Disclaimer

Kim Possible is a registered trademark of Disney Inc. I have no rights to any of the characters. And they have no rights to me.

Providence
A Kim Possible Story
Author: falfurrian
Editor: Spice of Life

Chapter 10

After all the hugs and kisses, Ron was feeling pretty special. The medication he received about 20 minutes before reduced his pain greatly. But the most profound effect it had was on his inhabitations.

"Do you feel like telling us what happened after you got to the party?"

"I think so," Ron said slowly. All eyes were on Ron. 'I like telling stories; I might as well get started.'

"Yesterday... it is today, right? I mean Sunday?" Everyone nodded. "Yes, well yesterday you know that party you took me to, Mom? Well, I wasn't invited. But I needed to ... uh ...see Kim. So I crept around to the back of the house to watch for her." Ron was speaking slowly and slightly slurred. "After a little while I moved over to the side of the house close to an open window. It was a big house. Lots of bushes. Really pretty .... "

"Yes Ron, it was a nice house. Go on." His mother encouraged him.

"When I heard someone approaching, I jumped through the open window to get away." Ron stopped at this point, not sure what to say. His eyes were heavy and half closed. Kim could tell the drugs were slowing his thought process.

'I don't want to get anyone in trouble... Including me.' Ron thought.

Kim leaned down close to his ear and whispered, "They know about Josh being high."

Ron's eyes shot open, "Did he hurt you?! Did Josh break your wrist?" Kim looked up at her mother, then back to Ron.

"He drove me home last night and we got into a wreck." Kim said softly.

"That little bastard!" Ron exclaimed. A lot of shushing was heard from other places in ICU.

"Ron!" Mrs. Stoppable said sternly.

"All I wanted to do was stop him from hurting you. I was trying to get proof Josh was getting high, and wound up getting hurt instead. I didn't help you at all. I'm such a failure." Ron covered his eyes.

"Ron, it's okay. I'm okay. Josh is even okay, for now. Please tell us what happened to you. We still don't know how you got hurt." Kim put her hand on his shoulder. Ron finally took his hands away from his face. His mother had a tissue waiting for him and he took it thankfully.

"Well, there's not really much to tell." He continued, "After I jumped into the window, I sat there waiting for the people outside to leave. I was just about to go back out the window when the lights came on. Randy and a couple of other guys came in the room, and the four of them surrounded me."

"Was one of the Nathan?" Kim's mother asked.

"Yea, I think so. How did you know?"

"Just a lucky guess." Mrs. Possible said, smirking that her accusation was correct.

"That's all right Mrs. Possible," said Ron, "I know women are psychic. Kim has been trying to convince me that it's just not so...,"

"Ron, please, continue with your story," Kim said, albeit frustrated.

"Well, shortly after they arrived, Josh came in. I thought he was going to help me, but he blamed me for you not going to the dance with him." Ron looked back to Kim. A thought had occurred, "You're not going to the dance with Josh?" Ron was thrilled! He could not keep the smile from his face.

"Ron, the story please"

"Oh, oh yea. Josh took a hit ... err ... smoked some grass or something, and stood back to watch. Oh, wait a second. Josh said something that really made me mad. He said he was going to drive you home, Kim. After that, someone graded me from behind. I'm not sure how, but I managed to knock them all down." Kim's mother looked at her daughter, then to Ron.

"Ron, you did more than knock them down. A couple of those boys came here last night for treatment." Mrs. Possible replied, much to Ron's shock.

"Really?" Ron was bewildered, "I didn't mean to hurt them. I was just so mad at Josh I must have lost it." Ron looked down at his hands. "All I remember next was this mad awful pain in my head. I still don't know who did that."

"It must have been Josh." Kim said quietly. "He didn't look like he had been fighting." Kim was still having a hard time believing Josh—Josh Mankey—was a druggie, let alone beat up her best friend. She had been completely wrong about him.

"Next I woke up in a ditch. This part is pretty fuzzy. I remember walking and stuff, but not much else. Now I'm here with you guys." Everyone quietly soaked in his tale. Finally Ron asked, "How did I get here?"

"You dialed 911 from a phone booth about 20 miles outside of town. They brought you here by ambulance." Mrs. Possible informed him.

If the medication had not numbed his brain he might have been shocked.

"Wow son. That was quite an ... adventure." Ron's father proclaimed, after a few minutes of silence.

"Ron, why did those boys want to hurt you? I'm still not clear on that." Mrs. Stoppable questioned him.

"There're a bunch of cowardly jerks, that's all. They call me names at school. I guess they thought since I was not invited to this party they could toss me out." Ron replied sheepishly.

The adrenaline rush Ron had gotten from hearing about Kim's accident had run its course. The pain meds began pulling him under. He eyes got heavy again, and his vision began to blur. He squeezed Kim's hand and closed his eyes. He wasn't really sleeping, but he wasn't really awake.

Kim's mother broke the silence, "I think we need to let him get some rest. He still has a lot of healing."

Part of Kim wanted to stay, but she felt more tired than usual. As everyone started saying good bye to Ron, he stirred a little. Kim stood next to her friend and looked at him in wonder. He looked somehow older. She squeezed his hand one last time, and kissed his forehead.

"I'll stay with him until you are ready to come back," Mr. Stoppable said to his wife. He looked at Mr. Possible, "Can you give her a ride home? She is too tired to drive." With that, Ron's dad sat down next to him and pulled out a newspaper. Kim went back to her room with her mother, and Mr. Possible took Ron's mother home.

===============================================

Later that afternoon at the Stoppable house, the phone rang.

"Hello?" answered Mrs. Stoppable.

"Is this Ron Stoppable's house?"

"Yes it is."

"I'm John Higgins' father. I believer your son and mine were involved in a fight last evening..."

===============================================

"Yea Kim! That's right. John and his parent went to my house to apologize." Ron was more stunned that excited.

"Wow!" Kim said, "That must have been like, super embarrassing."

"I'd say! John's dad didn't believe the 'tree' story for a second. It took him all morning to get the story from John, but once he started talking, he told everything."

"Okay, so tell!" Kim said. Ron moved the phone to his other ear.

"Josh was the one that knocked me out. He hit me with a Jack Daniels bottle Randy put in his room for the party. Those bottles are thick and heavy. Not like in the movies." Ron touched his head cautiously.

"Yea, I know."

"After that, they pushed me out the window and put me in the back on John's truck, drove me out of town and dropped me in the ditch. They took my shoes and everything in my pants and tossed them out of the truck." Ron paused for a second. He didn't know how to tell her.

Kim heard a soft sniff. "They threw out the wallet you gave me, Kim."

Kim could hear his distress over the phone. She had no idea he felt that way about her gift from years ago. "Ron, it's okay. If we can't find it, we'll go shopping for a new one, together."

"That would be great KP. "Ron sighed inwardly," Thanks."

"No problem." Kim cautiously asked, already knowing the answer. She paused for a moments, rehearsing the question in her mind. "So, how did you get the bruises?"

Ron was quiet for a little while before he answered. "They ... uh ...kicked me while I was out."

The silence on the other end of the phone told Kim all she needed to know. She wanted to be at the hospital with Ron so much right now that she ached. But all she could do was cry with her friend. Finally, "You know Ron, not everyone is like that."

"I know."

After a long, uncomfortable silence, Ron coughed and cleared his throat, "So, are you going to school in the morning?"

"Yea, I'm going. Mom said its okay as long as I take it easy. She's writing me a note for Gym and Squad practice." Bonnie would really be having it at her now that she couldn't practice with the squad.

"How long do you have to wear your cast..." The conversation continued for another half hour before Kim's mother told her it was time for bed.

"Ron, mom said I need to let you get some rest." Kim told him reluctantly.

"Okay KP. I am a little tired and my head still hurts." Ron admitted, even though he did not want their conversation to end. It wasn't all that fun sitting in a hospital bed all day.

"Well, good night Ron."

"Later Kim." Ron stopped to think, "Oh, Kim?"

"Yes Ron?"

"You're the best friend anyone could ever hope to have. I...." Ron stumbled to find the right words, "...err ... you're the best."

"Thanks." Kim beamed. Although Ron could not see it, see was outwardly blushing. "You too. Goodnight."

===================================================

Kim's mom drove her to school. At the last minute she had asked to spend the day with Ron in the hospital, but her mother vetoed.

"Ron will be fine. He needs his rest." Mrs. Possible assured her daughter.

Kim wondered if she wanted to be with Ron, or just didn't want to deal with all the stories. Monique told her on Sunday rumors and innuendos were flying fast and furious. Kim rolled her eyes. 'High school'...

Mrs. Possible yelled out the car window as her daughter hurried to class, "Remember, come right home after school. No practice today! I'll take you to see Ron this evening."

"Okay mom. I'll remember!" Kim shouted back.

Monique caught up with her at the entrance to school. "What's happening girl-friend? Have fun at the party?" She asked, flipping some of her hair over her shoulder.

"They finally moved Ron out of ICU last night. He's a lot better." Kim reported, not really paying attention to Monique.

"You need to forget about Ron. You should hear all the stuff they are saying about Randy's party and you!" Monique exclaimed.

Kim was surprised. 'Forget about Ron?' She must not have meant that the way it sounded.

"I have no idea where they get some of their information! I overheard Sara telling Vivian that Josh and you had gotten high and stolen Randy's parent's car, and then totaled it."

"What!? Oh, I was afraid of this," Kim said.

"You got some serious work ahead of you girl if you want to keep your record clean." Monique advised.

As the two girls walked through school, they could hear names whispered as they passed. ... Josh .... Kim .... Randy .... Ron.

"Well, Well. If it isn't our latest social accident." Bonnie Rockwaller stepped in front of Kim as she walked down the hall. Kim's nemesis sniffed loudly. "Just checking to see if you're high yet."

"I don't use drugs Bonnie. My reality is exiting enough."

"Yea, I guess getting in a wreck would make you want to go straight." Bonnie shrugged obnoxiously.

"I'm not in the mood today Bonnie so back off." Kim told her defiantly.

"Well, as Head Cheerleader, you have an image to uphold. I wouldn't want your new rep to bring the squad down. The school might have to take action. Ta ta!" Bonnie walked away looking satisfied.

Kim hated to admit it, but Bonnie was right. The school could very easily decide that Kim Possible was not a suitable example and remove her from the cheer squad.

"That girl's a B-I-T-C-H! Too bad they don't use that as a measure of suitability. So, what's the plan?" Monique asked.

Before Kim could answer, Mary approached Kim from behind. "So it is true. You were in a car wreck!"

"Yes, I was." Kim answered, already knowing where the conversation was headed.

Mary then asked a little softer, "So had you and Josh been partying pretty hard before that?"

"NO!" Kim yelled a little too loud. She then added in a normal voice, "I was not high, or drunk. As for Josh, you need to ask him."

"Okay! Okay!" Mary apologized, "I didn't think that sounded like you."

"So, how's Ron? I hear he's in the hospital," Mary continued with an inquisitive look.

"That's right, and he's doing much better. He should be back Wednesday or Thursday."

"Wow! He must have been hurt pretty bad. I saw what he did to Randy and Nathan. Who would have thought Ron could be so ... physical!? Can he have visitors- Ron that is- at the hospital?"

This day was getting stranger by the minute! Mary never talked about Ron or even gave him a second look. Now she wanted to see him in the hospital?

"Yea, I think he can have visitors." Kim answered cautiously, not sure she wanted another girl seeing him.

"Thanks Kim and take care of that arm!" Mary waved, and continued to walk down the hall.

Kim and Monique once again headed down the hall to their lockers.

"Kim! Kim!" Tara said running up from behind. She stared at Kim's new cast wide eyed. "Oh my God! It's true! You did break your arm!" She paused for a few moments, her eyes shining, "Does that mean Ron is dead?"

"Ron is not dead. He's in the hospital." She was growing tired of this.

"Is he about to die?"

"Tara, Ron is fine!" Kim groaned.

"I heard you had gotten high, and ran him over with Josh's car before you hit a tree!"

"Where did you hear THAT?" Kim was astounded. This was just like 'The Telephone Game' that she had played when she was a child. Gossip and rumors really flew around this school.

Tara clasped her hands behind her back and kicked at nothing, "I didn't really believe the story, but when I saw your cast and all." Tara looked at her watch, "I've got to go. Bye! And tell Ron I said hi!"

'This is going to be a long day,' Kim thought.

She finally reached her locker with Monique. "Can you believe these stories? Sounds like they think I'm some kind of crazed party animal!"

"You know this is all Ron's fault, right?"

"What?" Kim stared at her friend with open surprise.

Monique looked back right at Kim. "I would bet my bottom dollar he's the one telling everyone you were high at that party. He has always been jealous of your success."

"Monique, are you mad at Ron or something? Ron would never do that to me. You know that." Kim was confused. Why was Monique saying these things?

"All I know is boys like Ron start these kinds of rumors. Mark my word Kim. You'll see." With that, Monique walked off to her first class.

'She is acting SO bizarre! And I don't think she has even talked to Ron since last Friday.' Kim did her locker thing and headed for her first class. She was stopped twice by friends on the way asking about the party and how Ron was doing. Both had heard very exaggerated stories about the accident and Ron. She was relieved to finally make it to class and take her seat. However, the empty desk next to her was a reminder of her best friend's condition.

She missed him. He was always in her corner when these kinds of things came up. So many people thinking that Ron was dead was freaky. What would it be like if it were true? Intellectually she knew he was alright, but her emotions were screaming 'NO!'

She shook her head. 'Kim, focus! Ron is going to be fine.' Her head was starting to hurt.

The first half of the day stayed the same course. Kim telling people she was not a stoner, and Ron was not dead. But she had found out a few things too. Bonnie had been caught by Randy's mother upstairs in one of the spare bedrooms with Bobbie Johnson. How embarrassing! They were only kissing, but it did give her some ammunition against Bonnie's next attack. Two can play the exaggeration game.

Additionally, the boys that attacked Ron had all received various punishments from their parents. John lost the use of his truck for a month. Randy was grounded and his room stripped of all person possessions (probably as part of a search). And Ted was grounded for 2 weeks. No car, no TV, no phone. Nate had gotten in trouble, but no one knew anything more.

By lunch time, things were beginning to return to normal. As Kim set the tray down on the cafeteria table her Kimmunicator made its 'incoming call' tones.

"Hello?" She answered, not recognizing the ID.

"Kim! You have to save me!" Kim's heart skipped, "What is it Ron?!"

"The food here is awful! And they don't give you enough!" Ron whined pitifully.

"Ron! Cut it out! You scared me." Kim told him sternly. The worry in her voice was evident.

"Sorry KP." Ron said with remorse. It was obvious he had not thought through how Kim might feel about his words.

Kim quickly recovered from her brief angst, "The food can't be that bad, and it sounds like you ate it all."

"I had no choice! Doctor's orders. Oh, your mom says to tell you 'Hi'."

Kim heard a faint 'Hi Kimmie'.

"Is my mom there with you?"

"Yea, she's giving me a sponge bath." Simultaneously Ron heard "WHAT!" coming from the two women he knew could hear him. "Psyche!" Ron's laughter stop abruptly, followed shortly by a quiet "Yes Ma'am."

A smile slowly grew on Kim's face. "What did my mom tell you Ron?"

"I'd rather not repeat it. It was ...well ... kinda' private."

"So, besides bad food, how are you doing?"

"Okay. Daytime TV is the pits. But it looks good for me to go home tomorrow. Nothing too strange is happening. Are you going to be able to come see me tonight?" Ron asked hopefully.

"That's the plan."

"That's great KP. I'll let you get back to lunch." Ron said. He added a pitiful moan when a nurse brought in another tray of food.

"Later Ron." Kim laughed.

"Later Kim." Ron replied back, and the line went dead.

Monique sat down at the table with Kim. "Hey Kim!"

"Hi Monique." Kim picked up her fork, and began eating some of her pizza.

"Say, you never told me what happened between you and Richard the other night." Kim said mysteriously. "Spill girl! Tell ALL." Kim declared, trying to turn the conversation in some other direction, so they could forget about their strange conversation earlier.

Monique looked down at her tray and smiled.

"You kissed! Didn't you!" Kim pointed an accusing finger at her friend jokingly.

"Oh yes, we sure did!"

"Well, I guess that means you have date for the spring formal."

"That's right! I can't wait. I'm going to the mall right after school today to start looking for a dress. You want to come?" Monique questioned her.

"Sorry, no can do. Mom is making me go straight home right after school. If I don't she'll freak and I won't get to see Ron tonight." Kim shrugged, and resumed eating.

Monique's expression became dark. "Ron! What is it you see in that boy? Hasn't he caused enough trouble? You need to find another 'friend', girl."

Kim was shocked. Monique had not always seen eye-to-eye with Ron, but he considered her a good friend.

"Monique, why are you so cranked about Ron?" She asked curiously.

"You just don't see it, do you? That boy is ruining your life! Nothing good will come from a relationship with him, mark my words!" Monique raised her hand in the air dramatically.

"That doesn't make since! I have known Ron since way back. I know him better than anyone! Tell me why you feel this way Monique; you're just giving me emotions!"

Monique looked Kim right in the eyes, "Ron is a racist! That's what!"

"WHAT!" Kim was taken aback, "Ron doesn't hate anyone! I have never heard him say or do anything to anyone that was prejudice. He has a few phobias, but he doesn't—no, he can't hate anyone!"

Monique cut her off with a raised hand. "Look Kim, I know what I know."

"What proof do you have?" Kim was getting angry now. She cried with Ron last night because he couldn't fathom people hurting him simply because he was different! This made no since!

"I can't prove it, but I'm positive." Monique refused to be moved by anything Kim was saying.

"You don't know what you're saying! Ron is the best person I know and ..."

Monique rose and headed toward a different table, not looking back. Kim didn't bother to finish. 'What is with her? She was supportive of Ron two nights ago, and now this!'

Kim knew better than follow after her. She would not listen when she got like this. Kim stared down at her food with no appetite. 'Forget this slop.'

Rising from the table, she headed toward her next class. She didn't feel like talking to anyone, and she knew it would be empty. As luck would have it, she walked right into Randy and Nat as they headed for lunch. Kim looked away. This was not the time to confront Ron's assailants. However, Randy seemed to have a different plan.

A/N You may have noticed this chapter has a lot fewer misspellings and flows much better. Credit for these improvements and numerous excellent story additions goes to the story's new editor. Lets all give it up for ...(dramatic drum roll) ... Spice of Life!!!!