Ron was awake but had no idea why, then he heard footsteps in the main room. Somebody had come in and the door closing had wakened him. His stomach rumbled as he got out of bed. He started to toss on some shorts then thought better of it and put on some decent clothes. I'll go up and see if KP wants some breakfast to he thought. Opening his door he saw someone he hadn't expected to see standing in the main room. It was the guy from their first day, Ron wondered what the heck he was doing in.

"Uh can I help you and how did you get in here?"

"Oh, hey I'm Tom. Sorry if I woke you." He was leaning back against the kitchen counter. "Figured I'd better stop in before somebody reported me missing." If he recognized Ron he showed no sign of it.

"I was kind of wondering if and when you'd show up. I'm Ron by the way." He offered his hand but Tom wasn't paying attention. "So where've you been?"

"I've got a couple of places I crash." He raised his eyebrow slightly. "It makes things more interesting that way."

"Right, anyway hate to run but I've got places to be." Trying to sound sincere while he moved out the door. "I'll catch you later maybe." Tom was already sitting down on the couch and didn't seem to hear him. "At least he didn't try to talk my ear off." He mumbled.

The gentle clinking of pots and pans brought Kim awake. The fight last night had caught up with her as she felt stiff muscles. She laid there enjoying the fact that she didn't have to get up. The smell of bacon and eggs drifted into the room tempting her out of the soft folds of her bed. She slid out of bed and made her way to the main room. She was surprised to see Ron standing in the kitchen working intently.

"Ron how did you get in here?" Then as if to answer her question she saw Casey standing behind him. Other doors opened as Gwen and Kari came into the room. "Morning you two." Mumbles and grunts were the only response she got. Both of them looked as if they had spent the night running a marathon. "You two look awful."

"Couldn't get to sleep, just tossed and turned all night." Kari stifled a yawn.

Gwen also yawned. "Guess I over did things yesterday."

"What things?" Casey asked.

"Things."

"Well this should help wake you up. Breakfast is served." While the girls had been talking Ron had served everything up onto 5 plates. "Eat up before it gets cold." He walked over to Kim with her plate. Taking it she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Morning KP."

As they started on their breakfast Ron found his thoughts being drawn back to the previous night. He had never felt so helpless, so useless during a fight. Kim had never expected him to be a fighter but that didn't change the fact that she needed somebody who could really cover her back. The thought of her being hurt as he stood by unable to help struck him to the core. He would be damned if he was going to let that happen. His thoughts continued to swirl from one concept to the next.

"Earth to Ron."

"Sorry, what was that?" Ron had been so caught up he hadn't noticed Kim trying to get his attention. "I was just thinking."

"About what?" Kim walked over and grabbed his plate. "And don't give me the whole about class routine." She raised an eyebrow at him as she took the plates into the kitchen.

"Just thinking about last night, how they seemed to disappear into the night." He wasn't completely lying. "They must know the city pretty well." The other girls looked up at the conversation.

"What are you talking about Ron?" The look Casey was giving him showed she didn't have a clue.

"We kind of had a run in with those two vigilantes Ribbon and Stalker last night." He stated flatly.

Gwen's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "Holy, how did you run across them, were they taking out some punks, are they cool?" She stopped and seemed to compose herself. "I mean what happened?"

"They got the drop on some muggers who thought Ron and I looked like easy targets."

"I bet that was cool to watch, I mean not that you two couldn't have taken them." Casey was leaning forward.

"It was brutal, and not in a cool way, they hammered on those guys. Then things got a little heated. Kim didn't take to how they handled things and they didn't take to her telling them to stop." Ron looked down as if shrugging the whole thing off. "It could have gone better."

"Are you two ok? Sounds like it became a scrap between the four of you." Kari looked worried.

"Nothing to worry about." Checking his watch. "Oh man I've got to get running things to do and what not. Hey Kim I'll check back later." With that he headed out the door.

"You two are really ok?" Kari asked again.

"Oh yeah, just some bruises. It's no big."

He wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do; all he knew was that he had to be better prepared to help Kim. Walking into the main room he found Steve playing some sports game. He fell onto the couch next to him.

"That doesn't sound like a very happy flop." Not looking up from the game. "What's on your mind?" He jerked the controller around hoping the extra movement would help him in the game.

"Just stuff, lots and lots of stuff."

Normally Steve could have cared less about someone like Ron, but then again Ron wasn't just a normal goofy guy. Looking over at him, he saw something he hadn't seen from him before, intensity. "You better take it easy before you burn a hole in the wall with that stare." Ron glanced over at him. "Get it organized and then spit it out." He reached over and shut the system off then turned and placed his arm on the back of the couch. "Holding it in isn't going to help you."

"Things are different now, I mean sure KP and I still go out and save the world but it isn't the same. Things seem more frantic, on edge, dangerous." He sighed. "And while she has always been able to handle herself I keep finding that I'm not helping much." The fear was evident on his face. "One of these days she will need my help and I won't be able to give it and then." His face dropped.

"You're afraid that when she needs you most, when it is all on the line, you won't be able to deliver." Ron nodded. "Welcome to the real world, everybody is afraid of failing."

"Death isn't usually at the top of the list when failure happens for everybody else."

"Sure most of us don't have to worry about super villains or mutants, but we all have to deal with coming up short." Steve had a smile play across his face. "If I screw up on the field and miss a play that wins the game for the other team I can either fixate on the mistake or I can make sure I don't do it again. The only things you can do are work hard and do the best you can."

Ron thought about this for a second. "Yeah I guess your right, but what can I do to get better for our missions."

"I can't tell you since you don't have any footage of your missions, but you should know where you are lacking."

He had never analyzed what he did during the missions since most of the time he was just a distraction and he was pretty good at that. It was when he had to fight that he lacked. His understanding and control of monkey kung fu had gotten better, but it was still pretty hit or miss. He need something else something he had more control over. The idea hit him before he fully realized he was getting one. "Hey Steve would I be able to hit the gym with you?"

The question came so far out of the blue that he took a moment to respond. "Uh well normally I work out with the team but I guess if you really wanted to I can see about getting you in."

"That would be great, I appreciate it." Ron had a far off gaze in his eyes as a smile crept onto his face. He snapped back after a moment. "Don't tell anybody though."

"Sure thing." Steve had to wonder if this was really a good idea.

The next month had gone by in a flash. Everybody had been doing there own things trying to keep up with school. This worked in Ron's favor since he could disappear to go work out with Steve. Steve had asked the couches if he could bring Ron to the gym and was surprised when they said sure. The coaches as well as the other members of the team were interested in meeting the teen hero. The other surprise for Steve was how hard Ron had begun working and how much he had improved. Ron didn't look like the type of guy who took things seriously very often.

Currently Ron was on the bench press, in the last month he had increased his lift by 40 pounds. Racking the weight he sat up and wiped his face with a towel. He had been working hard for the last hour and it showed as the sweat ran down his face. "Not bad, although I seem to have slowed down some."

"It happens, you'll be able to push past it, it'll just take some time." Steve added several extra plates. "My turn."

Ron brooded for a moment. How can I get better if I have to slow down? He thought. While he had improved dramatically in his fitness it didn't really show. He was leaner now and definitely more toned, but he hadn't gained any size. As long as I'm stronger size doesn't matter. The clanking of the bar brought him back to the world around him.

Steve sat up. "Let's call it a day; I think we've both done enough."

"Yeah I guess your right." They moved out of the room and into a hallway. "So any big plans for tonight?"

"Maybe." This got a raised eyebrow out of Ron. "Then again maybe not." Laughing Steve continued. "I planned on hitting the library but I wouldn't call that a big plan."

"Yeah, not real exciting either. Oh well life can't always be kicks and giggles." He shrugged. "I know I've said this before but thanks for helping me with this, it means a lot."

"Hey no problem, what are friends for. Just remember it takes time." They walked into the locker room. "Well I'm going to grab a shower then head to the library."

"I'll catch you back at the room." Ron grabbed his stuff and headed back out the door.

Her keys hit the ground as she swore softly under her breath. Kim had tried to dig the keys out of her bag while holding onto the mail and a drink. She bent down to pick the keys up when a voice called out from behind her.

"Need a hand hot stuff?" Her face remained neutral. "I'm always ready to help a woman in need." Tom walked up and opened the door to the Hall.

He was the last person she had hoped to run into with the exception of maybe Drakken or Shego. She'd been surprised when Ron had told her that he was the third roommate. Over the last month she had only seen him several times and none of them had been too pleasant. Every time he had hit on her, he seemed oblivious to the fact that she was with Ron. For his part Ron hadn't gotten to upset but only because she had convinced him she would handle it.

"Evening Tom thanks for getting the door."

"Again not a problem." His smile was anything but sincere. "So doing anything later?"

"As a matter of fact I'm meeting up with Ron." Her tone was less then pleasant.

"Well if you get bored let me know we'll go do something fun."

"Ok listen up." She spun on him. "I'm not going to go out with you I'm with Ron, so stop asking."

"Just giving you options babe." Shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't need to be given options." Her eyes flared. "This is no longer a hint, stop bothering me." She stomped off not giving him a chance to respond. She was still fuming when she made it to her room.

"Problems Kim?" Casey was sitting on the couch reading one of her textbooks.

"Just that jerk Tom. He makes me so mad, it's like he doesn't understand the word no." She landed in one of the chairs. "He keeps hitting on me, I finally told him off but I doubt it helps."

"I guess the good thing is he isn't around much."

"True but I'd rather not deal with him at all."

"Come on let's go get something to eat." She closed her book. "I'll even buy."

"Now that's something I will say yes to." The two laughed as they headed out of the room.

The night looked like it would go pretty good. Ron had run across Kim as she was getting something to eat so they had decided to stay in and watch a movie. The girls had found other things to do so they'd have Kim's place to themselves.

"So, how has everything been KP?" He was sitting back down after putting the movie into the machine.

"Could be better, could be worse." He looked at her with slight concern on his face. "Well the school work takes forever and I'm running around all day. But the really super big is…"

"What is it, tell me." Ron was growing more concerned every second.

"I'm not getting to see you as much." She leaned against him and got comfortable.

"Haha KP, just give a guy a heart attack. I thought something was seriously wrong."

"You don't think not getting to see each other is serious."

"Not what I meant and you know it." He looked down at her, her eyes were sparkling back up at him. "Guess we just have to make good the time we do have together." Wrapping his arms around her they settled in for the movie.

Ron had said his goodnight andwearily went back to his room. It had been an extremely long day but the evening had made up for it. He sagged onto his bed as he pulled off his shoes. The sound of a door opening a closing quietly caught his attention. It was from Cam's room but it didn't sound like Cam. Getting up he opened his door and came face to face with Kari.

"Oh I didn't wake you did I."

"No just got in myself. What's up?" Ron knew that Kari and Cam were close friends but he didn't think they were seeing each other.

"Nothing." She continued to walk past.

"Hold up, I know it isn't any of my business but I'm pretty sure you two aren't dating and the only other reason to be with someone this late into the night is that something is up. So what's going on?" He managed to keep his voice down even through the irritation.

"Ok." She sighed. They moved into the main room. "You know Cam to be an easy going guy, always ready with a joke or a smile." Ron nodded. "That's the way he used to be all the time, now though it is more of a face he puts on." She looked down sadly.

"Why?"

"It happened before we met. He was very close to his family, especially his sister." The image of a picture flashed in Ron's mind. "He was the protector, always watching out for her. He made sure nothing bad ever happened." Tears began to form in her eyes. "There was an accident, only Cam made it and barely at that. He was hurt badly." The tears were falling now. "In the blink of an eye his whole family was gone."

"I had no idea."

"Nobody does, although he does show it at times. He never fully got over the injuries, but he hides it well. Sometimes though he pushes to hard and it catches up with him." Ron remembered seeing Cam's hand shaking. "On the bad nights, like tonight, I stay with him until he falls asleep."

"I'm sorry to have pushed this out of you." Ron put his hand on her shoulder. "You're a good friend."

"So are you." She got up and left, leaving Ron to think in the dark.