Chapter 4: Bodyguard
"Alright, Ladies," Meryl spoke firmly, pacing in front of the line up of the head cheerleading squad of Middleton High School, "Things are going to change around here. I've read the file on the squad going back the last three years and do you know what it is? It's LAUGHABLE!"
Tara gulped lightly while most of the other girls stared wide eyed except for Bonnie, who looked uninterested, and Kim, who hung her head slightly in shame.
"Do you have something to say?" Meryl asked, getting in Bonnie's face.
"We're actually really good, Mrs. Emmerich; I'm sure it was probably different in your day, and maybe you're just not remembering exactly what you did all the way back then when you were a cheerleader." Bonnie stated, blowing on her nails.
"Aw, shit …" they heard Ron gasp in fear from the bleachers, and that alone unnerved Kim. Ron shot Shego square between the eyes and didn't even flinch. But when Bonnie said that to his cousin, he suddenly sounded very much afraid.
"Oh, you're really good, huh?" Meryl asked, grabbing Kim's attention back away from her old friend, "Well seeing as you have that much faith in yourself and your squad, Bonnie, until Kim's shoulder recovers fully, YOU will be acting head cheerleader."
Bonnie's eyes lit up, but when she saw the look in Meryl's eyes, her lips dropped into a worried frown. "If you're so great, let's see. Show me what you've got."
"O-Ok," Bonnie stuttered, as the group minus Kim got in formation.
Meryl watched uninterestedly as the squad performed Bonnie's favorite cheer. When they were done, Meryl called out: "Ron, come here please," she said loudly, looking toward the bleachers behind them. Ron came running and stood next to his cousin nervously.
"What did you think of their performance?" Meryl asked, resting a finger on her cheek.
"LEAVE ME OUT OF THIS!" Ron all but shrieked, back pedaling from Meryl and the cheerleaders' expectant glare.
"The fate of these girls are in your hands, Ron," Meryl smiled, "What do you say? How'd they do?"
Ron laughed nervously. "Well … um … you could tell … they um … weren't putting their all into it, ya know … and um … Tara, don't look at me like that," Ron gulped, sweat dripping down his nose at the various death glares from the girls before he reached way down and used the ability to push his emotions back behind him even though that many glares was making him very unnerved.
"I agree whole heartedly, Ronald," Meryl smiled evilly at the girls, "You've all, with a few exceptions, gotten lazy. Bonnie, Kim, please lead the team in … oh I'll be nice, forty laps around the football field then call it a day. Ron, help me make sure they don't slack. That's all. Dismissed."
The girls, including Kim, stared wide-eyed in fear, "Don't just stand there; get to jogging," Meryl ordered.
Most of them started running, except Kim and Bonnie; Bonnie kept blowing on her nails while Kim kept pitifully glancing from Meryl, to Ron, to her bandaged shoulder.
Meryl walked over to Ron, "You handle Kim Pitiful; I'll take bitch-face."
Ron nodded and whispered something in Kim's ear, and then she slowly nodded and started jogging beside Ron, both glancing back at Bonnie, who continued to stand there while Meryl walked back into a storage-shed. Bonnie yawned, ignoring the sound of a diesel engine roaring to life.
Bonnie glanced back just as a lawn mower jumped out of the shed at full speed with Meryl in the driver seat, "What the…" She gasped before realizing Meryl was heading straight toward her with a sinister look on her face.
"Better start running, Bon," Meryl giggled as the girl screamed and took off running with the lawnmower on her tail.
Bonnie quickly passed up the entire squad with Meryl still right behind her, and within two hours, the group had finished their run. Most of the cheerleaders seemed to only be driven by showing off for the football team who were practicing on the same field. Once the laps were up, most of them collapsed on the ground, wheezing and gurgling on their own saliva.
Kim passed the starting point and started to go down to the ground on her bad shoulder, when a pair of arms caught her, "Easy there, Kim,"
Kim looked up and smiled, "Hey Josh," Kim breathed, before he leaned in for a quick kiss.
"Good catch, Monkey," Ron growled as he caught up and narrowed his eyes at the sight.
"Name's Mankey," Josh said, eyes narrowing as well, "but yeah, I had good practice over the past three years that you dropped off the face of the earth, Stoppable."
"You certainly look like a Monkey, and I really, really don't like monkeys," Ron growled, stepping toward Josh, who still had Kim in his arms.
"Easy, boys," Meryl said, stepping in-between the trained soldier and the football quarterback.
Bonnie walked past Josh, giving him a quick eye lock, before limping to the showers, "Hey, Kim, practice is going over a little tonight; do you think you can find another ride home?" Josh asked, not noticing the narrowed gaze of Ron.
"She already has," Ron stated before she could reply, "So go back to your 'practice'," Ron said, and Kim nodded in reply.
Josh gave Kim one last, deep kiss goodbye before walking back toward the team past Ron. He stopped suddenly when a hand grabbed his arm painfully, "Hurt her, and you'll be begging for death," Ron hissed so only Josh could hear.
Josh smirked before attempting to pull his arm away from Ron, but gulped lightly when he arm wouldn't budge, "One… tear," Ron narrowed his eyes, "I'll be all over you," Ron then let go, almost making Josh fall to the ground.
Josh simply glared at him before rejoining the Football team.
Ron turned to see Kim putting her pompoms in her duffle bag. "Aren't you going to take a shower?" Ron asked as he picked up her bag and threw it over his shoulder.
"I think I'll wait till I get home and take a long bath," Kim sighed, "I so don't want to stand anymore than I have to …" she smirked at him, "We covered your little peephole a year ago, so no more peeking on Tara and Bonnie."
"Who says I was watching them, KP?" Ron asked smugly as a blush covered her face.
"That's three times," Kim smiled.
"Three times what?" Ron asked, looking down at his redheaded friend in confusion.
"You called me KP after you … killed Shego, then before you left last night, and then again just now," Kim explained, with a smile playing at her lips, "I've … missed that. I didn't ever let anyone call me that except you. Not even Josh." She then let out a small sigh, "After what you said yesterday morning, and the way you kept calling me Possible, and even Kim, I was afraid you really weren't my best friend anymore."
Ron brought an arm around her shoulder, "I was angry and disappointed in how you were acting, but you made all that up today; you can be as nice as you are beautiful if you try, take the easy way, get conceited, and you end up just like Bonnie. And you are NOT like her in anyway. I did mean what I said; we've changed, but we've changed our whole life, from preschool to high school; the only thing that hasn't is the fact that we're best friends. Always have been. Always will be."
"Thanks, Ron …" Kim blushed.
"So … how're things 'tween you and Josh?" he asked, and to his surprise the extremely dreamy look that usually crossed her features only showed slightly.
"It's going great," Kim nodded, her cheeks blushing slightly.
"How long have you two been sleeping together?" he asked casually, "if you don't mind me asking …"
"W-What? I don't know what you're talking about …" Kim stammered, looking away.
"I called your place last night, just to make sure you were alright and see how the party went, but your mom said you spent the night at Monique's, so I called out there," Ron said, raising an eyebrow at Kim's blush and sudden interest in the ground.
"She's got too big of a mouth …" Kim groaned.
"So … am I going to have to steal your diary like I did when we were kids?" Ron asked, smirking lightly.
"That was you!" Kim yelped, staring up at him, "Well, if you must know, Josh and I have been intimate two years yesterday."
Ron whistled, "Some sixteenth birthday present. That was nice of him."
"Yes," Kim smirked, "It was very nice,"
"That was an overshare, KP," Ron rolled his eyes.
"Well, you asked; why does that bother you," Kim smile was growing as she realized her control of the situation grew, "Think you can top it?"
"Damn straight I can top Mankey!" Ron barked then his eyes widened when he realized what he said, "That is … if I could … would … err … not that I'd try or anything."
"So now that my sex life is out, how about you? How active is your Shadow Snake?" Kim asked, chuckling at her own joke.
"Ah, too many to tell, my first one was the head communications officer of my unit; Mei Ling was a wild one," Ron said, smiling at the memory.
"Mei Ling?" Kim asked narrowing her eyes slightly, "That Japanese?"
"Chinese, we just lasted a few months, then I got with an older woman, Nastasha Romanenko; she was really good, and who can forget all those rookies passing-"
"Ok, ok, I get the idea," Kim sighed, waving her hand to tell him to cool it.
Ron laughed, "Ok, let's ride," He said, getting on his bike.
Kim blinked before blushing; she had no idea they had already made it out into the parking lot. Ron pressed into his ear for a second then sighed.
"Kim, you mind stopping by my place for a few minutes before I take you home?" Ron asked, handing her a helmet. "I need to swing by for a few minutes ASAP."
"This have anything to do with the fight yesterday?" she asked, throwing her leg across the bike, and reaching around Ron's waist with her good arm.
"I can't say …" Ron looked back and sighed, "I'm sorry."
Kim looked slightly hurt, but nodded, "It's alright, think I can use your bath while your doing whatever?"
"Be my guest," Ron said as he kick-started his bike and started out of the parking lot.
--
"Bloody … buggery … hell" Lord Monkey Fist moaned as his vision began to focus, "Where am I?"
"That's the least of your problems," a voice called from the other side of a blinding light.
"Stoppable?" Monkey Fist asked, squinting his eyes.
"Shut up," a second voice barked, "Answer our questions, and we might not kill you."
"Why did you go after Kim Possible?"
"She's my arch foe; why do you think?" Monkey Fist barked back.
"I don't believe you," Ron replied coldly, "You knew my codename, and you said Ocelot gave you your Gene Therapy. What is he up to?"
"I … can't tell …" Monkey gulped as the light got closer to his face.
"Then you can't go on breathing," Snake's voice replied.
"Start talking," Ron ordered, "while you still can."
"He's has Drakken, myself, and a few other local crime lords hired to grab teenagers and brainwash them to do what he tells them to," Monkey Fist broke.
"Why?" Ron growled.
"I overheard Ocelot talking to someone while I was in Gene Therapy; he said he wanted more pilots for his metallic gear things," Monkey Fist replied, near tears, and getting even more afraid at the sudden silence.
"How far along are the Metal Gears?" Ron asked, his voice slightly shaky.
"Almost finished what I've heard, all they lack is getting a good rocket scientist to finish the weapons; I suggested Kim Possible's father, and they seemed to like the idea," Monkey Fist stated laughing lightly before the butt of a rifle went across his face, knocking him back out.
"And what if I had more questions for him?" Snake asked, turning off the spotlight.
"Sorry," Ron said, worry written on his face.
"Sounds like they're going to come after your friend's father, and knowing Ocelot, he might just come after the rest of her family, including her. Until we get some surveillance on the Possibles, I want you to stay there, Shadow. Shouldn't be longer than a week for proper equipment and a team to get in place," Snake instructed.
"Right ……………… WHAT?" Ron gapped, "How do you expect me to do this?"
"How long have you and Kim been friends?" Snake asked, rubbing his chin.
"Since we were four," Ron answered dumbly.
"And how long have you been apart from your friend with little or no contact?"
"Almost three years."
"Then say you want to stay and spend time with her to get to know each other again," Snake said, slapping Ron's shoulder, "Say your tired of being stuck with your sex fiend of a cousin and her lil' four eyed bitch."
Ron sighed, "Fine, I have missed spending time with KP, and Mrs. Dr. P's cooking is the best; I guess I can baby-sit for a while …"
"Good man, Shadow, remember, make sure that if the situation isn't stable, letting her on top is safe for if you're caught. They can't blame you then and you can call rape." Snake stated knowingly.
"WOULD YOU STOP THAT!" Ron cried, "We're just friends. God!"
"Uh huh, sure. Better start packing, Kid," Snake smirked evilly, "Ocelot or one of his little experiments might hit at any time."
Ron nodded and left the basement of his old home, made his way to his bedroom to pack, and ask Kim if it would be all right.
"I've spent weeks at a time at KP's before; this shouldn't be that much of a problem," he whispered to himself as he opened his bedroom door.
"Hey K-Kim?" Ron gulped loudly at the sight he saw.
Kim sat on his bed playing with Rufus, wearing only Ron's old red and yellow T-shirt with her long tanned legs sticking out the bottom. "Meryl's washing my clothes since they got sweaty at practice, hope you don't mind me borrowing this?"
"S-Shouldn't you have your arm in your sling?" Ron stuttered slightly.
"It's feeling a lot better, and mom said only wear it when its sore or if I'm on a mission or in practice," Kim said passively.
"Kim, can I ask something?" Ron said nervously, trying hard not to look at her; Kim looked up and nodded with a friendly smile, "Um, Kim, can I sleep with you … NO! I mean can I sleep over at your place for a week or so I mean …"
"No big, Ron," Kim smiled sweetly, "I'm sure Mom and Dad would love to have you over. They've missed you as much as I have … I mean, hard not having you to talk to on a daily basis," Kim said, quickly recovering.
"Cool," Ron nodded, trying to avoid looking at her bare skin where the shirt's collar was sliding down over her right shoulder.
"KIM!" Meryl called from down the hallway, "Your clothes are ready!"
"Well, you get packed up, Ron, and I'll get dressed, "tonight's a Wrestling PPV, so I'm sure Dad, Jim, and Tim will really enjoy having the 'Forth Horseman' back," She winked, walking out of the room, giving her hips a small wiggle as she left.
Ron watched the door close before throwing himself back on the bed, with a muffled "Boo-Ya!"
--
Several hours later, Ron, Mr. Dr. Possible, and Kim's younger brothers, Tim and Jim, sat captivated at the television.
"COME ON! GET UP!" Tim and Jim cheered in unison.
"C'mon, Austin, Stun the daa-a-a-ang guy!" Ron started quickly stopping himself.
"Ever since Vince McMahon bought the GWA," Dr. Possible said, rubbing his chin, "The wrestlers have been apparently less skilled. You'd think he'd be more respectable."
"That's how it works, Mr. P," Ron said, "they decide who's good or not; which are heroes and which are targets, and who …"
"Who shaves and who looks like Grizzly Adams?" Dr. Possible asked, cocking an eyebrow at his daughter's friend.
"It's not that bad, is it?" Ron asked, rubbing his shadowy beard, "My line of work frowns upon freckles. This is a good way of hiding them."
"And what line of work is that, son?" Dr. Possible asked, eyeing him interestedly.
"Not much different than Kim's hobby," Ron said avoiding his gaze, "Only I get a pretty good paycheck for it."
'AUSTIN WINS FULL CONTROL OF RAW!' the announcer called over the television, and the conversation was lost to cheering.
"Well, you two, let's get in the bed, and let Ron sleep," Mr. Dr. Possible said, pushing the twins toward their bedroom, "You sure you don't want to sleep in a sleeping bag in Kim's room like you used to?"
"Yeah, been too long, Mr. P.," Ron said with a small smile, "We're not kids anymore."
"Right, well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to wake up Kim or one of us, OK?" Dr. Possible asked, waiting for Ron to nod before heading up to bed as well.
Ron pressed the button on the side of the couch like Mr. Possible told him. He said it would turn into a bed, but Ron didn't think he meant it literally. Ron shook his head at yet another mind-boggling gizmo that Mr. Possible had cooked up before pulling off his tank top and crawling into couch turned bed.
He wasn't aware of how long he laid there, but his trained ears heard a soft set of footsteps coming down the stairs.
"Kim? What are you doing up?" Ron asked, seeing the redhead coming around.
"Ron! I could ask you the same thing!" Kim jumped, startled by her friend.
"I asked first, KP," Ron stated, sitting up and crossing his arms after sliding his SOCOM back under his pillow. A car coming to a stop outside the house with the lights dimmed answered him.
"Going out with Josh, huh?" Ron asked, a slight hurt expression on his face.
Kim blushed and looked away, strangely unable to look Ron in the eye, "Please don't tell Mom and Dad," she pleaded, "I don't even want to imagine how they would react."
Ron stared at her for a moment before finally speaking, "Fine, but on one condition." Kim nodded slightly worriedly. "I want you to think about something."
"What?"
"If an Emperor wishes to conquer a new kingdom, he should be sure that he wishes to possess this kingdom before taking the steps to take it." Ron stated, making Kim blink in awe and confusion.
"Huh?"
"That was something my first girlfriend told me before we broke up. All I'm saying is before you go too far, or continue any farther with Josh, Kim," Ron pleaded, his voice softening to what it was before he left three years ago, "Just think about that, ok?"
Kim gave a small nod before turning toward the front door, but froze at a barely audible question from Ron. "Do you love him?"
"He is my boyfriend …" Kim whispered, avoiding eye contact.
"I've had girlfriends too, Kim," Ron stated, the ice returning to his voice, "I know for a fact I didn't love them, lusted for them maybe, cared for them definitely, but I never really loved them."
"Ron?" Kim squeaked slightly.
"Better go, Josh is waiting. Do I need to tell your parents you're at Monique's or will you be back by sun-up?" Ron asked, laying back down.
"Should be back by sun-up, night, Ron," Kim said, forcing herself out the door.
"Night, KP," Ron said, settling down on the bed.
--
Kim walked down the drive way, but stopped before getting in Josh's car. She glanced back at the house before leaning forward signaling Josh to roll the window down.
"What's wrong, Kimmie?" Josh asked with a sweet smile.
"I'm … not really up for this tonight, would it be ok if we just passed? We might get together later this week … uh, practice today wore me out …" she said, unable to look him in the face.
"Uh, sure Kim, you get some rest, night, love ya," Josh said, leaning across to give Kim a kiss, but she quickly pulled away.
"Um … yeah, ditto, night, Josh," she said, turning and walking back toward the house, leaving Josh in confusion.
"What's eating her?" Josh asked no one in particular before driving off.
--
Kim walked in the house before stopping by the couch, "Ron?" she asked softly, but was answered by loud snores. "You still are the fastest sleeper I ever met. Thanks," Kim smiled before walking toward the stairs.
As soon as Kim was gone, Ron rolled back over and pulled off the night vision goggles and hearing amplifier, and shoved them into his bag next to the bed with a large smile on his face.
"Might be hope after all..." Ron mused before lying back, the smile still on his lips.
To Be Continued …