This is the final chapter of Goodbye Tommy. I hope everyone has enjoyed it, I really appreciate all the wonderful reviews I got. And now, for your reading pleasure...
Kimberly sat on her couch listening to Jason's anguished tears. He was losing his best friend, and his tears stopped her cold. She'd never heard him cry before. He was in agony.
Before she could change her mind, she grabbed her purse and her keys and headed for her car.
Kimberly pulled into Reefside General at around 2:00 am. An older woman, sitting at the front desk addressed her not unkindly. "I'm sorry miss, but visiting hours are long over."
"I know, I'm sorry, but you see, my friend is very sick, and we haven't seen each other in a long time, and it took me forever to get up the nerve to come, so, could you please, just this once?" Kimberly pleaded.
The woman sighed. "I can't make any promises. What's his name?"
"Thomas Oliver."
"Oh," the woman's look softened. "He's in room 122. Take as long as you like. I'll make sure no one bothers you."
"Thank you so much."
Kimberly found the room easily enough, but she stopped her fingers resting on the door handle. Could she really do this? He wasn't even conscious, so there was no real way to apologize. Was she going to be able to live with that?
"C'mon Kim," she said softly, "you were a ranger. Don't let a little thing like fear stop you."
She went inside and stopped, her breath caught in her throat. There he was, a mere shadow of the sweet, tender boy she had-had? loved. Jason was right. He was dying.
She sank down onto a chair next to the bed. "Oh Tommy," she whispered, tears in her eyes, "I'm so sorry. I can't decide what was stupider, writing that letter, or not coming to see you sooner. I never should have hurt you."
Kimberly's pain, old pain, rose to the surface. "I never meant to hurt you. I wanted to give you freedom and I couldn't think of any other way. I never expected to break both our hearts in the process. We both knew I wasn't coming back, Tommy. And I know you would have waited for me forever. I couldn't do that to you. Writing that letter nearly killed me. I had to make one of my team-mates put it in the mail.
"The truth is, I never stopped loving you, and I'm so sorry I ever left. And if there's any possible way-could you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Kimberly sobbed.
"Please don't leave me Tommy. I love you."
At around 6:30 the next morning Jason, who had gone back to Tommy's for the night, returned to the hospital. The sight that greeted him upon entering Tommy's room, was one he would never have imagined. Kimberly was sleeping, her head resting on Tommy's bed. And was it his imagination, or did Tommy's face have a good deal more color in it?
Jason left quietly and headed for the cafeteria, for a cup of coffee and breakfast.
His skull was throbbing and his body felt like lead. Ever so slowly Tommy opened his eyes. Where the heck was he? The hospital? What was going on? Suddenly he heard a sigh and felt the bed shift ever so slightly, alerting him to the fact he wasn't alone.
He risked a glance and his heart stopped. Kimberly. What was she doing here? Some of the fog in his brain seemed to lift and he remembered a quiet and tearful profession of love. And Jason. He heard Jason's voice too. Maybe he was delirious, but something inside told him he wasn't.
She looked gorgeous, hadn't aged a day, unlike himself. He still loved her, after all these years. Kat had never compared and all his other relationships had fizzled out, and now he knew why. No one could ever compare to his first and only love.
"Hey Beautiful," he whispered, "it's time to wake up."
Slowly Kimberly stirred. She blinked and looked up to see his tired smile. "Tommy?" she said raising her head, "Tommy!"
The tears started all over again. Tommy managed to reach out and take her hand. "Don't cry baby."
"I thought I'd lost you," she sobbed. "I was so scared Tommy."
"Yeah, me too," he sighed, "I had the weirdest dream."
Just then the door opened and Jason entered. "Surprise." Tommy grinned at the look on Jason's face.
"Tommy!" Jason cried, coming around the side of the bed. "I can't believe it! Wait, scratch that, yes I can. You had me worried bro. All of us."
"What? Jason Scott worried? Never," Kimberly laughed.
"Hey Kim," Jason said, "glad you made it."
"Dr. O!" Three teenagers charged into the room followed by a slightly stunned Hayley. Tommy frowned. "Why aren't you guys at school?"
Kira gave him a strange look. "Dr. O, it's Saturday."
"Sat- how long have I been out?" Tommy asked confused.
"Nearly four days," Dr. Walsh entered. "Sorry guys, but I'm going to have to ask you to clear out for a little while. Just step into the waiting room. We shouldn't be too long."
They all made a quick exit. "You must be Kimberly," Hayley said. "I'm Hayley."
Kimberly shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"This is Kira, Ethan, and Conner," Hayley said. "Guys, meet Jason Scott and Kimberly Hart."
Kim and Jason laughed at the kid's shocked expressions. "The Jason Scott and Kimberly Hart?" Conner managed at last.
"The ones and onlys," Kimberly smiled.
"Ms. Hart," Kira said, "I'm a huge fan."
Kim smiled. "It's Kimberly and thank you."
"Dude!" Ethan gasped. "You guys rock!"
"Stop drooling Ethan!" they heard Tommy yell.
Two days later Tommy was home and recovering, when there was a knock on the door. Tommy answered and found Kimberly on his doorstep. "Kim," he said startled, "this is a surprise. I thought you went home."
"I did," she said softly," but there was still something I had to take care of here. Can I come in?"
Tommy took her into the living room and they sat on the couch. Kimberly took a moment to gather her thoughts. "Tommy, I want to apologize. I mean, I did the other night, but-"
Kimberly was cut off as Tommy's lips found her own in a passionate kiss, catching her completely off-guard. When they broke apart her head was spinning. "I never stopped loving you," Tommy told her softly.
"Oh Tommy," Kim sighed.
"You're back Kim. I have you back, and that's all I really ever wanted."
Sorry the ending's a little abrupt, I'm not very good at concluding things. Hope you enjoyed it, please review!