Chapter X: Ron's Despair

The first thing that Ron noticed was darkness.

He had slowly woken from his sleep and although he knew his eyes were open, it was dark. At first he thought it was night but he felt that it was not so. And when he gently touched his eyes, he sighed as he felt the bandages surrounding them.

"This does not bode well," Ron said softly as he sighed. He did not know where he was or what day it was. Only darkness was his companion.

Ron hated to be weak. He wanted to be strong and be able to protect Kim from danger, that was his reason in accepting Vincent's help. But now that he could not see, how would he be able to protect his best friend?

Taking a deep breath, Ron suddenly smelled a familiar scent. One that he knew from heart, one that could send his insides in turmoil.

"What up, KP?" Ron asked softly and was met with an instantaneous response.

"Ron?" Kim quickly awoke when she heard him call out her name. She spent the night in his room, waiting for him to wake.

"Hey KP," he smiled as he heard her sweet voice, albeit a bit worried. "Where am I?"

Middleton Hospital The Next Afternoon after Shego's Dilemma

"You're in a private ward," Kim said as she held his hand. "You were transferred from I.C.U. this morning."

"What happened?" Ron asked as he tried to move, but it was too late to realize that it was a very big mistake. He groaned as he felt the strain his muscles made as he moved. "Aw, man! I feel like I've been struck by a truck." Kim giggled at his analogy. It was a long time since Kim giggled. She laughed, yes, but giggled like a girl? The last time he heard her giggle was in grade school.

"You did land on a car," Kim smiled at her friend.

"That I remember," Ron sighed. He squeezed her hand for reassurance and when she returned the squeeze, he smiled softly. "What happened then?"

"I don't really know," Ron knew that Kim was telling the truth. "I think you had some kind of attack. When I got there, it was over."

"Attack, huh?" Ron sighed. Now that was an understatement if he ever heard one. He remembered the pain, it was like something was eating him from the inside. When he tried to wriggle his limbs to see if they were still functional he felt something metallic on his wrist. "Where did I get this?" he asked.

"That was on you when I came inside," Kim said curiously. "It looks like a silver bracelet."

"A manly bracelet?" Ron asked hopefully making Kim laugh.

"More like what the Centurion Project looked like when it latched itself to my wrist," Kim observed. "It must be a medical tag or something."

"Or something," Ron sighed. "What up with my eyes?" He felt her hesitate and knew something was definitely up. Ron fought hard to drive away the anguish that threatened to surface.

"KP?" his voice was soft and almost pleading. Kim took a deep breath and sighed. She really didn't want to see her friend to suffer but she also did not want to lie to him either.

"I don't know, Ron. I don't know. They won't even tell me. For that matter they won't even tell my mother," he could hear the disappointment in her voice and was sure she was as vexed as he was that they did not know.

Despite his obvious resentment, all Ron could do was wait.

Haven

Vincent's bedroom

Meanwhile

Shego stirred as she slowly woke from her sleep. She never slept so peacefully before in Drakken's lair. She felt refreshed and energized. She woke at the soothing music of a soft violin and the sound of nature. Sitting up, she almost forgot that she was sleeping on the bed of one of the most infuriating individuals she knew. Infuriating, but lovable. She sighed as she realized how much he had changed.

Gone was the stuttering boy she once knew. What she saw scared her. He became cold, calculating and ruthless. Though he did not show those attributes to her, she knew that they were hidden deep within him.

Vincent Credible became a dangerous man.

A very dangerous man.

Despite his calm demeanor, Shego knew enough of criminal psychology to see beyond what he portrayed, but rather what he could do.

In a sense, he was a master criminal.

The soothing music slowly faded as the doors opened, revealing a cheerful Sheila holding a breakfast tray.

"Breakfast in bed?" Shego smirked. "You're spoiling me, Sheila." She inhaled the delicious aroma of the still steaming breakfast and sighed at its richness. Shego knew that the food was not poisoned. She had not even tasted it like she had done with other less savory characters that she knew. Vincent would not kill her. Not in the near future in any case. "You made this?"

"Actually, no," Sheila blushed. "Vincent made it for you," there was a tone of wistfulness in her voice which Shego caught instantly. Sighing, mostly in irritation at Vincent's lack of tack, she patted the space by her side, beckoning her to sit. Sheila, although reluctant, sat by the edge of the bed.

"So, he is human after all," Shego mused as she laughed. "Let me tell you about men. They are as thickheaded and stubborn as a mule. You could move mountains before they open up their deepest feelings. Vincent has to be blind not to see what you've done for him." She felt Sheila tensed in the middle of her last sentence. She could tell that the hologram was hiding something, but what?

Suddenly, Shego had an inspiration.

"Sheila? Do you have internet connection?"

"I do," the hologram said warily.

"Could you enter military and corporation mainframes?" Sheila nodded.

"What are you thinking?" she asked but all Shego did was smile.

… / …

Middleton Hospital

Basement Parking

"How are his vitals?" Vincent asked as he exited Seraphim.

"Everything's okay," came Felix's voice in Vincent's earpiece. "Though the eyes are taking longer."

"Fixing the eyes is a delicate process and must be given the appropriate time to repair," he said as he entered the elevator. "Anything else?"

"There's a microchip under his skin on the nape of his neck. During the healing procedure, it got destroyed."

"It was an alien object in his body. Wade?" Vincent asked though he knew what Felix would say.

"Yeah. Traced the signal to Wade's. I think he wouldn't be happy that his invention got smashed."

"Tough," Vincent smirked. "Just tell me if anything's out of the ordinary."

"Will do," Felix cut off their communication just as the elevators opened. He steeled himself as he walked towards Ron's room for he knew the kid was feeling down.

Hell, that was an understatement. Vincent knew he would feel resentment on his current condition.

As he approached the room, he sighed, knocked on the door and entered.

"How's the patient?" he asked calmly as he walked towards the bed. Kim sighed as she looked at him and shook his head.

"Can you tell us what's going on?" Kim said tiredly. "They wouldn't tell us anything."

"Because there's nothing to tell," Vincent said, turning towards Ron. "Truly, how are you?"

"Like I've been through hell," Ron said just as tired as Kim. "My body aches in ways I didn't know was possible. Why are the doctors not saying anything?"

"Because they don't want anyone to know their incompetence," Mrs. Dr. Possible said as she entered the room. "They're baffled as to how Ron was healed." She looked at Vincent accusingly who simply sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

"You'll be fine, Mr. Stoppable," Vincent assure him. "Just believe on your friends."

"Whatever you say, Mr. C." Vincent heard the surrender in his voice and he growled. Gripping the mattress, Vincent flipped it over with Ron still on it causing the blond teen to topple over and hit the ground. Kim gasped in surprise as she saw the whole thing.

"What are you doing?" Kim asked in horror as she went over to help Ron only to be impeded by Vincent's extended walking stick. Kim looked at Vincent angrily but when she saw his cold demeanor, she stepped back.

"Welcome to a world of fear, Ronald Stoppable," Vincent's voice was glacial. "You are lucky to be alive yet you chose to be cynical."

"I'd rather die than be blind for the rest of my life," Ron said as he sat up, gripping the hospital bed for support.

"Leave us, Ms. Possible," Vincent said in a voice that would not entertain questions. Reluctantly she did, but not before looking at Ron one more time to make sure that he was okay. When he heard the door closed, Vincent turned to follow her.

"It's funny," he said as he reached the door. "A few weeks ago you asked for my help so that you could protect Kimberly Anne Possible. A few days ago you were willing to die for her. But now you are not willing to live for her but wished to die for a slight inconvenience. You have to make up your mind."

"What would you know about what I am going through?" Ron's tone had acid in them but it just brushed off from Vincent.

Vincent did not answer but left the room with the last word.

"Tell me, Ron. What's a slight inconvenience when you know that you saved the life of the one you love?"

And when Vincent left the room, Ron quickly grabbed the nearest thing he could get his hands on and hurled it dead on where Vincent stood a while ago.

Outside, Vincent heard the crash and smiled.

"Nice shot, kid," he shook his head and walked towards the elevator. "There's hope for you yet." Before he turned the first corner, he stopped. He knew what was waiting for him at the next turn and took a moment to compose himself.

When he was ready, only then did he turn at the corner.

"Why are you harassing Ron?" Mrs. Dr. Possible said with her hands on her hips. Kim was with her as she did the same.

"He's in a state of denial," Vincent said calmly. "You're welcomed to try, like you did with me all those years ago." With that, he left.

"What was he talking about?" Kim asked confusingly.

"Four years ago, Vincent had an accident. Your father and I were there to help him but he lost the reason to live. I convinced him otherwise but it's only recently when he really had a reason to live his life to the fullest," Mrs. Possible suddenly gasped as she realized an important fact. "Go to Ron, honey. I'll be right with you," without letting her daughter protest, she ran after Vincent.

"Vin! Wait!" she called out thankful that Vincent didn't use his disappearing act. He stopped in the front of the elevator and pressed the button going down. The elevator opened and he entered it while Mrs. Possible caught up.

They were inside the elevator when she sighed.

"That thing you gave Ron, that was supposed to be yours, wasn't it?" she waited for an answer but his silence was answer enough. "Why?" she knew that he worked hard on that project of his so why did he give it away?

"Get Ron to live like he used to," Vincent said as the elevator doors opened at the parking garage and he stepped out. "Don't make me regret that decision." The elevators closed before Mrs. Possible could give an answer. But she merely smiled at the closed doors and pressed her floor.

"Thank you," she said as the elevator started to move.

…

/end of X/

Next: Kim was having a hard time helping Ron since he was being difficult. Shego found out some secrets of the man who saved her.

Chapter XI: Kim's trial