Long Journey Home

At the Power Chamber, Alpha and Zordon were already waiting for them. Before he knew it, Jason found himself on an all-too-familiar diagnostic bed and hooked up to various scanning devices. Thankfully, though, the procedure was brief and painless. Billy and Alpha immediately began evaluating the data. Seeing that there was nothing he could do for the moment, Jason decided to take his restlessness outside, where his pacing would not disturb the others. However, as soon as he stepped out into the sunshine, he saw the one person he was not ready to deal with -- Tammy.
 
In the process of turning back, he dislodged a small stone, and the girl whirled around. Seeing who it was, she relaxed again and smiled at him, somewhat tentatively.
 
"Hi, Jason."
 
"Uh -- hi." Jason hated himself as hiviouvious discomfort wiped the smile off her face and she lowered her head. Feeling that he owed her at least an explanation for his unease, he hesitantly approached.
 
"Um ... mind if I join you?"
 
She looked at him with serious eyes.
 
"Only if you really want to."
 
He ran his right hand through his short hair.
 
"I want to."
 
Tammy moved slightly aside, gesturing for him to take a seat. For a while, the two just sat next to each other, silently looking out across the sun-painted desert, sneaking occasional glances at each other. When they caught each other out for the fourth time, Jason had to grin despite himself. Tammy’s lips began to twitch, and both relaxed into laughter. Jason shook his head ruefully.
 
"Look, can we start over?"
 
She smiled warmly, causing him to catch his breath.
 
"Sure." She held out a hand to him. "I’m Tamara Oliver; my friends call me Tammy."
 
Jason grasped the slim fingers. " Jason Scott. Jase, to my friends."
 
"I know." Tammy giggled. He had to laugh; the way she was sitting, he couldn’t make out her figure, and the resemblance to Tommy was uncanny. Tommy had never produced a sound like that in his life! Much to his surprise, Jason found that he liked it.
 
"You sound like Kim."
 
A shadow flitted across her face.
 
"Really?"
 
"Yeah; she giggles just like you."
 
"Oh."
 
The despondent tone was unmistakable.
 
Unconsciously scooting closer, Jason had to ask.
 
"What is it?" His tone was as gentle as he could make it. He rubbed his thumb in small soothing circles around the hand he still held; neither noticed.
 
"D-do you still miss her?"
 
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Of course I do; she’s one of my oldest friends. Angel Grove’s not quite the same without her, Zack and Trini."
 
Tammy looked up at the easy reply.
 
"T-that’s all?"
 
"Should there be more?"
 
"Well........you were pretty bummed when she wrote you that letter......."
 
"What letter?" Jason asked in confusion. Suddenly, a thought hit him. "Waitaminute! You can’t mean -- oh, no! No, no, no!"
 
"What?" Tammy couldn’t understand the mixture of laughter and chagrin on the Gold Ranger’s face.
 
"Are ... are you trying to tell me that here Kim ... that she and I ... that she dumped me?"
 
"Yes ..."
 
At that, Jason couldn’t help himself; he broke into laughter. Tammy withdrew, hurt. Before she got too far away, though, Jason caught her hand once more and squeezed gently. His dark eyes were sparkling with merriment as he reassured the girl.
 
"Kim never was my girlfriend; we would go on dates -- a movie, the carnival, or a dance, but always with the gang. The spark just wasn’t there. No, back home she was Tommy’s girl, before Kat. I think deep down, he's started considering of maybe getting back together with her now that Kat's leaving for London, but nothing's certain yet." He suppressed an involuntary pang of envy at the thought.
 
Tammy looked at Jason wonderingly. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out the next question.
 
"Y-you don’t have a girlfriend?" She blushed furiously --again!-- as she realized what she’d said. Jason was blessedly oblivious, though.
 
"Not really. I’ve been going out a lot with Emily lately, but we’re nowhere serious."
 
The Red Ranger’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
 
"Emily? The biker chick?"
 
"What?" Jason nearly exploded with laughter at her incredulous expression. "Emily used to hang out with Eddie and his gang, but not for some time now!"
 
"Well, be careful when you see her next time; she’s got her own bike now, and the whole group is trouble!"
 
"Oh, come on, they weren’t that bad; a bit obnoxious, sure, but we could straighten them out easily enough. After, it, it’s not as if they were doing the whole bit with black leather, studs and stuff ...." Jason’s voice trailed off as he saw the confirming nod.
 
"You’re kidding, right?" Tammy shook her head slowly.
 
"She’s tattooed, too."
 
"Tattoos? Emily?"
 
"Uh-huh."
 
He shook his head, incredulously. This really was beginning to feel more and more like the Twilight Zone.
 
Before he could pursue this further, the access to the Power Chamber opened, and Tanya called out to them.
 
"Guys! Billy’s found something!"
 
Jason rose eagerly to his feet. He wanted to help his companion up and started to reach out a hand, only to find to his surprise that he was still holding her hand in his. He looked at their joined fingers, then into the warm brown eyes which were so familiar and yet so totally different, and felt a faint blush rise in his cheeks as he pulled her gently up. The same happened to Tammy, but neither looked away. Smiling hesitantly, Jason squeezed the slim, strong fingers once more, then reluctantly let them slip from his grasp. His hand suddenly felt very empty. Self-consciously clearing his throat, he gestured towards the entrance. "After you."
 
A soft 'thank you' reached his ears as Tammy picked her way past him towards Tanya, and for a moment, Jason lost himself in the sight of her gently swaying hips under the fashionably baggy jeans. Tanya, who had missed nothing, barely suppressed a chuckle. The slight sound wrenched Jason out of his reverie, and he hurried after the tall brunette, his face burning. The Yellow Ranger shook her head. *It’s high time those two got their act together! Maybe we should help them out a little....?* Pondering ways and means, she followed them inside.