A/N: Once again, a big thanks to BitterSweetTeller for helping me out.
A few days later...
Stane was right outside of Stark Industries. He had a cigar in his mouth. He was still fuming over Tony's decision to shut down the weapons manufacturing division of the company without consulting him first. But he was quielty riding on his Segway to find Tony. He then parked the Segway. He faced Happy.
"Where is he?" Stane asked somewhat tensely.
"He's inside." Happy answered.
He sounded concerned. But, he didn't say much else. Stane then waved his access card over the key slot by the door. He entered the building. That's where he found Tony staring at the building's Arc Reactor. A giant version of the device that had saved his life not very long ago. Stane had more than a few questions for Tony about the future of the company and his decision to stop making weapons.
But Stane couldn't help but think: Tony, Tony, Tony...You should have gotten out while you had the chance.
"Well, that...that went well." Stane said. He was coldly angry. But, only Tony Stark and Happy could really tell.
"Did I just paint a target in the back of my head?" Tony asked. He sounded so certain in non-regret.
"Your head?! What about my head?" Stane scoffed. "What do you think the over-under in the stock drop is going to be tomorrow?"
With a big business like Stark Industries, profits were very important.
"Uh, optimistically 40 points." Tony guessed off the bat.
"At minimum. Tony, Tony..." Stane murmured kind of loudly.
Stane heavily sighed. He was looking down for a bit.
"We're a weapons manufacturer." Stane added. Not even a hint of regret in his voice.
"Obie, I...I just don't want a body count to be our only legacy." Tony said.
He was trying to further explain his reason for shutting down the weapons department. But...the air suddenly felt very cold to him.
"That's what we do. We're iron mongers. We make weapons." Stane said. There wasn't even a care about Tony's reasoning anywhere there.
"It's not only my father's name: It's my name on the side of the building." Tony pointed out. He loosely pointed to the Arc reactor from behind him. But Stane wasn't listening.
"And what we do keeps the world from falling into chaos: Like you and your father tended to do." Stane finished. There was a hint of sharp unease there. But Tony had a hint of sharp unease himself.
"Not based on what me and Kim saw. We're not doing a good enough job," Tony said.
He was remembering the soldiers from the convoy that died protecting Kim and Tony. So vivid and painfully. If it wasn't for many months of trying to look like he's not going to crack in front of Kim and their scientist friend in that cave...he would have many times over. Stane was about to ask if Tony was okay. But Tony sharply looked back up right at him. Tony let out a heavy sigh. He then continued before Stane could interrupt.
"We can do better. We're gonna do something else." Tony insisted firmly.
Stane scoffed. "Like what? You want us to make baby bottles and hope for more kid geniuses like Wade on the way?" Stane asked sarcastically. He put his arms out some as he did.
Tony couldn't help but smirk a little at mention of Wade. He then noticed Stane's stoic look. Tony stopped smirking.
"I'm gonna move the Possibles into my mansion for awhile. I'm gonna invest in Kim's world saving technology, and her hometown's institutes like the Space Center, MIST... Did you know they got enough to start a party across the country with fireworks?" Tony explained.
He was joking on the last part. He and Stane smirked at that.
"So what? Every guy likes fireworks. But, are we gonna be making girly battlesuits and walkies now?" Stane asked with a smirk.
"I'll table the battlesuit idea. But, really...I think we should also take another look into the arc reactor technology," Tony finished.
Stane couldn't believe what he just heard.
"Oh come on. The arc reactor? That's a publicity stunt! Tony...come on. We built that prop to shut the hippies up!" Stane argued. He swiftly pointed back to the Arc reactor behind them both.
"Kim could have been a hippie in middle school for all I know. We're not going out. But...look who helped me come back out of my cave." Tony remarked.
Stane laughed hard some at that.
"You still haven't lost your humor, Tony. I'll give you that," Stane commented. They both slightly smiled.
"That isn't all. The reactor works." Tony pointed out. The smile quickly faded from Stane's face.
"Yeah: As a science project. The arc was never cost effective. We knew that before we built it. Arc reactor technology. And, unless we're go for teaming up with a Institute of Arms Deals or something...that's a dead end. Right?" Stane shot back.
"Maybe." Tony said. He slightly nodded. He knew it was risky. But...he had to still give it a try. After all, he was a changed man.
And...Tony couldn't help but think: Maybe Stane could change too?
"Huh? Am I right? We hadn't had a breakthrough in that in what? 30 years." Stane said skeptically.
"That's what they say." Tony said. But...he was standing his ground. He was clearly not backing down. He could tell by the look on Stane's face that the man wanted to see what was keeping him alive. "Could you have a lousier poker face? Just tell me: Who told you?" He sounded a little tenser.
"Never mind who told me. Show me." Stane requested. He slightly glared.
"It's Rhodey or Pepper." Tony guessed.
"I wanna see it." Stane insisted.
"Okay. Rhodey." Tony realized. He heavily sighed. He then unbuttoned his shirt. And...he showed Stane the mini arc reactor that's been keeping him alive. Stane had a little smile on his face. He was, however slightly, impressed.
"It works. Believe me. Kim helped me on this." Tony revealed.
"Listen to me, Tony." Stane said. He was wrapping his arm around his shoulders. He lightly turned Tony around to face the Arc reactor at the same time. "I understand you have a new friendship with that kid. And, I'll admit it. She's great at saving the world. But, not everything is saved by teenagers. You and I...we're a team. Do you understand? There's nothing we can't do when we stick together: Like your father and I."
Tony heavily sighed. After a minute, he looked back toward Stane.
"I'm sorry I didn't give you a heads-up. Okay? But, if I had..." Tony started to say.
But Stane wanted to end their conversation right now.
"Tony... Look. If you wanna hang out with Kim, your cave buddy...that's fine. But, no more of this 'ready, fire, aim' business. You understand me?" Stane asked. That made Tony smirk. He instantly knew where that line came from.
"That was dad's line." Tony recalled.
Stane smiled. He thought Tony was getting the full picture from him.
"You're gonna have to let me handle this. We're gonna have to play a different kind of ball now. We're gonna take a lot of heat for keeping things quiet. But...I want you to promise me that you're gonna lay low for once: With or without your well accomplished friend Kim Possible." Stane supposed.
A few hours later, the Possible Family, Ron, and Rufus were staring at their new home for the next few weeks with awe. They just still couldn't believe that they were staying with a billionaire. But, both Anne and James were just grateful to have their daughter back.
"Possible Family, and Stoppable...welcome to the Stark Mansion," Pepper gave a introduction. She smiled as she put her arm out some with her hand up. She continued to smile. She gave the entire Possible clan and Ron a tour of the beach side mansion.
"Please make yourselves at home. Clearly, Tony likes you all enough to come in here," Pepper pointed out.
"This is the best mansion that we have ever seen!" Jim said.
"Hicka Bicka Boo?" Tim asked.
"Hoo Sha!" Jim said. He was high fiving his twin brother before Pepper continued with the tour.
Almost everyone was smiling.
But, all the while? Kim had a depressed look on her face. And, it's not hard to guess why. She had seen too much death. And, ever since the conference? She was still in some sort of distant trance.
"And...here is the den." Pepper continued.
That was before noticing Mad Money playing on the TV.
"Mad Money! Oh, me and Kimmie just love that program!" Ann smiled.
Meanwhile...a certain robot butler was busy trying to keep a unplugged VCR away from Jim and Tim.
Ann sat down with Pepper on the couch.
"You wanna watch it with us, Kim?" Ann wondered.
"Sorry. But...no. No thanks, mom," Kim said sadly.
She found it hard to look directly at anyone else. The depressed look on her face concerned both her mother and father.
Ron just shrugged to himself in a cluelessly happy manner. He made his way towards his best friend.
"Hey KP. You wanna see if they have a pool and take a dip in it?" Ron asked with a smile. Rufus then came out of Ron's pocket with swimming goggles.
"No. No thanks, Ron. Don't let me get in the way of your relaxing. I'm...just going to head up," Kim said uncomfortably.
She started to quickly head up the stairs. Then Ron became concerned for his bestie's behavior.
"Kim...relax. You're never in my way. What's going on?" Ron asked. He's already up the stairs then. He and Kim gulped very nervously. "I mean... For the past couple of days? You've kind of been acting like a game zombie lately. And, it's beginning to even freak me out."
Kim didn't even chuckle a bit. Her mind kept flashing back to that nightmarish three months. At the top of the stairs? She kept shuddering at the memory of it all.
"I...I just don't want to talk about it, Ron! Leave me alone already!" Kim shouted. She was very tensely glaring.
Ron looked real shook by that. Kim then stormed her way across the way into the guest room. She slammed the door.
But Ron didn't move from the front of the door.
"KP!" Ron pleaded. He heavily sighed. He sat against the door with himself hunched down some. "Look. We've...we've known each other since forever. So...you may not think I'm here for you. But, I am. Please Kim: You gotta tell me what happened!"
Kim heavily sighed from the other side of the door. She was simultaneously delicately reaching out to the door from her side of it: Almost like she was reaching out for Ron's hand through the door. Then, Kim took a short breath.
"Fine!" Kim yelled. "I...I got held captive by this terrorist group called the Ten Rings. They...did the impossible to me. They broke...broke me. They...they tortured me! They almost electrocuted me! And...they killed Yinsen!"
Kim's eyes was watery the whole time. She was trying hard not to cry against the door. But, it was very hard to see past the teariness in her eyes.
"Kim... I'm trying to follow. But...you've broken your leg or your arm before in cheerleading. You can wrestle a shark. What could possibly...? And...oh yeah: Who's Yinsen? Who's any of them? I'm...I'm so confused," Ron admitted. He was on the verge of tears. And, yet, he couldn't even wrap his brain around why.
Kim heavily sighed. After a bit...Kim more lightly sighed.
"I know you would be. But...I'll try," Kim tried to assure.
"Sure. Okay. So... This could be a good start." Ron brought up.
"Yeah. Maybe," Kim relented some.
"Yeah. So...who's Yinsen?" Ron asked nervously. After a bit...Kim continued.
"Me...me and Tony's friend. He's...was a cousin of Professor Dementor. Are...are you still with me?" Kim explained.
"Always," Ron tried to assure her.
"Thank you. But...but going back to the subject..." Kim continued. Some tears escaped from her face. "We...we saw people die saving us! This world isn't like just some cartoon you can just step back from all happy no matter what! I'd still like to think so. But...but...it's not at all what we thought it was!"
"Not...not all happy? But...but, we always save the day together. You always save the...," Ron was trying to say.
"Ohhh!" Kim cried out angrily. She pounded the door very loudly with her fists. Ron was left more concerned and confused. He reactively backed away quite a bit.
"That's just what I'm was talking about: You'll never understand life outside a video game! So just...just leave me alone! Now!" Kim cried out.
She opened the door...only to just slam the door again. Ron gulped very nervously at that, leaving him more concerned and confused.
He then went downstairs to find both of Kim Possible's parents. But...they weren't far. They had already heard Kim's outburst. Ron sat down hard on the couch. To Ron at the time? He and Kim's parents seemed to be the only ones now in the room.
"Man! Kim is really upset. And...maybe she's right: Maybe I am just too happy go lucky to..." Ron was saying. He was sniffling hard. Some tears fell.
"No. It's okay, Ronald. Don't talk like that." James tried to assure.
"Really?" Ron asked nervously. Ann was placing a comforting hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Kimmie is...is going through post traumatic stress. She's been through a lot, you know. But, it's not your fault here," Ann tried to assure him.
"Th...thanks," Ron added.
He, Ann, James, and Pepper very faintly smiled to each other.
"That's right. So, it's very important that we all try to help her through this difficult time," James added.
"Well... I...I was trying to before..." Ron tried to explain. He then drew in a shaky breath. "She told me I'll never understand life outside of a video game."
James and Ann each sat down next to Ron, hoping to comfort him as they watched more of Mad Money and Jim Cramer.
"Stark Industries, I got one recommendation!" Jim Cramer yelled. "Ready? Ready? Sell, sell, sell! ABANDON SHIP!"
Ann just couldn't help but laugh before noticing Pepper still sitting next to her. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"It's cool. Besides, we're living in unusual times anyway." Pepper smiled faintly.
"Let me show you the new Stark Industries business plan!" Jim Cramer continued, breaking a glass mug with a baseball bat. "Look, that's a weapons company that doesn't make weapons!"
Just then, Tony's voice rang out on Pepper's tablet.
"Pepper. How big are your hands?" He asked.
"Well, right now I'm trying to...what?" Pepper asked in sudden confusion.
"How big are your hands?" Tony repeated.
"I...I don't understand why..." Pepper began.
That was before Tony cut her off.
"Get down here. I need you." Tony said. "You too, Mrs. Dr. Possible."
Ann was confused why Tony would need both her and Pepper. But Ann just casually shrugged as she and Pepper made their way down to Tony's workshop.
Pepper entered her code as she and Ann entered Tony's workshop. They then found a shirtless Tony hooked up to an EKG machine and holding a newer Arc Reactor to replace the first one. "Show them. Let me see your hands." Tony requested. Pepper did just that. "Oh they are small. Very petite. I just need the both of you for just a sec."
Both Ann and Pepper were in awe over seeing Tony's chest Arc Reactor for the first time. "Oh my god. Is that the thing that's keeping you alive?" Pepper asked.
"It was. It's now an antique." Tony explained.
"Impressive, Mister Stark." Ann smiled at the medical technology behind it. "This could replace a pacemaker and be more beneficial to people who need open heart surgeries." Tony smirked at that.
"Thank you, Dr. Possible for that marvelous insight." Tony smiled before turning their attention to the newer chest piece. "Now, this newer one is what will be keeping me alive for the foreseeable future. I'm swapping the old one up for this upgraded unit, and I just ran into a little speed bump."
"A speed bump? What does that mean?" Pepper asked.
"It's not anything major like a sudden heart defect?" Ann asked, knowing her medical jargon.
"No. It's just a little snag." Tony said as he took out the first chest arc reactor. "There's an exposed wire under this device. And it's contacting the wall and causing a bit of a short." He then yanked the first arc reactor out and handed it to Pepper.
"Oh my god. What do you want me to do?" Pepper asked.
"Place it on the table. That is irrelevant." Tony said. Pepper did just that as Ann studied the EKG to make sure Tony was stabilized. "Dr. Possible, I want you to make sure my heart rate is steady and don't let me flatline. And Pepper, I want you to reach in, and you're just gonna gently lift the wire out." Pepper's hands were shaking as she stood over Tony.
"Are you sure about this, Mr. Stark?" Ann asked nervously.
"Yes. Besides, not that many doctors could possible do this." Tony insisted.
"Is it safe?" Pepper asked.
"Yeah. It's fine. It's just like 'Operation'." Tony explained as simply as he could. "You just don't let it touch the socket walls or it goes 'beep'."
"I don't think I would use a children's board game to describe a surgical procedure, Mr. Stark." Ann gulped as she continued to monitor the EKG.
"I know. Pepper, just gently lift the wire." Tony said as Pepper continued to hesitate, more than nervous.
"You know, I don't think I'm qualified to do this." Pepper said while her hands shook.
"No, you're fine." Tony assured. "You're the most capable, qualified, trustworthy person I ever met. You're gonna do great." Pepper glanced over at Ann who just nodded. "Is it really that much of a problem to ask? Because, I really need your help here."
"He's right. You better remove that wire in the next seven minutes or he'll go into heart failure." Ann said, talking surgeon with urgency.
"OK, OK." Pepper said as she slowly inserted her hand into the hole inside Tony's chest plate. As soon as she touched something squishy and wet, the red headed assistant immediately made a grossed out face. "Oh, there's pus!"
"It's not pus. It's an inorganic plasmic discharge from the device, not from my body." Tony assured, but it still didn't make Pepper feel better as she was ready to puke. Ann saw that look with many first year medical students. She just sighed to herself before continuing to monitor Tony's heartrate.
"It smells!" Pepper winced and almost gagged.
"Yeah it does." Tony said.
"He's got four minutes left. Do you got the copper wire?" Ann asked with urgency.
"Yes, I got it! I got it!" Pepper said as she wrapped her fingers around the wire.
"Good, she's got it. Now don't let it touch the..." Tony said before Pepper pulled the wire, accidentally letting it touch the sides, sending a shock through Tony's heart, making him yelp and Ann gasped. Pepper realized her mistake and slowed down. "...the sides when you're coming out."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Pepper said as she continued to pull.
"We got three and a half minutes left." Ann informed as Pepper pulled most of the wire out.
"OK, now make sure when you pull it out, don't pull out the magnet..." Tony said as Pepper accidentally did just that, and the EKG beeped rapidly, worrying Ann. "...at the end of it. That was it."
"Oh god!" Pepper exclaimed worriedly as she placed the magnet on the table. "What's happening?"
"Oh nothing. I'm just going into cardiac arrest because you yanked it out like a trout." Tony said, not surprised as Pepper and Ann began to get panicky.
"What?! I thought you said this was safe." Pepper said with a shudder.
"We got two minutes! We better hurry!" Ann exclaimed as Tony handed the new chest piece to Pepper. "Place that in now!"
"OK. Tony, it's gonna be OK." Pepper assured shakily as she placed the new chest piece into the chest plate.
"Let's hope so." Tony sighed before Pepper clicked it in place and snapped it in, allowing the EKG to go back to normal. All three of them breathed a sigh of relief as Ann checked Tony's vitals.
"Your vitals are stable so far." Ann smiled with relief. "I don't know what the expectancy for your chest piece might look like, but I would recommend you replace it once a year."
"Good call, Dr. Possible." Tony smirked. "That wasn't so hard? It was fun, right?" He then looked at Pepper, who was still trying to catch her breath and looked at her hands that were covered with the discharge. He then laughed, making Pepper smile.
"Don't ever, ever, ever, ever ask me to do anything like that ever again." Pepper smirked.
"I don't have anyone but you." Tony said softly, making Pepper smile for a bit before Tony got out of the chair.
"Well, is that all you need medical wise?" Ann asked with a chuckle.
"Pretty much, Dr. Possible. Thank you, again." Tony smiled. Ann smiled as she walked back upstairs. Pepper then glanced over the original chest piece.
"What do you want me to do with this?" Pepper asked as she held it.
"That? Destroy it." Tony requested. "Incinerate it."
"You don't wanna keep it?" Pepper asked, a little sadly.
"Pepper, I've been called many things. 'Nostalgic' was not one of them." Tony smirked.
Pepper just casually shrugged. "Will that be all, Mister Stark?" she asked.
"That will be all, Miss Potts." Tony said. He then began to boss around his robot, DUM E while Pepper walked out, carrying the thing that saved his boss's life.
Later that night, Ann and James walked upstairs, wanting to check on Kim. Knowing she's going through post traumatic stress, it was up to both her parents to let her know she wasn't alone. "I'm really worried about Kimmie, darling." Ann said with a sad frown. "She's been walking around all sad and crying in her room. She wouldn't even yell at her brothers when they were wanting to steal her underwear. That worried even them." She then shuddered at imagining what hell those terrorists put their daughter through. "What could have happened to make Kim so broken?"
"Now honey, anything is possible for Possible. It's up to all of us to help Kimmie Cub get back on her feet." James smiled reassuringly, making Ann smile back as they quietly entered the guest room that Kim was staying in. The teen hero was sniffling and hugging her pillow was covered up, still clearly traumatized and depressed. "Kim? Honey? Are you awake?" .
"Yes. I'm awake." Kim said before sniffling some more, trying to get all the sadness out as her mother sat at her bedside.
"We know that you've been through a lot, Kimmie. We've been going through some of our own trauma too when you were kidnapped." Ann said, stroking Kim's hair softly. "We were so worried about what happened, and the thought of us never seeing our beautiful daughter again just broke our hearts. But now we have you back. And we're all here for you. You can tell us about anything that happened, and we will always listen and love you no matter what."
Kim then sat up and faced her parents. The love her parents gave her was so overwhelming, she broke down crying, wanting to let it all out. Immediately, both James and Ann wrapped Kim in a big hug and whispered sweet words to her. After what seemed like forever, Kim collected herself. "Thank you both so much. I feel better now." Kim said, wiping a few tears away, but still feeling so shaky. "After fighting multiple villains, saving people from disasters, and trying to stop world ending scenarios, I never would have thought that a terrorist group would be able to break me." She then sighed. "The world isn't what I thought it was. Maybe...I'm just not meant to save it."
Both Ann and James shed a few tears when Kim said that. They never seen their own daughter so heartbroken before in their lives. They wrapped her in another tight hug. "Don't ever think that, Kimmie Cub." James said. "You're a Possible. And anything is possible for a Possible." Kim managed a little smile at that. "Yes, the world is crazy, and there are very bad things. But doesn't mean it's not worth saving. There are always gonna be good people wanting to help make the world a better place. And you, Kimberly Ann Possible? You're one of them. You're meant to save it."
Kim's smile got bigger as tears of happiness poured out of her eyes and she embraced her parents in another hug. "Thank you daddy. Thank you mom. Thank you both so much. It feels really good to have both of you as possibly the best parents out there." Kim whispered, making them smile again. She then frowned and sighed as she remembered about Ron. "Now I feel really bad about what I said to Ron. He was trying his best to help, and I was too broken to listen."
"Don't worry about it, Kimmie. You can talk it out with him tomorrow, and everything will be fine." Ann smiled. "But for now, try to get some sleep."
"OK." Kim said as she laid back down. Both parents then tucked her in tightly and kissed her on the head, making her smile as she began to feel sleepy. "Love you."
"Love you too." James and Ann smiled in unison as they both exited, leaving Kim to sleep as she began to feel a lot better. She knew she would have a good talk with her best friend in the morning, but for now, she was gonna focus on sleeping and dreaming pleasant dreams.