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

Chapter 8: Going Away
Ron Stoppable got up early, a highly unusual move for one whom never, ever, rose with the sun. He now sat at the end of the driveway of a vacant house in his mother's car, waiting for Kim to leave for school. Solemnly he watched as she exited her home and drove off toward school. Once she was out of sight he started the car and moved in to her driveway.

Mrs. Dr. Possible answered a knock at her door. "May I help you?" she asked opening the door. "Ronald, shouldn't you be on your way to school?" enveloping him in a gentle embrace.

"Yes, I am, but I had to stop here first."

"Well Kim just left. You missed her by not more than a couple of minutes." She said giving him a questioning look.

"I came by to see the twins. I need them to do me a favor."

"Jim, Tim, Ron is here to see you." She called to the kitchen. "Come on in Ronald, no need to stand out in the morning air." She showed him in to the living room as the twins came running in ecstatic that he had come just to see them.

"Ron, we've missed you. Are you doing better now?" they asked in unison.

"I'm holding my own guys." He allowed himself a quick glance at their mother to see a concerned look cross her face. "I need you to do me a favor for a while."

"Name it Ron, all you have to do is ask."

"I need you to take care of Rufus for a little while." He said taking the naked mole rat from his pocket home. "I'm going away for a time and I can't take him with me."

"Ronald, does Kimmie know about this?" their mother questioned.

"Not yet. But by the end of the day she will know. Please don't tell her." He said, not wanting to look her in the eyes. Getting up he handed Rufus to the twins and headed to the door. "I will be back once I have concluded my business."

Leaving the twins with Rufus she followed Ron to the front door. She stopped him with a hand on his shoulder before he could escape back to the relative safety of the car. "Ronald, half a truth is just as bad as a lie. You're not coming back are you? How can you do this to Kim? She loves you." Tears streaming down her cheeks.

Ron took a couple of quick steps to get out of her range before replying. "I'm not getting any better, actually it's getting worse. Here…" as he tossed her the letter his doctors gave him. "This should explain everything. Just don't tell Kim until I have a chance to talk to her, please."

Ron hurried back to the car and sped off leaving a stunned Mrs. Dr. Possible standing on the front step. Slowly she opened the letter he had given her. With darting eyes she read the diagnosis; slowly she collapsed to her knees weeping. … Condition continues to deteriorate rapidly. Mortality in as little as two to three months… "Oh Ronald, Kimmie I'm so sorry."

Kim smiled widely as she moved from class to class hoping for a glimpse of Ron moving through the crowds. She had heard his name mentioned often in passing from scores of transitioning students. Just before the final bell, as she entered her last class prior to lunch period, she spotted him talking to Mr. Barkin. It seemed very odd to her at the time. Ron shook Barkins hand and Barkin clapped him on the back as he turned to go. She could have sworn she swore the teacher was wiping tears from his eyes as he walked quickly away.

The class went quickly and ended just as fast. Hurriedly she returned to her locker and stowed her books before making her way into the cafeteria. The sight she beheld shocked her, there at the central table was Ron, surrounded by throngs of classmates. Ron sat in the middle of the commotion leaning forward on his cane; not saying very much but just looking very tired.

Ron stood, leaning on his cane, seeing Kim through the crowd. "If you will all excuse me my luncheon date has arrived. I will see you all soon." The crowd parted as most of them were either patting him on the back or shaking his hand, all with votes of encouragement and well wishes. He received catcalls and applause as Kim wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him long and hard. Even Mr. Barkin just smiled at the display, knowing it was against the rules, but allowing the transgression this once.

"I've been looking for you all morning. I missed you." Kim said leading him to a remote table. "You had me worried that you weren't going to show up, then I saw you with Barkin."

"I have had a lot of things to get arranged. It took most of my morning." Ron said flatly.

"What kind of things?" she asked suspiciously.

"You know homework, reports, that sort of thing." Ron said looking at his watch. "I'm sorry Kim but I have to hurry, I uh, have an appointment I can't miss."

"Ok, but I want to see you tonight." She said as her voice went smoky.

"Fine but I have to get moving." Leaning down he gave her a quick kiss. As he headed toward the door he stopped and turned to her. "By the way, I left a little something in your locker, behind the monitor; watch it when you get home tonight. And remember, I love you Kim." He quickly exited and disappeared out of the school.

Kim thought she saw a tear run down his cheek, and quite possibly heard his voice crack as he had turned to leave.

"Ron, where are you going?" Wade asked from the screen of his Ronunicator. "You should at least tell Kim…"

"No Wade. She must never find out where I am going. That's why I didn't tell you, so you wouldn't have to lie to her when she asks. She should be getting home soon. Kim will be calling you to find me. Oh and by the way, I had my doctors remove the tracking chip so unless you want to chase a chicken truck across the country, don't bother."

"Why will she be calling me Ron?" a fearful look crossed Wades' eyes. "Ron, what have you done?"

"Wade I left a video in her locker. I couldn't tell her Wade. I couldn't stand to see her face when she found out."

"Found out what? Ron you're scaring me."

"Wade, I'm going to die. I can't let her be drawn into the pain and suffering that will come with everything else. I care about her too much to let her see me in that condition. To put her in that position." Ron couldn't meet his friends gaze. "Wade I'm going some place where I could die with an ounce of self respect and dignity."

"Ron you don't mean."

With a steely determination, "Yes Wade I mean, if it comes to it drastic measures will have to be taken."

"Ron, No! You can't!" Wade screamed as his monitor went black. He began to pound at the keys with his fists as his voice screamed, "No…Ron…No…"

Kim hurried into the family room and inserted Ron's DVD into the player and waited for it to begin.

Ron sat on his bed; it looked as if it had been shot last night after she left his house. He looked like he had been crying; his eyes were puffy and red. Slowly he looked up at the camera and smiled. "Kim, I love you. You'll never know how long I had wanted to say that to you. Now that I have it makes it even harder to do what I must. You see, I'm going away… maybe for good. I'm not sure if I will be coming back. I can't let you go through this seeing me deteriorate to next to nothing as it gets worse. The doctors revised their diagnosis, I have two maybe three months left. I wanted to tell you last night, but I couldn't stand to let you get dragged down with me. I have decided that if things get bad enough I will take things into my own hands. I won't just sit around and let my body betray me until I am nothing but an absolute burden on the ones I love. Don't try to find me Kim."

Ron's emotions were getting the better of him as he spoke in short bursts trying to hold in his pain. "I had the tracking chip removed, and I have booked travel under assumed names. Wade doesn't know anything so don't waste your time looking. There are… things … I need to get done, before the end. I should let you get going now. You will obviously want to call Wade, and if my timing is on track I should be boarding my flight out shortly. Kim, just remember how much I love you. I just think you loved me more as a friend than anything else. Don't worry I still wouldn't trade our time together for anything."

Ron broke down sobbing as the recording continued. "You can show this to our friends, and to let them know how much I valued their sentiments, but I have to see this through. The emotions I feel for them all can only be described as love, even Bonnie. Sorry Bon-Bon but you won't get the chance to slug me for it. I should get going now. I have to drop Rufus off at your house. I'm asking the twins to take care of him. Tell them I'm sorry I couldn't tell them the truth. If they had known they would have told you and I would never gotten away from you at school. I'm sorry Kim, I wish I could hold you just one more time. I'm more afraid of chickening out and telling you. If you were to break my will with your puppydog pout I never will get out of town. I will try to contact you periodically, just to let you know I'm alright. I always have and always will love you."

He looked right into the camera directly and smiled a big smile that warmed Kims' heart through her tears. "I have to wonder if our children would have had your eyes or mine KP, hopefully yours. Goodbye KP, God bless you wherever you go, I know he has me just for having known your love. I will love you forever."

The image faded leaving Kim sobbing uncontrollably… crying out for Ron.