Author's Note and Disclaimer: This has been an awesome ride for me. I hope it's been one for you, too. As always, Disney Enterprises, Inc. reserves and claims all rights to the Kim Possible series. Kim likes to come out and play with me, every once in a while, non gratis.
Chapter 21 Home Bound
Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable climbed in to the VTOL and buckled up. The jet engines roared to life, slowly lifting off the ground. A minute later, it was speeding towards Middleton. When they reached cruising altitude the pilot put her on auto and meandered back to his passengers.
Ron looked up. "Major Grandness. I see you're still with us."
"Yep," the Major said. "I like to see a mission through to the end. Just like you two. Congratulations on the collar."
"No big." Kim said modestly.
"That's not what I heard," the Major said in disbelief. "My intell and that shiner says you got you butt handed to you in a sling last week."
Kim touched her still slightly black and puffy right eye. "Yea, There was a little drama."
"Anyway," the Major changed the subject. "I just wanted to check and see where you wanted to get dropped off. It's your call."
Ron closed his cell phone and turned to Kim. "Monique and Bon Bon are shopping." He turned to Major Grandness. "Can you drop us off near the Middleton Mall?"
"That can be arranged." The Major checked his watch. "I'll have you there in twenty minutes." He turned and walked back to the cockpit.
"I'm hungry," Ron said as his stomach growled loudly. "I told them we'd meet them at the Food Court."
Kim's stomach mimicked Ron's, almost as loud. "I guess I could go for some food too."
The jet settled down in front of the Food Court entrance. Kim and Ron, in their civilian clothes, got off and waved as the jet took off straight up.
"That was nice of him to land in front of the doors," Kim said.
"Well, it is a drop off zone," Ron observed. Kim playfully slapped his arm.
The two entered and immediately spotted their friends. Bon Bon ran over and grabbed Ron and Kim in a big hug. "I'm so glad you're O.K."
"Why wouldn't we be?" Kim queried.
Bon Bon looked sadly at the ground. "Well, first there was the fiasco in Munich, then you disappeared from in front of Bueno Nacho. Finally, Ron never said what happened when he called, just that you two would meet us here."
The foursome sat at one of the tables. Kim turned to Ron. "You called and didn't tell them we were O.K.?"
"Hey, it's the end of the month and I'm getting low on minutes!" Ron defended himself. Monique slapped him on the arm. "Ow! What was that for?"
"That's for not having a good cell phone plan," Monique chided, then she smiled. "But I knew you were O.K. so we got you this!" She pulled out a sixteen inch pizza with all the toppings. "Ta Da! We knew you'd be hungry."
Ron quizzically looked at his three companions. "But I thought I couldn't eat stuff like this anymore."
Kim sighed. "Remember what the Dietitian said? You're not suppose to eat it all the time! That means you can have it on special occasions."
"Oh, by the way, someone's been waiting to see you," Bon Bon said as she opened her handbag.
Rufus popped out and hopped on the table. "You're back!" he squealed and jumped on to Ron's face, giving him a big hug.
The reunion was short lived. Rufus' nose went to work and, smelling the pizza, led him away from his owner. Ron grabbed him as he dove at the food. "Uh uh uh!" Ron said to Rufus. "Where are your manners?"
"Manner?" Rufus said, cocking his head to one side. "Oh yea," he nodded in recognition. Rufus ran across the table to Bon Bon and took a finger in his paws. "Thank you," he chirped as he bowed and kissed Bon's digit.
"Yea, thanks for taking care of the little guy," Ron echoed. "The monkey ninjas and him don't get along to good. Though I can't figure out why."
Kim let out a groan. "The acupuncture is starting to wear off." She took out a pill bottle.
Ron stood up. "I'll get the sodas," he chimed.
"Please and thank you," Kim moaned.
"Are you alright?" Monique asked, a worried look on her face.
"The Acupuncturist said this might happen. He deadened the pain for the mission, but warned me it might come back with a vengeance."
Ron returned with the sodas. Kim took her medicine and laid her head down on the table. "I'll be O.K. in a couple of minutes."
As Monique, Bon Bon, Ron and Rufus ate the pizza, setting aside two pieces for Kim, Ron recounted the mission in a hushed tone, not wanting to disturb Kim.
As he finished off his second slice, Ron rubbed Kim's back. "Kim, your pizzas getting cold," he said, trying to rouse her.
"I'm up, I'm up. Time for school?" Kim said groggily.
"Ah, no school today," Ron stated softly. "We're at the mall, remember?"
Kim looked around. "Right, the mall. Did you mention pizza?"
Ron got a slice out and put it on a plate in front of her. "Dig in. It tastes super!"
"It tastes great because you not eating it all the time," Monique said to him.
Bon Bon looked at Kim who's head was almost on the table again. Bon grabbed the medicine bottle. "How many pills did you take, Kim?"
"I was in a lot of pain, so I took two," Kim answered as she slowly took a bite of pizza.
Bon Bon shook the bottle in her hand. "This is a powerful pain killer. The prescription says to only take one with food. I'm surprised you're not knocked out cold. Finish your pizza and I'll take you home."
Kim finished the pizza and tried to stand up. She promptly plopped back down.
Ron looked over to Bon Bon. "Let's go." He rose from his chair and pick Kim up. "Let's go home little lady," he said to Kim. "You've had a busy day."
Kim wrapped her arms around Ron's neck. "Please and thank you," she said sleepily.
Author's Addendum: This might disappoint some, but I am going to be focusing my attention elsewhere for a while. Someone once said, everybody has a novel in them. Well, that's my new focus. I will occasionally work on a KP story, if only to free me from writer's block But sadly, they will probably be few and far between. I want to thank my readers and reviewers. You've been too kind with your praise. It has inspired me to take this leap. Live Large, pbow.