Kim Possible: A Woman's Sacrifice

AN: Sequel to A Hero's Sacrifice and A Lover's Sacrifice.

I.

Joss enjoyed a sip of her drink as she dined alfresco with a view of the university across the street. She idly played with a bit of her now blonde hair as she continued her discreet surveillance of the building. Joss actually didn't mind her hair being blonde, it was better than the green or blue wigs she sometimes used to keep her from being recognized. After all as far as Joss was concerned she wanted to the world to think she had disappeared. This applied doubly to Global Justice. Joss had to admit that those words often sounded like a four letter word in her mind any more.

The changing of her hair and eye color and different intervals were all part of her new life, the one that involved avoiding detection by the authorities such as Global Justice. Joss was sure that GJ would surely be interested in trying to track her down and interrogate her about the whole Ron incident. The young woman suppressed a shudder as the memory pop in to her mind. She would face those memories tonight as she often did, she didn't need to do so now.

Taking another sip from her Arnold Palmer, her Pa's favorite drink, Joss idly wished that she could turn the mixture of half tea and half lemonade in to a tincture. She knew that what she was doing was dangerous and little liquid courage would go a long way to steadying her nerves. Despite the risk she was taking Joss knew she had to do this one thing. If her information was correct then her surveillance would pay off and in a few more minutes she would see the person she was looking for, and if she was lucky he would be alone.

Since research was usually more his style than teaching, Joss was surprised when she had heard that her former boyfriend Wade Load had taken a teaching position at a local university, but then again this university was also on the opposite side of the country from Middleton. Joss couldn't help but to snicker just a little at the thought of how she was going to really shake up his day. But after a few seconds her grin turned in to a small frown. The last time they had spoken, over a year ago when he had walked out on Joss before one of her missions, well she had really shaken him up that day too.

She didn't used to like Arnold Palmers, but they were her Pa's favorite drink. The former hero sighed at the thought of her father and how she had for all intents and purposes ran away.

Before her last mission Joss had arranged for Jim and Tim to deliver a message to her Pa after she had began hiding from the authorities. It had been a short message saying that she was ok and that she was sorry for any grief to the family that her actions would cause. Since then she had not been in communication with any of her former friends or family. As far as they all knew Jocelyn Possible had simply disappeared from the face of the earth, and aside from what she was doing today, she wanted it to stay that way.

But before she could dwell on that thought any more she saw a familiar person walking across the street and in to the large administrative building of the university. Luck seemed to be on Joss' side as she noted that he was alone which would make things less awkward.

Ok Joss, you can do this. Just play it cool. She told her self as she slid a few folded dollar bills under her empty glass before she rose from her seat.

II.

After a short pit stop in the bathroom to help settle her nervous stomach, Joss casually walked up two flights of stairs and down a non-descript hallway until she found the room she was looking for. Taking a deep breath she gently rapped on the door before announcing herself.

"Professor Load, may I talk to you please?" She asked in a neutral sounding accent.

"Yes, after all these are my office hours." Wade said, "Please take a seat."

As Joss sat down she noticed that Wade was looking her over, as if he knew something wasn't right but couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"I don't recognize you from any of my classes."

"No, I'm not currently in one of your classes."

"Oh, were you hoping to transfer in to one of them?"

"Yes, I was hoping that you would accept me."

"Ok, I do have some opening in some of my classes Ms…, what did you say your name was?"

Joss sat there for a few seconds before reaching in to her pocket and pulling out a small key, the key that used to go to her apartment. She then stood up and placed the key on Wades desk before answering, "You know who I am."

Wade looked down at the key and picked it up to examine it. After a couple of seconds his eyes went wide at what he saw in front of him. Putting the key back down Wade brought his finger up to his mouth to indicate for Joss to not speak. He then reached in to his desk drawer and pulled out a small rectangular device that had two red lights on it. Wade pressed a button and after a few seconds the two lights turned green.

"We can talk now." Wade said as he shut the door to his office behind Joss. Then turning to face the woman he asked in a soft voice, "Joss, is it really you?"

"Yes Wade, it's me." Joss said with a smile.

Before she could say anything else though Joss found herself embraced in a hug by Wade.

"Joss, I heard about what happened to Ron. I was afraid for you. That "they" had maybe done something to you."

"You're not the only one who was afraid. Jim and Tim helped to make sure that Joss Possible has dropped off from the face of the earth." Joss said as she returned the hug.

After a few seconds Wade broke the embrace, much to Joss' disappointment, and stepped back to look at his former lover. He then continued speaking, "I had also heard that they are considered persona non grata with Global Justice and a few other three letter agencies."

"Yeah, I would imagine so. Even though I haven't spoken to them since I left I know they have no regrets about it though."

"That's what Possibles do, they look out for those they care about." Then after a pause he added, "Wish I had learned that earlier."

Joss cringed at his comment. She could understand why he carried that bit of self loathing but it didn't make seeing it any easier.

"It's ok Wade, we all make mistakes. But we can try to fix them too." Joss said as she placed a hand on Wade's shoulder.

Wade stood there for a moment staring at Joss before he took the woman's hand off of his shoulder and held it in his own.

"Trust me Joss; I would love nothing more than to be able to do that. But I'm afraid I can't."

The former hero looked at her former beau as she waited for what she knew was coming.

"I'm sorry Joss, but I'm in a relationship now. I can't just walk away from her like that." Wade explained as he gently let go of her hand.

"Like you did for me?" Joss asked bitterly.

"Yes, I did walk out on you. You didn't deserve that, and I'm sorry." Wade answered while lowering his head in shame at what he had to say next. "Emotionally I wasn't grownup enough to deal with the situation. So I bailed on you, on us."

"It's ok Wade, I don't blame you for that. I know how much it hurt you to have to watch me go on those missions." Joss said as she wrapped her arms around Wade to try to comfort him.

"Thank you Joss." Wade said as he enjoyed the embrace but made no effort to return it. "But I can't be that man for you. I'm in a steady relationship with a woman, one that I care about, and one I made a promise to be there through thick and thin."

Slowly releasing her embrace, Joss took a step back and looked at Wade. Although Wade had looked away Joss could see that he eyes had settled on a picture of a woman that sat on his desk. Joss had no idea who the woman was, but she had seen her and Wade walk hand in hand to the university on her previous surveillance. Joss was also able to take in all of Wade's facial features; even the conflicting emotions that were running across his face. Despite everything that had happened she could read him like a book.

Joss knew that Wade still felt guilty for what he had done to her, and had made a promise to himself to be a better man. Now here she was in front of him, tempting him to break that promise. That was not what Joss wanted to do. She still loved Wade, and always would, so she had to show him just how much she loved him.

"It's ok Wade. I understand. I'm happy that you're happy and I won't get in the way of that." Then as a tear began to run down her face Joss finished her monologue. "I'm just happy that we got to talk one more time, and to say good bye."

With that Jocelyn Possible turned and as she grabbed the door handle she heard Wade speak up.

"Joss wait, I…"

"Don't Wade." She cut him off. "Don't say anything, don't follow me, and don't look for me. Forget that Jocelyn Possible ever existed."

With out a further word Joss was through the door and out of Wade's life.

III.

A short time later Joss had made it back to her hotel room and sank to the floor as soon as the door was shut and began to cry. After several minutes she rushed straight to the bathroom to lose her lunch. Once she was done Joss moved over to the sink and splashed cold water on to her face. Water dripped down in to the sink from her head which was hung down in a defeated manner.

"As much as I hate to say it, I don't blame you for not wanting to stay with me last year Wade. And I hope you understand why I'm not upset about you not being with me now." Joss said as her eyes wandered to the edge of the sink were two pregnancy test sticks laid, each one with a solid plus sign on it.