A/N: flashback

Chapter 9: If Only Tears

Kim's sore, puffy eyes slowly opened, and she slowly rose up from where she slept in her mother's arms on the couch. She mentally question what had caused her to be in this situation when the events of the day and night before came crashing back into her mind. Ron had kissed her, then later that night Mr. Pliskin, or Snake as Ron and Meryl called him, came dragging him in terribly, possibly fatally hurt. "Ron!" Kim yelped, jumping to her feet and startling her mother.

"Kimmie?" Mrs. Possible asked, looking up at her daughter worriedly.

"Have you heard anything? Is he ok? How badly was he hurt?" Kim rambled, staring at her mother wide eyed, and awaiting a response.

"No, I haven't …" Mrs. Possible started, but Kim didn't listen to anything else. She immediately went for her pants pocket and jerked out her Kimmunicator, but her trembling hands dropped the device on the floor, and she bent down and grabbed it.

Sighing in relief at the fact it wasn't broken, she pressed a button, "Wade, has Ron been admitted to any hospital last night, anywhere; do you know anything about what kind of shape he's in?" Kim fired off, before Wade could even say hello.

"Might take me a second to bring up the records from last night," Wade said, typing on his computer, and a split second later, "Got it! Checking, Checking, Checking … nope, no Ronald Stoppable on record."

"How about a teenaged boy with multiple deep w-wounds and massive blood loss?" Kim asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Sorry, Kim," Wade sighed, "Only teenaged person admitted last night was Brick, and he got a concussion from trying to bend a can over his head that wasn't open or empty."

"Do I care about him? No, Wade, I want info on Ron," Kim hissed, "NOW!"

"Easy, Kim," Wade said defensively, "you don't have to shout, not like he's dead or anything."

"Sorry … I … I just need to know he's alright." She said softly, fighting to hold back her tears and anxiety.

"I'll do what I can," Wade said, taken aback by the usually rock solid Kim's emotions going through the roof. "I'll contact you when I find something, ok?"

Kim nodded wordlessly before climbing back to her feet, "I'm going to Ron's house. I'll be back later. I doubt I can handle school today, Mom," Kim said, looking at her mother with the same lost and afraid expression Kim wore the first six months after Ron left three years earlier.

"Need me to drive you, sweetheart?" Mrs. Possible asked her daughter.

"No, I think I'll walk; I left my car there last night anyway," Kim said, forcing the fear and anxiety down as far as it would go.

Mrs. Possible watched her daughter walk out the door before sitting down and saying yet another prayer for her daughter's best friend's recovery. She could tell the day Ron had returned to Middleton, her daughter was falling fast, and not because of the muscles or outer features of the soldier Ron had become, but with the best friend that she knew three years earlier was buried under the rough exterior. Mrs. Dr. Possible only hoped Kim wouldn't have to lose him again.

Dr. Possible then looked toward the mantle at a picture of her family four years earlier, and, no surprise, Ron was right there with them standing with Kim in front of herself and late husband. She picked up the photo and smiled sadly at the picture of the innocent boy Ron once was, and somewhere behind the training still was, "Ronald Stoppable," Dr. Possible spoke out loud, "You better not break my little girl's heart."

---

Kim ran all the way to the old Stoppable home. She headed right for the door, not noticing that her car was the only vehicle in the drive. She stared at the door for well over a minute before taking a deep breath, and reached out to knock. To her surprise, the door swung open. "Meryl? Hal?" Kim yelled, slowly walking into the house, "Snake? Is Ron alright?" she asked, walking farther in and turning on the light switch.

She gasped at the sight. The den was completely cleaned out. She ran into where Otacon had stored his computer equipment and found it completely empty, then on to the living room where Snake had brought Ron in. Kim dropped to her knees when she found the only thing left were Ron's bloodstains in the carpet. "No… no, where did you take him; why didn't you tell me? Why?" Kim cried before pulling out her Kimmunicator.

"What's up, K-" Wade started, but Kim cut him off.

"Wade, I need to know where the Foxhound main base is," Kim stated forcefully, "I need to know now; that's the only place they could of taken him."

"Kim, Foxhound, from what I've researched, is the ultimate American Black Ops Anti-Terrorist Task Force. Even I can't find out where they hide out," Wade stated while sipping on his soft drink, "Besides, do you honestly believe you could get past their security?"

"I don't give a damn who they are or what they are, Wade," Kim growled, "I'd go through the Ninth Circle of Hell if it meant finding Ron and finding out if he's alright, so stop drinking that Goddamn coke, and GET TO SEARCHING!"

Wade spit his drink all over his computer desk, and almost fell out of his chair at Kim's outburst, "I'm all over it, but this really WILL take a little while, ok?" Wade said, gripping his desk for balance before going to work typing.

"Sorry for yelling," Kim apologized, blushing at the fact that she just screamed at one of her closest friends, "I just really need to know if he's ok, so please … just do your best to find him for me."

"I knew this would happen eventually," Wade smiled lightly, but still watching his screen as he typed.

"Huh?" Kim blanched, not sure what he was getting at.

"It was obvious back when we were kids, Kim," Wade smiled, glancing over at her through his camera, "you and Ron always saving each other, and then when he left and came back from South Boston, all Rambo-like but still with the 'Essential Ron-ness', you could almost see the fishing line in your mouth."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, whatsoever," Kim blushed before shaking it off, "just please, find him for me."

"Will do, Kim, Wade out," Wade smiled as the screen cut off.

Kim sighed before climbing into her car, and backing out of the drive, "Ron, where are you …" She sighed before turning on the radio.

As she drove home, the song that played on the radio caused memories to flood her mind.

---

How will I start
Tomorrow without you here?
Who's heart will guide me
When all the answers disappear?

---

"Alright class, we're going to welcome a new student today," The teacher said while Kim waited outside the door of her new fifth grade class. Her parents moved all the time, but they promised this would be where they would stay, finally. "We have a new student, so let's give her a warm welcome ok? You may come in now, Kimberly."

Kim gulped before walking into the classroom nervously, "Class, this is Kim Possible." The teacher then signaled for the young Kim to take the one empty seat, which was beside a goofy looking, blond headed, freckle faced boy.

Kim sat down and nodded shyly, "Nice to meetcha, KP, the name's Ron," the boy smiled, before pulling out a strange, furless animal, "and this is my baby naked mole rat, Rufus. Say hi, Rufus!"

"Hi!" The little thing squeaked, earning a giggle from Kim as it bowed dramatically.

---

Is it too late
Are you too far gone to stay
Best Friends Forever
Should never have to go away

---

"And just where do you think you're going?" the fourteen year old Kim heard as she snuck out of her bed room in a tight black top and dark cargo pants.

She turned to see Ron in an almost matching outfit, "And what do you think you're doing?" Kim asked as she smirked at her best friend.

"I'm going to stop some crazy from blowing up my dad's new rocket, that's what," Kim stated smugly, hoping Ron wouldn't see the nervousness in her eyes. "It's no big."

"No big, huh?" Ron smirked, "Then you won't mind me watching your back."

"No, you're not," Kim argued, "You could be hurt!"

"So could you," Ron retorted.

---

What will I do
Don't you know I'm only half without you
How will I make it through

---

"Ok, fine you can come," Kim finally surrendered, "but …"

"You're the big hero, and I'm the comical sidekick," Ron smiled, "I don't like spotlights anyway."

"I wasn't going to say that, Dweeb," Kim smiled, slapping the back of his head playfully, "I was going to say be careful."

"You too, KP," Ron smiled, "Now let's go show those bad guys who's boss!"

---

If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give
If you returned to me someday
Somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you back to me

---

Kim stumbled out of the police station in a daze. "Ron's gone," She spoke out loud in a futile attempt at accepting the painful truth. She looked around the city streets and rubbed her bare arms, despite the fact that it was humid.

She came to a stop at the last place she saw Ron standing before he climbed into their vehicle and left for what felt like would be forever. She looked around, and for the first time in a very long time, she felt extremely lost and alone.

She made it to a bench before she lowered her face into her hands and began to sob.

---

I'd cry you an ocean
If you'd sail on home again
Wings of emotion
Will carry you, I know they can

---

Kim shook her head and tried to push back the memories that were fighting at her mind, and making her eyes tear up again.

She pulled to the side of the road and sat back, trying to control the hiccups and sobs. "He's hurt, but he's not de- gone," Kim said to herself, not able to say the 'D word', "They just … they would have told me," She spoke with a shaky voice.

---

Just let love guide you
And your heart will chart the course
Soon you'll be drifting
Into the arms of your true north

---

"That doesn't matter," Ron said turning his back, "But I will tell you that one way or another, I'm stopping Ocelot once and for all. If I make it back, that's great, if I don't, that's good too."

"Don't say that, you are coming back," Kim stated forcefully, "I already lost you once, and I've just lost Daddy; I don't want to lose you again."

"You're better off without me," Ron half chuckled.

"I'm nothing without you," Kim responded, but quickly added, "I haven't been half the hero I was without my partner."

"You are a hero," Ron said strangely, "That's the difference between us. Despite what life's thrown at you, you've stood up to face it head on while I ran to the shadows." He then laughed, "Kim Possible, the girl who can do anything, and Ron Stoppable, the sidekick, decoy, and goof up, no other way to really say it without it being a lie. So now I'm going to play the Decoy one last time and maybe buy you enough time for a nice, long, peaceful life; just don't forget me when you become a Mankey, or a Du or take the last name of some other deserving guy who comes along."

Kim choked back a sob, "You're not planning on coming back at all, are you?"

"Didn't say that," Ron gave her a weak smile, "I didn't earn the call sign Shadow of the Snake for nothing; I might get lucky."

"But you're still not coming back, are you?" Kim asked a little stronger. Ron didn't respond immediately, and Kim started to look away when Ron's gloved hand gently grabbed her chin. Her eyes widened as she felt his lips press against hers. Despite Ron's short whiskers tickling her face, he easily proved to be a far better kisser then Josh.

Ron then pulled back from a dazed Kim, "Believe in me," he whispered before he activated the Stealth Camo.

---

Look in my eyes
And you will see a million tears I have cried
And still they're not dry

---

"Damn it, Ron," Kim pounded her fist on the steering wheel as her tears made rivers down her cheeks, "I'm the hero. I'm supposed to be the one to take the risks. I'm supposed to be the one to get hurt. Not you." She then crossed her arms on the wheel and used them to pillow her forehead, "Never you."

---

If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give
If you returned to me someday
Somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you back to me

---

"You couldn't have died, Ron," Kim spoke finally, shaking out of her daze, "You can't go before I get to tell you how I feel, tell you how much of a friend you've been to me, tell you how you're the one who helps me stay who I am, and who keeps me from becoming like Bonnie, and tell you how much I love you …"

Her eyes widened as those words left her lips, as if those three words were foreign, yet everyone seemed to know, her mother knew, her late father knew, Wade knew, Josh knew, Bonnie knew, the whole school seemed to know except her. "I really love him …" she said astounded, "More than Josh … I don't even love Josh; I love Ron,"

---

I'd hold you close
And shout the words I only whispered before

---

For over fifteen minutes all Kim could do is repeat "I love Ron," and despite the fact he was missing, saying that brought a smile to her lips.

---

For one more chance, for one last dance
There's not a thing that I would not endure

If only tears could bring you back to me
If only love could find a way
What I would do, what I would give
If you returned to me someday
Somehow, someway
If my tears could bring you back to me

---

"I'm not giving up," Kim stated, boldness returning to her voice, "You're out there somewhere, Ron Stoppable, and I'm going to find you." She then wiped her eyes, and put her car back into drive, "And when I do, you won't know which way's up."

---

Kim sat on her bed, staring at her Kimmunicator, impatiently awaiting Wade's call with the location of the Foxhound Base. It was well past three in the morning, and Kim had only left her room to use the restroom and pick at her lunch and dinner.

She started to lie back to rest her eyes when the familiar jingle filled the air of her room, and she dove at the Kimmunicator, "Wade, have you found him? Where is he?"

"I'm not Wade," came a scruffy, obviously masked voice.

"Who is this?" Kim asked, "How did you get on this frequency?"

"That doesn't matter; if you wish to call me something, call me Deep Throat," the voice replied.

"Deep Throat?" Kim asked, "What do you want?"

"I want nothing; it is you who wants for something," Deep Throat replied.

"What do you have that I would possibly want?" Kim asked, narrowing her eyes.

"The current location of Shadow Snake," the voice replied shortly.

"Ok, you have my attention; where's Ron?" Kim said quickly, everything forgotten except the voice and the Kimmunicator.

"He is safe, but in critical condition. If a normal person received the injuries he received, they would have died instantly," Deep Throat replied, "Whether he survives or not is still a question. The first seventy-two hours are crucial, but I will inform you that he has survived the first night after emergency surgery and additional Gene Therapy."

"I want to see him," Kim stated, a strong sense of relief washed over her at hearing he was at least alive. "Where is he?" She begged, "Please tell me where I can find him."

"That information is classified." Deep Throat replied.

"Please, I have to see him, please," Kim begged as tears once again began to form in the corners of her eyes.

After a moment of pure silence, the voice spoke up again, "He is somewhere between South Boston and Washington DC," Deep Throat stated, "I can not tell you anymore."

"That's enough for me, thank you," Kim said, already grabbing her mission gear.

"I hope you're friend has decided on who she wishes to be with now," Deep Throat spoke, "Good luck in finding your friend, Deep Throat out."

Kim closed up her Kimmunicator, before pulling off her tank top, and jerking on her black, midriff baring, mission top, "Hang on, Ron, I'm on my way."

To Be Continued …

Next Chapter: Raid on Foxhound Headquarters

A/N: The song used in this chapter was If Only Tears Could Bring You Back by Midnight Sons from Pokemon: The First Movie. And thanks go to Mondomage for betaing for me. Until next time, don't forget to review!