8. The Sore Is Mightier Than The Pen (The Thick Plottens, Pt. 2)

Kimi and William spent the rest of the evening not sleeping, yet not stirring. Both of their heads were full of thoughts - but neither could form those thoughts into words to or even for each other. There was no proper way for Captain Broderson to soften the blow of his statement to them - just as with a doctor delivering news to a family that a patient has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, there was no way to be pleasant or tactful when telling someone that a part of their family was facing imminent death at the hands of people who could only be considered their enemy - an enemy that until this night, seemed so remote and impotent regarding threats of this nature, much less having the means to enact those threats.

After William went to the bedroom, Kimi sat on the floor for a long while, still staring at the computer monitor, then shifted her gaze to a portrait of Kim that had been painted by a friend of Marcy's husband, Lupe Delgado. Even if not painstakingly true-to-life, Kimi had learned over the years that no painting could capture the light that seemed to spread from her mother's eyes and smile.

Near midnight, Kimi went to the basement, and into Kim's office. She sat in her mother's large leather chair, looking over a few photos Kim had under the glass desk cover, and taking in the familiar and ever-present faint scent of vanilla that she had come to appreciate. Even after fifteen years in the Flesher environment, the scent that was added before Kim's trip through the Resonance Conduit had remained, albeit lessening slightly. Kimi inhaled deeply, letting the aroma meld with her senses.

Kimi fell into a light sleep in the chair around 1 AM, waking but not moving as she heard her father get out of bed several times during the night.

Monday, June 17th, 9:37 AM, Eastgate time
Monday, June 17th, 5:37 PM, Cairo time
-27 Days
Kimi stirred to what she thought was the alarm clock - but her process of waking stopped when the ringing did, and she began to drift back into sleep when the ringing started again. Kimi raised her head, looking to the desk. The phone rang a third time. She glanced at the clock on the top of the hutch and guessed that her father had already gone to work, having either called down to say goodbye or come down to check on her but not disturbing her sleep, which he might have figured was as sporadic as his was. Kimi yawned as she reached for the receiver. "Hello...?"

"Hi Ki," a rather perky voice answered, "it's Marcy."

"Hi, Aunt Marcy," Kimi strained slightly under her breath, bowing her back into a stretch.

"I'm sorry if I woke you," said Marcy. "I was just curious if William is sleeping late, or what..."

Kimi perked more awake now. "What? He's not there? He should have left like, hours ago." She rose from the chair and started to the stairs. "I'm in the basement, in Mom's office. Let me check upstairs."

Kimi bounded up the stairway and down the hallway to the bedroom. She breathed a silent sigh of relief as she neared the bedroom and spied the slumbering lump that was her father in the bed. "Yeah, he's still sleeping," Kimi said into the phone as she entered the bedroom. "Hang on a sec." She went to the side of the bed, gently shaking William's shoulder. "Dad...Dad...it's Aunt Marcy on the phone, Dad."

A soft, low grunt came from William. He turned his head slightly but did not lift it from the pillow.

Kimi persevered, shaking his shoulder a bit harder. "Dad...you gotta take this. It's Marcy."

William turned his head a bit farther, finally opening his eyes to look at his daughter. He moved a hand from beneath the covers and reached for the phone, bringing it to his ear, then turning to lie on his back and motioning Kimi out of the room with his other hand. She remained for a moment, studying her father until a stern look from him and another, more forceful motion of his hand backed her toward the door, still watching him as she slowly closed the door behind her. He let his head sink back to the pillow. "H'lo Mrcy," he said, still mostly in the stupor of sleep.

"Good morning," said Marcy. "A couple other Board members were wondering about you...they asked me to call and check up on you. You've missed the 9 O'Clock Monday meeting. We...were just wondering if you had plans to come in yet this morning, or if you'd rather we set a meeting for tomorrow."

"I..." William started - then trailed off.

"We have some information about the money that you might want to hear," Marcy said, in an attempt to entice William. "Can we set up something for about 11?"

"I'll--" William began again "--I'll...be in later," he said resignedly.

"You sure I can't talk you into this morning?"

"I'll...be in...later," William repeated slowly.

"Well...okay...that's fine. We're all sitting here in the conference room...about what ti--" Marcy jumped slightly and slowly brought the phone from her ear, closing it and looking at Cheryl. "...he hung up," she said, puzzled.

11:44 AM.
William had stayed in bed after the call from Marcy - the door closed, the shades pulled, the room dark. Kimi had stuck her head in once, asking if he felt like coffee or any breakfast, which he refused. Since the phone call, William had lain on his back, his arms at his sides, thinking about what had happened with his life and his family in the last three days - and the last fifteen years before that.

William tried hard to remember what his life was like before he met the small, lively, but strange and mysterious woman at the bookstore in the market square that First of December, so many years ago - how she nearly scared him with how much she knew about him, without ever meeting him - and probably most strangely and improbable - how she knew that he was such a fan of a character in a cartoon named Kim Possible. As with a fan of any "real" movie star, William would have given anything to meet Kim, implausible as it seemed at that time - or any other time.

William remembered that all he gave - was 20 dollars. He also remembered his life before Kim as being much like the bedroom was now - quiet, dark - and empty.

William's mind went back to thoughts of the events of that week in December, so many years ago...the trip back to the market square in which Angelica seemed so sure of William's return; the items she gave him in exchange for 20 dollars and his belief that "anything is possible"; the strange circumstances and directions that went with each of the items; and the seeming zero relevance they held to anything in his life.

William then remembered the night of The Cross - how he heard of Angelica's death on the television - the same television that brought him the pleasure and adventure of Kim's show. He remembered resolving himself to go through with the strange ritual that Angelica had provided him - how, without saying a word, she promised something wondrous would happen if he carried out her instrucitons - and how even if it did seem like so much pomp and dramatics from a strange-but-kindly street woman, he would follow through with Angelica's wish to him. He remembered reciting the incantation that Angelica had made - and the result which it produced...the light and the power and the fury which whipped through his bedroom, terrifying him. He then remembered the product of that light and fury - the auburn-haired young woman who stepped out of his mirror. Angelica's wish for him.

William's thoughts delved into how well he and Kim had gotten along from the very beginning, when he awoke the next morning dismissing the events of last night as just a surreal dream until he turned and saw Kim sleeping next to him. He remembered their first breakfast together...where he first discovered Kim's intensely pleasurable reaction to "Flesher food." He discovered her love of backgammon - and also that, as he had known for some time, he wasn't very good at the game. He also discovered other quirks and differences between the Celler and Flesher environments.

He remembered how easy it was to be himself with Kim, even from the very beginning...how their personalities meshed and interacted; their puns and wordplay; Kim's joking about the off-camera antics of some of the characters in the show; and William's wonderment at properties in the Celler environment. He remembered the changes he went through at work as a result of his relationship with Kim - the changes in his personality and becoming more outgoing toward others - the boost to his confidence in interacting with coworkers, and how it propelled his career at Meridian.

William remembered the blessings and gifts through the years; taking the steps with Kim onto new ground with regard to Crosses; the first Celler to have romantic feelings for a Flesher; the night they professed their love for each other; the first passionate contact between the two environments; the first marriage between a Celler and a Flesher; and the most amazing and unexpected event - the conception and birth of the first offspring between a Celler and a Flesher - the gift that became Kimi.

William sat up as he remembered the the reality of the present - and that now, this magical-yet-real journey was seemingly about to come to an end...a sudden, malicious, cruel and inevitable end.

It seemed to William that fifteen years didn't lessen or age, but instead served to mature and strengthen his thoughts of Kim as a gift - a living, loving, wondrous gift he still had no idea what he had done to deserve, but made sure to give thanks for each and every day of those fifteen years. He remembered how he had fears in the past of losing that gift, and finding out just how fragile he regarded that gift; the incident on Kim's first day at work at Meridian, where WIlliam found out how alcohol had such a dangerous effect on Cellers; the incident during Kimi's birth - when he thought he was losing the gift that was his wife in exchange for the gift of a daughter.

A morbid thought formed in William's mind: Third time's the charm. Alcohol can be easily avoided in daily tasks; adjustments in forces between environments can be controlled and regulated; but this was something neither foreseen nor controlled. The forces of evil, given time, can and do overstep boundaries and overcome restraints.

William tried to think out the logic of the act that Kim was the target of. Usually, a violent or terrorist act or kidnapping consists of two basic elements a threat, and demands. An action is taken to make the threat valid and credible...and then demands are presented as a condition of the threat not being carried out - "do this, or this will happen." The only compromise is to meet the demands; if they are not met, the threat is carried out as a consequence.

Drakken and Shego in this situation could certainly be classified as terrorists, William thought...but with one difference - there was no need to make demands or negotiate for a compromise. They already have what they want, and meeting or refusing the demands would have no bearing on the result.

William leaned forward, placing his head into his hands, and a silent tear edged over his hand as the ultimate reality drilled its gravity into his head: There is no negotiation in this case - no compromise to be reached. Kim - his wife - his friend - his gift - is going to die, no matter what anyone else says or does.

William tried next to begin to focus on another question with equal import and imminent gravity - how he was going to ensure Kimi's future and continue her quality of life as best he could, without the added and invaluable guidance of her mother.

1:08 PM, Eastgate time
9:08 PM, Cairo time
-27 Days
"Good...afternoon Mr....Hodge?"
Rachel, William's secretary of two years, greeted him haltingly as William walked through the large mahogany door into his secretary's office. He was unshaven, his hair was not washed, much less combed, he hadn't showered, and he was still dressed in the clothes he wore the day before and had slept in. He walked past her desk without a word and into his office, immediately closing the door behind him.

Rachel sat for a short moment - then picked up the phone and pressed a trio of numbers. "He's here," she said - and hung up.

1:27 PM.
William had spent the last 20 minutes going over figures in his home budget. He had nearly drifted off to sleep in his chair when his desk phone beeped twice. He leaned to look at the display - "126 - M. Delgado" - then pressed a button on the keypad. "Hi," he said quietly.

"Hi there," Marcy said. "Rachel said you came in a bit after 1...I'm surprised you didn't call when you got in."

"I..." William stammered, "I'm sorry...I'm pretty tired. I didn't sleep much last night."

"No problem. Listen...can you come to the conference room in about 10? We have some things to update you on."

"Okay," said William after a short pause.

"See you in a few," said Marcy, and the phone softly clicked as she hung up.

William went to the sink in his restroom and splashed a bit of water on his face, then patted a towel over it. He didn't dare look into the mirror - he already knew what the hours since last evening had done to him inside - he couldn't quite bring himself to seeing what they had done to his outward appearance.

1:31 PM.
All eyes of the Board turned to the tall oak door as it slowly opened - and everyone blinked twice when William entered, crossed the room and took his place in his chair next to Marcy at the large oval burlwood conference table. Dick Pavelka was the first to utter anything. "Hodge...you've, uhhh...looked better, man," he said through a poorly-hidden smirk.

There were a few seconds of uneasy silence and dirty looks shot at Dick from Cheryl and Marcy until Marcy stood to address the other members. "Ummm...given the weekend of stress and emotion that Wiliam has been under...I...think that...rationalizations can be allowed for appearances." She finished with a weak smile, which Don and Cheryl echoed as Marcy turned her attention to a folder on the table in front of her.

William leaned forward slightly, reaching for a pen and studying it, slowly sliding it between the thumb and forefinger of both hands as Marcy opened the folder and spoke to him. "Now, let's go forward with what we had planned to talk about, and recent amendments to the progress of it. Since early this morning, Cheryl and I have been in intense negotiation with Los Angeles, setting things in motion to make your proposals of liquidation and garnishment effective immediately upon your signature--" she patted a large envelope in the folder "--and to bypass any delays that would usually take place with financial motions of this nature and scope. At 8 this morning, Cheryl made an announcement to all employees telling them the dire circumstances of your and Kim's situations, and asking them for anything they could contribute. From that moment, the system has been jammed with phone traffic as employees have been making electronic transfers, and confirming their financial situations to find out what they could add to our efforts. As of noon today, over 200 thousand dollars has been committed by nearly half of the workforce, with more promised by the end of the day."

She turned to another page. "In addition, the main office in Los Angeles has appropriated one million dollars in a non-secured no-payment grant. You won't have to owe the company any of the money given in this grant. They've made some adjustments...so instead of 90 percent, you'll only be garnished 40 percent of your salary. Also," she motioned in Dick's general direction, "since Mr. Pavelka has stated that his financial situation does not allow him to contribute his share agreed to by the rest of the members--"

"Hey...I'm in the middle of having a new house built on the West side," Dick cut in. "My money right now is...you know...tied up in that." He turned to William, who did not look up from the pen he was still holding. "Sorry Hodge, but...I hope you understand...this is...kind of a tight time for me, too."

Marcy shot Dick another daggered look, then continued from the folder. "--as I was saying, as Mr. Pavelka is unable to contribute at this time, I've been on the phone with a couple of investors on the West coast...they are monitoring the situation...and when we get final numbers, they'll take a day or so and secure whatever gap remains." She turned to William now, with a wide smile and a perk to her voice. "William, this is coming together just as you've hoped it would. We're going to have the entire 20 million dollars in a wire account and ready to transfer by the end of the week!" Marcy then broke into applause, joined by Cheryl, Andrea and Don.

William still hadn't moved, and was still staring at the pen he was holding as the applause died down. "...doesn't matter," he muttered in a low voice.

Marcy, still standing, looked down at William - then turned to Cheryl - then back to William, moving her hand to his shoulder. "...what?"

William sat motionless for a second or two - then his expression soured. "I...said...it DOESN'T-MATTER!" The pen in his hands snapped as he said the last, one piece skittering across the table.

Cheryl and Marcy traded looks of bewilderment. Marcy turned back to William, her brow furrowing a bit. "What...what does that mean, William?"

William looked at his now-empty hands, which turned over and rested palm-down on the table, one over the other. The only sound in the room was the faint, distant whoosh from the air conditioner. William then took in a sudden rush of air through his nose, and a tear ran along his face, his voice shaking as he spoke. "Last night, Kimi and I got a vmail from the investigator who has been working on Kim's abduction. At midnight on July 13th...Kim will be executed, even if her captors get the money. Kim...may as well already be dead."

Andrea took in a short gasp through her hand, letting it out in a slow and nearly silent "oh, no." Don, who had been copying facts and figures on his electronic notepad, let it slip from his hand to the table.

Marcy's eyes almost immediately welled over with tears as she slowly sank into her chair. "No, n-- ohh my God...Kiiimm--" she managed before her sobs overtook her.

"William, I--" Cheryl stammered, "--I...don't know what I can say...other than I'm so very sorry..."

William continued to focus his gaze at his hands on the table. "Cheryl...I want you to cancel the contributions by the employees. Thank them, of course, but...do not tell them why the donations have been refused." Cheryl nodded at William's request. "Call Los Angeles and thank them for their contribution, but have them rescind the grant. And of course...I want to thank everyone of my fellow members for their generosity and compassion...but you are all excused from committing any funds." He then raised his eyes to Cheryl for the first time since walking in the door. "I want to continue with the liquidation and garnishment processes," he said. "I want to start making preparations for Kimi's college education."

"Of course, William," said Cheryl. "You may do what you think is for the best. They are, after all, your assets to do with as you wish."

From the moment William had made his statement, Dick had sat with his head resting on one hand, his brow lowered in slight disbelief. "Well, on the bright side," he said, "this shows the solidarity of Meridian...how the entire company can come together for a single cause...even if it took a slight bit of dramatics to point it out."

The room suddenly took on the quiet of a mausoleum, and even the air conditioning finished its cycle, as if to further emphasize the weight of Dick's verbal misstep. Cheryl turned to him incredulously. "Dick, that was more than a little out of line."

"What...?" Dick said, trying to defuse the situation. "I'm not denying that Hodge has fallen into a bit of...bad luck...but--"

"Shut-UP!" Marcy screamed, slamming her hand against the table as she stood, her face streaked with tears. "Just SHUT-UP, Dick! Your bullshit has gone on nearly since you were appointed to the Board...and boy, am I sorry THAT ever happened...but now you've gone too far! I've put up with your bloated, self-righteous, opinionated attitude toward William, toward Cellers in general, and toward Kim in particular for three years...and unlike you, I've held my tongue, for the sake of the Board and the sake of the company."

"Umm, aren't you overreacting just a bit..." Dick started.

"YOU'RE one to talk about overreacting," Marcy shot back. "This all started after the Christmas party three years ago, when you weren't able to add Kim's notch to your bedpost! Ever since then, it's like you've waged some grade-school-level vendetta against both her AND William! The only time you haven't voted against anything he's suggested or proposed is when it either served you, or you were intimidated by the REST of us to back down and see the light! William has done nothing but work to help this company - and all YOU'VE done is work against that, him, AND us!"

Dick now put his hand down forcibly on the table. "HEY," he barked, "when did this become about me?? I'm not the one who turned hostile at that party. And I'm not the one who brought all this drama in here today." He slumped back against his chair, shaking his head slightly. "I don't see the big deal anyway. I mean, c'mon...Kim is just a cartoon...can't somebody just, like....draw another one or something???"

The room again fell solemnly silent for a couple of seconds.

That silence was shattered as William burst across the table from his chair, sending a shower of papers and a pitcher of water bursting over it onto the floor. He lunged at Dick, grabbing him by the neck and sending his chair tumbling to the wall as they both thudded to the floor with William pinning Dick by his throat. His eyes were roiling with rage, his teeth gnarled tightly, his other hand clenched into a white-knuckled fist. Andrea jumped to her feet, backing suddenly from the scene. Cheryl also stood, grabbing the phone and punching the keypad.

"Say it again," William growled, jerking his fist back. "SAY-IT-AGAIN!! Give me a reason, you son-of-a-bitch...give me a reason to do what I've wanted to do to you ever since the Christmas party three years ago. You don't like Kim because you couldn't sleep with her that night or any other night...and you don't like ME because I CAN. Because I'm MARRIED to her...because I don't think of her as something that just crawled out of the TV, or just another notch on the old bedpost, but as a living, breathing being - and more of a human being than you could ever HOPE to be. And from the night this all sank into that lump of mud you call a brain, you've been trying to make both of our lives and careers here at Meridian a living hell!"

Marcy stared in disbelief as her long-time friend had apparently reached his breaking point in a more violent manner than she had. Even with the silent justification she lent to his action, Marcy still could not grasp that this was the William she had known for so many years, and had never seen act in a hostile manner.

Dick's eyes were wide with fright as William's hand tightened a bit against the flesh of his throat, lifting his head a few inches and banging it back down against the floor, as if to punctuate and reiterate the extent of his anger. "Well guess WHAT...DICK - we're THERE. BOTH of us. And you know what ELSE? It had exactly NOTHING to do with YOU. You couldn't even wreck our lives - someone else had to even beat you at THAT. Know what? That someone is a 'CARTOON,' TOO!"

Marcy, who had moved past Cheryl to the other side of the table, gasped. "Cellers--?"

"It's Drakken and Shego," snarled William, never taking his gaze from Dick. "They hacked the Conduit. They kidnapped Kim. They're going to kill her."

Dick tried to squirm against William's grip, turning his head toward Cheryl and Marcy. "Call security!" he strained. "This maniac is gonna kill me!"

"Already done," Cheryl said, settling the phone into its cradle.

William reared back and spit square in Dick's face, then brought his head from the floor again. "Wrong again....DICK. I wouldn't want anyone to go through the pain I'm going through right now. I just want you to feel what it's like to lose. You've already lost twice...beaten both times by 'cartoons.' You tried to sleep with my wife. You LOST. You tried to ruin our lives...you FAILED. You LOSE. But hey - thanks for playing." William cocked his fist into the air. "Here comes your consolation prize, you piece of SH--"

Marcy lunged for his arm, trying to hold it back. "William! STOP!"

Two uniformed guards burst into the room, pulling William off of Dick who rose to his feet, rubbing his reddened neck. "You're through, Hodge," he sneered, breathing heavily. "You attacked me. You threatened me. I'll see your job open by the end of the week."

"I'm afraid you're wrong yet again, Mr. Pavelka," Cheryl cut in. She turned to the guards who were flanking William. "Gentlemen, I want you to escort Mr. Pavelka to his office. Give him exactly fifteen minutes to clear it of his personal items. Then escort him from the building. Take him to the hospital if he requests medical attention."

Dick's jaw dropped open as each of the guards placed a strong hand against his shoulders. "What the hell are you doing, Carter?" he shouted. "I'm not the one who should be under guard. Hodge attacked ME!"

"You...BASTARD," Marcy spit out through her continuing tears. "You drove him to it! William comes here to tell us his wife is going to die, and all YOU could do was make LIGHT of it and DISMISS IT...and all because you couldn't NAIL her!"

Cheryl placed a hand on Marcy's shoulder. "He's not worth it," she said - then turning to the guards "Get him out of here. Dick, you're FIRED."

Dick wrestled a bit against the guards' restraint as they led him toward the door. "Get a lawyer," he snapped. "All of you...get good lawyers. This is far from over."

"Go right ahead," Cheryl countered. "Your actions of the past three years have been well chronicled and documented...and we have four very credible witnesses just in this room alone."

As the tall door to the conference room closed, Marcy and Cheryl turned toward William, who had sank to his knees on the floor, tears streaming down his face. "I want my wife back," he repeated. "I just want my wife back. KIM! KIIMM, COME BAAA-A-A-CK!!" he screamed as Marcy embraced him, also weeping.

Monday, June 17th, 7:02 PM, Eastgate time
Tuesday, June 18th, 3:02 AM, Cairo time
-26 Days
Kimi plucked a few grapes out of a bowl in the refrigerator and took them to the sink, running them under the water, then cupping them in her hands and shaking out the excess moisture and placing them on a folded paper towel on the counter. She had spent the afternoon talking with Frannie about the news she had gotten the night before. She wasn't searching for sympathy or answers from her best friend; rather she just wanted to tell someone, as if hearing herself relay it would affirm the validity of such an unfathomable event.

Kimi had walked into the living room and set the paper towel on the end table next to the recliner, sitting down slowly into the soft cushions. She had all but shut off the air conditioner an hour ago - yet the house still seemed to have a chill she couldn't shake. Other than the faint sounds of the stereo in her room, playing a recent solo collection by Sarah Nayde called "Personal Effluvia, Volume 14," the house was eerily quiet as well.

Kimi had popped another grape into her mouth as the doorbell rang. She rose and walked to the front door, checking the viewer before opening it. "Hi...Aunt Marcy," she said. "Dad's not home yet, if you want to come in and wait for him."

Marcy stepped into the foyer, giving Kimi a light embrace. "Hi, Ki," she said. "How are you holding together? We're...pretty shocked at work about the horrible news you got last night."

"It's not over yet," Kimi replied. "There are weeks left before the deadline...and there's a really diamond guy from the air base in Cairo working on this. His name is Captain Broderson. I call him Cap'n Mark. He'll get those slugs who have Mom." They walked into the living room, where Marcy set her purse on the coffee table. "Have you talked to Dad in the past couple of hours? He's usually home by around 5...but I thought he'd be working a little later tonight."

Marcy motioned to the couch. "Actually...your father is what I wanted to talk to you about," she said. Kimi had a slightly puzzled expression as they sat. "Earlier today, there was...an incident at work..." Marcy quickly touched her hand to Kimi's shoulder as her eyes widened. "No no...nobody got hurt. Your father is fine, physically. After he told us about the vmail you got last night, one of the Board members...kind of reacted a...bit less than sympathetic toward the situation--"

"I bet I know who," Kimi interrupted. "Dick?"

Marcy should have known Kimi would be in the know on dealings at work, given her closeness with her parents, and her beyond-her-years intelligence. "Yes...Dick."

"I've never met him," Kimi added, "but he sounds soooo lead. He doesn't even think Mom is real, even though he wanted to do the Horizontal Body Heat Dance with her!"

"That's Dick, alright," Marcy smirked. "He...said some things that were just plain wrong...and your father...well...he actually attacked Dick because of it. We had to have security come in and break it up."

"Whooo," Kimi exhaled. "Good thing for Lead Dick that Dad still hasn't learned karate from Mom...you said that Dad is fine...physically?"

"Yes...but...after the incident...he--" Marcy swallowed, stalling for a second "--he asked to be taken to Eastgate General...to the psychiatric ward...for observation and evaluation. He said that right now, he just...doesn't feel right."

Kimi searched for a response. "Well--" she spoke haltingly, "how...how long is he going to be there?"

"That's...just it," said Marcy. She could feel that this would be nothing other than another blow to the young girl. "They don't know for sure. They're running tests and watching him...he's...under a lot of stress right now...you know that better than anyone...with everything that's going on right now. They have said that they don't feel he's under a chemical imbalance, or anything serious like that...but they did say that...because of the situation with your mother...and the incident today...that he is considered a...danger to himself and others."

Marcy could watch Kimi's expression fall. "Honey...Ki..." she started, "your father is going to be just fine. And from what I've heard about this...Cap'n Mark...he'll find a way to get your mother back from these people who took her--"

"Drakken and Shego," Kimi cut in.

"Yeah," Marcy said, a bit resignedly and disbelievingly. "Evil Cellers hacking into the Resonance Conduit. I couldn't believe that when William told us. But I have faith that this will turn out...okay. You've got to keep faith too, Ki. I know you can do that. You're about the strongest young lady I know - both physically and emotionally."

Kimi was silent for a moment as this newest development edged its way into her mind. "Aunt Marcy?" she asked quietly, "Is...there any way you can...stay here for a while tonight...?"

Marcy reached for Kimi to hug her. "Absolutely, sweetheart," she said, trying to keep emotion from breaking her voice. "Anything you want."

Marcy went into the kitchen to fix them both a sandwich for dinner, and they shared the grapes that Kimi had in the living room. They ate quietly - then moved to Kimi's bedroom, where they played a few games of backgammon while Sarah Nayde's album played softly in the background. After about an hour, Kimi had told Marcy that her eyes were getting a bit tired, and turned off the main lights, leaving her small desk lamp to illuminate the room. She retrieved the picture of her, Kim and William from her desk and returned to sit on the bed, leaning into Marcy's arms, looking at the picture.

"You know," Marcy said sofly as she slowly stroked her fingers through Kimi's hair, "I meant what I said earlier, about you being strong. You've inherited more than physical traits from your parents. You have a lot of their good sense and principles...and I know that--" she slid her arms further around the teen "--that...no matter what happens, you will have the strength to get through it...because of your father, you have a mind that can cut through the deepest problems...and because of your mother, you have a heart that can outshine the brightest diamonds..."

Kimi heard Marcy's words - but was not having the easiest time letting them sink in. How could she be that smart and sensible, she thought, when everyone else in her family was coming apart?

The stereo began to play a ballad from Sarah - a song done in the late 1980's by Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne. As it played, Kimi's mind interspersed little snippets of her mother's voice between verses of the song - moments from the last few months, after finding out how truly special and unique Kim's history actually was:

-Baby, I get so scared inside, and I don't really understand-

"Hi, Kiiii"

-Is it love that's on my mind, or is it fantasy?-

"You're NOT a cartoon - and neither am I!"

-Heaven - is in the palm of my hand, and it's waiting here for you-

"So...you wanna hear...?"

-What am I supposed to do with a childhood tragedy-

"Let's see if I can put it like you would...it's all about I love you, Ki."

-If I close my eyes forever-

Marcy jumped for a split second as she felt the teen's body suddenly tense. Kimi was still looking at the picture as her gutteral screams shattered through the room. "SHIIIIINNE!!! You're all ABOUT the heart!! You're my MOM!!" She then clutched the picture to her chest as she raised her head, seeming to scream at Kim's captors. "Let her go, you slugs! Let go of my mom!! LET GO OF MY MOM!!! A DIAMOND FREEE-eee-ee-e-e-e..." Her screams gave way to open, violent crying as she melted limply into Marcy's arms. Marcy held tighter, trying also to hold onto her own emotion as the true horror and gravity of the situation burrowed deep into both of them.

Marcy stayed with Kimi through a night of fitful sleep after she had cried herself to sleep and exhaustion. Each time she moved, Kimi would move close, clutching desperately in her sleep.

to be continued...