25. Gifts and High Notes

I stirred when the 5:30 alarm went off. Stevie hopped out of bed. Don't think he noticed me opening my eyes. Good. I listened to him go through his morning routine. It was a manner of timing. Boy took a shower like he was getting ready for parade.

By the splashing I knew he would be washing his hair. I slipped into the back of the shower. When he reached out, his hand was on something soft and yielding, but it wasn't the sponge.

"For Recon, you're easy to surprise."

"Oh, I heard you." He was smiling. "Sometimes you have to let the enemy think they've got the drop on you. Can be dangerous…"

"But you have them where you want them?" He pulled me into his arms. His answer was a kiss.

Shower's a different dynamic. You don't hit the same high notes, but I love the tune.

Nbc

Showering together that way saves a few seconds. We toweled each other off and got dressed. Marsha was staying with me, so we could let her sleep. There was a surprise waiting for us at the kitchen table.

Table was piled high with pastries. At our places were bowls of fresh strawberries, the first of the season. A little note was with the flowers.

Sis,

Don't tell Ronald, but we got our second star, in part thanks to him. He really helped me whip the kitchen into shape in the short time he's been here. Cream's in the fridge, along with Marsha's strawberries. Just my way of saying thanks to you. His thanks will come tonight.

Henri

"Sometimes forget how many people have a key to this place." Stevie frowned.

"Hey, we may not get along famously, but we stick together." Stevie played the gentleman and pulled out my chair. Thinking of more tonight? "Get the cream, please."

Hank had also brought a Vienna Roast blend. I must have been love addled to have missed the aroma. Stevie poured up some cups, and we spent some rare time alone. All the kids were asleep. It gave us a chance to talk about the last couple of days.

"So our girl has a guardian angel?"

"Or a familiar demon." I sipped my coffee. "Whoever it was shoots like Hell."

"You just be careful you don't end up in anyone's sights."

"Don't worry. I'm a cautious girl. Besides, I'm making friends in high places. Had drinks with the Empire's Consul-General yesterday, Lord Fiske…"

He leaned forward. "Lord Monty Fiske?"

"Yeah, you know him?"

"Socially, no. Professionally…" Stevie's faced tightened. "The Empire broke the siege of Monrovia. Didn't want a government sympathetic to the French taking over. The relief column was headed by the Consul-General in Sierra Leone…Lord Montgomery Fiske. Man leads from the front."

I am well acquainted with death, he said. Wasn't lying. "Told me he had served in India, too. Why would a man like that be here? I mean, this can't be a plum job. Consul-General has to handle all the headaches connected with the trade on the Lake. A soldier like that haggling over tariff enforcement? Just doesn't make sense to me, Stevie."

"You rotate your men out of the firing line. Even the best can break down." Stevie took a long sip of his coffee. "Your brother has the best coffee in town."

"Hank's been a fanatic about food and drink as long as I can remember. Not the smartest, but he has an eye for detail."

Stevie stood up. "I think I'll take a mug with me. You just don't get this every day." He walked over to the cabinet and took out a thermos. "I shouldn't be late today. Finals come up soon; we're enjoying the calm before the storm."

I walked over while he poured up his thermos. "We'll be here. I'll ride herd over the kids."

"You think they'll be up before I get home? They do run on another internal clock, even by teen standards."

"They'll be up. The Brain Trust is back in town. Kim's crazy to see how the work's going on Justine's machine."

"See you later." Stevie gave me a kiss. "Remember, you've been running too hard too long, when Marsha naps, you nap."

Doubt it, I'll probably be playing cop. "Have a good day at school."

Nbc

Marsha had decided I was all right again. I was sitting by her in the bathroom while she sat on the toilet. She had one of her Picture Perfect Princess books, pretending to read. Every now and then I caught the words. Kid remembered the story! Of course, we'd had to read it to her about a thousand times. They say that progesterone treatment on a fetus, even for a few days, can increase intelligence, she swam in the stuff for three months. We are in so much trouble…

"Are you done, Marsha?"

"Yes, want treat!" Hey, bribery is the Go City way.

"Come on." She really only needed training pants when she slept. Mom was right: thank God for a girl.

Kim came out of their room. Why call it hers? Does he sleep anywhere else? "Morning."

"Morning, M!" Marsha got her hug and kiss.

"You know the biggest sign, other than the videos, that you couldn't be Shego?" Kim brushed Marsha's hair and looked at me.

"No, what was that?"

"You may not remember, but you used the word 'potty' during the interrogation. I can't see Shego doing that, ever."

Damn! I thought I had cut that out. You try keeping perps in line if you talk like a Mommy. "There are some real good pastries in the kitchen, from Henri's. When are you guys going over to IML?"

"In an hour or so. Once I can get Ron going. Wade said they have to rebuild from the ground up. Still not sure if their changes will work."

She looked over at the door. "Seems like we've been here forever; and we just might be! I sometimes wonder what we could do, how we could make a living. Ron has his cooking, but I don't want to wait tables for forty years! But it's not like I can just apply for college. Even if I could pay for it, I don't really exist."

"As Kim Possible, you don't. But Kim Passe could have a really good run. Where did you get those i.d.s? They're first rate."

"Don't know. We get them from time to time from Wade…most places we go to don't card. I can't believe that Ron hadn't noticed before then! But he usually doesn't keep that much money in his wallet. You'd think that he would've noticed when Henri copied it with his application."

"Doubt he did. Kitchens aren't the most up front in regards to labor laws. Dimtri's a little more legit…side effect of being naturalized."

She looked lost in thoughts that she didn't want. Planning for the worst. "Just go get some breakfast. I'm sure the Brain Trust will work everything out."

"You're right, Sasha. Wade's never let me down before." The smile was back. "Ron" she called, "pastries for breakfast."

"Coming, KP! Yaaa!"

"Ron go boom!" Marsha laughed, "like Bad Bonnie."

"I better go check on the Monkey Master." Kim laughed, "You be a good girl, Marsha."

Nbc

Not long after they left, the door bell rang.

Who could that be? Not kids on a fundraiser; they're at school. Proselytizers? Why won't Stevie let me put a statue of Mary in the yard? That usually scares them off. Well, they won't be the first to find out why my best religion class at St. Ag's was apologetics. This girl was born to argue.

I didn't recognize the car in the driveway, but I knew the man at the door. "Good morning, Bates."

He let his reserve drop for a half-second. "Madam remembers, how kind." He had an insulated cylinder in one arm, and a bag with something square in it under the other.

"With compliments, from His Grace."

"Thanks." Heavy, and liquid, I bet. "Can I get you something, Bates?"

"Thank you, but no. I have other appointments to make. A good morning to you, Madam."

After he pulled out of the driveway, I took the packages into the kitchen. Marsha ran in with her unicorn.

"Gifts for Marsha!"

"No, baby, this is for Mama."

"Gifts for Marsha?" she was a little confused.

"Grown-ups get gifts, too." I tickled her under the chin. "You were a gift from God."

Her disappointment lasted maybe thirty seconds; can't stay sad when you've got your unicorn. While she played, I opened the cylinder. It was cold. There was a note around the mail on the bottleneck.

My dear Sergeant Barkin:

A little birdie told me your exploit yesterday. I cannot say I am surprised at your taking on such odds and winning. What I cannot believe is that your Department has chosen not to mention your name in the official report. Courage should never go unrewarded.

Please do not think me cheap. By law, only a Romanov may present someone with a full and unopened bottle of Nevsky. As I believe you are no more superstitious than I, shaved ice will keep this nicely chilled.

That's why God made snow-cone machines. I opened the bag, and pulled out a square cardboard box. The seal of the Royal Marines was on it, with the label Kipling's Black Watch Grog.

"Four rations."

I did not realize your husband is Sergeant Steven Barkin, formerly of the U.S. Marine garrison of Monrovia. I saw him at the hospital when I visited the wounded. As his survival was uncertain at that time, he received no ration. I correct that now, adjusting for inflation. Please give him my compliments, one old soldier to another.

Two small envelopes were still in the bag. Each held a coin.

You had two young people with you, I understand. Could you see that they receive these? Should they ever need assistance anywhere in the Empire, they can present these to any official. Not a Royal Pardon, but they could prove useful at some point.

Again, you have my admiration.

Montgomery Fiske, Fourth Lord of Niagara

Consul-General

V.C.

How did he find out? The papers didn't, they'd have run my name for sure. 'Daughter Cop Follows in Chief's Heroic Footsteps.' Hope Ron takes this in the right spirit.

Nbc

Marsha plays like it's her job, only she doesn't gripe about it or threaten to strike. Come to think about it, that's one expression that's really off. After lunch she took my hand.

"Wanna nap, Mama."

I took her in and laid her in her crib. Better get a good look; you won't see her go to sleep much after today. Didn't listen to Stevie, I waited at the kitchen table for the kids to get back from the Lab.

"How's it going?"

"Great!" Kim beamed. "They've got the original circuitry back together. Now it's just a matter of integrating the new components."

"Just hope they have the temporal problem fixed." Ron's looked worried.

"Temporal?"

"Yeah, what do you mean, Ron?" Kim read my cue and took a seat.

"It's just…it was July when we ran into Drakken and Shego. It's just now May here. We have to get back to the right place AND the right time. We don't know what Drakken was up to, but we can be pretty sure he was off target as usual."

"Ron, you're sounding smarter every day. I just wish you had cheerier thoughts."

"I'm sorry, KP. I wish I could help them, but I just watch movies and play video games."

Kim put a hand on his. "But they're using some of your ideas on the whole frequency thing. They're as much in the dark as you are when it comes to how all this works."

Ron smiled. "The geniuses don't know any more than I do!" He deflated just as fast. "The geniuses don't know any more than I do. We're in some kind of trouble, KP."

"Just the usual sitch." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "At least we're in it together. It was so much harder with you in the hospital."

"Yeah, there ain't no Ronshine when I'm gone."

"If you don't mind my breaking up the sweetness, I'd like to get back to yesterday's game." Everyone seemed open, now's the time for answers. "Your Monkey Fist got turned into a statue?"

"Yeah, some deal with the Devil sort of thing, only this Devil was a monkey who speaks in slang. Dude didn't count on my sister, Hana. Poor DM Ron, he doesn't have a sister. I guess Yamanouchi doesn't handle adoptions here."

"Why would the Japanese? They wouldn't let children be adopted out of Japan."

"This so isn't our world." Kim sighed. "I doubt Sensei would be very helpful here." She looked at Ron. "You don't think they know, do you?"

"I can't say, Kim. All I know is that I can control it here so much better than I ever could at home. Part of it's the need…when you're in trouble, it seems to respond. Part of it may be the training I had after graduation. And it may be something about the differences in the universes."

"That could be bad." Kim frowned. "If they can sense it, then they may come for you. If they do, we can't assume they're friendly."

Great, another wild card. You don't want the Japanese in on your action, they just don't quit. "Never heard of anything like it before." I tried to be reassuring. "And I've heard of a lot of weird stuff. So, you also fought off little green men from Mars?"

"They were green, but they weren't little, and they're from Lorwardia."

"And I thought my nights were weird. I just deal with thieves and hookers." With a few molesters and abusers thrown in for bad measure, but we'll leave that out of the conversation.

"Probably nicer than some of the customers at Henri's. Just cause you pay a hundred bucks for dinner doesn't mean you own the staff." Ron yawned. "I'm a little tired. Think I'll go lay down for a bit. I have to be in a little early tonight."

Kim watched him leave. Once he was up the stairs, she turned and gave me a little grin. "I think I'll go upstairs, too. Tuck him in, so to speak."

There must be something in the water.

Nbc

She came out of their room just as I was passing by to check on Marsha. Her hair was mussed, and her eyes were dreamy.

"You need to brush your hair. A little fooling around, huh?"

"A little." She sighed. "That could get addictive."

I smiled. "So, someone broke the high note barrier today?"

"I always thought I'd have this conversation with Monique. Certainly not Shego, well, you know."

"It must have been a good one. You're all mixed up."

"It was great! Not that I have any grounds for comparison. I didn't know how long it would take to get to this. He's getting better all the time, but I don't think that was it. I was just looking at him, holding him, thinking about how no matter what happens, he'll be there for me. I felt so safe and loved and…it just happened!"

"Congratulations. There are high notes, and there are high notes. You hit one of the all time greats."

"I've got an idea, Sasha. Ron's working tonight, and I'm off. Why don't I baby-sit Marsha? When's the last time you two went out by yourselves on a week night?"

"Don't think I could see my feet at the time. Tell you what; I'll give Stevie a call. Now, I think I hear someone waiting for her Mama."

Nbc

"Hello there, Sasha. What's up?"

"What do you say we go out tonight? Kimmie's offered to baby-sit Marsha."

"It is a school night…"

"I'm not talking about some all-night party, just dinner and a little time to ourselves."

"Alright, I'm in! See you after school."

"Oh, Stevie, could you stop by the Toy Palace and pick up that little Picture Perfect Tea Set?"

"I thought we were going to hold off on that until her birthday."

"Well, don't want her to feel left out when it comes to gifts today. I'll explain later."

Nbc

Kim and Ron took their gifts well enough; after Kim convinced him that this was a different, non-stone-returned-to-life Lord Fiske. Coins were old and heavy, a good half ounce of gold each.

Usually I just throw beer into the fridge. This time I had checked the writing on the box.

Ron left a little before three. Not as happy about it, but he had the car. Kim played little sister and stayed with me and Marsha while I got ready for my date.

"Pretty." Marsha approved of the dark blue dress with the black accents. It looked sharp, and could cover what lay beneath. I needed Kim's help with the zipper. Didn't want Stevie in on the surprise.

"So, how did you know that Steve was the one?"

"Long story, not sure if I want you to know all of it. But that night he first told me that he loved me, I was a goner. Just took a while for me to admit it to myself." I turned and held up some earrings. "Sapphire or lapis?"

"Lapis; they match the dress better. You dated a while first?"

"About two months exclusively: and saw each other off and on a semester before that. I had my share of admirers."

"I bet. This is a gorgeous necklace. Where did you get it?"

"Family heirloom. Mom claims we're aristocracy on her side. Don't know about that, but this set is pretty old. Pulaskis wandered over after the Congress of Vienna. Daddy's side waited til the Gay Nineties. How do I look?"

"Mama pretty!" Someone's lobbying for a hug.

"Hope he can wait until after dinner." What a wicked little sister.

I heard the car door. "That's him."

We walked down just as he was looking at the grog. "Glad you read the box, this stuff is supposed to served at room…"

Loved the way he lost the ability to speak. "Aren't you just a bit early getting dressed?"

"A little bit, but I couldn't wait. Did you stop by you-know-where?"

He opened the brief case. "Got it right here. Marsha…"

"Gift!" She reached from Kim's arms for the tea set. "Let's play, Mama, Daddy, M!"

At least we were well dressed for tea. Marsha carried on some Princess story. Stevie tried to listen, but his eyes kept drifting over my way.

"We really appreciate your doing this for us, Possible."

"No big. I know how much the 'rents appreciated it when I would baby-sit the twins. It's so easy to get lost in a child…so I've seen."

It is, especially when it was so hard to get one here. "Well, we need to get going. Marsha, you behave."

I booked us a table at Lipski's, yeah, Ed's place. Didn't put all his eggs in one basket. Stevie's a real meat and potatoes guy, and they served one of the best steaks in Go City, and that's saying something. Stevie got the special, I kinda wanted a steak myself, but since I like mine medium rare, I went with their trout.

"So, the kids are all right?"

"Yeah, she's a little worried about getting home. Looking ahead, making contingency plans, that sort of thing."

He shook his head. "Don't like the sound of that."

"Why? She's just being reasonable."

"It's not those plans I'm thinking about, it's where the boy would fit into them. She wouldn't be the first girl to lose her head in a tight situation and rush into a relationship."

"Stevie, I don't think she's thinking marriage, and it isn't like she hasn't known the boy most of her life. They were best friends years before they ever went out." I had a little more wine. "She says her parents really like him. That can be a relief for a girl. I don't know which was harder: having to tell Mom you were an atheist, or tell Daddy you were a Republican."

He smiled. "That was some difficult ground to capture. But I just worry about our…I mean, their girl. She's legal, but still so young."

I started laughing. "I thought we'd be having this conversation about eighteen to twenty years from now. Ron calls it the 'Kim Factor' makes people better, nicer, than they normally are."

"She does bring out the protective part of you, and me, even if she can more than take care of herself. And her Ron's a fine young man. Knew plenty of his type in the Corps: a little goofy, not openly brave, but you knew they'd never let you down. She couldn't do a whole lot better."

He hesitated. "It's important to have someone you can rely on, confide in. Someone who keeps you from having to face the world alone."

Stevie, that's the sweetest thing you've said in ages. And that's a lot more subtle than anyone else would believe you could be. "Now's not the time. Maybe later."

"Well, you know I'll be there for you. Now, should I go ahead and order the chocolate blitz?"

Why not? Have a feeling I'll need the energy.

Nbc

We had a blast. Ed Lipski himself came in and brought in a band. One of the hardest, most dangerous jobs I had ever done was teaching Stevie to dance. Never would be a star, but we moved naturally enough during the slow numbers. We didn't stay too late, it was a school night. After thanking Kim, and checking in on Marsha, we went to our room.

Stevie always undressed like he had two minutes until bunk check. I planned to take things slower. I was putting up my shoes when he came up behind me. His hands went to my shoulders, and slowly pulled the dress off of them. The growl was music to my ears.

Don't like green and black together. Only have two pieces with those colors. My St. Ag's blazer and skirt for alumni occasions, and a teddy I found at a Smarty Mart, of all places. Some joker had used the St. Ag's tartan. Guys have such a weakness for the Catholic school girl look.

Like I said before, boy's got skills. And that night he was hitting all the right buttons. The kisses and caresses were perfect. Nothing took too long or ended too quickly. He even put in a couple of playful swats at just the right moment. I suspect Kim heard me when I hit my high note.

Usually I outlasted Stevie, but he was still going strong. He rolled us over and kept at it. Fine with me. I pulled him close and looked into those glowing brown eyes. He reached out and touched my cheek. There had been so much tension, so much pain, lately. But I had Stevie. I had my man, one I could trust, and who trusted me. And it happened; another high note, too intense for me to do more than just gasp. He was done now, but as he hugged me I got a bonus. I hadn't hit a triple in a long, long time.

"How are you doing?"

"W-Wonderful." I hugged him close. "What got into you, and how do we bottle it?"

"Sometimes everything just falls into place." He settled down. I put my arm across him and watched him drift to sleep. "I love you." I caught his whisper.

"Love you too." I kissed his cheek and laid my head against his shoulder. He'd have to fall asleep on his own tomorrow night, and for the next four weeks.

Starting tomorrow night, I'm on second shift.