Chapter 4

[UMC—Kim's Room—thirty minutes later

After having made sure everyone in the Oncology ward was okay, Dr. Angie Dubois made her way upstairs to Room 1005 and knocked on the door. "Kimberly?"

"Yes?" Kim asked while opening her eyes. As she did, she saw the other woman and felt the guilt again. "Wow…..I…." She sighed. "I'm sorry."

While she wanted to release her anger on the teen, Angie only felt compassion. She was trying to do the right thing. "At least you're alive, Kimberly. Your parents are glad of that. And maybe you saw what my husband was getting at?"

Kim nodded. "I did. And the demon samurai guy with Monkey Fist—that's Yodoshi?"

"From what I heard later from Miranda and the others, yes," the oncologist noted.

"Your husband was there too though. He was weird again," the teen pointed out.

"The Child ranted about you as well. Kimberly, you really need to be more careful when you're fighting. I will admit that I'm still angry about my grandfather's death. However, venting on you isn't going to solve anything. Just promise me you'll be more watchful during a fight in the future," Angie replied.

"I will," Kim vowed solemnly. "I guess I should've taken the offer more seriously last year. It's just that….when he goes all dark like that, Dr. Dubois' scary. How do you deal with that?"

"When I was your age, I couldn't. There was about a three year span where we didn't talk at all." Angie sat down next to the bed. "You saw what he's dealt with all of his life. That's why he's the way he is. But he isn't always like that." She smiled. "You know, he's a poet and a great cook too? He is the most loving husband and partner a girl could want." She held up her wedding ring for emphasis. "So I deal with a few issues. He's done the same for me. We love each other and our daughters. That's what counts for me. On another note, how's everything in Oregon?" Angie inquired.

"Okay I guess. It wasn't what I expected." Kim frowned. "But it was kind of what you and Professor Dubois mentioned…about the attitudes and such."

"College is never the adventure we expect. We learn a lot outside of class as well as inside. Look, Kimberly…." Angie started.

"Sorry, Dr. Dubois, can you call me 'Kim' please?" Kim requested.

"Sure, Kim. That's okay. I was going to say that I'm sure the invite to come down here would still be open. Give us some time to deal with our situation, all right? I'll talk with your parents when they get here. You rest up. It's going to be okay." Angie got up. "I was going to check on your boyfriend. I'll be back when your folks get here." With that, she turned to leave.

"Dr. Dubois?"

"Yes, Kim?"

"Thanks."

"My pleasure. Try and get some sleep. It's going to be okay," Angie assured her before leaving Kim to her thoughts.

Chapter 5 [UMC—Several hours later

Feeling tired of being stuck in the room, Kim pried Ron's location out of Wade. Making sure the coast was clear, she made her way to the elevator and pressed the down button. "Best make sure he's okay."

She waited for the car to descend the one floor. Then she walked past several people heading for her boyfriend's room.

To say there was a drama developing would be quite the understatement…..

[Ron's Room—five minutes earlier

Meantime, Yori sat with Ron while the latter ate his dinner. With how everything else was working out, she wanted to make sure that his strength returned. "How is your dinner, Stoppable-San?"

"I'd rather have Bueno Nacho but hey, having a lovely lady around makes the meal go down great!" he cheered. For her sake, he ate the hospital food with a brave face despite its stale taste.

"Oh, Stoppable-San! You and the American style flirting!" She blushed in spite of herself. "I am glad your strength is returning." She kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you though."

He felt an anxious tremor go through himself. "Aw, it was nothing. I….."

"RON STOPPABLE, WHAT IS THE SITCH???"

Both people turned to see a very angry Kim glaring at them from the doorway.

He ground his teeth, knowing that the newcomer could—and was probably in the mood to—extend his hospital stay. "Uh, KP, this isn't….."

"Possible-San, what is wrong? I do not understand," Yori noted.

"You're coming onto my BOYFRIEND! That's what!" Kim growled.

"Whoa! Whoa! Hey, KP!" he interjected while pulling himself out of the bed. "Hey, Yori's been looking in on me. Docs said you had a concussion. Sure you should be out of bed?"

Despite the fact that her head was hurting, she frowned. "Ron, stay out of this!"

Yori frowned. "Stop this. As much as I would like to be with him, Stoppable-San is your companion. To make further inference would render this a matter of honor. Do not force me to pursue that course."

"Yeah right. I'll just bet that's the sitch," Kim doubted.

"I was going to talk with you both before we left," Yori explained.

"We? Yeah I'll bet there's something big going on back at the school. He's not going without me," the American girl insisted.

"Uh, KP, Sensei insists that it just be Yori, Miranda, one of her classmates and me that go." He shot her a sad look. "I asked that you come too but he said no."

"Made that one too, didn't you?" Kim supposed sarcastically.

Yori's eyes narrowed at her rival. She could endure the other's comments to a point when it came to herself. However, nobody insulted Sensei to her face. "I…will give you one more chance, Kim Possible. Withdraw the comment or I cannot be responsible for what happens next."

"Hey! Ladies, stop it!" He tried to step between them but slid on the floor and fell on his rear end. "Ow! Cut it out!" He pulled himself up on the bed's footboard. "Kim, you're being way outta line!" Seeing his girlfriend's angry face not softening any, he shook his head. "You don't trust me! That's it, isn't it?"

"Not with her, I don't!" Kim snapped back while leaning up against the wall to try and alleviate the pressure building in her head.

He sat down on his bed, feeling crestfallen. "I thought we had something. KP, I've stuck by you through everything! EVERYTHING! Now you're erupting all over Yori because you're jealing? You don't trust me alone! You never do!"

"As I've done with you! We're a team, Ron!"

He shook his head. "Part of being a team, Kim, is trusting each other! The reason we're here is because you WOULDN'T TRUST YORI'S WARNING! She is our friend! She wants my help! That's why she's here." He took a sip from his glass and bowed his head. "Besides I can't be your clown full time anymore!"

"Ron, you aren't my clown!" Kim protested. "I…care about you. You act that way and I put up with it."

"Put up with it? Kim, you know how it feels to be called 'the Buffoon' on every mission? You call me the 'Distraction'! I have the mystical monkey power which I've been afraid to use. You know why? Because I'm afraid of how you'd feel! That's why." He took a deep breath. "I love you, Kim, but if you can't trust me or let me use this cool stuff that I have, then maybe…well…." He let his voice drop off, creating an ominous silence.

"Miss Possible, please," Ron's doctor interjected as she and a colleague entered the room. "Let's go back to your room now."

Kim shook her head at the blonde woman. "I'm having a talk with my boyfriend. If you want to stand right there, I'll be done in a minute."

"I could call security," the blonde doctor informed Kim curtly. "I think you both have 'talked' enough. The whole wing can hear you."

Not wanting to confront both security and Yori both, she relented, "Fine!" Her eyes narrowed. "Nothing had better happen to him!"

"I would never let him be harmed," the ninja retorted angrily but maintaining an even icy tone. "Trust in that, Possible-San. Please go with them."

Kim glanced back at her boyfriend once again before leaving the room with the two doctors.

Yori closed the door and took a deep breath. "I am sorry, Stoppable-San. I did not realize…."

"It's not your fault, Yori," he assured her. "Kim needs to learn to trust me more. I meant what I said before about not using my monkey powers."

"To survive on our mission, you will need to do so. Sensei is depending upon you and so am I," she emphasized. "We have both seen what Yodoshi can do. As such, we will need to be at full strength for what awaits us. And, for what it's worth, I do trust you."

"I know, Yori. Thanks. Hey, umm…can you sneak me in one of those coffees from across the street? I really could use one," he requested.

"It will be my pleasure to do so. I shall return shortly. And I am truly sorry to be the cause of discord between you both," she concluded before leaving.

He flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Why doesn't Kim trust me? Can I trust myself though around Yori? He felt doubt about everything.

A feeling of numbness crept across his scalp.

Now what? He rubbed his head, making that feeling go away. I need to be sharp for everyone's sake! Is it so bad to ask someone to trust me? I got these powers for a reason. If I can't help people with them, then why have them? Yori's not afraid of them like KP is. Man, this sucks! Why can't KP accept me for what I am? WHY?