A Can of Worms
By Parareru
Disclaimer: I don't own Kim Possible or the characters. All I own is some seriously overpriced merchandise. ^_^ Le sigh.
(Barkin: Was that a French sigh? Points off for that.)
Chapter 2: Bloodwork
"NOOOO!" Ron screamed in absolute terror. He twisted and turned every which way, trying to escape the horror that was about to befall him. His struggles availed him little for the iron grip dragging towards his doom had not slackened in the slightest.
"Ron, stop being such a baby about this," Kim said as she pulled her recalcitrant boyfriend behind her.
"Please, KP," Ron begged. "Don't make me do this! I'll do anything you want!"
"Anything?" Kim purred as she paused and gave her boyfriend a speculative look.
Ron nodded emphatically. "Anything at all," he promised, missing the sultry look his girlfriend was giving him.
"Ron, it's not like I'm forcing you to go back to Lake Wannaweep," Kim argued, her mind snapping back to the task at hand.
Ron shuddered and a pained expression crossed his face. "Lake Wannaweep. The nightmare that never ends."
"Couldn't you do this one little thing for me?" Kim coaxed fetchingly as she ran a finger lightly around on Ron's chest. Ron's smile grew as Kim worked her charms on him and she pressed the attack. "Please?" Kim pouted her full fledged puppy dog pout at Ron.
Ron's will power began to crumble under the PDP attack, but he tried valiantly to resist. "Ab... so... lute... ly... not..." Ron said haltingly under the effects of the pout.
Kim sniffed and allowed a tear to form in the corner of her eye. "Pleeeeeease?" Kim repeated and batted her lashes at him.
Ron's defenses fell entirely at that point and he slumped in defeat. "Okay," he sighed. "You win."
"Booyah," Kim exclaimed happily as she pushed Ron into the Middleton Blood Drive.
"Isn't that my line?" Ron pointed out. "That is so unfair. Using your puppy dog pout on me like that."
"All's fair in love and war!" Kim caroled, resolutely pushing him closer to the desk. "And I thought you said you loved my pout."
"I really hate needles though," Ron whined. "They use those really huge ones."
"I'll make up to you," Kim promised sweetly. "In private."
Ron perked up a bit at that last comment. "Is that a bribe?" Ron asked as he turned and pulled Kim close.
"You bet it is," Kim smiled as she kissed Ron. "It's a couple of weeks before school starts again, we're both 17 now and giving blood is our civic duty."
"But after our last mission and everything," Ron protested. "Will they even let us donate?"
"The hospital gave us both a clean bill of health," Kim answered. "It's no big."
"Excuse me," some random person mumbled as he walked around the two teens, accidentally brushing against Kim on his way to the registration desk. Kim stiffened in surprise, but swiftly recovered her composure.
"Hmm. Maybe we shouldn't make out in the middle of the lobby," Ron mused as he grinned down at Kim.
"Yeah, good idea," Kim agreed, nodding quickly.
Ron looked down at her. "Are you okay, KP?" he asked. "You're trembling."
"I'm fine, Ron," Kim reassured him as she unlinked her arms from around his waist. "I... I just caught a chill."
"A chill? But it's August."
"Really, I'm fine," Kim repeated as she flashed Ron a brilliant smile. "Thanks for asking though. It's really sweet of you."
"Well..." Ron chuckled as he bashfully scratched the back of his head. "You are my girlfriend after all."
Kim had to smile at Ron's reaction. The two of them had been going out for the entire summer and Ron still had a sort of wonderstruck air about him. Kim had to admit that she pretty much felt the same way. It was just so amazing yet so natural after all this time.
Kim leveled a speculative look at Ron, studying him as they walked towards the registration desk. Over the summer Ron had changed subtly. His physique was more defined now; his tendency towards pudginess had given way to lean musculature. His movements were more self assured; the gawky clumsiness that had previously defined Ron Stoppable was all but gone. His strength and stamina had increased dramatically as well.
Ron, of course, was oblivious to the gradual changes in his body, but Kim could see a marked difference over the Ron Stoppable of old. Kim had to wonder if this transformation in her lover was natural growth or a side effect of his resurrection. She desperately hoped for the former. The only thing that hadn't changed was Ron's eyes. They were still brown, warm and caring. Kim could just stare for hours into those eyes, basking in their warmth.
"Name?" the dour faced woman staffing the registration desk asked breaking Kim from her contemplative gaze.
"Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable," Kim replied.
The woman ran her finger down a list, checked off their names and handed a clipboard to each of them. "Fill out all the information and give the form to any available phlebotomist who'll interview you before drawing your blood. Thank you for donating."
"Well, she seemed nice," Ron quipped as the two of them walked off to fill out their forms. They sat down together, their knees touching and rubbing against each other as their pens scribbled through the paperwork. "Hmmm. How'd you think I'd look with a tattoo, KP?" he mused as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Why?" Kim asked as she paused in filling out her forms.
"Well, this question here about tattoos and I thought I'd kinda look rugged with one," Ron explained and pointed to his shoulder. "I could get one that says 'KP Forever,'" he said with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.
Kim's dubious expression softened briefly. "That's so sweet, Ron," she said as she laid a hand on his shoulder. "But no."
"Just a thought," Ron shrugged phlegmatically.
Kim signed the bottom of her paperwork with her usual flourish and scanned the room for an available phlebotomist. "Well, I'm done," she told Ron. "I'll meet you back at the refreshment counter."
"Gotcha, KP," Ron replied as he leaned forward to give her an affectionate peck. Ron idly watched Kim's hips sway as she walked away. A line from a movie came to mind as his gaze zeroed in on Kim's butt. 'I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave.' What was that movie? Something about faces. Ron pondered the movie title for several seconds before turning back to his paperwork with a heavy sigh.
Chin in hand, Ron read a couple of questions and checked off the appropriate answers. He felt like he was back in school taking a test. Only this time it was for the dubious distinction of having someone shove a needle into him and watch his blood pump into a little plastic sack. Sure, they gave you cookies and some orange juice, but that seemed to be little in the way of compensation. Even though Kim had drilled into him the need for blood donations, the thought of those needles sent shivers running up and down his spine.
"Hi there," a blonde wearing a nurse's uniform said as she leaned over into Ron's line of sight. "How you doing with that form there?" she asked conversationally.
"Oh, hi," Ron answered and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess I'm doing okay with it." He looked over the blonde-haired woman curiously, a nagging suspicion on the back of his mind. "Do I know you from somewhere?"
"Oh, I seriously doubt it," the woman replied smoothly as she snagged Ron's clipboard and idly flipped through the papers. "Won't your girlfriend mind you hitting on an older woman?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.
"I wasn't... I didn't... please no... I mean..." Ron squeaked as he looked wildly around in panic.
"Relax, kiddo," the nurse smirked. "I was just pulling your leg. Well, all your forms seem to be in order so let's go take care of your blood."
"I vhant your blood," Ron intoned in a hollow voice as he followed the nurse meekly.
"How droll," the nurse said flatly, decidedly unimpressed as she pointed at a padded table. "Lay down there, roll up your sleeve and we'll get started."
With another heavy sigh, Ron did as instructed and waited as the nurse readied her equipment. Ron winced as he caught sight of the needle. It looked even bigger sitting there on the tray, ready to poke into his tender flesh and start sending his blood pumping out of his body where it rightfully belonged. It took everything he had in him to keep from jumping to his feet and run screaming for the hills.
"Now let's see if we can't find a vein," the nurse said as she took hold of Ron's arm and tied a rubber strap around his arm. "Nice veins," she commented as she swabbed the skin over the vein with some iodine.
"Thanks, I grow them myself," Ron laughed nervously. The nurse barely smiled at Ron's attempt at humor and pushed the needle in, ignoring his yelp of pain. Moving quickly, the nurse filled two vials with blood in rapid succession before setting up the donation pack. Ron felt himself grow lightheaded as his pumping blood began to fill the plastic bag. Fortunately, he was lying on the table; otherwise, he'd have long since collapsed by this point.
"You're doing ok," the nurse reassured Ron as she placed a cotton ball on his arm and pulled out the needle. "See. All done." She held the cotton ball and placed a bandage over it to secure it there.
"Cookie... now..." Ron asked haltingly as if the effort of moving his mouth was nearly too much for him.
The nurse snorted in amusement. "Just follow the other people. I think your girlfriend is over there waiting for you." Ron perked up visibly at that last bit of information and finally headed to the table where Kim and refreshments waited.
***
Justine Flanner shook her head in wonder as she watched Ron stagger across the room like a thirsty traveler heading for an oasis after days without water. 'I'd forgotten how much of a doofus he was before Kim died,' she thought as she pocketed the vials containing Ron's blood. She took the warm packet of Ron's blood, placed it in a small nondescript cooler and replaced it with an identical one full of ordinary blood of the same type. Justine looked around satisfied that no one saw her make the switch and began walking to the exit.
"Excuse me," the teenaged Justine Flanner said as she grabbed at her future counterpart's arm and waved her clipboard officiously. "I'm here to donate some blood."
Coolly, the time displaced Justine removed her younger self's hand from her arm. "Sorry, kid. Just went on break," she said as she turned on her heel and walked off.
"Well, that was just rude," the younger Justine scowled as she looked around for another free nurse.
Once out of sight, Justine, the one from the future, heaved a sigh of relief. Her younger self had not recognized her and the universe had not collapsed from their meeting. Quickly, she composed herself and pressed her jaw below the ear to activate her transmitter.
"Uno, I have the samples," Justine reported as she fingered the two vials in her pocket. "It went off without a hitch."
"Good, it was most fortunate that Division 51 assigned you to this task," Uno replied, audible only to her.
"I don't like this," she said quietly as she ducked into an alley to shed her nurse disguise, her clothes were just where she had left them. "Events are moving much too quickly. They're nearly ready to deploy Discord."
"Just follow the plan," Uno advised. "Has any information turned up on Leviathan?"
"Not yet," Justine answered as she stepped back into the street, dressed in a professional looking pantsuit, the precious vials secreted in her bag. "I've dug into those mainframes down to the circuit boards and I still can't find any references to the project."
"Dammit, where is he?" Uno swore. "Keep looking."
"Understood," Justine acknowledged quietly. "Hang on, I've reached my drop."
"Agent Flaherty," Justine's Division 51 contact said in greeting as he stepped out of a non-descript van. "You have the samples."
"Right here," Justine reported as she handed over the cooler. "No one suspected a thing."
"Good," the other agent replied as the two of them entered the van and drove off. "The director will be most pleased."
***
"Ron!" Kim exclaimed with a cheery wave. "How was it?"
Ron collapsed in the empty seat to Kim's left and took a hearty swig of the orange juice in front of him. "Don't do that to me again," he said as he stared balefully at his girlfriend.
"I promised I'd make it up to you," Kim replied contritely. "Doesn't it feel good to help people?"
"Kim," Ron replied steadily. "We save the world on a regular basis. Ok, you save the world and I help. I think that we've earned enough brownie points to cover us for the next decade or so."
"Hey guys," Monique greeted the two as she sat down on the other side of Kim. "Glad to see you out donating."
Ron groaned and let his head sink to the table. "I am never doing this again," he vowed as he snagged a cookie from the tray. "Then again for some of these cookies..." he mused as he chewed.
Feeling some movement in his pants, Ron reached into his cargo pocket and pulled Rufus out. Rufus uncurled himself and stretched his paws in a mighty yawn. "Woo hoo! Cookie!" Rufus exclaimed as he dove for the tray.
"You might want to keep Rufus outta sight," Monique advised. "These nurses can get awfully anal about rodents."
"Gotcha, Monique," Ron nodded as he placed Rufus on his lap, sneaking him the occasional cookie.
"So you guys feel up for some Bueno Nacho after?" Monique as she looked from Ron to Kim. She smiled as she noticed Kim's absent look as Kim slipped her hand into Ron's. "Hello. Earth to the couple. Come in," she teased as she snapped her fingers under Kim's nose.
Kim jumped slightly in her seat. "Oh, what was that Monique?" she asked with a faintly embarrassed blush on her cheeks.
Monique grabbed Kim's hand and pulled her from the table. "Girl talk," she explained to answer the curious look Ron gave her. Ron nodded and slipped Rufus another cookie as he watched Kim and Monique disappear into the crowd. After his long friendship with Kim, he knew better than to dispute those two little words.
"What's going on, Monique?" Kim asked as her friend pulled her along.
"So how long has it been for you and Ron?" Monique asked bluntly once they were safely out of sight behind a small partition. She peeked around the corner and nodded in satisfaction that Ron was still within sight.
"Couple of months now," Kim answered with a shrug. "It's no big."
"Good," Monique said. "It's time for the super secret boyfriend test."
"Test?" Kim asked. "Why do we need a test? Ron and I are in love."
"Girl, everyone needs the test," Monique responded with a roll of her eyes. "I don't know if you've noticed, but Ron's gotten really... yummy over the summer."
"Well, I kinda have noticed," Kim replied as she blushed again.
Monique looked curiously at Kim and then gasped. "Oh, no, you didn't!" she exclaimed. "You did! And you didn't even tell me!"
"Did what?"
"Slept with Ron," Monique whispered.
"Monique, I... I..." Kim stammered uncomfortably as she blushed an even deeper shade of red.
"The test is beginning," Monique said as she waved Kim to be quiet.
Kim looked around a partition to see Ron still feeding cookies to Rufus as he kept a furtive lookout for anyone official. Monique silently pointed a finger and she saw several girls make a beeline for Ron. Kim ground her teeth with a low growl as she recognized Bonnie, Tara and Amelia. They were too far away to hear what they were actually saying, but Kim could read the body language clear as if someone had painted the words across a billboard. They were going to hit on her Ron.
"Super Secret Boyfriend Test Number One, how your boyfriend acts with other women when you're not it plain sight," Monique whispered.
Kim continued to grind her teeth as she saw Ron wave congenially at the three girls and they sat down around him. Only Monique's restraining hand kept Kim from running back to the table and kicking some ass. Ron gallantly offered each girl a cookie and Kim could see the trio of girls twitter at something clever he said.
"Okay, that's our cue, Kim," Monique said as she let go of Kim's shoulder. "Walk slow and remember not to kill anyone."
Kim slowly counted to ten, then to fifty, and finally to one hundred. With her emotions firmly under control, she slowly sauntered back to Ron. Amelia noticed her approach and surreptitiously nudged Bonnie who looked over her shoulder. A flash of annoyance crossed Bonnie's face as she recognized Kim making her way through the crowd. Bonnie nudged Tara and the three girls stood to leave the table.
"Bye, Ronnie," Bonnie caroled over her shoulder as she, Tara and Amelia walked off in the opposite direction from Kim.
"Yeah, see ya, Bon-Bon," Ron nodded absently as he munched on another cookie. He looked up as Kim and Monique took their seat. "So you two have a nice talk?" Ron asked as he smiled at Kim.
"Oh, yeah," Monique replied with a saucy grin. "Kim was just filling me in on your 'performance.' I gotta say I'm disappointed in you."
"What?!" Ron cried as he sat up in shock and looked from Kim to Monique, his head swiveling rapidly back and forth. "I mean... it's not... whadya... why..."
"She's joking, Ron," Kim said, laying a calming hand on Ron's arm, an embarrassed flush high on her cheeks. "Right, Monique?" she growled at her friend.
"Yeah, I'm just playing," Monique answered with an amused chuckle. "But can you blame me; you look kinda cute flustered. Right, Kim?"
"So what were you and Bonnie talking about?" Kim asked to change the subject.
"Oh, Bonnie was just saying that she was having a party at her place this weekend," Ron shrugged nonchalantly.
Kim grimaced at the thought of spending any amount of time near Bonnie. "So what did you say?" she asked.
"Well, a week before our senior year starts, the party where anybody who's anybody will be at," Ron shrugged again. "Truth be told, it sounds like it'll be a bore. I'd rather spend the time with you, KP." Kim smiled as Ron took her hand in his own.
"Oh, jeez, you two. Get a room," Monique hooted at the couple. She leaned over and whispered to Kim, "He passes."
"So, Monique," Ron drawled conversationally as he shifted his attention to his other friend. "You know I have this friend that would be just perfect for you."
Monique fell out of her chair with a look of panic on her face. "That's okay! Really! You don't have to! Don't bother! Gotta go!" She fled while Ron looked on with a triumphant and mischievous smile on his face.
"So who'd you have in mind?" Kim asked curiously. She knew just about everyone that Ron knew and no one seemed quite right for Monique.
"No one really," Ron replied with a broad smile. "I just figured that would be the quickest way to get some quality time with my girlfriend."
"Ron, that was mean," Kim rebuked even as she laughed at his cleverness.
"But you still love me," he prompted, his eyes warm as they met hers.
"Always," Kim replied immediately as she leaned in for a kiss.
***
"Excellent, isn't he," the General commented as he watched the test subject move through the kill zone with the lethal grace of a panther, dispatching his opponents with practiced ease. Remains of dozens of droids littered the ground, victim to the ninja's prowess.
"Wrecking mindless robots hardly constitutes a real test of his abilities," Dr. Haynes replied.
The general waved a disapproving finger at the doctor. "Nitpicking about details is my job. Perhaps the test is too easy. Even so, the projected survival time in the kill zone is two minutes. Discord is edging up near seven minutes now with nearly one hundred kills," the general explained with a frown. "I do sincerely wish that we could get hold of Dr. Drakken. Despite the obvious flaws in his Bebe design, his help would be most welcome."
"That's something you'll need to take up with your procurement teams," Dr. Haynes smirked. "Perhaps some of the other experts in the robotics field?"
"An admirable suggestion, Doctor," the General replied.
"However, I do have to admit that Discord is still very impressive, General," Dr. Haynes conceded. "He seems ready for his mission."
The General smiled. "We will release Discord into the world within the week."
"Are you sure that he won't break his programming?" Dr. Haynes asked nervously. "I would not like someone like him turning against us."
"We're sure," the General replied smugly. "The technology we've acquired will be more than sufficient for this task."
"It appears that Unit 1 is finished with his test," Haynes said as he pointed at the monitors.
The general smiled grimly. "He'll remain in the kill zone until ordered otherwise," the General stated. "Now, you have a report for me."
Dr. Haynes pulled out the clipboard he had stowed under his arm. "No variances have been detected in Discord's blood sample when matched up against the original."
"Then the evolutionary process has completed?"
"Yes sir," Haynes answered. "However, I do request that we might continue our study of the unknown property on the prototype. Anything we learn now could mean improvements in the successive generations."
The general nodded thoughtfully, considering the doctor's request. "Well, as long as we have that useless slab of meat, we might as well get some use out of him," the general reasoned. "Very well, Doctor. You may continue your work on Unit 0."
Up next: Senior Year begins
A/N: And now the fun begins. Hope this doesn't reveal too much.
On a civic note. Give Blood! The Red Cross always needs supplies of whole blood. Though I do know people who find it absolutely impossible to give blood.
The movie that Ron was pondering is "Face Off."