--
Everything I do

I do it for you
--

"Kimberly Hart."

"Jason Scott."

Their eyes met and held Zack and Trini exchanged smiles; the new kid in town stared at the pretty gymnast and head cheerleader, who looked right back into his dark eyes that held a cheerful glow to them. He was good-looking, and looked much older than his fourteen years, broad-shouldered and friendly; she was tiny, short brown hair, a squeaky voice and an infectious laugh.

"So where'd you move from?" she asked.

"Montana," he answered.

"Wow . . . long trip, huh?" Kimberly nodded. "I know how you feel, my parents and I moved from New Jersey. We drove all the way. Well, I gotta go—see you around."

Jason grinned, glancing at Zack and giving his new friend a 'thank you' with his eyes for introducing him to the girl now talking away with her best friend, Trini. As he joined the young hip-hop dancer at their lockers, he heard Kimberly's hushed voice as she leaned in to Trini's ear:

"He's cute."

Glancing over his shoulder, Jason saw the girls laughing as they walked away, and was pleased when Kimberly looked back and waved.

"Score!"

"Shut up." Jason rolled his eyes.

"Hey, man," Zack said, raising his hands. "Just look at her!"

"I am . . . " Jason said. "Believe me, I am."

--
Look into my eyes

You will see

What you mean to me
--

"Yeah, all right. I'm in!" Jason clenched his fists, grinning after Zordon's little speech, all-too-anxious to accept the role as leader of the Power Rangers. The others agreed with him, each happily joining the team, Jason was pleased to find that the team he would lead into battle were his best friends . . . but his blood ran cold at Kimberly's words:

"I don't know you guys."

He turned to the girl in pink, fingering her shoulder-length hair as she looked around. "I mean, the outfits are cool and all . . . but my hair gets all tangled up in the helmets. I don't think I can do it."

"Ohh, Kimberly . . . " Alpha said.

"Kimberly, no," Trini spoke up.

But Jason was already beginning to smile: Not even Kimberly was that conscious of her looks. So he wasn't the least bit surprised when she burst out laughing, crying "Not!" to the confusion of Alpha 5 and amusement of all else. Jason put his arm around her and felt hers go around his waist in an embrace, she giggled softly, then Jason stepped back and put his hand out: "Guys."

One-by-one, the new Rangers placed their hands on his and they jumped into the air as one, shouting, "Power Rangers!"

Afterward, they went back to the Youth Center, where Ernie was cleaning up from the small 'earthquake' earlier. Jason and Zack helped throw away some broken plates as Kimberly talked with Trini in a corner, where they were sweeping up the mess; she was laughing, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Why don't you ask her out, man?" Zack asked, quietly.

"Are you crazy?" Jason shook his head. "It's not like that."

"Oh really? Could've fooled me!"

"I didn't say I don't want it to be," Jason pointed out. "But we're just friends, I think that's the way she wants it."

"Oh, do you?"

"Yes." Jason half-smiled. "Do you have any proof that she doesn't?"

"Don't use that on me, Jase," Zack said. "What proof do you have that she does?"

"I don't wanna screw up."

"You won't!"

Jason looked over Zack's shoulder and locked gazes with the new Pink Ranger, they had a very special bond now and maybe—just maybe—it would bring them closer. As close as he desperately wanted them to be, just like almost every other guy in Angel Grove High; Kimberly Hart was the girl to go after, but Jason was different. Even without her good looks, he would view her as a good catch—a strong personality that developed more every day, bubbling over with energy, and one of the kindest friends anyone could find.

Who could ask for anything more?

--
Search your heart, search your soul

And when you find me there

You'll search no more
--

"He is really cute."

Her words had hit him as hard as one of the blows from Rita's monsters, he looked down at Kimberly as she stared across the room at the visiting competitor—apparently named 'Tommy' since that name was listed beside his on the scoreboard. Jason supposed that was what a girl looked for in a guy, soft and dark curls that hung below his eyes, full lips, tall and thin . . . he shook his head as Zack tried to get him to concentrate.

Now he sat by the pond, rubbing the side that still ached badly from his recent battles with both Goldar and the Green Ranger—Tommy—in the Dark Dimension. His injuries hadn't been nearly as serious as he could have suffered, just a slight bump on his head and some bruised ribs, nothing a good week of relaxation wouldn't cure.

The Red Ranger leaned over and dipped his hand in the water, the coolness of it sending a chill up his arm that ran through his entire body.

"Hey, Jason."

He twisted around to see Kimberly walked over, a small smile on her face that showed more concern than her usual cheerfulness. She eased herself onto the ground next to him, also stiff and sore from their ferocious battles of the past week.

"How're you doing?" she asked.

"I'm okay," he replied. "Just kind of tired, you know? It's been crazy."

"Yeah, I know." She smiled, putting her slender arm around his broad shoulders and leaning on him. "You really pulled through, Jase. We couldn't have done it without you."

"Sure you could have," Jason insisted.

"Oh no," Kimberly said. "Remember when we just about gave up? It was you that gave us a pep talk and got us all fired up to keep fighting. To find Zordon and save Tommy, and it all paid off in the end."

Jason smiled, silent for a moment as he pulled her closer and she curled up in his arms; finally, he found his voice: "Thanks, Kim. That means a lot to me."

"We don't say it enough."

"Don't go on with that," Jason said. "You guys are the best team, I couldn't ask for anything more."

Kimberly looked up at him, surprised when she saw the tenderness in his dark eyes as he stared down at her, she instantly rested her head back on his shoulder, avoiding his gaze as she whispered: "Thanks, Jason."

--
Don't tell me, it's not worth trying for

You can't tell me, it's not worth dying for

You know it's true, everything I do
I do it for you
--

"I'll take good care of the team, Jase," Tommy said. "Don't worry."

Jason smiled as he embraced his best friend before leaving for Switzerland, he still couldn't believe he had been one of the three chosen for the Peace Conference.

"I'm not worried," he said. "You're the best, Tommy."

Tommy's smile broadened and he actually looked happy for a moment before he sunk back into the sadness of seeing three of his closest friends leaving Angel Grove for an undetermined amount of time. He felt someone stand by him, brushing against his sleeve, and a moment later speaking:

"Good-bye, Jason. Write!"

"I will, Kim."

Jason took her in his arms, daring to press a kiss to her cheek before hastily walking away with Trini and Zack. 'This is good,' he tried to convince himself, 'time away from her. Maybe I'll actually meet someone else.'

But as he looked back at her, standing in Tommy's arms and staring after them as they piled into the taxi that would take them to the airport. She wiped at her eyes quickly and Tommy held her tighter, Jason sat and leaned against the window as they drove off, somehow feeling like he was leaving the best part of his life behind . . .

. . . and he had been right. Returning as the Gold Ranger was wonderful, until he actually met the other Rangers; he remembered Rocky and Adam from their brief encounters before he left the Rangers, and of course he knew Billy and Tommy, but the girls were unfamiliar. Tanya, now the Yellow Ranger in place of Aisha, and Katherine—replacing Kimberly.

Of course, he had known that she left Angel Grove to train for the Pan Global Games, but they had lost contact shortly thereafter. Subsequently, he hadn't known about 'the letter.'

"She broke up with him?"

"More than that," Rocky said, breathing heavily as he punched the bag Jason held for him. "She left him for another guy."

Jason's eyes widened in disbelief: Kimberly left Tommy for someone else??? All this time he might have stood a chance with her, but he had thought her love for Tommy would be too strong. 'No,' he told himself, 'I'd never do that to Tommy.'

"But," Rocky added, "he seems to be moving on."

"With who?"

"Oh, come on." Rocky rolled his eyes. "Who do you think?"

Jason smiled slowly, thinking of the beautiful Australian girl he had seen sharing long gazes with the Red Ranger. "Kat?"

"Yep. If he ever gets around to asking her out."

"That's the way he is," Jason said. "With Kim, too." 'As if I'm any different,' he added silently, with amusement.

"We've all noticed."

His life as the Gold Ranger didn't last long before the powers rejected his body, nearly killing him in the process; and so his ranger days had ended yet again, but—as he told Tommy—‘things couldn't be all that bad.' During his time back in Angel Grove, he had met another girl, and for a while he thought he liked her more than just friends. Until . . .

He had gone to the beach for the weekend to relax after being away from home for nearly three months, having left Angel Grove. He had joined a Fire Department in a town nearly two hundred miles from his old home, he was a volunteer, but had plans on going to the academy and becoming a full-time firefighter, the job seemed to suit him well.

Jason was lying flat on his back in the sand, his eyes closed, nearly asleep when he heard an all too familiar voice:

"Jason!?"

--
Look into my heart, you will find

There's nothing there to hide
--

Sitting up, he opened his eyes and looked behind to see a young woman standing and staring at him, her face an expression of disbelief. The breeze blew her longer hair around her face as she smiled a little, they hadn't met face-to-face in three years, since his departure to Switzerland; she had changed so much he couldn't believe his eyes. No longer the pretty, popular 15-year-old gymnast, Kimberly Hart was now a woman. And more lovely than ever.

"Kim," Jason barely breathed.

He rose and she ran into his arms, he buried his face in her soft hair, breathing in her fresh scent and savoring the feel of her body pressing to his.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, stepping back to get a better look at her again.

"I came back to help with the fund raiser," she answered. "Are you going, too?"

"I am now!" Jason laughed. "It's good to see you again, Kim, I can't believe how long it's been."

"I know," Kimberly sighed. "I should've kept in touch—“

"We were both pretty busy," Jason said. "How'd the Games go?"

"Okay." Kimberly shrugged. "Fourth place."

"'Okay'? That's great!"

Kimberly smiled, leaning against him and whispering familiar words in his ear: "I didn't win." Jason chuckled, those were his words after the match between Tommy and him ended in a draw four years ago.

"How is Tommy?"

"Fine, last time I saw him." Jason saw the concern in her eyes for her high school sweetheart: And perhaps more? "He's with Kat now. Finally. How about you and . . . ?"

"Oh, Rob." Kimberly nodded. "It didn't turn out like I thought it would."

Jason frowned at her tone, there was something she wasn't telling him about this Rob, he took her by her shoulders and looked into her eyes: "What did he do to you?"

Kimberly took a deep breath, unable to tear her eyes from his and loving the tenderness and devotion she saw in them. She hadn't told anyone else, but since day one of their friendship she had told Jason everything:

"He made a mistake. A big one." Tears stung her eyes and she felt one strong arm encircle her. "We got in a fight one night—he was jealous because some guy was hitting on me when we went out earlier."

"He hit you, didn't he?"

"Yeah."

Jason gritted his teeth and felt a rush of anger run through him when he thought of this Rob treating the woman he loved in such a horrible manner; how could anyone do that to her? He held her tighter for what seemed like a few short seconds, then finally suggested:

"Why don't we go for a dive? Get your mind off things."

"I don't have a suit."

"We'll find one."

Kimberly smiled, and Jason reached over to wipe away a tear that trickled down her cheek, he wanted so desperately to go further and kiss her . . .

"Come on," was all he said.

--
Take me as I am, take my life

I would give it all, I would sacrifice

--

She was in his arms. Finally. His mouth covered hers and he felt her around him, her soft moans escaped from between her lips that parted to let him enter. Her hands ran through his dark hair, his held her tenderly, massaging her bare skin and running up and down her gloriously nude body.

"Kim, I love you . . . "

She smiled gently and pressed her lips to his sweaty forehead, her breaths coming in short gasps as their pleasure intensified. She opened her mouth to respond in kind, and then . . .

He woke up. Jason sat alone on his couch as the sun rose outside his apartment window the morning after the fund raiser, and his rescue from Murianthias—as well as Kimberly's. Looking across the room, he saw Kimberly sleeping on his bed, the blankets pulled up to her chin and her body curled up into a ball, she was oblivious to the world around her.

"Kim. Wake up."

She stirred and blinked a couple times when she heard his voice rousing her, Jason walked over to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup. People had seen Kimberly and him arrive at the same time, and many—Including some of the rangers themselves—had asked if they were together; he had truthfully replied 'no', despite the urge to give the opposite answer, and mean it.

"You okay, Jase?" Kimberly asked. "You're looking kind of pale."

"Just tired," Jason answered. "No big deal."

"Tommy mentioned that you had still been feeling a little down after . . . " she hesitated.

"After I lost the powers? Yeah, for a while."

"Not still?"

"No." Jason took a sip. "That's over with. Just been a busy couple of days."

Kimberly stood up and unzipped her bag to get some clean clothes, Jason stared at her leaning over in her silky nightgown that outlined her perfect body in just the right way when the light hit it—

"Have breakfast ready," Kimberly told him, smiling as she headed for the bathroom.

Jason nodded, walking into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator to get out the milk, still trying to wake up. The phone was startling, and it took three rings before he finally got into the other room and picked it up:

"Hello?"

"Jason, this is Dave."

The fire chief.

"What's up?" Jason asked.

"I know this is your day off," came Dave's voice, "but there's big fire on Main Street, we need all the help we can get."

"I'll be right there."

Kimberly emerged from the bathroom in a pair of jeans and a tank top, tying back her hair and staring at him with a questioning look in her eyes. Jason hung up, and after explaining, he tossed on a jean jacket and headed out the door, pausing briefly. "Be back when I can, but it might not be for a while."

"Don't worry about."

"Give me a call when you can."

"I'm not leaving till I hear you say good-bye."

Jason smiled. "Good-bye, Kim."

"Good-bye, Jason."

--
Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for
I can't help it there's nothing I want more
You know it's true, everything I do
I do it for you
--

Jason woke up to the screams of people outside of the firehouse, the others were already running around to see what was going on; he leapt out of the bed and followed Dave outside, shocked by the damage around them:

"What the hell happened?" he muttered.

"It's Astronema!"

The call came from a young firefighter running up the sidewalk, his face smudged with dirt and blood, his voice unsteady.

"What?" Dave said.

"She's attacking worse than ever," the man explained.

"Where is she now?" Jason asked, looking around.

"I—I don't know."

As he spoke, the newest rangers went by and instantly Jason felt a little less worried, knowing they were on it and—so far—had always succeeded in repelling the attacks of the so-called 'Princess of Evil'. He exchanged looks with Dave, who looked more concerned than the young firefighter had ever seen him before.

"We're gonna have a lot of work to do," the chief said. "Get ready, boys."

"You think it'll be bad, Chief?" the young man asked.

Jason glanced at Dave briefly before he answered for him: "It is. We've seen attacks before but . . . this is different somehow."

The hours dragged by slowly as the city of Angel Grove was gradually destroyed, the tall buildings fell in a heap as they were struck down, crushing those below and instantly killing the innocent people inside. Jason shielded his face as the debris fell eveywhere, he felt something strike him in the small of his back and he fell to his knees, pain shooting through his body.

"You okay?"

Someone grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet, he faced the current Red Ranger and managed a small smile: "Yeah, I'm good."

The Ranger nodded in relief and steadied him for a moment before returning to battle, Jason bit his lip and closed his eyes briefly, touching the old communicator he still wore around his left wrist. Memories of his life as the original Red Ranger came back in a flood, and with them came the face of the Pink Ranger . . .

"For you, Kim."

Looking to his side, he saw the Red Ranger fall, pinned down; Jason let out a yell and ran forward, kicking the Quantrons away, forgetting that the power no longer protected him. He held out his hand and helped the Ranger up, saying quickly:

"Jason."

"Andros. Thanks."

"We're even."

Then he heard a piercing cry and watched as a small vehicle was rolled over and over, finally stopping when it slammed into an office building. Squinting his eyes, he saw a woman trapped inside, blood running down the side of her face . . .

"Kimberly!"

--
There's no love, like your love
And no other, could give more love
--

"J—Jason?"

Her eyes fluttered briefly and rested on him standing outside her window, the former Pink Ranger raised her hand and pressed it to the blood-stained glass, trembling.

"Easy, Kim . . . you'll be okay." Jason took a quick breath and surveyed the damage, the car was mangled mess of shredded metal, and Kimberly was in bad shape. "Just stay still, okay? Don't move."

"What's going on?"

"Shhh . . . quiet," Jason said. "Just rest."

Kimberly flinched, the pain in her head increasing with every breath, she barely managed to speak: "I'm so glad you're here, Jase."

Jason smiled sadly, pressing his own hand to the glass against hers. "So am I," he told her. "Don't be scared, I'll get you out."

"I know."

Her childlike faith brought tears to his eyes and he tried to figure out a way to pull her from the flaming car, he didn't have much time. She was losing consciousness and it looked as if the car would explode, and at any time, he shook his head to clear it, silently vowing not to leave her side . . . even if it killed him, too.

"Hang on, Kim," he said. "Don't close your eyes. Stay awake."

"I'm so tired . . . "

"No, Kim," Jason pleaded. "You've gotta stay with me."

Kimberly looked at him again, the blood on her face nearly blinding her as she tried to meet eyes with her friend since 9th grade. Her voice was surprisingly weak when she talked again, and her vision was blurring even more.

"You were always there, Jase," she whispered. "When we needed you. Still the Red Ranger at heart, aren't you? Nothing ever changes."

Jason swallowed hard, watching her eyelids droop as she struggled to remain conscious for him; he noticed part of the window smashed through and reached his arm in to touch her, gripping her hand comfortingly. Finally, their eyes met, and their life together as best friends ran through both their minds.

"I love you, Kim," Jason whispered.

--
There's nowhere, unless you're there
All the time, all the way
--

Kimberly's eyes widened in shock at his voice, the sincerity was clear and the look in his eyes told her that he meant every word. She felt his hand covering hers and the shiver that went up her spine at his touch, so full of gentle love and concern.

Jason's breath was unsteady as Kimberly stared at him, tears in her eyes as she silently wondered if this was a confession on death's doorstep.

"No, Kim," Jason said. "You're gonna live."

Kimberly cried out softly as the throbbing in her head went on, Jason squeezed her hand tighter, then pulled away and began to concentrate on getting her out again. He pulled out his radio and tried to contact Dave:

"Chief, can you hear me? Anyone? I need help on . . . " he looked around, the road signs were knocked over, the buildings that he once could have recognized the street from were destroyed. "Crap. I don't know where we are."

He shook his head and threw the radio to the side, grabbing a hold of the door and yanking it as hard as he could, trying to pull it free so he could drag Kimberly out. Her head rolled to the side limply, her eyes closed—to his horror.

"Kimberly, no! Wake up, please." He shook her gently, but firmly; swearing under his breath, he pulled at the door again, shaking the car but unable to break it away.

An explosion from behind sent him slamming against the car and he felt a few ribs break as they were pressed too hard and too quickly against the metal; letting out a gasp and a cry, he ignored them and smashed the window with his elbow, shattering the glass onto Kimberly. She moaned quietly and opened her eyes again as he wrapped his arms around her and unbuckled her belt.

"Jason . . . ?"

"Still here. I've almost got you out."

He gently pulled her through the window, grateful she was so small and therefore rather easy to free in such a way; they fell to the ground as he heard crackling from within the car and for the first time saw the flames by the hood . . .

--
Don't tell me it's not worth trying for
I can't help it there's nothing I want more
I would fight for you
I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you
Yeah, I'd die for you
--

Wrapping his arms around her body, he shielded her from the explosion as the car finally erupted, sending pieces of metal flying everywhere and flames shooting into the car. He cried out in pain, unable to hold it back as he fell on top of her and all went black . . .

. . . Kimberly heard his pained cry and felt his body over her, then all was silent except for the crackling of the flames and his shallow breaths that sounded more like moans.

"Jason, are you okay?"

She rolled him over so he was lying at her side, and she gasped in shock at his appearance: There was glass embedded in his skull, blood in his hair and running all over his face and back. She ran her hands over him, calling his name as loud as she could, feeling her own strength fading.

"Jason!"

He coughed painfully, and his eyes soon gazed up at her, only half-open; Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief, placing her hand on his cheek and kissing his forehead.

"Kim . . . you need to go . . . "

"What?" Kimberly said, "I—I can't leave you here!"

Jason turned his head in the direction of the screams, watching as another building collapsed on top of twenty or so people; followed by that were two monsters he didn't recognize, firing lasers through their eyes. Kimberly would die if she stayed.

"Go," he insisted. "Go now."

"No!"

"Kimberly, you—"

"There's no way in hell I'll let you lie here by yourself!" Kimberly insisted. "So you'll just have to get up! Come on, you can do it."

She tried to pull him up by his arms, and he struggled to sit up, painful grunts escaping him; he fell back on his side and Kimberly let out a cry when she saw the jagged piece of metal stuck in the right side of his back.

"Oh, Jason."

"I'm sorry, Kim." Jason winced, doubling over in pain. "I—I can't go with you. Please . . . you've got to leave . . . "

"I can't!"

Jason reached and wiped away the tear that ran down her bloody cheek as she looked down at him in disbelief, she felt his skin against hers and held his hand there as he spoke in a hoarse voice that didn't sound like his own:

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Suddenly, she was alone.

His hand became a weight and fell limply to the ground when she released it, crying she gathered him in her arms and held him close, sobbing uncontrollably.

" . . . you've got to leave . . . I love you . . . "

His voice echoed in her mind and drove her to stand and stagger away from the body of her best friend, whose dark brown eyes seemed to stare after her and urge her on. She ran for an eternity before collapsing at the doorway to a familiar house, and a moment later found herself in Tommy's arms.

"Kimberly, what happened?"

"He's gone!" Kimberly cried. "Oh, Tommy . . . he's gone."

--

"Greater love have no man, than to lay down his life for a friend."

Kimberly choked back a sob at the reverend's words as he read from the Bible at Jason's funeral, his ashes were spread over the site of the Command Center, where he had spent most of his young life with those that loved him.

"Well, Bro," Tommy sighed. "This is the end, I guess. I never thought I'd be the one to say 'good-bye', and man I wish I wasn't. Thanks for everything."

"Jason," Trini said. "We'll never forget you, I promise."

"We couldn't even if we wanted to," Billy spoke up.

"Never," Zack agreed. "We all owe you too much. You meant so much to us, Jase."

Kimberly stepped forward with the others and ran her hand over the small vase that carried the ashes of the man she had loved since early High School, and hadn't known it till it was too late.

"I'm sorry, Jason," she whispered. "I wish I would've told you . . . everything sooner. You were always there when I—when anyone—needed you, since we were fourteen, awkward, and complete strangers. Remember those days? Even before Zordon. And, of course, when we became rangers you were the one we turned to when we needed encouragement, we couldn't have asked for a better leader—despite what you thought."

Her next words shocked all those present, and brought Trini to her side, trying to offer comfort:

"I love you, Jason. I have for a long time now, I guess. But I was just too young to realize it until . . . " she wiped her eyes hastily, fighting back the tears she knew were coming. "I'll miss you so much, but you'll always be here."

She spread the ashes with a trembling hand as tears ran down her cheeks in an overwhelming flow that she could no longer control . . .

--

You know it's true
Everything I do
I do it for you . . .