Long Journey Home

The small settlement had just come into view when the storm broke. Pouring on speed, Jason and Tommy sprinted through the first heavy raindrops to the Trueheart house, but didn’t quite make it. While they weren’t exactly soaked, they were wet enough that they had to borrow clothes from David before they caught cold. They shared dinner and prepared to leave for Angel Grove, when a flash of lightning lit up the sky and a sudden clap of thunder reverberated around the house. Moments later, a hard, driving rain began lashing the windows.
 
"Oh man, I’m going to love driving in this," Tommy groaned as he looked out. "I just hope we can see the road."
 
Sam Trueheart went to the window. After a few moments, he turned to his son’s guests.
 
"I am sorry, Tommy, but I won’t let you drive in this at all." He raised a hand before the protest could form on Tommy’s lips. "There is a stretch of road which leads past a hillside; in this kind of weather, we’ve often had mudslides there. Nothing that can’t be negotiated with your 4X4 once it’s stopped raining, but much too dangerous in the dark and the rain. Your parents would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you boys." The older man’s tone precluded any argument. Still, Jason felt compelled to point out something else.
 
"But, sir .... our parents will still worry. They know we’d planned on coming home tonight, and since there’s no phone here..." He hadn’t seen an extension around the house, nor a phone booth at the settlement.
 
David grinned. "Hey, the phone company might not want to run lines to out here, but we do have electricity, you know." He went over to a small cupboard and opened it. He took something out and showed it to his brother and his friend. "The wonders of modern technology. Nowadays, there’s no reason why we should have phone lines strung all over the place, cluttering up the landscape." He checked the charge on the cell phone. "As soon as the lightning stops, we can call your folks and let them know you’re staying the night."
 
Jason and Tommy exchanged glances. They knew it was pointless to argue; Sam had made it very clear that he expected them to obey. Giving in gracefully, the four men prepared to spend the evening together. Sam and David told about the history of the tribe, especially as it pertained to the arrowhead Tommy and David shared; Jason had known only the barest facts, and was fascinated. In turn, he and Tommy related some of the things they’d experienced as Rangers; David had confided in his adoptive father, but they knew the Truehearts could be trusted. In all, it was a pleasant time; the two teens managed to get a call through to the Olivers, who promised to tell Jason’s folks his whereabouts.
 
It wasn’t all that late, but life on the reservation followed a slightly different rhythm than in the city. Consequently, it was only shortly after eleveat Jat Jason and Tommy found themselves occupying the twin beds in the guest room, preparing for sleep. Jason was already under the covers, watching his best friend unobtrusively as he came out of the bathroom. He was glad that they’d undressed in different rooms; he wasn’t sure he could handle being naked in the same room with Tommy yet. It was still too soon after his experience in Jay’s reality. He sighed and rested his head on his arm.
 
Tommy heard the sigh and wondered at it. The day’s revelations had been rather startling, and he desperately wanted some time to think about everything that had been said. However, now was not the right moment. He glanced at Jason. He had a slightly far-away expression on his face, and seemed lost in thought. Sitting down on the edge of his bed in boxers borrowed from David, like Jason, Tommy quietly called his friend’s name.
 
"Hm?"
 
"Is something wrong, bro?"
 
Jason looked at Tommy, noticing the affection and concern in the chocolate eyes. *Tell him! Tell him now!* something within him yelled. He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he opted for a half-truth.
 
"Nothing, really. Telling you about everything today brought it all back to me, and I’m just trying to get back on track. Besides, I’m tired."
 
As if on cue, Tommy let loose with a long yawn. Both laughed.
 
"Yeah, me too. But Jase, if you ever need to talk some more...."
 
"I’ll know where to find you. Thanks, bro; that means a lot."
 
"Anytime."
 
Tommy turned off the lights and slid under the covers. Soon, his even breathing told Jason he was asleep.
 
He lay in the darkness for a long time, thinking back on his three lovers --and of the person he wanted to become his lover. The fact that it basically was the same person made it at once easier and more complicated. Outside, the rain was still pelting down, but no longer with the driving force it had earlier. The lightning was reduced to distant flashes as the storm front moved away, towards the ocean, when his eyes slowly closed in sleep.
 
 
***
 
Jason opened heavy eyes and fumbled in the darkness for his watch. 3.25 am. He groaned softly. He hadn’t slept much, but knew the night was over for him. Sometimes, ever since he’d first taken on the Red Power Coin, he had nights like this -- being bone-tired, but unable to sleep for more than a few hours. The first really serious bout of insomnia had happened after the Green Ranger had appeared; understandable, since they’d all been pretty much stressed at the time. It had happened again when Rita drained Tommy’s Powers through the Green candle -- he deliberately turned his thoughts away from that, or he’d get his nightmares again. Tommy’s return to the team, his erratic Powers, the final loss through Zedd ... now that he thought of it, it had stopped mostly after Tommy returned to the team as the White Ranger. His time in Geneva had been mostly peaceful -- except for the last few months before his return, when he knew he’d be seeing Tommy again ... the sleeplessness had started again, until he finally admitted his changed feelings for Tommy to himself, right after he’d taken on the Gold Power for Trey. He smiled sardonically into the darkness. So his insomnia had been caused by Tommy all along, had it? Well, he’d learn to deal with that, too -- someday.
 
His attention was drawn to the other bed where Tommy shifted in his sleep. He’d kicked the blankets off, and the wan light filtering through the window made his tanned skin look even darker against the white sheets. For a few minutes, Jason watched the even rise and fall of the muscular chest, then slid out of bed and slipped from the room, trying to control the desire to touch the smooth expanse of muscle as he’d done while on his ‘journey’. Shivering slightly in the cool night air, he slipped on his jeans and sat down at a back window, looking into the distance where occasional flashes of lightning still brightened up the sky.