I don't own, Disney does. I will say this again… What She Can't Say, by The Wise Duck… it is a must read story, seriously!
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Recovery – Chapter 10
"You really should take a rest you know."
"Just a couple more runs, and then I'll take a break. I'm good for a couple more, Amy." Kim took a breath, supporting herself with the bars on either side of her, then started walking across the platform, her hands gravitating just inches from the bars as she made her way across. About halfway, she stumbled slightly, and the young nurse trailing beside her reached over to steady her. Kim smiled wanly at her, and took the young woman's arm, making her way to the chairs at the side of the room. She sank down, breathing heavily, her muscles aching, but pleased with herself.
"So, how's my favorite girl doing?" The two women looked over at the door, smiling as Ron walked in, a Beuno Nacho bag in his hand.
"I'm doing just fine, but your girlfriend here keeps pushing herself too hard." Amy just chuckled, leaving the two teens alone.
"You up for a bit of snackage? The docs cleared you for it."
"And you brought me Beuno Nacho?" He wafted the bag under her nose, and she almost moaned as the aromas reached her. "Well, I guess a little wouldn't hurt. But I do need to make sure I eat healthy until I'm back on my feet properly."
"So Amy, when's Kim going to get out of here? I'm sure that natural Kimness of hers must be driving everyone insane, being cooped up in here." He laughed as he avoided a swat from Kim, though she did grab the bag from him.
Amy just looked up from her pad, smiling. "We'll probably be kicking her out of here in a couple days, most likely Wednesday night. Of course, she'll still be coming to visit on occasion, but at least we can get rid of her for a little while."
Kim just looked between the two of them, trying hard to look offended. "Well, I didn't know I was such a pest. Maybe I should just get out of your hair, and leave you two alone."
Ron just grinned, stepping over to the young physiotherapist. "You heard the lady. Amy, will you run away with me? We would make such beautiful music together!"
Amy took his hand, glancing over at Kim. "I would if I could Hon, but I'm sure my husband would object. Besides, I don't think she's quite ready to give up on you just yet."
Ron felt arms wrap around his shoulders from behind, as Kim draped herself over him. "Darn right I'm not giving up on this one. This one's a keeper!"
Ron reached up, grabbing her arms wrapped around him, and walked back to the chairs. Kim pointed over to the small bed though, and after grabbing the Bueno Nacho bag, made his way over to it, plopping her down.
Kim just sighed. "Man, my legs are killing me right now. I just want to stretch out for a moment."
Ron shifted down a bit, smiling. "Turn over. You eat, and let the magic fingers of Doctor Stoppable help you right out."
Kim giggled slightly, complying quickly. Ron rubbed his hands together almost gleefully. The shorts she was wearing allowed easy access, and he quickly set to work, massaging her legs softly at first, then with greater intensity.
Kim moaned, closing her eyes for a moment. "You've gotten better at this."
Ron just grinned, working up her calf. "I've had a bit of practice. Bonnie was always…"
Kim sat up quickly, glaring at Ron. "Bonnie? Ron…"
"Kim, it's not… I mean… I did this for you too a couple times, before we were dating, and…"
"I'm sorry Ron." Kim lay back down, taking a breath. "I know it's nothing, and I know I talked with Bonnie, but I just… I know she's your friend, but it seems like only last week for me that she was sniping at me for my captaincy and putting you down." Kim opened the bag, pulling out the chimerito. "Everything is so different, with you and Bonnie and Tara… I'm just not sure of everything just yet I guess."
"Hey, you're entitled. It's not exactly the best sitch, but you know I'm always here for you."
"I know." Kim took a bite, savouring the cheese and beef, glad for some real food. She ate in silence as Ron worked her legs, her moaning on occasion, though Ron couldn't tell if that was his work or the food.
When she finished, she sat up, glancing over at Ron. "There was something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Sure KP, what's on your mind?"
"Well, I was looking at the college stuff mom brought over, and I realized we never talked about it. I mean, I know Monique's going to New York to study fashion, and Tara's going to Middleton for law enforcement, still can't believe that, and Bonnie's going to Upperton for psychology, but we've never talked about what you and I were going to do."
Ron's smile faded, and he looked away slightly. "I didn't exactly want to pressure you or anything. I mean, I didn't want you to go somewhere just to be near me. I mean, I wanted… that is…"
Kim placed a hand in his, smiling. "Ron, it's all right. So, where are you going?"
"I got accepted to the business program at Middleton College."
Kim blinked, staring at him, then blinked again. "Business? With… math?"
Ron just chuckled, looking up at her. "Yeah, I know, crazy huh? But, I figured, if I want to open a restaurant, I should learn what I'm doing. Besides, Middleton has a great culinary program as well. I… also signed up for a Japanese language course at Upperton, after checking that it wouldn't conflict. Just… something I wanted to do."
"Why wouldn't you tell me? That's great!"
"I didn't want what I was doing to affect where you wanted to go. I mean, there's so many things you could do, and I didn't want to hold you back at some nearby school just to be with me."
"How about you just let me decide what I want and don't want. Besides, I'm not even sure what I want to do yet. I thought I'd have senior year to decide, but now… the decision is kind of right in my lap, and I don't know what I want to do. I mean, I have acceptance letters from several schools already, some I never even considered before, all without even applying." Kim leaned over, kissing him gently. "But, at least now, I know where you'll be."
"Should I leave you two alone, or do you think your mother might get mad at me?"
Kim and Ron chuckled, and Kim rose to her feet. "I'm good to go again, if you are?"
Ron watched as Kim pushed herself for the next hour, adding encouragement when needed, and kisses on occasion.
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The last couple days seemed to drag for Kim, knowing how close she was to being released. Now she sat on the edge of the bed, her stuff packed, as she waited for her mother to get off shift. The sun was already setting when her mother finally walked through the door.
Andrea Possible just smiled as she saw her daughter, practically bouncing with impatience to get out of there. "You have everything packed?"
"Yes, I do. Double-checked everything. Can we go home now?"
Andrea chuckled softly, remembering that this was Kim lookedwhen she was eight, that giddiness at knowing she was going to be getting out, and only a single word was needed before she bolted out the door. "Just let me get a wheelchair, and we can go."
"Moooommm, I don't need a chair. I can walk out of here just fine."
"I know that dear, but you've got a lot of stuff sitting here, and I know you and I aren't going to be getting it all out of here ourselves."
Kim looked sheepishly at the bags around her and grinned. "Yeah, that might be a good idea after all."
"Hey, just thought I'd check on my best patient before she took off." Amy stuck her head in the doorway, smiling broadly. "Just wanted to say goodbye, at least till you came in next week for your check-up."
"Hey Amy, thanks for stopping by. Think you could help Kimmie and I carry all this down? I'm just going to get a wheelchair to help us cart it all out."
"Already done." Amy stepped forward, pushing a wheelchair in front of her, bringing it right up to the bed. "Figured you'd have a lot to take home with you."
They quickly loaded up the wheelchair, with Andrea and Amy carrying a few bags as well, andmade their way out of the hospital. They quickly loaded up the car, throwing most of it into the back, though Kim kept her school stuff in the front seat with her.
When they finished, Kim gave a quick hug to the woman who had been helping over the last week. "Thanks for everything Amy. I don't think I could have done this without your help."
"Kiddo, it was all you. I was just there to tell you what to work on next. Now, make sure you don't push yourself too hard. I know how you can get."
Kim smiled a bit deviously. "Yeah, I promise."
Andrea also gave the woman a brief hug, before hopping into the car. The entire drive back, Kim kept watching out the windows, noticing a number of the small, subtle changes in the town as they passed by. It was the first time she had been out since the accident, except for the brief visit to the cemetery with Ron, but she hadn't exactly been interested in her surroundings then.
It was amazing what seemed to change in such a short time. The new roof on the Murphy's house, the dollar store on Market Street was now a pet store, the new playground equipment in the park as they drove by. Most everything was the same, but it was those little details in how everything looked that truly showed her that quite some time had passed.
As they pulled up into the driveway, Kim noted the door was slightly different from what she remembered, and wondered just what contraption the Tweebs had dreamed up that required a new door. Her father opened the door as she was getting out, moving quickly to pull her into a hug. When they parted, he grabbed her book bag for her, as well as a couple others from the back, and all three headed in the front door. What Kim saw when she walked in left her in awe.
A large banner, welcoming her home, hung across the living room. Balloons and streamers hung from everything. It reminded her of her birthday, those many months ago. Especially as her friends all piled out to great her.
As Monique pulled her into a hug, Kim just groaned. "You guys didn't have to go to all this trouble you know."
"Girl, it was no trouble at all." She grabbed a party hat from the table, putting it promptly on Kim's head, and Kim noticed everyone was wearing them. "Besides, you better get used to this, because I have a feeling we're going to be doing this all again when you come to school on Friday."
Kim glanced up at her parents, confused. "Friday… but I thought I was going back tomorrow?"
Her father just pushed her ahead into the kitchen, and she saw Ron just taking a couple of things out of the oven. "We figured you could use an extra day to get settled back in."
Kim took a seat at the table, surprised when the Tweebs came over to hug her again as they had done in the hospital, without a single word of complaint. "Thank you guys, everyone. I don't know what to say."
Bonnie stepped forward, dropping an envelop on the table. "Just say thank you. Especially after we hit the spa tomorrow."
Kim looked down at the envelop, before turning to look back at Bonnie. "Spa? But why…"
"Oh please. There is no way you are going to go back to school without at least taking care of a few things. I mean, seriously, with the way your pores are right now… I'd almost be embarrassed. I do have an image to maintain you know, and I can't be seen with you looking like that, now can I?"
Bonnie, who had been maintaining a serious expression, gave Kim a half grin, and Kim broke out laughing. "I guess I can't argue with that!"
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Kim practically dragged herself up to her room after the guests had all left, tired beyond words. She quickly changed, throwing on one of Ron's old jerseys that he kept there, to sleep in, and lay back on the bed. She sank right in, and groaned at just how comfortable it felt compared to the hard hospital bed she had been in for so long. Her arms wrapped around one of her pillows, squeezing it tightly as she glanced around the room, taking everything in. It was all as she left it, and she felt suddenly as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders.
Despite the fact that the sheets and pillowswere most likelyfresh and new, she drew in the scent of them, smiling. She closed her eyes, sinking into the warm embrace of the mattress and blankets, and slowly closed her eyes.
It's good to be home!
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Author's Notes – I'm drawing a complete blank on what Kim would be interested in studying in college for my on-going series. For months, I could never come up with something she would want to study. All the others came easily to me, but not Kim.
So, I've decided to make this an open poll, and let the readers decide. YOU will get to decide what Kim wants to do and study in my fanfiction series. This will affect the entire on-going storyline. The winning response will be announced in chapter 11 of Recovery.
To vote, go to RonStoppable dot net (the link to the poll is in my profile) and make your vote count!