Disclaimer: Disney owns Kim Possible. Only the story is mine.
Chapter 22: The Final CurtainAs Kim led Bonnie from the room Ron noticed a multitude of faces peering back. Drakken, Duff, Monty, and Shego stood just looking through the pale darkness. As they moved into the room Ron could sense the uneasiness in the air.
Monty moved to the window; as his projected form against the falling snow outside gave the look of stoic and an almost patriarchal appearance. Drakken and Duff took seats at the opposite ends of the room; neither said a word but just held a long and knowing silence. Shego looked like she was about to say something several times, but held back, her eyes never quite meeting Ron's as she stood almost timidly before him.
Ron reached out and took her hand. "Shego sit down and relax."
The raven-haired beauty looked like a scared toddler as she allowed herself to be pulled down next to him. She had dealt death to others and with the consequences of death to those around her, now she wished she could undo all those images. Keeping her gaze focused on her own feet until she felt her chin being pulled around to look in the face of a now generous benefactor. She wished she could crawl into a hole in the wall and forget everything that brought her to this point.
"Shego… look at me." The voice was weak, but it still held a powerful presence, "Look at me, don't be afraid. We both knew from the time I showed up on the island; this was going to be the end result. Let's not make it any worse than it already is."
She looked into his face with an understanding she never truly comprehended. "You and I have seen more death than anyone should ever have to in a lifetime. You have tried to hold back that tide, while I have done all in my power to push it forward for my own ends."
Ron hushed her, "Let's not speak of the sins of the past. Focus on the dreams for tomorrow and let them be the light in your lantern." He fixed her emerald gaze with warm brown eyes, "Move forward from here with a new lease on life. I have been proud to know the real you Shego. Our conversations at sunrise have shown me your hidden self. You have great potential; of all the people I have met in my travels yours has been the most tortured. I don't know what happened in your past to make you end up here, but I hope… no, I pray, that you take the second chance you have now and make the most of it."
Shego seldom cried in her life. She tried to hold them back, but one escaped its prison.
Ron saw her distress and wiped it away. Slowly he brought his hand back and looked at the moisture on his finger. "I won't speak of this again, and I know you won't either." He said with a whispered voice.
Shego could only take so much of this heavy emotional outpouring. Quickly she kissed Ron's cheek and hurried from the room. "I'm sorry…" she cried as she ran out.
"I thought she handled that well." Drakken said from behind steepled hands.
Duff looked across at the scientist. "Aye, I expected her to blow the entire room apart, us included."
"I don't know why the treatment we ran didn't work. By all the testing Amy did said the darn thing should have." Drakken looked up exasperated. "I intend to continue with the research once I have done my time, maybe if I can get them to allow it I can work on it while I'm on the inside."
Ron just listened to the tales as they went back and forth projecting and planning. "Gentlemen, if you will allow me a moment to interrupt you there is something I wanted you to know." The two men stopped abruptly and listened intently. "I don't want you to think ill of what I am going to say, but I need to say it. What I have done for you is not necessarily for your benefit. I did it so that my Kim will have a long and happy life when I am gone. While I was in the hospital before I went to find you all… I had visions of … after." Ron stood and looked them in the face. "I saw the desecration and destruction of friends and family, the death of the one I loved more than anything in the world before me. Although you may condemn me for what I have done, I found it necessary to rest in my grave."
Monty never turned from the outside view, his hands drawn behind him "Ronald, I cannot speak for my companions here, but I would have accepted you at your word. You have been my most worthy adversary," A smile crossed his face. "My most poignant pain in the ass. I find you to be the most honorable foe I have ever encountered. If you had asked I would have died in battle at your side, it would have been my honor."
Duff stood from his chair and moved next to Ron, clapping him on the shoulder, "Aye laddie, you and your friend may have been royal pains, but as for you… I never knew you to lie or cheat on any deal. You even stayed for my nasty cooking."
Ron jumped back surprised, "What?"
"I never could get that Haggis recipe to come out right. You ate it and never complained at my table." Duff said chuckling.
"I know Killigan, we even spent the holidays together stuck at the North Pole together. He even ate my cooking, how odd does that sound?"
"Drakken, Monty, I feel the need to express my thanks to this young man for all he's done. He got me my life back, allowed me to partake in the joys the world has offered me again. I feel all the anger and hatred that I once lived every day with drain from my being. I feel renewed, I only wish we had been able to return to you in some small part what you gave to us. For that I will be eternally sorry."
"What I gave to you is only a minor portion of the whole gift. It may be selfish of me but I believe that I got the lions share of the benefit. I got a wife, a friend, and the peace of mind I have only dreamed of. Not only that, but, I also have a lot of new friends that will make some great contributions to humanity, each of you will; I know it." Ron sat back down with the help of Duff and Drakken. All the emotional drama had taken its toll and he needed to rest for a while.
"Will you gentlemen excuse us?" Monty said almost in a monotone voice. "We have some unfinished business."
"Of course Fiske," Drakken said turning to lead Duff out. He stopped momentarily and looked at Ron. "Beware though, he is a cagey adversary. I wouldn't turn my back on him."
Ron chuckled, "I trust him enough to wait till I am looking him in the eye before he drives home the knife."
"That man is just too serious…" Duff chuckled on his way out.
Monty turned and looked at Ron for the first time since entering the room. "I have sensed that you have something you want to ask of me. What is you pleasure?"
"First Monty I wanted to say thanks for all you have done. Even though the attempt failed, I do appreciate all your efforts, both yours and Amy's. However I want to ask a favor of you. You may decline with no questions asked, I will…"
"Stop there Ronald, what ever it is I accept."
"You haven't even heard what it is."
"It doesn't matter. For two people like us, both of whom share a mystical bond, it goes without saying. To satisfy my honor I would have accepted in any case. Now what is your will?"
"It is actually in two parts. First I want you to travel to Yamanouchi and ask Sensei to train you as my replacement as the Chosen One." Fiske just gaped as Ron continued. "Secondly I would be honored if you would stand by my wife's side until she had recovered from my passing. There are still a lot of people out there who would take advantage of the situation and attack her. I have already asked Shego to assist, and she will be working with you during this time. Will you accept this request?"
"I have already told you. I will do it for you, because you asked. Nothing more needs to be said, It is my honor." As Monty bowed before Ron.
Ron carefully stood and returned the bow in thanks. "I also need you to hold this until its time." Ron produced a small wooden box from the end table and handed it to Monty. "I think you know what it is. Kim will need it… later… For now I trust you to hold it for her."
Monty took the case in hand and pondered it with an inquisitive eye. Then he felt it, the deep thrumming power building in his grasp. "Ronald is this really what I think it is?"
Ron nodded with a slight grin. "It is…"
"I will guard it with my life." He said seriously as he cradled it in his arms.
"Just remember Monty, give it to her after the funeral." As he bowed in recognition.
Monty righted himself and looked at his newest friend. "I think I will put this someplace safe until it's time. Now I should go out and join the others, you should rest it's getting late. And I see someone who wants to spend some time with you coming to the door." Monty gracefully moved to the exit and bowed slowly as he took Kim's hand and placed it to his forehead. "It will be my honor to be at your disposal until at which time either I am released from my oath or death takes me."
Kim walked to Rons' side with a stunned expression on her face. She stood watching Monty stride away as his cool exterior once again took its place. She only came back to reality when Ron took her hand. Without a word being said she sat next to Ron and snuggled against his shoulder. She felt him stiffen as a grimace crossed his face.
"You all right Ron?" came the motherly tone.
"Just a little pain, but it's gone now."
"Ron do you want to get some rest? I don't know if you have the energy to stay up and watch the ball drop."
"I can do anything, as long as I have you by my side." He said weakly.
"Are you trying to steal my tag line Ron?"
"Well I thought now that we are husband and wife it was our tag line."
"I can live with that answer." As she kissed him lightly.
Ron let his head rest against hers as he closed his eyes. His breathing became slightly rasp as he lay against her. He knew his time was short.
As midnight approached they could hear the reports from Times Square on the giant television in the livingroom. Kim held his hand as she rubbed her head against his feeling his breath on her face. She could hear the announcer rev up the crowd as the stroke of twelve was minutes away.
Ron took her hand and had her move across his lap so he could look Kim in the eye. He felt the sting of the tears running down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry Kim, but I think it's time to go."
"What do you mean…" she stopped realizing what he meant, "No Ron, not now. You can't go, I need you." As her tears began mixing with his.
"As much as I want to stay, I don't think my vote counts this time." As he placed a hand on her cheeks wiping away her tears. "I don't want to go, what I want to do is stay here with you, to wake up next to you, to love you forever, now that is gone."
Her voice left her, all she could speak was a breathless, "No…no…no; Ron don't leave me, I love you…"
"I will be waiting for you at the gates of heaven as I promised. I know they won't need any reflection from me to get you there, but there I will wait. Even if I have to wait outside for you, there I will stay."
Kim couldn't speak, her voice left her. All she could muster was a low sob as Ron slipped away. The look in his eyes was breaking her heart. The love reflected there was pure torture, as it was torn apart, as they were torn apart.
Ron pulled her close as they shared a last kiss. As the clock struck twelve she felt his arms drop from around her, his body slumped back against the couch. His head rolled back as his eyes closed and she heard the last strained breath from his lips, gone…
Kim felt pain like she never had before. She threw back her head and screamed, "Ron… Nooo… Ron…" as she collapsed against the now lifeless shell.
Ann was the first to rush into the room. Seeing her daughter in such pain was agony. The way Rons body lay on the couch as Kim clung to his lifeless form. Even as a doctor you see death on an almost daily basis, however when it is someone this close, this much family objectivity is lost quickly.
The entire house went silent with the first screams from the family room. It had been expected, but it was still overwhelming to have happen so suddenly. Everyone knew what had happened.
Ronald Adrian Stoppable had disappeared behind the curtain.