"I told you I wouldn't let you down," said Adrena, "But I didn't expect to mean it literally."
Adrena's other hand joined the first around Kim's wrist, and started to pull her up. It took some exploring, but Kim finally found a spot not covered in grease, got a grip, and pulled herself up with Adrena's help.
The two women looked at each other, then embraced tightly. "Are you okay?" they asked at the same time.
"JINX! You owe me a soda!" said Kim.
Adrena laughed. "Well, if that's all, I'm getting off cheap. But to answer your question, I'm starving! I haven't eaten in three days!"
"He didn't feed you?" asked Kim.
"No. He couldn't bring himself to just kill me, so he locked me in that shed to die of hunger and thirst, and sent the platform up here," Adrena answered.
At Kim's shocked look, she added, "I found a sealed, full water cooler bottle behind some junk. It was stale but drinkable, so I've had plenty of water, but I want food!"
"How did you get out of the shed?" Kim asked.
"I found an old hacksaw blade between the floorboards, and sawed through the clasp," she answered, "It took me three days, and my hand is sore, but it's not like I had anything else to do. I saw you falling just as I got out."
The Kimmunicator went off, and Kim found Bonnie's face on the screen. "The police are here," she said, "How's the search going?"
"I found her, and she's okay. We'll be down in a few minutes," answered Kim. She heard Tara squeal in the background.
The controls on the platform were operating, so Kim manoevered over and recovered her grappling gun, then lowered the platform.
On the way down, Kim looked at Adrena. "You know, if you still wanted revenge on me, you could have..."
The words were stopped when Adrena's finger touched Kim's lips. "That was never an option. When I got out of prison, you looked me up, forgave me, gave me a second chance and a job in my field, which nobody else would do. You've treated me like a friend, instead of a felon or employee. And now you've rescued me from a revenge plot. You've earned my loyalty."
Kim looked embarrassed. "No big."
"It is to me," said Adrena.
The platform came to rest on the floor, where they found Bonnie, Tara, a couple of policemen, and an EMT waiting. Adrena was quickly swept up in the waiting arms of Bonnie and Tara, who hugged her and made sure she was all right.
Adrena was surprised at her reception. She had no idea the girls felt that way about her.
Tara noticed she was barefoot, and wearing only a large T-shirt that she had probably gone to bed in three days earlier. It was dirty and grease-stained now. "Adrena, did they...?" asked Tara, worried.
"No, they never touched me that way. Can we hold questions till later? I'm starving!"
"I need to get a statement from you," said one of the policemen.
"We'll bring her in to the station to do that later," said Kim. "Right now she needs to get to the hospital and be checked out."
The policeman nodded. "Okay. But Miss Possible, I need one from you, too."
"Adrena, go with the ambulance. We'll meet you at the hospital later," said Kim.
The EMT led Adrena away, and Kim gave her statement. Then Bonnie showed her where one of the kidnappers had stepped in a puddle of industrial lubricant, and left his shoe print. The size and shape matched the one in Adrena's apartment, as did the substance.
When she had a moment alone, Kim called Wade.
"Any idea why you couldn't find her?" she asked.
"She wasn't wearing anything I had chipped," he answered.
"I think you can stop your general survelence of Adrena. She's proven we can trust her," said Kim.
"Way ahead of you," said Wade, grinning. "It stopped the moment she saved you from falling."
Kim grinned. "You rock harder than ever, Wade."
Twenty minutes later, Team Rockwaller was walking back the one block from the warehouse to Team Possible Headquarters.
"Tara, when you took out those goons, what was that about? I've never seen you so angry,
or so agressive," said Bonnie.
"It was impressive, though," added Kim.
Tara hung her head, ashamed. "I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. When I saw those guys, I just KNEW they were the ones. I had to do something, or explode."
"Note to self: never threaten anybody Tara cares about," said Kim.
She and Bonnie laughed, while Tara gave a small smile, and turned red.
Back at headquarters, they filled Monique and Francis in on developements, then changed from mission clothes to civilian. They all talked about it, and decided to go to the still-untried new Italian restaurant they had wanted to go to before, but tomorrow night, so Adrena could be the guest of honor.
At Kim's insistence, everyone went home, instead of to the hospital. Kim didn't want to overwhelm Adrena. She drove to the hospital to find Adrena waiting for her. They had checked her out and pronounced her fit, but still gave her a multivitimin shot, just in case. She had eaten some fruit, so the edge was taken off her appetite.
Kim drove her back to her apartment. Adrena was understandably nervous about going in, but Kim stayed with her, and showed her it was all right. Kim offered to let her stay at her house until she felt better about it, and Adrena quickly accepted. Adrena took a shower and got dressed, then packed a couple of suitcases.
They went to the police station, and Adrena gave her statement, and filed the necessary papers to press charges against the men.
As they left, Kim said, "Who were those guys, anyway? You never did say."
"That was Joe, my cameraman from when I had my extreme stunt show," said Adrena.
Kim pursed her lips. "I THOUGHT he looked familiar."
Adrena nodded. "He was arrested too, and sent to prison as an accessory. He blames me for ruining his career, and he's right. I bullied him into helping."
"So in revenge, he decides to kill you for it. Seems a bit... extreme," said Kim.
Adrena got a sour look. "Ouch. Bad pun. But you're right, it was. I'd never suspect him of being that way. He was always so... mousy... I guess is the word."
"You just never know..." said Kim, as they arrived at her home.
Kim still lived with her parents, and they quickly welcomed Adrena, and confirmed the offer to stay as long as she needed to. Adrena was still hungry, and was not adverse to a big helping of Mrs. Possible's brain loaf.
The next day, Adrena declined the offer to rest a few days, saying it would be better if she just got back to work. That evening, they all went to the Italian restaurant, and had a great meal.
Adrena stayed with the Possibles for a week, then decided to go back to her apartment. The door had been repaired, and with her consent Wade added surveilence to the doors and windows. Francis and Monique also welcomed the extra security at their homes.
Things returned to as normal as they got for Team Possible, but it was not to last. It never did...