Disclaimer: Disney owns Kim Possible. Only the story is mine.

Chapter 4: Recompense

Kim stood watching Global Justice agents carting Gill away on a stretcher. Students and law enforcement officials milled around the area, watching and taking notes for reports to be filed later. The story had been told and retold many times even before GJ had been notified. She glanced over her shoulder watching Ron talking with a subdued Dr. Director.

Ron had been very quiet after he had been led back into the school by Kim and Bonnie. GJ had been expected to respond, but to be accompanied by the agency director, this was not good. Ron had walked gingerly out, escorted by Agent Du to the command center. Kim had attempted to follow, but had been stopped by security. The leader of Team Possible had been excluded from a very important discussion. After a half-hour Ron emerged, followed closely by Dr. Director. Kim could hear part of the conclusion of their conversation.

"The agency has been fortunate to have the Ron-Factor in its service for as long as we did."

"Thanks, I'm sorry I won't be able to be of much help from here on out."

Betty spotted Kim watching, "Have you told Ms. Possible?"

"Yeah, she knows." Ron looked uncomfortable. "Ms. Possible and I are a couple now. I thought you had a better intelligence department than that." He said cracking a grin.

"Yes we knew, but I still like to keep some things close to the vest."

Betty's voice got low and quiet, "You should come clean with her. You know… about the missions."

"Those are classified."

"You should tell her. It's better to hear it from you and not in a cold analytical report later."

Ron tried to change the subject. "Will you see that Gill goes back to the lab for the treatment he needs?"

"You're not going to get off that easy Ron, Tell her."

Ron relented, "I'll tell her some of it. There are things I have done that I am not too proud of. I don't want to ruin the image that she has, destroy her idea of who I am."

"Good, I just want you to know how much I valued your service. The world would not be as it is today without the help you gave to us. It may be anticlimactic, but thanks so much." Betty reached out and shook his hand.

Ron turned slowly seeing the look in Kim's eyes. He knew she had a good idea of the context of his discussion, but tried to put it out of his mind for now. Before he knew it Kim was standing right in front of him, looking him directly in the eye.

"Be seeing you," Betty called from the closing hatch of the transport helicopter "both of you."

Kim and Ron waved as the craft lifted off and quickly disappeared into the sun. The pair were ushered back into the gym by Monique and Felix and seated in the almost empty arena. Many of their friends were seated and chatting quietly in small groups. Mr. Barkin took Ron by the arm as he re-entered the door, he waved Kim on to the gathering saying they would catch up soon.

"Yes Mr. Barkin?"

"I don't really know how to say this…but…" Barkin seemed to choke a little, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what. My illness, my life… don't be. I have been a lot of things in my life. People have labeled me a loser, I knew the truth, but that had been my secret to keep." Ron turned and proceeded back to his friends, the ping of his cane echoing in the empty gym.

Ron looked uncomfortable as the girls took turns giving him big sugary hugs and embraces. Kim sat silently laughing at his expression as he was passed from one to another. Laughter turned to jealously when Bonnie and Tara each kissed him lightly on the cheek. Ron sensed it and strolled over, sans his cane, and pulled her from her seat. Her anger disappeared when he kissed her deeply leaving her with a blush that all but matched her hair.

Ron tried to answer all their questions, some he sidestepped, others he answered outright. Some of their queries delved into the classified range and he still just couldn't bring himself to break those promises. Soon Kim sensed the fatigue that set in as his day wore on. First day back to school had been postponed due to the attack, and it would begin again tomorrow.

Kim led Ron out to the front of the school to her mothers van for the ride back to her home. Ron would be stopping there daily, his mother not wanting him to be at home alone. Kim was more than happy to oblige.

Kim cuddled close to Ron, his arm around her shoulders. "Ron, what did Dr. Director mean about you should 'come clean about the missions'?"

Ron took a deep breath, "I have been going on solo missions at her behest for a little over a year and a half."

"What do you mean solo?"

Time to bite the bullet. "I have had to do things I don't like to think about. I have had to come as close to killing as I have ever wanted to. Some times I should have, but I thought of what you would say when you found out. I couldn't do it; I just couldn't cross that line. I had a job to do and with the abilities I kept hidden it was still hard but it was hard not to fall into that abyss, I was always so close to the edge. I just thought of your face, it kept me from falling."

Kim thought about his admission as the van entered the driveway. What had he done that he thought needed to be shielded from her for so long? Did he change from being the kind spirit she has known since pre-K, or was her Ron still in there?

Ron had wanted to pick the time and place to confess his extra-curricular activities, and now that choice had been taken from him. Not by anyone's action but by necessity of safety. Ron slowly walked into the family room and sat down in the large overstuffed couch. He leaned his cane against the end table just within reach and let his head roll back letting his body settle in. He thought he could let the whole litany of the days events fall away as if they never happened.

Kim watched as Ron let his body relax. Seeing the worry and concern melt away from his face she realized something she had set her mind to resolve. Ron was still the one she cared for, even with all the secrets he had kept from her, he was still her Ron.

Ron stirred only lightly when she set down next to him. Kim took the hand closest and ran her own over and through it feeling the warmth of his touch and the gentle flexing of his fingers between hers. Kim studied his hand tracing the lines of his palm with her index finger. Slowly her gaze filtered up in to his face seeing the warm brown eyes staring back at her in wonderment. She took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder never letting go of his hand holding it tight, she settled back against his chest snuggling closer.

"Ron, why did you go on solo missions? Did you want the recognition for yourself, or was there another reason?"

"KP, I didn't want to do it. I had to do it." Ron felt all his anxiety return in a flash. "I had to because…I know it is cliché, but with great power comes great responsibility. I was obligated to do the right thing for the good of others. Not because I wanted to but I had to."

Kim watched the pain cross his features. He closed his eyes and his brow twisted at having to relive painful memories. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean this to bother you like it does."

"It's not all painful for me. I have to think of all the good I have done. I have saved countless lives, stopped some very evil men from killing millions by what I have done." His eyes opened once more sparkling into hers. "Some I had to because of what they had planned to do…" He paused, "to do to you."

"What do you mean… to me?"

"Some of the plots I stopped were directed at you. Not just keeping you out of the way but…" The images stuck in his minds eye, and a lump formed in his throat, "…killing you… I couldn't let that happen."

Kim stared horrified by what she heard.

"I never have wanted to you to know that little tidbit, but I thought you deserved to know. When I found out about their plans through GJ… I had to go; I had to stop them. I couldn't have gone on living knowing that you had gotten hurt because I failed to stop them." Ron leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I knew how much you meant to me for a while; I just didn't know how to let you know without freaking you out, that's all."

Ann stood in the doorway listening to the conversation taking place on the couch. Ron Stoppable, a boy she thought of as very much her own son, had given up so much of his own convictions, his own soul, to protect someone he had loved even if only known to himself… her own daughter. The revelation was staggering.

Kim held him tighter, "Ron… I'm so sorry. It must have been terrible for you going through all that on your own. I would never have let you do it on your own, you could have told me. We would have found another way."

"There was no other way Kim. I couldn't have put you in harms way like that. If you had known you would have gone along and probably gotten hurt. With you out there they would have used you to stop me. With you as leverage over me they would have succeeded in their plans."

Kim could feel the truth in his words. Knew he was right.

Ron tried to change the tone of the conversation, "Hey, being known as an enforcer for GJ does have its advantages."

Kim pulled back giving him a strange look.

Ron smiled his most disarming smile. "You know how fast you can get through the express lane at Smarty Mart."

The two pulled back together slowly. Dinner would be ready soon, and Ron's mother would be by to collect him. Kim would take every minute she could get. She would see to it that Ron never had to repeat the most painful moments of his past; he would get the peace he fought for.