Chapter 52: Visitors

On Wednesday Dr. Munson declared that, barring a major relapse, Ron would be ready to be discharged Friday morning, in time to attend school that day. The doctor was often seen shaking his head, amazed at the speed Ron was healing and saying that 'it must be good to be young.' In fact, Ron had started taking short walks up and down his corridor on Tuesday. This had prompted him to ask his parents to bring him a sweat suit. While hospital gowns couldn't fall down like a pair of pants, Ron had discovered that his tendency towards wardrobe malfunctions included finding inopportune updrafts. These, when wearing a hospital gown, proved to be every bit as embarrassing as one of his pants incidents.

Although Ron was very happy to get out of the hospital, the idea of not getting out of a complete week of school was disappointing. He was able to swallow this disappointment on Thursday, when the various government agencies tasked with his security decided to lower his visitor restrictions. He would be allowed two visitors at a time other than his 'rents and Kim. So, after Kim dropped off his assignments and notes (plenty of students had offered to make copies of their class notes for him), he polished off some protein bars then he and Kim finished their assignments. Now Ron was able to see his friends.

Of course, his parents were the first to show up. Kim was confused at first, since Ron was supposed to be allowed only two visitors at a time and both of his parents had shown up, along with her. When one of the guards informed her that Global Justice didn't include her in the visitor's count she was offended. When that same guard told her that they considered her more a guardian than a visitor, she didn't know if she should be flattered or offended. Instead, she had simply listened to the conversations.

First of all, it turned out that two of the items that had Ron worried had disarmed themselves.

The first item was his tuxedo rental. The Garment Company wanted their syntho-fluid saturated garment back, to put on display at their headquarters. They had not only waived the deposit but had offered him free rentals for life. Their marketing department was already planning an add campaign based on the fact that the 'first blows of the resistance were struck while wearing one of our tuxedos.' Ron was still trying to decide if he should accept the free rentals.

Secondly, Ron didn't have to worry about cleaning the kitchen. The various law enforcement agencies completed their investigations, in the kitchen, on Wednesday. That afternoon, Ned and the other Bueno Nacho employees, both out of work and grateful to Ron for evacuating the establishment, showed up and helped Mrs. Stoppable clean the kitchen. As a result, Ron didn't have a mass of congealed syntho-fluid facing him when he got home.

Also, his folks were now back in their own home, somewhat to the chagrin of the Possibles. The Doctors Possible appreciated two additional adults keeping an eye on the twins. Also, Mrs. Stoppable had insisted on helping in the kitchen, proving that Ron had come by his cooking skills honestly. After about a half-hour of pleasant conversation, his parents left, telling him that he would have a new chore starting Friday, after he got out of the hospital.

The next visitors to show were Monique and Felix. After sharing a high five with Ron, Felix explained that he had used the school's Distance Learning Room to intercept a video feed from a cameraman to a local network.

"The Distance Learning Room," Ron asked. "Isn't that the one with all of the TV screens, so teachers from out of town can teach the classes at our school?"

"Exactly," Felix answered. "The room has both broadband internet access and a satellite receiver. The reporter's feed was encrypted but Wade, Kim's brothers and I've made some additions to the receiver so we can pira…" He glanced around, guiltily, "I mean, so we can receive a wide variety of educational signals. Anyway, the network hasn't broadcast it, so only Monique, Bonnie, Mr. Barkin and I have seen it."

"Why hasn't the network shown it?" Kim asked, "it seems like it would be a real ratings coup."

"I think that some government types want to review it before it's released to the public," Felix surmised. "I know that a couple of agents showed up an took all of my copies." Felix said, with a secretive wink to the two.

Monique was much more businesslike. "Okay Blondie," she said. "Just where do you get off damaging that body that was going to go to the prom with me?"

Ron could play the game as well as her. "Monique, I wasn't the one who dam-"

"None of your excuses, mister!" Monique snapped at him, although she had a smile on her face. "You just get yourself well, you hear me? You still owe me that date, and I made that date with a fit, uninjured boy. This Saturday will make you a week overdue on it."

"So what all will I have to do to pay you back?" Ron asked, with his trademark grin.

"Well, a prom consists of dancing and light refreshments, so your late fees include dancing and a full meal. I'll decide just what else you need to do based on how long it takes to get you all the way back." Then suspicious moisture appeared below her eyes and she leaned forward to give him a gentle hug, mindful of his injured ribs. "We saw what you went through, Ron. You just worry about getting better. I don't have so many friends that I can take any chances with any of them."

Ron clumsily patted her back, feeling his own eyes tear up. It wasn't often that someone other than Kim, the Possibles or his parents showed this kind of concern for him. The four teens then chatted for several more minutes before receiving a call that more people wanted to visit. Monique and Felix left, to be replaced by Cindy and Oscar.

"Our folks gave us a break from our grounding to visit you," Cindy explained as she walked in and gave Ron a quick hug.

"Kim told me that you guys were fine," Ron told them. "What all happened?"

"Well, we destroyed your scooter," Oscar said, touching fists with Ron, then he went on to tell them about their adventures.

"Sorry about getting you grounded," Ron apologized. "We shouldn't have let you be distractions like that. That's my job."

"Ron!" Kim snapped. "I never could have taken out the antenna without you there and you know it!" She paused and turned to the couple, "but that was good work with the goons."

Cindy shrugged her shoulders. "I'm glad we were able to help. Don't worry about the grounding, it was worth it."

"Yeah," Oscar agreed. "We haven't seen that clip showing you two on the roof, but Bonnie, Monique, and Felix have been talking about it and the rumors are really starting to fly. The scuttlebutt has Kim pounding a tower apart with some green woman and Ron crushing Eric with his bare hands. It'll be interesting to actually watch it just to see how much the stories have been exaggerated." He paused a moment or two. "Ron, did you really make that Drakken guy say your name?"

Ron modestly waved it off, "I think he was afraid that he was going to get another wedgie."

"You gave one of the most wanted criminals in the world a wedgie?" Oscar had a decidedly amused look on his face.

"It's a long story," Ron explained. "But that was when I quit being a buffoon and became a genuine pain in his—"

"RON!" Kim's glare showed that she didn't think much of the upcoming pun.

"-er, neck?" Ron offered, meekly.

Oscar smirked. "Just how high up did you pull that wedgie?"

"OSCAR!" Cindy snapped, and swatted him. Then she looked at Kim, "I think that these two becoming friends was a really bad thing." Kim agreed with her.

"Don't worry about that scooter," Ron told them. "It was pretty much on its last legs anyway. I'm just glad that you guys came out of it okay."

After a few more minutes, another call came in informing them that Ron had more visitors. Oscar and Cindy excused themselves, looking forward to seeing Ron in school the next day.

"You know, the police are going to track down where the synthodrones stored their things before too much longer." Ron mused, while waiting for his next visitor. "Don't the police wind up auctioning things seized from criminals?"

"I think so," Kim replied, "why?"

"Eric had a nice bike." Ron explained. "If it comes up for auction, I just might want to bid on it. Then your brothers can soup it up and we'll have fast transportation."

"Ron Stoppable, you will do nothing of the kind!" Kim declared. "I want nothing, nothing connected to…to that thing to be anywhere near me!"

"But…" Ron began.

"Please Ron," Kim interrupted, her voice quivering. "I've already had my 'rents destroy all of the pictures they took and I've thrown away the dress I wore that night. I really don't want anything to remind me about it." Ron thought about it, then agreed. The whole thing had been humiliating for her. He then looked up to see Dave and Bruce, from the wrestling team, walk in.

The two had some hard looks for Kim, but stayed and talked with Ron for several minutes. Most of the rest of the wrestling team, and the wrestling cheerleaders, stopped in over the next hour. Kim was confused, at first, by the hard glares so many of them had for her. Then she realized that to them, she was the girl who had led their teammate on then dumped him for the new hottie. While she felt a fresh wave of guilt, she was also grateful to them for caring so much about Ron. Finally, the scheduled visiting time was over and the last of Ron's visitors left. Kim left shortly afterwards, promising to come back the next morning.

Kim showed up the next morning to find Ron trying to wheedle a description of his new chore from his mother. Mrs. Stoppable flat out refused to provide any details, saying that Ron would learn about his responsibilities in school that very day. After Ron's discharge, the two teens piled into Mrs. Stoppable's car for the ride to school. Once there, more students welcomed Ron back. There was a moment of drama when Tara ran up and gave him an enthusiastic hug, causing his injured ribs to send jolts of agony through his body.

Kim explained the situation to the mortified Tara while Ron slumped against a nearby wall, thankful that he was wearing a protective vest, and tried to get his eyes to uncross. Kim then had to calm Monique down. Monique remembered the 'accidental' bumps to Ron's hip during his previous recovery and assumed that this was more of the same. Bonnie, of all people, showed up and explained that her posse wouldn't be acting up again. Much to everyone's shock, Bonnie then apologized to Ron for her prior behavior towards him. Tara apologized to Ron, Monique apologized to Tara, and everyone was free to head to his or her locker.

Ron and Kim headed to Homeroom, with Ron thanking fellow students for welcoming him back at almost every step. The two teens then stepped inside, where their eyes were drawn quickly to the back of the room. There, rising from one of the spare seats, they saw…

"Yori?" Both teens were shocked, but walked to the back to greet their Japanese friend.

"Possible-san, Ron-san, it is good to see the two of you again." The lithe girl greeted the two with a small bow.

"What brings you to Middleton?" Ron asked.

Before Yori could answer, Mr. Barkin arrived and the bell rang. Kim and Ron went to their seats.

"Stoppable, good to see you've made it back." Barkin declared. There was no mockery in the big man's voice.

"Good to be back, Mr. B." Ron answered.

Mr. Barkin grinned. "I never thought I'd hear you say you were happy to be in school, Stoppable."

"The alternative is hospital food, sir," Ron quipped. Mr. Barkin and the rest of the class shared a short laugh at that one.

"Alright people, listen up." This had become Mr. Barkin's catch phrase for calling the class to order. "A couple of items before we start a new school day. The first item is that we have scheduled a dance next Saturday to make up for the suspended prom. The prom committee," he gave Kim a meaningful glance, "will meet in the library tonight and plan the dance." This announcement was met with varying levels of enthusiasm.

"The second item deals with another cultural exchange. Miss Yori Tanaka," he gestured to Yori, who stood up and bowed to the class. "From the Yamanouchi School in Japan will be attending classes with us for the last three weeks of the school year. During this time, she will be accompanying Ron Stoppable to all of his classes."

Ron's eyes grew wide and he turned to face Yori, who smiled at him. He noted that Kim's eyes narrowed, and that she was glaring at him.

Kim's eyes and mouth opened wide with Barkin's next announcement. "The Stoppable's have been kind enough to offer their home to Miss Tanaka for this time. Miss Tanaka will learn about American Culture by becoming Stoppable's shadow for the next three weeks."


A/N:

As always, thank you all for reading this tale. A special thanks to all of you who have taken the time to review and/or email me with suggestions and comments. Finally, a big thank you to Joe Stoppinghem for beta reading and smoothing out my grammar errors. Thanks Joe.