* HOMECOMING *
Part 4
by Naomi Tilley
*Rosalynn Chateau
"I want Mummy and Daddy!"
Tommy grimaced as he struggled to hold onto William's hand. The little boy was a handful and a half, and he would be only too happy to hand the child back over to Jason and Trini. He loved kids, of course, but when a child wanted his parents....
It was all Tommy could do not to shout across the room when he saw Jason finally enter the reception centre with Trini. Instead, he crouched down and spoke into William's ear, pointing in the direction of the little boy's mum and dad. The child took off before Tommy had a chance to draw breath, and was across the room seconds later, using his small height to his full advantage.
"Daddy!"
Jason barely had a chance to prepare himself before William launched himself forward. He caught him, swinging him around to avoid the full impact of the collision.
"Here's my little cannon," Jason laughed, lifting William up fully into his arms. Trini spared him a stern look.
"I hope you behaved yourself." She looked up as Tommy finally made it through the crowd of guests. "Was he good, Tommy?"
Tommy smiled wryly. "He behaved himself, but man... This kid has got bundles of energy. I don't know how you can keep up!"
Jason chuckled as he shifted William to his side. "It's not easy, that's for sure. So where're Adam and Tanya?"
"The lovebirds?" Tommy asked with a grin. "Over there, at the main table. I think the photo session wiped them out."
Jason smiled and shook his head. "C'mon, champ. Let's get you a drink."
"Red cordial!" William burst out, and Jason grimaced as he maneuvered his way through the people.
"Over my dead body. I want sleep tonight, my boy."
Tommy and Trini watched the two go, then Tommy turned back to Trini.
"So do you think you can tell me what all that was about earlier?"
Trini sighed softly, her smile fading. "Jason got some bad news from Chicago. His friend Sid..."
"Yeah," Tommy murmured, "Jase has talked a bit about him."
"Sid was killed, Tommy. He was ambushed in his home. Jason was pretty distraught."
Tommy's tanned face paled slightly. "Aw, hell.... Do they know who did it?"
"According to the information your dad got, they don't have any solid leads."
"You know, you didn't have to come back here," Tommy told her. "Adam and Tanya would have understood, and Jason's folks would have taken William."
"No," Trini disagreed. "I think it was best that we came back. Jason needed the distraction. He'll have to think about it enough when he gets back to work."
"Yeah, well, if I know my dad, he'll probably tell Jase to take a few days off."
A smile touched Trini's lips. "Then it'll just be a matter of seeing who's the more stubborn. Jason or your father."
The two stared at each other, then both spoke together. "Jason!"
Trini laughed softly. "Thanks, Tommy. I needed that."
He hugged her gently. "It's okay. I can tell you're pretty upset, too."
"Sid was a good friend," Trini whispered, tears filling her eyes before she could help it. "And poor little Katie That's Sid's little girl. Jason said she was the one who found him!"
Tommy sighed faintly. "Poor kid. That'll take some heavy-duty counseling to get over."
He trailed off as Jason came back, still carrying William. The little boy was, in turn, carrying a tall glass of lemonade. Knowing the truth, Tommy noticed for the first time the redness in Jason's eyes, and knew his friend had shed a lot of tears between the wedding and the reception.
"Jase, you want me to take William for you?" _Am I stupid or something?_ Tommy thought, even as he spoke. He could barely hide his relief when Jason smiled and shook his head.
"Thanks, Tommy, but it's okay. We'll take it from here."
Tommy nodded, speaking again before he stopped to think twice. "Well, just say if you want me to take him. I'll be happy to keep an eye on him."
Jason smirked as the crowd of guests started to be ushered to their respective tables.
"You are such a bad liar," he hissed at Tommy. Tommy grinned back.
"I'm not that bad. You just know me too well."
Adam and Tanya had planned it well. All who knew the secret of the Power Rangers were at the one table. There was Tommy, Jason, Trini, Zack and Billy from the original team. Rocky and Kat were both at the main table with Adam and Tanya, though both tables were in talking distance of each other. Also at the table was Kimberly, who had flown in from Florida with her own husband and child for the wedding.
Kim and Trini sat close together, comparing their children like proud mothers, while the men talked on the other side of the table.
"I can't believe it's been so long," Zack murmured. He looked to Jason, shaking his head in amazement. "Somehow, I never pictured you as having kids."
Jason looked wounded. "You don't think I would have made a good father?"
Zack laughed, hitting Jason lightly on the arm. "It's not that, man.
Hell, I never really thought any of us would even get married. Hey, Derek, how long have you and Kimberly been married now?"
"Just over three years," Derek Peters replied with a wry smile. "I presume those of you who are unattached are still suffering throwbacks from your teen-hood?"
Jason chuckled. "Don't tell me, let me guess. You're a psychiatrist, aren't you?"
Derek was openly surprised. "Is it that obvious?"
"No, but my father is a psychiatrist. I grew up with those sorts of comments. It's recognizable after a while."
"We'll have to talk," Derek said with a wry smile. "Kim thinks I'm analyzing Crystal too much."
Suddenly, without warning, William was on Jason's knee. "Daddy, I've gotta go to the bathroom!"
Jason looked rueful. "What? You can't go by yourself?"
Trini spared Jason an apologetic look from the other side of the table.
"I'm sorry, honey. He can't manage the suit on his own, and he's too old to take into the ladies' room."
William pulled a face. "I'm not a girl."
Jason fought back a grin. "Okay, tiger. Let's go, then."
He got up, hoisted the child up into the crook of his arm, then began to weave his way through the tables to the bathrooms.
Kim smiled as she nursed her own little girl. "Trini, you are so lucky. William is a gorgeous little boy."
Trini returned the smile as she watched the sleepy one year-old in Kim's arms. "You're pretty lucky yourself. Imagine, here we are... Both of us twenty-six, with a husband and child. Somehow I never imagined myself like this."
Kim nodded in agreement, speaking softly so that Derek didn't overhear her. "In a way, I thought we were going to be Rangers forever. But here we are with normal lives...."
"As normal as possible," Trini remarked. "I'll always be thankful that Jason transferred back here to Angel Grove. I was so frightened for him in Chicago."
"I always knew you two were perfect for each other," Kim said with a small giggle. "I wondered how long it would take you to get together. I mean, Jason could be almost as shy as Adam when it came to girls."
Trini smiled dreamily. "I think the first time we really connected was at the Peace Conference. You remember, I wrote to you and told you about what happened?"
"That one of the delegates was killed in an avalanche?"
"Yes," Trini murmured, becoming serious as she recalled the incident.
"Ho Lee, one of the Chinese delegates. I'd become good friends with him. It was such a horrible shock when they announced his death, that I went back to my room and just cried. I don't know when it was that Jason showed up. One minute I'm feeling totally alone, and the next... There's Jason, on the floor beside me. He never did anything, never tried to take advantage of the situation. He just held me for ages. God, I loved him so much for that. A couple of other guys had tried to 'comfort' me. You know? Jason was the one who scared them off. He really looked after me in those days after Ho was killed."
Kim sighed. "Then you met up with him three years later in Chicago, fell in love and got married. That is so romantic."
"More like traditional," Trini retorted, "right down to the parents of the bride who didn't want their only daughter marrying an ordinary policeman.
Can you believe my father actually tried to set me up with the son of a senator when he found out I was seeing Jason? It was awful. Luckily, Jason and I both had the tenacity to stand up to Mum and Dad. I threatened Dad with asking Jason's father to give me away at the wedding if he didn't come. That was too much of a humiliation for him to bear."
Kim looked around as Jason and William emerged from the bathroom on the other side of the room.
"I'll be so glad when Crystal is properly toilet-trained. Derek will be, too. Then he won't have to take her into the men's room when she's out with him."
Trini raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You mean Derek is helping to toilet-train Crystal?"
"Sure. Didn't Jason?"
Trini smirked as Jason came back to the table with William in tow. "Oh, everything was going fine while William was still using the potty. But as soon as he got big enough to stand.... I have never seen Jason go as red as he did when he tried to explain all of that to William."
Jason groaned as he sat back down. "I turn my back for five minutes..."
"Uh, guys?" Zack asked pleadingly. "Can we change the topic? The food's coming."
Trini and Kim exchanged grins, and let the issue drop.
*Later that night
"I hope Adam and Tanya will be happy together," Trini murmured as she watched Jason get ready for bed. Jason nodded thoughtfully.
"Same. So many marriages end in divorce these days. It's tragic."
"I think they'll do all right," Trini said. "As long as they always listen to each other. That's important. Jason? How are you feeling?"
Jason pulled an old T shirt on and went around and climbed into bed.
"Pretty numb, actually. I guess I cried myself out earlier."
Trini shifted her position, and slid her arms around him. "Chief Oliver said he'd give you leave to attend the funeral. Do you want to go?"
"Yes and no," Jason admitted. "If I go, then it's like I'm saying 'yes, he's dead, that's it'. If I don't, I know I may never let go properly. I think I'll have to go."
"I'm coming with you. Sid was my friend as well. Your parents will look after William, I'm sure of it."
Jason glanced down at her in amusement. "Not your mum and dad?"
"Oh, please," Trini retorted. "Mum will just load William up on sugar.
At least we know your mother will make sure he eats properly."
Jason sighed faintly. "I'm not looking forward to work on Monday."
"Don't worry about it, Jason. Not yet. We'll just take it easy tomorrow, okay?"
Silence reigned for a little while before Jason finally spoke again. "I keep thinking that it was somehow my fault."
Trini stiffened slightly, then sat up, turning on the bed lamp. "Why would you think that? Jason, that's ridiculous."
"Maybe," he conceded. "I just can't shake that feeling, though.
Something about it isn't right. I mean, Sid worked on a lot of cases with me, but he never really had any enemies. None that would want to kill him, anyway."
Trini reached out and touched her fingertips lightly to Jason's cheek.
"Jason, stop thinking about it. I know that isn't easy to do, but I want you to stop. The bottom line is, no killing makes sense, no matter who is responsible, or who the victim is. It doesn't matter if Sid had a hundred enemies who all wanted to kill him. Honey, you can't let this haunt you."
Jason shut his eyes tightly as fresh tears threatened. "I am gonna miss him so much...."
She slid down in the bed and put her arms around Jason, holding him close.
"Go ahead and cry, baby. It's okay."
The young man shuddered, then began to cry, burying his face in his beloved wife's shoulder. Trini kissed him gently on the top of the head, then finally gave in to her own tears, and the two of them lay together, grieving for their lost friend.
*Monday Morning
Jason arrived at the precinct almost painfully early, more to escape the sympathy of his fellow officers than anything. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it. He just didn't care to take the risk of breaking down in front of any of them. As humble as he tried to be, that was something his ego simply wouldn't allow.
He reached his office and fell into the chair behind his desk, pausing just long enough to snatch the framed photo of Sid and himself off the desk and slip it into the top drawer. The last thing he needed right then was a visual reminder of his best friend's death.
"I guess the chief was right," a voice said from the doorway. "It must be bad to get you here before ninety percent of the rest of the boys."
Jason looked up, then sighed faintly when he saw David.
"I had paperwork left over from Friday," he mumbled. "Figured I might as well get in here and get it done."
David sat down at his own desk. "Bullshit. Oliver told me the news.
I'm sorry."
Jason bit down hard on his lower lip for a moment as his emotions threatened to spill over once more.
"This sort of thing happens. We have to be ready for it. I can't sit around sulking."
"There's a difference between sulking and grieving," David pointed out. "This guy was your best friend, wasn't he?"
Jason stared intently at the desktop. "Yes. He was."
"Then it's not sulking. Give it a week, then it's sulking."
Jason glanced up at David, then managed a faint smile in appreciation of the light joke.
"Thanks, David."
"It's okay. But I'll warn you now. Oliver will probably have you in talking to the precinct counselor before the day is over."
"Thanks for the warning," Jason muttered, sitting back with a thud. David hesitated, then spoke in a serious tone.
"Listen, Jason. I don't know what it's like to lose someone close. Not like that. But I can guess it must be pretty hard on you. If you feel like talking about it, you know where to find me."
Jason paused just a moment, biting down on his lower lip. "Thanks, David. I'll be okay, though."
David nodded his understanding. "Sure. Just remember, any time."
*That afternoon
The mail was delivered while Jason and David were out on foot patrol, and they got back to find a small pile of letters waiting for each of them on their desks.
"What are you thinking?" Jason asked, seeing the frown on his partner's face. David grimaced.
"I'm thinking excess paperwork. Oh well, might as well get it over with."
They both sat down, and Jason gathered the letters into one small pile. The first was of no importance, so he put it aside. The second was a weapons license renewal notice. The third....
Jason paused. The third was handwritten, addressed to him care of the precinct. He turned it over curiously, but there was no return address. Rechecking the front, though, he discovered it was postmarked Chicago. His stomach rolled slightly as he realised it was most likely from one of his former work mates, from the 17th precinct.
"Something wrong?"
He glanced up to find David was watching him.
"I don't know. I think this is from one of the men I used to work with in Chicago."
"Relax," David told him. "They probably just wrote their condolences."
Jason grimaced, then tore open the envelope before he could lose his courage. A single sheet of paper fell out, and Jason could see the dark red ink of the writing through the lined paper. He frowned and carefully unfolded the letter.
David looked up just as Jason turned a deathly shade of white. Forgetting his own mail, he leaned forward quickly.
"What's wrong, Jason?"
Jason didn't answer. He continued to stare at the letter with a look of abject horror on his face. David was about to get up to see when Jason suddenly moved, snatching the phone off the hook in an almost violent movement. Paying no attention to David at all, Jason dialed a number with trembling fingers, and waited impatiently for it to be answered. In his anxiety, he never noticed David get up and hurry from the office.
The phone was finally answered after several rings, and a voice familiar to Jason spoke.
"17th Precinct. How can I help you?"
"Teddy? It's Jason."
On the other end of the connection, Ted Bowers laughed at the sound of his former colleague's voice.
"Jase, long time no hear! How's it hanging, buddy?"
Jason swallowed hard, fighting the panic that was gradually building inside his gut. "Everything's fine...."
"I should think so! I still can't believe you had the gall to move away from the action. Hell, you used to crave it!"
"Teddy, I found out about Sid on Saturday," Jason said softly, and immediately Ted became serious.
"Yeah? Well, Harrison said he'd get word to you. How you doing?"
"So-so," Jason admitted. "I'll be there for the funeral, if I can make it."
"Don't stress yourself over it," Ted told him. "We'll all understand if you don't make it."
Jason brought his right hand up to his forehead, fighting off the beginnings of a migraine. "Teddy, I need a favour. I need current information on Kyle Bennett. How the case is going, all of that."
Ted was silent for a long moment before speaking. "I usually wouldn't do this, but since it's you.... Hang on a second."
Jason fell back in his chair, waiting impatiently for Ted to return to the phone. After a minute that seemed more like an hour, Ted was back, talking to him again.
"I've got the details right here. Um... Are you sure you want to hear this?"
Jason felt his stomach roll. "Tell me, Teddy."
"Okay. It went to a committal hearing five days ago. I don't know what the hell was wrong with the judge, but he said the evidence was inconclusive and he dismissed the case. Bennett is a free man, Jase."
Jason shut his eyes tightly. "I think I'm gonna be sick...."
"You aren't the only one. Harrison was in a shocking mood for the two days following. Then, what with Sid being killed... It's been a bitch of a week all round, you know?"
Jason's hand went from his eyes to his stomach. He seriously felt like throwing up. "I've gotta go, Teddy. Thanks. I... I'll see you at the funeral."
"Sure, Jason. Take it easy, okay, buddy?"
Jason mumbled an affirmative and hung up. It was then he realised that Michael Oliver was standing in front of his desk, watching him intently. David had to have gotten him, Jason realised.
"David said there's a problem," Michael said quietly. "Care to tell me what it is?"
Jason hesitated, then nodded slowly, knowing he couldn't possibly keep the information from his boss.
"Yeah... Could you just give me a minute?"
When Michael nodded, Jason picked up the phone again and dialed a new number, then waited anxiously for a reply.
At the other end of the line, Trini frowned as she hurried from the shower to answer the phone. It never failed; the moment she took the time to relax, something happened to interrupt her. She answered the phone, trying not to sound annoyed.
"Hello?"
"Trini, it's me."
Trini felt a stab of concern. "Hey, honey. What's wrong?"
Jason drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. The last thing he wanted was to scare Trini.
"Hon, I need you to listen to me closely. Don't argue and don't ask questions. Go and pack a couple of bags, one for you and one for William. Then, take the car and go and take William out of Kindergarten. When you've done that, I want you to drive to your aunt's house in San Diego and don't stop until you get there. No matter what. Do not stop for anything or anyone. Do you understand?"
Trini spoke tentatively, feeling the old fear creeping into her system.
"I understand... but why?"
"I can't tell you that," Jason said softly. "Not yet. Please, just do as I ask. Please, trust me."
For several seconds, Trini didn't reply. She knew that tone of voice. It was a tone he had not used for nearly ten years, not since their days as Power Rangers. It was his old 'take-charge' voice, the voice he had used when he'd recognised a danger the rest of them hadn't seen. Something was seriously wrong, she realised, and if she wanted to come through it, then the only option was to follow Jason's instructions to the letter.
"I understand," she told him finally, and could hear his sigh of relief.
"Okay. Go now. It takes three hours to drive to San Diego. I'll call you there at six o'clock."
"Jason, what am I supposed to tell William?"
"Tell him it's a holiday. Just go, Trini. As fast as you can. I'll explain what this is about as soon as possible."
"All right," Trini conceded reluctantly. "I love you, Jason."
"I love you, too. Now, go."
She hung up, and after a moment, so did he. Michael Oliver then leaned forward.
"All right. What about an explanation for your chief, then?"
Jason nodded slowly. "Yes, sir. I was speaking to a former colleague of mine when you came in. He told me the case against Kyle Bennett was dismissed. Bennett was freed just a couple of days before Sid was killed."
Michael frowned. "Kyle Bennett?"
"The Angel of Death."
"Oh," Michael murmured. "And you think Bennett may be responsible for Sid's murder?"
Jason glanced at David, then looked back to Michael. "I'm sure of it, Chief. This was in the mail for me."
Jason handed Michael the letter, and Michael turned ashen as he read it.
Got your pig buddy,
now I'm gonna get you.
Not long now, little pig,
I'm on my way.
"If this Bennett is responsible," Michael growled, "then how the hell did he find out where you'd been transferred to?"
Jason shrugged. "The man is psychotic, but he isn't stupid, either."
"Why would he risk killing your old partner," David asked in confusion, "and then going after you? You said the case was dismissed. He could have played it safe and moved his operation to a new base."
"It's obsession," Michael said as he looked the letter over. "This man has become obsessed with Jason. He won't give up until one of them is dead. Our job is to make sure it isn't Jason." He looked down at the pale young man. "You are not going to stay by yourself in that house. Not until this son of a bitch has been caught. I'll take you by there after our shifts are done, and you can pack a bag for yourself. Then, you're coming to stay at my place."
Jason looked uncomfortable. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't think..."
"No," Michael interrupted. "There's safety in numbers, Jason. This man is less likely to take a shot at you when you're with a number of other people. The less people involved, the better it is for him. You'll be safest with us."
"What about Tommy, though?" Jason asked tentatively. "I don't want him to know about this."
"Then we simply don't tell him. It'll be fine. You've already made sure that Trini and William will be out of the firing line. Just worry about yourself."
Jason conceded reluctantly. "Thankyou, sir."
"Don't worry, Jason," David said quietly as they finished their paper- work for the day. "If I know Oliver at all, he won't let that bastard near you."
Jason didn't reply. He stared at his desktop, lost in thought and memory. David hesitated, then rapped lightly on his own desk to get the other man's attention.
"Earth to Jason. What are you thinking?"
Jason blinked, then sighed. "Just that I've made a lot of enemies in this job. There are a lot of criminals that would have plenty of reason to come after me... But all of them are rational enough to know it'd be a mistake. Bennett is just pure lunatic. There's no other way to put it. I mean, the guy killed kids, then molested them after he'd killed them! What sort of fucked up psycho does that?"
David watched Jason thoughtfully. "You think he's coming after you because you nailed him?"
"No," Jason murmured. "It's more than that. I mean, he killed Sid because of that, but it's like Oliver said. He's totally obsessed with me. I don't know why. He just is."
"What happened that day you went after him in Chicago?" David asked curiously. "We read a bit about it in the papers but there weren't a lot of details."
Jason spared David a wry look. "You really want to know? After all, I'm just another ego-centered cop with a hero reputation."
"Just tell me," David growled. Jason laughed softly, bitterly.
"It was just me and Sid. We weren't even sure he was in the building. I went in on one side, he went in on the other. A couple of things happened. The lights failed, and then I got the crap scared out of me by a stray cat. We figured that was all it was, and I sent Sid out. The next thing I know, there's a gun at my back. Bennett made me go down the stairs, to where he, and I quote, 'taught the kids their lessons'. Sick bastard. He said a few things, I said a few things. We fought, and he chased me back upstairs, and cornered me in a store room. Sid got there just in time to see me get buried beneath a ton of wooden crates. That's the last thing I remember."
David shook his head. "That was so stupid. You don't go into a situation like that without backup. What was going through your head?"
"I don't know," Jason sighed. "But it'll never happen again. I've had about a dozen lectures on it since. That's another thing, though. If Sid hadn't gotten there when he did, I would've been killed. I'm sure of it. I owed him my life. Just for that, part of me feels I should have stayed in Chicago."
David nodded. "Uh huh. Sure. You couldn't have prevented his death, Jason. You would have been going through all this, but in another state, and another city. Just accept it. We can't change the past."
Jason nodded. "No... But we do control the future."
"Huh?"
"Nothing," Jason murmured. He shuffled together the papers on his desk, then stood up. "I guess I'd better go meet the chief. I'll see you tomorrow, David."
David smiled faintly. "Sure thing."
Michael had obviously phoned ahead, Jason thought wryly when Melanie greeted him as though it were an ordinary happening.
"Tommy should be home in half an hour," Michael told Jason. "He tends to work late on Monday nights. You know where the guest room is. Just go ahead and put your things in there."
Jason nodded.
"Thanks again, Chief. I appreciate this."
Michael smiled reassuringly at the young man. "You aren't just one of my officers, Jason. You're my son's best friend, and I don't think I'd be brash in counting you as one of my friends, either. Now don't worry about a thing.
Okay?"
"Okay," Jason conceded, though deep down he wasn't so sure.
Tommy was thrilled, albeit bewildered, upon arriving home to learn that Jason was staying for a while. Immediately, he took his friend up to his bedroom to talk.
"So what's this about?" Tommy asked curiously as the two sat on the window seat in Tommy's room. Jason hesitated. He couldn't simply tell his friend nothing. That would only worsen the situation. He didn't like the notion of lying, either, so he opted for something in between.
"Well, you've got to promise me you won't tell your dad about this. He'd hang me out to dry if he knew I was telling you. We're working to catch a criminal that we think is headed this way. Your dad thought it would be easier for me to stay here, for safety as well as close contact."
Tommy nodded, awed by the thought. "Sort of like a stakeout, huh?"
Jason suppressed a grin. "Yeah, something like that."
A faint sigh escaped Tommy. "Man, sometimes I wish I'd joined the police. I might not have gotten so screwed up if I had."
Jason's amusement faded fast. "I don't know, Tommy. I get the feeling that nothing would have stopped that from happening. It was just bad luck, I think. I mean, you held the power longer than any of us. I guess it was almost logical that if anyone was going to get hooked on it, it'd be you. When I think back to how hard it was to get by after first giving up the Red Power coin, and then losing the Gold Powers.... Aside from that period between the Green and the White.... You were a Ranger right through. And let's face it, it was a pretty damn big rush."
Tommy smiled faintly at the memory. "Yeah, it was. I just wish I'd never met Alex."
"Alex..." Jason echoed. "He's the one who sold you the cocaine, right?"
Tommy nodded, staring at the cushions that lined the broad window seat.
"Yeah. First the coke, then the heroin. I knew all along how wrong it was... That I shouldn't be doing drugs.... But I couldn't stop. The rush was too big. Just like morphing. I didn't want to lose the rush again."
"But you're past it, now," Jason murmured. Tommy finally looked Jason in the eye.
"I'll never be past it. I don't know that I'll ever be cured.... But I haven't used for over a year, and I don't plan on using ever again."
A smile touched Jason's lips, then. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Tommy. A lot of junkies try to fool themselves into believing they're cured. They're the ones who always land in new trouble."
"I guess you see a lot of that, huh?" Tommy asked, and Jason nodded.
"Yeah, a fair bit. It's not pleasant. When I really think about it, a lot of my job isn't very pleasant, but it's damned satisfying to see a rapist or a serial killer get fifteen to twenty in court. That's the rush that I live for."
Tommy had to smile. "I suppose the only rush I get now is seeing my students advance in belts. Oh.... Do you remember Carl Ryan?"
Jason frowned. "Carl Ryan... Wasn't he that little six year old in Adam's class?"
"Yeah. He's fifteen now. He just scored his black belt last week."
A grin lit up Jason's face. "All I remember of him is a gangly little kid who couldn't turn around without falling over. He got his black belt, huh?
That's great!"
"Yeah," Tommy agreed. "He was so excited when I gave it to him that he tripped over and nearly broke his arm."
Jason burst out laughing. "Nice to know some things never change. Speaking of which.... Whatever happened to Bulk and Skull?"
It was Tommy's turn to grin. "Well, you remember they got that job offer and went over to France to work?"
"Oh yeah," Jason murmured. "That's right. I'd forgotten about that."
"Well, Skull came home about five years ago, and started up his own investigation agency. You know, Sigma Investigations?"
Jason blinked. "That's Skull's agency?"
"The one and only. He was so successful that he opened a branch in Stone Canyon. Then, two years back, Bulk came home and joined him. So now they're working together again. Difference is, neither one if half as clumsy or idiotic as they used to be."
"Now that would be worth seeing," Jason mused. "I'll have to pay them a visit one of these days."
Tommy laughed softly. "You remember how they never managed to get through even just one day without doing something stupid? They were always falling over each other."
"When they weren't harassing us," Jason agreed. "Joining the junior police squad was the best thing they ever did. Even if it didn't last."
Tommy nodded. "Yeah. Gave them some self-respect. They stopped acting like such jerks after that."
"And stopped trying to find out who the Power Rangers were," Jason said with a laugh. "If they only knew how close they were...."
"They did find out once," Tommy murmured. "It was after you, Zack and Trini went to Geneva. Zedd created a monster that could manipulate light through kaleidoscopic vision. Damn thing wiped our memories clean one by one.
Bulk and Skull happened to be scouting around the park and they saw everything."
Jason stared at Tommy incredulously. "You never told me about that.
How'd you wrangle your way out of it?"
"Well," Tommy said with a faint grin, "they got an attack of morality and decided to try and help us. They used a couple of crystals Billy and Adam had brought with them to reflect the light back at the monster. It restored our memories, and wiped the monster's memory clean. Only catch was, they lost their memories into the bargain. It wasn't total memory loss. They just lost their memories of that one incident. So even though they found out who we were, they couldn't tell anyone because they couldn't remember."
Jason burst out laughing. "That's poetic justice, for sure."
Tommy was about to reply when the door suddenly opened and Michael looked in. He paused, eyeing Jason and Tommy as they sat together on the window seat, then chuckled and came all the way into the room.
"For just a second there, you two looked like you were both seventeen again. I haven't seen the two of you sitting there on that seat together for nearly ten years."
Tommy instantly pulled a face. "Ack, ten years? God, we're ancient!"
"Hey, watch it," Michael growled. "If you're ancient at twenty-seven, I don't want to know what I am. Anyway, time to get your rears downstairs. Dinner's ready."
Tommy loudly hooted his approval, and took off before Jason could even move. He joined Michael in the middle of the floor, a faint smile on his lips.
"He's hardly changed at all."
Michael shoved his hands deep into his pockets. "I think that somehow he's trying to make up for what he lost when he was on the drugs." He paused, then looked at Jason. "How much did you tell him?"
"I told him we were staking out for a criminal that we suspected was heading this way. It wasn't entirely a lie."
"Just enough to ease his curiosity. Good enough. I can understand your not wanting to tell him. I couldn't tell you his reaction if he knew you're the target."
Jason winced visibly, and Michael kicked himself in the proverbial.
"I'm sorry, Jason. I didn't mean it to come out like that."
Jason sighed, then shrugged. "What does it matter? It's true."
Michael clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Let's go downstairs. We'll have dinner, and then you can give Trini a call. Make sure she got where she was going all right."
Jason nodded his silent consent, and the two left the room together.
Dinner passed pleasantly enough, but though it seemed on the surface that things were as they had been ten years ago, Tommy soon began to suspect that there was a problem. After the meal, he confronted Jason in the kitchen as the two loaded the dishwasher.
"So you want to tell me what's really going on?"
Jason stared at Tommy blankly, caught off-guard. "Huh?"
Tommy walked over and carefully shut the kitchen door, sealing out the low murmur of his parents' voices from the family room.
"You said at the wedding reception on Saturday that I couldn't lie to you. It goes both ways, buddy. What's going on? There's more to this than just a simple stakeout."
Jason's jaw clenched just slightly. "I told you, we're waiting for a known criminal to come..."
"Bullshit," Tommy snapped. "You wouldn't let me get away with this. Why are you doing it to me? Damn it, Jase, that isn't fair! I thought we were supposed to be best friends!"
Jason fell back against the bench, one hand coming up to cover his eyes. "I thought that I could get away from it, transferring here from Chicago. Sort of like when we were Rangers, you know? When we left Angel Grove, that was it. The trouble didn't follow us. I never heard hide nor hair of Zedd or Rita in Geneva. They didn't even try using us to manipulate you guys. I just assumed it'd be the same."
Tommy watched Jason intently, frowning a little. "Is it about that friend of yours that was killed?"
Jason was a moment in replying, and for a moment, Tommy thought he'd put his foot in it. Then, finally, Jason sighed and nodded.
"Partially, yes. I think I know who killed him."
"Well, isn't that good?" Tommy asked. "If you know, then he can be arrested."
"It isn't that simple anymore, Tommy. You can't just arrest someone that you think might have committed a crime. You need to have something to back up that suspicion. If it's speculation, you can't do crap. Besides, I don't believe he's in Chicago anymore."
"The man you think killed your friend?"
"Right. I think he's on his way here."
Tommy whistled softly. "So that's it. You're working with Dad to nail this guy."
"That's part of it," Jason admitted. Tommy frowned.
"What else is there?"
A moment of silence passed, and then Jason spoke softly. "I got a letter today. Anonymous, but I'm pretty sure about who wrote it. The note said he'd gotten my buddy, and now he was coming for me."
Tommy's eyes went wide. "This guy is coming after you? Oh, shit..."
"That's why I'm here," Jason explained. "I sent Trini and William to Trini's aunt in San Diego. I didn't want them in the firing line if anything happened. Your dad seems to think that Bennett is less likely to take a shot at me if I'm with other company. He didn't want me staying by myself."
"I understand," Tommy murmured. "Don't worry. I won't let Dad know you told me."
"I'm not worried about that," Jason admitted. "I wasn't sure about telling you myself. I didn't want you freaking out on me."
Tommy clapped Jason lightly on the shoulder. "Don't worry, bro. If this son of a bitch wants you, he'll have to go through me to get you. C'mon, let's go shoot some baskets outside before it gets too dark."
Jason stood back, watching Tommy go with a steadily increasing feeling of nausea. Ten years ago, he would have met a statement like that with a warm response. Now, it filled him with cold dread. That was exactly the sort of attitude that got people killed. As he left the kitchen, Jason silently prayed that if Bennett did show up, then Tommy would not be around when he did.
Bennett was already in town. He had been for three days. He'd posted the letter to Jason the day he'd left Chicago, knowing it would give him leeway between its arrival and his arrival. He'd been there for three days, and he had been stalking Jason for as long.
He knew Jason had sent his wife and son out of town, and that didn't bother him. He'd take care of them when he'd dealt with the pig. A smile touched his lips as he watched Jason shooting baskets with another young man.
Move fast, strike hard. That was the key. Not right then, but soon. Very soon.
"You've still got all your old moves," Tommy said with a laugh as Jason ducked around him to put the ball through the basket. Jason shrugged and tossed the ball to Tommy.
"Being a cop tends to keep you fit. You've gotten sluggish."
Tommy pulled a face. "I haven't lost it totally."
Without waiting for a response, Tommy darted towards the garage and leapt into the air, driving the ball through the hoop. He landed with a heavy thud, and looked quickly back to Jason for approval.
"What d'you think of that, huh? Jase?"
Jason blinked and looked back to Tommy. "What? What was that?"
"Oh man," Tommy groaned. "You weren't even watching. C'mon, man, lighten up! Everything'll work out okay. Don't worry so much!"
Jason sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Tommy. I just don't think I'm up to this. Not tonight."
Tommy scowled darkly. "Sure. Whatever."
He tucked the ball under his arm and stalked back up the path towards the house, leaving Jason standing in the driveway in confusion.
"Tommy?" Jason called after his friend, but Tommy didn't stop or even look back. Jason groaned softly, wondering at the same time whether that was the sort of rapid, volatile mood swings that Michael and Melanie had had to put up with during Tommy's periods of drug use and rehabilitation. Jason's heart skipped a beat. Surely Tommy wasn't using again....?
Tommy had reassured him in the bedroom that he wasn't, and Jason had to believe that. If he didn't, then what hope was there for their ongoing friendship? Feeling sick with misery and grief, Jason turned and headed up the path towards the house.
Bennett smiled to himself, and waited until Jason had disappeared back inside the house before walking off down the street, whistling softly to himself.
Michael was there when Jason came back in, concern etched onto his features.
"What happened?"
Jason shook his head. "I have no idea. All I said was that I didn't think I was up to fooling around, playing one-on-one tonight. He just stormed back inside."
A sigh escaped Michael. "He still has mood swings. It's an effect of the drugs and the rehab that never really wore off."
Jason hesitated, then spoke softly. "I had to tell him the truth about Bennett. He practically backed me into a corner over it. That could be partly it. We used to rely on each other so much... Maybe he just thinks I don't trust him anymore."
"Do you?" Michael asked, and when Jason didn't answer, Michael clapped the young man on the shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't ask that. I don't blame you if you don't trust Tommy now."
"It isn't that," Jason said finally. "I do trust him, sir. It's just Bennett is a dangerous man. I don't want Tommy putting himself in the firing line.
"I understand," Michael conceded. "It's not an easy situation. Maybe you should try explaining it to Tommy like that. He might understand it if you put it in that light."
Jason didn't look convinced. "I don't know. I'm sorry, sir. I'm just starting to think that maybe it wasn't such a good idea, me coming here."
"You can think what you like," Michael retorted. "I'm your commanding officer. You do as I say. And I say you stay here. I don't want you out of my sight, Jason. Understand? You said it yourself. Bennett is a dangerous man.
You don't want to end up the same as Sid, do you?"
The comment hit a raw nerve, and Jason cringed visibly.
"I'm sorry," Michael said, feeling a touch of regret. "I didn't mean for that to come out that way. I'm just saying that I want you to be careful, and I don't want you by yourself. Not for any reason. All right?"
Jason nodded slowly, reluctantly. "All right."
Tommy lay awake for a long time after Jason had finally gone to sleep. He'd taken the liberty of setting up the fold-up bed in his room, and had insisted Jason sleep there rather than in the guest room. He knew it probably seemed silly to his parents, and he had a feeling that Jason had agreed only to humour him, but he didn't particularly care. Before Jason and Trini had come home, the last time he'd seen them had been one year after they'd been married. They'd been in town for just a week, on holiday, and he had been in a detox centre at the time.
Of course, Jason had come to see him, but it hadn't been the same. Tommy had felt like a criminal, and had been pretty hostile at the time. Then Jason and Trini had gone back to Chicago and Tommy had not seen them for the next five years. Jason's career had taken off, and he had been solely focused on that, and on his family.
Tommy sighed softly. Family.... He wondered if he would really have the courage to take the final step and marry Kat. Sure, they were engaged, but every time Kat brought up the question of a wedding date, Tommy found himself changing the subject. He was secretly surprised that Kat hadn't gotten frustrated and simply broken the engagement. He'd seen that look in her eyes at Tanya and Adam's wedding. Her best friend was finally married, and to the shyest guy in the group. If Adam, of all people, had the courage to take that step, then where did it leave him?
Of course, Rocky, Zack and Billy were all still bachelors, none with specific plans to get hitched any time soon. Somehow, that surprised Tommy. Rocky and Zack in particular had always been chasing the girls in High School, while Billy had seemed to find girlfriends even when he wasn't looking. Tommy smirked. Especially when he wasn't looking. Though none of them were surprised when Billy had finally returned to Earth after breaking up with Cestria, Tommy was mildly surprised that the genius hadn't found someone else.
Sighing again, Tommy rolled over, and found himself staring at his best friend's still form. And then there was Jason....
When Jason had finished school, he had still been going out with Emily. The two had been on-again-off-again for a while, but everyone was sure that they were destined to be together. Then, to everyone's astonishment, Jason had announced his enrolment in the Los Angeles Police Academy. Unbeknownst to everyone but Tommy, he had snuck off to a Police Academy information seminar one day when he was supposed to have been at the Youth Centre taking the intermediate Karate class. Tommy had covered for him, not really taking Jason's interest in the police force seriously. It had stunned him when, the following day, Jason confessed that he'd signed up and was due to leave for LA in a month.
Emily had been the next one to find out, and Tommy could still hear the sound of her angry shouts from the storeroom of the Youth Centre. Although Jason had kept to himself exactly what the fight had been about, the consequences were brutally obvious when Jason stormed out with a blazing red welt on his cheek.
Tommy wasn't sure what had happened to Emily after that. She'd gone to college, he thought, and had probably hooked up with some football player, or something. He hadn't been sorry to see them break up, though. He had never really liked the thought of Emily and Jason together, and he had a feeling the relationship would not have lasted long even if Jason had stayed in Angel Grove.
Now Jason and Trini... Tommy grinned to himself in the dark. He liked that combination a whole lot better. The two had always been remarkably close, and it had thrilled Tommy.... as far as he could be when his mind had been wasted on drugs.... when he'd gotten news that they were together. It was not a pairing that he had expected. If anything, he had thought that perhaps Billy and Trini would end up together. After all, she was the only one, aside from Adam, who had ever been able to completely understand him.
He had a feeling that Billy had actually had some feelings for Trini, and he remembered Billy's reaction upon coming home and learning that Jason and Trini were married with a child. He'd put up a facade of pleasure that they'd all known was fake, and had then disappeared into his home lab for two weeks.
Of course, he'd accepted that they were together, and had gone on with his own life. Curiously, Tommy wondered whether Billy and Trini could have made it together. It was hard to tell, he reflected. Jason and Trini were so perfect together, even though they had their difficulties, the same as any couple.
He sighed a little and was about to settle down when Jason suddenly twisted sharply, and gave a muffled sob. Frowning, Tommy pushed himself up in bed. He'd heard Trini mention that Jason suffered bad nightmares from time to time. She hadn't elaborated, but from all that Tommy had heard about the cases Jason had worked on in the past, it didn't surprise him in the least.
He paused, waiting to see if Jason settled down. Minutes passed, and the former Gold Ranger became progressively more restless, moaning in distress and muttering unintelligable words into the pillow. Grimacing, Tommy slid out of bed and crouched down beside his friend.
"Jase? C'mon, buddy, wake up...."
It had no effect, and Tommy finally reached out and grabbed his shoulder. Jason's reaction was immediate. He jerked violently awake, a half- choked cry escaping his throat. Tommy rocked back on his heels, holding his hands up defensively.
"Easy, bro. Man, that must have been a ripper of a nightmare."
Jason looked blankly at Tommy for several seconds, then finally scrambled out of the bed and bolted into the adjoining bathroom. Moments later, Tommy heard the sounds of retching as Jason lost the contents of his stomach into the toilet.
"Feel better?" Tommy asked softly as Jason finally came back into the bedroom.
"A little," Jason mumbled. "Sorry."
"It's okay. I tell you, I haven't seen you go that colour since.... Hell, since the time I nearly skewered you in the Dimension of Darkness. What was the nightmare about?"
"Daniel and Martina Jackson," Jason murmured as he sat back down on the bed. "Husband and wife duo, sort of like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. They really had it in for cops. Used to set up ambushes. They killed seven good cops before Sid and I nailed them. Shit... That was as close as they come."
"How close?" Tommy asked curiously. Jason paused, sparing Tommy a rueful look before going on.
"Sid nearly took a machete in the gullet. They liked the sight of blood. We were both in hospital for two weeks after that one. Trini nearly killed me herself."
Tommy had to smile. "I'm not surprised. You must've scared the crap out of her a dozen times over."
"I never meant to scare her," Jason murmured. "It's just the way it went. At the Academy, the sergeant that trained the squad I was in... He called me into his office one day. He told me I had the instinct. I didn't understand what he meant at the time, but later on, my lieutenant in Chicago told me the same thing. Said I had 'the instinct'."
"Trini's tough, though," Tommy said. "If she couldn't handle you being a cop, she would never have married you."
Jason nodded. "I know. But no one's ever had it in for me personally before. I don't get what it is with Bennett. You know about how I went after him in Chicago?"
"Uh huh."
"Well, he got the better of me at first. Took me down some stairs to this little area he had set up. He showed me this wall. It was covered with news articles about me and photos of me. It was freaky."
"Just you?" Tommy asked. "Nothing else?"
"Nothing else," Jason confirmed. "Just me. It scared the hell out of me. I'll admit it. But there was something strange. I mean, aside from that. Something I just can't quite put my finger on it. I get the feeling that if I could, then I'd be able to answer why Bennett has such a fixation with me."
"Try not to think about it," Tommy suggested. "You know, sometimes the answers we want come when we aren't even thinking about the problem."
Jason smiled wryly.
_Uh huh. You try not to think about a psychotic that wants you dead_
"Maybe you're right," he conceded. He paused, glancing at the clock. It read just after midnight. "Better get to sleep. I don't think either of us needs to be exhausted tomorrow."
Tommy smiled and climbed back into his own bed, switching off the bed lamp once Jason had also settled back into bed. Silence reigned for a couple of minutes, and then Tommy spoke softly.
"It's good to have you home, Jase."
In the darkness, Jason had to smile.
"It's good to be home," he admitted quietly. He paused, then slid further down beneath the covers. "Goodnight, Tommy."
"'Night, Jase."
Silence fell again, but it was a long time before either one finally fell asleep.
Tommy came down the next morning to find Jason in the family room, looking at the photos that lined the mantel above the fireplace. He joined his best friend, sparing him a sleepy smile.
"You're up nice and early."
Jason shrugged. "I'm used to dragging myself out of bed at ungodly hours. You get used to it. You slept through the alarm, I noticed."
Tommy grinned sheepishly. "Old habits are hard to break."
For just an instant, Jason felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise at the casual statement. He glanced sideways at Tommy, instinctively searching for some sort of sign, or clue, but Tommy's attention was solely on the photos.
"Hard to believe the twins are in college. Those two really grew up fast."
Jason reluctantly dragged his attention away from Tommy, and back to the photos.
"I know what you mean. The last time I saw either of them, they were half our size."
"Now they're both six foot," Tommy said with a snicker.
"What are they doing now, anyway?"
"In college? Alex is studying science. Scott is into architecture. They're at the same college, though. I don't think they could bear to be parted for long."
"That's the way it goes with twins," Jason murmured. Tommy finally looked to Jason.
"I used to think of us as brothers. Almost twins. You remember how we used to be able to second-guess each other?"
A grin tugged at the corners of Jason's mouth. "Yeah. And do you remember how we used to get so heavy into sparring that we'd try to take each other apart?"
"Yeah," Tommy said with a chuckle. "We didn't really mean it, though." He faltered, looking at Jason's wry grin, then smirked and shrugged. "Well, maybe we did. That was a good time, though. I still can't believe so long has passed since then."
"I know," Jason said, sighing and turning away from the mantel. "We're adults now, though, Tommy. We can't go back to being teenagers again. Hell, I don't think I'd want to. We had fun, but I would not want to suffer through High School again."
"Suffer?" Tommy echoed incredulously as they headed through into the kitchen. "What do you mean, suffer? You always had good marks, you got on well with practically everybody, you were popular..."
Jason pulled a face. "I had a love life worth zip. Emily was the first girl I ever dated, and that was no match made in Heaven. No one ever noticed, but as far as girls went, Adam had more luck than I did."
"I never noticed...." Tommy murmured, amazed.
"See? You were too busy with Kim, and then Kat to notice. I tell you, I really hated Valentine's Day. It was always a nightmare for me. Half the time I made up stories about dates that never happened." Jason paused, then sighed. "What am I talking about? It wasn't half the time. It was all the damn time."
"C'mon," Tommy growled. "There must have been some girls that would have loved to go out with you."
"If there were," Jason retorted, "they must have been shyer than I was. Remember the first year you came, and the Sadie Hawkins Dance the school had? I told you guys I had to go to a relative's place that night."
Tommy stared at Jason in disbelief. "Are you saying you lied about it?"
"Bingo," Jason muttered, red-faced. "I never went 'cause no one asked me. I didn't want to show up without a date. I was too embarrassed."
"You idiot," Tommy told him. "Do you have any idea how many girls showed up that night without dates?"
Jason was silent for a moment, then a smirk edged onto his face.
"Anyway, who are you to call me an idiot? I've been married for six years, pal, and I have a great kid. You haven't even set a date yet."
It was Tommy's turn to go red. "Give me a break. We're just taking it easy."
"You're stalling, as usual," Jason shot back. "Stop dangling the carrot, Tommy. Marry the girl! You love her, don't you?"
Tommy hesitated, then. Jason paused, a mug of coffee halfway to his lips.
"What is it?"
"I do love Kat," he said finally, softly. "I really do. It's just, the other night, at the reception after Tanya and Adam's wedding Just watching Kim and her husband For a minute there I felt so damn jealous that I wanted to take Derek outside and let him have it."
Jason shook his head and took a mouthful of coffee. "Face it, bro. You two just weren't meant to be together. Kim meant what she wrote in that letter. But I think you and Kat have really got a chance. Don't do her an injustice by pining for Kim."
"I already have," Tommy said sadly. "For the last six years. Right from when I first started taking the damned drugs. She could have just given up on me, you know. Anyone else probably would have. But she stuck by me, all the way."
"She loves you, Tommy. Stop stalling. Set a date and marry her. You've got a solid income with the dojo. You don't have anymore excuses."
"I guess you're right," Tommy conceded.
"I'm glad you two are up," a voice said, and they looked to see Michael walking into the kitchen. The police chief spared them a wry smile.
"Means I don't have to wake you both up." His gaze focused on Tommy.
"Especially you."
Tommy reddened and turned his attention back to his own mug of coffee. Michael chuckled and went to pour a mug for himself.
"Jason and I are leaving for the precinct in fifteen minutes, Tommy, if you want a lift to the dojo."
Tommy nodded. "Yeah, thanks."
"Do you mind if we stop off at my place?" Jason asked quickly. "I forgot to check for mail yesterday. It won't take a minute."
Michael nodded. "Sure." He looked back to Tommy, who was still in his pyjamas. "Do you want a ride or not? I know your gi looks like a pair of pyjamas, but you won't get away with showing up in those things."
Tommy spared Jason a fleeting grin, and fled the room to go and get dressed.
Twenty minutes later, Michael pulled into the driveway of Jason and Trini's home, and Jason climbed out quickly to go and check the mail.
"I don't know why he wants to get the mail," Tommy murmured once Jason was out of the car. "It's probably only bills."
Michael spared Tommy an exasperated look. "It's called responsibility, Tommy. Don't tell me you've forgotten what that word means?"
"I was joking," Tommy snapped back at his father. "Jeez, Dad...."
The explosion interrupted their argument with a violent roar. Both father and son threw their arms up over their faces as the car windows shattered, spraying them with glass and fragments from the destroyed mailbox.
"Holy shit, what was that?" Tommy gasped in shock as he finally looked up. Michael blinked hard, his vision slowly refocusing after the shock of the explosion.
"I don't know what.... Oh Christ.... Jason...."
Tommy looked around blankly as his father almost fell out of the car in his rush to get out. Lying on the grass several metres away was Jason, and he wasn't moving. Heart pounding, Tommy scrambled out of the car and followed Michael across the lawn to where Jason lay.
"Is he okay?" Tommy asked, in a near panic. Michael didn't answer, but leaned down close, checking to see that the young man was still breathing. He was, much to Michael's great relief.
"Tommy, do you know how to use the CB in the car?"
"Sure. You taught me once, remember?"
"Well, get on it now and ask for an ambulance. Tell them who you are, and say that I authorized it. Tell them we have an officer down."
Tommy leapt up and ran to do what he'd been told. Michael watched him go, then turned his attention back to Jason.
"Not long now," he murmured. "I swear to God, if you're hurt badly, I'll kill Bennett myself."
*A short while later,
St. James Hospital
Donavon and Sarah Scott arrived at the hospital not long after the ambulance had arrived and Jason had been taken off for treatment. They were intercepted in the waiting area by Michael and David Ashley, who had come as soon as the emergency call went over the CB.
"Where's Jason?" Donavon demanded to know. "What's happened?"
Michael looked grim as he spoke. "Jason's being taken care of by the doctors. Don't worry about him, he'll be fine. From the sounds of it, the worst he may have is a severe concussion. He'll be all right."
Donavon's gaze hardened considerably. "What happened?"
It was spoken with deliberate coldness. Michael dared not evade the question again.
"It was a bomb, planted in the mailbox. It went off when Jason lifted the lid. We'll know more when forensics get through with their tests."
Tears of fright and stress trickled down Sarah's cheeks.
"Why would someone want to kill Jason?" she asked in a trembling voice.
Michael fell silent, but the look shared between him and David spoke in volumes. Then, before either man had the chance to say anything, a doctor emerged through the swinging doors and approached the group.
"Excuse me, Mr and Mrs Scott?"
"That's us," Donavon confirmed, taking his wife's hand in his own. "How is Jason? Will he be all right?"
The doctor smiled reassuringly and nodded. "He'll be fine. He does have a fairly severe concussion, and I'm afraid his left arm was broken, but that seems to be the worst of his injuries. If you'll come with me, I'll take you to him."
The four adults followed the doctor down the corridor and into the nearest elevator.
"How bad is the break?" Michael queried.
"His arm was broken in two places," the doctor replied. "One break was only a minor Greenstick fracture, but the other break was worse. He'll probably be in plaster for at least six weeks. Here we are...."
They entered a room to find Jason half-sitting up in bed, pale but conscious. Sarah hurried over to him, hugging him as tightly as she dared, and kissing him on the forehead.
"Thank God you're all right..."
Jason smiled faintly, returning the hug. "I'm fine, Mum. Don't panic, okay?"
Donavon joined his wife at the bedside. The harsh comments that had been on the tip of his tongue died at the sound of his son's voice. Jason had been shaken badly, and it was all-too-obvious. He hesitated, then reached out and gently squeezed Jason's shoulder wordlessly. Jason spared his father a weak smile, grateful for the silence.
Michael spared David a grim look, then walked around the other side of the bed.
"You certainly scared the hell out of us, that's for sure. I thought Tommy was going to have a heart attack on the spot."
Concern flashed in Jason's eyes. "Where is Tommy?"
"He needed a few stitches," Michael said dismissively. "They're taking care of that in the ER now. That bomb blew out all the windows of the car. Melanie is going to have kittens when she sees it." He paused, then gave the Scotts an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, but would you folks give me just a couple of minutes with Jason?"
He hadn't expected them to give, and he was right.
"We are not leaving this room," Donavon snapped. "Whatever you have to say to Jason, it can be said in front of us."
Michael sighed, then nodded. "Okay. The fact is, we have a pretty good idea of who is responsible for this."
"Who?" Donavon demanded to know. Michael ignored him, and looked to Jason.
"Think back to your case files, Jason. Did Bennett have any experience with or knowledge of explosives?"
Jason bit down lightly on his lower lip as he tried to think back. "I couldn't say, sir. I don't think there was anything in the files we had that suggested that. He could have had, I suppose." "Well, we have to assume that it is Bennett," Michael muttered. "Unless something happens to prove otherwise."
David tensely shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Which means that Bennett is in Angel Grove."
"Exactly. For all we know, he could have gotten here before that letter did."
"Letter?" Donavon echoed in confusion. "What letter? What's going on here?"
Michael hesitated, then turned to the Scotts. "Jason received a letter at the precinct yesterday. It was unsigned, but we're sure it was sent by Kyle Bennett."
"The Angel of Death?" Sarah whispered in horror. Michael nodded.
"I'm afraid so. The judge overseeing the case in Chicago dismissed the charges. Bennett is a free man. Jason believes he killed Sid Ellis, and we believe he's now come here after Jason."
"Christ," Donavon whispered. "So that's why you sent Trini and William to San Diego so abruptly."
Jason nodded once. "Yes. I didn't want Bennett using them to get to me. I wanted them to be safe."
Donavon smiled finally and ruffled his son's hair affectionately.
"You're a smart boy, Jason. You did the right thing."
Jason relaxed visibly, and slumped down a little in the bed. Sarah looked around at Michael in anger and fear.
"What now? What are you going to do about this, Michael? This madman has already tried to kill Jason once. Twice, if you count Chicago."
Michael was silent for a long moment, then turned his attention to Jason.
"Jason, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I'm relieving you of active duty."
Momentary silence followed the statement, and then Jason conceded grudgingly. "I understand, sir."
"I just want to do everything I can to guarantee your safety," Michael assured him. "Besides that, you aren't in a fit state to go back to work straight away. Even if you did, you'd be confined to your desk. Even I know better than to do that to you."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Jason wanted to know. He had little success at hiding the distress in his voice. "Go hide in a basement somewhere?"
"We'll come up with something," Michael told him with a sigh. "I promise. But you have to stay here for now, anyway. The doctors will want to keep you here overnight, at the very least. David and I had better get going and I have to collect Tommy from the ER. I'll stop in tonight, and we'll discuss this further, all right?"
Jason nodded wordlessly, knowing full well that there was little he could do about it.
Michael favoured Donavon and Sarah with a reassuring smile, then led David out of the room. Once they were out of earshot of the three Scotts, Michael spoke softly to his other captain.
"David, call the precinct and have them send someone here immediately. I want a police guard on that door at all times."
David nodded. "Will do. You think Bennett would try coming in here to take a shot at Jason?"
"It's possible. We can't discount it, at any rate."
The captain nodded again, and silence fell as they reached the elevator. Once they'd stepped inside the lift, David spoke again.
"Chief, this isn't an ordinary situation."
Michael glanced at David out of the corner of his eye. "How do you mean?"
"Well, I studied this sort of thing at the Academy, and again before I took the exam for promotion to sergeant. This obsession that Bennett seems to have with Jason. Something is wrong with it."
"You don't need to tell me that, David."
"No, sir. I mean there's something more to it than simple obsession.
There has to be. Going on what we know, Bennett became obsessed with Jason when he took over the case in Chicago. Jason was only working on it for three weeks, wasn't he? Before he and his partner caught Bennett, I mean. That's hardly enough for anyone to become fixated, let alone to encourage Bennett to risk coming here after him. From what I've heard of this, I'd be inclined to think that this goes beyond the case in Chicago."
Michael slowed to a halt just outside the ER. "Are you suggesting that Jason may have had a run-in with Bennett before the Angel of Death case in Chicago?"
David nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. I think it may be possible."
"But Jason has never said anything to suggest that. If what you're saying is true, then it must have happened some time ago."
David shrugged. "Maybe... Maybe not. Maybe Jason just hasn't thought to remember."
Michael sighed, then shook his head. "Look, I'm going to get Tommy now. Get back to the precinct, let the boys know what's happened and tell them Jason's fine, then organise a guard rotation. I'll see you back there in half an hour, and we'll discuss this theory of yours further."
"Yes, sir," David conceded, and hurried off in the opposite direction.
Michael watched him go, then turned and disappeared through the plastic door flaps into the ER.
*Dragon Dojo
Rocky was in the middle of a warm-up in the middle of the deserted floor of the dojo when Tommy came in, rubbing his forehead gingerly.
"What happened to you?" he demanded, seeing the stitches. Tommy grimaced.
"You probably wouldn't believe me anyway."
Rocky hesitated, then walked over to his friend. "Okay, buddy, spill it."
Tommy sighed, then sank onto a wooden bench. "Dad said he'd drop me off here on his way to work, but we stopped off at Jason's place so Jase could check his mail.
"Jason's staying with you?"
"Yeah. Long story. Don't ask. Anyway, Jase went to get his mail, and the mailbox blew up."
Rocky's jaw dropped. "It blew up?"
"Uh huh. Smashed the car windows. I got cut up a bit, and I needed some stitches. Jason's in hospital now. He's got a bad concussion, apparently, and a broken left arm."
"Shit," Rocky swore. "Trini's gonna have kittens."
"She won't know, unless someone calls her and tells her. Jason sent her and William to a relative's place in San Diego."
"Something's wrong," Rocky said abruptly. "That the same sort of thing he used to pull back when we were Rangers. He'd send everyone else off to do something else while he took the real heat."
"He used to try," Tommy conceded. "He didn't get away with it very much. But, yeah. You're right. There is a problem. It's not my place to say anything, though. It's just me and you today, though. Trini won't be in to teach the Tai Chi class this afternoon, obviously. And since Adam's off on his honeymoon...."
"Lucky son of a bitch," Rocky grumbled. "I guess I'd better get on the phone and find someone to replace Trini until she gets back. Hey, are you gonna be okay?"
Tommy nodded. "Yeah, sure. I think I'll probably just take an aspirin and lie down in my office for half an hour."
"No longer," Rocky warned him. "Or I'm coming after you with a sledge- hammer."
Tommy smiled faintly, and headed off to his office to do as he'd said.
*That evening
Jason was showing considerably more life than earlier that day when Michael came back.
"You look a bit better," the police chief remarked. "How are you feeling?"
Jason offered him a crooked smile. "Not too bad. The doctor said I could be discharged this evening, instead of tomorrow morning. I still have a pretty bad headache, though."
"Mm, you and Tommy both. Just as long as you're feeling better. Have you called Trini?"
The expression on Jason's face gave Michael his answer.
"I see. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but you won't be able to get away with not telling her. You can't hide a broken arm, my boy."
"I know," Jason conceded. "I'll tell her. Just not until I have to.
She's had enough to worry about lately as it is. I'm not gonna call her and tell her someone tried to kill me."
Michael's amused smile faded. "Yes We need to talk about that, Jason. I had a chat with David this afternoon. He's done some work in this area. He seems to think that you may have had an encounter with Bennett some time prior to the Angel of Death case in Chicago."
Donavon frowned a little from where he stood next to the bed, but said nothing. Jason had stiffened a little in the bed.
"Why would he think that?"
"I don't know. I was hoping you could give me an answer. Can you?"
Jason drew in a deep breath as he thought it over carefully. He was about to discount the possibility when he suddenly recalled his words to Tommy only the previous night.
_there was something strange. Something I just can't quite put my finger on it_
"The wall," Jason said suddenly, his throat tightening as he remembered the sight of the wall in the building.
"The wall?" Michael echoed. "What wall?"
"When Bennett caught me in that building," Jason explained, "he took me downstairs and he showed me this one wall that he'd covered with pictures and news articles about me. I can't say exactly I just have the feeling that the answer might be in there somewhere."
Michael nodded finally. "All right. I'll contact your old precinct and have them send all the evidence from the Bennett case down here. We'll see what answers we can find then. But if you do remember anything, tell us. Please, for your own safety."
He paused, then looked across at the Scotts. Donavon second-guessed him and spoke quietly.
"He's coming home with us."
Michael conceded with a nod. "I'll bring his clothes around tonight. And Jason... No matter what happens, you don't go back to your house until this is over. Do you understand me?"
Jason nodded glumly. "Yes, sir."
*The following day
Michael Oliver arrived at the Scott home early the next afternoon, and was surprised to discover Donavon had not gone to work. He commented on it, and was met with a surprisingly sad expression.
"My son has been grown up for over ten years, Mike. I haven't had the chance to really look after him since he was fifteen. I'm just trying to make the best of what little time I have left before it's his turn to look after me and Sarah."
Michael had to smile. "I guess I can understand that. Of course, Tommy is a lot different to Jason... Where is Jason, anyway? We have to start going through this evidence."
Donavon regarded the large envelope that Michael had tucked under his arm.
"Those are the photos that Bennett had of Jason?"
"Photos and news articles," Michael confirmed. "They arrived late this morning, express delivery."
"Jason's in the kitchen. Come on through."
Jason looked up with a half-smile that touched his lips, but not his eyes. He knew what Michael was there for.
"Chief..."
Michael set the envelope down on the table. "I guess you know what this is. I thought we'd better look through it together."
Sarah wordlessly cleared the table of everything, and Michael tipped up the envelope and emptied its contents onto the wooden surface. There was more than Jason remembered, and some photos slid off the table and fell to the floor.
"There's so much," Sarah whispered. Jason looked grimly over the pile.
"There's something really disturbing about someone having this many photos and articles about you."
Michael sat down and slowly began to sift through the pile. "We'd better see what we can find."
Silence fell as Michael, Donavon and Jason all sifted through the photos and news articles, not sure of what they were looking for but hoping they would find it all the same. It was a good five minutes later when Michael suddenly stiffened.
"What is it?" Donavon asked softly.
Michael picked up a photo by one corner and handed it to Jason.
"Look at this."
Jason looked, and frown crossed his face. "This is a photo of me and Tommy after we won the Team Ninja Finals."
Michael looked intently at Jason. "How could Bennett have come by an original photo from that? The only photos that were taken at that tournament were taken by Ernie. Bennett had to have taken the photo without anyone realising it."
Jason stared at the photo, his breath thinning a little as his heart rate increased. "I was seventeen when Tommy and I won that tournament. Bennett knew me ten years ago."
"Further back than that," Donavon said, and both Jason and Michael looked to him questioningly. The older man had turned a ghostly white as he held a photo in trembling fingers. When Jason didn't move, Michael reached across the table and took the photo from his friend.
"This is Jason?"
Donavon nodded slowly, his eyes shut. "Yes, when he was six or seven years old. That's the play equipment of the local primary school in the background."
"He knew me when I was six," Jason whispered. His tanned face had turned ashen as he contemplated the startling knowledge. He looked up at Michael and Donavon with fear in his eyes, the likes of which Donavon could not remember seeing for a long time. "This... This bastard has been following me for the last twenty years!"
"Come down, Jason," Michael warned him softly. "Don't panic."
Tears abruptly filled Jason's eyes as he looked back to the photos.
"How could I have met Bennett twenty years ago? I don't understand what's going on here!"
"You don't remember anything about Bennett prior to the case in Chicago?" Michael asked, and Jason shook his head wordlessly, too distressed to answer.
Silence fell as they wondered what to do. It was finally broken by Donavon.
"I may have an idea that could help Jason to remember."
Michael looked questioningly at Donavon, who looked in turn to Jason.
"Jason, how do you feel about hypnotherapy?"
The young man regarded Donavon with red-rimmed eyes. "You want to use hypnosis on me?"
"Not me," Donavon told him. "I'm not qualified to use hypnosis. I mean my partner, Martin Brandon. I don't know whether you honestly can't remember, or whether something is stopping you from remembering, but we have to find out the truth here. Hypnosis may be the only solution."
Slowly but surely, Jason's hands were clenching into fists. "What if I don't want to remember? I have a horrible feeling it won't be pleasant."
"Do you, or do you not want to know the truth behind this man's obsession with you?" Donavon demanded, the psychiatrist in him starting to dominate. "If anything else, understanding will give you a better chance at beating him. You should understand that, Jason. You've been a cop long enough."
Jason shut his eyes for a long moment before replying in a bitter, but defeated tone.
"Fine. Give your partner a call. The sooner we get this over with, the better."
Before any of them could respond, Jason got up and stalked out of the kitchen, leaving them all to sit in heavy silence.
"Jason?"
"I want to be alone."
Donavon hesitated in the doorway of the bedroom, then stepped inside and closed the door. After leaving the kitchen, Jason had retreated back to his old bedroom, the one in which William now slept during overnight visits. The young man lay face-down on his old bed, and one arm was wrapped around JJ, the teddy bear that Billy Cranston had given Jason for his fourteenth birthday. Though Donavon didn't think Jason was crying, he bet that he was pretty close to it. Still not speaking, he went over and sat down carefully on the edge of the bed.
Jason shifted a little and rolled over, looking up at his father.
"Look at me," he said in a strained voice, feeling foolish as he spoke. "Twenty-seven years old, and crying like a baby."
Donavon reached out and squeezed Jason's shoulder reassuringly. "There is no shame in that, Jason. You know there isn't. You're scared. It's understandable."
Jason sat up next to Donavon. "I just don't get it. What did I ever do wrong that I deserve this? I just want a normal life, Dad! It's not fair."
Donavon hesitated, then did something he had not done for years. He reached around and pulled Jason close for a warm hug.
"You never did anything wrong, Jason. It's bad luck, nothing more. We're going to work this out. I'll give Martin a call, and then we'll figure out just why this man is so hell-bent on making your life miserable. And then, we'll stop him. All right?"
Jason nodded. "All right. Thanks, Dad."
Donavon smiled and, reaching up, ruffled his son's hair affectionately.
"I am proud of you, Jason. I did you a huge wrong before by not telling you that. Everything you've ever done, I've been proud of. You never disappointed me, son."
Jason looked away. "Except when I joined the Police Force."
"No," Donavon murmured. "Not even then. I was startled, I admit. And, I was scared. But I wasn't disappointed. I understood your intentions. You've always been the type that wanted to help other people. Really, I should have expected it, I suppose. It was the most logical choice for someone like you."
Looking back at his father, Jason was startled to see the tears in his eyes. Without hesitation, he hugged Donavon tightly.
"I love you, Dad."
Donavon sighed inwardly as he returned the hug. "I love you too, son."
Martin Bennett arrived early that evening, after finishing up at his and Donavon's office. He arrived to a small contingent. Not only was Michael, Donavon and Sarah present, but so were both David Ashley and Tommy Oliver. Initially ignoring the small crowd, Martin spoke directly to Jason.
"Well, your old man was right. You really grew up. But I have to say that I'm impressed. I thought you'd be on a shrink's couch long before this. What with your dad drumming so much crap into you..."
"Watch it, Marty," Donavon warned him lightly as Jason smirked into his sleeve. Martin merely smiled at his partner. He'd done what he'd intended to do, and that was to get a smile out of Jason.
"Okay," he announced firmly. "Everyone who isn't here to be hypnotized, out now. I'll call you all back in when we're ready."
The rest of the group filed out reluctantly, leaving Jason and Martin alone.
"Listen, Marty...?" Jason asked tentatively. Martin regarded him curiously.
"What is it?"
Jason shifted uncomfortably. "I need to ask you something, but it's sort of touchy."
"Well, spill it."
"When you get me under hypnosis... There are certain things I don't want you to ask me about, but I can't tell you what they are."
Marty stared at Jason for a long moment, then sat back on the opposite couch.
"You do realise you've just aroused my curiosity beyond recovery?"
"I'm serious," Jason growled. "Look, if Dad tells you to ask me about anything that happened to me between the ages of sixteen and eighteen that he thinks I've deliberately kept secret from him, please, just tell him you can't do it. Say it's breaking confidentiality, or something."
"I get the feeling that this could be pretty hot stuff," Marty suggested. Jason stared across at him intently.
"Please, Marty. It's important."
Marty sighed, then nodded. "Okay. Okay, I'll keep him at bay for you. But I'll be getting back to you about this, you can bet on it."
Jason nodded, relieved. "Thanks. So... You want me to lie down, or something?"
"No. Just settle back into the armchair and relax. This won't take a minute..."
All adults looked around sharply as Marty looked into the kitchen.
"He's under. You can come back in now."
Wordlessly, they followed Marty back into the family room. Jason was slumped over a little in an armchair, and looked for all the world as though he was sleeping. Tommy, unable to resist the urge, waved his hand slowly in front of his friend's face.
"Knock it off, Oliver," David growled impatiently. Tommy spared David a disdainful look, but backed off.
"He's completely hypnotized?" Sarah asked tentatively. Marty nodded.
"Yeah. Didn't take too long, thankfully. It can cause problems when someone is difficult to put under. Just have a seat, all of you, and we'll start this off."
They all found places to sit, and once they were settled, Marty turned his attention back to Jason.
"Jason, can you hear me?"
"Yes," Jason answered, a tad sluggishly. Marty nodded.
"Okay, that's good. Now, can you tell me where you are?"
"At home."
"Who's home?"
"Mum and Dad's."
"All right. We'll start now. Jason, we're trying to find the answer to a certain question. Do you know what that question is?"
"Yes. Why is Kyle Bennett so interested in me?"
"That's right. We think that you might have met up with Bennett before you took on the case in Chicago. Do you remember if you met him any time before?"
"No," Jason answered simply. Marty nodded.
"Okay. Jason, I have a pocket watch with me. I've taken it out of my pocket, and I'm holding it up in front of you. Can you see it?"
"Yes," Jason answered softly, even though Marty was not holding up anything at all. Marty went on quietly.
"I'm winding it backwards, Jason. We're going back in time. Hours, now days." He paused, then spoke again. "Where are you now, Jason?"
"Church... Adam and Tanya are getting married."
"You don't sound too happy about it."
Distress flickered across Jason's face. "Can't help it. I just heard, Sid's been killed...."
"Marty," Donavon growled, "don't put him through that again, for God's sake"
Marty simply nodded.
"Okay, Jason, we're going further back in time. Days, now. Weeks, years We're going to wind the clock right back, Jason, right back to when you were six years old. We're slowing down, now. Slowing And we've stopped."
Marty paused again for a long moment before speaking. "Hello, Jason."
"Hello."
It was Jason's voice, but the tone was lacking in maturity. It was childish the voice of a six year-old child.
"Can you tell me how old you are, Jason?"
"I'm six," came the excited reply. "I turned six today. Mummy says I'm a big boy, now."
Marty glanced back at Donavon and Sarah. "He stopped right on his sixth birthday."
"He stopped?" Michael echoed, confused. Marty nodded.
"Yeah. I turn back time for him, so to speak, but his subconscious chooses the time and date that he actually stops on. Something significant must have happened to him on his birthday to make him choose this." He looked back to Jason. "If it's your birthday, then you must be pretty excited, Jason. Are you having a party?"
"Oh yeah," Jason said enthusiastically. "There's gonna be lots of food, and all my friends will be there."
"Who are your friends, Jason?"
"There's Billy He's my best friend. And Trini..."
"Only two?"
"They're my best friends," Jason answered firmly.
Behind all the others, Tommy had to smile. That long ago, Jason, Trini and Billy must have been the only three of the first team to be together in Angel Grove. Even back then, they must have had a close bond of friendship... He blinked and focused as Marty went on quietly.
"Where are you right now, Jason?"
The excitement fell away all-too-quickly. "At school. Dad said he'd pick me up and take me home, but he's late. I don't know where he is. There's hardly anyone around."
"Will you call home?" Marty asked.
"Little kids aren't allowed to use the phone," Jason said gloomily. "Besides, I can't remember our phone number."
"Aren't there any teachers around?"
"No. They've all gone. The janitor's coming to lock up."
"Will you ask him to call your mum?"
"No way," Jason grumbled. "He's creepy. And he doesn't like kids. I'm gonna walk. I know the way."
Donavon looked to Sarah, startled. "He walked home alone on his birthday?"
Sarah shrugged helplessly. Marty glanced back at them, then continued with Jason.
"Don't you think your parents might be upset?" he asked lightly.
"I'll tell them I got a ride with a friend," Jason said dismissively. "They'll believe it. They won't be mad at me on my birthday."
Donavon groaned and shook his head. "Shameless little sod...."
"Are you walking now, Jason?"
"Yeah. I have to go through the park, otherwise I'll have to cross the main road. I can't cross that road without a grown-up."
"Is it far?"
"No. I don't think so."
Even as Jason spoke, his body began to stiffen visibly in the chair. Marty noticed, and finally commented on it.
"Is something wrong, Jason?"
"I think a man is following me."
The simple statement grabbed everyone's attention, and they all watched, hardly daring to breathe.
"A man?" Marty echoed. "Do you know who he is?"
"Not really," Jason murmured. "I've seen him hanging around school sometimes. Danny said he gives lollies to kids. I never wanted any."
"Where is he now, Jason?"
Jason turned a little in the seat, as though looking over his shoulder.
"He's gone. I can't see...."
He gave a sudden yelp of fright as he turned back to face the front, startling them all. Cowering back a little, he spoke in a voice that trembled.
"Who are you?"
"What is it, Jason?" Marty pressed, acutely aware of the sudden fear on the young man's face. When Jason didn't respond, Marty acted quickly.
"Okay, Jason, I want you to listen to me. You are safe, you can't be hurt. You aren't that six year-old anymore. Do you understand me? You're looking at what's happening from a distance, as though through a window. Do you understand?"
Jason nodded slowly, and when he spoke, his voice had regained its maturity.
"Yes I understand."
"All right," Marty murmured, relieved. "Now, you're looking through the window, and you're watching what's happening. I want you to tell us exactly what is going on."
"The man.... He's talking to me. He said he'd seen me at school. He's asking why I never go to get lollies from him. I said I don't like lollies. He said I should try some I tried to get around him, but he wouldn't let me go. I said I had to get home for my party, and he asked me if it was my birthday. I... I said yes. I had to. Mum always told me that I should answer when an adult asked me a question. I mean, he was a stranger, but he was an adult, too..."
"Christ, what a dilemma for a kid," David whispered. Marty went on quietly.
"What happened then, Jason?"
"He said he had a present for me. I... I told him I wasn't allowed to take things from strangers, but he said it was right over behind the tree. He said if I didn't let him give it to me, then he'd call my mum and tell her I'd been rude to him. I didn't want Mum to be mad at me on my birthday, so I said yes."
"Marty, stop," Donavon whispered hoarsely. Michael regarded Donavon grimly.
"We can't stop now, Don."
"Why not?" Donavon choked out. "We know what he's going to say! Damn it, Mike...."
"We don't know for sure, Donavon. And we have to know for sure. You know that. It's why you suggested this. Keep going, Marty."
Marty nodded, and turned back to Jason.
"Did you go behind the tree with him, Jason?"
"Y... Yes." He'd started to stammer. "There wasn't anything there. I asked him where the present was. He said he had it in his pocket, but he had to take me behind the tree, because he didn't want anyone to see. He... He said it was a secret."
"What happened then, Jason?"
"He put a hand on my shoulder. It was sort of like the way Dad puts his hand on my shoulder... Except he held on really tight. It hurt, but he didn't let go when I asked. Then...."
Jason faltered, his breath starting to come in rapid succession as the panic took hold.
"Jason, I want you to relax," Marty told him. "You are safe here. You are totally detached from what happened. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"All right. Now go on."
"He started touching me," Jason confessed softly. "First he touched my face. Then he lifted my shirt and touched my stomach. Then... Then he put his hand down my shorts...."
Close by, Sarah Scott gave a choked sob of disbelief. Donavon joined her, hugging her tightly. Jason went on, oblivious to the distress of his parents.
"He... He was feeling me... He squeezed and everything... It hurt... I started crying."
"What did you do, Jason? Did you scream?"
Jason drew in a slow breath. "No. I kicked him."
Marty started a little in surprise. "You kicked him?"
Anger flashed across Jason's face. "I was learning karate. No one is allowed to hurt me. That's what they taught us. So I kicked him between the legs. As hard as I could."
It took Marty a moment to recover from the shock. Rarely had he come across child victims of molestation who had had the gumption to put up a decent fight during the assault.
"What happened then? After you kicked him...."
"He got this weird look on his face Like it really hurt him. I guess it did. He let me go, then. I didn't wait to see if I'd hurt him really badly. I just ran."
"You ran home?"
"Yeah."
"What did you tell you parents?"
"Nothing," Jason admitted after a substantial pause. Marty watched Jason intently.
"Why not?"
"I... I was scared."
"Of what, Jason? What were you scared of?"
"We always got told never to talk to strangers. I did. I was scared that I'd get into trouble. I didn't want Mum and Dad to be mad at me. I did all the wrong things. I didn't want to get into trouble over it."
Marty sighed and looked back over his shoulder to Donavon and Sarah.
"One thing's for sure, he certainly loves you folks a hell of a lot. You both must have meant the world to him, if he was so desperate not to do anything to make you angry at him."
Michael shook his head. "But as a result, no one ever learned about what happened."
"Ask him if he saw the man again," David suggested quietly.
Marty turned back to Jason. "Jason, did you ever see that man again?"
Silence reigned. Marty tried again.
"Did you ever see him again, Jason?"
"Yes," Jason admitted softly. "When I was twelve. I was walking home from school... After the karate class in the Youth Centre. He came out of nowhere. I didn't even know he was following me. I didn't recognise him at first. But after a while I did. He knew my name, then. I think he must have found out from someone in the Youth Centre."
"Did he speak to you?" Marty pressed. "Did he say anything at all to you?"
Jason shifted uncomfortably. "He said he remembered me from six years ago, and that he hadn't ever forgotten me. He said no one had ever put up a fight before. I told him I was a red belt in karate and that he'd better get lost. He just laughed at me. He said he'd come back to Angel Grove for a while just because of me. He said he wouldn't be satisfied until he got me. I was going to fight him. I thought I'd have to... But he just turned and went. I didn't see him again after that."
"This man, Jason," Marty said quietly. "Do you know who he was now?"
Jason nodded slowly. "I recognise him now. It was Kyle Bennett."
"Bingo," Michael said softly.
Marty sighed a little. "Okay, I think you've gotten your answers. I'm going to bring him out of it. Everyone, out."
"Why?" Tommy started to protest. Michael began to usher his son out of the room.
"Think about it for a while, Tommy."
Then, he, Tommy and David were gone. Marty looked back to Donavon and Sarah, who hadn't moved.
"Are you folks really sure you want to wait?"
"He's our son," Donavon said softly. "It should be his wife here, with him, but we're the next best thing. Bring him out of it, Marty."
Marty nodded and did as he was told. Minutes later, Jason's eyes fluttered open as he slowly regained his wits. For several seconds, he stared at Marty and his parents, nothing registering in his eyes. Then, suddenly Jason gave a stifled sob of shock as the memories came flooding back. Sarah was there in an instant, wrapping her arms around Jason and holding him tightly. Donavon joined the embrace, refusing to let go.
Marty continued to stand there for a while longer before turning and slipping out of the room.
"Well?" Michael asked when Marty walked into the kitchen. Marty regarded them grimly as he pulled up a chair and sat down.
"Do you really need to ask?"
"That bad?" David murmured uneasily. Marty sighed.
"Jason has finally remembered things that have been completely repressed in his memory. He'll be lucky if he doesn't go into shock."
"I can't believe this," Tommy muttered. "Jason? Raped?"
"Not raped," Michael growled.
"Close enough, though," David said. "Being molested can be considered to be just as bad as rape. It's still violation, regardless. And this is something that Jason has had locked away inside him for over twenty years.
He was so scared of getting into trouble that he never told anyone. Not even his own folks. Shit I wouldn't be surprised if he's in there crying like a baby. I would if it was me."
Tommy stared gloomily at the table top. "Out of all of us, I never thought Jason could ever have had that happen to him. He was always the toughest."
"You aren't that tough when you're six, Tommy," Michael said. "Don't forget, you didn't meet Jason until you were both sixteen."
"I wonder if those friends he mentioned know anything about this?" Marty mused.
"Well, Trini is Jason's wife now," Michael told him. "If Trini knew anything about this, I doubt she'd keep it from Donavon and Sarah. I suppose there's a possibility that Jason might have talked to Billy Cranston about it at some point."
"I could call Billy and ask him," Tommy suggested. Michael glowered at his son.
"Don't you dare. If Billy doesn't know anything, then I don't want him finding out. Everything that we've learned here tonight stays with us. No one else is to know. Do you understand me, Thomas?"
Tommy cringed a little. His father rarely called him 'Thomas' except in serious matters.
"Yeah," he conceded finally.
Michael went on quietly. "If Jason chooses to tell other people, then that's up to him. But we don't spread this around."
"What about Trini?" David asked in concern. Michael sighed.
"He'll tell her. I'm sure of it. I'm also sure she'll understand why he never told her or anyone else to begin with."
Marty smiled wryly. "It was just like Jason to put up a fight. I've counseled a few kids that have had similar things happen to them. None of them found the courage to fight." He shook his head. "I've known Jason all his life. He's always had that tough streak, like Tommy said. But he was still vulnerable enough to believe it was his fault for letting himself be tricked in the first place."
"You can't expect a six year-old to be able to know when they're being tricked like that," David muttered. "You remember what Jason said? That his mother had always taught him to be polite to adults. What do you do when an adult you don't know confronts you? Everything you've been taught comes into conflict. Do you do what your teachers tell you and run away, or do you stay and be polite, like your parents have taught you? In the end, what your parents teach you is likely to dominate, because it's their influence that you live under for twenty or so years of your life."
"That's something we've never considered," Michael murmured. "We go into schools, and lecture the kids about what to do when a stranger talks to them, but we've never thought about the sort of conflicts that might cause a child."
Silence fell a moment later when Donavon walked in, looking more tired than any of them could remember.
"How is he, Don?" Michael asked, getting up. Donavon regarded his friend with a pained stare.
"Not that great. And on top of everything that son of a bitch did to him, he's suffering guilt over never having told us the truth. I just came in to get some water for him."
"He's strong, Donavon," Marty told him. "He'll get through this."
Donavon paused at the fridge. "He's pushed all of this to the depths of his memory for the last twenty odd years. You know what sort of effects that can have, Marty."
"But he has you and Sarah. You won't let that happen. Neither will we."
David got up, then, not liking the tone of the discussion. "Won't let what happen? What are you talking about?"
Marty hesitated and, when Donavon didn't speak, he did.
"What we mean is that when someone has repressed bad memories for a lengthy period of time, when they do eventually remember, it can have adverse affects, sometimes to the point of mental incapacitation. But that won't happen to Jason. I'm certain of it. He's going to be okay."
Donavon looked sceptical, but wasn't given the chance to argue as the phone suddenly rang. Sparing his partner a tired look, Donavon picked up the receiver to answer the call.
"Hello? Trini? I'm sorry, Jason can't talk right...."
For nearly a minute, Donavon didn't talk. Then, suddenly, his face went quite literally green.
"Hang on, Trini. I'll get Jason now. Don't hang up."
He put the phone down, and bolted from the room, leaving the other adults to wonder what was wrong. He returned soon after, with Jason and Sarah behind him. Jason's eyes were red and swollen, and they knew he had been crying. Ignoring everyone, Jason walked over and snatched up the phone.
"Trini? Whoa, honey, slow down. I can't understand you." For the next couple of minutes, Jason listened in intent silence, his expression grimly set. Then, finally, he spoke again.
"Pack your bags and come home, now. No. Don't go to our home. Come to my parents home. That's where I'll be. ...Yes, let her drive you. ...Trini don't be stubborn. Now isn't the time. You let her drive you here. I don't want you behind the wheel. ....All right. I'll be waiting for you. And don't worry. Everything's going to be fine, I promise. ....I love you too, baby. I'll see you in a few hours."
He hung up and turned to find everyone staring at him.
"What's happened?" Michael asked quietly, dreading the response. Jason was silent for a moment, then forced himself to speak.
"Trini took William to a park this afternoon. She turned her back for just a minute.... When she looked again, he was gone. Another mother saw him being dragged into a car on the other side of the park. My boy has been kidnapped...."
It was the last thing Jason managed to say before he collapsed in a dead faint.
