Disclaimer: All the regular disclaimers. (Saban owns the rangers)

By: Naomi Tilley

*Chicago, 17th precinct

Jason Lee Scott sat in silence at his desk, staring at the single sheet of paper in front of him. It had only two words on it, each cut out of the newspaper and stuck crudely on the clean note paper.

YOU'RE DEAD

It was all the message said, but it was enough. He sighed inwardly. It wasn't the first time he'd been threatened, but each time worried him more. He feared that at some point, the threats would be directed at his family.

Jason pushed the paper away from him. He hadn't had it checked for fingerprints; he knew the responsible party would not have left any clues.

"Hey, Scott, you coming for happy hour, or what?"

Jason looked up, and offered a weary smile in the direction of the man who had spoken.

"No, not tonight. I think I'll go straight home.... Spend the night with Trini and William."

The young man, Sid Ellis, hesitated, then stepped into the room. "Look, Jase, don't let those threats bother you. We all get them at some point."

Jason grimaced. "As often as I do? I can cope with it, Sid. It's Trini that's getting the high blood pressure. She hates knowing that each morning might be the last morning she sees me."

"Hey, she knew what she was getting into when she married you. You were already a detective by then...."

"I know. She's always supported me, even after that case with Bernard Stravinsky. But it isn't just Trini anymore, either. I have to think about William."

"Yeah, I guess you do. What are you thinking?"

Jason slid open a drawer and pulled out a number of papers, showing them to his closest friend.

"Transfer papers?" Sid stared at Jason in shock. "You're gonna ask for a transfer?"

"I already have," Jason confirmed softly. "It was approved this afternoon. I'm transferring to the Angel Grove PD at the end of the month."

Sid came all the way into the office, and sank into the nearest chair.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jason sighed heavily. "Because I was worried you might try talking me out of it. The truth is, I don't really want to go, but it's for my peace of mind as much as Trini's."

Sid looked crestfallen. "You're gonna break up our partnership?"

"I'm sorry, Sid," Jason apologized. For a long while, silence reigned, and then Sid offered Jason a lopsided smirk.

"End of the month, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well, at least I found out in time to organize the biggest party ever."

Jason's smile fell from his face. "Hang on, Sid...."

"Aw, don't say it, Jason. Everyone's gonna want to see you off. Don't deny them that. You can't just slip out the back door, brother."

Jason finally conceded, if somewhat reluctantly.

"Okay.... Okay. Just nothing to rowdy, all right?"

"Of course not," Sid assured him, but Jason didn't miss the gleam in his friend's eyes.

Two weeks later

Jason stood frozen on the outside of an aging wooden door, gun drawn and ready to act at the smallest disturbance. Three days to his transfer home, and here he was, tracking down a serial killer on the killer's own turf. He shut his eyes for a bare second, wondering why he was taking such a foolish risk, and then he remembered all the children the man had murdered.

One of those kids could've been William.... Gritting his teeth, Jason spun around and, using his karate skills, kicked the door wide open.

Nothing. Jason looked around, his heart beating hard as the adrenaline pumped through his system. The room was empty but it was only the first room. Many more to search, many places to hide.

"Jason, are you clear?"

Jason lifted his radio, never taking his eyes off all possible entrances to the room.

"So far. Where are you?"

"At the north end. I'm moving in."

"Okay, keep in contact."

Leaving the radio on standby, Jason moved slowly into the building. Trini was praying for him right then, he could almost feel it. She had known he would be going after the Angel of Death that day, and though she'd said nothing, her expression had said it all.

Of course, he could have left the case to someone else, and simply forgotten it but it was impossible for him to do. If another officer had been wounded or killed in his place while trying to bring the killer in, he would never have forgiven himself. He had the experience and the instinct that some of the other officers in the precinct would never have, and he knew it. It had to be him that went after the murderer, and no one else.

He froze in mid-stride, his sharp hearing picking up the sound of soft laughter behind him. He turned fast, only to face nothing. Then, the lights went out.

"Christ..." Jason fumbled with his radio, caught momentarily off-guard.

"Sid? Sid!" Silence. "Damn it, Ellis, answer me!"

"Och, I'm right here, Cap'n," came the reply in an unmistakably bad Scottish accent. Jason groaned softly.

"You moron! Are the lights out where you are?"

"Uh huh. Any suggestions from the brilliant Jason Scott?"

"Yes. Did you bring in a flashlight?"

"Of course. I take it you didn't."

Jason felt his face heat up in the darkness. "Slipped my mind."

"Oh, won't the boys love that at the party!"

Jason clenched his jaw, refusing to grace the statement with a reply. It was then that he heard it. A soft scraping sound, coming slowly towards him. Jason froze, his heart pounding.

"Captain? Come in, Jason...."

"Shut up, Ellis," Jason said through clenched teeth, trying desper- ately to determine which direction the scraping was coming from. There came a sudden hiss, and a snarl, and something shot through the middle of Jason's legs. Taken by surprise, Jason cried out sharply and fell heavily to the floor. He lay there for a long moment, winded, when he felt soft fur brush lightly against his cheek. Looking around, he groaned as he just made out the silhouette of a cat in the dark.

"Jason? Jason, what's wrong?"

"It's okay," Jason replied as he sat up and scooped the cat into his arms.

"It was just a stupid cat. Look, go back to the car. If that son of a bitch was here, he's probably been warned off by now. We'll never get him like this. Fumbling around in the dark like goddamn idiots...."

"Sure, whatever you say, boss. You're the one who gets to make the excuses to the Chief."

Jason sighed again. "Yeah, right." He looked the cat over, and was just able to make out the blood that encased one paw. The scraping sound he'd heard must have been the cat dragging its paw on the wooden floor boards. Shaking his head, he started to get up.... and froze at the gun barrel that was suddenly pressing in between his shoulder blades.

"You found my cat. Thankyou."

Jason didn't dare move, didn't dare speak. The gun prodded him harshly.

"Get up."

He got up slowly, letting the cat go. A moment later, he felt a hand at his side, searching down the length of his body, removing the gun from his hand, and the smaller pistol from the ankle holster he wore.

"That's all, isn't it?" a grating voice asked right in his ear. "You don't carry anything else. I know, I've been watching you. Don't you try any of that Kung Fu shit, though. I'll blow your head off."

Jason hesitated, then started to glance around. He was rewarded with a blow to his jaw from the barrel of the sawed-off shotgun.

"Don't look at me, pig. You don't look until I'm ready for you to look. Just walk, that way to the stairs." Jason walked, knowing he had little choice. He might have been able to knock the gun away, but he doubted he could avoid any serious injury, and a blast from a sawed-off at close range would be fatal. He had to bide his time, and wait.

"Don't you have anything to say?" his captor asked, and Jason detected a note of curiosity to his voice. "Don't you want to know who I am?"

"I already know," Jason ventured. "Your name is Kyle Bennett. Alias the Angel of Death."

"Very good," Bennett purred. "You're smart, pig. Smarter than a lot of pigs that I've killed."

Anger flushed Jason's face. The one thing he hated, above all else, was being called a pig. Behind him, Bennett snickered to himself.

"Pigpigpigpigpigpigpigpigpigpig....."

"Son of a bitch," Jason hissed under his breath. The gun slammed into his shoulders, and Jason went down with a crash, landing at the topmost step of a steep stairwell.

"Get up, you clumsy little boy," Bennett said in a chiding tone. Jason got slowly to his feet. He had jarred his right wrist in that fall, and it was starting to throb already. Bennett prodded him again.

"Down the stairs. Right to the bottom. I've got a little surprise for you, piggypig."

This guy has lost it totally Jason thought numbly as he made his way carefully down the stairs. Totally fruit loops

They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Jason found himself being ushered across to a far wall.

"This is where I teach the boys and girls their lessons," Bennett announced. He pushed Jason roughly up against the wall, then stepped back.

"Now, turn around."

Jason turned slowly, and finally found himself face to face with the serial killer that he'd been working so hard to catch. Kyle Bennett was a pasty-faced man, less than six foot tall, with flat, greasy, brown hair, and dull eyes. The man was a few sandwiches short of a picnic, that was certain, but he was also the one with all the firepower. Jason dared not move against him. Bennett giggled.

"You're useless without your guns, aren't you? Oh, you gotta see this. I did it especially for you. Look!"

Bennett flicked a switch, and the lights all came on, leaving Jason momentarily blinded. For a moment he couldn't see anything, but then, he looked around, and started in shock. The wall he was now standing in front of was plastered with photos and news articles, all of and about himself. Bennett looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

"I've been watching you for a long time. A very long time. Even before I realised my true calling. By the way, you have a pretty wife. And a beautiful son. I'll have to pay him a visit." Bennett smiled, showing teeth that were too white. "I'll bet they miss you plenty."

Jason waited no longer, but charged Bennett, slamming his full body weight into the other man. The shotgun went off, but if it found its target, Jason never felt it. He brought Bennett to the ground in a full tackle, and tried to pin the murderer to the cement floor, but he'd underestimated Bennett's strength. The Angel of Death snarled in anger and managed to turn the tables, nearly pinning Jason down instead.

Fighting hard, Jason eventually squirmed free and, snatching up his small pistol, fled for the stairs, pausing only to switch off the lights and shoot out the switch.

"Bastard..." Bennett hissed. Scrambling to his feet, he collected his shotgun and went after the young officer.

Sid Ellis looked around with deepening worry. It had been a good five or so minutes since Jason had ordered him to go back to the car. Although five minutes wasn't really that long, Ellis knew from experience that it took less than that for one police officer to lose his life. Jason should have been out of the building by then, and his failure to appear meant only one thing as far as Ellis was concerned.

Turning, he leaned into the car and activated the CB radio.

"Car 32 to Base."

"Base to car 32, what's the problem, Sid?"

"I need backup at the warehouse located at 146 Franklin Avenue. There's a possibility that...."

Sid faltered, looking back over his shoulder at the sharp crack of a gunshot from somewhere inside the building. Several long seconds passed, and then a second gunshot followed. Sid turned back to the radio, fighting the urge to panic.

"There's been gunfire inside the building. I repeat, shots have been fired! Captain Scott is inside there now, and I'm going in after him. We need backup, now!"

Leaving the radio, Sid drew his firearm and bolted back to the ware- house.

Jason reached the top of the stairs and ran around and through into a new room, only to find himself in the middle of a maze of heavy wooden crates. Glancing back over his shoulder, he knew Bennett wasn't far behind, and he hurried into the maze.

Bennett was halfway to the top when Jason disappeared off to the left. He smiled coldly to himself. The cop had just gone into a room from which there was no other exit. That, plus the trail of blood he was leaving behind clearly let him know where the cop was. Chuckling softly to himself, he pulled back the hammer on the shotgun and continued his pursuit of the fleeing officer.

It didn't take Jason long to realise he'd cornered himself in the room. There was no other way out, and he'd just started to make his way back to the door when he heard it being shut and locked.

Shit

He did the only thing he could, and dropped to the ground in a dead-end alley of crates on the far side of the room, hoping he would see Bennett before Bennett found him. It was only then that he saw it, the thin trail of blood that he had left behind him. Panic and fear caused Jason's stomach muscles to contract painfully, and he glanced downwards to finally see the bullet wound in his hip. He'd left a trail of blood that even a child could follow....

Wiping the sweat from his eyes, he waited for the confrontation.

Bennett giggled to himself as he followed the blood around the boxes, and finally halted at the point where the trail of blood disappeared around a final corner. He paused there, knowing the police captain was on the other side, wounded and exhausted, but probably ready to fire with the gun he'd stolen back. Bennett was willing to die for his twisted beliefs, but not just then. After a moment of indecision, he walked slowly down the length of the crates on the opposite side to Jason.

"I spy with my little eye," Bennett chanted softly, "something beginning with 'P'. You there, pig? I know you are."

Jason shut his eyes. Bennett' s voice floated to him from the other side of the crates. The man was out of sight, but definitely within shooting range.

Bennett giggled again, his grip on sanity starting to falter. He lifted the shotgun and, aiming indifferently, he fired into the crates.

Jason bit back a cry of fear as one crate exploded in a lethal shower of wooden splinters. The other crates, piled on top of the one which had been shot through, teetered dangerously, ready to come crashing down at any second. He could hear Bennett on the other side, giggling like the madman he was, and he wondered desperately where Ellis was.

Sid Ellis stopped inside the first room of the warehouse, listening anxiously for anything that would tell him where his commanding officer was. His heart was going a mile to the minute, and he was starting to find it difficult to breathe.

Please God don't let him be dead

A third gunshot resounded through the empty building, and Ellis took off in the direction the sound had come from.

Knowing he had no other chance, Jason lifted his own gun in an ever- steady grip and fired off all but one of his bullets, hoping to God that one got through the crates to their intended target. Silence fell, and Jason's hopes rose. Maybe, just maybe....

Faint giggling met his ears, and his confidence died.

"You really think you can just shoot me?" Bennett asked gleefully. "Maybe you're not as smart as I thought."

Bennett's gloating was interrupted by a sudden, heavy thump against the door, which Bennett had locked.

"Jason!"

Jason could have almost cried with relief at the sound of Ellis voice.

"In here!" he yelled back. "We're in here!"

Outside the room, Ellis heard Jason call back, and responded by slamming hard into the door, sending it almost flying off its hinges. Stumbling, but not falling, Ellis aimed his gun directly at Bennett.

"Drop your weapon now! This is the police!"

Bennett stood frozen, neither obeying, nor making any further aggressive move. Ellis was frustrated; he could not legitimately open fire on Bennett unless Bennett made some hostile action. He tried taking a step forward.

"Drop your weapon," he repeated forcefully. "More police will be here any minute. Now put it down!"

Again, Bennett didn't respond. Then, finally, a small, cold smile flickered across his face, and he swung the shotgun around, firing it once more into the now dangerously unstable crates. There was a loud crack as the bullets ripped through the wood, and a moment later all the crates fell inward and came crashing down on top of Jason. The young man gave a sharp cry of fear and pain that was cut off as abruptly as it had begun, only to be taken up Ellis, who screamed in rage as he opened fire on Bennett.

The killer crumpled to the ground, rendered unconscious by a single bullet. Then, not bothering to check on the man, Ellis ran over and tried uselessly to drag the heavy boxes away that covered his senior officer.

"Oh god..." Ellis moaned as he just managed to uncover one foot. "Hang on, Jason, I'll get you out...."

Sirens echoed in the distance, but Ellis hardly heard. He continued to struggle with the heavy boxes until a hand on his shoulder caused him to spin around.

"Lieutenant Harrison...."

Harrison regarded Ellis somberly. "Stand down, Sergeant."

Shock flooded Ellis' face. "But sir... Captain Scott..."

"If he's alive, we'll get him out and do all we can to help him. If he isn't then you're wasting precious energy on a useless exercise. Now, stand down."

It was said with an authority that Ellis could not ignore, and he backed off silently, watching in numb shock as a team of men moved in to free the captain from the prison the massive boxes had created.

*Some hours later, Chicago Public Hospital

Trini Scott ran into the waiting room of the hospital to find Sergeant Sid Ellis sitting in a chair, his hands buried in his face. Her heart in her throat, Trini approached him with a fear that she could not keep hidden.

"Sid?"

He looked up sharply at her voice, then managed a weak smile.

"Hi, Trini."

"How is he?" she asked softly, sitting down beside her husband's best friend. "Have you heard?"

"Not yet, but I know he's alive. I can at least tell you that. Jason's too stubborn to let a psycho like Bennett win."

Trini looked away, fighting the tears. This was the last straw. She had thought she could cope with Jason's career in the police force, but gradually it had become too much to take. This was all she could handle. She had nearly lost her husband today, and William had nearly lost his father.

"Trini?"

She looked back at him tearfully.

"I'm sorry, Sid I just can't cope with this anymore. When Jason gets better, I'll be taking William and going to stay with my parents back home in Angel Grove."

Sid frowned, then his jaw dropped as he realised with shock that Jason had not told Trini of his transfer.

"Oh, Hon, don't do that."

"I think I have to, Sid. This time Jason was lucky. Next time.... Next time he may not be."

Sid sighed. "Trini, there won't be a next time. He applied for a transfer out of Chicago nearly a month ago."

Trini gaped in shock. "A transfer? To where?"

"To Angel Grove. It was granted, and he was supposed to go at the end of the month."

Trini fell back in the seat in shock. Jason had put in a for a transfer She could have cried with relief as his words sank into her tired mind. A transfer meant leaving Chicago, and all the crazies who wanted to take potshots at her husband, simply because of his reputation.

"He wants out as much as you do," Sid told her softly. "He's worried about you and William. He told me that you two come ahead of his career as far as he's concerned."

"You didn't try to talk him out of it?" she asked incredulously. Sid had been the first person to befriend Jason when he had been transferred to the 17th precinct as a newly-ranked sergeant, and the two had become best friends almost instantly. It had been Sid that had gradually brought the other officers round to see Jason's true, kind nature, and it had been Sid who had rallied all the support just ahead of Jason's speedy promotion to lieutenant, and then captain. That Sid would not have opposed Jason's application for transfer was inconceivable.

Sid snorted loudly in response. "Of course I tried to talk him out of it. I don't want to lose the best partner I've ever had. Couldn't change his mind, though. He's one stubborn son of a bitch, Mrs Scott."

Trini had to laugh. "He is, isn't he?"

Sid hesitated, then reached across to lightly grasp Trini's hand. "Listen, Trini. I know it's hard for you to take, but I don't think you'll change Jason from the way he is. You've gotta accept that"

"I do, Sid. It's just" Years ago when he was pulling dangerous stunts like this, I was right there with him She shook her head. "I can't explain it. All I can say is that I accepted Jason for what he is a long time ago. I know I'll never change him from that, and I don't want to. I just want to be somewhere that I don't have to be scared everyday that the next time I see him, it'll be to identify him in the morgue!"

Sid nodded his understanding. "I know. I'm gonna miss you both when you go."

Trini smiled wearily. "Same. Thanks, Sid."

He hugged her lightly. "You're welcome."

Jason was awake when Trini was finally allowed in to see him some hours later, and it was all she could do not to cry. Wincing with pain, Jason sat up a little, only to be pushed back down by the nurse on duty.

"No movement, young man," she warned him. Jason sighed, then offered Trini a sheepish smile.

"Hey, honey."

With one hand over her mouth, Trini slapped Jason lightly on his arm. "Damn it, Jason, you scared me to death!"

"I'm sorry," he apologized seriously. "Honestly.... It got out of hand this time. I'll be fine, though."

"This time, yes! But what about the next time? God, Jason, I don't want to be a widow before I turn thirty!"

Jason reached up to grasp her hand. "You won't be. Trini, I asked for a transfer. I didn't tell you because I wanted to surprise you." Jason frowned, realising she didn't seem surprised by the news. A moment of thought told him what had happened. "Aw, Sid told you...."

Trini smiled tearfully. "Yes. Don't be annoyed with him, baby. He just wanted to reassure me that this wasn't going to happen again."

"He told you where we're going?"

"Angel Grove." Trini leaned over and hugged Jason as tightly as she dared. "I am so relieved. And I am so grateful that you stopped to think about me and William."

"Hey," Jason murmured, "you guys come first. You always have. I knew we couldn't go on like this. It was putting too much strain on our marriage and I want to be able to spend more time with you and William."

Trini kissed him lightly on the mouth. "I love you, Jason Scott."

"I love you too, Trini."

She pulled back, eyeing her husband critically. "So what happened this time? Harrison wouldn't give me many details."

Jason grimaced. "You really want to know?"

"Jason....?" she growled threateningly.

"Okay. We got to the warehouse, and I guess Bennett was waiting for us. He switched off the lights, let us make royal fools of ourselves before he made his move. By then, I'd sent Sid back out to the car. Stupid mistake, I should have known better."

"You're not perfect, hon."

"I know, but it was such a simple thing. Anyway, he came up behind me with a sawed-off shotgun, and took my guns off me. With a shotgun aimed at me at point blank, I couldn't do a damned thing without getting myself killed. He took me downstairs to.... I'm not sure where it was. Another level of the warehouse, anyway. He said it was where he taught the children their lessons. Psychotic bastard." Jason faltered then, remembering the wall.

Trini leaned forward a little.

"What is it?"

"There was one wall," Jason answered softly. "One wall that was totally covered in photos and new articles, Trini. You couldn't even see the wall itself for all that stuff he'd collected."

"What were the photos of? Children?"

Jason swallowed hard, not sure he should tell her. Trini frowned.

"Jason, what's wrong? Why won't you tell me?"

He sighed softly, finally giving in. "They weren't photos of children. Trini, they were all of me. The photos were pictures of me and the articles were all about me. God, it was frightening."

Trini sat frozen, her throat tightening painfully. "You?"

"Yeah. He.... He said he'd been watching me for a long time, even before he started killing the kids. Like he was obsessed, or something."

Trini squeezed his hand tightly. "What happened then?"

"I charged him. Figured he was going to kill me anyway, so I didn't have anything more to lose by making a break for it. We fought for a second, then I got free and went back up the stairs. That was when I got shot though, and I left a trail of blood that he just followed. Anyway, when Sid showed up, he shot the boxes apart and the whole lot came down on top of me. That's the last thing I remember."

Trini shuddered. "Thank God we're getting away from here."

"Yeah," Jason murmured. "Where's William?"

"Beth is looking after him. I didn't tell him you'd been shot."

"Good. He'll probably find out anyway, though. Some kid at his school will let it slip. Man, I can't wait to get back to Angel Grove."

"What about rehab? The doctor said the hip bone was shattered."

"It's not as bad as it sounds," Jason reassured her. "A few weeks of physio, and I should be back on my feet."

Trini looked thoughtful. "I think that we should arrange to stay with your parents until we find a place. We don't want Daddy harassing you like he did the last time they visited us."

Jason rolled his eyes, and slipped into a reasonable impersonation of Edward Kwan. "Now, you've got to find a more stable career, son. The police force is no life for a young man like yourself witha family to consider. Why don't you come into business with me, at the car yard?"

Trini giggled, hitting him again. "Oh, Jason, stop it."

"If I wanted to go into business with anyone," Jason grumbled, "it would have been my own father. I don't care to spend the rest of my life as a used car salesman."

"Well, there was always the dojo," Trini mused. "The number of times I heard you talking about it with Tommy...."

"Some things just aren't meant to happen," Jason replied quietly. "I'm happy where I am..." Trini shot him a warning look, and he returned it with a sheepish one. "Sorry. With what I am. I am quite happy as a police captain."

"Not a bad achievement," Trini said with a warm smile, "considering you're only twenty-seven."

Jason sighed softly. "Twenty-seven...." He glanced around furtively, but the room was clear. "Nearly ten years since we fought the forces of evil as Power Rangers. I can't believe it's that far gone."

"I can't believe the Power Rangers have been obsolete since the Turbo Rangers destroyed Diva Tox," Trini murmured. "I wonder what happened to Zedd and Rita...."

"Oh, don't even think about them," Jason moaned. "It'd be just our luck for them to show up as soon as we get back to Angel Grove."

"Don't you ever think about it, though?" Trini wanted to know. "I mean, morphing was always such a rush...."

"Yeah, it was a rush that Tommy got hooked on. Fine while it lasted, but look at what happened afterwards."

Trini winced, recalling the horrible day when they'd learned that Tommy had become addicted to cocaine and heroine. He'd become a thrill junkie, and in the end, drugs had been the closest thing he could get to a morphing rush. It had taken two long, painful years to get Tommy off the habit, and as recently as a year ago, Jason and Trini occasionally heard from Billy or Adam about how Tommy had been caught with small sachets of drugs.

"He's doing all right now," Trini said softly. "He and Rocky and Adam started the Dragon Dojo together nearly a year ago. According to Adam, the place is doing well."

"Tommy's lucky," Jason conceded. "People are more willing to forgive and forget in Angel Grove. Oh, Trini, I'll be glad to get back there."

"Even if it is dull and boring compared to Chicago?" she teased. Jason smiled wearily.

"Yes, even if. Especially if. This Angel of Death case was one too much. There, I admit it. I've had enough, I want some peace and quiet."

Trini hugged him gently. "Chicago is going to miss her hero cop."

"Let her. I'm taking permanent leave of absence. Start packing, honey. As soon as I'm well enough, we are gone."

A broad smile lit up Trini's delicate features. "That is the best thing I've heard in a long while. I love you so much, Jason."

Jason smiled back, his eyes bright with love for his beautiful bride.

"I love you, too."

*Two weeks later

Tommy Oliver had just finished teaching a small group of advanced karate students and was packing up the equipment when Adam Park walked in. He offered the younger man a weary grin.

"Hey, Adam. How'd your class go?"

"Good," Adam replied with a nod. "Toby is getting better and the other kids stopped hassling him since I talked Ryan into giving him a hand."

"That's good to hear," Tommy agreed. "Man, I'm wasted.... I could go home and sleep for a month..."

"Yeah, well wait till you hear this before you pass out."

Tommy glanced back at Adam curiously. "What's the big news, then?"

"Billy just heard yesterday, Jason and Trini are coming home!"

Tommy's face lit up like a beacon. "Really?"

"Yeah. Jason successfully applied for a transfer from Chicago. They'll be arriving at the end of the week. Apparently the transfer was approved two months ago."

A frown creased Tommy's face as he locked the equipment cupboard, then picked up his towel to wipe his face. "How come they took so long, then? Oh... Let me guess. Unfinished case?"

"Uh huh. Check this out."

Adam held out a newspaper clipping, which Tommy took. He looked at the headline, and the accompanying picture, and groaned.

"Man, Trini is gonna kill him herself if he doesn't stop pulling that hero shit."

Adam smiled grimly. "Billy said he thought she was ready to. Apparently that's the closest Jason's ever come to actually being killed. He was shot at close range with a sawed-off shotgun, and then buried alive beneath dozens of those really heavy moving crates. You know, those ones that weigh a ton each? He nearly got totally crushed."

"But he still got his man," Tommy sighed. Adam nodded.

"Yeah. Him and his partner. Billy said Trini told him that Jason tried to give the credit to his partner, but you know what the press is like. All they cared about was that he'd caught the Angel of Death."

Tommy laughed softly as he followed Adam from the room. "Well, at any rate, it'll be good to see them again."

Adam snickered a little. "Better hope that Trini can keep her dad away from Jase, though. He still thinks that selling used cars is a more solid career than the police force. He still wants Jason to join him at the car yard."

"Sure, I can really see that," Tommy retorted. "Jason Scott, Chicago's hero cop, now selling used cars in Angel Grove." He paused, looking down at the newspaper photo of his injured friend. "But on the other hand..."

Both men laughed as they headed back to their office.

A week later

Jason sighed contentedly as he settled down in the double bed in the spare room of his parents home. Despite his protests, they had ordered him to bed almost as soon as he'd gotten in the door. Although he wouldn't have admitted it, he was relieved. He was taking longer to recover from his wounds than he'd anticipated and, after the long flight from Chicago, he needed a rest.

"Daddy?"

Jason looked around, then smiled as his son peeked into the room.

"Hey, tiger. What's up?"

William Jared Scott ducked into the room and climbed up onto the bed next to his father. "Are you still hurting?"

"A little," Jason confessed. "How come you aren't playing outside?"

"Didn't want to," William replied firmly. "Can I stay in here with you? I'll be real quiet, I promise."

Jason couldn't resist the puppy eyes look that William gave him, and reluctantly conceded. "Okay, but if your mother catches you, I'm not bailing you out."

William smiled and snuggled down next to Jason in the bed.

"I love you, Dad."

Jason smiled faintly as he slid his arm protectively around his only child.

"I love you, too, William."

Trini came out of the study after finishing fixing up the family's finances, and found Donavon and Sarah Scott in the kitchen.

"Where's William?" she asked, looking around in concern.

Donavon couldn't resist a grin as he pointed through to the spare room. Trini made a sound of frustration.

"I told him he wasn't to bother Jason."

"Well, Jason hasn't sent him out," Sarah said, "so I wouldn't be too worried."

Trini hesitated, then went down the hall and opened the door a crack. Jason was fast asleep, as so was William, who was curled up next to his beloved dad. She paused, then smiled to herself and backed out of the room, deciding not to disturb them. She had enough difficulty getting William to take naps, so if that worked, then who was she to argue?

She went back into the kitchen, and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"I have to thank you both again for letting us stay here," she murmured gratefully. Donavon waved his hand dismissively.

"It's all right, Trini. We're pleased you asked to stay here."

"Well, after the third and fourth degrees that my father put Jason through, I didn't think he could handle it again."

Sarah smiled a little. "He still wants Jason to go into business with him?"

Trini nodded gloomily. "Yes. Jason doesn't want anything to do with it, and I don't blame him. I wish Daddy would leave Jason alone."

Trini had barely finished speaking when the doorbell rang. She raised her eyes skyward, and spoke pleadingly.

"Please, don't let that be him...."

"Hello?" called a familiar voice from the front porch, and Trini moaned loudly. As Donavon went to answer it, Sarah touched Trini's hand lightly.

"Don't worry, dear. We're in damage control, now. If you want to hide, we'll cover you."

Trini had to laugh. "No, it's okay. If I don't see them now, they'll only come back when Jason is probably up and around. At least now I can stop him from having a go at Jason face-to-face."

Donavon came back in, followed by Edward and Jade Kwan. Trini got up and embraced both her parents, then moved back, notably, to sit beside Sarah. Edward looked around the room determinedly.

"Where are they, then?"

"Jason's resting," Trini said firmly, "William's having a nap, and I don't want either of them disturbed."

Edward blinked in surprise at her short reply. Jade Kwan reached across to pat her daughter's hand.

"Now, Trini, your father just wants to have a little chat with Jason, that's all. You wouldn't begrudge him that?"

Trini frowned. "I certainly would, because I know what it's about. I don't want Daddy hassling Jason about working in the car yard, because Jason does not want to do that. And if Jason doesn't want it, then I certainly don't."

"You're hardly being reasonable, Trini," Edward argued. "I haven't even had the chance to talk to Jason yet"

"And you're not going to get the chance," Trini finished pointedly. "Mum, Dad, I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but why do you think we arranged to stay with Donavon and Sarah? Jason's still recovering, and he doesn't need the sort of stress that you'll both cause him."

A long, tense silence followed, until Sarah practically leapt to her feet, offering to make coffee. Finally, Edward spoke in an annoyed voice.

"I don't see what's so wrong with offering my son-in-law a chance at a better, more productive career!"

"Daddy," Trini growled, "Jason would have a more productive career as a garbage collector!"

"Trini!" Jade gasped in shock at the blatant insult. Trini glowered at her parents.

"I'm sick of you both putting Jason down. He's done a lot of good in the police force, and I'm not going to tell him he has to quit that just to make you two feel better. Now, I don't want to keep arguing, but I will as long as you insist on badgering us over this. And if you wont leave Jason alone, then I'll have to ask you not to come and see us at all."

Jade pursed her lips, trying not to be insulted. "Edward, I think we'd better go."

"No," Edward said quietly. "Trini's right."

Jade stared at her husband in shock. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me, Jade. Trini's right. Jason made it crystal clear the last time that he didn't want to change careers. It's time we stopped trying to bully him into it. Trini, we're sorry, all right?"

Trini glanced at the Scotts, then back to her parents. "Do you mean that, Dad?"

"Yes, honey. If Jason's happy where he is, and you're happy with that, then so are we."

Trini got up and hugged her father tightly. "Thankyou, Daddy."

Donavon and Sarah exchanged relieved looks.

"I think," Donavon said with a grin, "that this calls for...."

He was interrupted when William suddenly ran into the room, fear and confusion in his eyes. He went straight to his mother, clambering into her lap in panic.

"Honey?" Trini asked, looking down at her little boy in concern. "What's wrong?"

"It's Daddy," William said in fright. "I.... I think he's having a nightmare, or something...."

Trini set William down and hurried from the room, followed closely by Scotts.

Jason was twisting sharply in bed, moaning in both pain and fear. He was lathered with a thin layer of sweat, and his hands were curled into tight fists.

"What on earth?" Donavon muttered. Trini signaled them back, then went around and lay down on the bed beside her husband. Moving slowly, carefully, she placed her arms around Jason and drew him to her, holding him in a loving embrace. Gradually, as she murmured soothingly into his ear, he began to settle down, eventually falling back into a dreamless sleep.

She stayed with him like that for another minute or so before sliding off the bed, and silently slipping out of the room.

"That was a neat trick," Sarah commented as they went back into the kitchen. Trini smiled tiredly.

"It's something I was told by the wife of another cop. The best thing to do, when they have nightmares like that, is to just hold them. It works with Jason, at any rate."

"He has nightmares a lot?" Donavon asked in concern. Trini nodded as she gently picked up William and cradled him to her.

"A lot more often than he'll admit. He's seen some pretty awful things."

"Like what?" William asked eagerly. Trini hugged him tightly.

"Never you mind." She put him down again. "Now, go and play in the backyard, and let Daddy sleep."

William nodded and darted out of the room. A moment later, they heard the back door open, then swing shut as the six year-old went outside.

"He's just like his father," Sarah murmured with a wistful smile. Trini had to agree.

"Yes, he's stubborn as a goat."

Sarah hit Donavon lightly on the arm. "That's your side of the family."

Laughter rippled through the room, and then Edward spoke, genuine concern in his voice.

"Can I ask what happened this time around? Last time it was that serial rapist that tried to..."

"Edward, shut up," Jade snapped, knowing full well that neither Trini nor the Scotts cared to relive that incident. Trini sighed softly.

"It was the Chicago Angel of Death. Jason went after him with Sid. Bennett was waiting for them, though, and he managed to corner Jason."

"Did Jason tell you that?" Sarah asked.

"Some of it," Trini replied. "I got some of it from Sid in the hospital. Jason was lucky, that time."

She trailed off, clearly not wanting to talk about it. The Kwans and the Scotts all respected that, and backed off the topic.

"Chief Oliver called earlier," Donavon said. "He suggested that he might be coming by today or tomorrow."

Trini sighed audibly. "I hope he's not going to badger Jason about getting back to work."

"I don't think so," Donavon mused. "He asked me how you all were... Didn't ask anything about whether Jason was fit to work."

"That's a relief," Trini murmured. A moment of silence fell, and then Edward stood up.

"We'd better get going."

Trini nodded. "I'll tell Jason you were here."

Donavon showed the couple out, while Trini stayed in the kitchen with her mother-in-law.

"I think," Trini said with a sigh, "that my mother is adding truth to all the horror stories about mother-in-laws."

Sarah smiled a little. "That's nonsense, Trini. She's just protective of her only child, just as we've always been with Jason."

Trini stared into the cooling cup of coffee. "It must be so hard for you, hearing about all the times that Jason's been hurt."

"No harder than it is for you," Sarah told her with a sad smile. "We were thrilled to hear you were coming back."

"And then this happened," Trini whispered, tears filling her eyes as the delayed shock finally started to set in. "Oh god... He could have been killed!"

"But he wasn't," Donavon said firmly as he came back into the kitchen. "Don't focus on what might have happened, Trini. You'll never sleep again if you do."

Trini got unsteadily to her feet. "I think I might go and lie down with Jason for a while."

"You do that," Sarah said warmly. "We'll keep an eye on William."

"Thankyou," Trini mumbled, heading slowly from the room. Neither Sarah nor Donavon said a word to each other, but both were thinking exactly the same thing.

*That evening

Sarah and Trini took William out to see a movie, leaving Jason at home with his father. With the women gone, Donavon went into the bedroom to have a heart-to-heart with his son.

"How are you feeling?"

Jason looked around as Donavon walked into the room, then offered him a crooked smile.

"Okay. I'm still a little tired, but I guess that'll pass when I get back on my feet."

Donavon didn't smile. He went over and sat down carefully on the edge of the bed.

"Maybe it's just me.... But you seem like you're doing your damned best to get yourself killed before you turn thirty. Why did you go into that building alone?"

Jason sank back into the pillows. He hated it when his father turned the psychiatry on him.

"I wasn't alone, Dad. Sid was with me."

"On the other side of the building. Unless there's a different set of rules for every PD, you should have waited for backup."

Jason looked away, trying to hide his irritation. "Save it, Dad. I already got this lecture from Lieutenant Harrison."

"Well, you're going to get it again. Look at me, Jason."

Jason growled frustration as he looked back to his father. "Look, Dad..."

"No, you just stop and listen. You know I've tried to stay detached from your career, and you know I wasn't thrilled when you decided to join the Police Academy in LA. I've tried to keep it to myself all these years..."

He trailed off, taking in Jason's confused and wounded look.

"What's wrong?"

Jason swallowed hard, something that was made difficult by the lump in his throat.

"You never said you didn't agree with me joining the police force."

Donavon frowned deeply. "I thought I made that clear."

"You never said anything," Jason argued, tears filling his eyes in light of the startling revelation. Donavon withheld a sigh.

"Well, I guess you know now. That's not the point. I'm trying to say that its time to start thinking about Trini and William. You can't put them through that sort of crap anymore, Jason."

"Why do you think I applied for the transfer?" Jason exploded. "I've always put them first, but I had a job to do! You can't say those sorts of things! You don't have any right!"

"Someday," Donavon said quietly as he stood up, "you'll have to make a choice between your family and your career. I hope you'll make the right choice."

He started for the door, but stopped when Jason called to him in a trembling voice.

"Dad?"

"What is it, Jason?"

"Weren't you ever proud....? Of anything I did? Not at all?"

Donavon stared at Jason for a long moment before turning and walking out of the room without saying another word.

Trini got ready for bed in the dark, not wanting to disturb Jason. It was as she went around to the window side of the bed that she realised he was awake. A moment later, she saw the tears trickling down his cheeks.

"Jason?" She sat down on the bed, and quickly caught up his hand in her own. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"Do you want me to quit the Force?"

He spoke so softly that for a moment, she wasn't sure he'd spoken at all. Finally, she shook her head.

"No, of course I don't! Why would you ask that?"

"I talked to Dad," Jason whispered, "while you and Mum and William were out. Trini, he never wanted me to go to the Police Academy in the first place! He never wanted me to be a cop."

"What?" Trini asked incredulously. "Jason, that can't be true."

Jason looked around at her as she reached out to gently brush away the tears with her delicate fingers.

"I asked him if he'd ever been proud of anything I'd done...."

"And?"

"He couldn't even answer," Jason said, finally breaking down. Trini slid down in the bed, and hugged Jason to her as tightly as she dared.

"It's all right, baby," she whispered, cradling him to her as he cried. "Don't worry about that, Jason. I'm proud of you, even if your father isn't. I'm very proud of you."

Jason didn't speak again, but continued to cry softly into his wife's shoulder.

*Two weeks later

Jason marched up the steps of Angel Grove's Police Headquarters, back in uniform for the first time in five weeks. His convalescence had taken longer than he'd expected, but he'd gotten numerous reassurances from Police Chief Michael Oliver that there was no rush for him to get back to work. He stepped inside the main door, pausing to adjust his already immaculate uniform before heading across the tiled floor.

He and Trini had finally found a house, and had moved in as soon as possible. Ever since the exchange between Jason and his father, things had been tense in the Scott family home. Jason and Donavon had hardly spoken a word to each other, and Trini and Sarah had found themselves caught up in the middle. Moving into a house of their own had been a blessing, for all parties.

The sergeant on the duty desk looked up in vague surprise as the young man in a captain's uniform strode up. A moment passed, then he finally recognised him.

"Jason? Jason Scott...? I don't believe it!"

A grin broke out across Jason's face. "Hey, Jack. Still on the front desk after all these years?"

Jack Sikorsky grinned back. "What can I say? It's a nice, cushy job, and I never get shot at."

"Shot at?" Jason echoed incredulously. "In Angel Grove? Please..."

"Oh, so you've turned into a real hot-shot now have you?" Jack asked teasingly. "The big hero cop from Chicago who's seen more action than the rest of us put together? Give it a rest, Jason. You're still just a kid here."

Jason's grin widened. "Maybe... But I outrank you now, Jack. Better watch yourself."

Jack laughed and handed a security card to Jason. "Don't lose that. You won't get past this desk without it. And the Chief wants to see you as soon as you get in."

Jason plucked the card out of Jack's hand, and started towards the security door. "Thanks, Jack. I'll see you later."

Jack nodded. "For sure." He paused, the smile fading from his face as Jason disappeared through the door. "Good luck, kid. You're definitely gonna need it."

Jason had been expecting a bit of tension when he walked in. After all, he knew most of the officers through his father's psychiatric practise. Most had been through the wringer at some point after exceptionally hard cases. He knew they might not have reacted too well to his being of a higher rank than the rest of them.

What Jason was not prepared for was the outright hostility that the men all radiated. Few looked him in the eye as he passed their desks, and those who did favoured him with almost malicious glares. Swallowing back the sudden nervousness, Jason held his head high and strode through the maze of desks to Police Chief Michael Oliver's office. He knocked once on the door, waited for a reply, then quickly went in.

Michael Oliver looked up, and grinned when he saw the young man.

"Jason, come in, please. Sit down."

"Thankyou, sir," Jason murmured, sitting down in one of the empty chairs. Michael offered him a crooked smile.

"You certainly look a hell of a lot different in that uniform. You look..."

Jason had to smile. "Grown up?" he suggested lightly. Michael laughed.

"Yes, I guess so. I was so used to seeing you sparring with Tommy in the Youth Centre, that it's a bit difficult to think of you as an adult."

Jason glanced towards the door. "I don't think you're the only one, sir."

"You mean that lot out there?" Michael shook his head. "As far as they're concerned, its mostly just jealousy. Any one of them could have made captain if they'd really tried."

Jason shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "I don't know, sir..."

Michael plucked a paper clip off the desk and began to bend it. "Look at yourself, Jason. Just turned twenty-seven, and you're already a captain. You don't make a position like that on favouritism and luck. Especially not in Chicago. From what I've read in your files, it won't be long before you're ready to be promoted to lieutenant."

Jason grimaced. "If my old lieutenant had gotten his way, I would've been demoted about three ranks."

Michael looked thoughtfully at the young man. "Over that Angel of Death business? Yes, well, I have to agree that it was a pretty foolish thing to do, Jason. I hope you learned a lesson from that. Never go into a situation like that without backup."

"Don't worry, sir," Jason said ruefully. "I definitely learned my lesson there."

"I should hope so. Now, how are you feeling?"

"Fine, sir. Ready to work."

Michael grinned. "Obviously. C'mon, I'll take you to your office."

"How is Tommy?" Jason asked quietly as he followed Michael down a short corridor. "I haven't seen him yet."

"He's being kept busy with the dojo," Michael answered. He paused, then looked back at Jason. "He's been clean for nearly a year, now. I hope to God he'll stay clean."

Jason nodded slowly. "So do I, sir."

Michael sighed faintly as he showed Jason into an office. "It was hell for all of us. The media was on my back all the time... I hated myself for putting Tommy into de-tox, but it had to be done. For his own sake."

"Billy kept me and Trini up to date," Jason admitted softly. "I would've come back then if I thought it might have helped."

A tired smile crossed Michael's lips. "You always were the best friend Tommy ever had. I have to admit, that I nearly called you several times... But you were still trying to sort yourself out, then. I didn't want to turn a second life upside down. Everything's going just fine now, and hopefully it'll stay that way."

He made a sweeping motion with his hand. "Your office. I know it's not much, and probably less than what you're used to."

Jason resisted a smirk as he thought back to the rather dark little office space he had shared with Sid and a third office. "Actually, sir, it's a lot better. And bigger."

"Glad to hear it. The only drawback is, you have to share with Captain Ashley."

"Eric Ashley?" Jason asked, dumbfounded. Michael smiled, then.

"No, not Eric. He retired two years ago on a disability pension after taking a bullet in the back. David Ashley, Eric's son. I don't know that you've met David. He's about five years older than you."

"I haven't met him," Jason confirmed.

"Well, I'll warn you now. He tends to be a bit cold to start with. Just give him time, and he'll warm up."

Jason grimaced, then looked over to a fully-furnished desk. "That his?"

"Yes. The other one, obviously, is yours."

"And he doesn't mind sharing an office?"

"He wouldn't say even if he did. I guess you'll know by the end of the day. But on the other hand, he is always professional. So don't worry about it."

Jason chewed lightly on his lower lip. "Thanks. I think."

Michael clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Everything will be fine, Jason. I'm glad to have you on board. And don't think you're going to have a quiet time of it, either. Since we stopped needing the Power Rangers for the monsters, the old-fashioned type of crime has resurfaced with a vengeance. You're going to be plenty busy, don't think you won't."

Jason merely smiled and rolled his eyes.

Capt. David Ashley paused in the hallway, looking through the glass panel into his office. Three weeks ago, Chief Oliver had informed him he would be sharing an office with Jason Scott, and though he hadn't been happy about it, he hadn't protested. He was a police officer, after all, and that came above petty dislikes. And he did dislike Jason, despite never having actually met the younger man face-to-face.

David frowned slightly to himself. He didn't look all that different to the pictures of him that were plastered around the Youth Centre, along with those of Tommy Oliver, and a few other kids. Disgust flickered across David's face. That was another issue. He was just waiting for Tommy Oliver to be caught with more drugs. It was bound to happen; once a drug addict, always a drug addict. They were never really clean; it was just a matter of proving it.

Of course, he had no doubt that if it did happen, then Scott would be right there to defend his best buddy. And, on top of that, he would no doubt have the police chief to back him up If there was anything that made David angry, it was blatant favouritism.

Biting back his anger and complaints, David went around and walked into the office.

Oliver must have warned him, David thought absently. Scott made no attempt to ingratiate himself, but rather waited for him to make the first move. He did so reluctantly.

"I guess you're Jason," David said coolly. "I'm Captain Ashley."

Jason nodded. "Pleased to meet you."

He was merely being polite, and David knew it. He sat down at his own desk before speaking again.

"I'm supposed to be showing you the ropes for the next couple of weeks." David paused, then turned a hard stare on Jason. "Let's forget the pleasantries, okay? I think we both know you don't really belong here. We aren't going to be best friends, or anything like that. You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours. That's the way it works. Maybe you're a big hero back in Chicago, but that doesn't hold water here. And don't think a reputation will buy you the respect of the rest of the men here. You're still just a kid in their eyes, and you shouldn't be here. You want their respect, then you have to earn it. And it's going to be a long, hard road. Do you understand me, Scott?"

Jason regarded David grimly. "I understand you."

"Good. And don't forget it."

That evening

"So how was work?" Trini asked as Jason came in. He looked over at her, and she was startled to see the sheer exhaustion in his eyes. "Jason?"

"It was okay," he muttered. "It's just, I know most of the officers from Dad's practise, and I don't think any of them want to accept that I'm an adult. They think I'm still just a kid, and they're treating me like it. You know, Ted Buchanan actually had the gall to tell me to get him a cup of coffee this afternoon? I outrank him, for crying out loud!"

Trini guided Jason into an armchair and began to massage the tension out of his shoulders. "Don't tell me the great Jason Scott is too big and important to get a simple cup of coffee?"

Jason's expression crumbled. "Trini..."

She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him. "Give it time, honey. You knew it wouldn't be easy."

He sighed faintly. "I guess so."

"Are you hungry? I kept your dinner warm for you."

A grateful smile filtered onto Jason's face. "Thanks, Trini. You're the best."

She smiled serenely. "I know."

One month later

It was the first day Jason had had off since he'd started work again, and he was making the best of it that he could, taking his family out for picnic by the lake. They'd met Tommy and Kat, and Adam and Tanya, and the group had made a day of it, spending time together the likes of which they hadn't been able to do for years.

"William is such a beautiful little boy," Tanya said with a smile as the five year-old tore around nearby. Jason and Trini both smiled with pleasure.

"We know," Trini agreed. "We love him so much."

Kat smiled seductively at Tommy. "I hope you like kids, Tommy."

"Oh sure," Tommy joked. "When they're asleep."

Kat hit him on the arm, and they all laughed. Both Tommy and Kat, and Adam and Tanya were engaged, but Tommy and Kat had yet to set a wedding date.

Adam and Tanya were to be married in just over a month, and the air around them was rapidly filling with the excitement that a coming wedding brings.

"How long have you guys been married now, anyway?" Tanya asked.

"Six years in two weeks," Jason replied, causing the others to laugh.

"There's a guy who'll never be in the bad books for forgetting an anniversary," Tommy laughed.

Trini regarded the former Ranger with dry humour. "Unlike yourself, Mr Forgetful?"

Tommy reddened and Kat laughed.

"Don't worry, sweetie. I'll happily put reminders up for you."

Jason and Trini exchanged smiles at their friends' antics. They hadn't realised how badly they missed Angel Grove until they'd finally gotten back there.

Jason had left Angel Grove at the age of nineteen, almost immediately after high school graduation, to join the LA Police Academy. After spending the initial rookie period with the LAPD, he had transferred to Chicago. Not long after, he had met up with Trini again. She had been teaching Tae Kwon Do at a local high school, and within six months they'd gotten engaged and gotten married. They had both been twenty-one at the time, and just three months after Jason's twenty-second birthday, on the same day as his promotion to sergeant, William Jared Scott had been born.

It hadn't been a perfect run, though. Not by a long shot. When he was just three months old, William had developed jaundice and a severe kidney problem, and for nearly a month, Jason and Trini had lived with the terror that their baby boy would be taken from them. It wasn't until after William's first birthday that the problems were finally corrected, but the fear from that period of their lives had never fully left them. William had grown into a healthy toddler, but still that fear of losing him clung in the backs of their minds.

"So how are things with your dad?" Tommy asked Jason quietly. Jason shrugged a little.

"No worse..."

"No better, either," Trini interjected. "I keep telling Jason they should talk this over, but he won't listen to me."

"I just can't believe he never approved of anything I did!" Jason argued. "What did he want me to do, anyway? Get a nice, cushy desk job? He knew I needed to stay active."

"I guess your dad just assumed you were going to go into the dojo with us," Adam suggested. "After all, we were always talking about it. It was probably a shock to the system when you joined the academy."

"Yeah, Jase," Tommy agreed. "Just give him time, okay? He'll come round."

"Time?" Jason echoed incredulously. "He's had eight years to accept it! How much time does he need?"

Uncomfortable silence followed, and Tanya was about to speak when there was a blur of movement, and suddenly Jason found himself tackled by William on the blanket.

"Got you!" William shrieked excitedly. "I got you, Daddy!"

Jason laughed, his concerns gone as he cuddled his son. "Yeah, you got me good."

William threw his arms around Jason, hugging him as tightly as his little arms would allow.

"I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, too, Will. I love you a lot."

The others exchanged smiles. Patience was the key. Sooner or later, things would work themselves out. They only had to be patient and wait.

"You're married with a kid, aren't you, Scott?"

Jason looked up from his paperwork at the sound of David Ashley's voice.

"Yes. William's five.",p>

"You called your kid William?" David retorted. "What did he do to deserve that?"

Jason fought back a grin. It had been a blatant attempt to rile him, and he knew it. "We were just going to call him Jared, but William is the name of one of my best friends. Besides, his friends are calling him Billy. Not Willie."

David shook his head wordlessly.

"Do you have any kids?"

Jason already knew David was married. He'd seen the wedding ring on the other man's finger.

"Two," David replied. He hesitated, then turned a frame around to show Jason. "This is Kate, and Jonathan. They're twins, but Kate was born several hours earlier, on the previous day."

Jason smiled a that. "They'd be happy to have different birthdays, I'll bet."

David smiled, despite his efforts to continue disliking Jason. "They are. It gives them a sense of individuality. Plus, they like getting presents that they don't have to share."

Jason laughed softly, but stopped as something occurred to him.

"David, could I ask you something?"

David regarded Jason warily. "What is it?"

"Did your father approve of you joining the Force?"

David nodded. "Yes. I think he always wanted me to follow him and join the police. It wasn't to please him, though. I wanted to be an officer for a long time." He hesitated, eyeing Jason curiously. "Why do you want to know?"

"No reason," Jason murmured. "Just curious."

The two fell into silence again, but David continued to watch Jason out of the corner of his eye, suspecting for the first time that perhaps Jason's life wasn't as picture-perfect as they all assumed.

"How's Jason coping?" Melanie Oliver asked her husband as they had dinner. Tommy, who still lived with his parents, glanced up curiously as he ate.

"He's doing fine," Michael replied. "Some of the officers are starting to warm up to him a little. It's taking some time, though."

"Jase never said he was having trouble," Tommy said, frowning. Michael smiled faintly.

"I guess he just doesn't want to burden his friends with his problems."

Tommy shook his head. "Man, to have trouble at work as well as with his dad..."

Michael frowned, then. "What do you mean, with his dad? What's the problem?"

Guilt flashed across Tommy's face. "I guess I shouldn't have said that. I don't suppose you'd forget I said it?"

"No. Explain, please."

Tommy sighed. "Jase had a fight with his dad just after he came back to Angel Grove. It turns out Mr Scott never wanted Jason to join the Police Force to begin with, and he was really upset that Jason went ahead and joined. According to what Trini told us, Mr Scott was never pleased with anything he did in the Force. It really hurt Jase a lot, and they've hardly spoken since they had that fight."

Michael sighed softly. "I should have seen that myself. Donavon counsels so many officers, he sees the sorts of emotional and mental problems that being in the Force can cause. It probably scared the hell out of him when Jason joined the Academy in LA. And especially with Jason's track record. That boy always seemed to land the most dangerous cases. But still I don't understand why Donavon wouldn't be proud of him. Jason's done a hell of a lot of good. He's put a lot of dangerous criminals in jail."

"I think Donavon is a lot prouder of Jason than he's willing to admit," Melanie murmured.

Michael frowned at the table. "We just have to find some way of making him admit it to Jason."

A few weeks later

Jason and David were working on night shift, patrolling the less classy areas of Angel Grove in an unmarked car. Both men insisted on making regular patrols despite their rank and, inevitably, had ended up doing them together. The last couple of months had soothed David's antagonism towards Jason, though, and he found himself starting to genuinely like the younger man. Jason was nothing like his preceding reputation had made him out to be; there was nothing gung-ho about him, and he relied very much on team work rather than trying to do everything himself.

"All quiet on the western front," Jason muttered, breaking David's train of thought. "Thank God."

David smiled. "Not up for any action tonight?"

"With any luck, no. It was parents' day at the kindergarten today. After two and a half hours of dodging five year-olds, I could do with a holiday."

"Ah, don't worry about it. They grow out of it In another five years."

Jason pulled a face. "Thanks. I needed that."

"What are you complaining about, anyway? I've seen your kid. He's an angel!"

"You haven't seen him after he has coke or red cordial."

"All kids are like that. My Jonathan goes hyper if he has too much sugar. Takes hours to settle him down."

Jason laughed softly as he looked out into the black night. "I still can't believe how little everything has changed."

"You're really glad to be back here, aren't you?" David asked, and Jason nodded.

"Yeah, I think I am. At first, I don't think I really wanted to leave Chicago, but now that I'm here.... I don't know. I guess in a way I wonder why I ever left."

"Oh, I can tell you that," David replied. Jason looked at him curiously.

"How's that?"

"Because there's no police academy in Angel Grove," came the blunt reply, and Jason had to laugh.

"That's pretty much it. I think I surprised my friends as well as my parents. They all thought I was going to start teaching karate full-time."

"What changed your mind?"

Jason hesitated, then. The real truth was that after finishing up as a Power Ranger, he couldn't simply have gone back to an ordinary sort of a life. True, the rush of morphing had been strong, but that wasn't it. It was the satisfaction of being there and having a hand in stopping villains and criminals cold.

"I like helping people," Jason said finally, "and the best way I knew how was to join the police."

David nodded approvingly. He had joined for much the same reason.

"I've come to a conclusion," David announced suddenly. "You aren't half as big an asshole as I expected."

Jason stared at David, half-surprised and half-disturbed. "Really?"

David grinned. "Really. I think we're going to make pretty good partners, Jason."

Jason smiled with relief and sank back into the seat. That was some- thing he badly needed to hear, particularly since he seemed to be in an unrecoverable situation with his father.

"Thanks, David."

"You're welcome."

As soon as the other men had seen that David had finally accepted Jason, they, too, gradually began to accept him. On the whole, after that turning point with David, Jason found his workplace situation much easier to cope with, and he began to enjoy working again.

Some days later

Jason and David had just come in from a foot patrol, both tired from the humid weather that had engulfed the town. Over the last few days, the two men had become good friends, much to Michael Oliver's private relief. They were just making their way through the maze of desks when they almost literally ran into Donavon Scott, who had been there to counsel a couple of officers. David, initially unaware of the tension between Jason and his father, spoke cheerfully to the older man.

"Hey, Mr Scott. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, David," Donavon replied, smiling warmly at the young man. "How are your kids?"

"Oh, still causing havoc as usual. Excuse me, if I don't get some water, I'm going to pass out."

He stepped past Donavon, glancing surreptitiously back over his shoulder as he got himself a glass of water. Donavon had turned to find himself face-to-face with Jason, and the smile on his face had fallen away with startling abruptness.

"Jason," he said tonelessly, acknowledging his son's presence. Jason swallowed hard, remembering Trini pleading with him to try and break through the wall that had somehow erected itself between him and his father.

"Dad... Uh, I was wondering Would you and Mum like to come around..."

"I'm sorry," Donavon said abruptly, in a tone that was unnecessarily sharp. "We don't have the time."

Jason felt his throat tighten, uncomfortably aware of the eyes that were suddenly on them.

"You didn't even let me finish...."

"I told you," Donavon snapped, "I don't have the time for you. You won't listen to me. Don't expect me to listen to you. Excuse me, Captain. I have better things to do."

He turned and stalked out of the room, leaving Jason standing there in shock and growing distress. Behind him, David spoke quietly.

"Jason? Are you all right?"

The tears filled Jason's eyes before he was even aware of it. A moment later, he turned and almost bolted from the room.

"Shit..."

David glanced around as the murmurs of the other officers reached his ears.

"Can you believe that?"

"Turned on his own kid, for crying out loud..."

"David? Could I speak to you, please?"

It was Michael Oliver. David went reluctantly, preferring to have gone after Jason.

"Yes, sir?"

Michael ushered him in and shut the door.

"I didn't see or hear all of that. Please tell me that Donavon didn't just tell his own son to get lost."

"I wish I could, sir. I think Jason was just trying to invite him for dinner, or something like that. Dr Scott just told him he didn't have time for him. He called him 'captain'!"

"Yes, I heard that. I just found out recently that Donavon wasn't entirely happy with Jason joining the Police Force. I didn't realise just how acute it was, until now."

David shook his head. "I've never seen anyone treated so badly as Dr Scott just treated Jason. It... It was disgusting!"

"I know," Michael agreed. "Donavon's practically disowned Jason, and I have a strong feeling that Jason is hurting over it far more than he'd ever let on."

"Sir... If you don't mind I'd like to go and find Jason. Just to see that he's okay. He seemed pretty upset."

"Sure," Michael murmured. "And do me a favour, David. Let me know sometime today just how Jason is coping with this."

David nodded his compliance, then left the police chief's office.

Jason had fled to the precinct gym, and David arrived to find him laying into a punching bag with a ferocity that he could not remember ever seeing Jason display. He hesitated, then walked over slowly.

"How come you never said you had problems like that?"

Jason paused in beating up the punching bag. "Would you have cared?"

David sighed inwardly. "To start with? I guess not. We're supposed to support our brothers in the Force. We haven't exactly supported you in anything, have we?"

Jason ceased his attack on the punching bag and went over to sit on the edge of the boxing ring. "He never said anything when I joined up. Never said he didn't agree with it. Never said he didn't want me to be a cop."

David chewed lightly on his lower lip. "Would it have made any difference to you?"

"Probably not," Jason conceded. "I would have known, though. Maybe it wouldn't have gotten this far."

"I guess it must hurt pretty bad," David murmured, joining Jason on the edge of the ring. "I always had my father's approval That's why you asked me about that, isn't it?"

"Yes."

David looked sideways at Jason, starting to see him in an entirely different light. "You know, one of the reasons we all gave you such a hard time to start with was because we thought you were just one of those guys who'd had everything handed to him on a silver platter. We wanted to see how long you held on for before you buckled."

"I have not had everything handed to me," Jason growled. David nodded.

"We know now. But still, you have to admit, your life seems almost perfect. Joining the police at the age of nineteen early advancement, and one of the youngest men to reach the rank of captain. You have a beautiful wife, and an angel of a kid... A guy couldn't ask for more."

Jason stared up at the ceiling. "William developed a kidney infection at three months. We nearly lost him. Sometimes I still wake up in the middle of the night, thinking he never came through it. For a while it looked as though he was going to need a transplant. It was a miracle it was never needed. He had a good doctor... We're still thankful."

David whistled softly. "Not so picture perfect after all. Is he still sick?"

"No, thank God. The problems were fixed. He's growing up healthy now, but it was frightening for a while."

David got up slowly. "I am sorry I ever thought you had it easy. Look, stop worrying about your old man. It isn't worth it. Plus, I have the feeling that the chief is going to step into it. He's protective of all his officers. I think he's pretty pissed off that your father treated you like that."

"I just can't believe he was so cold" Jason said in distress. David clapped a hand onto his shoulder.

"C'mon, Jason. Let's go and take your mind off this. I'll let you do all the paperwork."

Jason looked up at David blankly, and then both men began to laugh, and they headed from the gym together.

Michael went to the Scott home after finishing work, to confront Donavon. He was met at the door by Sarah, and led into the family room where Donavon was working. The psychiatrist looked up, and smiled broadly at his friend.

"What can I do for you, Michael?"

Michael glanced grimly at Sarah, then back to Donavon again. "This isn't a social visit, Don. I need to say something here, and it won't be pleasant."

Donavon's smile faded. "You aren't arresting me for something, are you?"

"No. But it isn't that simple, either. Don, I don't know what the rift is that's developed between you and Jason, and ordinarily I wouldn't be concerned about it. But if you ever do to Jason again what you did to him today, I swear to God I'll bar you from entering the precinct. You had no right to treat him like that! No right at all!"

Donavon stood up, ready to meet Michael head on. "It's none of your damn business, Michael. Stay out of it!"

"It is my business when it affects the emotional well-being of one of my best officers! Damn it, Don, you're tearing that boy apart, and you're too damn blind to see it!"

"Wait a minute," Sarah protested, stepping between the two irate men. "Will someone explain to me just what is going on here?"

"Donavon ran into Jason today in the precinct," Michael said in a voice that was tight with anger. "Jason tried to talk to him, and Donavon gave him the cold shoulder. Told him he didn't have time for him, and even had the gall to call him 'captain'!"

Sarah looked around at Donavon, horrified. "How could you do that? How could you treat your own son like that?"

Donavon sat down with a heavy thud. "So now I'm the bad guy."

Michael side-stepped Sarah and leaned across the desk. "Just tell me why you're so hell-bent on making your son's life as miserable as possible!"

"This last time..." Donavon said finally in a strained voice. "The business with the Angel of Death.... It was too much. He's been in danger before, but he's never been so close to being killed! I am so damn scared for him, that it makes me physically sick, and keeps me awake at night. I just don't know how to tell him that!"

"You think that by distancing yourself from him that you'll lessen that fear?" Michael asked. "Don, it doesn't work that way! It only makes it a hell of a lot worse. You ought to know that. You're the psychiatrist, for crying out loud!"

A weak smile touched Donavon's lips. "I guess what they say is right. Doctors are the worst patients."

Michael shook his head. "I wasn't expecting you to analyse yourself, but I find it hard to believe you're happy to alienate Jason like this. I think it's time you two saw a counselor together. Talk it through."

Tears filled Donavon's eyes, and he stared bleakly at the desktop. "You think Jason would even want to be in the same room as me? After the way I treated him today?"

"You'd be surprised," Michael murmured. "Don, please...."

Donavon nodded, finally. "All right. I will."

Two weeks later

It was nearly four weeks since Trini, Jason and their son had returned to Angel Grove. Now, they stood outside St. Mary's Episcopal Church together with Donavon and Sarah Scott.

"Trini, will you stop fussing?" Jason asked for the third time. "William looks fine!"

Trini shot Jason a warning frown. "I just want him to look perfect. Is that too much to ask?"

Jason sighed and merely shook his head. He knew well enough when to quit. Tommy emerged from the church, striking in a pure black tuxedo.

"Where's William? Is he ready?"

"I doubt it," Jason muttered. Trini stood up straight.

"Do you want to sleep on the sofa tonight?"

Jason bit back a reply, and gently ushered William towards Tommy.

"He's ready."

Tommy grinned and crouched down to look the nervous child in the eye.

"You ready for your big moment, kiddo?"

Rather than being off the planet, William looked very much as though he was about to be sick.

"Do I have to?"

Tommy put on a mock expression of dismay. "Have to? Will, you've got the most important job! Don't worry, squirt, you'll be fine. You'll be right next to me the whole time, okay?"

The little boy was not appeased. "But I don't wanna get married..."

Stifled laughter swept through the group, and Trini quickly moved in to sort out the latest predicament.

"What do you mean, William? You aren't getting married, honey. It's Uncle Adam and Aunt Tanya...."

"But aren't I supposed to marry the flower girl?" William asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

It was all Trini could do not to laugh herself, and she hugged William to her.

"Oh, sweetie, who told you that?"

Jason joined Trini, and gently extricated his son from his wife.

"Listen up, tiger. You are not marrying anyone, so don't even think about it. Okay?"

William looked up at Jason hopefully. "Really?"

"I totally forbid it," Jason said firmly. "So get those ideas out of your head right now."

Relief flooded William's face, and the smile reappeared.

"Okay." He looked around. "I'm ready, Uncle Tommy."

Tommy grinned and took William's hand and led him into the church.

"Let's go then, squirt. You know, Beth is gonna be really disappointed that you aren't marrying her..."

Donavon walked over and clapped Jason lightly on the shoulder. "Nice recovery. But you may have trouble on your hands in fifteen years."

A rueful smile passed over Jason's face. "Well, Trini says he's just like me... Nah, he couldn't possibly be anymore trouble than I was."

"What do you mean 'was'?" Donavon retorted. Laughter swept across the group and they began to move into the church.

"Jason!"

Jason looked around and was surprised to see Michael Oliver hurrying over.

"Chief?"

Sparing Trini and apologetic smile, Michael spoke quietly to the young man. "Jason, I need to have a word with you. Now, if you wouldn't mind."

Jason nodded, then turned to Trini. "Go on in, honey. I'll join you in a minute."

"Okay," Trini conceded. "Don't take too long, though. Tanya will be here any minute."

Michael ushered Jason away from the church, and the milling people.

"I'm sorry to do this to you now But it can't wait. Jason, I'm afraid I have some bad news."

Confusion showed in Jason's eyes. "Have I done something wrong?"

"Hmm? Oh, no, of course not." He paused, then shook his head angrily. "Damn it, I hate doing this. Jason, I got a phone call just half an hour ago, from your old precinct in Chicago, from Lieutenant Harrison."

"About what?"

"It... About Sid Ellis. Jason, I'm afraid Sid is dead."

Jason froze on the spot, his face draining of colour. "Dead?"

"I'm sorry," Michael murmured, wondering suddenly whether it had been the right thing to tell him straight away. Jason never swayed. He stared straight ahead, speaking in a forcibly calm tone.

"How?"

"You don't want to hear this. Not now"

"It wasn't an accident, was it?"

Michael groaned silently. "Damn your intuition. No. It wasn't an accident. He was shot, point blank range in the back of the head.. In his own home. His wife was out at the time, with their daughter. The little girl found the body when they came back."

Jason finally moved, and he sank down onto the stones that rimmed the garden, burying his face in his hands. Michael hesitated, then placed a hand lightly on Jason's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Jason."

"Do they know who's responsible?"

"Harrison said they had one possible suspect, but no evidence to prove it. Jason, I really am sorry. I should not have told you here. I just thought you'd want to know as soon as possible."

"He was my best friend," Jason whispered, struggling to hold back the tears. "Damn...."

"I'll give you as long as you need if you want to go to the funeral. But right now, I think we'd both better pull ourselves together. What do you say?"

Jason looked up, finally, and got slowly to his feet.

"Let's go."

"Is everything okay?" Trini asked softly as Jason joined her.

He tried to smile; couldn't pull it off. "No Not really. Ask me later, okay?"

Concern lit up Trini's eyes, but she consented and didn't press for answers.

The ceremony was a beautiful one. Adam and Tanya were a perfect pair. Tanya was radiant in a gown of soft yellow, while Adam was equally elegant, and stunningly handsome in a black tux that matched Tommy's and Rocky's.

William, over his nerves, acted with a flourish, presenting the rings to Adam at the right time on a cushion resplendent with lace. Completing his task, he soon found his parents and flashed them a triumphant grin that was eerily reminiscent of Jason himself. Then, he was ushered back by Tommy, and out of their sight.

The minister made the wedding pronouncement, and stepped back to allow the newlywed couple to kiss. Adam, true to form, managed only a quick peck on the lips in front of the multitudes of people. Close to the front, Jason smiled faintly in amusement.

"Typical. Still too shy to kiss her properly."

Trini hit Jason lightly on the shoulder. "Oh, leave him alone. I think it's sweet. He hasn't changed at all."

The church erupted with applause, then, and Jason and Trini joined in. Trini's gaze was drawn briefly from Adam and Tanya, to her husband. For just an instant, she saw the grief in his eyes, and fear stabbed at her deep inside. Then, it was gone and she forced her attention back to the newlyweds as they walked back down the aisle together.

As soon as the ritual photos were over with, she would find out what was bothering Jason. Soon, very soon....

"Tommy?"

Tommy looked around, and a grin lit up his face.

"Hey, Trini. William's just over there, with Rocky..."

Trini nodded. "That's okay. I have a favour to ask. I know you're busy but would you mind looking after William until the reception? I'm sorry to do that to you, but..." She trailed off, her face creased with concern.

Tommy's smile dropped like rock. "What's the matter?"

"I don't know," Trini said softly. "But look."

Tommy looked where she was indicating, and saw straight away. Jason was standing apart from the crowd, leaning against a tree, with one hand up to cover his eyes. Unease clutched at Tommy's chest. Although Jason had been away from Angel Grove for so long, some things just never changed. That was the same posture Jason had always taken when he was trying very hard not to cry.

"I'll take care of William," Tommy promised Trini. "You go and take care of Jason."

Trini smiled and threw her arms around him in a quick hug. "Thankyou. We'll see you in a few hours."

She left Tommy and hurried over to where Jason was leaning against the tree.

"Jason?"

He let his hand drop, and she started a little at the sight of his red-rimmed eyes. He had been crying.

"C'mon, honey. Let's go."

"William..."

"Tommy's looking after him until the reception. Don't worry, he'll be fine. I think we need to talk. C'mon, baby."

Jason allowed himself to be led back to their car.

"Keys?" Trini asked, and Jason handed them over wordlessly. Once they were in the car, Trini spoke softly.

"What is it, Jason? Is it what Chief Oliver wanted to see you about?"

Jason shut his eyes, but it didn't stop the tears from working their way out of his eyes and down his cheeks.

"Oh god.... It isn't fair, Trini."

She glanced at him with deepening concern. "Talk to me, Jason. Tell me what's wrong!"

"Sid's dead," Jason whispered. Trini froze for just an instant, then quickly pulled over to the side of the road.

"How?"

"Ambushed in his home. Shot in the back of the head. Katie found him."

"Oh my god..."

The tears came in a flood, then, and Jason slumped down in the seat, his entire body wracked with sobs. Fighting back tears of her own, Trini guided the car back onto the road and drove the rest of the way home in silence.

Some time later

"This was a good idea," Melanie Oliver agreed as the Scotts joined them in the Olivers' home. Tommy had suggested that they join them when William had become distressed at being left behind by his mum and dad. It had settled him down significantly to be near his grandparents, and now Tommy had him upstairs playing video games.

Donavon frowned. "I don't know why Trini asked Tommy to look after William, though. I don't know why they didn't just take him with them."

"Tommy said that Jason seemed upset about something," Melanie said. "He doesn't know what was wrong, though."

Michael Oliver finally spoke up from where he sat at the table. "I might be able to shed some light on that."

When the adults turned to look at him, he went on quietly.

"When I asked to talk to Jason before the service, it was probably a mistake. I didn't judge it very well, I'm afraid. I should have just waited until Monday."

Donavon joined Michael at the table. "What is it, Mike?"

"Jason's partner in Chicago Sid Ellis He's dead. He was murdered in his own home. Shot in the back of the head."

"Oh dear God, no," Sarah whispered. Michael shook his head.

"The police over there don't even have anything to go on. The problem is, according to Jason's old lieutenant, Ellis wasn't just Jason's partner. They were best friends, almost like brothers."

"We know," Donavon murmured. "We visited them once, when William was born. It surprised me how close Sid and Jason were. Cops tend not to form such close friendships just in case something like this happens. Jason must be shattered."

"He was," Michael confirmed quietly. "I think he probably would have broken down on the spot, if not for knowing he had to be in the church for the wedding. I'd say Trini was anxious to get him away as soon as possible, to find out what was wrong. It would have been why she asked Tommy to look after William. She probably couldn't find you folks."

Sarah looked grimly at Donavon.

"Perhaps we'd better be prepared to take William with us tonight. I wouldn't be surprised if Jason and Trini don't make it to the reception."

"They'll be there," Donavon said quietly. "They've got a few hours leeway. Mike, what about funeral arrangements?"

"There'll be a police funeral for him in five days," Michael replied. "I'll give Jason official leave to attend it."

"Hell," Donavon muttered. "I think if we end up looking after William, it'll be then. Trini will want to go as well. She was fairly good friends with Sid's wife, if I remember rightly. What a mess...."

Michael drummed his fingers lightly on the table. "Don, maybe you'd better give Ian Bradley a call. Just to come in and have a chat with Jason on Monday."

"Sure," Don agreed. "I'll do that." He glanced up at the clock. "But right now, we have a wedding reception to worry about."

*Rosalynn Chateau

"I want Mummy and Daddy!"

Tommy grimaced as he struggled to hold onto William's hand. The little boy was a handful and a half, and he would be only too happy to hand the child back over to Jason and Trini. He loved kids, of course, but when a child wanted his parents....

It was all Tommy could do not to shout across the room when he saw Jason finally enter the reception centre with Trini. Instead, he crouched down and spoke into William's ear, pointing in the direction of the little boy's mum and dad. The child took off before Tommy had a chance to draw breath, and was across the room seconds later, using his small height to his full advantage.

"Daddy!"

Jason barely had a chance to prepare himself before William launched himself forward. He caught him, swinging him around to avoid the full impact of the collision.

"Here's my little cannon," Jason laughed, lifting William up fully into his arms. Trini spared him a stern look.

"I hope you behaved yourself." She looked up as Tommy finally made it through the crowd of guests. "Was he good, Tommy?"

Tommy smiled wryly. "He behaved himself, but man... This kid has got bundles of energy. I don't know how you can keep up!"

Jason chuckled as he shifted William to his side. "It's not easy, that's for sure. So where're Adam and Tanya?"

"The lovebirds?" Tommy asked with a grin. "Over there, at the main table. I think the photo session wiped them out."

Jason smiled and shook his head. "C'mon, champ. Let's get you a drink."

"Red cordial!" William burst out, and Jason grimaced as he maneuvered his way through the people.

"Over my dead body. I want sleep tonight, my boy."

Tommy and Trini watched the two go, then Tommy turned back to Trini.

"So do you think you can tell me what all that was about earlier?"

Trini sighed softly, her smile fading. "Jason got some bad news from Chicago. His friend Sid..."

"Yeah," Tommy murmured, "Jase has talked a bit about him."

"Sid was killed, Tommy. He was ambushed in his home. Jason was pretty distraught."

Tommy's tanned face paled slightly. "Aw, hell.... Do they know who did it?"

"According to the information your dad got, they don't have any solid leads."

"You know, you didn't have to come back here," Tommy told her. "Adam and Tanya would have understood, and Jason's folks would have taken William."

"No," Trini disagreed. "I think it was best that we came back. Jason needed the distraction. He'll have to think about it enough when he gets back to work."

"Yeah, well, if I know my dad, he'll probably tell Jase to take a few days off."

A smile touched Trini's lips. "Then it'll just be a matter of seeing who's the more stubborn. Jason or your father."

The two stared at each other, then both spoke together. "Jason!"

Trini laughed softly. "Thanks, Tommy. I needed that."

He hugged her gently. "It's okay. I can tell you're pretty upset, too."

"Sid was a good friend," Trini whispered, tears filling her eyes before she could help it. "And poor little Katie That's Sid's little girl. Jason said she was the one who found him!"

Tommy sighed faintly. "Poor kid. That'll take some heavy-duty counseling to get over."

He trailed off as Jason came back, still carrying William. The little boy was, in turn, carrying a tall glass of lemonade. Knowing the truth, Tommy noticed for the first time the redness in Jason's eyes, and knew his friend had shed a lot of tears between the wedding and the reception.

"Jase, you want me to take William for you?" Am I stupid or something? Tommy thought, even as he spoke. He could barely hide his relief when Jason smiled and shook his head.

"Thanks, Tommy, but it's okay. We'll take it from here."

Tommy nodded, speaking again before he stopped to think twice. "Well, just say if you want me to take him. I'll be happy to keep an eye on him."

Jason smirked as the crowd of guests started to be ushered to their respective tables.

"You are such a bad liar," he hissed at Tommy. Tommy grinned back.

"I'm not that bad. You just know me too well."

Adam and Tanya had planned it well. All who knew the secret of the Power Rangers were at the one table. There was Tommy, Jason, Trini, Zack and Billy from the original team. Rocky and Kat were both at the main table with Adam and Tanya, though both tables were in talking distance of each other. Also at the table was Kimberly, who had flown in from Florida with her own husband and child for the wedding.

Kim and Trini sat close together, comparing their children like proud mothers, while the men talked on the other side of the table.

"I can't believe it's been so long," Zack murmured. He looked to Jason, shaking his head in amazement. "Somehow, I never pictured you as having kids."

Jason looked wounded. "You don't think I would have made a good father?"

Zack laughed, hitting Jason lightly on the arm. "It's not that, man. Hell, I never really thought any of us would even get married. Hey, Derek, how long have you and Kimberly been married now?"

"Just over three years," Derek Peters replied with a wry smile. "I presume those of you who are unattached are still suffering throwbacks from your teen-hood?"

Jason chuckled. "Don't tell me, let me guess. You're a psychiatrist, aren't you?"

Derek was openly surprised. "Is it that obvious?"

"No, but my father is a psychiatrist. I grew up with those sorts of comments. It's recognizable after a while."

"We'll have to talk," Derek said with a wry smile. "Kim thinks I'm analyzing Crystal too much."

Suddenly, without warning, William was on Jason's knee. "Daddy, I've gotta go to the bathroom!"

Jason looked rueful. "What? You can't go by yourself?"

Trini spared Jason an apologetic look from the other side of the table.

"I'm sorry, honey. He can't manage the suit on his own, and he's too old to take into the ladies' room."

William pulled a face. "I'm not a girl."

Jason fought back a grin. "Okay, tiger. Let's go, then."

He got up, hoisted the child up into the crook of his arm, then began to weave his way through the tables to the bathrooms.

Kim smiled as she nursed her own little girl. "Trini, you are so lucky. William is a gorgeous little boy."

Trini returned the smile as she watched the sleepy one year-old in Kim's arms. "You're pretty lucky yourself. Imagine, here we are... Both of us twenty-six, with a husband and child. Somehow I never imagined myself like this."

Kim nodded in agreement, speaking softly so that Derek didn't overhear her. "In a way, I thought we were going to be Rangers forever. But here we are with normal lives...."

"As normal as possible," Trini remarked. "I'll always be thankful that Jason transferred back here to Angel Grove. I was so frightened for him in Chicago."

"I always knew you two were perfect for each other," Kim said with a small giggle. "I wondered how long it would take you to get together. I mean, Jason could be almost as shy as Adam when it came to girls."

Trini smiled dreamily. "I think the first time we really connected was at the Peace Conference. You remember, I wrote to you and told you about what happened?"

"That one of the delegates was killed in an avalanche?"

"Yes," Trini murmured, becoming serious as she recalled the incident. "Ho Lee, one of the Chinese delegates. I'd become good friends with him. It was such a horrible shock when they announced his death, that I went back to my room and just cried. I don't know when it was that Jason showed up. One minute I'm feeling totally alone, and the next... There's Jason, on the floor beside me. He never did anything, never tried to take advantage of the situation. He just held me for ages. God, I loved him so much for that. A couple of other guys had tried to 'comfort' me. You know? Jason was the one who scared them off. He really looked after me in those days after Ho was killed."

Kim sighed. "Then you met up with him three years later in Chicago, fell in love and got married. That is so romantic."

"More like traditional," Trini retorted, "right down to the parents of the bride who didn't want their only daughter marrying an ordinary policeman. Can you believe my father actually tried to set me up with the son of a senator when he found out I was seeing Jason? It was awful. Luckily, Jason and I both had the tenacity to stand up to Mum and Dad. I threatened Dad with asking Jason's father to give me away at the wedding if he didn't come. That was too much of a humiliation for him to bear."

Kim looked around as Jason and William emerged from the bathroom on the other side of the room.

"I'll be so glad when Crystal is properly toilet-trained. Derek will be, too. Then he won't have to take her into the men's room when she's out with him."

Trini raised an eyebrow in amusement. "You mean Derek is helping to toilet-train Crystal?"

"Sure. Didn't Jason?"

Trini smirked as Jason came back to the table with William in tow. "Oh, everything was going fine while William was still using the potty. But as soon as he got big enough to stand.... I have never seen Jason go as red as he did when he tried to explain all of that to William."

Jason groaned as he sat back down. "I turn my back for five minutes..."

"Uh, guys?" Zack asked pleadingly. "Can we change the topic? The food's coming."

Trini and Kim exchanged grins, and let the issue drop.

*Later that night

"I hope Adam and Tanya will be happy together," Trini murmured as she watched Jason get ready for bed. Jason nodded thoughtfully.

"Same. So many marriages end in divorce these days. It's tragic."

"I think they'll do all right," Trini said. "As long as they always listen to each other. That's important. Jason? How are you feeling?"

Jason pulled an old T shirt on and went around and climbed into bed.

"Pretty numb, actually. I guess I cried myself out earlier."

Trini shifted her position, and slid her arms around him. "Chief Oliver said he'd give you leave to attend the funeral. Do you want to go?"

"Yes and no," Jason admitted. "If I go, then it's like I'm saying 'yes, he's dead, that's it'. If I don't, I know I may never let go properly. I think I'll have to go."

"I'm coming with you. Sid was my friend as well. Your parents will look after William, I'm sure of it."

Jason glanced down at her in amusement. "Not your mum and dad?"

"Oh, please," Trini retorted. "Mum will just load William up on sugar. At least we know your mother will make sure he eats properly."

Jason sighed faintly. "I'm not looking forward to work on Monday."

"Don't worry about it, Jason. Not yet. We'll just take it easy tomorrow, okay?"

Silence reigned for a little while before Jason finally spoke again. "I keep thinking that it was somehow my fault."

Trini stiffened slightly, then sat up, turning on the bed lamp. "Why would you think that? Jason, that's ridiculous."

"Maybe," he conceded. "I just can't shake that feeling, though. Something about it isn't right. I mean, Sid worked on a lot of cases with me, but he never really had any enemies. None that would want to kill him, anyway."

Trini reached out and touched her fingertips lightly to Jason's cheek.

"Jason, stop thinking about it. I know that isn't easy to do, but I want you to stop. The bottom line is, no killing makes sense, no matter who is responsible, or who the victim is. It doesn't matter if Sid had a hundred enemies who all wanted to kill him. Honey, you can't let this haunt you."

Jason shut his eyes tightly as fresh tears threatened. "I am gonna miss him so much...."

She slid down in the bed and put her arms around Jason, holding him close.

"Go ahead and cry, baby. It's okay."

The young man shuddered, then began to cry, burying his face in his beloved wife's shoulder. Trini kissed him gently on the top of the head, then finally gave in to her own tears, and the two of them lay together, grieving for their lost friend.

*Monday Morning

Jason arrived at the precinct almost painfully early, more to escape the sympathy of his fellow officers than anything. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it. He just didn't care to take the risk of breaking down in front of any of them. As humble as he tried to be, that was something his ego simply wouldn't allow.

He reached his office and fell into the chair behind his desk, pausing just long enough to snatch the framed photo of Sid and himself off the desk and slip it into the top drawer. The last thing he needed right then was a visual reminder of his best friend's death.

"I guess the chief was right," a voice said from the doorway. "It must be bad to get you here before ninety percent of the rest of the boys."

Jason looked up, then sighed faintly when he saw David.

"I had paperwork left over from Friday," he mumbled. "Figured I might as well get in here and get it done."

David sat down at his own desk. "Bullshit. Oliver told me the news. I'm sorry."

Jason bit down hard on his lower lip for a moment as his emotions threatened to spill over once more.

"This sort of thing happens. We have to be ready for it. I can't sit around sulking."

"There's a difference between sulking and grieving," David pointed out. "This guy was your best friend, wasn't he?"

Jason stared intently at the desktop. "Yes. He was."

"Then it's not sulking. Give it a week, then it's sulking."

Jason glanced up at David, then managed a faint smile in appreciation of the light joke.

"Thanks, David."

"It's okay. But I'll warn you now. Oliver will probably have you in talking to the precinct counselor before the day is over."

"Thanks for the warning," Jason muttered, sitting back with a thud. David hesitated, then spoke in a serious tone.

"Listen, Jason. I don't know what it's like to lose someone close. Not like that. But I can guess it must be pretty hard on you. If you feel like talking about it, you know where to find me."

Jason paused just a moment, biting down on his lower lip. "Thanks, David. I'll be okay, though."

David nodded his understanding. "Sure. Just remember, any time."

*That afternoon

The mail was delivered while Jason and David were out on foot patrol, and they got back to find a small pile of letters waiting for each of them on their desks.

"What are you thinking?" Jason asked, seeing the frown on his partner's face. David grimaced.

"I'm thinking excess paperwork. Oh well, might as well get it over with."

They both sat down, and Jason gathered the letters into one small pile. The first was of no importance, so he put it aside. The second was a weapons license renewal notice. The third....

Jason paused. The third was handwritten, addressed to him care of the precinct. He turned it over curiously, but there was no return address. Rechecking the front, though, he discovered it was postmarked Chicago. His stomach rolled slightly as he realised it was most likely from one of his former work mates, from the 17th precinct.

"Something wrong?"

He glanced up to find David was watching him.

"I don't know. I think this is from one of the men I used to work with in Chicago."

"Relax," David told him. "They probably just wrote their condolences."

Jason grimaced, then tore open the envelope before he could lose his courage. A single sheet of paper fell out, and Jason could see the dark red ink of the writing through the lined paper. He frowned and carefully unfolded the letter.

David looked up just as Jason turned a deathly shade of white. Forgetting his own mail, he leaned forward quickly.

"What's wrong, Jason?"

Jason didn't answer. He continued to stare at the letter with a look of abject horror on his face. David was about to get up to see when Jason suddenly moved, snatching the phone off the hook in an almost violent movement. Paying no attention to David at all, Jason dialed a number with trembling fingers, and waited impatiently for it to be answered. In his anxiety, he never noticed David get up and hurry from the office.

The phone was finally answered after several rings, and a voice familiar to Jason spoke.

"17th Precinct. How can I help you?"

"Teddy? It's Jason."

On the other end of the connection, Ted Bowers laughed at the sound of his former colleague's voice.

"Jase, long time no hear! How's it hanging, buddy?"

Jason swallowed hard, fighting the panic that was gradually building inside his gut. "Everything's fine...."

"I should think so! I still can't believe you had the gall to move away from the action. Hell, you used to crave it!"

"Teddy, I found out about Sid on Saturday," Jason said softly, and immediately Ted became serious.

"Yeah? Well, Harrison said he'd get word to you. How you doing?"

"So-so," Jason admitted. "I'll be there for the funeral, if I can make it."

"Don't stress yourself over it," Ted told him. "We'll all understand if you don't make it."

Jason brought his right hand up to his forehead, fighting off the beginnings of a migraine. "Teddy, I need a favour. I need current information on Kyle Bennett. How the case is going, all of that."

Ted was silent for a long moment before speaking. "I usually wouldn't do this, but since it's you.... Hang on a second."

Jason fell back in his chair, waiting impatiently for Ted to return to the phone. After a minute that seemed more like an hour, Ted was back, talking to him again.

"I've got the details right here. Um... Are you sure you want to hear this?"

Jason felt his stomach roll. "Tell me, Teddy."

"Okay. It went to a committal hearing five days ago. I don't know what the hell was wrong with the judge, but he said the evidence was inconclusive and he dismissed the case. Bennett is a free man, Jase."

Jason shut his eyes tightly. "I think I'm gonna be sick...."

"You aren't the only one. Harrison was in a shocking mood for the two days following. Then, what with Sid being killed... It's been a bitch of a week all round, you know?"

Jason's hand went from his eyes to his stomach. He seriously felt like throwing up. "I've gotta go, Teddy. Thanks. I... I'll see you at the funeral."

"Sure, Jason. Take it easy, okay, buddy?"

Jason mumbled an affirmative and hung up. It was then he realised that Michael Oliver was standing in front of his desk, watching him intently. David had to have gotten him, Jason realised.

"David said there's a problem," Michael said quietly. "Care to tell me what it is?"

Jason hesitated, then nodded slowly, knowing he couldn't possibly keep the information from his boss.

"Yeah... Could you just give me a minute?"

When Michael nodded, Jason picked up the phone again and dialed a new number, then waited anxiously for a reply.

At the other end of the line, Trini frowned as she hurried from the shower to answer the phone. It never failed; the moment she took the time to relax, something happened to interrupt her. She answered the phone, trying not to sound annoyed.

"Hello?"

"Trini, it's me."

Trini felt a stab of concern. "Hey, honey. What's wrong?"

Jason drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. The last thing he wanted was to scare Trini.

"Hon, I need you to listen to me closely. Don't argue and don't ask questions. Go and pack a couple of bags, one for you and one for William. Then, take the car and go and take William out of Kindergarten. When you've done that, I want you to drive to your aunt's house in San Diego and don't stop until you get there. No matter what. Do not stop for anything or anyone. Do you understand?"

Trini spoke tentatively, feeling the old fear creeping into her system.

"I understand... but why?"

"I can't tell you that," Jason said softly. "Not yet. Please, just do as I ask. Please, trust me."

For several seconds, Trini didn't reply. She knew that tone of voice. It was a tone he had not used for nearly ten years, not since their days as Power Rangers. It was his old 'take-charge' voice, the voice he had used when he'd recognised a danger the rest of them hadn't seen. Something was seriously wrong, she realised, and if she wanted to come through it, then the only option was to follow Jason's instructions to the letter.

"I understand," she told him finally, and could hear his sigh of relief.

"Okay. Go now. It takes three hours to drive to San Diego. I'll call you there at six o'clock."

"Jason, what am I supposed to tell William?"

"Tell him it's a holiday. Just go, Trini. As fast as you can. I'll explain what this is about as soon as possible."

"All right," Trini conceded reluctantly. "I love you, Jason."

"I love you, too. Now, go."

She hung up, and after a moment, so did he. Michael Oliver then leaned forward.

"All right. What about an explanation for your chief, then?"

Jason nodded slowly. "Yes, sir. I was speaking to a former colleague of mine when you came in. He told me the case against Kyle Bennett was dismissed. Bennett was freed just a couple of days before Sid was killed."

Michael frowned. "Kyle Bennett?"

"The Angel of Death."

"Oh," Michael murmured. "And you think Bennett may be responsible for Sid's murder?"

Jason glanced at David, then looked back to Michael. "I'm sure of it, Chief. This was in the mail for me."

Jason handed Michael the letter, and Michael turned ashen as he read it.

"If this Bennett is responsible," Michael growled, "then how the hell did he find out where you'd been transferred to?"

Jason shrugged. "The man is psychotic, but he isn't stupid, either."

"Why would he risk killing your old partner," David asked in confusion, "and then going after you? You said the case was dismissed. He could have played it safe and moved his operation to a new base."

"It's obsession," Michael said as he looked the letter over. "This man has become obsessed with Jason. He won't give up until one of them is dead. Our job is to make sure it isn't Jason." He looked down at the pale young man. "You are not going to stay by yourself in that house. Not until this son of a bitch has been caught. I'll take you by there after our shifts are done, and you can pack a bag for yourself. Then, you're coming to stay at my place."

Jason looked uncomfortable. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't think..."

"No," Michael interrupted. "There's safety in numbers, Jason. This man is less likely to take a shot at you when you're with a number of other people. The less people involved, the better it is for him. You'll be safest with us."

"What about Tommy, though?" Jason asked tentatively. "I don't want him to know about this."

"Then we simply don't tell him. It'll be fine. You've already made sure that Trini and William will be out of the firing line. Just worry about yourself."

Jason conceded reluctantly. "Thankyou, sir."

"Don't worry, Jason," David said quietly as they finished their paper- work for the day. "If I know Oliver at all, he won't let that bastard near you."

Jason didn't reply. He stared at his desktop, lost in thought and memory. David hesitated, then rapped lightly on his own desk to get the other man's attention.

"Earth to Jason. What are you thinking?"

Jason blinked, then sighed. "Just that I've made a lot of enemies in this job. There are a lot of criminals that would have plenty of reason to come after me... But all of them are rational enough to know it'd be a mistake. Bennett is just pure lunatic. There's no other way to put it. I mean, the guy killed kids, then molested them after he'd killed them! What sort of fucked up psycho does that?"

David watched Jason thoughtfully. "You think he's coming after you because you nailed him?"

"No," Jason murmured. "It's more than that. I mean, he killed Sid because of that, but it's like Oliver said. He's totally obsessed with me. I don't know why. He just is."

"What happened that day you went after him in Chicago?" David asked curiously. "We read a bit about it in the papers but there weren't a lot of details."

Jason spared David a wry look. "You really want to know? After all, I'm just another ego-centered cop with a hero reputation."

"Just tell me," David growled. Jason laughed softly, bitterly.

"It was just me and Sid. We weren't even sure he was in the building. I went in on one side, he went in on the other. A couple of things happened. The lights failed, and then I got the crap scared out of me by a stray cat. We figured that was all it was, and I sent Sid out. The next thing I know, there's a gun at my back. Bennett made me go down the stairs, to where he, and I quote, 'taught the kids their lessons'. Sick bastard. He said a few things, I said a few things. We fought, and he chased me back upstairs, and cornered me in a store room. Sid got there just in time to see me get buried beneath a ton of wooden crates. That's the last thing I remember."

David shook his head. "That was so stupid. You don't go into a situation like that without backup. What was going through your head?"

"I don't know," Jason sighed. "But it'll never happen again. I've had about a dozen lectures on it since.. That's another thing, though. If Sid hadn't gotten there when he did, I would've been killed. I'm sure of it. I owed him my life. Just for that, part of me feels I should have stayed in Chicago."

David nodded. "Uh huh. Sure. You couldn't have prevented his death, Jason. You would have been going through all this, but in another state, and another city. Just accept it. We can't change the past."

Jason nodded. "No... But we do control the future."

"Huh?"

"Nothing," Jason murmured. He shuffled together the papers on his desk, then stood up. "I guess I'd better go meet the chief. I'll see you tomorrow, David."

David smiled faintly. "Sure thing."

Michael had obviously phoned ahead, Jason thought wryly when Melanie greeted him as though it were an ordinary happening.

"Tommy should be home in half an hour," Michael told Jason. "He tends to work late on Monday nights. You know where the guest room is. Just go ahead and put your things in there."

Jason nodded.

"Thanks again, Chief. I appreciate this."

Michael smiled reassuringly at the young man. "You aren't just one of my officers, Jason. You're my son's best friend, and I don't think I'd be brash in counting you as one of my friends, either. Now don't worry about a thing. Okay?"

"Okay," Jason conceded, though deep down he wasn't so sure.

Tommy was thrilled, albeit bewildered, upon arriving home to learn that Jason was staying for a while. Immediately, he took his friend up to his bedroom to talk.

"So what's this about?" Tommy asked curiously as the two sat on the window seat in Tommy's room. Jason hesitated. He couldn't simply tell his friend nothing. That would only worsen the situation. He didn't like the notion of lying, either, so he opted for something in between.

"Well, you've got to promise me you won't tell your dad about this. He'd hang me out to dry if he knew I was telling you. We're working to catch a criminal that we think is headed this way. Your dad thought it would be easier for me to stay here, for safety as well as close contact."

Tommy nodded, awed by the thought. "Sort of like a stakeout, huh?"

Jason suppressed a grin. "Yeah, something like that."

A faint sigh escaped Tommy. "Man, sometimes I wish I'd joined the police. I might not have gotten so screwed up if I had."

Jason's amusement faded fast. "I don't know, Tommy. I get the feeling that nothing would have stopped that from happening. It was just bad luck, I think. I mean, you held the power longer than any of us. I guess it was almost logical that if anyone was going to get hooked on it, it'd be you. When I think back to how hard it was to get by after first giving up the Red Power coin, and then losing the Gold Powers.... Aside from that period between the Green and the White.... You were a Ranger right through. And let's face it, it was a pretty damn big rush."

Tommy smiled faintly at the memory. "Yeah, it was. I just wish I'd never met Alex."

"Alex..." Jason echoed. "He's the one who sold you the cocaine, right?"

Tommy nodded, staring at the cushions that lined the broad window seat.

"Yeah. First the coke, then the heroin. I knew all along how wrong it was... That I shouldn't be doing drugs.... But I couldn't stop. The rush was too big. Just like morphing. I didn't want to lose the rush again."

"But you're past it, now," Jason murmured. Tommy finally looked Jason in the eye.

"I'll never be past it. I don't know that I'll ever be cured.... But I haven't used for over a year, and I don't plan on using ever again."

A smile touched Jason's lips, then. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Tommy. A lot of junkies try to fool themselves into believing they're cured. They're the ones who always land in new trouble."

"I guess you see a lot of that, huh?" Tommy asked, and Jason nodded.

"Yeah, a fair bit. It's not pleasant. When I really think about it, a lot of my job isn't very pleasant, but it's damned satisfying to see a rapist or a serial killer get fifteen to twenty in court. That's the rush that I live for."

Tommy had to smile. "I suppose the only rush I get now is seeing my students advance in belts. Oh.... Do you remember Carl Ryan?"

Jason frowned. "Carl Ryan... Wasn't he that little six year old in Adam's class?"

"Yeah. He's fifteen now. He just scored his black belt last week."

A grin lit up Jason's face. "All I remember of him is a gangly little kid who couldn't turn around without falling over. He got his black belt, huh? That's great!"

"Yeah," Tommy agreed. "He was so excited when I gave it to him that he tripped over and nearly broke his arm."

Jason burst out laughing. "Nice to know some things never change. Speaking of which.... Whatever happened to Bulk and Skull?"

It was Tommy's turn to grin. "Well, you remember they got that job offer and went over to France to work?"

"Oh yeah," Jason murmured. "That's right. I'd forgotten about that."

"Well, Skull came home about five years ago, and started up his own investigation agency. You know, Sigma Investigations?"

Jason blinked. "That's Skull's agency?"

"The one and only. He was so successful that he opened a branch in Stone Canyon. Then, two years back, Bulk came home and joined him. So now they're working together again. Difference is, neither one if half as clumsy or idiotic as they used to be."

"Now that would be worth seeing," Jason mused. "I'll have to pay them a visit one of these days."

Tommy laughed softly. "You remember how they never managed to get through even just one day without doing something stupid? They were always falling over each other."

"When they weren't harassing us," Jason agreed. "Joining the junior police squad was the best thing they ever did. Even if it didn't last."

Tommy nodded. "Yeah. Gave them some self-respect. They stopped acting like such jerks after that."

"And stopped trying to find out who the Power Rangers were," Jason said with a laugh. "If they only knew how close they were...."

"They did find out once," Tommy murmured. "It was after you, Zack and Trini went to Geneva. Zedd created a monster that could manipulate light through kaleidoscopic vision. Damn thing wiped our memories clean one by one. Bulk and Skull happened to be scouting around the park and they saw everything."

Jason stared at Tommy incredulously. "You never told me about that. How'd you wrangle your way out of it?"

"Well," Tommy said with a faint grin, "they got an attack of morality and decided to try and help us. They used a couple of crystals Billy and Adam had brought with them to reflect the light back at the monster. It restored our memories, and wiped the monster's memory clean. Only catch was, they lost their memories into the bargain. It wasn't total memory loss. They just lost their memories of that one incident. So even though they found out who we were, they couldn't tell anyone because they couldn't remember."

Jason burst out laughing. "That's poetic justice, for sure."

Tommy was about to reply when the door suddenly opened and Michael looked in. He paused, eyeing Jason and Tommy as they sat together on the window seat, then chuckled and came all the way into the room.

"For just a second there, you two looked like you were both seventeen again. I haven't seen the two of you sitting there on that seat together for nearly ten years."

Tommy instantly pulled a face. "Ack, ten years? God, we're ancient!"

"Hey, watch it," Michael growled. "If you're ancient at twenty-seven, I don't want to know what I am. Anyway, time to get your rears downstairs. Dinner's ready."

Tommy loudly hooted his approval, and took off before Jason could even move. He joined Michael in the middle of the floor, a faint smile on his lips.

"He's hardly changed at all."

Michael shoved his hands deep into his pockets. "I think that somehow he's trying to make up for what he lost when he was on the drugs." He paused, then looked at Jason. "How much did you tell him?"

"I told him we were staking out for a criminal that we suspected was heading this way. It wasn't entirely a lie."

"Just enough to ease his curiosity. Good enough. I can understand your not wanting to tell him. I couldn't tell you his reaction if he knew you're the target."

Jason winced visibly, and Michael kicked himself in the proverbial.

"I'm sorry, Jason. I didn't mean it to come out like that."

Jason sighed, then shrugged. "What does it matter? It's true."

Michael clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Let's go downstairs. We'll have dinner, and then you can give Trini a call. Make sure she got where she was going all right."

Jason nodded his silent consent, and the two left the room together.

Dinner passed pleasantly enough, but though it seemed on the surface that things were as they had been ten years ago, Tommy soon began to suspect that there was a problem. After the meal, he confronted Jason in the kitchen as the two loaded the dishwasher.

"So you want to tell me what's really going on?"

Jason stared at Tommy blankly, caught off-guard. "Huh?"

Tommy walked over and carefully shut the kitchen door, sealing out the low murmur of his parents' voices from the family room.

"You said at the wedding reception on Saturday that I couldn't lie to you. It goes both ways, buddy. What's going on? There's more to this than just a simple stakeout."

Jason's jaw clenched just slightly. "I told you, we're waiting for a known criminal to come..."

"Bullshit," Tommy snapped. "You wouldn't let me get away with this. Why are you doing it to me? Damn it, Jase, that isn't fair! I thought we were supposed to be best friends!"

Jason fell back against the bench, one hand coming up to cover his eyes. "I thought that I could get away from it, transferring here from Chicago. Sort of like when we were Rangers, you know? When we left Angel Grove, that was it. The trouble didn't follow us. I never heard hide nor hair of Zedd or Rita in Geneva. They didn't even try using us to manipulate you guys. I just assumed it'd be the same."

Tommy watched Jason intently, frowning a little. "Is it about that friend of yours that was killed?"

Jason was a moment in replying, and for a moment, Tommy thought he'd put his foot in it. Then, finally, Jason sighed and nodded.

"Partially, yes. I think I know who killed him."

"Well, isn't that good?" Tommy asked. "If you know, then he can be arrested."

"It isn't that simple anymore, Tommy. You can't just arrest someone that you think might have committed a crime. You need to have something to back up that suspicion. If it's speculation, you can't do crap. Besides, I don't believe he's in Chicago anymore."

"The man you think killed your friend?"

"Right. I think he's on his way here."

Tommy whistled softly. "So that's it. You're working with Dad to nail this guy."

"That's part of it," Jason admitted. Tommy frowned.

"What else is there?"

A moment of silence passed, and then Jason spoke softly. "I got a letter today. Anonymous, but I'm pretty sure about who wrote it. The note said he'd gotten my buddy, and now he was coming for me."

Tommy's eyes went wide. "This guy is coming after you? Oh, shit..."

"That's why I'm here," Jason explained. "I sent Trini and William to Trini's aunt in San Diego. I didn't want them in the firing line if anything happened. Your dad seems to think that Bennett is less likely to take a shot at me if I'm with other company. He didn't want me staying by myself."

"I understand," Tommy murmured. "Don't worry. I won't let Dad know you told me."

"I'm not worried about that," Jason admitted. "I wasn't sure about telling you myself. I didn't want you freaking out on me."

Tommy clapped Jason lightly on the shoulder. "Don't worry, bro. If this son of a bitch wants you, he'll have to go through me to get you. C'mon, let's go shoot some baskets outside before it gets too dark."

Jason stood back, watching Tommy go with a steadily increasing feeling of nausea. Ten years ago, he would have met a statement like that with a warm response. Now, it filled him with cold dread. That was exactly the sort of attitude that got people killed. As he left the kitchen, Jason silently prayed that if Bennett did show up, then Tommy would not be around when he did.

Bennett was already in town. He had been for three days. He'd posted the letter to Jason the day he'd left Chicago, knowing it would give him leeway between its arrival and his arrival. He'd been there for three days, and he had been stalking Jason for as long.

He knew Jason had sent his wife and son out of town, and that didn't bother him. He'd take care of them when he'd dealt with the pig. A smile touched his lips as he watched Jason shooting baskets with another young man. Move fast, strike hard. That was the key. Not right then, but soon. Very soon.

"You've still got all your old moves," Tommy said with a laugh as Jason ducked around him to put the ball through the basket. Jason shrugged and tossed the ball to Tommy.

"Being a cop tends to keep you fit. You've gotten sluggish."

Tommy pulled a face. "I haven't lost it totally."

Without waiting for a response, Tommy darted towards the garage and leapt into the air, driving the ball through the hoop. He landed with a heavy thud, and looked quickly back to Jason for approval.

"What d'you think of that, huh? Jase?"

Jason blinked and looked back to Tommy. "What? What was that?"

"Oh man," Tommy groaned. "You weren't even watching. C'mon, man, lighten up! Everything'll work out okay. Don't worry so much!"

Jason sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Tommy. I just don't think I'm up to this. Not tonight."

Tommy scowled darkly. "Sure. Whatever."

He tucked the ball under his arm and stalked back up the path towards the house, leaving Jason standing in the driveway in confusion.

"Tommy?" Jason called after his friend, but Tommy didn't stop or even look back. Jason groaned softly, wondering at the same time whether that was the sort of rapid, volatile mood swings that Michael and Melanie had had to put up with during Tommy's periods of drug use and rehabilitation. Jason's heart skipped a beat. Surely Tommy wasn't using again....?

Tommy had reassured him in the bedroom that he wasn't, and Jason had to believe that. If he didn't, then what hope was there for their ongoing friendship? Feeling sick with misery and grief, Jason turned and headed up the path towards the house.

Bennett smiled to himself, and waited until Jason had disappeared back inside the house before walking off down the street, whistling softly to himself.

Michael was there when Jason came back in, concern etched onto his features.

"What happened?"

Jason shook his head. "I have no idea. All I said was that I didn't think I was up to fooling around, playing one-on-one tonight. He just stormed back inside."

A sigh escaped Michael. "He still has mood swings. It's an effect of the drugs and the rehab that never really wore off."

Jason hesitated, then spoke softly. "I had to tell him the truth about Bennett. He practically backed me into a corner over it. That could be partly it. We used to rely on each other so much... Maybe he just thinks I don't trust him anymore."

"Do you?" Michael asked, and when Jason didn't answer, Michael clapped the young man on the shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't ask that. I don't blame you if you don't trust Tommy now."

"It isn't that," Jason said finally. "I do trust him, sir. It's just Bennett is a dangerous man. I don't want Tommy putting himself in the firing line."

"I understand," Michael conceded. "It's not an easy situation. Maybe you should try explaining it to Tommy like that. He might understand it if you put it in that light."

Jason didn't look convinced. "I don't know. I'm sorry, sir. I'm just starting to think that maybe it wasn't such a good idea, me coming here."

"You can think what you like," Michael retorted. "I'm your commanding officer. You do as I say. And I say you stay here. I don't want you out of my sight, Jason. Understand? You said it yourself. Bennett is a dangerous man. You don't want to end up the same as Sid, do you?"

The comment hit a raw nerve, and Jason cringed visibly.

"I'm sorry," Michael said, feeling a touch of regret. "I didn't mean for that to come out that way. I'm just saying that I want you to be careful, and I don't want you by yourself. Not for any reason. All right?"

Jason nodded slowly, reluctantly. "All right."

Tommy lay awake for a long time after Jason had finally gone to sleep. He'd taken the liberty of setting up the fold-up bed in his room, and had insisted Jason sleep there rather than in the guest room. He knew it probably seemed silly to his parents, and he had a feeling that Jason had agreed only to humour him, but he didn't particularly care. Before Jason and Trini had come home, the last time he'd seen them had been one year after they'd been married. They'd been in town for just a week, on holiday, and he had been in a detox centre at the time.

Of course, Jason had come to see him, but it hadn't been the same. Tommy had felt like a criminal, and had been pretty hostile at the time. Then Jason and Trini had gone back to Chicago and Tommy had not seen them for the next five years. Jason's career had taken off, and he had been solely focused on that, and on his family.

Tommy sighed softly. Family.... He wondered if he would really have the courage to take the final step and marry Kat. Sure, they were engaged, but every time Kat brought up the question of a wedding date, Tommy found himself changing the subject. He was secretly surprised that Kat hadn't gotten frustrated and simply broken the engagement. He'd seen that look in her eyes at Tanya and Adam's wedding. Her best friend was finally married, and to the shyest guy in the group. If Adam, of all people, had the courage to take that step, then where did it leave him?

Of course, Rocky, Zack and Billy were all still bachelors, none with specific plans to get hitched any time soon. Somehow, that surprised Tommy. Rocky and Zack in particular had always been chasing the girls in High School, while Billy had seemed to find girlfriends even when he wasn't looking. Tommy smirked. Especially when he wasn't looking. Though none of them were surprised when Billy had finally returned to Earth after breaking up with Cestria, Tommy was mildly surprised that the genius hadn't found someone else.

Sighing again, Tommy rolled over, and found himself staring at his best friend's still form. And then there was Jason....

When Jason had finished school, he had still been going out with Emily. The two had been on-again-off-again for a while, but everyone was sure that they were destined to be together. Then, to everyone's astonishment, Jason had announced his enrolment in the Los Angeles Police Academy. Unbeknownst to everyone but Tommy, he had snuck off to a Police Academy information seminar one day when he was supposed to have been at the Youth Centre taking the intermediate Karate class. Tommy had covered for him, not really taking Jason's interest in the police force seriously. It had stunned him when, the following day, Jason confessed that he'd signed up and was due to leave for LA in a month.

Emily had been the next one to find out, and Tommy could still hear the sound of her angry shouts from the storeroom of the Youth Centre. Although Jason had kept to himself exactly what the fight had been about, the consequences were brutally obvious when Jason stormed out with a blazing red welt on his cheek.

Tommy wasn't sure what had happened to Emily after that. She'd gone to college, he thought, and had probably hooked up with some football player, or something. He hadn't been sorry to see them break up, though. He had never really liked the thought of Emily and Jason together, and he had a feeling the relationship would not have lasted long even if Jason had stayed in Angel Grove.

Now Jason and Trini... Tommy grinned to himself in the dark. He liked that combination a whole lot better. The two had always been remarkably close, and it had thrilled Tommy.... as far as he could be when his mind had been wasted on drugs.... when he'd gotten news that they were together. It was not a pairing that he had expected. If anything, he had thought that perhaps Billy and Trini would end up together. After all, she was the only one, aside from Adam, who had ever been able to completely understand him.

He had a feeling that Billy had actually had some feelings for Trini, and he remembered Billy's reaction upon coming home and learning that Jason and Trini were married with a child. He'd put up a facade of pleasure that they'd all known was fake, and had then disappeared into his home lab for two weeks.

Of course, he'd accepted that they were together, and had gone on with his own life. Curiously, Tommy wondered whether Billy and Trini could have made it together. It was hard to tell, he reflected. Jason and Trini were so perfect together, even though they had their difficulties, the same as any couple.

He sighed a little and was about to settle down when Jason suddenly twisted sharply, and gave a muffled sob. Frowning, Tommy pushed himself up in bed. He'd heard Trini mention that Jason suffered bad nightmares from time to time. She hadn't elaborated, but from all that Tommy had heard about the cases Jason had worked on in the past, it didn't surprise him in the least.

He paused, waiting to see if Jason settled down. Minutes passed, and the former Gold Ranger became progressively more restless, moaning in distress and muttering unintelligable words into the pillow. Grimacing, Tommy slid out of bed and crouched down beside his friend.

"Jase? C'mon, buddy, wake up...."

It had no effect, and Tommy finally reached out and grabbed his shoulder. Jason's reaction was immediate. He jerked violently awake, a half- choked cry escaping his throat. Tommy rocked back on his heels, holding his hands up defensively.

"Easy, bro. Man, that must have been a ripper of a nightmare."

Jason looked blankly at Tommy for several seconds, then finally scrambled out of the bed and bolted into the adjoining bathroom. Moments later, Tommy heard the sounds of retching as Jason lost the contents of his stomach into the toilet.

"Feel better?" Tommy asked softly as Jason finally came back into the bedroom.

"A little," Jason mumbled. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I tell you, I haven't seen you go that colour since.... Hell, since the time I nearly skewered you in the Dimension of Darkness. What was the nightmare about?"

"Daniel and Martina Jackson," Jason murmured as he sat back down on the bed. "Husband and wife duo, sort of like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. They really had it in for cops. Used to set up ambushes. They killed seven good cops before Sid and I nailed them. Shit... That was as close as they come."

"How close?" Tommy asked curiously. Jason paused, sparing Tommy a rueful look before going on.

"Sid nearly took a machete in the gullet. They liked the sight of blood. We were both in hospital for two weeks after that one. Trini nearly killed me herself."

Tommy had to smile. "I'm not surprised. You must've scared the crap out of her a dozen times over."

"I never meant to scare her," Jason murmured. "It's just the way it went. At the Academy, the sergeant that trained the squad I was in... He called me into his office one day. He told me I had the instinct. I didn't understand what he meant at the time, but later on, my lieutenant in Chicago told me the same thing. Said I had 'the instinct'."

"Trini's tough, though," Tommy said. "If she couldn't handle you being a cop, she would never have married you."

Jason nodded. "I know. But no one's ever had it in for me personally before. I don't get what it is with Bennett. You know about how I went after him in Chicago?"

"Uh huh."

"Well, he got the better of me at first. Took me down some stairs to this little area he had set up. He showed me this wall. It was covered with news articles about me and photos of me. It was freaky."

"Just you?" Tommy asked. "Nothing else?"

"Nothing else," Jason confirmed. "Just me. It scared the hell out of me. I'll admit it. But there was something strange. I mean, aside from that. Something I just can't quite put my finger on it. I get the feeling that if I could, then I'd be able to answer why Bennett has such a fixation with me."

"Try not to think about it," Tommy suggested. "You know, sometimes the answers we want come when we aren't even thinking about the problem."

Jason smiled wryly.

Uh huh. You try not to think about a psychotic that wants you dead

"Maybe you're right," he conceded. He paused, glancing at the clock. It read just after midnight. "Better get to sleep. I don't think either of us needs to be exhausted tomorrow."

Tommy smiled and climbed back into his own bed, switching off the bed lamp once Jason had also settled back into bed. Silence reigned for a couple of minutes, and then Tommy spoke softly.

"It's good to have you home, Jase."

In the darkness, Jason had to smile.

"It's good to be home," he admitted quietly. He paused, then slid further down beneath the covers. "Goodnight, Tommy."

"'Night, Jase."

Silence fell again, but it was a long time before either one finally fell asleep.

Tommy came down the next morning to find Jason in the family room, looking at the photos that lined the mantel above the fireplace. He joined his best friend, sparing him a sleepy smile.

"You're up nice and early."

Jason shrugged. "I'm used to dragging myself out of bed at ungodly hours. You get used to it. You slept through the alarm, I noticed."

Tommy grinned sheepishly. "Old habits are hard to break."

For just an instant, Jason felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise at the casual statement. He glanced sideways at Tommy, instinctively searching for some sort of sign, or clue, but Tommy's attention was solely on the photos.

"Hard to believe the twins are in college. Those two really grew up fast."

Jason reluctantly dragged his attention away from Tommy, and back to the photos.

"I know what you mean. The last time I saw either of them, they were half our size."

"Now they're both six foot," Tommy said with a snicker.

"What are they doing now, anyway?"

"In college? Alex is studying science. Scott is into architecture. They're at the same college, though. I don't think they could bear to be parted for long."

"That's the way it goes with twins," Jason murmured. Tommy finally looked to Jason.

"I used to think of us as brothers. Almost twins. You remember how we used to be able to second-guess each other?"

A grin tugged at the corners of Jason's mouth. "Yeah. And do you remember how we used to get so heavy into sparring that we'd try to take each other apart?"

"Yeah," Tommy said with a chuckle. "We didn't really mean it, though." He faltered, looking at Jason's wry grin, then smirked and shrugged. "Well, maybe we did. That was a good time, though. I still can't believe so long has passed since then."

"I know," Jason said, sighing and turning away from the mantel. "We're adults now, though, Tommy. We can't go back to being teenagers again. Hell, I don't think I'd want to. We had fun, but I would not want to suffer through High School again."

"Suffer?" Tommy echoed incredulously as they headed through into the kitchen. "What do you mean, suffer? You always had good marks, you got on well with practically everybody, you were popular..."

Jason pulled a face. "I had a love life worth zip. Emily was the first girl I ever dated, and that was no match made in Heaven. No one ever noticed, but as far as girls went, Adam had more luck than I did."

"I never noticed...." Tommy murmured, amazed.

"See? You were too busy with Kim, and then Kat to notice. I tell you, I really hated Valentine's Day. It was always a nightmare for me. Half the time I made up stories about dates that never happened." Jason paused, then sighed. "What am I talking about? It wasn't half the time. It was all the damn time."

"C'mon," Tommy growled. "There must have been some girls that would have loved to go out with you."

"If there were," Jason retorted, "they must have been shyer than I was. Remember the first year you came, and the Sadie Hawkins Dance the school had? I told you guys I had to go to a relative's place that night."

Tommy stared at Jason in disbelief. "Are you saying you lied about it?"

"Bingo," Jason muttered, red-faced. "I never went 'cause no one asked me. I didn't want to show up without a date. I was too embarrassed."

"You idiot," Tommy told him. "Do you have any idea how many girls showed up that night without dates?"

Jason was silent for a moment, then a smirk edged onto his face.

"Anyway, who are you to call me an idiot? I've been married for six years, pal, and I have a great kid. You haven't even set a date yet."

It was Tommy's turn to go red. "Give me a break. We're just taking it easy."

"You're stalling, as usual," Jason shot back. "Stop dangling the carrot, Tommy. Marry the girl! You love her, don't you?"

Tommy hesitated, then. Jason paused, a mug of coffee halfway to his lips.

"What is it?"

"I do love Kat," he said finally, softly. "I really do. It's just, the other night, at the reception after Tanya and Adam's wedding Just watching Kim and her husband For a minute there I felt so damn jealous that I wanted to take Derek outside and let him have it."

Jason shook his head and took a mouthful of coffee. "Face it, bro. You two just weren't meant to be together. Kim meant what she wrote in that letter. But I think you and Kat have really got a chance. Don't do her an injustice by pining for Kim."

"I already have," Tommy said sadly. "For the last six years. Right from when I first started taking the damned drugs. She could have just given up on me, you know. Anyone else probably would have. But she stuck by me, all the way."

"She loves you, Tommy. Stop stalling. Set a date and marry her. You've got a solid income with the dojo. You don't have anymore excuses."

"I guess you're right," Tommy conceded.

"I'm glad you two are up," a voice said, and they looked to see Michael walking into the kitchen. The police chief spared them a wry smile.

"Means I don't have to wake you both up." His gaze focused on Tommy. "Especially you."

Tommy reddened and turned his attention back to his own mug of coffee. Michael chuckled and went to pour a mug for himself.

"Jason and I are leaving for the precinct in fifteen minutes, Tommy, if you want a lift to the dojo."

Tommy nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

"Do you mind if we stop off at my place?" Jason asked quickly. "I forgot to check for mail yesterday. It won't take a minute."

Michael nodded. "Sure." He looked back to Tommy, who was still in his pyjamas. "Do you want a ride or not? I know your gi looks like a pair of pyjamas, but you won't get away with showing up in those things."

Tommy spared Jason a fleeting grin, and fled the room to go and get dressed.

Twenty minutes later, Michael pulled into the driveway of Jason and Trini's home, and Jason climbed out quickly to go and check the mail.

"I don't know why he wants to get the mail," Tommy murmured once Jason was out of the car. "It's probably only bills."

Michael spared Tommy an exasperated look. "It's called responsibility, Tommy. Don't tell me you've forgotten what that word means?"

"I was joking," Tommy snapped back at his father. "Jeez, Dad...."

The explosion interrupted their argument with a violent roar. Both father and son threw their arms up over their faces as the car windows shattered, spraying them with glass and fragments from the destroyed mailbox.

"Holy shit, what was that?" Tommy gasped in shock as he finally looked up. Michael blinked hard, his vision slowly refocusing after the shock of the explosion.

"I don't know what.... Oh Christ.... Jason...."

Tommy looked around blankly as his father almost fell out of the car in his rush to get out. Lying on the grass several metres away was Jason, and he wasn't moving. Heart pounding, Tommy scrambled out of the car and followed Michael across the lawn to where Jason lay.

"Is he okay?" Tommy asked, in a near panic. Michael didn't answer, but leaned down close, checking to see that the young man was still breathing. He was, much to Michael's great relief.

"Tommy, do you know how to use the CB in the car?"

"Sure. You taught me once, remember?"

"Well, get on it now and ask for an ambulance. Tell them who you are, and say that I authorized it. Tell them we have an officer down."

Tommy leapt up and ran to do what he'd been told. Michael watched him go, then turned his attention back to Jason.

"Not long now," he murmured. "I swear to God, if you're hurt badly, I'll kill Bennett myself."

*A short while later,

St. James Hospital

Donavon and Sarah Scott arrived at the hospital not long after the ambulance had arrived and Jason had been taken off for treatment. They were intercepted in the waiting area by Michael and David Ashley, who had come as soon as the emergency call went over the CB.

"Where's Jason?" Donavon demanded to know. "What's happened?"

Michael looked grim as he spoke. "Jason's being taken care of by the doctors. Don't worry about him, he'll be fine. From the sounds of it, the worst he may have is a severe concussion. He'll be all right."

Donavon's gaze hardened considerably. "What happened?"

It was spoken with deliberate coldness. Michael dared not evade the question again.

"It was a bomb, planted in the mailbox. It went off when Jason lifted the lid. We'll know more when forensics get through with their tests."

Tears of fright and stress trickled down Sarah's cheeks.

"Why would someone want to kill Jason?" she asked in a trembling voice.

Michael fell silent, but the look shared between him and David spoke in volumes. Then, before either man had the chance to say anything, a doctor emerged through the swinging doors and approached the group.

"Excuse me, Mr and Mrs Scott?"

"That's us," Donavon confirmed, taking his wife's hand in his own. "How is Jason? Will he be all right?"

The doctor smiled reassuringly and nodded. "He'll be fine. He does have a fairly severe concussion, and I'm afraid his left arm was broken, but that seems to be the worst of his injuries. If you'll come with me, I'll take you to him."

The four adults followed the doctor down the corridor and into the nearest elevator.

"How bad is the break?" Michael queried.

"His arm was broken in two places," the doctor replied. "One break was only a minor Greenstick fracture, but the other break was worse. He'll probably be in plaster for at least six weeks. Here we are...."

They entered a room to find Jason half-sitting up in bed, pale but conscious. Sarah hurried over to him, hugging him as tightly as she dared, and kissing him on the forehead.

"Thank God you're all right..."

Jason smiled faintly, returning the hug. "I'm fine, Mum. Don't panic, okay?"

Donavon joined his wife at the bedside. The harsh comments that had been on the tip of his tongue died at the sound of his son's voice. Jason had been shaken badly, and it was all-too-obvious. He hesitated, then reached out and gently squeezed Jason's shoulder wordlessly. Jason spared his father a weak smile, grateful for the silence.

Michael spared David a grim look, then walked around the other side of the bed.

"You certainly scared the hell out of us, that's for sure. I thought Tommy was going to have a heart attack on the spot."

Concern flashed in Jason's eyes. "Where is Tommy?"

"He needed a few stitches," Michael said dismissively. "They're taking care of that in the ER now. That bomb blew out all the windows of the car. Melanie is going to have kittens when she sees it." He paused, then gave the Scotts an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, but would you folks give me just a couple of minutes with Jason?"

He hadn't expected them to give, and he was right.

"We are not leaving this room," Donavon snapped. "Whatever you have to say to Jason, it can be said in front of us."

Michael sighed, then nodded. "Okay. The fact is, we have a pretty good idea of who is responsible for this."

"Who?" Donavon demanded to know. Michael ignored him, and looked to Jason.

"Think back to your case files, Jason. Did Bennett have any experience with or knowledge of explosives?"

Jason bit down lightly on his lower lip as he tried to think back. "I couldn't say, sir. I don't think there was anything in the files we had that suggested that. He could have had, I suppose."

"Well, we have to assume that it is Bennett," Michael muttered. "Unless something happens to prove otherwise."

David tensely shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Which means that Bennett is in Angel Grove."

"Exactly. For all we know, he could have gotten here before that letter did."

"Letter?" Donavon echoed in confusion. "What letter? What's going on here?"

Michael hesitated, then turned to the Scotts. "Jason received a letter at the precinct yesterday. It was unsigned, but we're sure it was sent by Kyle Bennett."

"The Angel of Death?" Sarah whispered in horror. Michael nodded.

"I'm afraid so. The judge overseeing the case in Chicago dismissed the charges. Bennett is a free man. Jason believes he killed Sid Ellis, and we believe he's now come here after Jason."

"Christ," Donavon whispered. "So that's why you sent Trini and William to San Diego so abruptly."

Jason nodded once. "Yes. I didn't want Bennett using them to get to me. I wanted them to be safe."

Donavon smiled finally and ruffled his son's hair affectionately.

"You're a smart boy, Jason. You did the right thing."

Jason relaxed visibly, and slumped down a little in the bed. Sarah looked around at Michael in anger and fear.

"What now? What are you going to do about this, Michael? This madman has already tried to kill Jason once. Twice, if you count Chicago."

Michael was silent for a long moment, then turned his attention to Jason.

"Jason, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I'm relieving you of active duty."

Momentary silence followed the statement, and then Jason conceded grudgingly. "I understand, sir."

"I just want to do everything I can to guarantee your safety," Michael assured him. "Besides that, you aren't in a fit state to go back to work straight away. Even if you did, you'd be confined to your desk. Even I know better than to do that to you."

"So what am I supposed to do?" Jason wanted to know. He had little success at hiding the distress in his voice. "Go hide in a basement somewhere?"

"We'll come up with something," Michael told him with a sigh. "I promise. But you have to stay here for now, anyway. The doctors will want to keep you here overnight, at the very least. David and I had better get going and I have to collect Tommy from the ER. I'll stop in tonight, and we'll discuss this further, all right?"

Jason nodded wordlessly, knowing full well that there was little he could do about it.

Michael favoured Donavon and Sarah with a reassuring smile, then led David out of the room. Once they were out of earshot of the three Scotts, Michael spoke softly to his other captain.

"David, call the precinct and have them send someone here immediately. I want a police guard on that door at all times."

David nodded. "Will do. You think Bennett would try coming in here to take a shot at Jason?"

"It's possible. We can't discount it, at any rate."

The captain nodded again, and silence fell as they reached the elevator. Once they'd stepped inside the lift, David spoke again.

"Chief, this isn't an ordinary situation."

Michael glanced at David out of the corner of his eye. "How do you mean?"

"Well, I studied this sort of thing at the Academy, and again before I took the exam for promotion to sergeant. This obsession that Bennett seems to have with Jason. Something is wrong with it."

"You don't need to tell me that, David."

"No, sir. I mean there's something more to it than simple obsession. There has to be. Going on what we know, Bennett became obsessed with Jason when he took over the case in Chicago. Jason was only working on it for three weeks, wasn't he? Before he and his partner caught Bennett, I mean. That's hardly enough for anyone to become fixated, let alone to encourage Bennett to risk coming here after him. From what I've heard of this, I'd be inclined to think that this goes beyond the case in Chicago."

Michael slowed to a halt just outside the ER. "Are you suggesting that Jason may have had a run-in with Bennett before the Angel of Death case in Chicago?"

David nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. I think it may be possible."

"But Jason has never said anything to suggest that. If what you're saying is true, then it must have happened some time ago."

David shrugged. "Maybe... Maybe not. Maybe Jason just hasn't thought to remember."

Michael sighed, then shook his head. "Look, I'm going to get Tommy now. Get back to the precinct, let the boys know what's happened and tell them Jason's fine, then organise a guard rotation. I'll see you back there in half an hour, and we'll discuss this theory of yours further."

"Yes, sir," David conceded, and hurried off in the opposite direction.

Michael watched him go, then turned and disappeared through the plastic door flaps into the ER.

Dragon Dojo

Rocky was in the middle of a warm-up in the middle of the deserted floor of the dojo when Tommy came in, rubbing his forehead gingerly.

"What happened to you?" he demanded, seeing the stitches. Tommy grimaced.

"You probably wouldn't believe me anyway."

Rocky hesitated, then walked over to his friend. "Okay, buddy, spill it."

Tommy sighed, then sank onto a wooden bench. "Dad said he'd drop me off here on his way to work, but we stopped off at Jason's place so Jase could check his mail.

"Jason's staying with you?"

"Yeah. Long story. Don't ask. Anyway, Jase went to get his mail, and the mailbox blew up."

Rocky's jaw dropped. "It blew up?"

"Uh huh. Smashed the car windows. I got cut up a bit, and I needed some stitches. Jason's in hospital now. He's got a bad concussion, apparently, and a broken left arm."

"Shit," Rocky swore. "Trini's gonna have kittens."

"She won't know, unless someone calls her and tells her. Jason sent her and William to a relative's place in San Diego."

"Something's wrong," Rocky said abruptly. "That the same sort of thing he used to pull back when we were Rangers. He'd send everyone else off to do something else while he took the real heat."

"He used to try," Tommy conceded. "He didn't get away with it very much. But, yeah. You're right. There is a problem. It's not my place to say anything, though. It's just me and you today, though. Trini won't be in to teach the Tai Chi class this afternoon, obviously. And since Adam's off on his honeymoon...."

"Lucky son of a bitch," Rocky grumbled. "I guess I'd better get on the phone and find someone to replace Trini until she gets back. Hey, are you gonna be okay?"

Tommy nodded. "Yeah, sure. I think I'll probably just take an aspirin and lie down in my office for half an hour."

"No longer," Rocky warned him. "Or I'm coming after you with a sledge- hammer."

Tommy smiled faintly, and headed off to his office to do as he'd said.

That evening

Jason was showing considerably more life than earlier that day when Michael came back.

"You look a bit better," the police chief remarked. "How are you feeling?"

Jason offered him a crooked smile. "Not too bad. The doctor said I could be discharged this evening, instead of tomorrow morning. I still have a pretty bad headache, though."

"Mm, you and Tommy both. Just as long as you're feeling better. Have you called Trini?"

The expression on Jason's face gave Michael his answer.

"I see. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but you won't be able to get away with not telling her. You can't hide a broken arm, my boy."

"I know," Jason conceded. "I'll tell her. Just not until I have to. She's had enough to worry about lately as it is. I'm not gonna call her and tell her someone tried to kill me."

Michael's amused smile faded. "Yes We need to talk about that, Jason. I had a chat with David this afternoon. He's done some work in this area. He seems to think that you may have had an encounter with Bennett some time prior to the Angel of Death case in Chicago."

Donavon frowned a little from where he stood next to the bed, but said nothing. Jason had stiffened a little in the bed.

"Why would he think that?"

"I don't know. I was hoping you could give me an answer. Can you?"

Jason drew in a deep breath as he thought it over carefully. He was about to discount the possibility when he suddenly recalled his words to Tommy only the previous night.

there was something strange. Something I just can't quite put my finger on it

"The wall," Jason said suddenly, his throat tightening as he remembered the sight of the wall in the building.

"The wall?" Michael echoed. "What wall?"

"When Bennett caught me in that building," Jason explained, "he took me downstairs and he showed me this one wall that he'd covered with pictures and news articles about me. I can't say exactly I just have the feeling that the answer might be in there somewhere."

Michael nodded finally. "All right. I'll contact your old precinct and have them send all the evidence from the Bennett case down here. We'll see what answers we can find then. But if you do remember anything, tell us. Please, for your own safety."

He paused, then looked across at the Scotts. Donavon second-guessed him and spoke quietly.

"He's coming home with us."

Michael conceded with a nod. "I'll bring his clothes around tonight. And Jason... No matter what happens, you don't go back to your house until this is over. Do you understand me?"

Jason nodded glumly. "Yes, sir."

The following day

Michael Oliver arrived at the Scott home early the next afternoon, and was surprised to discover Donavon had not gone to work. He commented on it, and was met with a surprisingly sad expression.

"My son has been grown up for over ten years, Mike. I haven't had the chance to really look after him since he was fifteen. I'm just trying to make the best of what little time I have left before it's his turn to look after me and Sarah."

Michael had to smile. "I guess I can understand that. Of course, Tommy is a lot different to Jason... Where is Jason, anyway? We have to start going through this evidence."

Donavon regarded the large envelope that Michael had tucked under his arm.

"Those are the photos that Bennett had of Jason?"

"Photos and news articles," Michael confirmed. "They arrived late this morning, express delivery."

"Jason's in the kitchen. Come on through."

Jason looked up with a half-smile that touched his lips, but not his eyes. He knew what Michael was there for.

"Chief..."

Michael set the envelope down on the table. "I guess you know what this is. I thought we'd better look through it together."

Sarah wordlessly cleared the table of everything, and Michael tipped up the envelope and emptied its contents onto the wooden surface. There was more than Jason remembered, and some photos slid off the table and fell to the floor.

"There's so much," Sarah whispered. Jason looked grimly over the pile.

"There's something really disturbing about someone having this many photos and articles about you."

Michael sat down and slowly began to sift through the pile. "We'd better see what we can find."

Silence fell as Michael, Donavon and Jason all sifted through the photos and news articles, not sure of what they were looking for but hoping they would find it all the same. It was a good five minutes later when Michael suddenly stiffened.

"What is it?" Donavon asked softly.

Michael picked up a photo by one corner and handed it to Jason.

"Look at this."

Jason looked, and frown crossed his face. "This is a photo of me and Tommy after we won the Team Ninja Finals."

Michael looked intently at Jason. "How could Bennett have come by an original photo from that? The only photos that were taken at that tournament were taken by Ernie. Bennett had to have taken the photo without anyone realising it."

Jason stared at the photo, his breath thinning a little as his heart rate increased. "I was seventeen when Tommy and I won that tournament. Bennett knew me ten years ago."

"Further back than that," Donavon said, and both Jason and Michael looked to him questioningly. The older man had turned a ghostly white as he held a photo in trembling fingers. When Jason didn't move, Michael reached across the table and took the photo from his friend.

"This is Jason?"

Donavon nodded slowly, his eyes shut. "Yes, when he was six or seven years old. That's the play equipment of the local primary school in the background."

"He knew me when I was six," Jason whispered. His tanned face had turned ashen as he contemplated the startling knowledge. He looked up at Michael and Donavon with fear in his eyes, the likes of which Donavon could not remember seeing for a long time. "This... This bastard has been following me for the last twenty years!"

"Come down, Jason," Michael warned him softly. "Don't panic."

Tears abruptly filled Jason's eyes as he looked back to the photos.

"How could I have met Bennett twenty years ago? I don't understand what's going on here!"

"You don't remember anything about Bennett prior to the case in Chicago?" Michael asked, and Jason shook his head wordlessly, too distressed to answer.

Silence fell as they wondered what to do. It was finally broken by Donavon.

"I may have an idea that could help Jason to remember."

Michael looked questioningly at Donavon, who looked in turn to Jason.

"Jason, how do you feel about hypnotherapy?"

The young man regarded Donavon with red-rimmed eyes. "You want to use hypnosis on me?"

"Not me," Donavon told him. "I'm not qualified to use hypnosis. I mean my partner, Martin Brandon. I don't know whether you honestly can't remember, or whether something is stopping you from remembering, but we have to find out the truth here. Hypnosis may be the only solution."

Slowly but surely, Jason's hands were clenching into fists. "What if I don't want to remember? I have a horrible feeling it won't be pleasant."

"Do you, or do you not want to know the truth behind this man's obsession with you?" Donavon demanded, the psychiatrist in him starting to dominate. "If anything else, understanding will give you a better chance at beating him. You should understand that, Jason. You've been a cop long enough."

Jason shut his eyes for a long moment before replying in a bitter, but defeated tone.

"Fine. Give your partner a call. The sooner we get this over with, the better."

Before any of them could respond, Jason got up and stalked out of the kitchen, leaving them all to sit in heavy silence.

"Jason?"

"I want to be alone."

Donavon hesitated in the doorway of the bedroom, then stepped inside and closed the door. After leaving the kitchen, Jason had retreated back to his old bedroom, the one in which William now slept during overnight visits. The young man lay face-down on his old bed, and one arm was wrapped around JJ, the teddy bear that Billy Cranston had given Jason for his fourteenth birthday. Though Donavon didn't think Jason was crying, he bet that he was pretty close to it. Still not speaking, he went over and sat down carefully on the edge of the bed.

Jason shifted a little and rolled over, looking up at his father.

"Look at me," he said in a strained voice, feeling foolish as he spoke. "Twenty-seven years old, and crying like a baby."

Donavon reached out and squeezed Jason's shoulder reassuringly. "There is no shame in that, Jason. You know there isn't. You're scared. It's understandable."

Jason sat up next to Donavon. "I just don't get it. What did I ever do wrong that I deserve this? I just want a normal life, Dad! It's not fair."

Donavon hesitated, then did something he had not done for years. He reached around and pulled Jason close for a warm hug.

"You never did anything wrong, Jason. It's bad luck, nothing more. We're going to work this out. I'll give Martin a call, and then we'll figure out just why this man is so hell-bent on making your life miserable. And then, we'll stop him. All right?"

Jason nodded. "All right. Thanks, Dad."

Donavon smiled and, reaching up, ruffled his son's hair affectionately.

"I am proud of you, Jason. I did you a huge wrong before by not telling you that. Everything you've ever done, I've been proud of. You never disappointed me, son."

Jason looked away. "Except when I joined the Police Force."

"No," Donavon murmured. "Not even then. I was startled, I admit. And, I was scared. But I wasn't disappointed. I understood your intentions. You've always been the type that wanted to help other people. Really, I should have expected it, I suppose. It was the most logical choice for someone like you."

Looking back at his father, Jason was startled to see the tears in his eyes. Without hesitation, he hugged Donavon tightly.

"I love you, Dad."

Donavon sighed inwardly as he returned the hug. "I love you too, son."

Martin Bennett arrived early that evening, after finishing up at his and Donavon's office. He arrived to a small contingent. Not only was Michael, Donavon and Sarah present, but so were both David Ashley and Tommy Oliver. Initially ignoring the small crowd, Martin spoke directly to Jason.

"Well, your old man was right. You really grew up. But I have to say that I'm impressed. I thought you'd be on a shrink's couch long before this. What with your dad drumming so much crap into you..."

"Watch it, Marty," Donavon warned him lightly as Jason smirked into his sleeve. Martin merely smiled at his partner. He'd done what he'd intended to do, and that was to get a smile out of Jason.

"Okay," he announced firmly. "Everyone who isn't here to be hypnotized, out now. I'll call you all back in when we're ready."

The rest of the group filed out reluctantly, leaving Jason and Martin alone.

"Listen, Marty...?" Jason asked tentatively. Martin regarded him curiously.

"What is it?"

Jason shifted uncomfortably. "I need to ask you something, but it's sort of touchy."

"Well, spill it."

"When you get me under hypnosis... There are certain things I don't want you to ask me about, but I can't tell you what they are."

Marty stared at Jason for a long moment, then sat back on the opposite couch.

"You do realise you've just aroused my curiosity beyond recovery?"

"I'm serious," Jason growled. "Look, if Dad tells you to ask me about anything that happened to me between the ages of sixteen and eighteen that he thinks I've deliberately kept secret from him, please, just tell him you can't do it. Say it's breaking confidentiality, or something."

"I get the feeling that this could be pretty hot stuff," Marty suggested. Jason stared across at him intently.

"Please, Marty. It's important."

Marty sighed, then nodded. "Okay. Okay, I'll keep him at bay for you. But I'll be getting back to you about this, you can bet on it."

Jason nodded, relieved. "Thanks. So... You want me to lie down, or something?"

"No. Just settle back into the armchair and relax. This won't take a minute..."

All adults looked around sharply as Marty looked into the kitchen.

"He's under. You can come back in now."

Wordlessly, they followed Marty back into the family room. Jason was slumped over a little in an armchair, and looked for all the world as though he was sleeping. Tommy, unable to resist the urge, waved his hand slowly in front of his friend's face.

"Knock it off, Oliver," David growled impatiently. Tommy spared David a disdainful look, but backed off.

"He's completely hypnotized?" Sarah asked tentatively. Marty nodded.

"Yeah. Didn't take too long, thankfully. It can cause problems when someone is difficult to put under. Just have a seat, all of you, and we'll start this off."

They all found places to sit, and once they were settled, Marty turned his attention back to Jason.

"Jason, can you hear me?"

"Yes," Jason answered, a tad sluggishly. Marty nodded.

"Okay, that's good. Now, can you tell me where you are?"

"At home."

"Who's home?"

"Mum and Dad's."

"All right. We'll start now. Jason, we're trying to find the answer to a certain question. Do you know what that question is?"

"Yes. Why is Kyle Bennett so interested in me?"

"That's right. We think that you might have met up with Bennett before you took on the case in Chicago. Do you remember if you met him any time before?"

"No," Jason answered simply. Marty nodded.

"Okay. Jason, I have a pocket watch with me. I've taken it out of my pocket, and I'm holding it up in front of you. Can you see it?"

"Yes," Jason answered softly, even though Marty was not holding up anything at all. Marty went on quietly.

"I'm winding it backwards, Jason. We're going back in time. Hours, now days." He paused, then spoke again. "Where are you now, Jason?"

"Church... Adam and Tanya are getting married."

"You don't sound too happy about it."

Distress flickered across Jason's face. "Can't help it. I just heard, Sid's been killed...."

"Marty," Donavon growled, "don't put him through that again, for God's sake"

Marty simply nodded.

"Okay, Jason, we're going further back in time. Days, now. Weeks, years We're going to wind the clock right back, Jason, right back to when you were six years old. We're slowing down, now. Slowing And we've stopped."

Marty paused again for a long moment before speaking. "Hello, Jason."

"Hello."

It was Jason's voice, but the tone was lacking in maturity. It was childish the voice of a six year-old child.

"Can you tell me how old you are, Jason?"

"I'm six," came the excited reply. "I turned six today. Mummy says I'm a big boy, now."

Marty glanced back at Donavon and Sarah. "He stopped right on his sixth birthday."

"He stopped?" Michael echoed, confused. Marty nodded.

"Yeah. I turn back time for him, so to speak, but his subconscious chooses the time and date that he actually stops on. Something significant must have happened to him on his birthday to make him choose this." He looked back to Jason. "If it's your birthday, then you must be pretty excited, Jason. Are you having a party?"

"Oh yeah," Jason said enthusiastically. "There's gonna be lots of food, and all my friends will be there."

"Who are your friends, Jason?"

"There's Billy He's my best friend. And Trini..."

"Only two?"

"They're my best friends," Jason answered firmly.

Behind all the others, Tommy had to smile. That long ago, Jason, Trini and Billy must have been the only three of the first team to be together in Angel Grove. Even back then, they must have had a close bond of friendship... He blinked and focused as Marty went on quietly.

"Where are you right now, Jason?"

The excitement fell away all-too-quickly. "At school. Dad said he'd pick me up and take me home, but he's late. I don't know where he is. There's hardly anyone around."

"Will you call home?" Marty asked.

"Little kids aren't allowed to use the phone," Jason said gloomily. "Besides, I can't remember our phone number."

"Aren't there any teachers around?"

"No. They've all gone. The janitor's coming to lock up."

"Will you ask him to call your mum?"

"No way," Jason grumbled. "He's creepy. And he doesn't like kids. I'm gonna walk. I know the way."

Donavon looked to Sarah, startled. "He walked home alone on his birthday?"

Sarah shrugged helplessly. Marty glanced back at them, then continued with Jason.

"Don't you think your parents might be upset?" he asked lightly.

"I'll tell them I got a ride with a friend," Jason said dismissively. "They'll believe it. They won't be mad at me on my birthday."

Donavon groaned and shook his head. "Shameless little sod...."

"Are you walking now, Jason?"

"Yeah. I have to go through the park, otherwise I'll have to cross the main road. I can't cross that road without a grown-up."

"Is it far?"

"No. I don't think so."

Even as Jason spoke, his body began to stiffen visibly in the chair. Marty noticed, and finally commented on it.

"Is something wrong, Jason?"

"I think a man is following me."

The simple statement grabbed everyone's attention, and they all watched, hardly daring to breathe.

"A man?" Marty echoed. "Do you know who he is?"

"Not really," Jason murmured. "I've seen him hanging around school sometimes. Danny said he gives lollies to kids. I never wanted any."

"Where is he now, Jason?"

Jason turned a little in the seat, as though looking over his shoulder.

"He's gone. I can't see...."

He gave a sudden yelp of fright as he turned back to face the front, startling them all. Cowering back a little, he spoke in a voice that trembled.

"Who are you?"

"What is it, Jason?" Marty pressed, acutely aware of the sudden fear on the young man's face. When Jason didn't respond, Marty acted quickly.

"Okay, Jason, I want you to listen to me. You are safe, you can't be hurt. You aren't that six year-old anymore. Do you understand me? You're looking at what's happening from a distance, as though through a window. Do you understand?"

Jason nodded slowly, and when he spoke, his voice had regained its maturity.

"Yes I understand."

"All right," Marty murmured, relieved. "Now, you're looking through the window, and you're watching what's happening. I want you to tell us exactly what is going on."

"The man.... He's talking to me. He said he'd seen me at school. He's asking why I never go to get lollies from him. I said I don't like lollies. He said I should try some I tried to get around him, but he wouldn't let me go. I said I had to get home for my party, and he asked me if it was my birthday. I... I said yes. I had to. Mum always told me that I should answer when an adult asked me a question. I mean, he was a stranger, but he was an adult, too..."

"Christ, what a dilemma for a kid," David whispered. Marty went on quietly.

"What happened then, Jason?"

"He said he had a present for me. I... I told him I wasn't allowed to take things from strangers, but he said it was right over behind the tree. He said if I didn't let him give it to me, then he'd call my mum and tell her I'd been rude to him. I didn't want Mum to be mad at me on my birthday, so I said yes."

"Marty, stop," Donavon whispered hoarsely. Michael regarded Donavon grimly.

"We can't stop now, Don."

"Why not?" Donavon choked out. "We know what he's going to say! Damn it, Mike...."

"We don't know for sure, Donavon. And we have to know for sure. You know that. It's why you suggested this. Keep going, Marty."

Marty nodded, and turned back to Jason.

"Did you go behind the tree with him, Jason?"

"Y... Yes." He'd started to stammer. "There wasn't anything there. I asked him where the present was. He said he had it in his pocket, but he had to take me behind the tree, because he didn't want anyone to see. He... He said it was a secret."

"What happened then, Jason?"

"He put a hand on my shoulder. It was sort of like the way Dad puts his hand on my shoulder... Except he held on really tight. It hurt, but he didn't let go when I asked. Then...."

Jason faltered, his breath starting to come in rapid succession as the panic took hold.

"Jason, I want you to relax," Marty told him. "You are safe here. You are totally detached from what happened. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"All right. Now go on."

"He started touching me," Jason confessed softly. "First he touched my face. Then he lifted my shirt and touched my stomach. Then... Then he put his hand down my shorts...."

Close by, Sarah Scott gave a choked sob of disbelief. Donavon joined her, hugging her tightly. Jason went on, oblivious to the distress of his parents.

"He... He was feeling me... He squeezed and everything... It hurt... I started crying."

"What did you do, Jason? Did you scream?"

Jason drew in a slow breath. "No. I kicked him."

Marty started a little in surprise. "You kicked him?"

Anger flashed across Jason's face. "I was learning karate. No one is allowed to hurt me. That's what they taught us. So I kicked him between the legs. As hard as I could."

It took Marty a moment to recover from the shock. Rarely had he come across child victims of molestation who had had the gumption to put up a decent fight during the assault.

"What happened then? After you kicked him...."

"He got this weird look on his face Like it really hurt him. I guess it did. He let me go, then. I didn't wait to see if I'd hurt him really badly. I just ran."

"You ran home?"

"Yeah."

"What did you tell you parents?"

"Nothing," Jason admitted after a substantial pause. Marty watched Jason intently.

"Why not?"

"I... I was scared."

"Of what, Jason? What were you scared of?"

"We always got told never to talk to strangers. I did. I was scared that I'd get into trouble. I didn't want Mum and Dad to be mad at me. I did all the wrong things. I didn't want to get into trouble over it."

Marty sighed and looked back over his shoulder to Donavon and Sarah.

"One thing's for sure, he certainly loves you folks a hell of a lot. You both must have meant the world to him, if he was so desperate not to do anything to make you angry at him."

Michael shook his head. "But as a result, no one ever learned about what happened."

"Ask him if he saw the man again," David suggested quietly.

Marty turned back to Jason. "Jason, did you ever see that man again?"

Silence reigned. Marty tried again.

"Did you ever see him again, Jason?"

"Yes," Jason admitted softly. "When I was twelve. I was walking home from school... After the karate class in the Youth Centre. He came out of nowhere. I didn't even know he was following me. I didn't recognise him at first. But after a while I did. He knew my name, then. I think he must have found out from someone in the Youth Centre."

"Did he speak to you?" Marty pressed. "Did he say anything at all to you?"

Jason shifted uncomfortably. "He said he remembered me from six years ago, and that he hadn't ever forgotten me. He said no one had ever put up a fight before. I told him I was a red belt in karate and that he'd better get lost. He just laughed at me. He said he'd come back to Angel Grove for a while just because of me. He said he wouldn't be satisfied until he got me. I was going to fight him. I thought I'd have to... But he just turned and went. I didn't see him again after that."

"This man, Jason," Marty said quietly. "Do you know who he was now?"

Jason nodded slowly. "I recognise him now. It was Kyle Bennett."

"Bingo," Michael said softly.

Marty sighed a little. "Okay, I think you've gotten your answers. I'm going to bring him out of it. Everyone, out."

"Why?" Tommy started to protest. Michael began to usher his son out of the room.

"Think about it for a while, Tommy."

Then, he, Tommy and David were gone. Marty looked back to Donavon and Sarah, who hadn't moved.

"Are you folks really sure you want to wait?"

"He's our son," Donavon said softly. "It should be his wife here, with him, but we're the next best thing. Bring him out of it, Marty."

Marty nodded and did as he was told. Minutes later, Jason's eyes fluttered open as he slowly regained his wits. For several seconds, he stared at Marty and his parents, nothing registering in his eyes. Then, suddenly Jason gave a stifled sob of shock as the memories came flooding back. Sarah was there in an instant, wrapping her arms around Jason and holding him tightly. Donavon joined the embrace, refusing to let go.

Marty continued to stand there for a while longer before turning and slipping out of the room.

"Well?" Michael asked when Marty walked into the kitchen. Marty regarded them grimly as he pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Do you really need to ask?"

"That bad?" David murmured uneasily. Marty sighed.

"Jason has finally remembered things that have been completely repressed in his memory. He'll be lucky if he doesn't go into shock."

"I can't believe this," Tommy muttered. "Jason? Raped?"

"Not raped," Michael growled.

"Close enough, though," David said. "Being molested can be considered to be just as bad as rape. It's still violation, regardless. And this is something that Jason has had locked away inside him for over twenty years. He was so scared of getting into trouble that he never told anyone. Not even his own folks. Shit I wouldn't be surprised if he's in there crying like a baby. I would if it was me."

Tommy stared gloomily at the table top. "Out of all of us, I never thought Jason could ever have had that happen to him. He was always the toughest."

"You aren't that tough when you're six, Tommy," Michael said. "Don't forget, you didn't meet Jason until you were both sixteen."

"I wonder if those friends he mentioned know anything about this?" Marty mused.

"Well, Trini is Jason's wife now," Michael told him. "If Trini knew anything about this, I doubt she'd keep it from Donavon and Sarah. I suppose there's a possibility that Jason might have talked to Billy Cranston about it at some point."

"I could call Billy and ask him," Tommy suggested. Michael glowered at his son.

"Don't you dare. If Billy doesn't know anything, then I don't want him finding out. Everything that we've learned here tonight stays with us. No one else is to know. Do you understand me, Thomas?"

Tommy cringed a little. His father rarely called him 'Thomas' except in serious matters.

"Yeah," he conceded finally.

Michael went on quietly. "If Jason chooses to tell other people, then that's up to him. But we don't spread this around."

"What about Trini?" David asked in concern. Michael sighed.

"He'll tell her. I'm sure of it. I'm also sure she'll understand why he never told her or anyone else to begin with."

Marty smiled wryly. "It was just like Jason to put up a fight. I've counseled a few kids that have had similar things happen to them. None of them found the courage to fight." He shook his head. "I've known Jason all his life. He's always had that tough streak, like Tommy said. But he was still vulnerable enough to believe it was his fault for letting himself be tricked in the first place."

"You can't expect a six year-old to be able to know when they're being tricked like that," David muttered. "You remember what Jason said? That his mother had always taught him to be polite to adults. What do you do when an adult you don't know confronts you? Everything you've been taught comes into conflict. Do you do what your teachers tell you and run away, or do you stay and be polite, like your parents have taught you? In the end, what your parents teach you is likely to dominate, because it's their influence that you live under for twenty or so years of your life."

"That's something we've never considered," Michael murmured. "We go into schools, and lecture the kids about what to do when a stranger talks to them, but we've never thought about the sort of conflicts that might cause a child."

Silence fell a moment later when Donavon walked in, looking more tired than any of them could remember.

"How is he, Don?" Michael asked, getting up. Donavon regarded his friend with a pained stare.

"Not that great. And on top of everything that son of a bitch did to him, he's suffering guilt over never having told us the truth. I just came in to get some water for him."

"He's strong, Donavon," Marty told him. "He'll get through this."

Donavon paused at the fridge. "He's pushed all of this to the depths of his memory for the last twenty odd years. You know what sort of effects that can have, Marty."

"But he has you and Sarah. You won't let that happen. Neither will we."

David got up, then, not liking the tone of the discussion. "Won't let what happen? What are you talking about?"

Marty hesitated and, when Donavon didn't speak, he did.

"What we mean is that when someone has repressed bad memories for a lengthy period of time, when they do eventually remember, it can have adverse affects, sometimes to the point of mental incapacitation. But that won't happen to Jason. I'm certain of it. He's going to be okay."

Donavon looked sceptical, but wasn't given the chance to argue as the phone suddenly rang. Sparing his partner a tired look, Donavon picked up the receiver to answer the call.

"Hello? Trini? I'm sorry, Jason can't talk right...."

For nearly a minute, Donavon didn't talk. Then, suddenly, his face went quite literally green.

"Hang on, Trini. I'll get Jason now. Don't hang up."

He put the phone down, and bolted from the room, leaving the other adults to wonder what was wrong. He returned soon after, with Jason and Sarah behind him. Jason's eyes were red and swollen, and they knew he had been crying. Ignoring everyone, Jason walked over and snatched up the phone.

"Trini? Whoa, honey, slow down. I can't understand you." For the next couple of minutes, Jason listened in intent silence, his expression grimly set. Then, finally, he spoke again.

"Pack your bags and come home, now. No. Don't go to our home. Come to my parents home. That's where I'll be. ...Yes, let her drive you. ...Trini don't be stubborn. Now isn't the time. You let her drive you here. I don't want you behind the wheel. ....All right. I'll be waiting for you. And don't worry. Everything's going to be fine, I promise. ....I love you too, baby. I'll see you in a few hours."

He hung up and turned to find everyone staring at him.

"What's happened?" Michael asked quietly, dreading the response. Jason was silent for a moment, then forced himself to speak.

"Trini took William to a park this afternoon. She turned her back for just a minute.... When she looked again, he was gone. Another mother saw him being dragged into a car on the other side of the park. My boy has been kidnapped...."

It was the last thing Jason managed to say before he collapsed in a dead faint.

Trini arrived just before midnight, delivered into the house by her Aunt Miriam. Jason met her in the hallway as she came in, and wrapped her up in a tight hug before she even had the chance to speak.

"I'm sorry," she sobbed, her voice muffled by Jason's jumper. "Jason, I'm sorry...."

"It's gonna be okay," he whispered to her fiercely. "We'll get William back. It wasn't your fault, Trini. Don't blame yourself."

"But I turned my back...."

"We can't watch our kids every second of the day until they're voting age. You didn't do anything wrong."

Trini slid her arms around his waist and held him tightly as he led her into the family room. It was only as they sat down that she realised his left arm was plastered.

"What happened?"

"I broke my arm," he told her softly. "There.... There was sort of an accident....." He faltered, looking into her red-rimmed eyes for several seconds before caving. "Someone planted a bomb in the letter box, and it blew up when I lifted the lid."

Trini felt the blood freeze in her veins as she began to put two and two together. "It happened just after I left with William, didn't it?"

Jason nodded. "Yes. The next morning."

"The person who did that is the same person who took William, isn't it?"

He nodded again, unable to lie to his wife. "I think so."

Trini sat in silence for nearly a minute before speaking again. "You have to get him back, Jason. He's only a baby...."

"I will, I swear it. It's going to be okay, honey."

Jason hugged her tightly, and yet despite his outward certainty, she could almost feel the fear trembling through his body. Drawing carefully away from him, she looked up into his eyes and noticed, for the first time, the almost haunted look there.

"Jason, what is it? You look so frightened...."

He glanced away from her, unable to hold her stare.

"I am," he admitted softly. Trini reached out and grasped his hands, only to discover they were freezing cold. She let his hands go and reached up to lovingly stroke his cheek.

"What is it? Talk to me, please."

He hesitated, wondering where to start, then went on quietly.

"I think that it's Kyle Bennett who is responsible for all of this."

"Kyle Bennett? The Angel of Death? Jason, you caught him!"

"Yes, but the judge dismissed the charges on a technicality. I found out the day that I sent you and William to San Diego. I got a letter. I'm pretty sure it was from him. He bragged about killing Sid, and said he was on his way here to get me. I'm fairly certain he was responsible for the bomb in the letter box, for the letter, for killing Sid and now for kidnapping William."

Trini had gone the colour of ash. "Oh my god.... If that monster has our baby...."

"If he hurts William," Jason whispered furiously, "I'll kill him myself. I don't care if I go to jail for it. I swear to God, I'll kill him." He faltered, then took Trini's hand in his own. His were trembling badly, they both noticed. "I don't think he will hurt William, though. Not yet. He wants me too badly to risk that. He knows he'll never get what he wants if he hurts William."

"Why?" Trini choked out, tears tumbling down her checks in a steady flow. "Why does this man hate you so much?"

"That's what we wanted to know," Jason murmured. "Trini, do you remember back when we were kids? When we were six years old?"

"A little," Trini conceded. "Why?"

"Do you remember ever seeing a man around our school? Someone that gave out lollies to the kids?"

Trini was silent as she thought back, but finally gave a tentative nod.

"I think I remember. I think I took lollies from him a couple of times. But then I told my mother She went into an hysterical fit and made me promise never to take anything from him again."

"Good thing," Jason agreed. "Trini, that man was a child molester. The police never caught him."

Trini stared at Jason for a long moment before stiffening. "Are you saying he did something to you?"

Jason nodded slowly. "Yeah, but I'd totally forgotten about it. Dad had to call his partner to use hypnosis on me to remember."

"Do you remember?"

"Yeah More than I want to. It was on my sixth birthday. Do you remember I was late home? You and Billy and some other kids were there before me."

"Yes, I remember that. Your father forgot to pick you up and you said you got a lift with someone else."

"I didn't get a lift with anyone. I walked home through the park. I was followed. That man.... The one who'd been hanging around the school He followed me. Tricked me into going behind a tree with him... He tried to assault me, Trini."

"Tried?"

"I remembered all the karate lessons we'd had in the Youth Centre. I kicked the son of a bitch in the nuts and bolted. He never forgot, though. I saw him again when I was twelve or so. He knew me by name, then. He had a few words with me in the park. Made some crack about not being satisfied until he'd had me After he left, I didn't see him again. He saw me, though. Frequently, I guess."

"This man," Trini said softly. "It was Bennett, wasn't it? That's why he's come after you now. He never forgot that you didn't let him win."

"That's about it," Jason agreed. "And you're right. It is Bennett. But it took hypnosis for me to finally make the connections. When he confronted me the second time, when I was twelve, he told me no one else had ever put up a fight before. I guess he could never forget that."

"That's what he wants now, isn't it?" Trini asked fearfully. "He doesn't want to kill you. He wants....."

She trailed off, unable to bring herself to say it. Jason sighed a little and hugged her to him.

"He'd kill me, if he gets the chance. But I'm not going to give it to him. I'm going to get William back, and then make sure that sick bastard never gets out of jail."

Trini slid her arms around Jason and hugged him tightly. "I love you, Jason."

Jason smiled faintly as he returned the hug. "I love you, too."

Jason didn't sleep that night, and Trini slept fitfully, moaning softly in her sleep. For the longest while, Jason sat up, leaning against the back- board of the bed, staring into the darkness. Bennett would not hurt William, of that much he was sure. Bennett had chased him for twenty one years: he would not risk losing his opportunity for the sake of having one child. Jason didn't understand much of psychology, but he understood that.

He also understood that Bennett had to be growing impatient. William might be safe for a few days, but after that Jason's jaw clenched determinedly. He had no intention of waiting that long. Bennett would inevitably set up a trap for him, and he was going to be ready.

Careful not to wake Trini, he slid out of bed and left the room, heading down the hall to his old room. Shutting the door behind him so not disturb anyone else, he switched on the light and went to the closet.

He had taken most of his things with him upon moving to the Academy in LA, and then later to Chicago. Most of what he'd left behind had been packed into boxes and put away in the closet. He could only hope that his parents hadn't assumed what he wanted now to be a piece of scrap metal, and thrown it out.

Silently cursing his useless left arm, Jason dragged out the first of the two large boxes and ripped off the packing tape. Inside were old toys, things that he hadn't laid eyes on since his departure for Geneva when he was eighteen. Jason smiled with mild amusement as he lifted a small African drum out of the box. That had been a present from his uncle, who had often travelled abroad, and one that his parents had regretted. He remembered walking around the house for days after receiving the gift, bashing away on it with little to no sense of rhythm. For the barest instant, he considered putting it aside for William, then changed his mind and shoved it back into the box.

Reminding himself of what he was searching for, he renewed his efforts, rummaging through the box with a steadily growing desperation.

Why the hell didn't I take the damn thing with me?

The thought flickered briefly in his mind as he dragged out the second box, tore it open and began to search through it. So intent was he on his search that he didn't notice the door swing open behind him.

"Jason?"

Jason turned around so fast that he lost balance and went down on his butt with a heavy, painful thud. Trini's face creased with concern, and she hurried over to help him up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.... But what on Earth are you doing?"

"Looking for my communicator," Jason told her. Trini gaped at him.

"Why?"

"Because we're going to need all the help we can get to rescue William and catch Bennett. The crazy bastard is going to try to trap me using William. I'll have to take the chance, but if anything goes wrong, you're to get to the Power Chamber as fast as you can."

"The Power Chamber?" Trini echoed. "Jason, this is ludicrous! That place wouldn't even be operational anymore! And besides that, I don't even know where it is. I've never been there, remember?"

"Maybe, but Billy, Rocky and Tommy know where to go. Trini, I'm through playing this psycho's game. We have to start doing it our way, or we won't see William again."

"I'm not letting you put yourself in the firing line, Jason. David Ashley and Michael Oliver are both experienced officers. They'll get William back safely. There is no reason for you to do anything stupid!"

Jason stiffened, then got awkwardly to his feet, kicking the boxes back into the closet as his anger exploded.

"Is it so stupid to want to get my son back? Are you telling me I'm stupid because I want to see an end to this?"

Trini rose up slowly, moving away from Jason a couple of steps.

"No. You know I'm not. Don't put words in my mouth, Jason."

"I've let this bastard hold the key for too long," Jason snapped. "It's time to put an end to this bullshit."

Trini stared at Jason in growing concern as he walked over to the bed and dropped to his knees to look under the bed. The last time she had seen him in so volatile a state had been during that uncertain time when they had not known whether William would live or die, so sick was he. Then, nothing she had said or done had helped to calm him down. Now, he was in a frighteningly similar state.

He suddenly straightened up, a shoe box clutched in his right hand.

"What's that?" Trini asked softly.

"Treasure box," Jason told her breathlessly as he got up and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I used it from the time I turned eight to put important things into. Well.... As important as things could be to a kid, I guess. You know, baseball cards, money..... lollies that you don't want your parents to find. And, when I was seventeen...." He lifted a chunky ring of metal with a red band out of the box. "My communicator. I'd forgotten about the box. Thank God Mum always made me clean under my own bed."

Trini was silent for a long moment, then walked over and joined him on the bed. "Do you think it would even still work?"

"I don't see why not. Anyway, it's only for an emergency."

"Do you really think we may need to use any of that again? Jason?"

Jason stared for a long moment at the communicator in his hands before speaking. "I hope not. I really hope we don't, because I'm terrified of what might happen if Tommy gets dragged into it. But I won't sacrifice William just for the sake of keeping the secret."

"I'm scared, Jason," Trini whispered. Jason looked down at her, startled.

"What?"

"I'm scared," she repeated, more forcefully. "I'm scared for William, and I'm scared for you, too. I've come so close to losing you so many times, I don't think I can stand it anymore!"

Jason sighed softly and slid his arm around her, pulling her close.

"You aren't going to lose me, Trini. I'm not going to let Bennett win. This is personal now, and that bastard is going to pay for everything he's done. I guarantee it."

Trini clenched her teeth for a moment, then looked up at him. "I don't want you going after Bennett alone, Jason. Please, whatever happens, promise me you won't do that."

"I promise," he answered softly, but she thought she read a different truth in his eyes and voice.

The next morning

Trini arrived at the Dojo the next morning, feeling sick to her stomach. She hated what she was about to do, but in the end, she'd seen no other way. Jason was right; unless they started playing this sick game on their own terms, William would be lost. And as much as she dreaded the thought of reactivating the power, she knew there was no other way. If something went wrong, and by some terrible twist of fate Bennett did manage to get Jason, they would have no other choice.

She trudged up the steps, and into the building, her stomach rolling. Just inside the doors, familiar shouts reached her ears and a smile nudged its way onto her face. Tommy was teaching a class, and clearly going hell for leather, as usual. She turned down the corridor, and made her way to the main office, away from the classes that were in session.

"Trini?"

She looked around in surprise, and her face lit up at the sight of Adam, as he emerged into the corridor behind her.

"Adam, I thought you were still on your honeymoon!"

"We got home yesterday morning," he explained as they hugged. "Couldn't afford a long one, but we had a good time all the same."

"That's great," Trini said, managing a warm smile. "Where's Tanya?"

"She and Kat were meeting in town today. So, what can I do for you?"

"I need to talk with you, Tommy and Rocky. It's urgent, Adam. It's about...."

She glanced down, and he followed her gaze. A moment later, his eyes widened at the sight of the communicator she held in her hands.

"What...? I mean, how...."

"It's Jason's. He never got rid of it. I'll go and wait in Tommy's office."

Adam nodded. "Sure. I'll collar go and Tommy and Rocky. We won't be long."

Trini nodded, and disappeared through the office door.

Fifteen minutes later, the men were gathered in Tommy's office with Trini, listening to what she had to say.

"It's about William, isn't it?" Tommy wanted to know. "And that psycho that's after Jason."

"Psycho?" Rocky echoed. "What's going on?"

"William has been kidnapped," Trini told them in a trembling voice. "The man that took him.... He's obsessed with Jason. We know he's going to use William to trap Jason."

"So where does the communicator come into it?" Adam asked quietly. Trini looked down at the metal bracelet that she clasped in a vice-like grip.

"If something goes wrong, and Jason is caught by Bennett, he wants us to go to the Power Chamber, and use whatever we have to to stop Bennett."

Silence met the statement. Finally, Rocky spoke, and his voice was laced with disbelief.

"He's gotta be kidding.... Trini, we can't do that! The Power Chamber hasn't been operational for years! We probably don't even have access to the place anymore!"

"Yes, we do."

Trini, Adam and Rocky all looked around at Tommy in astonishment.

"How would you know that?" Adam asked suspiciously. Tommy stared guiltily at the floor.

"I've sort of been making regular trips there to.... you know.... check on everything. The place is still running, the computers are all working.... And the Zeo crystals and Power Coins are all there."

Stunned silence followed, and then Trini spoke softly. "Tommy, when did you last go up there?"

He finally looked up, and there were mixed emotions on his face. "I only went to check up on the place. I didn't activate anything! I swear it!"

"We believe you," Trini assured him. "But when did you go there last?"

"About seven months ago," he confessed. "I've been going up there once a year. Look, it's not something that I decided myself. Zordon asked me before he shut the main power down and left. He asked me himself if I could go there once a year to check it out."

Rocky whistled softly. "Well, I guess we at least know the place is operational."

"You said the Power Coins were still there," Trini said. "I thought they were destroyed."

"No," Tommy answered. "The power was drained from them, but Zordon discovered a way of recharging them. So there's the potential for there to be ten Rangers at any one time."

Trini bit lightly on her lower lip as she looked down at the communicator.

"Our profiles should still be in the computer mainframe, right, Adam?"

"Theoretically, yes," he replied. "As long as there's been some sort of continual power source going through the place. I couldn't guarantee it, though. When are we going to do this, anyway?"

"It isn't definite," Trini answered. "Jason agreed to work with Chief Oliver and David Ashley first, to try and get William back, but if something goes wrong...." She looked up at them, tears in her eyes. "My husband and son are at stake here. I didn't agree with this at first, either. I still don't, to an extent. But Jason's right. If something does go wrong, and Bennett manages to get a hold of him, we may not have a choice! I'm not going to lose them, and if this is the only way, then so be it."

"We're risking everyone finding out," Adam said softly. "Your dad, Tommy.... Jason's parents..... The police.... Everyone."

"Yeah," Rocky said. "Finding out what we did when we were teenagers. That was ten years ago, guys. We don't have to tell anyone where the Power Chamber is, even if they do find anything else out. And it's not like we'll be chosen if the Power Rangers are ever needed again. They'll choose teenagers, not adults. I agree with Trini. If we need to, I say we use it."

"God forbid we should have to," Adam said. "All right. I'll go along with it."

All eyes turned to Tommy. The young man sat in heavy silence before speaking.

"You know that's why I ended up on drugs? Because of the power."

"We know," Trini murmured. "And we're not pushing you into it. We don't want you to take that sort of risk again."

Tommy stared down at the floor. "Everytime I've gone up to the Power Chamber, I've taken the White Power Coin out of the case, and I've come so damn close to using it. That was always my favourite, you know. Being the White Ranger. When Zordon made me the White Ranger, I felt like I'd finally managed to get rid of all the remnants of evil that went with the Green Ranger. I wanted to use it So bad But I didn't. All that stopped me was being scared of what would happen if I did. And I'm more scared of that unknown than I've ever been of anything else." He looked up at Trini. "But that was just myself. It was only me, and nobody else. My fight. Now it's about you and Jason, and your little boy. I wouldn't do it just for myself. But, if that's what it comes down to, I'll do it for you and Jason. And I wouldn't think twice."

Trini leaned forward, and threw her arms around Tommy in a tight embrace. "Thankyou. All of you. I love you guys so much."

Tommy hugged her back, ignoring the dull stab of fear that prodded at him from deep inside.

"We love you, too. You and Jase both. We'll get William back, and we'll make sure that Bennett can never hurt anyone, ever again."

Trini arrived back at the Scott's home to be met by Sarah. Immediately, Trini noticed the worry in the older woman's face.

"Sarah?" she asked softly, in concern. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Sarah replied with a sigh. "It's Jason we're worried about.

"He's been pacing back and forth in the family room for the last half hour. We can't get through to him at all."

Trini sighed softly with understanding as she followed Sarah inside.

"He was the same way when William was in hospital. Don't worry. I'll talk to him."

"Trini..."

Trini paused, looking at her mother in-law questioningly. "Yes?"

"This is going to work out," Sarah told her softly. "I know it will. Everything is going to be all right."

The younger woman managed a tired, sad smile before disappearing through into the family room.

"Jason?"

If Jason heard her, he gave no sign. Trini watched him for a long moment in silence, as he paced back and forth near the fireplace, before walking up behind him an slipping her arms around his waist.

"Honey, stop, please."

"Did you see them?"

Trini sighed inwardly. "Yes. They agreed. Tommy was able to tell us for certain that everything is still operational. He's been going there once a year since Zordon left."

Jason turned around sharply, concern deep on his features. "What?"

"It's okay," Trini reassured him. "He hasn't been secretly morphing, or anything. Apparently Zordon asked him to make a regular check on the place after he'd gone. That's all. Tommy said he hasn't activated the power, and I believe him. But at least we know the coins and the crystals can be used."

For a long moment, Jason said nothing. Then, finally, he walked over and sat down with a thud on the sofa.

"More than anything, I want to go up there right now and use the coins to get William back. I really want to do that, Trini. Tell me why we can't?"

"I don't know," Trini whispered. "I really don't know. We have to hold on, Jason. We're going to get our baby back. Somehow, we'll get him back."

Jason shut his eyes tightly against a sudden flood of hot tears. "He must be so scared I swear to God, if he's hurt my little boy...."

The door slid open and Donavon looked in, uncomfortable at having to interrupt the couple.

"Jason?"

The young man looked around at his father questioningly. Donavon went on quietly.

"Michael Oliver just called. He needs you to go down to the precinct to sort a few things out."

Jason sighed heavily and, though clearly unhappy about it, conceded and got up. Trini joined him, grasping his free hand in her own.

"I'll come. I can drive you."

Police Headquarters

It was all Jason could do to keep his calm at the deeply sympathetic looks he and Trini got from the other officers has they made their way through to Michael Oliver's office. A few men offered their sympathy and support to the couple, but most simply sat back and watched them in silence.

Michael Oliver was waiting for them, and ushered them quickly into his office, sparing his men a warning look to get back to work before shutting the door and pulling the curtains. David Ashley was there, and he clapped Jason gently on the shoulder.

"How are you doing?"

"Oh, great," Jason muttered dismally. Michael motioned to the chairs as he took his own seat.

"Sit down, please. The reason I called you in here, Jason, is because we've been contacted by Bennett."

Jason stiffened visibly, and so did Trini.

"What did he say?"

Michael looked grim. "He said he'd exchanged William for you, Jason. We told him no go."

Anger flashed across Jason's face. "You should have told him yes."

"Jason, we aren't putting you at risk like that."

"Forget about putting me at risk," Jason snapped. "This is my son we're talking about. When he calls back, you agree to whatever he says."

Michael and David exchanged weary glances, and then David spoke quietly.

"Jason, don't be an idiot. You can't just hand yourself over to this guy. You don't really think he'd just let William go as easy as that, do you?"

"No," Jason conceded, "but I have no intention of handing myself over to him, either."

Silence met Jason's statement, and then Michael spoke in confusion.

"What, exactly, do you plan to do, then?"

Jason looked to Trini, then, and they traded knowing looks.

"I'm going to beat this son of a bitch at his own game," Jason answered softly. "When he calls back, I want to know about it."

Michael sighed audibly, then. "Fine. But don't think I'm going to let you just walk into a potentially dangerous situation. Whatever you have in mind, I want full details. We are going to work together on this. I will not have you going AWOL on me. Do you understand me, Captain?"

Jason conceded grudgingly. "Yes, sir."

"All right, then," Michael said. "That's all for now, but I don't want you going just yet. Go and wait in the meal room. There's a couple of things I want to talk to you about, but I have to see someone else first."

Jason and Trini stood and left the office in silence, making their way through to the officer's meal room. David followed them in, speaking with quiet determination.

"Everything's going to be fine. We'll get your son back, and put Bennett away for the rest of his damn life."

Trini offered David a faint smile. "We know, David. Thankyou for the support. We really do appreciate it." She looked back to Jason, squeezing his hand gently as he sat down in the nearest chair. "I'm just going to the bathroom, Jason. I'll be back in a minute."

Jason watched her go, then looked back to David. "She's right. We appreciate everything you and the chief are doing. I'm sorry if I'm not really showing it."

David hesitated, then pulled up a chair. "It's okay, Jason. I'd be in the same state if it was either of my kids that was missing. Shit, I'd be going out of my mind." He smiled crookedly, then. "I'm glad I stopped wasting time trying to alienate you. I don't think I've ever really had as good a partner as you."

When Jason hesitated, David shook his head. "Don't worry, Jason. I know I can't replace Sid. But I'm glad we're friends now. And as a friend, I'm telling you not to worry. We'll get William back safely."

Jason nodded in silent agreement, and then spoke with absolute certainty in his tone. "I know we will."

David spared Jason a puzzled look, then. "Why do I get the feeling there's something you aren't telling us?"

Jason hesitated, and was almost on the verge of telling David everything when David's pager went off.

"Great," David muttered as he glanced down at it. "It's probably my mother. Look, try not to worry, Jason. Everything's going to work out. I'm sure of it. And I'll talk to you later."

He turned and hurried from the room, leaving Jason alone. The young man was about to get up to stretch his legs a little, when his cell phone rang.

Frowning, Jason unhooked it from its case attached to his belt, and answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello again, Jason. Been a long time."

The blood froze in Jason's veins as he instantly recognised the voice.

"Bennett...."

"You remember me. I'm flattered. The question is, how much do you remember me?"

"Enough to tell you that you aren't going to get what you're after," Jason snarled, struggling against the rage that was gathering momentum in his gut. Bennett giggled.

"I think I am. Because if I don't get what I want, then you won't get what you want. And you do want your little boy back, don't you?"

"You crazy, fucked-up bastard," Jason exploded. "If you've hurt him..."

"Oh, shut up, stop acting so macho," Bennett retorted. "You know I haven't hurt him. I'm not stupid. Now, I called your boss before to give us some time to sort out our little dispute. While they're waiting for me to call back, we're going to be making the real deal between us."

"Go ahead," Jason said hoarsely. Somewhere, distant in his mind, a voice screamed at him to go and find David, or Michael. He ignored it, though, his anxiety for his son's well-being to great to ignore. Bennett went on quickly.

"I'm in the building, Jason. In the parking lot beneath the building. It's a blue van, in section 3A. I'll be waiting here for you. You come alone, don't bring anyone with you. Because if you fuck this up, you know what I'll do to your little boy."

"You touch him and I'll kill you myself," Jason hissed. Bennett laughed.

"Oh, sure you will. Just come alone, tough guy. Oh, and by the way, there's someone here who wants to talk to you." There were some muffled sounds in the background, and then....

"Daddy?"

Jason's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his son's voice. "William? Just hang on, Daddy's coming to get you."

"Daddy, please, don't let him...."

There was a harsh shout, and then Bennett was back on the line.

"Now you know he's here. Two minutes, Jason. Get moving."

The phone went dead. Jason let it fall to his side, his heart pounding in his throat. He knew he should go and tell Michael, but he was terrified that Bennett would simply kill William. That was something he just wasn't willing to risk. Setting the phone down on the table, Jason hurried to the other door, on the far side of the room and disappeared out into the hall.

Less than thirty seconds later, Trini walked back into the room, through the first door. She froze when she saw the empty room.

"Jason?"

For a brief second she thought he must have gone to the bathroom himself. Then, she saw the phone. Hurrying over, she snatched it up off the table. It was still switched on; either Jason had called someone, or someone had called Jason. She suspected the latter, but why would he walk off and leave it on the table? Unless....

She ran from the room, back into the main office, and quickly found David and Jason's office. David was in the middle of a call, but as soon as he laid eyes on Trini's panicked expression, he apologised to the person he was talking to, and hung up.

"Trini? What's wrong?"

"Jason's gone," she told him breathlessly. "He left his phone on the table, and it was still switched on. David, Bennett could have called him..."

David was on his feet in an instant, guessing along the same lines.

"C'mon. If it's what we 're both thinking, then the only possible place is the car park beneath the building. It's the only area of the building that's unmanned."

The two ran from the office, and headed for the lifts.

Jason stepped out of the lift into the underground car park, looking around slowly. Section 3A, Bennett had said. He walked along the edge of the building, silently wishing he had a gun. Inwardly, he knew what he was doing was foolish and dangerous, but his desperation to get his son back overrode common sense.

He rounded the corner, and saw the van. Breathing deeply, he walked towards it, praying that Bennett, in his own eagerness, would make a mistake. He reached the van, and paused by the side. There were no windows in the back; he couldn't see inside it. The only way was to open the back doors, and he had no doubt that Bennett was probably waiting for that. He hesitated, then took a step away from the van and spoke out loud.

"All right, you son of a bitch, I'm right here. Where the hell are you?"

"Daddy!"

Jason spun around in shock at the sound of his son's voice, and spotted him a moment later, kneeling on the back seat of a white sedan, peering out at him through the rear window with a tear-streaked face. Too late, he realised the blatant trap that he had walked into, and started to back quickly away from the van. A moment later, there was a blur of movement in his peripheral vision, and something hard slammed into the side of his head. He was rocked right off his feet, crashing into the side of the van and cracking his head a second time before crumpling to the ground, unconscious.

Bennett let the cricket bat drop, and moved to stand over Jason's still form, giggling crazily to himself.

"Not so smart after all, are you? Plenty tough, but not too smart."

Still giggling, he grabbed Jason's ankles and dragged him across to the car, grunting with the effort it took. Unlocking the trunk, he managed to lift Jason enough to push him into small space, then locked it again.

"Got both of you, now," he giggled to himself. "Gonna have a party tonight, for sure." He climbed into the car, then glowered over his shoulder at William. "Sit down, and shut up! Or I'll hurt your dad even worse."

That brought a response faster than any other threat possibly could have, and William dropped back into the seat, trembling with fear. Bennett nodded, pacified.

"That's better. Now, be a good boy and do up your seatbelt. We don't want to get stopped by the police."

William did as he was told, still trembling. Bennett watched him carefully, then nodded his approval.

"Good boy, William. You keep being a good boy, and maybe when we get back to the house, I'll let you be with your dad. Would you like that?"

William nodded tearfully. Bennett chuckled softly, cruelly to himself, and drove the car out of the car park.

The lift opened only a matter of seconds after the sedan disappeared out the exit, and David, Trini and Michael ran out into the car park.

"He probably didn't even come down here," Michael growled as they looked around at the seemingly quiet area. "Did you bother checking the bathroom?"

David, who had walked along to the edge of the wall, glanced grimly at his boss, then ran over to a light blue van.

"Chief, look over here."

Michael and Trini hurried over to see Michael crouching over a cricket bat.

"What the hell?" Michael muttered. David hesitated, then touched his fingertips to a patch of red.

"Blood," he said, as his fingers came away wet. He glanced up at the van. "Look at that."

Michael walked around, and stared in growing concern at the considerable dent in the side of the van. "David, get to the surveillance room and get the video for this area. I want to check out the surveillance of here for the last ten minutes. Then call forensic and tell them to send a team down here immediately. Go."

David went, running. Michael turned away from the van, to find Trini standing there, staring at him in distress.

"C'mon," he said softly, putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her back towards the lifts. "We'll go and figure out what to do."

Five minutes later, they stood in the surveillance room, looking at the video.

"There," David said, as Jason came into sight, walking slowly over to the van. They watched as he stopped next to the van, then looked around. Moments passed, and then he turned around sharply. Then....

"Oh shit," David whispered. "Behind him...."

They watched as Bennett strode up behind Jason and slammed the cricket bat into the side of his head, knocking him out cold, then dragged him over to another car and lifted him into the trunk.

"Damn it," Michael growled. "If Bennett called him, why the hell didn't he come and say?"

"He was probably scared that Bennett would kill William," David said, defending his partner's actions. "I would have done the same."

Michael clenched his jaw. "All right. Put an APB out on that car. I want every available man out on the streets looking for it in the next five minutes. I want that bastard found, Captain. Am I understood?"

David nodded, watching in grim silence as Michael stormed out of the room. Once he'd gone, David turned his attention back to Trini.

"We'll find them, Trini. I promise. Bennett isn't going to win. You won't lose them."

Trini barely heard David, though. "I have to go," she whispered. "I have to tell the others..."

David hesitated, then passed on his own orders to the officer next to him, and followed Trini out of the room.

"I'll take you wherever you have to go," he told her, gently taking hold of her arm. "You aren't in a fit state to drive. Where do you want to go?"

"The Dojo," Trini answered in a trembling voice. "Tommy, Rocky and Adam's dojo."

"The Dragon Dojo?" David asked, and Trini nodded. David sighed inwardly and conceded. "All right. I'll take you."

Dragon Dojo

Tommy had just finished with a class and was about to head off for lunch when Trini burst into his office, followed by David Ashley. He stood up quickly, startled and concerned.

"Trini?"

"He's got Jason," Trini sobbed, falling into Tommy's arms and crying uncontrollably. "That son of a bitch has them both...."

Tommy looked over at David in shock. "Bennett has Jason?"

David nodded, irked at having to explain anything to Tommy. "Yes. Not half an hour ago, Bennett got him in the car park under the police Head- quarters."

He glowered at Tommy, silently daring him to make a crack about security in the police building, but Tommy didn't even touch on the subject.

"Well, I guess this classifies as an emergency, and we all promised."

"Promised what?" David asked suspiciously. Tommy ignored him and, detaching himself from Trini, walked over and opened the top desk drawer.

"I got this out of my closet the night after we had that little chat."

He produced his communicator from the drawer. "Do you still have Jason's with you?"

She nodded, and pulled the communicator out of her handbag. "Yes, right here."

"All right. I'll go get Adam and Rocky."

"Do you have Tanya and Kat's phone numbers?" Trini asked as Tommy headed for the door. "I'll call them, and Billy, as well."

Tommy nodded. "Yeah, in the address book there on my desk. Just tell them ranger emergency. They'll know what you mean. I'll be back in a minute."

David watched Tommy go, then looked back as Trini began flipping through the address book, looking for Adam and Tanya's phone number, and Kat's phone number.

"Trini, what the hell is going on?"

Trini glanced at him as she picked up the phone receiver to call Tanya.

"We have a way to find Jason, David. But you have to trust us."

"We?" David growled. "You mean you and Tommy? For god's sake, Trini, he's just a damned junkie!"

"Was," Trini corrected him. "And no, not just Tommy and myself. Me, Tommy, Adam, Rocky, Billy, Tanya and Kat. Trust us, David, please."

He conceded reluctantly, and let her make the phone calls. She contacted both Tanya and Kat, passing on the message that Tommy had told her to, and then called Billy. The former Blue Ranger was pleased at her calling, until she spoke.

"Billy, do you still have your communicator?"

On the other end of the line, there was palpable silence. "Did I hear you correctly?" he asked finally.

"Yes," Trini insisted. "You did."

"As a matter of fact," he confessed, "I do. But why would I be needing it now?"

"I don't have time to explain now, Billy. It's just, Jason is in real trouble. The only way we might be able to find him in time could be through the Power Chamber. Billy, please! We need all the help we can get!"

"All right," Billy agreed finally. "I'll meet you there. Who else have you got?"

"Everyone that's in town. Tommy, Adam, Rocky, Tanya and Kat."

"Okay. I'll see you there."

Trini hung up, only to be confronted by David.

"Power Chamber? What the hell is that?"

Trini looked up at him. "David, do you remember the Power Rangers?"

"Sure. But what's that got to do with you?"

"David," Trini said softly, "we were the Power Rangers. Jason and I were part of the original team, along with Billy Cranston and two others. Tommy joined as us the Green Ranger, and then the White Ranger, and then Rocky, Adam and their friend Aisha took over from us when Zack, Jason and I went to Geneva."

David fell back in shock, and said nothing even when Tommy came in with Adam and Rocky.

"Have you called the girls?" Tommy asked, and Trini nodded.

"Yes, and Billy, too." She noted silently that each man wore a communicator, and realised they must have each kept them. "They'll meet us there," she added, locking Jason's communicator onto her own wrist.

Rocky was staring at David, a touch of suspicion in his eyes.

"What about him?"

David spoke, then, jolted out of his shock. "Don't even think you're leaving me behind. Jason's my partner. I'm not sitting around doing nothing if there's a definite chance of finding him."

"He can come with us," Tommy said, falling almost too easily into his old role of leader. "The more help we have, the better."

Trini walked over and gently took David's hand. "This will feel strange, but don't be scared."

David nodded wordlessly, wondering exactly what was going to happen. Tommy looked around at them grimly.

"All right. Let's go."

They hit the teleportation buttons on their communicators together and, instantaneously, vanished in a flash of white light. Seconds passed, their feet hit solid ground, and they reappeared in darkness....

*

....darkness so complete that he couldn't see, could hardly breathe. He turned his head or tried and pain ripped through his skull, so acute that for an instant he honestly thought he was going to die. Then, it faded, and he took care not to make the mistake of moving again.

Blood... He could taste blood in his mouth. He could smell blood in the air around him, and it was an effort not to throw up. The pain came again, less severe but still bad enough that he groaned softly.

There was tentative movement at his side, and a moment later, a small voice cut into his conscious mind.

"Daddy? Are you awake?"

For a long minute, he couldn't bring himself to reply. Then, as his memories gradually began to filter back, he remembered what had happened and realised what was going on. He opened his eyes again, and this time could make out a small figure leaning over him with concern on his thin, pale face.

"Will..." He croaked it out, cringing at the sharp pain through his throat. William gave a choked sob, and leaned over to hug Jason as best as he could.

"Daddy, I thought he killed you!"

Jason shuddered and tried to move shift his arms, only to discover that he couldn't. Looking around, he realised with dim alarm that he was lying on a bed, with his wrists and ankles tied to the posts.

"He tied you up," William said, in between hiccupping sobs. "He said if I tried to untie you, then he'd have to punish me."

"Listen to me," Jason told him. "We're going to be okay, tiger. Your mother and Uncle Tommy and some others are going to get us out of here. Just be brave for a while longer, okay?"

William nodded, then climbed up onto the bed next to Jason.

"Does your head hurt, Daddy?"

"Yeah," Jason admitted in a weak whisper. "It does."

Large tears rolled down William's cheeks. "When Mummy and Uncle Tommy rescue us, Mummy will make your sore head all better. Don't worry, Daddy. I'll look after you until Mummy comes."

Jason sighed faintly. "I love you, William."

William cuddled in against his father, trying not to cry. "I love you too, Daddy."

Neither father nor son had the chance to rest. A minute later, the door swung open, and Jason was just able to make out Bennett's silhouette in the doorway. The sadistic man giggled crazily at the scene before him.

"Cute. You play daddy real good, Jason. I hope you'll let me join in."

"Go to hell," Jason whispered. Bennett snickered.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Sorry, I'm not going anywhere. You've got a long-awaited lesson coming to you, Jason. You know, you should have let me give you that present on your birthday. But on the up-side, you've really given me a goal to aim for. I have to thank you for that."

He stepped into the room, grinning as he closed the door behind him.

"Now, just let me get the...."

*

"....lights.... There!"

Tommy found the main switch and threw it, causing the lights to come on in a flare of brilliance, momentarily blinding them all.

"Holy...." David gasped as he finally was able to look around him. Ignoring the police captain's astonished exclamations, Tommy strode over to a table encased by a plastic cover, which held all six power coins and the five Zeo crystals.

"Okay, guys. Come and get them."

Rocky walked over, and looked down at the crystals and coins with near-reverence.

"Never thought I'd lay eyes on those again." He paused, then reached out and plucked the Blue Zeo Crystal off the table. "Good old Blue."

Billy had joined them, and smiled faintly as he took the Blue Power Coin. "I wholeheartedly agree, Rocky."

Adam paused in his decision, then finally took the Black Power Coin.

"First was always best," he said by way of explanation when Tommy glanced at him questioningly.

Kat and Tanya were there behind Adam, and when he moved away from the table, Kat reached over and picked up the Pink Power Coin, while Tanya picked up the Yellow Zeo crystal. Trini came up after they stepped away, and picked up the Yellow Power Coin in one hand, and the Red Power Coin in the other.

"For Jason," she said quietly. "Just in case."

Tommy nodded, then reached down and, with trembling fingers, picked up the White Power Coin."

"The morphers and zeonizers are over there, in that cabinet," he told them. While the others went to get them, Tommy paused, then carefully picked up the Red Zeo crystal, and took it over to David.

"Here."

David hesitated in taking the offered crystal. "What is that?"

"It's part of the Zeo crystal," Tommy explained. "It's what enabled the Zeo Rangers to operate. This was my crystal, when we used them."

David regarded Tommy with a touch of suspicion, and more than a little confusion.

"You're giving it to me, now?"

Tommy shrugged as he turned the White Power Coin over in his fingers.

"White was always my best colour. Take it. You want to help, and we need your help. And Jason probably needs your help."

Finally, David took the crystal from Tommy, looking down at it with no small amount of wonder. He held it in his hands for only a moment, though, when it suddenly vanished.

"Hey, where....?"

"Don't worry," Tommy reassured him. "It just sort of evaporated into your body. Can't you feel it?"

David hesitated, then realised that he could feel it. It wasn't blatantly obvious, but he could feel it.

"Here, David." He looked around as Trini came back to him, and handed him two odd-looking wrist bracelets. "Put these on your wrists."

"What am I supposed to do with them?" he asked, frowning.

"You'll know," Tommy answered. "It sort of comes naturally." He looked around, and saw that they were all armed with either a Power Coin and morpher shield, or a Zeo Crystal and zeonizer. "Now, we find Jason and William, and then we put an end to that bastard's operation for good."

It was all Jason could do not to panic as Bennett walked around the bed. He tugged helplessly at the straps that held his wrists, but they were bound tight: he couldn't pull them loose. Bennett watched him with obvious glee.

"Looks like you brought your boy up right, Jason. He did as he was told."

Jason shut his eyes, struggling against the nausea that was suddenly threatening from deep in his gut.

"Please," he whispered finally as Bennett hovered over him, leering cruelly. "Blindfold William. Please, don't make him watch."

"Now, you should know better than to ask that," Bennett chided him. "This is all a part of the lesson. Little William has to know what's expected of him."

Anger flashed in Jason's eyes, then, and he stared up at Bennett with with growing desperation.

"Do you really think he'd let you touch him after watching you hurt me?"

His voice cracked, heavily laced with fear and panic. Bennett hesitated, though. Jason had a point, and he didn't fancy having to fight an hysterical five year-old.

"All right," he conceded with a grumble. "I'll blindfold him. But after that, no more stalling!"

Jason nodded, trembling both with relief at sparing his son what was sure to be nothing short of a nightmare, and terror at what he realised he could no longer escape.

"Thankyou."

Bennett left the room, then, and Jason turned his attention to his young son.

"William, listen up."

"Yeah?"

"When he comes back, he's going to blindfold you. You aren't to take that blindfold off for any reason, do you understand me? No matter what you hear."

Tears were rolling slowly down the child's face.

"He's going to hurt you again, isn't he?"

Jason felt nausea roll through his gut. If there was one thing he could never do, it was lie to his son.

"He's going to try," Jason admitted, as he silently wondered who would be affected worse by the terror ahead of them: William or himself? "But you have to promise me you won't take the blindfold off, no matter what you hear. Promise me, William!"

"I promise," William whimpered. "But Daddy, your legs...."

Confusion flickered in Jason's eyes, and his gaze went to his legs, strapped at the ankles the same as his wrists. "What about them?"

"Remember when we played Cowboys and Indians? The legs, Daddy...."

The door burst open, and Bennett strode back in, in such of a hurry that he didn't bother with closing the door behind him.

"Here's your damned blindfold." He tugged it down over William's eyes. "But don't worry, you little brat. I'll get to you soon enough."

Jason barely heard Bennett's harsh words as his mind tried frantically to decipher what William had been trying to tell him. Cowboys and Indians.... Cops and Robbers.... Both were games that William enjoyed playing, especially imitating his dad as the brave policeman. But what.....

His breath froze in his throat. Whenever they'd played those games, he had set down one firm rule: Never tie up your captive tightly. If it had been him to catch William, he had always made sure that the ropes were so loose that William could easily slip them at any time. Maybe.... Just maybe.....

Suddenly, Bennett was hovering over him again, a lecherous grin on his rubbery lips.

"I've been waiting for this for a long time, Jason. Hope you're gonna make it worth my while."

He climbed onto the bed, straddling one of Jason's outstretched legs, and reached for the young man's belt buckle. An instant later, Bennett's sneer of triumph turned into a grimace of agony as Jason ripped his right ankle free of the restraining strap and slammed his knee in Bennett's groin as hard as he possibly could.

Bennett fell off the bed with a crash and curled up on the floor, whimpering in pain like a baby, his hands clutching between his legs. On the bed, Jason quickly discovered the other ankle strap was similarly loose, and pulled his left leg free of it as well.

"William! Help me...."

William yanked off the blindfold, saw his father was half free, and threw himself into undoing the wrist straps.

"When did you do that?" Jason asked breathlessly.

"When you were sleeping," William told him. "I thought I could untie you, but make it look like you were still tied up."

"Smart boy," Jason murmured. The strap fell away, and Jason quickly ripped off the other wrist strap, then slid off the bed.

"C'mon," he said grimly, scooping William up in his right arm in a single, swift movement. "We're getting out of here."

He strode out of the room, pausing long enough to slam it shut and break off the wooden door handle.

"That might hold him for a while. Let's go."

They didn't make it far. Jason had underestimated his own recovery from the blow to the head, and they'd only just made it up a winding stairwell from the small room, and down a long hallway, when a racking pain swept through his skull, causing him to go down with a crash. He landed squarely on his broken arm, and was unable to bite back a scream of pain. William crawled out from under his father, fear in his eyes.

"Daddy?" He crouched down beside Jason, pulling helplessly at his shirt. "Daddy, please get up!"

Jason groaned softly, and pushed himself up onto his knees. "Sorry, tiger," he whispered weakly. "I think you might have to walk this one."

William reached out and grabbed Jason's hand. "I can walk, Daddy. We have to get out of here! C'mon, I'll lead you!"

Jason shuddered, then forced himself onto his feet. His head was spinning, and he seriously doubted his physical ability to continue.

Trini, Tommy, where are you?

"Jason!"

It was Bennett. His voice wavered a little, but he was clearly recovering from the kick to the groin, and out of the room. That girded Jason into action, and he forced his blurred vision to focus on the end of the hall. He tightened his grip on William's hand and the two ran, reaching the end of the hall and rounding the corner into another long hallway.

Damn it, how big is this place?

Jason wondered with a touch of panic. They passed another staircase, leading both up and down, and Jason back- tracked, leading William down in the hope of finding a way out. Too late, though, he realised he should have gone up instead of down as they found themselves encompassed by stone walls. They were underground, Jason realised dimly, in a strange maze of stone....

The orphanage! His heart leapt as he finally recognised his surroundings. This was the Angel Grove orphanage, which had been closed down over ten years ago, due to not being big enough to provide adequate space for all the children, and because of a dangerous maze underground tunnels, where several children had gotten lost and had nearly starved to death.

He paused for just a moment, looking around him. He had been down here just once before. The High School had gotten permission to take students down into the maze after the orphanage's closure, for a close look at the strange architecture. He had been one of the 'fortunate' few to see it, for soon after the closure, the entire place had been bought by an unknown person, and it had become off-limits to everyone.

It was all Jason could do not to throw up as it occurred to him that Bennett may well have conducted his gruesome 'lessons' within this very building. He thrust the thought to the back of his mind, and turned to take William and himself back up the stairs when Bennett's voice drifted down to him.

"Got you trapped now, haven't I? You thought you were smart, but I'm smarter than you. I'm coming for you, Jason. Why don't you do yourself a favour and just wait right where you are?"

Jason began to back into the nearest, dimly-lit tunnel, pulling William with him. He dared not say a word, in the hope that Bennett didn't know they were there, and was merely bluffing. A moment later, he heard a door creak loudly, and slam shut. Then, Bennett spoke again.

"Shall we play hide and seek, Jason? Do you like that game, William? I do. I'll be 'it'. You two can hide, but I'll find you. Then, I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget."

"C'mon," Jason whispered to William. "Let's go."

The two turned to go further into the maze, away from Bennett, only to be chased by his voice.

"I can hear you, Jason! I'm coming for you now!"

Jason grimaced and bit back an angry, frightened remark, silently ushering William into the depths of the maze.

Then, the lights went out.

Power Chamber

"I've got something," Billy announced suddenly. "The computer is homing in on someone."

"I just hope it's Jason," Kat said anxiously.

"The viewing globe," Tommy said. "It should come up in the viewing globe."

They looked, and the mist swirling in the viewing gradually cleared to reveal a murky blackness, through which they could just make out stone walls.

"Where is that?" Tanya asked softly, of no one in particular.

"Looks like an underground dungeon of some sort," Rocky said ruefully.

Silence followed, until Billy spoke with surprised recognition.

"The orphanage....?"

"What orphanage?" Tommy asked, and David spoke as he leaned in for a closer look.

"It's the old Gardener Orphanage. It was closed down because of safety concerns about eleven or twelve years ago. There's a huge maze of tunnels underneath the building, and a few too many kids went missing for days at a time."

"It was bought by an anonymous person or persons," Billy went on. "No one ever knew who."

"I think we know who now," David muttered. "So what do we do now?" He found himself turning to Tommy, much to both his and Tommy's surprise.

"Billy," Tommy asked, "can the computer specifically find Jason?"

"It could," Billy conceded, "but it would take a lot longer. Our best chance is to just teleport in there. If we wait...."

He trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid, but the implication of his words was brutally obvious. Tommy nodded grimly.

"All right. We're going in. Everyone ready?"

"I hope you know what you're doing," David muttered as he eyed the zeonizers on his wrists. Tommy spared him a glance, and that was all, then looked to Rocky.

"I'll do the coins. You do the crystals."

Rocky nodded in wordless compliance. Tommy hesitated for just a moment longer, reminding himself of why they were doing this, then spoke the words that he had not spoken for nearly ten years.

"It's morphing time!"

"I wish Mummy was here," William whimpered, clinging tightly to his father's hand.

"So do I," Jason whispered. He edged slowly along the corridor, blind in the absolute darkness, but with his other senses stimulated by terror. Bennett had ceased making petulant threats, and silence had descended on the maze. Far more than ever, now, Jason wished to be safely in the arms of his wife, away from this nightmare.

He paused, shutting his eyes. Pain was foremost in his mind; pain from the concussion that was giving him a massive migraine, and pain from his arm which had been broken all over again. He knew he wasn't concentrating properly on their task at hand, and knew it could easily put them back into Bennett's hands. He had to concentrate, forget about his own pains. Think of William....

His breathing eased as he focused on his little boy. That made it marginally easier, and he once again began to edge further into the darkness.

Trini, where the hell are you?

A flash of light lit up the darkness for just a brief instant, causing Jason to cringe.

"Daddy?" William asked, and Jason squeezed his hand more tightly.

"Quiet," he whispered, and William bit his lip, falling abruptly silent. Jason felt bad. He hated chastising his son for anything, but silence was essential if they were to avoid Bennett. But about that flash of light?

It puzzled, and worried him. If Bennett had some sort of device that allowed him to see in the dark, then they were in trouble. He couldn't ignore the chance, as much as it frightened him. They were wandering around, blind, and Bennett could well be right behind them.

Christ, I feel like I'm in The Silence Of The Lambs

His foot caught on a rock jutting out from the wall and he stumbled backwards, unable to find anything to hold onto to keep him from falling. He keeled over backwards, and was on the verge of crying out when he fell into someone. Panic hit, and he instinctively opened his mouth to shout for William to run, when a hand clamped over his mouth and a familiar voice whispered into his ear.

"Don't panic, Jason. It's only me."

Confusion clouded Jason's mind, and he quickly pulled away and turned around. His eyes, adjusting gradually to the dark, were able to make out a faint blue and black visor, just inches away from his own face.

"Billy?"

"Yes. The others are here, too. Just be quiet. I'm going to get you and William out of here. It'll just take a moment longer to activate...."

"Not me," Jason whispered. Billy paused, looking up at Jason incredulously.

"Don't tell me you want to stay here."

"No, but I'm not leaving here until Bennett is caught. Just get William out of here."

"Don't be foolish, Jason," Billy retorted. "The others will find Bennett. He'll be dealt with."

"If it was just me," Jason argued, "then I'd agree. But this is personal now, Billy. That bastard has intruded on my life enough. I have to end it myself, or I'll always be looking over my shoulder. Don't you understand that?"

Billy finally lowered the device he held. "Yes, I'm afraid I do. Trini will have me drawn and quartered for this, but I'll take William back to the Power Chamber now."

"Thankyou. William?"

The little boy poked his head slowly around Jason's leg, peering nervously up at the blue-clad figure. Jason crouched down, and hugged William to him with his one good arm.

"You go with Billy now, okay? He'll take you somewhere safe."

"Uncle Billy?" William asked tentatively. "Is that you?"

Billy smiled behind his visor. "It's me, William." He paused, then held something out to Jason. "Here, you may need this."

A quick glance revealed the object to be one of Billy's powerful torches, and Jason took it gratefully.

Billy then held out his gloved hand to the child. "C'mon, William. Let's get you out of here."

William looked to his father one last time for reassurance. Then, he reached out and took the offered hand, and the two vanished in a flash of blue and white light.

Jason breathed a heavy sigh of relief, thankful that his son was finally safe. His relief was short-lived, though. Even as he turned around, a more solid body collided with him, and the two crashed to the ground.

"Got you," Bennett snarled as he tried to pin Jason down. "I told you I'd find you."

"Get off me, you son of a bitch," Jason hissed. Freeing his right arm, Jason punched his fist into the other man's side, getting him squarely in the kidneys. Bennett groaned in pain, and Jason was able to push him aside and get to his feet. The killer eyed Jason angrily as they stood in a face-off, and for the first time Jason saw the night-vision goggles that his antagonist wore.

"That's hardly fair," he retorted. "You can see, and I can't."

Bennett sneered at him. "You think I'm going to give you an advantage now? I've waited long enough, Jason. Give up. You can't beat me."

"I beat you when I was six," Jason shot back. "Now I'm an adult, there's no way I'll let you win."

"Why fight me?" Bennett persisted. "You can't get out of here. And I don't know where you've left your kid, but I'll have him, too. I always get what I want, Jason. Sooner or later."

Jason hesitated in replying as his attention went to the torch in his hand.

"I think," he said finally, "that we should even this up a little."

Before Bennett could even wonder what Jason meant, the young man lifted the torch and switched it on.

Bennett's scream echoed through the entire maze as the brilliant light of the torch effectively blinded him. He ripped off the goggles, but the damage had been done. Whimpering, he rubbed desperately at his eyes, trying to bring his sight back, to no avail.

Jason took his chance and spun around, delivering a kick to the side of Bennett's head. In his weakened state, though, Jason could deliver only enough power to stun him; not knock him out. The older man staggered backwards, and Jason took the small advantage, advancing on Bennett. He kicked and punched the killer back into the far wall, pinning him there.

"I'd love to just kill you," Jason hissed, closing his good hand tightly around Bennett's chubby throat. "The way you killed Sid. The way you killed all those kids. The way you would've killed me. But I'd rather see you rot in jail. And you know what happens to bastards like you in jail, don't you? Because the real criminals don't like slimy bastards that hurt children." A cold smile touched Jason's lips. "You'll be lucky to last six weeks."

Bennett managed a weak smile, showing little concern at his apparently imminent fate. "You're weak, Jason. You should kill me, but you're too weak. That's your problem. And, you hesitate."

Confusion flickered in Jason's eyes, to be replaced by shock and pain a moment later when he felt something slide into his gut, beneath his ribs.

A glance down, and he saw the hilt of a knife protruding from his stomach, to which Bennett's hand still attached.

The psychotic twisted the blade sharply, and Jason gagged in pain and doubled over, forced to release his hold on the other man. Bennett giggled softly, licking away a trickle of blood from his cut lip.

"Never hesitate, Jason. Remember that."

"Thanks for the advice, you son of a bitch."

Both Jason and Bennett looked around in surprise just in time to see a flash of light in the darkness. There was a loud crunch as a booted foot connected with Bennett's face. Then, Bennett hit the floor with a heavy thud, and didn't get back up.

Jason looked from the now-unconscious body of the serial killer, back to the approaching figure as he slid to the floor. It was a Yellow Ranger, he realised, but his vision was blurring, and he couldn't work out exactly which one it was.

"Jason?" The petite figure of the Ranger knelt down next to him, reaching out to tentatively cup his face in two gentle hands. "Baby, look at me."

He knew that voice.

"Trini....?"

The helmet came off, releasing a cascade of black hair, surrounding the face of the woman that he loved so much.

"Yes, it's me," she murmured. Jason released his breath in a rush, then looked down at the knife that was still embedded in his gut. He started to try and pull it out, only to be stopped by his wife.

"Don't, baby. Don't touch it. We'll get you to hospital, and they'll get it out there." She gently drew him to her, cradling his stocky, trembling body in loving arms. "You're safe now, my love. It's over. We're safe."

Jason shuddered and allowed himself to be wrapped up in Trini's embrace. It was only Trini who noticed the approach of the others a minute later. Tommy came first, shining a torch from Bennett's still form to where Trini was cradling Jason.

"Power down."

There was a flash of light, and the uniform of the White Ranger vanished, leaving Tommy wearing his karate gi.

"Is he badly hurt?" he asked, walking over and crouching down on the other side of his best friend.

"There's the knife," Trini murmured. "I wouldn't let him pull it out now. We don't have anything to pack it with until we get him to hospital."

"His arm," David pointed out, moving forward as he pulled his helmet off. "The plaster's gone."

"It's been broken again," Adam said as he leaned in for a closer look. Trini looked up at them all, impatient.

"Can we please teleport out of here? I would really like to get Jason to a hospital."

Tommy nodded. "Okay." He pressed the button on his communicator. "Billy? Where are you, buddy?"

"Back at the Power Chamber," Billy answered. "I have William with me. He's safe, and unhurt."

"Thank God for that, at least," Rocky muttered. Tommy went on grimly.

"We're teleporting back there now. We've got Jason and Bennett. Better figure out the coordinates for the hospital and Police Headquarters."

"I'm on it now," Billy replied. Tommy looked back to the others, then to Trini.

"All right. Let's get out of here."

They arrived back in the Power Chamber in a flash of rainbow light, bringing Bennett with them.

"Filthy son of a bitch," David growled, as they all powered down. He then took the liberty of cuffing the man's wrists behind his back. "You have the right to remain silent." He paused, his fist clenching tightly. "You have the right to be beaten to a pulp."

"David, no," Trini said anxiously. "He isn't worth losing your badge. Do it properly, please. For Jason and William."

David watched her for a moment, then conceded. Crouching down, he smacked Bennett's face lightly with the back of his hand.

"C'mon, wakey, wakey, you prick."

Bennett finally stirred, only to freeze when his gaze focused on David's uniform. The young captain smiled coldly.

"Surprise, Mr Bennett. You're under arrest for assault, attempted murder, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. Would you like to add resisting arrest to that, sir?"

Without waiting for a reply, David hauled the older man roughly to his feet. Bennett's gaze flickered wildly around the group of friends, until he spotted Jason.

"I'm not finished with you, Jason," he spat. "I'll come after you again, I promise!"

"You leave my daddy alone!" a small voice shrieked, and a moment later Bennett howled in pain as William ran up and kicked him hard in the shins. Tommy darted forward and scooped the enraged child up in his arms, carrying him out of harm's way. David fought back a smirk, then looked over to Billy.

"How do we get out of here?"

"Just one moment," Billy answered. "I'll teleport you directly to the police headquarters."

David nodded, and a moment later he and Bennett were gone in a flash of white light.

"Small problem," Rocky piped up, breaking the silence that followed. "We didn't figure out a story to tell the authorities."

Tommy shrugged as he carried William over to where Trini was nursing Jason. "I think it's pretty simple. David figured out where Bennett was hiding out and got there at the same time as the Power Rangers. They went in together, and were just in time to save Jason and William. David arrested Bennett and took him into custody, and the Power Rangers took Jason and William to hospital."

Adam smirked. "You and David Ashley hate each other, but you'll give him the credit for catching Bennett."

"This isn't about whether David and I get along," Tommy retorted. "It's about making sure Bennett can't ever hurt anyone again. Especially Jason."

He dropped into a crouch, passing William into his mother's arms.

The little boy immediately began to cry, clinging to her as the sobs wracked his small body. Tommy rose up again.

"C'mon, guys. Let's get them to hospital."

Late that night

Jason awoke slowly, and the first thing he became aware of was the dull pain that throbbed in his head, stomach and left arm. He moaned softly, and shifted his position a little, only to cringe when fresh pain surged through his body.

"Try not to move, Jason," a gentle voice whispered to him. His eyes opened, and eventually focused on his young wife, leaning over him and watching him with deep concern.

"Trini?"

She smiled, then leaned down to kiss him gently on the mouth. Jason sighed faintly, relaxing a little.

"I thought it was only a dream. Didn't think I was going to ever see you again."

"I couldn't let that happen," Trini murmured. She sat down carefully on the edge of the bed, and brushed her fingers lightly over Jason's forehead. "I need you too much to let some crazy take you away from me. And William needs his daddy."

At the mention of his son's name, Jason went rigid in the bed.

"William... Where is he?"

"He's safe, baby. Remember, Billy took him out. He's right over there. See?"

Jason looked past Trini, and saw his son sleeping in the next bed.

"Is he all right?"

"He's not physically hurt," Trini told him, "but he was in shock. The doctors had to sedate him in the end. He started screaming and he wouldn't stop. Jason, what happened? I mean, did Bennett...."

"No," Jason said softly. He paused, then added bitterly, "Not while I was conscious, anyway. I've got no idea what Bennett might have done to me in front of William when I was out." He paused, then went on softly. "When I woke up, I was tied to a bed. He'd taken the plaster off my arm, broken it all over again. William was there as well. Bennett must have been watching from somewhere, because he came in almost straight after I woke up." Jason shook his head. "I knew what was going to happen. I couldn't stop it.... But I didn't want William to have to watch, so I asked Bennett to blindfold him. He did, only because he knew William would probably claw his eyes out afterwards. But William said something to me when Bennett went to get a blindfold. He mentioned when we used to play cowboys and Indians, and cops and robbers. It took me a moment to understand what he meant, though."

"What was it?" Trini asked. A tired smile touched Jason's lips.

"The little sneak managed to untie my ankles, but left it looking like they were still tied up. So, when Bennett climbed up over the top of me, I kneed him in the groin. It gave me and William just enough time to run. But then we ended up in the maze If you and the others hadn't shown up when you did, we would have been in trouble."

Trini smiled. "Well, just for the record, it was David Ashley who caught Bennett. The Power Rangers just got you all out, and brought you, me and William to the hospital."

"So you did use it," Jason murmured. Trini nodded.

"Yes. Don't you remember?"

"It's just a blur after I took William into the maze," he confessed. "I think I remember Billy, and my fight with Bennett, but that's all."

"Well, so you don't worry, Tommy seems to be fine. I don't think there's any need to be concerned."

"What about David?" Jason asked. "Does he know?"

"Yes, he does. And he's been sworn to secrecy. Everything's going to be all right, Jason."

"Everything will be all right providing Bennett goes to jail," Jason muttered. "If the judge lets him off again...."

"I don't think that will happen," Trini interrupted him gently. "This is Angel Grove. We only have one judge."

A smile touched Jason's lips. "Brian Madison. The Hammer."

"Exactly. Bennett can appeal, but he's likely to get twenty or thirty years for this."

Again, Jason couldn't keep smiling. "Twenty or thirty years..... And we have to live with this for a lifetime. It doesn't seems fair."

"We'll get past it," Trini whispered. Lying down carefully next to him, she hugged him as tightly as she dared. "Somehow, we'll get past this. You, me and William, together. It's going to be all right, Jason. I promise."

Jason said nothing, merely shutting his eyes against a steady flow of silent tears.

Three weeks later

Michael Oliver arrived at the hospital early in the morning, before going to the precinct for work. Jason was due to be discharged from hospital that afternoon, and he had know doubt the young officer was looking forward to going home. Especially after the tantalising stories he'd heard about Trini's cooking, he guessed that hospital food left a bit to be desired.

William had been sent home from hospital the next day, after the rescue. A long talk with Donavon's associate, Marty Brandon, had not only settled the little boy down, it had relieved fears that Bennett had assaulted Jason in front of William while Jason had still been unconscious. And, more of a relief to Jason and Trini than anything else, William himself had not been touched by Bennett.

Michael hesitated as he came to the room where Jason was. It was Jason's emotional well-being that concerned him most. The young man not only had to live with the final confrontation, but also with the knowledge of everything that had happened from his sixth birthday onwards. He knew Jason well enough to know that he wasn't spilling his innermost thoughts to anyone, even Trini, and that did worry him.

Swallowing back his own concerns, he rounded the corner and walked into the room. Jason was alone, sitting up in bed and writing carefully on a letter pad, which he put down when he saw Michael.

"Morning, sir," he greeted Michael quietly. Michael nodded.

"Hello, Jason. How are you feeling?"

"A little better. My stomach still hurts pretty badly."

Concern flickered in Michael's eyes. Upon arriving at the hospital the night of the dramatic rescue, Michael had been met by Trini and the Scotts after David had filled him in on the details at the precinct. William, physically, seemed to be fine, but Jason had been in a bad way. He'd apparently been knifed by Bennett in the middle of a last, vicious fight, and had arrived at hospital just as he'd begun to throw up blood. An x-ray and ultra-sound had revealed heavy tearing to his kidneys, and the doctors had then rushed him off to surgery to try and save the vital organ.

The surgery had been successful, much to everyone's relief, but Jason had been under the close watch of the surgeons and nurses for two long weeks, in case his kidneys had decided to fail after all. Now, the crisis appeared to be over, and though Jason was still required to check in the doctor for regular appointments, he would be going home that evening; something that Michael knew for a fact that he was looking forward to.

"I'm sure you'll be fine, Jason. And, I'm sure you'll be glad to get home tonight."

Jason smiled a little. After nearly three weeks in intensive care in hospital, he desperately wanted to be home with his wife and child. "Yes, sir. Ah.... About Bennett...."

"The committal hearing was yesterday. Didn't David come in to tell you?"

"No," Jason said, starting to feel uneasy. "What happened?"

"Relax, Jason," Michael said, smiling reassuringly at him. "Bennett's been committed for trial. It's been set for two month's time, and the judge refused bail, despite his lawyer trying very hard to get the evidence thrown out. It's also helped a lot that we found all those videos of those children he abused. They're reopening the case in Chicago because of it. Bennett isn't going to escape justice this time, Jason."

"No offence, sir," Jason murmured, "but I'll rest easy when he's been found guilty and sentenced."

"Fair enough," Michael conceded. He covered the rest of the distance to the bedside, noting silently that Jason surreptitiously turned down the pad he'd been writing on. "Where is Trini, then?"

"She's taking William back to Kindergarten today."

"You think he's ready?"

Jason shrugged. "He asked yesterday afternoon when he could go back. We figured that if he was asking, and if he wanted to, then he was ready."

"Well, I just stopped in to make sure you knew about yesterday. I need to get going, now. Oh, and Tommy will probably be stopping in to see you before you go home."

"Thanks for the warning," Jason said, smiling wryly. "Oh, Chief?"

Michael looked back around at him questioningly. "Mmm?"

Jason hesitated, then tore the top sheet off the pad in his hands and carefully folded it over.

"Here."

Michael hesitated, then walked back to take it from Jason.

"What's this?"

"My resignation."

Michael froze. "Excuse me?"

Jason said nothing, merely watched his superior with dark, unreadable eyes. Michael unfolded the paper and read it through silently before responding.

"You aren't serious about this, are you?"

"Yes, sir," Jason said softly. "I've been thinking it over carefully.

"I'd like to give the minimum notice, if you could formally accept it."

"No."

Jason blinked, staring at Michael in confusion. "No?"

Before Jason could protest, Michael tore the piece of paper in half, then half again.

"I'm not accepting this, Jason. Because I don't think you have thought it over carefully. Now, listen to me. When you go home today, you talk about this with Trini. And stop thinking about what might have happened. Stop thinking about Bennett altogether. You think about everything you've gotten out of being a cop."

Jason opened his mouth to protest, and was interrupted by Michael.

"No, don't say anything. When you've thought it through properly, and talked it over with Trini, then come and talk it over with me. Until then, I do not want to know about this. Do you understand me, Captain?"

Jason conceded grudgingly. "Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, I have to go." He shot Jason a meaningful look. "I'll see you back at work when you're ready. Not before. And until then, take care of yourself." He paused in the doorway. "We need you where you are, Jason. You're a good cop. Don't do something that we both know you'd regret."

Then, he was gone. Jason stared at the open door for several long seconds before sighing faintly and lying back down to start thinking his situation over once more.

Dragon Dojo

Tommy paused outside the room where he'd just finished with a class, breathing heavily. Though he would not have admitted it to the others, for fear of worrying them, ever since reactivating the powers the previous week, he had been suffering throwbacks to the days that he'd been on drugs. He was having nightmares again; not severe, just enough to distress. But he wouldn't have told the others. Especially Trini, knowing that it would eventually get back to Jason.

Sighing inwardly, he walked down the hall to his office, and took the liberty of locking himself in. As before, he could still feel the remnants of the morphing rush pumping through his system, but he was determined not to let it dominate him again. He'd been through this once before, and it had landed him in a shit load of trouble with drugs. He was not going through that again.

A sharp rap on the door snapped him back to reality and he grudgingly went to unlock it, prepared to tell Rocky or Adam to take a hike and leave him alone. He was brought up short when he opened the door to find David Ashley standing there. Tommy turned away abruptly, going back to the couch and collapsing onto it.

"Trini's not here today. She's getting everything ready for when Jason goes home tonight."

"I know that," David replied tersely. "It's you I wanted to see."

Tommy glanced back at David, eyeing the other man's uniform. "Got a search warrant?"

David sighed heavily and stepped into the office, closing the door behind him.

"Stop acting like such an asshole, Oliver. I didn't come here to try and bust your ass over anything. I want to talk. It's about Jason."

That caught Tommy's attention, and he sat up quickly. "What about Jason?"

"Your old man told me this morning, Jason's thinking about quitting the force."

The former Ranger's jaw dropped. "Is he nuts? He'd go crazy if he wasn't a cop!"

"That's true," David agreed. "But I think that everything that's happened with Kyle Bennett has really shaken him up. He can cope with your ordinary, run-of-the-mill psycho, that you chance running into on the job. It's the fact that this bastard has been following Jason around since he was six that's the problem. Look, your dad told Jason to talk it over with Trini before he made any hard decisions, but I honestly don't think even she's going to change his mind. But we both know that if he quits, then he's going to regret it."

"So what do we do about it?" Tommy asked. David hesitated, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

"I think he may listen to you, Oliver. It's going to take someone who's just as stubborn as him to knock some sense into his thick head."

Tommy regarded David curiously. "Let me get this straight. You're asking me for help?"

David glowered at him. "Don't get cocky, Oliver. This is for Jason. I'm not trying to boost your ego."

"I'll do whatever I can to help Jason," Tommy retorted. "I'm not trying to be cocky about anything. I just think it's funny that you're coming out with this now, when at first all you could do was try to make Jason quit. Is that why you're not trying to make him change his mind yourself?"

David faltered, then sat down in the nearest chair. "I know I was an asshole at first. I just thought that Jason was one of those guys that had gotten everything on favours. I didn't realise how hard he'd worked to get where is now. But now I do know, and it's all the more reason to make sure he doesn't screw up and throw it in. Look, are you going to help or not?"

"Of course I will," Tommy snapped. "I said I'd do anything I could to help Jase."

The older man nodded, clearly relieved. "Okay, then."

He stood up to leave, only to be brought up short when Tommy spoke.

"It's a real rush, isn't it?"

David hesitated, then looked back at him questioningly. "What are you talking about?"

"Morphing. Being a Ranger. It's a huge rush. Really gets the adrenalin pumping."

"Yeah," David conceded reluctantly. "It guess it does."

"Let me guess," Tommy went on. "You couldn't sleep that night, could you? After it was over, I mean. You were up all night thinking about it."

The police captain stared at Tommy with a touch of suspicion. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I was. What are you getting at, Oliver?"

Tommy stared at him intently. "I lived with that rush for four years. First it was the dinosaur powers. I was the first Green Ranger. Then the White Ranger. Then the Ninja powers. After that came the Zeo crystals. And last of all came the Turbo powers. And each one was more powerful than the previous. By the time I gave up the power to someone else, I was living with power that probably would have sent any ordinary person insane. But I learned to live with it. It's sort of like smoking, you know."

David cringed a little; he was an avid smoker. Tommy went on quietly.

"When you've been living with something like that for so long, it becomes part of your life. You don't want to give it up. In the end, you can't give it up, even though you know you should. But if you don't have a choice, then you start looking for something to replace it. And you keep looking until you find a replacement. And then you latch onto that replacement even though, in the end, the replacement turns out to be more dangerous than the original addiction. Do you understand what I'm getting at, David?"

For several seconds, David said nothing. Eventually, he sighed, his shoulders slumping a little.

"Yeah, I guess I do."

Tommy nodded. "Good." He got to his feet. "I was planning on going to see Jason this afternoon anyway, before he went home. I'll see if I can't talk some sense into him then."

David spoke quietly. "Look, Oliver...."

"What were you, born in a boot camp? My name's Tommy. Quit calling me Oliver. We're not in the damn army."

A smile touched the corner of David's mouth. "I'm sorry for giving you such a hard time. It's just, every drug addict I've known has always gone back to the stuff sooner or later. I'm sorry for not giving you the benefit of the doubt."

Tommy shrugged as he followed David out of the office. "It's not that big a deal. You didn't understand what was behind it before. Now you do. And it's like I said to Jase. I've been clean now for over a year. Nearly two. I don't plan on using ever again."

David glanced back at him. "How are you coping after...." He paused as a couple of students passed them in the hallway. "...after you know what?"

At that, Tommy hesitated. "I've had better weeks," he conceded finally. "But I haven't had the urge to go and find a fix, either. I think I'll be okay. But that was the last time for me using it. I don't think I could cope again."

"I think I can understand that," David murmured. He stuck out his hand to Tommy as they stood on the steps in front of the karate school. "Truce?"

Tommy accepted the extended hand, shaking it firmly. "Truce. And remember, if your kids one day start getting secretive about what they've been doing, and they get a fetish for wearing just one colour, you'll know what's going on."

David laughed, then. "Thanks for the tip. I'll see you around, O.... I mean, Tommy."

Tommy nodded, smiling faintly as David got into his car and drove off. "Definitely." Still smiling, he turned and headed back into the building to make arrangements for that afternoon.

St. James Hospital

Jason paused in his short walk, one hand gripping the side rail as a light wave of dizziness swept over him. The cricket bat to his head had left him with far more than a mild concussion; it seemed to have given him a severe case of vertigo. The dizziness passed, and he opened his eyes again, focusing once more on the floor ahead of him.

"Are you okay?" a feminist voice asked. Jason spared Trini a glance, then nodded quickly.

"Yeah. Just dizzy. I hope it won't last."

"The doctor said it should go in a couple of weeks," Trini reminded him. "Don't forget, you had a fractured skull. You're lucky to be going home today as it is."

Jason sighed as he turned around and began to make his way back to the wheelchair that was waiting for him, all the while ignoring the physiotherapist that hovered within arm's length of him.

"That doesn't both me as much as this gut wound."

Trini's smile faded. "Try to stop worrying about it. The doctors did a wonderful job."

"Yeah, I know," Jason conceded. "It just shakes me up, knowing how close I came to needing a kidney transplant."

Trini nodded wordlessly; it had shaken her, as well. If ever there had been a good argument for her father's wish for Jason to quit the police force, this was it. Never had she come so close to losing not only Jason, but William into the bargain. In all her life she had never been so frightened.

She paused, doing a double-take on her thoughts. That was not entirely true, she supposed. The time that Jason had vanished without a trace during Tommy's stint as the Green Ranger under Rita's power had left her so scared that she'd very nearly broken down into tears after his rescue. But it was the same thing over again, and, just quietly, she wasn't sure she could cope.

Coming back to reality, Trini got up and walked over to join her husband as he sank back into the wheelchair.

"How are you feeling?"

Jason sighed faintly. "I'm ready to go home."

Trini smiled and leaned over to kiss him lightly on the mouth. "Good. I'm ready to take you home." She smiled up at the orderly that was waiting.

"Back to his room, Jimmy."

The orderly smiled. "Yes, Mrs Scott."

Jason watched with mild amusement as Trini packed what few clothes he had into a small suitcase, ready to go. Had he done it, the clothes would have been tossed in carelessly. Trini, however, was consistently methodical in the way she packed the suitcase. She caught him watching, and smirked at him.

"Don't you give me that look, Jason. If I let you pack, we'd be up half the night trying to sort it all out."

Jason sighed and lay down carefully on the bed. "Fine. I know when I've been insulted."

"Don't you be smart with me," Trini retorted. Jason grinned.

"You wouldn't let a wounded guy sleep on the couch, would you?"

"You're pushing it," she warned him. "Behave yourself, if you want that roast that I cooked today."

A grin lit up Jason's face. "Okay, you win. I'll behave."

"You, behave?" a voice retorted from the doorway. "That'd be a first."

Jason looked up, then smiled.

"Hey, Tommy. C'mon in. How's it going?"

"I'm fine," Tommy said dismissively as he walked in and carefully shut the door behind him. His gaze went to Trini. "How's the patient?"

"Obnoxious, as usual," Trini said with a snort as she closed the case. "Seriously, Tommy, how are you doing?"

Tommy glanced back at the closed door, then spoke quietly. "I really think I'm going to be okay. You don't have to worry. Either of you."

"Good," Jason murmured. "I wouldn't forgive myself if it tipped you over again."

Tommy smiled cheekily. "Neither would I."

"Smart ass."

"Moron."

Trini rolled her eyes at their banter. "I think I'll take this out to the car. You two can stay here and call each other names."

"Trini, hang on," Tommy said quickly. "I need to talk to the both of you. To Jason especially. This is serious."

Trini glanced wonderingly at Jason, then set the suitcase down.

"All right. What's wrong, Tommy?"

Tommy looked to Jason. "David Ashley came by the dojo today. He told me that you tried to give Dad your resignation."

"You what?!" Trini exploded, and Jason cringed.

"Thanks, Tommy. Thanks a lot."

Tommy merely shrugged, unapologetic. Meanwhile, Trini had Jason pinned with a harsh stare.

"What is this about resigning? And why haven't you said anything to me?"

Jason swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably on the bed.

"Okay, I tried to resign, but Chief Oliver wouldn't let me. He just tore up my resignation and said he didn't want to hear anything about it until I'd talked it over properly with you."

"That's nice to hear," Trini said dryly. "Considering you haven't talked it over with me even just a little! Damn it, Jason..."

"Give me a break," Jason protested. "Look at everything that's happened!"

Trini nodded. "Yes, I am. And I'm looking at everything that's happened to you that hasn't had anything to do with Kyle Bennett. Jason, it's over! There's no need for you to even think about resigning anymore! You know there isn't."

"Yes, there is," Jason argued softly. "There're two very good reasons. You, and William. What happened this time is what I've been dreading. That someone would eventually turn on you or William to get to me. William came away without being hurt this time. Next time he might not be so lucky."

Tommy walked over to stand beside Trini. "This isn't about William, Jase. It's about you."

"My family is about me!" Jason snapped. Tommy nodded.

"Yeah, they are, but you resigning isn't primarily because of what might have happened to William. Why don't you just bite the bullet and admit that you're hurting? C'mon, bro. You know you are, and it's really getting to you this time."

Jason faltered. Tommy's words were true, as much as he tried to deny them. From the moment that the hypnosis had revealed the true extent of Bennett's obsession with him, a deep pain had been simmering just below the surface. Before he even realised it, tears were spilling over his cheeks. Trini quickly climbed onto the bed beside him, and slid her arms around his trembling body.

"It's okay," she murmured, cradling him to her. "Go ahead and cry, baby. Let it out."

Tommy leaned over the bed a little, reaching out to grasp Jason's hand gently in his own. This had been much easier than he'd expected, but he was grateful all the same that Jason was not resisting him or Trini.

"Stop trying to keep it to yourself, Jase. You need help with this. Don't shut us out."

"All I wanted was a normal life," Jason choked out, his face half- buried in Trini's shoulder. "But no matter what I do, something terrible always happens. When we became Rangers, I thought it was our big chance to really make a difference...."

"We did make a difference," Trini insisted, quietly confused at the flood of emotion from her husband. Jason pulled back from her, roughly wiping the tears away.

"Sure, we got rid of Zedd and Rita, and all of them. But what about the real crims? The people like Bennett? We never did crap as far as that was concerned."

Tommy and Trini exchanged worried glances.

"Jase, that wasn't our job to deal with them," Tommy reminded him quietly. Jason fell back against the pillows, rubbing gingerly at his stomach.

"I'm so damned confused. I don't know whether I'm coming or going now."

He paused, then went on softly. "I didn't forget about Bennett straight away. I don't even mean a year or so after it happened. I remembered Bennett right up until around my eleventh birthday. Then, after he confronted me when I was twelve, it all came back again. I carried that with me all the time I was a Ranger. I didn't manage to block it out again until I went to the Police Academy."

Tommy stared at Jason incredulously. "Why didn't you ever tell us?"

Jason shrugged. "It wasn't that I didn't trust you at all. I guess I was just plain scared. That, and I didn't want someone like Rita or Zedd using it against me. When I met up with Bennett again, when I was twelve, I knew then that if he ever got a hold of me, he'd probably end up killing me. There was no end to the nightmares I had about it." He hesitated, slowly evaluating his own emotions. "It's not specifically about Bennett. It's about fear. Deep fear, the kind that you never seem to get rid of. Bennett gave me that fear when I was six, and he gave it back to me again when I was twelve. Then we became Rangers, and we had more reason to be afraid." He spared Tommy an apologetic look. "Like when I ended up fighting it out with Goldar and then you in the Dimension of Darkness. And then when Goldar threatened me in the Dimension of Doom."

"He threatened you?" Trini asked in shock. "What do you mean?"

A strained smile touched Jason's lips. "That's right. I never told any of you, did I?"

"What's this about?" Tommy demanded to know. Jason and Trini exchanged glances, and then Trini spoke quietly.

"After you lost the Green Ranger powers and went up to the mountains, Jason got depressed. He blamed himself for letting the powers get drained."

"That's ridiculous," Tommy growled. "It wasn't your fault, Jase. In the end, it was probably better anyway. Those powers were tainted. I think they caused more grief than good."

Trini nodded. "Well, Jason was still depressed, and with that competition coming up, the rest of us decided to head up the moutains to find you. It backfired, though, and we were captured. Jason had to defeat a monster on his own, then come into the Dimension of Doom after us."

Jason took over from Trini, speaking with his eyes cast down. "I got them out okay, but Goldar grabbed my foot as I was heading out myself. Zordon had told me that unless I escaped with the others, I'd be trapped there forever. For just an instant, I had these horrible images racing through my mind of being controlled by Zedd But I managed to shake Goldar off I kicked him in the face to give myself time to get out. As I was going, though, he shouted after me. I've never forgotten it, and I don't think I ever will. He told me he'd devote his life to destroying me."

"Why didn't you ever tell us about that?" Trini asked, staring at him incredulously. Jason shrugged.

"I honestly didn't think anyone would listen. But that added to the fear all over again. I can't tell you how some days it was so hard just to get myself out of bed. Sometimes I would have preferred just to stay in bed, safe inside. When I became a cop, I thought I'd be able to get rid of all that fear. I mean, I knew I might end up in dangerous situations some times, but I thought I wouldn't ever have to deal with anything like Goldar or Bennett Man, was that a hopeless wish."

Trini regarded him sadly, and reached out to brush her fingertips over his cheek. "Is this why you tried to give Chief Oliver your resignation?"

Fresh tears rolled down Jason's cheeks. "I just don't want to have to deal with that fear anymore!"

Tommy shook his head as he walked around to the other side of the bed, and sat on the edge.

"And I thought I was the one with all the neuroses. Jase, you know we can't totally get away from that sort of fear. But you sure as hell won't escape it by quitting. You know it doesn't work that way."

"Jason, I feel that fear as well," Trini told him softly. "Every time you walk out the door to go to work, I feel it. Every time I take William to Kindergarten, or play group, I feel it. But resigning isn't going to make it go away, or even make it any easier to deal with. This is the sort of fear of knowing that anything can happen to any of us, at any time. Everyone has to live with that. It's just that it's a little more acute in some than others." Slipping her arms around him again, Trini hugged him to her as tightly as she dared. "I love you, Jason. I won't stand by and let you make a decision that I know you'll regret."

"Me either," Tommy told him. "And you won't get it past David Ashley, either. There's no way any of us are gonna let you throw your career away. So don't even think about it."

A weak smile touched Jason's lips. "I'm lucky to have you guys, aren't I?"

"I'll say," Tommy retorted. Trini smiled.

"Yes, you are lucky. And I'm lucky to have you for a husband. Jason, I'll admit it. There have been some times that I did wish you would retire Recently, at that. But when I stop and think it through properly, I find that I don't really want that at all. I know you feel the same way. You love being a cop. I really don't think you'd ever be happy doing anything else."

Jason looked up into her light brown eyes, feeling a surge of love for his beautiful, wise wife.

"You are right. I know you are. Maybe it's just taking me longer to get back on track, but I know you're right. Even when I gave the chief my resignation, doing it made me sick to my stomach. I could have hugged him when he tore it up."

Tommy snickered. "That would've been a sight."

Jason smiled a little. "I guess you're right, Tommy. All of this.... And everything else..... It does hurt. I just never let myself acknowledge it."

"It's time we all did," Trini murmured. "But for now...." She hugged him closely, then reached out with her other arm and drew Tommy into her embrace as well. Then, she favoured Tommy with a light kiss on the cheek and Jason with a lingering kiss on the mouth. "It's time to go home."

Five months later

Jason paused in front of the mirror in the family room of the Oliver home, adjusting the bow tie and collar of his tuxedo. He knew too well that Trini would lecture him later on if he didn't have it straight and neat. A hand clapped down on his shoulder, and he looked back to see Rocky there, smirking.

"You look great, Jason. Relax, it's not like you're the one getting married here."

A wry smile inched onto Jason's face. "No, but you don't have a wife that can pick out a fault from half a mile off."

Rocky laughed, pausing to glance over his own reflection in the mirror once before turning away.

"Hey, you took the plunge. You've gotta live with it."

Jason looked around, and spotted Tommy watching them, listening to the conversation with a mixture of mirth and panic on his features. He grinned, and nodded.

"Yeah, Rocky, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Tommy visibly relaxed, then, and turned back to fixing his own bow tie. Adam, who sat calmly on the sofa, watched the preceding with more than a little amusement.

"Think you can stay on your feet for the whole ceremony, Jase?" he asked teasingly, and Jason chucked a pillow at him.

"Don't be a smart ass, Adam. I've been back at work for three weeks, now."

Adam laughed. "Sure, with everyone waiting on you hand and foot. We know all about it," he added, enjoying the shade of red that Jason's face went. "David's been telling us everything."

"Okay, that's enough," Michael Oliver announced, walking into the room dressed in a striking tux, the same as Tommy and the others. The older man favoured Adam with a mock frown. "You should know better, Adam. With Jason's reputation, he shouldn't have to expect anything less."

"Oh, great," Jason moaned as he headed for the nearest armchair. "Now they're ganging up on me."

Shaking his head, he flopped into a chair just a little too fast, and a moment later he cringed in agony as pain flared through his gut. Tommy was out of his chair an instant later, and at Jason's side.

"Easy, bro. Man, you've gotta be more careful."

Jason drew in a hissing breath between clenched teeth. "I'm fine. Just give me a minute." He paused, his gaze going to Tommy's bow tie, which was only half-tied, and sloppily at that. "Pretty shabby, Tommy. Don't you know how to tie one of the those things?"

Tommy smiled sheepishly. "Not really. Mum always did it for me."

Jason shook his head and took the liberty of retying the bow tie himself, grateful for the distraction from his slow-healing stomach wound.

Despite the doctors allowing him to go home early from the hospital a few months back, Jason had remained under the close watch of a home care nurse, paid for by Donavon and Sarah Scott. It had turned out to be just as well; two weeks after going home, Jason had suffered partial kidney failure and had needed to be rushed back to hospital. An emergency operation had been needed, and the doctors had called in a specialist who, in an effort to save the kidney instead of putting Jason on the list for a transplant, had cut away the damaged part and moulded body tissue to the remaining portion in an experimental operation. The surgery had been successful, but Jason had been three times as long in recovering as a result.

He was back at work, finally, after deciding not to resign, but was still restricted to light duties, and minimal, standard exercise. Jason had found, to his pleasant surprise, that he could cope with the restrictions better than he'd expected. He was enjoying simply being back at work and in the office, and he was openly grateful to Michael, David, Trini and Tommy that they hadn't let him chuck his job in on the basis of a few controllable fears.

Those fears, too, had dimmed considerably when, after a month-long trial and a short jury deliberation, Kyle Bennett had been found guilty on all charges and sentenced to twenty five years imprisonment for the crimes of attempted murder and assault, and an additional sentence of fifteen years for the abduction of Jason and William. He was appealing the sentences through his lawyer, of course. That was no surprise to anyone, but the encouraging part was that with evidence found in the old orphanage after Jason and William had been rescued, the DA in Chicago had had the case there reopened. A new judge had accepted the fresh evidence as valid in a committal hearing, and, consequently, Bennett would be required to answer the charges in a new court case in Chicago. Even if his current sentences were reduced, the killer would still be in jail for a very long time.

He finished the bow tie, and Tommy pulled back from him, smirking.

"Let me guess. Trini taught you that?"

Jason grinned. "Nope. Dad did, the day before my wedding. He said no son of his was going to embarrass himself with not being able to fix his own bow tie."

Michael groaned comically. "I've failed my son!"

Tommy laughed and stood up. "Just let me fix my hair, and then we can get going."

"Isn't that supposed to one of the girls' lines?" Rocky asked in a low voice, only to cop an elbow from Adam.

"Knock it off."

Michael smiled amusedly at the banter, then helped Jason up from the armchair.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asked, quickly becoming serious again. Jason nodded.

"Yeah, I think so. Trini made sure I had plenty of rest yesterday and the day before. It's probably just as well you made me take those days off."

"I thought as much," Michael murmured. Jason smiled faintly, holding his breath as he turned a little from left to right, and back again, trying to loosen up the tight stomach muscles and avoid getting a cramp. Tommy, having tied his hair back in a tight pony tail, joined them near the archway.

"Well, I guess I'm ready as I'll ever be."

Michael grinned, looking from his son to the other three young men, and nodded.

"Okay, then. Let's get going."

They rode in a limousine, provided courtesy of Kat's diplomat father. Jason rode with Tommy on one side with their backs to the driver while Michael, Adam and Rocky sat on the opposite seats.

"How's the stomach, man?" Tommy asked, watching Jason in concern. In conjunction with suffering vertigo as a result of his fractured skull, Jason had also developed a minor case of motion sickness. That they'd discovered the hard way, the night that Trini had taken Jason home from hospital the second time. Unfortunately, Jason had been unable to rid himself of either the vertigo or the motion sickness, and it looked as though both complaints were permanent side effects of that last conflict with Bennett.

On the bright side, Michael had pointed out when the doctor had made the prognosis, Jason would be entitled to a hefty compensation package, enough to set himself and Trini up comfortably, possibly for the rest of their lives.

Sure enough, a lawyer had taken up Jason's case against Bennett in a civil trial, and the judge had awarded Jason near to two million dollars for all that he'd been through. The money had come through immediately, uncontested by Bennett, after the discovery of several large bank accounts in the killer's name.

"Not too bad," Jason conceded. "I'm doing better because I've had a couple of days to rest up."

"Good," Rocky retorted. "We don't need you throwing up in the limo."

"You could try being a little more sympathetic," Adam chided him lightly, but Rocky only smirked. Jason grinned as Rocky's comments reminded him of something else.

"Speaking of sickness, Adam, how's Tanya doing?"

Adam had to smile, then. Tanya, to the joy of the young couple, was one month pregnant.

"She's doing great. The doctor thinks she's past the morning sickness now. At any rate, she was feeling better this morning."

Jason grinned. He could understand the young man's excitement; he'd felt the same after learning that Trini was pregnant.

"You're gonna love being a dad, Adam. It's the best feeling."

"Yeah," Rocky snickered. "The sleepless nights, cleaning up dirty diapers, arguing over who gets to stay up with the baby...."

"You know, Rocky," Michael commented, eyeing Rocky with a mix of amusement and annoyance, "I think it's time that you found someone and settled down. Maybe then you'll stop being the epitome of the randy bachelor."

The others laughed, and Rocky immediately quieted down, annoyed at not having a good come-back handy.

"I can't believe I'm actually doing this," Tommy mumbled nervously as he stood at the church altar rail, with Jason at his side. Jason had to smile.

"Just remember, if you decide to do a disappearing act, you'll run straight into me because I am not letting you chicken out of this."

"Thanks a lot," Tommy retorted dryly. Jason laughed softly.

"It's going to be fine, bro. Trust me. Granted, it's not easy, but it's worth the effort."

Tommy wrung his hands together in agitation. "You really think I'm doing the right thing?"

Jason could barely believe his friend's timing, that he was asking that question right then....

"Yes, of course you are! You're going to make a good life with Kat, Tommy. Just have a little faith in yourself. The rest of us do."

A smile touched Tommy's lips, then. "Thanks, Jase."

"Anytime, bro. Heads up, here we go."

Tommy's heart leapt into his throat as the organist launched into the Wedding March and, fighting his nerves, he turned around slowly. In an instant, all traces of panic and fright were gone, and he found himself feeling nothing but love and joyful anticipation as Kat came down the aisle, on the arm of her father. She was beautiful in a flowing white satin gown, a long veil obscuring her face from view. Tommy glanced sideways at Jason, took in his friend's broad grin, and finally relaxed, stepping forward to join Kat as she reached the first step before the altar.

Jason moved back a step, catching Trini's eye from where she was standing on the other side with Tanya and Kim, the three women radiant in their bridesmaid dresses. She flashed him a brilliant smile, mouthing the words 'I love you' before returning her attention to the priest. Jason watched her for a moment longer before finally turning to face front himself, silently thankful for the good life that he had been given.

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