4-year-old Kim Possible awoke with a shudder. She had had the most awful dream. There was a gigantic train coming towards her and Ron. She had thought for a moment they were going to die, but then she realized that she couldn't give up…how did it end? She woke up before she could find out.
One look around caused the redhead to shutter again. This place was so lifeless. Everything looked cold and white. Then her eyes wandered to the corner, where she saw gigantic complex machines. This was a hospital! She had been here plenty of times with Mommy. Never in one of their ugly beds, though. That meant she must be hurt. They wouldn't use the scary machines on her, would they?
Unprecedentedly a nurse walked in. Before Kim could ask any questions the woman went back out, returning a few minutes later with the Possibles. "Kimmie! We're so glad you're all right!" Her mother hugged her. "I was so worried something happened to my Lil Bubblebutt."
"Mom, not in public!" She exclaimed although nobody was there except the nurse.
"Kimmie-cub, why did you run off like that?" Mr. Possible's voice was not stern. "We were so worried. The whole city was out looking for you!"
"You mean…you cared? People wanted to find us?"
Her parents chuckled. "Why, of course we care! The entire lab was shut down to find you- and believe me, we had a launch scheduled for today."
Wow. A whole rocket mission stopped just for her.
"Where are Jim and Tim?"
"Oh, we dropped them off at Nana's. If she does end up moving to Florida like she wants to, we'll have to start leaving them with June and Larry."
Now that was a scary thought!
"What about Ron?" Kim's tone grew increasingly concerned.
"In the next room. He's perfectly fine," Mrs. Dr. P soothed.
"When can I see him?"
"Soon enough." The nurse answered this time as she wheeled an IV machine out of the room.
Kim stared at the gleaming metal. "Ugh! They didn't use those things on me, did they?"
"No. You two just needed some rest, that's all."
A slender woman came in. "Dr. and Dr. Possible, we need to do a final check on your daughter before we let her go. If you could just step into the hall for a moment-"
"But-"
"Into the hall, please." She spoke forcefully.
"What's her problem?" Mr. Dr. P grumbled as they entered the waiting area.
"Old colleague from med school," his wife answered. "I always outshined her in neurosurgery. She switched to minor emergency medical care."
"Reminds me of a college friend- poor Drew! Oh well, they always seem to hold a grudge." Mr.P shrugged.
They glanced into the next room. Ron was having his own little pow-wow with his parents.
"James, er, James's wife! You're welcome to come in," Mr. Stoppable greeted.
The Possibles followed. "How's Ronald?"
"Oh, he's doing pretty well now. How's Kimberly?"
It was kind of funny how both of their fathers referred to the other's child by full first name.
"About the same."
"I just don't understand it. How did the kids get lost like that? Anyone we talk to refuses to tell us what happened to them!"
"Maybe we should ask the kids themselves." All eyes turned to Ron, who had been quietly listening until then.
"Ron, do you know what went on?" his mother gently prodded.
"I-we-I…don't know." He answered honestly. He could not figure it out. There had been a scary part- more than one scary part, he was sure of that much. And Kim had done something amazing. But Kim was always doing amazing things; just last month she helped a kid who was choking on a crayon at school. And she was the first one in their PreK class who was brave enough to jump off a playground swing!
This thing- or things- had been even better than that. Then again, what could be more badical than jumping off the swing?
"Badical!" He said it aloud with feeling. Ron liked the way it sounded. They had made it up together, Kim and him. So why didn't he remember when?
"What?" The parents were puzzled by this sudden outburst.
"Bad and radical- badical!" He explained patiently.
"Its something we made up when we got lost, I think."
"So you do remember something." The adults were relieved.
"Not much. Just that and Kim saving me, or somebody else, or both."
The Stoppables and Possibles looked at each other blankly.
"He must have been through quite an ordeal. It's expected of him to be confused," Mrs. P said.
Ron hated it when grownups talked about him like he wasn't there.
"And I remember a big monster train!" he added. That part had actually been a nightmare not too long ago, but he wanted to show them that he wasn't just a confused little kid. Kim had saved him, no matter what they thought.
"It came right at us and we couldn't move! And then Kim pushed me out of the way just in time! She knew it was going to get her but she didn't want both of us to get killed! She was ready togive up her own life to save mine, so I wouldn't die!" It all came out in an angry rush. Ron had never talked like this before, never yelled at his elders. He was always the quirky little kid with a cute voice. Now it was different. His best friend had done something others couldn't and he was going to make sure she got the credit. Truthfully, he had filled in the blanks about Kim saving him from the train. Ron didn't care. It felt good to get that out.
The adults stared open-mouthed. They had never realized 4-year-olds were even capable of speaking the words 'die' or 'killed'.
Mrs. Stoppable was the most shocked. She never expected that from her adorable little Ronnie, who was never mean to anyone. Except, of course, in defense of Kim. He saw something special in little Kim Possible. Now that was as apparent as ever.
There was an awkward silence in the moments that followed.
"Well," Mr. P broke the ice. "We'll go ask the doctor if Kimmie is ready to go."
Silently his wife followed him out the door.
In the hallway, they found Dr. Patterson, the lady who had been treating the PreK children.
"Aah, Dr. and Dr. Possible," she said dryly. "Kimberly is in fine condition. We are discharging her. You may go."
The parents stood their ground. "Not until you tell us what happened." Mr. P crossed his arms.
"I assure you I am not in a position to-"
Mrs. Possible lunged for the other doctor, grabbing her by the collar.
Her husband only chuckled amusedly. By nearly 6 years of marriage, he knew all the many sides of his spouse.
"You listen close, Tabitha," Mrs. P gritted her teeth, forgetting all professional formality. "Tell me everything you know about what happened to my daughter or-" she lowered the shorter woman. "Or I'll tell the entire staff a little story about you and Doctor Fuzzypants!"
(We won't get into details, so let's just say it had to with Dr. Patterson sleeping with a Cuddlebuddy every night in medical school.)
This struck fear into Tabitha's eyes. "Okay, okay. From what I've heard, the two little tykes wandered around for quite a while. Judging from the residue on their clothes, the rescue team figured they were in some pretty harsh situations. A cave of some kind, neck deep in a stream, maybe even had some contact with a large woodland animal."
"What?" This was all news to the Possibles.
"Really, they found what looks like bear fur on yours."
The parents were not ecstatic, to say the least.
"And now comes the worst part. You might want to sit down for this."
They obeyed her bidding.
Dr. Patterson took a deep breath. "According to the picture our experts pieced together, the state the children were found in was most likely caused by the severe impact of a near-collision with a full sized cargo train."
Mr. and Mrs.P did not take this well.
"There's no operational railroad in the Tri City." Mr. Dr. P countered.
"True. No one is certain but it seems the Tri City Express was illegally taken over by a Demitrius Demens, now a convicted criminal, who planned to use it to transport prohibited weaponry which would in turn become parts for his deadly inventions."
The snooty doctor paused to let it sink in.
"How…did…Kimmmie…" Mrs. P trailed off.
"How did the kids survive? We are not sure of anything right now. I can only promise you that they have fully recovered. They were probably experiencing the after-effects of serious trauma from a frightening circumstance. I doubt they could have moved in time. The most logical explanation is that they were alert enough to protect each other. The children could have tried to get each other out of the way at the exact same time. Young Mr. Stoppable, I suspect, was ahead by a hair. He seemed to get the brunt of the accident, with a blow to the head. Extensive searching shows the train was derailed. The force of it must have sent the children flying in opposite directions, as they were found by Steve Barkin."
Once again she paused to catch her breath from the long explanation.
The adults were silent as a grave.
"Mr. and Mrs. Possible, I must say this is one of the most extraordinary cases I have been part of in my many years at this hospital."
At this Mrs. P would have snorted had it not been for severe trauma of her own.
"Your children are incredibly lucky to have made it through such an ordeal with an inexplicably quick recovery."
"Either incredibly lucky or incredibly blessed," said a voice from behind.
The trio in the hall finally noticed the Stoppable parents standing near the doorway. They had heard everything.
'Ron was telling the truth,' the adults thought. 'He really knew what he was talking about.'
Mr. and Mrs. S vowed inwardly to listen to their son with open minds from then on.
Dr. Tabitha Patterson put on her best fake reassure-the-patients smile.
"Well, I think we've all had a long night. Why don't you fine folks get your kids home?"
"Best idea you've ever had, Doctor," Mrs. Possible said, regaining her composure. She knew they had to act brave and normal- despite what they had found out- for the sake of Ron and Kimmie.
"One more thing." Tabitha ignored the 'compliment.' "Ronald and Kimberly are at a delicate age. Pediatric policy states that we would prefer you not remind them of what went on before they were rescued. Why bring up painful memories, right?"
The parents did not agree with this. After the episode in Ron's room, they had realized that PreK minds are every bit as aware as grownup ones. The kids had a right to know.
Nobody answered.
Suddenly Kim came bursting out of the room. "Mommy! Daddy! I can't wait to get away from here. What are we waiting for?"
Then she noticed the Stoppables and Dr. Patterson.
"Um, I'll wait til you're ready," she added a little shyly. "Just hurry up, okay?"
A nurse popped up. "Little girl, would you like a Mr. Sitdown sticker?" She asked sweetly.
Kim gave her a pathetic look. "I'm four, not two. What do you think?"
The nurse clamped her mouth shut tightly and walked away.
At this the parents laughed, to Kim's utter confusion.
Ron came out of his room mumbling, "Dumb nurse! I don't even like Mr. Sitdown." He had a large sticker on his forehead.
"Mommy, hospital food is the worst!" He saw his parents. "Can we go get some Mexican fast food?"
"Of course, Sweetie. I know just the place."
"Ron!"
"KP!"
The toddlers saw each other and pulled into a friendly embrace.
"KP?" She said. "It seems familiar somehow. I like it." She smiled.
"Cool." Mr. P was trying to be hip. "Can I call you KP, Kimmie-cub?"
The kids looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"It sounds good whenRon says it, Dad. Not you."
"Oh." Mr. Possible pretended to sound hurt.
"Let's go, already! I need a taco and a nacho, fast," Ron said.
And so they left.
It is not quite over. They have to discuss their so-called nightmares and plus the Tammy, Ned, Max thing needs to be completed.