Damn it; why wasn't Mom answering her phone? Kim had just been thrust into a life or death struggle the likes of which she…she couldn't comprehend and…and Mom couldn't be bothered to pick up a ringing phone? Just where was this conference she was at anyway? After the umpteenth message, Kim wrote Mom off for the moment and dialed Aunt Amy. Maybe Aunt Amy could have the hotel page Mom or get word to her or…SOMETHING!

"Buried Treasure Antiques."

"Aunt Amy," Kim gasped in relief, a little louder than she intended.

"Kimmie? What is it? What's wrong?"

They were about two minutes from Ron's house so she'd have to be brief. "Please listen; there isn't much time. There's…another Grimm in Middleton and…and I'm positive that they've been following Ron and I…and I think Ron's in trouble. Mom's not answering her phone. Is…there any way that you can get a hold of the hotel? I," Kim's breath caught in her throat. "I need her help."

"I'll call the hotel and have her paged," Aunt Amy breathed. "Kim…where are you?"

"I'm with Detective Brody going to check on Ron."

"Please hand the phone to the Detective."

Kim did as instructed and began reassuringly grasping the batons she'd managed to scrounge from the car. They were a far cry from her kukris or her kanabo but…at this point she was grateful for anything.

"She's holding back on me Mack. What's the situation?"

"As bad as could be when it involves a Grimm," Mack sighed, eyes focused on the road. "We've got three bodies in the morgue with…with the Staubestunde."

"Have you…notified the public yet?"

"Not yet," Mack replied. "Amy, the best thing you can do is to get Anne back here ASAP. I'll keep an eye on Kim until then."

Kim caught the phone as it was pitched in her direction, pocketing it and returning to her internal musings. Ron was going to be fine. Ron was going to be fine and when Kim got her hands on whoever was behind this, she was going to whoop them so hard that their descendants would feel it. This was her first time taking on a mission without Mom but that wouldn't slow her down.

After what seemed like a millennia, the car approached the home of one Ronald Stoppable, a police car parked around the corner and its driver waiting outside. Okay…so what was the sitch? For all intents and purposes, Kim was going up against her mother so she had to be at the top of her game. How would Mom assess the situation? From this side, all the windows were intact, no external damage to the house. Whipping out her phone, she keyed up Ron. The phone rang…and rang…and rang.

"Kim," Detective Brody nodded towards the front.

Kim's eyes darted up. The windows were all intact…but the front door had been quite literally knocked off its hinges. And now Ron wasn't answering his phone. This was getting worse by the second. She had to get to Ron! She'd leap out of the car the moment it stopped and…darn it; she had to get a grip! She loved Ron with all her heart but she wouldn't be any good to him if she couldn't get a grip on herself. This could easily be a trap. The other Grimm could be waiting just inside the door to jump her, just like a Mauvais Dentes with its prey.

"You see anything Charlie?" Detective Brody asked the deputy as the pair got out of the car.

"Not a thing Detective but I've only been here about a minute," He replied, approaching them. "You want to tell me what the ME's kid is doing here?"

"She's a Grimm too," Detective Brody barked. She hefted the gun case out of the trunk, a 12-gauge shotgun and began loading shells. "I'll take point. Charlie, you take the rear, and Kim, you stay between us. Where's this room you sent your boyfriend to?"

"Their…their junk room," Kim breathed, doing her best to rein in her thoughts. "Back of the house in the left corner. I think Ron's parents said it used to be a panic room."

That Kim could see, there were two positions that offered a good field of fire if the other Grimm was waiting to jump them when they left but none of the other houses showed any signs of a break in. Kim fell in behind Detective Brody and the trio made their insertion into the house. Talk about creepy. Other than the destroyed door, there wasn't anything out of place.

Kim could hear Detective Brody sniffing the air. "She was here. No doubt about it."

"She?" Kim asked.

"A woman," Detective Brody replied. "No doubt about it."

So the Ende Der Zeiten Grimm was a woman? At least that was something. Kim was seriously getting worried though. This felt a lot like being on the set of a psycho killer movie. Now that she thought about it…this WAS a psycho killer that they were pursuing.

Without warning, Kim's cell phone rang, making everyone jump. She immediately recognized the tone as "Cotton Eyed Joe", Ron's favorite song. Practically ripping her cell off her belt, Kim immediately accepted the call.

"RON? Are you okay?"

"If I'd gotten there a moment sooner, the Mannschafte Falke would be under my knife as we speak!"

Kim's blood turned to ice. The voice, totally unfamiliar to her was like a knife to her heart. The Grimm had Ron's cell phone and…wait… "been there a moment sooner"? She…she'd been here…but Ron had been too quick…she bolted past Detective Brody and made a bee line for the room. Rounding a corner, Kim could see that the door had been carved into by something but there wasn't anywhere where someone could've squeeze through.

"The…the Fearless Ferret will rise again!" Kim belted out, hammering on the door.

"Kim?" A brown eye appeared in one of the holes.

Kim's heart threated to burst out of her chest. She'd said it before but those brown eyes were the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. With a loud grunt, whatever was blocking the door was pushed aside and the image of her much weary boyfriend replaced it.

"I love you," Kim breathed, wrapping her arms around the approaching boy. "I love you more than anything!"

There was a muffled cry from between them, prompting Kim to remember who she had on the line. Detective Brody and her deputy quickly rounded the corner and stared at the phone. Putting the cell on speaker, Kim took the call once again.

"Who…who are you?"

"I'm who you should be," The female voice barked. "Alle Wesen müssen Sterben! All Wesen must Die! That's been the code of our ancestors for centuries. And you…you willingly have…relations with a…" She sounded like the mere act of saying that word caused her pain. "You have…you are WITH one! You are a traitor to your kind…just like your bitch of a Mother!"

Kim's hand tightened on the phone. Now that Kim knew that Ron was safe, her nerves had begun settling down. This homicidal lunatic was going to speak like that about Mom? If this wack job had been in front of her right then she'd have gotten both batons to the face.

"Mighty big talk," Kim spat back. "I'm through being polite so I'll ask again. Who are you and what the Hell do you want from me?"

There was a long pause. Kim hadn't said much; had she really expected Kim to be such a doe-eyed milksop that she wouldn't stand up for herself. "I want you!"

"Well first, I don't swing that way thank you very much…and SECOND, as you've seen from your creepy stalking of a 17 year old girl, I have a boyfriend!"

Score one for her! She wasn't sure but she thought she heard spluttering. For a supposedly supremely evil and ruthless figure, this one was surprisingly easy to manipulate.

"I want to take you away from here," The mystery woman growled. "You're young enough that this…sickness…can be cured…as can that mouth of yours. And the Order are just the ones to do it!"

"Hmmm, go with a murderous psycho who just tried to kill my BOYFRIEND," She put as much emphasis on that word as possible, "To some unknown location where there's a bunch of other murderous psychos waiting to do what I can only assume are some rather unpleasant things to me…or spend the evening necking with my BOYFRIEND? Awfully tempting but no freaking way!"

"Quod pretium est vita?"

"Come again?"

"That's awfully heartless of you to refuse…because I am not leaving without you," She hissed. "From birth, I've been trained in the proper methods of dispatching and ridding this sacred Earth of Wesen. When I see a Wesen, I wait for the opportune moment and I strike, without mercy, without remorse, regardless of the cost, exactly as a Grimm should. Quod pretium est vita is Latin. What price is Life? I have evaded police in twenty cities in five countries. Those three Wesen in your morgue? Those are just the ones that your police force has managed to find. As a show of good faith, I will cease my work for two hours, two hours without a drop of Wesen blood shed by my hand. I want you to come to Middleton Commons. From there, you will travel with me to our compound outside of Marseilles. And there was shall see if your madness can be cured. But…if you refuse, if by eight o'clock this evening you are not standing before me, then my crusade shall continue. I will kill the first Wesen I see and will keep killing until the streets of your city run crimson with the blood of every piece of Wesen filth in this city, men, women, and children alike. And I swear to you that they will NOT die well. They will suffer pain beyond their wildest imaginations…and each and every one of them will curse your name with their last gasping breath. How much death can you bear on your conscience…when all you have to do to prevent it is to come with me? You have two hours…beginning now!"

…CLICK…

Kim had been building up another snappy retort but the words died in her throat. She felt like she'd just been dunked in a tub of ice water and slapped repeatedly. More than that, she felt absolutely sick to her stomach. That high she'd been riding at seeing Ron safe was gone. Three people…three people had died…because of her. How many more had died? How many more WOULD die? She…she COULDN'T! There was no doubt in her mind what she had to do; she'd go! If she went…then Ron, Aunt Amy, Detective Brody, Tara, Monique, Mindy Hoffman…everyone was safe. If she went, she could keep the focus on her. She could resist whatever they threw at her, even escape. As long as she could get this psychopath out of Middleton, out of the country, she could count this as a victory.

"Kim…Kim, you CAN'T listen to her I've been in situations like this before and…"

Maybe Detective Brody was still unnerved by the fact that there actually was an Ende Der Zeiten Grimm in Middleton. Maybe she didn't think Kim had it in her. Either way, she didn't see the blow coming, sending her to the carpet in a collapsed heap. The deputy had about two seconds to react that had he been prepared, he would've capitalized on…but a split second later, he joined Detective Brody on the floor. Seeing as how she'd just assaulted two police officers, if she ever got out of this alive, she was probably going to regret that. Hopefully neither of them were ones to hold a grudge.

"KP…" Ron sputtered, kneeing down beside the now unconscious police officers. "Please tell me…tell me you're not going to do what I think you're doing, are you?"

"I need the keys to your scooter," Kim replied evenly.

"Kim…are you fucking CRAZY!? That's an Ende Der Zeiten Grimm out there! You have no idea…"

"Damn it Ron," Kim cried, turning her now tear strewn face on her boyfriend. "Don't you dare! You think I don't know what she is? She's the one who wants to kill you, who wants to…sniff…kill everyone I care about! She's a demon from your nightmares but if I let her follow through…" Kim shuddered as a tear rolled down her cheek. "If even one Wesen dies because of me…she's declaring War! I am not going to let one Wesen die because of me!"

As if in a trance, Ron dug out his keys and held them out on a trembling hand. Kim reached out her hand to grab them…and paused as they touched. For the briefest of instants, their troubles ceased to be. Green eyes locked with brown and in one swift motion, Ron pulled his girlfriend into a tight embrace. In that embrace, Kim felt everything that they were, all of the emotional support that Ron could muster.

"I will find you," Ron gasped. "I swear with everything that I have. There is nowhere they can hide you where I won't find you!"

"When…when I leave, take Detective Brody and the deputy to Aunt Amy's. If…if we're lucky, the Laufer can help."

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

"Would Anne Possible please come to the front desk?"

Anne had been listening so intently to the Miami PD Medical Examiner presenting her findings on how a killer's choice of weapon was an indication of his psyche that she hadn't even heard the announcement over the PA system. A nudge to her ribs by Gabby was enough to pull her out of her own little world. What was the hotel front desk doing paging her? Excusing herself down the aisle, Anne pulled out her cell phone. Well, that explained a small part of it. The conference center must be a dead zone for cell service. Odd though; her phone wasn't even reading the hotel wireless signal. Something…something felt a little hinky as Kim put it, not quite bad, just…hinky.

The desk clerk greeted her with a cheery smile. "May I help you?"

"Yes; I'm Anne Possible. You paged me?"

"Oh yes; you've got a phone fall," She handed Anne the front desk receiver. "I believe she said that her name was Amy Pritchard and that it was urgent that you call her."

Crap; all of a sudden Anne got a lump in her throat. What had happened? One of the kids get hurt? Or James? Anne brought the receiver to her ear. "Amy, what's wrong?"

"Oh thank God!" Amy sounded out of breath. "Kim's been trying to reach you. We need you back in Middleton NOW!"

"Amy…what's going on?"

There was a long pause. The lump in Anne's throat was growing. Thirty years of having to be on constant guard had taught Anne how to recognize certain signs. "Anne…there are three bodies in the morgue who…who have been branded with the Staubestunde."

Anne's grip tightened on the receiver. This…this was bad! Having an unidentified Grimm in a city like Middleton was complicated enough but…Anne had never felt such a longing for a weapon in her hands, anything to give her a sense of security. Those were her friends and neighbors…and they were facing the biggest risk of their lives.

"Anne? Anne?"

She blinked as she was temporarily able to banish the thoughts going through her head. The conference thankfully ended tomorrow morning so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for her to leave early. "I'll leave immediately."

"Anne…there's more. We think…that is Kim thinks that…that the Ende Der Zeiten's been following Kim and Ron."

In the blink of an eye, the lump in Anne's throat became a knife to her heart. Kim was…and Ron…an Ende Der Zeiten was watching…she had to get back to Middleton! Anne had been so supportive of the two and their relationship but if an Ende Der Zeiten had discovered them…? She handed the phone back to the clerk and barked an order to begin checking her out of her room. Without another word, she turned back towards the elevators to her room. She needed a way back to Middleton and fast. Booking a flight would take too much time…damn it; her only choice was to drive and that was almost a six hour trip if she obeyed the speed limits. A few moments later, Anne had slung her duffle on her back and felt slightly more secure with throwing knives strapped to her arms and chest. Bypassing the elevators and taking the stairs down to the parking structure, Anne emerged to the row of cars. Anne's eyes began searching for her car. Her footsteps echoed through the deserted building like some kind of old detective movie Anne didn't know if it was her paranoia but she felt like she was being watched. She spotted James' Ford 500 and…

…clack…clack…

She WAS being followed! Well whoever it was picked the wrong day to mess with her! She'd been in this situation dozens of times before. The key was to act natural. Popping the trunk, she tossed the duffle into the trunk, using the motion to discretely unsheathe one of her throwing knives. She'd lure this one in close.

…clack…clack…

The footfalls were getting closer now…closer…closer. Keeping her eyes away from the approaching target, she unlocked and opened the car door…and quickly used that motion to spin around, bringing the throwing knife into position, ready to press down.

"Anne…put down the knife. I mean you no harm."

After the initial shock and her adrenaline had subsided, Anne was able to recognize the calm and controlled face of Sean Renard. That was remarkable! With just the slightest flick of her wrist, Anne could've sliced his neck and this man didn't even bat an eyelash.

"What are you doing here Captain Renard?"

"I take it by the knife that you're aware of Middleton's newest tourist?"

What…how did this man…Anne kept her blade steady, never wavering, not in the mood she was in. Nick HAD spoken very highly of Renard but had also cautioned that he was a man with his own agenda and wasn't above using others for his own gains. "No bull shit Sean; you've got approximately two seconds to tell me what you've got going on here!"

Anne's eyes were glued to his face, her ears searching for anyone else. I got word from a contact late last night. The Venetian Royal House has contracted a hit on me, why I don't know for sure…yet. The assassin's name is Adrianna Lynne and she landed in Middleton three days ago."

Keeping her knife steady, she studied his face. She never learned if it was a skill inherited from her Grimm lineage, like every Grimm's talent for sketching, or not, but for as long as Anne could remember, if she really focused, she could read most people, Wesen and human alike, like a book. It always took a great deal of concentration but it had proved useful on more than one occasion in her life…and Sean didn't seem to be lying about anything. She was too on edge to relax completely but…she was safe to at least lower the knife. "Why are you here Sean?"

"Well for the moment, you and I have a common enemy I can tell you care about the people, both Wesen and human, of your community and I have a deeply vested interest in continuing to be a thorn in the Royals' side. I presume you're enroot back to Middleton?" Anne gave the slightest of nods. "I'm not going to wait around for them to come to me," Sean calmly replied. "I have a private plane that is fueled and ready to go. It can have us on the other side of the state in less than two hours."

He would've HAD to have said that, the one thing Anne couldn't turn down at this point. She had no choice. It might cost her down the road but…she'd have to trust Sean. Heaving a sigh, she popped the trunk and motioned for Sean to stow the bag that she'd just noticed. She effortlessly sheathed the knife, never taking her eyes off her newfound compatriot. "I don't know what your game is Sean…but if you screw with me, your 'crusade', no matter how noble it might be, is over. I'll make sure of that."

"Understood."

The pair piled into the car and Anne turned in the instructed direction. The silence was utterly deafening. Anne…Anne couldn't get Kim and Ron out of her mind and…and she had no idea what would be going through the head of someone like Sean Renard right now. If somebody really was trying to kill him, he seemed remarkably calm. He looked as if he'd simply found out he had an overdue library book.

"Anne…I don't know what you might have heard through Nick or other agents of the Laufer but I'm not your enemy."

Well…awkward conversation had to be better than silence, even if it was a conversation like this. "You're a master puppeteer, pulling the strings of anyone who can help you further your cause. The cause may be noble and good. You never sacrifice anyone needlessly…but people still don't like to be jerked around and used as chess pawns, my cousin included."

Sean let out a small sigh. "Yes, I've made my fair share of mistakes, especially concerning Nick. Being a Grimm aside, he's hands down my most trustworthy Detective, someone with a bright future ahead of him. My mother always told me that the one who learns from his mistakes is the one who stays alive. I can't speak for whether or not Nick trusts me yet but I can say that I trust him with my life. But if I may, this whole situation seems more…personal than just an Ende Der Zeiten Grimm in your home town."

He was perceptive. Anne would give him that. He might be attempting to tie a string to her…but until she was sure, trust was a two-way street. She could use him as well…but how much to tell him? "My teenage daughter Kim is close friends with many Wesen teenagers at the school, several of which are like surrogate children to me." Anne dearly hoped that Kim and Ron's relationship developed into something more…but young though they were, if it DID develop likely after college if she and James raised Kim right, intellectually Anne wasn't unaware of the ramifications of a half Grimm-half Wesen child. That she knew of, that was unheard of. But until she could be absolutely sure of Sean's intentions, it was likely best to keep Kim and Ron's relationship to herself. "I'd die if any harm came to them…but I don't want my daughter rushing into a hornet's nest in an attempt to save them if they're in trouble."

"Is your daughter a Grimm too?"

"Yes," She could give him this. Sean would have to go through Anne herself to get to Kim so…there likely wasn't a risk. "She developed her powers about a year and a half ago, relatively late for a female Grimm."

"And the Wesen community has never had a problem with you? I mean, Middleton is about as liberal is it can get but…"

"I never gave them a reason to," Anne replied crisply. "My husband grew up in Middleton, me in Illinois. Going to Middleton University was kind of a 'screw you' to my mother. But Kim and her brothers grew up there. The Wesen there are good people…who certainly don't deserve this trial the town is being put through."

There wasn't much more conversation as Anne weaved and darted through the streets of Philadelphia taking the occasional direction from Sean. Eventually they arrived at what appeared to be a private section of Philadelphia International Airport. Nearly every aircraft seemed to be a Lear or some other kind of craft marketed to those with a little extra cash to throw around. There were guards posted, likely packing enough fire power to fight a small war. Spotting Sean in the passenger seat, they just waved them directly to the waiting plane. Was this an airport or a bunker?

"The Wesen Council lent me access to this plane as thanks for aide I gave a few weeks back," Sean must've seen her eyes darting back and forth. The plane's fueled and ready; just waiting for us."

The pair grabbed their bags from the trunk. One of the guards stepped up, offering to drive Anne's car the six hours back to Middleton to their residence. Still feeling a little compelled towards caution, she gave the driver the address of the Middleton Police Department. True to Sean's word, within minutes of boarding, they were airborne and heading west. Anne was seated in a comfey chair next to the window, watching the failing light bathing the countryside of her adopted state in an orange glow. She needed to keep her head clear…but damn if she couldn't use a drink right now.

Without warning, Anne's phone gave a violent series of vibrations, the cascade of all the missed calls and messages that had been cut off. She never did figure out what it was that cut off their phones. It was entirely calls from Mack and Kim filling her in on what was going on back in Middleton and pleading for her to come home as soon as she could. Anne felt a punch to the gut as Kim's message informed her that the Ende Der Zieten might be making a move for Ron. But…Kim was with Mack. Mack would take care of her. She'd keep her out of trouble! That last message was…Anne looked at her watch. It was six o'clock. That put the message at a little more than an hour ago. She needed to contact Kim! Ending the message, Anne had been about to dial Kim when…Kim was dialing her?

"Kim?"

"Mom," Oh God…Anne could tell by Kim's voice that it was bad. "Ron…Ron's safe but…"

"Kim, listen to me. I'm in the air and…"

"She said that if I don't go with her in twenty minutes, she…she'll kill every Wesen that she sees." This was worse than Anne could've imagined. Kim was actually going…and Anne was still…this…this couldn't…couldn't be happening! "She wants a war…so I'm going to give her one. I can't let her go through with her plans. I…I love you so much. Tell Dad…and even the tweebs that I love them."

"Kim, we'll be on there soon. Please don't do any…"

…CLICK…

Anne's blood turned to ice. Twenty minutes and…and they were still at least…twice that away. They had to go faster, push the jet to its limits.

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

…Tara…

…Monique…

…Ron…

…Aunty Amy…

As Kim drove through the city she called home, she kept repeating the names in her mind. She was going this for them! She was doing this for every innocent Wesen child that had or ever would set foot in Middleton, PA. She would get the Ende Der Zeiten Grimm out of Middleton and then…okay, she didn't know EXACTLY what she would do just yet. Sabotage the plane, make a break for it the moment they landed? That raised yet another question of exactly where they were headed. The Grimm had said that their "compound" was outside of Marseilles. Her high school French was coming along but…in a city of 1.5 million people, she'd stand out like a sore thumb.

It doesn't matter. Nothing else matters but getting this psycho OUT of Middleton, Kim reminded herself. Then…then you go down fighting Possible. You fight to the last breath, like Gustav II did…like Mom would. If this crazy bitch wants a war, you GIVE her one!

Her grip tightened on the scooter's handlebars. She WOULD give them a war. She was supremely glad she'd purchased the kantas from Andre. Before Mom had left, she and Kim had really worked at it and those little beauties were near impossible to find even if you frisked the target. Like Mom always told her, "Leave two knives for them to find and one for them not to find." If she was lucky, the kantas and the other surprises she'd hidden in her knapsack would go unnoticed. But she'd need ALL of the advice Mom had given her, all of the training that she'd undergone, to pull this off.

Even going 40 mph through town, the journey seemed like an eternity. Who'd have thought that time could crawl by so slowly? But inevitably, like a nail to a magnet, Kim arrived at Middleton Commons Park. Now…where was this mystery woman? She still hadn't told Kim who she was. On an impulse, Kim checked her watch. Ten minutes in change; at least she wasn't late. But where was the? This was where she, Mom, Monroe, and Detective Brody had taken on a pack of Klaustreichs a few months prior. Kim had to think; Detective Brody had said that the pavilion was the focal point, providing three main lines of fire.

"I'm HERE," Kim barked out. "I've come alone. Where are you?"

Movement! Her ears detected movement…BEHIND HER! She quickly unsheathed her kukri. With a loud clang, steel rang on steel…and there she was!

"Reflexes are quite good," She looked to be a little older than Kim herself, maybe just out of college. Blonde hair cut short, but what really caught Kim's attention was the eyes. Unless she was very much mistaken, they were nearly completely onyx black. She was clad entirely in black…it was a miracle that Kim was even able to block the blow. "I see that you made the wise decision."

Was it madness or simple arrogance? Either way, the words brought Kim's hackles up. Kim kept her blade steady, refusing to give an inch. "I go with you and we leave Middleton immediately. That's the agreement, correct?"

"By the blood of my ancestors, we leave immediately," She nodded, sheathing her blade and holding out her empty hand for Kim's kukri. "However, under the circumstances, I must insist on that splendid kukri," Kim sheathed her own blade, removed the sheath and handed it over. Now…now was the test. "And I'll have that exquisite Nordic dagger sheathed on your leg." She seemed to buy the mock look of resignation as Kim unstrapped the knife and handed it over as well. Kim held out her arms and slowly spun around like a top, giving her opponent a panoramic view. "Now, until we are in the air, bound for your new home, I'm afraid I must restrain you," That…that was a good sign…wasn't it? Kim was so jubilant at her kantas remaining hidden that she almost feared that she was too eager in offering her wrists. The Grimm slapped a pair of police issue handcuffs on Kim and spun her around, marching her to the other side of the park. The far parking lot proved to only have a single vehicle, a black newer model Chevy Tahoe. The pair halted at the vehicle, the still unknown Grimm unsnapping Kim's knapsack and pitching it inside.

"You still haven't told me who you are," Kim reminded.

"Adrianna Lynne," She crisply replied. "Just know that if you EVER call me Adrena Lynne…you WILL regret it, Kessler Grimm or no."

This was starting to look better. Kim's newly identified captor was looking more arrogant and less maniacal the more time Kim spent with her, arrogant and not just a little insecure. Lynne may as well have just screamed that she was trying to prove something to someone. Kim had to tread carefully though, at least until she could get the cuffs off. Lynne was unfortunately smart enough to cuff Kim's hands in front of her so picking the lock now would be a stupid move.

"Apologies Kim Possible but this has to be done."

…THUMP…

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

Anne slammed the magazine into the MP5's chamber and chambered a round. With certain exceptions, Anne usually wasn't partial to using firearms but neither she nor Sean had any indication as to the kind of arrival they could face. The pair of them was supremely grateful to be in a Wesen Council jet. According to rumor, these things typically carried enough firepower to fight a small war. To increase their chances, Anne and Sean were accompanied by a pair of private security agents, both Taurus Amentia. They could be stubborn but there were few other Wesen Anne would rather have supporting her in a firefight. All in all, as far as Anne could see, they were adequately prepared for the worst. So why did she feel so off?

"Sean?" Sean had been preparing his own weapons should they encounter serious trouble and looked up. "Why are you going so far to help me?"

"Well…as I said, I have a pretty vested interest in staying alive and…"

"That's not what I mean. Ever since the car ride, you've been…I don't know…not what I expected. And I've always been pretty good at reading people."

There was a long pause as the man loaded a magazine into one of the side-arms set before him. From what Anne had inferred from Nick and what she'd learned from talking to some Laufer contacts of Amy's, Sean Renard wasn't one to give up information easily or unless it was paramount to the case at hand that you knew it. But nearly every question Anne had asked of Sean, he'd answered truthfully. Anne didn't like being kept in the dark and…there were just so many unknown factors.

"Let's…let's say that I have a special place in my heart for a mother going to great lengths to protect her child," He sighed, holstering one of the side-arms. "Did…did Nick ever explain to you exactly how I was royal?" Anne shook her head in the negative. "Well…my mother was a…Hexenbiest." He…he was half Wesen? That…okay…Anne didn't see THAT little tidbit coming. "She was my father's mistress, one of them at least. And…my father's wife didn't look too kindly at having a Zauerbiest, even a half Zauerbiest, in the family and she…she put her mind to eliminating the problem shortly after my fourteenth birthday. Had…had it not been for Mother, I'd have been murdered in my bed at boarding school and she…even after she got me out of Switzerland, the pair of us spent the next year on the run, backtracking and crisscrossing until we were finally safe in Portland. She…she's largely the reason I became a police officer."

Wow…uh…Anne wasn't really…she wasn't really expecting so…frank an answer. And furthermore, once again, Anne could tell that Sean was being truthful. Someone of Sean Renard's reputation to at least fudge some details or attempt to tie the truth into a few knots but…Sean Renard was indeed an interesting case.

"Well…thank you for sharing that with me Sean," Strange; Anne was even beginning to feel…well…sympathy for the man. "But if I may…why are you being so truthful with me? Even when we had dinner…well…it seemed like you didn't even TRY to hide anything."

"Ha…well this is where you're going to think I'm entirely ridiculous but…I like you," Sean looked up and smiled. "From the moment I saw you, I liked you. Hell, in another life you and I might have even have…but…well…you know."

Good Grief; unless Anne very much missed her guess, Sean Renard was actually blushing. And he wasn't going to go any further because she was married? Anne was very much in love with James and would never even consider being unfaithful but…even in a situation like this, a part of her still appreciated the small ego boost. Sean wasn't unattractive…if he was interested, Anne might even have a woman in mind that would make a good match.

"Sir, we just got word from Middleton tower. There's a gun battle on the runway and they're ordering us to divert."

"Ignore it," Sean barked, gathering up his side arms and strapping himself into the seat. "Go straight in. We do NOT let them get off the ground!"

All thoughts that weren't Kim instantly vanished from Anne's head. She was NOT going to let that Bitch get away with this, both wreaking havoc on her town and daring to lay a hand on Kimmie. "För bra för alla!" That had been the motto of her Swedish ancestors in the 17th Century. In the 1630s, that was their battle cry as they road against the Ende Der Zeitens pulling the strings of the Spanish Monarchy, attempting to once and for all put an end to their bloody reign and their damned Inquisitors' slaughtering Europe. Well Anne would be shouting that tonight!

"Deras blod på mitt svärd medan kanoner regna eld!"

"Swedish," Sean commented. "What does it mean?"

"It's a promise; their blood on my sword while cannons rain fire!"

KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP

How could Kim have been so reckless? Her niece had had some hair brained schemes, both as a Grimm and a normal teenager, but this…even as the thought entered Amy's head, she knew that Kim, for better or worse, was every inch Anne's daughter. Though she hadn't known her as a teen, Amy had absolutely no problem imagining her best friend getting into scrapes…well maybe not like this but scrapes nonetheless.

Ron Stoppable arriving at the store in a police car had been surprising enough but when Amy spotted him helping in an obviously pain ridden Mackenzie Brody…Amy had an awful sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. The explanation had been quick but enough to light a fire under everyone. Amy's Laufer cell didn't have any combat troops, leaving Mack to recruit a precious few police officers that could be trusted to move on sketchy evidence.

And so Amy found herself in a black SUV fast approaching one of the fenced off areas of Middleton Airport, the store owner keeping a firm grip on the Ruger .45 she kept in case of robberies. She'd been involved in many a Laufer operation before…but Kim, her precious and beloved niece, was in the clutches of…of the scariest…THING…Amy could imagine. But…it was KIM! For Kim, for the twins, for Annie and James, Amy would face down a dozen Ende Der Zeiten Grimms, damn the consequences.

"Those…don't look like normal Airport Security," Mack breathed as they approached the gate.

The SUV slowed to a crawl and Amy watched from the back seat as they approached the gate. Anne was no expert but…something WAS hinky about them. No insignia that Amy could recognize and…those assault rifles looked like something out of a video game. They almost looked like…

It was like a scene from an action or spy movie. As if in slow motion, Amy could see the assault rifles rise at the same time that Mack gunned the engine. With a great "clang", the SUV burst forward, a flurry of bullets peppering the rear door. Amy looked around. Where was the plane? They'd be prepping for takeoff around now so…THERE! God bless Anne's genetics! That mop of red hair was recognizable anywhere. She looked…oh God, she was unconscious! The SUV spun to a halt and the four of them dove for whatever cover they could.

"Watch your fire," Mack barked to the other officers. "They have a hostage!" Dodging a three round burst, Amy saw her pull out her radio. "MP Niner Two to central; officers are taking fire and are in need of assistance. Suspect in connection to three murders is on scene and they have a hostage!"

Amy's eyes were only on the plane entrance. She HAD to get to Kim! Crouched behind a luggage cart, she surveyed the scene, lobbing a few rounds at a nearby shooter. She spotted a figure in the door and…oh NO! Whoever it was was hefting what could only be a heavy machine gun and it was leveled directly at…

"TAKE COVER!"

Like a force of nature, a shower of high caliber bullets impacted the area around them. Amy pressed herself flat to the pavement and under the cart, trying to present as small a target as possible. Whoever was shooting was aiming high so she'd likely be safe…for the moment. So..okay, they were still in the doorway of the jet. The distance was…maybe a little over twenty yards so she'd have one good chance.

"Bring your gun up, put your finger on the trigger," Daddy's voice sounded in her head, guiding her like he used to when she was little and would watch him at the skeet shooting range outside town. As the daughter of a County Sheriff Lieutenant, she'd had her own practice as well. "Take a deep breath to steady your nerves."

Amy stared down the sights, trying to get a bead on the target. She took a deep breath and…

…BANG…

…BANG…

…BANG…

The gunfire instantly ceased as one of the bullets struck the massive piece of hardware and sent it clattering to the pavement. The second shot was just a fraction off but Amy nearly had to cheer as the third hit the target on the arm, knocking them onto the stairs. The victory was short lived though as the target climbed inside and sealed the door. The plane was moving! The plane was actually taxing out onto the runway!

Amy climbed out from under the cart and searched for a way, any way, to stop them. This…this couldn't be happening! There was nothing! The machine gun had taken out any usable vehicles and those still on their feet were putting up a strong fight. Only Amy herself and one of the other officers had escaped injury. Wait…wasn't…wasn't the plane heading down the runway…backwards? Amy's eyes darted to the end of the runway and…

"Mack…they're heading straight for another plane!"

As if their situation couldn't be worse, a plane was landing…from the east…at approximately the time Anne's plane would've been landing. The jet had just touched the ground as the Ende Der Zieten's jet began building up speed. With a great jerk, the landing jet tipped to the right narrowly missing the oncoming jet as it rose off the ground…taking…taking her niece, Kimberly Anne Possible to…to…

"DAMN!"

Author's Notes:

Wow, this one took a while to finally bring to an end. Look for Anne to reveal more about her ancestry in connection to the 30 Years War and a special surprise guest in later chapters. The 30 Years War and "The Lion of the North" (Gustav II of Sweden) has long since been a hobby of mine and I hope you're enjoying the connection.

Amy's father's shooting advice is credited to the play/movie Escanaba in da Moonlight.