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

Chapter 9: Travelling Man
The world seemed to come to a halt when he went away. Ron Stoppable had been gone for a week. There were no new sightings of the usual villain antics, nor even a sighting of their henchmen. Kim sat in the window of her room staring out at the sunset praying Ron was out there under the warm light she saw piercing the light clouds. The rest of the town seemed locked in the pall of his absence. Even the colors of the trees and grass appeared to dim without his presence. Kim had stayed locked on her room the first weekend after he left.

'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… For good.' Oh how those words had driven a stake into her heart. An icy chill had cut deep in to her; she replayed the message over and over in her mind.

She had returned to school in such a gloom it threatened to drive her mad. That first day back only Bonnie attempted to help break the stalemate by offering a sympathetic ear. "Kim, are you alright? Did something happen to Ron?" she said panicking.

Kim wanted to say something, anything. Her mouth moved, but she couldn't find her voice. Her face twisted and contorted as tears betrayed her breaking heart. Falling to her knees she cried, "He left…" Bonnie sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around Kim, they cried there in the hall. Through her tears Kim looked Bonnie in the eyes, "He went away, he wouldn't tell me where he was going. Only that he didn't want to burden us with his problems."

"Kim we are all here for you. We are here for Ron too, even if he can't see it that way. We will find him and bring him home, so help me God!" Bonnie had never been so determined in all her life. Ron needed to see what he left behind, needed to be made to understand that real friends don't just desert one another in the face of adversity, they stood together.

Kim slowly stood on her own two feet being helped back up by Monique and Tara. The group of friends walked down the hall looking like a moving football huddle with Kim at the center of it all. Bonnie and Monique walked beside Kim with their hands on her elbows showing support. Never had Kim felt this kind of concern and caring but from the one person the one she desperately wanted to find.

Ron Stoppable stepped from his chartered plane and looked up into the cloud-covered sky. "Why does every time I come to this country it seems like gloom follows." Exiting the small private airport he caught a cab and set off to his first destination, the castle of one Duff Killigan.

"Why would you want to go there?" the cabby asked incredulously.

"He and I have had dealings in the past and let's leave it at that." Ron said, sounding irritated.

"All I'm saying is that he is, from what I've heard, not a very welcoming man."

"He may not like it that I am here… but that is not a requirement I'm willing to stop me from seeing him." Ron closed his eyes in thought. "We'll just have to see his reaction to my request."

Ron thought to all the times he had come to Duff's castle, none of which were on his fond memory list. He turned to regard the stone facade after watching the cab pull away. Walking across the old wooden bridge he considered the reaction to his unannounced visit. Looking at the ornate door he reached out and rang the old bronze bell.

"Hold on. Hold on. I'm coming. Can't I even get to sit down to dinner without some telemarketer ringing the phone, or salesman coming to me door." The thick Scottish accent echoed from the other side of the door. Latches and locks could be heard snapping open just as the door creaked opening widely. "Ok, now that you've got me up what on the eighteenth green do you want with…" Duff stopped in mid sentence and just stared for a minute before jumping back into a defensive stance.

Ron just smiled and extended his hand, "Hello Duff, sorry for not calling ahead, but I thought I would surprise you."

"Where is the lass. She hiding, waiting to jump me when I'm not looking." Duff scanned the immediate area before looking back at Ron.

"Duff she's not here. I came alone, just to see you. I was hoping you and I could talk. I have a favor I would like to ask you." Ron held out his hand, offering a truce. Duff took it hesitantly. "You see Duff… I'm dying and I want to be sure she will be safe and happy once I'm gone."

Duff looked at the ground not knowing what to say. He stepped to the side and waved Ron into the entryway. Ron followed Killigan into the main hall, his cane making a resonating ping through the ancient halls. Duff took his coat and bag and set them on a chair.

"Now Mr. Stoppable, What is this about you dying?" as they took seats next to the fireplace.

"Please call me Ron, my father is Mr. Stoppable."

"Very well, Ron. Now what is all this about, you're dying?"

Ron tried to sound upbeat but his voice once again betrayed him. "Yes, I'm dying. I have only two, maybe three months left and I need to be sure Kim will be safe once I die."

"From what?"

"Leukemia." Ron said flatly.

"I never would have thought. Does she know?"

"Yes, she knows about my disease, not about my being here."

Duff felt a solemn tone air over the conversation. "What do you want from me? How can anything I do be of any consequence to you?"

"I would ask you to go legitimate. Give up the criminal life so I can know that she will be safe and happy to pursue a regular life. Once I have gotten all the others to agree I can die in peace. Being able to leave this world better than when I came in to it. I can also assure you that you will be able to pursue your dreams without any interference." As Ron gave Duff a hopeful look.

"But how? I've been banned from competing anywhere in the world."

"I have been able to convince the professional golf community that if you agree you will be able to petition for re-instatement to the tour. Don't get me wrong this will also require a sacrifice on your behalf too. You will have to spend about six to nine months in jail." Ron held up his hand, "I have already discussed arrangements with Global Justice and the director has agreed to my proposal. Let's just say they owe me. All you have to do is agree."

"I can golf again? Anywhere in the world?" Duff asked hopefully. Ron just nodded.

Duff looked as if he was going to burst into tears. "I'll do it… because you asked. Nobody has ever done anything for me like what you have. The least I can do is to honor your request. Where do you want me to surrender, and when?"

Ron looked at the golfer with a wide smile. "You can do it whenever you want. I will accept your word of honor that you will follow through on your promise. As to where…"

"I'm coming, be right there." Mrs. Possible called to whomever rang the doorbell. She opened the door slinging the dishtowel over her shoulder. "May I help you?"

Sitting on the couch she cried. Simply cried into her towel. She never expected to hear the story she just spent the last half-hour listening to.

"Mom I'm home." Kim called to her mother. "I'm going up to my room and call Wade and see if there has been any word from or about Ron."

"Kimmie, you better come in here." She called out through her tears.

Kim entered the family room looking through her book bag for the Kimmunicator. Looking up she jumped back in shock and assumed a defensive posture waiting for the attack. But none came.

"Kimmie, he came to see you. He has a message from Ron." Her mother patted the seat next to her indicating it was all right and they were in no danger.

Kim looked suspicious. "Duff Killigan, you have a message from Ron? If this is a sick…"

Duff waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Miss Possible, Ronald came to see me. He wanted to ask me for a favor, not for himself really, but for you. He asked me to go straight. He made arrangements for my benefit, and once I heard, he told me the truth about his…condition… I couldn't wait to grant him his request."

"Request?" as she eyed him with more suspicion.

"Yes, he asked a favor of me and after hearing your mother confirm his condition I am granting his request." Duff stood and held his wrists out to Kim as he took a deep breath. "Miss Possible I am here to surrender myself to you."

Kim nearly fell off the sofa, and her mother broke out in tears for the second time that afternoon. "You're surrendering yourself to me. Why?"

"Your partner and boyfriend asked me to…" Duff paused trying not to allow the tear forming a chance to fall. "He wanted you to be able to live a regular life. Safe and free from harm once he was gone. I have never seen that kind of love and devotion for or from anyone in my life. I had to honor his request."

Duff sat back down in his seat as the two Possible women cried across from his chair. He waited until they had regained their composure. "Miss Possible, I should warn you to expect more visits like mine in the near future." Kim wore a confused look. "Ron was off to see the others after he left my castle."

Kim shot from her seat. Now she knew where he was headed. "I have to call Wade and Dr. Director. I can find Ron before it is too late."

She stopped quickly when Duff called to her. "Miss, Ron was headed to see the Seniors on their island when he left me, but that was a week ago. He would be long gone by now."

Kims face fell.