Summary – Zedd and Tommy reach and understanding.

-o-

Understandings and Agreements

Tommy

-o-

Landing in the park and slightly reluctant to release Zedd, I make a fast note that he has yet to let go of me either.

Finally stepping apart and looking at each other, both of us are clearly uncertain for what to say in way of parting words. Finally unable to take it anymore and sure he's going to leave if something isn't said soon, I give it a shot. "So I guess this is it, huh."

"It would seem so." Holding his staff tightly and looking anywhere but at me, he isn't helping in making this easier and any less awkward. "I still believe you should reconsider."

Deciding that I should try a different approach considering this is probably the last time I will see him and I don't really want him to leave feeling rejected, I make a counter offer. "You know you could always switch to my side."

Looking surprised but recovering quickly, he shakes his head. "Work with that pompous windbag you call a mentor? I think not Thomas." Thought as much.

"Thought I'd ask." Once again held in place by uneasy silence and the reluctance to part, I heave a sigh. "I'm not going to see you again am I."

Leaning toward me, forehead suddenly resting against mine and eyes very tired, he gives me a small smile. "You should never-"

"Get away from him!"

"- extend goodbyes." Looking in the direction of the shout, we both groan as we see my friends not currently morphed but nevertheless holding blasters. "I believe it's time I took my leave." That's probably a good idea, even though I know they won't shoot him while I'm so close.

"Don't worry I'll tell them how completely horrible and evil you were to me."

Smiling and quickly grabbing me back to him, he turns his back to the no doubt panic stricken group. "I'm going to miss you. Be careful and be strong." Pressing his lips to my neck, he suddenly let's me go just as quickly as he'd snatched me.

Taking a minute to realize just what'd happened and why he'd thrown me aside, I see him stagger back to his feet, his staff clutched tightly in his right hand as his left arm is now bleeding. They shot him.

Furious at both the fact they'd fired while I was still in his arms, and just plain fired at him in general, I don't have long to dwell on it as Jason's blaster is raised for a second shot.

Taking off towards the Red Ranger and barely shoving him off balance in time to stop his action, I ignore the protests coming from my friends. "Go!"

Apparently as surprised by my actions as the Rangers, Zedd pauses a moment longer before accepting my command and disappearing in flash of red.

"What are you doing?!" Pushing me aside and getting to his feet, Jason looks down at me in disbelief and anger. "I had a clean shot." I know I think I felt my heart literally stop when I saw just how perfect a shot you had.

Wanting to yell back, tell him that he had no right to shoot without knowing the situation, I realize instantly how absurd that would sound. Zedd took me, saving my life or not, he took me and that's all they knew about the matter, so why shouldn't they shoot now and ask questions later?

"Tommy did you hear me?" Anger giving way to true worry now, Jason's hands are on my shoulders gripping me tightly as if afraid to let go. "Why did you do that?"

Swallowing and knowing I can't tell them, knowing I'd be betraying Zedd and look utterly insane in their eyes, I hear the lie tumble out. "That wasn't Zedd."

Frowning and loosening his grip, Jason doesn't look fully convinced. "What?"

Taking a deep breath and all to aware of how important this is going to be, I give him a calm and sincere look. "That wasn't Zedd. You fired at a servant."

Stepping up and looking more convinced then Jason, Zack shakes his head. "He had Zedd's staff." Crud I forgot about the staff.

"He took it. He felt sorry for me being trapped there at Zedd's mercy so he risked his own life to help me escape." Honestly I'm not so sure that's completely a lie. I don't know much about Dark Spector but I'm fairly certain that he will not be happy when he finds out Zedd let me go. What if he hurts him? What if Zedd ends up paying his life for saving mine? Shit.

"I knew it, Zedd's powerful but come on why would he make himself look human?" Making a dismissive gesture Kimberly looks to the boys, a scowl of disapproval on her face. "I told you it wasn't him, but no you just had to go charging in when you saw him holding Tommy on the viewing globe. God you could have really gotten both of them hurt Jason."

"So he helped you get free?" Looking rather sorry, Trini touches my arm gently. "Tommy we're sorry. It's just when Zordon alerted us to you being back on Earth we rushed to the Command Center and well when we saw you on the viewing globe I guess we were just so afraid that Zedd was right behind you."

"In our defense he did have the staff. That's really the only reason we even thought he was Zedd." Punching Jason in the arm, Zack gives him a scowl much like Kim's. "Well that and Jason insisted he'd seen that guy at the store last week and had gotten a bad vibe from him."

"You weren't there. That guy he radiated negative energy." Turning from Zack and looking back at me, he's still holding out. "You're sure that wasn't Zedd?"

Not feeling right lying to them even though it's necessary, I try to answer as truthfully as I can. "He was my friend."

-ooooooooo-

(That night, Angel Grove Lake)

Staring out over the water at the moon in the distance, I wonder if he even knows I'm out here. It probably was a pointless idea to come out and wait, I know he's got not reason to come back to see me, and if anything is probably nursing his wounds. Still though it was worth a shot.

Just about to get up from where I've been sitting under this tree for the last hour and head back home I jump slightly as he suddenly appears beside me, still dressed in the same clothes he'd been wearing earlier only with the addition of a bandage around his left bicep and minus his staff. "Hi."

"Hi." Sitting down beside me just close enough to not touch, he looks tired.

Touching his wounded arm carefully, I can't help but feel my concern mount as he flinches. Didn't he use his power to heal it like he did me? Maybe it wasn't that easy since it was a power blaster wound and the energy used in those comes straight from the grid. "How are you?"

Smiling smally he gives a shrug. "Well if I can go a little while without being shot, I think I'll be alright. You?"

"Substitute shot for thrown off a cliff and I think I'll manage just fine." Though with how the others are acting you'd think I'd lost my mind. I still think they have doubts about my story concerning Zedd being a servant instead of who he is, but thankfully none have questioned it further.

"This is why I don't do the right thing. You only get hurt for it in the end." Starting to see that.

"Usually, but when you realize that you're getting hurt spared others the same fate it makes it not so bad you know." Sparing a glance over at him and seeing his smile still in place I resist the urge to rub it in that he clearly does know what I mean even if he will undoubtedly deny it.

As I expected he quickly switches topics. "I'm surprised your uncle let you out."

"He didn't, had to wait until he was asleep and slip out." Which I'll admit probably wasn't the best thing for me to do considering he might wake up and check on me, but I just had to get out for a little bit. "Thought maybe you'd come if I sat out here."

"Didn't get a very proper goodbye did we." Well I imagine we almost did before you got shot. However that kiss on my neck, that was a little odd, though really not unwelcome. "Thomas you understand that this can't…"

"I know." And I do, we can't meet like this, I made my choice and it was to come back here and do what I can to fight for my side despite my now powerless state. Maybe if things were different or maybe when one of us finally decides they've had enough of this crap, maybe then we can pick up wherever it is we're leaving off, but not until then.

"I should go."

"Yeah, me too."

Remaining where we are, I lean against his side knowing that once we leave we won't be friends anymore. It just can't be as long as we're on opposite sides of the line. Reaching into my pocket and removing my now useless coin, I press it into his palm. "You keep it. Consider it a reason to come find me again when all this is over."

"Remember how you said you wished you could repay me for saving you?" At my confirming nod he presses a kiss to my head as he holds onto the coin, eyes never leaving the water. "You just did."

The End

-o-

Haha I never told you what their relationship was and what Zedd was after. Was it slash? Was it friendship? Was it some bizarre father son type bond? You'll never know!

Seriously though it was companionship, meaning friendship and maybe just a drop of slash tossed in to spice it up. They very well could have developed into lovers, but as Zedd previously noted in part 9, Tommy is still a child which really was basically my way of saying he's a bit too young for Zedd right now.

Anyways there will be a sequel. It'll be set in White Ranger time, with this situation reversed. Meaning Zedd's the wounded one and Tommy's the savior. Spiffy huh? Yeah well Zordon and the others won't think so.