Last chapter. It's a little longer than the others since I didn't want to do an epilogue this time.

Disclaimer (again): I don't own any of the Kim Possible characters, yadda, yadda, yadda…

Chapter 9

Kim heard the thump-thump-thump of a helicopter when it was about a mile away. She didn't even have to call Wade to ask, as she knew that was her ride.

As she rode in the helicopter to the hospital, Kim tried to digest what had happened earlier. Why did I hear Ron's voice so clearly? Was he really able to give me the strength to get out of that sitch? And why did I feel so safe when I heard his voice? Was it all a hallucination from an oxygen-starved brain? Namely, mine?

She put the thoughts on a back burner as the chopper landed at the hospitals Helio-Pad. She quickly thanked the pilot, and hopped out.

Looking up after covering her face from the flying dirt and sand, Kim saw Ron waiting for her at the hospital entrance. She so wanted to run to him, and throw her arms around him again, but something held her back. What, she didn't know.

Instead, she jogged up to him, and put a hand on his shoulder asking him if he was OK. He nodded yes, and the two then walked back into the building, and to his room.

Ron was ready with a note pad. 'How did it go?'

"Well, not too bad, I guess. But then again, you probably already know, don't you?"

Ron lowered his eyes in response to her question. "What DID happen, Ron?"

'I'm not quite sure.' He quickly wrote, and then continued to write as he sat on his bed. 'I guess we made some sort of mental contact with each other. Kind of weird, huh?'

"Yeah it was. But hey, at least we finally stopped the Bebe's this time. I'm sure they won't be coming back again." Kim gave a little smile, remembering what she had done to destroy the Bebe head.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The next day Ron was released from the hospital, but he still had to leave the tube in for one more day. Even after that, he couldn't have solid foods for a few more days. Ron wasn't sure how he was going to make it through the rest of that time. He was so sick of chicken broth and Jello!

Upon returning to Middleton, Ron had to check in to the Middleton Hospital. The record of his stay at the other hospital was transferred there, and the on-duty Doctor wanted to meet with him to discuss his on-going treatment. Ron was sure he would have to deal with some un-feeling, stuck-up, pretentious snob of a… "Hello Ronald! You're looking pretty good for what you've been through."

It was Kim's Mom! 'Hey there, Mrs. Dr. P." Ron wrote down.

"Oh Ronald, let's get you a proper way to communicate. OK?" She immediately went to the nurses' station, picked up a phone, and quickly spoke into the receiver.

"Your translator will be here in just a few minutes." Huh? Ron had a quizzical look on his face. He didn't know sign language. How was a translator going to help him?

Just when he was about to write something else down, a hand took the pad and pencil away from him, and a small keyboard was handed to him, which was about twice the size of a normal pager.

"You do know how to type, don't you Ron?" Mrs. Dr. P. asked. Ron nodded. "Good. Now all you have to do is type in what you want to say, and then this device will speak for you.

Ron typed. "This is so cool!" A voice said from the device in a synthesized male voice.

"You're testing out a new technology there, Ron. That one is on loan to us for testing, and you're the first one to use it. The company that invented it would like to have your input on the device when you're done using it. Also, they want to see how tough it is, and who better than you to see how tough a piece of technology is." The older Possible gave him a wink.

"Yeah, well," Ron typed. "I'll try not to drop it."

"Now then," Mrs. Dr. P. continued, "How are you on Meds? You know, pain killers?"

"I've got enough for the next couple of days."

"Good. After they're gone, I want you to take three aspirin a day, and then gradually taper off so you don't need anything at all. Come back tomorrow morning, and we will get that tube out of your throat. I bet you'll be glad to be able to talk again."

"And close my mouth." Ron typed. "My jaw is really starting to get sore and stiff."

"I'll bet. Kimmie, take the mini-van, and get Ron to his parent's house. I bet they are worried about him." Kim's Mom handed her the keys. Kim was shocked, as she had just barely gotten her license. "It's OK Kim, I trust you."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Kim dropped Ron off at his house, and then drove home. When she got home and walked into her bedroom, she was so tired, Kim never even bothered to change her clothes. She just went to her room, and collapsed on the bed, asleep before her head even hit the pillow.

After Kim had dropped him off, Ron "spoke" to his parents for about 15 minutes, filling them in on details, and answering all of their questions the best he could. After that was over, he passed out on his bed just as Kim did.

The next morning was Saturday, so Ron didn't bother getting up early. He didn't set his alarm, and didn't wake up until about 10. When he did so, he realized he had to get to the hospital to get this damn tube out of his throat.

Without calling Kim, he quickly went to the hospital on his scooter, and walked in. Mrs. Dr. P. was at the front desk with a clipboard in her hands.

"Ronald! It's good to see you today. You ready to get that tube out of you?"

"You have no idea." His device intoned.

Mrs. Dr. P led Ron down the hall way and to a room on the right side. After walking in, Ron automatically jumped up on the edge of the bed.

"OK, Ron. This is going to feel a little funny." She took a small tube of something and began to squirt its contents down the sides of the tube in his throat so it would coat the outside, and provide some lubricant. She then gently took hold of the tube, and gave it a little twist. The movement in his throat made Ron gag.

"Sorry Ronald. I think it's ready to come out. Are you ready?" Ron nodded. "Take a deep breath, and when I say blow, I want you to breath out as hard as you can. OK?" Ron nodded again. "At the same time, I'm going to pull the pipe out. On the count of three. One… Two… Three, BLOW!" Dr. Possible pulled, and Ron breathed out.

Then he coughed, gagged, and wheezed. Ron felt free! Immediately he started to work his jaw, as it had become really stiff. "OK Ron, you can go now. Talk in a whisper the rest of today, and you should be OK to use your voice as normal tomorrow. Oh, and you will need to continue with only liquids and soft foods for two more days."

Ron jumped off the edge of the bed, and whispered. "Thank you Mrs. Dr. P."

"Think nothing of it Ron. Bye now…!"

Leaving the hospital, Ron immediately went to Kim's house. He wanted to talk to her so bad. He still wanted to tell her how he felt. He wanted to tell her his hopes, and dreams. Ron just hoped that the real Kim would have a better reaction than that robot did.

Even though he knew he was welcome at their house at any time, Ron still rang the doorbell, and waited for someone to answer. Since Kim was the only one home, she answered the door.

"Ron!" Kim almost lost her self-control, and almost jumped into his arms. But she didn't want to scare him with over affection. So she just took one of his hands in hers, and asked him how he was doing.

"Much better now." Ron whispered.

"What's that?" Kim asked, stepping a little closer.

"I said, I'm much better, now Kim." She couldn't help but smile. It was so good to hear his voice, even though it was just a whisper.

"Are you laughing at me, Kim?" Ron whispered back, feeling a little nervous.

"No Ron, no. It's just good to see you, and to hear you. Are you hungry?"

"Yeah, a little bit."

The two walked in to the kitchen, and Ron sat down. "Are you still on the soft food and liquid diet?"

Ron nodded, and lightly whispered that he was.

"How about some chicken noodle soup, and Jello?"

"Soup, yes, Jello, no."

"I thought everybody liked Jello."

"I've had too much of it lately." Ron whispered in response.

"Pudding?" Ron nodded at that, and whispered the word please.

"You know Ron," Kim started and then paused. "You sound kinda sexy when you whisper."

Ron felt his face blush, and he began to fidget in his seat. "Need any help with that soup Kim?" He whispered, trying to change the subject.

"I think I can handle opening a can of soup and heating it." Kim said as she was trying to use the can opener. For some reason she couldn't get the can set on there right, so the little blade would catch the top.

Ron quietly stood from his chair as he watched Kim struggle with the can opener. He walked up behind her, and surprised her a little when he reached around her body, and took her hands. He gently helped her lift the handle of the opener, helped her guide the can under the lip, and then pressed the handle all the way down. The little motor kicked on, and the can turned, and it was opened.

Ron then started to move away from Kim, but she took his hands, and wrapped his arms around her stomach, surprising Ron.

Well, it's now or never… Ron thought, and he whispered into her ear. "Kim, remember when I tried to say something to you in the hospital, and I said I wanted to say it with my own voice?"

"Yeah…" Kim was beginning to feel a little nervous.

Ron moved his mouth closer to her ear so he was sure that Kim would hear his whisper. "Kim… I Love You."

"What's that Ron?" Kim asked smiling ear to ear. Ron couldn't see her face, as she was still looking straight ahead.

"I said…" Ron whispered a little louder. "I Love You."

"Say that again Ron?" Kim was now stifling a little giggle.

"Kim, I know you can hear me." Ron whispered into her ear again.

She then turned around, with a tear in one eye, and looked right at Ron. She immediately threw her arms around his neck, and drew him into a hug, her mouth by his ear.

"I Love You too, Ron." Kim whispered back, and the two held each other tight.

The end…

Hope you liked my version of how Kim and Ron finally tell each other how they feel.