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. I want to give a shout to Spectre666, Screaming Phoenix, Waveform they review me all the time and provoke me...I uh mean inspire me to do better, enough with the sticks already.
And now for the reviews: Daccu65, yes Kim is breaking free. What will happen when she's off the drug for a while. What's her best time so far three or four days? Though Ron isn't around Kim is blessed to have the kind of friends she does.
CajunBear, do you have your Louisville Slugger store online yet? You might want to think about a URL to sell some bats. I think some of the guys are getting a little edgy. I hear Hirotaka wants one. The last time Yori popped Ron in the jaw her hand hurt for a week. Ron still maintains that Kim has found a better man to spend her life with. He has no need to hear how happy she is with him. No need to feel that loser pain again. And who knows what Ron would do if he learned the truth. It seems that he has developed selective hearing like my dog has.
Shrike176, did I ever say anything good about Hank Perkins.....ever? As for no fault marriage, you fight fire with fire. All they wanted to do was get Kim out of that relationship, they don't know all the reasons at this point. As for Kim keeping her job, it's pretty easy to keep her away from the real good information if she's locked away as an agent trainer. I think Shego is going to take her time. She wants to make sure that she gets them all.
Waveform, yes dowry....You don't have a clue how the Mankey mind operates do you. They believe that they are a class above the rest of the human race. They let Kim marry into their family. I mean she was pretty enough for them...remember what was Kim's purpose going to be? That's right have about ten kids so that the Mankeys would look more like normal people. They had no idea that Kim was forced into their family. Let's leave the trophy wife thing alone. Yes Kim gets a little respite, hopefully it will strengthen her for the days ahead. As for the rest it's coming.
Screaming Phoenix, Will Ron listen. Remember Ron in 'The rules' episode. What he sees with his own eyes he will not discount. Ron will have to come to the answer in his own mind, but he is distracted most of the time. Keeping track of his men will keep him busy. Don't worry it should happen, but things might get in the way.
Joe Stoppinghem, it's about time for Yori to call Ron 'bata' again Ron has to make up his own mind and soon that will come trust me. But as I mentioned before sometimes life and BS gets in the way of love. Ron is going to make another trip and Kim has her own problems right now too. Thanks Joe, I appreciate it. All of this was because of one night of drinking and a hangover ;-) Sort of sick isn't it....Well and a few questions by some readers.
Eckles, Yeah Kim's life getting back to normal. Remember what I said about the light at the end of the tunnel? It might be the north bound freight train. Kim hasn't really paid attention to the 'where's Ron' thing except to shoot him. As for Wendy Marks, now that Kim is free again...Do you think she wants anything to do with that woman? Given the opportunity what would Wendy do in Kim's mind? Yep, she'd swipe him from the red head. Kim knows that she might have to wait for Ron, because if he's going to show up, it'd probably be at his parents' home. Don't know if Kim knew about the letter, it might have been conveniently been destroyed by now. Anyway, Kim is going to be busy for a while...Oh thanks for the ideas, however at this point in the story they'd rather difficult to include and make it flow.
A big thanks to the reviewers I truly appreciate the comments and ideas. 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.
OK I have a CORRECTION to make. SFC James is the Platoon Sergeant, not 'Top', who is the highest senior NCO in the Company. Though they are both normally E-7s or maybe the Company Senior NCO may be an E-8. I was stationed in a detachment and our CO referred to SFC Hodessy as 'Top'. However, we were five hundred miles from Battalion Headquarters. So SFC James is the 'Platoon Sergeant'...Thanks to Daccu65 in pointing that out to as I let it slip. Maybe I shouldn't have had that last whiskey.
ST 103
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Separate Lives
Chapter 25
Yamanouchi, Japan:
Sensei glided to the platform that stood a few feet higher that his students. "Please sit down honored students of Yamanouchi.", he told them with a voice the belied his apparent age.
"I have glorious news today. The Chosen One's Chosen is free again. This is a day to celebrate. We will begin a festival tonight. It will last for two days. After that however, we must re-double our efforts to bring this dishonorable situation to an honorable closure. Unfortunately that means we must train much harder. Advanced students, you will be formed into teams and each will be headed by two senior graduates to help guide the last phases of your training. While it appears that we are pushing you, all students must also learn to be patient. That is one of the most important skills for a young ninja to master. So the first thing that the advanced students will do on the third morning will be to become invisible to the rest of the students here for five whole days. If they find you, there will be unpleasant consequences.", he announced.
"I wonder what Master Sensei means by 'unpleasant consequences'?", Luki Rhu whispered to her friend.
"Don't ask little sister, just try the best you can like your Hirotaka-san and Yori-san. You have a bright future, there is something about you that is different. Haven't you noticed how the instructors treat you?", her friend replied.
"I haven't tried to be different Maki-san. Have I done anything wrong?", she asked worried now.
"You have done nothing wrong. Just keep trying the hardest that you can.", the other student advised her.
---
The Possible home. Middleton, Colorado:
The party was beginning to wind down. The Little's had already left because little Kimmie was getting tired and cranky.
'Wow.', thought Kim after they left, the little namesake had stolen her heart, 'I wonder if HE and I will ever bring any babies into the world...But then why would he want to with me? Anyway we can't now anyway...Ronnie's dead, I killed him. All I can hope for is to find him someday. Maybe he'll forgive me. Please forgive me Ron....Why do I know he's dead? What is going on in my head?'
Tara finally approached her old High School Cheer Captain. "Kim, how are you feeling?", Tara asked the young redhead.
"Oh I guess, I'm a little overwhelmed....Listen, I'm sorry that I stole Josh from you Tara, I just don't know what came over me. It's foggy for some reason, and I'm trying to make sense of it all. Some of the others told me that you organized a group to watch over me...I want to thank you for that.", Kim started
"Kim there are a lot of us that care for you. What hurt us the most is how secluded you became once my EX got his claws into you. I don't think you stole him from me, I think he used me to get close to you. I'm both glad and sorry.", Tara stopped to take a breath, 'Foggy? She should remember everything. I wonder what happened. Maybe I'd better tell Dr. Director.'
"What do you mean by glad and sorry Tara?", Kim asked.
"I'm glad that I saw his true colors and sorry that it was you who got to experience his quirks and his family.", she replied.
"Oh.", Kim stated, "Any..anyway it seems like there's always someone there to pick me up after I fell. First when I was real small it was Daddy. Then as I got a little older it was Ron...Well we sorta took care of each other. But when I started going on my missions Ron stood by my side the whole time. There are more scars on his body than you can count. That was why no one ever saw him without a shirt; it was horrible. He thought I never knew, but when we switched bodies...Please don't ask how, I had to take showers...But I saw them, some of them even hurt when I touched them. Ron never, ever mentioned them to me either. One day I heard Mom and Dad talking about the vow that Ron made to them about watching my back. When I asked Dad, he really didn't want to talk about it. Then after that climbing school thing during our junior year at Christmas I guess I finally began to have feelings for him as something other than a friend."
"That long ago Kim?", Tara asked.
"Yeah that long ago. That reporter, Wendy Marks even though she wasn't a reporter at the time, made me learn to appreciate Ron a lot more with some of the comments that she made. After the Middleton Day Festival in the Spring, you know the one where I acted like a fool, I realized that the emotion chip that had gotten on me had opened up my feelings for Ronnie even more. So when he said those little words when we were tied up by Drakken, when he tried to take over the world during our junior prom....Well it just opened my heart up. I fell head over heels in love with him. I feel even stronger about him that way now. Except I have this sharp pang in my chest that reminds me that I turned my back on Ron and I'll never see him again. I don't know why I did what I did. All I know is that I might never make it right. That pain is almost too much to bear. It...it hurts more than...than you can understand.", she finished as she began to weep.
Tara quickly pulled her into a warm hug. "Kim it's going to be alright. Ron will come back. If he's alive he'll return to you, I have faith in that. We have to trust Kim, that's all we can do for now, just trust and hope.", she told the shaking young woman in her grasp.
Anne Possible watched the scene. 'Good Tara's been trained to do this. Maybe Kimmie won't need the drug to function, but I've got a bad feeling about this. I think that it might be a good idea for her to move home for a while until her emotions calm down some. That way I can keep a better eye on her too.', Anne mused worriedly.
Wade and James also watched the scene. "Wade maybe I might want to check out my daughter to make sure she's OK, it's only been a day since the divorce was finalized, and I worry about her right now. Maybe we can get her to stay with us for a few days...Thanks for all your work on Josh, when you get old enough, I'll buy you a beer...Excuse me and Thanks again.", he told the genius.
"I understand Dr. Possible, I need to get home myself. I have to be into work early.", he responded.
Anne kept watching as her husband approached the two former cheerleaders. 'James is still looking out for her. If love can fix her, she'll be fine.', Anne worried.
"Kimmie would you like to walk with your old Dad for a minute or two?", he asked giving Tara a little relief.
"Sure Dad.", she replied as she slipped her arm inside his.
""Honey, I'd like for you to stay with us for a couple of days..You know, just until everything calms down. We'd love to have you here...And I'm just a little worried about you. What do you say Kimberly?", he asked.
"Dad, I stayed here last night. I have to get back to my place. I'm thinking about moving anyway to be closer to GJ and you. There's some condos over by the middle school and I'm thinking about buying one of them.", she replied.
"Alright honey, remember you're welcome here any time.", he told her.
Anne watched as her redhaired daughter turned down the invitation. 'I hope she's going to be OK though.', she continued to worry about gambling with her daughter's mind, 'I hope that Betty was right about what we're about to have Kimmie go through. Well we do have to know how bad it is. And we need to know if she has some put away and will use it.'
---
On patrol:
3rd squad worked it's way through it's standard patrol area. They had only been out one day. 'I wonder how Abdu is doing, maybe we ought to take a detour and see him.', Sergeant Stoppable thought to himself
Coming up to the well used side road he told his men, "Take this one guys. I wanna check in with my old friend and see how he's doing. Not only that, but he makes the best local coffee around. It's worth the ten mile hike."
"Best?", Yates laughed, "What are you comparing it to Sarge." Which got a laugh from the rest of his men.
"Just do it and stay alert.", he growled at them.
After three and a half hours they came to the village. Before they entered they knew that something was off. It was quiet, way too quiet. Ron snapped his fingers once. Fire team A went left. Fire team B went right. This was well practiced and no words had to be spoken. All the laughter was gone now. It was just eleven brothers, closer than even twin brothers could be. Alert and moving softy and quickly, never more than two moving at a time, they began to surround their target.
Sergeant Stoppable watched his men move off. They knew the drill, even if anything happened to him. Even if anything happened to any of them the lowest person in the squad knew what to do. Young men? Yes...Children? No. They stopped being that over a year earlier, some more than that. They knew the score, while many of their friends in the States were going out on dates or worrying what shirt to put on or deciding what to order off a menu at the local Bueno Nacho, these men worried about keeping each other alive... they were very good at it.
Sergeant Ronald Stoppable former great running back and unrecognized world saving hero walked into the village by himself, staying in the main street. Where most of the time young boys ran and played it. The place was now deserted. 'Why? What's going on?', he thought to himself as he pushed his thoughts out. He felt anguish. He moved towards the feeling. Coming to a hut he threw the door open as he leveled his M4A1.
He stopped.(Abdu my friend what is wrong, where are all the children?), Stoppable asked in the language of the area.
With his wife tending his wounds Abdu spoke, (The small ones are in hiding in the caves in the hill behind us. Bad men have taken my eldest son and daughter as an example to me about cooperating with you).
(When did they come and where did they go? I promise to avenge this my friend. I will bring your children home to you even if it costs me my life. I vow this to you.), Ron told his once enemy.
(My friend do not follow, I fear it is a trap. I must mourn my children.), he wept.
(My friend, when have I never kept my word to you? Will you come with me or will you act as a coward and not even try for your children?), Ron asked.
(I need a weapon to kill those that did this to my children. I will come with you. They will not intimidate my family anymore.), he growled in return.
(Good. I will call for support, then the hunt will begin.), Ron told his friend as he helped him up off the floor.
Going outside Sergeant Stoppable key the mic on his radio, "Red Dog Leader, this is Red Dog 32 Delta."
"Go ahead Red Dog 32 Delta this is Red Dog Leader.", Captain Booth replied.
"Red Dog Leader, Our informant, Abdu, has been the target of an attack on his person and home. Rebels have taken two of his children hostage. We have to go get them out.", he informed his CO, "If we don't help those that help us, our word won't be worth a dime."
"Alright Delta I need your location. I am moving the Company, the remainder of 2nd platoon will be airborne in ten minutes.", Booth replied as Sergeants began moving their men, "The rest of Charley Company is 30 minutes out."
"Yes sir, map coordinates Gulf Echo 4828. Can we have a couple of gunships sir, a spare M-16 and some Kevlar?", he asked.
"I will bring the extra gear. Those guys are on foot and from what you told me they only have five hours on us. I am tasking a Predator Drone as well. We are already coordinating the response. I will be with the rest of Charley Company when we meet up.", he told the young Sergeant.
Abdu came outside, (They will not help will they?)
(The rest of my platoon is less then twenty minutes out my friend. I cannot say that we will find your children unharmed, but we will get them back for you. I gave my word. My superiors believe in you as I believe in you.), he told his friend
Twenty minutes later four Back Hawk Helicopters landed just outside the village. Lt Wallace led a few of his men into the small mass of huts.
"Sir thank you for coming so quickly. You have met my friend Abdu before and some of his family. They need our help.", Sergeant Stoppable informed his platoon leader.
Wallace shook the hand of the elder of the village and motioned to him to follow. "I am leaving an extra squad Ron, that way you don't have to worry. They are already in place. We have a drone orbiting here as well.", he told Stoppable knowing that information would be passed on quickly which it did.
(Get on board my friend. You will find armor and a weapon. Let the hunt begin, do not worry about your home and the rest of your family, we are protecting them as you would protect them.),Ron told his friend.
Three choppers rose into the sky flying in the direction that the insurgents had taken hours before. Ahead of them an aircraft was already searching. Above it a Global Hawk was scanning a much larger area. The request went up the chain, and the order came down. "Make an example out of the bad men."
Twenty minutes later they got a message by radio. The choppers turned, a few minutes later they set down.
High above two sets of uncaring eyes watched the dramatic events begin to unfold.
---
Upperton, Colorado:
Kim Mankey, soon-to-be Possible tossed and turned in her sleep. 'Why can't I calm down? Why do I start to cry all the time? Maybe I should just go in to Headquarters. There's always something to do there, even if it's just paperwork. I might as well get up.', she snapped awake.
The former teen heroine made a pot of coffee and turned the TV on.'Oh great, Wonder Weasel and his partner the Fearless Ferret. I wonder if the old guy is still alive... Ron liked him so much....Oh God, RONNN.', she moaned quietly to herself as tears rolled down her cheeks, 'What have I done?'
The once fiery redhead finally cried herself to sleep as she kept berating herself for losing him, and the love that he showed for her.
She woke to the morning news. Checking the time she got up and showered. 'It's a new day Kimberly. One without Josh in it. Yes, it might be one of the best days I'll ever have.', she mused with a smile on her face.
---
Global Justice Headquarters:
Dr. Director picked up the handset for the phone, she had been up all night working on a problem and was just about ready to call it a night, day, or what ever it was. 'I wonder who it is, Jamie said it was real important.'
"Betty.", the female voice asked.
"Yes it's Dr. Director, who am I speaking with?", she asked with a slight edge to her voice.
"Well Betty, you remember me as Shego, but you can call me by my real name Sheila Goth. I have some information for you, I already told the former villain bunch that I would contact you so I am.", the green skinned woman informed her.
"OK Miss Goth, what is the information?", Betty asked.
"We know who made the drugs to take down the Princess and break up her and the Buffoon.", Shego told her from her jet.
"Who did the deed Miss Goth?", Dr. Director asked suddenly becoming a lot less tired.
"Amy Hall made the substance based on Kimmie's DNA so that it only interacted with her and no one else. I know you have a reward on Hall....I want it. I want a license to hunt her down anywhere in the world and I want the authorization to use as much force as I need to bring her in, in as many pieces as I choose.", Shego explained.
"I think I can arrange that Miss Goth.", Betty replied, "Do you know why she drugged Kimberly?"
"Yes the fat broad mentioned something about Stoppable's sister turning Monkey Fist into stone. A friend of Fist's was trying to get revenge on the Sidekick and asked her to help. When she realized who the people were that the other guy wanted to 'play' with, Hall was more than happy to help.", Sheila informed the head of Global Justice.
"Did she say who all was involved?", Betty queried.
"No, she said 'so WE could control her'. The her being Kimmie.", Sheila explained, "She didn't mention the identities of any others."
"Miss Goth we know what the substance is and Miss Hall's part in administering it while Kimberly was in the hospital. We had a very good idea that it was developed to use her DNA as a trigger or the only way to make it work. We know that DNAmy is on the run, but we need to know the identities of the others involved in this plot on one of my agents before we can level charges at them. If you bring Amy Hall in alive and talkative the reward will be doubled. You have my word on that. No one plays with my agents that way and gets away with it.", Betty promised the former villain.
"Good because I'll be sending you an expense report too. That fat woman can hide pretty good, but I always find my prey.", the green woman laughed as she shut down the link.
'Now we know for sure. I just wish we had all the names so that we could end this before it gets worse....Why would they just turn her loose like that?', Betty worried.
---
Kim checked her purse for money as she got her keys out. 'I guess I better hit the ATM this morning on the way in. It looks like I'll be eating at the cafeteria for a few days since I'm on duty until Agent Du returns. A $100 ought to do it, not like I can't afford it.', she mused with a smile.
She pulled in and put her card in the machine and punched in the code, 'What do you mean no balance? I better check the balance on the savings.....NO BALANCE either? OK OK, I'll just transfer over a grand or so to the checking from the money market.....WHAT, EMPTY TOO?', her mind spat, 'How am I going to pay the bills? Where did all my money go?'
Kim angrily drove the rest of the way to Global Justice Headquarters in a very bad mood. 'Who could have gotten into my private accounts? Josh didn't have access to them, or did he? I don't have any money...What am I going to do?', the former heroine asked herself as tears began to form in her eyes.
As Kim walked in she accidentally bumped shoulders. "Ex...excuse me.", she muttered absently feeling very small and vulnerable.
"Kim what's wrong? Are you OK.", Wade Load asked as he saw the defeated look on her face.
"Wade.", she cried through her tears, "I just ch...checked the balance on all my accounts and the bank....They're all empty. Someone cleaned me out. I was going to buy a condo close to Mom and Dad next month....W....What could have happened. How can I be broke? I tried to save every penny I could. Last week I had enough money to pay cash for the condo."
Wade stopped and pulled her into a hug, "Kim we'll find out, maybe we can get the money back. Give me a few hours.", the genius told her softly to calm her.
"Thanks Wade you've always rocked.", Kim replied with a sad smile.
---
During the Chase:
"Red Dog Leader, you are three kilometers south of the position of the kidnappers. At this point with the sun going down, they have entered a small hamlet that appears to be deserted except for their forces. I will have the drones keep up with the surveillance. I am under the impression that you will attack this position. Am I correct?", the operator asked.
"You got it sonny. We gonna kill bunch of bad guys tonight and make a reputation that you don't mess with our friends.", Wallace told him.
He turned and looked at his men. "Stoppable, you know these people and you are the head of the strike team. You are going in and get those kids out, do you understand Sergeant?", he asked the NCO.
"Yes sir, I don't know if Mr. Merchant can do what we can, I'd like to keep him safe and have him watch through some night vision in an outta the way place. Keep a couple of guys with him...Just in case he wants to start killing the people who are trying to hurt his kids.", Sergeant Stoppable replied
"OK when it gets dark you and your band of outlaws go in and get the kids. If you have to, kill everyone of the bastards to get them out. I'm unleashing you, do you understand? Am I clear Sergeant?", Wallace asked again to make sure of his intent.
"Crystal clear sir. There's gonna be blood on the ground tonight.", he replied again letting his platoon leader know where his mind was.
Ron walked off to find his friend, (Abdu my friend, you are here to witness our friendship to you. My men will go in and get your children to safety. You must stay here because of your desire to kill all the bad men. In your quest for their blood we may make too much noise in killing them. Therefore, you must stay here, I will be your hand tonight my friend. Those that die, will come to their fate because of your and our hand. Please wait for us and be safe.)
(I do not fear to die for my children my friend. I cannot ask you to go where I am afraid to go. Please let me attend my children.), the old man replied.
(I do not question your courage my friend. Tonight we must be close to the enemy, to get that close we must be very silent. My men are very skilled in that as you know. This is a young man's time right now, let us do the honor of being your hand and sword tonight.), Ron asked.
The older man smiled and put his hand on the shoulder of the American NCO, (May Allah go with you and protect you my friend. Do honor to my house as you and your men now belong to my family, my brother.), he replied with tears of joy in his eyes as they hugged each other.
--
The team infiltrated slowly and silently. They were careful to stay in any shadow there was as the darkness deepened. They entered the small village, nothing stirred but the people that took the children. Three moved towards the hut with the children. Ron opened the door a very small amount. Abdu's son, Rashid, was tied up and gagged. He was watching something that Ron couldn't see himself. He decided to move. 'Now or never.' "GO he hissed over his mic as he burst into the dwelling. He pulled out his silenced 9MM. Sergeant Stoppable entered the dwelling in a blur, seeing the threat turning towards him he dropped the insurgent with three muffled shots. Two to the chest and one to the head. The insurgent didn't even know he was dead. The only noise that was made was the sound of the body falling to the dirt floor. Ron saw the young woman, she was only half clothed and tied up, so he turned away and walked to the young man. Pulling out his old companion the old Marine Combat Knife he cut Rashid, loose. (Go free you sister and get her covered. I will return in moments...Hurry.), he instructed to the young man.
Seeing the nod Sergeant Stoppable left to see what remained of the outlaws.
--
"GO NOW!", came over the radio. The rest of the squad jumped into action. Thirty seconds later there were twelve less bad men on the Earth. A minute or two later Ron went back inside and brought out the two children of Abdu. His men looked at him as he pointed off and four of them led the teenagers into the night.
--
The seven that remained moved quickly. They set up two claymore land mines aimed at each hut left and ran the detonators and wires. Twenty minutes later Sergeant Stoppable called out loud, "FIRE IN THE HOLE". Almost a whole minute later men began to appear through the doorways of the huts. Only then did he light off the mines. Three seconds later twenty-four more bad men joined their comrades in the afterlife.
As the fires died down more Rangers came up to search the once village that was now nothing more than a meat market. Abdu followed them in. Lt. Wallace kept the two teenagers with him for their protection.
The old man found his friend, (You didn't leave much my friend, but thank you. You saved both their lives and my daughter's virtue. How can I repay you?)
(My friend, you have paid me enough with your friendship. However, I ask, will you come to my country with your family. I have links with a trust that will make all the arrangements, if you desire. It is a family decision not a one person decision. The offer is there. I will return in a few days for your answer. America needs men of courage my friend. You can never have enough of that in your citizens.), Sergeant Stoppable told him.
(Do not the men make the decisions my friend? America is a strange place.), he mused out loud.
(Intelligence and courage are not determined by what is between your legs my friend. That is the way it is in my country. At one time most thought it was or that it was determined by the color of your skin or even how you worshiped God. That is not the way it is in my country now. Anyone that is born in my country no matter what color they are, what sex they are or even how they worship Allah, or God they have the chance to become the leader. That is the way of my country.), he explained.
The older man asked,(Rashid told me what they were going to do to my daughter and that you saw her.)
(I apologize my friend, once I realized what was happening I averted my eyes from your child as quickly as I could.), Ron confessed.
(You did all that was honorable....Thank you again.), the father replied.
---
Global Justice Headquarters:
Kim was sitting in a meeting as her cell phone rang. "Excuse me for a moment, it is my EX.", she explained after she looked at the number.
"Yes Josh, what do you want?", she asked.
"You like the little surprise babe?", he laughed on the other end.
"What do you mean?", she asked puzzled now.
"Your accounts are all wiped out. I heard that it happened. You know if you had just given me the necklace and ear rings that the loser gave you as presents I might have let you keep the funds.", he continued to laugh.
"What do you want Josh, did you have anything to do with that?", she asked again beginning to get annoyed.
"Just this Kimmie, I'll let you pawn those little items that Stoppable gave you to me for about oh a penny on the dollar. Since I checked with the guy who made them, I can give you a hundred bucks cash. So at least you won't go hungry this week. Let me know DEAR.", he laughed as he closed his connection.
Kim sat back in her chair with a sigh. Betty was also in the meeting "What's wrong Kimberly?", she asked her agent.
"Th...this morning I went to the bank to get some money out for the week. I found out that someone took all the money out...Wade's trying to find out....Anyway that was Josh on the phone...He knows about the accounts and offered to buy the jewelry that Ron gave me when we were dating for a hundred dollars. Daddy told me that it was worth at least a hundred thousand. Don't ask me where Ron got the money, but Mom and Dad put all that stuff away for me when I was with Josh. What I can't figure out is how Josh found out all that? I don't remember telling him about the jewelry.", she told her boss.
"Your accounts are empty Kimberly? Don't worry, we'll take care of you.", Dr. Director told her.
"Th...thank you ma'am, but I have already given notice on my apartment. I was going to buy a condo by my Mom and Dad's place, but I suppose that it will be a while now. They wanted me to move back in. I'll have to think about it.", Kim informed her.
"Just how long have you been divorced Kimberly?", she asked.
"Two days and...and six hours.", she responded.
"Oh that long?", Betty asked seeing the redhead becoming more nervous. 'I wonder how long she's been off the drug?', she mused to herself, watching her agent.
"Yes ma'am.", Kim replied.
---
Middleton, Colorado:
Dr Anne Possible picked up the phone. "Possible residence.", she announced.
"Anne, we have to be ready. Kimberly's starting to get nervous. I have some other news, but that can wait. I don't know when it's going to happen. I don't know maybe it's just I'm looking so hard for it to happen that I'm getting jumpy too.", Dr. Director told the brain surgeon.
"Thanks Betty, but I can't get Kimmie to stay with us. I guess we have to wait before we can act. I hope you're right about maybe just looking for it too hard. Are you going to inform Tara as well?", Anne asked the one eyed director.
"She had the day off, something about moving into a house. We expect her in tomorrow. It will be day three. Let's just hope.", Betty told Anne.
-
On the fourth day after the divorce, Tara sat at the cafeteria with her old cheer captain. "This place is so big K how did you ever learn to find your way around.", she asked.
"Well Tara, I had been coming here for a few years with R...R...Ron wh..when we were to...gether. I..I suppose it...it ju..just takes a while.", she hesitated
"Kim is everything alright? I heard that there was some problem.", Tara asked.
"M...My mo..money is...is gone. All of it. J..Josh knew and....ma...made fun of it!", she stammered.
"He did? Why that no good JERK.", Tara raised her voice.
"I...I was go...going to b....buy a a place. N...now I...I c...can't.", Kim worked at getting it out.
"OK well you have tomorrow off Kim, try to relax. You want to stay with Bonnie and me for a little while? I know you and B never got on too well, but she's changed, trust me she's a lot nicer than she used to be.", Tara informed her friend.
"Th...thanks T...Tara, b...but I have t...to st...start packing. I am go...going to go home w..with M...Mom and Da...Dad for a...a while.", Kim tried to reply but was now getting frustrated, "I...I have to...to call M...Mom up."
"OK Kim, but you're always welcome with us. I'll come by later after work tomorrow and see you alright?", she asked.
Tara was relieved when Kim just nodded. 'It's not good, not from what we've seen as side effects. I hope I'm wrong this time. For Kim's sake, I hope I'm wrong.', she worried.
--
That night Kim got off and went home to sleep, she didn't even try to microwave anything for dinner.
She continued to toss and turn. 'We have turned him away and watched him die inside, then we killed his outside. We need to end this. Maybe we will find each other again somewhere.'
'Why would he have anything to do with the one who killed him without even a shout, without even a goodbye or a kiss on the lips. What kind person are we?'
'We were a hero at one time. We tried to be good. We loved HIM.'
'Now all we can do is mourn in quiet for HIM?'
'Yes, mourn, he deserves more but what can we do?'
'Ask forgiveness from HIM right now.'
--
"OH my head.", the redheaded young woman gasped as she woke, 'I guess I should pack, Mom wants me home for a while anyway. I suppose it's one way to get back on my feet. Now that Wade has put trackers on all my accounts and changed the numbers it should be better. I will never let Josh have the stuff that Ron gave me. I'd much rather give them all to Hanna.'
--
The Village three days after the rescue:
The Striker Combat Vehicle dropped it's rear doors as the squad of Rangers dismounted from inside.
The squad made it's way into the small number of huts. The Elder Abdu Merchant came out of one of the huts. (My friend the family has made it's decision. They wish to come to America to live and prosper. I am in agreement. I feel it is a good thing for us.), he called to Sergeant Stoppable.
(Good my friend, to celebrate we will dine together. It's called a cookout. We have brought the food and the way to cook it. We have another squad in the hills around us watching to make sure that everyone is safe. We will switch with them later so that they can eat as well.), the young NCO laughed.
A little while later everyone was eating barbecued chicken with potato salad, three bean salad. There was an assortment of soda since one part of the party didn't consume booze and the other was on duty so they couldn't.
The young man that they had rescued a few days before told them all, (If this is how Americans enjoy themselves, then we are very smart to go there. I am glad.)
--
(Abdu my friend, I will make the arrangements to have your family moved. The trust is going to take care of the expenses and the education. You will leave before I rotate out in two months. Some of my friends will be there to help you. Goodnight my friend, we must return to our base. We have patrol again tomorrow. Just think in two months you will begin a new life.), Ron told his friend.
---
Possible home. Middleton, Colorado:
It was late afternoon and there was a nasty thunderstorm. The rain was coming down in sheets. The was lightening and thunder were making a very impressive showing.
Anne Possible and her good friend Barb Stoppable were sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee and watching the storm. Anne got up to see who rang the door bell. "I wonder who it could be? Kimmie's not supposed to come come till tomorrow. James and the boys are going to put her things in a truck and move her here with us till she gets back on her feet after that stunt that her husband pulled.", Anne explained.
She walked to the front door and opened it. "M...M...Momma… h...help m...me.", her daughter cried.
"Come in honey you're soaked.", Anne responded as she pulled the younger redhead into the house.
Barb walked up to see who it was. She saw the wet bedraggled young woman standing in front of her. 'Oh my goodness, Kimberly looks terrible.', she gasped to herself.
Kim took that moment to look up and see the other woman who had once been her second mother. "M...Mrs. S....I...I'm...I'm so..sorry...I...I've sinned....ag..against y...you and Ro...Ronnie. I hur...hurt him...on...on the in...side. Then....then I...I killed...h...him on the on the out...outside.", she stuttered as tears rolled down her cheeks, "I...I'm...so...so sorry. I...I sho...should be pun...punished." Kim fell down on her knees with her head in her hands.
Barb quickly knelt down with her. "Kimmie you did not kill my son, as for the other stuff, we'll work it out. It's OK, it's going to be OK, I promise. You didn't sin against my family, no matter what you think.", she told the trembling young woman as she held her.
Anne was on the phone, "Betty, it's started. I'm going to take Kim to the hospital and sedate her. We have to get the support crew going. I hope our plans work."
"Quite right Anne, as of now, Kim is on sick leave. I'll have a team of movers get all of her things out of the apartment and move them to your house. If Kimberly gets through this I think she'll have to stay with either family or very trusted and understanding friends until she stabilizes. I'll be going to the hospital in couple of hours to see her for myself.", Dr. Director replied.
--
Middleton General Hospital. Middleton, Colorado:
Anne look at her now frantic daughter. The younger red head was laying in bed now restrained by very heavy straps to keep her in place and to keep her from tearing out the IV's that were now in place on both hands.
"W....Why c...can't you p...people just....just let me...me die.", the former teen heroine shrieked.
Calmly Barb Stoppable sat by her son's once girlfriend and softly wiped the sweat off the patient's brow with a soft towel.
Dr. Director walked in to see the seen, behind her was Kim's old cheer leader friends Tara and Bonnie.
"K?", Bonnie asked with fear.
"RON...RONNNIE, h...help me. I'm sor...sorry.", Kim wailed.
"Bonnie she doesn't hear you right now. All she hears is the demons in her mind.", Anne explained.
"Dr. Director please follow me.", Anne asked as she walked into another room.
"How bad is it Anne?", Betty Director asked once they were alone.
"It is very bad Doctor, basically Kim's body is starved for this drug and now she doesn't have it. If we leave her like this her mind may snap. Hell her heart may not be able to take the strain. So under advise from experts this is what we are going to do Dr. Director. We are going to re-introduce the substance back into her system at a slightly lower level than she was at. Since been able to manufacture it since we got the samples a while back. Then we are going to slowly reduce the amount of it she gets. To do this however we are going to have to sedate Kim for a while. She will have her lucid moments, when we get those we make her walk, eat and talk with as many of her friends as we can. Those will be the good days, then there will be the bad days. Days like today. We are putting together key words and phrases as Kimmie goes through this. Anytime that she talks about Ron Stoppable in the manner that you just heard her I think will trigger us to sedate her. Hopefully the 'good day periods' will begin to be longer than the 'bad day periods'. When that happens we'll know to decrease the dosage again.", Dr. Possible informed her.
"What then Anne? How long do you think it will take?", Betty asked becoming very worried now.
"We'll take it how it comes. I've people who are experts in the field watching my daughter all the time now. I don't know how long this is going to take Betty. It may be in the weeks or months. Now that we're sure that it was Josh who did this to her I want to savage him like you can not believe. Just make sure he stays away from my family.", Anne stated.
When they re-entered the room Bonnie had taken Mrs. Stoppable's place and was softy dabbing the moisture from Kim's body. "There there Kim.", she spoke softer than anyone had ever her her before, "We'll get through this. All you friends are here for you, just get better."
--
Tara and Bonnie were taking a break now that Kim was completely under. "Bonnie that was real good of you back there, you know taking care of Kim.", Tara observed.
"After the way I treated her for years. I might still be the you know...But no one treats a woman like that. NO ONE.", she grunted as she punched a wall pulling back a couple of bloody knuckles.
"Bonnie are you alright?", Tara asked her friend astonished by her friend's anger.
"You know T, Kim never tried to be the top of the food chain, she was what she was. I suppose she could have had my spot, but she never cared for that garbage. All she cared about was helping people with her goofy friend. Then they fall in love despite me making fun of them. And I mean LOVE, not infatuation, but true and total love. The kind that most of us as young girls wished we could have. I really think that they were on the right path, a lifetime romance. Then someone comes along and breaks them up on purpose. I think that Josh and whoever, because he's not that evil, just self centered like some else used to be self centered here. I think they used her....USED her like an object. Like something they OWNED. Kim Possible might have been my rival, but no woman ever deserved this. And it makes me very mad.", Bonnie growled.
---
A month later Betty was taking her turn sitting with Kim. "How are you feeling today Kimberly?", she asked.
"Sore Dr. Director. I know what's going on, and I'm sorry that I'm causing so much trouble. I don't know how to say thank you. Last night Agent Du was up here. We were talking and joking. When the blood test came back they told me that the next dose was going to be less again. I could see the pale look in his face. I just wondered then how many times he and the rest of the guys from Headquarters have sat with me while I screamed my lungs out.", she informed her boss.
"Kimberly you have always helped everyone that you met. Someone plays you and gets you hooked on a drug that's targeted at you and what kind of people do you think your friends are. You were there for people when they needed it, now that you need it your friends are here for you too. I've watched as Miss Rockwaller, Miss King, Miss Jenkins and the Stoppables sat with you. I saw that young man Mr. Renton here as well as that young Japanese couple. You should be very proud that you have friends like the ones you have.", she responded.
"Well ma'am, I guess we'll know how much progress I've made in a few days. I hope I don't scream too loud.", Kim asked meekly.
"The staff have provided us with ear plugs Kimberly. The walls are very sound proofed as well. I have heard dogs howling outside a few times when I came to visit though.", Dr. Director observed.
"From my screaming ma'am?", Kim asked.
"No Will Du's singing, he never could hit a note just right, he must be tone deaf.", Betty laughed causing Kim to laugh as well.
A few days later the hard part of the treatment began again as the beautiful red head tried to trash her way out of the restraints.
On Patrol:
Sergeant Stoppable was watching his friends packing. He had gotten them a ride into the largest town close by, from there. The trust's people were taking over and making sure that the Merchant family was going to get their papers finished and become more used to speaking English or American as most people told them.
As the vehicles made ready to leave Ron gave his friend a hug. (Remember), he told Abdu, (These people will help to get you situated when you move. If you have a questions they work for me. By the time you get out of the program you will have a job lined up and will be able to live freely. If you have any questions remember to call my people or my number. When I return I will try to stop by and visit.)
(Thank you my friend for this chance. My family owes you and your family a great debt.), the older man replied as they hugged for the last time in a while.
OK guys, so Kim is coming down off the drug. It will take a while longer, but she still has family and friends around her. I'll bet by now Tara might have enough information down for her thesis. Ron is getting the Merchant family to the states. They will fall out of the main story for a while, but don't be surprised to see them again in a later story. Rashid will become will become a power in his own right. The near dishonored girl will become a doctor. How many times has Ron done this to help out families that wanted the opportunity?
ST-103