Betrayal
-Chapter 5-
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Kim listened to the static filling, her ear, which reminded her strongly of bees, but compared to the shouting from just minutes before it wasn't so bad. Finally, twenty minutes after the phone call had ended Kim lowered the blue cordless phone from her ear and hung it up. She couldn't blame Mrs. Stoppable for reacting like that, or for the names she had called her.
Feeling very small she pulled her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around them. It was obvious to her that Ron wasn't home, if he had been she'd have seen his car. The phone call just confirmed that he wasn't home, he was always the one to answer the phone at his house.
She sighed softly turning her mind from such thoughts and onto the more pressing one of finding him. She had no clue where he went after high school, he'd switched colleges but that was all she knew. Kim frowned, a few deep-thought wrinkles appearing between her eyebrows, if she still had her communicator she'd ask Wade.
Well, she did still have it but it had long since been buried in her closet and the batteries were more than likely dead by now. She caught her breath in realization, the communicator didn't used batteries, it used some sort of uranium power supply. Without conscious though she leapt out of her bed and flung open her closet door.
She hesitated only a moment staring at the boxes and the clothes held within and then she began the hunt. Boxes were yanked forward and riffled through quickly before being shoved to the side, clothes were tossed to the side as the pockets were searched. Twenty minutes passed, then thirty, then an hour and still she was looking. Taking her time now, sure that she had missed it before in her rush.
She lifted a sweater from her Nana, not really expecting to find anything and then froze. There hidden by clothes, awards and other various items lay the communicator and a Snowman Hank Christmas card from nineteen-ninety-five. She didn't hesitate to grab both, she stood and climbed over the mess she'd made in her closet and headed directly back to her bed.
She felt a smile forming on her lips as she stared at the Christmas card, almost reluctantly Kim placed it on the night stand next to the photo of her and Ron then sat on her bed. She cradled the blue device in her hands, her thumbs ran over its smooth surface reverently while some unidentifiable fear welled up inside her.
Kim stared at the button, hesitant about pushing it. What if Wade was mad at her. It'd been a long time and she hadn't contacted him about anything. He'd been such a help to her and she had ignored him for two years after she retired. Would he want to help her now? She wasn't sure.
Before she could get her fear under control the cordless phone rang and she nearly dropped the blue device in surprise. Eyes wide she snatched up the phone setting the communicator to the side "Hello?"
For one wild moment she had thought it was Ron, but instead it was Monique. She listened to the girl for a moment then nodded "No, not really doing anything, just sort of wishing horrible boils on Josh." She laughed at whatever Monique said, though the mirth didn't reach her emerald eyes.
"So, calling to check up on me?" A moment of silences and she blinked "Really? You and Ricky? That's, well, unexpected." Her face darkened slightly at whatever Monique said, but she kept her cheerfulness at the forefront "Sorry Mon, didn't mean it like that. I just didn't you liked him."
Kim glanced at the picture of Ron frowning "No, I'm going stay home tonight. Be with the family for a bit. You go on out with Ricky," she paused looking away from the picture "I have things I have to do anyway, things I've neglected."
Kim nodded once more "Right, I need anything I'll call you. Have a good time." No sooner where those words out of her mouth than she had hung up the phone and picked up the communicator.
"I can do this, I'm Kim Possible, I can do anything." she whispered as she pushed the power button. For one horrible moment the screen remained blank and she feared that it had died, then the green and yellow default screen appeared. It sat there for another minute and then the screen filled with the image of a dark corner of a room.
She could vaguely make out the desk chair and several computer systems, but there was no sign of Wade. She hadn't expected this, she had assumed he'd still be sitting there waiting. "Wade, are you there? I have sitch and I need some help."
She doubted he heard her soft plea. He was probably off somewhere. Her thoughts were derailed when a sleepy-eyed boy appeared on the screen. He looked surprised and slightly confused obviously having been asleep. He was still chubby, but not nearly as bad as he had been two years ago.
"Hey Wade," Kim said watching as the genius sat down heavily in his chair.
He stared at her for a moment, saying nothing and then he seemed to come up with something to say "Kim?" the red head nodded, giving him a nervous smile as he continued "Wha-what's up?"
"Was wondering," Kim said, her voice much stronger than ever "if you were up for one last mission?" She saw him pop his knuckles and then lower his hands to the keyboard and she felt her nervous smile widen.
The blond male stretched beneath his sheets, a low groan escaping him. A moment later he rolled over and tried to bury his face into the pillow. Slow even breathing replaced the erratic breathing of sleep, this was followed by an eye opening just enough for the figure to stare at the digital readout of his clock.
"I hate mornings," they mumbled into the pillow before they sat up revealing a trim, yet well defined body. Yawning he sat there a moment longer then stood slowly "I really hate mornings."
He stumbled across his brightly lit room heading and retrieved his bathrobe, intent on a shower.
He was halfway out the door when his cell phone began to ring, he paused, hand on the doorknob to his dorm room frowning. Who would call him this early in the morning?
Sighing he tossed the robe to the bed and picked up the phone flipping it open "Hello?" He was quiet for a moment and then snorted "Oh hell no, I'm not talking to yo-" he fell silent again then shook his head "Forget that, I'm not going near Kim. She almost broke my jaw for the love of Mike! Be happy that I made the call like you wanted."
There was another moment of silence and then he laughed, it was a genuine laugh too "Oh too bad. That's your problem. I can't do anything to stop her, I honestly hope she finds the boy."
He blinked, paling slightly at whatever was said to him "Oh yea, like I care if she finds out now. It'd just be your neck, not mine." Yet despite what he said he didn't sound confident at all. A minute later he nodded sighing "I'll do it, just like you want. But don't expect me to manage another miracle like last time."
Without waiting for a response he hung up and put the phone on the night stand. A minute later he had changed clothes, packed his bag and was heading out the door. Maybe, if he was lucky he could manage to pull things together, but he doubted it.
After all, there were limits too even his charm and abilities. He started down the stairs of his dorm heading for the front doors muttering to himself. "Damn it Josh, how do you let these things happen to you?"
Kim's heavy footsteps on stairs leading down to the hallway and the rest of the house alerted the other occupants of her approach. The stopped for a moment and then they started at a brisk pace down the hallway toward her parent's bedroom. A moment later a hammering knock filled the air as the lovely red head knocked on the door.
Receiving no answer she turned find herself facing her twin brothers, each smiling "Hey Kim-" one said bouncing on the balls of his feet "What's up?" his twin immediately finished matching his brother's actions.
"Not now," Kim muttered starting past them but paused when neither seemed willing to move "Move it shrimps." This was a laughable description since both were now head level with her chest.
"But-" one started but fell silent under Kim's withering gaze.
"I.Don't.Have.Time." Kim said slowly stopping between each word. They blinked slowly as she continued "Now move it."
"But we have-" Jim said quickly, followed immediately by Tim "a problem."
Kim paused, taking a deep breath "What kind of problem?" Her question was answered as a loud explosion took place somewhere in the living room, followed by their mothers shouting.
"That kind," Jim said quietly, Tim nodded "Which is why we've decided you get the blame." Seeing the look of disbelief on their older sisters face Jim explained "We figure if your not doing anything anyway, then we could just blame you and let you get in trouble."
Tim nodded looking nervously at the sound of heavier footfalls coming up the stairs "Just like when you let Ron take the blame for tha-" Whatever he said was cut off as Kim's hand lashed out smashing into his cheek full force. The twin toppled to the side smashing into his brother knocking both into a wall.
"KIMBERLY ANN POSSIBLE!" A new voice shrieked, jerking Kim's attention from her hand. Her mother looked madder than she had ever seen her "What is the matter with you?"
"I-" Kim started to answer but Tim sniffling cut her off. She had lashed out on instinct, she hadn't meant to actually slap the boy. But he had, for one horrible moment, sounded like her conscience.
"-of all the irresponsible things, wait till I tell your father. You could have seriously hurt him."
Kim started past her mother who was checking on Tim worriedly, pausing only when her mother yelled her name once more. She turned almost mechanically to stare at her raging mother.
"Where do you think your going young lady?"
Kim stared at her blankly for a moment before the word left her mouth of its own accord "Michigan."
"Where?" her mother said slowly, anger seemingly forgotten for the moment. It soon returned however "Well I hate to burst your bubble but you're going to room and staying there."
Kim shook her head "No. I'm going to Michigan. Just have to get a ride."
This seemed to make her mother even angrier "What makes you think I'm just going to let you take off? You hit your brother, and you actually hit him! You're not going to avoid punishment for that."
"Shut up," Kim said slowly, not sure where she was getting this words from. She seemed to be running on autopilot "I'm twenty years old. You can't punish me and I'm leaving."
"What is in Michigan that would make you so thoughtless and irresponsible that you'd hit your brother?"
"Ron." This answer, which had obviously not been what her mother had been expecting, brought an immediate silence and lack of movement to all parties involved.
"Ron's-" Jim said slowly, followed by Tim "In Michigan?" When Kim nodded the twins looked at each other and then back at her.
"Well that's still no excuse for what you did." Mrs. Possible said.
Kim shrugged, her mind slowly coming off autopilot and realizing what was going on and what she had been saying. She couldn't change any of that now, not that it mattered. "Mom, I'm going. You can't stop me."
"Just how do you expect to get there? Cause you're taking our car." Mrs. Possible asked frowning "I know Monique isn't going to drive you."
"She's got better things to do," Kim said softly, her voice carrying a note of anger "But I've got Wade seeing if I have any favors left. I came down to tell you guys I was leaving."
Her mother opened her mouth to say something when three musical notes filled the air and Kim pulled her communicator out of her pocket "How'd the hunt go Wade?"
The boy smiled "Got you a ride. A commercial flight, round trip flight. Leaves in an hour from Tom Notts Airport, flight 457."
Kim let out a sigh of relief "Thanks Wade. I got a ride to the Airport?" A moment later the honking of a horn filled the air, causing all four people to jump. Kim smiled "You rock Wade, thanks." The boy gave her an eagle scout salute and disappeared from the screen.
"Kim, you know I'm not-" Her mother began but fell silent as her daughter turned ignoring her and marched up the stairs to her room before emerging a minute later a bag slung over her shoulder.
"Bye guys," Kim said before disappearing down the stairs two at a time. The red headed hero felt some indefinable fear in her stomach. She was about to see Ron after two years. The conflicting emotions that realization brought made her unsure if she wanted to laugh, cry, jump up and down or hide beneath her blankets.
AN:
Wow, finally an update! I doubt there's anyone left reading this story, but oh well. I do apologize for the long wait, hopefully it was worth it. Chapter Six is underway, for those that are curious.
Geor-sama