A little Secret ch 16
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It was now about four in the afternoon and lunchtime was long gone.
Since Jason's arrival, he and his niece have already eaten lunch, caught up with each other on their lives, and Kat joined them about two hours ago after Jason had called her. She was already filled in on the 411 and she couldn't wait to see Tommy, as well as his reaction to Jason being Kira's Uncle.
But in the meanwhile, the three were having a pleasant conversation in Kira's living room while Austin (who woke up from his nap) chewed busily on his teething ring while in the arms of Kat.
It was then that a knock was heard at the door followed by a "Honey I'm home" coming from outside.
Kira rolled her eyes and got up to answer it, knowing the voice of her fellow teammate anywhere. "One minute Uncle Jase" she excused herself, making her way to the door and opening the series of locks before pulling it open.
She wasn't surprised to see Conner, Ethan, Trent and Dr. Oliver standing there waiting for her, but she was however surprised when Conner swept her up in a big bear hug and cried. "Lucy! I missed you!"
Kira chuckled a little as he set her down and she warmly invited them in. "Hello to you too guys" she said, opening the door wider to allow them access into her home.
As they stepped into the apartment, it didn't take long for them to notice the visitors Kira had over but before her teammates could ask any questions or make any introductions, Tommy had a much more urgent message he had to deliver to her before he forgot; his memory was terrible that way.
"Hey Kira, hey Jase, Hey Kat" he greeted in a rush while walking in, turning to address his protégé. "Listen Kira I talked to Principal Randall about everything and it took awhile of doing but I managed to convince her to let you………………." Tommy paused when his brain suddenly registered who it was exactly that was in Kira's apartment.
He stopped and gave her a confused look before turning to face the living room and giving Kat and Jason a look that displayed even more confusion. "Wait what………….Kat? Jase?" he asked. "Is that really you?"
Poor Tommy was lost at the moment. Even more lost than Ethan, Conner and Trent, who were wondering about the small exchange going on in front of them.
"In the flesh" Jason replied with a grin.
"Holy hell, I didn't even realize that……………..Wow! Hey guys how are you!" he said, laughing as he made his way into the living room to greet them.
Kira shook her head in shame as she watched her science teacher get reunited with his long time friends. Poor Tommy, such a smart guy yet so confused. It should be a crime to play practical jokes on the man because Kira swore sometimes his memory and his brain really wasn't in function with the rest of his body.
"Wow, man it's great to see you" Tommy exclaimed. "Same to you Kat." He added. "I can't believe it, what are you guys doing here"
"We stopped by to see you" Kat replied.
"Me?" he asked.
"Yes you bro" Jason replied. "We ran into Billy a couple weeks ago back home and you managed to come up in the conversation. We were talking about the old gang and everything and how everyone has still kept in touch except y-o-u." he explained.
Tommy blushed sheepishly. Yes it has been awhile since he's kept in touch with his old friends but that wasn't his fault, he wasn't allowed tell anyone about the projects he was working on with Mercer. And on top of that, it didn't help that he spent most of his time working on said projects on a secluded island.
"Sorry guys" he apologized. "I know it's been a while"
"It's ok man, I understand you've been busy, don't sweat it."
"Ya, the important thing is that we're here now" Kat said.
Tommy smiled; leave it up to Jason and Kat to be so optimistic. He knew he's always liked them better. "Thanks guys. So uh, how did you find out I was here?" he asked.
"Well Billy said that he ran into your mother at the gas station one day and he asked about you. She told him that you were here in Reefside and well it sort of goes on from there." Kat explained.
"Ah, my mother" Tommy grumbled to himself. Only his over caring mother would throw out his information to anyone and rant and rave about her darling baby. Although he was adopted, he was still his parent's first child and his mother was always telling people how proud she was of her baby boy.
"Anyway," Jason continued. "I figured since I haven't seen you in forever and my niece lived down here, me and Kat might as well stop by and pay you guys a visit."
At the mention of his niece, Tommy exchanged looks between his yellow protégé and his best friend. Jason was Kira's Uncle? Tommy knew Jason had a little sister (how could he not know after the throw-up incident) but he couldn't recall him ever mentioning having any nieces or nephews before.
"You have a niece?" he asked, his confusion returning once again.
"Ya bro. She's my sisters kid"
"Jamie?"
"No" Jason proclaimed. Jamie was a good teen plus years younger than him, that sort of thing was biologically impossible. "Maria, my older sister"
"You have an older sister?" Tommy asked.
Now Jason shook his head rolling his eyes. He could have sworn Tommy had met his older sister before. "Well obviously Tommy" he said.
"Hmm" Tommy replied, absorbing in all the information. "Hey Kira, how come you never told me Jason was your Uncle?" he asked.
Kira sighed. "Well sorry. I had no idea you knew him." She said. "But don't worry I've learned my lesson. Next time I meet someone new I'll just hand them a copy of my family tree."
Tommy glared and Kira grinned.
"Anyway," he said, beginning to change subjects and turning to his other three protégés. "Guys I want you to meet Jason and Kat, two very good friends of mine from high school and two former rangers." He knew that his students have heard him going on and on about his best friends from high school and he thought it was important for the teens to finally meet them. Especially since they were all rangers, it would make for an interesting visit.
The reactions in the room however were priceless; Ethan and Trent looked awfully stunned for being in the presence of a legacy, Conner squealed with joy, Kat and Jason looked a little apprehensive about Tommy letting them know they were rangers and Kira nearly chocked on her own air.
Her Uncle and Aunt were rangers! No freaking way! It really was a small world after all. As a matter of fact, the world was freaking tiny. Honestly, what were the possibilities that two people in the same family would become rangers? The statistics were endless!
She couldn't believe it, her Uncle Jason, a ranger. It all made sense now. His nobility, honest nature, kindness, willingness to help, unbelievable skill in martial arts and his subconscious nature to constantly wear red; all these were signs of a ranger. Once again she couldn't believe that she hadn't thought of it before.
"Tommy" Kat but in. "I'm not to sure that they're supposed to know that we were—"
"No it's alright Kat" Tommy reassured. "They're rangers to; they're all my protégés." He replied.
Now it was Jason's turn to almost choke on his own air. "Protégé?" he asked and Tommy nodded. "You mean you……………and them……………and………Kira?" he asked and he nodded again.
Both Jason and Kira turned to each other, asking in unison. "Why didn't you tell me you were a ranger?! No I asked first! C'mon! I wasn't allowed to tell!"
Tommy chuckled a bit as he watched the exchanged and Austin, who was still in Kat's arms, laughed as he shook his teething ring in the air. He didn't know what was going on but it looked funny and it seemed like a situation to laugh.
"Whoa, I don't believe this" Jason said. "My niece is a ranger?" he asked.
"I don't believe my Uncle was a ranger." She said. "Dr. O, how come you never told me!"
"Oh I'm sorry I've learned my lesson. Next time I meet someone new, I'll hand them a copy of the ranger history." He said while grinning and Kira glared.
"Hahahaha, very funny" she said.
"Man I can't believe I didn't see the signs before. The kindness, loyalty, willing to help, sudden interest for martial arts, subconscious nature for yellow" Jason pointed out. "I can't believe I didn't notice it."
"Me either" Kira said.
"Aw it's cute don't ya think?" Kat asked. "A little family of rangers. Next thing you know, this little one will be in line" she added, snuggling little Austin closer to her.
The room laughed.
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So once the hype of being a ranger calmed down, the group got a chance to really relax and take it easy. (Other than Conner's persistent questions for Jason on the life of a red ranger) Jason, Tommy, and Kat were having a ball chatting about the good ol' days compared to where they were now and, Conner, Ethan, Trent and Kira were partly joining in on the conversation and partly chatting/ doing homework amongst themselves, and little baby Austin was happily playing with his Auntie Kat who just couldn't let go of him.
Kira had to admit, it was good being together like this. Away from the stress of the world and in her own little space with the people she cared for most. From what had happened earlier that day she never would have figured that her day would turn out like this and she was glad it did. For once she could just breathe.
Kira sighed in content as she watched her teacher and her relatives chat up a storm and her best friends laugh at the sitcom they were watching on tv. Yep, life was defiantly good. Finally no more secrets, no more hiding and no more stress, she could just take it easy.
It was then that Austin took the moment to interrupt with an abrupt cry.
It was sudden and grabbed the attention of everyone in the room, causing Kira to sigh once more. "Spoke too soon" she thought.
Lifting the baby off her lap to inspect him for any bruises he might have gotten by accidentally hitting himself with while he was playing, Kat gave the baby a sympathetic look. "I don't know what happened." She said. "He was fine when he was playing here two seconds ago." She said.
Kira sighed checking her watch. The big hand on the twelve and the little hand on the six faced back at her proving her suspicions correct. It was six o'clock, which meant that Austin was hungry. "It's ok" she said, getting up to fix him some food. "He's just hungry that's all. He's sort of on clock work you know?"
"I'll say" Tommy agreed looking at his watch. "Six o'clock on the dot, the boy is good."
Kira chuckled, walking into the kitchen and digging around the cabinets for baby food while Kat followed with baby in hand. As she walked by though a trail of a rather unpleasant smell tagged along behind her and wafted it's way into the noses of the others.
"Yikes, baby alert" Jason said, the first to notice the foul odor.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, stinky baby!" Conner added, waving his hand furiously in front of his nose to try and dodge the smell.
"Oh, man that reeks" Trent added.
"Lack…….of………oxygen…………..can't……………breath!" Ethan joked, clutching his throat as if he was being chocked.
The men in the room laughed while Kira shook her head in dismay and Kat playful glared. "You guys cut it out, he's a baby, he doesn't know any better" she said.
"Even if he did Kat, that smell is a killer. It's clearing my sinuses and I don't even have any." Jason said and they laughed once more.
Kira chuckled a little herself, pausing from preparing Austin's food and retrieving her baby from Kat's arms, heading to the bathroom to change his diaper. "C'mon you little goober, let's change your nappy" she cooed at him, gently swaying him to calm down his tears.
Kat sighed at her husband, once again following Kira to help her with anything she might need.
Once she was gone and the three boys got back to doing, their homework, Jason turned to his best friend.
"So…"he began. "Still a ranger huh?"
Tommy sighed nodding his head in affirmation. "Yep, still a ranger"
Now it was Jason's turn to shake his head. "Dude, you are like a living legend" he pointed out and Tommy chuckled.
"Hey, how come he gets to call you dude?" Conner interrupted; Tommy glared.
"Conner finish your homework" he said.
"Right" the red ranger replied before going back to his math homework. The last thing he wanted was to annoy his mentor and get 50 extra push-ups during their next training session.
"Anyway" Tommy began, turning back to his best friend. "I appreciate the comparison but I don't like to consider myself a legend" he said.
"What are you talking about bro, I bet that you've served the longest time in uniform out of any generation of rangers. Plus you've had like what, 5 colors now?"
"Four"
"Whatever. Point is, you're a hero man, own up to it"
Tommy sheepishly smiled. Jason was right; he probably has served the longest time in uniform and has had the most colors than any other ranger. But that didn't mean he could take all the credit. Being a ranger was a team effort, everyone was involved, so Tommy wasn't the only one responsible for his own success; his teammates were too.
"Nah, they're the heroes man" he said motioning to his three protégés on the floor, arguing over a math problem. "Even though the work my nerves a little………………no actually a lot." He said and chuckled a bit. "They're great. They're dedicated, loyal, quick learners, swift, and more cunning than I give them credit for; especially Conner. If anything I'm more of a mentor for them, you know sort of like their Zordon. I'm just on the field as more of a back up than anything else. They do all the real work."
"Awwwwww" Jason cooed. "That's beautiful man" he teased pretending to wipe a fake tear and Tommy gave him a playful punch.
"Stuff it man, I'm serious"
Now Jason laughed. "Ya, ya, I know, I know. But man, I'm still in awe. I mean I can't believe my niece is a ranger, the whole thing is mind boggling."
Tommy chuckled. "I can't believe she's been rangering all this time while taking care of a baby. Now that's mind boggling"
Jason nodded in agreement. "So uh…….when did she tell you about him?"
"About who?" Tommy asked, briefly wondering if they switched subjects and he hadn't noticed.
Jason rolled his eyes at his best friend. Sometimes Tommy's lack of memory caused him to be so clueless. "The baby" he answered as if it was plain as day.
"Oh the baby" he said, chuckling a bit. "Uh……last weekend"
Jason's eyes went as wide as saucers. "Last weekend?" he asked. It was only Tuesday, and he figured with how accustomed Tommy was to the whole idea, he had known from months ago.
"Ya well, she didn't really tell me. I mean, we sort of found out and then she was forced to spill the beans. Up until last weekend she was keeping it all a secret."
"Seriously?" Jason asked. He knew after talking to Kira over the phone that she was for the most part keeping a low profile about being a teen mother but after seeing her relationship with Tommy and how much trust and faith she put into him, he would have at least suspected she told him about it.
"Yep"
"Wow, must have been hard" Jason admitted. "Keeping two big secrets like that. Man, and we thought we had it bad when we were in high school"
"You're telling me" Tommy agreed. "Apparently, we had no idea"
Kira and Kat finally returned with freshly diapered, tear free Austin, interrupting the two men from their sympathy moment.
"Hey Jase are you hungry. Kira and I were just about to order some pizza." Kat asked her husband while the yellow ranger got to work on fixing Austin's supper.
"Pizza yum!" Conner interrupted again.
"I'm game" Ethan replied.
"Sounds good to me" Trent added.
Tommy threw his students a skeptical look. "Don't you three have a home to be getting back to? You know with parents, and brothers and sisters, and a warm dinner waiting on the table?" he asked.
"My parents are out of town" Ethan replied.
"My parents aren't back from work yet" Conner added.
"I got kicked out remember?" Trent asked.
Tommy's look hardened. "How convenient"
Jason chuckled before answering his wife. "Ya sure pizza sounds great"
"Alright well pizza isn't going to pay for itself so fork it over" she said while holding out her hand or his wallet.
Jason sighed. "I should have known this was too good to be true" he replied fishing in his back pocket for his wallet. Kat and Tommy laughed as he did so, Tommy also pulling out his wallet to contribute to pizza funds.
"Tell you what Jase, I'll spare you and pick up half the bill." He said.
"Well we don't even know how much it is yet"
"Should be about 80 bucks" Kat replied.
"80 bucks!" both men cried in unison.
"Alright, alright 40 sheesh" she replied while they each handed her a twenty. "Don't have a cow"
"Easy for you to say" Jason replied while putting away his wallet. "Not all of us have daddy to pay for everything"
Kat only stuck her tongue out while picking up the phone to order the food.
Meanwhile Kira made her way back into the living room, with baby and baby food in hand, handing Austin over to Jason.
"Mind holding him while I feed him?" she asked and Jason bunched up his face like a 5-year old about to be fed broccoli.
"Yes" he replied, accepting the baby anyway as Kira ignored his answer. "Don't you have a highchair for him?"
"Ya, but he doesn't like it so it's downstairs in storage."
"Well how would you normally go about this if I wasn't here to hold him?"
"I normally just put him on the sofa with that little baby supporter thingy" she explained, snapping on Austin's bib and finally giving the awaiting baby the first bite. Austin grinned as he happily gummed the mesh down, savoring the taste for a while before swallowing. Ah, there was nothing like processed peas and carrots.
"But……….." Jason asked.
"But………you and everybody else's fat but is taking up residence on my sofa so I have to make do"
"Oh I'll gladly move"
"Uncle Jase!" she whined giving Austin his second bite and Jason chuckled.
"Alright, alright, I'll hold him. Just please don't let him drip any of that………….whatever it is on my pants."
"It's peas and carrots" she said briefly inspecting the mush in the bowl.
Jase now bunched up his face in disgust. "It's no mystery why they feed that stuff to people who can't talk"
"Oh that's not true, they don't like it either, that's why they throw up" Tommy added.
"Very true, very true" Jason agreed.
Kira just rolled her eyes. "Men" she concluded.
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