Define, Hell IV (or, Define, Hell, IIII): Changes, and Christmas
Disclaimer/Author's Notes: Kim Possible and all the characters of the show are owned by the Disney Company. All other characters can be blamed on the author (he, however, is not responsible for all of their actions at all times, being barely responsible for himself most of the time….).
This is a strictly not-for-profit, just-for-fun work.
This is not a part of the (shameless plug) Blue Eyes, Shining stories or the JadeKimVerse, but judging from the reviews of the original tale, I've been charged with showing the aftermath of Ron's actions and explaining Kim's behavior.
I hope that you enjoy this: you can blame Cindy for this story (yes, it's the same Cindy that sent me the ANC picture that spawned "Merry Christmas, Momma" and "Paint Me a Christmas Memory:" she's a closet Plot Bunny).
A/N Forward:
Questions:
What happens after Define, Hell III: The Sequel?
Answer:
It's a description of the wicked turn that took place as a result of the events of the Diablos night: they weren't what you remember from the show….
We have angst, we have fluff (and, there will be smuff), and we have…well, I'm not sure what you'll call it all, but it's here.
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Previously, on Define, Hell IV (or, Define, Hell, IIII): Changes, and Christmas:
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(Jocelyn Possible, December 11, 2009)
"I'll be down in a moment, Nana, please and thank you," I finally opened my eyes, and he was the first thing I saw, hanging on my wall above the landing stairs:
'Good morning, Dr. Load,' I mentally called out to him, every morning.
It was an old picture, one from before the Diablos, but he was cute then.
I had seen his pictures afterward, and I still had the incurable urge to 'kiss the guy.'
I was afraid, though:
I was afraid that he wouldn't want to be around a cripple, even for a friend.
"But, I'll get better, and you'll see, Dr. Load: I'll have you for my very own," I announced to the sky, and I swung my leg over the edge and reached for my artificial leg, slipping it on and connecting everything, then stepping out of my gown, slipping on my arm and connecting what I could: Nana would have to do the rest.
"Things change, Andrea Jocelyn," Nana had told me at Daddy's funeral at Arlington, as they placed him in the ground next to Momma.
"I'll be here for you, as long as I can, or as long as you need me," and she hugged me and let me cry as Momma's college friend, Betty Director, came over in her Navy dress uniform and handed me the flag.
"I'm so sorry, Jocelyn," she had said, and the tears in her eye was genuine.
I stood, slipped on my bra, and pulled on a shirt, then blew Wade a kiss as I headed down the stairs.
I was getting better at it.
-----
I poured my milk and raised the container towards her questioningly.
"Why, yes, Jocelyn, please and thank you," Nana smiled, and I poured her a big glass, and then went to the stove to mix up a good helpin' of Daddy's flapjacks as she went back to the table with her milk.
I looked over after she sat, and she had a milk mustache: I giggled.
'She's got 'leche,'' I thought.
"Thank you, Nana," and I put the spatula down and ran to her, hugging her neck.
"What did you do that for, Sweet Tea?" she asked when I pulled away, smiling.
"Because I love you so much, Nana," I replied.
"And, I love you, too, Jocelyn, but that's not the reason, is it?" she always knew the truth: she was as bad as Sensei.
"Well," I went back to the griddle and flipped the flapjacks, "because you gave up your plans for me," and I barely stifled back a sob.
She heard it, and she stood and came over to the stove, putting her arms around my waist and squeezing.
"What kind of a grandmother would I be, if I hadn't come to the aid of my Sweet Tea?" and she kissed my neck, squeezed me, and went back to the table via the pantry for diet and regular maple syrup, taking them to the table.
"You lost a son; you had a right to mourn alone, not have to raise his brat," I reminded her, and –
"Andrea Jocelyn Possible: you never were and are not now a brat! You just got caught up in the wrong crowd at the beginning of the school year, but you got away from the truly bad influences before everything happened to them," she reminded me. "Besides, you took your friend back, even after she left you, after she had her own personal crisis, and that's definitely not the attitude of a brat, my darling," and Nana gulped the last of her milk and got up to get a cup of that nasty brew she made that she affectionately called 'coffee with an attitude,' or 'Navy Coffee."
-----
"Hey, J," Jen was standing there, waiting for me.
"Hey yourself, J," I replied and grinned.
We walked under the Stephen Michael Lopez Memorial Archway on the way into the school. It was built to honor the students that we lost that day when the drug dealers tried to take over the school. Amazingly enough, we only lost five students, but Stephen was everyone's unanimous choice for the name of the arch: even the friends and parents of the other students voted for him. Maybe it was because of the hero we never knew he was, until it was too late….
His last words, carved on the cornerstone: You can't have them, I won't let you, became our new unofficial school motto. His parents stopped each and every one of us and told us 'thank you' whenever they saw one of us in town for a long time to come.
They didn't understand:
We should have been thanking them, for they raised a son who, when the chips were down, took a bullet rather than allow a fellow student to be killed.
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"I'm no hero, Mr. Barkin, I was just trying to save my Daddy, and I couldn't even do that," and I started to get emotional.
"Miss Possible, Jocelyn," he smiled at me, "that's one thing that a hero does: put others first, before their own personal safety," and he stood and saluted me.
I stood and returned the salute the way Daddy taught me to, but with my artificial arm, and Mr. Barkin smiled as he dropped his salute.
"Good job, Miss Possible."
"The salute?"
"All of it, Miss Possible, all of it.
"Sealie would be proud," and that did it:
Steve Barkin made me cry.
-----
"Miss Possible! Miss Battle!"
"Yes, Mr. Brickle?" we answered in unison as we walked through Security: I had to be wand screened, for obvious reasons.
The school security team had finally realized that I wasn't trying to smuggle anything in, inside my prosthetic arm or leg, but it had taken a few weeks and some interesting X-Ray sessions to convince them otherwise.
I winked at Mary Jane Lyle, the guard, and she winked back as she finished the screening; and then, we walked over and looked up at Mr. Brickle.
"Up" was the operative word here: he usually ran around the school, terrorizing students in his wheelchair. Today, he was on his legs: that usually was a good sign.
"I have some good news for the two of you," he began with a smile, and before either one of us could complete the joke, he did it for us, "and, no, no car insurance is involved, so don't even go there."
He continued his grin: "You ladies, of course, remember the mid-year assembly this afternoon," as he looked through us at someone getting in trouble behind us.
"Yes, Sir," came from both our mouths.
"Well," and he leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, "I have, under good authority, that certain people are receiving some very good news this afternoon, so I'd recommend that they contact their parents and grandparents," he added as he looked at me, "and make certain that they are here this afternoon.
"Make sense?"
"Makes perfect sense, Mr. Brickle," Jennifer replied, and I nodded.
"Good; now, get to class, you two," and he turned and walked away, then took off in a trot after that student.
-----
My thoughts were bothering me, and I had finally realized why:
It was another Christmas coming up without Daddy, and I hadn't done what I wanted to do:
Tell Dr. Load I was in love with him.
I know, that sounds foolish: Jocelyn, you haven't even met the man, let alone talked to him.
You know what?
I.
Didn't.
Care.
-----
(James Timothy Possible, months earlier...)
"Excellent work, Dr, Porter, excellent," I added, and she smiled.
"What gave her away?"
"She wasn't pissed enough at you when she came out," I replied, and Frances stared at me.
"You're a smart one," she grinned, and she put her hands on my head and pulled my head to hers and kissed me…hard and long.
I didn't know she could kiss that good.
When she finally let me up, I smiled. "Can you make 20 or 50 of her, Doctor Porter?"
"Make?" Tim asked, confused.
"Yes, make, silly," she held out her wrist, pulled up her shirt sleeve, and opened her wrist.
"She's like Oliver?" he asked, and Vivian looked even more surprised.
"Next gen," she replied, and Oliver came over and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"She felt warm, soft," I interjected, and Frances nodded.
"That's because I am real, silly," and she took my hand and put it on her chest.
I felt her heartbeat, and I felt something else, on the outside…and I smiled at her as she grew.
"Oops," she grinned, blushed, and removed my hand. "A little too close to the goodies, James; not that I minded," she purred that last part, and I was in serious trouble now.
"So, you've already gone further than we anticipated," Tim stated, and she smiled and nodded.
"I can go from cyber to organic, but not the reverse," and Tim frowned.
"We need organic to cyber," and Frances frowned, then smiled.
"I'm no closer than five years to what you want; sorry," Vivian looked at us, and we smiled.
"Well, we can help: we've already jump-started the research and made several additions, modifications, and upgrades to your work based on your publications, Doctor Porter. We already solved several of the issues you pointed out in the article you published in February that appeared in Robotica, so I think we can make our goal."
"Goal?" she asked, and Tim smiled.
"We want an alpha on the limbs operational by next July and the beta by October, with a pilot set by mid-December 2009; back it up about four weeks on the dates for the eyes," I said. "Dad will have all of his components ready by those dates: they're the critical connection capabilities using the Hephaestus material," and she stared at me, astonished.
"18 months until pilot? That's impossible-" she stopped and stared at us, a wicked smile beginning to grow on her face and that of her daughter.
"I can take the next steps if you get to alpha by July, Mom," Frances was beaming.
"That you can, Frances," Vivian hugged Frances, then they both turned and looked at us.
"For Wade?" Vivian asked, and I nodded.
"And, for our cousin Jocelyn, in Montana: it's a little surprise for them," and Frances laughed.
"A 'little' surprise? I'd hate to be on the receiving end of your big surprises, guys," Frances smiled as she walked towards me, stopping right in front of me.
"Are you sure?" She batted her eyelashes, and I knew I was happy I had a girlfriend.
"I'm sure; sorry, Frances," I replied, and she grinned and grabbed my shirt, pulling me to her face.
"Your loss, big guy," she purred as she kissed me, once again.
She tasted like cherries and cinnamon, and I was really, really glad I had a girlfriend now, especially when she released me and licked her lips. "Yummy," she said, and she let my collar go with a flourish and a smile.
"This is going to be an interesting session, Doctor Porter," I replied, a bit woozy from lack of oxygen, and the two ladies laughed as I sat down.
"Why the deadline?" Frances asked.
"Two reasons:
"One: Christmas," and Vivian and Frances both grinned and clapped;
"and, two: Joss needs to walk across the stage for her high school graduation, whole, regardless of what Drakken did to her, to our family," Tim finished.
"Yeah: this is personal, this time," I added with a growl, and Frances looked shocked at my response.
"Let's do it, boys," Vivian announced and held out her hand
She giggled. "Are you sure you don't want to dump your girlfriend, or at least help me do some 'research?'"
"Sorry, Frances, but unless I had a signed, notarized statement from Jennifer, no dice: I don't want to even take a chance on losing her."
-----
We had the alpha ready 30 days before target, and the beta test was completed by mid-August. We were ready for pilot.
We watched Frances grow up, and by the time we completed beta testing she had gone from a pretty 11-year-old to a beautiful 21-year-old, and she had continued to look more and more like her mother as she grew older, not that there was anything wrong with that.
"I'm accelerating her growth to 24 by mid-September, and then I'll re-establish her to normal aging parameters," Vivian told us when Tim asked.
Tim was curious, but he wasn't complaining: I suspect he was helping Frances do 'research' because he would come back from the lab smiling far too big, and Frances...well, let's just say that Frances was singing an awful lot, according to Vivian, and she was on-key.
-----
Wade put his glasses back on and stood in the silence for a few minutes, humming a song, then unsnapped his cane, extended it, and headed to the front of the restaurant and the outside world.
"Four more weeks before I see my Jocelyn, in person, for the first time," he whispered as he pushed the back room door open and stepped through it to the restaurant
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And now, on Define, Hell IV (or, Define, Hell, IIII): Changes, and Christmas:
Chapter 10: I'll have a Tweeb Christmas, p2
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(December 11, 2009)
Jocelyn Possible pulled out her cell and hit Nana's button.
She answered almost immediately.
"Sweet Tea: what's wrong?"
"Nothing, Nana," Joss looked around and confirmed that everyone else was doing the same thing she was. "Mr. Brickle just told Jen and me that we were 'unofficially' getting an award of some type at the assembly this afternoon. Could I get you to bring some things for me to wear this afternoon?"
"Why, land's sakes, Sweet Tea, of course. What do you want?"
"My black dress slacks, the light green blouse, my black flats, and my 'other things', Nana," Joss grinned.
"Are you sure, Sweet Tea? You've never worn them in public before."
"What better way to check out my control on that 'undocumented feature' that Jim and Tim don't know about, Nana?" by now, Joss was beaming, and it was actually getting Jen's attention. Joss forced a frown, and Jen turned back to her own call.
"All right, dear: in about 20 minutes? I need to change, as well: I was working on Tornado, and he was stomping me at chess, again," she laughed.
"Please, and thank you, Nana," Joss giggled and cut the connection.
She was ready to try her first public appearance of her newest 'toys.' 'Cousins Jim and Tim,' she thought, 'deserved a place in Heaven for everything they had done: not for helping her, but for the look that they put on Nana's face when they told us, showed us….'
Joss grinned to herself, and Jen and Becky looked at her strangely after her earlier giggle. 'I've got a seee-creeet,' she giggled silently in sing-song, for it was a secret that neither Jen nor Becky knew…yet….
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(Friday, November 13th, 2009)
Jim and Tim were really happy that Dr. Director had managed, somehow, to create a 'tube' from the Middleton network to connect to Nana's ranch: they both realized that the installation was saving them a ton of money on air fare when they went to see the 'girls' on the 'ladies,' they both thought simultaneously, looked at each other, and smiled knowingly.
They couldn't help it: when they first met them, both Jen and Becky were the most beautiful creatures that they had ever seen, even more beautiful, they thought, than either Frances or her mother, Vivian, and they didn't think that their ladies could become any more beautiful. 'Boy, were we wrong,' Tim thought with a fond smile, both inside and out.
Jim took the handheld unit that they were working on to replace Sis's Kimmunicator when she got back in the saddle, strapping it to his leg, and Tim had the 'goods' strapped to his back, secured in well-padded cases.
The tube trip took about 10 minutes; they had to change tubes twice on the way there, but neither was complaining: they could, with the tube, still do this and make it back home before bedtime.
They came out of the tubes in the new facility that Nana's 'hired hands' had expanded on: the facility that Uncle Slim was starting for his research. As they steadied themselves from the landing, the door opened, and Rebecca Jane walked in.
'If I were only 10 years older…' Tim thought with a very wicked inside grin.
"Hey, guys," She smiled. She'd already made both of them look like fools before, because she knew what they thought of her filling out her uniform. She looked at Tim and laughed at his glazed-over smirk.
"Down, Timothy," she grinned, and he gulped.
"You don't think I've seen that look before? Been there with lots of guys older than you two, although I will admit none as smart as you, and smart does turn me on," she gave them both a sultry look, and Tim was glad that he was wearing comfortable pants; Jim wasn't as lucky, and he placed his case in front of him.
"You're evil, Rebecca Jane," Jim laughed, and she smiled and nodded.
"Guilty as changed, James, but you aren't complaining too loudly. Come on, let's go: Dr. P. is waiting for you, and she didn't tell Joss you were coming, just as you asked," and all of them stepped into the elevators and headed to the surface. They exited the elevators, left the Bunker, and headed to the main house. Nana was standing at the door with a 'what are you boys up to?' look on her face. They both felt a chill in the air, the same chill that reminded them of coming snow and motherly inquisition.
"Hi, Nana," Jim hugged her and kissed her cheek.
"And, no, Nana, we won't tell you: it's a surprise," Tim hugged her and kissed her cheek as he chuckled.
"All right, boys, but you'd better be ready: Joss will be back from her ride in about 5 minutes," as she stepped aside.
They had enough time to get into the living room, start a fire in the fireplace, re-boot Jim's handheld to connect to the ranch secure network and connect it to local power before Joss came in and headed for the stairs, then stopped turned around, and entered the room to see the boys, smiling as she entered.
She was wearing light tan shorts and a matching sleeveless shirt, and Tim wanted to cry and smile at the same time. 'She's becoming a beautiful young woman, my cousin,' he thought, 'adding some nice curves to that sleeveless shirt, and she wasn't self-conscious about her arm or leg anymore. We were going to solve that problem for good.'
"Hey, guys," she grinned as she hugged each of us. "Jen and Becks aren't here," she said as she let them go.
"We came to see you, Joss." Jim started.
"Can't we come and see our favorite girl cousin?" Tim asked, and she laughed.
"Well, since you only have one girl cousin that I know of, sure: you kin 'come up to see me, sometime,'" she did her best Mae West impression, and then she got that gleam. "What are you two up to?" she asked in her regular voice; she was better at it than Nana, and she had gotten almost as good at it as Kim. She looked at the cases in front of Tim, and Jim's handheld unit. "What's in the cases, guys?"
"Joss, we know about your crush on Wade," Jim started, and Joss cut him off.
"It's no crush, Jim: I love him," Joss admitted sadly, and Nana smiled while Rebecca Jane remained stoic. "I just know that he could never love a crippled white girl, especially with as many girls as are probably flocking around him, these days" Joss replied, and she lowered her head and tried not to cry. "Why did this have to happen to me?" she whispered through sniffles, and only Tim heard it: his heart shattered and re-assembled all at once, because he knew what they had brought.
"Who told you he wouldn't love you?" Jim asked.
"And, who said you had to be handicapped the rest of your life?" Tim added, and Joss' head shot up.
"We can't do anything about the other girls, Joss," Jim added, and Joss lifted her head and laughed through her tears.
"Besides, you'd be surprised, cuz: he's still pining for a certain redhead, and her name's not Kim," and Tim watched Joss' tears all turn to happy tears.
"What is it, guys: you got an extra arm and leg you can sell me?" Joss smiled sadly.
"No, but we have the next best thing, Joss," Jim stated with confidence, and Tim pointed to the two cases on the floor, pulled the remote key from his pocket, entered the combination, and the cases both opened with a 'whoosh.'
"You know better than leave us with a challenge, Joss," Tim grinned.
"What have you two been doing?" Joss leaned forward, but Jim slapped her hand away.
"Na-aah: we get to gloat, or rant, just like the super-villains did with Big Sis," Jim smiled.
"Nana, Joss, Rebecca Jane: have any of you ever heard of Doctor Vivian Francis Porter?" Tim asked. Both Rebecca Jane and Joss shook their heads, and Nana grew a smile. She knew Dr. Porter, and so, now, she had a suspicion of what the boys had been doing.
"Wait, boys: her work only works with inorganic interfaces, so it won't work for Joss," she replied after a moment's thought. "That's how she was able to get Oliver on-line in record time."
"Nuh-Uh," Tim retorted, "not after Dad finished his research," he smiled.
"And we tweaked his work a bit," Jim grinned.
"What work?" Nana asked.
"Haesphestus-2: H2," Jim stated.
"O?" Nana smiled, and Joss laughed and blew her a raspberry.
"Nothing 'watered down' about our work, Nana," and Rebecca Jane groaned with her smile. "We've solved the bi-directional inorganic/organic interface problem," Tim smiled as he lifted the first protective cover layer on both cases.
"Dad came up with a way to allow the inorganic/organic bridge to be crossed by active nerve impulses and signals, Nana. Vivian's work, Dad's work, and our work: we have a little something for Joss to try on, to see if it fits," Tim then lifted the second protective layer on the large case to reveal-
A perfect, shapely leg: the same size, shape, and shade as Joss' real one, and Joss and Rebecca Jane both gasped.
Tim then lifted the protective layer on the smaller case: a perfect arm: the same size, shape, and shade as Joss' real one, and the first gasp from Joss and Rebecca Jane echoed.
"It's not a permanent solution, Joss, but-" Nana interrupted Jim.
"Guys, are you serious?" Nana asked as Joss stared at the limbs, reaching over to touch the leg, and she smiled as she felt the skin-like texture of the outer covering. She could even feel tiny bumps scattered in a random pattern, just like real skin, and she started a sniffle session that would not hold her tears back.
"Nana, we've gone over Joss' medical reports, and-"
"How did you get past HIPPA security - oh, never mind, that's like asking your dad to leave the rocket fuel at the office, right?" Nana joked and grinned as Rebecca Jane and Joss laughed along with Jim and Tim.
"Joss, we know it'll work," Tim repeated to his now-crying cousin. At least, this time, the tears were happy.
"At best, Joss, currently you can wear them for a consecutive maximum period of 36 hours at a time before they have to be removed and reset. We've reduced the reset time to only take about 6 hours now, and that includes the time for your nerve endings to become de-sensitized from the renewed heavy activity that they'll experience," Jim added.
"We're only a week or two from eliminating the reset period; we'll be back with the upgrades, then," Tim stated to Joss.
Both Nana and Rebecca Jane stared at the boys, still not fully comprehending, or more likely afraid to get their hopes up for her granddaughter and friend, respectively.
"I don't care, guys," Joss was adamant. "You just don't understand."
"Joss, why do you think we did it?" Tim asked, and he stepped over to Joss and lifted her to her feet, taking her moist face in his hands.
"We already told you that we know how you feel about him, Joss, and that he loves you, too," and her smile lit up his heart like she always could do, "we did it so you could walk over to him, touch him, at least once more, so you could ask him whatever you want to ask: how's the weather, what's the 'sitch,'" he laughed, "if he wants to spend the rest of his life married to a Possible woman, whatever," and he moved his right hand from her cheek across to touch Joss' smile, and he then took both of her hands in his and looked into her ice-blue eyes, shining and smiling.
"And, I'm selfish: I want to feel both of my cousin's hands and have her feel mine, and I want to see her walk proudly across that graduation stage, and I to be there when she graduates after following her dream and becoming a doctor," and, now, we were all crying.
"You…did all this for me, your handicapped, lovesick cousin?" she asked, and she placed her artificial hand on Tim's cheek and squeezed his hand with her good hand. Their tears mixed as they fell onto Tim's hand and rolled into hers.
"No, Joss: we did it for someone we dearly love, and for Wade, and for ourselves: if that's selfish and wrong, then so be it. You tried to save Uncle Slim, you've saved your friends from sinking into depths of despair when you could have left them to struggle on their own, and you love a dear friend of ours and felt like you couldn't be with him," Tim started, and Jim finished:
"Joss, we did it because we love you, because we love Wade like a brother, and we decided that it was wrong for you two to be separated just because you two have been too pig-headed to go to each other," Jim grinned. "Well, that, and you introduced us to Jen and Becky," Jim grinned real big now, and Tim nodded vigorously, "...but, that's not important," Jim answered her honestly, and Joss motioned to him to come over. He stood and walked over the two of them, and she wrapped her arms around them both and cried.
Rebecca Jane put her hand on one of Joss' shoulders, and Nana mirrored on the other shoulder, and Tim looked at the ladies again.
They were both smiling so big, he didn't think it was possible for them to do that.
'I love you guys,' Rebecca Jane mouthed to Tim and Jim.
Rebecca Jane grew a smile and looked directly at Jim: 'I want to have your children,' she mouthed, and Jim looked at her and laughed.
She looked really confused at his response. "Tim just had an offer like that, last week, Rebecca Jane," Jim kept laughing, and Rebecca Jane joined him.
"Psych!" she smiled, and laughed silently. Jim started breathing again.
'I was glad that she had tried to distract us,' Tim thought. 'I hated to watch a girl cry; I guess Jim and I have too much Dad in us, because when we saw that, we wanted to kill someone: usually the person that caused those tears.'
"Thank you, guys," she lifted her head in Tim's direction and stuck out her good hand. "I can never repay you for this, you know."
"We know: consider it a long-term loan, requiring no repayment," he smiled as he took her hand and kissed it.
"Because we love you, Joss, and we know you'd do the same thing for us, and because you saved our girlfriends, we owe you the world; this is a very, very small down-payment on that debt," Jim added, and darn it! We all started to cry once again.
Nana walked over and grabbed the remote, starting Aunt Sheri's favorite song: Blue Eyes, Crying, in the Rain.
'Jim and I both know,' Tim thought as the scratchy recording began, 'Joss' eyes will shine brightly, once again, when she's whole in her own eyes, again.'
-----
"So, Tim, what do I have to do?" Joss asked, and Tim smiled as he released her hands and knelt in front of her.
"Well, Joss, it's pretty simple: we remove your artificial leg, replace it with the H2O leg, deal with the pain as the connections take place, tell us how it feels and, then, see if you can control it enough to walk."
"What pain?" Joss looked down at her cousin, and then she laughed. "A little pain, in exchange for being to walk up to Wade and hold him in my arms: sounds like a fair trade, in my opinion."
Joss asked as she removed her prosthetic before Tim could touch her. "You need the old one?" she asked, and he looked up and mouthed 'Thank You' to her as she laughed at him.
"I'm sorry, Joss, but I –" his voice wavered more than a bit, and she waved him off.
"Don't worry, Tim: I've removed it so many times, I could do it in my sleep. Besides, you've been touching my leg enough, all that time you've been working on it: that you shouldn't feel self-conscious by now, should you?" Joss laughed as Tim turned red and Jim laughed with them.
Tim reached into the open case and retrieved the leg, staring at it momentarily and then kissing the knee. "For luck, Joss," he smiled at her open-mouthed response. He moved over so she could place her hand on his shoulder for balance, and he stared at her stump, mesmerized by what he was now seeing, up close, for the first time.
"It's all right, Tim, Jim: you can touch it," Tim looked up at Joss' face: the tears there were falling like an unexpected spring rain in autumn as Jim came over and knelt in front of her. Both of them reached out and gingerly touched the stump, then caressed it momentarily as Joss shuddered. Jim held the stump steady as Tim placed the leg underneath it, and then he lifted it up to align with Joss's leg. Tim felt the new limb vibrate momentarily, then steadied himself as Jim stood to steady Joss for the upcoming reaction.
Joss grabbed his arm with her good arm and screamed.
The scream only lasted for about 10-12 seconds, but to Tim it seemed an eternity as the new H2O materials searched for, found, and connected with Joss' previously dormant nerve endings. Then, there was no sound, and Jim looked into Joss' face.
The pain was gone, and it was replaced by confusion, then delight, then wonder.
Tim felt the leg begin to move, and he released his grip on it.
Joss lifted her leg forward, then placed it back on the ground, then lifted it backwards, then returned once again to the ground.
She took it out to the side and returned it to its resting place.
Then, she began to hop, and she hopped and did jumping jacks, slowly at first, then faster, for over three minutes, the wonder on her face being replaced by a grin and then a smile as big as Montana as she hopped and did calisthenics.
She stopped, squatted, and raised herself back up to an upright position several times. She turned and trotted to the stairs and took them two at a time up to her loft and, then, ran back down them again, opening the door and running outside.
The four, no longer frozen in shock, followed her out onto the front porch where they saw a sight not to be forgotten:
Joss was running and jumping and yelling as she jumped over the stumps in the front yard, a dusting of snow now having collected on them.
Joss ran back to the front porch and grabbed Tim and Jim and hugged them tight, soaking their shirts with her tears.
"I can feel the cold on both my legs, and I can feel goose bumps on both of them!" she shouted into their ears.
They all re-entered the house and headed for the living room as Joss unhooked her arm and removed it, poking Jim in the back with it as she walked behind him. "I can't help it, Jim," she grinned, "sometimes it has a mind of its own," she laughed.
Tim reached into the open case and retrieved the arm, staring at it momentarily and then kissing the hand. "For luck, Joss," he smiled at her. "Hey, it worked for the leg," he and she both laughed as he stepped over and stared at her stump, mesmerized once again at the horror visited upon his cousin by his Dad's old college buddy, all started by laughter and teasing. H was now seeing the results, up close, for the first time.
"It's all right, you guys: you can touch it, too," Tim looked up at Joss' face: her tears again falling, only now like a light spring sprinkle rather than an unexpected spring rain in autumn. Jim came over and took her other hand for a moment, holding it to give her strength. Both of them reached out and gingerly touched the stump, then caressed it momentarily as Joss shuddered. Jim held the stump steady as Tim placed the arm onto it, and then he aligned it with the upper part of Joss' arm and held it steady. He felt the new limb vibrate momentarily, then steadied himself as Jim held Joss' hand to steady her for the upcoming reaction.
Joss squeezed his hand and screamed, again.
The scream was shorter, lasting only about five-seven seconds, but to Tim it, too, seemed an eternity as the new H2O materials searched for, found, and connected with Joss' previously dormant nerve endings. Then, there was no sound, and Jim looked into Joss' face.
Once again, pain left her face, and it was replaced by confusion, then delight, then wonder.
Tim felt the arm begin to move, and he released his grip on it.
Joss flexed her arm, made a fist, and then, one by one, moved her fingers, over and over again. She then held up a single middle digit, smiling a very wicked smile.
"For Dr. D. and Shego," she explained, and she took off for the front door once again, heading out into a yard now being covered with a heavy snowfall, the sky now dumping its snow in an ever-increasing rate.
She stood, and she fell backwards into it, and she began to make her first snow angel of the season.
Tim looked at Jim, and Jim looked at Tim, and they both each ran to a side of Joss, fell back in the snow, and began to make snow angels, themselves.
Rebecca Jane's resolve collapsed when Nana went to the spot above Joss' head and flopped back, starting her own snow angel. Rebecca Jane sighed and went to the spot below Joss' feet, crossed her arms over her chest, and fell backwards, her head just below Joss' feet and began to make her own angel.
Workers came out of different places across the ranch to see three young people, Nana Possible, and Rebecca Jane Casey lying in the snow, making snow angels and laughing loud enough to be heard indoors. The snow was starting to pile on them.
Joss lay in the snow and looked up, blinking as the snowflakes danced in her vision. She thought she could see everyone she'd ever loved in the falling snowflakes: Daddy, Momma, Nana, Jim, Tim, Kim, Rebecca Jane...so many people, so much snow, and she smiled as the snow began to pile onto her arms and legs.
"Father God, thank you for my life. Thanks you for my Nana, who loves me almost as much as you do. Thanks you for Rebecca Jane, my unofficial Big Sister.
"And, thank you for my crazy cousins, who love me so much that they've given up most of their free time for months, it seems, if not years, to make my dream come true.
"Thank you, Father God, for being with Wade all this time and helping him to know that I still care, even though we've never met. I hope that he loves me half as much as I love him.
"Thank you, Father God, for having faith in me, especially when I didn't have faith in you after you took both my Momma and Daddy. I finally figured it out, God: you had too many kids up there, so you needed the best parents in the whole wide world to help you. Well, you have them now, God, and I hope that the kids up there are happy: they have the best parents in Heaven helping them adjust when you welcome them Home, early.
"Thank you, Father.
"Thank you.
"Amen."
Joss closed her eyes and imagined holding Wade in her arms….
-----
"Joss, are you 'Wade-ing,' again?" Becky laughed, and Joss looked up to see Jen and Becky standing in front of her.
"I'll have you know that I didn't start thinking about Wade until the very end," Joss laughed as answered them.
"Andrea Jocelyn?" Nana's voice came from behind her, and Joss turned and ran to her grandmother. Becky and Jennifer both smiled as they watched Joss hug her grandmother.
'Why did it have to happen to her?' was the single thought in both their minds.
"The nurse offered her office for you to change, and I have 'the goods' in your hanging bag," Nana whispered to her smiling granddaughter.
"Thanks, Nana: you Rock!"
"I do what little I can, Sweet Tea," she whispered as she kissed Joss' forehead, then she went full-voice. "So, now, scoot on out to the car and get your stuff: I ain't your pack mule, little missy!"
"'Elderly Man River, that Elderly Man River, he must know something, but he doesn't say anything,'" Joss began to sing as she headed for the car to get her things.
She giggled when she remembered what she had learned that night, after everyone else was gone or asleep, and she was alone, yet not….
-----
"Nana, this is amazing: I can wiggle all my toes!"
Joss looked over at Nana; Nana was asleep in her chair, totally drained from everything that had happened that day..
'Well, at least she's smiling,' Joss thought as she walked over to her and reached for the throw on the couch, placing it gently over her and kissing her forehead.
"Thank you, Nana," she whispered. "I hope your dreams are filled with rainbows tonight," she smiled as she flexed both her hands ('I can move both my hands again!' she thought, still amazed at the events).
She walked up to her room after turning the lights out and checking the coals, pushing them to the back of the massive fireplace for the fire in the morning. She reached out and touched the lift chair, feeling it with both hands for the first time in her life as she continued up to her room.
Joss stepped into her loft with a smile in her heart. The first thing she saw was her new picture of Wade, the one from the "Humans" magazine cover that she had had blown up to poster-size and hung over her bed.
"I'm coming, Wade!" she laughed as she sat on her bed and looked at her prosthetics, lying on the bed where Tim had placed them.
"Thanks, guys," she picked up her leg and smiled, dropping a tear onto the limb. She looked at the top of the leg where the line between it and her remaining leg had become an old friend over the years. She thought about the line it, and then realized that her leg was tingling.
She looked down, and the seam was there, once again.
"WHOA! That's not supposed to be there," and the seam disappeared.
Joss felt dizzy for a moment. Had she dreamed all of this, and her leg wasn't in her hand, right now? She looked down: yes, she was holding her leg, and there was a leg connected to her.
She noticed that the pigments that Jim and Tim had used didn't quite match her own skin: they has done an outstanding job, but it wasn't quite right…
…the leg attached began to change, and now it was an exact duplicate of Joss' natural leg, complete with freckles that matched the upper, biological part of her leg..
Joss tried to stifle a giggle, but she wasn't successful: "Did I do thaaaaaaaat?" she asked in her best "Stevie Varkel" voice and laughed.
She had an evil thought, and a question popped into her head. She directed it to her leg, and the leg became emerald green and hard, like wood. Joss lost all feeling, and she panicked as she touched it. She reversed it, and her leg went back to its previous state, matching her own.
She looked at her picture of Wade, then her hand, and smiled as her hand matched Wade's skin tone.
She thought about Wade and all he had been through and changed her skin tone back. 'That would be an insult to Wade, to all he's given to the world, to the man whose last thoughts were of me before he lost his sight, and the last thing that he saw was a picture of me,' she tried to hold her tears back but failed. 'He loved me,' she marveled, 'he loved me for what Ah was, a girl in Montana with a dream, and I still can't help but wonder how or why he still cares.'
'Maybe for the same reason you still care,' that part of her mind replied, that part she hated to listen to because it was right almost all of the time. 'You saw something in each other's smile and your eyes: you knew, even from a picture, that he was right for you, just as he knew, from a picture, that you were right for him.'
'Yeah, I know,' she told herself as she smiled and blew him a kiss. She removed both her arm and leg after she pulled off her pants and shirt, then slipped into a gown and removed her bra from underneath ("Got to keep them guessing," Nana had told her with a twinkle in her eyes). She hit the remote light switch and climbed the rest of the way into bed, both her old and new legs with her, her past and future. Only then did she realize that she had had experienced no pain removing the limbs.
"I wonder what's going to be like to sleep with two arms and two legs again," she said to the darkness…
-----
She had dressed, placing her prosthetics back in the bag after wrapping them in cloth, and she set her arm and leg to mimic her prosthetics so that, as far as anyone else knew, she was the same as when she entered the roomstill wore them. The pain had lessened to the point that putting them on was, now, a dull pain for about 10-15 seconds.
"Sweet Tea, are you ready?" Came from outside the door, and she unlocked it and opened it, and Nana stepped in.
"You didn't put them on?" Nana asked, and Joss giggled as she switched her arm back to natural, then back to prosthetic.
"You little minx!" Nana laughed. "Well, if you could fool me…" and she grabbed the bags. "I'll take these to the car and meet you at the auditorium."
"OK, Nana," Joss reached up and kissed her, and she was shooed out of the room to the real world.
'I never thought I'd ever walk these halls again with my own limbs,' she thought as she headed to the auditorium.
"Lookin' good, J," Becky grinned as she stood at the auditorium door, wearing black dress slacks, a light green blouse, and black flats.
"You, too, B," Jen added as she stepped around the corner, dressed in the same attire. The three of us drew whistles from a passing group of guys, and we grinned at them.
"Three gorgeous girls," came from one of the guys, and Becky giggled.
"That Brandon's a real cutie," Jennifer smiled, and Becky nodded.
"Not as cute as Mike, though: he's a real hunk!" Becky laughed, and Jennifer giggled in response. "I love how he handles those cattle in the corral."
"So does Darlene, his girlfriend," Joss replied with a grin, "like the handling part, that is," and Becky blushed as Jennifer laughed.
"But, none of them are Jim and Tim," Jennifer stated with authority, and both Becky and Jennifer nodded in agreement.
"Are you ready, Miss Barlow, Miss Battle, Miss Possible?" Mr. Brickle stepped up to the three friends with a big smile on his face.
"Born ready, Mr. Brickle," they all replied, giggling, and he just shook his head and smiled and walked towards Nana, coming down the hall.
-----
"Good afternoon, students, ladies and gentlemen, and honored guests," Charlie Brickle began from the stage.
Joss and Nana were seated, along with the rest of her small senior class (only 160 remained: over 20 per cent of the families left in the first few months after 'the incident,' as they called it, despite the attempts of the authorities to explain to them that what had happened was an aberration).
"We instituted these semester-ending gatherings after we lost Stephen because we realized that life was too short not to tell people how we felt and to not celebrate the positives that happen. Stephen, for example, never knew that he had scored a perfect score on his PSAT test: we were waiting until the mailings went out before we announced it.
"That, as we stated at the first gathering, won't happen, ever again," and Mr. Brickle began to announce the recipients of various awards, pausing as the students came forward to applause and camera flashes.
By the end, Joss and Becky and Jen and lots of others were concerned: none of then had been called up for anything, and they were afraid that this was a joke of some kind.
"I stopped several of you in the hall today and told you that something 'special' might be happening today, and I'm glad that all of you took me seriously.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the distinct pleasure of introducing to you two individuals whose names I'm certain you're heard: the governor of the Great State of Montana, the honorable Joey Barbersoni, and the head of the Montana Division of Criminal Intelligence, or DCI as it's better known, Ms. Melisandretti Claremore!" and the auditorium erupted in applause as the two of them came on stage.
Nana was standing, applauding, and staring at them both, recognition crossing her face: "Little Joey's all growed up," she grinned as she applauded.
"Thank you, thank you," the Governor smiled as the applause died down. "I'm here for several reasons today, and none of them are bad.
"First, I'm happy to announce that the state-wide funding for the Stephen Michael Lopez Freedom Scholarship fund started by the students here at the school with $150.75 has now reached over US $20 Million Dollars," and there were audible gasps across the room, "with an addition $20 Million Dollars in matching funds now coming in from other states and private organizations, making the principal for the scholarship fund now at over $40 Million Dollars!" The room erupted in applause as the students began their cheer for Stephen:
"You!
"Can't!
"Have!
"Them!
"We!
"Won't!
"Let!
"You!
When the cheers died down, he continued.
"The legislature passed two bills that have been sealed until today, when I was authorized to present them to you," and he opened an envelope from his pocket, pulling out two pieces of paper. "I know: politicians keeping a secret: strange, huh?" and laughter came from the crowd.
"Rather than give you the long-winded politician's banter, let's cut to the chase: Every senior graduating this spring from this school will receive a full-ride, four-year scholarship to the college of their choice. I didn't say of 'our choice:' I said of 'their choice.' We'd love for you to stay in Montana and attend our fine state-run colleges and universities, but if you have your heart set on a private school or on leaving the state, we'll understand," he wiped mock tears from his face, and the crowd laughed and cheered for the message.
Joss was stunned: why had they done this? She was planning to graduate this winter: 'I guess I'll have to stay in classes for the spring,' she thought sadly, mentally recalculating her timeline for college.
"When the bill was signed, we had no idea that we would have someone trying to leave our fine school early," he looked directly at Joss and grinned, and she blushed to high heavens. "And, then, I found out who the student was, and who her father was, and who her grandmother was, and I said, and I quote:
"This ain't right.
"You see, her father and I used to play poker back when he was a poor Navy swabbie and I was a Marine; he, unfortunately for me, was much better at cards than I, and I left the service owing him a dollar or 10," he laughed.
"First, I'm here to pay that debt back: with interest, the balance comes to US $758.27. I hope you'll take a check, Jocelyn: I'm good for it; besides, you know where I live," he laughed as more applause came and an aide delivered the check to Joss in her seat; she took it and held it up so everyone could see, and laughter filled the room.
"Second, I remembered my babysitter for far too many years, a pretty little lady that I had a crush on for years," and Nana turned beet red! "but I never told her how I felt. She was prettier than the Montana sunset over the buttes, guys, so remember to tell that girl how you feel before you get as old as we did. Right, Miss Esther Chatterton, now Mrs. Esther Possible, father of that poor Navy swab, and grandmother of Jocelyn Possible?" and laughter rang as Joey blew Nana a kiss.
When the laughter finally died down, he continued.
"We decided we had to fix that 'little' problem, and Director Claremore of DCI came up with the perfect solution: we had collected assets and cash from the different drug raids that led to Stephen's death, and we decided to put them to good use, the use that a hero would deserve. And," he stared directly at Joss, "before you start telling me you're not a hero, 'little missy,' just let me tell you just what you did.
"Based on the number of Diablos here that you and your Dad and others 'took out' and the projected paths of those Diablos once they left here, over 5,000 families lay in their path," and the room became a sound vacuum. "5,000 families that could have, and most likely would have, died if you and 'Sealie' hadn't take charge," now, he had real tears on his face, and Joss could see, out of the corner of her now-moist eyes, other tears were falling for her Daddy, as well.
She could barely see, anyway: she attributed that to the dirt in the auditorium air. 'They need better filtration in here,' she grinned as she wiped her tears away in a single swipe.
"Mel, will you do the honors?" Ms. Claremore stood and walked down the steps to Joss, Mel offering her arm as Joss stood. Mel escorted her to the steps, and Joss remembered how to walk as if she had the real prosthetic leg on, taking her time up the stairs as the applause washed over her.
Joss didn't like being the center of attention, but she had no choice as she was led by Mel to the center of the stage; Mel took her portfolio, handed to her by the Governor, and opening it, pulling out two envelopes. He took the portfolio and stepped back.
"Joss, whether you like it or not: you are a 'hero' to the people of the Great State of Montana. Your story is known state-wide, and when several of the legislatures learned that you were to be left out of the bill they'd signed, they first became indignant, and then they took action.
"I have, on the behalf of the State House of Representatives, the State Senate, members of the Executive and Judicial branches of the state government, and the Federal House and Senate representatives, a check for your college fund," and she withdrew it and showed it to her. It had Joss' name on it, and no amount.
"It's a blank check, Joss, good for any amount, for your entire college career. We learned that you wanted to be a doctor before," Mel dropped a tear, and Joss knew from the tear that Mel was someone that she wanted to get to know better, "and that you're still planning on doing that, just not the way you'd planned. You signed a blank check for the people of Montana, Joss: the least that we, as the Montanans, can do is give you a blank check, in return," and the room burst into thunderous applause as every student and adult in the room jumped to their feet and applauded Andrea Jocelyn Possible.
'ME?' she thought as the applause washed over her, turning her red with surprise.
'Daddy, this is all your fault,' she thought as Mel hugged her.
Mel whispered to her, "Way to go, hero: I'm naming my first child after you," and she kissed Joss' cheek.
"There's a small bank account set up, on the side, so you can have cash for things like a cuppa joe at MoonNickels for those late night study sessions," and all the students and most of the parents laughed, including Mr. Brickle and Governor Barbersoni, "and, to tide you over on 'those days' when you just can't take another college cafeteria meal," Mel laughed, and they stood and applauded once more.
After the applause died down, Mel began again. "I know what Slim was doing out at the ranch," Mel said with pride in her voice, "he was teaching the next generation of scientists to think 'outside of the box' in all areas: robotics, electronic, space sciences, biology, chemistry, even political science," Governor Joey laughed, and Joss realized, for the first time, that most people didn't know what her Daddy had been doing, judging from the looks on their faces. "His loss has hurt more than just his family, but we're going to try to help a bit.
"We've officially," Joey had stepped over with a huge grin on his face, then stopped. "Wait: Esther, git that cute little hiney of yours on up here: the one that I liked to watch walk away," and the crowd roared as Nana came up the stairs, blushing up a streak as Joey came to the center of the stage. When Nana got there, he hugged her and kissed both her cheeks.
"Mrs. Possible," Mel started after she pulled out another envelope, "I have the official designation of the Lazy C Ranch as a state landmark and as an officially-funded state research center, remaining under your ownership and control but funded from the sale of those drug assets; that sale totaled over half a billion dollars," Mel smiled as Joss watched Nana's jaw drop.
"This has been reviewed and approved by all three branches of the state government, and these funds are to be used, at your discretion, to continue the fine work that your son started and continue to support the students coming through the facilities," and the applause started again.
"Thank you," Nana smiled when the applause ended, "but I'm afraid I cannot accept these funds," and the room became sound-absorbent.
"And no, Joey, it's not because of the frog you put down the back of my dress, back when you were seven years old," and the crowd laughed as the Governor of Montana blushed to high heavens. "It's because I, only a few days ago, signed a contract with Global Justice to continue the facility and allow them to use it for their agents to study, as well as the regular student population that Slim wanted to serve," and the applause redoubled as the Joey and Mel both beamed. Nana held up her hand, and the crowd quieted down.
"The 'ranch' is being named the Samuel Clemens and Sheri Nicole Possible Institute for Advanced Studies," she finished, and the applause restarted, even louder this time.
Joss glared at Nana and mouthed at her: 'You didn't tell me anything about that!' She just smiled and winked as her tears joined mine as well as Joey's and Rebecca Jane's, and Nana mouthed, 'Gotcha: Merry Christmas, Sweet Tea!'
Joss thought that, this year, Christmas was going to be real interesting at the Possible ranch.
-----
Next, on Define, Hell IV (or, Define, Hell, IIII): Changes, and Christmas:
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"Ron," Wade asked when Ron closed the door to Wade's room, "I need a favor, and it's a big."
"What is it, Wade?"
"Remember what you did for Kim?"
"Which time?"
"What you did for Kim a few days ago, Ron, that's what I'm talking about.
"We did a lot, Wade: I took her to look at cars to replace the Sloth Pizza, we went to MoonNickel's," Wade cut him off with a wave.
"Ron, are you messing with my mind? If so, that's not a nice thing to do
"No, Wade, I'm not: what are you-" and Wade removed his glasses and pointed to his finger.
Ron's light came on, and he smiled.
"Wade, are you planning what I think you're planning?"
"I don't care what condition she's in, Ron: I don't want her to go through another Christmas, not knowing that I love her, her not knowing that I want to share the rest of my life with her, no matter where we are, or where life takes us.
"Ron, I want to ask her to marry me, and Slim already told me it was all right."
"Slim…?"
"I met him the first night after I lost my eyes, and he told me last night he'd give his blessing if I asked for Joss' hand in marriage. Even Momma and Daddy and Stephanie like the idea." By now, Wade was grinning as he slurped his grape Slurpster.
"Are you taking that joke a little serious, Wade? Sarah told me what you did to them that first day: 'I see dead people.' Wade, I'd expected better jokes from you than recycled movie lines," Ron grinned.
"Sue me, Ron," Wade laughed, "I had no script, and I didn't even know what my motivation was.
"I have my motivation now, Ron, and, this time, it's the same motivation as yours:
"A red-headed Possible woman."
Ron grinned.
"Wade, we're doomed, but what a way to go!" and the two friends clicked their cups and drank deeply, one already knowing the taste of love, and the other planning to learn very, very soon.
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Next, on Define, Hell IV (or, Define, Hell, IIII): Changes, and Christmas:
Chapter 11: I'll have a Tweeb Christmas, p3
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Thank you, to all of you, for continuing to support me in this journey.
Thanks again for reading, and please review.
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