Revelations and Reckonings
by Naomi Tilley

Jason finally spoke, sounding painfully confused. "How could you be here?" he asked in a whisper. "You're in California, in... in...."

"Not anymore. Your grandmother and Chief Taylor saw to that. This is real, Jason. I'm here, and I'm not going to leave you again."

The tears came in a torrent, and Jason fell forward into Donavon's arms, clinging tightly to him and refusing to let go. Sarah hurried forward, then, unable to wait any longer. "Jason?"

Jason looked up, and more even tears came. "Mum...." he choked out.

She dropped down into a crouch, also putting her arms around the boy. "My baby.... No one's ever going to take you away from us again. Ever...."

~*~

Catherine smiled sadly. "I'm going to miss that boy."

Taylor looked surprised. "What makes you think they'll leave?"

"What makes you think they'll stay?" she retorted. "There's nothing in this town for Jason except a lot of bad memories. No, as soon as Jason heals up some more, they'll be gone."

Taylor watched her curiously. "What's to stop you from going with them?"

Catherine started to retort, but stopped. "Well now, that's not such an idiotic idea," she murmured.

Taylor smiled and, thoroughly satisfied with himself, he slipped silently out of the room, leaving the family to themselves.

~*~

Sarah smiled as she sat on the bed with Jason, cradling him gently in her arms with his head resting on her shoulder. "It's a dream that won't end this time. We promise."

Donavon nodded. "That's right."

Jason looked up at them anxiously. "Can you promise that? Can you really promise me that?"

"Yes," Donavon told him firmly. "We can promise it. Jason, the judge allowed us to take you back on one condition, that we legally adopt you. That's exactly what were doing. It should be final in a couple of weeks, and then no one will be able to take you away from us. Not for any reason."

"Adopt?" Jason echoed. "For real? You'll really be my mum and dad?"

"Yes, we will," Sarah murmured. "For always, Jason." Jason threw his arms around his mother, hugging her as tightly as he could.

~*~

"Excuse me, are you Dr MacNeil?"

MacNeil paused in the middle of shot. "That's what it says on the door. And you are...?"

"Donavon Scott. Jason Scott's father."

It was said firmly, with no uncertainty. MacNeil hesitated. "Scott?"

"Well, Matthews, actually," Donavon conceded. He paused, then added determinedly: "Not for long, though."

MacNeil understood, then. "So you're the one.... Come in, please." Donavon entered the office. "I wanted to find out about his condition. I know the basics, but no one will tell me any more than that."

MacNeil nodded. "He's got a long road ahead of him. His legs got crushed pretty badly. It's not hopeless, though. With a lot of luck and effort, in four or five months his legs will have healed enough to get him into a set of leg braces. It might be longer than that, we'll have to wait and see. After that, we'll work towards getting him to walk on his own, without the braces. It could happen, but like I said, it'll be a long road."

"I understand," Donavon murmured. "Tell me... What other injuries are there? His legs aren't the only thing, are they?"

MacNeil shook his head slowly. "No. Nothing as serious as his legs, though. A few broken ribs.... cracked collar bone.... Some internal bruising and bleeding.... That's not really my department, but it's been over a month now. Most of those other injuries have healed. All that's left to worry about are his legs."

"All right. So, when can we take him out of hospital?"

MacNeil stared blankly at him. "Take him out? Mr Scott, Jason won't be ready to leave hospital for at least another month or so! And then, he'll need to come back at least twice a week...."

Donavon rubbed the back of his neck. "What about a transfer? Is there any possibility of that?"

When MacNeil continued to stare at him, Donavon sighed and explained. "I haven't spoken to Jason about it yet, but I know he won't want to stay in Chicago. I'm guessing he'll want to go back to Angel Grove as soon as possible. Angel Grove has a good hospital, and I think Jason would be better off getting away from a place that holds nothing but bad memories for him."

MacNeil had to concede to that. Jason had slowly been losing ground over the past few weeks, despite his initial efforts. Perhaps Donavon Scott was right. "I'll look into it for you, all right? Maybe we can organize something."

Donavon sighed with relief. "Thank you."

~*~

"I'm right here," Donavon said, darting back into the room. He hurried over to the bed to hug the boy reassuringly. "I only went to see your doctor. It's okay."

Jason held on to him for nearly a minute before he was content to lie back down. "What did he say?"

"I doubt he told me anything more than you yourself know." Jason accepted that without question. Donavon hesitated, then spoke quietly. "Jason, we need to talk about something. About where we're going to live."

The teen lay still for a moment, then spoke nervously. "I want to go home."

"To Angel Grove?" Sarah asked tentatively, and Jason nodded.

"Yes. I don't want to stay in Chicago. Please, don't say we have to stay here...."

"Only until you're fit enough to be transferred to another hospital," Donavon reassured him. "I thought you might want to go back to Angel Grove, though. I've already checked on things. The house is waiting for us, we've been told the place was cleaned up after the police went through it. And I've got Dr MacNeil checking up on a transfer."

"We can go home, then?" Jason asked, and Donavon nodded.

"Yes."

Jason looked relieved, until a thought struck him. "What about Grandma?"

Donavon and Sarah glanced at each other. They had been hoping Jason would ask about her. "What about her, Jason?" Sarah asked.

"Is she staying here?" he asked. "I... I want her to come with us."

"Do you mean that?" Donavon asked, and Jason nodded.

"Yes. She... She looked after me. I don't want to be without her."

"That's good to hear," Donavon said with a smile, "because she is coming with us."

Jason's eyes widened. "Really?"

"Really. We've already discussed it. She'll be staying with us, in our house. The place is big enough, and we know she'd prefer to be close to you."

Tears trickled down Jasons cheeks. "Thanks, Dad."

"It's all right, son. We're happy that she's coming, as well. We know about everything that she did for you."

Jason wiped away the tears. "He... Matthews never let me have any lunch. I only ever got to have breakfast and dinner. If I was good. Whenever I stayed with Grandma, she never let me go hungry. She never got angry with me, and she never hit me. Not for any reason."

The adults exchanged glances. They had heard this from Catherine, and had both been angry to see how thin and frail Jason had become. Jason went on softly, more tears filling his eyes.

"And when she hugged me... at least with her I knew nothing else would happen."

Donavon's hands curled into fists. "Nothing else?" The teen shut his eyes, too ashamed to admit the rest. Sarah sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, squeezing his hand gently. She spared her husband a look that begged him not to push the issue. He reluctantly conceded.

"Jason," Donavon said quietly, "you don't have to be scared anymore. We're looking after you, now. No one will hurt you again. I promise. We won't let them. And you'll never have to see Matthews again."

Jason smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks, Dad."

~*~

"Is something wrong, Sam?" Donavon asked.

Taylor sighed. "Honestly? I suppose not. I guess it's just taking me a while to get used to it. Looks as though you won't be going back to Angel Grove alone. I was contacted last night by the Governor. I'm being transferred back to Angel Grove."

Donavon blinked, and then spoke in shock. "What? You mean, you're being demoted?"

"No. Same position. Chief of Police."

"But Angel Grove already has... Oh no...."

Taylor nodded. "I'm being sent in to replace Michael Oliver. He's been demoted to Captain. That's why I'm not going through the roof like Zack has been all morning. I'm glad to be going back to Angel Grove, but not when it's to replace a friend. I tried arguing for him, but it's the region's governor that ordered the demotion."

"It's over this business with Jason, isn't?" Sarah asked, and Taylor nodded.

"Yes. There was no backlash over you two, it was clear he had no choice with that. It was the fact that he just handed Jason over to Matthews without double-checking it. It might have slipped by if Jason hadn't been seriously hurt, but...."

Donavon sighed. "Damn. I feel sorry for Michael. He worked hard to get to the position of Police Chief."

"So do I. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do. I used up all the favours I had available getting you two out of jail and getting Jason back to you. All I can do is go back and make sure he and his family don't suffer any backlash."

Sarah looked past the men to see Zack talking excitedly to Jason in the hospital room. "Zack is happy enough."

Taylor smiled wryly. "The boy's been high as a kite all morning. He's thrilled that we're going back to Angel Grove."

"Oh, another one, eh?"

They all looked around to see Mr and Mrs Kwan and Trini approaching, along with Kimberly Hart and her father. Mr Kwan spoke quietly, with a faint smile. "Looks as though it'll be a regular convoy. We've decided to return to Angel Grove as well."

"So are we," Peter Hart said. "I'm not doing business as well here as I'd hoped, so I'm moving back to Angel Grove, and Kim here is coming with me."

Trini took Kim's hand. "C'mon, let's go and tell Jason." The two girls hurried into the room, leaving the adults to talk.

~*~

"You're going back to Angel Grove," Kim said with a grin.

Zack gaped at her. "How do you know that?"

"We heard your dad tell Mr and Mrs Scott. "But that's not all! We're going back, too! My dad's moving his business back to Angel Grove!"

"And my parents decided they preferred Angel Grove to Chicago," Trini gushed. "So we're moving back as well! We're all going!"

Jason smiled tiredly. "That's great. I would've missed you guys but I just couldn't stay here."

Trini went around and leaned over to hug him. "We know. But now everything's going to be okay. We're all together again."

"Not quite," Kim corrected softly. "Billy isn't here."

Jason sighed. "He's happy with Cestria on Aquitar. I wish he was back in Angel Grove, but I don't want to take that happiness away from him. He deserves to be happy."

Zack leaned against the bed. "Well, at least us four are together. We're gonna stick together now, and not let anything break us up again. No matter what."

They all nodded their silent agreement, determined this time to keep their group whole.

~*~

"No one," Taylor replied quietly. "Not as far as I know. There's another point of contention. Michael hasn't been told what happened to Jason. From what I've been informed, all he knows is that he's been demoted, and that's all. He hasn't been told anything else at all, or what the mistake was that he made. Hell, as far as I know, he doesn't even know you and Sarah have been released from jail."

Donavon rubbed the back of his neck, disconcerted. "This isn't right, Sam. If anything, he should at least have been told what that bastard did to Jason."

"I know. I'm going to see what I can do about it. He should know where he went wrong, if nothing else. Listen... Have you talked to Jason very much about Matthews' treatment of him?"

"A little. He doesn't like to talk about it."

"I can imagine. I'm sorry to push it, but I'm still Chief of Police here, and Matthews' trial is coming up quickly. We can uphold the physical abuse on the medical evidence and testimonies of the doctors that have treated Jason, but there're other things. I think you know what I mean."

Donavon sighed. "Unfortunately, I do. Damn it.... I'll talk to him, Sam, but I can't promise you anything."

"Understood. Thanks. I'd better get going."

"And I'd better get back to the room. I know it's bad news for Michael, but I have to admit that I'm glad you're coming back as well. I think we'll be needing the support."

"No one will hassle you folks," Taylor promised quietly. "I guarantee it. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay."

Donavon watched him go, then sighed again and headed back to his son's room.

The next morning....
Catherine arrived early the following morning, with a shoe box held tightly in her hands. Jason sat up quickly when she came in. "You got it?"

She nodded. "It was under your bed, just as you said. One shoe box, slightly worn?"

Jason took the box from her and opened it up to reveal a small pile of cards. Donavon looked down at them curiously. "Baseball cards?"

Jason nodded as he carefully lifted them out and began to sort through them. "Yeah. It's the only thing he let me have aside from my school books." He looked up at the Scotts, pain in his eyes. "He burned my karate gear."

"We'll get you another set," Sarah promised him. "That's no problem."

Jason turned his attention back to the cards. "There was one I found in a second-hand store about five months ago. I showed it to him, but I don't think he really knew what it was worth. He probably would have taken it off me, otherwise."

"What is it?" Donavon asked, his curiosity aroused. Jason found the card and held it up carefully to the light.

"This one. An original Babe Ruth rookie card, from when he was still pitching with the Red Sox. Check it out."

Donavon took the card in near trembling fingers. "Good god...." he stammered finally. "This card must be worth a fortune!"

He turned it over, and nearly choked. "Signed... It's been signed by Babe Ruth...."

Jason smiled faintly. "The guy who sold it to me didn't even know who Babe Ruth was. I think he felt sorry for me, getting so excited over one card."

Donavon stared hard at his son. "How much did you pay for this?"

"Fifty cents. I was lucky, that was all I had."

Donavon thrust the card back into Jason's hands. "Here, take it before I fall over."

Catherine shook her head. "Daniel couldn't possibly have known that card was worth anything. He would have definitely taken it. Look after that card, Jason."

Jason smiled as he slipped it back into the box. "I intend to."

Angel Grove....
Former Police Chief Michael Oliver sat at the desk in his study, trying to work out the reasoning behind his demotion. As near as he could recall, he'd never made any critical errors. At least, none that had cost any lives. So why...?

"Dad?"

Michael looked up, and managed a faint smile as Tommy walked into the room. "Finished your homework for tonight, son?"

"Yeah. Dad, you are gonna protest this, aren't you?" Tommy asked anxiously.

Michael shrugged. "Maybe. It'd be easier if I knew why, though. They still haven't told me what I did wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Tommy said vehemently. "Somebody else has screwed up, and they've probably put the blame on you. Protest it, Dad. You don't deserve a demotion...."

The phone rang, and Michael spared his son a reassuring smile, then answered the call. "Hello? Speaking. Sam? Hey!"

Who is it? Tommy mouthed the question to his father. Michael covered the mouthpiece and spoke in a quick whisper to his son. "Sam Taylor, Zack's father."

Curiosity filled Tommy's face, and he sank into a chair to wait while his father talked. Michael turned his attention back to the phone. "Sam, how's it going?"

"That depends, Mike," Taylor said on the other end of the phone. "You probably haven't been told yet, and I hate to be the one to tell you. but I'm the one who's being sent in to take your place."

Michael sat back slowly. "Really?"

"I'm afraid so. I tried to argue it out with the powers that be, but I'm afraid I didn't have enough influence. I'm sorry, Mike."

Michael sighed heavily. "Well, it isn't your fault. I just wish I knew what the reasons were. They haven't told me a damned thing."

"That's why I'm calling you now," Taylor replied grimly. "Mike, it's all to do with something that happened about six months ago. To do with a family that we both know."

For a long moment, Michael didn't know what he was talking about. Then, it hit. "Donavon and Sarah Scott?"

"That's right."

"That's ridiculous!" Michael choked out. "Everything was done by the book! There was nothing I could have done for either of them!"

"No, Michael. It isn't specifically over Donavon and Sarah. It's over Jason. You handed him back to Daniel Matthews without so much as an interview with the boy. That is the mistake you made."

Michael sat still, breathing slowly to keep himself calm. "I did the right thing, Sam. Jason belonged with his real father. I know it would have been hard for him...."

"You have no idea," Taylor said in a strained voice. "Mike, Matthews started physically abusing Jason the same night that he got him back."

"What?" Michael whispered hoarsely.

"Physical abuse, Mike. It's why Donavon and Sarah snatched Jason in the first place. Matthews was abusing Jason, but no one wanted to see it because of his position in the police force. It's happened again, Mike."

"Oh, Jesus...." Michael moaned. Tommy sat forward, anxiety creasing his features.

"What is it?" he asked tensely.

Michael ignored him. "Where is he now, Sam?"

"In hospital. I had Matthews arrested nearly three months ago, for attempted murder."

Michael felt sick to his stomach. "Oh god...."

"Jason has been in hospital for as long. Matthews ran him down with his car, crushed Jason's legs. He'll be lucky if he ever walks again without a cane. This is why you lost your position, Mike. Not because of Sarah and Donavon. Because you handed Jason back to Matthews without so much as a second glance. By the way, Sarah and Donavon are out of jail. The judge granted them custody of Jason on the condition that they legally adopt him. It will be official in two days. Then, when Jason is fit enough, he'll be transferred back to Angel Grove. He wants to go home, Mike. The Scotts are going back to Angel Grove."

Michael shut his eyes. "That.... That's great. Sam, could you do something for me?"

"What's that?"

"Tell him I'm sorry."

Tommy watched in growing concern. What, he wondered, was going on? A few more words were exchanged, then Michael hung up and stood up slowly. Tears filled his eyes and flowed down his cheeks before he even realised it. Tommy stood up quickly to meet him. "Dad? What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

"Go and do your homework," Michael mumbled dazedly as he walked past his son. Tommy looked confused.

"But I already did...."

Michael left the study, headed down the hall and, taking his coat off the rack, he disappeared through the front door, oblivious to his son's questions. Tommy watched him go from the doorway, then turned and wandered back into the house, confused and upset.

Chicago Hope....
Philip Watters was on his way back to his office when something brought him to a halt outside the room of the Matthews boy. He paused, glancing in. The teen was alone, sitting up in bed and studying what looked like a baseball card. His parents were probably in the cafeteria, Philip assumed. He remained still, wanting to get back to his office, but at the same time feeling an urge to go in to see the boy. Finally, he gave in to the urge and went into the room. "How are you feeling, Jason?"

Jason looked up, and shrugged a little. "Okay." Philip hesitated before speaking again. "I'm Philip Watters. I run this hospital...."

"I know," Jason said simply.

"Oh?"

"Dr MacNeil is always complaining about you."

The plainness with which Jason spoke caused Philip to laugh almost before he realised it. "Really? Well, I suppose that's fair enough...." He took a moment to look at the cards that were spread out over the blankets. "Do you collect baseball cards?"

"Sort of," Jason replied. "I don't have very many... Only what I could afford to buy."

Philip looked wistful. "My son used to collect baseball cards. He had quite a lot of them. Do you have a favourite?"

It was Jason's turn to hesitate, then he held out the prize card for Watters to see. The older man's jaw dropped as he realised the value of the card. "Is that an original?"

"Uh huh. I sort of got it by accident. Fifty cents in a junk shop."

Philip laughed again. "The things you can find...."

"Have you seen my mum and dad?" Jason finally asked nervously.

Philip watched the boy with sudden caution. "No, but I expect they won't be far away. Didn't they tell you where they were going?"

"Yeah," Jason confessed. "To the cafeteria.... But they aren't back yet."

"I'm sure you have nothing to worry about," Philip told him. "They'll be back soon."

Jason put the card down, and Philip saw tears in the boy's eyes. "This probably sounds stupid," Jason said softly, "but whenever they go out of the room, I start to feel scared that they won't come back. I don't like them going out of the room."

"I think I understand," Philip said. "They can't be with you every minute, though."

"I keep thinking this is just a dream," Jason admitted to Philip. "Sometime, I'm gonna wake up and they'll be gone, and he'll be back. That won't happen, will it?"

Philip felt a touch of pain in his soul that one boy could know so much fear. "No," he reassured Jason quietly. "That won't happen. Your parents are here to stay."

Jason lay back into the pillows tiredly. "I guess I'll believe that eventually."

Philip smiled a little. "You will." He paused, glancing around the room, which was bare except for a few flowers, the excessive amount of machines and metal. He couldn't blame Jason for feeling lonely.... "Would you like me to stay until your parents come back?"

Jason looked hopeful. "Is that okay?"

The smile broadened some. "Of course."

He pulled up a chair and sat down to wait with the boy.

Angel Grove
Not much changed in Angel Grove. Not much ever did. Little things happened, people came and went, but for the most part things stayed just the same as ever. Which made the demotion of Police Chief Michael Oliver all the more newsworthy.

Tommy sat in a dark corner of the Youth Centre, scowling into his soda. The moment he'd left the school boundaries that afternoon, he'd been set upon by no less than a dozen reporters, all wanting to know if he knew the reason for his father's demotion, how he felt about it, how his family was coping with it, and how he felt it would affect his social life. Stupid questions that Tommy had desperately wanted to respond to with a few quick karate moves.

He hadn't, of course, but oh, how he would have liked to....

"The reporters are all gone," Rocky said as he and the others rejoined the Red Ranger. "The world is safe again."

"Slime," Tommy snarled. "All of them! Why can't they leave us alone? Yesterday it was my mother, today it's me... Tomorrow they'll probably be after Alex and Scott. Why can't they just leave us the hell alone?"

"How's your dad taking it?" Kat asked, squeezing Tommy's hand in a reassuring gesture.

Tommy sighed softly. "He's okay, I guess. I just don't understand why he isn't trying to do something about it. He never did anything wrong in his life! It's got something to do with that phone call he got from Zack's dad. Something got mentioned about Mr and Mrs Scott, but that's all I got. Dad never told me what it was all about."

"He'll tell you if he thinks you should know," Adam said.

Tommy shook his head. "I just don't understand any of it. Not at all."

Chicago Hope, Physio Unit
"Nice and easy, there we go" MacNeil murmured as he eased Jason's right leg up, bending it carefully at the knee. Jason bit down on his lower lip, struggling not to respond to the pain. MacNeil glanced surreptitiously at him as he manipulated the mending leg.

"It's okay to cry, you know. No one's gonna think worse of you for it."

"Do you know what this is like?" Jason asked in a strained voice.

"Oh yeah," MacNeil muttered. "Hurts like hell. You've got more restraint than most of my patients. Usually they're screaming at me by now. Hell, they're at least telling me how much they hate me."

"Not your fault," Jason mumbled, a single tear working it's way out of his eye. "Just doing your job...."

MacNeil ceased his work. "Did I hear you right? Did you just say that I'm just doing my job?"

Jason hesitated, suddenly fearful he'd said something wrong. "Aren't you?"

"Of course I am!" MacNeil said. "But that has to be the first time in history that someone's seen it like that! Damn, that's gonna have to go in the book."

Jason had to smile, and MacNeil chuckled. "Finally got a smile out of you."

"Am I always going to need a cane?" Jason asked abruptly, the smile fading as fast as it had appeared.

MacNeil withheld a groan. "I don't know," he answered honestly. "Maybe... Maybe not. It depends on how your legs heal. But even if you do... At least you know you'll walk. That's more than a lot of people have."

"I'm not feeling sorry for myself, or anything," Jason told him. "Well... Maybe I am, a little But I just wanted to know. You think I will, don't you?"

"You're putting words in my mouth," MacNeil protested. "I can't tell the future, Jason. All I can say is that even if you do need a cane, then you can't let that stop you from living. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," Jason conceded. "But... Back in Angel Grove, I was one of the best martial artists there. I never had any problems with anyone because of it. What happens when I go back and I'm in a wheelchair or the leg braces? They're all gonna laugh."

"I doubt that," MacNeil said softly. "Not once they know what you've been through. Have faith in your friends."

Bitterness filled Jason's features. "Why?"

MacNeil was taken aback. "Because... Well...." He shook his head. "Okay. Forget that. Listen to me. Nobody will laugh. You might have to put up with some idiots staring at you, but the only ones who laugh are the ones who aren't worth worrying about. People who care will never laugh. You keep your head up, don't be the first one to look away, and you'll be fine."

Jason nodded wordlessly. MacNeil gently lifted Jason's left leg, aware of the pain written across the boy's face.

"If you can cope with this," he told Jason, "then you can face the people you used to know. That's all there is to it. Just don't hold grudges against anyone. For any reason. That'll only pull you back. Understand?"

"Yeah," Jason muttered. "I think so."

He understood, but he knew it would be a while before he could let go of his anger.

~*~

"It's been arranged," Donavon said that evening. "Jason, you'll be transferred to the rehabilitation wing of Angel Grove Memorial in two days. You'll go from here by air ambulance to Angel Grove airport, and there'll be an ambulance waiting there to take you to the hospital. Your mother will go with you in the ambulance, and I'll stay behind here to tie up all the loose ends."

Worry filled Jason's eyes. "Why do you have to stay?"

"Someone has to be present at the Family Court," Donavon told him with a smile. "Otherwise, the judge would revoke the adoption. It's only a technicality. I'll be there with your grandmother in a week."

Jason sighed. "Sorry. I just don't like being away from you."

"I will call every night," Donavon promised. "You don't have to worry. You'll be home soon. You're probably anxious to see your friends again.... I should call Michael, tell him to let Tommy know that you'll be back...."

He trailed off, seeing the change in Jason's expression. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to see them," Jason whispered, and he was unable to keep the hatred out of his voice. "I don't want to see them at all. Not Tommy... or Rocky or Kat, Tanya or Adam. I want them to stay away from me."

Donavon looked over at Sarah and Catherine in confusion. Catherine looked away silently, understanding Jason's reaction. Sarah moved closer, lightly grasping Jason's hand. "Why not? I thought they were your best friends?"

"My best friends are Zack, Kim, Trini and Billy," Jason told her. "They always have been. Tommy and the others..... They were substitutes."

"May we ask what happened?" Donavon wanted to know. Jason looked over to Catherine, who shrugged a little.

"It's your decision, honey."

"My decision," Jason whispered. His only loyalty would have been to Zordon but if Zordon had had any compassion at all, he would not have allowed the rangers to do what they did. What the ancient being's reasoning was, Jason couldn't fathom. All he knew was that Zordon didn't stop them from doing something that had nearly cost him his life.

"Screw it," he said to himself. "If you cared as much as you told us you did... You would have stopped them. And when it wasn't their business or responsibility anyway....."

"Jason?" Sarah asked softly. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"

Jason looked straight at his parents. "If I hadn't been hurt like this, I probably wouldn't be telling you this. But then, you guys probably wouldn't be here now, either. The reason I don't want to see Tommy or the others is because they're the ones responsible for you guys being arrested, and me ending up back with with him. They're the ones who took us back to Angel Grove."

"Jason, that was the Power Rangers," Donavon corrected him gently. Jason didn't flinch.

"I know."

Donavon and Sarah both froze. Finally, Donavon spoke in a strained voice. "Are you trying to say what I think you are?"

Jason didn't mince words. "Tommy is the Red Ranger. Rocky is the Blue Ranger. Adam is the Green Ranger. Tanya is the Yellow Ranger. Kat is the Pink Ranger. I was the Gold Ranger, until the true owner was able to retake the powers. My dear friends are the Power Rangers."

"Oh boy...." Donavon moaned. Sarah's grip tightened a little on Jason's hand.

"What do you mean, you were the Gold Ranger?"

"After I got back from the conference," Jason replied. "Tommy came and found me, and said they needed someone to hold the Gold Powers until the original owner pulled himself together to reclaim them. Billy couldn't take them on because of some accident that had happened earlier, so Tommy asked me."

"You mean, you knew before?" Donavon asked in disbelief. "You knew who the Power Rangers were?"

Jason sighed. "Dad, I was the first Red Ranger. You remember when Rita first showed up? It was me, Zack, Trini, Kim and Billy that were chosen to be rangers. You remember how I kept disappearing every time a monster showed up?"

"Oh, I don't believe this...." Sarah moaned. "How could we have not known?"

Jason shrugged. "Everyone in the town had mental blinkers on. You'd think someone would have connected the colours the rangers wore to the fact that we never changed the colours of our clothing."

"And when you, Zack and Trini went to Geneva?" Sarah asked.

"Rocky, Adam and Aisha took over from us," Jason replied. "Tommy started out as the Green Ranger. Rita picked on him as soon as he came to town, put him under a spell and set him against us. We broke it, and he stayed on until Zedd came into it and managed to work it so that Tommy couldn't use the coin anymore. Then Z...." He cut himself off just in time. "Then he became the White Ranger, and took over the team. It's pretty obvious when you know, I guess."

"It certainly is," Donavon muttered. "And they were supposed to be your friends...."

"That's what I thought," Jason said.

Sarah put her arms around him in a warm hug. "Now we understand, but you have to try not to stay angry at them, Jason. It will only end up hurting you."

"I know," Jason said tearfully, "but right now I can't! It's too much, on top of everything else. I'll deal with it when I have to okay?"

Donavon ruffled his son's hair affectionately. "All right. We won't worry about it now, but it won't wait forever, Jason. As long as you understand that."

"I do understand it," Jason murmured. "Right now I just need some space. And it's not so much forgiving them, and not being angry... It's the fact that they'll all probably overload with guilt. I just can't face them. Not right away. I wanted you both to know why."

"We understand," Donavon said. "We'll make sure you don't see them until you're ready."

Two days later
After nearly two months in hospital, Jason was understandably eager to be on his way to a less restrictive center, in the Rehabilitation Wing of Angel Groves hospital. He had been in there quite a few times, volunteering with Trini and Kim to help out with some of the kids that went through the center. He had never imagined he himself would end up there as a patient....

"Just about ready?"

Jason looked around to see MacNeil in the doorway, and he smiled faintly.

"I'm ready."

MacNeil walked over to the bedside. "You'll be walking in no time, Jason. I'm sure of it. Just remember what I told you."

"I will. Thanks, Dr MacNeil. For everything."

MacNeil clasped Jason's hand briefly, then reached into his pocket as the orderlies came into the room.

"Here..." He brought out a slightly worn baseball and handed it to Jason. "To go with that card of yours."

Jason turned the ball over in his hands, and gasped in shock. "Babe Ruth?"

"Take good care of it," MacNeil told him as he walked alongside the gurney. "And take good care of yourself."

They came to the end of the corridor, where Sarah was waiting. Jason clutched the ball tightly in his hands, tears just visible in his eyes.

"One day, I'm gonna come back here, and I'll walk into this hospital and thank you face-to-face."

MacNeil smiled and nodded, watching as Jason was taken out to the air ambulance with his mother, and spoke to himself with just a touch of sadness and resignation.

"I'll be here."

~*~

A short while later, they were on their way, and Jason's only complaint was that he could not see out of the window.

"My first time in a helicopter, and I can't see anything!" he grumbled, much to the amusement of the medics on board.

Sarah fought back a grin. "There's just no pleasing you, is there?"

Jason only grunted in reply and didn't speak again.

~*~

Jason awoke some hours later to a dimly lit room, and soft music playing from somewhere. His eyes opened slowly, and the first thing he focused on was a sky-blue ceiling. A moment later, a familiar face appeared above his own.

"Hello, sleepy."

Jason looked around dazedly. "Where are we?"

"Angel Grove Memorial," Sarah told him. "We're home, sweetheart."

He pushed himself up just a little, too tired to make a real effort. "When did we get here?"

"A few hours ago. You slept through it all. Lie down, honey. Don't exhaust yourself."

Jason swallowed hard. "I can't believe we're back in Angel Grove"

"It's been a long while, hasn't it?" Sarah conceded. "Don't worry, Jason. Everything's going to be all right."

"Did Dad call?"

"He called, but you were fast asleep," she answered gently. "He didn't want me to wake you up. He'll call in the morning."

Jason sighed and started to relax when something else struck him.

"Where's my baseball?" he asked anxiously. Sarah smiled reassuringly at him.

"Right beside you, on the cabinet. The nurse wanted to take it to put in a safe, but I wouldn't let her."

"Thanks," Jason murmured, relieved.

Sarah reached out to lightly stroke his forehead and cheek. "Try and get some more sleep, Jason. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

Jason stared past her, to the window, and the drawn shades. "Angel Grove's just out there.... Home.... Mum, I want to see."

"Honey, it's night time. You wouldn't see anything."

"Please," Jason begged. "It's important. Just for a minute?"

Sarah gave in easily, not caring to be strict with the boy. Walking over to the window, she drew back the curtains to reveal the black Angel Grove night. Jason felt an indescribable touch of relief as he caught glimpses of the city lights through the blackness. That was Angel Grove out there, not Chicago. He would never have to set foot in Chicago again, if he didn't want to.

"All right?" Sarah asked, and Jason nodded.

"Thank you."

Sarah pulled the curtains back across the window, then went back to Jason's side. "Now you can rest easy. Go to sleep, baby. You're home, and you're safe."

A smile found its way onto Jason's lips.

"Home," he whispered to himself. "I'm home...."

He fell asleep, still smiling.

~*~

Michael Oliver found Tommy sitting on the window in his room, staring bleakly out at the cold, dark night. He paused in the doorway, then went over.

"Tommy, you have school tomorrow, son. I think it's time you went to bed."

"How come?" Tommy asked softly. "How come you never fought it?"

Michael sighed inwardly, biting back fresh pain. "I'd like to explain it to you, but I can't. All I can say is that I made a bad mistake a while back and someone nearly got killed because of it. What is it, Tommy? Are kids giving you a hard time over it?"

"No... I just don't understand. You're a good cop, why are they doing this to you? Everyone makes a mistake some time."

"This was serious, Tommy. Look... You aren't going to understand, but I'll tell you this much. It's to do with the Scotts."

Tommy turned to face his father. "I thought so. I heard that phone call with Zack's dad, remember?"

"Son, they're coming back."

Tommy froze, confused. "What? How? They're in jail aren't they?"

"Not anymore. It went to the High Court in a case that was supported by.... by some people in powerful places. They were released, and they're coming back. And, Tommy.... They're bringing Jason with them."

Confusion was rife on Tommy's young face. "I don't understand...."

"I know. I can't tell you anymore, Tommy. I don't know much more myself, and what I do know isn't my business to tell anyone else. Now, I know you'll be anxious to tell your friends what I've just told you, but make sure it doesn't go past them, please. Not yet. Just keep it to yourselves." He started back towards the door. "Go to bed, Tommy. Please."

He left the room, leaving Tommy with a thousand unanswered questions.

The next day
"Jason's coming back."

The rangers all froze, gaping at Tommy in shock. Finally, Kat spoke in disbelief. "Excuse us? Tommy, where did you hear that?"

"From someone reliable," Tommy answered. "I know it's confusing..."

"Confusing?" Rocky echoed. "Tommy it's impossible! What, did his old man get a transfer, or something?"

"No.... He's coming back with the Scotts."

"Now we know you're having delusions," Tanya said. "Tommy, Mr and Mrs Scott are in jail. They aren't coming back."

"And even if they did get out of jail," Kat pointed out, "there's no way they'd be allowed anywhere near Jason."

Tommy shrugged helplessly. "It's just what I heard. I have to believe it."

Kat was about to argue further when Victor Caplan rounded the corridor and strode up to the teens. "Tommy, I've been looking for you. I thought you might like to know, Zack, Trini and Kimberly are coming back to Angel Grove. They'll be starting here again in a couple of weeks."

Tommy stood frozen, his heart skipping a beat. "Kimberly....? Kimberly's coming back?"

"Yes," Caplan replied. "I trust you kids will be happy to help them settle back in. After all, they are really just coming home...." He paused, looking as though he wanted to say something else, then stopped. "Excuse me," he mumbled, then turned and hurried around the corner.

"Tommy?" Kat asked tentatively, her heart sinking as she looked at his dumb-struck expression.

"Coming back..." he whispered to himself. "She's coming home...."

Completely forgetting the presence of his friends, he wandered off up the corridor, filled with memories of his first love.

~*~

Trini and Kimberly arrived at Zack's home in Chicago and had to dodge boxes and packers to go through to Zack's bedroom.

"This is just like my place," Kim said when they finally reached the safety of the bedroom. "There are boxes absolutely everywhere!"

"Same with us," Trini said wryly. "I'd forgotten how much of a hassle moving was. Zack, did you manage to find it?"

Zack nodded eagerly as he pulled a small cardboard box out from his nearly empty wardrobe. "Yeah, it's in here. I'm glad I kept it, now. Do you think you can get it to work?"

Trini shrugged as Zack handed her his old communicator. "I don't see why not. As long as Billy still has his communicator, I should be able to contact him.... Just pray I don't blow out the fuses with it."

Zack rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"I really hope this works," Kim said anxiously. "It'd be so good to hear Billy again."

"I bet Tommy and the others never told him what happened," Zack muttered, watching as Trini fiddled with the communicator, a deep frown on her face.

"Hell, they probably never told Billy what happened when Jason lost the Gold Ranger powers."

"What do you mean?" Kim asked in concern.

Zack sighed a little. "The deal with the Gold powers was that they weren't designed for humans. It ended up nearly killing Jason! He even collapsed in the Youth Centre, in front of Ernie and everybody! They only got the powers transferred back to Trey just in time. Now, Jason said Billy was upset that he couldn't take the powers, and that Tommy called Jason in to take them... I'll bet Tommy never bothered to let Billy know what had happened, and I bet it's the same now. Billy probably doesn't even know Jase was gone from Angel Grove."

"When did Jason tell you about that?" Trini asked, pausing to stare incredulously at the former Black Ranger.

"A couple of weeks before Daniels ran him down," Zack explained quietly. "When we were studying in the library. I asked him, and he told me what happened. Trini....?"

"I know, I'm working on it."

Silence fell as Trini worked to get the long-obsolete communicator working again.

Aquitar
"I never knew how beautiful it could be underwater," Billy said wistfully. "I was always too scared to take any notice...."

Cestria smiled as she hugged him close. "Now you can appreciate the full beauty without fear. I am so happy you decided to stay on Aquitar. I would have missed you greatly, otherwise. I know your friends must miss you, but...."

"They don't miss me," Billy grumbled. "I haven't even heard from Tommy or Adam in twelve months."

"I expect they have been busy," Cestria said gently. "Mondo is a difficult enemy to deal with."

"I suppose so," Billy conceded. "I just don't...."

"Cestria! Billy"

The two looked around as Cestro reached them, looking unusually anxious. "What is wrong?" Cestria asked.

Cestro spoke quickly. "We are receiving a transmission from Earth. Please, come. Billy, they are asking for you."

Billy exchanged glances with Cestria, and they hurried after the other ranger.

~*~

"Billy is here as you requested," Cestro announced when they arrived back. "Please continue."

"Billy?"

The voice was partially interrupted by static, but Billy had no trouble recognising the voice.

"Trini? Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me!" came the joyous reply. "It's so good to hear your voice again!"

"It's good to hear you, too," Billy stammered. "But how why?"

"I'm using Zack's old communicator," Trini explained. "He's here too, and so is Kimberly."

"Hi, Billy," Kim's voice said, followed closely by Zack's cheerful voice.

"Yo, Billy! What's up, man?"

Billy had to grin at the sound of their voices. How he had missed those three.... "It's good to hear from all of you," Billy told them quietly. "I've missed you guys."

"We miss you, too," Trini said. "When Jason told us where you were, we had to try and get in touch with you."

"Jason?" Billy echoed in surprise. "Is Jason there, too?"

"No," Trini said, and her voice grew even quieter. "Billy, Jason is back in Angel Grove. We're in Chicago. We called you because something's happened."

"What?" Billy asked, feeling his stomach muscles tighten with sudden tension. There was a low murmur as the three friends discussed something, and then Zack's voice came over speakers.

"It's me, Billy. Listen, we're gonna tell you something, and Jase would kill us if he knew we were telling you, but we figure you should know. 'Specially since we figured Tommy wouldn't bother letting you know.... You haven't talked to Tommy lately, have you?"

"Not for twelve months," Billy replied. "What is it, Zack? What's going on?"

Zack went on to quietly tell the whole story to Billy, from beginning to end, finishing with Jason returning to Angel Grove by air ambulance, and the rest of them gearing up to move back to Angel Grove as well.

In the control room in the Aquitian base, deathly silence reigned. Finally, Billy spoke in a voice that was strained with tension.

"Nobody told me anything. Not a thing."

"We figured that," Zack said. "We're sorry, we would have gotten in touch with you earlier, but we've been busy trying to look after Jase. And then, with him being in hospital... It's just been a big mess."

Billy glanced over at Cestria, then spoke tentatively. "Do you want me to come back?"

"That's your call, bro," Zack said. "We're not asking you to drop everything and come home. We just thought you'd appreciate knowing. That's all."

"Yes," Billy mumbled. "Thank you."

"Listen, Billy," Kim said quickly, "Jason didn't want you to know, because he didn't want you feeling like you had to come rushing home. He'll be okay, Billy. He was hurt pretty bad, but he'll be all right eventually."

Billy felt sick. And angry. Very angry. "Can you keep that communicator operational, Trini?"

"Yes, I think so. It's just the power source...."

"Four nine volt batteries should be enough to keep it functional," Billy said abruptly. "Keep it operational. I'll be in touch. And thank you."

He stepped back as Cestro ended the link with a few words to the Earth teens. Cestria watched him with tears just visible in her eyes. "You are going back to Earth."

Billy's jaw was tight. "I don't know," he said softly. "I want to... But I won't go yet. I can't believe Tommy never told me what had happened!"

"Perhaps they wanted to avoid conflict," Cestro suggested. "Such a situation would be.... touchy."

"That's an understatement if ever I heard one," Billy snapped. Cestro flinched, and Billy sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Cestro. You're right. I'm just upset. Jason is one of my best friends. I've known him the longest of any of them."

"We understand," Cestro said. "We would feel the same if it were a friend of ours. If you decide to return to Earth, just say. We will set up a connection for you to teleport to Earth."

Billy nodded. "Thank you," he murmured, turning and walking slowly out of the room, leaving Cestria and Cestro to watch after him in silent concern.

~*~

So happy was Jason to be back in Angel Grove that for the first day, not even the pain of the physiotherapy dampened his spirits. Finally, the physio made a joke about failing miserably at his job and consented to Jason being taken outside as a reward for his efforts. The day was cool but clear, and from the hospital grounds Jason could see clearly across to Angel Grove Park, and beyond that to the city itself.

"I can almost see the Youth Centre," he said excitedly. Sarah smiled wryly.

"Don't even think about it. You're restricted to the hospital grounds."

Jason laughed and slumped back in the wheelchair. "I wasn't going to ask. I'm just really glad to be home again. Even if it is hospital. I didn't think I'd get to see Angel Grove again."

Sarah leaned over, wrapping her arms protectively around him. "Neither did I. But we're here, and we wont have to leave again."

Jason smiled, enjoying the close embrace. "I love you, Mum."

"I love you, too, Jason. Very much."

"You won't go away again, will you?" he asked hesitantly.

Sarah hugged him even more tightly. "No. We won't, I promise. And when your father and grandmother get here, then we really will be a family. All four of us. You, your father, me and your grandmother."

Jason glanced down at his legs, and at the metal pins that were holding the bones in place. "I'm gonna walk again, Mum. I'll walk without a cane. I'm gonna keep trying until I do it."

"I believe you," Sarah said. "I believe you can. You keep talking like that, and you can do anything you want."

Determination filled Jason's face. "I will walk again normally. Some day.... Mum, when do I go back to school?"

"I don't know," Sarah confessed. "We'll have to wait and see how you go here."

"I want to go back," Jason said softly. "I don't want to hide away from everyone."

"You won't be," Sarah reassured him. "We'll get you back to school as soon as possible. Just try and be patient, sweetheart. You know this will take a while. I think that right now, we should just aim at getting you home."

Jason sighed softly as he looked around him slowly. "I am home."

She smiled reassuringly at him. "To the hospital. I signed up a few weeks ago to help out there, remember? I got a call last night from Matt, in the rehab wing. He asked if I could come in today to help out. He said someone was transferred there last night, with really bad leg injuries, and he thought I might be able to help out during the physio sessions."

Tommy sighed audibly. "Kim, Trini and Jase used to do that. Go and help out at the hospital...."

Kat spared Tommy a helpless look, then smiled at Tanya. "That's a good thing to do. Let us know how you go with it, and maybe well come along next time and help out as well."

Rocky frowned. "No thanks. Good intentions, bad place."

Tanya merely rolled her eyes, bade her friends goodbye, and hurried out of the Youth Centre.

~*~

Matt smiled sympathetically at him. "I know it hurts, Jason, but you know the answer to that question already. You do the work, you'll walk again. If you don't, you won't. It's as simple as that, kid."

Jason made no further protests as he was lifted carefully into the wheelchair by the orderlies, but Matt took pity on him, and spoke quietly to him as they headed out of the room.

"I'll tell you this now. I made a phone call last night, and there's a volunteer coming in to help out during the physio. She's about your age, I think."

Jason looked up, suddenly curious. "She?"

"Yeah. In fact, you probably know her. After all, she lived here before you left. Tanya Sloan, her name is."

Jason froze, his heart freezing for a bare second. "Tanya? Tanya's coming here?"

Matt felt a touch of concern. "Is there something wrong?"

Jason shut his eyes for a moment, everyone's words flooding back to him. Don't hold grudges.... Let go of the anger. He swallowed hard. Before leaving Chicago, his grandmother had told him on the quiet to try dealing with the rangers one by one, forgiving them one by one. He supposed now was as good a time as any...

"No," he said softly. "Nothing's wrong." _Yet._

~*~

Tanya looked suitably concerned. "What are the injuries? You didn't say much last night."

"Two broken legs," Matt explained. "Actually, they were pretty well crushed, but the doctors in Chicago did a good job in the reconstruction."

"Can I go in?"

"Sure. I told him you were coming along. Seemed to brighten him up a bit."

Tanya smiled and left Matt in the store room to go to the gym.

~*~

~*~

She stopped, just a few feet inside the door, her face draining of blood. Panic flooded her, and for a long moment she considered bolting. But, no. Her inner courage took over, and she ventured further into the gym, towards the familiar figure who waited in the wheelchair. "Jason...?"

Jason watched her in tense silence, not trusting himself to speak. Tanya paused halfway across the floor. Tommy's words came back to her. Jason's coming back....

Tanya came to a complete halt, at a loss for what to do or say. She was confused... and suddenly frightened. Her gaze swept over the former Gold Ranger, and she fought back a shudder at the sight of the metal pins in both his legs. _How could this possibly be?_ she wondered. A thousand questions raced through her mind, but she could not find the courage to ask any of them. Then, finally, Jason spoke, his voice cutting sharply into the tense silence.

"Not a pretty sight, is it?"

Tanya felt sick. "No..." she whispered. "Jason how?"

A thoughtful look crossed the boy's face. "You remember the man that you guys were so anxious to reunite me with? My real father? He ran me down with his car."

Tanya turned ashen at Jason's blunt reply. "Oh my god...."

"That's one way of putting it," Jason conceded.

Tanya finally gathered her courage and covered the rest of the distance to the former ranger. "I... I don't know what to say," she stammered.

Jason sneered at her; he hated himself for it, but he just could not stop himself. "Well, now, isn't that a surprise. You were all acting so damn self-righteous... I didn't realise how anxious you were to get rid of me until then. Wonderful friends you all were. Couldn't find words to thank you."

Tears filled Tanya's eyes. "Why are you being so nasty? How could we know this would happen? It was an accident... wasn't it?"

Jason stared hard at her. "No. It wasn't."

"What?"

Jason sat back slowly in the wheelchair. "He ran me down deliberately, because he saw me kissing a girl. He ran the car over me three times, Tanya. Three times! Once might have been accidental, but not three times. I'm lucky I wasn't crippled for life."

"Why would he do that?" Tanya asked, struggling to suppress the sobs. "He was so happy to get you back!"

"He wanted me back because it pissed him off that someone got away with taking what belonged to him," Jason snapped at her. "I was just a piece of property to him, Tanya. That's all. He didn't give a damn about me! And you want to know what else? How about this?"

Not pausing to think it out, Jason lifted his shirt to reveal multiple scars across his chest and stomach. Tanya gasped in shock, distress flooding her face. Jason let his shirt drop.

"He beat me, Tanya. Twice a week, at the very least. Only way he knew to keep me in line. He hated me, Tanya, and I hated him, and I hope I never see him again!"

He was shouting, but Tanya stood her ground, not allowing herself to cringe back, away from him. When he finally finished his ranting, she still stood there, no longer bothering to wipe away the tears. "I'm sorry."

Jason stared at her breathlessly before looking away and speaking bitterly. "Somehow I knew you were going to say that."

"What else am I supposed to say?" Tanya exploded, startling the wheelchair-bound boy. "Maybe we made a mistake, but we didn't know this would happen! It isn't like we wanted it to happen! What do you expect me to say or do?"

Jason let his breath out slowly. She was right, of course, and he knew it. He was being unrealistic, expecting something of her that he himself couldn't even define. Tanya started back towards the door of the gym. "You obviously don't want me here. I'll go."

"Wait!"

Tanya stopped, hesitated, then looked back at Jason. "Yes?" she asked coolly.

"Don't go...." Jason asked, his voice suddenly trembling. Tanya felt her own anger melt. Less than a minute ago, Jason had been harsh and cold, very much unlike the warm, friendly boy she had known seven months ago. Now, she saw through the harsh, survivalist exterior, and saw the fear that was there. Jason was scared, more so than she had ever seen before, in any of her friends.

She paused a moment longer, then went slowly back to him. "Do you want me to stay?"

Jason's eyes brimmed with tears and he spoke in a suddenly subdued voice. "Please... I can't do the physio by myself. I'm sorry... It's just that it's built up for so long, I can't cope with it. I'm sorry that I'm taking it out on you...."

Tanya crouched down in front of him. "I can understand why you're angry. I would be too, in your position. I just don't know what it is that you're expecting of me."

"Could you stay?" he begged her. "Please, and maybe we can work it from there."

Tanya hesitated, then took a chance and reached out to gently grasp his hand in her own. He looked so miserable and frightened all of a sudden, her heart went out to him in a way that it had never done before, despite Jason's earlier outburst. "All right. I'll stay."

~*~

"Tanya," Matt said, gently drawing her aside, "I have another patient now. Do you think you could go back to the room with him?"

She nodded tiredly. "Sure."

Leaving Matt to tidy things up, she joined Jason as the orderlies took him back to his room. He wasn't speaking, not to her, not to the orderlies and not to anyone who greeted him in the corridors. Tanya took advantage of the silence, and took the chance to observe him in silence.

He was unusually pale, she noted, but was that from the physio, or from something else? He was also painfully thin. She remembered Jason as being a lot more... solid than he was now. Now, he was gaunt, and his ribs could be seen through his flesh. It was disturbing that someone as physically and mentally strong as Jason could be reduced to this.

She had never really gotten to know Jason all that well, she reflected. None of them had, bar Tommy and Billy. Those two had known him from, and before, in Billy's case, the days of the original ranger team. Jason had been almost like a mysterious enigma to the rest of them, coming into the fray when they needed him most.

She remembered back to when he had first rejoined the team as the Gold Ranger, watching him spar with Adam in the Youth Centre. Both she and Kat had been awed by Jason's martial arts skills. Though they had both heard the stories from Tommy and Billy, it had meant little until they saw Jason in action for the first time.

Jason had not been anyone to mess with. That was the one thing that Billy had often repeated. But now.... She watched as the orderlies lifted a now frail boy back into his bed and carefully elevated his mending legs in slings above the bed. Only when they left did she dare speak.

"You don't seem to like hearing this but I really am sorry, Jason. For everything."

Jason sighed softly. "I'm not angry at you." He paused, taking in her sceptical expression, then sighed once more. "Okay, so I am. I just don't understand why you guys couldn't stay out of it! Why did you have to come after us?"

"Do you really think that would have made a difference?" Tanya asked softly.

Jason shrugged. "I don't know... But I'll always wonder. I was just starting to remember the way Matthews used to treat me when you guys showed up. If you'd held off for just a little while longer, or even given us the chance to explain our side of it, then maybe things would have turned out differently. I know Mum and Dad might still have ended up going to jail, but I might not be in this hospital bed right now, with pins in both my legs."

Tanya glanced nervously at the pins again before speaking. "Matt said you'd walk again."

"Yeah, I know. That's what everyone keeps telling me. It'll take a while, though. Eventually I'll be in leg braces, and then hopefully graduate from them to just a cane. Maybe one day I'll even walk without a cane. Right now, I'm just aiming to get back on my feet."

"That's good to hear," she murmured. "Oh... How am I going to tell the others?"

"You aren't," Jason growled.

Tanya stared at him, open-mouthed. "What do you mean? They have to know!"

Jason pushed himself up a little. "I don't want them to know, because I don't want to see any of them just yet. I couldn't handle that."

"But why?" Tanya wanted to know. "Wouldn't it be best to just tell them and get it over with? To let them come here, and...."

"Give me a chance to heal up, Tanya," Jason interrupted softly. "If I see them before I'm ready, who knows what'll happen? It... It just isn't as easy as you want it to be."

She lowered her gaze. "I know. I'm sorry. Listen, I'd better go..."

Anxiety flooded Jason's face. "No, please stay?"

"Jason..." Tanya protested. "I should have been home by now!"

"Please," Jason begged her. "Mum won't be coming in for another half hour. I don't like being alone. Please don't go...."

She felt something close around her hand, and looked down to see Jason's hand covering her own, slowly tightening his grip. _He's really scared_ she thought in vague shock. She placed her other hand over Jason's.

"Okay, Jason. I'll stay here with you. Just till your mother comes back."

Jason sighed, audibly relieved. "Thank you."

~*~

Over time, they had all convinced themselves that it had been for the Scotts' own safety that they had brought them back and handed them over to the police, but now Tanya couldn't help but wonder how genuine that reasoning was.

Jason's words ran almost painfully through her mind as she lay restlessly in bed.

You know what Tommy said to me before he took me back? He said the wrong had to be righted. What sort of self-righteous crap is that? You tell me.

Of course, she'd had no answer for him. It turned out that the wrong the Scotts had committed was trivial in comparison to the wrongs committed by Jason's real father. Donavon and Sarah Scott had taken him to protect him and in reuniting father and son, the rangers had exposed Jason to a situation that no one should have had to face. Unintentional, but very, very wrong.

Tanya rolled over and, burying her face in her pillow, cried herself to sleep.

The following day....
"Tanya!"

Tanya looked around, and stifled a groan when she saw Adam, Tommy and Kat approaching. _God, please don't let them ask about yesterday_

"How'd yesterday go?" Kat asked brightly. Tanya shut her eyes for a moment. Like she hadn't expected that question....

"Fine," she croaked out, hoping she didn't appear uneasy. Her hopes died quickly.

"Are you okay?" Adam asked, eyeing her in concern.

"Sure," she muttered, turning back to her locker. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Tommy, Adam and Kat exchanged glances, and then Tommy put a hand gently on her shoulder. "Anything you want to talk about?"

Tanya paused. Yes, she desperately wanted to tell them, but Jason had sworn her to secrecy. And then he had threatened acts of violence if any of them, barring herself, came within his sight before he was ready. No, she couldn't tell them, as badly as she wanted to.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "It... It's confidential. Business with the hospital patients, stuff like that. I can't talk about it. _Good out_

"Isn't that only with shrinks and priests?" Adam asked, frowning.

Tanya could have hit him. "It's hospital policy," she snapped, secretly hating herself for lying to him. "It isn't my place to discuss the patients with other people, okay?"

Adam stared at her, caught off-guard by her outburst. "S... Sorry...."

She moaned silently, wishing they wouldn't make it so hard for her. "No, I'm sorry. Yesterday wasn't as easy or wonderful as I was anticipating. It was hard watching someone go through that sort of pain. He... The patient, I mean, had two badly broken legs, and moving them even slightly caused him a lot of pain. It was difficult to watch that."

Tommy nodded his understanding. "I can imagine. I don't know how Trini, Kim and Jase coped with it when they were helping out there. So, does this patient have a name, or can't you tell us that?"

Tanya felt the threat of nausea rising in her gut, and had to force it back. "I... I have to get to class."

The rangers watched in surprise as Tanya hurried off up the corridor, so anxious to get away that she left her locker door wide open. Adam pushed it shut, shaking his head in confusion. "If I didn't know better, I'd say it wasn't because she couldn't tell us, it was that she wouldn't tell us."

"I'm thinking the same," Tommy agreed. "We'll try talking to her later. We'd better move, though, before we're late."

The three nodded in agreement, and hurried off to their classes, the thought of Tanya's evasive behaviour playing on their minds.

~*~

"That's a pretty depressing song."

Jason didn't return the smile. "It's true."

She went over to the bed. "How do you mean?"

He sighed softly. "I was just thinking. My whole life has practically been a lie. Mum and Dad love me a lot, and I know that.... But they were never really truthful with me. If they had been, they would have let me remember Matthews. But they made sure I forgot, and then they let me believe they were my real parents."

"They were trying to protect you," Tanya said.

Jason nodded. "I know. I understand that. I do... But in the end, it just hurt more when I found out the truth. I suppose that, in a way, I'm just as angry with them as I am with with the rangers. They lied to me all through my life. If I'd known from the beginning, I would have been able to make a genuine protest when Matthews showed up to get me."

"Don't be angry at them," Tanya said softly. "Just be glad it's over...." She faltered, knowing instantly that she'd put her foot in it.

Jason smiled bitterly. "Don't worry. I won't bite your head off. I know what you mean." He looked over at the tape deck, and softly echoed the words of the song. "Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue." He knuckled away the tears. "I am so damn confused, Tanya."

She moved closer to him, and tentatively took his hand in her own. "I know I'm pretty pathetic company... Not what you want right now... But I'll be here for you. I'm seven months late in saying that, but...."

Jason squeezed her hand lightly. "It's okay. I appreciate it. Thank you."

Silence reigned for a while, and then Jason spoke again. "What did you tell the others?"

"Nothing. They don't know you're back, yet. But Jason, they do know you'll be back at some point. I think Tommy found out from his dad. They're gonna find out some time."

Jason nodded. "I know. They'll probably find out when Trini, Kim and Zack come back in a week. Because Tommy will try playing up to Kim, and Kim will most likely deck him."

Tanya winced at the image that produced. "You think they'll tell them?"

"I know they will. But I want to see Adam before they come back."

"Why?" Tanya asked nervously, feeling queasy at the thought of her prospective boyfriend being thoroughly chewed out.

"I don't want a piece of him," Jason said quietly. "I just want to talk to him. Not now... but maybe in a few days time. The thing is, when I think back to that morning, I remember seeing Adam waiting it out in a corner, like he never had a part of what happened."

Tanya nodded as she recalled the fateful morning. "He didn't," she confirmed softly. "I'm not just saying that... He argued with Tommy from the start, and only gave in because Tommy stared him down. Then, he wouldn't have a part of it. He was there, but he refused to help. Tommy really gave him an earful afterwards because of it."

Jason sighed. "Adam couldn't stand up to Tommy. I couldn't even stand up to Tommy sometimes. Only Kim was ever able to do that, all the time. I can't blame him for backing down."

"Do you want me to bring him here?" she asked gently.

Jason conceded. "Yeah, but not tomorrow. Friday, maybe or Saturday. I need some time to think things out before I see him. I don't want to have a go at him like I did with you."

She smiled a little. "Trying to forgive us one by one?"

"Yes," Jason confirmed. "That's basically it."

Tanya looked around as the orderlies came in with a wheelchair. "Ready to go?" one of the men asked.

Jason sighed heavily. "I guess so. Tanya?"

She replied by squeezing his hand reassuringly. "Right beside you."

Jason nodded. "Let's go."

Youth Centre....
"Where's Tanya?" Adam asked as he joined his friends at their regular table.

Kat shook her head. "Not here. She never came by here after school. I think she went straight to the hospital."

Adam frowned as he sat down. "Something weird is going on. She didn't want to tell us anything about what she's doing at the hospital."

"Give her a chance, Adam," Tommy said quietly. "She said it was hard to cope with. She probably just wasn't ready to talk about it. Besides, don't forget, it's somebody else's pain that she's watching. It takes a lot of courage to do that."

"Maybe" Adam murmured. "I just can't get rid of the feeling that she isn't telling us everything."

Neither Tommy nor Kat commented on that, for they both had the same feeling.

That evening....
Tanya emerged from the room just as Sarah rounded the corner. The older woman paused at the sight of the teen, then approached her slowly. "Hello, Tanya."

Tanya couldn't bring herself to smile. Though she had seen Jason's mother briefly the previous evening, they had only exchanged a cursory greeting. It wasn't until just now that Jason had revealed he'd told his parents the entire truth. Which meant Sarah Scott knew it was her that had brought her back to Angel Grove.... "Hello, Mrs Scott," she murmured, her gaze fixed carefully on the floor.

Sarah came to a halt by the girl. "We didn't have the chance to talk yesterday."

Tanya swallowed hard. "I understand. You wouldn't want to...."

"No, that isn't what I mean. Jason told me that you stayed with him through the full session of physiotherapy. Thank you."

Tanya sighed heavily. "It was the least I could do."

"Maybe, but it would have been much easier for you to turn around and walk out. It meant a lot to Jason that you didn't."

Tanya looked up, then. There was no anger in the woman's voice, which surprised her. She was even more stunned when Sarah offered her a smile. "I'm not angry, Tanya. There's no point in me being angry. It would only make it more difficult for Jason to resolve his anger. In any case, the punishment that Donavon and I received was appropriate. We have no right to be angry at anyone. Except, of course, Jason's real father... Come and sit down, please."

Tanya did so wordlessly. Sarah went on quietly. "Jason is having a lot of trouble dealing with his anger. I'm sure you're aware of that."

"Yes," Tanya murmured. "He wants me to be there during the physio, but he's still pretty cold."

"Please don't blame him," Sarah pleaded with the younger girl. "With all that's happened, he just doesn't know any other way to react, now. He spent six months with a man whose only way of control was through violence and anger and now, he has to face up to the possibility that he may always need a cane to walk."

Tanya felt the tears in her eyes, and absently brushed them away. "I don't blame him for being angry, Mrs Scott. It's our fault. Jason was right. We had no right to interfere. Not when we didn't know the whole story. I... I was no better than the others. I was being pretty self-righteous about it, too. Adam was the only one who didn't agree with it."

Sarah looked thoughtful. "Adam is the Green Ranger, isn't he?"

"Yeah."

"I remember. The Blue Ranger...."

"Rocky."

"Yes, Rocky wanted Adam to help him with Donavon."

"And Adam told him to shove it," Tanya said with a faint smile as she recalled the incident.

Sarah laughed. "Not Adam's usual style, is it?"

"I think he was angry at himself that he couldn't stand up to Tommy," Tanya said. "Refusing to help was the only way he could protest."

Sarah grasped Tanya's hand reassuringly. "Everything will work out eventually. It's hard now for all of us. We just have to be patient."

"I know," Tanya conceded. She paused, looking towards the room where Jason was, then back to Sarah. "Jason has a lot of courage. I know that he's being driven partly by anger, but there's a lot of courage there as well. He'll get through this, Mrs Scott. I know he will."

Sarah rose up slowly. "We know."

"I have to go," Tanya said, starting to edge her way down the corridor.

"Will we see you tomorrow?" Sarah asked, and Tanya nodded. "Yes. I told Jason I'd come. And, he wants me to bring Adam here in a few days time."

"Good," Sarah murmured, more to herself than to Tanya. "He's doing what Catherine said... All right, Tanya. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Tanya echoed, and hurried away down the corridor before anything else could be said.

Aquitar, a few days later....
Cestria found Billy sitting by himself, staring up at the starry sky with an unmistakable look of longing in his eyes. She hesitated, torn between leaving him be, and going to him. After a long moment of indecision, she joined him, putting her arms around him in a warm embrace. "What are you thinking?"

Billy glanced back at her over his shoulder. "You don't know?" he asked shortly.

"I make it a habit not to interfere in the thoughts of others."

He reddened a little. "Sorry. I don't mean to snap."

"It's all right," she reassured him. "I do understand. You have been extremely tense ever since your discussion with the first rangers."

"I don't know what to do," Billy whispered, tearing his gaze away from the stars to turn and face Cestria. "What do I do? I don't want to leave here, but Jason... He's my oldest friend. I hate being so far away, knowing how badly he must be hurting."

"I think the answer is obvious," Cestria replied. "You will not be truly happy until you have resolved your concerns regarding Jason. And if you are unhappy, then so am I."

"You're telling me to go back," Billy said bluntly.

Cestria seemed to frown a little. "I did not say that. I am merely suggesting the answer to your problem is right in front of you. It is for you to reach that conclusion, not I."

"Do you want me to go?"

"No!" Cestria choked out, distress flooding her face and her thoughts. "I do not want you to go! But it is not my place to hold you here. As you said, Jason is your oldest friend. Friendship means a great deal to us here on Aquitar, just as it does to Earthlings. I am telling you to do what you feel you must do. I will not hold you back, if you decide to leave, and I would like to believe you would do the same if I were in a similar position."

Billy pulled her close in a tight hug. "I love you, Cestria. Thank you."

She pressed her face into his shoulder, returning the hug with one equally as fierce. "And I love you, Billy. Please promise me you will keep in contact."

"I will, and I'll come back as soon as I can." She nodded wordlessly, not voicing a very real fear that he would not be back at all.

Angel Grove, the following day....
Trini smiled contentedly as she looked around her new bedroom. Naturally, her parents had been unable to acquire their old house, but the new one was just as good. In fact, Trini thought, it was a bit better. She had a larger bedroom now, and there was an extra room that her mother had said she could have for whatever she wanted.

Walking over, she leant on the window sill and peered out, admiring the handsome view of Angel Grove Park. She could just see the lake, and pick out the trees beyond which the Youth Centre lay. Yes, she liked the new house very much.

"Trini!"

Trini looked around, and grinned broadly as Kim bounded enthusiastically into the room. "Isn't it great to be home?" Kim gushed, throwing her arms around Trini in a huge hug. "I am so happy!"

"Same," Trini agreed. "I feel like we've come full circle, almost. Oh, Kim, I heard from Billy. He's decided he's coming home!"

Kim squealed in excitement. "That is great! We'll all be together again! Trini, things couldn't be better..."

Trini's gaze hardened just a little. "Calm down, Kim. Don't forget, Jason is still in hospital."

"I know, but he'll be so happy to see Billy! I know he will."

"Yeah, after he wrings our necks for telling Billy in the first place," Trini said, rolling her eyes. "And don't forget, we start school again on Monday. Then we'll have to face up to the rangers."

At that, Kim's enthusiasm disappeared in a flash. "Tommy..." she whispered, but there was no hint of affection in her voice as she spoke his name.

Trini watched her friend in concern. "Kim, you'd better control yourself. He's going to have a hard time understanding why you suddenly seem to hate him."

Kim sank down onto the bed. "I do, and I don't. My god, I'm so confused... The thing is, I still care about Tommy, I really do! I think I still love him, Trini, but I love Jason a lot, too. Jason was always there for us, and there were times when Tommy wasn't. When I think of all the times Tommy went off sulking over losing his powers... Or the way he used to go all guilty on us whenever he made a mistake, and we'd have to pick up the pieces for him... God, he was such a baby! Jason made mistakes, but he didn't sit around sulking about it. He picked himself up and put things right!"

"Tommy still got us through a lot of hard times," Trini said softly, sitting down next to Kim. "Don't condemn him totally, Kim. And remember, they were all a little responsible for what happened to Jason. It wasn't only Tommy."

Kim sighed. "No. They weren't responsible. Not directly. The only one responsible for Jason being in hospital now is the bastard who put him there. What the rangers are responsible for is different, but it's just as bad. They're guilty of making a serious judgment without all the facts. And Tommy should have known better!"

Trini lay down, across the bed. "Kim, what are you going to do when you see Tommy?"

"I don't know," Kim murmured. "Maybe nothing... It depends on whether he comes to me. The difficulty is going to be looking at him without picturing Jason with all those horrible scars, and his legs.... Tomorrow's Sunday, and we're going to see Jason in the afternoon."

"And it'll still be fresh in your mind on Monday," Trini said with a sigh. "Try not to think about it. Angel Grove High is a big school. Chances are we won't even see him for a couple of days."

Kim didn't reply, but the doubt was all too clear in her eyes.

Angel Grove Memorial Hospital: Rehabilitation Wing....
"So what's this all about, anyway?" Adam asked as he followed Tanya along the hospital corridor. "You still haven't told me."

Tanya shook her head wordlessly. The truth was she couldn't find the right way to tell him, and she knew she had approximately two minutes to do so.

They reached the lifts and went into an empty one, and Tanya pressed the button for the third floor.

"Adam.... It's to do with the patient that I've been coming in to help out with. He, um... He wants to talk to you."

Adam looked amused. "Oh? How come? Hasn't become attached to his devoted helper, has he?"

"This isn't a joke!" she exploded, and Adam shrank back a little.

"Sorry...."

Tanya continued to glower at him as they emerged from the lift, all the tension she'd been suffering rising to the surface. "You should be. You don't joke about someone who has two broken legs. It just isn't funny."

Adam stared at her in amazement. Rarely had he seen her in such a volatile mood.... Tanya suddenly came to a halt, and Adam nearly walked into her.

"Here," she murmured, then turned abruptly to face him. "Um... You're going to get a shock, Adam. There's no other way to say it. There's someone that you know in that hospital room just there, but you haven't seen him for seven months."

Adam was notably confused. "What? Who are you talking about?" She pressed a hand lightly to his shoulder. "Just wait here a second. I've got to make sure he's up to it."

Adam waited in silence as Tanya disappeared into the room. A moment later, he heard the low murmur of voices, and then Tanya emerged, looking extremely relieved.

"He's asleep. They had to operate this morning, and he hasn't recovered from the anaesthetic yet."

"Who?" Adam persisted. "Tanya, who is it?"

Tanya regarded him with dark eyes. "It's Jason." Silence fell, and for several seconds, Tanya was frightened that Adam was going to faint. Finally, the boy spoke.

"Jason? Our Jason?"

"Yes," Tanya told him softly. "Our Jason. Jason Scott. Gold Ranger Jason. C'mon, Adam."

She took his hand, and led him into the room, where Jason was, indeed, fast asleep. Sarah Scott sat on the other side of the bed, and she offered the teen a smile as they came in.

"Hello, Adam."

Adam had turned ashen by then. "Oh god... How?"

"It's a long story," Tanya answered. "The bottom line is... We screwed up, Adam. The whole team. You were right when you said there must have been a reason. There was, and we didn't wait to find out what."

Adam looked slowly at Sarah Scott, gaining just a little courage. "Reason?" he echoed tentatively.

"Yes," Sarah told him quietly. "Adam, Jason was being physically and sexually abused by his real father. It's the reason that Donavon and I took him in the first place. Thirteen years ago, no one wanted to believe that a police officer would abuse his own child. Especially one as highly decorated as Daniel Matthews was. When we tried to bring it to the attention of the authorities, we were verbally abused, and constantly harassed by officers, including Matthews. In the end, we planned to leave Chicago and Jason asked me if he could come with us. He was only five years old at the time, and we couldn't stand to leave him behind, so one day I took him out of school on the pretense of taking him to the doctor. We met Donavon, and we left Chicago immediately. We drove straight to Canada, and stayed with an old friend for nearly three years. A short while after that, we came to Angel Grove, and decided to stay."

Adam finally looked down, at Jason's passive features. For just an instant, he flashed back to nearly twelve months ago in the Power Chamber, when Jason had been growing steadily weaker from the Gold Ranger Powers. Jason had been part of the team, then. They had all rallied around him, ready to do anything to help their team mate. Then, suddenly, Jason had no longer been a part of that. Adam couldn't quite recall the point at which the change had occurred, but it had not been long after Trey had reclaimed his powers. All of a sudden, Jason was no longer readily included in the groups activities. If he had been, it was only as an afterthought, and nothing more.

And now.... Adam's gaze was drawn to Jason's legs, painfully noticeable with the metal pins protruding from the flesh. Tanya spoke softly. "He'll probably still be in a wheelchair when he comes back to school."

"How did it happen?" Adam asked, not entirely sure that he wanted to know. Sarah answered.

"Matthews deliberately ran him down. He backed the car over Jason three times, and completely crushed his legs. Jason was lucky not to have been crippled."

"Of course, that can depend on what your version of crippled is," a voice spoke form behind them, and they all looked around to see Donavon Scott standing there. Although he didn't appear angry, neither was he smiling.

Sarah rose up and went around to him. "When did you get back?"

"Our flight got in just half an hour ago," Donavon replied as he embraced her. "The Taylors left Chicago four days ago, and the Kwans and the Harts are already here."

Sarah nodded. "Peter Hart called in yesterday, and he's coming with Kimberly tomorrow."

Catherine Matthews stepped into the room, and also embraced Sarah. "How are you doing?"

"We're fine," Sarah replied with a smile. "Jason was happy just to be back in Angel Grove."

"I'm sure he was," Catherine said. Her gaze fell on the two teenagers, both of whom were looking immensely nervous. "And these are?"

"Adam and Tanya," Sarah told her. She looked at her husband, and at his dark expression, then added; "It's all right. Jason's already talked to Tanya, and he asked to see Adam."

Donavon nodded as he walked around to the other side of the bed. "All right, then."

Adam looked sideways at Tanya. "Did I miss something here?"

Tanya sighed a little. "They know, Adam. Jason told them everything, all about about the Power Rangers. They know it was us that... you know...."

Adam diverted his gaze to the floor, too embarrassed and ashamed to look any of the adults in the eye. Sarah spared her husband a look that begged for patience, and went over to give the teen a quick, reassuring hug.

"It's all right, Adam. We know you did all you could. You don't have anything to be ashamed of."

Although Adam didn't argue, it was clear he didn't believe it.

That evening....
Jason couldn't sleep. He had woken up properly from the anaesthetic just an hour or so ago, only to be told his parents and his grandmother had gone home to the house to get some rest. A nurse had stayed with him for a while, talking to him until he pretended to fall asleep, but now he sat up in bed, flipping aimlessly through a magazine.

He hated being alone like this, but at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to say anything about it. He hated his fear of being alone almost more than he hated actually being alone. Muttering softly under his breath, he tossed the magazine aside, wondering at the same time how anyone could stay interested in that sort of crap.

If only he could get out and do some exercise, that would, at least, take his mind off being alone. His gaze fell on his legs. It was a useless wish that couldn't be granted. Also, any excessive movements were just too painful to cope with.

Jason looked towards the window miserably. Occasionally, the pain got so bad that he wished Matthews had backed the car over his spine instead of his legs. Then, he would not have had to deal with the endless pain of two crushed legs.

"Son of bitch...." Jason muttered sulkily.

"You know, I think thats the first time I've heard you utter an expletive of any sort?"

Jason looked around sharply, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Billy?"

Billy grinned and slipped into the room, shutting the door behind him. "You look like crap," the former Blue Ranger said with a smile. Jason couldn't resist a grin of his own. Billy's matter-of-fact attitude had always helped make him feel a little better....

"I know. Thanks for not asking."

"Don't worry. I know what it's like."

Billy paused, eyeing his friends legs with grim appraisal. "He did a good job of it, didn't he?"

Confusion flickered in Jason's eyes. "How do you know....?"

"Kim, Trini and Zack contacted me," Billy explained quietly. "They told me everything."

Jason started up, his mouth open in protest, but Billy silenced him with a single look. "Don't say it, Jason. You can't expect them not to have tried to contact me. That would be really stupid. Besides, I think I have a right to know, don't you?"

Jason sighed, caving. "Yes. I'm sorry... I just didn't want you to leave Aquitar just for me. You seemed so happy with Cestria."

"I was. I still am. I'll go back sooner or later. But right now, I'm staying here. We're friends, Jason. We've been friends the longest, ever since you first came to town. You've always been there for me, right from the first day that we met. Now it's my turn to be there for you."

Jason regarded Billy with a warm smile. "Man, it's good to see you again."

"Same," Billy confirmed. "I think I missed you most of all while I was on Aquitar."

"What about Adam?"

"Adam and I were close... but it's different with you and me. Especially now." He paused, then abruptly changed the subject. "How long will you be in here? Do you know?"

"They're planning to take the pins out in a week or so. It's been like this for nearly ten weeks now, so hopefully...."

Billy nodded. "What about the physiotherapy? That must be hell."

"It is," Jason confirmed wearily. "They're pretty intense over here. I don't think I could have managed so far without Tanya."

The surprise on Billy's face was evident. "Tanya? She's been here?"

"Yeah. She volunteered to help out here the same as Trini, Kim and I did a few years back. My physiotherapist called her in, thinking I'd do better with someone my own age here. It was rough to start with," Jason admitted. "I sort of blew up at her...."

"I don't blame you," Billy murmured.

Jason grimaced. "And then she blew up at me. She was going to leave, but I asked her not to go. I think I was more scared of doing the physio by myself than I was angry at her. Anyway, she stayed, and we talked things out. So far, I've managed to forgive her and Adam... Hell, there's nothing to forgive as far as Adam is concerned. He tried to stay right out of it."

"Have you seen Adam?" Billy asked, feeling secretly relieved.

Jason shook his head. "No, not yet. A nurse told me that Tanya brought him in this afternoon, but I was asleep. I haven't talked to him yet."

Billy sighed and leaned against the bed rail. "I can imagine the look on his face when he came in here. I don't expect Tanya would have told him all the details."

"He probably nearly had a heart attack," Jason conceded.

"So will Tommy, when he finds out," Billy commented quietly.

Jason's expression hardened considerably. "I don't want to see Tommy. Not at all."

Billy didn't speak for a moment. The vehemence and anger in Jason's voice and eyes was more than Billy had ever seen before. He finally spoke, changing the topic once more to divert his friends anger.

"I spoke to Trini before I teleported back to Earth. She told me about what happened before...." He motioned to Jason's legs. "Before this. She admitted, rather nervously, by the way, that she kissed you."

Jason reddened slightly as he recalled the moment. "She said she's always cared for me...."

"That's true," Billy replied quietly. "She has for a long time." Jason looked at Billy incredulously, and the young genius responded with a sheepish smile. "She confessed it to me approximately four years ago. She was always impressed with the way that you took charge. I must admit, so was I. It was a very reassuring thing, to have a leader with your capabilities."

Jason looked away. "Sure. And look at me now."

Billy smiled. "Yes. Look at you now. You've reunited us, when we thought we would never see one another again. Not exactly a pleasant way to do it, but you did do it."

Jason blinked, and felt his eyes misting up. He continued to stare towards the window, suddenly afraid to let Billy see him cry. "I really hate life right now, Billy. I hate life, and I hate myself. I keep telling myself that I should be happy with the way things have worked out, but I can't!"

Billy walked slowly around to the other side of the bed, forcing Jason to face him. "You don't have to be happy. I don't expect you to be. God knows I'd hate everything and everyone if it was me in your place. Just be thankful for one thing: that it was your legs that he ran over, and not your spine."

Jason nearly choked. Not ten minutes ago, he had been wishing the exact opposite Billy regarded him somberly.

"I know how much it must hurt, Jase. But at least you'll walk again. Some people never regain that dignity. Be grateful for it. Be grateful you weren't killed."

Jason shuddered with suppressed sobs. "If... If I hadn't been able to get to the phone to call Grandma... He might have come back before help came. He would have killed me, I know it...."

Billy reached out to lightly grasp Jason's shoulder. "It didn't happen like that. Just remember that."

"I know," Jason said softly. "I still have nightmares about it, though. You know... it isn't just life that I hate right now. I hate myself as well."

Billy leaned forward, against the bed. Now he was starting to feel concerned. Jason had always been one for promoting self-conscious, and liking oneself. To hear him talking like that was disturbing, to say the least. "Why do you hate yourself?"

Jason picked at the blankets. "I hate myself because I can't let go of the anger. Not towards Matthews, or Tommy, or the rest of the rangers. I hate myself because...." He faltered. "For everything, Billy."

Billy watched Jason in quiet distress. _Oh, Jase..._ "If you can't keep a bit of love for yourself... then let me." He reached out to gently grasp Jason's hand. "I love you, Jason. I love you like a brother. I don't care how you feel right now. I don't care that you might always need a cane to walk. I love you, and nothing will change that."

"Thanks, Billy," Jason whispered. "Do... Do you think you could stay a while? I hate being by myself...."

Billy smiled faintly in the darkness of the room. "Sure. I'll stay till the nurses find me and kick me out."

Jason sighed softly. "You always were my best friend...."

Billy blinked, caught by surprise. As far as he had been concerned, Zack and Jason had always been best friends, and then Tommy and Jason... But he had never considered himself anyones best friend, except, maybe, Adam. Jason smiled, then.

"You said I was there for you on that first day that we met... You don't remember what happened that day, do you?"

Billy felt confused, then. "Didn't you save me from Bulk and Skull...?"

Jason laughed softly. "You're confusing your memories. I wasn't so confident about anything when I first got to Angel Grove with Mum and Dad. Left over influence from my real father, I suppose. When I walked into class that first day, I didn't have a friend in the world, and I was too scared to try and make friends. I was on my own that whole day. No one talked to me, and people kept pointing at me and whispering behind my back like... I don't know what. Then, after school, I'm waiting to get picked up and this gangly little kid walks up to me and introduces himself as William J. Cranston. Said he'd been watching me all day, and that I looked like I needed a friend. Of course, you used a hell of a lot more words than that, and it took me about ten minutes to figure out what you were trying to say...."

Billy flushed red, and Jason laughed again and went on. "But once I'd figured you out... I was lonely as hell, Billy. You were there that first day when I needed someone to just be kind to me, and you've been there ever since. Like now. You were my best friend back then, and you always have been. I love you too, bro."

Billy swallowed hard as he remembered that first day as Jason had just described it. "I seem to recall the particular day more clearly..." he confessed. "You looked even more lonely than I felt. I have to confess, I expected to get pounded, though...."

"Not by me," Jason murmured.

"No," he agreed softly. "Not by you."

Billy stood there in silence for a long moment before pulling up a chair to wait with his friend.

Monday Morning....
Kim paused in the corridor, looking around nervously at the familiar surroundings. "It's been a long time since we set foot in here, guys."

Zack joined her. "I know. It feels weird."

Trini came up to stand on the other side of Kim. "C'mon. Let's do this."

The other two nodded, and they walked down the corridor towards their new lockers.

~*~

"Zack, Kimberly and Trini, right?"

Adam nodded, unable to get a word out. Tanya spared him a grim look, then drew in a deep breath and went to talk to the former rangers.

~*~

Zack came to a halt, his gaze falling on Tanya. "Yes?"

Tanya felt sick with nervousness, but forced herself to speak regard- less. "You guys are Zack, Trini and Kim, right? I'm Tanya. Tanya Sloan..."

Zack's expression turned cold. "Is that right?"

"I know you guys must be pretty angry," she said anxiously. "I know about Jason...."

"You understand that," Zack said softly, "and you still have the nerve to talk to us?"

"You don't get it!" she said desperately. "I've seen Jason. I've talked to him! I've been helping him get through the physiotherapy!"

Zack's expression softened a little. "Really?"

"Yes!"

Zack felt a hand clasp his, and he glanced back to see Kimberly had his hand. She nodded once, but there was no warmth in her eyes. The former Black Ranger looked back at Tanya. "That's fine and all, but it doesn't change what's happened. You might have seen Jason in hospital, but we saw him in Chicago when he had to cope with what his real father was dishing out to him. If you're as smart as you look, you should be able to figure out that we don't want anything to do with any of you right now."

His gaze went past Tanya, to where Adam was watching a short distance away. The boy was pale and clearly shaken, but there was resignation in his eyes. Zack knew he understood, and he took a step back. "Just stay away from us. And if you want to help, keep Tommy away from us, too."

Without another word, Zack, Trini and Kim went on their way down the corridor.

~*~

Kat pulled a face. "That's definitely the last thing we need. Where's Rocky?"

"Right here," Rocky answered, puffing as he skidded around the corner. "The car wouldn't start this morning... Took me nearly half an hour to fix it. Just let me get my books...."

Rocky froze, his jaw dropping. Tommy and Kat spared him an odd look. "Rocky?" Kat asked tentatively. "What's wrong?" Rocky didn't speak, but lifted a finger to point to something beyond his two friends. They turned around....

Kat felt her heart sink as her gaze fell on Kim, standing just a little ways down the corridor, fumbling with a new combination lock. A frown creased her forehead; she was having obvious trouble getting the lock to open. One look at Tommy, and all of Kat's hopes were shattered in an instant. The boy was openly staring, and the longing in his eyes was far more than he had ever had for Kat.

She felt a hand on her arm, and looked to see Rocky offering her a supportive smile. She tried to return the gesture; couldn't quite manage it. "Tommy...?"

She tried to break through his stupor, but he was oblivious to her. Tucking his books under his arm, he went to talk to his first and true love.

~*~

"Trouble...."

Adam looked, and groaned softly. Tommy was heading straight for Kimberly... They were too far away to do anything without drawing any attention, and could only watch helplessly as Tommy drew closer to the former Pink Ranger.

~*~

Swallowing hard, feeling suddenly light-headed, Kim looked up, into the handsome face of her first boyfriend. "Tommy...."

Tommy offered her a smile, tentative yet with the same charm he'd always had. She took an instinctive step back, suddenly not sure how she was supposed to be acting towards him. Tommy's smile broadened a little; he didn't seem to notice her unease. "Hey, Kim."

_God, that voice_ She fought back a moan. "It's been a long time," he said softly. "I've missed you."

Kim shut her eyes for just a second, feeling herself becoming almost entranced. "Tommy... I..."

"It's okay," Tommy murmured. He reached out, lightly took her hand. "I understand why you wrote that letter. It took me a while, but I understand." He hesitated. "I still love you, you know."

Kim cried inside. Why couldn't she return the sentiment? Her reasoning was fast becoming blurred.... Tommy lightly touched his fingertips to her cheek. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me... And you know I'd never do any- thing to hurt you."

Kim froze. _You'd never do anything to hurt me... but you hurt Jason... You hurt him badly..._

Kim stepped back again, yanking her hand out of his grasp. "Get away from me," she snarled with sudden, renewed anger.

Tommy stared at her in confusion. "What's wrong? Kim...?"

"Hypocritical bastard," she spat. "Don't play up to me, Tommy. It won't work."

Tommy moved closer again. "Kim, I don't understand... I love you..." Tommy's head rocked back as Kim slapped him hard across the face, leaving a blazing red welt across his cheek.

"Don't say that," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Don't you dare say that! When you sacrifice someone who was supposed to be your best friend, that isn't love, that's...." She faltered, at a loss.

Tommy was even more confused. "What are you talking about? I never sacrificed anyone!"

She tried to slap him again, but he caught her wrist before she could. "Damn it, Kim...."

Kim wrenched herself free of his grasp. "I hate you, Tommy! Just get away from me!"

Tommy was about to protest further when Zack and Trini suddenly appeared, flanking Kim. Neither one was smiling. "You heard the lady," Zack said softly, echoing Tommy's words to Bulk and Skull of nearly three years ago. "She said go away."

Hurt filled Tommy's eyes, and for a bare instant, Kim nearly broke. The soulful look in his dark eyes was as heart-wrenching now as it had ever been, and she could feel herself folding. Then, an image of Jason flashed through her mind, with both his legs broken, and the harshness returned. "Leave me alone," she said. "I don't want anything to do with you."

Tommy stood still for several seconds, trying to read her eyes as he had once been able to do. Her expression was angry, but there was something more in her eyes that she was not letting out. It was more than the anger that ruled her right then, and that gave him a touch of hope.

He was no fool, though, and he knew it was not the right time. Giving in, he backed away a few steps, then turned walked away from them, trying hard to ignore the stares from all the other students.

~*~

Tommy reached up to gingerly touch his bruised cheek. "She hit me."

Rocky shook his head in disbelief. "Boy, those guys sure have changed. You think they're jealous, or something?"

Tommy slowed to a halt as they reached the end of the corridor, where Adam and Tanya were waiting. Neither one looked shocked by what had just taken place.

"Guys?" he asked softly. The two younger teens exchanged looks, then went off to their class in silence, leaving their friends to wonder just what the hell was going on.

~*~

"Oh god... That was the hardest thing I've ever done..."

Trini hugged her quickly as Zack scared away onlookers with a menacing glare. "It's okay, Kim."

"I just thought about Jason," Kim whispered tearfully. "When Tommy was starting to win, I thought about Jason, and that was it. But I feel so awful! We're letting this tear us apart!"

"We can't do anything to make peace while we all feel so angry," Zack said quietly. "It wouldn't do anything. We have to be able to forgive before we can do anything."

"I've never been so confused in my life," Trini admitted miserably. "I just don't know how else to deal with it, other than to stay away from them."

"Tommy may have been our leader for a while," Zack said fiercely, "but Jase was there long before him. My loyaltys with Jason, not Tommy. Jase was more of a friend and a leader than Tommy ever was. Jason was never selfish, like Tommy! And he never expected anyone else to carry him if he made a mistake. He accepted it, and got on with things. Tommy just went to pieces every time Rita or Zedd targeted him for one of their stupid plots! He always felt so damn sorry for himself... Damn it, Jase never went running off to the mountains to mope after he lost the Gold Ranger powers. He stayed around to help out as much as he could, and Tommy paid him back by betraying him. So until Jase can forgive Tommy, I sure as hell won't. Now, c'mon. Let's get to class."

Trini and Kim conceded and, after Kim finally got her locker open with Zack's help, they headed off to their first class.

~*~

"We just want to know what's going on with them!" Rocky said. "Especially Kim. Man, she acted like she hated Tommy's guts!" Tommy cringed, and Rocky shrugged. "Sorry, man."

Tanya shook her head. "It's not our place to say...."

"So you do know what's going on," Kat jumped in.

Tanya groaned softly. "Yes, I do, and no! I can't tell you! So please, just let it rest!"

Tommy looked at the Green Ranger, focusing a hard stare on his second- in-command. "Adam, what's going on? I want you to tell me right now."

Adam cringed. It was the same tone Tommy had used so many months ago to solicit his consent to bringing Jason and the Scotts back to Angel Grove. Not that his consent had meant that much when it came down to it....

"No," he said softly. "It won't work this time, Tommy. Tanya's right. It isn't our place to say anything. You'll find out when when certain people want you to know, but not before."

Tommy's expression darkened when Kim, Zack and Trini entered the Youth Centre and went to get some drinks. "You mean those certain people? Sure, they really want to enlighten us." He got up. "I'm sick of this, I'm going to work out."

~*~

Kim stared moodily into her soda. "So let him be."

"I can't believe how much things have changed," Trini murmured sadly. "Three years ago, we wouldn't have let this get in the way of anything."

Zack looked up at her. "Three years ago, we would never have interfered in that sort of thing." He glanced at his watch. "What time did you say Billy was supposed to meet us?"

"Any minute," Trini answered. "He said he'd try and be here before four o'clock."

"Well, he'd better hurry," Kim grumbled. "Hospital visiting hours are only until five o'clock."

A grin lit up Zack's face as a familiar figure entered the Youth Centre, wearing blue jeans, white shirt and a black jacket.

"There he is..."

~*~

"When did he get back?" Tanya wanted to know, and the others merely shrugged.

Rocky started up. "Hey, Billy!"

Billy's gaze fell on the teens, and his expression visibly hardened. Rocky sat back down with a thud, startled by the angry force of Billy's glare. "What's with him...?"

Adam felt his heart sink as Billy turned pointedly away from them and headed over to join Zack, Kimberly and Trini on the other side of the Youth Centre. He looked sideways at Tanya, and knew she was thinking the same thing. A line had been drawn between the current and former rangers, invisible and yet clear as the sun, and though the others didn't know it yet, Jason was right in the middle....

Tommy rejoined them, his face dark and unreadable. "Billy's back," he said simply.

"We noticed," Adam muttered. Tommy remained standing, watching his four former teammates in silence. They had closed ranks around the table, not letting anyone into their circle. It was not a full circle, though, Tommy realised with a touch of regret. There was one missing....

~*~

"You snuck in?" Zack asked, incredulous.

Billy smiled. "You think you're the only individual with a sneaky side, Zack?"

Zack smiled. "Didn't think you had it in you, man."

"I put aside my concerns of being caught," Billy said simply. "Jason needed the company. He is really chronically depressed. He admitted to me last night that he...." Billy faltered, and searched anxiously for a better choice of words. "He is not currently in possession of a great deal of self- esteem at this moment."

Zack snickered. "The Billy-speak is slowly coming back."

Trini hit him on the arm. "Will you listen? This is serious."

Billy fought back a grin. He pictured Jason in his mind, and it became a significantly easier task to achieve. "He really has very little regard for himself at the moment," Billy said softly. "He's angry at himself for being angry at...." Billy motioned back over his shoulder in the general direction of the current rangers. "At them."

Trini nodded. She could understand that. "Jason never did like holding grudges."

"But this is just too much for him to ignore, now," Kim conluded.

Zack drummed his fingers on the table. "Look, instead of wasting time here, let's go and see him. Okay?"

"Okay," Kim said firmly. "There's just one thing we have to do." Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a carefully folded piece of newspaper.

"What's that?" Trini asked. Kim unfolded it to reveal a front page newspaper from the Chicago Tribune.

Teen Crippled By Cop Father was the headline, and beneath was a colour photo of Jason, just after the first operation on his shattered legs. The story detailed the abuse Jason had suffered, just who was responsible, and the gravity of his leg injuries.

"What are you going to do with that?" Zack asked, starting to feel uneasy.

Kim clenched her jaw determinedly. "This."

Turning, she marched over to the bar, and called Ernie over. He came, smiling broadly. "Hey, Kim. Can I get you anything else?"

"No," she replied, "but you can do us a favour. Put this up where everyone can see it."

"Kim!" Trini cried out, shocked.

Kim looked back at Trini. "I talked to Jason yesterday. He's the one who gave me the article. He told me what to do with it."

Ernie frowned a little and took the article. A moment later, he turned ashen with shock. "Oh no... Jason..." He looked up, feeling queasy. "Kim, I can't put this up in here. Little kids might see it!"

"Jason wants people to know what happened before he gets out of hospital," Kim explained. "That's all. So he doesn't have to deal with too many people wanting to know what happened."

"Jason's back in Angel Grove?" Ernie asked in shock. "He's in Angel Grove Memorial?"

"In the rehab wing," Zack confirmed. "We're going to see him now."

Ernie looked past the teens to where Tommy and the others sat. "Does Tommy know?"

"No," Billy said quietly. "Not yet. Ernie, Jason doesn't want to see Tommy."

"Why not?" Ernie cried out. "They were best friends!"

The teens exchanged grim looks, and then Zack spoke quickly. "He's just not up to it at the moment. He's not real well, Ernie."

Ernie looked back to the article, and swallowed hard. "I guess he wouldn't be. Listen, do you kids mind waiting a minute? I'd like to come with you, if that's okay...."

"Sure," Trini said with a smile. "We know Jason would love to see you."

Angel Grove Memorial....
Jason sat by the window in his hospital room, staring longingly out at the warm Summer day.

"It's not fair," he grumbled finally. "I hate being stuck inside like this!"

Donavon sighed in exasperation. "You know you don't have a choice. The doctor gave specific orders that you don't go outside."

"Well, it sucks," Jason snapped.

Donavon frowned at him. "Mind your language, thankyou very much."

Jason sighed and maneuvered himself away from the window. "When's Mum and Grandma coming back?"

"I don't know. They said they had something to collect. Ready to go back to bed?"

"Get real!" Jason retorted. "I've been flat on my back for most of the last few months. I'm sick of it!"

A conspiritorial grin flickered across Donavon's face. "Does that mean you're ready for the leg braces?"

Jason turned green at that, and Donavon had to laugh. For the past week, the physiotherapist had tried to talk Jason into getting started on the leg braces, but for all Jason's hype about getting back on his feet, he had been too scared to try. That was understandable, of course. After living in a world of pain for so long, Jason was naturally anxious to avoid anything that would cause him any degree of pain.

Jason looked up at his father with red-rimmed eyes. "Don't laugh at me. It's not my fault that I'm scared."

Donavon choked back the laughter, and crouched down in front of his son. "I'm sorry, Jason. I didn't mean to laugh. I understand how you feel, and you know no one is going to force you into using the leg braces until you're ready."

"Is it okay to come in?"

Father and son looked around to see Zack peering in. Donavon glanced at Jason, who nodded. "Sure," Donavon replied, straighening up. "C'mon in." Zack strode around the corner, followed by Trini, Kim and Billy.... "Ernie!"

Jason's face lit up at the sight of his old friend. Ernie grinned, a difficult thing to accomplish coming face-to-face with the now-crippled teen that he had known so well. "Hi, Jason. I hope you don't mind me coming by..."

"No," Jason reassured him. "Man, it's good to see a familiar face." He wheeled himself closer to the bed. "How's the Youth Centre going?"

"Fine," Ernie told him. He hesitated, then, the smile fading from his face. "This is so hard to believe...."

Jason sighed. "I know. Don't worry if you feel a bit freaked out. I think it's normal."

Ernie shook his head. "No... I just can't believe how different you look. It isn't just the wheelchair, either."

Jason slumped back. "Yeah, well, some pretty awful things happened."

After a moment, Ernie looked over to Donavon. "It's good to see you again, too, Mr Scott."

Donavon smiled. "Same, Ernie."

"Did Kim give you the article?" Jason asked quietly, and Ernie looked queasy.

"Yeah, she did. Jason, I don't think I can...."

Jason nodded. "It's okay. I thought later that it was stupid thing to do. Just do me a favour and hold on to it until I get out of here?"

"Sure. When will that be?"

"As soon as he starts using the leg braces," Donavon interrupted firmly.

Jason moaned softly. "I get no peace!"

"I thought you were supposed to start learning to use them a week ago?" Zack asked.

Jason stared intently at the floor. "I was. I guess I'm not half as brave as I wanted to believe."

Trini went over and slipped her arms around his shoulders. "It's okay to be scared, Jason. You know that as well as we do. You were always telling us that..." She glanced briefly at Ernie. "... Before."

"It's the pain," Jason admitted. "I know it's gonna hurt. It hurts like hell just doing the regular physio stuff, and I haven't even tried to stand up yet." He sighed miserably. "Six months of hell, and even when that's over, I still can't get away from the pain...."

Silence reigned for a moment; none of them could reply to that. Finally, Ernie spoke tentatively. "Would you all mind if I had a few minutes alone with Jason?"

Donavon shook his head. "Of course not. C'mon, kids." They all filed out, leaving Ernie and Jason alone.

"What is it?" Jason asked nervously when Ernie turned back to him.

"I just wanted to remind you of something. You remember years ago, when you were nine? Just after you'd scored your brown belt."

Jason frowned. "I think so... What about it?"

"There were some older boys in your class that weren't too impressed. You got your brown belt ahead of them, and they were pretty angry about it."

Jason nodded slowly. "Yeah.... Yeah, I remember now. The oldest one, Kirk... He was seventeen... He said that he'd show me that he was better than me. I didn't pay any attention to him... I just forgot about it."

Ernie looked grim. "But Kirk didn't. I remember it really well. You kids had your next class in the Youth Centre, because your school was undergoing renovations. Your teacher assigned you to spar with Kirk."

Jason looked sick as he fully remembered the incident. "Kirk didn't wait until I was ready. He just attacked...."

"And broke your right arm in three places. You were in plaster for ten weeks."

"The doctor told me the break was so bad that I'd have to give up karate," Jason murmured. "That my arm would never be strong enough to take the physical stress."

Ernie nodded. "That's right. You came into the Youth Centre some time after getting out of hospital, in tears, and we had a little talk then. I don't have to remind you, do I?"

Jason swallowed hard. "I didn't let it stop me, then... I shouldn't let it now."

"Right," Ernie confirmed quietly. "This is a bigger challenge, but in a way it's the same. Don't let it stop you. You'll really be letting yourself down badly if you do."

A tired smile flickered across Jason's lips. "You know, you're about the fifth person to give me a pep talk like that?"

Ernie reddened a little. "Sorry...."

"No," Jason said. "It's okay. Really... I think I need the constant heckling."

"Well," Ernie said with a grin, "I can come in on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays...."

Jason burst into laughter, unable to help it. When he finally stopped laughing, he smiled up at Ernie, not even bothering to wipe away the tears. "Thanks, Ernie. You've got no idea how hard it is to get a laugh in this place."

"I think I might," Ernie said, returning the smile. "I'd better get going now, but I'll come by tomorrow, if you want."

"That'd be great," Jason agreed. "Thanks."

The rangers came and stayed until the end of visiting hours, and then some until the duty nurse ordered them out.

"I'm glad Ernie came with us," Zack said softly. "He really cheered Jase up a lot."

"Listen," Trini said quietly, "Jason said that he's going to try standing up tomorrow during physio. I think we really need to be there for him."

"You're right," Billy agreed. "It may be less intimidating for him if he has extra support."

"Tanya might be there," Kim pointed out. "Adam, too. You know Tanya's been coming to help him with the physio."

"That shouldn't stop us," Zack growled. "Jason's been trying to make his peace with them, maybe we should start as well."

Silence reigned amongst the four friends as they stared at one another. Finally, Billy nodded. "It's a good place to begin."

"Okay," Trini murmured. "We'll do it, then. Step by step."

Kim nodded her consent, echoing Trini's words. "Step by step."

That night....
Jason slept soundly, stirring only occasionally in his hospital bed. His grandmother sat in a chair in the corner of the room, reading a book by lamp light. A nurse had been in just a few minutes earlier to check on Jason, and had left without waking him, something for which Catherine was grateful. Jason was having enough difficulty getting a decent night's sleep without being woken by the nurses.

Her train of thought ended abruptly, though, when Jason began to twist in the bed, moaning faintly in distress. Before Catherine even had a chance to get up and go to him, though, he jerked violently awake, panicked and distressed. Catherine rose out of the chair, then, and went to his side.

"It's all right, sweetheart," she murmured, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "It was just a nightmare. Relax...."

Jason groaned and collapsed back against the pillows. Catherine hesitated, then spoke again when Jason didn't.

"Can you tell me what it was about?"

Jason grimaced. "It wasn't about him... for once..." he added ruefully. "It... I think it was about tomorrow."

"The physio?" Catherine guessed, and Jason nodded, fear lighting up in his eyes.

"Yeah. The physio."

"You aren't going to back down, are you?" she asked in concern.

Jason shrugged a little. "I don't know. I want to... I know it's being cowardly, but I can't help it!"

She reached out to lightly stroke his forehead. "I know, honey. Your friends will all be there to help you, though, and so will your parents and I."

Jason fell silent, chewing lightly on his lower lip. The physio was not the only thing playing on his mind. "I... I sort of wish Tommy was going to be there."

Catherine blinked, startled. She had never met Tommy herself, but all that she'd heard from Jason in the past months had been anything but good. "I know you want him to see, Jason, but I don't think...."

"No," Jason whispered. "Not for that. I wish he could be there, because he was always there for me before.... When I needed help, or anything like that... He always helped me when he could. It was only when this happened with Mum and Dad and... him... It was only then that things really went downhill."

Catherine sat down carefully on the edge of the bed. "You haven't really given a favourable picture of Tommy over the past several months, you know."

Jason sighed heavily. "I know... and I'm still angry. That hasn't changed. But sometimes, in the past, I got help and support from Tommy when I couldn't get it from anyone else. I haven't forgotten all the times he helped me out.... I suppose I sound hypocritical."

"No, honey, you just sound like someone who's very confused."

"I am," Jason confessed softly. "I'm angry at Tommy... But I really miss him, too. Maybe... if I just knew his reasons for doing what he did... Maybe that would help."

Catherine nodded slowly. "It might. But the question is, would you believe his reasoning?"

Jason sighed again, and looked away miserably. "That would depend on what his reasons were."

"Do you think," Catherine asked quietly, "that perhaps it's time to talk to Tommy?"

A long moment of silence followed, and then Jason nodded. "Maybe. Not tomorrow, though. Tomorrow's gonna be a bad day."

Catherine lightly brushed her fingertips over his forehead. "Only if you let it be."

Jason looked back to his legs, feeling the depression start to snap at him again. He had to take his mind off it, somehow.... Suddenly, something occurred to Jason, and he looked back to his grandmother, the confusion clear in his eyes. "Grandma, I can only remember him... You know, my real father...."

Catherine watched him in concern. "What do you mean, Jason?"

"Well, I had to have a mother.... What happened to her? Is... Is she dead?"

Catherine shut her eyes, fighting the tears that suddenly threatened. "Oh, sweetheart... I was hoping you'd never think to ask."

Jason swallowed hard, feeling his stomach start to knot up. "What is it?"

She stopped, then, looking into her grandson's stricken expression. She paused, torn over what to tell him, then finally spoke quietly. "Your mother... Your real mother... I'm afraid she's dead, honey. She was killed in a car accident not long after your fourth birthday."

Jason slumped back against the pillows. "Oh." Silence reigned for a long while, and then he asked the inevitable question. "What was she like?"

Catherine hesitated a moment before answering. "She was a very gentle lady... Very beautiful. She had a way of laughing... When she laughed, you had to laugh as well. And her smile.... She could light up a room when she smiled. Just like you."

Jason reddened slightly, and Catherine favoured him with a warm smile before going on quietly. "She really loved you very much, Jason."

"Really?" he asked hopefully.

Catherine smiled reassuringly at him, but couldn't quite bring herself to speak. "That's nice to know," he murmured. "I wish I could remember her."

Catherine leaned over to kiss him gently on the forehead. "Maybe you will, in your dreams."

Sighing a little, Jason shut his eyes and was soon asleep. Catherine stayed by his side for a few minutes before leaving the room in heavy silence. She came out to find Donavon waiting there.

"Is he asleep?"

She nodded. "He is, now. How long have you been out here?"

"Five or so minutes. What you told him.... About his real mother...." She spared him a pained look. "One part was true."

"Which part?"

"That she's dead. She was killed in a car accident after his fourth birthday, but it was a blessing, not a tragedy."

Donavon's forehead creased with a frown, and Catherine explained softly, moving carefully away from the door of the hospital room. "Alison was an abusive little witch, and that's the nicest way of saying it. She treated Jason worse than Daniel did. She never wanted a child, and only saw the pregnancy through because Daniel was determined to have a son. She hated Jason, never had a single spot of warmth for him in her entire body. I was glad when she died. After that, Jason only had one parent to be frightened of." She sighed and shook her head. "Maybe I should have told Jason the truth, but I just couldn't do it. I'm sorry, Donavon."

"It's all right," he said softly. "Jason's been through enough. We'll keep it between us; he doesn't ever have to know that truth." He hesitated, then motioned down the corridor. "C'mon, I'll buy you a coffee."

Catherine smiled gratefully, and the two headed off down the corridor.

~*~

The next day....
Tanya was already there when Zack, Kim, Billy and Trini arrived. The four teens faltered in the doorway, looking uncertain, until Jason saw them and waved them in. "Hey," he said, offering them a weak smile.

Billy approached first, venturing a tentative smile of greeting in Tanya's direction. "Is everything set?"

Jason nodded, and it was clear that he was struggling to stay calm. "Sure. As long as no one shows up with a video camera."

Before anyone had the chance to comment, Tanya let out a sound of frustration. "Damn. Does that mean I have to cancel the interview with Letterman?"

While the others looked shocked, Jason snickered, then laughed. "Funny, Tanya."

She grinned as she crouched beside the wheelchair. "Now, what would you do if I was serious?"

"You don't want to know," Jason threatened lightly.

Zack glanced at the girls, then ventured forward. "Did we miss something here...?"

"Tanya's been coming in to help me during the physio," Jason said pointedly. "I told you, remember...?"

Zack reddened slightly. "Oh..." He forced himself to look straight at the girl. "Look... We're sorry about school the other day... It's just that...."

"Don't explain," Tanya said quietly. "I understand."

"You guys can go bite each others' heads off later if you want to," Jason told them as Matt strode into the room, "but not now."

While Zack, Trini and Kimberly stood back nervously, Billy and Tanya stood on either side of Jason, waiting patiently for Matt to start things off. Matt offered the teens an encouraging smile, then crouched down in front of Jason. "Okay, we're going to start off with the regular exercises. Just simple stuff to start with. I won't throw you in head-first, okay?"

Jason nodded. He was used to this by now, and the pain of the exercises was not too severe. Matt took a careful hold of Jason's left leg and began to work it slowly up and down, trying to loosen the limb up. Pain registered on Jason's face, and his grip on the arms of the wheelchair got noticeably tighter. Tanya reacted immediately to the pain Jason was suffering.

"Did I tell you about the one with the chicken and the giraffe?"

The look of pain faded to be replaced with a grimace. "Yeah, and if you tell it again, I'm gonna throw you out."

"You and what army?" Tanya teased.

Jason looked around pleadingly. "Billy? Don't let her tell it again. Please!"

Billy had to grin. "Isn't that one of Rocky's old jokes?"

"Yeah," Tanya replied. "It worked last week...."

"Because you waited so long that I would have laughed at anything!" Jason retorted. "If you're gonna tell jokes, at least get some decent ones! Okay?"

A few metres back, Kim, Zack and Trini exchanged grim looks. "C'mon," Trini said quietly to Kim. "We've done this before."

Kim looked sick. "Yeah, but never with a friend...."

Zack reached out and, very gently, took Kim's hand in his own. "C'mon. Jason needs us." They moved forward, gathering around the wheelchair while Matt worked on Jason's legs.

"Hey, Jase," Zack said enthusiastically, "I got Kirk and T.J.'s address finally. You want it?"

Jason's face lit up. "Really? Great! Yeah, write it out for me and leave it in the top drawer in my room. I'll write to them as soon as I can."

"Who are Kirk and T.J.?" Tanya asked, half out of curiosity and half out of wanting to keep Jason distracted.

Jason smiled a little. "Kirk was my roommate at the Geneva Conference, and T.J. is his twin brother. We became pretty good friends, but I left the conference so abruptly that I forgot to get their address. I wrote a letter to Zack a while ago, telling him to get their address for me. We were both into karate, and all that, so we got along really well. He said his family were planning to come to the US for a holiday after Kirk and T.J. finished at the conference Man, I hope I didn't miss them."

"I don't think you did," Zack replied. "Kirk said he and T.J. had to finish the year at their boarding school before they could come here. I don't think they have finished, yet."

Jason nodded. "That's good."

Trini spoke, then, confusion in her eyes. "Jason, where are your parents? I thought they would have been here...."

"That was my order," Matt said. "Using the leg braces for the first time is a very hard thing to cope with. It's better if parents aren't here for the first time."

The teen exchanged worried looks. They didn't have to be geniuses to understand what Matt was getting at. Matt stood up and went to collect something. He came back with a pair of shiny metal leg braces in one hand, and a walking frame in the other. "Ready, Jason?"

Jason faltered, paling considerably as he stared at the braces. "I...." He looked around, in a sudden, near panic, as though looking for an escape route.

Matt watched the teen calmly. "We talked about it yesterday, Jason. We both agreed it's time to get you back on your feet."

"But..." Jason trailed off, wanting to protest but unable to think of a decent argument. Then, finally, his gaze fell on his legs, and a fear that had haunted his subconscious for weeks suddenly roared to the surface. "What if they get broken again?"

Matt stopped, then. Here was a legitimate fear that had to be confronted and dismissed before they could hope to get Jason into the leg braces. "That won't happen, Jason, and I can give you a dozen reasons why."

"How about just one really good one?" Jason stammered.

Matt looked Jason straight in the eye, not even allowing himself to blink. "Because I won't let it happen."

Silence reigned for nearly a minute as Matt and Jason stared at each other. Finally, Jason broke the contact and looked away. Although he was still frightened, he found he had to believe Matt. If he didn't, he realised dimly, he would never find the courage to walk again. "Okay. I'm ready."

Matt nodded, and crouched down, carefully putting the leg braces on Jasons legs. "All right, these are going to feel really strange at first, but you'll get used to it." He flicked the last latch, then rocked back a little. "How do they feel?"

"Heavy," Jason muttered.

"Well, unfortunately they need a little bit of weight, or you'd go over like a top. Now, I'm going to put your feet on the floor, very gently."

Jason waited, his heart beating hard in his chest as Matt pushed back the foot rests and carefully placed his feet flat on the wooden floor, then got up and put the walking frame in front of Jason.

"Okay, Jason. This is it, now. I'm going to take your arms, and pull you up on the count of three. Ready?"

Tears filled Jason's eyes, but he didn't shirk. "Ready," he said in a small voice.

Matt nodded, then leaned over to grasp Jason's arms in a strong grip. "Okay. One... Two... Three!"

Matt gave a single, firm pull and suddenly Jason found himself on his feet. For a brief second, there was nothing, but then, a fiery pain raced up Jason's legs, and he gave a choked sob.

"Hold on to the walking frame," Matt told him, and guided Jason's hand to the metal frame. "Support yourself on it. That's what it's there for, don't be afraid to use it."

Jason locked on to the walking frame with a vice-like grip, trying desperately to alleviate some of the pressure from his legs. "It hurts!" he cried out in distress.

Matt nodded. "I know it hurts, but you're doing great, Jason. Just hold on, kid."

"I want to sit down," Jason sobbed.

Matt moved around, placing himself between Jason and the wheelchair. "Jason, I want you to take just two steps. Thats all. Can you do that?"

"No!" Jason screamed.

"C'mon, Jason," Tanya joined in. "Two steps, one for each leg. Please, you're already standing!"

Trini joined Tanya. "You can do it, Jason. I know you can."

Billy was there, as well. "Two steps are two steps towards walking again, Jason. Just try...."

Jason looked down, struggling to keep his breathing even. The pain was burning through his legs, and even leaning heavily on the walking frame did little to ease it. If it hurt so much to just stand, it terrified him to think of how badly it would hurt to take even just a couple of steps.

Kim came forward, then, motioning the others back. She moved up to stand right in front of the former Gold Ranger. "Jason? Look at me."

He looked up finally, tears trickling down his cheeks. Kim faltered for just a second; seeing Jason in tears was an extremely unnerving thing. She gathered her wits, and went on in an unusually harsh voice. "Cmon, Jason, quit being such a damned baby. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other! How hard is that?"

"Kim...." Trini whispered in horror.

Kim ignored her, and had to struggle not to cry at the hurt expression in Jason's eyes. "Look, you're already on your feet. You're not going to be a quitter are you?"

Tears flooded Jason's eyes, mixed with a flash of anger. "How can you say that?" he choked out.

Kim took a cautious step back. "Well, it's true, isn't it? No wonder Emily broke up with you, if you acted like this with her."

The anger shone through again and Jason unwittingly took a shuffling step towards Kim. She moved back once more, watching anxiously. She hated herself for what she was doing, but it was all she could think of.

"Is this what you're really like, is it, Jason? A snivelling little baby who can't do anything on his own? All that tough guy image was just that, wasn't it? An image. All a big show for the girls who were too stupid to know better."

Jason clenched his jaw tightly, and shuffled forward, anger burning in his eyes at Kim's callous words. Two, three, four, five steps... Each and every step he took was like fire and needles all through his legs, so much so that it nearly engulfed his mind. Finally, though, as he was struggling to take a sixth step, the pain became too much, and he gave another choked sob. "I... I can't..."

Matt grabbed the wheelchair, and brought it over, helping Jason to sit back down. "It's okay, Jason. You did fantastic!"

Kim hurried back to Jason's side, starting to cry herself. "Jason, I'm sorry! I... I just didn't know how else to get you to move!" She grasped his hand, and he returned the gesture, too shaken to speak.

Trini leaned over and hugged him tightly. "You did really, really well, Jason. You're going to be walking again in no time."

Matt carefully removed the leg braces, and gently massaged Jason's legs. "I'm sure of that, too. That was a really great effort, and I'm proud of you, Jason."

Jason shuddered, wiping away the tears that rolled down his cheeks. "Can I go back to my room now?"

Matt nodded. "Yes. If you feel like it later on, I'll fight it out with the doctors to let you outside for a while. You deserve it, after that effort." He stood up. "You can go back to your room now, though."

Jason sniffed miserably. "Thank you."