A/N - Okay so I made some edits to the chapters. So here is the new and improved version. I hope everyone enjoys and I love getting reviews! Catch Ya On The Flipside!
Chapter 1 – Hand to Hold or Hell to Pay
Kimberly Hart walked through the door of her small apartment in Miami, Florida. Every piece of her petite body ached and throbbed. She walked over to her small kitchen and pulled the door of her fridge open. Moldy cheese, and old fruit only stared back at her. She moved to the freezer grabbing as much ice as possible and then slowly limped over to her small couch while pulling a familiar green plaid sweatshirt over her head and placing the ice on her swollen ankle. Reaching for her phone her fingers grazed over the number one wishing she could press the speed dial that would let her call a certain guy who would make her feel better.
I wish I could just hear his voice, but can't even do that anymore. Kim thought sadly as she dialed another guys phone number she knew would help.
"Talk to me." A deep familiar voice answered on the other line.
"Hey Jase."
"Hey firebird, how's it going?"
"Okay…"
"What happened? You sound like you are in pain."
"You could say that."
"Kim…start from the beginning."
"Ha! You sure you want to hear all of it?"
"I'm still listening aren't I?"
"Okay. Jase…I want to call him so bad."
"Kim, we talked about this. It was better for both of you. Neither one of you were doing well. You ended back in the hospital and he kept getting himself almost killed every time in the field. His only saving grace is the power helps him heal quicker."
"Jase, I feel worse. The pain is worse."
"What! But Zordon said…"
"Shit Jase, I know what Zordon said! I don't know why this is still happening. I was on the beam today and I felt a sting of pain up through my whole body as I flipped. I fell right off. It's supposed to be better."
Flashback
Kimberly mounted the beam as her coach gave her certain instructions about her program. She focused on her breathing just like Tommy had showed her a million of times. She did the first half of her program and as she twisted her body around the beam a sharp pain hit her legs. Her feet barely hit the beam as she grabbed her stomach and landed on the mat with a loud thud. Her coach and teammates came running over as Kimberly lay on the mat curled in a ball of pain.
Her coach continually called her name, but all she could feel was the pain and all she could see was Tommy's face. "Tommy…" she gasped as the trainer came and picked her up off the mat. Her coach then sent her home to rest.
End Flashback
"What are you okay, do I need to come there?" Jason panicked.
"No, my arm is just bruised and I have this massive bruise on my back from skimming the beam. I am more worried about what I felt. Jase…the pain. I could feel every drop of it. I could see his face. Zordon said if I did this it would be better and Tommy wouldn't be in anymore pain and I would be okay too."
"Kim, we need to go talk to Zordon and we need to talk to Tommy."
"No, Jase, we can't talk to Tommy. I didn't talk to him in the first place because I know he would fight it and try to find another way."
"Well Kim, maybe that isn't such a bad idea."
"Maybe...I don't know...Jase, what happened for Tommy to be in so much pain?"
"Kim…."
"Please Jase. It was so intense and bad."
"We had a tough fight today with the Machine Empire. Tommy has been really distracted lately…"
"Because of me?"
"Yeah Kim, I hate to say it, but he is a mess. Anyways, I guess Sprocket got wind of you and especially what just happened and he went with it."
"No…he didn't."
"Yeah he did. Tommy went down hard. That's probably when you went down. I went back with him to his house and he punched three holes in his wall and then kinda broke down."
"Oh God, Jase…" Kim began to sob into the phone. "I only did this because I thought this would be better. I could feel everything he was going through in every battle. He could feel when I fell every damn time. We always felt each other but it's so much worse with us being apart."
"Kim, it's okay, we'll find a way to fix it."
"Fix it! I ruined it. He probably hates me!" Kim sobbed harder.
"That's the problem Kim, he doesn't hate you." Jason responded hearing his best friend, his little sister sob harder into the phone.
"Look Kim, we need speak to Zordon. You, me and Tommy."
"I don't know if I can face him." Kim chocked out.
"Please sis. We have to get you two better. This is getting out of hand."
"Fine."
"Good. I want you to rest tonight and be careful tomorrow in practice and we'll meet at the Power Chamber after your practice okay?"
"Okay Jase."
"Now get some rest firebird."
"Night Jase, luv ya."
"Night, luv ya too."
***
The next morning Kim could barely get up as she peeled herself off her couch that she had apparently passed out on. She had cried herself to sleep the night before and she could feel her fall even more this morning. Taking slow steps into the gym this morning, Kim gingerly sat down on the mats and began her stretching exercises awaiting the coach's instructions.
"Miss Hart. Beam work again today!" The coach shouted over at her.
Of course no good morning Kimberly or how are you feeling after falling of the beam while feeling like someone is ripping your organs out. "Coming coach." Kim answered running over to the beam.
"Go through your routine again and no mistakes this time Miss Hart." The coach commanded as Kim pushed herself into a handstand position on the beam.
Kim tried to focus, but her legs were shaky, she was miss stepping and couldn't seem to plant her feet correctly. He coach was barking orders at her and all she could see was Tommy's face in pain. Shaking her head clear, she readied herself for the dismount. Taking another deep breath Kim began her dismount, but on her second move her feet never landed on the beam. The right side of her head hit the side of the beam her body falling limply onto the mat, making Kimberly Hart's world go black.
"Call an ambulance and get a towel for the blood!" Sandy and teammate of Kim's yelled as everyone scrambled around the seemingly lifeless form of Kimberly Hart.
***
The same time across the country in Angel Grove, California Jason Lee Scott the Gold Ranger and Tommy Oliver the Red Zeo Ranger were walking into the Youth Center. Tommy and Jason walked over to their usual table where the rest of the rangers were sitting.
"Feeling any better Tommy?" Adam asked watching his leader wincing as he sat down.
"Yeah I'm fine." Tommy softly answered.
"You sure?" Kat asked sweetly putting her hand on Tommy's.
God Kat could you be any more obvious. Jason sighed glaring at Katherine.
"I'm fine, everyone needs to stop worrying about me." Tommy growled getting up from the table.
"Bro, they are just worried." Jason said following him down to the mats.
"I know, I just wish everyone would lay off." Tommy replied as he stretched on the mats.
"I know, they will." Jason sighed as he stretched too.
"Is it going to get any better Jase?" Tommy asked looking up at his best friend.
"It will." Jason replied knowing full well what or who Tommy was referring to. "That's part of what we need to talk about later this afternoon okay?"
"Okay." Tommy sullenly replied, but just as he stood up he doubled over in pain.
"Bro? You okay? What's wrong?" Jason rushed over to his teammate who had fallen to his knees in pain.
"The pain, I can feel it." Tommy gasped grabbing his stomach.
"What is he talking about?" Kat asked as her and the rest of the rangers rushed over to Jason and Tommy on the mats as Tommy cried out in pain.
"Shit." Jason cursed jumping up and running to grab his cell phone from his bag.
"Jason what is going on?" Rocky asked, running over to him.
"Get Tommy to the Command Center now." Jason commanded moving quickly back into leader mode.
"But what is going on?" Kat asked again looking down on Tommy.
"I said get him to the Command Center!" Jason commanded again trying to keep his voice down so no one would hear him."I'll meet you there."
"Okay." Adam responded never seeing Jason so panicked.
The rangers picked Tommy off the ground and carried him out of the Youth Center so they could teleport to the Power Chamber. Jason took his phone and ran outside of the Youth Center as well so he could hear better. He quickly dialed Kim's cell phone number knowing she kept it in her bag for emergencies. Please don't be what I think it is. Jason thought as he heard the phone ring. "Damnit Kim, pick up." Jason growled waiting for Kim to pick up.
"Hello?" An unfamiliar voice answered.
"Who the hell is this? Where is Kim?" Jason yelled into the phone.
"This is Sandy, Kim's teammate. Is this Tommy or Jason?" The female voice on the other end asked.
"It's Jason."
"Thank God. We were going to try to call either you or Tommy."
"Why what happened?"
"It's Kim…" The girl started to cry causing Jason to hold his breath.
"Please just tell me."
"She was on the beam and she hit her head on the beam and fell off. There was so much blood. I'm so sorry."
"Oh God." Jason gasped trying to control his emotions. "Look where is she now?"
"She is in Miami General Hospital. The doctors won't tell us anything. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. That was the same one she was in last time right?"
"Yeah."
"Well please tell the doctor we are on our way. Tommy and I are on her emergency contact list so we will be there soon okay."
"Okay."
"Thank you." Jason said closing his phone, trying to catch the breath and trying stop the tears that were threatening to fall down his cheeks. He pressed his communicator and teleported is a flash of gold to the Power Chamber.
***
The gold teleportation beam materialized in the Power Chamber and Jason slowly looked at the other rangers.
"Jason what is going on?" Adam quickly asked noticing Jason's sullen demeanor.
"Where is Tommy?" Jason answered trying to keep his composure. He had to be strong for Kim and Tommy.
"He is recuperating on the medical bed. He should not move right now." Billy quickly answered.
"Well to damn bad. I am moving. " Tommy stood up slowly and approached Jason. "I saw her face Jase."
"I know. We need to go to Florida." Jason answered trying to read his friends' reaction.
"Wait why the hell do we need to go to stupid Florida?" Kat asked knowing full well what was in Florida.
"What is in Florida?" Tanya asked completely confused.
"Kimberly." Tommy barely got out.
"What's wrong with Kim?" Rocky quickly asked worry building up about one of his best friends.
"Something has happened. We need to go. Zordon, I know it's against the rules, but we need to teleport there. It will take too long otherwise and this has to do with the other part too." Jason said looking up at his mentor.
"YES JASON. I KNOW. I FELT IT TOO. ALL OF YOU MUST GO RIGHT AWAY. ALPHA PLEASE TELEPORT THE RANGERS." Zordon commanded trying to hold in his own worry for his small crane.
"Ready guys?" Jason asked looking at the worried faces of Adam and Rocky, the confused face of Tanya, the bitter face of Katherine and the devastated face of Tommy.