Chapter
20: Echoes of Fear
Bathroom #4
Kim clenches her fingers around the lifted toilet seat as her body shakes in an effort to expel every bit of content in her stomach. Her fingers turn a paper white and her violent convulsions turn into a hacking cough. The process over for the moment, she leans her forehead on the cool pale metal and sighs. She flexes her wrists and raises her head tiredly. Her face is pink from exertion and glowing with the renewed attacks of the fever. She rocks back on the balls of her feet and sets her palms on the top of the toilet. One violent shove and she’s standing upright. She sways gently and has to lean against the wall of the stall. Measured breaths force her heart rate down to a more acceptable level and she smiles ruefully.
“Well I’m a real mess. I’d better get back before Kat kicks my ass.” With that said, she pushes open the stall door and strides out purposefully, ignoring the light tremors in her muscles.
~*~
Corridor #3
Tommy shifts from one foot to the other, resembling a guilty preschooler more than the confident, powerful leader of the Rangers. “What is it?”
“Well… Oh I hate doing this!” she explains, throwing her hands up in the air in a very Kim-like fashion.
Tommy catches her left hand and holds it gently. “Come on Katherine. You know you can tell me anything.”
She growls under her breath. “Yes. Well. Apparently there was still a remnant of a spell that was still within me.”
“Huh?”
“Oh screw it,” she says, blowing out a gulp of air forcefully. “Look Tommy, Rita’s old spell was sort of still affecting me and now that the last bits of it have lifted I realize one thing very clearly. I don’t want to date you.” Tommy’s hands drop down like dead weights and his mouth gapes open, reminding her eerily of her pet angelfish Silver. “Oh damnit, that was not the way I meant to do that.”
“You’re breaking up with me?” he asks tonelessly, blinking rapidly.
“Yeah, I guess I am,” she responds quietly, slipping the tips of her fingers into her waistline on her lower back. Now she’s the one who resembles a guilty preschooler as her gaze drops determinately to the floor.
“Oh. Ok.”
Her head snaps up sharply, loose bits of her light hair flying back. “You’re not angry?”
“No… Just… Well, I was going to break up with you first.” his voice wavers into a low-pitched whine.
Kat’s eyes round and she breaks into an uncontrollable giggling fit. “You’re upset because I broke up with you first? Oh my, Thomas Oliver, you need serious help!”
“I’ll second that,” Kim’s amused voice breaks in and Kat gives her a measured look before exploding into more giggles.
He pouts. “How come I always get to be the dumpee?”
“‘Cause that’s way life works. Deal,” Kat replies, leaning against the wall as her giggles become interspersed with struggling intakes of air. Kim smiles.
“Fine. But I don’t have to like it,” he counters, setting a pleading gaze on Kim.
“Oh no, no, no, buster. Much as I love her, I am not taking Kat’s sloppy seconds. No way,” the brunette retorts hotly.
Kat sinks, her body sliding down the wall as tears begin to crisscross her reddened cheeks. “I’m… go… gonna die… from laugh… laughing.”
Tommy makes a displeased face and kneels next to her. “Breathe Kat.” She struggles to do as she’s told, leaning forward with her hands covering her face in an effort to control herself. “Sloppy seconds, huh Kim?” he turns a frown on the recently restored Pink Ranger, who is leaning against the wall, one hand on her waist. She winks.
“To… Thomas Sean Oliver, shut up!” Kat cries out breathing heavily. “Don’t make me laugh.” Kim shakes her head and kneels down next to the blonde, gently patting her shoulder. The Green Ranger gulps down air greedily, struggling to tamp down the laughter. Kim moves her hand slowly over Kat’s back, making small circular patterns. Kat hiccups quietly and then sighs.
“Better?”
“Thanks.” Kat slumps back against the wall and closes her eyes. “Tommy?”
“Hmm?”
“What were you thinking exactly when you went off on Adam?” Kat asks, calmly now that her laughing fit is over.
“I… How do you know about that?”
“Dulcea. But that’s not the point,” she states firmly. Her light blue eyes resemble an iceberg-ridden ocean as she forces his chin up with one finger and sets them straight into his soft brown ones. “You are in a whole heap of trouble! How you could treat anyone like that is beyond me!” He rips his head away from her touch and looks away from her. “Don’t even try that Oliver. You have a whole lot of work to do to make up for what you did!”
“I… I know,” he says roughly, refusing to meet her gaze.
“Well then why haven’t you done anything?” she asks incredulously.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Kimberly adds. “Now we all know that when you’re hurting and confused you’re tend to act like a five year old who got his favorite toy taken away, but you’ve passed the limits of acceptable and entered the realm of ridiculous.”
“I tried,” he confesses, his eyes darting from one woman to the other, “he won’t talk to me.” Then he drops his gaze again, his fingers fiddling with his shoelaces. Kat touches Kim’s shoulder and something passes between them. The blonde stands up silently, her movements fluid, and disappears behind the corner, heading back to the Main Chamber.
“Tommy,” Kim whispers as she moves closer to him, “just keep trying. You can fix this . I have faith in you.” He lifts his gaze and stares at her for a moment, before slinging his arms around her small form and crushing her to him.
“I almost lost you. I thought you weren’t coming back,” he mutters, burrowing his face in her shoulder as she winds her arms around him, her face twisted in a curious mix of emotions. Tommy seems to collapse, a sob ripping out of his mouth. Then another. And another. And more yet, until he is a trembling mess in Kim’s embrace. She presses a kiss into his hair and holds him closer.
Kim feels a cough climbing up her throat and strains her muscles, pushing it down. Her hand sneaks over his back, rubbing it in circles, much in the same way she did for Kat earlier. He shivers and grips her tighter still, his crying undiminished. She drops her head, leaning it on his and inhaling his scent, a faint hint of peaches, herbs and something uniquely Thomas Oliver.
~*~
Time Unknown
Marr-Khri
The man stands propping his palms against the windowsill, his brown-eyed gaze absent, the wind ruffling his short blond hair. He sighs, lifting one hand to rub the tips of his fingers over the bridge of his nose. His dark caramel skin glistens in the last bits of light that the seven setting suns produce.
Suddenly a slow, rhythmic tune wafts into the room. It almost dances over the walls and wraps around him, the beat speeding up. He spins around and strides to the table quickly. He runs his eyes over the decks and stops at the first one he held. The transparent card is sparking, a haze of light swirling over it. The melody thumps and begins to race and the swirling light follows the tattoo obediently, swelling, shifting, turning colors, all the colors in the universe. He reaches one hand to it and the melody explodes as does the light. Then all is quiet. He places his fingers on the card and lifts it up into the light. It is a vibrant green.
~*~
Corridor #3
Kimberly continues rubbing Tommy’s back, noting absently that he has become quiet. She sighs quietly and lifts her head to look down the corridor.
“Sorry,” he whispers.
“What for?” she asks, startled.
“Crying all over you like an idiot,” he replies matter-of-factly, pulling away from her slightly so he can look into her face.
She laughs, glancing down at her skimpy, pink Dulcea-wear knockoff. “Yes, because this is such a valuable item of clothing that I could not bear to get anything on it.”
“Be nice,” he commands, his eyes crinkling at the edges with badly concealed mirth.
“Yes sir, Captain Oliver sir,” she says, lowering her voice into a low timbre.
He frowns at her and suddenly the amusement in his eyes dies. “We need to talk Kimberly.” She looks at him with shuttered eyes, sobered by his use of her full first name, and nods slowly. “I want the truth Kim. Nothing but the truth this time.”
The opening chords to the death processional sound in her head and a line from “A Few Good Men” flits by idly. ‘You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth.’ She shakes it off, giggling to herself at the absurdity of her mental response. “The letter then?”
“Yes.” One word. One single word that sounds with the clang of a dungeon door closing.
“I almost let it slip,” she sighs, one hand coming up to brush a few stray hairs out of her face. “When you guys demanded I explain why I came back… I almost said it.”
“Said what?” he asks impatiently, straightening up on his knees and towering over her.
“I thought you would have guessed by now,” she replies with a tired amusement in her tone. “I wrote the letter for the same reason I couldn’t face any of you. I was exercising the Hart guilt muscle. Turns out it’s just as bad as the Oliver one.” Tommy’s eyes turn a dark shade of mahogany, his gaze sharp on her face, so sharp she feels it penetrate her skin in an almost painful manner. “You can guess the rest I suppose. I didn’t mean it any more than I meant all the distance I put between the gang and I.” She lowers her head, her breathing turning slightly uneven. She feels a soft touch right under her chin a moment later. Tommy’s fingers are gently pushing it up to allow their eyes to meet. He leans closer and her breath stills altogether. He gently brushes his lips against hers in a brief moment of contact and draws back, leaving Kim with wide-open eyes and one disbelieving finger running over her just kissed mouth.
“I’m glad,” he finally replies in a verbal manner, running his fingers over his locks self-consciously.
“Umm,” she swallows hard. Her hand drops from her mouth and finds his, linking their fingers tenderly, feeling his warrior-calloused skin under her fingertips.
“So what now?” he asks uncertainly, staring intently at their linked hands.
"We take it slow, I think," she offers, her smile warm, like the sun upon your face. He nods, his answering grin like hers, a quick burst of sunlight. She wrinkles her nose and brings their interlaced fingers to her face, dropping a swift kiss on his hand. “We should probably get back before they send out a search party.” He stands up, pulling her up with him just as she bends over double, hacking, wet coughs echoing in the corridor.
“Kim…” he whispers, his voice tense. He frees his hand and maneuvers her to lean on him, her slim frame shuddering with the intensity of her coughing. She places one hand on his shoulder and grips tightly, her cheek laid against his chest, and they wait for the episode to pass.
~*~
Zack Taylor & Jason Scott’s Room
Trini is curled up on the windowsill, watching the delegates rushing around the campus, looking very small from her vantage on the eighth floor. Her short catnap was enough to reenergize her mind but did little for her body, yet she could not continue to sleep while unsure of her friends’ fate.
“Tri?” Jason’s sleepy voice wafts from the bed.
“Hmm?” she responds absently, rubbing her fingers over the glass in an idle pattern.
“They’ll be fine,” he says rolling over to face her, his sleep-tousled hair and semi-closed eyes detracting from the firmness of his statement. She glances at him and nods, her hair falling over her pale face. “Come ‘ere,” he orders, shifting back to make space. She slips off her seat and pads over to the bed, sitting down on the very edge. He reaches out an arm and pulls her down into a hug. She snuggles her face into the crook of his shoulder and sighs.
~*~
Corridor #3
Kim lets out a shuddering breath and leans limply against Tommy. He pats her back with some slight awkwardness.
“Better?” he asks, his fingers gently threading through the ends of her hair. She nods and slips her arm through his, determinately beginning to walk back to the main chamber. He walks alongside her, sneaking quick glances at her flushed, slightly damp face.
“Had a nice talk?” Aisha asks as they walk into the chamber, a small smile playing over her mouth. Kimberly rolls her eyes in response, letting go off Tommy’s arm to hug the Yellow Ranger. A moment later the two feel another set of arms around them.
“Love you too, Zack,” Kim teases, sneaking a finger to tickle his ribs.
“Eek!” he yelps. “Woman, it’s bad enough you know all my dirty secrets… but do you have to take advantage of my ticklish spots?”
“Yep,” she affirms and pulls away from the hug, her face suddenly taking on a stern expression with her mouth tightened. “Zack, why are you here alone?”
“I’m not alone,” he replies, his expression carefully innocent, and gestures to the other Rangers.
“Where are Trini and Jason?” she asks, her eyes glowing with a look that was faintly reminiscent of a bloodhound catching a scent.
“Oh, well, they’re in
“Oh?” Kimberly’s eyebrows rise delicately. “Now I know that they wouldn’t let you come by yourself. And I know that you three were told to stay put.” She takes in a slow breath and takes a small step forward, her simple motion graceful, if predatory. “So I’m forced to conclude that you decided to come on your own, probably not mentioning it to Jase and Tri.” Another step. “Am I right?”
“Erm…” he sounds, his voice squeaky.
“I’m right,” she announces and stalks closer. “Zachary Peter Taylor,” she grounds out, “I am going to tar you, feather you, de-skin you, eviscerate you and feed you to the dogs.”
“Love you Kimmie,” he stammers, trying to hide behind Aisha, who promptly moves away.
“Don’t you even start that with me!” she retorts, “Mr.-I-Like-to-Sneak-off-without-Telling-My-Friends!”
“Don’t be mad, Kim. I already talked to them. I said sorry and everything,” he utters, this time trying to use Kat for shelter. The blonde shakes her head and steps to the side.
“Oh you’ll be sorry alright,” she growls, following him closely, “Just you wait till I get my hands on your grubby, little neck…”
“Don’t hurt me… You’re the best, Kimmie,” he sooths, circling around and making a grab for Tommy, who grins and gets out of the way of the incoming fire.
She takes a step forward, grabs his collar and yanks,
lowering his face to hers. “Get ready to
hurt,
And then she collapses into his startled embrace.