis ran over and tried uselessly to drag the heavy boxes away that covered his senior officer.

"Oh god..." Ellis moaned as he just managed to uncover one foot. "Hang on, Jason, I'll get you out...."

Sirens echoed in the distance, but Ellis hardly heard. He continued to struggle with the heavy boxes until a hand on his shoulder caused him to spin around.

"Lieutenant Harrison...."

Harrison regarded Ellis somberly. "Stand down, Sergeant."

Shock flooded Ellis' face. "But sir... Captain Scott..."

"If he's alive, we'll get him out and do all we can to help him. If he isn't then you're wasting precious energy on a useless exercise. Now, stand down."

It was said with an authority that Ellis could not ignore, and he backed off silently, watching in numb shock as a team of men moved in to free the captain from the prison the massive boxes had created.

Some hours later, Chicago Public Hospital
Trini Scott ran into the waiting room of the hospital to find Sergeant Sid Ellis sitting in a chair, his hands buried in his face. Her heart in her throat, Trini approached him with a fear that she could not keep hidden.

"Sid?"

He looked up sharply at her voice, then managed a weak smile.

"Hi, Trini."

"How is he?" she asked softly, sitting down beside her husband's best friend. "Have you heard?"

"Not yet, but I know he's alive. I can at least tell you that. Jason's too stubborn to let a psycho like Bennett win."

Trini looked away, fighting the tears. This was the last straw. She had thought she could cope with Jason's career in the police force, but gradually it had become too much to take. This was all she could handle. She had nearly lost her husband today, and William had nearly lost his father.

"Trini?"

She looked back at him tearfully.

"I'm sorry, Sid I just can't cope with this anymore. When Jason gets better, I'll be taking William and going to stay with my parents back home in Angel Grove."

Sid frowned, then his jaw dropped as he realised with shock that Jason had not told Trini of his transfer.

"Oh, Hon, don't do that."

"I think I have to, Sid. This time Jason was lucky. Next time.... Next time he may not be."

Sid sighed. "Trini, there won't be a next time. He applied for a transfer out of Chicago nearly a month ago."

Trini gaped in shock. "A transfer? To where?"

"To Angel Grove. It was granted, and he was supposed to go at the end of the month."

Trini fell back in the seat in shock. Jason had put in a for a transfer She could have cried with relief as his words sank into her tired mind. A transfer meant leaving Chicago, and all the crazies who wanted to take potshots at her husband, simply because of his reputation.

"He wants out as much as you do," Sid told her softly. "He's worried about you and William. He told me that you two come ahead of his career as far as he's concerned."

"You didn't try to talk him out of it?" she asked incredulously. Sid had been the first person to befriend Jason when he had been transferred to the 17th precinct as a newly-ranked sergeant, and the two had become best friends almost instantly. It had been Sid that had gradually brought the other officers round to see Jason's true, kind nature, and it had been Sid who had rallied all the support just ahead of Jason's speedy promotion to lieutenant, and then captain. That Sid would not have opposed Jason's application for transfer was inconceivable.

Sid snorted loudly in response. "Of course I tried to talk him out of it. I don't want to lose the best partner I've ever had. Couldn't change his mind, though. He's one stubborn son of a bitch, Mrs Scott."

Trini had to laugh. "He is, isn't he?"

Sid hesitated, then reached across to lightly grasp Trini's hand. "Listen, Trini. I know it's hard for you to take, but I don't think you'll change Jason from the way he is. You've gotta accept that"

"I do, Sid. It's just" _Years ago when he was pulling dangerous stunts like this, I was right there with him_ She shook her head. "I can't explain it. All I can say is that I accepted Jason for what he is a long time ago. I know I'll never change him from that, and I don't want to. I just want to be somewhere that I don't have to be scared everyday that the next time I see him, it'll be to identify him in the morgue!"

Sid nodded his understanding. "I know. I'm gonna miss you both when you go."

Trini smiled wearily. "Same. Thanks, Sid."

He hugged her lightly. "You're welcome."

Jason was awake when Trini was finally allowed in to see him some hours later, and it was all she could do not to cry. Wincing with pain, Jason sat up a little, only to be pushed back down by the nurse on duty.

"No movement, young man," she warned him. Jason sighed, then offered Trini a sheepish smile.

"Hey, honey."

With one hand over her mouth, Trini slapped Jason lightly on his arm.

"Damn it, Jason, you scared me to death!"

"I'm sorry," he apologized seriously. "Honestly.... It got out of hand this time. I'll be fine, though."

"This time, yes! But what about the next time? God, Jason, I don't want to be a widow before I turn thirty!"

Jason reached up to grasp her hand. "You won't be. Trini, I asked for a transfer. I didn't tell you because I wanted to surprise you." Jason frowned, realising she didn't seem surprised by the news. A moment of thought told him what had happened. "Aw, Sid told you...."

Trini smiled tearfully. "Yes. Don't be annoyed with him, baby. He just wanted to reassure me that this wasn't going to happen again."

"He told you where we're going?"

"Angel Grove." Trini leaned over and hugged Jason as tightly as she dared. "I am so relieved. And I am so grateful that you stopped to think about me and William."

"Hey," Jason murmured, "you guys come first. You always have. I knew we couldn't go on like this. It was putting too much strain on our marriage and I want to be able to spend more time with you and William."

Trini kissed him lightly on the mouth. "I love you, Jason Scott."

"I love you too, Trini."

She pulled back, eyeing her husband critically. "So what happened this time? Harrison wouldn't give me many details."

Jason grimaced. "You really want to know?"

"Jason....?" she growled threateningly.

"Okay. We got to the warehouse, and I guess Bennett was waiting for us. He switched off the lights, let us make royal fools of ourselves before he made his move. By then, I'd sent Sid back out to the car. Stupid mistake, I should have known better."

"You're not perfect, hon."

"I know, but it was such a simple thing. Anyway, he came up behind me with a sawed-off shotgun, and took my guns off me. With a shotgun aimed at me at point blank, I couldn't do a damned thing without getting myself killed. He took me downstairs to.... I'm not sure where it was. Another level of the warehouse, anyway. He said it was where he taught the children their lessons. Psychotic bastard." Jason faltered then, remembering the wall.

Trini leaned forward a little.

"What is it?"

"There was one wall," Jason answered softly. "One wall that was totally covered in photos and new articles, Trini. You couldn't even see the wall itself for all that stuff he'd collected."

"What were the photos of? Children?"

Jason swallowed hard, not sure he should tell her. Trini frowned.

"Jason, what's wrong? Why won't you tell me?"

He sighed softly, finally giving in. "They weren't photos of children. Trini, they were all of me. The photos were pictures of me and the articles were all about me. God, it was frightening."

Trini sat frozen, her throat tightening painfully. "You?"

"Yeah. He.... He said he'd been watching me for a long time, even before he started killing the kids. Like he was obsessed, or something."

Trini squeezed his hand tightly. "What happened then?"

"I charged him. Figured he was going to kill me anyway, so I didn't have anything more to lose by making a break for it. We fought for a second, then I got free and went back up the stairs. That was when I got shot though, and I left a trail of blood that he just followed. Anyway, when Sid showed up, he shot the boxes apart and the whole lot came down on top of me. That's the last thing I remember."

Trini shuddered. "Thank God we're getting away from here."

"Yeah," Jason murmured. "Where's William?"

"Beth is looking after him. I didn't tell him you'd been shot."

"Good. He'll probably find out anyway, though. Some kid at his school will let it slip. Man, I can't wait to get back to Angel Grove."

"What about rehab? The doctor said the hip bone was shattered."

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Jason reassured her. "A few weeks of physio, and I should be back on my feet."

Trini looked thoughtful. "I think that we should arrange to stay with your parents until we find a place. We don't want Daddy harassing you like he did the last time they visited us."

Jason rolled his eyes, and slipped into a reasonable impersonation of Edward Kwan.

"Now, you've got to find a more stable career, son. The police force is no life for a young man like yourself witha family to consider. Why don't you come into business with me, at the car yard?"

Trini giggled, hitting him again. "Oh, Jason, stop it."

"If I wanted to go into business with anyone," Jason grumbled, "it would have been my own father. I don't care to spend the rest of my life as a used car salesman."

"Well, there was always the dojo," Trini mused. "The number of times I heard you talking about it with Tommy...."

"Some things just aren't meant to happen," Jason replied quietly. "I'm happy where I am..." Trini shot him a warning look, and he returned it with a sheepish one. "Sorry. With what I am. I am quite happy as a police captain."

"Not a bad achievement," Trini said with a warm smile, "considering you're only twenty-seven."

Jason sighed softly. "Twenty-seven...." He glanced around furtively, but the room was clear. "Nearly ten years since we fought the forces of evil as Power Rangers. I can't believe it's that far gone."

"I can't believe the Power Rangers have been obsolete since the Turbo Rangers destroyed Diva Tox," Trini murmured. "I wonder what happened to Zedd and Rita...."

"Oh, don't even think about them," Jason moaned. "It'd be just our luck for them to show up as soon as we get back to Angel Grove."

"Don't you ever think about it, though?" Trini wanted to know. "I mean, morphing was always such a rush...."

"Yeah, it was a rush that Tommy got hooked on. Fine while it lasted, but look at what happened afterwards."

Trini winced, recalling the horrible day when they'd learned that Tommy had become addicted to cocaine and heroine. He'd become a thrill junkie, and in the end, drugs had been the closest thing he could get to a morphing rush. It had taken two long, painful years to get Tommy off the habit, and as recently as a year ago, Jason and Trini occasionally heard from Billy or Adam about how Tommy had been caught with small sachets of drugs.

"He's doing all right now," Trini said softly. "He and Rocky and Adam started the Dragon Dojo together nearly a year ago. According to Adam, the place is doing well."

"Tommy's lucky," Jason conceded. "People are more willing to forgive and forget in Angel Grove. Oh, Trini, I'll be glad to get back there."

"Even if it is dull and boring compared to Chicago?" she teased. Jason smiled wearily.

"Yes, even if. Especially if. This Angel of Death case was one too much. There, I admit it. I've had enough, I want some peace and quiet."

Trini hugged him gently. "Chicago is going to miss her hero cop."

"Let her. I'm taking permanent leave of absence. Start packing, honey. As soon as I'm well enough, we are gone."

A broad smile lit up Trini's delicate features. "That is the best thing I've heard in a long while. I love you so much, Jason."

Jason smiled back, his eyes bright with love for his beautiful bride.

"I love you, too."

Two weeks later
Tommy Oliver had just finished teaching a small group of advanced karate students and was packing up the equipment when Adam Park walked in. He offered the younger man a weary grin.

"Hey, Adam. How'd your class go?"

"Good," Adam replied with a nod. "Toby is getting better and the other kids stopped hassling him since I talked Ryan into giving him a hand."

"That's good to hear," Tommy agreed. "Man, I'm wasted.... I could go home and sleep for a month..."

"Yeah, well wait till you hear this before you pass out."

Tommy glanced back at Adam curiously. "What's the big news, then?"

"Billy just heard yesterday, Jason and Trini are coming home!"

Tommy's face lit up like a beacon. "Really?"

"Yeah. Jason successfully applied for a transfer from Chicago. They'll be arriving at the end of the week. Apparently the transfer was approved two months ago."

A frown creased Tommy's face as he locked the equipment cupboard, then picked up his towel to wipe his face. "How come they took so long, then? Oh... Let me guess. Unfinished case?"

"Uh huh. Check this out."

Adam held out a newspaper clipping, which Tommy took. He looked at the headline, and the accompanying picture, and groaned.

"Man, Trini is gonna kill him herself if he doesn't stop pulling that hero shit."

Adam smiled grimly. "Billy said he thought she was ready to. Apparently that's the closest Jason's ever come to actually being killed. He was shot at close range with a sawed-off shotgun, and then buried alive beneath dozens of those really heavy moving crates. You know, those ones that weigh a ton each? He nearly got totally crushed."

"But he still got his man," Tommy sighed. Adam nodded.

"Yeah. Him and his partner. Billy said Trini told him that Jason tried to give the credit to his partner, but you know what the press is like. All they cared about was that he'd caught the Angel of Death."

Tommy laughed softly as he followed Adam from the room. "Well, at any rate, it'll be good to see them again."

Adam snickered a little. "Better hope that Trini can keep her dad away from Jase, though. He still thinks that selling used cars is a more solid career than the police force. He still wants Jason to join him at the car yard."

"Sure, I can really see that," Tommy retorted. "Jason Scott, Chicago's hero cop, now selling used cars in Angel Grove." He paused, looking down at the newspaper photo of his injured friend. "But on the other hand..."

Both men laughed as they headed back to their office.

A week later
Jason sighed contentedly as he settled down in the double bed in the spare room of his parents home. Despite his protests, they had ordered him to bed almost as soon as he'd gotten in the door. Although he wouldn't have admitted it, he was relieved. He was taking longer to recover from his wounds than he'd anticipated and, after the long flight from Chicago, he needed a rest.

"Daddy?"

Jason looked around, then smiled as his son peeked into the room.

"Hey, tiger. What's up?"

William Jared Scott ducked into the room and climbed up onto the bed next to his father. "Are you still hurting?"

"A little," Jason confessed. "How come you aren't playing outside?"

"Didn't want to," William replied firmly. "Can I stay in here with you? I'll be real quiet, I promise."

Jason couldn't resist the puppy eyes look that William gave him, and reluctantly conceded. "Okay, but if your mother catches you, I'm not bailing you out."

William smiled and snuggled down next to Jason in the bed.

"I love you, Dad."

Jason smiled faintly as he slid his arm protectively around his only child.

"I love you, too, William."

Trini came out of the study after finishing fixing up the family's finances, and found Donavon and Sarah Scott in the kitchen.

"Where's William?" she asked, looking around in concern.

Donavon couldn't resist a grin as he pointed through to the spare room. Trini made a sound of frustration.

"I told him he wasn't to bother Jason."

"Well, Jason hasn't sent him out," Sarah said, "so I wouldn't be too worried."

Trini hesitated, then went down the hall and opened the door a crack. Jason was fast asleep, as so was William, who was curled up next to his beloved dad. She paused, then smiled to herself and backed out of the room, deciding not to disturb them. She had enough difficulty getting William to take naps, so if that worked, then who was she to argue?

She went back into the kitchen, and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"I have to thank you both again for letting us stay here," she murmured gratefully. Donavon waved his hand dismissively.

"It's all right, Trini. We're pleased you asked to stay here."

"Well, after the third and fourth degrees that my father put Jason through, I didn't think he could handle it again."

Sarah smiled a little. "He still wants Jason to go into business with him?"

Trini nodded gloomily. "Yes. Jason doesn't want anything to do with it, and I don't blame him. I wish Daddy would leave Jason alone."

Trini had barely finished speaking when the doorbell rang. She raised her eyes skyward, and spoke pleadingly.

"Please, don't let that be him...."

"Hello?" called a familiar voice from the front porch, and Trini moaned loudly. As Donavon went to answer it, Sarah touched Trini's hand lightly.

"Don't worry, dear. We're in damage control, now. If you want to hide, we'll cover you."

Trini had to laugh. "No, it's okay. If I don't see them now, they'll only come back when Jason is probably up and around. At least now I can stop him from having a go at Jason face-to-face."

Donavon came back in, followed by Edward and Jade Kwan. Trini got up and embraced both her parents, then moved back, notably, to sit beside Sarah. Edward looked around the room determinedly.

"Where are they, then?"

"Jason's resting," Trini said firmly, "William's having a nap, and I don't want either of them disturbed."

Edward blinked in surprise at her short reply. Jade Kwan reached across to pat her daughter's hand.

"Now, Trini, your father just wants to have a little chat with Jason, that's all. You wouldn't begrudge him that?"

Trini frowned. "I certainly would, because I know what it's about. I don't want Daddy hassling Jason about working in the car yard, because Jason does not want to do that. And if Jason doesn't want it, then I certainly don't."

"You're hardly being reasonable, Trini," Edward argued. "I haven't even had the chance to talk to Jason yet"

"And you're not going to get the chance," Trini finished pointedly. "Mum, Dad, I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but why do you think we arranged to stay with Donavon and Sarah? Jason's still recovering, and he doesn't need the sort of stress that you'll both cause him."

A long, tense silence followed, until Sarah practically leapt to her feet, offering to make coffee. Finally, Edward spoke in an annoyed voice.

"I don't see what's so wrong with offering my son-in-law a chance at a better, more productive career!"

"Daddy," Trini growled, "Jason would have a more productive career as a garbage collector!"

"Trini!" Jade gasped in shock at the blatant insult. Trini glowered at her parents.

"I'm sick of you both putting Jason down. He's done a lot of good in the police force, and I'm not going to tell him he has to quit that just to make you two feel better. Now, I don't want to keep arguing, but I will as long as you insist on badgering us over this. And if you wont leave Jason alone, then I'll have to ask you not to come and see us at all."

Jade pursed her lips, trying not to be insulted. "Edward, I think we'd better go."

"No," Edward said quietly. "Trini's right."

Jade stared at her husband in shock. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Jade. Trini's right. Jason made it crystal clear the last time that he didn't want to change careers. It's time we stopped trying to bully him into it. Trini, we're sorry, all right?"

Trini glanced at the Scotts, then back to her parents. "Do you mean that, Dad?"

"Yes, honey. If Jason's happy where he is, and you're happy with that, then so are we."

Trini got up and hugged her father tightly. "Thankyou, Daddy."

Donavon and Sarah exchanged relieved looks.

"I think," Donavon said with a grin, "that this calls for...."

He was interrupted when William suddenly ran into the room, fear and confusion in his eyes. He went straight to his mother, clambering into her lap in panic.

"Honey?" Trini asked, looking down at her little boy in concern. "What's wrong?"

"It's Daddy," William said in fright. "I.... I think he's having a nightmare, or something...."

Trini set William down and hurried from the room, followed closely by Scotts.

Jason was twisting sharply in bed, moaning in both pain and fear. He was lathered with a thin layer of sweat, and his hands were curled into tight fists.

"What on earth?" Donavon muttered. Trini signaled them back, then went around and lay down on the bed beside her husband. Moving slowly, carefully, she placed her arms around Jason and drew him to her, holding him in a loving embrace. Gradually, as she murmured soothingly into his ear, he began to settle down, eventually falling back into a dreamless sleep.

She stayed with him like that for another minute or so before sliding off the bed, and silently slipping out of the room.

"That was a neat trick," Sarah commented as they went back into the kitchen. Trini smiled tiredly.

"It's something I was told by the wife of another cop. The best thing to do, when they have nightmares like that, is to just hold them. It works with Jason, at any rate."

"He has nightmares a lot?" Donavon asked in concern. Trini nodded as she gently picked up William and cradled him to her.

"A lot more often than he'll admit. He's seen some pretty awful things."

"Like what?" William asked eagerly. Trini hugged him tightly.

"Never you mind." She put him down again. "Now, go and play in the backyard, and let Daddy sleep."

William nodded and darted out of the room. A moment later, they heard the back door open, then swing shut as the six year-old went outside.

"He's just like his father," Sarah murmured with a wistful smile. Trini had to agree.

"Yes, he's stubborn as a goat."

Sarah hit Donavon lightly on the arm. "That's your side of the family."

Laughter rippled through the room, and then Edward spoke, genuine concern in his voice.

"Can I ask what happened this time around? Last time it was that serial rapist that tried to..."

"Edward, shut up," Jade snapped, knowing full well that neither Trini nor the Scotts cared to relive that incident. Trini sighed softly.

"It was the Chicago Angel of Death. Jason went after him with Sid. Bennett was waiting for them, though, and he managed to corner Jason."

"Did Jason tell you that?" Sarah asked.

"Some of it," Trini replied. "I got some of it from Sid in the hospital. Jason was lucky, that time."

She trailed off, clearly not wanting to talk about it. The Kwans and the Scotts all respected that, and backed off the topic.

"Chief Oliver called earlier," Donavon said. "He suggested that he might be coming by today or tomorrow."

Trini sighed audibly. "I hope he's not going to badger Jason about getting back to work."

"I don't think so," Donavon mused. "He asked me how you all were... Didn't ask anything about whether Jason was fit to work."

"That's a relief," Trini murmured. A moment of silence fell, and then Edward stood up.

"We'd better get going."

Trini nodded. "I'll tell Jason you were here."

Donavon showed the couple out, while Trini stayed in the kitchen with her mother-in-law.

"I think," Trini said with a sigh, "that my mother is adding truth to all the horror stories about mother-in-laws."

Sarah smiled a little. "That's nonsense, Trini. She's just protective of her only child, just as we've always been with Jason."

Trini stared into the cooling cup of coffee. "It must be so hard for you, hearing about all the times that Jason's been hurt."

"No harder than it is for you," Sarah told her with a sad smile. "We were thrilled to hear you were coming back."

"And then this happened," Trini whispered, tears filling her eyes as the delayed shock finally started to set in. "Oh god... He could have been killed!"

"But he wasn't," Donavon said firmly as he came back into the kitchen. "Don't focus on what might have happened, Trini. You'll never sleep again if you do."

Trini got unsteadily to her feet. "I think I might go and lie down with Jason for a while."

"You do that," Sarah said warmly. "We'll keep an eye on William."

"Thankyou," Trini mumbled, heading slowly from the room. Neither Sarah nor Donavon said a word to each other, but both were thinking exactly the same thing.

That evening
Sarah and Trini took William out to see a movie, leaving Jason at home with his father. With the women gone, Donavon went into the bedroom to have a heart-to-heart with his son.

"How are you feeling?"

Jason looked around as Donavon walked into the room, then offered him a crooked smile.

"Okay. I'm still a little tired, but I guess that'll pass when I get back on my feet."

Donavon didn't smile. He went over and sat down carefully on the edge of the bed.

"Maybe it's just me.... But you seem like you're doing your damned best to get yourself killed before you turn thirty. Why did you go into that building alone?"

Jason sank back into the pillows. He hated it when his father turned the psychiatry on him.

"I wasn't alone, Dad. Sid was with me."

"On the other side of the building. Unless there's a different set of rules for every PD, you should have waited for backup."

Jason looked away, trying to hide his irritation. "Save it, Dad. I already got this lecture from Lieutenant Harrison."

"Well, you're going to get it again. Look at me, Jason."

Jason growled frustration as he looked back to his father. "Look, Dad..."

"No, you just stop and listen. You know I've tried to stay detached from your career, and you know I wasn't thrilled when you decided to join the Police Academy in LA. I've tried to keep it to myself all these years..."

He trailed off, taking in Jason's confused and wounded look.

"What's wrong?"

Jason swallowed hard, something that was made difficult by the lump in his throat.

"You never said you didn't agree with me joining the police force."

Donavon frowned deeply. "I thought I made that clear."

"You never said anything," Jason argued, tears filling his eyes in light of the startling revelation. Donavon withheld a sigh.

"Well, I guess you know now. That's not the point. I'm trying to say that its time to start thinking about Trini and William. You can't put them through that sort of crap anymore, Jason."

"Why do you think I applied for the transfer?" Jason exploded. "I've always put them first, but I had a job to do! You can't say those sorts of things! You don't have any right!"

"Someday," Donavon said quietly as he stood up, "you'll have to make a choice between your family and your career. I hope you'll make the right choice."

He started for the door, but stopped when Jason called to him in a trembling voice.

"Dad?"

"What is it, Jason?"

"Weren't you ever proud....? Of anything I did? Not at all?"

Donavon stared at Jason for a long moment before turning and walking out of the room without saying another word.

Trini got ready for bed in the dark, not wanting to disturb Jason. It was as she went around to the window side of the bed that she realised he was awake. A moment later, she saw the tears trickling down his cheeks.

"Jason?" She sat down on the bed, and quickly caught up his hand in her own. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"Do you want me to quit the Force?"

He spoke so softly that for a moment, she wasn't sure he'd spoken at all. Finally, she shook her head.

"No, of course I don't! Why would you ask that?"

"I talked to Dad," Jason whispered, "while you and Mum and William were out. Trini, he never wanted me to go to the Police Academy in the first place! He never wanted me to be a cop."

"What?" Trini asked incredulously. "Jason, that can't be true."

Jason looked around at her as she reached out to gently brush away the tears with her delicate fingers.

"I asked him if he'd ever been proud of anything I'd done...."

"And?"

"He couldn't even answer," Jason said, finally breaking down. Trini slid down in the bed, and hugged Jason to her as tightly as she dared.

"It's all right, baby," she whispered, cradling him to her as he cried. "Don't worry about that, Jason. I'm proud of you, even if your father isn't. I'm very proud of you."

Jason didn't speak again, but continued to cry softly into his wife's shoulder.

Two weeks later
Jason marched up the steps of Angel Grove's Police Headquarters, back in uniform for the first time in five weeks. His convalescence had taken longer than he'd expected, but he'd gotten numerous reassurances from Police Chief Michael Oliver that there was no rush for him to get back to work. He stepped inside the main door, pausing to adjust his already immaculate uniform before heading across the tiled floor.

He and Trini had finally found a house, and had moved in as soon as possible. Ever since the exchange between Jason and his father, things had been tense in the Scott family home. Jason and Donavon had hardly spoken a word to each other, and Trini and Sarah had found themselves caught up in the middle. Moving into a house of their own had been a blessing, for all parties.

The sergeant on the duty desk looked up in vague surprise as the young man in a captain's uniform strode up. A moment passed, then he finally recognised him.

"Jason? Jason Scott...? I don't believe it!"

A grin broke out across Jason's face. "Hey, Jack. Still on the front desk after all these years?"

Jack Sikorsky grinned back. "What can I say? It's a nice, cushy job, and I never get shot at."

"Shot at?" Jason echoed incredulously. "In Angel Grove? Please..."

"Oh, so you've turned into a real hot-shot now have you?" Jack asked teasingly. "The big hero cop from Chicago who's seen more action than the rest of us put together? Give it a rest, Jason. You're still just a kid here."

Jason's grin widened. "Maybe... But I outrank you now, Jack. Better watch yourself."

Jack laughed and handed a security card to Jason. "Don't lose that. You won't get past this desk without it. And the Chief wants to see you as soon as you get in."

Jason plucked the card out of Jack's hand, and started towards the security door. "Thanks, Jack. I'll see you later."

Jack nodded. "For sure." He paused, the smile fading from his face as Jason disappeared through the door. "Good luck, kid. You're definitely gonna need it."

Jason had been expecting a bit of tension when he walked in. After all, he knew most of the officers through his father's psychiatric practise. Most had been through the wringer at some point after exceptionally hard cases. He knew they might not have reacted too well to his being of a higher rank than the rest of them.

What Jason was not prepared for was the outright hostility that the men all radiated. Few looked him in the eye as he passed their desks, and those who did favoured him with almost malicious glares. Swallowing back the sudden nervousness, Jason held his head high and strode through the maze of desks to Police Chief Michael Oliver's office. He knocked once on the door, waited for a reply, then quickly went in.

Michael Oliver looked up, and grinned when he saw the young man.

"Jason, come in, please. Sit down."

"Thankyou, sir," Jason murmured, sitting down in one of the empty chairs. Michael offered him a crooked smile.

"You certainly look a hell of a lot different in that uniform. You look..."

Jason had to smile. "Grown up?" he suggested lightly. Michael laughed.

"Yes, I guess so. I was so used to seeing you sparring with Tommy in the Youth Centre, that it's a bit difficult to think of you as an adult."

Jason glanced towards the door. "I don't think you're the only one, sir."

"You mean that lot out there?" Michael shook his head. "As far as they're concerned, its mostly just jealousy. Any one of them could have made captain if they'd really tried."

Jason shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "I don't know, sir..."

Michael plucked a paper clip off the desk and began to bend it. "Look at yourself, Jason. Just turned twenty-seven, and you're already a captain. You don't make a position like that on favouritism and luck. Especially not in Chicago. From what I've read in your files, it won't be long before you're ready to be promoted to lieutenant."

Jason grimaced. "If my old lieutenant had gotten his way, I would've been demoted about three ranks."

Michael looked thoughtfully at the young man. "Over that Angel of Death business? Yes, well, I have to agree that it was a pretty foolish thing to do, Jason. I hope you learned a lesson from that. Never go into a situation like that without backup."

"Don't worry, sir," Jason said ruefully. "I definitely learned my lesson there."

"I should hope so. Now, how are you feeling?"

"Fine, sir. Ready to work."

Michael grinned. "Obviously. C'mon, I'll take you to your office."

"How is Tommy?" Jason asked quietly as he followed Michael down a short corridor. "I haven't seen him yet."

"He's being kept busy with the dojo," Michael answered. He paused, then looked back at Jason. "He's been clean for nearly a year, now. I hope to God he'll stay clean."

Jason nodded slowly. "So do I, sir."

Michael sighed faintly as he showed Jason into an office. "It was hell for all of us. The media was on my back all the time... I hated myself for putting Tommy into de-tox, but it had to be done. For his own sake."

"Billy kept me and Trini up to date," Jason admitted softly. "I would've come back then if I thought it might have helped."

A tired smile crossed Michael's lips. "You always were the best friend Tommy ever had. I have to admit, that I nearly called you several times... But you were still trying to sort yourself out, then. I didn't want to turn a second life upside down. Everything's going just fine now, and hopefully it'll stay that way."

He made a sweeping motion with his hand. "Your office. I know it's not much, and probably less than what you're used to."

Jason resisted a smirk as he thought back to the rather dark little office space he had shared with Sid and a third office. "Actually, sir, it's a lot better. And bigger."

"Glad to hear it. The only drawback is, you have to share with Captain Ashley."

"Eric Ashley?" Jason asked, dumbfounded. Michael smiled, then.

"No, not Eric. He retired two years ago on a disability pension after taking a bullet in the back. David Ashley, Eric's son. I don't know that you've met David. He's about five years older than you."

"I haven't met him," Jason confirmed.

"Well, I'll warn you now. He tends to be a bit cold to start with. Just give him time, and he'll warm up."

Jason grimaced, then looked over to a fully-furnished desk. "That his?"

"Yes. The other one, obviously, is yours."

"And he doesn't mind sharing an office?"

"He wouldn't say even if he did. I guess you'll know by the end of the day. But on the other hand, he is always professional. So don't worry about it."

Jason chewed lightly on his lower lip. "Thanks. I think."

Michael clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Everything will be fine, Jason. I'm glad to have you on board. And don't think you're going to have a quiet time of it, either. Since we stopped needing the Power Rangers for the monsters, the old-fashioned type of crime has resurfaced with a vengeance. You're going to be plenty busy, don't think you won't."

Jason merely smiled and rolled his eyes.

Capt. David Ashley paused in the hallway, looking through the glass panel into his office. Three weeks ago, Chief Oliver had informed him he would be sharing an office with Jason Scott, and though he hadn't been happy about it, he hadn't protested. He was a police officer, after all, and that came above petty dislikes. And he did dislike Jason, despite never having actually met the younger man face-to-face.

David frowned slightly to himself. He didn't look all that different to the pictures of him that were plastered around the Youth Centre, along with those of Tommy Oliver, and a few other kids. Disgust flickered across David's face. That was another issue. He was just waiting for Tommy Oliver to be caught with more drugs. It was bound to happen; once a drug addict, always a drug addict. They were never really clean; it was just a matter of proving it.

Of course, he had no doubt that if it did happen, then Scott would be right there to defend his best buddy. And, on top of that, he would no doubt have the police chief to back him up If there was anything that made David angry, it was blatant favouritism.

Biting back his anger and complaints, David went around and walked into the office.

Oliver must have warned him, David thought absently. Scott made no attempt to ingratiate himself, but rather waited for him to make the first move. He did so reluctantly.

"I guess you're Jason," David said coolly. "I'm Captain Ashley."

Jason nodded. "Pleased to meet you."

He was merely being polite, and David knew it. He sat down at his own desk before speaking again.

"I'm supposed to be showing you the ropes for the next couple of weeks." David paused, then turned a hard stare on Jason. "Let's forget the pleasantries, okay? I think we both know you don't really belong here. We aren't going to be best friends, or anything like that. You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours. That's the way it works. Maybe you're a big hero back in Chicago, but that doesn't hold water here. And don't think a reputation will buy you the respect of the rest of the men here. You're still just a kid in their eyes, and you shouldn't be here. You want their respect, then you have to earn it. And it's going to be a long, hard road. Do you understand me, Scott?"

Jason regarded David grimly. "I understand you."

"Good. And don't forget it."

That evening
"So how was work?" Trini asked as Jason came in. He looked over at her, and she was startled to see the sheer exhaustion in his eyes. "Jason?"

"It was okay," he muttered. "It's just, I know most of the officers from Dad's practise, and I don't think any of them want to accept that I'm an adult. They think I'm still just a kid, and they're treating me like it. You know, Ted Buchanan actually had the gall to tell me to get him a cup of coffee this afternoon? I outrank him, for crying out loud!"

Trini guided Jason into an armchair and began to massage the tension out of his shoulders. "Don't tell me the great Jason Scott is too big and important to get a simple cup of coffee?"

Jason's expression crumbled. "Trini..."

She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him. "Give it time, honey. You knew it wouldn't be easy."

He sighed faintly. "I guess so."

"Are you hungry? I kept your dinner warm for you."

A grateful smile filtered onto Jason's face. "Thanks, Trini. You're the best."

She smiled serenely. "I know."

One month later
It was the first day Jason had had off since he'd started work again, and he was making the best of it that he could, taking his family out for picnic by the lake. They'd met Tommy and Kat, and Adam and Tanya, and the group had made a day of it, spending time together the likes of which they hadn't been able to do for years.

"William is such a beautiful little boy," Tanya said with a smile as the five year-old tore around nearby. Jason and Trini both smiled with pleasure.

"We know," Trini agreed. "We love him so much."

Kat smiled seductively at Tommy. "I hope you like kids, Tommy."

"Oh sure," Tommy joked. "When they're asleep."

Kat hit him on the arm, and they all laughed. Both Tommy and Kat, and Adam and Tanya were engaged, but Tommy and Kat had yet to set a wedding date.

Adam and Tanya were to be married in just over a month, and the air around them was rapidly filling with the excitement that a coming wedding brings.

"How long have you guys been married now, anyway?" Tanya asked.

"Six years in two weeks," Jason replied, causing the others to laugh.

"There's a guy who'll never be in the bad books for forgetting an anniversary," Tommy laughed.

Trini regarded the former Ranger with dry humour. "Unlike yourself, Mr Forgetful?"

Tommy reddened and Kat laughed.

"Don't worry, sweetie. I'll happily put reminders up for you."

Jason and Trini exchanged smiles at their friends' antics. They hadn't realised how badly they missed Angel Grove until they'd finally gotten back there.

Jason had left Angel Grove at the age of nineteen, almost immediately after high school graduation, to join the LA Police Academy. After spending the initial rookie period with the LAPD, he had transferred to Chicago. Not long after, he had met up with Trini again. She had been teaching Tae Kwon Do at a local high school, and within six months they'd gotten engaged and gotten married. They had both been twenty-one at the time, and just three months after Jason's twenty-second birthday, on the same day as his promotion to sergeant, William Jared Scott had been born.

It hadn't been a perfect run, though. Not by a long shot. When he was just three months old, William had developed jaundice and a severe kidney problem, and for nearly a month, Jason and Trini had lived with the terror that their baby boy would be taken from them. It wasn't until after William's first birthday that the problems were finally corrected, but the fear from that period of their lives had never fully left them. William had grown into a healthy toddler, but still that fear of losing him clung in the backs of their minds.

"So how are things with your dad?" Tommy asked Jason quietly. Jason shrugged a little.

"No worse..."

"No better, either," Trini interjected. "I keep telling Jason they should talk this over, but he won't listen to me."

"I just can't believe he never approved of anything I did!" Jason argued. "What did he want me to do, anyway? Get a nice, cushy desk job? He knew I needed to stay active."

"I guess your dad just assumed you were going to go into the dojo with us," Adam suggested. "After all, we were always talking about it. It was probably a shock to the system when you joined the academy."

"Yeah, Jase," Tommy agreed. "Just give him time, okay? He'll come round."

"Time?" Jason echoed incredulously. "He's had eight years to accept it! How much time does he need?"

Uncomfortable silence followed, and Tanya was about to speak when there was a blur of movement, and suddenly Jason found himself tackled by William on the blanket.

"Got you!" William shrieked excitedly. "I got you, Daddy!"

Jason laughed, his concerns gone as he cuddled his son. "Yeah, you got me good."

William threw his arms around Jason, hugging him as tightly as his little arms would allow.

"I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, too, Will. I love you a lot."

The others exchanged smiles. Patience was the key. Sooner or later, things would work themselves out. They only had to be patient and wait.

"You're married with a kid, aren't you, Scott?"

Jason looked up from his paperwork at the sound of David Ashley's voice.

"Yes. William's five."

"You called your kid William?" David retorted. "What did he do to deserve that?"

Jason fought back a grin. It had been a blatant attempt to rile him, and he knew it. "We were just going to call him Jared, but William is the name of one of my best friends. Besides, his friends are calling him Billy. Not Willie."

David shook his head wordlessly.

"Do you have any kids?"

Jason already knew David was married. He'd seen the wedding ring on the other man's finger.

"Two," David replied. He hesitated, then turned a frame around to show Jason. "This is Kate, and Jonathan. They're twins, but Kate was born several hours earlier, on the previous day."

Jason smiled a that. "They'd be happy to have different birthdays, I'll bet."

David smiled, despite his efforts to continue disliking Jason. "They are. It gives them a sense of individuality. Plus, they like getting presents that they don't have to share."

Jason laughed softly, but stopped as something occurred to him.

"David, could I ask you something?"

David regarded Jason warily. "What is it?"

"Did your father approve of you joining the Force?"

David nodded. "Yes. I think he always wanted me to follow him and join the police. It wasn't to please him, though. I wanted to be an officer for a long time." He hesitated, eyeing Jason curiously. "Why do you want to know?"

"No reason," Jason murmured. "Just curious."

The two fell into silence again, but David continued to watch Jason out of the corner of his eye, suspecting for the first time that perhaps Jason's life wasn't as picture-perfect as they all assumed.

"How's Jason coping?" Melanie Oliver asked her husband as they had dinner. Tommy, who still lived with his parents, glanced up curiously as he ate.

"He's doing fine," Michael replied. "Some of the officers are starting to warm up to him a little. It's taking some time, though."

"Jase never said he was having trouble," Tommy said, frowning. Michael smiled faintly.

"I guess he just doesn't want to burden his friends with his problems."

Tommy shook his head. "Man, to have trouble at work as well as with his dad..."

Michael frowned, then. "What do you mean, with his dad? What's the problem?"

Guilt flashed across Tommy's face. "I guess I shouldn't have said that. I don't suppose you'd forget I said it?"

"No. Explain, please."

Tommy sighed. "Jase had a fight with his dad just after he came back to Angel Grove. It turns out Mr Scott never wanted Jason to join the Police Force to begin with, and he was really upset that Jason went ahead and joined. According to what Trini told us, Mr Scott was never pleased with anything he did in the Force. It really hurt Jase a lot, and they've hardly spoken since they had that fight."

Michael sighed softly. "I should have seen that myself. Donavon counsels so many officers, he sees the sorts of emotional and mental problems that being in the Force can cause. It probably scared the hell out of him when Jason joined the Academy in LA. And especially with Jason's track record. That boy always seemed to land the most dangerous cases. But still I don't understand why Donavon wouldn't be proud of him. Jason's done a hell of a lot of good. He's put a lot of dangerous criminals in jail."

"I think Donavon is a lot prouder of Jason than he's willing to admit," Melanie murmured.

Michael frowned at the table. "We just have to find some way of making him admit it to Jason."

A few weeks later
Jason and David were working on night shift, patrolling the less classy areas of Angel Grove in an unmarked car. Both men insisted on making regular patrols despite their rank and, inevitably, had ended up doing them together. The last couple of months had soothed David's antagonism towards Jason, though, and he found himself starting to genuinely like the younger man. Jason was nothing like his preceding reputation had made him out to be; there was nothing gung-ho about him, and he relied very much on team work rather than trying to do everything himself.

"All quiet on the western front," Jason muttered, breaking David's train of thought. "Thank God."

David smiled. "Not up for any action tonight?"

"With any luck, no. It was parents' day at the kindergarten today. After two and a half hours of dodging five year-olds, I could do with a holiday."

"Ah, don't worry about it. They grow out of it In another five years."

Jason pulled a face. "Thanks. I needed that."

"What are you complaining about, anyway? I've seen your kid. He's an angel!"

"You haven't seen him after he has coke or red cordial."

"All kids are like that. My Jonathan goes hyper if he has too much sugar. Takes hours to settle him down."

Jason laughed softly as he looked out into the black night. "I still can't believe how little everything has changed."

"You're really glad to be back here, aren't you?" David asked, and Jason nodded.

"Yeah, I think I am. At first, I don't think I really wanted to leave Chicago, but now that I'm here.... I don't know. I guess in a way I wonder why I ever left."

"Oh, I can tell you that," David replied. Jason looked at him curiously.

"How's that?"

"Because there's no police academy in Angel Grove," came the blunt reply, and Jason had to laugh.

"That's pretty much it. I think I surprised my friends as well as my parents. They all thought I was going to start teaching karate full-time."

"What changed your mind?"

Jason hesitated, then. The real truth was that after finishing up as a Power Ranger, he couldn't simply have gone back to an ordinary sort of a life. True, the rush of morphing had been strong, but that wasn't it. It was the satisfaction of being there and having a hand in stopping villains and criminals cold.

"I like helping people," Jason said finally, "and the best way I knew how was to join the police."

David nodded approvingly. He had joined for much the same reason.

"I've come to a conclusion," David announced suddenly. "You aren't half as big an asshole as I expected."

Jason stared at David, half-surprised and half-disturbed. "Really?"

David grinned. "Really. I think we're going to make pretty good partners, Jason."

Jason smiled with relief and sank back into the seat. That was some- thing he badly needed to hear, particularly since he seemed to be in an unrecoverable situation with his father.

"Thanks, David."

"You're welcome."

As soon as the other men had seen that David had finally accepted Jason, they, too, gradually began to accept him. On the whole, after that turning point with David, Jason found his workplace situation much easier to cope with, and he began to enjoy working again.

Some days later
Jason and David had just come in from a foot patrol, both tired from the humid weather that had engulfed the town. Over the last few days, the two men had become good friends, much to Michael Oliver's private relief. They were just making their way through the maze of desks when they almost literally ran into Donavon Scott, who had been there to counsel a couple of officers. David, initially unaware of the tension between Jason and his father, spoke cheerfully to the older man.

"Hey, Mr Scott. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, David," Donavon replied, smiling warmly at the young man. "How are your kids?"

"Oh, still causing havoc as usual. Excuse me, if I don't get some water, I'm going to pass out."

He stepped past Donavon, glancing surreptitiously back over his shoulder as he got himself a glass of water. Donavon had turned to find himself face-to-face with Jason, and the smile on his face had fallen away with startling abruptness.

"Jason," he said tonelessly, acknowledging his son's presence. Jason swallowed hard, remembering Trini pleading with him to try and break through the wall that had somehow erected itself between him and his father.

"Dad... Uh, I was wondering Would you and Mum like to come around..."

"I'm sorry," Donavon said abruptly, in a tone that was unnecessarily sharp. "We don't have the time."

Jason felt his throat tighten, uncomfortably aware of the eyes that were suddenly on them.

"You didn't even let me finish...."

"I told you," Donavon snapped, "I don't have the time for you. You won't listen to me. Don't expect me to listen to you. Excuse me, Captain. I have better things to do."

He turned and stalked out of the room, leaving Jason standing there in shock and growing distress. Behind him, David spoke quietly.

"Jason? Are you all right?"

The tears filled Jason's eyes before he was even aware of it. A moment later, he turned and almost bolted from the room.

"Shit..." David glanced around as the murmurs of the other officers reached his ears.

"Can you believe that?"

"Turned on his own kid, for crying out loud..."

"David? Could I speak to you, please?"

It was Michael Oliver. David went reluctantly, preferring to have gone after Jason.

"Yes, sir?"

Michael ushered him in and shut the door.

"I didn't see or hear all of that. Please tell me that Donavon didn't just tell his own son to get lost."

"I wish I could, sir. I think Jason was just trying to invite him for dinner, or something like that. Dr Scott just told him he didn't have time for him. He called him 'captain'!"

"Yes, I heard that. I just found out recently that Donavon wasn't entirely happy with Jason joining the Police Force. I didn't realise just how acute it was, until now."

David shook his head. "I've never seen anyone treated so badly as Dr Scott just treated Jason. It... It was disgusting!"

"I know," Michael agreed. "Donavon's practically disowned Jason, and I have a strong feeling that Jason is hurting over it far more than he'd ever let on."

"Sir... If you don't mind I'd like to go and find Jason. Just to see that he's okay. He seemed pretty upset."

"Sure," Michael murmured. "And do me a favour, David. Let me know sometime today just how Jason is coping with this."

David nodded his compliance, then left the police chief's office.

Jason had fled to the precinct gym, and David arrived to find him laying into a punching bag with a ferocity that he could not remember ever seeing Jason display. He hesitated, then walked over slowly.

"How come you never said you had problems like that?"

Jason paused in beating up the punching bag. "Would you have cared?"

David sighed inwardly. "To start with? I guess not. We're supposed to support our brothers in the Force. We haven't exactly supported you in anything, have we?"

Jason ceased his attack on the punching bag and went over to sit on the edge of the boxing ring. "He never said anything when I joined up. Never said he didn't agree with it. Never said he didn't want me to be a cop."

David chewed lightly on his lower lip. "Would it have made any difference to you?"

"Probably not," Jason conceded. "I would have known, though. Maybe it wouldn't have gotten this far."

"I guess it must hurt pretty bad," David murmured, joining Jason on the edge of the ring. "I always had my father's approval That's why you asked me about that, isn't it?"

"Yes."

David looked sideways at Jason, starting to see him in an entirely different light. "You know, one of the reasons we all gave you such a hard time to start with was because we thought you were just one of those guys who'd had everything handed to him on a silver platter. We wanted to see how long you held on for before you buckled."

"I have not had everything handed to me," Jason growled. David nodded.

"We know now. But still, you have to admit, your life seems almost perfect. Joining the police at the age of nineteen early advancement, and one of the youngest men to reach the rank of captain. You have a beautiful wife, and an angel of a kid... A guy couldn't ask for more."

Jason stared up at the ceiling. "William developed a kidney infection at three months. We nearly lost him. Sometimes I still wake up in the middle of the night, thinking he never came through it. For a while it looked as though he was going to need a transplant. It was a miracle it was never needed. He had a good doctor... We're still thankful."

David whistled softly. "Not so picture perfect after all. Is he still sick?"

"No, thank God. The problems were fixed. He's growing up healthy now, but it was frightening for a while."

David got up slowly. "I am sorry I ever thought you had it easy. Look, stop worrying about your old man. It isn't worth it. Plus, I have the feeling that the chief is going to step into it. He's protective of all his officers. I think he's pretty pissed off that your father treated you like that."

"I just can't believe he was so cold" Jason said in distress. David clapped a hand onto his shoulder.

"C'mon, Jason. Let's go and take your mind off this. I'll let you do all the paperwork."

Jason looked up at David blankly, and then both men began to laugh, and they headed from the gym together.

Michael went to the Scott home after finishing work, to confront Donavon. He was met at the door by Sarah, and led into the family room where Donavon was working. The psychiatrist looked up, and smiled broadly at his friend.

"What can I do for you, Michael?"

Michael glanced grimly at Sarah, then back to Donavon again. "This isn't a social visit, Don. I need to say something here, and it won't be pleasant."

Donavon's smile faded. "You aren't arresting me for something, are you?"

"No. But it isn't that simple, either. Don, I don't know what the rift is that's developed between you and Jason, and ordinarily I wouldn't be concerned about it. But if you ever do to Jason again what you did to him today, I swear to God I'll bar you from entering the precinct. You had no right to treat him like that! No right at all!"

Donavon stood up, ready to meet Michael head on. "It's none of your damn business, Michael. Stay out of it!"

"It is my business when it affects the emotional well-being of one of my best officers! Damn it, Don, you're tearing that boy apart, and you're too damn blind to see it!"

"Wait a minute," Sarah protested, stepping between the two irate men. "Will someone explain to me just what is going on here?"

"Donavon ran into Jason today in the precinct," Michael said in a voice that was tight with anger. "Jason tried to talk to him, and Donavon gave him the cold shoulder. Told him he didn't have time for him, and even had the gall to call him 'captain'!"

Sarah looked around at Donavon, horrified. "How could you do that? How could you treat your own son like that?"

Donavon sat down with a heavy thud. "So now I'm the bad guy."

Michael side-stepped Sarah and leaned across the desk. "Just tell me why you're so hell-bent on making your son's life as miserable as possible!"

"This last time..." Donavon said finally in a strained voice. "The business with the Angel of Death.... It was too much. He's been in danger before, but he's never been so close to being killed! I am so damn scared for him, that it makes me physically sick, and keeps me awake at night. I just don't know how to tell him that!"

"You think that by distancing yourself from him that you'll lessen that fear?" Michael asked. "Don, it doesn't work that way! It only makes it a hell of a lot worse. You ought to know that. You're the psychiatrist, for crying out loud!"

A weak smile touched Donavon's lips. "I guess what they say is right. Doctors are the worst patients."

Michael shook his head. "I wasn't expecting you to analyse yourself, but I find it hard to believe you're happy to alienate Jason like this. I think it's time you two saw a counselor together. Talk it through."

Tears filled Donavon's eyes, and he stared bleakly at the desktop. "You think Jason would even want to be in the same room as me? After the way I treated him today?"

"You'd be surprised," Michael murmured. "Don, please...."

Donavon nodded, finally. "All right. I will."

Two weeks later
It was nearly four weeks since Trini, Jason and their son had returned to Angel Grove. Now, they stood outside St. Mary's Episcopal Church together with Donavon and Sarah Scott.

"Trini, will you stop fussing?" Jason asked for the third time. "William looks fine!"

Trini shot Jason a warning frown. "I just want him to look perfect. Is that too much to ask?"

Jason sighed and merely shook his head. He knew well enough when to quit. Tommy emerged from the church, striking in a pure black tuxedo.

"Where's William? Is he ready?"

"I doubt it," Jason muttered. Trini stood up straight.

"Do you want to sleep on the sofa tonight?"

Jason bit back a reply, and gently ushered William towards Tommy.

"He's ready."

Tommy grinned and crouched down to look the nervous child in the eye.

"You ready for your big moment, kiddo?"

Rather than being off the planet, William looked very much as though he was about to be sick.

"Do I have to?"

Tommy put on a mock expression of dismay. "Have to? Will, you've got the most important job! Don't worry, squirt, you'll be fine. You'll be right next to me the whole time, okay?"

The little boy was not appeased. "But I don't wanna get married..."

Stifled laughter swept through the group, and Trini quickly moved in to sort out the latest predicament.

"What do you mean, William? You aren't getting married, honey. It's Uncle Adam and Aunt Tanya...."

"But aren't I supposed to marry the flower girl?" William asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

It was all Trini could do not to laugh herself, and she hugged William to her.

"Oh, sweetie, who told you that?"

Jason joined Trini, and gently extricated his son from his wife.

"Listen up, tiger. You are not marrying anyone, so don't even think about it. Okay?"

William looked up at Jason hopefully. "Really?"

"I totally forbid it," Jason said firmly. "So get those ideas out of your head right now."

Relief flooded William's face, and the smile reappeared.

"Okay." He looked around. "I'm ready, Uncle Tommy."

Tommy grinned and took William's hand and led him into the church.

"Let's go then, squirt. You know, Beth is gonna be really disappointed that you aren't marrying her..."

Donavon walked over and clapped Jason lightly on the shoulder. "Nice recovery. But you may have trouble on your hands in fifteen years."

A rueful smile passed over Jason's face. "Well, Trini says he's just like me... Nah, he couldn't possibly be anymore trouble than I was."

"What do you mean 'was'?" Donavon retorted. Laughter swept across the group and they began to move into the church.

"Jason!"

Jason looked around and was surprised to see Michael Oliver hurrying over.

"Chief?"

Sparing Trini and apologetic smile, Michael spoke quietly to the young man. "Jason, I need to have a word with you. Now, if you wouldn't mind."

Jason nodded, then turned to Trini. "Go on in, honey. I'll join you in a minute."

"Okay," Trini conceded. "Don't take too long, though. Tanya will be here any minute."

Michael ushered Jason away from the church, and the milling people.

"I'm sorry to do this to you now But it can't wait. Jason, I'm afraid I have some bad news."

Confusion showed in Jason's eyes. "Have I done something wrong?"

"Hmm? Oh, no, of course not." He paused, then shook his head angrily. "Damn it, I hate doing this. Jason, I got a phone call just half an hour ago, from your old precinct in Chicago, from Lieutenant Harrison."

"About what?"

"It... About Sid Ellis. Jason, I'm afraid Sid is dead."

Jason froze on the spot, his face draining of colour. "Dead?"

"I'm sorry," Michael murmured, wondering suddenly whether it had been the right thing to tell him straight away. Jason never swayed. He stared straight ahead, speaking in a forcibly calm tone.

"How?"

"You don't want to hear this. Not now"

"It wasn't an accident, was it?"

Michael groaned silently. "Damn your intuition. No. It wasn't an accident. He was shot, point blank range in the back of the head. In his own home. His wife was out at the time, with their daughter. The little girl found the body when they came back."

Jason finally moved, and he sank down onto the stones that rimmed the garden, burying his face in his hands. Michael hesitated, then placed a hand lightly on Jason's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Jason."

"Do they know who's responsible?"

"Harrison said they had one possible suspect, but no evidence to prove it. Jason, I really am sorry. I should not have told you here. I just thought you'd want to know as soon as possible."

"He was my best friend," Jason whispered, struggling to hold back the tears. "Damn...."

"I'll give you as long as you need if you want to go to the funeral. But right now, I think we'd both better pull ourselves together. What do you say?"

Jason looked up, finally, and got slowly to his feet.

"Let's go."

"Is everything okay?" Trini asked softly as Jason joined her.

He tried to smile; couldn't pull it off. "No Not really. Ask me later, okay?"

Concern lit up Trini's eyes, but she consented and didn't press for answers.

The ceremony was a beautiful one. Adam and Tanya were a perfect pair. Tanya was radiant in a gown of soft yellow, while Adam was equally elegant, and stunningly handsome in a black tux that matched Tommy's and Rocky's.

William, over his nerves, acted with a flourish, presenting the rings to Adam at the right time on a cushion resplendent with lace. Completing his task, he soon found his parents and flashed them a triumphant grin that was eerily reminiscent of Jason himself. Then, he was ushered back by Tommy, and out of their sight.

The minister made the wedding pronouncement, and stepped back to allow the newlywed couple to kiss. Adam, true to form, managed only a quick peck on the lips in front of the multitudes of people. Close to the front, Jason smiled faintly in amusement.

"Typical. Still too shy to kiss her properly."

Trini hit Jason lightly on the shoulder. "Oh, leave him alone. I think it's sweet. He hasn't changed at all."

The church erupted with applause, then, and Jason and Trini joined in. Trini's gaze was drawn briefly from Adam and Tanya, to her husband. For just an instant, she saw the grief in his eyes, and fear stabbed at her deep inside. Then, it was gone and she forced her attention back to the newlyweds as they walked back down the aisle together.

As soon as the ritual photos were over with, she would find out what was bothering Jason. Soon, very soon....

"Tommy?"

Tommy looked around, and a grin lit up his face.

"Hey, Trini. William's just over there, with Rocky..."

Trini nodded. "That's okay. I have a favour to ask. I know you're busy but would you mind looking after William until the reception? I'm sorry to do that to you, but..." She trailed off, her face creased with concern.

Tommy's smile dropped like rock. "What's the matter?"

"I don't know," Trini said softly. "But look."

Tommy looked where she was indicating, and saw straight away. Jason was standing apart from the crowd, leaning against a tree, with one hand up to cover his eyes. Unease clutched at Tommy's chest. Although Jason had been away from Angel Grove for so long, some things just never changed. That was the same posture Jason had always taken when he was trying very hard not to cry.

"I'll take care of William," Tommy promised Trini. "You go and take care of Jason."

Trini smiled and threw her arms around him in a quick hug. "Thankyou. We'll see you in a few hours."

She left Tommy and hurried over to where Jason was leaning against the tree.

"Jason?"

He let his hand drop, and she started a little at the sight of his red-rimmed eyes. He had been crying

"C'mon, honey. Let's go."

"William..."

"Tommy's looking after him until the reception. Don't worry, he'll be fine. I think we need to talk. C'mon, baby."

Jason allowed himself to be led back to their car.

"Keys?" Trini asked, and Jason handed them over wordlessly. Once they were in the car, Trini spoke softly.

"What is it, Jason? Is it what Chief Oliver wanted to see you about?"

Jason shut his eyes, but it didn't stop the tears from working their way out of his eyes and down his cheeks.

"Oh god.... It isn't fair, Trini."

She glanced at him with deepening concern. "Talk to me, Jason. Tell me what's wrong!"

"Sid's dead," Jason whispered. Trini froze for just an instant, then quickly pulled over to the side of the road.

"How?"

"Ambushed in his home. Shot in the back of the head. Katie found him."

"Oh my god..."

The tears came in a flood, then, and Jason slumped down in the seat, his entire body wracked with sobs. Fighting back tears of her own, Trini guided the car back onto the road and drove the rest of the way home in silence.

Some time later
"This was a good idea," Melanie Oliver agreed as the Scotts joined them in the Olivers' home. Tommy had suggested that they join them when William had become distressed at being left behind by his mum and dad. It had settled him down significantly to be near his grandparents, and now Tommy had him upstairs playing video games.

Donavon frowned. "I don't know why Trini asked Tommy to look after William, though. I don't know why they didn't just take him with them."

"Tommy said that Jason seemed upset about something," Melanie said. "He doesn't know what was wrong, though."

Michael Oliver finally spoke up from where he sat at the table. "I might be able to shed some light on that."

When the adults turned to look at him, he went on quietly.

"When I asked to talk to Jason before the service, it was probably a mistake. I didn't judge it very well, I'm afraid. I should have just waited until Monday."

Donavon joined Michael at the table. "What is it, Mike?"

"Jason's partner in Chicago Sid Ellis He's dead. He was murdered in his own home. Shot in the back of the head."

"Oh dear God, no," Sarah whispered. Michael shook his head.

"The police over there don't even have anything to go on. The problem is, according to Jason's old lieutenant, Ellis wasn't just Jason's partner. They were best friends, almost like brothers."

"We know," Donavon murmured. "We visited them once, when William was born. It surprised me how close Sid and Jason were. Cops tend not to form such close friendships just in case something like this happens. Jason must be shattered."

"He was," Michael confirmed quietly. "I think he probably would have broken down on the spot, if not for knowing he had to be in the church for the wedding. I'd say Trini was anxious to get him away as soon as possible, to find out what was wrong. It would have been why she asked Tommy to look after William. She probably couldn't find you folks."

Sarah looked grimly at Donavon.

"Perhaps we'd better be prepared to take William with us tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if Jason and Trini don't make it to the reception."

"They'll be there," Donavon said quietly. "They've got a few hours leeway. Mike, what about funeral arrangements?"

"There'll be a police funeral for him in five days," Michael replied. "I'll give Jason official leave to attend it."

"Hell," Donavon muttered. "I think if we end up looking after William, it'll be then. Trini will want to go as well. She was fairly good friends with Sid's wife, if I remember rightly. What a mess...."

Michael drummed his fingers lightly on the table. "Don, maybe you'd better give Ian Bradley a call. Just to come in and have a chat with Jason on Monday."

"Sure," Don agreed. "I'll do that." He glanced up at the clock. "But right now, we have a wedding reception to worry about."

Rosalynn Chateau
"I want Mummy and Daddy!"

Tommy grimaced as he struggled to hold onto William's hand. The little boy was a handful and a half, and he would be only too happy to hand the child back over to Jason and Trini. He loved kids, of course, but when a child wanted his parents....

It was all Tommy could do not to shout across the room when he saw Jason finally enter the reception centre with Trini. Instead, he crouched down and spoke into William's ear, pointing in the direction of the little boy's mum and dad. The child took off before Tommy had a chance to draw breath, and was across the room seconds later, using his small height to his full advantage.

"Daddy!"

Jason barely had a chance to prepare himself before William launched himself forward. He caught him, swinging him around to avoid the full impact of the collision.

"Here's my little cannon," Jason laughed, lifting William up fully into his arms. Trini spared him a stern look.

"I hope you behaved yourself." She looked up as Tommy finally made it through the crowd of guests. "Was he good, Tommy?"

Tommy smiled wryly. "He behaved himself, but man... This kid has got bundles of energy. I don't know how you can keep up!"

Jason chuckled as he shifted William to his side. "It's not easy, that's for sure. So where're Adam and Tanya?"

"The lovebirds?" Tommy asked with a grin. "Over there, at the main table. I think the photo session wiped them out."

Jason smiled and shook his head. "C'mon, champ. Let's get you a drink."

"Red cordial!" William burst out, and Jason grimaced as he maneuvered his way through the people.

"Over my dead body. I want sleep tonight, my boy."

Tommy and Trini watched the two go, then Tommy turned back to Trini.

"So do you think you can tell me what all that was about earlier?"

Trini sighed softly, her smile fading. "Jason got some bad news from Chicago. His friend Sid..."

"Yeah," Tommy murmured, "Jase has talked a bit about him."

"Sid was killed, Tommy. He was ambushed in his home. Jason was pretty distraught."

Tommy's tanned face paled slightly. "Aw, hell.... Do they know who did it?"

"According to the information your dad got, they don't have any solid leads."

"You know, you didn't have to come back here," Tommy told her. "Adam and Tanya would have understood, and Jason's folks would have taken William."

"No," Trini disagreed. "I think it was best that we came back. Jason needed the distraction. He'll have to think about it enough when he gets back to work."

"Yeah, well, if I know my dad, he'll probably tell Jase to take a few days off."

A smile touched Trini's lips. "Then it'll just be a matter of seeing who's the more stubborn. Jason or your father."

The two stared at each other, then both spoke together. "Jason!"

Trini laughed softly. "Thanks, Tommy. I needed that."

He hugged her gently. "It's okay. I can tell you're pretty upset, too."

"Sid was a good friend," Trini whispered, tears filling her eyes before she could help it. "And poor little Katie That's Sid's little girl. Jason said she was the one who found him!"

Tommy sighed faintly. "Poor kid. That'll take some heavy-duty counseling to get over."

He trailed off as Jason came back, still carrying William. The little boy was, in turn, carrying a tall glass of lemonade. Knowing the truth, Tommy noticed for the first time the redness in Jason's eyes, and knew his friend had shed a lot of tears between the wedding and the reception.

"Jase, you want me to take William for you?" _Am I stupid or something?_ Tommy thought, even as he spoke. He could barely hide his relief when Jason smiled and shook his head.

"Thanks, Tommy, but it's okay. We'll take it from here."

Tommy nodded, speaking again before he stopped to think twice. "Well, just say if you want me to take him. I'll be happy to keep an eye on him."

Jason smirked as the crowd of guests started to be ushered to their respective tables.

"You are such a bad liar," he hissed at Tommy. Tommy grinned back.

"I'm not that bad. You just know me too well."

Adam and Tanya had planned it well. All who knew the secret of the Power Rangers were at the one table. There was Tommy, Jason, Trini, Zack and Billy from the original team. Rocky and Kat were both at the main table with Adam and Tanya, though both tables were in talking distance of each other. Also at the table was Kimberly, who had flown in from Florida with her own husband and child for the wedding.

Kim and Trini sat close together, comparing their children like proud mothers, while the men talked on the other side of the table.

"I can't believe it's been so long," Zack murmured. He looked to Jason, shaking his head in amazement. "Somehow, I never pictured you as having kids."

Jason looked wounded. "You don't think I would have made a good father?"

Zack laughed, hitting Jason lightly on the arm. "It's not that, man. Hell, I never really thought any of us would even get married. Hey, Derek, how long have you and Kimberly been married now?"

"Just over three years," Derek Peters replied with a wry smile. "I presume those of you who are unattached are still suffering throwbacks from your teen-hood?"

Jason chuckled. "Don't tell me, let me guess. You're a psychiatrist, aren't you?"

Derek was openly surprised. "Is it that obvious?"

"No, but my father is a psychiatrist. I grew up with those sorts of comments. It's recognizable after a while."

"We'll have to talk," Derek said with a wry smile. "Kim thinks I'm analyzing Crystal too much."

Suddenly, without warning, William was on Jason's knee. "Daddy, I've gotta go to the bathroom!"

Jason looked rueful. "What? You can't go by yourself?"

Trini spared Jason an apologetic look from the other side of the table.

"I'm sorry, honey. He can't manage the suit on his own, and he's too old to take into the ladies' room."

William pulled a face. "I'm not a girl."

Jason fought back a grin. "Okay, tiger. Let's go, then."

He got up, hoisted the child up into the crook of his arm, then began to weave his way through the tables to the bathrooms.

Kim smiled as she nursed her own little girl. "Trini, you are so lucky. William is a gorgeous little boy."

Trini returned the smile as she watched the sleepy one year-old in Kim's arms. "You're pretty lucky yourself. Imagine, here we are... Both of us twenty-six, with a husband and child. Somehow I never imagined myself like this."

Kim nodded in agreement, speaking softly so that Derek didn't overhear her. "In a way, I thought we were going to be Rangers forever. But here we are with normal lives...."

"As normal as possible," Trini remarked. "I'll always be thankful that Jason transferred back here to Angel Grove. I was so frightened for him in Chicago."

"I always knew you two were perfect for each other," Kim said with a small giggle. "I wondered how long it would take you to get together. I mean, Jason could be almost as shy as Adam when it came to girls."

Trini smiled dreamily. "I think the first time we really connected was at the Peace Conference. You remember, I wrote to you and told you about what happened?"

"That one of the delegates was killed in an avalanche?"

"Yes," Trini murmured, becoming serious as she recalled the incident. "Ho Lee, one of the Chinese delegates. I'd become good friends with him. It was such a horrible shock when they announced his death, that I went back to my room and just cried. I don't know when it was that Jason showed up. One minute I'm feeling totally alone, and the next... There's Jason, on the floor beside me. He never did anything, never tried to take advantage of the situation. He just held me for ages. God, I loved him so much for that. A couple of other guys had tried to 'comfort' me. You know? Jason was the one who scared them off. He really looked after me in those days after Ho was killed."

Kim sighed. "Then you met up with him three years later in Chicago, fell in love and got married. That is so romantic."

"More like traditional," Trini retorted, "right down to the parents of the bride who didn't want their only daughter marrying an ordinary policeman. Can you believe my father actually tried to set me up with the son of a senator when he found out I was seeing Jason? It was awful. Luckily, Jason and I both had the tenacity to stand up to Mum and Dad. I threatened Dad with asking Jason's father to give me away at the wedding if he didn't come. That was too much of a humiliation for him to bear."

Kim looked around as Jason and William emerged from the bathroom on the other side of the room.

"I'll be so glad when Crystal is properly toilet-trained. Derek will be, too. Then he won't have to take her into the men's room when she's out with him."

Trini raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You mean Derek is helping to toilet-train Crystal?"

"Sure. Didn't Jason?"

Trini smirked as Jason came back to the table with William in tow. "Oh, everything was going fine while William was still using the potty. But as soon as he got big enough to stand.... I have never seen Jason go as red as he did when he tried to explain all of that to William."

Jason groaned as he sat back down. "I turn my back for five minutes..."

"Uh, guys?" Zack asked pleadingly. "Can we change the topic? The food's coming."

Trini and Kim exchanged grins, and let the issue drop.