Disclaimer: Still ain't mine…
A/N: And the voting has ended! Thanks for the ideas and input, they have all been taken into account. I hope you like this chapter! However, you might want to re-read the dream chapter before you read this to keep the dream fresh in your mind, and so you can catch any changes. Just a thought…
Chapter 4
Ron awoke mid-morning the next to his alarm clock. Ron rolled out of bed, walked over to Rufus's little naked mole rat-sized bed on Ron's computer table.
"C'mon, Rufus. Wake up," Ron said, tapping the side of the bed. Rufus stirred and squeaked reproachfully. "Don't give me that. Come on, we need to get to that warehouse."
Ron quickly showered and then donned him usual black, long sleeved shirt and khaki cargo pants. He grabbed a few of the gadgets that Kim had let him borrow. He picked up a gun that shot out a grappling hook and stared at it.
Ron sighed mournfully. "I used this when I shot off my shorts for the first time," Ron said, sadly. "Kim gave this to me afterwards. She told me I needed to practice." Ron stared a few more seconds, then shook himself out of his reverie, remembering that he was furious at her. Ron grabbed Rufus, stuffed him in his pocket, then bounded out of his room
Ron ran toward the front door yelling rapidly, "I'm-going-to-defeat-Drakken-and-save-the-world! Be-home-later. Bye-Mom!"
Mrs. Stoppable's popped around the corner from the kitchen and said, "You meeting Kim there?"
Ron faltered a little bit, but regained his composure and replied just as rapidly, "Actually-no-but-I-can't-talk-I-need-to-go!" He rushed out of his house before his mother could respond.
Kim awoke that morning at 9:30 feeling absolutely disgusted with herself. She stared at the ceiling, replaying the horrible argument that ensued, just as her dreams had. She hated herself so damn much.
"I hope you'll forgive me one day Ron," Kim said before rolling out of bed. "Because Lord knows I'll never forgive myself."
She showered, shaking off the incredible urge to drown herself in it, and toweled herself dry. She dressed in the Kim Possible trademark black mid-drift and khaki cargo pants. As she did so, she noticed her favorite picture on her dresser. It was the one from two summers ago when Ron spent Spring Break with Kim's family down at her grandmother's retirement home. Kim was riding piggyback on Ron's back down on the boardwalk. Even though Ron was so fixated on finding college girls, Kim and Ron still had some "them" time.
She sat down on the floor, leaned against her bed, and held her knees to her chest, and sighed sadly. She had done the right thing, hadn't she? She ended the most wonderful relationship she had ever hoped to have, and probably shattered Rom himself. How could that be the right thing? She allowed herself a few minutes of emotional self-bashing and depression, but eventually she stood up again.
"Come on Kim," she scolded herself. "You've still got a mission. Defeat Drakken first, then tear your insides out."
She sighed, took one last look at her treasured photo, grabbed her gear, and left her room.
The warehouse was only a thirty-minute walk from Ron's house. Ron learned that the hard way. Kim was the one who got transportation, and since Ron didn't have a Kimmunicator, he couldn't call anyone. Plus, it wasn't like anyone knew him. Everyone knew Kim, no one knew Ron. He was just the buffoon sidekick that was always overlooked.
Ron turned onto the street where the warehouse was located, now becoming more stealth oriented. He crept behind a large shrub and peered into the general grounds. No outside guards, seemed okay to go in further. Ron jumped up and ran to the front set of double doors. He grasped the handles and stopped suddenly.
"Wait," Ron said. "They would be expecting that."
Ron quickly looked around to check for any guards. Not finding any, he bounded around the left side of the warehouse to find another entrance. He found a half-opened window and he ran to it. Ron pulled upward, but the window didn't budge.
"Oh, great," Ron whispered.
He pulled upward as hard as possible, but still no budge. Ron stepped back a few paces, braced himself, and ran at the window. Once he reached it, her pushed up at the window, which flew open as if it had just been oiled.
"Wah! Ahh!" Ron cried as he fell through the window, crashing into a pile of wooden crates.
Ron stood up, brushed himself off and took off down the small corridor.
About a block away from the warehouse, a shiny, red sports car screeched to a halt. Kim hopped out and addressed the sharply dressed man in the front seat.
"Thanks for the lift, Mr. Wyndam," Kim said.
"It's no problem, ever since you saved my business from going under," he replied.
"Oh, it was just your normal everyday dismantling of an evil machine bent on flooding the business district. No big!" Kim said, stepping back from the car.
Mr. Wyndam nodded, the peeled out, leaving Kim alone on the street. She glanced around, and then took out her Kimmunicator.
"I'm here Wade," Kim said. "Give me some good news here."
Wade typed furiously. "Okay," Wade said. "I've got a lock on Drakken and Shego. They're both inside. There are a lot of hallways in there, so I'm going to upload a map into the Kimmunicator for you."
"Please and thank you!" Kim cried. "Are there any guards or am I by myself?"
Wade clicked again. "Nope, no guards. Wait, 'by yourself'? Where's Ron?"
Kim sighed and said, "He's not coming. It's just me this time. Don't worry, I'll explain everything to you both later. Assuming Ron will talk to me," Kim added.
Wade looked incredulously at Kim, but said, "Okay. I'm uploading the map now."
The Kimmunicator beeped several times, then a schematic map popped up. There were several dots on it: a red one for Kim, a blue one for Drakken, and a green one for Shego.
"What?" Kim said, looking at the screen. She saw another dot inside the warehouse, a yellow one, moving about the corridors on the left side of the building. "Losing your touch there Wade. Eh, one guard, no problem."
Kim ran around to the right side, bypassing the front double doors.
"They'd be expecting that," Kim said as she passed.
She found a fully opened window and she leapt in without making a sound. She quickly glanced at the map. She had two more turns to make before she could get to the open part of the warehouse. The yellow dot was closing in on the main area as well.
"Great," Kim thought. "I just have to take out a guard too. No big."
Kim made a left turn, ran down the long hallway, and then made another quick left turn. She could see where the hallway ended and opened up into the large open area of the warehouse. She checked her map one again. Drakken and Shego were next to each other on the opposite wall from where Kim was, and the yellow-dotted guard was at the end of the hallway on the corner to her left. Kim made a slow, surveying, visual sweep of the room. She saw Drakken and Shego in front of a large mainframe computer like contraption. She turned her head to the left to find the guard's position, and let out a gasp of horror. She could see Ron peering around the corner, surveying the warehouse as well.
"Damn it!" Kim whispered. "Why the hell is he here! I thought I took care of this!"
Kim glanced to Drakken and Shego to make sure they weren't looking. Seeing that the coast was clear, Kim took off in a sprint towards Ron. Ron turned just in time to see her barreling towards him. He attempted to cry out, but Kim grabbed him hard, clasped her hand over his mouth, and dragged him around the corner into the hallway.
Lying on the floor, Kim threw Ron against the wall, her hand grasping the top of his shirt. "What the hell are you doing here?" Kim demanded, a hint of terror in her voice.
"What do you mean, Kim? Afraid I'm going to screw things up!" Ron answered harshly, anger in his eyes.
"Ron, please listen to me," Kim said desperately. "I am so sorry for what I said. I didn't mean any of it!"
Ron glared at her. "Yeah, right, sure."
"Ron, please," Kim pleaded. "I can't explain everything right now, but please know that I have torn myself up about this. I hated having to say those things to you!"
Ron softened. "Then why did you? You hurt me really bad, Kim," he whispered.
"I know. I know I did, Ron, and I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am," Kim said, reaching out and holding his forearm. Ron looked as if he wanted to say something, but the remaining pain inside was stopping him.
Sensing this, Kim said, "Look, I promise to explain all of this to you later, but you're life will be in danger if you go in there. I need you to leave and go home."
Ron blinked in surprise. "Go home? I don't understand, how do you know?" Ron still had a tone of edginess; he was hanging onto the anger and pain she caused him.
"Ron," Kim whispered, portraying every bit on sincerity within her, "you have to trust me." She pleadingly stared into Ron's eyes.
Ron stared back. She wasn't giving him the puppy-dog pout. She was being serious. He could hear her genuine sincerity, and see it in her eyes. As bad as he was about giving in to the puppy-dog pout, he could not back down to the look she was giving him now. He loved her too much to do that…
Ron fully softened, and smiled. "Of course I do," he sighed.
Kim gave a small gasping sob, then she threw her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged back. After a few seconds, Ron pulled back and looked at Kim.
"But you know there is no way in hell I'm leaving you here by yourself," Ron said in as serious a tone as Ron can manage.
"Yeah, I know. I figured," Kim replied, holding her head in one hand, thinking madly about the events of the dream. She snapped her head up quickly. "Okay, about this whole 'you trust me' deal, I need you to promise me that no matter what happens to me, you will ignore me, okay? Do not come to help me, I'll be fine."
Ron hesitated, but replied, "Okay, I promise."
"Okay," Kim said. "Here's what I need you to do. Drakken will be putting the Proton Disruptor into that mainframe computer. You wont be able to get until Drakken has put it in, and when he leaves.
"How do you—" Ron started.
"Never mind 'how'. I'm going to distract Shego the only way I know how. Remember, no matter what happens to me, don't do anything," Kim reminded urgently.
"Right. Okay, let's go," Ron said.
Upon entering the room, Kim and Ron split up, Ron heading for the mainframe via the side wall, and Kim heading straight for it. Kim stopped suddenly. Shego wasn't there.
"Kim, head's up!" Ron called from the other side of the warehouse.
Instinctively, Kim leapt into a back flip as Shego rushed under her, gloves blazing.
"Oh no!" Kim though. "It's starting!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Kimmie," Shego said.
"Yeah, yeah," Kim interrupted. "'It's past my bed time' yada-yada, I know the drill."
Shego faltered a moment. "How did you—" she started.
Kim, however, didn't wait for her to finish. She leapt at Shego with a high kick, knocking her back in surprise. Shego retaliated with a stream of fast paced punches, all of which Kim blocked. They began to duel more violently as Ron inched closer to the mainframe computer.
Ron ducked behind a large stack of wooden crates, lying in wait for Drakken to leave.
Drakken lifted up the oval-shaped Proton Disruptor and muttered, "How does this thing go in now?" He inserted the Proton Disruptor into the computer, causing all the buttons and switches to blink furiously.
"Aw man, that is sick and wrong!" Ron whispered.
"Yes!" Drakken cried. "It works! Shego!"
"A bit busy, Dr. D!" Shego called back, avoiding another offensive from Kim.
"Leave her! There's nothing she can do now! The Extreme-o-Rama 3000 Proton Disruptor is in!" Drakken yelled as he made for the set of double doors.
Shego kicked hard, hitting Kim painfully in the chest. Kim fell backwards to the ground. Shego ran to join Drakken at the doors.
Kim leapt up, and without thinking, yelled, "Ron, get it!"
She started to run towards, but halted. If she would just let Drakken and Shego go, Kim could still get the Proton Disruptor, and Ron would stay alive. However, she realized this too late. Drakken had leapt in her path as he had done in her dream.
"Not this time, Kim Possible!" Drakken yelled. Even though Kim knew what was to happen, she could not block in time the powerful kick to her stomach or the wrenching upper cut that sent her flying into the wall behind her.
Ron had leapt from his hiding spot as soon as Drakken left his post. He snuck towards the mainframe. He heard blows fall across the warehouse and snapped his head to see Drakken send Kim into the wall. Ron instinctively started to run to her rescue, but froze after two steps, then rushed back to the mainframe. He promised her after all…
Kim slammed against the wall, causing her head to explode in pain and little white lights to burst in her vision. She groaned in pain and panic. Things were going too much like the dream for Kim's comfort. She had been weakened by the impact, and she could feel herself slipping from consciousness. She could see a dim, fuzzy Drakken advancing toward her…then she could see nothing.
Upon returning to the mainframe, Ron furiously tried to find how to release the Proton Disruptor. He flipped what seemed to be a hundred switches, and pressed about that many buttons but to no avail. Frantically, Ron searched for something he hadn't tried, and spied a large red button that read, "DO NOT PUSH".
That was the only other button Ron hadn't tried, but pushing big, red buttons with messages like that were more than likely bad idea. He scanned the board again, but it still was his only hope. Ron shut his eyes, breathed deep, opened them again and pushed the button with all his might.
Cringed in preparation for something like an explosion, Ron peered at the board. The blinking intensified then halted. Suddenly, the Proton Disruptor shot straight upward from the computer. Ron leapt forward and caught it just before it hit the ground.
"Yes!" Ron yelled.
Drakken, who was just about to tie Kim's arms behind her back, whipped around at Ron's outcry.
"No! Let go, that's not yours!" Drakken yelled, leaving Kim's side.
Ron, seeing Drakken rush towards him, quickly turned and rolled the Proton Disruptor into his hiding place behind the crates. Before he could do anything else, Drakken grabbed Ron's elbow and spun him around to face him.
"All right, er…whatever your name is," Drakken said.
"You still don't know my name! Come on!" Ron cried.
"Where is the Proton Disruptor?" Drakken demanded. Ron just plastered a smug smile and said nothing. "All right, fine!" He cried, landing a hard punch across Ron's jaw, nearly knocking him unconscious.
"Not bad, Dr. D," Shego praised. "I'm impressed. I might make a villain out of you yet."
Drakken dragged the stunned Ron across the warehouse to where Shego stood and Kim lay semi-conscious. Ron was beginning to fully come to, and feebly tried to struggle against Drakken, who was securing Ron's arms behind his back.
"Come, Shego," Drakken said, with an evil grin. "You know what to do." Shego nodded and advanced toward Ron.
Ron's eyes grew wide as he realized what was happening.
"Oh no! Was this what Kim was talking about?" Ron thought frantically.
"Hey, hey, come on now," Ron cried, struggling against Drakken's grip. "We can settle this in other ways, right? I mean, we could have a spirited thumb wrestle, or a game of Parcheesi, or something!"
Shego stopped and thought about it. "Hmm, we could," she said, and Ron's panic lessened slightly. Shego then ignited her plasma gloves and continued, "but I want to play this!"
Shego punched low into Ron's stomach and Ron let out a scream of pain. He could feel his body being slashed and burned as Shego let it linger for a few seconds. She threw more punches to Ron's face, chest, and stomach, making Ron delirious in agony.
"---I might make a villain out of you yet," Kim heard as she began to regain consciousness. Her vision was brightening, but her head still pounded.
"Where's Ron?" Kim thought, shaking her head, trying to shake the pain from her head.
She found him and gave a gasp of fright. She saw Drakken dragging Ron across the warehouse to where she and Shego were. Ron looked as he did in he dream, stunned, and barely conscious.
"Come, Shego," she heard Drakken say, "you know what to do."
Kim watched helplessly as Shego walked toward Ron. They exchanged words, but Kim didn't hear, she was panicking. Still weakened, Kim tried to sit herself up but failed. Shego ignited her gloves and Kim's stomach dropped.
"No!" Kim whispered. Her dream hadn't changed!
Kim watched in horror as she witnessed Shego throw the first punch into Ron's stomach, and heard Ron scream in pain. The sound of his screams sent a surge of strength within Kim who sat bolt upright. Suddenly, her head exploded in pain again, and Kim clasped her hand to her head, gasping in pain. Kim suddenly pulled back her hand and stared at it.
"He didn't tie me up," Kim whispered in wonder. "I was tied up in my dream." Kim suddenly felt a surge of adrenaline and she leapt clear to her feet.
"NOO!" she screamed as she sprinted full speed towards Shego.
Kim tackled Shego in the side, and the two of them crashed to the floor and slid a few feet, Drakken dropping Ron in surprise. Kim and Shego jumped up, but Kim knocked her down once again with a vicious, revenge-seeking kick. Drakken fled to the double doors and wrenched them open.
"Come, Shego, let's get out of here!" he yelled.
Shego, who had been kicked down for the fourth time by that point, hopped up, jumped in a forward somersault over Kim, and ran out the door behind Drakken. Kim followed only to see the con-trail of their escape jet.
Kim quickly whipped around to see Ron lying on his side on the floor. He wasn't moving.
"Ron, no!" Kim yelled, running to his side.
She touched his shoulder, the only part that didn't seem injured. Ron was hurt pretty bad, his face was cut up and burned, as was his stomach and chest.
"Ron?" Kim whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "Ron, I am so sorry. I couldn't save you." Kim started to cry, laying her head on his shoulder and holding him in her arms. "I'm sorry."
Kim cried for several minutes before she heard the faintest, softest moan. She shot her head up and cried, "Ron? You're okay? Ron!"
She saw Ron stir, and she cried, "Ron! Get up, you need to get up." She helped Ron sit up.
"Ugh," Ron groaned as he did so. "What happened?" He asked.
"Shego got to you, Ron," Kim replied. "Just move slow. You're going to hurt really soon."
"Oh great," Ron winced. "This is bad enough."
Kim playfully and gently ruffled Ron's hair and rubbed the nape of his neck. Tears of joy were welling in her eyes, and she was starting to giggle slightly.
To cover herself, Kim quickly asked, "Where is the Proton Disruptor?"
Ron grunted. "Ugh, it over there behind those crates somewhere," he said, pointing to the pile next to the mainframe computer.
Kim followed his hand, then walked over to the crates. She could see it nestled in between to of the crates and squatted down to where she was hidden. Kim broke down for an instant, a few joyful tears streaming down her face as she put the Proton Disruptor in her backpack. She quickly wiped her face dry, then walked back over to Ron, who was holding his stomach with a grimace on his face. She hated that her best friend was hurt so badly, but she couldn't help but grin broadly that he was alive to complain about it.
"I'm glad you find this amusing Kim," Ron said sarcastically, trying to stand up.
"No, of course I don't," Kim said laughingly, holding Ron's arm, helping him up. "You're just okay, and you weren't before, and—" Kim couldn't finish; she threw her arms around Ron's neck, halfway between sobbing and laughing.
Ron wobbly hugged her back, saying, "What are you talking about?"
"I'll explain later," Kim replied, "Let's just get you home." Kim helped the limping Ron out of the double doors and onto Ron's house.
A/N: One more chapter, Kim will explain everything. Hope you guys liked the ending…well, "Day Three"