Chapter 10
The Aftermath
Later that night, at Middleton General Hospital, the group of survivors were grouped in a room on the fifth floor. Ron had to spend the night at the hospital, just to be on the safe side, in the bed next to him, was Kim.
"So, he's dead?" Tara asked, she had her right arm in a sling, she had sprained it in the impact.
"Yeah, he's dead." Kim said, looking at the blond, and smiling slightly,
"And they're calling us heroes," Bonnie said, looking over at Kim, "can you believe it, us, heroes."
"Amazing, isn't it?" Brick said, looking at Kim and Ron,
"No big." Kim said, shrugging off the complement,
"Yeah, you two are probably used to it." Tara said,
"Actually," Ron said, "this is only the second time I've been called a hero."
"I don't believe that," Bonnie said, "the way you handled yourself last night."
"And I was scared to death, too, Bonnie." Ron said, finally letting his emotions show,
"Ah, the crack in the Stoppable armor appears." Tara said, smiling at Ron, and hugging him, for what was the third time since they had known each other.
The next morning found Ron and Kim waiting to go home,
"Good to be going home, K.P." Ron said, smiling at his girlfriend,
"It's just good to be alive." Kim replied, smiling, Ron was still needing crutches to get around, but he would survive. Kim's arm needed fifteen stitches to close it up. The doctors had done a good job removing the scars from her body, as they had done with Ron, who had to spend eight hours in surgery to repair the damage to his right hip.
"Listen up, people," Mr. Barkin was addressing the student body of Middleton High School, which had assembled in the gym for an awards presentation, "Today, we honor eight students, who showed great courage in the face of overwhelming odds, today, I give you, Kimberly Possible, Ronald Stoppable, Bonnie Rockwaller, Tara King, Alan Platt, Monique Robinson, Joshua Mankey, and Brick Flagg."
The gym exploded with applause, as one by one, the students came out from what appeared to be a side entrance, Ron was still on crutches, and Alan was in a wheelchair, his leg had been broken so badly in the crash, that the doctors had told him to keep all weight off of it for the duration he wore the cast.
The medals were presented to the individual students, and Mr. Barkin read the certificates that came with them:
"For great courage, and quick actions, on the morning of August 28, 2004, the Governor of the State of Colorado presents the Governor's Medal, to the following people; Kimberly Ann Possible, Ronald Joseph Stoppable, Bonnie Jean Rockwaller, Tara Renee King, Monique Michelle Robinson, Joshua Wendell Mankey, Brick Eugene Flagg, and Alan Richard Platt, signed, this 30th day of August, 2004, Frank Richards, Governor, State of Colorado."
"Congratulations, Kimmie." Mrs. Dr. Possible said, giving her daughter a big hug, and turning over to the rest of the group, and congratulating them as well.
"Well done, son." Mr. Stoppable said, now helping his only child to the door of the gym, and out, into the beautiful morning.
Kim and Ron knew that nothing would ever be the same after that day, but they never spoke of it, to anyone, the traumatic events of that night had brought them together in a way that no mission had ever done, from that day forward, they would become inseparable.
END