Angel and Heroes
Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, but I do own Mike and Angie Trueheart and some other characters that are not PR related.
:: Okay, this is the last one. I can't believe it's over already. I have so much fun that I don't want this to end. Anyway, I want to say a million thank you for everyone who has followed this story from the beginning. Extra thanks to Iwa-chan, Katou-chan and Yousuke. And to those who have reviewed, THANK YOU:Hugs and kisses: You guys rock ;) Happy reading!
.7
"Yeah, I was wondering if I left my address book in your house," Kim said as she crossed her legs. She held the phone between her ear and shoulder and took out a brownie from a red paper bag. "I guess it's in the living room? I borrowed your phone to call a friend,"
"Is it the black leather notebook?" Mike asked.
"Uh huh,"
"Yeah, it's here," Mike said quickly and his voice perked up. "Kim! When are you going to come over again? Maybe next time you could cook us something else. Dad's cooking sucks,"
She laughed and sipped her orange juice. Seemed time hadn't changed Tommy Oliver. There were several times where he would try to impress her and bring her on a romantic picnic. She appreciated his attempt and loved him more for that, but he was not a really great chef. According to Jason, Tommy had given him food poison while he was staying in the red ranger's house. She had a great laugh when she asked Tommy about it the other day. "I don't know, it's up to your father,"
"He would say yes anytime," Mike insisted. "So, how about tonight?"
Kim chuckled. Mike was acting like someone who was asking her on a date. "Maybe later. Talking about me, I would have to leave town," Sophie would come to America in two days. It had been a while since she saw her stepsister so she was really excited about it. Unfortunately, her mother and stepdad couldn't come along. Sophie had an American boyfriend whom she met a year ago and Caroline had made herself clear that she wanted her daughter to 'investigate' him thoroughly. Kim could understand her mother's concern because seeing Louis reminded her of Marilyn Manson.
"Auw, Kim!" Mike whined and she could picture him pouting and bouncing up and down on the coach. "Where?"
"Texas," Kim answered around a mouthful of brownie. She licked her lips and closed her eyes. It tasted so damn good. "I'll be back in a few days, though," Talking about her leaving reminded her that she hadn't talked to Janice about it. She's still new in the company and it felt rather uncomfortable to ask for a few days off, but well…
"I'm going to miss you,"
"Same here," She replied and added in the privacy of her mind,"And your father too," Things seemed to go quite well between them. Besides the S&T thing that always nagged her every ten minutes, she was glad to say that they had become pretty close friends again. In fact, he asked her for lunch yesterday which resulted in a long harassment from Sydney. "I can give you my cellphone number in case you want to call me,"
"Awesome!" Mike cheered. "Let me get a paper and a pen first. Okay, I'm listening,"
"It's 8765-8976-29," Kim said slowly as her eyes caught the sight of Victoria stretching her arms above her head and she glared at the diamond ring around Vicky's finger. She was pretty sure that in less than sixty seconds, the tall girl would come to her desk with that pink mug. "Mike, I have to go,"
"But I still want to talk to you," Mike complained.
"You're supposed to be in bed, Mike," Kim said, more gently this time. "Or your father will be very angry. Have you taken your medicine?"
"I hate those blue pills!"
"You have, then," Kim said with a smile that soon faded once her eyes met Vicky's and her pink mug. She never thought she would start hating the color that she used to love so much. "Alright, Mike. Gotta go now,"
"Alright, bye, Kim,"
"Bye,"
Vicky pushed her empty mug closer to Kim. "Refill please," When she was about to walk away, she looked at the brownie in Kim's hand and a frown marred her face. She made a face and pointed her manicured nails. "Isn't that the third brownie you have this week?"
Kim's eyebrows rose at the petty remark. "Maybe, but who's counting?"
"Be careful, Kim," Vicky put her hands around her slim waist and sighed dramatically. "It gets straight to your tighs. I don't know if you've noticed it or not, but are you gaining weight recently?"
Oh, how Kim wanted to rip out those sparkling eyes out of that pretty face! She wondered what would happen to Vicky had she known what Kim had for dinner last night: BigMac, french fries and large chocolate milkshake. Victoria would get an instant heart attack.
"No," Kim stood up and watched until Victoria walked to the file room. Chewing her lips, Kim grabbed her orange juice and went to Vicky's desk. "Vitamin C is good, you know," She whispered and poured the remaining yellow liquid over Vicky's precious plant. "Very good,"
--
Tommy crossed his arms over his chest and pulled his shirt off his head. He threw it to the pile of dirty clothes and walked back to Angie's room. He didn't bother to put on a shirt since there's nobody around the house beside the kids.
His babygirl had been antsy since dawn and she demanded attention from her uncle more than usual. He thought she had caught Mike's cold, but she seemed to be fine. Fortunately, Mike was too busy with whatever he had in mind to mess with him today. Since he couldn't leave Angie, he called Simon and explained the situation to him.
"You know what you need, Tommy?" Simon asked. "You need a wife,"
Right straight to the point. Not a girlfriend, but a wife. And he had a good idea who the person that he wanted to be his… partner in life. Alas, Angie's cries snapped him from his daydream about him and certain pink ranger having a romantic candle light dinner.
"Hey, Princess," He lifted the baby into his arms and rocked her small back. "You were sleeping when I left you twenty minutes ago,"
Angie cried even more, tears streaming down her face. Tommy sighed hard. He wasn't an expert in child department, or he might say, baby department. "Let's see… You're not wet, you just ate one hour ago... What's wrong with Daddy's little girl?"
She cried harder and punched her small fists against his bare chest. Tommy hugged her closer and smoothed down her hair. What did mom say? Sing a song? But he couldn't sing and he wasn't even familiar with any lullabies. Besides, Angie would only get even restless than she was now if he started singing.
"Twinkle, twinkle little stars…," He began to sing as his eyes scanned the room to make sure he was the only one in the room. Mike would never live it down if he spotted him. "How I wonder what you are…,"
Just as he had predicted, his singing voice only made Angie get even worse. She wriggled in his grasp and her cries were so loud that he thought his eardrums were popping. He held Angie an arm length and shook his head helplessly. "Oh God, is there an off button?" His mother would smack him good for saying that comment if she was here.
He carried Angie to his room and laid her in the middle of his queen sized bed. He propped his head on hir elbow and his free hand stroked her stomach. He reached his hand to grab Angie's favorite stuffed animal and she immediately opened her arms.
"Finally,"
--
"Finally," Kim carefully stepped out of the tub and reached for her towel. "Finally I won't have to see Vicky's face for a whole week," Talking with Janice had been approved to be difficult, but after lots of convincing, Kim gained the five day-off that she asked. She had packed her things after she got home from work. Her flight was at 6 o'clock in the morning, which meant she had to leave at four thirty at the latest.
Kim just closed the door when her cellphone on the night stand rang. She sat at the edge of her bed and took it, flipping the cellphone open with the flick of her thumb. "Hello,"
"Kimberly!" Mike's frantic voice replied.
"Mike? What's wrong?" Kim put down her comb and she scrambled to her feet as fears gripped her heart. "Are you okay? Is Angie okay?"
"It's Dad…," He snifled, his voice shaking, and she's already thinking of the worst thing that could happen to the legendary ranger. "He's…,"
"What? Is Tommy hurt or something?" She rapidly asked while walking to her closet. Her free hand tugged at the towel, letting it puddle around her ankles. She pulled the first shirt that she saw and a pair of faded blue jeans. "Say something!" Kim demanded when the line went silent. Tommy was absent today but she thought he just had something else to do.
"I don't know… He, he said something about his life was meaningless and that he was tired of being alone," Mike stopped. The pause was eating her alive. "He said many things that I didn't understand. I wanted to show him my drawing but he's… I couldn't wake him, Kim, and he wasn't breathing!"
She stopped breathing as soon as the words passed his lips. "What do you mean he wasn't breathing? Nevermind, I'll be right there. You have to call the ambulance, Mike. Call 911!"
"Just… hurry. I'm scared," He whimpered.
--
Considering the way she drove that night, she had to be grateful that she didn't get ticket. Her hair was still damp (she combed her locks with her fingers) and she didn't even put on any make-up.
She automatically opened the door, not surprised when found it unlocked. "Mike? Michael?" She shouted, but noone answered. Had the ambulance come and brought Tommy to the hospital? She climbed up the stairs and checked the children's rooms. Mike was nowhere to be seen but Angie was sleeping peacefully in her pink and white crib. "Oh, baby… what happened?" She softly touched Angie's pink cheek and the infant moved slightly.
Kim emerged from the room and headed to the door which was located at the end of the corridor, next to the guess room. She pushed the door open and gasped when she saw Tommy's form laying still on the bed. If she wasn't too worried, she would notice that he was only in his jeans, exposing those chiseled chest and abs. "Tommy…,"
As she approached the bed, her hands were trembling. His face was kind of pale and his mouth was slightly opened. He looked like he was having a dreamless sleep. Then she felt like a fool. Could it be that Mike was just overreacting? Tommy seemed to be fine… Oh no…
Sitting on the table next to the bed was a tube of tablets. It was half opened and there were some of the yellowish medicine laying around it. Kim choked when she found some on the covers.
"No, no, Tommy," She dropped to her knees and touched his face. "You can't do this to me, jerk! Not when I know we still have a chance to be together! I haven't even told you how I feel about you," Kim buried her face against his shoulder, hot tears stinging her eyes, and wrapped an arm around him tight. "I don't care if you choose Simon over me, but you can't do this, damn it!"
It took all of her strength to peel herself off him, but she had to get help. Kimberly rose and fished her cellphone from her front pocket. Her hands were trembling so much that she almost dropped the thing. "What's the number, the number…,"
A mighty groan snapped her and she turned her head. "Tommy…," Kim breathed as the figure in the bed stirred. When Tommy's eyes fluttered open, Kim was already full on crying. She crawled over the bed and gave Tommy a big hug. "Are you okay? Tommy?" She pulled back and cupped his face between her hands, bringing his soft brown eyes to meet hers. "Why did you do it, Tommy? Why did you try to kill yourself?" She asked between sobs. "I thought you were…,"
"Kimberly?" Tommy spoke, his voice almost inaudible.
"Yes, it's me," Kim answered, her hand coming up to wipe her eyes. "Mike called me,"
Her former leader blinked a couple of times and sat up but kept his hands on her shoulders. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh cut it out, Tommy," Kim said weakly, hitting his chest hard. "Mike has told me everything. If you're that depressed, why didn't you do something else? Go to a psychiatrist, Jason or Simon? Hell, you could talk to me! Who do you think you are? I, I-," Another fresh tears broke free and she wiped them angrily. "I was so worried, you fucking asshole." She wanted to punch him, hoping it would knock some sense into his thick skull, but instead of knocking his light off, Kim lunged forward and locked her arms around his neck. "Don't you dare doing it again,"
Tommy was so dazed that he couldn't bring himself to return the enthusiastic hug. "What are you talking about? I don't understand,"
"You tried to commit suicide," She said, her lips pressing against his muscle.
"Kim, Kimberly," Tommy gently pried her arms loose. Kim's face was puffy and red but still beautiful as ever. She bit her lips to hold back more sobs. "I didn't try to kill myself," Kim's face remained blank so he took her hand and squeezed it before bringing it to his face. He hit her hand to his face. "See? Look at me. I'm here, in the flesh,"
"But, how, it's…," Kim shut her mouth as the words failed her. "But you…,"
"I don't know what happened but I was in the middle of a very good dream when you shouted and screamed…It woke me up," Tommy said, watching Kim's face turn redder.
"But that," Kim pointed at the tube beside his bed, her eyes never left his. "You… What is that then?"
Tommy leaned over and took the medicine. He smelled it and gave it to his former girlfriend with a lopsided grin. "It's Mike's vitamins. Orange flavor? Though I really don't know how it could be there,"
Kimberly was no dumb. Although she was still in trance, the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Her hand automatically released Tommy's and she scooted backward. "Michael…," She mumbled, her jaw tightened and her hand grasped a handful of Tommy's covers. "I can't believe that kid, that little devil…,"
As Tommy watched Kim curse and swear under her breath, he realized that if he didn't seize this chance, he might not get another chance. He was still clueless as to what had happened, but it was obvious that Kim still cared about him, and if he didn't read it wrong, loved him. Just like he did her.
He didn't know what to say to her, so he simply yanked her wrist and pulled her forward. Kimberly's stunned face was the last thing that he saw before he closed his eyes and kissed her, pulling her more fully into his embrace.
Kim's body went rigid at the first touch of Tommy's lips on hers. It had been so long… There's still a lot to think and talk about, but right now she just wanted to concentrate in being in his arms again. She started to kiss him back and was amused when the hold on her tightened.
However, as good as the kiss was, they had to pull apart. "I want us to start over again," Tommy said once he released her lips.
Kim wanted to tell him that he's the only man that she had ever loved or at least said something romantic, but all she could say was, "How about Simon?"
"Simon?"
"Well, you and he are…," Kim ducked her head in shame. She couldn't look at his face, and how she would explain herself? Telling him that she was hiding under the table? "You two are…,"
"We're what?" Tommy urged her to continue.
"Aren't you guys… lovers?"
"Huh?"
"It's okay, I mean, I understand," Kim quickly said and pushed a fallen hair to the back of her ear. "You've known him for so long and you guys are bestfriends, so…,"
Tommy burst out laughing and he kept laughing until Kim had to clamp his mouth with her hand. He took her smaller hand and pressed a chaste kiss. "What gave you the idea?"
"I… I sort of overheard you guys," She said shyly, her face turning crimson. "You know, in the office. Yours,"
"Kimberly, you're right," He said lightly and almost snorted when Kim looked about to cry from embarrassment. "Simon and I are bestfriends. I've known him since college and we have been through a lot together. We are close, but not that close. We're not lovers. At least I'm not his,"
"What do you mean?" She asked before she could halt her tongue. Her blush deepened. "No, I mean-,"
"Simon was never interested in the opposite sex,"
"But I heard you! I was there when you… kissed," Kim finally blurted out.
"When was it, tell me," Tommy asked.
Kim thought for a minute. She sat back and hugged her knees to her chest. "I don't remember the exact date, but it was when that blonde bitch pushed me into the fountain," At Tommy's surprised expression, she nodded her head. "Yeah, you know Victoria Woods? I just so hate her. You have to do something. She's… She's violating my rights. Have I told you I hate her?"
"Honey, you're off the topic," He reminded the fuming brunette. "And yes, I know Victoria Woods. Isn't she the one who sits next to your desk?"
"Anyway, after she got me soaked from head to toe," Her eyes blazed with anger. It tend to happen everytime she thought about Vicky and her funky multicolored hair. "Sydney pulled me to your office. You weren't there. To make the long story short, I heard your voice and decided to hide under the table,"
"Kimberly! That was so… childish," Tommy said, laughing. "Go on,"
Kim glared at him but did as he said. "You two came in and talked about last night's game or something like that. The next thing I knew, you two were… smooching,"
Tommy laughed at loud at her chose of words. "Smooching. Cool. Then?"
"And that's what happened," Kim said and playfully kicked him. Tommy buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking. She pouted. "Don't you dare laugh, Mr. Oliver. You don't have any idea what it felt to be there and listen to you declaring your love to each other,"
"I think I remember that day. Yes, we were discussing about the NBA game the day before. I don't know if you've known this, but the door was still opened. Simon was lounging on the recliner so he didn't see his… friend, coming," He hushed her with a finger over her lips. "I have known Tomas for almost four years now. We're good friends,"
"Tomas?" Kim repeated. She remembered the 'We'd better stop, Tom.' that had been haunting her every waking moment.
"He wanted to surprise Simon so I walked out of the office without saying anything," Tommy finished his story. "Any questions?" Kim was quiet; she was too embarrassed to ask anything. She didn't even dare to face Tommy. "Weren't they talking? I mean, please Kim, you must have recognized my voice,"
"I covered my ears," Kim shrugged. She smirked, wanting to tease him a little. "Besides, there were too many moans and pants… I never heard you moaning and panting like that, so…,"
Tommy engulfed her in a warm embrace once again, resting his chin on the top of her head. He never thought he would get the chance of having her in his arms again. Now Rocky's email began to make sense. "So, I assumed you're the one who pissed Minnie off,"
She wanted to lift her head but Tommy's hand on the back of her head held her in place. "Minnie?"
"You know, 'Mini as in little or tiny, or Minnie as in Minnie Mouse' Minnie Miller,"
"I couldn't help it! I knew it was wrong, but she's...,"
"You told her that I was in a business trip to New York!" His laughter filled the room. "You naughty little girl. If you're jealous of her, you don't have to," Tommy lifted her chin and leaned down to drop a tender kiss upon those lips. "You're the only one that I've ever wanted, Beautiful,"
"Same here, Handsome," She returned lovingly, happy to be able to say the nickname again.
"Kim?" Not everything had been settled; there was still one thing that's bugging him, big time.
"Hmm?"
"Did you really ask Jason to check out my ass?"
EPILOGUE
"I can't believe Jason told you to do that," Tommy said to his nephew. Mike looked guilty but pleased with himself. "And I can't believe that you actually did what he told you,"
"Uncle Jason said you loved Kim but you're too shy and scared to tell her," Mike said with a grin. "Honestly, he said you were a coward and too stubborn,"
Jason. Of course. That bastard that he loved like his own brother. However, Kim wasn't too happy that her brother had tricked her like that, and worse, he used a kid to help him with his dirty scheme. She would double the punishment when she met him next month. "I thought you liked Kimberly. You do realize that if my relationship with her… improves, Kim won't be just my girlfriend, but she will be your-,"
"Your wife?" Mike kindly finished for Tommy. "Ha! Uncle Jason would love to hear that! But well, he told me he had a niece, Andrea, and he said she's really cute. He promised he would introduce me to her if I put my vitamin in your room and called Kim,"
Tommy shook his head. Who would have thought that his little buddy was so easy to persuade? "So you like this Andrea. A week ago you were furious to see me kiss Kim that you refused to talk to me for two days,"
"She's too old for me," Was Mike's answer. "I am a good actor, Dad. Kimberly believed me right away! Do you know that I played as King Arthur in my school play?"
"No,"
"Well, I did," Mike smiled cheekily at Tommy. Then his face turned serious. "Dad, why did you close your eyes when you kissed Kim?" He had chosen the wrong time to burst into the room. "I saw many people doing the same thing on TV,"
"Ehm… I don't know," He looked at Kim to see if she was listening, but his two girls were still admiring his aquarium. After some thoughts he finally answered the only thing in his mind. "Because the most beautiful thing in your life are unseen? You just can feel it in your heart," He realized it probably sounded a bit corny, but he couldn't come up with another answer.
"Feel it in my heart? Like happiness?"
"Yeah, pretty much,"
"So… kissing makes you happy," Mike uncertainly said, absently swinging his arms.
Tommy snorted out a laugh. "Being with the person that I love makes me very happy,"
Mike frowned and tilted his head to one side, trying to absorb Tommy's answer. He wrinkled his nose and looked sadly at the former green, white, red and black ranger. "I don't understand,"
"Don't worry, you'll understand someday,"
Still looked puzzled, Mike exhaled deeply and walked over Kimberly and Angie. Tommy gazed at the three most important people in his life chatting and laughing and he felt his heart so full with happiness. Mike and Angie needed a mother figure in their lives and he couldn't think of another person who could suit the role better than Kimberly.
"Michael!" Kim scolded as Angie began to wail, her small arms reaching out to hit her brother. "You can't pinch your sister!"
The little boy pouted and folded his arms. "You spend too much time with her,"
Tommy snickered. Someone was getting jealous…
Kim looked over her shoulder and their eyes locked. She had told him that she used to have a crush towards Simon. He wasn't sure if she's only joking or not, but he would save it for later. "What are you looking at? Look what your son has done to my baby,"
"See?" Mike said in a moan. "Dad!"
"Get your butt here, Tommy," Kim said.
The ex-science teacher pushed himself up and walked to join his family. Maybe, no, this time they definitely would have a very happy ending. "Coming, Beautiful,"
.:the end:.
:: Okay, now I'm sad. That's the end, guys. The longest chapter in this story. I really hope you like it. Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think, but as always, no flame. I'll continue TSTM&TS as soon as possible. Thanks!
- Yuuri ; )