[Power Rangers] Kat x Tommy, #5, restless
Title: Changing Locations
Fandom: Power Rangers
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I own nothing involved in this story unless I invented it myself. This is written for fun, not for profit.
Notes: I'm using the 'Double Night' challenge for this. Prompt used is 'restless'.
Kat settled her dinner on the table in front of the window and took a moment to admire the view before she settled down to eat. She enjoyed the view from her apartment here, though she had more than once envisioned what it would be like to go back to Angel Grove. The California city had claimed a special place in her heart for many reasons.
She also wanted to see how the rebuilding had progressed; the messages she got from those of her friends who still lived there told her a lot, but there wasn’t anything like seeing it with her own eyes.
Her gaze drifted for a few moments to a set of pictures on the far wall, as happened almost every time she thought of Angel Grove. There she and the other ex-Rangers, from multiple teams, looked back at her, arms around one another and cheerful smiles. The pictures didn’t show the wrecked city or the dust, dirt, bruises, and injuries that Astronema’s invasion had caused. But she remembered each and every one of them.
One of those pictures held only two people in it: herself and Tommy. She hadn’t seen him in over a year, and he hadn’t answered any of her letters. The last time she’d tried to call him, his phone number had been out of service.
I know he said he and that friend of his… It took her a moment to dig the name out of her thoughts. Mercer. Anton Mercer, that was it. They were going on some sort of special trip for something. Tommy hadn’t told her what it was, and the last time she’d spoken to Jason about it, he hadn’t known either. Tommy could be close-mouthed when he wanted to be, but he always turned up again safe and sound.
That didn’t stop her from worrying about him. Nothing stopped her from doing that. The ring on her hand only made her worry stronger. She didn’t like broken promises, and with each passing day, she worried more that this one wouldn’t be kept.
Trying not to get herself into a bad mood, she focused on her dinner, and started to mentally go over the moves she needed to practice for the next performance. This would be her last one before she withdrew from professional dancing to focus on her college education, and hopefully being able to contribute something to Angel Grove’s rebuilding. She wanted to make it the very best that she could.
She was deep into the movements for the third act, swaying a little to the music that ran through her head, when a knock came at the door. It was quick and sharp, and long-buried instincts rose up, warning her toward caution.
No Power Ranger of any kind lived without a daily regimen of workout and some kind of a weapon in their home. Being retired from active duty didn’t change this. It was a good thing that weapons from KO-35 weren’t actually illegal on Earth, since Andros made certain to provide all of them with a blaster and backup charges for it.
Kat swung open one of the paintings on her wall and her fingers spun over the combination lock that opened the small wall safe hidden there. It didn’t matter what numbers she stopped it on; the real way to open it was simply to be her. This was something Billy had picked up on Aquitar, a safe that read a person’s biorhythms, fingerprints, and retina scans to make certain they were someone authorized to open the safe.
Taking the blaster out, she shut the safe again and headed over to the door, where the knocking hadn’t stopped. Just as she got ready to open it, a voice spoke up, weary beyond anything she could remember hearing before.
“Kat? Are you in there? It’s me.”
Her eyes widened at that, and she started to open the door. She still kept her blaster ready, just in case. It wouldn’t be the first time that some enemy tried to deceive one of them with a clone or a spell meant to duplicate or imitate. Just because it sounded like Tommy didn’t mean it actually was Tommy.
On the other side of the door stood Tommy Oliver. Or leaned, to be more precise, as he looked as if he couldn’t have stood up if he wanted to. He looked up when the door opened and smiled at the sight of her. It was a very weary smile, but one that held every bit of the warmth she expected from him.
“It’s me.”
Kat still didn’t move to let him in, and he must not have expected her to, as he dragged something else out of his head. “Still keeping that promise.” And his eyes fell to the ring on her hand.
Kat opened the door and he stumbled inside, managing not to fall by sheer strength of will. She hurried him carefully over to the couch, keeping the blaster out of range. He smiled at the sight of it.
“I could’ve used that a while back.” He shook his head a little. “Didn’t want to take any chances with what Anton and I were doing, though.”
Kat set it down on her coffee table and took a long look at him. “Tommy, what happened? Where have you been all this time? And don’t tell me that you can’t tell me.”
He let out a long sigh, leaning against the couch. From what she remembered from the last time she’d seen him, he’d lost weight, and hadn’t had nearly enough sleep in recent days. Scratches and bruises littered what parts of him she could see, and from the way his sweater looked, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what the parts she couldn’t see looked like. What on Earth had he been doing?
“Anton and I were working on a secret project. Probably the worst thing that could happen, did happen: it worked.”
Kat managed not to smile. It sounded too much like the standard day in the life of a Power Ranger. She gestured for him to keep going even as she headed into the kitchen to make him some coffee. He looked as if he needed it.
The tale she heard wasn’t one she’d expected, though it was one she wasn’t surprised to hear about. Dinosaurs of various kinds, crystals that could very well power a new age of Power Rangers…exactly what she would’ve expected Tommy to get involved in given half a chance.
“So now what are you going to do?”
Tommy didn’t answer at first. He sat and stared into the coffee cup she’d handed him, as if expecting the coffee to have answers he didn’t. Finally he shook his head. “I don’t know yet. I know that those Dino Gems are going to be needed one day. I need to keep them safe.” He stared down again. “I think I should get in touch with Billy. I’m going to need his help.”
Kat, sitting next to him now, took one of his hand in hers. “If there’s anything that I can do, let me know.”
He smiled at her, a tired smile that told her far more than his words did of how much he needed to rest. She wished at times that he wasn’t so… so Tommy. That saving the world wasn’t in his blood the way that it was. But then, she knew, she wouldn’t love him the way that she did. It would make him someone else altogether, and she would have nothing of that.
“I could use a place to stay, until I can get things sorted out? I used up all my money getting here.”
Her heart raced to think that when he’d needed somewhere to go, he’d come to her, of all people. She squeezed his hand. “You’ve always got a place with me, Tommy.” Her apartment only had one bedroom, but she would make room for him anywhere that he wanted.
He might’ve said something else about what plans he had, if his stomach hadn’t declared desires of its own at the moment. Kat jumped to her feet right away.
“Stay right there.” She’d made more than she really needed for dinner, and had planned on finishing the rest of it either as a late night snack or for breakfast. But she didn’t think Tommy would object to having it himself, after a little re-heating.
He sort of nodded as she stepped into the kitchen, and she doubted that even if he’d wanted to, he could’ve moved off the couch. That was just fine by her. The less he moved right now, the better.
It only took her a few minutes to get the plate heated up and brought back to him. But by then, he’d slumped over, eyes closed, and a soft snore issuing from his lips. Kat watched him for a few moments before setting the plate down on the coffee table where he’d see it when he woke up. He needed sleep more than food right now, or so his body clearly decreed.
She tugged a blanket out of the closet and wrapped it around him before locking her door and putting the blaster where she could get to it easily. The tale he’d told of what happened on that island wasn’t one that encouraged sweet dreams, and she wanted to make certain if any of those creatures should happen to turn up that she was ready to deal with them. Tommy wouldn’t be until after he slept, and she didn’t plan to let them interrupt his nap.
It took a few days for everything to get sorted once he did wake up. Tommy still hadn’t made up his mind on whatever it was he wanted to do after he left, but Kat knew that he would leave as soon as he’d recovered his strength. Fighting off monsters and having to swim from the shattered remains of an island to where he could send a message to get himself picked up had taken more out of him than he wanted to admit, even to her.
Wherever he went, it would have to have a place he could fortify against the attack he knew would come one day, and probably teenagers who might stand a chance at being Power Rangers. That gave a lot of options, and she could see him staring more and more at maps of California and the towns and cities in the vicinity of Angel Grove. She knew what was coming.
So it was no real surprise when after days of communication with Billy and searching for real estate and shopping to rebuild his wardrobe that he looked at her over dinner one evening.
“I’m moving back to Angel Grove for a while. I’ve signed up for fall courses at the university.” He reached out to take her hand as he spoke. “I need somewhere to rest for a while and get things sorted out.”
She wanted to ask if her place wasn’t good enough. She refused to let the hurtful words pass her lips. Instead she smiled a weak smile of her own. “I had a feeling you were going to say something like that.” She pressed her fingers closer to his. “You know you’re still welcome to stay as long as you want.”
“I know. I just feel like this is the right thing for me to do.” He dropped a warm kiss on the back of her hand. “Come and see me as soon as you can?”
“I will.” She knew she would. The thought of moving back herself still lived warm and comfortable in the back of her mind. She just had to get through the one last performance. “When are you going?”
“Not until next month. I still have to get a few more things taken care of here.”
Her last performance would be the following week. Her heart beat faster at the thought of him being there. He’d come to her shows when he could, but as he got more and more involved with Anton Mercer, his attendance had dropped off. He must’ve guessed where her thoughts wandered, since he tightened his grip a fraction on her hand.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to be there for your show. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She hadn’t yet told him it was her last one or that she planned to move within a few months herself. She decided he didn’t need to know, not just yet. If there were things he felt were right for him to do, then she felt the same way about what was right for her to do.
“Can’t wait to see you there.”
People from all over came to the performance, which would be televised live as well. There were even rumors that it would be broadcast to Mirinoi for the settlers and natives there to enjoy. Kat wasn’t so sure about that, but she hoped that everyone who saw it enjoyed, no matter who they were.
She’d made certain Tommy didn’t just get a ticket, but a backstage pass as well. She kept her focus on her dancing, but she could feel his eyes on her, and danced all the better for it.
Kat didn’t think about how much her body hurt. She’d grown used to it over the years she’d danced professionally. All she kept her thoughts on was the dance itself. She didn’t worry about making mistakes. If she stopped to do that, then she would make one. She just danced.
After the last curtain call and the last bow from the performers, when the applause from the audience rang from the rafters, and Tommy’s delighted calls echoed in her ears, she hurried to her dressing room, wanting to change and get ready for the part of the evening she’d secretly been looking forward to most of all: dinner with Tommy.
As soon as she stepped into her dressing room, she was overwhelmed by the delicious scent of a dozen kinds of flowers, all of them set out in beautiful vases of cut glass or ceramics. This was hardly the first time she’d come back to find this, but one bouquet in particular caught her attention: a beautiful display of soft red and pink roses, set in a vase of pure white. She plucked the card from it and opened it up.
I love you, Kat. Simple and true, in Tommy’s handwriting, and her heart melted all over again for him.
Showered and changed into something much more suitable for dining than dancing, she stepped back into the dressing room just in time to hear that familiar knock. She plucked one of the red roses out of that particular vase and wound it into her hair on an impulse before she opened the door. Tommy started to say hello before his eyes fell on it, and he smiled.
“Ready to go?” She asked, her own lips curving upward. He blinked for a moment, then nodded.
“Ready.”
Autumn leaves skittered through the city streets, pushed here and there by the wind, while a harvest moon rose higher and higher, sending silver streams of light all around. With the streetlights gleaming, it was hard to see the moonlight, but Kat liked to keep a watch on it anyway. Even knowing that Rita and Zedd weren’t the threat they once had been, it was hard to shed the fear that something, or someone, there could be watching them.
But even with that caution, Kat still enjoyed walking with Tommy, hands twined about one another, as they spoke of what the future held.
“Jason said they’ve got a room I can stay in until I get my apartment set up.” Tommy told her. She nodded; Jason and Emily would always have their doors open for Tommy. “I won’t be there long, though.”
Her eyes twinkled a little as she swung his hand in hers. “I hope you don’t think I’d be jealous of you staying with them.”
“Of course not!” Tommy protested with a shake of his head. “I was just…I don’t know…” He fidgeted, a hint of a flush creeping up his cheeks. “I wish you were coming too.”
Kat breathed out silently. “Maybe someday.” She still had so much that she wanted to sort through before she made her own return to Angel Grove. She might not get to that for another year. If then.
“Can’t wait to see you when you do. I’m going to miss you.”
Kat glanced toward him, then away for a few seconds. “I already miss you.” Having him around all the time had been like a sneak preview of what they might have one day. Every time she looked at the promise ring, she had to wonder how much longer it would be until that promise would be kept. She’d certainly never met anyone who interested her half as much as Tommy did.
Both of them stopped, just a few short streets away from Kat’s apartment, and met one another’s eyes. Slowly, softly, their lips touched. Kat could feel his breath on hers and leaned in closer, arms going around him, as did his around her. She wanted this moment to last forever.
This wasn’t the first time the two of them had kissed since he’d arrived at her door, exhausted from fleeing the island. There had been other moments, hands touching one another with the most fleeting of caresses, favorite treats and new treats shared and discovered, movies seen together where they held hands and laughed like children, and the nights where they held one another close and let passion fill them both.
But this kiss held something different between them. Another promise, one that might take years til fulfillment, but it would be all the same. Both of them had faith in that.
“You’d better keep in touch with me. Or else.” Kat murmured, only moving herself a little back so she could speak.
“I’ll e-mail you my phone number as soon as I’ve got one.” Tommy promised, reaching one hand up to tug through her moonlight-touched hair. “And my address, too.”
That was the best she could hope for, for now, at any rate. She leaned her head against his chest and breathed in deeply. A preview of what might be, perhaps, but like all previews, it had to end sooner or later. And, she hoped, it would be surpassed by the actual feature.
“Doesn’t seem like that long ago we were saying good-bye to each other in Angel Grove, and I was the one who was leaving.” Kat kept her voice steady, no matter how hard it was. She’d known it was going to happen, but like so many departures, it hadn’t seemed real until they stood here waiting for the actual moment.
Tommy looked much better than he had on that first day. He’d gained back weight, mostly muscle since he’d found a gym he could use to work out at, and he’d been able to shave and shower regularly again. She didn’t tell him that she kind of missed his long hair. The short cut looked better on him anyway. It gave him a kind of maturity she wasn’t used to seeing from him.
He also wore clothes that weren’t more hole than cloth at the moment, though if she knew him, there would likely come a time when that changed. She had no idea of how many shirts he’d owned that ended up in tatters after the daily attacks of Tengas, Cogs, and Piranhatrons. Probably at least as many as she had at the time.
His fingers rested warm on her hand as they stood there. She memorized the feel of them, as she always did and always would. “I know.” So much had happened between those two moments. Almost enough to comprise a lifetime it seemed, and yet not nearly enough time at all for everything she wanted to do.
“I wish I knew what to say.” She didn’t want to say good-bye, not at all. She wanted him to change his mind. She wanted to change her mind and go now. She just did not want them to separate at all. Ever.
He leaned his head down to rest against hers. “I’ll call you as soon as I get to the airport. Just so you know I got there in one piece.”
“All right.” It wasn’t enough. It couldn’t ever be enough. But it would have to do.
Tommy slowly pulled himself away, and to Kat’s hidden joy he seemed as reluctant as she was to do this. But reluctant or not, he did it anyway, picking up his carry-on bag and taking the first steps away. Calling was more than just assuring her that he’d made it safely; three of the Dino Gems he’d created were hidden in that bag. He’d mentioned there were two more, but he’d lost track of them in the confusion of the island, and could only hope they would return when needed.
“They will. That kind of thing is what happens to Power Rangers.” Kat assured him when he’d told her about them.
He did his best not to laugh, though the crinkling of his eyes told her that he wanted to. “We’ll just have to hope that we don’t get any evil Power Rangers out of it.”
“Right. I think we’ve had enough of those.” And yet it was still something that more than one person attempting to take over the world had tried. Clearly everyone else who tried it just hadn’t done it the right way.
Kat watched Tommy move out of sight and headed over to where she could see his plane. She had her own matters to take care of still but put them on hold for these precious few moments. She knew that she’d see him again and refused to turn away until she couldn’t see him any longer.
Take care of yourself, Tommy.
Kat poked her head out of the bathroom, frowning, not certain of what she’d heard. For a few moments she thought she’d imagined it and prepared to go back to her shower. Then the phone rang again and she hurried over to grab it, recognizing the number right away.
“Hi, Tommy!”
“Hey, Kat.” He sounded a little tired, though not so much as she’d heard him at other times. “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”
“Only a shower.” She teased, quite glad she hadn’t given in to Billy’s urgings to have a videophone installed. As much as she loved Tommy, showers were private matters. Unless they’d decided otherwise, of course. “Give me a minute, all right?”
“Sure. Don’t be too long, though, okay? I’ve got something really important to tell you.”
Kat set the phone down, a faint hope she wanted to throttle going all through her. Five years since he’d moved back to California, and hardly any time at all since he’d settled in at Reefside as the science teacher. She kept meaning to go there and meet those kids he’d talked about, the new Dino Rangers. Everything in her work seemed to contrive to keep her away from them, and from him.
She wouldn’t let it much longer, though. She had far too much reason to go there.
Dry and dressed, she hurried back to the phone and plopped herself down in her favorite chair, reaching for her brush to deal with her obstinate hair. “All right, I’m back. What is it?”
He hesitated before he said anything, and a slow sinking feeling wrapped all through her. “Remember how I said that there were two missing Dino Gems?”
“That’s right.” Oh, no. No.
“Well, there’s only one missing now.” He hadn’t said it yet. She could hope that it wouldn’t be true until he did.
“Who’s the lucky new Ranger?” She wished now that she’d gone there to have a chance at meeting some of the other kids who were there, maybe get a feel for who might be this new choice. Then she wouldn’t have the abyss of nerves swirling around inside of her.
Again the silence, broken at last by two words. “I am.”
She dropped her brush and leaned back against the chair, closing her eyes. She knew it was an honor to be a Ranger, and it meant risking one’s life on a daily basis, fighting against beings that wanted to destroy the world or conquer it or whatever it was they wanted to do. She also thought that was a part of their lives they could put behind them.
I should’ve known better. I did know better. This is Tommy. If anyone would choose to be a Ranger until their dying day, it would be him. It was far too much of who he was. She’d known that for years. And yet this still struck a chord deep within her.
“What happened, Tommy?” He’d kept her, and the other ex-Rangers, advised about what was going on in Reefside, as best that he knew it. She still hadn’t heard of anything that would indicate he was once again going to be on the battlefields.
“Kind of a long story there.” He didn’t sound reluctant to say it, and she made herself as comfortable as she could while he got started, listening to every word.
It also completely failed to surprise her that once again, he’d taken up the Ranger’s mantle because of being kidnapped by a villain. Some things would absolutely never change.
“So, now you’re the Black Ranger.” Getting upset about it wasn’t going to make him not be a Ranger anymore. She didn’t have to like it, and she could hope it wouldn’t last forever, and that he wouldn’t get hurt. He wasn’t as young as he’d once been, whether he realized it or not. “Should I start stocking up on yellow and blue just in case?” She let out a soft laugh. “Or maybe I should get out some of my old clothes? I’m sure Kim would be willing to contribute if you needed anything.”
Now she almost wished she did have a videophone, just for the look she was almost certain decorated Tommy’s face right now. If only, if only…
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m not going to need that. I hope.” Tommy laughed a little. “I think Jason and Adam should be able to help with the clothes for now, though.”
“Maybe when I get down there we can do a little shopping.” She wasn’t as much of a shopper as some people that she knew, but she knew roughly what would look good on Tommy and what wouldn’t. Black wasn’t a bad color for him, actually. She could think of worse ones.
“When are you coming?” A hint of hopefulness tinged his voice now and she considered her calendar carefully.
“I think I can make it sometime next month. Try not to let the world get taken over before then? That doesn’t work well with travel plans.” As they all knew far too well.
Tommy chuckled at that. “I’ll do my best. See you then.” A small wisp of a pause, nothing more than a breath’s worth. “Love you, Kat.”
“Love you, too.” Her heart warmed at the words. No matter how much what happened terrified and angered her, she had to admit there was a twinge of pride in there too. And she knew no matter what, if she’d been offered the chance to take up the fight again, she’d take it. Just like they all would.
Kat’s heels clicked on the hospital floor as she hurried toward the room she’d been told he was in. Her hands clenched, and she knew she’d have to resist the urge to smack him. She’d told him to take care of himself, and what had he done? He’d ended up in the hospital. He hadn’t even been able to tell her about it. She’d received a phone call from Hayley instead.
She expected to see the other woman and perhaps Tommy’s students around the hospital room. It was past school hours and visiting hours hadn’t ended yet. She knew she’d recognize Hayley if she saw her; they’d met at one of the Ranger reunions before Tommy moved to Reefside. But she’d never yet encountered those new Dino Rangers.
How hard could it be to identify three kids who’d probably be outfitted in monochrome shades anyway?
Then again, no one had ever pegged them as the Power Rangers, so that might be harder than she thought.
She stopped outside one room and checked before going in. She moved carefully, not wanting to disturb him if he turned out to be asleep. His bed was hidden from casual viewing by the curtain and she moved carefully around it, ready to wait if need be.
He looked up at her as she poked her head around and smiled, eyes lighting up with joy. “Kat!”
“Tommy!” She hurried forward now to wrap her arms around him gently. “You’re awake! Hayley told me you were in a coma.”
He shrugged at that. “I got bored so I decided to wake up from it. What about you?”
Kat never knew how she managed to stop herself from smacking him. He deserved it, she knew that he did, but they were in a hospital and the doctors would likely object to it. Though if they knew him like she did, they might well hold him down and let have at him.
“I’m fine. Just what’s been going on here?” She had a thousand questions and no idea of where to start with any of them. The few phone calls and e-mails exchanged since he’d told her he was the Black Dino Ranger hadn’t covered nearly enough.
Tommy sighed as she pulled one of the chairs over and settled into it. “That is an even longer story than the last one.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got enough time off stored up so I can stay for a week.” And she fully intended to stay every single one of those seven days, and to find out what she’d been missing out on. She should’ve found a way to move down here as soon as she’d found out about him being a Ranger again. He could manage without her, as she could without him, but the idea of all of this happening and she hadn’t known about it infuriated her. She didn’t care if it would’ve put her into any kind of danger at all. For the sake of knowing, she would’ve risked it.
And she might still. She hadn’t made her mind up on it, and it would still take time for her to make a move if she decided to do so.
“Well, it started a while ago.” Tommy ran his fingers down the side of the sheet as he began. Kat made a point to tell all of their other friends about what Tommy had been doing without letting hardly any of them know about it. He would be in for more lectures that he knew what to do with. She wanted a front row seat for whatever Jason had to say, and she suspected Kim would as well. Perhaps she’d provide popcorn for both of them.
Footsteps sounded outside, more than one set, and she turned to see four young people standing there, none of whom looked very comfortable at seeing her beside Tommy’s bedside, and likely less so because of their hands now being wrapped around one another. Three young men and a young woman, all probably around high school age, and she noted quickly that they all wore a specific color, red, yellow, blue, and white.
She looked back at Tommy, her voice too low for anyone passing in the hallway to hear, but they could. “Care to make the introductions, Dr. Oliver?”
Tommy rolled his eyes. “Hey, guys. Glad to see you.” He gestured for them to come closer. “Kat, I’d like you to meet Connor, Kira, Ethan, and Trent. Guys, this is Kat Hilliard. We’ve known each other a long time.”
Kira’s gaze fell to where their hands were visible on the bed. “I guess you know each other really well?”
“You might say that.” Kat shifted her hand just enough so the promise ring was visible. “I heard he’d gotten himself into some trouble and came to see what he’s been doing.”
Ethan’s eyes widened a fraction. “Are you …I mean…were you…” He tossed a glance over his shoulder before looking back at her.
“The same after school activities that you guys are doing? Yes.” She’d learned a lot about how to mention being a Ranger without actually saying that’s what she was. Those who were Rangers would understand and no one else needed to. “That’s how Tommy and I met.”
They looked so young just as they were, and at that mention, they looked even younger, as if waiting for story time. Kat chuckled. “I can tell you some other time. I’ll be here for about a week.”
“Sounds like it will be a good story.” Trent said. Kat eyed him for a moment; Tommy had mentioned how the White Ranger started off evil. She looked back to Tommy, who nodded as if he read her mind.
“It has a happy ending, at least.” Or it would, once they actually got to the ending. If anything ever ended.
Tommy didn’t stay in the hospital for more than another day or so. From what he’d told her, once he’d recovered completely from the coma, he’d been kept there for tests and observations, and the doctors kept muttering words to the effect of ‘This is impossible’ and ‘I can’t believe this’.
Tommy himself didn’t give them any hints that there might be something unusual about his recovery. While some Power Rangers didn’t bother with secret identities to the general public anymore, those who’d served under Zordon still kept to the promises he’d asked them to make. No one who wasn’t another Ranger, a former enemy, their enemies, a close ally, or once in a while a husband or wife or other close family member knew. Emily did, though Kat wasn’t sure when she’d found out, and she knew Tommy’s brother David did as well, and Tanya’s parents.
But the doctors didn’t need to know, and they were not told, and released Tommy two days after Kat’s arrival. At his request, she moved her possessions from the hotel she’d slept at while waiting for his release to his house. He had plenty of spare rooms and she set her bags in one of those, only to see him standing in the doorway with a pout on his face.
“Kat?”
“The doctor said you need to rest for another week or so.” Kat folded her arms over her chest and looked back at him. “That means rest.”
He pouted even more, a look that didn’t set so well on a grown man’s face. She didn’t even blink at the sight. “I can come back in a few months. When you’re rested.”
“You know how to tease me.” Tommy moved over to her and pulled her into an embrace. She leaned closer, resting one ear against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
“When Hayley told me you were in a coma, I didn’t know what to think. All I could imagine was getting here as fast as I could.” She’d planned for this trip all along, but had imagined it being more of a leisurely vacation, taking her time to drive and enjoy a few sights along the way.
Instead, she’d managed to get a plane ticket, and rushed on with her bags. If she could’ve teleported, she would’ve done that instead. She wanted to talk to Billy about getting that fixed up for them somehow. It could come in much handier than almost anything else they were looking into.
Tommy ran his fingers through her hair, pressing close to her. “I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy with everything that I haven’t had a chance to talk to almost anyone.”
“I’m telling Jason on you. And Kim.” Kat tilted her head back and was not at all displeased by the brief look of consternation in his eyes. If nothing else, that made her feel so much better about all of this. He was healed enough to know fear at the mention of two of his best friends being angry at him.
The fact that he was afraid made her all the more determined to have Kim and Jason talk to him about what happened, too. Maybe it would finally get through to him that keeping them informed wasn’t a bad idea. Maybe they couldn’t do anything to help, but they’d at least know what was going on.
For now, though, she was content just to hold him and be held by him and be aware that they still had a few more days together and that no battles, no wars, lasted forever.
All of the ex-Rangers received word when Mesogog was defeated. Tommy learned his lesson after Jason and Kim both showed up to give him resounding lectures about not keeping in touch with his friends. Kat not only watched, with popcorn, but she and Kim gave running commentary when Jason and Tommy sparred with one another, and Jason proved that being a cop kept him in even better condition than being a science teacher.
But when the time for prom came, only Kat ended up being free to come by, though everyone else sent encouraging words to both her and Tommy. Kat made her way through the crowd, nodding here and there as she spied the occasional familiar face of the now ex-Dino Rangers. They would have to be introduced to the rest of the larger Ranger clan, in due time. She would see to it that Tommy took care of it.
Tommy himself stood there talking to someone she didn’t recognize at first, until he moved, and she saw Anton Mercer there. He caught a glimpse of her over Tommy’s shoulder and said something she couldn’t quite catch to him. Whatever it was, Tommy turned around, lighting up when he saw her coming closer.
“Kat! You should’ve told me you were coming!”
She laughed at that. “That’s why it’s called a surprise visit.” This would be the second prom that they’d attended together, even if this was a little more unorthodox than the first one, if only by the fact there wasn’t a limo and they hadn’t arrived together.
“Hey, you wanna dance?” Tommy offered, holding one hand out to her. She took it at once.
“I thought you’d never ask.” It never failed to astonish her how easily they fell back into one another’s company whenever they’d been apart for a while. She treasured every moment as the two of them spun around the dance floor together, more than one person looking surprised that their science teacher was out there with them. Well, why not? Principal Randall was dancing as well, she saw, with Anton Mercer no less.
Three dances later, they ended up by the refreshments table, and Kat accepted a glass of punch. She hadn’t danced professionally in some time, but this was different from ballet in so many ways that even if she’d still been a pro, it would’ve tired her out. Her legs ached from muscles long unused in this way as well. It reminded her of how she’d felt after quite a few performances.
“This is the best night I’ve had in a while,” Tommy said, sipping his own punch. “No more worries about getting jumped by anything.”
Kat had to laugh. “At least not until next time, right?” She thought she saw a touch of red creeping up his cheeks, but didn’t point it out. He’d deny it, and she wanted to enjoy it for what it was.
“I’m glad you came.” Tommy shifted subjects, glancing between her and the students still dancing. “I hoped you would.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Kat promised. She’d planned to come back here ever since she’d left following her first visit. She finished her punch; maybe it was time to tell him. “I’ll be here a few days. I’ve got something to do.”
He glanced at her, a curious noise on his lips. She drew in a long breath and hoped this worked as well as she wanted it to. “I’m looking for apartments. I’m moving to Reefside. I’ve got a job with a firm here already.” She’d put in a couple of applications during her first visit, though she’d never told him about them, just in case.
Tommy’s jaw didn’t precisely drop, but it definitely lowered a little. He swallowed, trying to get himself together. “You’re going to be…staying?”
“Not quite just yet, but eventually, yes.” She did like the place, and thought she would’ve wanted to stay here even if he wasn’t.
He wrapped his arms around her at once, leaning in to dash a quick kiss on her lips. It was just as well he didn’t try to say anything, since she doubted he would be all that coherent just yet. The few words that he did manage to say that made sense involved her name and not being able to believe what was happening. She’d expected little else.
Then Tommy did say something that made much more sense. “Want to go outside? I think they can handle themselves here without me for a while.”
“Sure.” She could use a little breath of fresh air herself. A couple of hundred kids all crammed together made it a little difficult to think clearly.
Still holding her hand, Tommy guided her through the mass of teenagers and to the nearest door that led outside. She breathed a fraction easier as soon as they were out there. All of those people looking at the two of them made her just a trifle uneasy. I suppose I’ll have to get used to it. It was different having thousands of people staring at you while you were on stage performing for them, as opposed to teenagers wondering just who you were and why their science teacher looked like he’d just won the lottery.
They walked through the parking lot and down to a long stretch of grass. Starlight shimmered overhead. Kat kept her hand in his, looking forward to a long stretch with very little to do that involved saving the world. Everyone needed a break from that.
“Kat, I was wondering something…” He wasn’t looking at her, but she took the chance to admire the way the light reflected off his hair. “We made a promise, a long time ago.”
“I wouldn’t call it all that long ago.” It hadn’t even been ten years. Even if it had been, that wasn’t ‘long ago’.
Tommy kept on going anyway. “Kat Hilliard, I’ve got an important question to ask you. We’ve been promised all this time.” A faint chill spread all through her and she didn’t know if it was excitement or fear. Perhaps it partook a little of both. “Will you marry me?”
For the first few seconds, Kat could not think at all. Part of her had expected this question at some point in their lives, but now that she’d heard it, everything about her froze. She wasn’t any more coherent than Tommy had been back at the dance.
Then her mind unstuck itself and she returned her answer. “Of course I will!” She’d worn his promise ring for all these years and nothing at all had happened so that she would consider changing her mind.
Tommy breathed easier himself, turning to look at her, hands still held close together. “I wasn’t sure…but I had to ask. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and now that Mesogog’s taken care of…well, I couldn’t think of a better time.”
“Me either.” She pulled herself closer and touched her lips to him, closing her eyes. Their first kiss as actual fiancés… She would remember this one. Not that she forgot any of their kisses, but she savored the memory of some more than others.
She caught a glimpse of a knot of people a little too far away to have heard what they’d talked about but definitely able to see them. She didn’t know them as well as Tommy did, but she recognized Anton, Principal Randall, and the former Dino Rangers, as well as Hayley. There were two others off to the side that she didn’t recognize right away, but no one seemed too concerned about them being there. “Tommy, I think we have an audience.”
He turned the way she indicated and groaned audibly. “Somehow, I don’t think I’m all that surprised.”
Neither was she. They were the people most important to Tommy here, for one reason or another. If they’d been in Angel Grove, then plenty of their mutual friends would likely have been there as well. She shook her head. “Do you want to tell them?”
“Later.” Tommy squeezed her hand, touching the promise ring with the tip of a finger. “I’ll get you a real engagement ring soon. I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight or I would’ve tried to have one ready.”
“That’s all right.” She didn’t need a ring to know the promise had been kept. “Let’s get it together.” She’d spied one or two good jewelry stores during her first visit and the chance to check them out together was not to be turned down.
Tommy hesitated before he asked his next question and it was just as unexpected as his first one had been. “What do you think about moving in with me instead of getting an apartment?”
Her first thought on the matter was that it would be a little inconvenient, given how far his house was from the main part of the city. Her next thought was that it wouldn’t matter at all; she had a car, he had a car, and it would be far more convenient in many other ways, such as living with him on the beginnings of a permanent basis. Not to mention that by now, he’d definitely healed and rested enough for strenuous activities.
“I think that can be arranged.”
“Good. I’ve got to do some cleaning, but it shouldn’t take more than a few days.” He glanced over to where their little audience remained, and a smile flicked across his lips that made them one and all back up a step or two. “Especially since I should be able to recruit some help.”
She didn’t know how he planned to do that, since he could hardly hand out detention to graduated students, but she trusted he knew what he was talking about.
“That’s all right. I won’t be ready to move here for a while, at least.” Moving always took forever, she’d noticed, though nothing yet beat moving from Australia to California, or California to London. Moving to Reefside would be a snap of the fingers by comparison.
He nudged her a little toward the watchers and the closer the two of them got, the more the teenagers backed away. Tommy might not be able to sentence them to detention, but either they hadn’t guessed that, or they didn’t care. She spied the little smirk on his face and decided that they probably didn’t care to test the odds.
“And where are all of you going?” Tommy asked, arms folded over his chest as he stared at them. “It’s still kind of early, you know.”
“Well, we were just going to…go back inside. Right now.” Ethan declared, already close to the door.
“Right. I was just on a break from the music anyway.” Kira took a swift step back while Trent joined her. “That’s all.”
Tommy didn’t give any of them a chance to say anything else. “I want to see all of you, at my place, this weekend. There’s a lot of cleaning and repairs that need to be taken care of, and it’ll go a lot faster if we all do it together.”
Looks were exchanged at a rate that put light to shame. The girl that Kat didn’t recognize shifted a bit. “Dr. Oliver, that doesn’t mean us, does it?”
“No, Cassidy.” Tommy shook his head, trying and failing to hide the smile on his lips. “Just keep quiet about anything that I haven’t actually said you can talk about.”
“Got it!” Cassidy and her companion both nodded quickly and headed inside, squirming past the other two, who seemed half-frozen just at the look on Tommy’s face.
“Tommy…” Anton started to speak up and Tommy interrupted him, that smile just a little less hidden now.
“I do mean you and Elsa, though. You two should know better about spying on people anyway.”
Seeing the looks on their faces, Kat decided that Tommy would have to hold a grand meeting for all of the former Rangers, and tell them exactly what happened this past year that he hadn’t gotten around to yet. She had a feeling that the story had only just begun.
The End
Fandom: Power Rangers
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: I own nothing involved in this story unless I invented it myself. This is written for fun, not for profit.
Notes: I'm using the 'Double Night' challenge for this. Prompt used is 'restless'.
Kat settled her dinner on the table in front of the window and took a moment to admire the view before she settled down to eat. She enjoyed the view from her apartment here, though she had more than once envisioned what it would be like to go back to Angel Grove. The California city had claimed a special place in her heart for many reasons.
She also wanted to see how the rebuilding had progressed; the messages she got from those of her friends who still lived there told her a lot, but there wasn’t anything like seeing it with her own eyes.
Her gaze drifted for a few moments to a set of pictures on the far wall, as happened almost every time she thought of Angel Grove. There she and the other ex-Rangers, from multiple teams, looked back at her, arms around one another and cheerful smiles. The pictures didn’t show the wrecked city or the dust, dirt, bruises, and injuries that Astronema’s invasion had caused. But she remembered each and every one of them.
One of those pictures held only two people in it: herself and Tommy. She hadn’t seen him in over a year, and he hadn’t answered any of her letters. The last time she’d tried to call him, his phone number had been out of service.
I know he said he and that friend of his… It took her a moment to dig the name out of her thoughts. Mercer. Anton Mercer, that was it. They were going on some sort of special trip for something. Tommy hadn’t told her what it was, and the last time she’d spoken to Jason about it, he hadn’t known either. Tommy could be close-mouthed when he wanted to be, but he always turned up again safe and sound.
That didn’t stop her from worrying about him. Nothing stopped her from doing that. The ring on her hand only made her worry stronger. She didn’t like broken promises, and with each passing day, she worried more that this one wouldn’t be kept.
Trying not to get herself into a bad mood, she focused on her dinner, and started to mentally go over the moves she needed to practice for the next performance. This would be her last one before she withdrew from professional dancing to focus on her college education, and hopefully being able to contribute something to Angel Grove’s rebuilding. She wanted to make it the very best that she could.
She was deep into the movements for the third act, swaying a little to the music that ran through her head, when a knock came at the door. It was quick and sharp, and long-buried instincts rose up, warning her toward caution.
No Power Ranger of any kind lived without a daily regimen of workout and some kind of a weapon in their home. Being retired from active duty didn’t change this. It was a good thing that weapons from KO-35 weren’t actually illegal on Earth, since Andros made certain to provide all of them with a blaster and backup charges for it.
Kat swung open one of the paintings on her wall and her fingers spun over the combination lock that opened the small wall safe hidden there. It didn’t matter what numbers she stopped it on; the real way to open it was simply to be her. This was something Billy had picked up on Aquitar, a safe that read a person’s biorhythms, fingerprints, and retina scans to make certain they were someone authorized to open the safe.
Taking the blaster out, she shut the safe again and headed over to the door, where the knocking hadn’t stopped. Just as she got ready to open it, a voice spoke up, weary beyond anything she could remember hearing before.
“Kat? Are you in there? It’s me.”
Her eyes widened at that, and she started to open the door. She still kept her blaster ready, just in case. It wouldn’t be the first time that some enemy tried to deceive one of them with a clone or a spell meant to duplicate or imitate. Just because it sounded like Tommy didn’t mean it actually was Tommy.
On the other side of the door stood Tommy Oliver. Or leaned, to be more precise, as he looked as if he couldn’t have stood up if he wanted to. He looked up when the door opened and smiled at the sight of her. It was a very weary smile, but one that held every bit of the warmth she expected from him.
“It’s me.”
Kat still didn’t move to let him in, and he must not have expected her to, as he dragged something else out of his head. “Still keeping that promise.” And his eyes fell to the ring on her hand.
Kat opened the door and he stumbled inside, managing not to fall by sheer strength of will. She hurried him carefully over to the couch, keeping the blaster out of range. He smiled at the sight of it.
“I could’ve used that a while back.” He shook his head a little. “Didn’t want to take any chances with what Anton and I were doing, though.”
Kat set it down on her coffee table and took a long look at him. “Tommy, what happened? Where have you been all this time? And don’t tell me that you can’t tell me.”
He let out a long sigh, leaning against the couch. From what she remembered from the last time she’d seen him, he’d lost weight, and hadn’t had nearly enough sleep in recent days. Scratches and bruises littered what parts of him she could see, and from the way his sweater looked, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know what the parts she couldn’t see looked like. What on Earth had he been doing?
“Anton and I were working on a secret project. Probably the worst thing that could happen, did happen: it worked.”
Kat managed not to smile. It sounded too much like the standard day in the life of a Power Ranger. She gestured for him to keep going even as she headed into the kitchen to make him some coffee. He looked as if he needed it.
The tale she heard wasn’t one she’d expected, though it was one she wasn’t surprised to hear about. Dinosaurs of various kinds, crystals that could very well power a new age of Power Rangers…exactly what she would’ve expected Tommy to get involved in given half a chance.
“So now what are you going to do?”
Tommy didn’t answer at first. He sat and stared into the coffee cup she’d handed him, as if expecting the coffee to have answers he didn’t. Finally he shook his head. “I don’t know yet. I know that those Dino Gems are going to be needed one day. I need to keep them safe.” He stared down again. “I think I should get in touch with Billy. I’m going to need his help.”
Kat, sitting next to him now, took one of his hand in hers. “If there’s anything that I can do, let me know.”
He smiled at her, a tired smile that told her far more than his words did of how much he needed to rest. She wished at times that he wasn’t so… so Tommy. That saving the world wasn’t in his blood the way that it was. But then, she knew, she wouldn’t love him the way that she did. It would make him someone else altogether, and she would have nothing of that.
“I could use a place to stay, until I can get things sorted out? I used up all my money getting here.”
Her heart raced to think that when he’d needed somewhere to go, he’d come to her, of all people. She squeezed his hand. “You’ve always got a place with me, Tommy.” Her apartment only had one bedroom, but she would make room for him anywhere that he wanted.
He might’ve said something else about what plans he had, if his stomach hadn’t declared desires of its own at the moment. Kat jumped to her feet right away.
“Stay right there.” She’d made more than she really needed for dinner, and had planned on finishing the rest of it either as a late night snack or for breakfast. But she didn’t think Tommy would object to having it himself, after a little re-heating.
He sort of nodded as she stepped into the kitchen, and she doubted that even if he’d wanted to, he could’ve moved off the couch. That was just fine by her. The less he moved right now, the better.
It only took her a few minutes to get the plate heated up and brought back to him. But by then, he’d slumped over, eyes closed, and a soft snore issuing from his lips. Kat watched him for a few moments before setting the plate down on the coffee table where he’d see it when he woke up. He needed sleep more than food right now, or so his body clearly decreed.
She tugged a blanket out of the closet and wrapped it around him before locking her door and putting the blaster where she could get to it easily. The tale he’d told of what happened on that island wasn’t one that encouraged sweet dreams, and she wanted to make certain if any of those creatures should happen to turn up that she was ready to deal with them. Tommy wouldn’t be until after he slept, and she didn’t plan to let them interrupt his nap.
It took a few days for everything to get sorted once he did wake up. Tommy still hadn’t made up his mind on whatever it was he wanted to do after he left, but Kat knew that he would leave as soon as he’d recovered his strength. Fighting off monsters and having to swim from the shattered remains of an island to where he could send a message to get himself picked up had taken more out of him than he wanted to admit, even to her.
Wherever he went, it would have to have a place he could fortify against the attack he knew would come one day, and probably teenagers who might stand a chance at being Power Rangers. That gave a lot of options, and she could see him staring more and more at maps of California and the towns and cities in the vicinity of Angel Grove. She knew what was coming.
So it was no real surprise when after days of communication with Billy and searching for real estate and shopping to rebuild his wardrobe that he looked at her over dinner one evening.
“I’m moving back to Angel Grove for a while. I’ve signed up for fall courses at the university.” He reached out to take her hand as he spoke. “I need somewhere to rest for a while and get things sorted out.”
She wanted to ask if her place wasn’t good enough. She refused to let the hurtful words pass her lips. Instead she smiled a weak smile of her own. “I had a feeling you were going to say something like that.” She pressed her fingers closer to his. “You know you’re still welcome to stay as long as you want.”
“I know. I just feel like this is the right thing for me to do.” He dropped a warm kiss on the back of her hand. “Come and see me as soon as you can?”
“I will.” She knew she would. The thought of moving back herself still lived warm and comfortable in the back of her mind. She just had to get through the one last performance. “When are you going?”
“Not until next month. I still have to get a few more things taken care of here.”
Her last performance would be the following week. Her heart beat faster at the thought of him being there. He’d come to her shows when he could, but as he got more and more involved with Anton Mercer, his attendance had dropped off. He must’ve guessed where her thoughts wandered, since he tightened his grip a fraction on her hand.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to be there for your show. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She hadn’t yet told him it was her last one or that she planned to move within a few months herself. She decided he didn’t need to know, not just yet. If there were things he felt were right for him to do, then she felt the same way about what was right for her to do.
“Can’t wait to see you there.”
People from all over came to the performance, which would be televised live as well. There were even rumors that it would be broadcast to Mirinoi for the settlers and natives there to enjoy. Kat wasn’t so sure about that, but she hoped that everyone who saw it enjoyed, no matter who they were.
She’d made certain Tommy didn’t just get a ticket, but a backstage pass as well. She kept her focus on her dancing, but she could feel his eyes on her, and danced all the better for it.
Kat didn’t think about how much her body hurt. She’d grown used to it over the years she’d danced professionally. All she kept her thoughts on was the dance itself. She didn’t worry about making mistakes. If she stopped to do that, then she would make one. She just danced.
After the last curtain call and the last bow from the performers, when the applause from the audience rang from the rafters, and Tommy’s delighted calls echoed in her ears, she hurried to her dressing room, wanting to change and get ready for the part of the evening she’d secretly been looking forward to most of all: dinner with Tommy.
As soon as she stepped into her dressing room, she was overwhelmed by the delicious scent of a dozen kinds of flowers, all of them set out in beautiful vases of cut glass or ceramics. This was hardly the first time she’d come back to find this, but one bouquet in particular caught her attention: a beautiful display of soft red and pink roses, set in a vase of pure white. She plucked the card from it and opened it up.
I love you, Kat. Simple and true, in Tommy’s handwriting, and her heart melted all over again for him.
Showered and changed into something much more suitable for dining than dancing, she stepped back into the dressing room just in time to hear that familiar knock. She plucked one of the red roses out of that particular vase and wound it into her hair on an impulse before she opened the door. Tommy started to say hello before his eyes fell on it, and he smiled.
“Ready to go?” She asked, her own lips curving upward. He blinked for a moment, then nodded.
“Ready.”
Autumn leaves skittered through the city streets, pushed here and there by the wind, while a harvest moon rose higher and higher, sending silver streams of light all around. With the streetlights gleaming, it was hard to see the moonlight, but Kat liked to keep a watch on it anyway. Even knowing that Rita and Zedd weren’t the threat they once had been, it was hard to shed the fear that something, or someone, there could be watching them.
But even with that caution, Kat still enjoyed walking with Tommy, hands twined about one another, as they spoke of what the future held.
“Jason said they’ve got a room I can stay in until I get my apartment set up.” Tommy told her. She nodded; Jason and Emily would always have their doors open for Tommy. “I won’t be there long, though.”
Her eyes twinkled a little as she swung his hand in hers. “I hope you don’t think I’d be jealous of you staying with them.”
“Of course not!” Tommy protested with a shake of his head. “I was just…I don’t know…” He fidgeted, a hint of a flush creeping up his cheeks. “I wish you were coming too.”
Kat breathed out silently. “Maybe someday.” She still had so much that she wanted to sort through before she made her own return to Angel Grove. She might not get to that for another year. If then.
“Can’t wait to see you when you do. I’m going to miss you.”
Kat glanced toward him, then away for a few seconds. “I already miss you.” Having him around all the time had been like a sneak preview of what they might have one day. Every time she looked at the promise ring, she had to wonder how much longer it would be until that promise would be kept. She’d certainly never met anyone who interested her half as much as Tommy did.
Both of them stopped, just a few short streets away from Kat’s apartment, and met one another’s eyes. Slowly, softly, their lips touched. Kat could feel his breath on hers and leaned in closer, arms going around him, as did his around her. She wanted this moment to last forever.
This wasn’t the first time the two of them had kissed since he’d arrived at her door, exhausted from fleeing the island. There had been other moments, hands touching one another with the most fleeting of caresses, favorite treats and new treats shared and discovered, movies seen together where they held hands and laughed like children, and the nights where they held one another close and let passion fill them both.
But this kiss held something different between them. Another promise, one that might take years til fulfillment, but it would be all the same. Both of them had faith in that.
“You’d better keep in touch with me. Or else.” Kat murmured, only moving herself a little back so she could speak.
“I’ll e-mail you my phone number as soon as I’ve got one.” Tommy promised, reaching one hand up to tug through her moonlight-touched hair. “And my address, too.”
That was the best she could hope for, for now, at any rate. She leaned her head against his chest and breathed in deeply. A preview of what might be, perhaps, but like all previews, it had to end sooner or later. And, she hoped, it would be surpassed by the actual feature.
“Doesn’t seem like that long ago we were saying good-bye to each other in Angel Grove, and I was the one who was leaving.” Kat kept her voice steady, no matter how hard it was. She’d known it was going to happen, but like so many departures, it hadn’t seemed real until they stood here waiting for the actual moment.
Tommy looked much better than he had on that first day. He’d gained back weight, mostly muscle since he’d found a gym he could use to work out at, and he’d been able to shave and shower regularly again. She didn’t tell him that she kind of missed his long hair. The short cut looked better on him anyway. It gave him a kind of maturity she wasn’t used to seeing from him.
He also wore clothes that weren’t more hole than cloth at the moment, though if she knew him, there would likely come a time when that changed. She had no idea of how many shirts he’d owned that ended up in tatters after the daily attacks of Tengas, Cogs, and Piranhatrons. Probably at least as many as she had at the time.
His fingers rested warm on her hand as they stood there. She memorized the feel of them, as she always did and always would. “I know.” So much had happened between those two moments. Almost enough to comprise a lifetime it seemed, and yet not nearly enough time at all for everything she wanted to do.
“I wish I knew what to say.” She didn’t want to say good-bye, not at all. She wanted him to change his mind. She wanted to change her mind and go now. She just did not want them to separate at all. Ever.
He leaned his head down to rest against hers. “I’ll call you as soon as I get to the airport. Just so you know I got there in one piece.”
“All right.” It wasn’t enough. It couldn’t ever be enough. But it would have to do.
Tommy slowly pulled himself away, and to Kat’s hidden joy he seemed as reluctant as she was to do this. But reluctant or not, he did it anyway, picking up his carry-on bag and taking the first steps away. Calling was more than just assuring her that he’d made it safely; three of the Dino Gems he’d created were hidden in that bag. He’d mentioned there were two more, but he’d lost track of them in the confusion of the island, and could only hope they would return when needed.
“They will. That kind of thing is what happens to Power Rangers.” Kat assured him when he’d told her about them.
He did his best not to laugh, though the crinkling of his eyes told her that he wanted to. “We’ll just have to hope that we don’t get any evil Power Rangers out of it.”
“Right. I think we’ve had enough of those.” And yet it was still something that more than one person attempting to take over the world had tried. Clearly everyone else who tried it just hadn’t done it the right way.
Kat watched Tommy move out of sight and headed over to where she could see his plane. She had her own matters to take care of still but put them on hold for these precious few moments. She knew that she’d see him again and refused to turn away until she couldn’t see him any longer.
Take care of yourself, Tommy.
Kat poked her head out of the bathroom, frowning, not certain of what she’d heard. For a few moments she thought she’d imagined it and prepared to go back to her shower. Then the phone rang again and she hurried over to grab it, recognizing the number right away.
“Hi, Tommy!”
“Hey, Kat.” He sounded a little tired, though not so much as she’d heard him at other times. “I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”
“Only a shower.” She teased, quite glad she hadn’t given in to Billy’s urgings to have a videophone installed. As much as she loved Tommy, showers were private matters. Unless they’d decided otherwise, of course. “Give me a minute, all right?”
“Sure. Don’t be too long, though, okay? I’ve got something really important to tell you.”
Kat set the phone down, a faint hope she wanted to throttle going all through her. Five years since he’d moved back to California, and hardly any time at all since he’d settled in at Reefside as the science teacher. She kept meaning to go there and meet those kids he’d talked about, the new Dino Rangers. Everything in her work seemed to contrive to keep her away from them, and from him.
She wouldn’t let it much longer, though. She had far too much reason to go there.
Dry and dressed, she hurried back to the phone and plopped herself down in her favorite chair, reaching for her brush to deal with her obstinate hair. “All right, I’m back. What is it?”
He hesitated before he said anything, and a slow sinking feeling wrapped all through her. “Remember how I said that there were two missing Dino Gems?”
“That’s right.” Oh, no. No.
“Well, there’s only one missing now.” He hadn’t said it yet. She could hope that it wouldn’t be true until he did.
“Who’s the lucky new Ranger?” She wished now that she’d gone there to have a chance at meeting some of the other kids who were there, maybe get a feel for who might be this new choice. Then she wouldn’t have the abyss of nerves swirling around inside of her.
Again the silence, broken at last by two words. “I am.”
She dropped her brush and leaned back against the chair, closing her eyes. She knew it was an honor to be a Ranger, and it meant risking one’s life on a daily basis, fighting against beings that wanted to destroy the world or conquer it or whatever it was they wanted to do. She also thought that was a part of their lives they could put behind them.
I should’ve known better. I did know better. This is Tommy. If anyone would choose to be a Ranger until their dying day, it would be him. It was far too much of who he was. She’d known that for years. And yet this still struck a chord deep within her.
“What happened, Tommy?” He’d kept her, and the other ex-Rangers, advised about what was going on in Reefside, as best that he knew it. She still hadn’t heard of anything that would indicate he was once again going to be on the battlefields.
“Kind of a long story there.” He didn’t sound reluctant to say it, and she made herself as comfortable as she could while he got started, listening to every word.
It also completely failed to surprise her that once again, he’d taken up the Ranger’s mantle because of being kidnapped by a villain. Some things would absolutely never change.
“So, now you’re the Black Ranger.” Getting upset about it wasn’t going to make him not be a Ranger anymore. She didn’t have to like it, and she could hope it wouldn’t last forever, and that he wouldn’t get hurt. He wasn’t as young as he’d once been, whether he realized it or not. “Should I start stocking up on yellow and blue just in case?” She let out a soft laugh. “Or maybe I should get out some of my old clothes? I’m sure Kim would be willing to contribute if you needed anything.”
Now she almost wished she did have a videophone, just for the look she was almost certain decorated Tommy’s face right now. If only, if only…
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m not going to need that. I hope.” Tommy laughed a little. “I think Jason and Adam should be able to help with the clothes for now, though.”
“Maybe when I get down there we can do a little shopping.” She wasn’t as much of a shopper as some people that she knew, but she knew roughly what would look good on Tommy and what wouldn’t. Black wasn’t a bad color for him, actually. She could think of worse ones.
“When are you coming?” A hint of hopefulness tinged his voice now and she considered her calendar carefully.
“I think I can make it sometime next month. Try not to let the world get taken over before then? That doesn’t work well with travel plans.” As they all knew far too well.
Tommy chuckled at that. “I’ll do my best. See you then.” A small wisp of a pause, nothing more than a breath’s worth. “Love you, Kat.”
“Love you, too.” Her heart warmed at the words. No matter how much what happened terrified and angered her, she had to admit there was a twinge of pride in there too. And she knew no matter what, if she’d been offered the chance to take up the fight again, she’d take it. Just like they all would.
Kat’s heels clicked on the hospital floor as she hurried toward the room she’d been told he was in. Her hands clenched, and she knew she’d have to resist the urge to smack him. She’d told him to take care of himself, and what had he done? He’d ended up in the hospital. He hadn’t even been able to tell her about it. She’d received a phone call from Hayley instead.
She expected to see the other woman and perhaps Tommy’s students around the hospital room. It was past school hours and visiting hours hadn’t ended yet. She knew she’d recognize Hayley if she saw her; they’d met at one of the Ranger reunions before Tommy moved to Reefside. But she’d never yet encountered those new Dino Rangers.
How hard could it be to identify three kids who’d probably be outfitted in monochrome shades anyway?
Then again, no one had ever pegged them as the Power Rangers, so that might be harder than she thought.
She stopped outside one room and checked before going in. She moved carefully, not wanting to disturb him if he turned out to be asleep. His bed was hidden from casual viewing by the curtain and she moved carefully around it, ready to wait if need be.
He looked up at her as she poked her head around and smiled, eyes lighting up with joy. “Kat!”
“Tommy!” She hurried forward now to wrap her arms around him gently. “You’re awake! Hayley told me you were in a coma.”
He shrugged at that. “I got bored so I decided to wake up from it. What about you?”
Kat never knew how she managed to stop herself from smacking him. He deserved it, she knew that he did, but they were in a hospital and the doctors would likely object to it. Though if they knew him like she did, they might well hold him down and let have at him.
“I’m fine. Just what’s been going on here?” She had a thousand questions and no idea of where to start with any of them. The few phone calls and e-mails exchanged since he’d told her he was the Black Dino Ranger hadn’t covered nearly enough.
Tommy sighed as she pulled one of the chairs over and settled into it. “That is an even longer story than the last one.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got enough time off stored up so I can stay for a week.” And she fully intended to stay every single one of those seven days, and to find out what she’d been missing out on. She should’ve found a way to move down here as soon as she’d found out about him being a Ranger again. He could manage without her, as she could without him, but the idea of all of this happening and she hadn’t known about it infuriated her. She didn’t care if it would’ve put her into any kind of danger at all. For the sake of knowing, she would’ve risked it.
And she might still. She hadn’t made her mind up on it, and it would still take time for her to make a move if she decided to do so.
“Well, it started a while ago.” Tommy ran his fingers down the side of the sheet as he began. Kat made a point to tell all of their other friends about what Tommy had been doing without letting hardly any of them know about it. He would be in for more lectures that he knew what to do with. She wanted a front row seat for whatever Jason had to say, and she suspected Kim would as well. Perhaps she’d provide popcorn for both of them.
Footsteps sounded outside, more than one set, and she turned to see four young people standing there, none of whom looked very comfortable at seeing her beside Tommy’s bedside, and likely less so because of their hands now being wrapped around one another. Three young men and a young woman, all probably around high school age, and she noted quickly that they all wore a specific color, red, yellow, blue, and white.
She looked back at Tommy, her voice too low for anyone passing in the hallway to hear, but they could. “Care to make the introductions, Dr. Oliver?”
Tommy rolled his eyes. “Hey, guys. Glad to see you.” He gestured for them to come closer. “Kat, I’d like you to meet Connor, Kira, Ethan, and Trent. Guys, this is Kat Hilliard. We’ve known each other a long time.”
Kira’s gaze fell to where their hands were visible on the bed. “I guess you know each other really well?”
“You might say that.” Kat shifted her hand just enough so the promise ring was visible. “I heard he’d gotten himself into some trouble and came to see what he’s been doing.”
Ethan’s eyes widened a fraction. “Are you …I mean…were you…” He tossed a glance over his shoulder before looking back at her.
“The same after school activities that you guys are doing? Yes.” She’d learned a lot about how to mention being a Ranger without actually saying that’s what she was. Those who were Rangers would understand and no one else needed to. “That’s how Tommy and I met.”
They looked so young just as they were, and at that mention, they looked even younger, as if waiting for story time. Kat chuckled. “I can tell you some other time. I’ll be here for about a week.”
“Sounds like it will be a good story.” Trent said. Kat eyed him for a moment; Tommy had mentioned how the White Ranger started off evil. She looked back to Tommy, who nodded as if he read her mind.
“It has a happy ending, at least.” Or it would, once they actually got to the ending. If anything ever ended.
Tommy didn’t stay in the hospital for more than another day or so. From what he’d told her, once he’d recovered completely from the coma, he’d been kept there for tests and observations, and the doctors kept muttering words to the effect of ‘This is impossible’ and ‘I can’t believe this’.
Tommy himself didn’t give them any hints that there might be something unusual about his recovery. While some Power Rangers didn’t bother with secret identities to the general public anymore, those who’d served under Zordon still kept to the promises he’d asked them to make. No one who wasn’t another Ranger, a former enemy, their enemies, a close ally, or once in a while a husband or wife or other close family member knew. Emily did, though Kat wasn’t sure when she’d found out, and she knew Tommy’s brother David did as well, and Tanya’s parents.
But the doctors didn’t need to know, and they were not told, and released Tommy two days after Kat’s arrival. At his request, she moved her possessions from the hotel she’d slept at while waiting for his release to his house. He had plenty of spare rooms and she set her bags in one of those, only to see him standing in the doorway with a pout on his face.
“Kat?”
“The doctor said you need to rest for another week or so.” Kat folded her arms over her chest and looked back at him. “That means rest.”
He pouted even more, a look that didn’t set so well on a grown man’s face. She didn’t even blink at the sight. “I can come back in a few months. When you’re rested.”
“You know how to tease me.” Tommy moved over to her and pulled her into an embrace. She leaned closer, resting one ear against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
“When Hayley told me you were in a coma, I didn’t know what to think. All I could imagine was getting here as fast as I could.” She’d planned for this trip all along, but had imagined it being more of a leisurely vacation, taking her time to drive and enjoy a few sights along the way.
Instead, she’d managed to get a plane ticket, and rushed on with her bags. If she could’ve teleported, she would’ve done that instead. She wanted to talk to Billy about getting that fixed up for them somehow. It could come in much handier than almost anything else they were looking into.
Tommy ran his fingers through her hair, pressing close to her. “I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy with everything that I haven’t had a chance to talk to almost anyone.”
“I’m telling Jason on you. And Kim.” Kat tilted her head back and was not at all displeased by the brief look of consternation in his eyes. If nothing else, that made her feel so much better about all of this. He was healed enough to know fear at the mention of two of his best friends being angry at him.
The fact that he was afraid made her all the more determined to have Kim and Jason talk to him about what happened, too. Maybe it would finally get through to him that keeping them informed wasn’t a bad idea. Maybe they couldn’t do anything to help, but they’d at least know what was going on.
For now, though, she was content just to hold him and be held by him and be aware that they still had a few more days together and that no battles, no wars, lasted forever.
All of the ex-Rangers received word when Mesogog was defeated. Tommy learned his lesson after Jason and Kim both showed up to give him resounding lectures about not keeping in touch with his friends. Kat not only watched, with popcorn, but she and Kim gave running commentary when Jason and Tommy sparred with one another, and Jason proved that being a cop kept him in even better condition than being a science teacher.
But when the time for prom came, only Kat ended up being free to come by, though everyone else sent encouraging words to both her and Tommy. Kat made her way through the crowd, nodding here and there as she spied the occasional familiar face of the now ex-Dino Rangers. They would have to be introduced to the rest of the larger Ranger clan, in due time. She would see to it that Tommy took care of it.
Tommy himself stood there talking to someone she didn’t recognize at first, until he moved, and she saw Anton Mercer there. He caught a glimpse of her over Tommy’s shoulder and said something she couldn’t quite catch to him. Whatever it was, Tommy turned around, lighting up when he saw her coming closer.
“Kat! You should’ve told me you were coming!”
She laughed at that. “That’s why it’s called a surprise visit.” This would be the second prom that they’d attended together, even if this was a little more unorthodox than the first one, if only by the fact there wasn’t a limo and they hadn’t arrived together.
“Hey, you wanna dance?” Tommy offered, holding one hand out to her. She took it at once.
“I thought you’d never ask.” It never failed to astonish her how easily they fell back into one another’s company whenever they’d been apart for a while. She treasured every moment as the two of them spun around the dance floor together, more than one person looking surprised that their science teacher was out there with them. Well, why not? Principal Randall was dancing as well, she saw, with Anton Mercer no less.
Three dances later, they ended up by the refreshments table, and Kat accepted a glass of punch. She hadn’t danced professionally in some time, but this was different from ballet in so many ways that even if she’d still been a pro, it would’ve tired her out. Her legs ached from muscles long unused in this way as well. It reminded her of how she’d felt after quite a few performances.
“This is the best night I’ve had in a while,” Tommy said, sipping his own punch. “No more worries about getting jumped by anything.”
Kat had to laugh. “At least not until next time, right?” She thought she saw a touch of red creeping up his cheeks, but didn’t point it out. He’d deny it, and she wanted to enjoy it for what it was.
“I’m glad you came.” Tommy shifted subjects, glancing between her and the students still dancing. “I hoped you would.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Kat promised. She’d planned to come back here ever since she’d left following her first visit. She finished her punch; maybe it was time to tell him. “I’ll be here a few days. I’ve got something to do.”
He glanced at her, a curious noise on his lips. She drew in a long breath and hoped this worked as well as she wanted it to. “I’m looking for apartments. I’m moving to Reefside. I’ve got a job with a firm here already.” She’d put in a couple of applications during her first visit, though she’d never told him about them, just in case.
Tommy’s jaw didn’t precisely drop, but it definitely lowered a little. He swallowed, trying to get himself together. “You’re going to be…staying?”
“Not quite just yet, but eventually, yes.” She did like the place, and thought she would’ve wanted to stay here even if he wasn’t.
He wrapped his arms around her at once, leaning in to dash a quick kiss on her lips. It was just as well he didn’t try to say anything, since she doubted he would be all that coherent just yet. The few words that he did manage to say that made sense involved her name and not being able to believe what was happening. She’d expected little else.
Then Tommy did say something that made much more sense. “Want to go outside? I think they can handle themselves here without me for a while.”
“Sure.” She could use a little breath of fresh air herself. A couple of hundred kids all crammed together made it a little difficult to think clearly.
Still holding her hand, Tommy guided her through the mass of teenagers and to the nearest door that led outside. She breathed a fraction easier as soon as they were out there. All of those people looking at the two of them made her just a trifle uneasy. I suppose I’ll have to get used to it. It was different having thousands of people staring at you while you were on stage performing for them, as opposed to teenagers wondering just who you were and why their science teacher looked like he’d just won the lottery.
They walked through the parking lot and down to a long stretch of grass. Starlight shimmered overhead. Kat kept her hand in his, looking forward to a long stretch with very little to do that involved saving the world. Everyone needed a break from that.
“Kat, I was wondering something…” He wasn’t looking at her, but she took the chance to admire the way the light reflected off his hair. “We made a promise, a long time ago.”
“I wouldn’t call it all that long ago.” It hadn’t even been ten years. Even if it had been, that wasn’t ‘long ago’.
Tommy kept on going anyway. “Kat Hilliard, I’ve got an important question to ask you. We’ve been promised all this time.” A faint chill spread all through her and she didn’t know if it was excitement or fear. Perhaps it partook a little of both. “Will you marry me?”
For the first few seconds, Kat could not think at all. Part of her had expected this question at some point in their lives, but now that she’d heard it, everything about her froze. She wasn’t any more coherent than Tommy had been back at the dance.
Then her mind unstuck itself and she returned her answer. “Of course I will!” She’d worn his promise ring for all these years and nothing at all had happened so that she would consider changing her mind.
Tommy breathed easier himself, turning to look at her, hands still held close together. “I wasn’t sure…but I had to ask. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and now that Mesogog’s taken care of…well, I couldn’t think of a better time.”
“Me either.” She pulled herself closer and touched her lips to him, closing her eyes. Their first kiss as actual fiancés… She would remember this one. Not that she forgot any of their kisses, but she savored the memory of some more than others.
She caught a glimpse of a knot of people a little too far away to have heard what they’d talked about but definitely able to see them. She didn’t know them as well as Tommy did, but she recognized Anton, Principal Randall, and the former Dino Rangers, as well as Hayley. There were two others off to the side that she didn’t recognize right away, but no one seemed too concerned about them being there. “Tommy, I think we have an audience.”
He turned the way she indicated and groaned audibly. “Somehow, I don’t think I’m all that surprised.”
Neither was she. They were the people most important to Tommy here, for one reason or another. If they’d been in Angel Grove, then plenty of their mutual friends would likely have been there as well. She shook her head. “Do you want to tell them?”
“Later.” Tommy squeezed her hand, touching the promise ring with the tip of a finger. “I’ll get you a real engagement ring soon. I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight or I would’ve tried to have one ready.”
“That’s all right.” She didn’t need a ring to know the promise had been kept. “Let’s get it together.” She’d spied one or two good jewelry stores during her first visit and the chance to check them out together was not to be turned down.
Tommy hesitated before he asked his next question and it was just as unexpected as his first one had been. “What do you think about moving in with me instead of getting an apartment?”
Her first thought on the matter was that it would be a little inconvenient, given how far his house was from the main part of the city. Her next thought was that it wouldn’t matter at all; she had a car, he had a car, and it would be far more convenient in many other ways, such as living with him on the beginnings of a permanent basis. Not to mention that by now, he’d definitely healed and rested enough for strenuous activities.
“I think that can be arranged.”
“Good. I’ve got to do some cleaning, but it shouldn’t take more than a few days.” He glanced over to where their little audience remained, and a smile flicked across his lips that made them one and all back up a step or two. “Especially since I should be able to recruit some help.”
She didn’t know how he planned to do that, since he could hardly hand out detention to graduated students, but she trusted he knew what he was talking about.
“That’s all right. I won’t be ready to move here for a while, at least.” Moving always took forever, she’d noticed, though nothing yet beat moving from Australia to California, or California to London. Moving to Reefside would be a snap of the fingers by comparison.
He nudged her a little toward the watchers and the closer the two of them got, the more the teenagers backed away. Tommy might not be able to sentence them to detention, but either they hadn’t guessed that, or they didn’t care. She spied the little smirk on his face and decided that they probably didn’t care to test the odds.
“And where are all of you going?” Tommy asked, arms folded over his chest as he stared at them. “It’s still kind of early, you know.”
“Well, we were just going to…go back inside. Right now.” Ethan declared, already close to the door.
“Right. I was just on a break from the music anyway.” Kira took a swift step back while Trent joined her. “That’s all.”
Tommy didn’t give any of them a chance to say anything else. “I want to see all of you, at my place, this weekend. There’s a lot of cleaning and repairs that need to be taken care of, and it’ll go a lot faster if we all do it together.”
Looks were exchanged at a rate that put light to shame. The girl that Kat didn’t recognize shifted a bit. “Dr. Oliver, that doesn’t mean us, does it?”
“No, Cassidy.” Tommy shook his head, trying and failing to hide the smile on his lips. “Just keep quiet about anything that I haven’t actually said you can talk about.”
“Got it!” Cassidy and her companion both nodded quickly and headed inside, squirming past the other two, who seemed half-frozen just at the look on Tommy’s face.
“Tommy…” Anton started to speak up and Tommy interrupted him, that smile just a little less hidden now.
“I do mean you and Elsa, though. You two should know better about spying on people anyway.”
Seeing the looks on their faces, Kat decided that Tommy would have to hold a grand meeting for all of the former Rangers, and tell them exactly what happened this past year that he hadn’t gotten around to yet. She had a feeling that the story had only just begun.
The End