Golden Ecstasy

Note: All disclaimers in Part One

Golden Ecstasy 3a

Mr. Cranston opened the door to Rocky and Adam.
"Good morning, boys. Billy’s in the yard; just go on through."
"Thank you, sir," Rocky smiled. Dragging an unwilling Adam by the arm,
he made his way through the kitchen into the well -kept garden, where the
former Blue Ranger had set up comfortable chairs in the shade of an old
apple tree. Greeting his friends, he looked a question at Rocky, indicating
Adam’s wan, miserable face with a slight inclination of his head. Rocky
just shrugged; if Adam had had his druthers, he would have stayed at home
in his room, brooding about Tanya. He completely agreed with Billy that
they’d better get him to talk about his feelings rather than burying them
inside. Hence, a lnighnight phonecall had summoned the rest of the team
to the Cranston home this Saturday morning, where Billy’s father would
respect their privacy and they could talk without fear of being overheard.
Giving Billy a hand in setting out drinks and munchies, Rocky drew a
deep breath. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to the next few hours; knowing
Adam, it was going to take a major effort on their part to get him to open
up. He looked at his watch.
"Where’s Tommy and Kat? Didn’t you call them, too?"
"Yes, of course; they’ll be along a bit later. You know they teach classes
at Ernie’s on Saturdays."
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Man, I’m getting as bad as Tommy!"
Not even that sally could evoke a smile from Adam as the two returned.
He just sat in his chair, morosely staring at his feet. Present and former
Blue Ranger sat next to him and looked at each other somewhat helplessly,
neither quite knowing where to begin. Finally, Rocky blurted out a question
that had nagged at him since the previous afternoon.
"Billy ... did Tommy really mean it?"
Billy looked at him puzzledly. "Mean what?"
"What he said yesterday -- that he’d go with Jason. Do you really think
he would’ve done it, if Tanya hadn’t offered?"
The mentioning of his girlfriend’s name brought Adam out of his stupor.
When he realized that she wasn’t the topic of conversation, he almost slid
back into his funk, but their genius friend’s answer intrigued him sufficiently
to pay attention.
Billy didn’t have to think about his answer; he’d known both Jason and
Tommy long enough to be absolutely sure.
"Oh yes. So would Jason, if it had been Tommy."
Rocky couldn’t decide whether to be awed or uncomfortable.
"But ... but why? I mean, I know they’re friends, have been for a long
time, but something like this .... isn’t that a bit above and beyond the
call?"
"Not for those two. Rocky, you weren’t here when Tommy moved to Angel
Grove. I think one must have witnessed their relationship from the start
to really understand the depth of their feeling for each other."
Billy took a moment to recall that time. He smiled slightly at some
of the memories, but his tone was serious as he explained things to Jason’s
one-time successor.
"You see, Jason, Zack and I had been very close for a number of years
-- since shortly after entering Junior High. Becoming Rangers together
only strengthened those bonds. We had shared history, common experiences
... our relationship had had time to grow and develop, and I think I can
honestly say for all three of us that it was a deep and true friendship.
When Tommy came, though ... not only did Kimberly fall in love with him
at first sight, there was almost the same instantaneous connection between
him and Jason." He had both Rocky’s and Adam’s attention; they were always
fascinated whenever one of the ‘originals’d std stories from the early
days of the Rangers.
"There was their shared prowess in and devotion to the martial arts;
they had entered common ground right from the start. Unfortunately, Rita’s
spell over Tommy disrupted their bonding process; for a time, there was
intense rivalry between them. I think, in a way, they would have clashed
anyway over leadership issues -- they’re both alpha males, after all --
but I doubt it would have been that intense. Rita tried repeatedly to exploit
that, but fortunately they were always able to get past that."
Billy related a few incidents, earning small chuckles as he told about
the Ninja tournament. He had to admit, in hindsight it had funny aspects.
"As for their friendship .... within days of Tommy having joined the
team, he and Jason shared a closeness it had taken Zack and myself years
to achieve. They never excluded the rest of us; it was just that they both
had found a kindred spirit in each other. I overheard Kim complaining to
Trini once, before she and Tommy became a couple, that if either one of
them had been female, they would never have looked at anyone else." Billy
smiled at the incredulous looks. "She may have meant it as a joke, but
I’m inclined to agree with her assessment. If I had to describe their feelings
for each other in one word, I would have to choose love."
"You got that right."
Tommy’s light baritone jerked three heads around; they hadn’t heard
him arrive. The team’s leader took a seat next to Billy.
"It’s true," he added, as he noticed the incredulous look Rocky was
giving him. "I hadn’t really admitted it to myself until yesterday, but
I do love Jase."
He let that statement sink in for a moment as he recalled the feeling
of rightness he had experienced the previous afternoon, as he stood
with his best friend on the cliff outside the Power Chamber, offering himself.
"I owe too much to him; he’s as much my brother as David is, even if
we’re not related by blood. I just couldn’t stand by and see him go through
that alone."
Tommy’s voice rang with conviction. Adam looked pensive, and Rocky just
stared. Billy, however, shared an understanding smile with Tommy.
"You and me both; if you hadn’t offered, I would have."
"Billy!"
"You can’t be serious!"
Both Adam and Rocky sat up at the quiet statement.
"I’m perfectly serious," Billy reiterated, unperturbed. "You don’t know
Jason very well yet, but I think out of all of us, Tommy and I have the
most reasons to be there for him, no matter what."
"Tommy I can understand," Rocky mumbled, still stunned. "After all,
it was Jase who destroyed the Sword of Darkness." They’d heard that story
before. "But you, Billy? You were never in the kind of fix Tommy was in."
"Maybe not, but what Jason did for me was just as important, in its
own way." A shadow clouded the blue-green eyes momentarily. "Neither one
of you has known me before I became a Ranger. Tommy, you have gotten an
inkling when you joined the team, but even you have no idea of what it
was like before .... what I was like, before."
Flashback
Twelve-year-old Billy Cranston looked up at the brick building with
trepidation. The words ‘Angel Grove Junior High School’od iod in white
letters over the entrance, and all around him students streamed inside,
chattering excitedly about their plans for the day. The freshman class
stood a bit apart yet, waiting for the principal to come and lead them
inside, but Billy didn’t even know them all that well; he’d only moved
to Angel Grove six months ago, after his mother had died. His father thought
it would be best for both if they made a fresh start, away from the painful
memories, but hadn’t considered that his shy son had not only lost a mother
to cancer, but also everything that was familiar -- his house, his school,
the very few friends he’d managed to make ....
Billy’s incredible intelligence isolated him further from his classmates;
in Chicago, he had always attended specialized schools for the Gifted,
but none of these were available in Angel Grove. As a result, he felt totally
alone and alienated from his surroundings. His glasses and clothes set
him even further apart, and on this first day of school, he felt perfectly
miserable. Slowly approaching the group of freshmen, he spied one friendly
face, a slender Asian girl named Trini Kwan, who had been in a few of his
classes in Elementary School. She had sometimes talked to him, but now
she was jabbering away with an even tinier pretty girl in pink. The two
stood close to the type of boys Billy had avoided all his life -- a short
African-American who almost seemed hyperactive, he was moving so much,
and a broad-shouldered, dark-haired boy who was athletic and muscular even
at twelve.
Dejected, he kept to the outer fringes of the group. Even in class,
he found not one person who wanted to sit close to him; all the others
made friends and talked, while he sat in silence until his knowledge was
called upon. That, at least, he could proffer without a qualm. He peripherally
noticed the awed looks at some of the answers he gave, but it brought him
no comfort. Still alone, he stood at his locker after school, when his
miserable day got worse.
"Hey, geekoid!"
"Yeah, geekoid!"
Maniacal laughter followed, and resignedly, Billy turned around,
facing this latest obstacle. He’d noticed the two boys earlier in the morning,
mostly because of their inability to answer even the most basic of questions.
To compensate, they were being totally obnoxious towards everybody, especially
any even remotely attractive girl. Those, however, usually had friends
supporting them, or the chivalrously inclined boys stepped in; he, who
was apparently the next selected victim of Farkus and Eugene, had no-one.
Trying to control his trembling, Billy looked up at the taller boys.
"Y-yes?"
"What you got there?" Farkus, the bigger of the two, made a grab
for Billy’s wallet. It didn’t contain much money, and he would have gladly
parted with that, but it also held his favourite picture of his mother.
He couldn’t let those two have that!
Billy tried to get his wallet back, but was no match for the two
bullies, especially since Eugene was holding him back. Before the other
could open the wallet, Billy uttered a strangled "No!", on the verge of
tears. The heavyset boy was about to make a snide remark, when a strong
hand plucked the wallet from his grasp. Enraged, he turned around, but
was brought up short when he looked into the calmly smiling face of Jason
Scott -- the athletic student who was friends with Trini.
He might have been smiling, but there was steel in his voice as he
addressed the two bullies.
"Why don’t you pick on someoner owr own size, Bulk?"
The nuisance shrank back. Summoning his friend with a toss of his
head, he sneered at Billy and Jason both.
"Yeah, maybe next time. C’mon, Skull." Cowed, but only momentarily,
he sauntered off. The look he threw back over his shoulder at Billy promised
that this wasn’t over, only postponed. Billy sighed heavily. He mumbled
his thanks as Jason handed his wallet back to him. He was about to wander
off, when a large hand came to rest on his shoulder.
"Hey, wait! You’re new here, aren’t you?"
"Y-yes. My father and I relocated here six months ago."
"What about your mom?" asked Zack Taylor, who had joined his friend.
Billy hung his head, fighting his tears.
"She -- succumbed to a terminal illness earlier."
"What?" Both Zack and Jason exchanged uncomprehending glances.
"She died." The quiet, sweet voice of Trini Kwan explained. Slipping
a friendly arm through Billy’s, she smiled at him compassionately.
"Oh, man. That sucks." Billy looked up into Jason’s face. What he
found in the dark eyes somehow seemed to lift a bit of the burden he’d
been under for so long. He ventured a tentative smile. To his astonishment,
all three returned it openly. Just then, a cheery voice chirped up behind
them.
"Hi, guys! Are we still on for the park this afternoon?"
All turned. Again, it was Jason who took the lead.
"Sure, Kim. As soon as we’re done with homework, we’ll meet at the
jungle gym."
"Cool!" Zack executed a few exuberant dance steps. "I love that place!"
Jason turned to the quiet, bespectacled boy. He’d been awed by his
knowledge earlier in class; how someone could understand their chemistry
teacher so effortlessly was totally beyond him. He wasn’t stupid, but ....
Something in the light eyes caught his attention. He was pretty sure that
... Billy, wasn’t it?... was not exactly the type of kid he normally hung
out with, but something about the smaller boy spoke to him. The
fleeting expression of loneliness and longing on the too-serious face decided
him. Without thinking, he asked.
"You wanna come, too?"
End flashback
"I was never sure why Jason extended his invitation to me, or what made
me accept, but I did join the gang that afternoon. When we walked home
together a part of the ways, Jason asked me to meet him the next morning
to walk to school with him. When I asked him why, he said something that
changed my life." Billy had to swallow at the memory. Although it had been
six years ago, he still thanked his lucky stars that he’d overcome his
shyness and joined Jason and his friends that afternoon so long ago.
"What did he say?" Rocky queried, intrigued.
"I think I can answer that," interposed Tommy.
"You? But you weren’t even there!" Even Adam had been caught up in the
tale.
"Maybe not. But I bet it’s the same thing Jase said to me when he broke
Rita’s spell."
"Precisely." The two senior Rangers shared an understanding smile.
"What? What did he say?" Rocky prompted.
"You’re one of us now. It’s where you belong." Tommy’s voice conveyed
all the wonder and awe that moment had held for him, giving him the courage
to reach for the hand Jason held out to him.
 
 

***

A short silence settled over the four young men as they pondered that.
Rocky tried to get past the slight lump in his throat by reaching for his
soda, when something odd struck him. Looking around, he caught Tommy’s
attention.
"Hey, where’s Kat? Wasn’t she going to come with you?"
Billy and Adam looked around as well. The smile on Tommy’s face made
way for a more serious expression. Holding Adam’s dark eyes, he waited
a few moments before answering.
"She’s not coming."
"Why not? Where is she, anyway?" Rocky knew that the Pink Ranger had
made plans with Tanya a couple of days ago, but since that was not feasible
right now....
Tommy’s announcement fell into the expectant silence with all the impact
of an energy blast.
"She went up to the cabin last night. She’s helping Tanya and Jason."
"What?!"
The others were stunned speechless, even Billy. He knew a little bit
about Katherine’s inhibitions, having talked some with her as they had
arranged the skiing trip for Tommy after Kimberly had broken up with him.
But a glance at Adam showed that this piece of news was sufficient to really
shake the Green Ranger up.
Adam could hardly believe his ears. Tanya wasn’t alone with Jason? A
small part of him exulted at that, but another part sought for signs of
his own anguish in Tommy’s face. It dised hed him that he couldn’t find
it.
"Y-you don’t mind that?" The skeptical tone expressed Adam’s feelings
perfectly. Tommy considered the question seriously; he had thought about
little else during the night, wrestling with his own feelings, and he was
afraid he couldn’t give Adam the answer he desperately wanted to hear.
He tried to put his jumbled reasoning into words.
"Adam ... I don’t know how to answer that. You all know that I offered
to go with him myself, and I would have, but a small part of me is glad
I don’t have to. I’m not exactly proud of that, but I can’t help it. Kat
didn’t ask me ... she told me she was going. For Jason, for Tanya,
and for me."
"Why for you?" Rocky shook his head in amazement.
Tommy inhaled deeply; he wasn’t sure if he could explain Kat’s reasoning.
"She said I would never forgive myself, or anyone else, if Jase got
hurt, and somebody could’ve helped, but didn’t."
"That’s true, Tommy, and you know it", Billy said quietly. "I admire
Kat’s courage and determination to help her friends. This is truly above
and beyond the call of duty." He turned serious blue-green eyes on Adam.
"Just as I applaud Tanya’s decision. It can’t have been easy fer."er."
Adam flushed a dull red. Hanging his head, he tried to find the right
words.
"I know that", he mumbled. "It’s just .... it makes me sick to think
of her with another man!" His outburst surprised everyone. An uncomfortable
silence descended over the group. Finally, Billy ventured forth. Very gently,
he addressed his friend.
"Adam ... what exactly is so uncomfortable for you? You know that Tanya
loves you, and that under normal circumstances she would never have contemplated
going to another."
"I know." Adam stared miserably at his friends. "It’s just .... Jason
is so strong; what if he hurts her? I know he won’t mean to, but what if
he can’t control himself? Tanya’s no match for him!"
"Jase will do everything he can to make sure that doesn’t happen; besides,
with Kat there, too, I’m sure the girls will manage." Tommy’s words were
meant to soothe, but had little effect on the distraught Green Ranger.
Rocky hugged his best friend. He hated seeing Adam so despondent, although
he had good reason to be depressed.
"You don’t hold it against her, do you? Being with another guy, I mean?"
"N-no. I mean, I was the first for her, but it wouldn’t have mattered
if I hadn’t been." The Green Ranger blushed at this confession. "It’s just
... I love her so much, and to think that someone else is touching her
..." his voice trailed off.
Rocky thought for a moment. How to get Adam off this train of thought?
"Adam .... what if Tanya had been raped?" He saw his friend blanch at
the thought. Hastily, he continued. "I’m not talking about Jason, here.
I’m sure it won’t be that bad. No, I mean -- it happens, even here in Angel
Grove. What if something like that happened to Tanya? Would you hold that
against
her?"
"No, of course not!" Adam’s retort was quick and positive. "It wouldn’t
be her fault; I’d do everything I could to help her get over it."
"Then what is so bad about her offering to help a friend? I’m sure she
wouldn’t have done it if there had been another way. Only, there wasn’t.
You know we tried."
"I know that!" Adam almost wailed. It was precisely that which
was tearing him apart. Sure, he wanted to help Jason, like the others;
he just wished it didn’t have to be his Tanya who had to do the actual
helping.
Billy debated with himself if he should make a particular point that
had occurred to him during the night. Deciding it might give Adam at least
something to think about, he brought it up as delicately as possible. Laying
a comforting hand on his friend’s arm, he waited until the dark eyes met
his. It hurt to see the misery in them.
"Adam, remember the point Tanya made yesterday? That it might have happened
to any or all of us?"
The slim boy nodded reluctantly.
"Have you thought this through to its logical conclusion? I think it
could have been much worse if either Kat or Tanya had ingested the Ecstasy
potion. Especially in the high concentration Jason consumed."
"H-how do you mean?" Adam wasn’t sure he wanted to hear this. Sometimes,
Billy’s truths, while inescapable, were hard to take.
"Again, it’s a matter of biology." Billy fought his own blush. Drawing
a deep breath, he explained his reasoning to his rapt audience. "Tanya
quite rightly pointed out that the female body is more suited to a prolonged
period of sexual activity than the male, unless, as in Jason’s case right
now, stamina and capacity are chemically enhanced. If this kind of stimulus
had been given to either of the girls ...."
"I would’ve gone with Tanya! You know that!" Adamoiceoice rose.
The young scientist nodded.
"Yes, we do. But Adam ... consider the implications. Jason’s urgency
will run in cycles, since his body will have to recharge itself. The female
body, however, doesn’t necessarily need these recovery periods. I strongly
suspect, that if Tanya or Kat had been similarly afflicted, it would very
likely have taken all of us to serve their needs."
Adam stared at the former Blue Ranger incredulously. Billy couldn’t
possibly be saying what he thought he was saying, could he?
Billy’s eyes expressed only compassion.
"Think, Adam. A normal male, even a teenaged one, can perform only a
very
limited
number of times. It would have been a physical impossibility for you alone
to help Tanya on your own. I believe even the five of us would have been
taxed to the limit. Tanya -- or Kat -- would have needed to accept all
of us as temporary lovers to save them from a fate of chronically exagged
ed
sexual hunger."
Adam didn’t know whether to blanch or to blush. Thinking of Tanya with
just Jason was bad enough; to have to imagine her with all of them was
beyond comprehension. He raised stricken eyes to Tommy and Rocky. Both
fought with their embarrassment, but had to admit that Billy was probably
right.
"Oh man," Rocky mumbled, stunned. "I never even thought of that."
Neither had Adam. Suddenly, he was grateful that it had only been one
of them who had gotten caught in the Machine Empire’s latest attempt to
attack the Rangers. However, there was one thought still who wouldn’t leave
him alone -- and maybe it was the most disturbing of all. He looked away.
Tommy noticed his turmoil. With an effort, he banished the images Billy’s
argument had called forth. He could handle his girlfriend helping his best
friend, but he felt a strong sympathy with Adam’s plight at the thought
of the rest of the team getting to touch Kat intimately. He touched him
lightly on the arm.
"What is it, Adam?" he asked quietly. "There’s something else bothering
you, right? Can’t you tell us?"
"Yeah, bro," Rocky added his voice to Tommy’s. "We’re your friends,
buddy. We’re gonna help you -- if we can."
Adam just shook his head. He wasn’t sure he could tell his friends,
it sounded so stupid. But it had been nagging at him for large parts of
the night, and the thought, once conceived, wouldn’t go away.
"Adam, please. If you really want to help Tanya once this ordeal is
over, you shouldn’t brood over things. If you can resolve your own feelings,
it will be easier for you to deal with hers. I don’t imagine she is going
to be able to shake this off so easily, despite volunteering herself."
Billy’s calm voice brought the dark head up again. Looking into his
friends’ and teammates’ eyes, he saw their willingness to help him, and
it gave him the courage to voice his fear. He was unable to meet their
gazes, however, as he blurted out that nagging question.
"What ... what if she likes him better than me?"
All the insecurities of a basically shy and unassuming person showed
in that outburst. The others sat, shocked. That was something they’d
never even considered -- everybody on the team knew how devoted Tanya was
to Adam. Neither knew what to say for a moment, staring at each other,
until Rocky burst out laughing.
Adam looked unbearably hurt for a moment, but Rocky controlled himself
with an effort. Leaning over to Adam and draping a brotherly arm around
his shoulder, he shook him once.
"Man, are you crazy, or what? That’s the one thing that’s not
gonna happen. Tanya loves you, man! She said so herself, remember?
No matter who she’s with at the moment, she won’t stop loving you."
Adam felt hope rise within him. Rocky had never lied to him as long
as they’d known each other. If he said that ...
"Y-you really think so?"
"I know so." Rocky’s voice rang with conviction, the laughter
completely gone.
"And so do we." Both Tommy and Billy nodded in confirmation. They had
almost interfered with Rocky, momentarily shocked and angry at his apparent
insensitivity, but it looked like his instinctive, perfectly natural reaction
was exactly what Adam needed to hear. The Green Ranger gazed somewhat shamefacedly
at his friends. Seeing their sympathy, he was able to summon a tiny smile.
He had to clear his throat before he could speak, however.
"Guess I was being a bit idiotic, huh?"
"No, Adam. You were afraid of what this would do to your relationship
with Tanya, and it’s a very legitimate concern. But I have to agree with
Rocky -- whatever problems may arise from this, losing Tanya won’t be one
of them."
Tommy added his own reassurances to Billy’s.
"Look, bro -- I know Jason, and he would never want to come between
you and Tanya, or me and Kat. That’d be almost as bad to his mind as if
he’d hurt either of them. As long as you still love each other, you’ll
get past this."
Adam looked gratefully at his three friends. He knew that Tanya and
he would have to work through a lot, once she got back, not least his feelings
of insecurity and -- he was finally able to admit it to himself -- jealousy,
but he knew they’d get all the support they needed from their friends.
A weight lifting off him, he was able to breathe deeply and relax a bit
for the first time since the previous afternoon. If only Tanya was allright,
they’d get over this. Somehow. Someday.
 
 


***

Silence settled again over the four young men. Each was lost in his
own thoughts, until Rocky remembered Adam’s earlier question to Tommy.
"What about you, Tommy? Will you be able to handle this?"
The Red Ranger gave the matter some thought.
"Yeah, I think so. No offense to Adam," he directed an apologetic smile
to the other boy, "but I didn’t have that much of a problem with her going
to the cabin in the first place. If anything, I was glad Kat offered to
go on her own."
"Huh?"
Rocky’s mouth fell open. Adam stared wide-eyed at Tommy, and even Billy
showed signs of surprise.
Tommy blushed slightly.
"I know how this must sound. I’m not sure I can explain it; I mean,
I love Kat, right? But I must admit, the thought had crossed my mind that
she, or Tanya, could help Jase. Only, that’s not something you ask
someone to do. When Tanya offered, I was glad -- you know why. Having me
go with Jase would have made it even more difficult for him. We’re close,
very close, but not that way."
The Red Ranger paused for breath. Taking a sip of his soda, he rested
his elbows on his knees, dangling the half-empty glass between his hands.
"I ... I sort of had hoped Kat would offer, too, but when she didn’t
... I couldn’t blame her. She’s not all that comfortable about sex, and
besides, I didn’t want to put pressure on her -- make her feel like she
had
to go, to please me. Then, when she decided she couldn’t leave Tanya to
face it alone .... all I could feel was relief. And the certainty that
with both of them with Jason, they would get through this alright -- all
of them."
Tommy swallowed. Emotion made his voice husky as he looked at his friends.
"I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of Kat, or loved her more."
The quiet statement set the other three to thinking. Billy met his old
friend’s eyes after a while.
"I think I know what you mean. And I also think that, if Katherine truly
can overcome her inhibitions, that your relationship will survive this
-- if it doesn’t actually make it stronger."
Adam wasn’t so easily convinced. If Tommy, who was in the same boat
with him, could be so accepting, and all he could see was the fact that
his girlfriend was with another man (no matter for whatever good reason),
what did that say about him? He couldn’t quite keep the accusation out
of his voice as he tried to rectify his feelings.
"Would you still be saying that if it were Kim up there?"
Tommy didn’t take offense at the barb; it was a legitimate question,
more so because Adam knew how much Kimberly had meant to him. But he couldn’t
help a smile, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see that Billy
shared it. His voice was gentle as he answered his distraught friend.
"Adam ... you know Kim. She’s been friends with Jason since Elementary
School, and has always considered him her big brother. D’you want to know
what I think her reaction would have been to this whole mess? We could
have spared ourselves all the agonizing in the Power Chamber; the second
she heard about the problem and the solution, she would’ve hauled Jase
off to somewhere quiet and taken care of him. And she wouldn’t have asked
me, either."
"She and Trini both. They would have wanted to spare Jason as much distress
as possible, and I don’t think that they would have left him much room
to protest."
Billy’s voice was lightly tinged with amusement; although he certainly
didn’t want to hurt Adam, he knew the original Pink and Yellow Rangers
far too well.
Rocky listened to both, a rather pensive and somewhat astonished expression
on his face.
"You know what? I think Aisha would’ve done the same if it had been
you or me."
Adam looked up at that. To his amazement, he had to admit that his friends
were right. He hardly knew Trini, but his friendship with both Kimberly
and Aisha enabled him to see the truth in Tommy and Rocky’s argument. Reluctantly,
he conceded.
"I ... I guess you’re right." Now he had yet another thing to feel miserable
about. However, his friends knew him pretty well, too.
"Hey, Adam, it’s not your fault," Rocky consoled him. "I mean, I don’t
have a girlfriend like you have Tanya, but I think I would feel the same
if she were up at that cabin right now. Only, try to concentrate on other
things. It’s not as if she were cheating on you, or anything. Man, if Emily
knew about us, and had been willing and available, Tanya’d never have gone
to Jason!"
"Rocky is right, AdYou You are not to blame for a perfectly natural
reaction to a very unusual situation. I know it is easy for me to say,
but you have to look past your ...."
"Jealousy. I know," Adam interrupted Billy. He hung his head again.
"Actually, I was going to say insecurity. You have nothing to fear about
Tanya’s commitment to you. She said it herself, didn’t she -- this doesn’t
have to change things between the two of you. As long as you still love
each other, you will be okay."
"Billy’s right, man. Just as I won’t let this come between Kat and me.
If I do, I’ll run a much greater risk of losing her than giving her my
support will do."
Adam thought long and hard about everything his friends had said. Deep
down, he knew they were right, and slowly he began to accept. He looked
at each in turn.
"Thanks, guys. I .... I’m still not real comfortable with this, and
I can’t help but wish it could’ve been different, but .... but I think
I can live with it, now."
"That’s all anyone can ask of you; nobody should have to make that choice.
If anyone is to blame, it’s Mondo for putting all of us through this."
Billy’s calm understanding brought the first smile to Adam since the
previous afternoon and Tanya’s startling announcement. It wasn’t a broad
smile, but it was a beginning. Unconsciously, the four young men began
to relax. Leaning back in his chair, Adam stared into the sky, in the direction
of the mountains. Mentally, he called out to his girlfriend.
*Just be allright, Tanya. I love you. Come back to me, and I promise,
we’ll get over this. I’m sorry I wasn’t more understanding. You’re wonderful,
and I miss you. Tanya ....*
Lost in his thoughts, he fell asleep, his restless night catching up
with him. His friends smiled understandingly, and kept a quiet vigil over
his slumber into the afternoon.
 
 


***

Tanya sat on the porch, watching the stars, as she heard a door open
inside. Muffled laughter reached her ear, and she had to smile. Obviously,
Jason and Kat had successfully completed another cycle. The shower was
turned on, and some time later, another door fell shut. The Yellow Ranger
gathered her robe around her and ambled slowly into the living room; Kat
was bound to be exhausted, and would go to sleep on the couch, while she
would feed their companion. Jason had mostly slept during the periods when
his body didn’t demand release, and she was sure he was famished by now.
During the course of the day and early night, the three had established
a closeness that made everything about this bizarre situation more bearable.
There had been laughter, and shared confidences, and they had lost most
of their awkwardness with each other. They were friends, all of them, and
while they didn’t talk about the people down in Angel Grove -- namely,
Adam and Tommy -- they knew that once this was over, they eventually would
be able to go back to the way things had been before. Tanya was aware,
as were Kat and Jason, that all of them would have to talk, but it could
wait until emotions weren’t running so high anymore. Hopefully, the two
people who were also involved (but not present) would be able to accept
their inevitably deepened relationship.
Tanya opened the sliding door and stopped, smiling broadly, as she heard
a sleepy but indignant squeal from her best friend.
"Put me down, Jason!"
"Why? I like carrying you."
"What if you let me drop?"
Tanya heard Jason’s chuckle as he backed into the living room, cradling
the Pink Ranger in his arms.
"I won’t. I still have that much strength left. And in case I
don’t, I’ll make sure you land on something soft -- like right here."
With that, he sank down in front of the sleeper couch and let Kat fall
just the last few inches. She squealed again, but laughed tiredly into
his eyes. Jason knelt next to her and reached for the blanket. Covering
Kat, he gently tucked her in.
She smiled as she snuggled into the pillow. Her eyes were already droopy
as she murmured a last protest.
"You can’t do this to me. Just you wait -- I’m going to get you for
this."
With a very tender gesture, Jason brushed a strand of pale gold hair
out of her eyes. Kissing her softly on the forehead, he leaned back.
"I’m sure you will, kitten."
Kat smiled once more, but the blue eyes were already drifting shut.
Within minutes, she was asleep, her soft, even breaths the only sound in
the room.
 
 


***

Tanya watched with a growing sense of dread as Jason looked at Kat for
a while longer, his expression open and full of  ... what? It couldn’t
be longing, could it? Finally, he got up after once more running a gentle
hand through the blonde locks. He noticed Tanya standing in the doorway,
and a wry smile crossed his lips. Not saying a word, he left the room and
went into the kitchen.
The dark-skinned girl stood frozen for a few moments. She had seen over
the course of the day that things between Kat and Jason were different
than between herself and the former Gold Ranger, but she had put it down
to the differences in their personalities. Now, however, the little things
-- the teasing pecks, the fleeting touches, the fact that usually Kat fell
asleep with Jason while she preferred to get up and rest alone -- took
on more serious implications. What if those two were falling in love? What
would that do to them -- to Tommy? She had a sinking feeling in her stomach
as she followed Jason into the kitchen, where he was taking out sandwich
makings. Tanya watched him from the door as he puttered about. He’d looked
her way once when she came in, but now seemed intent only on getting some
food into him. At last, the Yellow Ranger couldn’t stand it any more. Clearing
her throat softly, she called his name.
"Jason?"
The young man took his time acknowledging her. When he finally met her
eyes, she knew that he knew what she was thinking about. Tanya went to
the table with suddenly shaky knees, sinking down opposite him as Jason
started to consume a monster sandwich.
"Jason, what ... what just happened there?" She could barely get the
words past her suddenly dry throat, and gratefully accepted the orange
juice Jason pushed over. Taking a sip, she tried again. "Is ... is something
going on between you and Kat?"
He didn’t pretend ignorance, for which Tanya was grateful.
"You mean, am I falling in love with her?"
Jason got up again to get a fresh glas for himself.
"Y-yes. What I just saw ...."
"... was me expressing my love for Kat. You got that right. But Tanya,
if it had been you, I would have done the same."
"Wh-what?" Tanya blanched slightly.
Jason met her eyes, then.
"Tanya ... does it really surprise you, after all you two have done
for me, that I love you? Both of you? I know we’ve been friends before,
but you know as well as I that this" he made a sweeping gesture indicating
the whole cabin, "has brought us so much closer than just friendship."
"I ... I know. I don’t mind that; I guess we should have expected it,
in a way. B-but still .... you and Kat .... I didn’t think about it before,
but you’re closer to her than to me. A lot."
Jason swallowed his mouthful of sandwich and reached for his juice.
He gave her another gentle smile.
"I know. Kat is -- oh, I dunno -- more affectionate, I guess. Why do
you think I call her 'kitten'? That’s not to say that you aren’t, just
that she and I connected a bit more, I guess." There was no censure in
the deep voice. Nevertheless, Tanya felt as if she had to defend herself.
"I ... I don’t mean to be distant, I ..."
He took her hand in his and squeezed gently.
"You’re thinking about Adam, right? About how he’s gonna take all of
this."
"Yes." She whispered the single word, lowering her head. Jason leaned
across the table and chucked her lightly under her chin.
"Hey, I understand. I’ve seen the look on his face Friday afternoon.
And I’m not blaming you for keeping a little detachment. Especially not
since you had the most difficult job -- getting started."
Tanya looked at him again. Grateful for his understanding, she returned
the pressure of his hand around hers. Her eyes were a bit moist as she
smiled.
"It did get better, though."
"Yeah -- because Kat trusted her instincts. Just as you did the second
time."
A slight blush dusted Tanya’s face as she recalled her second ‘session’
with Jason -- the things he’d done to her and they’d done together. A small,
pleasurable shudder raced down her spine. Still, she couldn’t get her mind
off the tender scene she had witnessed.
"But Jason, still .... can you honestly tell me that there’s nothing
more between you and Kat? I’m not trying to accuse you of anything, but
what I just saw ...."
The former Ranger took his time answering. When he did, the deep voice
was a bit hesitant.
"Tanya ... I said that I love both you and Kat for what you did. Okay,
I admit, maybe I’m feeling a bit more for her than for you, because she’s
a bit more open, less reserved, but I understand why you can’t be."
"And I understand why you feel that way." She smiled, accepting his
words without rancour. Kat had a way to make people feel good; it was why
they’d become such good friends so quickly. "But go on."
"I love her, yes, but I’m not in love with her. Do you understand the
difference?"
"Yeah, sure."
Jason searched for words to explain himself better. He sensed that he
hadn’t quite managed to convince Tanya yet. His voice, when he continued,
held a note of sincerity she’d heard twice before now -- the day he promised
to guard the key to Auric, and when he’d promised Adam he would do his
best not to hurt her. He’d kept both pledges.
"Kat ... Kat is very easy to love."
Tanya nodded. She’d had that expece, ce, too.
"But there are a few very good reasons why I can’t let myself
fall in love with her. She’s deeply in love with someone else -- who just
happens to be my best friend. You must believe me that I would never
do anything to hurt Tommy -- especially not after what he was offering
to me the other day. And there’s another one -- I’m datingondeonderful
girl myself. I don’t want to hurt Emily, either. I don’t know if and when
we’ll ever have the kind of relationship you two have with Tommy and Adam,
it’s too soon to tell, but I couldn’t do that to her."
Momentarily distracted, Tanya asked about the absent blonde.
"Are you going to tell her?"
"About this? No. At first I thought I would, but now I don’t think so."
"But why? Don’t you think she deserves to know?"
Jason smiled ruefully.
"Yeah, maybe. I don’t particularly like keeping this from her. But Tanya
... I can’t just tell her I spent the weekend making love to my friends’
girlfriends without giving her a damned good reason. And what reason could
I possibly give her without betraying the Rangers? If none of us were on
the team any longer, it would be different, but I can’t reveal your
identities."
"Oh. You’re right, of course; I hadn’t thought of that."
"Besides, I know of her pledge. It would only make her feel guilty that
she couldn’t be there for me when I needed her."
Both teens were lost in thought for some moments. Then, Tanya got back
to her previous concerns.
"You said you can’t let yourself fall in love with Kat. Are you so sure
you can avoid that?"
"Pretty much. All I have to do is to remind myself of Tommy and Emily."
He glanced away for a second, then met the large eyes with a very serious
look.
"In all honesty, though .... it would be very easy to let myself
go and fall for her. If I had been here when Kat first came to Angel Grove
... but I wasn’t, and it’s far too late now. She and Tommy have been through
so much .... I just want both of them to be happy. I’ll find someone special
like her one day, tI’m I’m just glad I have them as friends. All of you."
Tanya and Jason sat quietly after that statement, sharing the silence
Jason’s confession had left in its wake. Tanya couldn’t help but reflect
on how things might have turned out had Jason indeed been there.
Maybe Kimberly and Tommy would never have broken up; maybe, instead of
being attracted to the then-White Ranger, her friend would have found a
relationship with his best friend instead. She could well picture Kat and
Jason together, but Tanya pushed the image away. It was as Jason had said
-- it had been too late for them from the start, and she only hoped that
the former Gold Ranger was right about his ability to keep that last, necessary
bit of distance from his best friend’s girl.
They talked some more after a while, letting the Pink Ranger sleep,
as the darkness slowly made way for the pinks and greys of early dawn.
The first birds began their morning songs as Tanya and Jason returned to
the bedroom, to ride out the latest surge of his need. They had weathered
over thirty hours so far together; if Billy’s prediction was correct, they
could hope their ordeal would be over sometime during the day that was
breaking outside the small, cosy cabin.