The Garden of Vacant Dreams

Message Received

AN: Saban/Disney owns the characters you know. I own the ones you don't.

CHAPTER NINE

MESSAGE RECEIVED

"Come on..." Jason said as he glanced over at the computer screen and back down at his fidgety hands. It had been almost forty minutes since they'd seen Andros on their monitor attempting to rescue their kidnapped friend.

"He'll be here," Zhane began, "He has to be."

"I can't believe the reunion is tonight... we can't postpone it, can we?" Not only could Ashley not see this reunion actually happening tonight, but at this point she didn't even feel like going anymore.

"We have too many people coming to postpone, Ashley." T.J. interjected as he and Cassie walked in.

"He'll be here... try not to worry." Cassie said soothingly to her former partner in yellow. Ashley produced half a smile before turning away to sit down by the computer.

"It's been about four hours... I think I should call Jamie." Jason suddenly announced to the group.

Ashley nodded, "We'll be here."

Jason just stared down at his phone as he got up to leave. As he walked out of the room, T.J patted him on the back, "We're all in this together, man." Jason looked up from his phone and gave T.J. and then the rest of the Space Rangers a tired smile.

"Thanks." Was all he said before bringing his phone up to his ear and walking out of sight.

"You better answer, Jamie." He said quietly as he heard the phone ring.

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Still frozen in the moment, Jamie continued to stare at Kimberly Hart; the woman she knew her father had the most history with but never dreamed of meeting.

"Who are you?" Kim barked at Hayley.

"My name is Hayley, I am a long time friend of Tommy's."

"A long time friend, huh?" At this point Kim didn't know what to think.

Hayley sighed, looking down at her feet for a moment before looking back up to give Kim a response.

"Okay... Kim?" She began, "As I have said, my name is Hayley and yes I am a long time friend of Tommy's. I went to college with him and helped him design morphers for the Dino team that defeated Mesogog about eight years ago."

Kim let out a quick breath as she shook her head. She should have known about all of this already. 'He just couldn't stay away.' She thought before redirecting her attention to the young girl standing behind Hayley.

"And who are you?" She asked Jamie.

She stepped forward a bit and looked up at Hayley. Hayley returned the glance as Jamie wiped her nose with the sleeve of her hoodie. Her cheeks were still wet from crying. "I'm Jamie Oliver... Tommy's my dad."

Now Kim was just feeling like she was in some alternate universe. "...So you both knew who I was right away then?"

Hayley and Jamie both nodded their heads.

Kim's next question was more than obvious by the confused look she had, "So... where is Tommy then?"

They both looked away from Kim, making her feel very anxious.

"Oh God... he hasn't... he hasn't died, has he?" She quickly asked them, remembering hearing Jamie yell as she walked into Tommy's house.

"No Kimberly... he was taken from his lab about a week ago."