Chapter 13: Pretty Poison pt 1
Terror filled the eyes of the young woman running down the dark alley in downtown Lowerton. She turned a corner and gasped when she discovered a wall. "Oh, no…"
"Please…" the woman whimpered as she pressed her back to the wall. "Please, let me go… please…" She begged the white-eyed figure in the shadows.
Tears streamed down her face as the pointy-eared stalker eased out of the shadows and slowly moved toward her. "Please… I have a husband… a little girl… please… please don't hurt me…" She cried as the figure stretched out his clawed fingers on each hand.
(-V-)
Kim sighed as she slowly woke up, only to cuddle back into the arms that were wrapped around her very nude body. She'd never liked sleeping in the nude. When she was younger, it always felt awkward and weird. Even when she was married to Shawn and they had made love, she had always put on a long shirt or gown after they caught their breath. But this morning, feeling Ron's skin pressed to her bare back mere hours after they had made love was a rare treat, almost as rare as spending the whole night with him and not having to pretend to be asleep as he sneaks out to patrol.
"Good morning," Ron whispered into her ear.
"How'd you know I was awake?" Kim whispered back, pushing back farther against him.
"Your heart rate and breathing pattern changed," Ron replied, "And you don't move in your sleep, except when you have nightmares and then, it's closer to thrashing than cuddling."
"And I remember a time when you only paid that much attention to Nacos, wrestling and video games…" Kim smiled, shivering slightly when Ron's fingers brushed a couple of the bullet wound scars on her chest.
"I've always paid closer attention to you," Ron replied, kissing the back of her neck.
"If you're trying to get me naked and in bed, you don't seem to be paying that much attention," Kim teased. She giggled slightly before sitting up in bed. "As much as I'd love for us to pay even more attention to each other, it's time to get up and at em…"
"And what's more important than… paying attention?" Ron smiled as he looked up at the woman beside him.
"I promised Mom I'd help her clean out the attic today, and YOU promised Dad and Mr. Fox you'd be at the board meeting at the office… ON TIME." Kim climbed out of bed and started looking for her clothing, which was scattered across the floor. "I have to go back to the apartment to get some more comfortable clothes for the cleaning."
"When are you and Barbie-Doll going to move back in… for good?" Ron asked hopefully and studied her body language. His heart sunk when he saw her shoulders tense and muscles freeze for a split second.
"Ron…" Kim breathed apologetically.
"I know, I know, we're working on it," Ron held up his hands, "I was just… we are getting there, slowly but surely, right?"
"Right… just… just let me wade in there at my pace, please," Kim whispered as she pulled on her pants and shirt. "I… I do plan on it; I'm just not ready yet."
"I understand, and I'll be ready when you are," Ron nodded, "Now, if you don't mind I'm going back to sleep."
"Ok, I'll…" Kim froze at the door. "Hey!"
Ron yelped when the covers and bed sheets pulled him off the mattress. "What the… KP!" Ron cried out, looking up from the floor.
"Meeting," Kim stated, glaring down at him. "Now, up!"
"But… But, KP… Bats are nocturnal…" Ron whined pathetically, staring up at her.
"Bats may be, but even for billionaire playboys, three o'clock is pushing it," Kim crossed her arms.
"But it's just fifteen till ten…" Ron looked at the clock.
"Yeah, and if I leave you in bed till three, you'll still be near comatose," Kim smirked, "So up, and do I have to dress you too like I did for Barbara and Dick?"
"If you wanted…" Ron gave a lopsided smile.
Kim groaned and turned and stomped out. "Bye, love you!" Ron called after her. Once he was sure she was away, he grabbed his pillow and climbed back up onto the bed. He jumped when Kim threw the door open. "DON'T GO BACK TO SLEEP!"
"Yes, dear…" Ron pouted as he sat up in bed.
(-V-)
Kim smiled as she pulled up into her old driveway. Even after all these years, it still felt like coming home again, and she berated herself for not coming back as often as she had wanted. She got out of her car and walked around to the front door, a smile on her face as she walked into the living room. This place was her sanctuary, a place of peace and quiet where she would feel safe and protected…
"YOU THOUGHT I WOULDN'T FIND OUT, JAMES?!"
"FIND OUT WHAT? I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE YELLING AT ME FOR!!"
"Uh oh…" Kim paled slightly. She could count on one hand -- and have fingers left -- how many times she'd heard her parents fight. She was sure they fought, but they always made careful consideration to never, ever fight in front of their children.
Kim stood outside the kitchen and leaned against the wall beside the door. "DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT? JUST ADMIT IT, JAMES; CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL! JUST TELL ME ABOUT HER ALREADY!!"
"AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, YOU THINK I'D CHEAT ON YOU, ANNE??"
"You tell me…" Anne's reply was in a low growl.
Kim's eyes widened, and she felt her heart skip a beat. 'Daddy cheating? Could he? No way… would he?' She thought as she clutched her chest.
"Where the hell did you come up with that idea?" James asked after a moment of hesitation.
"Where did I? James, DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID? DO YOU THINK I DON'T NOTICE YOU SPENDING ALMOST EVERY EVENING WITH VIVIAN PORTER?" Anne screamed back.
"I DON'T THINK YOU ARE, BUT YOU SURE ARE ACTING LIKE IT! DAMN IT, ANNE, VIV IS JUST A COWORKER!"
"YOU HAVEN'T WORKED WITH HER IN YEARS!!"
"ANNE, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU LOST YOUR LIFE'S WORK IN ONE MOMENT? THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!!"
"I DO FEEL LIKE I'M LOSING MY LIFE'S WORK!!"
"NOT EVERYTHING'S ABOUT YOU!"
"SINCE EVERYTHING OTHER THAN YOUR FAMILY SEEMS TO BE MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU, I'LL SIGN JUST THE DAMNED PAPERS, AND THAT'LL BE ALL YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT!!"
Kim's eyes widened in shock before James spoke up angrily. "I have to go to work. We'll talk later when we've both cooled down… Kimmie should be here soon."
James walked out of the kitchen and he and Kim locked eyes for a minute. "You heard that, huh, Kimmie-cub?" James asked in a strained voice, and she could see hints of moisture in his eyes. "Good luck with her; she's not listening to anything today," he said in an angry tone before he left, slamming the front door as he went.
"Mom?" Kim asked softly as she entered the kitchen.
"Kimmie," Anne turned to her daughter, and Kim could see the forced smile on her still damp cheeks. "Thanks for coming to help me clean out the attic."
"No big, Mom…" Kim said, hugging her mother. "Do you… do you want to talk about what happened in here just now?"
Anne stiffened for a moment before walking past her daughter and moving toward the attic opposite of Kim's old loft bedroom. "Mom…" Kim breathed as she climbed up after her mother. "Do you really believe Dad could do that to you? He'd never even think of hurting you…"
"Just like Ron never would leave you, hurt you, or lie to you?" Anne asked with deep spite in her voice. "He did all three over the last few years, didn't he?"
"Whoa, back up and time out," Kim said with just an icy tone. "Ron and I have had our problems, yes, but we're working it out. I love you and respect you, Mom, but I never let anyone bad mouth Ron growing up, and I won't start now, not even you."
Anne took a deep breath and ducked her head. "I… I know, and I'm sorry… I'm just… I'm losing him, Kimmie…" fresh tears ran down her cheek as Anne focused on the floor. "I thought I understood what you went through when Ron disappeared after you both graduated… but… I don't know what I'm going to do if I lose him, and I don't know how I'm going to stop him…"
"What are you talking about, Mom?" Kim was at her mother's side in a second.
"He's spending all his time with Dr. Porter; he has since Drew destroyed her stupid robot…" Anne sniffled, "How am I supposed to compete with that? She's spent all the money she's earned at the Space Center to keep her looking like a twenty-five-year-old bikini model… She's still as beautiful as she was when you and Ron helped her get that job… and look at me! I have to color my hair weekly, sometimes more than that… and my face… how is an old woman going to compete with her?"
"You're not an old woman, Mom. I hope I look half as good as you do when I get your age. And on top of that, you've got something Vivian can never have," Kim said, rubbing her shoulder.
"What's that?" Anne sniffled.
"Dad wrapped around your finger," Kim smiled before kissing her cheek. "Now, stop fretting about Daddy and let's get to cleaning!"
(-V-)
It was what the Board of Directors called a Hell Day at Possible International. A day of hours-long meetings that go well into the evening. Ron was known for falling asleep during the proceedings, but on Hell Days, others tended to follow suit after the twelfth hour. The final meeting, with Queen Industries' CEO, Oliver Queen, drew to a close and waited for PI CEO James Possible to take over. After several moments, Lucius Fox stood up. "Thank you for your presentation, Mr. Queen. We will consider this joint security venture and get back with you after we discuss it with the proper department heads for their input."
"I appreciate your time," Oliver smiled and left the boardroom.
Ron nudged the still silent James, who stood up in confusion before regaining himself. "Is there any more business we need to discuss?" when no one spoke up, "Then, let's call it a night. It's been a long day."
As the Board got up and began moving to the exit, Ron touched James' arm. "Got a sec, Dad P?"
"Sure, let's go to the office," James nodded, and the two men moved to James' office. "What's wrong, Ron?" James asked, sitting down at his desk.
"That's my line," Ron smiled.
"Nothing's wrong, Ron; what makes you think there was?" James asked.
"Everyone's used to me passing out in meetings, but you're always one hundred percent," Ron crossed his arms, "Wanna try again?"
"She hates me, Ron," James said as he picked up the wedding picture he kept on his desk.
"Wha? Who hates you? I know a few who are annoyed by you on occasion, my fiancé included, but never anyone who flat out hated ya," Ron pressed as he sat down.
"Annie… we've been having some rough fights lately, more so than ever," James stared at the faces smiling back at him.
"I don't think I've ever seen you two fight before…" Ron frowned, "and I practically grew up at your house… it can't be too bad."
"She brought up divorce today…" James closed his eyes as Ron's widened.
"Back up, when did these bad fights start up?" Ron leaned forward. "And what caused the big bad ones?"
"The bad fights? When Kimmie-cub opened her website…" James replied.
"But… but you guys never said a thing when we were doing our thing…" Ron questioned.
"Never to you two. Don't get us wrong, we were beyond proud of what you and Kimmie-cub were doing," James gave a tight smile, "But do you really believe two parents could let their fifteen-year-old daughter and her friend go off around the world to fight criminals and terrorists without having words with each other? It got worse when you two became a couple… mostly due to my own insecurities."
"And the bad D word?" Ron asked softly. "What brought it on?"
"Annie thinks I'm cheating on her…" James looked away.
"Oh… you're… not, are you?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Hell, no!" James replied, before settling down. "She's… Annie's my whole world."
"What made her think you were?" Ron continued, trying to fit the pieces together.
"Viv and I became friends after she started working at the Space Center years ago," James replied, "And after Drew destroyed her masterpiece… she was shattered. She needed a friend, and I've been trying to help her rebuild the synthetic HARDaC brain."
"So… you never even thought of wandering?" Ron asked for confirmation.
"Why wander from a wonder?" James asked with a goofy smile.
"Have you told her this?" Ron asked leaning toward the desk.
"I've tried… but it usually only comes up when she's angry…" James said, looking away.
"You can't keep things from her, good or bad," Ron said softly, standing up and going to the window. "That's what killed Kim and me the second time… I didn't tell her things… both good and bad, and when she found out the bad, no matter how much the good things were, the bad ruined any chance of her listening to me."
"And it is incredibly weird giving YOU romance advice…" Ron smiled at the closest thing to a father he had left. That smile faded when he saw a light flicker in the distance toward Police Headquarters before the Batsignal lit the sky. "You better get back to Mom P, and I need to get back to Kim. With luck, we'll be doing the same thing with our respective better halves tonight," Ron grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
"I don't care how old Kimmie-cub is…" James pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please, please don't put that image in my head." He shook his head, "Besides, Annie's pulling a midnight shift at the hospital… Ron?" he glanced around, finding himself alone in the office. His face turned into a proud smile when he saw the signal in the sky. "Be careful, Son…"
(-V-)
The Tumbler roared out of the hidden tunnel and down the Triton street. "What's the problem, Jim?" Batman growled as he took a hard left.
"There's a situation at the Middleton Memorial Hospital," Commissioner Gordon's voice came on the Batmobile's radio. At the mention of the hospital, Batman tightened his grip on the wheel. "A former doctor, Dr. Jason Woodrow, came in with a group of hired muscle and took much of the staff and some patients hostage."
Batman narrowed his eyes. "Dr. Woodrow was trying to push some kind of plant chemical therapy a few years ago."
"Right, apparently he couldn't get research support from Possible Industries, so he started sneaking the experiments on the patients at the hospital," Gordon explained. "He was slipping a rare, plant-based poison called Chlorogene to cancer patients. Dr. Anne Possible discovered what he was doing last month and reported him to the Board of Directors. No surprise they fired his ass."
"Now, he wants payback," Batman growled, pushing the accelerator to max.
"And his massive vat of Chlorogene in the basement," Gordon replied. "Be careful, Batman. If he sees anyone coming, he'll kill the hostages."
"He won't see me coming," Batman growled before cutting the communication.
(-V-)
"Jason, let the patients go," Dr. Anne Possible said from where she and the other doctors were lined up on a large concrete ledge looking out over several large vats, the closest of which held Dr. Woodrow's emerald-colored chemicals. "Just take your poison and go!"
"Oh, but Dr. Possible!" Dr. Woodrow grinned, "This isn't poison! This could possibly be the cure to all major illnesses!"
"You're insane," Anne shook her head at her former colleague.
"I prefer the term eccentric," Woodrow replied, "And I'm not going anywhere till I make you pay for ruining my reputation, Dr. Possible," the mad doctor shook his head. "You're going to pay for what you've done to me."
"You won't get away with this…" Anne said defiantly.
"Oh, how cliché is that?" Woodrow laughed, "And who, pray tell, Dr. Possible, is going to stop me?"
"Me," came a growling voice directly above him.
Woodrow's eyes widened, and he leaned to come face-to-cowled-face with the Dark Knight. "B-Batman!" He gasped before jumping back. "GET HIM!"
Anne watched, her heart swelling with pride as the Batman… her boy fought to defend her, her coworkers, and the patients. A sad smile formed on her face as she longed to tell Ron just how proud she was of what he'd done and was doing.
'No mistakes,' Ron chanted repeatedly in his mind as he ducked and dodged and struck with precision. The Dark Knight moved with the grace and speed of the animal by which he themed himself. These thugs weren't even causing him to break a sweat.
"You may have stopped me…" Woodrow said, realizing his arrest was inevitable. "But I will take what victories I can get." Batman snapped his attention to the former doctor, and his eyes widened when he saw him pulling a pistol from his coat.
Batman pulled a batarang and sent it flying just as the mad doctor pulled the trigger and a loud bang filled the air. A split second later, Woodrow yelped and dropped the gun with his hand bleeding from where the batarang struck his hand. "Ron…" He heard Anne's voice squeak, and he turned sharply to look at her.
"You… did your best son…" Mr. Stoppable breathed, gripping his son's hand. "We're… so… proud of you… don't be afraid, son… Tell… Kimberly… to watch out… for you… for us…" he wheezed, squeezing Ron's hand tightly. "I love you, son…" he said as his head fell back, and his eyes slowly closed.
"No…" Batman breathed, watching in horror as Anne's white blouse began to stain red. Anne held eye contact with Batman for a moment before her eyes closed, and she fell backwards over the railing and into the vat of green fluid. "NO!" Batman cried out before turning to Woodrow in a blinding rage. In that instant, he didn't see a skinny man with beady eyes and graying hair; instead he saw a familiar group of teenaged thugs, standing around his parent's car. And he pounced.
With just two punches, Woodrow was unconscious, and running on adrenaline and instinct, the Dark Knight turned to the vat. "No…" he repeated again before running for the tank, pulling a breather mask from his belt as he ran. With the grace of an Olympic athlete, Ron jumped over the railing into the chemical bath, in search of the woman who allowed him into her family, who treated him like another son. Ron Stoppable would not lose another mother. Not today. Not ever. Not again.
Batman surfaced with Anne in his arms. He fired his grapple to get them both out and swung out to the floor. "Don't do this, Mom…" Batman whispered as he looked over her still features and then pulled open her blouse to see how badly she was wounded. "Please…" he said as he tenderly touched the bloody wound on her chest, concerned at the yellowing discoloration from the wound. He glanced up at the staring crowd before snapping at the group in white coats. "YOU'RE DOCTORS, AREN'T YOU? HELP HER!"
After a series of yelps and squeaks, the doctors and nurses dove into action, just as the police burst into the room. "Batman?" Gordon called to the Dark Knight as he fired his grapple and disappeared into the rafters of the open basement.
(-V-)
Kim sniffled and wiped her eyes as she walked into the Manor and made her way to the second floor. "Any particular reason you like to punish us?" Kim whispered as she looked toward the cloudy, three a.m. sky. She opened her purse and placed a cigarette between her lips before pulling out a lighter.
"I thought you quit?" she heard Ron's sullen voice behind her.
"Never said I quit; I said I cut back…" Kim said, lighting what her mother called cancer sticks.
"Shouldn't you be at the hospital?" Ron asked, walking out beside her.
Kim glanced to Ron's profile, and she could easily see, even in the dim light, that his eyes were swollen and red, and his cheeks were damp. "Dad ran me off. He said I needed to rest… he told me he wasn't going to take care of me and Mom both if I got sick… Mom's stable, and I was worried about you… so here I am."
"You shouldn't be around me, KP…" Ron said, "I think we've seen plenty of evidence that I'm a walking deathtrap…"
"What are you talking about?" Kim asked, holding her cigarette between two fingers.
"I couldn't save my parents… I tried… but I watched them get gunned down… right in front of me…" Ron closed his eyes tightly. "I tried to save Dick's parents… but I watched them die right in front of me… I tried to save YOU… but you got gunned down… right in front of me… I tried to save Mom P… but she got shot right in front of me… I don't know, but I think I'm picking up a pattern."
"Ronald… look at me…" Kim turned toward him, then forced him to do the same. "Look at me... LOOK AT ME, Ronald." Once he met her demand, she continued. "What happened to your parents, what happened to Dick's parents… what happened to Mom… and what happened… to me… none of it was YOUR fault. Not one event. Do you understand… nod yes or no."
"But…" Ron started, but she placed a hand over his mouth.
"This isn't a debate. The facts show you are not at any fault here," Kim continued, as tears formed in her eyes. "Yes, you lost your parents, and Dick lost his… but I'm here, and Mom's going to be ok… THANKS to you. If it wasn't for you, Mom would be dead, and so would the rest of the staff and the patients there. You saved them. And if I remember correctly, a certain heroic knight raced me to the hospital in his mighty tank when I was hurt."
"It doesn't stop me from feeling I let you, Dad P, and Mom P down, though…" Ron said after a moment.
"Mom's going to be ok, Ron," Kim said, placing her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest. "And we're going to be ok. We're going to survive this. Understand?"
"Yeah… I understand," Ron replied, placing his arms around her and resting his cheek into her hair.
"Good… now repeat that to me, 'cause I really need to hear it right now," Kim sniffled.
"I love you, Kim," Ron whispered into her hair, "And we're going to survive this. The worst is behind us…"
(-V-)
Dr. Vivian Porter wiped her brow as she worked late into the evening at her basement lab. Mr. Freeze tried to destroy her work, but she'd rebuild. And with Dr. Possible's help, her work and life was on an upward track. If only he wasn't so oblivious to her other invitations. Vivian smiled tightly. Sure, Anne made him happy, but she was sure she could make him happier, if he'd only give her a chance.
"Burning the candle at both ends, are we, Viv?" a sultry voice spoke from the steps.
"Who's there?" Vivian turned quickly, gripping a large wrench.
"Just little old me," Anne stepped out of the shadows in her hospital gown, smiling playfully.
"Anne? What are you doing here?" Vivian asked in confusion. "I heard on the news you were shot… shouldn't you be in the hospital?"
"Oh, I was just there, V," Anne said, glancing at her nails, which had turned a pale green. "I'm feeling better… in fact, I'm feeling as good as new. Like a whole new woman."
"That's… good…" Vivian said awkwardly as Anne walked toward her, swinging her hips with each step.
"I also know you've been trying to seduce James," Anne said, giggling softly at the shocked and fearful look crossing the younger woman's face. "Relax! I'm not here to fight. Fighting is overrated anyway, right?" She smiled affectionately at the woman.
"Relax…" Anne stood before Vivian, reaching out to stroke her arms, "Listen: I'm a doctor," Anne said in her reassuring bedside manner, "and I'm telling you, you need to relax… let it all go. You'll make that pretty face all wrinkly, and that blond hair gray if you keep this up, sweetie."
"Anne?" Vivian asked in confusion.
"I forgive you for trying to take James away," Anne smiled softly, stroking her arms and shoulders affectionately. "I understand. If anyone can understand what it's like to fall in love with James Timothy Possible, it'd be me, right? Right… so, don't worry about it… it's all ok… you're ok…
"It's ok, I know you won't try to take him from me again," Anne said before closing the gap to press her lips to Vivian's. The younger woman's eyes widened in shock as Anne forced the blonde's lips open with her tongue, giving her "adversary" a good, long French kiss. Anne pulled back after a few moments, smiling. "You taste sweet…" Anne said as Vivian began to tremble, then to cough and to gag. "See? Problem solved." Anne stepped back as Vivian fell to the ground, her eyes rolled back in her head, her body convulsing, and a green discoloration spreading from her mouth.
Anne walked toward the exit, stopping at a potted plant. "That wasn't so hard now, was it, baby?" Anne asked, reaching out to stroke the plant petals, and the plant's leaves reached back.
To Be Continued...
Next Chapter: Ron's hardest battle yet as Batman begins. And don't forget to vote for your favorite in the Fannies!