Love Match

    "Aauugh!"
    "Jason!" the Rangers exclaimed. Katherine caught Jason as he fell, his suit fading in and out of existence.
    "Zordon, Jason's powers are failing! Transport him back to the Power Chamber, now!" Katherine barked into her communicator. Jason protested weakly as he disappeared in his flash of black-gold light.
    After the battle, the rest of the team transported into the Power Chamber. To their surprise, the Treys were waiting there for them.
    "Rangers, Jason's body is being adversely affected by the Gold Ranger powers," Zordon informed the team.
    "We're gonna reunite Trey and give him back the powers," Jason told his friends from the diagnostic table he was strapped to.
    "Jase, bro, I'm so sorry," Tommy told his best friend, standing beside the table. His eyes showed the worry and the pain he felt for his friend.
    "Don't worry yourself about it, man. We knew this could happen when I first took the powers,"  Jason replied, lifting a hand to grasp Tommy's in their friendship clutch.

    Two weeks had passed since Jason passed the powers back to a reunited Trey. Not too long after that, he entered the hospital, diagnosed with exhaustion and severe dehydration. He was still there.
    Jason looked around the private hospital room his parents had managed to finagle. His eyes roamed over the huge collection of get well soon cards, the three potted plants and the two floral displays, avoiding looking at the bag of fluids hanging next to his bed. The adhesive on his hand keeping the needle in was reminder enough. His gaze came to rest on a small stuffed toy on the foot of his bed. The first day he was in the hospital, Katherine had brought it to him. It was a red tyrannosaurus. Jason smiled as he looked at it. Katherine was one of the bright spots in his stay here. The hospital was on her way home, so she'd usually stop and visit for a while before heading home. Usually, she'd also have his assignments with her, so she'd keep him up to date on the classes he was missing.
    Jason sighed, remembering her last visit. She had looked so good, in a pale pink blouse and a white skirt. When Jason first returned to the team, it had been a little strange for him to see someone other than Kimberly as the Pink Ranger, not to mention as Tommy's girlfriend. He still didn't understand what had happened between Kim and Tommy, since Tommy didn't want to talk about it. Jason got used to Katherine pretty quickly, though. In fact, he liked Katherine. A lot. More than someone's supposed to like their best friend's girl. Over the past few days, Jason had finally admitted it to himself. He was in love with Katherine Hilliard, Zeo Ranger I, his best friend's girlfriend.
    "How could I have been so stupid?" Jason muttered, looking at the tyrannosaurus. "Katherine and Tommy are an item. Tommy's my best bud. I shouldn't be thinking like this about Katherine."

    Jason finally recovered enough that he was released from the hospital. He had doctor's warnings to take it easy the next few days, to keep him out of the hospital. He was relaxing in the new resource center, preparing to study for the history exam when she came in.
    "Hey, Jason," Katherine said, sitting next to him on the couch. "Are you studying for history?"
    "Yeah. It was really nice of you to Xerox your notes for me, Katherine."
    "It wasn't a problem. Do you mind if I study with you?"
    Jason looked into Katherine's blue eyes. He couldn't deny her anything. "No, I don't mind. In fact, I could use the help. History never was one of my strong points."
    "I can't believe Ms. Appleby didn't give you an extension on this test. You were in the hospital for three weeks," Katherine exclaimed, pulling her textbook and notebook out of her backpack.
    "She offered me an extension, but I thought I was ready for it. Your notes have been a really big help." Jason looked at the photocopies he held in his hands. Katherine's handwriting was strong and clear, no frivolous loops or swirls. It was unmistakably feminine, though. "I liked the little margin illustrations," Jason smiled, pointing out a few of Katherine's doodles.
    "Oh, those," Katherine laughed lightly. "Well, sometimes the lectures get a little dull."
    Jason looked over at Katherine. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, a few errant strands escaping to hang over her eyes. I have to stop this, he thought. I can't keep thinking about her this way.
    Katherine looked at Jason, noticing an odd expression on his face which he quickly hid. Funny, he's had that expression on his face before, in the hospital, she thought. I wonder what it means. She forgot about it as they dived deep into the history of ancient India.
    Jason, however, kept sneaking glances at her when he thought she wasn't looking. He was almost relieved when Tommy finally showed up.
    "Hey, how's the studying going?" Tommy asked, taking a chair across from them.
    "Not too bad," Katherine replied. "I think we're finally starting to get the hang of all the names."
    "Ready for a break? Some of us are going out for pizza, so we thought we'd check to see if you wanted any."
    "Sure!" Katherine leapt up from her chair enthusiastically. Tommy draped an arm around her shoulder.
    "How 'bout you, Jase? Coming?" Jason looked up at Tommy and Katherine.
    "No," he replied, heart sinking. "I want to get some more studying in. I'll see you all in class tomorrow." He gathered up his books and left the resource center.
    "Kat, is he doing okay?" Tommy asked, concerned.
    "I think so," she replied. In the back of her mind, though, a small doubt was beginning to grow.

    Kat sat in her bedroom, looking at her photo albums. One held pictures of her teammates and friends from the swim team in Australia. The other held pictures of her friends and teammates from the Power Rangers here in Angel Grove. There were pictures of her and Tommy, of the whole group, and of individual members, taken for a photography class she took through the community schools program.
    The portraits were what she was looking at the most. She'd taken them around the time of the switch to Zeo, so she had some interesting collections. The portrait of Aisha she had set up opposite of the portrait of Tanya in her display, since the two were outwardly similar, but in subtle ways, nearly complete opposites.
    Kat pulled the picture of Tommy out of its protective sleeve. It was a gorgeous picture, she couldn't deny that, but even her photo instructor had sensed that something was missing in the portrait. Kat had seen some pictures of Tommy with Kimberly, and she had to admit, in those pictures, there was an inner light that was missing from this portrait.
    Why did we start dating? she thought to herself. Do we really feel that way about each other? Kat remembered the spell Rita had cast on her. Could what I feel for Tommy actually be just a residual effect from that spell?

    Jason sat across from Emily at Ernie's Beach Cafe. She was chatting on and on about some customers that had been there the night before. Jason was only half-listening as he watched Katherine suit up to practice her surfing.
    Why am I with Emily? he thought, looking at her. The sun glinted on her light blond hair, creating an almost halo-like effect. Is it just because she reminds me of Katherine? That's not fair to Em. She's really a great girl, but just not for me.
    Jason interrupted Emily's river of words. "Em, we need to talk."
    She looked into Jason's deep brown eyes. "I was wondering when you'd say that."
    "Huh?"
    "Jason, I know. It's obvious you're really interested in Kat. I mean, you're always watching her."
    "You've noticed?" he asked, running a hand through his short hair.
    "Don't worry about it, Jase. Listen, I want us to stay friends, though, no matter what." She smiled at him. "Think we can manage that?"
    He smiled back, slightly relieved. "Yeah, I hope so." They exchanged a hug, then Emily left.
    Katherine noticed the exchange between Jason and Emily and the slightly disappointed expression on Emily's face. She abandoned her surfboard and came to sit with Jason. "Is everything all right with you and Emily?" she asked.
    Jason looked into Katherine's blue eyes. "We just broke up," he told her.
    Katherine looked back into Jason's eyes, mesmerized. Why haven't I noticed his eyes before? she thought. They're so warm, so inviting... She shook her head to clear her mind. "I'm sorry," she stuttered, not knowing what else to say. What came over me?
    "It's okay. She said she'd seen it coming."  Jason ran a hand through his hair.  "She noticed me noticing someone else."
    "Oh, Jason..."  Katherine shook her head, wondering why she felt a pang in her stomach when he said that.  "That had to have been hard."
    "Actually, it wasn't.  I guess she'd noticed long enough that she'd gotten used to it.  If I hadn't said something when I did, she probably would have."
    "Probably."  Katherine just sat there, looking in the direction Emily disappeared in.  "So, on another note, are you coming to Tanya's birthday beach party this weekend?"
    "I didn't know her birthday was this weekend."
    "It isn't.  We're celebrating early, because we need a reason to have a party."  Katherine let loose one of her smiles.  Jason thought he'd pass out.  "So are you going to be there?"
    "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

    "Yo, Jase, you ready?"  Tommy stood at the foot of the stairs, arms crossed.  "We're gonna be late, man."
    "Give me a break, already!"  Jason appeared, shoes in hand.  "I had to find my other shoe."
    "Put them on in the car."  Tommy strode out the door, Jason hopping behind.

    The sun was just disappearing behind the Pacific as Tommy pulled the red Jeep into a parking space.  A bonfire had been started, and the heavy bass from the sound system was pumping across the beach.  A group of people were already dancing by the fire.  Rocky was by the grill with Jennifer, who had finally agreed to go out with him.  Tanya and Adam were dancing close, ignoring the faster tempo of the music.  "Hey, I'm going to go find Kat," Tommy told Jason.
    "I'm just going to go...uh...over to the grill."  Jason wandered over to Rocky and Jennifer.  "Hey, guys, what's good?"
    "Mmphhrrfff."
    "I think he means 'hamburgers'," Jennifer translated, rubbing the top of Rocky's head.  "He's already had three."
    Rocky swallowed and set his plate down.  "What can I say?  Lieutenant Stone makes a mean burger."
    "He does," Jennifer agreed.  "He's being very secretive about his secret ingredients."
    Jason accepted a hamburger from the former policeman.  "Thanks.  I'm not very hungry, though."  He looked across the sand.  Tommy had found Katherine and the two of them were dancing.
    Rocky followed Jason's gaze.  "Man, talk about bad luck," he commented.
    "What do you mean?"
    "Jason, it's obvious.  Even I see it."  Rocky patted Jason's arm.  "You're head over heels for Kat."
    "Man."  Jason sat at the picnic table.  "It's that obvious?  Emily noticed, you noticed...I'm surprised Katherine hasn't noticed."
    "Who says she hasn't?"
    "What?" Jason turned to look at Jennifer.
    "Women are very attuned to things like this.  I'd bet you anything Kat knows, but either doesn't know how to deal with it or doesn't want to deal with it."  Jennifer sat back, resting against Rocky.  "If you want to know for sure, ask her."
    "And then deal with either her laughing at me, or Tommy putting his fist through my face."
    "You and Tommy are best buds.  He wouldn't do that."
    "All's fare in love and war," Jason replied, dropping his head in his hands.  Rocky reached over and liberated him of his hamburger.

    The sun had long set, and a full moon was shining on the beach party.  The bonfire was crackling merrily away, and the driving bass of the dance hits had given way to mellow ballads.  Couples swayed in tune to the soft guitars and piano hits.  Jason still sat at the table, morosely watching them.
    "Hey," a soft female voice sounded above him.
    He looked up; Katherine was standing there, holding her elbows.  "Hey."
    "This seat taken?"
    He gestured and she sat down next to him.  "You look like you're having a blast," he said.
    "Hmm?"
    "Out there, dancing with Tommy."
    "Oh."  She looked at her hands, clasped in her lap.  "I guess.  You don't."
    "Don't what?"
    "Look like you're having fun."  She lightly touched his hand.  "Would you like to dance?" she asked.  "Next song, that is."
    He looked up, meeting her pale blue eyes.  "I'd like to."  He took her hand in his and they stood up.  As the beginnings of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" played, he gently put his left arm around Katherine's waist, taking her left hand in his right hand, clasping it to his chest.
    "It's enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best," Elton John crooned as Katherine rested her pale head on Jason's shoulder.  He tightned his arm around her waist, unbelieving that he was holding Katherine, his angel, this close.  The scent of her shampoo tickled his nostrils.
    Katherine rested her head on Jason's shoulder, feeling his warmth through the thin t-shirt he was wearing.  His arm around her waist felt right, strong and sure.  His hand was warm, too, slightly dry and a little scratchy.  Her heart sped up; she felt like she was going to just float away.
    "Can you feel the love tonight?" Elton asked.  Katherine closed her eyes, relaxing in Jason's arms.  This just feels so...right, she thought.  She opened her eyes to find him watching her.  She met those warm, liquid brown eyes of his, and knew he was going to kiss her.  She wanted him to kiss her.
    His head dipped down, and he touched his lips to hers, softly at first, but as her hands slipped around his neck, he lightly increased the pressure.  Her head was swimming as small explosions went off in her head.  He pulled back; she looked at him breathlessly.
    "Don't tell Tommy?" she asked in a whisper, her arms still around his neck.
    "I won't if you won't," he whispered, arms still around her waist.  He dipped his head towards hers again; she leaned up to meet his lips.
    Just as his lips touched hers again, Jason felt himself yanked around, bringing him face-to-face with a pained Tommy.  "How could you, man?  You're supposed to be my best friend. How could you?"
    "Tommy, I...I..." Jason stammered, trying to find an explanation that wouldn't sound idiotic or set Tommy off.
    "Tommy, we need to talk," Katherine said, taking Tommy's elbow and leading him away from Jason.
    Jason watched the two of them walk off and tried not to let himself hope.

    "Kat, what's going on?" Tommy demanded.  "I go to get a drink, and the next thing I know, Jason's kissing you."
    "For your information, I was kissing him, too."  Katherine stalked back and forth on the strip of sand.  "Tommy, I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time, but I haven't been able to.  The things that happened tonight, with Jason, and with me, they've been building for a long time."  She stopped, slowly turning to look into Tommy's eyes.  "I don't love you, Tommy."
    "What?"
    She held up her hand to stop anything he might say.  "I'm not done yet.  I don't love you, and you don't love me.  I've known it for a while now.  You haven't wanted to admit it to yourself, but you still love Kimberly.  You just wanted me around as someone who could make you forget about the pain."
    "Kat..."
    "Shhh.  I was willing to go along with this because while Rita's spell of evil had worn off, her attraction spell hadn't.  And I have to admit it, Tommy, you are handsome.  But what do we do together?  We go to school, we fight monsters, we hang out with the Rangers.  We don't do anything alone together.  I spend time at the dance studio; you spend time at the dojo.  I volunteer at the animal clinic, the day care, and I lifeguard.  You teach karate.  I like Mel Gibson movies and Shakespeare.  You like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.  We have totally different personalities."
    Tommy had to admit she was right about that.  "But..."
    "Tommy, just listen to me.  We're wrong for each other.  We always have been.  When I was dancing with Jason tonight, it felt...right."
    He ran his hands through his hair.  "So I guess this is it, huh?"
    "Tommy, I'll always be your friend.  But after tonight, I'm certain we can't be anything else."
    Tommy stepped close to her, slipping his hand behind her neck.  He lowered his lips to hers, gently, just brushing his mouth against hers.  "Goodbye, Kat."

    Jason sat in the living room, idly fast-forwarding through a tape of 'Romeo and Juliet'.  Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio had just spotted each other through the aquarium when the doorbell rang.  He heard someone answer it, then sensed someone standing behind him.
    "I love that movie.  Mind if I join you?"  Katherine sat next to him on the couch.
    "What about..."
    "I broke up with Tommy tonight.  Adam and Tanya were nice enough to drop me here."
    "It was nice of them."  Leo and Claire were giving their "Sin from my lips?" lines.  Jason tried not to think about Katherine as the elevator scene played out.
    "Especially since I wanted to talk to you."  Katherine took the remote from Jason and turned his head to face her.  "Did you mean that kiss tonight?"
    Jason saw his reflection in those pale blue eyes.  "Yes."
    "Good."  She gave him back the remote and leaned against his shoulder.  "I meant it, too."