Disney owns the characters, I'm just taking them for a test drive.

--

Anyone who looked at Ron Stoppable could tell he wasn't doing well. The so called "Stoppable Fortress of Immunity" had finally fallen to whatever viral scourge had been targeting his fellow Smarty Mart employees since late October. He ached. In fact, Ron hurt so bad that he swore he'd gone twelve rounds with Shego. He was perpetually cold, and he didn't even want to think about the disgusting mucus he'd been coughing up. Whatever he had, he had a really bad case of it. What Ron didn't have was the luxury of calling in sick. He was still covering for sick people, although in this case Ron was sure they weren't nearly as sick as he was. But he knew that getting someone to cover for him would be like pulling teeth, so he didn't even bother trying. So now Ron was almost a one man pet department, working fifteen hours a day, seven days a week, and to top it all off, was still hunting for a thief.

First there was a nanotronium power cell that was stolen from Omni-Tech, then a parabolic beam focusing mirror array was swiped from the Middleton Space Center. Wade couldn't be sure, but he suspected that the thefts of twenty sheets of light weight flexi-steel, a dozen reinforced support struts, and various other building and shielding materials were all related. "I'll get back to you when I know more," he told Ron. So now it was time to play the waiting game. While Ron waited, he worked.

He still didn't have wheels of his own yet. The heavy snows that had beset Middleton would have made riding a scooter to and from work a bad idea anyway, so he was still using his dad's car. Except today, that is. Dean Stoppable had to take the car in for a tune up, so he dropped Ron off at the store at 7:00 am, and would pick him up when Ron's shift was over at 10:30 pm. At least, that was the plan. It was now 11:15 pm, and Ron's dad still hadn't shown up yet. He called the house and got the answering machine. Ron would have called his dad's cell, but Dean thought cell phones were a fad; neither he nor Dana had one.

Ron looked down at Rufus, who was bundled up in Ron's pocket. "Well, buddy, looks like this is Dad's way of telling me that it will be our honor to walk."

"Brrrr. Too cold," Rufus squeaked.

"No choice, Rufus. No one's home and I don't have the Claude on me for cab fare." Ron pulled his coat tighter around himself, and headed off into the bleak cold of a Colorado December. "This so tanks more than anything in the history of tankage has ever tanked before," Ron grumbled.

--

The room was silent, except for the sound of the wind howling just outside. Kim Possible looked at her teammate Rick O'Shea with disgust. They had been on a cold weather training mission in the Sierra Nevadas. Omega 12 had been split into two teams; Kim and Rick on one, Lynn Corrigable and Miles Walker on the other. Rick had been put in charge of Kim's team. That was mistake number two. Mistake number one had been putting Kim on a team with Rick in the first place. Kim was there to learn and train; Rick, it seemed, was there to score with every woman at Fort Campbell; students and faculty alike. He was already on report for hitting on several female instructors.

Kim had to admit to being a little impressed. Rick had set up this cabin days in advance. It was fully stocked with enough food, water, and firewood for at least a week. He even made sure there was plenty of gas for the generator. The only thing it didn't have was warm, dry clothes. All this just to get me alone, she thought. Impressive in a gorchy and totally sick and wrong sort of way. They had been holed up in this pleasant prison since before nightfall. Kim's emergency beacon was activated, and she'd been in contact with the Global Justice base in the area, but the near blizzard conditions were delaying any rescue attempts. Kim was stuck there with Rick. Overnight. With only one bed. No, this is wrong-sick. Worse than DNAmy and Monkey Fist wrong-sick.

Rick had insisted that they didn't need their cold suits, special garments that were insulated, water proof, and self heating. He also insisted on ignoring the map and following his own trail. Kim went with him to make sure he didn't get himself killed. On cue, Rick fell through the thin ice on the edge of a frozen pond. Kim had to jump in and fish him out. Rick hadn't worn his cold suit and was in danger of freezing to death, but was still able to direct her to this particular cabin. Now he was sitting in front of the wood burning stove, wrapped in as thick a blanket as Kim could find and shivering violently. His drenched arctic camouflage uniform was hanging on a hook on the bathroom door.

Kim, on the other hand, was perfectly dry. Unlike her so called "team leader," she wore her cold suit; the freezing cold water never touched her skin or chilled her to the bone. No, the only icy cold thing about Kim Possible was the look she was giving Rick right now. He finally broke the silence. "I thought I told you that you didn't need that." He pointed at Kim's cold suit, which was also colored in arctic camouflage.

"Like I'm going to go out in the snow without protection. So not going to happen." Kim flopped into an easy chair by the stove. "You mind telling me exactly what the hell you were thinking? Like, how you knew that this cabin was here and that it had plenty of food."

"Lucky guess," Rick said in as macho a voice as a shivering man can muster.

"So not buying it. I know a set up when I see it, O'Shea." Kim rubbed her temples. She had gotten more headaches dealing with Rick these last five months than she had in all her nineteen years. "So what's the sitch? Or was this just some elaborate plot to get me alone and naked?" O'Shea flinched. "Looks like I answered my own question."

"It's an emergency cabin, okay? I saw it on one of the maps and went looking for it." This wasn't going anything like he had planned. Fall through the ice, find cabin, shed wet clothes, cuddle under blanket, get busy. Was that so difficult? But no, Kim just had to go and disobey his direct order and wear that damn cold suit! But still, if he could bag Kim Possible, well, the ramifications for his reputation were mind boggling! Too bad she refused to get with the program.

"People get really funny ideas about me," Kim said, almost to herself. "Some people take a look at the crop tops I used to wear and think I'm some kind of ravenous slut who'll jump anything with two legs and a pulse."

I'd love to see that, Rick thought.

"Then there are those people who think I'm some ultimate good girl who needs to be taught to let go of her inhibitions." She shot a death glare at Rick. "And there there people like you. What was it you told me I needed to do a couple weeks ago? Defrost? I guess getting the 'ice queen' to fall through the ice and then getting into her pants was some kind of too wrong for words attempt at poetic justice for you, wasn't it?" Kim leaned down and looked right into Rick's blue eyes. "Just because I won't cheat on my boyfriend doesn't make me an ice queen. Got that?"

"He'd never have to know, Kimmie," Rick, who was obviously incapable of quitting while he was ahead, sneered. "One trip around the world with me, and you'll forget all about that loser."

"He is NOT A LOSER!" Kim practically screamed. "Ron's more of a man than you'll ever be."

"Yeah right," Rick snorted. "I'll bet he's too wussy to go for second base."

Kim threw herself back into the chair. She really didn't want to be in any kind of close proximity to that shivering bundle if infuriating aggravation. "Not that it's any of your damn business, O'Shea, but Ron's been hitting home runs since our halfiversary." Technically, the week after when I got my memory back, but it's not like Rick needs to know that. "And you know what else? He made the first move. Still think he's a wuss?"

Rick's eyes were as big as hubcaps. He was convinced that Ice Queen Possible would never put out for anyone until he melted her defenses, but the loser beat him to it?

"Let's get something straight right now." Kim's voice was cold and laced with a need to cause Rick severe bodily harm. "I. Don't. Like you. Like I've said I don't know how many times, I have a boyfriend. And I love him more than anyone or anything else in the world. As a matter of fact, he's the only man I've EVER loved. He's stood by me nearly my whole life. He's faced his fears to help me on missions. He went into space to save me from alien invaders, and he," Kim fought to keep calm. "And he was willing to let me go so I could do this; so I could learn how to help people better. Even though he was passed over, like everyone always passes him over for everything because they're too STUPID to see how strong he really is! And he's waiting for me back in Middleton. Would you wait for your girlfriend if there was the possibility that she'd be gone for two years?" No answer. "That's what I thought."

"Now what?" Rick wasn't ready to let his plan go just yet. Maybe when she calmed down she'd be more receptive. After all, no one could resist the O'Shea Charm. "I mean, it's getting late. We should try to get some sleep." He couldn't keep the suggestive tone from his voice as he eyed the lone bed.

"Knock yourself out," Kim said offhandedly. "And I mean that literally. I think there's a cast iron skillet in the kitchen." Images of Ron brandishing said cooking utensil as a weapon danced in her mind. Or even better, turning the Lotus Blade into a frying pan and beating Rick senseless with it. A predatory grin crossed her lips. "As for me, I'm not sleeping. Someone needs to keep watch in case GJ can get through the storm. I've got first watch. Actually I've got all watches."

"You can't stay awake all night."

"Check my rep, O'Shea," Kim said with her usual flare. "I can do anything."

Rick got a little too excited. "Anything?"

"Including repeatedly shooting you down." Her tone again became hostile. "Remember, I know sixteen forms of Kung Fu. And I've learned some Tai Sheng Pek Kwar from the master." Thank you Ron for having my back even when you're not here. "If you come anywhere near me I swear I will so kick your ass into next year. Got that?" Rick only nodded as he slunk off to bed.

--

It was 12:30 in the morning when Ron dragged his tired, cold, and wet carcass through the Stoppable's front door. Normally he'd go into freak out mode when his parents pulled stunts like this, but not this time. He just didn't have it in him to freak, but he did want to give his 'rents a piece of his mind. His mom's car was in the driveway and the living room light was on, so he knew his time was now.

"Is that you, Ronnie?" He responded with a well timed coughing fit that nearly doubled him over and left a very disgusting wad of brown phlegm in his handkerchief. "Ronnie you don't look so good."

"Ya think?" He didn't even bother to keep the hostility out of his voice. Even Rufus, who had come out of the nest he'd built in Ron's pocket was chattering angrily. Ron looked like the walking dead. He was deathly pale with black circles under his eyes. Despite how cold he was, he was sweating profusely. "I suppose flaking on me was your way of telling me that you had something more important to do than pick your obviously sick son up from work, and thus making him walk home in a snowstorm!" Okay, so he was freaking a little, but he was entitled.

"Now, Ronald," his father said from the couch." I'm sure you could have gotten a ride from one of your friends at work, or have Wade set one up if you really needed one."

"If I really needed one? Do you people even hear yourselves?" Ron collapsed in a heap at the foot of the stairs. "Most of my friends at work were off ten hours ago and have to be in at like, six in the morning. Calling them would be almost as bad as all your 'this is our way of telling you' crap. As for the Wade thingie, I might need one of those favors for, I don't know, a real mission!"

"It's not my fault I had a last minute actuarial dinner tonight," Dean snapped. "As it was we had to take your sister with us!" It was the first time since the Mathter's lair that Ron had heard anger in his father's voice.

"A phone call, Dad! A simple phone call. But no! You don't have enough respect for me to do even that!" Ron fought to stand up and struggled up the stairs.

"Where are you going?" his mother demanded.

"To take a hot shower, to check bus schedules online since I obviously can't trust you for rides, and then I'm going to bed. I have an early day tomorrow. Good night!" With that he left his parents alone.

--

The weather had mercy on Kim and lightened up enough for a search team to reach the cabin. They had only been trapped there for about nine hours, but to Kim it felt like ninety years. Best of all, she would be able to get some sleep without Rick breathing down her neck. It was nearly dawn when Kim returned to her bunk after filing her full report on what happened; emphasis on FULL. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow. She would need her rest; she had a meeting with Agent Jaqueline Knife, who ran the survival training, at 1130 hours. After that it was back to Fort Campbell in Oregon where she would meet with Chief Agent Mann. Kim hoped that, after this fiasco, Rick O'Shea would finally be drummed out of Fast Track.

--

Ron woke up feeling like he was in a meat locker, despite the heavy blankets he was currently wrapped up in. After a few futile swipes at his nightstand, he finally got the alarm turned off. "Hey, Rufus," he croaked. "Get me the phone, would you? I don't think I'm going to work today. I don't care if they find someone to cover for me or not." Rufus was more than happy to comply. His person had been working way too hard and he needed a break. And some cheese. Cheese made everything better.

Fifteen minutes later Ron came downstairs looking like one the zombies he and Felix Renton would spend hours obliterating. Just as he guessed, his mom was already gone, leaving no cars in the driveway. How Ron rued the day the wheel cylinders in his dad's car went bad. A simple oil change and tune up turned into a whole lot of expensive work. Again, Ron went for the phone. He dreaded making this phone call, but he knew he had no choice. "Hey, Anne," he said when Kim's mom picked up the line. "I need a huge favor."

--

"Probation." The word festered in Kim's mind like an open sore.

"Bradley O'Shea has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to this program," Chief Agent Marcus Mann said. "As you know, our budget is tight as it is. You wouldn't believe the lengths I've had to go to just to get Fast Track off the ground! If Cadet Agent O'Shea goes, his father might take the money with him. And right now, we need it." Mann pulled his glasses off and set them on his desk. "Besides, Mr. O'Shea is the CEO of Omni-Tech, and they designed almost all of our gear. The cold suit that saved you from freezing to death was one of their toys. You should be grateful."

"This is so wrong, sir," Kim hissed. "He's been harassing almost every woman here. He risked his life and mine just to try to seduce me."

"I know, Cadet Agent Possible," Mann sighed. "If he trips up one more time, he's out. But not before."

Kim was fuming. "Permission to speak freely?" Mann nodded his consent. "If it was me, or anyone else whose father wasn't a contributor or a contractor, we'd have been out of here a long time ago. I doubt there would be this kind of drama if my dad threatened to pull the plug on Middleton Space Center's contract to build and launch your communications satellites. This is such favoritism."

"That will be all, Possible. Dismissed."

Kim couldn't keep from mentally ranting the entire walk back to her dorm. Out of the corner of her eye she saw an African American man who was a head taller than she was coming towards her. "Hey, Kim! Hold up."

"Not now, Miles," she said to Miles Walker, another Omega 12 teammate and, unfortunately for him, Rick O'Shea's roommate. "I have a video call with my parents in like, ten minutes."

"No worries," he said in an even tone. "I'll keep it short. Look, if I knew what he was planning-"

Kim held up her hand. "I don't blame you, Miles. I know you would have warned me."

"Damn right," he said proudly. "I'm no Ron Stoppable, but I do have your back. So does Lynn." He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Don't mess with Omega 12."

"Cause we'll mess you up right back," she said, finishing their team's unofficial motto. There was something about Miles Walker that made it impossible to stay mad.

"Go talk to your folks, Kim. I'll see you tomorrow morning in the mess hall for breakfast."

Kim was in a much better mood when she got to her dorm. Lynn Corrigable had turned on Kim's computer and made sure the connections were up before Kim even got there. She even left without her usual banter. The look on Anne Posible's face when Kim sat down threatened to shatter that mood.

"Mom, what is it?"

"It's Ron, honey," Anne said. "He's in the hospital."