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

Chapter 10: Lions Den
Ron Stoppable reclined back in his chair; the flight had been long and hard. Going first from Middleton to London and then on to Scotland had taken more strength from him than he wanted to admit. Now here he was not two and a half weeks from home and he was on his way to the Bahamas. Listlessly he stared out at the water thousands of feet below him. Watching the waters gentle rise and fall from high above, he felt so serene and at peace. Until unbidden; a picture of her face came to his mind.

A long flowing mane of fire red hair surrounding gentle, but strong features, warm and loving emerald eyes that had melted his soul time and time again. The remembrances of her soft lips pressed to his brought back all the love he felt in his heart to his every conscious thought. His Kim. How he wanted, yearned to hear her voice again. 'I have to finish this before I can do that again.' He thought.

His flight had landed on time without incident, and he soon found himself in a boat headed to an outermost island for what may well prove to be his toughest challenge yet. Drakken and Shego.

Ron stopped at the door wondering why all the villains had thought to include a doorbell of one type or another at their front entrances. Surely you wouldn't be expecting anyone to just stop to visit. Dismissing it he rang the bell. Greeted by one of Drakkens henchmen and led without any question into the lair, Ron soon found himself ushered into the lab of the good doctor himself.

Drakken never turned around just continued tinkering with the device he had his attention fixed on, that is until Ron tapped him on the shoulder. He thought Drakken was about to turn white again when he turned and found Ron standing right behind him. He screamed, "Shego, help."

Ron stood his ground as Shego ran at him. Her hands covered in the flaming green plasma energy he was accustomed to seeing from her. She skidded to a halt when he didn't move, but simply smiled and stuck out his hand out to her.

"Shego," he began, "I didn't think it would have taken you two too long to get out of jail. I'm glad to see you're none the worse for wear."

Shego stood so stunned her green energy dissipated as Ron reached for her hand gingerly. "What are you doing here? Where's Possible?" as she looked around for an attack.

"I'm alone Shego. I came to see the two of you." His expression changed to a look of immense sadness. Quietly he said, "I'm dying."

Shego and Drakken, who had come out from hiding behind the table, both stumbled at his admission. Ron had to hold Shego up to keep her from falling to the floor. Gently Drakken and Ron helped her to a small lounge where they sat as a henchman brought coffee and tea.

Ron gently held her hand, "I didn't mean to shock you like that Shego, I thought you would take it better than any of the others."

"Others, what others?"

"Killigan, the Seniors, I just came from seeing them. They took a little convincing but went a long with my request just like the others."

"What request?" Drakken questioned.

"I asked them to take on legitimate lives after first a short incarceration. After their short stint in jail I got them legitimate jobs and made sure they would never have to resort to criminal behaviors again."

The villain and villainess sat staring at him with blank looks on their faces.

Ron started to feel fatigued and worn from his days travel, "Would you two mind if I came back in the morning? I have been on a plane all day to get here and then the boat ride. I just need to get to a hotel and get some rest."

Shego still had a shocked looked in her eyes when she asked Ron, "Why don't you stay here for the night? There are plenty of extra rooms, and then you wouldn't have to ride all the way back out here in the morning." Ron was about to dismiss her offer when she added; "I would like an opportunity to talk with you… privately, if that is ok with you."

Ron just nodded slowly giving a tired smile. Shego took his arm in hers and led him to a room next to her own. Drakken followed silently behind. Drakken stayed behind while Shego returned to get Rons suitcase.

"Stoppable, may I take a sample of your blood. For analysis only."

"Yes, it's ok, and call me Ron, please." As he took a seat in the rooms chair and rolled up his sleeve.

Drakken produced a medical sample kit and took a sample of his blood. When Shego returned he excused himself and closed the door to give the pair some privacy.

Shego took Rons hand and helped him over to the bed, gratefully accepting her hand as she helped him from the chair. "How long have you known."

"I found out shortly after you went to jail, well, more like we thought you went to jail. In fact that very night I got the news when I got home."

Shego didn't quite know how to ask her next question. "Does princess know?"

"Of course she does." He answered with a gentle smile. "I told her all about it a week later. That night…" his expression became wistful, "That night I told her that I loved her. And then we spent that weekend together. The minute I held her in my arms I knew I could have died right there and been content with my fate wrapped in her arms."

"Will you tell me what your request is? I would really like to know."

"I have asked the others for them to take on legitimate lives. That I have arranged for them careers in their fields of expertise. I got Killigan back into the golf circuit, and the Seniors' have gotten involved in crisis relief management. Everyone has to do some jail time though. I got everyone I intend to talk to six months or less, depending on their crimes. You want to know what I got for you and Drakken, don't you?"

Shego nodded her head like a child asking Santa for a Christmas present.

"Well I shouldn't tell you yet, but I guess it doesn't matter that much. I got Drakken a position at the Middleton Space Center working with Kim's father on astro-propulsion."

"Well?" Shego grew impatient when Ron paused.

"I got you a position with Global Justice. Training in hand to hand combat, and instructor, possibly an agent later on after you've had your apprenticeship."

"What about the incarceration? How much time will we have to do?"

"Well… it took some doing but I got Drakken three months, medium security."

Shego grew more impatient. "Come on."

"I got you a suspended sentence. House arrest for one weekend… with Kim. To begin when I…" Ron couldn't say it, he had so many times, now it stuck in his throat. "Die."

Shego got up to leave Ron for the night, but stopped when he called to her.

"Shego, one more thing. Don't call anyone about my being here. I can't let anyone interfere until I have finished my work. I still have others I need to visit before… before the end, ok?"

"I'm sure if we can hear your request. The least we can do is abide by you wishes in this matter too." Shego returned to his bedside and looked down at him nervously. Surprising Ron, quickly she bent down and kissed his cheek before she rushed from the room.

Ron could have sworn he saw a tear in her eye before she had bolted. Feeling he was one step closer to his goal he closed his eyes. Once more a familiar form was waiting just behind his eyes for him to enter her domain.