Pawns

Run. Foot crush the spring, launching her into the air. Forward somersault. Land on beam in a deep knee-bend, arms wide to maintain perfect balance.

Straighten in one smooth motion, bending left elbow inward. Twirl on toes of right leg, lifting the other in a pirouette. Break spin abruptly, stretching out left leg and bending right knee deeply. Push body forward, balancing on left toes, twisting until right foot lands on opposite side of left. Straighten body, inching towards edge. Back flip, then bend backwards. Handspring, then another half, holding body perfectly vertical while clutching the tanned leather.

White dust drifted into her eyes and nose, but she didn't so much as tear in reaction. Her body was a honed machine, flawlessly twirling and flipping with no regard to the fact she relied on a bar mere inches in width, hovering four feet off the ground.

Her long ponytail beat against her forehead as she righted herself. I'd better wear a bun for the competition… Full lips firmly pressed together, her body didn't so much as tremble as she held her arms forward, preparing for another forward aerial somersault.

Success!

Over the past three months, her balance beam routine moved from respectable to mind-blowing. Perhaps it was due to her dedication, or perhaps even a side effect of being a Power Ranger, but she was able to perform sequences that were beyond her wildest dreams when she first started.

She was a living, breathing, performing machine.

She bit back an excited smile as she executed another perfect series of handsprings along the length of the beam. It's a lock! We'll win the gold!

But… what good did the success do her? For once the championship was over… her life was a mysterious black hole.

She shook off the discomforting thought. She had made it through the past three and a half months by focusing only on the events on May 24 and 25… the Pan Global Games Gymnastics Meet.

There was no life beyond May 25. And there was no life beyond gymnastics.

She moved through the rest of the routine without even blinking, her mind reciting each step in turn just as she performed it. And after a minute, for which she trained nine months, Kimberly leapt off the beam, somersaulting and landing in a deep crouch.

She straightened, arms flying behind her back as she acted out the obligatory bows. But to her surprise, the deafening silence of the empty gymnasium exploded into eager applause.

"Hey Shrimp… betcha weren't expecting me to pop up!"

Kim's breath caught in her throat. Only one person could call her "Shrimp" and live to repeat the offense. He started calling her that back in second grade, and he'd received a knee in the groin and a yank of his ear in return.

After a month of feuding, the pair slowly grew into the most inseparable friends.

"Jason!!"

Kim streaked across the empty gym, tears wetting her eyes for the first time in weeks as she literally threw herself into Jason's waiting arms.

Just about any other man would've collapsed under the weight of her enthusiasm… but not Jason Scott Lee. The young man held her tightly in his grip, spinning her around twice before setting her on her own feet.

"Wow, Kim… you really put on some weight."

Kim's elated smile folded into a sardonic grin. "Flatterer."

Jason offered a half-grin. "I'm joking!" he amended, "Sheesh Kim, you're melting away! There isn't an ounce of fat on you!"

Kim smiled at that, stepping back and pivoting full-circle. "One hundred twelve pounds of pure muscle," she announced proudly. "There's no room on the beam for flab!"

After the eighteen months since he last saw her, before he moved to Geneva for the World Peace Conference, she'd done a great deal of growing up. She was lean and compact, fit arms and legs creating the illusion of additional height. Her hair hung past her shoulders, even when styled in a high ponytail. He noticed she had forgone the red highlights she'd become enamoured with once she started dating Tommy, leaving her hair its natural array of deeper browns.

All in all, Kimberly looked fantastic.

However, Jason was quick to notice one exception. When he met her gaze, he found himself startled at her eyes. They were the exact shade of golden brown, with sparks of gray scattered in the iris, but for some reason, they didn't shine like they used to.

"My God… what are you doing here?" she gushed, "So what's the Conference like? Jeesh, I haven't even spoken to you since Christmas! There just aren't enough holidays, you know?"

Jason smiled as Kimberly went on and on without stopping for a single breath. She asked every question in the book… about his family, his plans, any girlfriends (demanding details), and the collective she called "the guys."

When she broached that particular topic the river of words ebbed. Her brow creased with a touch of worry, and she looked behind him. "Did the others come?"

Jason examined her expression. "Nah, the Machine Empire has kept the Rangers pretty busy, and Trini and Zack are on a good-will trip to South Africa until September."

Her face was perplexing. At once, she seemed mildly disappointed and greatly relieved.

Why was that?

"Maybe we can get Billy to drop in," Jason commented, "I'm not sure how long the flight is, but with all that trans-warp technology they have on Aquitar, I'm sure it can't be too long."

"Aquitar? Is that in the Middle East or something?"

Jason chuckled at her joke… until he noticed her questioning gaze.

"You're kidding, right?"

Kim shrugged.

Jason's jaw hung open. "You've gotta be! You mean you didn't hear about the wedding?"

Now it was Kimberly's turn to gawk. "Billy's getting married?"

Jason shook his head to align his thoughts. How could the erstwhile Pink Ranger be that out of touch with her friends?

Kim sighed, as if reading his mind. "I've lost touch," she admitted, with another shrug, "The Coach's had me practicing night and day. I really needed to lock my balance beam routine, or we would've been sunk."

Jason nodded, but in truth he didn't believe that for a moment. Kimberly always put loved ones first- before school, before work, before herself. How could she let a diversion like gymnastics interfere with friendships?

That wasn't like Kim at all…

"Well, I'd love to catch you up," Jason offered, his wide smile returning as he slid his arm over her shoulder, "Where's the nearest Friendly's."

Kim grimaced. "Uh… hell-o! Remember, 'one hundred twelve pounds of muscle'? I can't eat ice cream!"

Jason answered with a toothy grin. "Then you can have a water as I down a sundae that'd put Zack Taylor to shame!"

Kim fell into peals of laughter at the mental image. Despite everything that had happened, and how she'd hardened herself over the months since her nightmarish birthday, she truly did miss her friends. All of them… except Kat and Tommy, of course. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with them, but that seemed impossible if she kept in contact with their closest companions.

Desperate for peace of mind, she'd amputated everything that was Angel Grove like a leg infected with gangrene. Anything to salvage what remained of her spirit.

Now, she was desperate for something else. For the easy companionship that came with lifelong friends.

And now… she had a chance.

So, without a second thought to the practice she was about to forego, she smiled at the invitation. "Let me get cleaned up first. It's probably not a good idea to go struttin' around Miami in shiny spandex."

Jason laughed again. "I thought that was your favorite part of being a Ranger!"

Kim smirked as she elbowed her oldest friend in the kidney.

* * *

Kim frowned her disgust, watching Jason slowly drag his spoon across warm, thick chocolate fudge, gooey marshmallow sauce, glazed chopped walnuts, and rich Vienna Mocha Chunk ice cream. He heaped as much as the spoon could hold, and then slowly savored the sinfully sweet concoction, a wide, stupid grin on his face.

Kim glanced down at her tiny cup of nearly translucent plain vanilla soft serve frozen yogurt, and glared death at her friend. "I hate you."

Jason tried to laugh, disregarding the mouthful of ice cream. He began coughing, gagging as he reached for his ice water. Kim fell into giggles, glancing around at the dozen or so patrons in the small ice cream shop that stared worriedly at the stricken young man.

"He's fine," she assured them, reaching across the small table to pound his back. The gagging shifted into deep, raw breaths, and Jason nodded, signaling his recovery.

"Well, you deserve it," Kim huffed, folding her arms. "No need to have a freakin' orgasm over ice cream."

Jason stared at her, absolutely dumfounded that such a crude comment could come from Sugar Sweet Kim's mouth.

"You've changed," he noted.

Her wry grin faded slightly, expressive eyes falling away from his searching gaze. "I've grown up," she answered, swirling her own spoon along the edge of the glass dish. "You can't be soft in professional sports, Jase. There's a lot of focus and dedication involved. Gunther doesn't run a gym… he runs a militia!"

Jason smiled at the jibe, clearly intended to lighten the mood. But he couldn't set his curiosity… or worry… aside so easily.

"Kim, you've been in a militia before," Jason said, his voice low to keep his comments confidential, "Saving the world takes more dedication than gymnastics, but you never lost your cheer."

Kim pursed her lips, her appetite and mirth suddenly dead. He'd spent less than an hour with her, and he'd already sensed that something drastic happened. I thought I hid it so well…

"What makes you think I lost my cheer?" she retorted, "Don't forget, the competition I've trained for almost a year starts Friday. There's a lot of pressure on me right now."

That was possible… but why was Jason unable to believe it?

He watched her carefully pile the melting frozen yogurt in the center of her bowl. She's hiding something… he realized, thoughtfully chewing on a mouthful of candied nuts and fudge, It's never been hard to see what Kim's really feeling.

"Don't worry about it," was what he said, "A few days in the California sun, sipping on Ernie's shakes and shopping at your favorite old haunts will brighten you right back up!"

He frowned as she cringed. "Kim?"

"I'm not going back to Angel Grove," she said quietly. She almost sounded guilty as she said it.

"Why? You told me you applied to AGU!"

"I… did," she revealed, resting her elbow on the edge of the table, "but things are different now. Angel Grove isn't home anymore. All my friends are gone-"

Jason dropped his spoon, dramatically clutching his chest. "Kim! You stab me with your words…"

Kim giggled faintly at his reaction, waving her hand. "Sorry… I forgot you moved back." Her mirth quickly died. "But you have to know where I'm coming from. Angel Grove isn't… home."

"Kim, I know the Angel Grove I came back to isn't the one I left. Without you, Trini, or Zack, it felt like a whole new city. But it's still home. I know your mother's gone, and Aisha and Billy have since moved on, but there's still Rocky, Adam, and Tom-"

Jason bit his tongue, eyes wide with shock as he watched a scowl tighten Kim's beautiful face. He blinked several times, disbelieving his own eyes as her delicate fingers tightened their hold on a napkin, clenching it mercilessly within her shaking fist.

Then, just as suddenly as it started, Kim collected herself. Her hand loosened, and the fury flowed off her face, leaving behind a passive, though saddened, expression.

Jason stared at Kimberly as if she were a total stranger.

Kim flinched under his piercing gaze, biting her lip to counteract her discomfort. "What?"

"Kim, what the hell was that?"

Kimberly's nervous fingers began wringing the mangled napkin, long hair sweeping over her shoulders as she bowed her head.

"It's no big deal," she responded, "I guess I'm still a little bitter about the breakup."

She courageously lifted her gaze. Jason's blank expression surprised her.

"You didn't know Tommy and I aren't together any longer?"

"Well, no one's really talked about it," Jason confessed, "I gathered that much when Tommy took Kat to…."

Another disturbing expression- a cross between a baleful frown and an ironic smirk- rendered the former Gold Ranger speechless once again.

"It's nice to hear they're so happy together," she grumbled.

A deep frown on his face, Jason shoved his half-eaten sundae to the side. Boldly, he pushed Kim's dish away as well, and tugged the napkin from her hands.

Now, there was nothing for her to hide behind.

Steadily, his strong hands grabbed hold of her fists, silently coaxing her to meet his gaze.

Stunned, she lifted her head.

"Kimberly Ann Hart," he stated, his voice adopting the Leader Tone Kim had wordlessly obeyed just two scant years ago, "you're going to tell me exactly what happened between you and Tommy."

She heaved an unsteady breath, pursing her lips to keep them from trembling as she maintained Jason's gaze. While his tone demanded her response, his eyes were pleading with her.

He was, after all, her oldest friend. One of the few friends she still considered trustworthy, since all the Zeo Rangers let their loyalties lie with their leader.

Despite her struggles, her eyes stung as she silently unlocked the mental closet where she'd stuffed the horrors of her breakup.

"I can't believe Tommy never told you," she breathed, closing her eyes to combat the tears that threatened to fall. She then scoffed. "Well, maybe it's not so hard to believe… I mean hell, it's not like he ever had the balls to tell me he'd found someone else!"

Her fingers shifted, suddenly clutching Jason's, begging him to listen to what she was about to relate.

"I'll give you the Cliff Notes version," she decided, "And please Jase, for my sake… don't say anything until I'm done. And I swear, I'm telling you exactly what happened."

And so she did. She related everything, starting from the utter silence before her birthday, to her conversation with Jesse Oliver, culminating with the stomach-turning encounter with Tommy's mother, when the truth was finally revealed.

She'd intended to keep her tale short and to the point… but instead she was overcome with the torture of it all, burning like welts that had yet to heal, ravaging her heart and beating down her soul anew. Before she was done, tears slid freely from her eyes as she mourned the love she thought she had, and the loss of her heart to a man capable of tearing it to pieces.

During the gut-wrenching story, Jason was positively mortified. He was beyond confused, struggling with the emotions churning within. Shock, that Kimberly could even accuse Tommy of such malevolence. Fear, that perhaps Tommy wasn't the terrific guy he seemed. Rage, that someone could do that to his little sister. But the emotion that won out of the end was sorrow. As he watched Kimberly speak, her thin shoulders quivering, skin blanching, and eyes bleeding… he mourned the change he'd sensed in her earlier. A heartbreak like that was simply impossible to recover from. She'd never be the bright-eyed, overflowingly positive young woman he knew her to be. Betrayal, by someone you trust above all others, would always leave a devastating scar. She'd never be able to trust like she once did.

She would always suspect… seeing the bad rather than the good in all the people surrounding her.

No… it can't be this way! There's got to be another answer!! Jason rationalized, staring wide-eyed at his oldest friend. The picture Kimberly painted seemed so at odds with everything he knew about his best friend… there had to be a logical explanation.

"Did you ever talk to him again?" he asked gently.

Kim scowled. "I called his house twice, and his family made it more than clear that I had no business trying to talk to him."

"Maybe if you kept trying…"

Suddenly, Kim pulled her hands from his, infinite hurt blazing in her eyes. Mentally, Jason slapped himself. Great… now she thinks I'm siding with Tommy…

"Dammit, Jason… I didn't give him a reason not to call me," she hissed, "If that bastard truly cared one iota about me, he would've called me! But guess what? His number never popped up on my Caller ID. Never an apology for missing my birthday, a message just to see how I'm doing… nothing! If he doesn't think I'm worth the effort of picking up the goddamned phone and dialing eleven digits, then to hell with him! I'm not gonna chase him around, begging him to love me. If Kat's that damn irresistible, and that conniving to have her eye on my boyfriend while yet calling me her 'friend,' then they deserve each other!"

She jumped from her seat, fingers clutching her purse as she leveled her humiliated gaze at Jason. "Good night, Jason."

With that, she hurried out of the restaurant, leaving a dozen or so witnesses watch her retreat after her outburst.

Jason blinked, overwhelmed by her reaction. My God… what's happened to her?? Immediately, he tossed some money on the table, and raced after her.

* * *

"I should've known… I should've known…"

Kim squeezed her eyes tightly, bare toes digging into the cold, damp evening sand of the famous South Beach. The sea breezes were strong, carrying her hair fitfully behind her back. The short hem of her skirt buckled to the powerful wind as well, raging against her bare legs.

But she stood still, her body frozen as she let this newest heartache sink in.

"I should've known…"

After all, Jason and Tommy were "buds." "Bros." Why would Jason believe her, anyway?

Maybe it's a guy thing, she contemplated, her stomach churning with profound disgust, Maybe they just don't see anything wrong with chasing skirts.

She knew she was wrong. She may have had doubts about Tommy, but Jason never lied to her. Never even held a secret from her.

Please God… tell me I'm wrong. I need Jason now… I need a friend I can trust. Someone to guide me through this…

"Wow, Kim… you really run fast for someone with such short legs."

She didn't respond to the joke. Jason swallowed the smile he forced upon his lips, foregoing humor completely as he set his hands on Kim's shoulders, and turned her to face him.

"I'm sorry," he sighed, "What I said… didn't come out right. I didn't mean to imply that any of this is your fault. I was just so surprised… I mean… Tommy's not like that."

She sniffled weakly. "You don't think I know that?" she choked, "You don't think I've struggled with this? Jase, I loved Tommy. I loved everything about him. He was sweet yet strong, shy but bold… he treated me like a princess. To think that he could ever hurt me, even by accident, was so hard for me to swallow. But there's no other explanation."

"Maybe-"

"No other explanation," she repeated emphatically, "You said yourself that Tommy and Katherine are dating. What more do you need?"

He chewed his lip, carefully planning his response before a word of it left his mouth. He knew he was treading on thin ice.

"Because… it's hard to believe Tommy feels anything for Kat that he did for you."

Kim froze, her choked shudders stopping completely at the totally unexpected answer. She stared at Jason, eyes wide with disbelief… and something else. Something deeper, that she tried so hard to bury and forget.

Hope.

"W…what makes you say that?" she breathed.

He offered a wan smile. "Kim, I saw you two together. I saw the way he looked at you… how he raced in front of you to open the door… how he walked you home every chance he got. You know we're friends… but you don't know how many times he asked about you when you weren't with us. Back before you were dating. He just wanted to know everything about you. Your favorite food. Favorite music. Favorite color… although I think that was pretty obvious."

A small smile graced her lip.

"With Kat, he's not like that. It took me weeks to figure out they were anything more than platonic friends. They don't hold hands in public, or hug, or even spend much time together. So you can imagine why it's really hard for me to believe Tommy dumped you for her."

Kim was silent, eyes on the floor as she began quivering again. "B…but," she struggled, "Kat's so beautiful. Why wouldn't he love her?"

"Hey, I'm just telling you what I see," he answered, holding her close in a tight hug, "and what I don't see. And I don't see Tommy and Kat in love."

"No!" Kim howled, pushing away from her friend. She glared at him, desperately trying to douse the excitement he'd managed to stir in her just by alluding to a slim possibility. "I can't trust him… I just can't! Fine, maybe he's not in love with Kat. Maybe he just got tired of her already, like he did with me."

"Kim…"

"No!" she repeated, "If he cared for me at all, why didn't he call me?! Why was he skiing with Kat on Valentine's Day, huh? Why'd he take her to dinner? Why didn't he call me?!?!"

"I don't know, Kim," Jason answered gently, "but I do know one thing… there's only one person who can answer those questions."

Kim paled visibly, frown shifting from rage to bewilderment. "You can't be serious…"

"Come back to Angel Grove after the Games," he pleaded, "Just for a day or two."

"Are you nuts?! I can't face them!"

"Kim, you can!" he assured her, "You're strong, Kim. Strong enough to pick up the pieces here. Strong enough to search for the truth. You have suspicions Kim. I'm not saying they're not warranted, but they are suspicions. You need facts. You need answers… or you'll always wonder what really happened that weekend. Right?"

"But I…" she stammered, backpedaling as she tried to collect her thoughts, "I… I'm through with Angel Grove! I don't need him!"

"You don't," Jason conceded, "but you need to know."

She squeezed her eyes closed.

"Kim, please. Just come for a few days. Stay with my family… visit your old friends. And together, we'll figure out what really happened."

Kim shook her head, overcome with indecision as she faced the offer she really couldn't refuse.