I do not own nor have rights to any of the characters contained within this story.

Chapter 12 – Crazy and the sound of cheese

As Ron was jetting back home after leaving Dementor's lair his mind was in turmoil. He knew that he was doing the right thing; well he thought he was anyway. He saw how Kim's demeanor had changed when she had cuffed Dementor's hands behind his back "And that's a good thing isn't it" he thought. But something just didn't feel right. He remembered sitting up there in the shadows watching Dementor while waiting for Kim arrive and he remembered the smile that had been on his face. It was a real smile for once. Not one of the forced smiles he had been using to convince his friends, and himself, that he was okay. Then he remembered seeing Kim sneak into the room and recalled the way his breathing had stopped and his heart had emptied of all happiness when he saw her again.

As these thoughts kept repeating in his head he was suddenly interrupted.

BOOP-BOOP-BOOP-BOOP

Ron reached over to the navigation console where the Kimmunicator was plugged in and pressed the Accept button. When the screen lit up he saw Wade sitting in his chair, the ever-present soda in his hand and a huge smile on his face.

Wade: "Ronnie, I don't know how to thank you enough. I just got done talking to Kim and the difference in her is just… well.. it's just amazing"

Ron: "Hey, no big Wade. Just doin what I can to make things better ya know"

It was then that Wade noticed the empty look on Ron's face but the look was only there for a moment and was quickly replaced by that same silly grin that Ron always had. Well it looked like the same grin but Wade knew that there was something different, something he couldn't quite put his finger on…. yet.

Wade: "Well just so you know there was a kind of strange report filed by GJ. It says something about a ghost or something like that. But I'm in the process of burying it in their files so don't worry about that."

Ron: "Thanks Wade, you really rock you know"

Wade: "Yea thanks. Well I just wanted to say thanks again. You don't know how much of a difference you made today. Hey gotta go, dinners ready and my Mom really gets pissed if I don't at least leave my room for meals ya know. So I guess I'll see ya later Ron"

As the screen faded to black the grin slowly faded from Ron's face and he sat there in stony silence the rest of the way back home.

When Wade returned to his room after dinner he checked the web site and his e-mail for messages. Finding nothing too important he hacked into the GJ network again to make sure the report that he had told Ron about was buried and buried deep. When the report was up on his screen he decided to look in over in detail just to make sure no one had seen anything that would connect Ron to the incident. Thirty minutes later, after reading the report three times Wade was just staring at the screen in wonder.

"Wait a minute" Wade thought "Ron only got into the lair about ten minutes before Kim but according to this report GJ found thirty Seven guards in the place. Thirty of them in one room and the other seven scattered around the lair."

Mentally doing the math Wade came up with about one guard every 16.2 seconds and once he took into account the size of the lair and the distance Ron had to travel. Well let's just say that Wade ended up shaking his head and wondering what had really happened in those 10 minutes. Wade decided then and there that next time he was going to put a trace on Ron's Kimmunicator just to see what happens.

Kim and Monique

Kim was still lying on her bed wondering if she was really going crazy when the phone rang. She looked over and saw it was Monique's number and name on the small Caller ID screen and answered it immediately. She had to talk to someone so she could get the thoughts straight in her mind and her Mom was defiantly out of the question and Monique would have been her next choice anyway, it was like a godsend.

Monique heard the ringing stop when Kim answered the phone and the ringing was replaced by Kim's voice.

Kim: "Monique, thank God you called. We have to talk and I mean right now, in person."

Monique: "Well I was supposed to meet Felix for a soda in about 10 minutes is it okay if he comes along"

Kim: "I'm sorry Mo. But no, this has to be just the two of us. There's something going on that… well… Uh… we just need to talk alone okay? I'll make it up to you I promise. I'm sure that Felix will understand. Please Mo it's really really important"

Monique: "Uh.. okay K. I'll call Fel and let him know I can't make it. Where and when baby girl"

Kim: "Oh thanks Mo. I really appreciate it. How about the park, the bench by the mural. No one goes there this time of day and this is really private. 10 minutes?"

Monique: "Okay girl, but this better be good enough for me to pass up time with my 'Only Truly'. See ya in 10"

As Kim hung up the phone she sat up and started putting on her shoes wondering the whole time just how she was going to explain all this to Monique. As she left the house a few minutes later and jogged to the park she still hadn't thought of a good way to begin.

Five minutes later Kim was seated on the bench in the park wringing her hands nervously and biting her lower lip still trying to think of a way to tell Monique that she thought she was crazy. As it turned out this question solved itself because as Monique walked up to the bench and sat next to her best friend Kim suddenly threw her arms around Monique and with her head on Monique's shoulder started crying. Between Kim's sobs Monique kind of made out what Kim was trying to say.

After about 5 minutes Monique grabbed Kim by the shoulders and, gently pushing her away so she could look her in the eyes. Monique saw the fear in Kim's eyes through the tears that were still falling. It was now Monique's turn to talk.

Monique: "Hey sweetie let me get this straight. You think you're going crazy just because you're having a good day and during this good day you happen to think of a guy that has been part of your life for like the last 13 years, a guy that you cared for, a guy that you loved? Baby girl let me clue you in. You'd be crazy if you didn't think about Ron once in a while. I mean come on girl, that man was so much a part of your life you were almost one person."

Monique felt Kim relax in her grip and noticed that Kim's eyes were starting to clear up a bit. "I guess I never thought of it that way Mo." Kim said in a much steadier voice "It's just that I miss him so much. I drove him away Mo. It was all my fault he left like he did. If I hadn't yelled at him that night in the Bueno-Nacho I……." Kim's voice trailed off and Monique saw tears starting to form in Kim's eyes again. But these were different; they were no longer the tears of someone afraid. They were the tears of someone who had lost the most important thing in their life and this Monique understood because if she and Felix ever… Monique suddenly stopped. "Well wadda ya know" Monique thought "I guess I really love that little guy after all"

At that moment when Monique thought about Felix, she completely understood what Kim had lost when Ron had left. Holding each other tightly with their heads on each other shoulders they both sat there in tears while the sun slowly slipped away behind the mural leaving the two friends in darkness in more ways than one. But Monique thought that Kim would be okay now, she still had to cry herself out but the worst was over.

As the friends parted company later that evening they hugged once again and each of them headed away in different direction. Kim headed home with her eyes finally dry; she was trying to recapture some of the happiness she had felt earlier that day. She wasn't succeeding completely but it was a start. By the time she reached the front door of her home she had realized that it was okay to think about Ron. It was okay to think about all of the good times they had shared. And it was thinking about those good times that had brought a small smile back to her face as she walked through the front door.

Monique on the other hand was not going home. She was headed toward the home of Felix Renton. It was not the past that was on Monique's mind, it was the future. When Felix opened the door in answer to the door bell he saw Monique standing there with a very strange look on her face.

As Monique walked in she didn't even bother to close the door behind her. She simply walked over to Felix and folded herself onto his lap placing her arms gently around his neck. Bending her head toward his she kissed him. Felix was a little surprised by this behavior; sure he and Monique had kissed before, plenty of times over the last few months. They had even done more than kiss, much more. But it had always been like wanna be's or maybe even gonna be's. This kiss was entirely different. Felix felt that the wannas and the gonnas were gone, this kiss very plainly said is. As Felix returned the kiss he used one hand to slowly close the front door and he then wheeled them into the den. When he finally released the controls for his chair he found a much better use for that hand.

Ron

After the jet softly landed and drifted into its assigned section of the garage Ron disconnected the Kimmunicator from the navigation panel and climbed slowly from his seat. As he entered the house he smelled an aroma that made his mouth water. Entering the kitchen he saw that his nose had not let him down. Hirotaka and Yori were seated at the expansive kitchen table with several bags of Bueno-Nacho takeout lined up neatly in front of them.

Rufus was standing on the table staring at Yori with a pleading look in his small black eyes. When Rufus noticed that Ron had entered the kitchen he pointedly turned his back to Ron and folding his paws in front of him and you quite clearly heard a "Humph". Ron looked sorrowfully at his diminutive pink friend and kneeling next to the table said "I'm really sorry Rufus but I couldn't take you with me this time. I wasn't sure how things were going to work out. I promise I'll take you next time, I swear." Ron opened one of the bags on the table and after searching for a moment took the cheesiest Naco out of the bag and presented it to his friend as a peace offering. Smelling the cheese Rufus turned around and with a look that positively meant you better said "Uh Huh. Uh Huh" and allowed Ron to present the offering to him. Soon the sounds of small mole rat teeth chomping on a hard Naco shell filled the air and, for a time, it seemed that all was right with the world.

\

Ron turned his attention to Hirotaka and Yori and said "What's all this for?" gesturing at the table filled with Bueno-Nacho bags. Hirotaka simply smiled as Yori answered for both of them. "It is a new tradition Stoppable-san. Hirotaka and I have decided that it would be our honor to present you with a feast of your favorite foods upon your return from a mission." Ron simply looked at his smiling friends and with a straight face said "Well… as long as it doesn't mean I can't eat it any other time" then he smiled and bowing slightly and said "I am deeply indebted to you both for this honor, but if you'll excuse me I gotta eat" and then Ron sat quickly and started ripping bags open stuffing the contents of each bag into his waiting mouth.

Two days later Ron was sparing with Hirotaka when they were interrupted by a unique sound.

BOOP-BOOP-BOOP-BOOP

Ron dropped his stance and bowed to Hirotaka before rushing to the bench where Rufus and his now ever-present Kimmunicator sat. Pushing the accept button while allowing Rufus to scamper up to his shoulder Ron looked into the screen and said;

Ron: "Hey Wade, What's the sitch"

Wade: "Ya know, I'm never gonna get tired of that."

Ron simply smiled at the screen for a moment before Wade continued.

Wade: "I just sent Kim off to the Mediterranean Ron. It seems that señor Senior Senior and Junior are at it again. This time Junior seems to be the instigator though. He's kidnapped some big Spanish singing group and he's holding them hostage until their manager agrees to use Junior as an opening act for their next concert appearance."

Ron: "Okay Wade, you know the routine, download the coordinates while I get ready, anything special I should know?"

Wade: "Well now that you mention it remember those spinning tops of doom that SOMEONE recommended to the Senior's? Well it seems they got an upgrade. Now they not only spin but there are lasers attached to each top"

Ron remembered who the SOMEONE was that Wade was referring to and sheepishly looked at the screen seeing Wade with a very fake stern look on his face. As they both laughed. Ron had reached his room and was swiftly donning his gray Ninja suit while Rufus started putting on the similar outfit that Ron had presented to him just the day before. When he happened to look at the screen again he saw that Wade was simply staring out of the screen as he got ready. Ron simply looked at the screen and said "What?"

Wade: "Hey I'm just enjoying this. For the first time since I can remember I don't have to look the other way while the person at the other end of the Kimmunicator gets changed"

In fact Wade was just now noticing how much Ron had changed. "Wow" he said to himself "Ron has really bulked up. Heck, more than bulked up he's absolutely Uh. What's the word? Oh yea, Ripped" Ron interrupted Wade's thought when he spoke again.

Ron: "Okay Wade I'm almost to the jet, can you get some specs or something on those top things? I'll look at them on the way. Oh, and just so I know, how much lead time will I have before Kim gets there"

Wade: "Okay, I'll have the manufacturing specs downloaded in a sec and you'll only have about 10 minutes when you get there before Kim's transport arrives"

Ron: "Thanks buddy. But ya know this 10 minute thing doesn't leave me a whole lotta time. We gotta think of a way to get me there faster. Maybe you can call me first next time okay"

Wade: "Good idea Ron, I'll do that. Uh… okay all the specs are downloaded and the nav system is ready to go. Good luck Ron, I'll talk to you later"

As his screen blanked Wade sat back with a satisfied smile on his face and started talking to the now blank screen in front of him. "Hey buddy, you'll never know that I waited 15 minutes before I called you. Now let's just make sure that the tracking program is up and running"

As Ron arrived at the island he made sure that his small jet was hidden beneath the palm trees near where he had landed. He had made the decision to land at the far end of the small island as a precaution. He didn't want anyone to spot his plane and suspect someone else was here. Especially Kim. As he looked at the map displayed on the screen of his Kimmunicator he oriented himself and after telling Rufus to hang on he started running. He was about 2 miles from the Senior's lair so he called on the power of the Band and started sprinting. When he arrived at the wall to the lair he didn't stop. With his enhanced knowledge of the way any trap could be sprung he just picked the most likely spot of the wall to be clear and jumped. He cleared the 15 foot wall with two feet to spare.

Noticing that there was no one in sight he hurried quickly to the entrance of the lair and using nothing but enhanced muscle power he forced the doors open and then closed them behind him. The spinning tops of doom proved to be easier to defeat that their earlier prototypes. As he stopped so that he would be detected the Tops spun out of their hidden niches in the walls and started spinning around the room firing their lasers in all directions. Ron simply used his speed and the Lotus Blade which he had transformed into a slightly concave mirror. Using the transformed Lotus Blade he reflected the laser blasts back toward each top as they attacked him and within three minutes all of the tops had been destroyed.

"Let's see" he said to himself "Two minutes to run from the beach, three minutes here, that leaves me about 5 minutes to clean up this mess and then make sure nothing else here can hurt Kim" With the help of Rufus every scrap of the destroyed tops had been gathered up and stored back into the hidden recesses in the walls within two minutes leaving no trace of their recent destruction. Ron placed Rufus into his special pocket and then hurried deeper into the lair until he found the spot where the hostages we being kept. He was surprised to see that they were only restrained by simple ropes tied to the legs of the comfortable looking chairs they were sitting in. They were sitting at a table that was filled with food and desserts. And there was Junior sitting at the head of the table acting for all the world like he was hosting a dinner party instead of a kidnapping.

Ron smiled to himself saying "Well, that's Junior" and backed into the shadows to wait for Kim's arrival. He failed to notice that Rufus was peering out of his pocket and shaking a bit.

Half a world away Wade was sitting in his room staring at a monitor in front of him watching as a small red dot on the screen suddenly stopped and went immobile. If anyone had been in the room with Wade they would have heard him slowly saying to himself "No way man, there's just no way." over and over.

Kim walked into the room about 2 minutes later making no attempt at stealth. Junior looked up and simply stood saying "Ah my Blue Fox. I am so glad to see you once again. Would you care to join us for a small dinner?"

As soon as Junior said the word "Dinner" Rufus couldn't hold it in any more. With his mouth watering he looked at the table and said "Cheeeese." Ron quickly looked down at Rufus and shushed him quietly by making the finger to the lips gesture which Rufus instantly understood and he ducked quickly deep into the pocket. He wanted to get away from the look Ron had given him but even more, he needed to stop looking at that table full of food.

Kim had been standing a mere six feet away when Rufus lost control and she spun quickly searching the room to see who had spoken. Ron held his breath and shrunk further into the shadows. As Kim scanned the room she failed to see Ron standing in the deep shadows. After only a few quick seconds Kim decided that perhaps she had just heard an echo or the slap of water on the high cliffs just outside the open windows to her left. She then turned her attention back to the task at hand but had subconsciously filed away that sound for future reference. For some reason it had sounded very familiar but her subconscious could not yet reason why.

Needless to say the hostages were freed in record time and as Junior was being lead away to a waiting GJ helicopter he simply looked at Kim and said "It seems it is not to be this time my sweet Blue Fox. Perhaps you can arrive earlier next time and we will have time for that dinner no?"

As soon as Ron was sure all was well he had slipped away unnoticed and making his way back to the beach had left the island flying low and fast to avoid the incoming GJ forces and the news crews who were here to see the previously kidnapped singing group. Ron and Rufus had a nice long talk on the way home about how a ninja was supposed to be undetectable. Ron never did find out the name of the group that had kidnapped. He honestly didn't care. His reason for being there was Kim and no one or nothing else.

Things continued in this manner for the next three weeks. There were seven more missions. Nothing of any real importance but each time Kim found it easier and easier to accomplish the missions. This was what started nagging at the back of Kim's mind. After the last mission against Frucal Lucre, this broke all of her previous speed records by the way. She had tried to recall the last time she had run up against any opposition at all. After thinking about this for quite some time without any success she finally changed the way she looked at things and started trying to determine the first mission she had where all opposition was missing.

It only took her about 5 minutes to remember this mission. It was the mission against Professor Dementor, the same mission where she had gotten that weird feeling of being protected. As Kim changed into her PJ's and slid into her bed for the night she tried to recall the feelings she had experienced that day. Maybe, just maybe there was a clue there. She was still thinking about this when sleep overtook her and she started dreaming, dreaming mostly about a blond headed skinny young man with a silly grin but once in while she dreamed about a small pink mole rat and the curious sound he made.

AN:

I've gotten a lot of questions about my update speed (I personally think it's slower that I would like) But hey I'm retired and now run my own consulting firm. I have a lot of hurry up and wait time and a laptop. Any more questions?

Sorry about the poem, it was supposed to be broken into 4 line stanza's but I couldn't get the spaces recognized when I uploaded and edited. If I get it figured out I'll fix it.

Just a few more chapters (I think, maybe more than a few, this things keeps making me revise the outline, must have a life of it's own)