A/N: Please note that I still don't own Kim Possible or Ron Stoppable, so I have no rights at all to them as they and all the characters, objects and places associated with the show belong to the Disney Corporation. I still don't make any money from this hobby and I suppose that it's for the best though someday I'd love to get out of the stinking factory. However the characters Wanda Wang and Suzie Chin as well as Maku-san, Major John Grant, Major John Jackson and Judge Q. Hector Snobblestone do belong to me and are creations of my warped mind. So please ask if you want to use them…OK? I've borrowed from other authors with their permission
Foremost I want to thank again CajunBear73 for his tireless efforts at trying to make these stories readable. His comments in red are usually better than the story itself and one of these days I might include some of them in the comments section later, I just have to make sure that they are still rated T. I want to give a shout to Spectre666, Screaming Phoenix, Joe Stoppinghem, Eckles and Waveform they review me all the time and provoke me...I uh mean inspire me to do better, enough with the sticks already. Actually, Spectre just calls me on the phone or IM's me. Eckles is making me look into greater detail as to the motivation of characters...This has caused me to think. I wonder what he's going to do with the other stuff I'm getting ready to post?
Now for the reviews: CajunBear, which will happen first? The plot comes undone or Kim sinks into depression and madness? Nice 'hamstringing Kimmie' pun. It will unravel, but not till it goes further.
Eckles, Hi buddy...The question...Will Mr. F actually keep his word now? I mean he's trying to get his honor back, but is he going about it the right way? What is going to happen to KM (Kim Mankey)? Will she get free and go on with her life? Will she go insane and try to kill herself being unable to cope with killing the love of her life? Now since the Army doesn't want a lot of people running around seeing who is killing bad guys for them. I think they'll let this little misadventure slide away. Because if GJ is accused of a 'friendly fire' killing or wounding I would expect they would want to interview the Rangers that were present. With Wade investigating just how long do you think it would take for him to put two and two together? So I think Ron and the Army will just let this one go. Also, no one in the Army and few in GJ know who fired the shots. And as I stated before, if the rifle was on select fire as at least one model of M-16 is there is a three shot burst. Does Betty figure out from the comments that Grant made who this young man is? She has a lot on her mind right now. Trust me more will come later.
Shrike176, head shots are tricky at night, on select fire and at 100 meters or more. Why did Kim take it? She didn't want Ron to suffer. However, being hit in the chest by a three round burst should have done the same thing.
Daccu65, yes Mr. F's control is starting to slip. People are finding clues. But all this takes time. This still takes months. Yeah it will be interesting how it ties in, but I learned my lesson about prequels..
Joe Stoppinghem, yup no body no foul. Amy Hall will get hers, but ya gotta be patient. That's at least 150,000 words away.
Waveform, have you been hacking my computer again? Yeah Kim's down. Don't count on here for field missions. However that wasn't her primary job in GJ. As for Ron knowing who pulled the trigger...Does he care? Josh being free? Maybe, maybe not, the reason this whole thing started was because some jerk couldn't take responsibility for his own dishonor. That same guy is controlling Kim and Josh. Don't worry about Josh. I have something special for him. As for who the nurse is...Well I think that is either obvious or it is going to be answered very soon.
A big thanks to the reviewers I truly appreciate the comments. Now I do have one comment that I need to make. If something like "Is there going to be a sequel" enters your mind and you put that in the review (Yes this actually happened), and that information is included HERE, all that it tells me is that the reader didn't pay attention to the Author's Notes where I do try to let the reader know these kind of things, I'm not that big of a jerk to not let you know if more stuff is coming up.
Therefore let me say right up front 'Separate Lives' is between 'Broken Promise' and 'Once Again'. So it goes 'Winter Adventure' (Christmas of Kim and Ron's junior year), 'A Lasting Love' (Senior Prom…Or about four weeks before Graduation), 'Broken Promise' (Graduation to a month after graduation), and 'Separate Lives' (A month after Graduation till sixty-three months after Graduation). 'Once Again' is placed after that. I pretty much thought that was clear, but I'm just a dumb pipefitter.
For the rest of you I apologize. 99.987% of you already caught on a long time ago and I'm just trying to get the rest up to speed.
So this is the last of the prequel stories and if I ever attempt to do this again, please someone put me out of my misery. Please be patient because it is going to take a while to spin this yarn. It will go forty chapters. It will be dark in places. In other places it will be light. Expect drama and adventure with some humor thrown in, oh and don't forget about two dump truck loads of angst.
OK we got the infamous hamstring injury out of the way here. This will bother Kim for a long time. What happens over the course of the next six months to a year is very significant to our young heroine. And it allows others to step up for her after everything that she has done for them. For Ron, OK he's not dead...yet. He still has plenty of adventures which will tax him mentally and physically. Is that hero's grave drawing him closer?
Let's get some action going here. For those that want some Josh action, I got you some. And it looks like Ron is going out on a dangerous mission, well it starts out easy enough.
Oh since we don't make money at this CB73 is leasing concession stands for baseball bats and tar and feathers, I still have the rails under my control.
Let's have some fun.
ST 103
Separate Lives
Chapter 21
Fire Base Tango Black:
3rd Squad had just returned from the three day patrol. 'They're firing on all cylinders again now that their leader is back in top form. It had been three months and it had taken him two weeks to get his head wired right again.', Captain Booth mused, 'Not all near death experiences come to a good end like it did for Stoppable. His men had to carry him for a few days, but he's fine now. And his squad is tearing up the bad guys.'
"Lt. Wallace can I have a moment of you time?", Booth asked the man who replaced him.
"Yes Sir, what can I do for you?", Wallace replied.
"How's 2nd Platoon doing in your opinion?", Booth queried the younger officer.
"Sir your old platoon is hell on wheels, or off wheels for that matter. 3rd Squad's leader might be the best Ranger I ever met. I watched him make even ordinary riflemen take command of that unit sir. He's making all of his men into leaders. They're going to get me promoted just like they did you sir.", Wallace replied.
"You mean if you survive getting past those guys, they look for trouble. OK, now I've got this mission that Grant wanted done and he thinks that we should give your guys a day or two of rest before we turn them loose. I want your ideas Kenny.", Booth replied.
---
Global Justice Headquarters:
Wade Load and Will Du were still tracking the elusive fat woman that had planted another drug into Agent Mankey's IV tree three months previously. "She slipped us again Mr. Load. I thought we had her for sure this time. Somebody has to be helping her out. I think it's time to call in a few of the former villains. They owe us some favors for not prosecuting them. Let's see if they have any ideas where she may have gone.", Deputy Director and Senior Agent Du suggested.
"I agree Agent Du. Dr. Possible and Dr. Hebert (again for all of you non-Cajuns out there, it's pronounced 'A-bear'…) caught the drug that was being administered to Agent Mankey. They got a real good sample, but it makes no sense. That substance, and we can't really call it a drug, doesn't seem to affect anyone but Agent Mankey. Why would that.......be.....damn I'm supposed to be a genius!....That's it! That's it.", Dr Load gasped as he began to curse himself. "Why didn't I see this before? I've been so blind!", he howled at himself as he slapped his hand on his desk.
"What is going on Dr. Load?", Will Du asked.
"OK, how would you engineer something that only affects a select person? You know, so that it only works on the victim and no one else?", Wade asked.
"I don't know, somehow tie it in the target's DNA. But do you know how hard that would be?", he responded.
"Yes I know how hard that would be, but how many people in the world can do that and are criminals?", Wade pushed his thought.
"Maybe only a couple?", he replied.
"And how many of those have black hair and are short, fat women?", Wade continued to push.
"Amy Hall....That's DNAmy in that video? OK, I believe you. Therefore by deduction, the liquid may only affect Mrs. Mankey because it has been tied to her DNA. It's beginning to make sense.", Will Du gasped as he realized he just hit the big one.
He got on the phone, " I want an All Points Bulletin for the pickup and arrest of one Amy Hall, otherwise known as DNAmy. Heck make it world wide. I'll have the warrants made out."
"What are we to detain her for Agent Du.", came the voice on the other end.
"How about gross jaywalking, or practicing medicine without a license or even having too many pets for the zoning requirements? I don't care. I want her in our custody as soon as possible.", he replied over the phone.
"But why is she doing this Wade?", Will asked worried at the possible answers as he set the hand set back down.
"Well with her it was always just a weird thing. She didn't really want to take over the world, just make these highly unusual creatures. For the most part she was just annoying not that dangerous. But you know we've been getting weird blood tests from Kim for years. If this is a long term thing then maybe the drug/DNA thing will be the thread that we've been looking for to figure out what's going on.", Wade replied.
"When does Agent Mankey go back in for her next operation?", Du asked
"Next week, that Dr. Hebert is trying some new thing on her to give Kim some more flexibility. He's made a little progress with her. They will put Kim out for a few days while the machines do their thing to flex and stretch the muscles and tendons after they add the muscle fibers. So far it looks like Kim won't be a field agent again, Will. Her body just won't be able to hack it. There was just too much damage to the leg.", he explained.
"Yeah, I told her thanks for saving me and the other guys, but a thank you doesn't really cut it, you know?", Will Du replied.
"Well I heard that her marriage might be on the ropes, I know that you've been caught being nice to her.....Are you going to give it a shot?", Wade asked
"Are you nuts? That woman has eyes for only one man and it isn't Mankey or Will Du. If Stoppable showed up right now she'd toss us both out and yank him into her hospital room. Then maybe come out two months later.", Will replied, "We've been on missions long enough. Members of her unit have told me that sometimes when she's asleep after a bad day she says 'Ron' a lot."
"Well Will you 're not that far off, Dr Possible let me in on it. After the UN bombing thing, when Kim woke up she thought she was married to Stoppable. It took Anne a while to convince her.....Hey I just remembered, after Josh showed up she didn't have the problem." Then after the real bad one Anne wouldn't let him give Kim her BC pill. That's when Amy Hall showed up that night. Will, when Kim goes in for her operation why don't we engage in a little villainous activity ourselves?", Wade asked.
"What do you mean Dr Load?", Agent Du asked, concerned that what the genius was planning could be illegal.
"We go into Kim's apartment and take her BC pills. Then we wait until the operation is over and someone makes an appearance to put the spiked bag on her IV tree. At that point we get a sample of that too. We also get some of her DNA. Hell we have her DNA on file. I'll bet we find something that matches.", Wade explained.
"OK, but only if Betty signs off on it Dr. Load. You know she might just do that very easily since this could be a security issue here. Hey if I determine it so, I can begin collecting evidence on my own...You know for the good of the organization. Sometimes it's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.", Agent Du responded with a smile.
---
Middleton General Hospital:
The former Kimberly Anne Possible limped into the hospital to register for surgery using her cane for support. The girl behind the desk told her, "Just hold out you hand Mrs. Mankey so that you can get all these wonderful ID bracelets. We're glad to see you back here for follow-up treatment ma'am. The tech will be here in a few minutes and we'll begin getting you ready."
"Thanks for the help Mary. How are the kids?", Kim asked.
"They're good. I hope they turn out half way as good as you did.", Mary answered her.
A few moments later Kim was led to the surgery prep room to begin getting her ready for the long procedure. 'I hope those kids turn out better than me.', she mused sadly.
--
Dr. Anne Possible's phone rang just as she was getting up to meet her red haired daughter. "Yes, Dr. Possible.", she spoke into the device.
"Mrs. Possible, this is Wade. Could you do us a favor?", Wade asked on the other end.
"It depends Wade, what do you need?", she asked in return.
"Well ah... we'd like Kim's keys to their apartment... I had an idea, but I don't want to talk about it over the phone.", Wade told her.
"Why don't you come over in about an hour. Kimmie will be out of it by then. Josh isn't in town for a couple of days, so he won't interfere either.", Anne replied to the super genius.
An hour later Wade met Anne Possible in her office. She was holding her daughter's purse. She dropped it and out popped the keys. "My, oh my, Dr. Load. I wonder who these belong too? I guess we should find out and get them back to their rightful owners.", she announced with a hearty laugh.
"Dr. Hebert can start the procedure without me, I'd just be in his way. Let's go Wade.", she ordered.
Wade and Anne Possible were walking out to the undercover car which already had one occupant inside. "Hey honey, where are you going?", James Possible called out to his wife, as he had planned on being on hand for his daughter's experimental operation.
"Come on honey, get in the car. We have some detective work to do here.", Anne called back to her husband.
---
Upperton, Colorado:
The four got out of the car and carefully walked up to the apartment door. Will took the keys and opened the door by reaching in after he opened the door wide enough to get his arm through. He disarmed the security device that he had made Agent Mankey install (heck he did the installation) a couple months before. After that he opened the door all the way and walked in followed by the others.
Agent Du told them softly, "We are being watched by another group right now, we leave them alone because they leave us alone. They haven't hurt Agent Mankey, so they are most likely wondering about what's going on with her as we all are. This might give them ideas too."
Anne walked towards the bathroom and swiftly found what she was looking for. She put one whole package into a plastic zippered bag and a partial package into another one. "There, now that we have what we came for we can leave, unless there are other drugs that you think we need samples of.", she told them all.
Not seeing anything they looked through a few drawers and found nothing.
Will followed them all out and re-armed the security device as he began to re-lock the door.
No one noticed that they were being watched and filmed by Oma Lentu as they left the building. She keyed the mic on her short ranged encrypted radio and spoke, "Sister, Kim-san's parents and some friends were just inside her apartment. They recovered some medications that were being taken by Kim-san."
"Do you know what they took, sister?", Tura answered.
"I do not, the camera didn't get a clear image. We will have to enhance the shot." Oma replied.
"Do what you can sister. I will be back in a short while.", Tura told her companion.
---
Middleton General Hospital:
Anne and James Possible got out of the vehicle and quickly made their way back inside.
James and Anne returned to her office to talk. "Honey, do they think they know where the drugs have been coming from?", James asked his surgeon wife.
"Yes, GJ has been watching Kimmie for a long time. They could only catch her taking her ' woman's preventive' medicine. They are going to take a different look at it now. Wade came up with an idea. I don't know if it's going to work, but we'll be able to find out soon.", she replied.
"Where are you going Anne?", he asked as he watched his wife getting up to leave.
"I'm going to scrub up and go inside to see how things are going right now. Dr. Hebert is expecting me at some point and I'd hate to disappoint him. He's been doing a great job on Kimmie, hopefully in a year she won't even need a cane to get around. He's trying to lengthen the muscles and he's had a little success. It's harder to do than it sounds, but he'll do anything to help Kimmie.", she told her husband, "Remember to put him on our Christmas Gift List, he deserves it.", she left James in her office after giving him a kiss.
---
Jackson, Mississippi:
"Well Sugah, how are you tonight?", the lady of the night asked the young man.
"Just great, how are you sweet thing?", Josh Mankey responded to the tease.
"Well I gots an idea.", she told him.
"What is it baby?", Josh knew the game.
"Want to party?", she asked.
"Sure.", he replied.
"Well follow me then.", she giggled.
Josh turned to do as instructed when the world went dark as he crashed on his face a moment later.
---
Upperton, Colorado:
Wanda and Suzie entered the rooms that their counterparts had taken earlier in the year. "OK what did you find Oma?", Suzie asked.
"Kim-san's parents entered her place and found some drugs. We had noticed Kim-san taking these before and had looked at them also much earlier. They are standard women's drugs. Why they want them I am not sure, but one of them must have figured something out.", Tura told her friends.
"What do you think? And where is the drunk today?", Wanda asked.
"Some place in Mississippi or something. We have a team of five watching him.", Tura replied. 'After hearing about your exploits sister I wonder who is the drunk?', Tura mused with a smile.
"Where is Kim-san right now?", Suzie wanted to know.
"She should be in her latest operation. She is making progress, but it will be a long time before she can perform a somersault again, if ever. That was a very brave thing she did for her comrades. I am very proud of her doing that and still am upset at the same time. She was where we couldn't protect her.", Wanda growled.
"She has been having nightmares sisters. Many are worse than before. When this happens, her spouse gives her another...pill. He just gives her another pill... Why didn't we see this before?", Oma asked.
"Global Justice has already tested them. They didn't find anything wrong with them..."
"Until now.", Wanda interrupted Tura.
"Yes, but how? We must have Sensei talk to the mole. I cannot believe that this is all because of some pill!", Wanda growled.
"Maybe some, but it's too complex to just be the drug. I still say that your ex has something to do with this, but we haven't seen him since we danced in Lowerton.", Suzie reminded them.
"Notify Yamanouchi of our observations Tura.", Wanda ordered, "Sensei must made aware that some things are beginning to move."
---
Middleton General Hospital:
The fat woman entered the private room of the red headed former teen heroine. She quickly checked out the IV tree and added her bag to it and readjusted the drip again. The little camera again caught the bubbly obese woman. This time there was someone watching the video feed. "OK she did it. Follow her and see where she goes.", Agent Du told one of his female agents over the secure radio.
The black haired woman turned suddenly as she realized that she was being followed closely. The chase was on. The woman reached into the pocket of her scrubs and pulled out what looked like a toy as she scooted along. She tossed the toy over her shoulder and hit a button on her watch as she quickly waddled out of the building. The agent watched in horror as the whatever it was began to grow and change shape.
In a few moments what at first looked like an innocent child's toy grew to be eight feet tall and five feet wide. It had an alligator head and a buffalo body. It snapped at the GJ agent as she approached.
Agent Judy Summers took off running the other way as the Buffigator ran after her, snapping at her heels. Breathlessly Agent Summers screamed as she keyed her mic, not wanting to become the next meal for the monster that was following her very closely.
From a side hallway there was a black blur at the edge of Summer's vision as she ran by. Three times the the blur struck in as many seconds before the beast collapsed with a missing head and front legs. The blur was suddenly gone as orange blood pooled on the polished tile surface.
It took only a few moments for the dazed Agent to call in a report on what she had and what she thought she saw in the early morning hallway.
Only a minute or two later the beast was surrounded by a squad of GJ Agents, but it never moved again.
The black shape melded into the background as he had practiced many times, 'It will take some time for my blade to totally come clean from her creature. Too bad her blood wasn't mixed in as well. I must report to the team and Sensei. He must be made aware of the expanding threats to her. So that 'He' may re-claim her love.', he thought quietly as he avoided security patrols.
---
Jackson, Mississippi:
"Son you was lucky here, but that wasn't the smartest thing you might have done. The street walkers in this town look for soft boys like you. Next time try one of the escort services, you'll live longer. If you need the number of any of them, just ask any uniform. They'll steer ya to the right path.", the Detective Sergeant told the artist as he filled out the report, "Now I got a word of advice for ya sonny, why don't you stay in whatever part of the country you call home and clean up yer act. Otherwise, you might not make thirty."
Josh looked himself over in the restroom at the airport, 'Well I was lucky there. Too bad they didn't finish the job. I have to get back home. Kim had her surgery and I better make sure she's still on the drugs. The Master still hasn't said anything about the loser, maybe Stoppable really is dead.', he thought with a widening smile.
An hour later he was in the air heading for Colorado and his home. 'I hope Kim did alright in the operation, and I hope the fat woman was able to get the drugs in her too, it will make it a lot easier to control my wife....Ewww, I'll never get used to that.', he grimaced to himself.
---
Yamanouchi, Japan:
Sensei was looking over the reports. (What was that creature again Ishio-san?), he asked.
(Master it was a cross of what the Americans call a buffalo and a crocodile. A picture put on the local newspaper and we are keeping it to remind Hirotaka-san that he is a true warrior. He has gained some of the honor back that we lost when we pushed the Chosen One and his Chosen away from us. The report is that Kim-san has regained a little more flexibility. She may never be what she once was however.), the aide responded.
(Have we been able to tell Stoppable-san anything about Kim-san yet?), Sensei asked.
(No Master, he will not take any information about his Mate. The excuse that he has used was that she is wed to another. And he must remain in the shadows as you told him years ago.), Ishio replied.
(THAT WAS NOT MY WORDS, my friend. But for Ron-san they might as well have been.), Sensei confided as he calmed down.
(He will let no word of his wellbeing be given out to anyone, even his family, Master. He wishes to remain in the shadows fighting evil as he can. We will work on him again when he returns from his 'deployment' though that may be many months away.), the aide finished.
(Please find out all you can about the drugs and the operation to Kim-san. She is under our protection, no one else will hurt her without feeling death at their door. Make sure that Stoppable-san's home and family are protected as well. Use the resources that we need to do this. And speed up the training on the advanced students. I have a bad feeling that we may need them before this is over.), Sensei told his friend.
---
Upperton, Colorado:
"Sensei said all that?", Oma asked.
"Yes he did. I thought the old guy was on the warpath before, but now I know when he's really intense. He must have been something else when he was younger.", Suzie told them.
"He was born old, he's never been wrinkle-free sisters. But you are right he is focused now and so should we.", Wanda replied.
"We always tried to protect Kim-san before. Now it is official, if some one tries to hurt Kim-san, we can sanction them, so that they cause no more trouble in the future.", Suzie growled.
---
Fire Base Tango Black:
"OK let's go.", Stoppable told his men as they boarded the Night Hawk Helicopters.
All their faces were cammoed up and they were ready to move. It was a black night, a good night for hunting, and that's what they were doing. A neighboring country was smuggling in arms. 3rd squad of the 2nd platoon, Company C of the 2nd Ranger Battalion was going to stop this action. They were loaded down with weapons and brought 2 sniper teams and a couple of machine guns plus grenade launchers. They had the coordinates and so did the troublemakers.
---
An hour later they set up shop. The first trucks to come up the winding dirt mountain road were clean. The squad was getting nervous. After four hours the sun was coming up and the trouble started.
They checked out a few trucks and let them pass through. One however didn't seem right and they stopped the driver.
(What do you want?), he yelled in his own language harshly.
(We are going to check you. Get out.), one who appeared to be the leader called back.
Several squad members watched as nearly half of the trucks began to turn around and head back down the pass.
(What do you mean you are going to check out my cargo, you don't trust me?), the driver said in his language trying to intimidate the young men that stopped him.
Sergeant Stoppable replied, (Do not be stupid my friend, if you are not dirty, you have nothing to worry about, however if you are dirty I will cut your heart out and forget to bury you.)
(You insult me and my family, for that you will die), he yelled as he pulled an AK-47 from under the seat.
Before he could get it all the way out he had a Marine Combat Knife at his throat, the point of which was already puncturing the skin covering his jugular. (Now my friend, do you want to continue living or do you want to die like a pig?), Ron growled in the insurgent's language making sure he got the point across.
"Check this truck out completely.", Sergeant Stoppable told his men.
Other trucks we coming up the pass, but they could wait. The Rangers made sure that everyone could see what was happening to the truck and driver.
Ten minutes later the ground around them was strewn with mines, rifles, ammunition, and RPG's. They made the driver get in the front leaning rest position. That's the push-up position to all you civilians out there.
The driver was scared now, his plan to intimidate the Americans didn't work and he wasn't sure what to do. He noticed the leader of this group walking up to him again. 'I shall strike him down and run down the hill. I will have my revenge. If they kill me at lease my family will be safe.', he thought as the American got closer. He slowly rose complaining about his arms. When Stoppable got up next to him he struck with the knife that he had hidden in the sleeve of his robe.
Ron saw the attack coming from a mile away and waited for the move. As the truck driver began to move Ron feinted to his left and watched the insurgent bite on the move. He then switched back and caught him with a round house at the front knee tearing out his MCL, Ron drew the leg that he had just kicked with back and drove the damaged knee backwards with a sidekick making the insurgent collapse on the rocky ground in agony.
(You know buddy, I saw that coming when you stood up. Now you can either tell us what you know willingly, or unwillingly), Stoppable spoke to him in his own tongue while he cracked his knuckles.
---
Middleton General Hospital:
Anne watched over the small form as the machines that were attached to her left leg continued to stretch and flex the leg to its limits. 'I'm glad Kimmie's out for this. That HAS to be painful. Dr. Hebert does know what he's doing. And he's had all that input from the Sports Doctors too. Well we'll wake her up in a couple of days. Maybe by then Josh will be able to spend more than five minutes with her. OH I despise that young man. I just can't prove he's drugging her. We'll know soon enough. We're taking her off the bag that the fat woman put her on today.', she thought as she worried about the sleeping form.
Her phone rang. Anne looked at the number, "Hello Dear...Yes, Kimmie is still out....GJ has upped the security since that thing last night....This time they're armed to the teeth. Agent Du is sitting at her door watching everyone like a rabid attack dog, so it'll be OK to go the meeting tonight. And I especially want to meet Kimmie's namesake. I've heard she's a cute as a button...OK I'll be home by 4 O'clock, I'll see you then.", Anne shut the phone down. She sat for a few minutes just watching her lovely daughter.
Agent Will Du sat by the door. 'She saved a lot of people's lives over the years, it's time to pay her back a little....And it'll only be just a little too. Now if that jerk will just get out of her life, and let the buf...NO, his name is Ron Stoppable, back into her life. Now that would be a fairy tale ending. Until he comes home to her, I'll try to keep her safe from now on.', he vowed to himself.
He smiled at the brain surgeon as she left her daughter's room. "I heard from Dr. Load that you and Mr. Dr. Possible are going to dinner with some of Agent Mankey's friends. Have a good time ma'am, I'll keep watch and protect her for you. I give you my word.", the Global Justice Deputy Director informed Anne.
"Thank you Will, we'll be back in to check on Kimmie after dinner. One thing, if Josh shows up, I want you to frisk him to make sure that he's not armed or has drugs on him or anything. He has a past of trying to have Kimmie take her 'woman's' pill even when she was recovering in the hospital. Make sure he doesn't have anything on him like that.", Anne directed.
"If he has any of that stuff ma'am I will stop him and call the local police. I'm sure Hobble would like to talk to him. Maybe I can get him locked up for a couple of days." Will replied with a smile.
"That would be so nice of you Agent Du. After all this is over maybe we can laugh about it someday.", she said with a returned smile.
--
Chez Hana. Middleton, Colorado:
"Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Stoppable for reserving the private dining room here and for paying for our meals tonight.", Tara announced above the din.
"You're welcome dear, make yourselves at home. The room is ours for the evening in our remembrance of how Kimberly and Ronald loved the Holiday Time together. Order anything on the menu, but I highly suggest the Roast Duck. When Ronald worked here he perfected the recipe. It's now listed as one of the best dishes in several culinary magazines. We have already sent dinners to the hospital staff that is taking care of Kimberly tonight and the Global Justice Security Team protecting her. We still consider Kim to be Hanna's older sister.", Barbara told them all.
After most were settled in Justine and Mike walked in with the baby. Anne and Barbara made a beeline for the child with Hanna close behind. Barbara quickly relieved Mrs. Little of her prize and held her up to get a real good look at Kimberly Anne Possible's namesake. Anne stood by anxiously waiting for her turn as well. After a few minutes Anne did get her turn and boy did she love it. "How old is Little Kimmie?", Anne asked.
"Three months, almost.", Mike replied, like the proud father that he was.
"Wow! What have you guys been feeding this child?", Barb Stoppable asked.
"You know, the usual: steaks, eggs, chili, whole roasted chickens the normal everyday things that giants eat.", Justine laughed, "But really, she is on breast milk and I supplement with a lot of formula. We're going to start her on cereal this week while we're home."
"She's so big, how did it really feel when you had her?", Bonnie asked.
"I've tried to block that out of my mind, so please don't make me remember what felt like I was three year's in labor.", Justine laughed again.
"OK now that everyone is enjoying the children, why don't we order and get the business out of the way?", Tara implored everyone.
"Anybody see Ron Stoppable?", Tara asked. All eyes shot to Monique, she hung her head and shook it 'NO'.
"Sorry Mr. and Mrs. S. One of theses days we'll know something. I promise we will keep looking for him until we find something out.", Tara told them. No one saw Yori stiffen a bit when she mentioned Ron's name.
"OK, I guess it's back to Kim. Mrs. P, how is Kim doing?", Tara asked.
"As most of you know, Kimberly is undergoing another procedure. They have added more muscle tissue which they grew from her cells so that her body wouldn't reject them. She is under sedation for a few days as machines exercise her leg to try and strengthen it and make it more flexible. There are more personal things going on in her life, but I do not want to make them public. It's better that the information comes from her and no one else besides Josh. James and I, along with the twins, want to thank you for all the support that you have given our daughter in the past. If you can, please continue to do so. I'm afraid things might get a little rough for her in the future as she continues to recover.", Anne told all that were there.
Monique stood with tears in her eyes, "I want to thank everyone of you for being here for Kim's and Ron's families. I was a friend to both of them over the years. It broke my heart and I suppose a lot of your hearts as well when they broke up and Ron left us. It shows just what kind of people you all are. I know that this time of year was very special to Kim and Ron. A lot of you don't realize that, except for one Christmas and well there was another one...but they still spent some time together...Kim and Ron shared the holidays for thirteen years as best friends and later as boyfriend and girlfriend. I ask you all to stand up and raise you glasses to Kim and Ron, may they find each other someday....And raise a ton of kids."
---
Middleton General Hospital:
Oma Lentu was on duty for the moment, on guard to make sure that no one attempted to hurt Kim-san while she slept. Tura Stuta was on the roof in the shadows waiting for trouble in the cold December night. 'Please Fukushima come and try to attack the 'Mate' tonight. You will die slowly and painfully as I remove important pieces from your body.', she mused in the dark.
She looked down and noticed a despised figure as it approached the front doors. She keyed her radio, "The spouse is here."
"Understood sister, keep your vigil, Team Twelve will relieve us in two hours.", Oma reminded her friend.
Josh Mankey entered the hospital and went up to his wife's room. He was met by Agent Will Du. There was a small table next to him. "Please empty your pockets on the table before entering the room sir." Will said.
"Du, you know me, I'm here to see my wife. You don't have to frisk me.", Josh replied angrily.
"Global Justice Orders. We always had them, now we are enforcing them again.", Will told him with an air of superiority.
"Knock it off Du. I'm not emptying my pockets for you.", Josh snapped as he tried to push his way inside.
Before he had taken two steps the sap hit the artist alongside his head, laying him out cold. "Agent One to Security Detail, respond to 'Client's' room. There has been an incident. Please send a doctor or two and a clean up detail.", as he noticed the red stain beginning to spread on the polished floor. Will clicked his mic with a slight grin. 'Jerk, it's about time this happened.', he thought as he replaced the hard and heavy object on his belt.
What the heck! Did Will just do what a lot of us have been wanting to do to Josh for twenty two chapters? OMG! A nice get together for the friends of Kim and Ron. Oh and some action with Ron. I wonder what's going to happen next?
I must have done OK here, only had two CB comments. I guess one of these days, near the end of this mess. I might just post some of the comments that CajunBear comes up with. Sometimes I swear they're better than the material that he's working with. Since Waveform seems to be watching over my shoulder when I type he's probably thinking the same thing.
Oh so you know there have around 25,000 hits on this ARC since I began posting after the first of the year. I am truly amazed and humbled...Thank you so much.
ST-103