All the regular disclaimers. My thanks to Niki, who helped me avoid anything gratuitous between Adam and his parents. Much gratitude is due to Bryan for sparing the time to write the fight scene for this part. I could never have done it myself...

Angel Grove Memorial Hospital

Adam hated hospitals. He had always hated them, and now was no different. Especially now, he thought dismally, since he was there because he himself was sick. He slumped over in the hard seat and shut his eyes. He had been there for so long already... Fatigue overcame him, as it had been doing so often lately, and he fell asleep in the hard plastic seat.

"Adam? Adam, wake up, honey."

Adam stirred and looked up, bleary-eyed, into the face of a nurse. "Huh...?"

"C'mon, honey. We're ready for you now. Time for the tests."

Adam allowed himself to be pulled up out of the chair and down the corridor to the right room.

Dr Sutton was waiting for him, the same MD who had ordered him to the hospital for the tests. He offered the teen a smile that seemed forced.

"How are you feeling, Adam?"

"Tired," was the immediate reply. Sutton winced visibly.

"Okay. Hop up on this table and lie down. This might take a little while, so feel free to nod off if you like."

Adam did as he was asked and rested his head on the pillow that had been provided to him. He watched the proceedings for a little while before everything became a blur, and his eyes grew heavy. He vaguely heard someone telling him everything was fine, and to let himself go to sleep. Then, the voice faded into the distance, and everything went black.

'So, Adam, I haven't seen you in a while,' Dr Eric Sutton said cheerfully as he showed the teen into his office.

Adam awoke with a start to find the tests were all done. Sutton was there, smiling down at him.

"Feel better?"

Adam sat up slowly. "Huh?"

"Well, you should. You slept right through all of the tests, a grand total of nearly three hours. Never even woke up when we moved you for the x-rays."

The Green Ranger rubbed his forehead wearily. "Does that mean I can go home?"

Again, Sutton's smile faded. "I'd rather you waited here until we get the results, Adam. Would you mind...?"

Adam sighed. "Why not...?" he mumbled. Sutton patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.

"Thankyou. I know it's not easy, putting up with a marathon hospital session, but it shouldn't be long now. The nurse here will take you back to the waiting room."

Adam went without protest.

Waiting by yourself in a hospital room was a lonely and frightening experience, Adam thought as he took up a new seat in the waiting room. Any other teenager would have had at least one parent with them, but not him. He had to go through this worry on his own, because his own parents were taking a so-called 'business trip' in New York, on the other side of the country.

He sighed miserably. He had to admit he was scared by all the tests Dr Sutton had wanted to do, but he understood so little of it that it couldn't frighten him too much. What he hated most of all was being on his own, but at the same time, he didn't want to call any of his friends and worry them needlessly.

It's just a few tests, he told himself. With my luck, I've probably got pneumonia again. That'll do the team a hell of a lot of good... Adam, you idiot, you ought to look after yourself better.

"Adam?"

Adam looked up, startled by the familiar, albeit unexpected voice. It was Hank Cranston, Billy's father...

"Ah... Hi, Mr Cranston," Adam said, more nervously than he'd intended. Hank hesitated, then took the initiative and sat down next to the teen.

"What are you doing in here, Adam? Your parents aren't sick or hurt, are they?"

"No, they're in New York," Adam muttered gloomily. "I'm... sort of here for me."

Hank felt a touch of concern, before he even had any idea what the problem was. "For you? What's wrong?"

"Oh, I think I've probably just got the flu, or something, but Dr Sutton, my doctor, wanted to do some tests."

"What tests?"

Adam frowned, trying to recall what Sutton had said. He eventually gave up. "I don't remember. I slept through it all, anyway. I've been really tired lately. Oh, wait... He said he wanted to do a... a leukocyte count. Yeah, that was one of them. Whatever that is."

Hank had gone deadly pale in the seat next to him. "A leukocyte count?" He paused, looking towards the exit. He'd been on his way out after seeing a friend, and had only stopped to greet Adam out of courtesy to his son's best friend. Now, he got the powerful feeling that he needed to stay.

"Your folks are in New York?"

"Yeah. Go figure."

Hank was not entirely surprised to hear a hurt and disappointment in Adam's voice that could not be ignored. He withheld a sigh and sat back in the uncomfortable chair.

"Would you like it if I stayed, Adam?"

Adam started to say it wasn't necessary, but some deeper instinct stopped him. Finally he smiled faintly and nodded.

"Yes, I would. Thankyou."

Nearly two hours and five cups of hot chocolate later, Dr Sutton finally emerged into the waiting room and made a beeline straight for Adam.

"We have the results of the test, Adam," he said quietly. Adam yawned in response.

"Good. Can I go now?"

"Not just yet. I need to talk to you." He paused, his gaze falling on Hank. Adam introduced him off-handedly.

"This is Hank Cranston. He's a friend."

"I offered to stay here with Adam," Hank said by way of explanation.

Sutton nodded, glad that Adam was not alone. "Good. Ah... would you both come with me?"

They rose up and went with the doctor down the corridor and into an empty room.

"Sit down, please," Sutton urged them, and they sat down on a comfortable sofa.

"I've got pneumonia again, haven't I?" Adam asked disinterestedly. Sutton looked distinctly upset.

"I'm afraid it's more serious than that. Adam, I need you to listen to me, now. The test results... well, they're not good. I'm afraid it's worse than I was anticipating."

Adam sat forward slowly, forcing himself to stay alert. "What is it? What's wrong with me?"

Sutton stared at the boy with visible grief. "Adam, you have leukemia."

Adam sat still, feeling as though he'd just been clubbed by one of Mondo's monsters. Finally, he forced his way through the shock and managed to speak.

"What...? Leukemia? That... It's just a joke. Say it's a joke..."

Sutton felt his stomach twist up. He had known Adam for a long time, had helped him through many crises. To have to deliver this news was like driving a six inch nail into his own gut.

"I only wish I could. What you have, specifically, is Acute Myelocytic Leukemia. It... I'm afraid it's terminal."

Tears abruptly filled Adam's eyes as the shock began to fade. "I... I'm dying?"

"I'm sorry," Sutton managed to say, and realised dimly that he had begun to cry as well. Hank, who had sat there in silence, spoke in a tense voice.

"How long?"

"Three months, minimum. With continued Chemotherapy and radiation therapy, possibly eight to ten months. Maybe twelve. There's a slim chance it may even go into remission."

Tears overflowed down Adam's cheeks. "I want Mum and Dad..." he whimpered, starting to shake as he cried. Hank put an arm around the boy's shoulders, and drew him close. Adam turned his face inwards, and cried helplessly into Hank's jacket.

"He can't be allowed to go back to an empty house," Sutton said a short while later to Hank, when Adam had been taken to the cafeteria by a nurse to get something to eat and drink. Hank shook his head.

"I have no intention of allowing that. I'll take him with me. Doctor... Is there any chance you're wrong?"

Sutton sighed miserably. "I wish I was wrong. I really do, Mr Cranston. I checked the test results five times over, with absolute scrutiny. I looked for any tiny thing that would give me cause to doubt the results. There was nothing. Adam has leukemia, and it is acute."

"I thought acute leukemia was restricted to younger children," Hank protested. Sutton shook his head.

"No. It's more common in younger children, but not restricted to that age group. It is unusual for someone of Adam's age to develop acute leukemia, but not unheard of."

Hank shut his eyes. "Damn his parents..." he growled softly. "When he really needs them, they can't be here for him."

Sutton spoke quietly. "If you can't keep Adam with you, then I'll take him in."

Hank shook his head. "No, it's all right. My own son left home a while ago, so it's just me. This will give me something to focus on. I'll take Adam in. I'll be able to pass word on to the parents of his friends, as well, and to the school."

Sutton nodded. "That's another thing. No excessive physical activity. Moderate daily exercise, and that is all. He's going to have to give up the karate, at least for any reason other than light exercise, and you've got the certificate and letter to pass on to the school principal."

Hank nodded, looking around as Adam was brought back by the nurse. "Get something to eat?" he asked, and Adam nodded wordlessly. "Good. I think we can go, then."

Sutton nodded and walked with them towards the exit. "Adam, you need to start taking these drugs tonight," he said, indicating the bag that Hank held. "No lapses. Understood?"

Hank laid a gentle hand on Adam's shoulder. "I'll make sure he takes them."

"And I'll see you back here in three days for the first radiation therapy session."

Again, Hank responded with a nod. "We'll be here."

"It might be best if we get all your friends together to tell them," Hank said quietly as they drove away from the hospital. "Just so we don't have to repeat anything."

"I don't want to tell them."

Hank looked around at Adam in shock. "What?"

Adam rested his head lightly on the window, staring out miserably. "I don't want them to know. I don't want anyone to know."

Hank was disturbed. "Adam, you can't keep this a secret. They'll find out sooner or later..."

"Please, don't tell my friends," Adam begged him. "I can't handle the pity. Please..."

Hank sighed heavily. As much as he hated it, it was Adam's decision, and it could not be made for him.

"All right. I don't agree with it, but I'll respect it. The rangers won't find out. Not from me. But you can't hide it from your teachers. I have to pass that certificate and letter on to Victor Caplan."

Adam looked away again. "Whatever."

Adam slept fitfully that night, and when the time came to go to school the next day, he found he had to drag himself out of bed to get dressed. He was just pulling on his shoes when the door opened and Hank looked in.

"How are you feeling?"

Adam shrugged. "Okay, I guess," he said numbly. Hank walked in to the room and sat down next to Adam on the bed.

"Don't be afraid to cry, Adam. Theres no shame in it."

Adam looked away miserably. "It isn't fair," he said softly. "I never did anything wrong."

Hank hugged the boy tightly. "Finish getting dressed, then come into the kitchen. I've got breakfast ready for you."

Adam ate very little, and only then at Hanks urging. When Hank took Adam to school, he found himself unwilling to simply leave the teen at the gate.

"Will you be all right?" Hank asked in concern. Adam nodded.

"Yeah. I guess."

Hank pulled the large hospital marked envelope from his jacket. "You know you have to give this to Victor Caplan straight away, don't you?"

"I know."

He handed the envelope to Adam. "Don't forget about it, Adam. It's important."

Adam took the envelope in trembling fingers and, without another word, turned and headed towards the building.

Adam had nearly made it to the building when a shadow fell across him and he walked straight into a solidly-built figure.

Bulk....

"Why don't you watch where you're going, runt?" Bulk snapped.

Just behind him, Skull frowned. Bulk had deliberately placed himself in front of Adam, ensuring a collision and a subsequent confrontation. Adam stepped back, and Skull was surprised, and a little disturbed, at how pale the younger boy was.

"I'm sorry...." he mumbled. Bulk towered over the exhausted teen.

"You should be. You know what I do to runts like you that get in my way?"

Skull reacted, then, grabbing Bulks arm. "Let it go, Bulkie."

Bulk, however, shrugged off Skulls hand. "No, Skull, I think the runt needs to be taught a lesson."

Adam sighed softly, and started to make his way around Bulk. He didn't need this. Not now....

Bulk reacted fast, and grabbed hold of Adams arm. "Not so fast, runt. Hey, what's this...?"

Before Adam had a chance to stop him, Bulk snatched the envelope from his hand and tossed it to Skull.

"Give me that back!" Adam yelled, starting forward, only to be stopped by Bulk.

"Open it, Skull. See what's in it."

Skull looked uneasy. "I don't think we should..."

"Don't," Adam begged tearfully. "Please, Skull..."

"Who's in charge, Skull?" Bulk growled. When Skull didn't respond, Bulk nodded. "I am. Now, open it!"

Not daring to look Adam in the eye, Skull tore the envelope open and pulled out its contents.

"Medical certificate...."

Bulk sneered. "What's the matter, runt? You sick?"

Skull unfolded the letter and scanned it quickly. A moment later, he froze, his face draining of colour. Finally, he reacted and pushed the certificate and letter back into the envelope.

"Let him go, Bulk."

Bulk glowered. "I told you, Skull, I'm the lead..."

"Shut up and let him go."

Bulk was so stunned that he released Adam without further protest. Skull held out the envelope to Adam.

"I'm sorry."

Adam, tears streaming down his cheeks, snatched it back, turned and fled into the school building.

"Okay," Tommy yelled, storming over to the two boys with Rocky. "What did you two clowns do to Adam?"

Bulk started to make a sneering remark when Skull spoke in a grim voice.

"We just screwed up royally, is what. Excuse me."

He hurried off, leaving Bulk alone to fend off Tommy and Rocky.

Skull soon found Adam in an empty classroom. The younger boy was curled up in the far corner of the room, sobbing helplessly into his arms. After a moments hesitation, Skull went over and crouched down beside him.

"I'm sorry, Adam."

Adam didn't look up. "So now you know," he sobbed, his voice muffled. "Now I s'pose you'll go tell everyone..."

Skull swallowed hard. "It's true, then?"

"Yes!" Adam howled.

Skull shut his eyes, feeling sick to his stomach. Adam had leukemia...

"I hope you'll still let me give you piano lessons."

Adam looked up slowly, then, his eyes red and swollen. "Why bother? I'm not going to live long enough to learn very much."

"You can do anything you want to," Skull argued. "You taught me that. C'mon, you aren't gonna quit on me, are you? You were just starting to get really good."

"I... I guess not. I'm not allowed to do any really physical stuff, so I guess I can at least keep playing the piano..."

Skull looked gratified. "Good. Listen, Adam.... I am really sorry. For everything."

Adam bit down on his lower lip as the tears threatened again. "I'm only sixteen...." he whispered, his voice cracking with grief and fear. "I'm not even gonna live long enough to see my eighteenth birthday..."

The tears came again in a flood, and after a moment Skull reached out and put an arm awkwardly around Adams shoulders. Adam shuddered and slumped against Skull, and cried for a long while.

When Adam's sobs finally subsided, Skull gently pulled him to his feet.

"What are you supposed to do with that certificate and letter?"

"It has to go to Mr Caplan," Adam whispered, rubbing his hand roughly across his eyes.

Skull nodded. "Okay. Let's go."

Adam looked at Skull in surprise as he followed him from the room. "How come you're helping me?"

Skull looked back at Adam seriously. "I'm getting sick of Bulk treating everyone like they're worthless. Especially since I started giving you the piano lessons and I saw how smart you were. I should have ditched him long ago, but I didn't think anyone else would want me for a friend."

Adam managed a weak smile. "Well, I appreciate it."

Skull put his arm around Adams shoulders again, less awkwardly this time, and led him down the hall to Mr Caplan's office.

Victor Caplan had woken up with a headache, and so far, it didn't seem to be subsiding. Indeed, it increased in intensity when Eugene Skullovitch came into his office, followed by Adam Park. Withholding a groan, the principal spoke in a forcibly calm tone.

"Can I help you boys with something?"

Adam winced and would have turned around and gone straight back out, but Skull grabbed his sleeve and held him there.

"We have to talk to you, Mr Caplan. Well, actually, Adam does. I'm here for... moral support."

Caplan blinked in surprise. He hadn't thought Skull even knew what the word moral meant.

"All right. Have a seat."

They did so, Skull taking a moment to shut the door behind him. Caplan leant forward a little, over the desk.

"So what's the problem?"

When Adam didn't move, Skull nudged him hard. The Green Zeo Ranger then reluctantly handed over the envelope.

"Everything you need to know is in there," he said in a soft, numb voice. Caplan frowned and took the envelope.

"It's been opened."

"That was an accident," Skull piped up, red-faced. Caplan frowned at him, then took out the contents, looking first at the medical certificate which asked for Adam to be excused from any and all physically strenuous activities. He then unfolded the letter and began to read it slowly.

"Oh Lord" The principal looked up at Adam in shock. "Adam, I would very much appreciate it if you would tell me that this is just a prank."

Adam watched him through a film of tears. "Its not a joke, sir. The doctor diagnosed it yesterday. He... He said I've got between three to eight months to live."

Caplan moaned, then, unable to hold it in. He'd had students become seriously ill before, but never had he had to deal with this. A terminally ill boy... Finally he brought himself to speak.

"All right. Ill take care of things on this end. I'll inform the teachers. What else do I need to be aware of?"

"Ill probably miss some school each week," Adam confessed in a trembling voice, "for the radiation therapy."

"That won't be a problem." Caplan paused, then spoke softly. "You boys had better get to class. You're late enough as it is. Here..." He pulled out a sheet of paper and scribbled a note on it. "Give this to your teacher. So neither of you get into trouble for being late."

"Thankyou," Skull murmured, taking the note. He then got up, drew Adam up as well, and then they both left the office in silence.

"How have your friends reacted to all this?" Skull asked as they headed along to class. Adam grimaced.

"They don't know. I only found out myself last night."

"Oh. Sorry."

"It's okay. I didn't plan to tell them, anyway."

Skull came to an abrupt halt. "What!? But you have to tell them! You can't not tell them..."

"I don't want them to know," Adam insisted softly. "Not yet, anyway. They... They have too much else to worry about. Please, Skull, don't tell them. Please..."

Skull's shoulders slumped. Even though he knew it was wrong, he couldn't resist Adam's pleading.

"Okay," he consented finally. "But don't wait too long to tell them, okay?"

"I won't. I just want to wait for the right moment. Just so they don't freak out on me."

"I understand," conceded Skull.

Miss Appleby, not surprisingly, was taking the class when the boys finally arrived. She was in the middle of reading a passage from Homer, effectively boring the class silly, when they came in.

"Well, Eugene," she said dryly, "how nice of you to join us. And Adam! Well, I would expect this of Eugene, but not you!"

Skull motioned for Adam to sit down, then without a word, he went up and handed Mr Caplan's note to her. She took it, read it through, then spoke with audible surprise.

"Oh.... Well.... I suppose this is fine, then. Take a seat, Eugene."

Skull went back and sat down next to Adam, notably ignoring Bulk. The other rangers watched out Adam of the corner of their eyes, trying to get his attention, but he kept his head down, refusing to look at any of them for the duration on the class.

"Youre not doing anything deflect suspicion, you know."

Adam looked around at Skull, startled. That was definitely not regular Skull-speak... Skull smiled sheepishly.

"I can quit acting dumb now, can't I...?"

Adam sighed, and looked back to the top of the picnic table they were sitting at. "Its sort of hard to be happy when youve just found out that you're dying."

Skull struggled not to wince. The mere thought was enough to give him the shudders, so what was it doing to Adam...?

"Sorry. But your buddies must know that something is wrong. You aren't exactly your usual, perky self."

Adam looked back up at Skull for a long moment, took in the other boy's comical expression, and finally burst into laughter. Skull smiled, satisfied.

"That's heaps better."

"Thanks, Skull. I needed that."

"Yeah, I know. Now eat your lunch before I do."

Not too far away, the rangers sat together, watching the exchange between Skull and Adam with open confusion.

"Will someone please explain to me whats going on?" Rocky asked plaintively. "I mean, weren't Bulk and Skull giving Adam a hard time just this morning?"

Tommy grimaced. "They were, and I don't understand it anymore than you do."

"Yeah," Kat murmured. "Everyone knows that Skull is giving Adam piano lessons, but they're not exactly best friends."

"Maybe they weren't," Jason pointed out, "but they sure look like they are now. Skull looks like he's ditched Bulk, too."

"Well," Tommy muttered, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm gonna find out what's going on. Cmon..."

He was interrupted, almost predictably, by the sound of his communicator beeping insistently. Exchanging weary looks with the others, they got up and slipped back into the shadows, out of sight of any peering eyes.

"What's up, Zordon?" Tommy asked in a low whisper.

"Teleport to the Command Centre immediately, Rangers," Zordon told them. "There is an emergency situation."

"So what else is new...?" Rocky mumbled. Tommy shot him a warning look, then replied to the summons.

"We're on our way."

Just then, Adam joined them.

"What's up?"

"Just some emergency, again," Rocky replied dismissively. Tommy shook his head tiredly, not bothering to answer to Rocky's comment.

Adam's face filled with worry at that. *Emergency...?* he thought, remembering the order to avoid any physically stressful activities. But surely this was a different matter, and he would be protected by the suit...

"Cmon, guys,"Tommy said, oblivious to the expression of worry and fear on Adam's face. "Let's go."

The five teens then teleported out in a flash of rainbow light.

Angel Grove Park:

The five morphed teenagers appeared in blazing streaks of light. They stood in formation and challenged the monster with their battle cry of "Power Rangers! Zeo!"

The monster, the hideous "Fabiobot", turned it's ugly head to sight the foolish puny creatures who dared to stand in its way.

"Puny Rangers! You should leave now, for you are not mighty such as I am. I could crush your heads in my fingertips, you are so weak!! Run away and fear the wrath of the Mighty One! Mighty! Mighty!"

"Oh yeah?" replied Tommy. "Well we'll see about that!! Hyaah!" And Tommy led the charge down the hill towards the Machine Empire's latest creation.

Adam was right on the verge of charging along with the others when he remembered the repeated warnings from the doctor. No strenuous activity...

He hung back, arguing with himself. The Zeo Power will protect me. I'm not going to get injured by destroying a monster. I'll be fine.

He started forward, only to stop again. Oh who am I trying to kid? I can't go down there and fight! Any excessive physical activity could just speed up the disease that much more. They'll just have to do it without me. His decision made, he trotted down the hill after the others who had already engaged the monster.

They were having no luck and Rocky, ever the risk-taker, had leaped in the creature's back in an attempt to throttle it. The monster laughed cruelly and reached back to grab the Blue Zeo Ranger by the scruff of the neck and throw him bodily into Tommy. Both teens went down in a tangle of arms and legs.

The monster turned to see Adam creeping down the hill. "What's the matter, puny Ranger? Afraid to fight with me? You are wise, for I shall destroy you!! Come play with me!!"

The brave words of the monster struck Adam in an entirely new way than ever before. Usually they were just sheer bravado that the monster said to try and frighten them and dishearten them. The Rangers always shrugged off those unreal threats and destroyed the monster. But this time Adam was affected.

In his weakening condition, the monster was in fact very capable of destroying him.

Adam normally would have responded to the monster's threats with no words and a kick to the head, but this time was different. "I don't think so, Fabiobot. You're the one who's going down!"

He turned to his friends, who had regained their feet. "C'mon guys, let's form the Zeo Blaster and destroy him quickly before he can cause any more damage."

Tommy regarded his second-in-command with an odd look that was concealed by his helmet. "We can't do that Adam. It's a violation of the Rules. We can only match whatever is thrown at us. We can't step beyond that or we risk losing the protection of the Power. Now draw Zeo Swords. Hiyah!"

Tommy, Rocky, Tanya, and Kat all drew their swords and charged the monster, who easily tossed off their attack. Before Adam could blink twice, his friends were lying on the ground moaning in pain. Fabiobot turned to him and started a slow, methodical advance that was designed to scare the hell out of anyone. It succeeded admirably.

Adam backed away slowly, fearful of coming into contact with the testosterone-pumped creature. He tried to plead with the unfeeling machine, but his words stuck in his throat. His eyes widened as he felt the tree at his back. He was trapped. He had no choice but to fight. He jumped at the monster, not caring if he was injured, only knowing that he didn't want to die like a cornered rat. The monster caught him in a bearhug and squeezed tremendously.

Adam screamed in pain as his insides were compressed into an impossibly tight space. His eyes dimmed and he felt himself beginning to lose consciousness, and he could almost feel blood vessels in his chest breaking and beginning to bleed inside him.

The monsters arms loosened and Adam was rocked as the other Rangers shot at the monsters with the powered-up Zeo Laser Pistols. Fabiobot dropped the Green Ranger into a pile of hurting flesh and turned to battle the others. He knocked them all down several times and stomped hard on Tommy's chest, knocking the wind out of the team leader.

Adam struggled to get back to his feet. "Ugh," he moaned in pain. That was one of the stupidest things I've ever done. He managed to get to his feet. The monster pulled a force beam rifle out of the air and targeted him with it. Adam's battered body was hurled forcibly into the tree with the force of a speeding train. He heard a horrible crunching sound as his body connected with the tree, and felt more blood begin to flow.

He fell to the ground with a painful thud, and managed to raise his head in time to see Tommy yelling into his communicator before the world blackened and his head sank down onto the ground.

Tommy watched his second-in-command vanish into green light as Zordon teleported the teen to safety. He and the others could only hope to somehow destroy the monster before Mondo sent down Klank and Orbus to make it grow.

His thought process, magnified a thousand times over by the Zeo Powers, raced to the logical conclusion.

"I call upon the power of the Defender Wheel!"

The PhoenixZord screamed through the sky, answering the call of its master. The bottom hatch opened and the Defender Wheel fell to the ground as Tommy's Zord raced back to its cave. Tommy jumped inside the circular weapon and programed its course.

"Defender Wheel! Engage!" The rolling weapon lumbered forward, gradually picking up more speed until it reached critical and it crashed into the suddenly terrified Fabiobot as Tommy teleported to safety. The monster gave out one final message right before it met its fate. "You are mightier than I." Then it erupted into flames.

Tommy heaved a big sigh. Then he and the others teleported back to the Power Chamber to inform Zordon of their victory and discover Adam's condition.

A short time later

The rangers landed back in the Power Chamber, weary and relieved that the battle was finally over.

"Man, that thing was tough..." Rocky muttered. Tommy nodded his agreement.

Tommy nodded as he hurried over to where Adam lay on the rest table.

"Adam? C'mon, man, wake up..."

Adam stirred and his eyes eventually fluttered open to stare dazedly at the Red Ranger.

"Is it over...?"

"Yeah, man. Are you okay? You took a pretty bad hit."

Adam winced as he sat up slowly. "I... I think so..." He drew in a deep breath. Dull pain throbbed through his entire body, but he dared not let on. They would then want to know why the suit hadn't protected him in the battle, and that was an explanation he didn't want to give. Not just then...

He stood up, and managed to smile. "I'm fine. That thing was just really tough."

"And ugly," Kat muttered. Tanya nodded her agreement.

"You can say that again..."

Tommy reached out and clapped Adam on the shoulder, and Adam was only barely able to bite back a cry of pain.

"Okay. As long as you're all right. But next time, don't hang back. We can't help each other if we all do our own thing."

"Sure," Adam said through clenched teeth.

"C'mon," Rocky said quickly. "Let's get back to school. I'm starved, and lunch is nearly over."

Tommy grinned and nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

The five teenagers then teleported out in a streak of multi- coloured light.

Skull was still sitting at the table when Adam came back, and he was horrified by the blatant deterioration of Adam's physical health.

"Adam...? You look awful! What happened?"

Adam made his way over to the picnic table and sat down with a thud. If only he could hold out until school was over... Even as he thought it, he knew he wouldn't be able to do it.

"I don't know..." he lied. "I just don't feel so great..."

"No kidding," Skull growled. "C'mon. I'm gonna take you to the nurse."

"No..." Adam protested weakly even as Skull dragged him up. "Please, I'm just tired..."

"With you, that's something to worry about. C'mon..."

While the other rangers laughed about their victory, Jason watched from the sidelines as Skull pulled Adam to his feet and led him back towards the building. Something, he realised, was very definitely wrong...

He stiffened when Adam suddenly collapsed, nearly taking Skull down with him, and ran over before the others were even aware that anything was wrong.

"What happened?" he asked anxiously, dropping into a crouch beside Adam's trembling form. Skull shrugged.

"You tell me. I have no idea."

The others had seen the trouble by then, and ran over to help.

"Adam...?" Rocky asked anxiously. "Aw, hell..."

Tommy looked up at him. "Go get the nurse, now."

Rocky went without protest, and Tommy then turned his attention back to Adam. "Hang on, man..." he whispered anxiously. "Just hang on...."

Half an hour later, Hank Cranston arrived on the scene, much to the surprise of the rangers. Jason stepped forward to meet him.

"Mr Cranston? What are you doing here...?"

Hank spared Jason a grim smile. "Let's just say I'm acting parent for Adam, since his own parents don't seem to give a damn. Excuse me, now..."

He side-stepped the teens and went into the infirmary, closing the door behind him.

"What d'you think is the matter with him?" Tanya asked, her voice reflecting the fear she felt. Tommy shook his head as he leant against the wall.

"I don't know. If he'd just gone to the damned doctor, like we tried to tell him..."

Off to the side, Skull stood in grim silence. He desperately wanted to tell them the truth, but Adam had sworn him to secrecy. As much as he knew he should tell them, he could not break his promise.

Leukemia.... he thought again with a shudder. What had someone like Adam ever done to deserve that? It wasn't even like Diabetes, or some other illness that could be controlled with drugs. Even with maximum treatment, Adam was still likely to die....

"Skull?"

Skull was jolted back to reality by Kat's voice, and he opened his eyes to find himself staring not only at her, but at all of them.

"Huh? What...?"

Tommy stared at him suspiciously. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were crying."

Skull quickly lifted his hand to his eyes, and discovered his eyes were, indeed, wet with tears. Damn... he thought.

"Just... Just got some dirt in 'em," he grumbled.

"No, man," Rocky said. "You are crying! What's wrong?"

"You can tell us," Tanya told him warmly. "C'mon, Skull..."

Skull thought he was going to have to break his promise and tell them, just to get away from them, when the door opened, and Hank came out, supporting Adam. To Skull's relief, the attention of the other teens was immediately directed away from him, and he breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

"Adam, you okay, man?" Tommy asked anxiously. Adam managed to smile.

"Yeah, I will be. I'm just..." Dying "...tired. Haven't been sleeping too good lately, and I guess it finally caught up with me."

Beside him, Hank sighed inwardly. Why, he thought, couldn't Adam just tell them the truth...?

"Well, you get plenty of rest, then," Kat told him. "We'll... take care of things. Okay?"

Adam smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

Mr Caplan stepped in, then. "Okay. You kids had better get back to class. You're late enough as it is."

The teens all reluctantly filed off to class, until only Skull was left. While Hank looked concerned, Skull spoke to Adam in a soft voice.

"Take care of yourself, Adam. We don't want to lose you before time."

Adam was touched by Skull's honest plea.

"I will," he replied. Skull nodded and, shoving his hands deep into his pockets, headed off back down the corridor.

"So what really happened?" Hank asked once he had Adam home and safely in bed. Adam sighed miserably.

"It was a fight. Cogs, monster, the usual stuff. Not that much tougher than other times... I guess I just wasn't up to it. I don't get it, though. Dr Sutton only diagnosed me yesterday! How come it's affecting me like this already?"

Hank hesitated, then recalled what Sutton had told him later last night, after Adam had been diagnosed.

"How long did you tell Dr Sutton that you'd been feeling ill for?"

"A couple of months..."

"Well, that's how long it's probably been since the Leukemia developed. That's two months that you've gone without any treatment, so it's not surprising that one fight would take this much out of you. It's surprising you've made it this far!"

Adam had to concede the point as he remembered how awful he'd felt after other recent battles. Today was just the first day that he had actually collapsed... He shuddered and slumped down miserably in the bed. Hank watched him for a while before speaking the thought that was on both their minds.

"You're going to have to quit the team."

Tears instantly flooded Adam's eyes. "I can't!" he protested. "It's the only thing I've got left!"

"You keep it up," Hank growled, "and you won't even have three months left. You know it's true. Don't put yourself at risk unnecessarily, Adam."

Adam shut his eyes, suddenly knowing how Billy had felt when he'd lost the last chance to be a ranger to Jason. Totally lost and alone....

Shutting his eyes, Adam rolled over and buried his face into the pillow, refusing to say anything more. Hank stayed with him for a while before finally going out and leaving Adam alone.

Hank wandered into the kitchen, wondering what on earth he could do. For some unimaginable reason, Adam seemed determined to keep everyone in the dark about his illness, even though it was shoving him right away from everyone. He paused, thinking back to what Adam had made him promise.

Please, don't tell my friends...

Adam had only asked him not to tell the rangers, which left it open for him to pass the terrible news on to certain others who could possibly help... Hank knew he was on thin ice, but as far as he was concerned, the risk was worth it.

Gritting his teeth, Hank went to make some phone calls.

Half an hour later, Hank had a small crowd gathered in the family room of his home. There were Tommy Oliver's parents, Jason Scott's parents, and the parents of Kat Hillard, Tanya Sloan and Rocky De Santos. Trying hard to keep his nerves at bay, Hank took up and waited for silence. A hush immediately fell over the large group, and they watched Hank expectantly, waiting for an explanation for the summons.

"I'm sorry to call you all here at such short notice," Hank apologized, "but I'm afraid this couldn't wait. Firstly, I've taken unofficial custody of Adam, and unless his parents come back soon and show some genuine interest in their son, I'll go to court for custody of him."

A murmur of surprise swept across the group, but they stayed silent, knowing more was to come. Hank hesitated, then sank into an empty chair.

"Adam was in hospital just yesterday, having a number of tests, one of which was a leukocyte count."

"Leukocyte count...?" Mrs Scott echoed in shock. She was a trained nurse and knew the implications. Hank nodded.

"The doctor was very worried. He insisted Adam stay at the hospital until the results came back."

"And...?" Mr De Santos pressed.

"It's not good, I'm afraid. Adam has Leukemia."

The silence that descended over the group was palpable until Mrs De Santos spoke in a stricken voice.

"Oh no.... Not Adam..."

"I'm afraid so," Hank murmured. Mrs Scott spoke again, her voice strained from the sudden shock of the announcement.

"What type of Leukemia? Do you know?"

"Yes. The doctor called it Acute Myelocytic Leukemia. It's terminal. Adam's been given approximately three months to live. It may be anything up to eight or twelve months with full treatment, but Dr Sutton couldn't be specific."

"Sutton?" Mr Oliver interrupted. "Eric Sutton? Well, that confirms there's been no mistake. That man is the best doctor in this state."

"This is terrible," Mrs Hillard whispered, stricken. "The poor boy..."

"I called you all here to tell you straight," Hank said grimly, "but also because none of your kids know, as yet. So far, Adam's refused to tell them."

"For Gods' sake, why?" Jason's father burst out. "Surely he's not planning to try and deal with this on his own...?"

Hank shook his head. "I don't know. I honestly don't know what his reasoning is. I don't think Adam really knows, either. All I do know is that I promised Adam that I would leave it to him to tell them, and I can't break that promise. In light of that, I have to ask you not to tell them, either."

"If you wanted us to promise that," Mr De Santos growled, "then you shouldn't have told us at all."

Hank stood up again. "Please, for Adam's sake, don't tell them. They'll find out soon enough. There's no way that Adam can hide this for much longer, but until then.... Adam needs to know there are people he can trust. If we go against his wishes then he's going to feel completely deserted. I don't want that to happen. It's the only reason I haven't said anything to the... to your kids. It's the one reason why I haven't contacted my own son to tell him."

A long silence reigned until finally Tommy's father spoke for them all.

"All right. Well keep this between ourselves. But unless Adam comes clean with them soon, I'm going to tell Tommy."

The others nodded in silent agreement. Hank looked relieved. "Thankyou, and I promise I'll do my best to convince Adam to tell his friends."

Hank went in to check on Adam early that evening, and was not surprised to find him fast asleep. He paused in the doorway, then went to the cupboard and pulled out and extra blanket, which he threw over the frail boy. Adam shifted a little and murmured something in his sleep, but didnt wake up.

Hank stayed still for a long moment before pulling a chair up beside the bed and settling himself in to wait out the long night with the sick boy.

Angel Grove High School

Tommy wandered into the school grounds the next morning feeling inexplicably upset. Something wasn't right. He could feel it, but he had no idea what the trouble was. Adam collapsing yesterday wasn't helping things, either... He paused to try and think it through logically, then felt his heart rate suddenly pick up.

Adam... Of course, it was something to do with Adam. There was something wrong, very wrong, and somehow it all revolved around Adam. He went back over it in his mind, starting with the fight. Adam had, for some reason, made every effort to avoid the monster during the battle. While the rest of them had taken direct hits in their efforts to beat it, Adam had kept skirting around the outside, not actually stepping into the line of fire. Almost, Tommy reflected, as though he was suddenly afraid of taking a hit...

But, of course, he had. The monster had eventually noticed him on the outer limits of the fight and let loose with a blast that had sent Adam flying straight into a huge Oak. Tommy frowned, chewing his lower lip as he walked. If he remembered right, it had taken Adam twice as long as usual to get back on his feet. Almost as though he was not wearing a protective suit and had taken a direct hit to his body....

He arrived at his locker almost without realising it, and looked around as his friends wandered over to join him. Adam, he noted, was not there.

"I called Mr Cranston's place," Rocky said quietly. "He said Adam's too sick to come today. Man, this is too weird!"

"Maybe he got hit with something from the monster yesterday," Tanya suggested.

"Some sort of poison," Kat agreed. "He got hit pretty hard, after all."

Tommy chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip. "I don't know. It could be..."

"Adam wasn't well before that fight," Jason pointed out. "He hasn't been well for the past couple of months. I'll bet that because he held off so long in going to the doctor, that he's probably come down with a mild case of pneumonia, or something."

Tommy grimaced. "If that's what it is, we might need you to step in for him."

Jason pulled a face and shook his head. "Sorry, no can do. I'm still getting over the effects from the last one, thankyou very much."

Tommy sighed as they began to walk to their classes. "Maybe we can get Billy to come back to step in for him..."

"Let's just wait and see what's wrong with him first, huh?" Rocky suggested. "It's probably nothing serious, anyway."

They continued on, none of them noticing Skull as they passed him in the corridor. The leather-clad boy watched and listened in silence as they passed, then, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast, turned and headed off in the other direction.

Adam suffered a raging fever through much of the day before an extra dose of something from the doctor helped get it under control. By late afternoon, he was feeling well enough to get up again, but was thwarted by Hank.

"You can just stay in bed," Hank told him when Adam insisted he was fine. The teen slumped back against the pillows, scowling.

"It's not fair. I just want to get up"

Hank pressed the palm of his hand to Adam's forehead for a moment before speaking. "You still have a fever. You aren't leaving this bed until it's gone."

"But what if there's an emergency? I can't go in my pyjamas!"

"You won't be going at all. Adam, you completely wiped yourself out in that fight yesterday. You made yourself sick! If you persist in joining in the fights, it won't take Mondo long to work out that you aren't as strong as the others. When he does, you'll become a prime target. You know the truth in that as well as I do."

"But..."

"But nothing. I don't want anymore arguments. You're staying in bed."

Rising up, Hank stalked out of the room before Adam could get another word in. Adam watched him go, then smiled a little to himself, unable to help it. His own parents had never been strict like that with him and even though it annoyed the hell out of him now, he sort of liked it. It was attention that he had never before gotten from his parents, and through the strictness he could see the concern that Hank had for him.

Sighing to himself, Adam slid down beneath the warm bedcovers and tried to will himself to sleep.

Hank was not surprised when the rest of the ranger team stopped by that afternoon after school.

"Come in," he told them, and ushered them into the family room. "Ill just go and see if Adam's awake."

He disappeared down the hall, and looked quickly into the room where Adam was. To his surprise, and partial relief, Adam was sleeping soundly. He backed out of the room and went back to the family room.

"I'm sorry, kids," he apologized, "but Adam's asleep right now, and I don't want to disturb him."

"It's okay," Rocky said. "We just stopped by to see if he was okay, anyway. Um... He is okay, isn't he?"

Hank hesitated. Here was where the trouble lay... "He'll be all right," Hank said finally. "He's just run down." It was almost a blatant lie, but he couldn't help it. He had promised Adam, and he dared not break that trust. "He's had a fever all day, but if it's gone by tomorrow, then he'll be back at school."

"That's good," Tommy murmured. "Well, I guess we'd better get going..."

"I'll tell Adam you were here," Hank reassured them as they left. Once they were gone, he backed inside and slumped wearily against the wall.

Adam, he thought, you have to tell them...

A week later

Adam was on his way home to Hank's house when his communicator chimed. He froze, remembering Hanks half-threatened warning.

If that communicator goes off, you either ignore it or tell them you can't go. It's up to you whether you tell them why, but don't you dare go. You understand me, Adam?

Adam ran his fingers through his jet black hair, feeling trapped. Finally, his loyalty to his friends overrode the warning to avoid conflicts, and he answered the summons.

"Adam, here. What's up, Zordon?"

"A monster is attacking the business area near you, Adam. You are the closest. You must try to deal with him until the others arrive, but be very careful. The sole aim of this monster is the destruction of the rangers. It has no other purpose."

Adam shut his eyes, and for a long moment he didn't answer. Great. Just great....

"Adam? What is wrong?"

"Nothing," Adam said in a strained voice. "I'm on my way."

It didn't take Adam long to find the monster. It never did, he reflected dimly. The monster wasted no time, and immediately turned its fury on the Green Ranger.

"I'll destroy you first!" it shrieked in hysterical glee. "Then, when your friends come, I'll destroy them, too!"

Adam didn't waste time with a return jibe. He knew he'd need every ounce of strength he had to avoid taking a hit. After the last time, he knew he could ill afford it.

For the next few minutes, Adam dodged around the monster, never scoring a hit himself but neither did he allow the monster to score a hit. Finally, just when he thought he would have to engage the monster in a real fight, there were four flashes of coloured light, and the others appeared.

"Adam, you okay, man?" Rocky asked anxiously. Adam nodded.

"Yeah. I'm glad you're here, though."

Tommy thumped his fist into the palm of his other hand. "Okay. Let's take this beastie out!"

The other rangers launched themselves forward, engaging the monster in a full-blown battle, while once again, Adam held back, taking only the occasional shot with his blaster. Tommy finally lost patience and, when he was thrown out of the battle by the monster, yelled at the Green Ranger.

"Adam, what the hell are you doing!? We need help here! Quick fooling around and get into the fight!"

Adam felt sick as he began to realise that Hank had been right. He could not continue as a Power Ranger, not like this. He couldn't just back out right then, though. Gritting his teeth, Adam ran forward, and launched himself at the monster.

The beast turned at the last second and, with a piercing laugh, sent Adam sailing through the air with powerful hit to his chest. Adam hit a nearby wall and crumpled to the ground, not moving.

"Adam!" Tanya screamed. Rocky let loose a howl of rage and, along with the others, flung themselves at the monster. The beast was caught by surprise by the sudden attack, and could not defend itself and was subsequently destroyed, even before Clank and Orbis could cause it to grow. The rangers wasted no time, but immediately went to Adam, who still lay slumped on the ground.

"Man," Tommy whispered, upset and angry. "Not again.... C'mon, let's get him back to the Power Chamber, quick." The others nodded their agreement, and soon vanished in a flash of multi-coloured light.

Adam soon regained consciousness back in the Power Chamber, waking up to the concerned faces of his friends.

"What happened out there?" Rocky demanded to know.

"Yeah," Tommy growled. "You blacked out after taking one hit. What's going on?"

Adam sat up slowly, wincing a little at the dull pain in his skull.

"I... I guess I'm not over being sick, yet. I'm sorry..."

"Sorry doesn't cut it, Adam," Tommy told him quietly. "Not with this. If you aren't physically up to fighting, then we're going to have to do something about it. This is the second battle that we nearly lost because you wouldn't involve yourself in the fight, and when you did you ended up in trouble because you couldn't defend yourself."

Adam struggled against the tears. "That's not fair" he protested weakly. Tommy glanced to Zordon, who spoke in grim support of the red Ranger.

"I am afraid Tommy is right, Adam. Over the past two months, you have become more and more a liability to the team, most recently in your extreme efforts to avoid coming into conflict with monsters. It may not be your own fault, but it is starting to place the team in danger. That cannot be allowed to continue."

"What d'you mean?" Adam asked in a trembling voice. Zordon went on softly.

"I must ask you to give up your Zeo crystal, Adam. It must be passed on to someone who will not place the team in jeopardy."

Adam felt his heart nearly break as he looked around at the others, and they looked away from him in embarrassment.

They're deserting me, he thought in grief, and they don't even know, yet... He shut his eyes for a long moment before moving. He had known this would happen eventually; he had just not realised how painful it would be made for him. It was not giving up the crystal that hurt the most, it was Zordon's words.

...a liability...

Adam finally stood up and removed his zeonizers, placing them down on the table. As he did so, there was a glow of green light, and the Zeo crystal separated itself from the physical body of the boy who had risked his life to collect it.

Then, without speaking, he pressed the button on his communicator and teleported out for the last time.

Hank was waiting for him when he arrived home, and the mixed look of anger and fear on his face was painfully clear.

"Where have you been? You didn't...?" He trailed off as Adam wandered past into the family room and collapsed into an armchair. "Oh, hell" he growled softly. "You never listened to me at all, did you?"

Adam stared vacantly up at the ceiling. "I did. Don't worry, it won't happen again."

There was a matter-of-factness to Adams tone that Hank found disturbing.

"What do you mean, it won't?"

Adam removed his communicator and, to Hank's shock, threw it directly into the fireplace, into the dark ashes. "I'm off the team. Zordon kicked me off."

Hank was stunned. "What?!"

"I got kicked off the team," Adam repeated, tears building up quickly in his eyes. "Zordon called me a liability. He said I was putting everyone in danger."

The tears overflowed.

Hank groaned softly. "That heartless bastard... I'm sorry, Adam."

"Why? Isn't that what you wanted? For me to be off the team?"

"Yes, eventually, but not like this. This isn't right."

Adam"s voice cracked audibly as he spoke. "They all turned their backs on me. None of them would look at me. They've all deserted me, and they don't even know. How are they gonna treat me when they find out?"

"I think that's something you need to find out," Hank replied. Adam didn't reply, but finally burst into tears, unable to hold it in any longer. Hank reached out and gently took the boy in his arms, holding him protectively for a long while.

Friends by Kenny Marks

Adam sat slumped over in the chair, listening miserably to the words of the song. Any other time, and it might have cheered him up, but not today. He rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes, brushing away more tears that formed there. It had been four days since Zordon had stripped him of his powers, and in that time he had been effectively alienated by the only friends he had.

Well, nearly...

Skull, Adam reflected, had stuck by him like the friend that the others were supposed to be. It still hurt, though, more than he could bring himself to admit.

"You're going to depress yourself again," Hank commented dryly as Adam rewound the tape and hit play for the fifth time. Adam sank back into the armchair as the music filled the room.

"Just one more time. Please?"

Hank sighed. "Whatever."

"Did you manage to find Mum and Dad?"

Hank hesitated, then spoke softly. "I spoke to someone in the company they work for, and he gave me the hotel they were supposed to be at..."

"They weren't there, right?"

"Hang on," Hank growled. "Let me finish. I called the hotel, and yes, they were there. Just not when I called. I left an urgent message, and I hope they'll get in contact very soon."

Adam looked away. "Sure. That'll really happen."

Hank sighed and was about to go back to his book when the song ended. Adam reached out and pressed stop, and was about to rewind it again, when Hank shouted.

"No! Not again, please! Find something else to play!"

Adam paused, his finger just above the rewind button, and was about to press it anyway when the phone rang. Hank heaved a sigh of relief, seeing a chance to get Adam out of the room so he could hide the tape.

"Adam, would you mind getting that?"

Adam spared Hank a rueful look, then got up and trudged into the kitchen to answer the phone.

"Hello?" he spoke into it wearily.

"This is the Plaza Hotel, New York. Calling to return a message to Hank Cranston?"

Adam felt his heart skip a beat. Mum... Dad... "I'll take the message."

"Adrian and Melissa Park checked out of the hotel one hour ago, but left no messages to pass on, nor a contact number."

Adam's spirits fell with a painful thud. They'd skipped out on him again... When he really needed them...

"Is that all?"

"Yes, sir," came the brisk reply.

"Thankyou," Adam mumbled, and hung up.

"Adam....?" Hank came into the kitchen behind the teen.

Adam didn't turn around, but continued to stare at the phone as though it were at fault.

"They checked out of the hotel an hour ago. Didn't leave a number or anything," he said dully, wiping the tears off his face.

"Maybe they're coming back home."

"Yeah, maybe." But deep in his heart, Adam knew better.

The next day

"This isn't right," Rocky growled as the rangers met at the locker the next day. "We shouldn't have done it."

Tommy spared Rocky an exasperated look. "Will you knock it off, Rocky? You know there wasn't any other choice. He was putting us all in danger."

"I think we did a pretty good job of putting him in danger the other day," Tanya growled, "waiting like that to see what he did with the monster. He could have been killed!"

"The suits prevent that," Kat argued. "We take a few knocks, but we never get hurt."

"The fact that Adam blacked out after taking one hit just shows that he can't handle it," Tommy said firmly. "Besides, we've done a lot better over the past few days, with my brother taking Adam's place."

"I think we're all despicable," Rocky muttered. "Adam probably hates us."

"Hang on..." Kat said in a low voice, and they all looked around as Adam came down the hallway and up to his locker.

The teen opened the locker door and started pulling books out when he sensed himself being watched. After a moment, he looked around to see all four rangers watching him intently. Adam returned their stares for just a moment before slamming his locker door shut and stomping off up the corridor.

"See?" Rocky growled. Tommy shot Rocky a threatening look.

"Rocky, will you quit it...?"

"No! I won't! Adam was my friend long before we knew anything about the Power Rangers, and now you expect me to drop him like a hot brick just because you say so? Forget it, Tommy! I won't do it!"

"I didn't say drop him as a friend," Tommy snapped. "I just meant quit complaining about dropping him from the team. Okay? Man, he's still our friend..."

Rocky cooled down as quickly as he'd heated up. "Okay," he conceded. Tommy clapped him on the shoulder.

"Good. Let's get to class."

Rocky wandered home slowly, contemplating what was happening. Admittedly, having David Trueheart on the team was an advantage, but he sorely missed Adam. Quiet Adam, with instincts like a tiger and martial arts skills to match Tommy. He sighed inwardly. Something had happened to weaken Adam, and Rocky suspected it was more than feeling tired and run-down. He suspected....

Rocky's thoughts trailed off as he came level with the Park home, which he always passed on his way home. There was a police car in the driveway, and a police officer was knocking repeatedly on the front door. With him, was a woman who looked to be in her late thirties.

He hesitated, on the verge of simply hurrying on his way before changing his mind.

"Hey," he finally called out, getting the immediate attention of the two adults, "who are you looking for?"

The woman ventured down the porch steps before replying. "Were looking for Adam Park. Can you tell us where he is?"

"Sure. What's it about?"

"He's not in any trouble," the policeman reassured Rocky. "We'd appreciate it if you told us, though."

Rocky hesitated, then shrugged.

"He's staying with Hank Cranston at the moment. I'll give you the address."

The woman nodded. "Thankyou very much."

Hank stood outside, taking a moment to get some fresh air. Adam had come home even more despondent than usual, also suffering a fever and dizziness. He had just put Adam to bed, though the teen was a long way off sleep.

He sighed softly. All Adam really wanted right then, aside his friends, was his mother and father. He could not even give him that....

He shook his head and was about to head back inside when a police car pulled into the driveway.

What now...? he wondered wearily.

The passenger door opened, and a middle-aged woman got out. "Excuse me, are you Hank Cranston?"

Hank watched her suspiciously. "Yes. Can I help you?"

"I hope so. We're looking for Adam Park."

Hank went slowly down the steps. "Adam's here. What do you want with him?"

The woman glanced around. "Can we go inside, Mr Cranston? This is important..."

Hank hesitated, then nodded and led the way inside.

"So what's this about?" Hank asked once they were in the family room. The police officer spoke in a quiet, grim voice.

"I'm afraid Adam's parents have been in an accident, Mr Cranston. A plane crash, to be exact. They were on a plane coming back to Angel Grove..."

Hank felt the blood freeze in his veins. "Crash...?" he echoed. "Are... Are they all right?"

Even as he asked, he knew the answer to the question. The officer spoke unhappily.

"There were no survivors, Mr Cranston. The fuselage exploded in mid-flight. The plane was a fireball before it even hit the ground."

"Oh god..." Hank moaned, sitting down with a heavy thud. "This is impossible...."

Irene Turner spoke up, then. "Adam has no other living relations, and because he is only seventeen, I have been instructed to take him into care."

"Care...?" Hank said. "You mean, foster care?"

"Yes," Turner replied. "If you'll just get Adam...?"

"Wait a second," Hank growled. "Just hang on a minute. What if I said I'd look after Adam? Officially? I'm sure he'd much rather stay with me than go and live with strangers, and I've had him here with me for the past two weeks, anyway...."

Turner smiled patronisingly. "That's kind of you to offer, Mr Cranston, but we have families listed to deal properly with foster children..."

"You don't understand," Hank interrupted. "Mrs Turner, Adam is sick. If you take him away from here, it'll kill him for certain."

Turner frowned. "Sick? How sick?"

"Adam has leukemia."

The woman was stunned. "But... that's not in our records!"

"It wouldn't be," Hank conceded. "He was diagnosed with it just two weeks ago. Mrs Turner, please. I'm willing to look after Adam."

"We really shouldn't..." she protested weakly. Hank stood up.

"Adam is dying," he said in a tight voice. "He's on chemotherapy and has already had a couple of sessions of radiation therapy. Even with all that, his doctor has only given him approximately eight months to live. Don't take that away from him by putting him in a place that he doesn't know, with people that he doesn't know."

Turner finally nodded. "Very well," she murmured. "This is an exceptional case. I'll do the paperwork, and organise for Adam to be left in your care.... for however long it is."

"Thankyou," Hank replied, unable to conceal his relief. "I appreciate it. I'm sure Adam will, too."

"Appreciate what?"

They all looked around to see a thin, pale boy standing in the archway, looking in on the scene with confusion. Hank stood up quickly.

"Adam, you should be in bed."

"I'm sick of being in bed," Adam mumbled. "What's going on?"

"Perhaps we should tell him now?" Turner suggested. Hank had to agree.

Holding off with something as serious as this would only be detrimental. Not tell him his parents were dead would be cruel when he was so anxiously hoping for their return.

"Adam, come and sit down. Theres something we have to tell you."

Adam blinked, dazed. "What is it?"

"It's your parents," Hank told him quietly. "They were on their way back here..."

Adam started a little. "They're coming back!? When?"

Hank felt sick. "Adam, be quiet and listen. They were coming back, but there's been an accident."

The teen blinked, suddenly confused again. "Accident? Well... they're okay, aren't they?"

Irene Turner came forward to crouch in front of the sick boy. "Adam, it was a plane crash. Honey, your parents are dead...."

Adam's lower lip began to tremble as the words impacted on him.

"No... That's impossible..."

Hank watched in concern. With all that had happened over the past few days, on top of the Leukemia, it was possible that the news would be more than Adam could cope with.

"Say it's not true" he whimpered. "Please..."

"I'm sorry, Adam," Hank whispered, feeling the tears filling his own eyes. "I really am."

"No!" Adam choked out, tears spilling down his cheeks in a sudden flood. "It isn't true! They're coming back, they are! You said so! They aren't dead!"

His voice had risen fast in volume, until he was screaming hysterically, and beating against Hank with weak fists. Hank remained still, taking the abuse without protest until Adam finally collapsed into his arms, exhausted and grief-stricken.

Cradling the frail boy in his arms, Hank looked back awkwardly at Turner and the policeman. "Maybe we could sort out the details later?"

Turner nodded. "Of course. I'll call you in the next couple of days. We'll see ourselves out."

Hank nodded gratefully. A short while after they'd gone, Adam finally calmed down enough to ask rational questions.

"Wh... What's going to happen to me?" he asked, his thin chest hitching with suppressed sobs. Hank gently brushed the tears from Adam's cheek.

"You're going to stay here, with me. I'll look after you. Is that okay?"

Adam nodded miserably. "Yes." Even as he looked at Hank, fresh tears formed and spilled down his pale cheeks.

Hank rose up, drawing Adam up with him. "C'mon. I'm putting you back to bed."

Adam went without protest.

Hank paused at Billy's bedroom, waited a long moment, then went in. Adam had finally cried himself to sleep, hugging a spare pillow. Surely, he thought, there was something better than a pillow that Adam could cling to...

He went to the closet and opened the door. Inside was a large chest, which Hank dragged out and opened up. The chest was filled to the rim with soft toys that Billy would never admit to owning. Perhaps...

He found a teddy bear that was still in good condition, and was reasonably soft. He knew what he was doing was ridiculous but he didn't care, and he had a feeling that neither would Adam. Dusting the bear off, he went back into the spare room.

Adam had pushed the pillow away and was now tossing and turning restlessly in the bed. Hank went over and carefully placed the bear in Adam's arms. As soon as the teen felt the contact with the soft fur, he relaxed and eventually fell into an undisturbed rest. Hank smiled to himself as he watched Adam nestle down against the bear, then turned and slipped silently out of the room.

The bear had been a good idea, Hank realised the next morning. Adam had slept soundly through the rest of the afternoon and night without stirring, and looked much better when he got up the next morning.

"How are you feeling?" Hank asked quietly.

"Better," Adam replied. He still had the bear tucked under his arm, Hank noted with silent amusement.

"Where'd this come from?" Adam asked about the bear as he sat down at the table.

"It's just one of Billy's old teddy bears. I thought you might like that better than the pillow."

Adam looked down at the bear, then sighed softly and cuddled the bear to his chest. "Thanks."

Hank nodded casually. "If you'd like, I can take you by your home. You can get your clothes, any toys or anything You know, keepsakes.... Maybe you'd like to get one of your own bears?"

Adam reddened a little. "I don't have any."

"What?" Hank asked incredulously. "What d'you mean? You don't have any bears?"

"No toys, or anything like that. Mum and Dad only ever gave me a cheque for my birthday, or for Christmas. When they remembered, that is. It was easier than having to bother actually finding out what I wanted..."

His voice was starting to tremble again, and Hank quickly went to his side.

"It's okay, Adam. It's okay to talk about it."

Adam spoke, his eyes downcast. "I never thought about buying toys. I spent the money on martial arts lessons." He looked down at the bear with a touch of envy. "I never got anything like this."

Hank sighed inwardly. Poor kid... "When's your birthday, Adam?"

"In... In a couple of weeks. But now they're gone... and I'm not going to.... I won't...."

He trailed off, starting to shake as the sobs fought to get out. Hank knew what was wrong, and he didn't blame Adam in the least. His parents were gone for good, now, ensuring no chance of reconciliation, and Dr Sutton's diagnosis predicted that Adam himself would not live to see another birthday. To make things worse, the only friend Adam had left who was sticking by him seemed to be Skull. It didn't look as though it would turn out to be much of a birthday for him at all.

Okay, he thought determinedly, I'll just have to throw the biggest damn birthday party for him that he's ever had. He grimaced. Possibly the only party he would have ever had...

He hugged Adam quickly. "It'll be all right, Adam. You eat your breakfast and get dressed, and then we'll get going."

"Where to?" Adam asked, wiping away the seemingly endless flow of tears.

"First to your house to get your clothes, and then shopping."

"What about school?"

"Don't worry about school for today. You can go tomorrow."

"But tomorrow's Saturday!"

Hank smiled. "Well, then, I guess you don't have to go tomorrow, either!"

Adam had to smile at Hank's lame joking. Shaking his head wearily, he turned his attention to breakfast.

Adam sat at the desk in the spare room that night, staring at the blank piece of paper in front of him. He had an assignment due in on Monday that he had completely forgotten about, and he wanted start it straight away and get it done. So far, though, he'd come up with nothing.

"What's the problem?"

Adam looked around as Hank entered the room, and sighed heavily. "I've got an essay due on Monday for Miss Appleby. It's an oral report, actually, but we have to hand it in as well. I forgot about it, with everything that's been happening."

"What's the topic?"

The teen grimaced. "That's just it. There is no topic. We have to choose our own. I don't even know where to start."

Hank rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully. "Is it supposed to be factual?"

"Yeah. And Miss Appleby said she'd give us all detention if she got back fifteen reports on the Power Rangers."

Hank smiled. "I doubt you'd want to do that anyway, would you?"

Adam shrugged. "I don't think I know about much else, and there'll probably be a load of essays about martial arts..."

The older man laid a hand gently on Adams shoulder. "Why don't you write about something that's close to you?"

Adam frowned. "Like what?"

"You think. This could be a good catalyst, Adam."

With that, Hank turned and walked out of the room. Adam watched him go, still frowning to himself, when he realised what Hank had been talking about. For just a moment, Adam baulked. Then, logic overcame all else and he realised there was nothing else he could do. Rising up, he went around to the bookshelf and took up the book that Dr Sutton had loaned him about Leukemia. Going back to the desk, he opened it up and began to read.

Machine Empire Skybase

From the skybase, Mondo watched the boy with intense curiosity. Something was definitely wrong with Adam, and if he could just find out what...

He smirked to himself. He knew the boy had become considerably weaker, resulting in his ejection from the Power Ranger team, and if that was a permanent state, then Adam would be perfect as live bait to trap the other rangers.

Turning around, he roared for Clank.

"Yes, yer Majesty?" Clank asked, cowering before his king.

"Go down to Earth," Mondo ordered, "and keep a close eye on Adam. As soon as you discover what is wrong with him, report back to me. Understood?"

"Yes," Clank replied. "I'm on my way."

Angel Grove Youth Centre, Saturday morning

"You think we're ever going to find out what's going on with Adam?" Kat asked as she sipped her drink.

Tommy shrugged. "I don't know. I hope so. I just don't know why he's avoiding us so much."

"Maybe he feels like he doesn't belong with us anymore," Jason pointed out quietly. Tommy frowned.

"That's ridiculous!"

"Is it?" Rocky argued. "C'mon! Zordon's never stripped anyone of their powers before! Losing them because it can't be helped is one thing, but being stripped of them is another thing totally."

"Okay, you might be right," Tommy conceded, "but it's not like we've ditched him altogether. Besides, he wasn't even at school yesterday for us to be able to talk to him. And when he is here, he's with Skull. So if he feels like we've dumped him, then it's his fault more than ours."

A tense silence fell as the teens glowered at one another, divided over the issue. Just then, Tanya came into the Youth Centre, along with David. Neither one was smiling, and Tanya's face was ashen. The others watched in concern as the two rangers joined them.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" Tommy asked worriedly. David nudged Tanya lightly.

"Go on. Tell them."

Tanya looked around at them with red-rimmed eyes. "Guys, I just found out why Adam wasn't in school yesterday. There... There's been an accident..."

Rocky was on his feet in an instant. "Adam's hurt? Where is he?"

"No," Tanya said. "Not Adam. It's his parents. They were coming back to Angel Grove, and the plane they were on crashed."

"It exploded in mid-air," David corrected. "The fuselage blew up. There weren't any survivors."

"Adam's parents... are dead...?" Tommy said softly, stunned. David nodded.

"Yes. No one's been able to figure out yet how it happened. Tanya found out from your principal."

"Oh god..." Kat whispered. "That's awful..."

Rocky stepped away from the table. "We ought to get over to Mr Cranston's place, see if he's okay..."

"They're not there," Tanya said tiredly. "I stopped by there after I found out from Mr Caplan. A neighbour said they went out this morning and have been gone all day."

"This whole thing is getting really weird," Kat grumbled. "I wish someone would tell us what is going on!"

Jason spoke up, then, his gaze on someone just beyond the group. "Skull? Everything okay, man?"

They all looked around to see Skull staring at them with eyes that seemed almost empty.

"You'll find out soon enough," Skull said quietly. "He can't hide it forever. Even he knows that."

Having said that, Skull turned and walked silently away, leaving the rangers to wonder all over again what was going on.

Monday morning

Miss Appleby sat wearily in her seat as Rocky finished his report. Three quarters of the way through the class, and she'd had to put up with ten reports on the Power Rangers, and four on martial arts. The only break in the monotony had been Jason Scott, who had talked about the Geneva conference, and the importance of the work done by teenagers all around the world.

Stifling a yawn, she glanced down at the list and saw there was only one student left. Adam Park....

Why did I leave him till last? she wondered. She had tried to be different and not do it alphabetically, and somehow she had left the sixteen year-old till last. He's probably just done another martial arts report, she thought tiredly. Better get it over with...

"All right, Adam. You're last. I trust you're ready?"

Adam got slowly to his feet. "Yes, Miss Appleby." As ready as I'll ever be...

He went up to the front with a single sheet of paper clutched in his hands. Then, drawing in a calming breath, he began to speak.

"I was going to do a talk on Kung Fu, but I changed my mind." Nearby, he heard Miss Appleby's sigh of relief, and fought back a grin. "I decided to talk about Leukemia, instead."

The sigh of relief became a stifled gasp of shock. In the back row of the class, Skull sat up slowly, his attention aroused. Adam, not daring to look at anyone, spoke in a voice that was laced with tension.

"Not too many people know very much about Leukemia. It's a disease that's usually associated with children, but teenagers and adults are susceptible to it as well. Leukemia is basically cancer of the blood. It's when the body over-produces atypical white blood cells, called leukocytes, that are in bone marrow, the spleen, lymph glands, and areas like that.

"The presence of large amounts of leukocytes are detected by what's called a leukocyte count. That's one of the main tests used in the diagnosis of Leukemia.

"Symptoms of Leukemia include fatigue, loss of appetite, persistent fever, swelling and paleness, hemorrhaging, and anemia.

"There are two main types of Leukemia. There's acute Leukemia, which cause rapid degeneration. Without treatment, a person with acute Leukemia might live up to three months, but generally no longer. With treatment, unless it goes into remission, the person might live for up to twelve months. Acute Leukemia is more common in children.

"Chronic Leukemia is more generally found in adults. It's a much slower form of the disease.

"Treatment for both forms includes chemotherapy, which is a mixed application of drugs, some of which are called antimetabolites. The other treatment is radiation therapy.

"There's no cure for Leukemia. It's a fatal disease, and once a person has it, they're never fully rid of it, even in remission."

Adam faltered, then, his voice cracking on him. He stood stiffly for a long moment before looking over at Miss Appleby in distress.

"I... I'm sorry. I can't..."

Miss Appleby nodded. "That's fine, Adam. You did very well."

"Hey, no fair," someone hissed near the back. "She's taking it easy on him because of his folks!"

Miss Appleby heard the remark, and so did Adam. The two looked at one another for a long moment, and then Adam gave a very slight nod, tears flickering in his eyes. The teacher stood up and spoke quietly.

"Adam, would you like to explain why you chose this particular topic for your report?"

Adam shut his eyes. It was time for the truth.

"I... I chose it because I wanted everyone to know a bit more about it and... and because I was diagnosed with acute Leukemia three weeks ago."

Stunned silence hit the room. Miss Appleby lay a hand gently on Adam's shoulder in silent support. Then, finally, Rocky rose to his feet.

"No way," he said vehemently. "That's impossible!"

Tanya spoke as well, in a trembling voice. "It's a joke, isn't it, Adam? A really dumb joke..."

Near the back, Tommy slumped down in his seat, overcome with shock. No... No, it can't be...

"You can sit down, Adam," Miss Appleby told him, and Adam went quickly to his seat, still not daring to look anyone in the eye. When the bell finally rang, all students filed slowly out of the room except six. Adam stayed at his desk, and the rangers gradually gathered around him. Miss Appleby left in silence, shutting the door carefully behind her.

"Say it isn't true," Tanya begged, tears spilling down her cheeks as she tried to meet Adam's gaze.

"I wish I could," Adam whispered. He could feel the tears threatening in his own eyes, but they didn't quite come.

"Adam?" It was Tommy who spoke, and he spoke in the familiar leader voice that Adam knew so well. "Look at me, bro."

Adam couldn't resist, and looked slowly up at the Red Zeo Ranger. Tommy dropped into a crouch in front of Adam's desk.

"It's true, isn't it?"

"Do you really think I'd lie about something as serious as this?" Adam choked out. Tommy hung his head, suddenly ashamed of the way he'd acted towards Adam.

"I'm sorry."

Adam looked away tearfully. "Yeah, you and everybody else. Sorry doesn't cut it, Tommy," he added, throwing Tommy's own words back at him. Tommy reddened visibly.

"For that, too."

"Sure."

Rocky cut in. "Hang on" he demanded. "Just hang on a second! Acute Leukemia? But you said..."

Adam nodded. "Three months to live, minimum. Maybe eight or so with treatment. I'm dying."

"Oh god, no..." Kat whispered, stricken. Adam looked around at them all, then.

"Look, I don't want sympathy. I'm getting enough of that from the teachers, from Hank, from my doctor. I just want my friends back. I need the support. That's what I want."

Long silence reigned, and then Jason responded by laying a hand firmly on Adam's shoulder.

"I'm here for you, bro," he said quietly. Kat nodded.

"Same," she whispered, leaning down to give Adam a quick hug.

A long moment of silence followed, and then Tanya reached over and threw her arms around Adam in a tight hug, refusing to let go.

"There's gotta be something we can do," she said in a trembling voice. "Zordon will know what to do..."

Adam pulled back, away from her. "I've already been through denial. I don't want to go through it again. This is a human disease, not related in any way to the powers. There's nothing Zordon can do."

None of them argued over it. They knew, as much as they hated to believe it, that Adam was right. There would be no miracle cure this time...

"We're sorry, Adam," Tommy said again, and this time there was a different tone to his voice. "Can you forgive us?"

Adam sighed and got slowly to his feet, stepping away from the table. "I never hated you for anything that happened. It would have happened sooner or later... I guess what happened was my own fault. I should have told you all as soon as it was diagnosed. I guess I just thought that if I ignored it, it'd go away."

"Things don't work that way," Jason said softly. "Not in the real world. All the protection Zordon gave us from the monsters could never keep us safe from something like this."

Adam lifted his head up a little. "I'm not scared of dying. Not yet, anyway. Maybe I'll get scared of that later on. Right now, I'm just scared of being alone."

"You aren't alone," Rocky said firmly. "Adam, you're not alone. Not now, not ever. You got that?" He trailed off, tears flooding his eyes. "Oh god, I don't want to lose you..."

Adam shut his eyes as first Rocky, and then the rest of them, caught him up in the middle of a huge hug. He rested his head on Rocky's shoulder after a moment, feeling the tension of anticipated pain and fear ease with all his friends gathered closely around him. He silently thanked God that he didn't have to pretend any longer.

Outside the classroom, a figure moved in the shadows as it peered through the window, listening with great curiosity and excitement. If Clank could have grinned, he would have then.

"King Mondo is going to be very pleased to hear this," the robot whispered to himself, as he turned and slipped away across the grass, quickly disappearing back through a hole that led back to the skybase.

Oliver Residence

Tommy walked through the front door of his home nearly two hours late. His bag dragged behind him on the floor, and he stared ahead of him blindly. His father came into the hallway, having heard his son come in.

"You're late."

There was no anger in the older man's voice; he had spoken to Hank Cranston and knew why Tommy had stayed away for so long. Tommy looked up at his father, and his eyes were red and swollen from crying.

"Why? Why did it have to be someone like Adam? He doesn't deserve this!"

Mr Oliver sighed heavily. "I'd like to offer some sort of explanation, but I can't."

Tommy let go of his bag's strap. "He's only sixteen. He won't get to see his eighteenth birthday."

Mr Oliver placed a hand on Tommy's shoulder and guided him into the study.

"We'll just have to see to it that his seventeenth birthday is everything that his eighteenth would be." He paused, taking in his son's depressed features. "Tommy, don't waste time moping around. Enough time has been wasted already, with Adam not telling any of you."

Tommy had to agree. "I won't, Dad. I just... I can have a few minutes, can't I?"

Mr Oliver smiled sadly and nodded. "Sure. Look, go and have a shower. I'll get your mother to reheat your dinner."

Tommy nodded and left the room, head hanging low in despondent silence.

De Santos Residence

As opposed to Tommy, Rocky was taking the news a lot harder. He arrived home and charged straight through the crowd of his younger siblings and stormed into his room, throwing himself down on his bed. He had been there for a short while before his father came in to check on him.

"Rocky? What is it?"

"Adam..." Rocky sobbed into his pillow. "He... He... Oh, god..."

Mr De Santos sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Adam finally told you kids, did he?"

Rocky stiffened. Then, finally, he rolled over and stared up at his father. "You know? You know already?"

Mr De Santos nodded grimly. "Yes. We all knew. Hank Cranston got all of us parents together and told us. We've known for a little while."

Rocky sat up slowly, the anger building inside him. "You knew my best friend had Leukemia and you didn't tell me," he said in a soft, tense voice. "You couldn't tell me my best friend was dying?"

His voice had built to a shout, causing the older man to start up.

"Now, Rocky..."

Rocky launched to his feet. "Why didn't you tell me!?" he screamed, nearly hysterical. The anger and shock finally erupted, and he lashed out, striking his father with a solid right hook. Mr De Santos reeled backwards, slamming into the wall. He thanked God he was solidly-built, and could handle a punch from his son. Reacting quickly, he used his college wrestling skills to force Rocky back and pin him to the bed.

"Now you stop it, boy. Just calm down."

Rocky struggled, but it was useless. His father was too strong for him. He finally gave up and stopped fighting. Mr De Santos nodded.

"Okay. Listen to me, Rocky. I would have told you, but that Hank said Adam didn't want any of you to know. We don't understand why. Adam probably doesn't know himself. The point is that Adam trusted Hank to honour his wishes, and Hank asked us to do the same. Do you understand?"

"Yeah..." Rocky mumbled. "Could you let me up, now? You're twisting my arm."

Mr De Santos backed off, releasing his son from his grip. "Sorry."

Rocky eyed his father uneasily. "How's your jaw?"

Mr De Santos grinned as he rubbed the spot where Rocky had hit him. "It's okay. You've got a pretty strong punch, there, Rocky."

Rocky couldn't smile. He sat down with a thud on his bed, and fresh tears filled his eyes. "I can't believe this is happening. It isn't fair, Dad!"

"Life isn't fair," Mr De Santos conceded. "We just have to deal with it, I'm afraid. It's never easy, losing people that we care about. It's worse when you have to anticipate it."

"Why couldn't it have been something curable?" Rocky asked in a whisper. "Why Leukemia? It's gonna be hell for him..."

"You remember your cousin, Rodney?"

Rocky nodded silently, recalling his cousin who had fought chronic Leukemia for nearly five years before it overcame him. Rodney had been tough, though. He'd been thick-skinned, and had taken the torture of the constant therapy without complaint. Adam, on the other hand, was so small and frail. And vulnerable... The thought of Adam suffering the hell of chemotherapy and radiation therapy was more than Rocky could stomach.

"I feel so sick" he whispered, staring bleakly at the floor. Mr De Santos gently touched his palm to the top of Rocky's bowed head.

"Try and be strong, Rocky. For Adam, if nothing else. He's going to need support. Don't go to pieces on him."

"I won't," Rocky promised tearfully, but in his own heart he was not so sure.

Skybase

Mondo stood on the balcony, watching the proceedings with glee. He was soon joined by his wife and son.

"What's going on, Dad?" Sprocket asked, his irritating voice filling the room. Mondo turned around, excited and eager.

"Wonderful news! Adam, the Green Ranger, has contracted some fatal human disease! He'll be dead within a year!"

"That is wonderful, dear," Machina agreed, "but you remember he isn't the Green Ranger anymore."

"Maybe not," Mondo replied, "but humans are so sentimental. All we need to do is capture Adam, and the Power Rangers will do whatever we want!"

"That's brilliant!" Machina gushed. "When can we trap him?"

"As soon as he is alone," Mondo said, turning back to watch as Adam went about his business in Angel Grove, blissfully unaware of what was being planned. "Then, we'll take him prisoner, and bend the Power Rangers to my will."

Five days later

Tommy stood at the edge of the cliff, staring out to the horizon with mixed emotions. Sadness, guilt, nausea.... He still hadn't dealt with the realisation that, in twelve months at the very most, they were going to lose the most vulnerable member of their team. He hung his head, feeling a fresh surge of grief. He had talked to his father for a long time the night after he and the others had finally found out the truth, and his father had admitted that there was little hope that Adam would go into remission. So, instead of wasting time fighting for something that would not be likely to happen anyway, the friends had all agreed to do what they could to make Adam's last year the best it could be.

Tommy opened his eyes, and focused on the rocky ground far below. How easy it would be, he thought dully, to simply step of the edge and end it all... as opposed to dying slowly and painfully over a period of twelve months or less. So easy...

"Bro...?"

The Red Ranger looked around quickly, then smiled a little as Jason joined him.

"What's up, man?"

Jason eyed Tommy curiously. "I was just wondering that about you. What are you doing over here? All the action's back at camp."

Tommy sighed a little and looked back towards the sun, which was just starting to set. "I just needed a second by myself. I... I still can't believe were going to lose him."

Jason hesitated, then laid one hand gently on Tommys shoulder. "I know it's hard to deal with. When I got home that night..."

He faltered, and Tommy looked at him questioningly. Jason finally spoke again, his cheeks reddening some.

"I pretty much just sat down and cried for an hour. And I haven't even known Adam for that long! You've been here nearly all along, so I'd expect more... or less. You know what I mean."

"We're all taking it hard," Tommy murmured. "I heard Rocky decked his dad when he found out the adults already knew."

Jason frowned. "I can't believe our folks wouldn't tell us."

"Only because Adam didn't want us to know. I still can't work out whether he was being stubborn over what happened, or what...."

"There's gotta be another reason for it," Jason muttered. "He was diagnosed about two weeks before Zordon took back the Green crystal."

"And he'd been sick long before then," Tommy said. "Remember he was getting steadily weaker...? I didn't take that much notice of it before, but now that I think about it..."

"Hey!"

Both boys looked around to see David approaching. The new Green Ranger strode up and clapped a hand onto each boy's shoulder. "Adam says to quit talking about him behind his back and get your butts back to camp. Now."

Tommy and Jason eyed one another amusedly, and allowed themselves to be hustled back to the camp site. Three days previous, Tommy had gotten a call from his brother, suggesting that they all take to the mountains to try and clear the air. Tommy had liked the idea, and had quickly organised a camping trip for the team, Jason and Adam included. He looked around the group now, and reflected sadly that the only one missing was Billy.

Adam looked up from where he sat on a log. "Finished talking about me, guys?"

He didn't smile, but there was a twinkle in his eyes that couldn't be missed. Jason went over and joined him on the log.

"Just about. We'll start again when you're asleep tonight."

Adam thumped Jason playfully on the arm. "Smart...."

Jason chuckled, then looked over to where Bulk and Skull were cooking. "Burnt the food yet, guys?"

Bulk responded by flicking a single baked bean at the former Gold Ranger. Skull had been invited along to the camping trip at Adam's request and Bulk had tagged along. Since Adam's admission in class, Bulk had come back to earth and he and Skull had made their peace. Now, they were showing just how good at cooking they really could be.

Tanya paused, peering over Skulls shoulder. "Looks edible. Hey, we may not starve, guys!"

Bulk pulled a face at her. "Very funny. Even Jason over there could cook beans, thankyou very much."

Jason straightened up a little, sensing he was being insulted. "Hey, what's that? I do a very mean barbecue, I'll have you know."

Kat snickered. "Yeah, that's right. The last time you cooked at a barbecue, you totally killed all the burgers."

Jason reddened considerably and sunk down on the log. Tommy laughed as well, deciding for once not to defend his best friend.

"You're right about that. This guy couldn't boil water without burning it."

"Well, thanks heaps, bro," Jason growled. Adam clapped Jason on the shoulder.

"I wouldn't worry about it, Jase. We all know cooking is women's work."

Jason gaped at Adam in shock, until Adam nudged him lightly. Then, the former Gold Ranger grinned, catching on.

"Oh yeah, that's right. And doing the dishes, too."

Kat and Tanya looked at one another, not sure whether they were hearing correctly. Tanya slowly advanced on both boys.

"What was that, Adam? Jase...?"

Adam grinned cheekily at her. "Cooking. Women's work. You know, just like house work?"

Tanya looked back at Kat who, by that time, had guessed it was just a joke. Rather tasteless, but a joke all the same... She walked casually around to stand behind Adam.

"Is that right, Mr Park?"

Adam gulped as Tanya sauntered up to stand directly in front of him, closing him in. He looked at Jason.

"Ah... Jase...?"

Jason took one look at the evil gleam in the girls eyes and ducked out of the way. "Sorry, bro. You're on your own."

Kat grinned at Jason's retreating figure. "Don't worry, Jason. You'll get yours. You just won't see it coming." She then looked back at Adam. "Now..."

Adam swallowed hard. "I think I'll be going, now..." He tried to slip away from them, but they moved too quickly, and he was rapidly overpowered and brought to the ground. They then began to tickle the young boy with a vengeance, holding him firmly to the ground so he couldn't get away. Within a minute, they had him begging for mercy.

The guys stood a short distance away, watching in amusement until Adam's shrieks of laughter turned into a yelp of pain. Tanya and Kat jumped back, startled and a little frightened, and Adam sat up slowly, wincing in pain as he rubbed his shoulder.

"Adam? Are you okay?" Rocky asked tensely. Adam nodded.

"Yeah. I think I just caught myself on a rock. S'okay."

Kat went back to him. "Let me see."

Adam spared her an odd look. "I probably just bruised myself. Don't worry."

Kat did worry, though. "Quit being so stubborn. Let me see it."

Adam sighed and sat up on the log, unbuttoning his shirt enough so it could be lowered beneath his shoulder. Sure enough, there was an ugly bruise developing.

"Adam, we're sorry..." Tanya gasped, looking stricken. Adam started to look annoyed.

"It's okay. We were just fooling around, and it's only a bruise."

"I think you'd better just sit here and not worry about anything," Kat instructed firmly.

"Yeah," Tommy said in concern. "Don't do anything, okay...? Just take it easy." He paused, then tried to laugh it off when he saw Adam's glowering look. "I mean, that's what we're up here for, isn't it...?"

"I am not a china doll," Adam snapped in reply, standing up determinedly. "I'm not going to just sit around, thankyou very much. I'm going for a walk."

"But the beans are done!" Skull protested. Adam hesitated, his plans to escape the suffocating concerns of his friend temporarily foiled. As much as he wanted some breathing space, he was hungry, too. After a moment, he sat back down with a thud.

"Okay. But I'm going for a walk after dinner."

"Sure..." Tommy murmured. "That's cool."

Adam looked around at all their faces, then sighed. "Look, just don't treat me like I'm going to break if you look at me! I may have Leukemia, but I'm not that brittle! Okay?"

Rocky sat down next to him "No problem, bro." The others all murmured their consent.

Adam nodded. "Thankyou."

"Are you scared?"

Adam looked sideways at Rocky, who had accompanied him on the walk.

"I don't know. A little, I guess. I haven't really thought about it. Not properly."

"I'd be scared," Rocky admitted. Adam glanced skyward.

"Is there any point in getting scared? If I do, Ill just curl up in a ball and be totally useless. I don't want to do that, Rocky. I still eight or ten months left. Maybe twelve. I'm going to do everything I always wanted to do, but never thought I'd be able to."

Rocky smiled faintly. "Sorry, buddy. Bunjee jumping is out."

Adam rolled his eyes comically. "Damn."

Rocky slowed to a halt. "Seriously.... What would you like to do? Go to Disneyland...? Something like that?"

Adam smiled wryly. "Something a little more substantial than that, Rocky. I'd love to go to China. You know, see all the styles of martial arts that aren't available here. Something like that."

"Yeah?" Rocky said. "That'd be cool. You think you'll get to do it? I mean, Mr Cranston isn't that well off..."

"I know," Adam said casually. "I'm only sixteen, though. Well, seventeen in a week and a half. The Starlight Foundation caters to terminally ill people up to the age of eighteen."

Rocky nodded. "That's right. I hadn't thought of them. You're gonna ask for that, huh?"

"I might. It's something I've always wanted to do. I remember when I was just little, Mum and Dad came back from a trip to China. It was the first time I could remember that Dad actually talked to me because he wanted to. He told me all about the dojos and things they'd seen when they were there. It made me really want to go and see for myself. I've never gotten past wanting that. I really hope I can go before I..."

He trailed off, leaving it unsaid. Rocky sighed inwardly, and slung an arm over Adam's shoulders.

"You'll get to go. I promise."

Adam smiled, and allowed Rocky to lead him back to the campsite.

Sprocket watched the exchange from a distance, under the supervision of his father. He had been given the task of capturing Adam, and was waiting to be given the go-ahead.

"When can I capture him?" Sprocket whined. "When, Dad, when?"

Mondo withheld a moan. Sometimes his son could be so pathetic, he half-wished his other son, Gasket, would come back...

"Patience, Sprocket. It's pointless to attack him when he's with even one of his friends. We must wait until he's alone. It won't be long, now. Just be patient."

If Sprocket could have scowled, he would have. "I hope you're right," he grumbled.

"Of course I'm right," Mondo retorted. "I'm always right! We'll have Adam in our grasp soon, and use him to manipulate the other rangers, and then, this planet will finally be ours!"

Both father and son burst into maniacal laughter, filling the still night with their evil presence....

Rocky and Adam froze halfway back to camp, the sound of evil laughter freezing up their blood.

"Did you...?" Rocky stammered. Adam nodded, unnerved.

"Yeah. Let's get back, quick."

The two boys broke into a fast trot and hurried back to camp. They got back to discover the others had heard the laughter, as well.

"Thank God you two are all right," Kat said breathless with fear. Rocky rubbed his arms, feeling goosebumps prickle his flesh.

"You guys heard it too, huh?"

"Yeah," Tommy said. "We heard it."

He said no more, and they all thought the same thing. Mondo...

"M... Maybe it was a wolf, or something" Bulk stammered, frightened. Skull spared him a grim look.

"Wolves don't laugh, Bulk."

"Don't worry," Adam said suddenly with remarkable surety. "It was just a jackal. They're pretty common around here. They laugh like that. Sort of like hyenas. They won't come anywhere near us."

The rangers could not believe Adam was telling such a tremendous lie, but it seemed to pacify Bulk and Skull, and they soon forgot about the eerie laughter, and settled down to enjoy the crisp night.

The next afternoon

"You know, I could have just stayed back at camp" Adam puffed as he and Tommy stopped for yet another rest on their way up the mountain path. "You didn't have to insist on walking with me."

"Maybe I didn't have to," Tommy replied calmly, "but I want to."

Adam sighed as he took a mouthful of water. "Tommy, you could have been at the summit by now. The others are probably on their way back."

Tommy clapped him gently on the shoulder. "Will you stop it, bro? Making it all the way isn't important. I don't mind taking it easy. Gives us a chance to enjoy everything without exhausting ourselves."

Adam spared Tommy a baleful look. "Speak for yourself."

Just then, Jason came into sight, trudging slowly down the path. He was pale and breathless, and made no attempt to hide his exhaustion as he sat next to Adam on the log.

"Next time, I walk with Adam," he said hoarsely, gratefully accepting a drink from the water canteen that Adam offered him. "I might be able to keep up, then."

Tommy was surprised. "You got left behind?"

"Oh yeah," Jason muttered. "Well and truly. I lost sight of them at about the half way point. I just couldn't make the distance. I'm going back to camp, and tomorrow I'm gonna do anything but hike up a mountain."

Adam smiled. "I'll join you. I've just about had it, too."

Tommy conceded. It was getting too dark for him to go on to the summit anyway. "Okay. Well go back, and get a head start on cooking dinner."

The three friends then got up and headed slowly back to camp.

That night

"I can't believe we're sitting around up here," Bulk grumbled, "when we could be back home watching out for the Power Rangers."

Groans filled the air.

"I thought you guys had give up on that?" Rocky asked. Bulk smirked.

"Officially. We're using our detective skills now to track the Rangers down."

"Bulk, we don't have any detective skills," Skull retorted. "Face it, man. We're washout detectives. We couldn't find the Power Rangers if they were right under our noses."

The last sentence was said with heavy emphasis, and Skull looked intently at Tommy, Kat, Tanya, Rocky, David, Jason and Adam as he spoke. His gaze came to rest on Adam. "Not even if they talked to us every day."

Bulk grunted, unaware of the stricken looks shared between the other teens. None of them had missed the subtle meaning in Skulls words.

"I guess you're right. We would have found them by now, otherwise."

Heavy silence reigned, and then Adam got up slowly. "Skull, could you come give me a hand? I need to, um..."

"Sure," Skull said abruptly, and followed Adam out of sight beyond the tents.

"How long have you known?" Adam asked softly, once they were away from the camp. Skull smiled a little.

"Since you morphed right in front of me outside the town music hall. I do have peripheral vision, you know."

Adam looked embarrassed. "Oh. How come you never said anything?"

"It wasn't my place, and then I owed you one anyway for not telling anyone it was me that had been playing the piano. Anyway, I figured I'd be better off pretending I didn't know. Safer around Bulk, anyway. It was bad enough keeping it secret from him, without him knowing."

"I appreciate it," Adam murmured. "But you went public with your piano-playing, anyway..."

"Yeah, but that was my call. You didn't blow my cover. That was important to me, so the least I could do was keep your secret."

"The Leukemia, too?"

"That was different," Skull replied. "I just thought it was important to respect your wishes. Even if it was stupid."

Adam smiled wryly. "Thanks a lot."

Skull opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off loud splash from the stream nearby, and an even louder howl.

"What the..." Skull gasped in fright. Adam, however, only grinned.

"It's okay. I'd say the girls finally got revenge on Jason. C'mon, let's go see."

They hurried through to the stream, getting there at the same time as the others. Sure enough, Jason was sitting in the middle of the stream, soaking wet and unimpressed.

"Very funny," he growled as Kat and Tanya laughed hysterically.

"We thought it was funny," Kat managed to say between bursts of laughter. "Jase, you look so funny..."

Tommy couldn't help but laugh as he saw his best friend just sitting in the middle of the stream. "Jase, you're all wet!"

Jason glowered at them all. "No kidding. I'm damned cold, too."

"Well, then, get up!" Rocky said, snickering into his hand.

"I would," Jason snapped, "but I twisted my foot when they pushed me in, and now my right foot is jammed under a rock. I can't get up."

The laughter faded quickly, and Kat and Tanya exchanged guilty looks.

Another of their revenge jokes had ended up with someone being hurt...

Tommy sighed and waded into the water, and was surprised when the water level reached his knees. Then again, Jason was sitting in water that was up to his chest.... Leaning over, he reached into the water, and soon found the rock beneath which Jason's foot was caught.

"Hang on..." he said, struggling to lift it up. "There!"

The rock came away, and Jason allowed Tommy to pull him up.

"You okay?" Tommy asked in concern. Jason didn't answer as he placed his weight carefully on his right foot. A moment later, he winced in pain.

"I think its twisted. I can't put my weight on it."

Tommy guided Jason to sling an arm around his shoulders. "C'mon, let's get back to camp. Then, we can take a better look."

"It is twisted," Tanya confirmed when she examined Jason's ankle and foot in the light of the blazing fire. "Pretty badly, too. You're going to have to stay off it, for the next day or so, at least."

"Jason, we're really sorry," Kat apologized, tears just visible in her eyes. Jason sighed heavily.

"Forget it. It was an accident. I ought to be grateful. It gives me an excuse not to do anything for the rest of the trip."

Rocky leaned forward. "Hey, Tanya, you sure he isn't faking that?"

An uneasy ripple of laughter swept over the group. Adam spoke up.

"I'll be grateful, too. It'll give me an excuse not to leave camp when you guys go hiking again."

Tommy rolled his eyes. "Typical. Any excuse they can get..."

More laughter filled the air, and this time the laughter stayed.

The next morning

"Are you sure you guys will be okay?" Tommy asked in concern. He and the others had planned and all day hike, Bulk and Skull had already left to go fishing further downstream, and it meant Jason and Adam would be alone all day.

"We're sure," Adam said in exasperation. "What are we, helpless? C'mon, Tommy..."

"Just asking," Tommy replied defensively. "If there're any problems at all, use your communicators. Call us, and we'll be back straight away."

"We'll be fine," Jason growled in a warning tone. "Will you guys get out of here?"

"Okay," Tommy sighed, "we're going. We'll be back to cook dinner tonight."

Then, finally, the group turned and hiked away from the camp, soon disappearing from sight. Jason and Adam exchanged grins. Alone at last...

Not too far away, Sprocket watched with evil anticipation. Adam was alone at last. Jason was hurt, and didn't count as protective company, as far as the robot prince was concerned. Time to make their move....

The rangers came to a halt some distance from the camp to talk.

"Don't you think it's time we called Billy?" Tanya asked in concern. "He and Adam were so close, after all."

"Yeah," Rocky said. "We've gotta tell him, Tommy."

Tommy ran his fingers through his long hair. "I know. I just hate to dump this on him. You know what he's like. He'll come back and spend half his time in the Power Chamber trying to find a cure that just isn't there to be found. That'll only hurt Adam worse."

"I think you should call him," David said quietly. "Tommy, if Billy and Adam were as close as you say, Billy will only hate you all if he eventually comes home to find out that his best friend died of Leukemia, and no one told him. I think you've waited too long already, but if you hold off any longer, its gonna make it fifty times worse."

Tommy had to concede. "You're right. I know you're right. Damn what a mess. Look, tonight, I'll teleport to the Power Chamber and get Alpha to contact Billy. I'll ask him to come home, and if he doesn't want to, I'll just have to tell him straight."

The others nodded, knowing it was the best reaction they would get from their leader. They turned and headed on their way, only to stop again when strange sounds reached their ears.

"D'you guys hear that?" Kat asked tentatively. Tommy looked around.

"It's coming from the camp. Sounds like like a..."

"Like a fight," David concluded. They all looked at one another, suddenly stricken, and spoke in unison.

"Cogs..."

The five teens took off back down the path as fast as they could.

Adam and Jason had been taken completely by surprise, neither one anticipating any trouble. They had been lounging in one of the big dome tent that the boys all shared, drinking warmed up cocoa and comparing their times as rangers when there was a flash of light, and they were suddenly surrounded by cogs.

"What the..." Jason gasped in shock as four cogs effectively pinned him to the floor of the tent, while another tree grabbed hold of Adam. The former Green Ranger was not willing to give in without a fight, though, and he gathered his strength and managed to twist free of their grip, breaking out of the confines of the tent. Jason soon followed, limping heavily.

Sprocket appeared, then with even more cogs. "Why don't you surrender, Adam? Then you might not get hurt."

Jason looked breathlessly as Adam. "They're after you. Go after the others, I'll try hold these guys back."

"With one good foot?" Adam retorted. "Yeah, right. What d'you want, Sprocket?"

"You!" Sprocket replied gleefully. "Get him, cogs!"

Neither boy was a match for the masses of cogs that converged on them, and they were soon held in unbreakable grips. Sprocket advanced, an idea forming in his warped little mind.

"I think I'll take Jason, too. Then, the Rangers will have to do what we say!"

"Think again, Sprocket!"

They all looked around to see Tommy and the other rangers skid into the camp clearing, ready for a fight. "Let them go, right now!"

Sprocket sniggered evilly. "No way! They're my prizes, and you aren't getting them back! So long, Rangers!"

Sprocket and the cogs vanished through the portal to the sky base, and they took both Adam and Jason with them.

"I don't believe this," Rocky moaned. "That little rust bucket must've been waiting for us to leave Adam on his own."

"He wasn't on his own," Kat argued. "Jason was supposed to be keeping an eye on him!"

"Jason had a twisted ankle," Tanya snapped. "He couldn't have fought off a tree."

"Knock it off!" Tommy roared, silencing them abruptly. "Look, Sprocket's got both Adam and Jason, and it's up to us to get them back. So quit arguing! Okay?"

"I think," David said in a quiet, grim voice, that we'd better get to the Power Chamber. Agreed?"

"What about Bulk and Skull?" Rocky asked. Tommy hesitated, then shook his head.

"They said they'd be fishing all day. We've got about eight or nine hours. Let's not waste them."

The others nodded, and then they teleported out.

Sky Base

Adam and Jason landed right in the middle of a huge cage that stood in the centre of a cold room full of stale air. Adam looked around breathlessly for a moment before going to Jason's side.

"You okay?"

Jason shuddered in pain. "I think I did my ankle again Man, where are we?"

"You are in the house of his lordship, the glorious King Mondo," an accented voice announced, and the boys looked around to see a familiar face through the bars of the cage.

"Clank," Jason spat. Clank bowed in mock reverence to the boys.

"Make yourselves comfortable, won't you?" he taunted. "You're going to be here for a while."

"Clank!" a voice roared, nearly frightening Clank out of his metal skin. A moment later, Mondo strode into the room, accompanied by Machina and Sprocket. Mondo took the liberty of hitting Clank across the head. "What have I told you about consorting with the prisoners? Get out of here!"

"Yes, my king," Clank said, and hustled himself from the room. Mondo waited until he'd gone, then look back to the two boys.

"Sprocket, I'm very pleased. Not only did you capture our original target, you managed to capture the pesky Gold Ranger as well. Oh Excuse me... Ex Gold Ranger."

Jason scowled, but said and did nothing. Mondo chortled cruelly.

"You're probably wondering why you're both here. It's simple, really. I will use the two of you to guarantee that the Rangers do as I demand, so I can finally take over this pathetic planet."

"They'll never go for that," Adam growled. If Mondo could have smiled, he would have.

"Ordinarily, I would concede to that, Adam. But not now. Not when they see their friend dying from his illness ten times as fast as normal. From the moment I contact the Rangers and let them know my demands, the clock will be running. For every hour which they do not comply, you will lose one month of your miserable life. And, without the so-called treatment which you apparently need, I estimate you lasting three hours. Four at the very most. A much quicker demise, don't you think?"

Adam sat down with a heavy thud, too shocked and frightened to say a word. Jason got slowly and painfully to his feet.

"You can't do that, Mondo!"

"Oh, but I can, Jason. And I can do the same to you, if need be. You had better hope your friends comply with my demands. Otherwise..."

He left the threat unspoken, turned and stalked from the room. A moment later, Machina and Sprocket left also. Jason watched them go, then turned back to Adam, sitting down beside the distraught boy.

"Don't worry, Adam. The Rangers will get to us. You won't lose any time at all."

"But what if they can't get to us?" Adam whispered in a trembling voice. "What if? Zordon won't let them surrender just for me. Not when I'm going to die anyway."

"Don't think that," Jason growled, although deep down he knew it was true. "Adam, keep those thoughts out of your head. They won't let you die. Not like this."

Adam bit down on his lower lip, but it did nothing to stop the tears. "I... I'm scared. I don't want to die."

Jason put an arm protectively around Adam's shoulders. "You won't. They'll rescue us...."

"No," Adam whimpered. "I don't want to die at all. I'm scared of dying, Jason. I don't want to die."

Jason sighed softly and pulled Adam close, trying uselessly to shield the younger boy from the terrible reality of his condition.

"Any luck, Alpha?" Tommy asked anxiously. Alpha shook his head.

"No, not yet. There is a lot of interference. I am trying to break through it, but it is very hard."

"We know you're doing your best," Kat reassured the little robot. David moved up beside Tommy.

"What about Billy? He could help."

Tommy spared David an exasperated look. Now was not the time to bring that subject up again...

"The interference is clearing," Alpha announced suddenly, but he did not sound happy. "We have an incoming transmission."

They all looked to the viewing globe to see Mondo's image forming there. Tommy stepped forward angrily.

"What have you done with Adam and Jason?"

Mondo chuckled. "They're safe and unharmed for the time being. I am transmitting now to give you my demands. I want your immediate surrender, and banishment from this planet. That is all."

"Surrender?" Rocky spat. "Dream on, tin head!"

Again, Mondo laughed cruelly. "I would not throw insults if I were you, Blue Ranger. You are in no position to do so."

Tommy placed a restraining hand on Rocky's shoulder, then moved forward. "You know we won't surrender to you, Mondo. Why are you even bothering to ask?"

"This is why," Mondo said, and his image vanished, to be replaced by that of Adam and Jason. Tommy's hands curled into fists at his sides as he watched his two friends trying to comfort each other as they sat in the cage. A moment later, Mondo reappeared.

"Here is the situation. For each hour you delay in obeying my demands, young Adam will lose one month of his life. If you haven't complied in four hours, from the time this transmission ends, he won't be worth rescuing. And should you fail to comply even then, I assure you that I can cause Jason to go the same way as Adam. That is your first and last warning. You have four hours, possibly less, to comply before you lose the first of your companions. Surrender, or they will both die."

The viewing globe went blank.

"Oh..." Rocky let go with an expletive that could not be heard in public. Tommy moaned softly.

"Hell... What are we going to do?"

David spoke up quietly. "I think it's time to call Billy."

Aquitar

Billy Cranston sat miserably in an uncomfortable chair, waiting for Cestria as she attended a meeting. He had been there for nearly two hours, and was starting to feel like a child who was being forced to wait while his mother tried on clothes at a store sale. After three months of living on Aquitar, he was becoming more homesick than he could bear. More than anything, now, he wanted an excuse to go home to Earth. Even if he was unappreciated....

A steady beeping reached his ears, and a moment later he realised with a start that it was his own communicator which was beeping. Feeling surprised, he answered it cautiously.

"This is Billy..."

"Billy," Zordon's voice came over loud and clear, and Billy felt the homesickness touch him once more. "I am glad we reached you."

Billy's homesickness faded to make way for concern as he recognised the familiar tension in Zordon's voice. Something was wrong....

They lasted three months without needing me, he thought distantly. A new world record...

He shoved the thought even deeper into his mind. "What's wrong, Zordon?"

"I am afraid it is urgent, Billy. We need you to come home immediately. I will set up a teleportation beam for you."

Billy could have cheered, but at the same time felt a touch of unease. What could have happened that they needed him so badly?

"What's going on?"

"There's no time." That was Tommy's voice, domineering as ever.... "Billy, please, we need you, man."

Billy's shock increased tenfold. Never in his time as a ranger and working to aid the rangers had he ever heard Tommy use the 'P' word.

"All right Just let me tell Cestria, and then you can teleport me."

"Tell me what?" a voice asked, and Billy looked around to see Cestria emerge from the room. Billy felt his nerves tangle up.

"Cestria, that was Zordon. There's trouble back home. They need me..."

Cestria looked wounded but Billy couldn't help but wonder whether she felt all that much concern.

"I understand. Friends are important. You must go to them."

They stared at one another, and knew they would not meet again soon. Billy hesitated, then leaned in to kiss her quickly in a tender human gesture, then stepped back.

"Ready for teleportation, Zordon."

The last he saw of Cestria were two chestnut eyes, staring at him with a mixture of sorrow and relief.

Billy arrived back, and sensed immediately what was wrong. Everyone was present, but for Jason and Adam. He asked anyway.

"What's happened?"

"Mondo took Adam and Jason, and he's demanding we surrender in return for their lives," Tommy explained in a strained voice. "We've got three or four hours to find them..."

"Less," Tanya said, sounding even more upset. "Guys, Mondo said Adam would lose one month of his life for every hour that passed. Any longer than one or two hours, and it'll be too late for Adam, whatever happens."

Billy looked surprised at their panic. "I don't think a few months is anything to get upset over. We have plenty of time."

"No," Tommy said softly, "we don't have plenty of time. Billy, there's something you don't know. It's something we should have contacted you about as soon as we knew but it was such a damned shock...."

"What is it?" Billy asked tensely, sensing bad news. He had no idea how bad it really was. Rocky finally spoke in a hoarse whisper.

"Billy, Adam has Leukemia."

Billy froze. "What?"

"Acute Myelocytic Leukemia," Kat replied, recalling with perfect memory the name Adam had told them. "He's dying, Billy."

"The doctor gave him about three months without treatment," Tommy went on softly. "If we don't find him within the next couple of hours, then he'll die, and nothing will be able to help him."

Billy stood there for nearly half a minute in tense silence. Why didn't you tell me!? he screamed silently at them all. There was no point in releasing the anger, though. Not then. Later, when they had Adam and Jason back safely, he could rant at them, but not then. Gritting his teeth, he marched determinedly over to the control panel.

"Let's get them back, then."

Machine Empire Sky Base

"Are you feeling okay?" Jason asked Adam in concern. "You don't look so great..."

Adam looked up at Jason, pale and frightened. "I don't feel good, Jason. How.... How long has it been?"

Jason glanced at his watch, and felt his stomach turn over. "It's been an hour."

Adam's head dropped a little. "One month. I've lost a month already."

The former Gold Ranger moved quickly to Adam's side. "You've gotta keep your hopes up, Adam. I'll bet they're looking for a way to rescue us right now."

"They might be looking," Adam whispered, "but that doesn't mean they'll find one. And, when I'm gone, Mondo will just turn on you..."

Jason's patience finally snapped. "Just where the hell do you get off being so damned negative? Snap out of it, Adam! You are not going to die in this place, and neither am I! It's not gonna happen! So either be positive, or just shut up!"

Adam stared at Jason for a long moment, then looked away, falling into a heavy silence. Jason kicked himself in the proverbial. The tongue- lashing had been meant to snap Adam out of his depression, but it hadn't worked. Instead, it had had the opposite effect....

"C'mon, Adam, snap out of it," Jason pleaded. Adam, however, buried his face in his arms and refused to speak.

"We're running out of time here," Rocky said tensely, pacing across the Power Chamber floor like a caged tiger. Billy glanced at him, equally tense.

"I'm working as fast as I can," he said, his voice more snappish than any of them were used to. A strained silence enveloped them all, until Tanya finally spoke.

"Maybe we should just... you... know do what Mondo says."

Everyone looked around at her as though she'd suggested they all go step off a cliff. Tanya shrank backwards, embarrassed but still sure of what she was saying.

"I mean... Is it really worth losing Adam and Jason over this?"

Tommy stared at her hard for a long moment, then sighed. "You don't get it, do you? This isn't about us. We're fighting for the planet here, Tanya. The Rangers made the mistake once of surrendering the source of their power for loved ones, and it nearly backfired completely. Mondo won't let Adam and Jason go. If we surrender, we won't only be surrendering ourselves and the power. We'll be surrendering the whole planet. We can't do that. As cruel as it sounds, if we can't rescue them, then they'll both die. There's nothing else we can do."

They were all stunned by Tommy's words, but none of them dared dispute him. Over by the control panel, Billy paused for just a moment to spare Tommy a cold, hate-filled look before returning to his work.

Mondo was in high spirits. Even the fact that the Rangers had made no attempt to acknowledge his demands had not deflated his swelling ego.

"I am such a genius!" he crowed, prancing back and forth with glee. "No one in the universe is as smart as I! No one is more evil!"

"You are so right, dear," Machina purred. Sprocket, however, was less than happy.

"I don't get it," he whined. "Unless the Rangers surrender, we're gonna be right back where we started!"

"No, Sprocket," Mondo intoned. "If the Power Rangers refuse to surrender, then they will lose two of their closest companions. If that happens, they will then spend more time bickering over whose fault it was than concentrating on the war. Either way, we are sure to triumph!"

Mondo and Machina began to laugh again, and this time Sprocket joined in.

"You hear that?"

Jason looked up quickly as Adam finally spoke. A moment later, he heard what Adam was talking about. Evil laughter, floating down the empty corridors towards them...

Jason got slowly, painfully to his feet. "That's it. I've had it."

"What are you doing?" Adam asked in a trembling voice. Jason limped over to the door of the cage.

"I'm gonna try and get us out of here. I'm sick of just sitting around and waiting."

Adam hesitated, then pulled himself to his feet and joined Jason at the barred door. "How can we open it?"

"I'm not sure. Give me a second..."

Frowning to himself, he pulled his belt off and, wrapping the leather strap around his hand, he maneuvered the buckle pin around through the bars and into the lock. Adam gaped.

"You're going to pick the lock?"

"Yeah," Jason grunted. "Real imaginative, huh?"

Adam didn't bother with a reply, but hung back to wait in nervous silence.

"This isn't working," Billy finally said, stepping back from the control panel. He desperately wanted to kick something to ease his anger, but he doubted he'd get away with kicking Tommy...

Tommy shook his head and moved away, the meaning of his silence all too clear.

"So that's it?" Tanya asked in a strained voice. "We're just giving up on them?"

"Take it easy, Tanya," Kat murmured. Tanya, however, was beyond consolation.

"No!" she yelled, tears filling her eyes. "No, I will not take it easy! This isn't fair! You know what the problem is? The problem is that because they're not Rangers anymore, you couldn't be bothered! If Adam and Jason were still Rangers, we'd part the Red Sea to get them back! But because they aren't, you don't care!"

"That's enough, Tanya," Tommy growled. "Jason's my best friend! Do you honestly think I'm happy to sit back and let this happen?"

"Maybe not," Billy spoke up coldly, "but you are letting it happen. Maybe surrendering isn't the final solution, but it would at least buy us all some time. Adam and Jason in particular."

"What are you saying?" Tommy asked, confused. "That we should surrender?"

"I'm saying," Billy snapped, "that you should start playing this game on Mondo's terms. It may be the only chance Adam and Jason have."

"I don't get it..." Tommy stammered, and Billy let out a frustrated groan.

"Tell Mondo you're going to surrender! Make certain he stops what he's doing to Adam. Then, turn the tables on him."

"You mean, trick Mondo?" Rocky said finally. "Lie to him?"

"Exactly," Billy said. Zordon looked disapprovingly at the former Blue Ranger.

"Billy, that is not the way the Rangers operate. You know that as well as the rest of the team."

Billy folded his arms across his chest in a gesture that was reminiscent of Jason. "What I know, is that unless we start doing this another way, we're going to lose both Adam and Jason. I don't know about the rest of you, but if I was a ranger still, that isn't something that I could live with. It's time we quit taking the high moral ground. If deception is what's needed to save Adam and Jason, then I say we do it."

Tanya moved over to stand by Billy. "I agree."

A moment later, Rocky joined them, and so did David. Only Tommy and Kat were left standing alone.

"Well?" David asked, staring piercingly at his brother. Tommy looked away, torn. Finally, though, he made his choice, and Kat conceded.

"All right. I'll go along with it. Zordon?"

"You have made your decision," Zordon replied, and he could not conceal the obvious disappointment in his voice. "I cannot strip the powers from you for this, because you are not breaking the rules, as such. I must confess my own disapproval, though."

Billy spoke quietly.

"Jason was my friend long before you came into our lives, Zordon. As much as I respect you, I can't sit back and let him die just to uphold your standards. That would be even worse than what we're going to do."

"And if it doesn't work?" Zordon asked. Billy barely hesitated.

"At least we won't be guilty of not trying." He looked to Tommy and the others. "I'm setting up a channel now. Be as convincing as you can."

Tommy nodded, his heart beating in his throat. They would have only one chance at this. If they blew it... He pushed the thought from his mind as the snow cleared from the viewing globe and Mondo appeared.

"Well, Rangers, have you decided?"

"We have," Tommy said. "We've agreed to surrender." It wasn't hard to let the bitterness and anger shine through. Mondo nodded.

"Very wise. For your friends as well as yourselves."

"Stop whatever you're doing to Adam," Tommy demanded. Mondo nodded and, lifting a remote control device, pressed a button. A light that had been glowing green flickered off.

"There. And not a moment too soon, I believe. Now, present yourselves to me at the lookout in two hours. Adam and Jason will be returned then, after you have handed your crystals over to me."

The globe went black before any reply could be made. Tommy looked around at the others. He was pale, and fearful.

"We have two hours. Any ideas?"

Adam had been about to sit down again when a loud click broke the silence. He looked around in surprise to see the door swing open, offering them a path to freedom.

"You did it!" Adam said in amazement. Jason nodded as he put his belt back on.

"Yeah, and not a moment too soon. I was about to lose my pants. C'mon, let's get out of this hell hole."

Adam nodded eagerly and followed Jason out of the cage and from the room.

"Maybe we could take Sprocket prisoner..." Rocky suggested lamely, for want of a better idea.

"Last resort," Tommy muttered. "Taking prisoners is a pain the butt."

"We're floundering, here," Kat growled. "This was a stupid idea."

Billy eyed her coolly. "You'd rather Adam died?"

"He's going to die anyway," Kat blurted out before she could stop herself. Silence descended over the Power Chamber as previously hidden emotions began to surface. Tanya glared at her Australian counterpart.

"So you figured, why bother rescuing him at all? Is that it?"

"No!" Kat protested. "That's not it..."

"The why did you say it?" Tanya hissed. Billy intervened between the two.

"Stop fighting. It isn't doing any good. We need to come up with a solid plan, here. Tommy?"

"I don't know," Tommy sighed. "I'm at a total loss." He faltered, an idea forming from his last science project, which he'd been aided with by Adam. "Wait a second..." He got up from the floor and began to pace quickly.

"Zordon, does Mondo know what the Zeo crystals look like?"

"No," Zordon replied. "He was not built until long after the crystals were dispersed through time."

"Then he wouldn't know if we were giving him the real thing or not. At least, not straight away."

"True," Zordon conceded reluctantly. He paused, then decided that if he could not dissuade them from their path, he would try to help as much as he could. "It may be possible to infuse counterfeit crystals with some power, to continue the deception. Mondo will no doubt be planning the destruction of all of you, so if you can convince him to bring Jason and Adam out to you, we will teleport them here, and then the rest of you can hopefully finish the battle."

The teens exchanged relieved looks.

"Okay," Tommy said. "We need five look-alike crystals."

"I think I can create the crystals," Alpha said, speaking up after a remarkably long silence. "It should take approximately fifteen minutes."

Tommy looked at his watch. "That will leave us around twenty minutes. Okay, go to it, Alpha."

Alpha shuffled off, leaving the rangers to wait once again in tense silence.

"How are you feeling?" Jason asked Adam in a concerned whisper as they made their way along the corridors. Adam hesitated, then spoke with a touch of surprise.

"No worse than I was half an hour ago. How long has it been now?" "Nearly three hours since you first started going downhill. You know what that means?"

"They agreed to surrender," Adam murmured. Jason looked grim.

"Let's hope we get out of here before they actually do."

Machina hated to interrupt her husband's gloating, but she felt it necessary.

"Mondo, dear, hadn't you better check on the prisoners?"

Mondo shook his head. "No. Don't bother. They can rot in there."

"But you did stop the progression of Adam's illness," Machina pointed out. "They must have realised by now."

"So? They can't get out, and they're going to die eventually, in any case. I don't want anyone in the room, do you understand? That goes for you, too, Sprocket."

They grumbled a reluctant affirmative, and stayed where they were.

Billy was pacing idly back and forth by the control panel when he finally saw it. A faint beeping, that was very gradually getting stronger. Two life-force readings from the Sky Base, an impossibility unless....

"It's them" Billy whispered. "They're out..."

Tommy looked over at him. "What is it?"

"It's Adam and Jason!" Billy shouted suddenly. "They're free! They're still in the Sky Base, but they're out of the force-field that was shielding them from us. I should be able to get a lock on them, and teleport them back here."

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Rocky demanded. "Get them out of there!"

Billy smiled just a little to himself and began to punch coordinates into the panel.

"I don't believe this," Adam whispered as a cog patrol marched past, oblivious to their presence. "They don't even know we're gone."

"Mondo mustn't be big on checking on his prisoners," Jason replied. "It's not going to make much difference, though, if we can't find a way out of here."

"Maybe if we get to the launch bays, we could steal a quadra fighter," Adam mused. "I think I could fly one..."

"Sounds good to me," Jason said. "C'mon, let's go."

They started out from their place of hiding, and made it just a few metres when the Machine Empire Sky Base vanished in a flash of white light.

Adam and Jason practically landed on top of one another back in the Power Chamber, and had to disentangle themselves before they realised where they were.

"Power Chamber...?" Jason muttered breathlessly.

Tommy pulled Jason to his feet, and Rocky helped Adam up.

"Are you guys okay?" Tommy asked anxiously. Adam pulled a face.

"Just great. What took you so long?"

Billy grunted loudly. "That's gratitude for you."

Adam's face broke into a big grin as his gaze fell on his old friend.

"Billy!"

Billy slipped through the crowd of rangers and took the liberty of pulling Adam close in a tight hug. The younger boy submitted willingly, feeling safe in the embrace of the boy whom he considered to be his big brother. When they finally broke apart, Rocky spoke anxiously.

"Adam, are you...? I mean..."

"I lost about a month," Adam said softly. "Providing I don't have anymore lapses from the chemotherapy, I guess I've got about six or seven months left. I think I need to get to hospital, though. I don't feel all that great right now."

Billy spoke quickly. "Ill go with him. You'll have to deal with Mondo at the lookout."

Tommy looked at Jason, who was leaning heavily on one panel. "You'd better go too, have that ankle seen to properly. We'll meet Bulk and Skull back at camp and tell them... Hell, we'll make something up."

Jason nodded, and limped over to stand with Billy and Adam. A moment later, they were teleported out.

Tommy looked at the rest of his friends. "Let's go and deal with Mondo."

*A short time later

Billy sat off to the side, watching in heavy silence as Dr Sutton treated Adam. He couldn't bring himself to think of Adam as having Leukemia, not yet. It was too much for his logical mind to cope with. People like Adam were not supposed to get sick, especially with terminal illnesses. It just wasn't right...

"When can I go home?" Billy heard Adam ask. Sutton shook his head slowly.

"Not yet, Adam. Probably not for a few days. I'm sorry, but until we determine exactly what's happened, we need to keep you under observation."

Adam looked past Sutton to Billy, and though he didn't say a word, Billy knew what he was thinking.

Get me out of here

Billy stood up, grieved. He could not bear to look into those pleading brown eyes any longer.

"I'm just going to go see how Jason is. I'll be back soon."

He hurried from the room before he could see the pain in his friend's eyes.

Jason was a couple of rooms along, and Billy was surprised to find the former Gold Ranger lying impatiently on an examination table as the doctor and nurses plastered his leg.

"Jason?"

Jason looked over to Billy, and grimaced. "I broke my ankle. Can you believe it? A stupid green-stick fracture! I'm gonna be in plaster for six weeks!"

The doctor attending the break merely smiled to himself. Billy responded with an annoyed growl.

"Don't be so damn grouchy. It could have been worse."

"Yeah, maybe, but Kat and Tanya are gonna pay for this. They're the ones who pushed me into the stream." Jason paused, taking in Billy's bleak expression, and immediately turned his thoughts from himself. "It's hard to take, isn't it? Knowing we're gonna lose him."

Billy sat down with a heavy thud. "I can't believe it. Why Adam? Why not someone... someone who deserves it? It isn't fair."

"We know. We've been telling ourselves that since we found out, but it hasn't done any good. All we can do is make sure we don't crumble in front of Adam. He's scared, Billy. He admitted that to me when we were..." He faltered, glancing warily at the attending doctor and nurses. "I mean, when we were alone at the camp."

Billy sighed in frustration. "For some reason, I've got a completely irrational desire to wring Tommy's neck."

Jason started up a little. "What!? Why?"

"I don't know." He paused as the doctor finished the cast and stepped back.

"All right, that stays on for six weeks. No excessive exercise, no being stupid. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," Jason replied, in a quasi-condescending tone of voice. The doctor spared Jason a warning look.

"I'm going to call your parents now. Don't move, that's going to take at least half an hour to dry."

He left the room along with the nurses, and Jason and Billy were left alone to talk.

"Okay," Jason growled, starting up, "spill it, Billy. Why the sudden homicidal tendencies towards Tommy?"

"Don't move," Billy told him absently. Jason glanced at the cast, then groaned and flopped back down.

"Will you just talk to me? Please! What's Tommy done that's so bad?"

"They called me back here to help find you and Adam," Billy explained, "and when I didn't have any luck, Tommy's attitude was virtually 'oh well, that's the luck of the draw'.... You know, like that. He was willing to let you and Adam die. He didn't even try to think of any other option."

Jason didn't respond. He didn't know how to respond. Billy took advantage of the silence.

"If it had been Tommy that was a prisoner, or even just one of the other rangers, they would have broken down the gateways of Hell to rescue them. It just seemed that because it was you and Adam, and because you weren't rangers, he didn't really care."

"That's not true," Jason said softly, although Billy's words disturbed him. "You know it isn't."

"Well, actually, I don't," Billy retorted. "You would never have considered the thought of letting anyone die for the powers, ranger or not. I know you wouldn't have. I'm not the only one who feels this way, Jason. Tanya said much the same things."

"Tanya cares a lot about Adam," Jason argued. "Her judgment would not have been the best. Billy, don't let this get to you. I know you're upset about Adam getting sick. We all are..."

Billy buried his face in his hands. "I know I'm being irrational. I'm just confused."

"We all are. Talk to Tommy, Billy. Get it out of your system. Do it for Adam, man. He looks up to both you and Tommy. It'd really hurt him to see you both at odds."

Billy sighed and nodded. "I'll do that." He got up. "I'd better get back to Adam. I can't believe my dad has been looking after him..."

"Your dad was the first person to find out, next to Adam," Jason remarked. "He really stuck with Adam."

Billy headed for the door. "I'll see you later. And don't move," he added. He left, but not before seeing Jason stick his tongue out in a completely infantile gesture.

"Didn't think you were coming back," Adam said. He had been left alone in the room, and Billy was stricken to see that he had been crying.

"Of course I was coming back," he said anxiously. "You don't think I'd leave you alone, do you?"

"No...." Adam said, but he didn't seem too certain. Billy flopped into a chair beside the bed.

"Jason's ankle is broken. He's swearing revenge on Tanya and Kat."

Adam whistled softly. "He's gonna be in plaster for six weeks. Well, at least they'll be able to move fast than him."

Billy laughed. Even with the situation he was in, Adam could still make a joke. He looked away, suddenly on the verge of tears. The worst of it was that he simply didn't know what to do or say. For the first time in his life, he didn't have an answer.

"I.... I was thinking," he finally said softly. "I could start working in the Power Chamber start researching, and maybe..."

"No."

Billy blinked. "What?"

Adam sat up a little. "I said no. I know what you want to do, and I don't want you to do it. I don't want you spending all your time in the Power Chamber, looking for a cure that you probably won't find. I need you to be with me, not hidden away in the Power Chamber, exhausting yourself."

"But, Adam I could..."

"No," Adam begged, fresh tears shining in his eyes. "Please, Billy. Be my friend, not my doctor."

Again, Billy had no words. By then, however, he at least knew what to do. Reaching out, he grasped Adam's trembling hand in his own and didn't let go.

Nearly an hour later, the rangers gathered at the hospital after sending Mondo packing. Had it been under any other circumstances, the victory would have been sweet. They'd arrived at the lookout to a gloating Mondo, and had taken great pleasure in telling him they'd changed their minds. Mondo, of course, had been incensed and brought up a picture of the cage in the Sky Base to show them what was supposed to be the rapid demise of both Adam and Jason. It had been the rangers' turn to laugh when the cage was found by Mondo to be empty.

A fight had ensued as Mondo dispersed his cogs to make a safe getaway, and the rangers had quickly defeated them, hurrying from the lookout to the hospital. Now, they waited for news that Adam's health had not been seriously jeopardized.

Billy emerged a while later, looking tired and sad. Tommy rose up to meet him.

"Billy? Is everything okay?"

Billy stared at Tommy for a long moment, Jason's words floating back to him.

Talk to him...

"Pretty much. I think we may need to tell Dr Sutton the truth about what happened, though. We can tell the truth without giving anything away. But Adam was right. He lost about a month. Dr Sutton estimates that he has approximately seven or eight months left. Maybe a little more. He can't judge for certain."

Tommy sighed heavily. "Damn...."

Billy paused, then looked over at Tanya and Kat. "Did you two push Jason into a stream?"

The girls looked embarrassed.

"It was just a joke," Kat said defensively. "He was being chauvinistic. We decided to teach him not to cross women."

Billy couldn't resist a smirk. "Well, watch your backs. He's going to be gunning for the both of you."

"How come?" Tanya asked nervously.

"Because," Billy replied, "he has a broken ankle. He's going to be in a plaster cast for six weeks."

"Oh no..." Kat moaned. Tanya looked stricken.

"It was an accident!"

Billy only smiled, then looked around at Tommy. "Can we talk? Alone?"

Tommy nodded. "Yeah, sure man. C'mon."

The two headed out, leaving the others to wait it out in the hospital.

"What's on your mind, man?" Tommy asked. Billy hesitated, then sat down on the grass. Tommy followed suit.

"My problem is that I'm angry at you for all of this, and even though I know that's wrong, I can't redirect."

Tommy faltered, taking a moment to understand what Billy had said, even though it was in plain English. Finally, he spoke.

"Why are you angry at me? Is it because of what happened in the Power Chamber?"

"Partly. I think that was just the end of a long chain of little things that have been building up. I thought I could put it aside when I decided to stay on Aquitar, but then you called me back and now I'm angry all over again. You know, I think I've been angry ever since Jason left that first time with Zack and Trini."

Tommy nodded. He understood that.

"Even though Zordon made me the leader when I became the White Ranger, you all still looked to Jason when the decisions had to be made. When Jason left, you must have felt pretty lost."

Billy gaped, stunned. Tommy smiled.

"I'm not as dumb as you think, Billy. I noticed it. Jason was a good leader, though, and a good friend, so I never worried about it. And contrary to what you might think, I wasn't glad to get Jason out of the picture so I could be the only leader. If I felt that way, I wouldn't have brought him back to be the Gold Ranger. And I'm sorry if I hurt you by doing that, but it wasn't as though you'd been overlooked. You were the first one we thought of. The first person I thought of, when Trey said the power needed a temporary guardian."

Billy stared at the ground. "I know that was stupid. I was jealous of Jason to start with. Then, later on, Cestria told me the effects the power was having on him, and I was glad I didn't take the responsibility."

"So you were upset when Jason left, and jealous when he came back." Tommy smiled. "You're a complex guy, Billy."

"Tell me about it. Dad always called me an enigma."

"I think he was right. But what about Adam? You two got to be good friends."

"I know. That's the second part of it. When you said you were willing to let Adam and Jason die, all I could think of was that I was going to lose my two best friends, and you were the one who was going to let it happen." Tommy sighed. "I understand. But Jason is my best friend, too, and Adam is like a little brother to all of us. I really don't know what I would have done if we'd lost them."

"But you were still willing to sacrifice them."

"I'm a warrior, Billy," Tommy said softly. "It's why Rita chose me in the first place. We all know that. I don't think the same way that Jason does, I never have. It's probably why we worked so well together. I dealt with the tactical side of it, and he kept the team in balance. I'm sorry if I seemed cold-hearted, but the truth was I just couldn't see any other way out. Even the thought of surrender made me sick. That's why I took so long to agree with you. You can probably imagine how glad I was when Adam and Jason got out on their own."

"You and me both," Billy murmured. "I have to be honest. I didn't really expect the plan to work. It was a last resort."

"I figured," Tommy replied. "It was the only plan we had, though, and that made it our best option. I didn't agree with it, Billy, but I would have gone along with it. Out of respect for you as well as wanting to get Adam and Jason back safely."

Billy swallowed hard. Had he heard right? Tommy respected him? All of a sudden, he felt painfully guilty.

"You mean that?"

"Yes," Tommy growled. "I do. Billy, you're the smartest guy I know. I'm really glad you're back and I hope you're staying."

Billy smiled, then. "I am," he confirmed, softly. He offered no explanation, and Tommy didn't press for one.

"Are we friends, then?" he asked finally, and Tommy laughed. It was a friendly laugh, with not even a hint of contempt.

"We've always been friends, Billy. And if you ever have any problems again, with me or the way I lead the team, then come and talk to me. We can sort it out. Okay?"

"Yeah. So what now?"

Tommy got up. "Adam's birthday is in a week. We're going to go back to the hospital, get together with the others, and your dad, and plan the biggest party he's ever had. C'mon, let's go."

The Cranston House

After a lot of debate, they had finally agreed to ditch their plans for a surprise party. With Adam's condition being what it was, the shock would possibly give him a stroke. So the party had gone ahead, held at the Cranston home, with enough people there to fill not only the house, but the extensive back yard as well. A marquee had been set up outside in case of bad weather, but it wasn't necessary; the night was perfectly clear.

"Okay," Tommy said as he joined Billy and Jason in the kitchen. "Where's Adam? I haven't seen him for half an hour."

"He got lost in the family room about twenty minutes ago," Jason said with a chuckle as he leaned heavily on a pair of crutches. "He hasn't had a moment to himself all evening."

Billy smiled. "I'm surprised my dad allowed us to have the party here. He would never have allowed something like this before."

"I think he probably just wanted to keep an eye on Adam without looking like a chaperon," Jason replied. Billy nodded.

"You're probably right."

The door suddenly swung open, and Adam literally fell into the kitchen, out of breath. Billy and Tommy both went to him quickly.

"You okay, Adam?" Tommy asked in concern. Adam nodded, grinning sheepishly.

"Yeah. I just wanted to get away for a minute. I feel like I'm being smothered! What are you guys doing out here?"

"Talking," Billy replied honestly. "We thought you'd gotten lost, never to be seen again."

Adam grinned as he poured himself a soda. "Close. I've never been the center of attention like this before. It's enough to make me wish I was going to live to my eighteenth birthday."

It was said as a joke, but the effect was profound, and Billy, Tommy and Jason all fell into a heavy silence, exchanging unhappy looks. Adam sighed.

"Aw, don't start acting like that. Tonight's been really good. Don't get all depressed on me."

Tommy forced himself to smile. "Sorry. We keep forgetting, we're the ones who are supposed to be keeping you from getting depressed."

Adam smiled calmly, but there was a hint of a look in his eyes that could not be ignored. A look that said, don't worry. you'll get your chance...

"Well," he said with a mock sigh, "time to go back into the mob. If you don't see me in an hour, call out the marines."

Turning, he disappeared through the swinging door. The three friends watched him go, then exchanged sad, tired smiles and followed Adam back into the crowd.

*A few hours later

Eventually the Cranston home cleared, leaving only Adam, Billy, Jason and the rangers. They were all staying the night, and now lay around the family room floor in sleeping bags with pillows. Hank was in the kitchen, cleaning up the last of the dishes from the party.

"This has definitely been the best party I've ever had," Adam said contentedly. "Thanks, guys. It really means a lot to me."

Tanya, who was closest to Adam, leaned over to give him a big hug. "Our pleasure."

"Yeah, man," Rocky said. "We were glad to do it."

Adam smiled and rested his head on the pillow. Silence reigned for a little while, and then Kat spoke from where she was curled up on the floor near the heater.

"How about we play a game?"

"What sort of a game?" David asked, eyeing her curiously.

"The truth game," Kat replied. "It's something I always did with my friends back in Australia, when we went on school camps. Everyone has to say something truthful about themselves that no one else knows. Each person writes a topic on a piece of paper, and we pick them out one by one. So, if it's, say, things were afraid of, we each have to say one thing were afraid of. It's a good way of getting to know people better."

Tommy smiled. "Okay. Why not? Okay, guys, everyone think of something and write it down, and we can put them in the popcorn bowl."

The next few minutes was filled with silence as they thought it over, and soon the bowl held eight pieces of paper. Tommy shuffled them around, and then drew out the first piece of paper. A moment later, he groaned.

"Somebody has no imagination."

"Why? What is it?" Rocky asked. Tommy pulled a face.

"Things we're afraid of. Oh well... Who wants to go first?"

A moment of silence reigned, and then Jason spoke from where he lay on the sofa, his plastered leg elevated by the armrest.

"I will. Okay. There's one thing I'm scared of. I mean, really scared of, and that's spiders."

Tanya giggled. "The mighty Jason, scared of spiders? C'mon...."

Jason looked indignant when the others began to chortle as well. "Well, I am! I can't help it, I think I got it from my dad. He's terrified of the damned things, too."

Tommy snickered, unable to help it. "So if you woke up in the middle of the night, with a tarantula in your sleeping bag...?"

"Somebody would get hurt," Jason vowed, "and it wouldn't be me. Don't anyone think about it. I'm not kidding about this. I really am scared of spiders."

Kat smiled reassuringly at him. "It's okay. Everyone has a phobia. I'm scared of rats. Mice I can handle, but not rats. I'll scream if I even think I've seen one."

"Yeah," Rocky said casually, "well, girls are supposed to be scared of rats. But guys shouldn't be scared of spiders."

Tanya turned around and spoke to the Blue Ranger in a sugary sweet voice. "Oh no? And what are you afraid of, Rocky?"

"I'm not afraid of anything," Rocky said pompously. Billy smirked.

"Oh really? We'll see about that. I'll be back in a minute."

He squirmed out of his sleeping bag and left the room.

"What's he up to?" Tommy wondered allowed. He shrugged. "Oh well... Okay, if there's anything I'm scared of, it'd have to be... ah.... Oh, yeah. I'm scared of heights."

Jason stared at Tommy in amazement. "Since when?"

"Since I had to climb up to the top of the Power Chamber and readjust the tracking dish, and quadra fighters blasted me off. I nearly went right over the cliff, and since then I've been terrified of heights."

"But all those times we've called on the zords?" Kat said in confusion.

Tommy smiled weakly. "Sometimes you just have to ignore it."

Just then, Billy came back, holding something behind his back. The others looked at him questioningly, but he only grinned and went over and knelt down by Rocky.

"If you're not scared of anything, Rocky, then what about this?"

Billy brought out a small, potted plant from behind his back, shoving it into the Blue Ranger's face. Rocky took one look at the plant and did the first thing that was in his instincts to do. He opened his mouth and lungs and screamed.

While David and Jason cringed, Tommy, Kat, Adam, Tanya and Billy all went into hysterical fits of laughter.

"Hey," David growled, "what did we miss, here?"

Adam finally calmed down enough to explain. "That's the hybrid plant that Rocky and I grew. Mondo turned it into a monster, and it nearly turned Rocky into a plant. When we got him back to normal and got rid of the monster, he freaked out so badly every time he saw the plant that I gave it to Billy."

Rocky scowled. "Okay, so I'm scared of a dumb plant. Is everyone happy?"

"Very," Kat giggled. "Oh, you should have seen your face..."

"Watch it," Rocky grumbled, "or you'll wake up in the middle of the night to a surprise in your sleeping bag."

"Don't even think about it, Rocky" Kat shot back. David intervened quickly before things took an ugly turn.

"I think it's my turn. To be honest, I can't think of anything that I'm really afraid of right now, but I can tell you something I was scared of not too long ago."

"Oh yeah?" Tommy asked curiously. "What's that?"

"Well," David admitted quietly, "I was scared for a long time that I'd never find my brother."

Tommy smiled. No words needed to be exchanged; each knew automatically what the other was thinking.

"My turn" Billy said finally. "Everyone knows I used to be scared of fish. It's probably a good thing that I'm not scared anymore, considering the amount of time I spent on Aquitar...."

A ripple of laughter went around the room. Billy smiled and went on. "If I'm scared of anything now, I'd say it would have to be not knowing what happens to all of us when the Power Rangers aren't needed anymore."

They all looked wordlessly at each other, suddenly wondering the same thing. Finally, Tommy shook his head.

"Let's not think about that. Not now. Adam, what about you? What are you scared of?"

Adam didn't answer for a long moment. What, he wondered, am I not scared of?

"I think," he said softly, "that I'm scared most of all of going to sleep at night. I keep wondering whether something will happen, and I won't wake up. I'm scared that every night is going to be my last. I guess, all up... I'm scared of dying."

Silence fell. They all watched Adam, none of them knowing what to do or say. Adam shrugged a little.

"You don't get used to it, but you do learn to deal with it. When I do get scared, I just shut my eyes and think about the way things used to be, back to when Zordon first made me, Rocky and Aisha into Power Rangers. When we got the Great Power from Phaedos, all those times. Then, I stop being scared, and I can go to sleep."

No one said anything for a while, and then Jason spoke.

"If that ever stops working, think about this. Whatever happens, whether you die tomorrow or in twelve months time, you aren't alone. You'll never be alone. We won't let you go down this path by yourself. Whatever happens, you've got seven friends that love you, man. Don't ever forget that."

The others murmured their agreement.

Adam smiled wearily. "Thanks. Look, how about we just do one more? I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired."

"Sure," Tommy said. "Let's see what we've got here..." He pulled out another piece of paper, then hesitated when he saw the topic. Who on earth had thought up that? he wondered. Then, he recognised Adam's handwriting.

"Okay," he said finally. "The topic is, something we've lost that was important to us." He smiled tentatively. "Somehow, I think the answer to this one is going to be the same for a lot of us."

"No," Kat argued. "It has to be something no one else knows about. That's the whole point of this. So I'm sorry, but we can't say our parents. As true as it might be..."

"I'll start," Rocky said. Kat lifted her pillow threateningly.

"Don't you dare say what I think you're going to say. You can keep that to yourself, Rocky."

Rocky frowned. "You don't even know what I'm going to say. Give me a chance, huh?"

Tommy spared Kat a faint smile, then spoke. "Go on, Rocky."

"Okay. One thing that I lost that was really important to me was an old wooden toy train that my grandfather made for me when I was really little. It was broken, and I've got a feeling that Mum threw it out when I wasn't looking, but I've always missed that. It was the one thing I had to remember Grandpa by, 'cause he didn't have much stuff when he died. Most of what he had.... little trinkets and stuff.... got sold to pay for his funeral. There wasn't really anything left over to go to the family."

Kat looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, Rocky. I thought you were going to say something else."

Rocky merely smiled and shook his head. "It's okay. Anyway, that was my sentimental bit of sharing for the night. Who's next?"

Tommy smiled wearily. "Me. The thing I lost was a necklace that I had from before I was adopted. It belonged to my real mother, and I lost it about six years ago. That really hurt, because it was the only part of her that I had with me, since I never knew her."

"You might find it again, one day," Adam said sleepily. "My turn, cause then I'm going to sleep. I lost an old book that someone gave me. It was the first proper book anyone gave me, and I must've read it about fifty times. It was Night Of The Dragon, but I don't remember the author. It was pretty important to me, because it gave me a chance to get away from everything...."

He trailed off, his body relaxing inside the sleeping bag. Tanya smiled and gently pulled a spare blanket up to cover him up properly.

"He's asleep." She paused, then slid back down into her own sleeping bag. "I'll have to break the rules. The only thing I've ever lost that was really important to me were my parents. There was never anything else that seemed important."

Kat nodded. "It's okay," she murmured. "My turn, I guess. The only thing I can think of is when I lost my dog, back home in Australia. I left the gate open one day, and she wandered out onto the road..." Kat paused, drawing in a deep breath. "That was hard, because I had to deal with my parents yelling at me for a week straight as well as dealing with losing Sasha."

David yawned. "My turn, before I fall asleep. I lost a ceremonial knife that a friend entrusted to me. It was important to me because he'd trusted me to take care of it for him, and I let him down. He had to wait another season to go through the adulthood ritual because of me."

"I'd have to say that the thing that I lost which was important to me," Billy said, "was an old bear that my mother bought me. I think it got lost when my father and I moved to Angel Grove. I really missed that bear..." He shook his head. "I've had it. I'm going to sleep. Goodnight, everyone."

The others mumbled their agreement and said goodnight, all slipping down into their sleeping bags. Soon, the dark room was filled with the steady, deep breathing of sleeping teenagers. That was, all but one.

Once he was certain that they were all asleep, Jason maneuvered himself carefully off the sofa, through the mass of sleeping teens with his crutches, then went through into the kitchen.

Hank looked around in surprise as Jason came in slowly. "I thought you kids would have been asleep by now.... Is something wrong, Jason?"

Jason sighed and sat down heavily. "Yes and no. Sort of. Maybe..."

Hank blinked, then sat down. "Do you want to make up your mind?"

"It's just memories. We were playing a game...."

Jason went on to explain the truth game, and the topics they had worked through. "I sort of avoided speaking up for the second one," Jason admitted. "I guess I cheated, but I couldn't tell them. It hurts too much."

"What is it?"

"The thing that I lost... The thing that was really important to me... It was my twin sister, Caitlin."

Hank nearly choked. "Twin sister?"

"Yeah. She died when we were six. We were on holiday in the mountains, and Caitlin and I ran off to play on the lake. It was frozen over, but we weren't supposed to go out there unless Mum or Dad was with us. We went anyway and we ended up in the wrong place. I don't know how it happened. I mean, I was heavier than Caitlin, but she was the one who went through the ice. I tried to save her, I really did... We just couldn't reach far enough to grab each other's hands! By... By the time Mum and Dad got there, it was too late. They took her to hospital, but...."

Jason trailed off, his stocky frame trembling with suppressed sobs. Hank sighed inwardly. No wonder Jason had not been willing to tell the others....

He paused, on the verge of telling him it wasn't his fault, then decided on a change of tact.

"Do you remember much of her?"

Jason smiled through a thin film of tears. "Oh, yeah. A lot. I never let myself forget. She was always so happy and her laugh... She loved to laugh. It didn't take much to get her to laugh."

"Don't lose those memories, Jason," Hank told him quietly. "They're the most important thing you have."

"I don't intend to," Jason murmured. He sighed, then stood up. "Thanks, Mr Cranston. It's good to talk to someone."

"What about your parents?"

"They... They don't like to talk about her," Jason admitted. "It's like they can only think of when she died. So, I've pretty much kept it to myself. Only Trini ever knew, and she forgot after a while."

"Well, if you need to talk, you can talk to me." Jason smiled, then, through his tears. "Thankyou." He paused, then turned back to the door. "Goodnight, Mr Cranston."

Hank nodded. "Goodnight, Jason."

Jason head back into the family room, leaving Hank to wonder exactly when he had become patriarch and confidante to the teenagers of Angel Grove.

It was nearly five a.m. when the teens were woken up by faint sobbing. For a long moment, none of them knew what was going on, but then Tanya realised that the sobbing was coming from Adam's sleeping bag. Fear and concern flickering across her face, she shuffled over and gently shook the boy awake.

Adam started up, gasping a little. Tanya squeezed his shoulder gently as the others gathered round.

"Adam, what's wrong? You were crying in your sleep..."

The former Green Ranger sat up slowly. "I.... I had a dream. It wasn't scary, just really sad...."

"What was it about?" Kat asked softly. Adam hesitated, trying to remember.

"It... It was Mum and Dad. They were both in it. Oh, man, it was so weird... They... They were waiting for me. They both just stood there, out of my reach, and then Dad said they were waiting for me. Then, they disappeared, and I saw the frog again..."

"A frog?" Tommy echoed. "You saw a frog in your dream? And what d'you mean, again?"

"I've been having similar dreams since Jase and I got away from Mondo," Adam confessed. "They're usually a bit different, but the one thing that's been the same each time is the frog. It was like Mum and Dad. He was just sitting there, waiting. But, he's gotten just a little closer each time I dream."

"What's a frog supposed to signify?" Tanya wanted to know. Rocky, Billy and Tommy looked at one another unhappily.

"The frog is Adam's spirit animal," Tommy explained. "We learned about the spirit animals on Phaedos."

"So what's it doing in Adam's dreams?" Tanya demanded. Adam looked haunted.

"I... I guess he's coming to get me. When he reaches me, I guess that'll be when it's time for me to go. Guided through life, and guided on to death..."

"No," Tanya begged. "Don't say that, Adam, please! You could still be okay. I mean, you could still go into remission..."

Adam started to dispute her then stopped. Right then, she needed the reassurance more than he did, even if it wasn't necessarily true. He sighed inwardly, then gave in.

"Yes," he murmured. "It could still go into remission."

Adam's words were enough right then, and she hugged him, then lay back down.

"Everything will be okay," she murmured. "Everything..."

Tommy watched her for a moment, then gently clapped Adam on the shoulder. "Let's get some sleep. And don't be afraid of dreaming, Adam. You've still got a long way to go yet, I know it."

Adam smiled sadly. "Thanks, Tommy."

"No problem."

"Hey," Rocky said, hitting Tommy lightly on the arm, "check it out. Jase slept right through this."

Tommy looked around, and was surprised to find Jason sleeping soundly on the sofa. He grinned deviously.

"Since we're awake, let's wake him up, too."

"Don't be mean," Kat growled. "Let him be, Tommy."

Tommy ignored her, though, and crawled over to Jason, hissing back to Rocky over his shoulder, "Go get a glass of water. Quick..."

Kat snorted in disgust. "You guys are cruel."

Tommy started to snicker, imagining Jason's reaction. Rocky came back with the glass of water and Tommy took it, ready to toss the contents over Jason's face.

"Ready... Now!"

Jason awoke with a choked splutter as icy water splashed over his face, and he sat up with a violent start, nearly falling off the sofa.

"What the..."

The others broke into fits of laughter, and Jason scowled when he realised what had happened.

"Oh, thankyou," he snapped, wiping his wet face and soggy pyjama top in annoyance. "Thankyou very much."

Tommy collapsed next to the former Gold Ranger. "Sorry, Jase. Couldn't resist. You looked so peaceful, there..."

He snickered, then began to laugh even harder. Jason shook his head.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been drinking."

"We don't need to," Tanya giggled. "Oh, boy.... That was funny...."

"Not to me," Jason grumbled. "Don't you know how damned hard it is to get to sleep with a plaster cast on your leg? I was awake for ages after all of you went to sleep!"

The laughter faded, and the rangers looked guiltily at one another. Just lately, all their jokes seemed to be taking a turn for the worst....

"I'm sorry, Jase," Tommy apologized, looking embarrassed. "Really."

Jason sighed and slumped back down. "Sure. What time is it?"

"About five fifteen," Billy replied. Jason grimaced.

"By the time I get to sleep again, it'll be time to get up."

"We might as well stay up," Kat said with a shrug. "We'll have to get up in a couple of hours, anyway."

The others conceded, and talked on until it was time to get up.

Later that morning

"Tommy, can I talk to you?"

Tommy looked around in surprise at his brother. "Sure, man. What's up?"

David glanced uneasily at the other teens, who were wolfing down a breakfast of pancakes and muffins.

"Not here."

Feeling a touch of concern, Tommy led the way through into the family room, and they sat down on the sofa.

"What's wrong?" Tommy asked.

"Well, it's sort of a good news/bad news situation. Tommy... I've been offered a scholarship to study Native American History."

Tommy's face lit up with pleasure for his brother's luck. "That's great, man!"

"Wait till you hear the rest. The scholarship is for a university in Chicago."

Tommy froze. "Chicago...?"

"Yeah. I know it's a weird place to have it, but apparently they've got a really good faculty. I... I've been thinking it over, and I've decided to take it."

The Red Ranger paled slightly as he realised just how much they were relying on David, as a friend and as part of the ranger team.

"Well... What about the team? We need you, man..."

"You need a Green Ranger. You don't specifically need me. This is important to me, Tommy. I really want to take this scholarship. I think I'll be able to do a lot of important work through it."

"You've gotta do what you think is best," Tommy conceded. "I'm sorry... It's just a shock."

"I know, and I'm sorry to throw it at you like this. The truth is I don't have any time left. I have to be in Chicago in a week if I accept."

Tommy's mind reeled with shock. A week... A week to find a new Green Ranger There was no way he could expect Jason to take on the responsibility. His near-death experience in holding the Gold Ranger Powers for Trey had left him incapable of supporting any other Ranger power. So, who...?

A smile filtered onto his face as the obvious solution came to him. Perfect...

The friends were just finishing breakfast when Tommy and David came back into the kitchen.

"Guys, listen up!" Tommy called out, bringing silence down on the group. "David's got something to say."

David spared Tommy a wrathful look. "Thanks. I think."

Tommy smiled and shrugged. David sighed inwardly and spoke.

"I've been offered a scholarship to study Native American History at a college in Chicago and, ah.... I've decided to take it."

A deathly silence fell as they all stared at David in disbelief. Finally, Rocky spoke.

"You can't do that. We need you, man..."

"It's all right," Tommy replied. "Listen, finish breakfast, and we'll go to the Power Chamber. Everything's gonna be fine. I promise."

They did as Tommy asked, and finished their breakfast in heavy silence.

Power Chamber

Zordon listened patiently as David explained his position, then spoke seriously.

"I understand, David. You have made yourself a valuable member of the team, and we will miss you greatly. But now, we must locate someone else to wield the powers of the Green Ranger."

"I think I know someone, Zordon," Tommy said quickly.

"Who do you have in mind, Tommy?" Alpha asked. Tommy turned around slowly, and his gaze came to rest on Billy.

"How do you look in green?"

Billy's jaw dropped. "Me?" he asked incredulously. Kat clapped her hands together in excitement.

"That's perfect! The Zeo Powers are different to the Gold Ranger powers. Theres no way they'll reject him!"

Zordon couldn't resist a grin. "That is a very good idea, Tommy. Billy, do you accept the responsibility of becoming Zeo Ranger IV?"

Billy stood frozen for a long moment, barely able to believe it was happening. He was going to be a ranger again... Finally, he pulled himself together and spoke, barely able to keep his voice calm.

"I accept, Zordon."

"Very well. We will transfer the powers immediately."

Only minutes later, the team had found a new Green Ranger in an old friend. The friends teleported back to the Cranston house after the surprising succession of events, and piled into the family room once more to talk.

"Does this mean I have to start wearing green clothes?" Billy asked doubtfully. Adam looked indignant.

"What's wrong with green?"

"Uh Nothing. Nothing at all."

Laughter swept across the group as Hank came in, holding something behind his back. He coughed loudly, and silence fell as they all looked around at him curiously.

"Adam, I have something for you," he said, and sounded a little nervous. "I would have given it to you last night, but I don't think you would have appreciated it in front of so many people."

He hesitated, then brought a big, furry teddy bear out from behind his back and held it out to Adam. Adam froze, staring at the bear in disbelief. Silence reigned, and no one laughed. They all suspected there was some meaning to the bear that was between Hank and Adam alone.

Finally, Adam reached up with trembling fingers and took the bear into his arms. It was a moment before he realised that he'd started to cry.

"Thankyou," he whispered in a strained voice as he hugged the furry gift close. A moment passed, and then Tanya sat down next to him on the sofa, silently putting her arms around him. Adam shuddered and slumped against her, the tears coming in a flood.

Six months later

Adam walked slowly through the front door, Billy close behind him. Though Billy was no longer in school, and was free to spend most of his time in his beloved lab, he had been at the Youth Centre almost religiously at 4 p.m. every day, to meet Adam and walk him home. Adam silently appreciated it. Over the past few months, he had grown steadily weaker, and suspected it would not be long before he was incapable of making the journey between home and school on foot.

He stumbled just inside the doorway, and Billy quickly caught his arm in a tender grip.

"Easy. Take your time."

Adam sighed inwardly. He felt like an invalid, what with being so unsteady on his feet.

"Thanks," he murmured.

Billy put Adam's bag down, then ushered the teen into the family room. Hank looked in from the kitchen.

"Can I get you boys anything?"

Billy looked at Adam for a moment, then nodded. "Hot chocolate would be good. It's cold outside."

"Two hot chocolates coming up."

Adam looked away from Billy, to the fire. Hot chocolate... A simple pleasure that he found hard to enjoy, now. His hands shook most of the time, now, and he found it difficult to hold anything steady. Most people seemed to understand, but it could be embarrassing, sometimes.

Hank came back in, and handed a mug to Adam that was only three quarters full. Adam bit down hard on his lower lip so he wouldn't cry. He couldn't even cope with a full mug... Hank handed the second mug to Billy, then sat down on the sofa.

"How was school?"

"Okay," Adam replied softly. "Got some Chemistry homework to do."

"I'll help you with it after dinner," Billy said quietly. Adam felt a touch of hurt.

"I can do it alone. I'm not stupid."

Billy blinked, taken aback. Then, he nodded. "I'm sorry. I'll help, if you want me to."

Adam sighed audibly that time, and shut his eyes, sinking down into the soft armchair. Within minutes he was sleeping soundly.

"He still has his pride," Hank remarked softly, once they knew Adam was asleep. Billy fought back a single tear.

"Dignity. Not pride."

"Yes, dignity."

Billy looked around at his father.

"What did Dr Sutton say yesterday, when you took Adam in to see him?"

"Just the same as usual."

"Don't lie," Billy growled, feeling as tired as he knew Adam was. "I'm not in the mood for it."

Hank stared at the floor. "He said it won't be long now. Adam has less than a month left. He wanted to admit Adam to hospital, but I refused. He's accepted dying, and it will only make it worse to be sustained in hospital for however long, on a whole lot of machines. I think he'd much rather stay here."

"I didn't think he had a lot of time left," Billy said sadly. "It's been around seven months since it was diagnosed and he lost a month because of Mondo. That's about the original time frame that Dr Sutton gave, isn't it?"

"Eight months." Hank hesitated, then stood up and went over to crouch down beside the sleeping boy. "This world can be so damn cruel. Why is it that the innocent ones are taken first?"

He reached up to gently brush a single lock of hair out of Adam's face. Thankfully, losing his hair had been one indignity that Adam had been spared. A month after the incident with Mondo, Dr Sutton had decided the best method would be to step up the Chemotherapy, and so the radiation therapy had been abandoned. It had been one torture that Adam had been grateful to do without.

"Are you going to put him to bed?" Billy asked. Hank nodded.

"Yes. Go into his room, and pull back the blankets, then close the shades." Billy went to do as he'd been asked, and Hank rose up, sliding his arms carefully beneath Adam's still form and lifting the boy up out of the chair. It was disturbing, how easy it was to carry the seventeen year-old, but convenient as well.

He carried Adam into the now dark bedroom and placed him gently in the bed, quickly removing Adam's jacket and shoes. Billy followed suit by pulling up the blankets to cover Adam fully. Hank started to leave, only to stop when Billy didn't move.

"Billy? Are you coming?"

"I think I'll stay with him Just for a little while."

Hank hesitated, then consented. "All right."

Billy pulled up a chair and sat down as his father backed out of the room. He could hardly believe that six months had passed, or that six months could mean so much. Adam had grown painfully frail over that time, and it was clear, even without the opinion of a doctor, that he did not have much time left.

Billy shut his eyes, trying hard to remember the times they'd spent together, the way that Adam's incredible bashfulness had made him seem like an extrovert by comparison. He smiled to himself, recalling the first time he had met Adam. It had been pure chance, an accident in the park and a race to save a baby that had caused them to first meet. Almost instantly, Billy had felt a connection with the quiet young Asian boy, a sort of kinship that had been realised when Rocky, Adam and Aisha had learned their Power Ranger secret by accident.

Then, when Jason, Zack and Trini had left for the peace conference, and Adam had taken over from Zack, Billy had realised just how well they fitted together. Two peas in a pod, Miss Appleby had once remarked when she'd found the two of them together in the school library, studying up on Physics. Billy smiled a little. As if that wasn't cliche at all... But they had been like that.

The change had come when they'd journeyed to Phaedos to find the Great Power, stop Ivan Ooze and save Zordon's life. He had been both honoured and thrilled to be taken in by the wolf spirit, but Adam had been less than excited about his frog spirit. Of course, he'd taken it in his stride, as Adam took everything in his stride, but it had still hurt. Then, later on, when the trouble was ended and they were back to dealing with Zedd and Rita... Suddenly, Adam seemed uncomfortable around him, and was forever making excuses to avoid spending time with him.

After a long talk with Zordon, he had realised that Adam felt inferior to him. After all, who ever heard of a frog hanging out with a wolf?

Billy brushed away non-existent tears. Adam had still been insecure enough then to honestly believe that being a frog made him inferior to the rest of them. It had been a blow that his self esteem had very nearly not recovered from.

Now... Only God knew what was going through Adam's mind. To know he was dying... It was a frightening thought for the rangers, so how terrifying was it for Adam? As much as the knowledge that he might not even make it to Christmas, which was only three weeks away....

if you could have any wish you wanted, what would you ask for?

Billy rose up and walked over to the window, peering out through the shades at the clear, cold day. He knew what he wanted, and he wanted it more than anything else he had ever asked for. He wanted to have one last Christmas with his best friend and adopted brother. Adam deserved to have that happiness, to survive long enough to enjoy that time together. But was it a wish that would be granted...?

Billy hung his head in sorrow. No one had answered their prayer that Adam would go into remission; why would this one be answered? They all knew the odds. Adam was likely to die within the next two or three weeks, and would most likely not live to see Christmas. Tears finally worked their way out of the new Green Ranger's eyes. Christmas was going to be a very painful time for all of them, this year.

Adam sat on the misty ground in silence, watching the small, yet noble frog that stood some distance away. He was closer now, much closer than six months ago. Adam felt no fear, though. Instead, replacing the terror that had consumed him six months ago, there was a calm acceptance of his fate.

"I don't have long, do I?" he asked aloud. The frog remained silent, watching his young charge with intelligent eyes. Adam hesitated, then tried again.

"Can't you tell me how long I have? A month? Less?"

Still no answer. Adam looked away, into the distance. There, far away, it seemed, Billy sat by his side in the bedroom, keeping watch in a silent vigil. Billy had kept the promise that he'd gotten out of him, and had stayed away from the Power Chamber, except to deal with Mondo and his hordes. There'd been no talk about looking for a cure, only the support that Adam had asked for.

Adam smiled sadly to himself. He would be sad to leave Billy behind like this, but now, he was looking forward to the time when the frog would take him on to whatever lay beyond life.

Of course, it wasn't only Billy. He would miss all of them. Tanya, whom he had grown to love over the past few months. Sweet Tanya, who wouldn't hurt a fly, but could kick a cog into the next millennium...

Kat... Who had overcome the evil that had controlled her, just as Tommy had so long ago. He hoped Tommy and Kat got together. They were so perfect for each other, but they were both too blind to see it.

And Tommy... Adam looked down, at the misty ground. The gallant leader of the Power Rangers. Stubborn, thick-headed at times, but brave, smart and caring at the same time. Admittedly, he had all the subtlety of a house brick, and the memory of a dodo, but that was just Tommy. Yes, he would definitely miss Tommy.

Rocky.... Adam felt an especially deep touch of pain and longing. Rocky, who had been his best friend through thick and thin, had been the one to protect him from the bullies and other heartless kids How, he wondered, would Rocky react when he was gone? He hoped they would get Aisha back from Africa after he was gone, if only to balance Rocky's volatile nature. He doubted any of them were capable to settling Rocky down the way that Aisha had always been able to do.

And, of course, then there was Jason. Jason, Adam reflected, was the unpredictable one. They had only known each other a short while, and though a friendship had developed, it hadn't seemed very deep. Not like the friendship that Tommy had with Jason. They'd opened up to each other a little while being held by Mondo, but still... He wished he'd had the chance to know Jason better. He had the feeling it would have been a very interesting thing, to have Jason Scott as a close friend.

He heard a faint scuffing sound, and looked around to see the frog had moved closer still, within a couple of metres of him. Adam swallowed hard.

"Not yet," he pleaded. "Please, just let me have a little while longer..."

The frog remained ever silent, watching him intently for several seconds before turning and disappearing into the mist. Adam watched him go, tears flickering in his eyes. Not long now. Soon, he would be with his parents....

The next day

"Feel like walking to the Youth Centre?" Billy asked, watching Adam cautiously. Adam hesitated, then spared Billy a dejected look.

"I don't think so. Not today. Sorry... I'm just too tired."

Billy nodded, and forced himself to smile. "It's okay. I just thought I'd ask."

Silence reigned for a while, and then Billy spoke again. "I could drive us, if you wanted to go..."

"I'd rather just stay here," Adam said softly, too weak to sound impatient or annoyed. "If you don't mind?"

"No," Billy murmured. "Adam?"

Adam regarded Billy warily. "What is it?"

"Did you dream last night?"

Adam looked away. "Yes."

He offered no more, and Billy didn't press the topic. Again, silence reigned, to be broken eventually by Adam.

"I'm not going to make it till Christmas."

Billy put his book down quickly. "Yes, you will. Try and be positive, Adam."

"The frog came even closer," Adam murmured, ignoring Billy's words. "I could almost touch him. I don't think its going to be much longer." He looked up to see Billy crying silently in the other armchair. "You're more scared than I am."

"I don't want to lose you."

Adam slumped down in the chair. "I keep wondering how you guys will all react... you know, after it happens. I keep wondering what my funeral will be like..."

Billy stared at Adam in distress. "Why are you talking like that? It's not anything to be happy about! It's not like you're going on a holiday..."

Adam's hands curled into fists on the arm rests. "I know that, Billy. I am a bit scared... but I'm tired! I don't want to fight anymore. I just want to be with Mum and Dad."

"We'll all miss you," Billy whispered. "A lot..."

"I know," Adam murmured. "I'll miss you guys, too."

Billy hesitated, then got up and went over, throwing his arms around Adam in a tight hug. Adam coughed in pain at the strength of Billy's embrace, but didn't pull away. He shuddered a little, and rested his head on Billy's shoulder, taking comfort in the close contact.

"Jason?"

Jason looked up from the table to see his mother standing there, a tablecloth in her hands.

"What is it?" he asked, sounding impatient and grumpy. Mrs Scott sighed.

"You said you'd set the table for dinner. Half an hour ago."

"Oh..." Jason reddened. "Sorry."

She laid the cloth over the table as Jason got up. "You're thinking about Adam, aren't you?"

Jason shrugged, trying to look casual. "A little. It's okay."

"Is it?"

"Well, I don't really have the right to be upset," Jason said nervously. "I mean, I don't know Adam all that well."

Mrs Scott put down the plates she was holding, and sat down, motioning for Jason to do the same.

"It shouldn't matter that you haven't known Adam for very long. You're still friends, aren't you?"

Jason conceded, picking uncomfortably at the tablecloth. "Well, yeah... I just feel like I'm intruding on the others. They've all known Adam for a lot longer. Rocky, especially... I only came back from Geneva a couple of months before all this happened."

Mrs Scott reached over and gently squeezed her sons hand. "Why don't you go and see Adam? Tomorrow morning, perhaps?"

Jason hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."

On the other side of town, Tommy lay on his bed, staring towards the window and the darkening sky. He couldn't get it out of his head how frail Adam had looked that day. It was frightening, to say the very least. Not long now, he had overheard someone say. He shut his eyes, and fought back the anger. There were students who were actually betting on whether Adam would die before or after Christmas...

He was having more self-doubts now than he'd ever had as the Green Ranger... or even as the White Ranger. What, he wondered with a feeling of distress, would they do without Adam? Quiet, reflective Adam, with an IQ equal to Billy, and a heart of gold to match. They'd gotten pretty close in the time preceding the last eight or nine months. They'd spent a lot of time sparring, and working out, or taking the karate classes together...

Tommy sat up with a start. Karate classes.... Adam had a special group that he had started, and that Rocky had needed to take over, a group of beginners, kids with little to no self-esteem. Rocky was doing fine with them, but they had flourished under Adam, who understood their every fear and concern.

Those kids had all been confused and hurt when Adam suddenly ceased taking the classes, and even moreso when theyd been told the reason why. Adam was rarely at the Youth Centre anymore, particularly over the past seven months, except briefly after school. He probably hadn't seen any of the kids from his special group in as much time...

He lay back down slowly. Adam had said only a few days ago that he hoped to have the chance to say goodbye to everyone before he died. Hopefully, that also meant the kids of the karate classes. He shut his eyes, starting to drift off to sleep. Tomorrow... He would go and see Adam about it tomorrow....

The Cranston Home

Adam awoke late. He'd taken some time getting to sleep last night, and as a consequence he had slept a lot longer than usual, even for his weakened state. Sighing a little to himself, he got up and slowly, carefully got dressed. He was annoyed that neither Hank nor Billy had bothered to wake him; he had such little time left as it was without wasting it sleeping.

Pulling on a light sweater, Adam ventured into the kitchen and was startled to find both Tommy and Jason there, talking quietly to Hank and Billy. Hank offered the teen a smile as he came in.

"Good morning. How are you feeling?"

Adam sat down before answering. "Okay. How come no one woke me up?"

"No need to," Billy said casually. "It's Saturday."

Nice recovery Adam thought wearily. His gaze fell on Tommy and Jason.

"How come you guys aren't at the Youth Centre?"

Tommy had to struggle not to look away. Adam was so gaunt and pale, it was frightening.

"We just decided to stop by. Thought you guys might be interested in going to see the new Jackie Chan movie that's out."

Billy started to agree, but Adam shook his head slowly.

"Thanks, but no thanks. It'd be a waste of money. I'd fall asleep in the middle of it."

Tommy looked crestfallen. Jason spared his friend a grim look, then turned his attention to Adam.

"Look, Adam, we want to talk to you. Just between us. Could we please go somewhere private?"

Adam was silent for a long moment, then finally shrugged. "Where do you have in mind?"

An hour later, the lake

Jason spread the blanket on the ground as Tommy walked arrived with Adam, walking with him to guarantee he made it all right. Adam regarded the blanket as though it were jinxed.

"A blanket? What are you trying to do, make me feel like an invalid?"

While Tommy looked nervous, Jason snorted in response.

"Get off your high horse. This is for all of us. The last time I sat on the grass out here, I ended up with a stain on the seat of my pants that Mum couldn't get rid of. She threatened to disown me if I came home with another one."

Adam had to smile. Even now, Jason still had that same, indestructible sense of humour.

"Okay," he conceded, and sat down carefully, with Tommys tentative help. Once they were all comfortable, Adam spoke softly.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

Tommy and Jason exchanged looks. The truth was, neither of them were entirely sure. Adam looked around at the Red Ranger.

"Tommy?"

"I was thinking," Tommy said nervously. "Last night, I mean... Adam, have you thought about those kids from your special class?"

"How do you mean?" Adam asked, feeling confused. "Isn't Rocky teaching them now?"

"Yeah," Tommy said quickly. "He's teaching them... They're doing well. I was just thinking, though You had something special going with those kids. They really looked up to you. I thought that, maybe, you could come to the Youth Centre to talk to them."

Adam's expression altered. "You mean say goodbye."

"No!" Tommy protested. "Look, Adam, they were all really upset when I had to tell them you couldn't teach them anymore. Would it hurt to just see them?"

Adam looked away. "You want them to see me like this? Do you have any idea what that would do to them, Tommy? We try to tell people that dying is nothing to frightened of. If those kids see me like this, they'll have nightmares for the rest of their childhood. Forget it."

Tommy looked helplessly at Jason, who merely shrugged. Sighing inwardly, he tried again, using a different tact.

"A lot of people are gonna miss you, Adam."

"What, you think I'm blind as well as dying?" Adam snapped. "I know that! Can you even guess how much it'd hurt, having to say goodbye to each and every person?"

Tommy was fast losing his patience. "Man, what is your problem?"

Adam's trembling hands clenched into fists. "My problem is that I'm dying, and I feel like you're trying to use me to ease everyone's guilt! Tommy, I'm tired! I don't want to be obliged to run down a line of people a mile long, telling them its all right and not to worry! Because it isn't all right, and there's everything to worry about...."

He burst into tears, his thin shoulders shaking with the sobs. Tommy and Jason both scrambled forward, concerned for their frail young friend.

"I'm sorry, Adam," Tommy said anxiously. "I didn't mean to come across so heavy. Really..."

He spared Jason a startled look as Adam collapsed in his arms, crying helplessly. Jason frowned, and made a motion with his arms, indicating for Tommy hold Adam. After a moment, Tommy complied and gently put his arms around Adam's emaciated body.

"Easy, bro... It's okay. I've got you...."

"Why do people say that?" Adam cried, his voice muffled by Tommys chest. "Why do they say it's okay? It's not! It's not okay!"

Jason shuffled closer, and put a hand lightly on Adams shoulder. "We're here, buddy. It..." He faltered, then corrected himself. "We're right here. Go ahead and cry."

Adam was over the turn as fast as it had come on, though, and pulled away from Tommy, wiping his eyes.

"I... I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Jason told him. "You've' got every right to cry."

"Yeah," Tommy agreed. "Man, we're gonna miss you so much."

Adam lay down carefully on the blanket, and looked up at the sky. "Could you guys do me a favour?"

"Anything," Tommy promised. Adam smiled just a little.

"Hear me out first. I just want one thing. When I'm gone, promise you'll go kick Mondo's metal butt into the next galaxy."

Tommy and Jason grinned at each other, and Tommy nodded.

"That's a promise I'll do my best to keep."

Adam swallowed hard. "Maybe I will try and make it to the Youth Centre to see some of those kids. I won't promise anything but I'll try."

"That's all I wanted to hear," Tommy murmured.

Silence fell for nearly a minute, only to be suddenly broken by the sound of Tommy's communicator. Groaning softly, he glanced quickly around, then answered it.

"Tommy, here. What's up?"

"Report to the Power Chamber immediately, Tommy," Zordon's voice ordered. "There is an emergency."

Tommy sighed heavily as he got up. "So what else is new? Will you two be okay?"

"We'll be fine," Jason reassured him. Tommy looked sceptical.

"The last time you said that, we nearly had to give up our Zeo crystals for you."

Jason plucked a handful of grass out of the ground and threw it at Tommy. "Get lost. We'll meet you back in the Youth Centre."

Tommy smirked, and teleported out. Jason shook his head and turned back around, to find Adam staring at him intently. Jason shifted uncomfortably on the blanket.

"What is it?"

"You said you both wanted to talk to me. You haven't said much, so far."

Jason chewed nervously on his lip. All of a sudden, his own thoughts and concerns seemed petty again....

"It's stupid," he mumbled, suddenly embarrassed. "I shouldn't bother you about it."

Adam snorted loudly. "Now you've done it. You aren't leaving till you tell me what's on your mind."

Jason flopped down onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow. "We don't really know each other that well. We never had much of a chance to become really good friends."

Adam shook his head. "No."

"Well... Last night I found myself bawling my eyes out, and I couldn't figure out why. It sounds dumb, but I feel like I don't have any right to be upset over this. I mean losing you."

"You're right," Adam murmured, enjoying the warm sun for a change. "It is dumb. You've got just as much right as anyone to be upset. Hell, you probably understand how I feel better than any of the others."

Confusion spilled across Jason's face, and Adam pushed himself up onto his elbow, meeting Jason's gaze.

"Think back, to when you were the Gold Ranger. How did you feel when you started to get weak in the battles?"

Jason swallowed hard as he recalled the painful memories. "I... I don't know. I was a little worried, I guess."

"And when you collapsed in the Power Chamber?"

"Scared," Jason admitted. "I'd never collapsed before. Not like that. I could hardly stand up."

"So collapsing in the Youth Centre, in front of everyone, must have been even worse."

"Yeah," Jason confessed, not entirely sure what Adam was getting at. "When I got inside, I just couldn't stand up anymore. For a few seconds, there, I couldn't breathe at all. I thought I really would have to go to hospital."

Adam nodded. "Do you remember what Zordon said later on in the Power Chamber? That the Gold Ranger powers were leaving you, along with, and I quote, your 'vital life force'? He skirted around it, but we all knew what he was saying."

Jason had gone pale as he remembered. "He said I was dying."

"Yeah," Adam said softly. "You see, Jason? In a way, I can relate better to you than to any of the others. Even Billy. You know what it's like. You how frightening it is."

"But I was okay," Jason protested.

"I know, but you still went through it, even if it was only over a week or so." He paused, then smiled faintly. "Anyway, don't think that just because you haven't known me as long, you can get out of coming to the funeral. You'd better be there, man, or I'll come back and haunt you."

Jason started to laugh, but it ended in a choked sob. "Man, I'm gonna miss you" He leaned over, and hugged Adam quickly. Adam waited patiently, then spoke in a soft voice when Jason leaned back.

"Now that we're on the same wavelength...."

Jason watched Adam intently. "What is it?"

Adam looked away, suddenly fighting tears in his own eyes. "I didn't want to tell any of the others, because they'd just go all guilty on me, and I couldn't handle that. I want to tell someone who's level-headed. Like you... There's something I wanted to do and I never had the chance to do it."

"What?" Jason asked, feeling his throat constrict almost painfully in anticipation.

"I wanted to go to China," Adam confessed. "I thought I'd have the chance, but it just never happened. It's because of my parents. I wanted to go somewhere that they'd been, and feel like we'd finally done something together. It's too late, now, but I wanted to ask you if you'd go there for me. Not straight away.... But if you ever have the chance, would you do it? For me?"

Jason felt a large tear roll down his cheek. "I will. One day, I'll go there for the both of us. I promise. Adam? Do you really miss your parents?"

"Yes," Adam said softly. "I miss them I miss the fact that I never had the chance to really get to know them. You know, they were coming home when the plane crashed? How dumb is that?" Adam's voice cracked with grief. "I felt almost like it was my fault. They were coming home because of me. If I hadn't pushed Hank to find them, they wouldn't have known I was sick and they wouldn't have been on that plane. They might have been here now!"

"That's the oldest trap in the book," Jason said softly. "I felt the same way when Caitlin died...."

Jason faltered, and Adam looked up at him sharply.

"Caitlin? Who's Caitlin?"

For a long moment, Jason didn't answer. Then, finally, he gave in.

"She was my sister. You remember the night of your birthday party, the game we played? That truth game? I didn't join in on the second round, because I couldn't face up to it in front of everyone. I told Hank later on, after you were all asleep But other than that, I kept it to myself."

"Older or younger sister?" Adam asked curiously.

"Older by seven minutes," Jason replied with a pained smile. "We were twins. She died when we were six. We were on holiday in the mountains, and Caitlin and I went out onto the lake when we weren't supposed to. The ice was weak.... It cracked and broke.... Caitlin drowned."

"I'm sorry," Adam murmured, feeling a touch of sympathy pain for the former Gold Ranger. Jason sighed.

"You never really get over something like that. I still feel guilty. I keep thinking, if I'd just done something more, she might still be alive."

"What could you have done?" Adam asked. Jason shrugged.

"No more than you could have done to save your parents. I didn't know the ice would break. You didn't know they would even come back, let alone be on a plane that was going to crash. We fill our lives with a whole lot of 'ifs' that mean nothing. We have to get on with things, and stop blaming ourselves for what's already happened."

"That's good advice," Adam conceded. He looked straight at Jason. "I'll take it if you do."

Jason returned Adam's stare for a long moment before bursting into laughter and falling flat onto the blanket.

"Touche."

Adam rolled over onto his stomach. "I meant what I said before, though. And, you might not have known me for as long as the others, but you're still my friend. Oh, one more thing...."

Jason raised an eyebrow curiously. "What?"

"Don't let Kat and Tanya get the drop on you again like you did when we were camping. You don't need another broken leg."

Jason snickered to himself, and he got to his feet, then offered Adam his hand. "C'mon. Let's go to the Youth Centre and get a soda. My treat."

Adam allowed Jason to pull him up, waited until Jason had rolled up the blanket, and then they headed off together towards the Youth Centre. In the waking hours of the day, Adam never saw the small, but noble frog that watched and waited in patient knowing silence.

Youth Center

"Is something happening here?" Adam asked, looking around at the Christmas decorations that were starting to go up. Jason smiled a little.

"Yeah. There's gonna be a dance here in a week." The two boys sat down at a corner table, and Jason slid a coke along the tabletop to Adam. "Ernie thought it'd be nice to have a party, and since the school was planning to have a dance before Christmas, they decided to run one together."

Adam nodded wordlessly, looking around slowly at the decorations. He had missed the last school dance because of a minor bout of the flu that had kept him in bed for two weeks. It would have been nice to be able to come to this one, he thought. Jason watched him curiously.

"You wanna come?"

Adam sighed a little. "I don't think I'm in the condition for a dance, Jase."

Jason leaned across the table. "So? C'mon, Adam, you want to come, I can see it. What's stopping you? I'll bet Tanya would be happy to go with you."

Adam reddened. "I doubt she wants to be seen with me now. And she'd probably prefer to go with someone who can actually dance."

"You're a stubborn son of a bitch, aren't you?" Jason retorted. Adam glowered at Jason.

"Excuse me?" he growled. Jason spoke in a low, almost threatening tone.

"Okay, pleading obviously won't work, so I'm gonna try blackmail. You either ask Tanya to the dance, or I tell her myself, and we show up on the doorstep on the night and take you there by force."

Adam gaped at Jason in disbelief. "You wouldn't..."

"I would," Jason warned. "Your choice. Tanya's right over there, bro."

"And you call me a son of a bitch..." Adam grumbled. Jason smirked and leaned back, satisfied with himself. For a long moment, Adam neither moved nor spoke. Then, finally, a devious grin lit up his pale face.

"I'll ask Tanya... if you ask Kat."

Jason's jaw dropped. "What...?"

Adam smirked. "I may be dying, but I'm not blind. You've had a thing for her ever since you came back from Geneva. She and Tommy broke up two months ago. If you don't make a move, you'll lose her."

Jason groaned softly. "Cut off at the pass...." He sighed with resignation. "Okay. But it's not really fair, man. At least you know Tanya will say yes."

Adam only smiled a very self-satisfied smile.

"Here they come," Kat whispered, and put on a bright smile as Adam and Jason came over to them. Tanya looked around, and offered Adam a brave smile. She didn't see him all that often anymore outside school hours, and when she did, it was hard to cope his steady deterioration. She pulled the chair next to her out for him to sit down.

"What can we do for you two handsome fellas?" Kat asked, causing both Adam and Jason to blush.

"Can I talk to you outside?" Jason asked Kat. "It's sort of... personal."

Kat's smile became a puzzled one, but she conceded and stood up. "Sure. I'll be back in a minute, Tanya."

Tanya nodded casually, watching them go before looking back to Adam.

"So, what's with Jason?"

Adam smirked. "I blackmailed him into asking Kat to the Christmas dance."

Tanya couldn't help but giggle at that. "Oh, poor Jason. That was cruel, Adam. You know how shy he can get." She gently squeezed his hand. "Just like you."

Adam blushed again, then remembered he was supposed to be doing the same as Jason. "Um... Tanya..."

"Yes?"

"I was just wondering.... are you going to the dance with anyone?"

Hope flickered in Tanya's eyes. "Not yet. Why?"

Adam glanced furtively at her, and was encouraged by the smile that lit up her face. He spoke, fighting the nerves that twisted up his stomach.

"Would you, um.... Would you go to the dance with me?"

Tanya promptly leaned over and hugged him as tightly as she dared. "I would love to, Adam. Thankyou!"

Adam blushed crimson. "Thank Jason. He sort of blackmailed me as well. Said he'd kidnap me on the night if I didn't ask."

Tanya laughed. "I should hope so!"

He sighed softly. "I'm sort of glad to be going, though. I want to make the most of the next couple of weeks."

Tanya's smile faded, but she forced herself not to say anything. "I... I wonder how Jason is going with asking Kat."

"Knowing Jase," Adam said with a faint smile, "he probably hasn't even asked her, yet."

Outside

"So what's up?" Kat asked curiously. Jason looked, to her, painfully nervous. She wondered what could possibly be wrong. He offered her a tentative smile.

"I talked Adam into asking Tanya to the dance. I thought we should leave them alone."

Kat nodded her agreement. "How'd you get him to do it?"

"I told him I'm kidnap him and take him by force if he didn't go willingly."

Kat snickered. "Oh, that is definitely like you, Jason." She paused, watching him curiously. "Is that all?"

Jason wrung his hands nervously. He had to ask, not only to appease Adam, but also to end his own inner conflict.

"Kat, would you go to the Christmas Dance with me?"

He almost shouted it, he was in so much of a panic. Kat blinked in surprise, taking an instinctive step back.

"Is that a request or an order?"

Jason went beet red. "I... I'm sorry. I don't get around to this real often."

"You mean asking someone out on a date?"

Jason nodded sheepishly. "There was Emily... But she said I was too... too..."

"Too shy?" Kat suggested, and Jason nodded quickly.

She smiled warmly. "For all your acting so tough and strong... You're as shy as Adam when it comes to women, aren't you?"

The former Gold Ranger sat down abruptly, his cheeks burning red. Kat hesitated, then sat down beside him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. Tell me, are you just asking me because it was the only way you could get Adam to ask Tanya?"

Jason was mortified that the thought would enter her mind. "What? No!" He faltered, then sighed. "Well, that was part of the agreement.... But I really would like to go to the dance with you, Kat."

She had to smile. "I'd be happy to go with you, Jason." She squeezed his hand reassuringly, and Jason tentatively returned the gesture.

A week later

"Is it on straight?"

Billy fought back a smirk as he turned back to find Adam fiddling nervously with his bow tie.

"It's straight. Relax, Adam. You look great."

Adam sighed and turned to face the mirror. "I look like a corpse."

It was all Billy could do not to choke. He knew there'd been nothing meant in the remark, but it still jabbed at him deep on the inside. Adam did, indeed, look like a walking corpse. His flesh was almost purely white, gaunt and pallid, and there were deep circles beneath his eyes. His condition had deteriorated rapidly during that week, and Billy was silently amazed that Adam was still getting around without any sort of aid.

Billy forced a smile onto his face and pushed his own concerns to the back of his mind. "You look fine. Stop worrying."

The door swung open and Hank looked in. "Are you two ready, yet?"

"We're ready," Billy answered before Adam could protest. He caught hold of Adam's arm and herded him from the room. "Let's go."

They picked up Billy's date first, and then Tanya. At both Billy and Marge's urging, Adam went to the front door alone, holding in trembling fingers a beautiful white corsage. He rang the doorbell, fighting the panic that was twisting his gut, hoping to God that Tanya wasn't repulsed by his weak appearance.

The door opened, and Mrs Sloan appeared. A broad smile lit up her face when she saw Adam standing there.

"C'mon in, Adam. Tanya's putting on the finishing touches now."

Adam allowed himself to be led inside the house, and through to the family room. Mr Sloan was waiting there, and he clapped the boy lightly on the shoulder.

"I have to thank you, Adam, before Tanya comes down."

Adam blinked, confused. "Thank me?"

"Yes. You made my little girl the happiest in the world when you asked her to this dance."

A red flush crept across Adam's pale cheeks, and before he could think of anything to say, another voice spoke.

"Daddy, I hope you aren't embarrassing Adam."

Adam looked around to the source of the voice, and his jaw dropped in shock. Tanya stood in the archway, radiant in a soft, yellow dress. It reached her knees, ending in folds that seemed to taper off. It bunched at the shoulders, falling off the shoulder and accentuating her smooth, dark skin.

Struck by nerves, Adam almost stumbled as he went to her, and thrust the corsage at her rather unceremoniously.

"Th.... This is for you...."

A smile lit up Tanya's face. "Adam's it's beautiful!"

He looked up at her shyly. "Not as beautiful as you."

Tears of joy filled her eyes, and she carefully pinned the corsage on herself, silently knowing it would be too much to expect him to pin it on himself. He took her hand then, and the two had to stand patiently together as Mrs Sloan took multiple photographs of the two.

"Mum!" Tanya protested finally. "We have to go! Billy and Marge will be waiting for us."

Mrs Sloan nodded, finding it difficult to hide the tears in her own eyes. "All right. Go on, you two."

"Have a good time," Mr Sloan added.

The two hurried out and down to the car. Marge smiled at the two younger teens as Adam opened the door for Tanya.

"Let me guess. Photo session for the folks?"

Tanya was bright red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry. My mother is camera mad."

Marge laughed and shook her head. "Don't worry about it. All mothers are the same."

The other door shut as Adam got in beside Tanya, Billy put the car in gear and they were off to the dance.

"Well, looks like the blackmail worked."

Adam looked at Tanya in confusion as they entered the Youth Centre.

"Huh?"

Tanya smiled and motioned to the centre of the dance floor, and Adam finally saw what she meant. Jason and Kat looked glued to each other, lost in a romantic slow dance. Billy nodded approvingly.

"It's about time. He's had his eye on her for months."

Tanya glanced sideways at Adam. "How about we find a table?"

Adam nodded in wordless agreement, and the couples moved off into the crowd to locate a table for themselves.

They soon found Tommy and Rocky with their respective dates, and joined them. Marge, not one to be left on the sidelines, quickly pulled Billy onto the dance floor, where they disappeared into the crowd.

"How are you doing, Adam?" Tommy asked quietly. Adam shrugged.

"Okay. Tired, I guess." He trailed off, not missing the look on Tanya's face. She wanted to dance, and for a brief moment he was angry at himself for even bothering to go. She would have been better off with a date that could actually do more with her than keep up idle conversation...

He looked at her again, and realised with dim alarm that she had no intention of sitting on the sidelines all evening.

"C'mon, Adam."

He gulped as she pulled him gently to his feet. "What...?"

"This is a dance. We're going to dance. C'mon."

Adam looked back to Tommy for help, but the Red Ranger only smiled and waved cheekily. A touch of vindication filled Adam as, only seconds later, Tommy's date pulled him from the safety of the table towards the dance floor.

"Is this so bad, then?"

Adam smiled faintly as he and Tanya moved together on the floor. Despite his constant exhaustion, he'd been able to temporarily ignore it as the Dance progressed into the evening.

"I could get used to it," he murmured.

Tanya turned her head a little so she could rest herself just lightly on her shoulder, a move that wasn't so much for her own comfort as much as to stop him from seeing her tears.

"I love you, Adam."

The smile faded, and his chocolate-coloured eyes reflected the sadness and pain that they both felt.

"I love you, too."

"This has been the best night of my life," Tanya said softly, as the teens stood outside the Youth Centre after the dance had finished just after midnight. Adam hugged her to him and, before his nerves could get the better of him, he leaned down and kissed her gently on the mouth.

Nearby, the other teens exchanged bemused smiles; they desperately wanted to do something like cheer, but nor were they that insensitive.

"I have an idea," Kat said firmly. "How about we have a picnic tomorrow in the park?"

Tommy nodded. "Sure, sounds good." He hesitated, looking to Adam. Despite having had a good time, it had taken its toll on the teen, and Adam seemed to be relying more on Tanya for support than she on him.

"Adam?"

He gave a half-hearted shrug. "I'll try and make it, but I'm not promising anything. I might sleep all day tomorrow."

It was meant as a joke, and they knew it, but no one could quite bring themselves to laugh.

"That's okay," Kat reassured him. Billy pulled up in his car and took the liberty of getting out to open the door for both Adam and Tanya.

"Billy," Kat told him, "we just decided that we're going to meet tomorrow in the park for a picnic. If Adam's up to it, will you bring him?"

Billy smiled and nodded. "Sure. If we won't be there, I'll let you know. Excuse us. I need to get these guys home."

"What do you think?" Rocky asked softly as Billy's car disappeared around the corner. Tommy's smile had completely vanished.

"It won't be long now. I thought he might have made it till Christmas, but it doesn't look like it'll happen."

"He isn't gone yet," Jason chided his best friend. "He might still make it."

Tommy turned a grim look on the former Gold Ranger. "Can you look me in the eye and tell me you really believe that?"

Jason opened his mouth to speak and faltered. Finally, he looked away, partly angry and partly miserable. Tommy nodded.

"Exactly."

Kat quietly stepped between the two boys. "C'mon, guys. Let's go home. Adam isn't the only one who's exhausted."

Silence reigned for several moments, and then Tommy nodded.

"Kat's right. I'm beat, too. Let's go and we'll meet tomorrow in the usual spot by the lake."

A murmur of agreement swept across the group, and they turned and headed in different directions.

It was no surprise that Adam was already asleep by the time they arrived back at the Cranston home. Hank was still up; something else that was no surprise to Billy. The older Cranston came out to meet them, and between them, they managed to guide Adam inside and into his room.

"How did it go?" Hank asked in a whisper as he removed the suit piece by piece from Adam's exhausted body. Billy smiled.

"You should have seen them. Once they started, I don't think they wanted to stop. It was great. Everyone had a great time."

Hank nodded, relieved, as they put Adam to bed. "Thank God for that."

"I think," Billy murmured, "that whatever happens now, Adam will be happy to go."

Hank paused to look down into the younger boy's pale features. "It isn't far away, Billy. You know that, don't you? He doesn't have much time left now."

"I know," Billy conceded. "I think we were still hoping it might go into remission even up till a few weeks ago, but now I think we've accepted it. Even Tanya."

Hank straightened up and guided Billy from the room.

"It'll hurt, son. But it won't hurt so badly. We all know that Adam's content with his life. And more importantly, Adam himself knows it. It isn't so much a case of him being happy to go, now. I think he's ready to go."

Billy felt the tears in his eyes, and didn't even try to brush them away.

"So do I."

Adam dreamed, though it was not the usual dream. In it, he was five years old, and was cradled in the arms of his mother. He didn't know where they were, but it was some place wonderful.

"There's nothing to be frightened of, honey. It's perfectly natural."

Adam snuggled in against her. "Will it hurt?"

"Oh, no baby. It won't hurt. You'll just go to sleep, and you won't wake up. And when you do, your father and I will be waiting for you."

"Now?"

"No, pumpkin. Not now. Soon, though. Very soon."

Billy was woken by the first rays of light from the sun. He lay in bed for nearly a minute, lazily reflecting the previous night's activities. The dance had gone off without a hitch, and Adam and Tanya had barely left the dance floor all night. Adam had clearly exhausted himself terribly, but they all got the impression he felt it had been worth it.

Glancing at the clock, he rolled out of bed and headed out of his room. He paused to check in on Adam on his way to the bathroom, and he wasn't surprised to discover Adam was still sound asleep. In fact, Billy mused, he didn't think Adam had moved from the position they'd left him in when they'd put him to bed. Shaking his head, he disappeared into the bathroom to have a shower.

He was halfway through lathering his hair with soap when a frightening thought brought him to a complete halt. Adam hadn't moved at all during the night....

Panic struck and he frantically washed the soap out of his hair, grabbed a towel and bolted from the bathroom.

"Adam?"

Billy crouched beside the bed and, when the younger boy didn't respond, he reached out to give him a light shake.

"C'mon, Adam, please wake up..."

There was no response; Adam didn't move. Billy fell back a bit, tears flooding his eyes.

"No Please, no...."

"Billy?"

Billy looked up as his father looked into the room.

"Dad... Adam...."

Hank Cranston strode into the room, his heart skipping a beat. Surely Adam hadn't slipped away through the night...

He hesitated, then reached out with trembling fingers to check for a pulse. Before he had a chance to do so, though, Adam suddenly moaned and shifted position, his eyes fluttering open.

Hank let go with a heavy sigh of relief as Adam's blurred gaze finally focused on him.

"Hank... Billy? What's wrong?"

Hank started to speak, faltering as Billy suddenly straightened up and fled the room. Adam started up slowly, confused.

"What...?"

Hank sat down carefully on the edge of the bed.

"It's okay, Adam. Billy just got a bit of a fright. He couldn't wake you up...."

Understanding dawned on Adam. "He thought I'd died."

"Yes. Don't worry, he'll be okay. Tell me, how are you feeling? You really wiped yourself out last night."

Adam smiled faintly. "I know... But it was so great. And I finally kissed Tanya."

A grin found it's way onto Hank's face. "Really?" He chuckled softly. "Congratulations, Adam."

Adam settled back against the pillow contentedly. "You know, I think I feel okay."

Hank patted him gently on the shoulder. "That's good. If you feel like it, I'm cooking waffles for breakfast. Come out whenever you're ready."

He left the room before Adam could reply, hurrying down the hall to the kitchen. The truth was, he had been as badly shaken as Billy. For just that brief instant, when it seemed that Adam had died, the panic and fear he'd felt had been overwhelming. He wondered, with a feeling of nausea, just how they were going to cope when it did actually happen.

Billy appeared in the doorway, eyes downcast.

"Sorry. That was foolish of me."

Hank walked around the bench and pulled Billy to him in a quick, warm hug.

"No, son. It wasn't foolish. It was an honest mistake. And you weren't the only one who panicked."

Billy shook his head as he sat down at the table. "I... I couldn't help it. When I realised he couldn't have moved at all during the night, I just jumped to conclusions. It scared me so badly I think it reinforced the realisation."

Hank nodded his understanding. "I think it stopped us both from taking him for granted. We know we're going to lose him, and we don't know exactly when. Maybe we haven't accepted it quite as well as we think."

Father and son paused, staring at each other, and then Hank turned back to the oven.

"Adam says he feels all right. Perhaps you can take him to that picnic you said the other kids were going to have today. A bit of fresh air might do you both good."

Billy nodded. "I might."

"You okay?"

Adam smirked a little as he and Billy walked the short distance from the car to the lake.

"Yeah. I feel pretty good, actually."

"Well, just say if you don't. Okay?"

"Stop worrying, Billy," Adam said with a sigh. "Please?"

Billy reddened some, and Adam slowed to a halt, turning to face him.

"Look, I know what happened this morning scared the hell out of you. It would have scared me, too. But we all know I'm at the end of the time line. I've already gone past the eight months that Dr Sutton predicted, thanks to Mondo. It could happen any time."

Tears overflowed down Billy's cheeks before he could stop them.

"What are you trying to do? Make me feel better?"

Adam hesitated, then spoke softly.

"Billy, I had another dream last night. It wasn't the frog, though. It was my mother. She was there, and she held me and told me I didn't have anything to be scared of. She said that when it happened, it wouldn't hurt at all That I'd just go to sleep and not wake up. And she told me that she'd be waiting for me with Dad."

Silence fell for a long moment as the two boys stared at each other.

"That's a nice thought," Billy conceded finally.

"I'm not scared, Billy. Not now. I'm just tired. I think I'm ready to go."

"Dad said that last night," Billy whispered. Adam hesitated, then stepped forward and threw his arms around Billy in a close embrace.

"Thankyou, Billy."

"For what?"

"For staying with me. And not driving yourself crazy looking for a cure. Thankyou for being my big brother."

Billy shut his eyes, hugging Adam tightly. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he knew that Adam was effectively tell him goodbye, but he refused to think of it like that. His father was right, he realised. He hadn't fully accepted that Adam was going to die....

Adam gently detached himself from Billy's embrace.

"Let's go meet the others."

It could have been the perfect day. Tommy and Rocky were sparring on a soft patch of grass, taking it in turns to put each other on the ground. Billy had gone swimming, as had Jason and Kat. Those two seemed to have turned into a couple overnight, much to the amusement of the others, and if they weren't kissing each other, then they were usually glued at the hands.

Adam and Tanya sat in the shade of a tree, watching the activity of their friends in content silence.

"Look at them," Tanya said, laughing softly as Jason lifted Kat out of the water, only to throw her back in gracelessly.

"She'll kill him for that," Adam agreed. Sure enough, when Jason wasn't paying full attention, Kat crept up behind him and pushed him down beneath the surface of the water.

Tanya looked sideways at Adam.

"How are you feeling?"

He smiled. "Good."

She was scared, he could easily tell. They all were, but they'd made champion efforts to hide it. He hadn't told her about the dream. It wasn't that he didn't believe she could cope with it; he just didn't want to upset her at all. The dance had been perfect, the whole night had been. Despite his reservations, it really had turned into the best night of his life.

He settled back against the tree and was just about to shut his eyes to rest when he saw the frog. It was right next to him, within inches of his hand. Instinctively, he took his hand off the blanket, away from the small creature, and it moved even closer, until it was nearly touching him.

He stared at it for nearly a minute, and it stared back, its dark eyes telling him what he already suspected.

"Tanya?"

She looked back to him. "Mmm?"

He hesitated. If he mentioned the frog, he had no doubt she would panic. He didn't want panic, he wanted peace.

"Would you hold me?"

Surprise flickered in Tanya's eyes. "Sure..."

She shifted around and gently wrapped her arms around him, drawing him into her embrace.

"Are you okay?"

Adam paused in answering. His breath was heavy in his chest, and he was painfully tired all of a sudden.

"I'm tired," he whispered. "So damn tired..."

Confusion filled Tanya and then, for just a brief instant, she, too, saw the frog. Just for a second, and then it was gone again. Tears flooded her eyes as realisation struck home.

"It's okay, Adam. Just rest, if you're tired." She cradled him gently to her, lightly stroking his curly black hair. "Shut your eyes, baby. It's okay, I'm right here. Shut your eyes and rest."

Tommy and Rocky finished their sparring and came back to the picnic blanket, laughing. The laughter soon faded when they saw Tanya, crying silent tears as she cradled Adam in her arms. Exchanging fearful looks, Tommy moved forward.

"Tanya?"

She looked up at him through a steady flow of tears.

"It's okay, he's just resting. He said he was tired... He asked me to hold him, so I did... And he's just resting, because he said he was tired..."

Tommy shut his eyes, but the tears came anyway. Behind him, he heard Rocky give a choked sob of grief, and heard the soft thud as the Blue Ranger collapsed to the ground.

In the water, Billy had seen that not all was right on shore, and the three teens in the water quickly made their way back to the group.

"What's wrong.?" Kat started to asked. She stopped. The tears of the others said all that needed to be said.

Billy walked around and dropped to the ground, next to where Tanya cradled Adam. He stared at his honorary little brother for several seconds before fresh tears filled his own eyes. He knew that, this time, Adam was not going to wake up.

"We love you, Adam," he whispered, touching Adam's hand just briefly. "Go in peace."

"He'll be with his mum and dad, now," Jason said, his own voice strained with the effort to hold off the tears. It was a useless effort.

"We should call an ambulance," Kat whispered in a trembling voice.

Tommy hesitated, staring silently at Tanya, who was crying openly by then.

"It can wait." He shut his eyes again, and his voice cracked with grief. "It can wait."

Journal entry #1. December 21