Thanks to: campy, Spitfire F.22, Zaratan, G-Go, ron-sama, IncrediRaider8, mattb3671, WhiteLadyoftheRing, oneredneckgoddess, and Feral Black Gryphon for their reviews. Thanks again to everyone for reading.
Extended author's notes are at the end of this chapter. I'm feeling chatty.
Lawyer language: You saw it on KP, Disney owns it. Sigh.
I.
"Want? I just want a piece of you, Kimmie. It's time to play …"
Shego's voice was dripping with menace. And without the distraction of one of Drakken's off-the-wall take-over-the-world schemes, it was especially chilling.
Kim squeezed Ron's hand, then let go. She and Ron shifted, assuming fighting positions, their backs to one another. With Kim's 16 styles of kung fu and Ron's mystical monkey power, they knew they were a formidable duo. Their confidence in each other continued to grow, especially since they began training together after Ron's return from Japan. But they were smart enough to never take things for granted, especially when Shego and four synthodrones specifically designed to psyche them out were involved.
With speed and agility, the synthdrones launched themselves from the catwalk. They were followed by Shego who, performing a perfectly executed multiple flip, landed in a crouch directly opposite Kim. The synthodrones lined up facing Ron.
"You're going down, Princess!" the villainess hissed.
"Not today, Shego!" Kim snapped.
Shego took a swipe at Kim; Kim deftly sidestepped her opponent, drawing her away from Ron. The two women began to warily circle one another. Shego's attack was swift and sudden, a vicious kick to Kim's torso; Kim barely had time to fend her off. Shego spun, and followed that with a second kick; Kim dodged that, but fell in the process. She rolled, got up and assumed a defensive stance.
Kim couldn't help but be impressed. Shego wasn't even using her glow power. Kim wondered whether it had been permanently shorted out when Shego hit the tower at Bueno Nacho or if her opponent was feeling so cocky that she didn't feel a need to use it. Whichever was the case, Shego, who had not been heard from since the jailbreak in the spring, was in top form. Kim was glad she hadn't entertained any hopes that Shego might have grown rusty since their last encounter.
The four synthodrones formed a semicircle before Ron: Bonnie, Kim, Eric, and his own smirking twin. He really hoped he didn't always look that goofy.
Eric sneered at Ron, "Nice to see you again, loser." Eric then reached over and hooked his arm around syntho-Kim's waist; she was still wearing her insipid smile. "We look good together, don't we? You know, I'm looking forward to when your Kim is beside me," he said tauntingly to Ron, whose eyes narrowed.
"You're gonna be waiting a long time for that, synthodude," Ron said as he struggled to control his breathing. He wondered whether Shego knew that this vision of a docile, mind-controlled Kim sickened him as much as it did Kim herself. Ron forced himself to focus his attention on Eric. He's a bag of goo. Don't let him play you.
While Eric was mocking Ron, syntho-Ron attacked. He had slowly moved further to the side; while Ron was focused on Eric, the synthodrone pounced, exclaiming enthusiastically, "Dude, you are going down!"
"Sorry dude, you are," Ron replied as he stepped aside, and, leveraging his duplicate's weight and momentum, threw him into a pile of crates. Ron was now fully engaged in the fight. "C'mon, who's next? You ready for the Rondo, pretty boy?" he snapped, looking towards Eric.
"I am," came the answer from a jarring quarter: Syntho-Kim. It was Kim's voice, yet not, sounding overly cheerful while being frighteningly devoid of any vitality. This is so sick and wrong, Ron thought as the Kim-twin pivoted on her left leg and kicked out with her right. He grabbed her outstretched calf and upended her. He felt a knot in his stomach. Fighting with Kim, even a synthodrone Kim, seemed like an inversion of all that was right and good in the world.
They had started by baiting Ron; now they were ganging up on him. Bonnie was the next to attack; she actually caught him in the side as he was grabbing syntho-Kim's leg. Eric then tackled Ron, bringing him down hard on the concrete floor. Ron saw an opportunity.
"Rufus!" he wheezed.
The naked mole rat popped out of Ron's pocket. He saw Ron jerk his head up to the cat walk. They had known each other long enough that Rufus was able to understand what it was Ron wanted him to do. He looked both ways, then took off. He had to find a priming device.
A moment later syntho-Kim, noticing that Rufus was scampering away, got up and chased after him. Ron thought, Good luck, little mole rat.
"Looks like your boyfriends are busy, Kimmie!" Shego sneered as she threw a punch.
"Boyfriend, Shego. Singular. There's only one. Which is one more than you have." Kim growled, fending off Shego's strike.
"Actually, Princess, I've got a very nice social life these days. And when I'm done with you, I might get to know Ronnie-poo – or what's left of him – a little better." Shego purred as she dodged a kick from Kim.
"Over my dead body, Shego!" Kim snapped as she regained her footing.
"Which I'd be happy to arrange, Kimmie," Shego retorted icily. She then jumped Kim.
They grappled on top of a crate, at one point almost rolling off and plummeting to the floor below. Shego broke free; she aimed a kick at Kim's head, but Kim was able to get out of the way just in time. Kim jumped up and crouched, her hands ready for combat. She and Shego looked at one another. Kim then launched a kick at her opponent, which she followed with a roundhouse punch after spinning around. Shego doubled over but recovered, landing a blow on Kim's side. Kim staggered, but then did a perfectly timed double back flip to another stack of crates; Shego quickly followed. Kim jumped down to the floor, then rebounded off the wall and onto another stack of crates. She was ready for Shego's next assault. From her position atop the pile, Kim saw that Ron seemed to be holding his own. He had just freed himself from a scrum with Eric and syntho-Ron. She allowed herself a small smile as Ron reached into his waist-band; he was now wielding the Lotus Blade. The synthodrones are about to be so last season, she thought with satisfaction.
But Kim didn't have long to watch Ron. Her opponent had just landed on Kim's perch. Shego caught sight of the sword. "Well, well, Kimmie. Your buffoon is armed and dangerous!"
"Ron is not a buffoon," Kim protested. "But you're right that he is armed and dangerous. This party of yours is coming to an end."
Kim dropped down, kicked out with her legs and undercut Shego's footing. Shego fell on her back, then struck out at Kim with the same move that had just felled her. Kim dodged the attack, jumped to the adjacent pile of crates and readied herself for Shego's next onslaught by assuming the mantis position. Kim now had the upper hand.
Eric's eyes widened when he saw the sword; Ron's had grown cold.
"This is for playing Kim last spring," Ron said, his voice tinged with anger. Holding the weapon with both hands, he took a sweeping cut, lopping off the synthodrone's head. He was surprised when the body didn't spew forth goo and shrivel up. These synthodrones weren't filled with liquid, but instead were made of a more solid substance. He didn't dwell long on the matter; he had other matters to attend to. Like his twin.
"You're next," Ron snarled. "And dude, I can't believe you kissed Bonnie."
"And I can't believe you're still kissing Kim," he said, keeping his distance. "She is so lame."
Ron, stalking his opponent, couldn't help but be goaded. "Like you'd even know."
"Actually, I do. I tried the new Kim before I upgraded to the Bonnie model!" That was too much for Ron. He did a double flip, catching syntho-Ron off guard. As he landed in front of his twin, he slashed across its torso, slicing it in two. Man, he said to himself, I think I am going to have some seriously weird dreams after this.
Ron looked around and spotted his next target.
"You're next, Bon-Bon." At this, Bonnie began to back off. Ron stepped toward her. She began to run. He was about to pursue her when he heard Kim call out, "Ron! Behind you!"
Kim and Shego had fought their way onto the catwalk, where they were now locked in battle. Rufus had already recovered the priming device and was in hiding; syntho-Kim had yet to find him. It was from her position above the warehouse floor that Kim saw the three ninjas approach Ron from the rear. From the corner of her eye she watched as Ron spun around, letting Bonnie escape. That was his only option, though she could now join the Kim-twin in searching for the naked mole rat. Though worried, Kim was still willing to put her money on both of her boys.
"Outsider!" Ron and Fukushima cried out upon seeing one another; Ron wore a mocking grin and Fukushima an ugly scowl.
Ron was now relying on his training and mystical monkey power to come through. It was one thing to battle synthodrones; another to face three human ninjas. He quickly reassessed his surroundings, looking to see what he could use to his advantage. He feinted to his left, then lunged to his right, willing the Lotus Blade to take on its staff form; he slammed its end into the first ninja, bringing him down. Fukushima made to jump on Ron, but wasn't fast enough; he fell to the ground, just as Ron rolled, stood up and resumed a fighting position. Ron glowered at the second ninja.
"Your turn, champ. You get booted from ninja school, too?" Ron asked. Though he was trying to relieve his tension through humor, he realized that he had just stumbled onto a useful insight: Fukushima's buddies were good, but they weren't great, and they were ill-disciplined. They were minor leaguers. That improved Ron's odds, though he wasn't going to take any chances. Even a mediocre ninja could have some good moves. And one good move could make all the difference.
Kim and Shego were now fighting at close quarters. Shego managed to pin Kim against the catwalk railing; Kim was struggling to push Shego off. Kim had just about freed herself from Shego's grip when she heard the unmistakable sound of bolts popping free. One moment she was face to face with Shego, the next she was falling backwards; Shego had pushed Kim, then stepped backwards to watch her plummet to the floor below.
Acutely aware of the possibility that she might fall, Kim had already mentally prepared herself to grab the hair dryer grappler at the earliest possible moment. She reached into her side pouch and whipped it out, pointing it at the superstructure of the bridge. She planned to latch on, swing under and over and then back onto the catwalk. She had done this kind of thing dozens of times before.
Kim aimed the grappler.
She pressed the trigger …
… And nothing happened.
The hair dryer grappler had jammed.
Kim reacted immediately, moving to position her body to minimize the impact of her fall. But there wasn't enough time. She clipped a crate, then hit the concrete floor, coming down on her left leg. She heard an ugly sound and could feel the pain; she had no doubt her leg was broken. Kim knew she was out of the fight.
Ron saw it all. The fall. The jammed grappler. The impact.
He had to get to Kim. That meant finishing with Fukushima and his friend. Ron was still wielding the staff. With a speed and fury he never knew himself capable of, he struck. He drove the butt end of the staff into Fukushima's solar plexus, then used it to knock him unconscious. Ron turned to the remaining ninja; he was less formidable than Fukushima and went down quickly.
Ron vaulted over the ninjas' bodies and began running across the warehouse floor to Kim.
Kim was fighting to control the pain; it wasn't just her leg – her entire body ached, having slammed into a concrete floor. She turned her head and looked across the room and saw Ron running to her. Focus on Ron; keep your mind off the pain. Kim began thinking of things to do with Ron. We can visit Paris. Yes, I'd like that. You can take me to the big Club Banana sale at the end of the month. We can go to …
Kim sensed someone next to her, and it wasn't Ron.
Kneeling by her side her was the syntho-Kim, who was smiling vacantly. And in her hand was Kim's laser lipstick, pressed against Kim's temple.
Ron reached Kim, the Lotus Blade a sword again. He raised the weapon above his head, but before he could do anything else, he heard Shego.
"I'd wait before using that thing, Stoppable," the glamorous villainess said. "You know, I've got to hand it to you. You looked good out there today. I didn't know you had it in you. I guess Kimmie was right. You aren't a buffoon. So you won't try anything clever with that sword; I know what you're thinking. 'If I can just cut off the synthodrone's head or hand, Kim will be safe.' But you'd be wrong. Because my little Kim will press the button on that laser and blow a hole through the head of your little Kim before you can do anything."
Ron held his position, but Shego could see the look of defeat reflected in his eyes.
"Go ahead," Shego said derisively, "check on Princess. You know you want to. Then we can talk business."
Ron wasn't sure why Shego was letting him do this, but he didn't care and he didn't ask. He stepped away from Kim, sheathed the Lotus Blade, and knelt down by his injured girlfriend, noticing her leg was at a freakishly odd angle. Though anxious, he was somewhat relieved; he didn't see any blood.
Ron took her hand.
"Kim …" he said softly.
"Hey, Ron. I think I broke the leg. And the rest of me is pretty sore, too." She paused, catching her breath and marshalling her energy. "Think I can have a rain check on dinner?"
He could see that despite her bravery, Kim was struggling to control the pain, now etched in her face.
"Hey, no big," he said, trying to sound lighthearted. "I'll give you a rain check and make you something special. Uh, poisson Kimberly."
"Fish. Spankin'," she replied through gritted teeth. "Oh, Ron, it hurts …"
"I know," he said, gently brushing her hair from her face. "We'll get you out of here …"
"Okay, that's enough mushy-face," Shego sneered.
She walked up to them, then looked down at Kim. "So, the great Kim Possible has finally lost. You should have stuck to babysitting, kid." Shego turned to Ron. "You probably wondered why I gave you time with Princess." She hooked a thumb at Fukushima. "Your pal here needed a chance to get up." It was clear she held the young ninja in disdain. She knew the score: Ron 2, Fukushima 0 since the latter's arrival in town. That her score was something like Kim 30, Shego 1 was irrelevant; the 1 was in today's win column.
"Give me the Lotus Blade, Outsider," Fukushima demanded.
"Seems ninjaboy here wants that funky sword of yours, Stoppable. Those were his terms of service; I agreed. It's so much easier to pay someone with other people's stuff. Give it to him and we'll leave. You'll be able to call medical help for Kimmie."
Kim groaned. "Don't do it, Ron. She'll double cross you!"
"No I won't, Princess," Shego said. "And he knows it."
And Ron did. Because looking at Shego he saw every bully he had ever confronted, from Pre-K through High School. They roughed you up, but not so much that you couldn't come back the next day for more humiliation.
Ron knew that he had a unique tie to the weapon; it had become part of him. But he could always call it back. And if it didn't come, so be it. The Lotus Blade was a thing. Kim was his best friend, his partner, the woman he loved. There really wasn't a choice to be made.
He removed the sword from its sheath and, with as much contempt as he could muster, tossed it at Fukushima's feet. The young ninja took up the weapon and brandished it over his head. Ron had already turned his back and knelt down to tend to Kim when Fukushima kicked him in the side. Ron doubled over. "This is not over, Outsider," the erstwhile ninja growled.
Shego, followed by Fukushima and the others, left. Ron heard her laughter echoing throughout the empty building.
He slowly got up and once again took Kim's hand. "I'm gonna get you out of here, KP," he promised.
"You rock, Ron," she whispered.
Seeing Kim in pain was awful. Yet he knew he had to be strong. He had to get her help.
II.
He found the Kimmunicator a few feet away behind a crate where it landed when Kim fell. He turned it on and Wade appeared. He couldn't help but notice Ron's grim expression.
"Kim's down," Ron said with an authority that caught Wade by surprise. "We need an ambulance. And I need to speak to Mrs. Dr. P. Now."
"I'm on it," Wade replied.
Wade's image was replaced with Ann Possible's. For a fraction of a second her shock was unconcealed. She saw the cuts and bruises on Ron's face. And the fact that he was calling spoke volumes. But her doctor's training overrode her maternal instincts and she let Ron explain the situation.
Ann asked questions; Ron answered as best he could. She gave him instructions, which he carefully followed. He checked again for bleeding, and again found none. Ann told him to carefully cut Kim's pant leg, to see if there was an open fracture; he did this carefully and was relieved to report no breaks in the skin. He looked at Kim's pupils, listened to her breathing, made sure she wasn't in shock. The conversation between mother and boyfriend, doctor and caregiver was cool and clinical. There was no time for emotion or reflections. Kim was down and they needed to care for her.
There was one bright spot. Rufus emerged from hiding with the priming device.
The EMTs arrived a few minutes later. They carefully loaded Kim onto a stretcher. Ron walked with them, holding her hand. Nobody stopped him from riding in the ambulance; the technicians could see how they were looking at each other. His presence was distracting her from her injury, though that didn't stop them from giving her painkillers.
When the ambulance arrived at the Middleton Medical Center it was met by the emergency staff and Dr. Ann Possible. Kim was wheeled to the ER; Ron was stopped by her mother.
"But Kim …" he stammered.
"… needs you to get medical attention, now!" Ann interjected, as she stared at Ron with a disturbing intensity; it was clear she was giving him an order.
Ron had never seen this side of Ann Possible before. After that night, he never wondered which parent was the source of Kim's natural sense of command.
III.
After Ron was treated, he went to sit in the emergency room waiting area, where he found James Possible. Kim's father rose and embraced him.
"Ronald, I'm glad you're okay," he said.
"Thanks," he replied glumly. "I wish I could say the same about Kim, Dr. P. When she needed me, I failed her." Ron collapsed in a chair, his head in his hands.
"Ronald, you did not fail her," he insisted. "You and she both know that there's tremendous danger in what you do. That neither of you has ever had a serious injury before tonight is a miracle."
"Yeah, but I said I'd have her back," he replied, sounding defeated, "… and now she's in there ..."
Ann, coming out of the ER, had heard Ron.
"… With a closed fracture of the tibia in two places and a lot of bruises. But nothing else. She's going to make a full recovery. She'll be okay, Ron.
"And now you and I are going to talk," she said to her daughter's boyfriend and partner. "I think I'm speaking for both of us," she said exchanging looks with her husband, who nodded his agreement.
"James is right. You did not fail Kim.
"She's in pain, and she's medicated, but we talked. She said you put yourself at risk for her by giving up the Lotus Blade …"
Ron looked at Ann.
"… Ron, Kim told me all about what that sword means to you. She said watching you give it up was like watching you give away your right arm. And I didn't even need to hear that from her to be impressed with you tonight. You handled yourself like a seasoned pro out there. You were brave and you were focused."
Ann took a deep breath and continued. "Ron, James and I know you love our daughter. And we know she loves you. But as I once told her, being in love can be hard work at times. This is one of those times. She's going to be better, but it will take time, and it may be difficult for her. She'll walk, but won't be able to run. Then she'll run, but she won't be able to do intensive athletics. There'll no more cheerleading this year. And no more missions, not for a while at least.
"Ron, this is when you've got to have Kim's back." Ann took his hand. "James and I know you've always done your best to look after our daughter and there is no one we'd rather have by her side right now.
"Go to her; she wants to see you."
Ron looked at Ann, collected himself, and got up to go to see Kim.
IV.
"Hey," Kim said weakly, but with a smile.
"Hey."
"You look awful."
"Thanks, I love you, too."
"You'd better."
"Hey, you know I do. But as long as we're going to be serious, maybe I should see if they have this year's latest hospital fashions at Club Banana. I bet that johnny is drafty."
Kim laughed; it hurt, but she was happy to have Ron joke with her.
"Actually, you could bring me some "Ron for Her," Kim suggested, knowing she'd rather be sleeping in Ron's jersey. "And some new cargo pants. You trashed the old ones earlier. You so owe me a new pair."
"What can I say?" Ron said with a shrug of his shoulders. "I just had to get a look at that beautiful Kim Possible leg."
She looked down at the temporary cast and her various bruises. "It's not that beautiful right now," she said quietly.
"Wrong, KP. It's especially beautiful now," he said, leaning over and gently kissing the cast.
She smiled warmly at her boyfriend, tears in her eyes. "Sit down and hold my hand."
He did as he was told. They sat that way, not speaking, not needing to, for a long time before falling asleep, Kim in the bed, Ron in the chair beside her. Ann Possible found them that way when she came by to check on her daughter. Good, she thought. They both need rest. She decided to leave them alone; they weren't going to get into any trouble in a hospital.
It was the middle of the night when Kim woke up. She was disoriented at first; then she remembered where she was. Looking at the clock, she saw it was 2:15 a.m. Ron was sprawled in the bedside chair, his legs splayed at funny angles. His mouth was open and his hair was a mess. He could look incredibly goofy when he was sleeping. Yet Kim enjoyed watching him; he looked so peaceful. She looked down at their hands, still intertwined, and mused, I couldn't save the world without you. And I'm glad I don't have to do this without you, either.
Kim was surprised to find herself at peace with the situation. Yes, she was furious with Shego. And Kim hated losing. But she knew that letting her anger engulf her would be pointless.
She knew that her life would be different in the months to come, accepting that there would be times in the weeks ahead when she would be angry or depressed about no longer being on the cheer squad or not being able to go on a mission.
Bonnie made it easier for Kim to deal with her premature retirement from high school cheerleading; she was proving to be a real martinet as captain. But Kim knew life without the missions would be harder. She liked saving the world. She liked helping people. And she liked sharing the adventures with Ron; it was something special that only they did, and they did it together. At least she could look forward to sharing new adventures with Ron.
Kim knew that she'd need his help getting back to where she was before the fall. But she also knew that in addition to being helped by Ron, she would have to help him. With school, with SATs, with college applications. And dealing with the loss of the Lotus Blade. She better than anyone, even more than Sensei, knew how it had become a part of his identity – one he'd willingly given up for her. She never imagined anybody making that kind of sacrifice for her, even though she regularly put herself at risk for others. She knew what Ron had surrendered for her, and she knew him well enough to know that he would never say anything about it. Small things he'd complain about incessantly. But not the big things, not something like this. He'd be quiet, he'd try to be strong. Kim knew that Ron would do everything he could to help her heal; she wanted to do the same for him. She wasn't sure how, but she'd figure that out. Of one thing she was convinced: They would deal with this together. Kim knew she would eventually be back on her feet, as good as new. She knew Ron would recover the Lotus Blade. And she knew they, together, would defeat Shego and Fukushima. We're Team Possible, she thought, together we can do anything.
As if to signal his agreement, Ron began to snore rather loudly.
V.
"You did well, cheerleader. Though for a moment there I thought Stoppable was going to cut off your head!"
Shego and Bonnie were sharing dinner at Shego's new penthouse. Bonnie's parents were delighted by the attention the modeling agency was paying to their daughter, though they'd have felt differently if they knew what she was actually learning. Shego had the idea of luring Kim and Ron into a trap. Bonnie, however, was the one who had suggested creating synthodrones that would play with Kim's mind. Shego approved of the idea of Eric, Ron, and Bonnie drones. Then for fun she suggested including a mind-controlled Kim in the posse. Bonnie had been fascinated by what Shego told of her Professor Bortel's chip and enthusiastically agreed with the addition.
"Hey, cheerleader, I have an idea," Shego said as the planning had progressed. "You should be there. Like a field agent. And they won't even know it's really you! They'll think you're a drone, too."
Bonnie had been intrigued, especially by the idea of being there to see Kim taken down. When she voiced her worry about being hurt, Shego reminded her that the villain business involved risk. Besides, Bonnie wouldn't be completely defenseless and could find some comfort in the fact that she was now receiving martial arts training from Shego – and Fukushima. Bonnie Rockwaller was learning, just as Kim had, that cheerleading opened the door to many interesting possibilities.
So Bonnie went on the operation. She was even the one to suggest the kiss with syntho-Ron, knowing that would not sit well with either Kim or her loser boyfriend.
And Shego stayed behind, her role filled by a synthodrone equipped with cameras that allowed her to enjoy all the fun through streaming real time video while she relaxed in her new hot tub.
Bonnie had been frightened when Ron turned on her, but she also had been exhilarated. The whole incident had provided a rush of intense, and often dark, emotions. The brush with danger was intoxicating. She enjoyed punching him. She couldn't believe how much she enjoyed looking down at Kim after the fall. And she was surprised to discover she was attracted to Fukushima. She still thought Junior was a hunk. But he was so – naive. Fukushima, however, had a hard, cruel edge that Bonnie found alluring, which was not surprising, since Fukushima's personality was nothing other than the mirror image of Bonnie's.
Bonnie was pleased with the way events had turned out. Kim had been dealt a defeat and, as a bonus, would have to drop off the cheer squad. Ron had been beaten, too. She suspected he wouldn't be so cocky in the future. Yes, life was good. She smirked as dinner was put on the table by the syntho-Kim. Bonnie thought syntho-Kim made a great maid; the real one would do even better. She was immensely satisfied as she thought of Kim Possible, miserable in a hospital bed.
VI.
Bonnie, of course, had underestimated Kim's natural resilience and was unaware of the therapeutic effects of the Ron Factor.
Each afternoon Ron arrived at the hospital with a bulging book bag; Kim watched as he did his homework without complaining or whining. "Trying to keep my head above water in school is my get-well present to you," he had said the first day, earning an electric smiled. She liked seeing her Potential Boy try.
That wasn't Ron's only gift to Kim. He had indeed brought her some "Ron for Her," which she happily wore. And in the crook of her arm was a Flamingoat, that rarest of the Cuddle Buddies, one of only ten ever made. She was stunned when he gave it to her; he smiled and said, "Amazing what you can buy on the internet. But don't spill hospital food on it, KP. It's not like those things grow on trees. You lose that and I'll have to sing on TV again."
Ron had eaten a meal with Kim, which led to a number of lame jokes about hospital food and visits to the ER. That in turn led to his next surprise.
"KP, behold, I bring you the baco, the marriage of the burrito and the taco!" he announced as he set his latest creation before her.
She had looked warily at the dripping mess, but moved instinctively to take a bite when Rufus, licking his lips, appeared and said, "Mmmmm. Baco!"
Kim tasted the concoction and, with her mouth full, told Ron it was incredible.
Ron smiled, both at the compliment and the sight of Kim eating like, well, him, chalking that up to three days of hospital food, which he knew could cause even the politest young woman to forget her table manners.
Kim's parents walked into the room as she was enjoying her contraband meal, the Tex-Mex food dripping from her chin. Ann Possible looked at the obviously non-hospital fare.
"How did you get that in here, Ron?" she asked. "You're not allowed to bring food in for the patients. The desk nurse should have stopped you."
"No big, Mrs. Dr. P," he replied. "I said it was for you. They'll let you guys eat anything!
Kim's father nodded his approval. "Good thinking, Ronald!"
VII.
Frederick was pleased when a new crew arrived at the space station. He had been working on his own for a long time, and while he enjoyed emailing his friend Ron, there was no substitute for live companions.
The hyper-brilliant chimp's joy began to fade as the days passed, however. The newcomers ignored him. They all seemed very focused on their work, never even taking time to enjoy the spectacular view of the Earth below; Frederick always made sure to look down at Middleton at least once a day. These astronauts were different from the ones he'd met before. He decided he would watch them, quietly.
VIII.
It was Kim's fourth day at the hospital. She lay in the bed, feeling antsy. It was the middle of the afternoon, so she had no visitors. Ron was at class; her parents at work; the tweebs at school, probably blowing something up at that very moment. She wanted to get up and do something. Not just walk across the room, but actually be active.
She had done the assignments that Ron had brought for her.
She had looked at the prom picture of her and Ron which her mother had brought for her bedside.
She had played with the Flamingoat, and Pandaroo, whom her mother also brought from home. (Kim was happy no one, including Ron, was there to hear her coo to them, "You two are so ferociously cute!")
She had watched TV Trash Heap. Mr. North looked so young back then! she thought as she watched an episode of the Fearless Ferret. She'd caught re-runs of Pals on cable. And she saw the Evil Eye guys do a makeover of Dementor's latest lair.
She was bored out of her mind, wondering what she could do to relieve the tedium, when there was a knock on her door.
"Kim?"
She knew that voice. It was –
"Wade? Is that you?" she said, exicted.
"Yeah, can I come in?" he asked tentatively.
"Of course!" She beamed at her young friend. Kim's worries and boredom disappeared. She couldn't believe it – Wade was here, in her room. She'd only met him once before, when he showed up at Team Impossible Headquarters seeking payback for what Dash, Crash, and Burn had done to his system. Kim had become accustomed to only seeing him on screen. But here he was: a short, round, ordinary looking boy of twelve, who was clearly nervous about being outside in public, now that he wasn't fueled by fury over the damage done to his beloved computers.
"Why don't you pull up that seat," she suggested, pointing to a chair on the other side of the room. The one next to her bed, which she thought of as "Ron's Chair," was a mess, just like his room at home. Ron had been with Kim at the hospital each day from 3:30 until 10:00; the chair had immediately become his little piece of turf.
When Wade hesitated, Kim shot him a suspicious look, wondering if he was unable to move the chair. "You're not a hologram, are you?"
"No, it's really me. I just, uh … " Wade seemed at a loss for words, which was unusual. Then he blurted out, "I'm really sorry about what happened, Kim. You sure you're not angry with me?" Wade remembered how her temper flared over the defensive lasers during the Paris mission, and Ron was only stunned that time – nobody had landed in the hospital.
"Wade, it is so not the drama," she said reassuringly. "Equipment failure: It happens. Besides, as Ron pointed out the other day, the malfunction means Shego didn't get a real win. It gets recorded as a victory with an asterisk."
Kim recalled feeling down about the accident; when Ron, seemingly for no reason, began talking about baseball stats. She was annoyed, until it became clear he was trying to help her see things differently.
With Ron's help, she was able to be rather philosophical about the whole thing. She may not have been happy to be in a hospital bed, but there was no need to be miserable – and that gave Kim a victory over Shego, even if the latter didn't know it.
"How many missions have Ron and I gone on before this one?" Kim asked Wade. "And how many times has the gear you provided saved us? Don't worry, you're still my preferred supplier for save-the-world stuff," she said with a smile. Then, she ordered him to sit down.
Wade was relieved, and even began to relax. They'd known each other for years, but had never really just sat and talked. They somehow got onto the topic of airplanes. Kim was enjoying herself until Wade, in an unguarded moment, said, "Ron will definitely think a flyover at his wedding is the coolest thing he's ever seen."
"Wade! Are you still reading my diary?" she exclaimed before thinking, You so shouldn't be surprised, Possible. Your web-master hacks into NSA computers for fun. You don't have to keep your diary on-line.
The boy blushed furiously and looked at his feet. He didn't have the luxury of cutting off a Kimmunicator connection. "Sorry, but, well, I don't have much of a social life and you and Ron seem so happy, it's been really nice to read. I'm, so, uh, well," Wade stammered; he hen blurted out, "I promise that I haven't hacked into your back account in years!"
Kim looked sternly at Wade, but soon began to laugh. "Wade, your punishment is that you are going to get out more. Understood?"
The young computer genius meekly nodded his assent.
For Ron, the sound of Kim laughing was one of the best things about being alive. He didn't know what was making her so happy, but he was grateful. He walked into the room, grinning.
"Hey, KP, how's my bon-diggity girlfriend today?" Ron walked up to Kim and gave her a kiss on the nose, then said, "Hey, Wade, what up?" Ron then did a double take before his jaw dropped. "Wade?"
Ron made to tap Wade's head with his hand, but was intercepted by the young tech guru.
"Whoa!" Ron exclaimed. "You're real! You're not a hologram!"
Ron could hardly contain his amazement. This was surely the year of miracles. He and Kim were in love, he had made millions with a hit rap song, and now he'd met Wade, in person, a second time. "Rufus, come out!" Ron said excitedly. "This is sooo cool; Wade's here!"
Rufus poked his head out of Ron's pocket. When the naked mole rat saw Wade his little eyes bugged out. Kim had to stifle a laugh.
Ron cleared his chair and settled in. Kim, Ron, and Wade, with the occasional contribution from Rufus, fell into easy conversation. Kim made it clear that this meeting of all four members of Team Possible was going to be the first of many.
IX.
Harris had been put in charge of Project Ares once Drake realized that the scientist would do what was needed to maintain his position at the Institute. The toupee-wearing researcher had proved to be that most versatile of creatures: the organizational survivor. If the once peace-oriented Space Center was to be a weapons-developing X Institute, so be it. As long as he got to do his research and had a generous expense account.
Harris knew that not everyone felt as he did. Most of those opposed to the changes had left, but others had remained, unable or unwilling to give up their jobs. They had been able to live with the Space Center's expansion into defense research. But they would probably not countenance a wholesale switch to arms production. Harris knew he could not afford to lose their talents. So as he slowly expanded the reach of Project Ares, he did it stealthily. Only he and Drake were fully aware of the full scope of the project. Or so he thought.
Even Harris was not fully aware of what Drake had in mind. Harris was cynical. Drake was something else entirely.
X.
Kim had been out of the hospital for a week when she confronted Ron. He thought he was able to hide his feelings from her, but after more than 12 years of being best friends and four months of a deepening romantic relationship, she was able to read him like an open book.
"Talk to me, Ron. What's wrong?"
"Nothing, KP, I'm fine," he said, but with just a bit less spark in his voice than normal.
"Ronald Dean Stoppable," she said in a no-nonsense tone that caught his attention, just as it was meant to. He could count on one hand the number of times in his life she'd called him by his full name. The expression on her face only reinforced her words. Ron knew he'd have to talk. He didn't want to. Not now, not with Kim still on crutches and wearing a cast. He needed to be strong for her.
"Ron," she said, as if reading his mind, "This relationship is a two-way street. You've been awesome to me since the accident. But I can tell something is bothering you. If 'Miss she-can-do-anything' can learn to rely on someone, then so can you. I don't need a boyfriend who's all big, strong, and silent all the time; I need one who is willing to let me help him when something's wrong."
Ron was looking at his feet, his head hung low.
"It won't come back," he whispered.
"Oh, Ron …" she said, shocked.
Kim knew Ron was talking about the Lotus Blade, which had always responded to his summons. Until now.
"I don't know why," he said, sounding lost. "It just won't come back. Everyday I call it. I meditate. Me, KP, I sit quietly for an hour or more. Nothing."
Kim tentatively reached out to Ron. "I, I'm so sorry, I …"
Ron's head snapped up. This is why he didn't want to talk to Kim. He didn't want her to feel responsible.
"No. Kim there is no reason for you to be sorry. It was my choice. And there was no choice. You or the Lotus Blade? 'Sha! I'd do what I did in the warehouse a million times over …"
He was gripping her hand tightly, as if holding on for dear life.
"… Your mom told me you said watching me give up the Lotus Blade was like seeing me give up my arm. Well, you know me better than anyone. That's exactly what it was like. I've heard that when you lose and arm or a leg, you can feel like it's still there. But when you look down – nothing."
Kim looked at Ron. A broken leg would heal. But this… She was amazed yet again that he could love her so much to do what he did for her.
"It hurts, Kim," he said forlornly. Ron, despite his best efforts, began crying.
Kim wrapped her arms around her boyfriend and held him close, then whispered quietly into his ear, "Ron, we'll deal with this. Together."
XI.
Sensei had learned of the loss of the Lotus Blade and was saddened by the news. It had been his decision to set Stoppable-san off on this path and now his young friend was in pain.
But Sensei was also fascinated. Stoppable-san was still being tested. And that excited the old ninja master.
XII.
Three days later Ron showed up at the front door of Chez Henri, Middleton's finest restaurant.
Kim had encouraged him to develop a skill that didn't rely on the Lotus Blade, thinking that might help him deal with his loss. He asked her what she had in mind. When she suggested cooking lessons, he couldn't help but start wisecracking. "This is so I can make you new dishes. We're going to have to change your motto to 'Kim Possible: She can eat anything'."
She hit him playfully and said, "As long as it's made by you, Chef Boy."
Henri had been happy to give Ron lessons; the chef was always on the look out for promising new talent. He was familiar with the young man's exploits with Kim and was still grateful for the time Kim and Ron had put out a grease fire the night the governor was scheduled to have dinner at the restaurant.
The accomplished chef had also had heard of Ron's successful, if abbreviated, tenure running the cafeteria at the High School and wanted to help him develop his gifts, especially since he knew Ron had invented the Naco. Henri hoped he could steer Ron away from the abomination known as fast food and towards proper haute cuisine.
Ron had been skeptical of the idea at first, but began to lose himself in the professional-grade kitchen. The lessons went well and it wasn't long before Henri asked Ron if he would like to work at the restaurant on occasion. Ron, flattered, accepted the invitation. Soon, he was being called in to provide last-minute help. Ron didn't know that Kim had called Henri and told the chef that Ron would treat a short-notice summons to deal with a kitchen emergency as another kind of mission. And while saving the world had always been Kim's passion, she knew that Ron enjoyed a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction whenever they took down the bad guys; this was a way for him to feel useful without needing to wield a magic sword.
He still felt the absence of the Lotus Blade. But the loss was becoming manageable, the pain less acute. As he happily worked on a soufflé, and reflected on how he found himself in Henri's kitchen, Ron Stoppable reminded himself that he had yet another reason to be grateful he'd tried to defend Kim in the day care playground all those years ago.
XIII.
Kim's recovery was going well; she'd been out of the hospital for a few weeks and the cast had come off, though she was still on crutches, which had changed her school routine.
Upon returning to Middleton High, Kim jumped back into things wholeheartedly. She resumed editing the yearbook, began making plans for the year's dances, continued to organize the environmental club, even looked forward to taking up swimming again. The hours she used to spend on cheer squad she now spent at the pediatrics ward of the hospital, working with children.
And, of course, she spent time with Ron, whom she was going to meet.
As she made her way down the corridor on her crutches, Kim, being Kim, still managed to look graceful as she went to the gym to watch the tryouts for the cheer squad. She was especially looking forward to this for Ron was competing for her old spot.
She found him inside, sitting on the first row of bleachers, waiting his turn, and sat down next to him.
"You sure this is a good idea, KP?" he asked nervously.
She put her hand on his arm and smiled at him. "You're going to be great, Ron. Trust me."
She'd had the idea during a double date with Felix and Tara. The blonde cheerleader had been telling her companions how miserable everyone on the squad was. Bonnie was drunk with power; the girls who'd voted for her had come to see just how big a mistake they'd made in making her captain. Unfortunately, now that Kim was sidelined, Bonnie was the most talented member of the team and none of the others felt confident enough to challenge her.
Kim already knew a lot of this. Members of the squad had come to apologize for the way they treated her, then taken the opportunity to bemoan the current state of affairs. Ron, as the Middleton Mad Dog, also saw what was going on and kept her up to date. When he threatened to quit, tired of watching Bonnie's abusive leadership, Kim had urged him not to, arguing that the student body loved his gig, that Tara needed at least one real friend on the squad she could count on, and that he needed the extracurricular for his college applications. He grudgingly conceded the point to Kim and soldiered on. It saddened Kim that all of her efforts to get the squad to where it was were in danger of being squandered by Bonnie.
But they had barely begun their meal when Kim learned that she didn't know the latest news about the squad. Neither did Ron, who'd missed the last practice after being asked to sub as a sous-chef at Chez Henri.
Bonnie had announced that there would be a try-out for the unfilled spot on squad.
Everyone knew that Bonnie was obsessed with making the nationals. She had pushed the squad to perform ever more ambitious routines. But she discovered that the things she wanted to do required her to fill Kim's slot, which had been left vacant.
Ron snorted at Tara's news. He was convinced that Bonnie would try to shoe-horn one of her posse onto the squad. As he was beginning to vent, Kim brightened. Felix and Tara noticed, and exchanged glances. They knew Kim had an idea.
"Ron, will you do something for me?"
Ron roused himself from his Bonnie-induced rant. "Anything, KP, you know that."
"I want you to try out for the squad!"
"What! Are you crazy?"
Felix chimed in. "That would be so awesome. Stoppable, you're a natural, with all that ninja work you've been doing, you'd be great!"
Tara joined in, too. "Ron, you'd be wonderful! You have to do it!"
Even Rufus joined in, squeaking, "Uh huh, Go mad dogs!" while waving his paws.
"Well, what about the Mad Dog?" he asked, looking at Kim. "You told me I had an adoring public!"
"Ah, but they'll adore me even more," Felix offered. He looked at Tara, "What do you think?"
"I like it! You could buzz the stands in your chair!"
Kim looked triumphantly at her boyfriend. "Ron, the people have spoken!"
He sat with his arms crossed and fumed, knowing he'd been sandbagged.
The next day Ron found himself at the Possibles hooked up to the virtual reality trainer that the twins had developed over the summer. Kim had been using it to maintain her reflexes and had been very impressed with the technology. It was very easy to program and included programs for 16 types of kung fu – and a full complement of hastily loaded cheerleading routines.
Mr. and Mrs. Dr. P. looked in on the two teens.
"So, Kimmie," James asked, "how's Ronald's training going?"
"Great, Dad. Ron is going to blow away the competition," she said with a smile.
James Possible was glad that his daughter's fighting spirit remained as strong as ever, though he worried about Ron. He had seen Kim in coach-mode, after all.
Ron climbed out of the trainer, took off his helmet and flopped down on the floor, panting. "Okay, I think I've got the UCLA routine down. How about some snackage, KP?"
Kim looked at her watch. "Okay, ten minutes for snackage. Then we do Kentucky. Then we go to the gym for live practice."
"Awww man," Ron whined, though he was secretly pleased that Kim was operating in full mission mode. He had not wanted to do this, but when he saw the look on Kim's face at dinner that night, he knew that this was her opportunity to help her former teammates. Ron would do the physical work, but Kim would do all of the planning and strategizing. Ron's tryout would be a mini-mission; the cheerleaders were the people in need of help – and Bonnie was the villain to be defeated.
Bonnie looked up from her clipboard and looked at him through narrowed eyes. She'd given up flirting with Ron ever since she saw it no longer irked Kim and still bristled at the memory of the time she blew an air kiss at Ron, only to have Kim break out laughing. It was the deadliest, most effective response Kim could have devised. Bonnie now glared at him. As far as she was concerned, the last remnant of the Possible era, the mascot, was now wasting her time by trying out for the squad.
"You really want to embarrass yourself, Stoppable?" she asked.
He smiled serenely, "If I want to do that Bon-Bon, I'll kiss you in public."
Bonnie's eyes opened wide while the two cheerleaders sitting at the table with her stifled their laughter.
Ouch! That was good! thought Kim, who, overhearing the exchange, felt like running up to Ron to give him a high five. Felix and Monique, who'd slipped into the gym and sat next to Kim, couldn't help but grin.
Bonnie, seething, barked, "Start."
Ron made his way to the center of the basketball court and began the routine that Kim had taught him. The Ron who two years earlier couldn't do a cheer move to save his life, even with the benefit of being in Kim's body, was a thing of the past. That, of course, was a Ron without Yamanuchi training, mystical monkey power and one beautiful, smart, adoring auburn-haired girlfriend rooting for him. Flips, splits, spins, somersaults all came off without a flaw.
Ron finished his routine. All of the cheerleaders except Bonnie applauded wildly; she stewed. And as much as she wanted to, she knew she couldn't deny Ron the spot on the roster. "You're on," she growled.
"Badical!" Ron said, giving a thumbs up to his new squadmate Tara while smiling at Kim, Felix, and Monique.
Bonnie didn't think her afternoon could get any worse. She was wrong.
"Uh, Bonnie," Ron said, "now that Kim's off the squad and I'm on, I think we need to have a new election for captain. Y'know, so our leader has been voted on by the current membership."
Bonnie exploded. "What? You just got on the squad and you want to be captain?"
"Oh no. No, no, no, Bonnie. I'm the newbie here. The squad needs someone with experience. That's why I'm nominating Tara!" Ron said triumphantly.
Tara was stunned; Kim looked on with awe at her boyfriend's deviousness, sure that his inner-Zorpox had come to the surface.
Tara was flattered, but nervous. Bonnie glowered at her. "You want to do this, Tara?" The other cheerleaders looked at Tara imploringly while Kim, Felix, and Monique all nodded; Ron was now giving her two thumbs up.
"Yes, I do. I'd like to be captain." Remembering the way Bonnie had ambushed Kim, Tara said, "And I'd like a vote right now."
Tara received every vote but Bonnie's.
The other cheerleaders, feeling like newly freed POWs, mobbed Tara as if she was their liberator. Ron had gone back to the bleacher and sat down next to Kim, putting his arm around her waist. They both smiled innocently and waved at Bonnie as she stormed out of the gym.
Kim turned to Ron. "Thanks."
"No big, KP."
"Wrong. Way big. Now I get to date a cheerleader!"
XIII.
Bonnie wasn't the only one to have a disappointing day. That evening, Jack Hench told Shego that he thought that going forward their relationship should be strictly professional. She might have been able to deal with the situation calmly had Hench not said, "It's not you, it's me," the worst break-up line known to man. Shego immediately blasted him with a bolt of green plasma and threw him out of her penthouse.
XIV.
The first week of December Kim came home to find a thick envelope from Middleton College. She tore it open to learn she had been offered early admission and a full academic scholarship. She screamed in delight. Then she looked at Ron and remembered their conversation from earlier that fall. She kissed him. "Remember, I-love-you."
He smiled. "I know. But will you, uh, excuse me?"
"Sure," Kim replied wondering where Ron was going as he walked out the front door. A moment later, he returned, looking flustered.
"Uh, I'll go this way." She followed him as he went to the door that led to the garage. "Uh uh uh. You go sit in the den."
Kim reluctantly did as instructed, burning with curiosity.
Ron came back with a package, which he handed to her. "This is for you."
She tore it open with the same gusto she'd brought to the admissions envelope. There were two sweaters inside. Each was in the colors of Middleton College, purple, with a white M on front.
"Ron, I love it! But why two?"
"His 'n hers. You get to give me other one if I get in next spring."
"When, Ron. When you get in," she said brooking no disagreement.
Ron grinned and thought, I sure hope the admissions people make the right decision. Otherwise, they'll have to deal with one seriously tweaked Kim Possible!
XV.
Frederick had been watching the latest construction on the station with growing concern. The astronauts had been making an unusually large number of space walks, building a superstructure of some sort. Frederick didn't know that on the side of the station facing opposite the Earth the turret for a huge particle cannon was being assembled.
XVI.
Kim learned that there could actually be benefits to not being able to go on a mission, and that was being asked to talk about them. She was honored to receive an invitation to speak at a conference for Special Operations Forces at the Air Force Academy. She insisted that Ron come with her. "Partners, remember?"
She was thrilled when at the opening reception, she saw her friend Major Weber, who was with her husband, a Navy SEAL. Kim made the introductions. Ron listened raptly as the major talked about her plane; she listened just as attentively as Ron talked about cooking and rapping on TV. As their conversation ended, the pilot from Texas gave Ron the once over, then said to Kim. "Yeah, this one was worth going to Japan for. Either of you ever need a ride anywhere, you just holler. And, Kim, you don't forget what I said."
Kim smiled; Ron looked puzzled. "Oh, just some girl talk," Kim said cheerfully in response to her boyfriend's evident curiosity as she waved good bye to the pilot.
XVII.
It was the week before Christmas. This was supposed to be a happy time. But Junior had been inconsolable ever since Bonnie had drifted away from him a few weeks earlier. Señor Senior, Senior watched with increasing concern as his son moped around the house. Even the offer to buy a major record label, which would guarantee Junior a recording contract, had done nothing to boost the young man's spirits. This was yet another thing to go wrong since Shego visited Senior Island earlier that year.
Yet his troubles began long before Shego came and made her demans. The old multi-billionaire sat in his study, thinking about how much his life had changed in recent years. His son depressed. His fortune lost once, now at risk again. Being expelled from the Billionaire's Club. The time spent time in jail.
Senior decided that somebody was going to be held responsible …
… The people who started him down the road to villainy and ruin in the first place: Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable.
TBC ...
Author's notes:
My gratitude to campy, of the eagle eye.
In a previous review, G-Go noted that many of these chapters read like independent fics, tied together by a common thread. He's not wrong. In a way, this story is my attempt to make up for the Season 4 of KP we never got to enjoy. I hope that you're all enjoying both the ongoing arcs and the independent episodes. My goal is to have the pieces come together nicely by the end of the story, though I will confess that I've tossed a couple of things out there to be used in a sequel I am contemplating.
Kim's broken leg. I'm not a doctor and have no medical training, so anything I write about medicine is fiction. I did, however, do some research. A closed fracture of the tibia often requires a cast and crutches. Full recovery, of the kind needed to do cheerleading and funky teen-hero things, can take months, though one would be back on one's feet much, much sooner. There is obviously no literature about the effects of losing a mystically charged weapon.
Finally, for the baseball fans out there … Ron's observation to Kim about records with asterisks is not meant to suggest that Roger Maris' home single-season home run record was illegitimate; both Ron and I believe it is one of the game's great single season records. The steroid-driven stats of the '90s, however, are another matter. We can safely say that Ron remains very disappointed.