Disclaimer: This story is based upon characters created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle for Disney. Since this story is set twenty three years later, all the characters under twenty-five years of age are mine.
Drakken giggled. "Ah, this was truly inspired!"
"Glad your happy, Drakky," Bopper said from inside a magazine on decorating.
"Once suspicion drives a wedge between the members of the Possible family," Drakken made his best, eager, evil face, "we can take over the world!"
"How?"
"Huh?"
"Once they're all distracted and crying their eyes out, how do we take over?"
Drakken tapped his chin, a confused look on his face. "I hadn't gotten that far."
Bopper put down the magazine, "Well, you must have some idea."
"I have filed a few." Drakken started pacing, then paused. "Maybe you would like to pick one out."
Bopper smiled. "Okay." She walked to a file cabinet and started rifling.
Flo was just finishing her dishes when the phone rang.
"Hello."
"Flo," said Don. "You doing okay?"
"I'm fine, thanks," Flo moved into the living room to sit down. "Drakken just gave me some guilty father lip before letting me go."
"Huh?"
"Today was the first time we'd seen each other since it all came out." Flo stretched out on her love seat. "After I got Anne out, he kept me just long enough to give me this lame bit about wanting to be a father."
"Whoa."
"I told him to shove it." Flo listened to the silence. "You okay, Don?"
"Have you talked to Mom since then?"
"She met me in the hangar. She gave me a couple days off. You want to do something after school tomorrow?"
"Uh..." Don started talking faster. "That's cool. Dessert's done. I'll call you again in a bit." He hung up.
"Sure ... thing," Flo said as she stared at the phone before she sighed and disconnected.
The three remaining Stoppables had just finished off the mountainous desert when Don returned. "You didn't tell Flo?" he shouted.
"Don..." Kim began.
"You think Flo is working for Drakken, so you suspend her?" he cut her off.
"Who said anything about suspending her?" asked Kim.
"I'm not dumb, Mom," Don leaned over the large desert bowl, his hands on the table. "Flo confirmed that she's off for a couple days. Yet she doesn't seem to know she's under suspicion of subversion."
"Don used a school word," said Anne, impressed.
"Not now, Anne," Don snapped.
"What did you tell her?" Kim asked calmly.
"Nothing," Don's eyes narrowed, "yet."
Kim sighed.
"This is a suspension, right?"
"Yes. Just until I have all the facts."
"Yet you didn't tell her?"
"Kim," Dad said softly.
"It's okay, Ron," she said quickly. Then she addressed Don, "I am hoping that this will prove to be false. Then she can come back without any fuss. I can even list these days as a vacation if all goes well."
"Without Flo ever knowing?"
"That's right."
"I don't think that it is right, Mom," Don said carefully. "I don't think that it is right and proper at all."
"Do you realize, Don, that - if this is true- you are the one most in danger?"
"I trust Flo," Don said loudly. "Right now more than someone else I could mention."
"That's enough, Don," Ron stood up. "We should at least finish this in the private room. My customers are being disturbed."
"This a little more important, Dad"
"It can't wait two minutes while we walk in there?"
Anne was already walking toward the door to the private room.
"Fine," said Don. He then followed after her.
Kim and Ron came in soon after them. Ron closed the door.
Anne spoke first, "Don, Drakken was happy about you and Flo because now she can hurt you, which will hurt us!"
"We've haven't been dating a week yet." Don snapped.
"Wait a minute." Anne pushed something imaginary down with both her hands. "How did Drakken know they're dating?"
"I thought you told him," said Don.
"I was just waking up."
"Flo could have told him," said Kim.
"Why?" asked Don.
"That depends on whether she is working for him," said Kim.
Don was getting red, but he managed to keep his voice down. "I don't believe you!"
Kim was firm, "I have to entertain all the possibilities, Don." Then more softly she said, "I need time."
"She should know, Mom."
"That we know she may be a double agent?" Kim offered. "What would a double agent do with that information, Don?"
"Cut and run?" Don said tentatively.
"Or attack," said Anne.
"This is very tender situation, Don. I'm trying to prevent as much hurt as possible."
"So I'm supposed to act like nothing's wrong when I see her," asked Don.
"You may not want to see her until we're through this," said Kim softly.
"I made a date for tomorrow."
"Should we be concerned, Kim?" asked Ron.
"That she wants to see her boyfriend on her day off?" piped Don.
Kim stood there looking at her son for a moment, "I trust you, Don. Don't lose your communicator, Okay?"
"Right here, Mom." Don tapped his pocket.
Bill then popped out and made a quizzical grunt.
"Didn't mean to wake you, Buddy."
"Sokay," the naked mole rat piped before disappearing again.
Flo picked up the ringing phone and turned down the TV. The small readout confirmed it was Don.
"Hey Don! That must have been some dessert!"
"Yeah. Monkey Mountain. It's this huge chocolate thing. We can share one tomorrow if you want to come to the restaurant."
"I feel my waistline bulging already."
"So should I meet you there after school?"
"I can meet you at school."
"Okay."
"See you then." Flo grinned. "Boyfriend."
"Backatcha, girlfriend."
The following morning at school, Anne was followed by murmurs in the halls.
"That's her." "She put Cindy in the hospital." "She completely went ballistic." "I heard she beat up her brother too."
Don got so upset as he walked with Anne that he exploded, "Look!" he yelled around the hallway. "I'm fine. Barkin's cool. Anne's fine. Cindy is going to be okay!" He surveyed the now quiet hall a second, "Drop it!"
"Thanks, superdon," Anne moaned quietly as the murmurs simply became quieter and now mentioned Don as well.
He sighed, "I'll see you later."
"Yeah," Anne said curtly.
--
As Anne neared Miss Whisp's class, she passed a few cheerleaders who were nervously trying to hide behind their locker doors.
Once she sat at her desk, Jimmy Roberts smiled and prodded her by saying, "It's the cheerbeater."
Anne just took it quietly.
--
Next class, Anne sat next to Kate. "You okay, Anne?"
"Better than I was yesterday," Anne joked without smiling.
Kate did smile.
"I've got to work in the cafeteria at lunch," Anne told Kate.
"For how long?"
"I guess until Barkin says so."
"Forever."
"Maybe."
"What are you doing after school?"
"I'm grounded."
"Forever?"
"A month."
"Close enough."
--
Barkin came and took Anne out of English class early to escort her to the cafeteria. He was wearing a small bandage on his head.
"Does it still hurt?" Anne asked as they walked down the hall.
Barkin gave her a hard look, "I've been worse. Scud fire in Kuwait had me down for a week. I figure that piece of technology you were using was nearly as deadly."
"I guess it could have been."
"Your mother explained to me how it affected your mind. I can't say I'm pleased with even a small amount of the attitude you showed yesterday, but I know that we won't have any more disrespect from a fine young lady like yourself."
"No, Sir."
As they entered the kitchen, "This is Mrs. Lipshitz. She will direct and supervise you here. You are to report here immediately before lunch period every day. I only hope you take more after your father in kitchen related matters."
"I'm okay, Sir."
"Good, I've seen your mother burn water." Barkin actually smiled and seemed disappointed when Anne didn't.
Mrs. Lipshitz shook Anne's hand, "Good to meet you, Dearie." She then turned to Mr. Barkin sweetly, "Thank you for bringing her. I'm sure she can find us in the future."
"Yes, Ma'am," said Barkin as he left.
"Now let's get you suited up, Dear."
Mrs. Lipshitz helped Anne put on a hair net, gloves and apron and showed her around. Her duties were light that day, mostly watching how things were done and moving things around.
Mrs. Lipshitz was sweet and kind. Anne started to think that this punishment might not be so bad.
There was some more murmuring when kids in line saw her, but she wasn't at the serving line for long.
Kate waved at her when she went through the line.
Don winked and gave a word of encouragement.
When Trent came by, he actually complimented her lunch look and asked if she was hiding any seafood under the counter for him.
Mrs. Lipshitz rolled her eyes at that.
-
I've considered halting this story due to lack of reviews, but I still have a few more chapters in the can.
Review, or ... or... Drakken will run for President on the Democratic ticket!
Nobody wants THAT