Kim Possible

R - Factor

Chapter 9 : Bonding Effects

Darkness...once again eerie pit-less darkness and shadow surrounded Scott. As he silently traveled the black plain he looked about finding nothing but a void surrounding him. The occasional piercing scream echoed through the darkness and stabbed at his heart. Where was this...was this death? Or something much worse?

A feral unearthly growl rippled through the shadows that were beyond the blackest pitch. Fearful eyes looked around the void to see neither beast nor creature there but the stench of Blood, Death and decay was pungent.

Scott walked a few more steps and felt something wet on his bare foot. He looked down to see he was standing in a deep red liquid. Looking back up a crimson lake covered his field of vision as another grumbling roar echoed, the blood rippled.

The heads of John and Nikki Storm floated to the surface of the crimson fluid.

"How could you?" Asked John in a monotone voice as a disfigured looking viper slithered from his ear into his mouth. "Why did you let us die?"

"It's your fault!" Nikki screamed shrilly, a large insect feasting on her rotting flesh. "Why don't join us in death son...why don't you just got to hell and rot as the flames of perdition scorch your flesh and the hell hound feasts on your bones!" She let out a haunting shrill laugh as dozens of bloody rotting arms grabbed hold of Scott and pulled him under as he cried out for help.

In a flash of red Scott found himself in the decimated remains of the mansion. He took a step and his foot brushed against something solid. He wearily looked down to see Kelly ripped in two and half devoured, next to her torn torso was Josh's severed head...or what was left of it. Scott bent over and lost the contents of his stomach. His bile splashed on the half eaten remains of Doug and Monique...a few feet from them was what remained of Ron and Kim.

Scott staggered back shaking his head as tears streamed from his usually emotionless eyes, once again he threw up. Another roared echoed through the remains of the mansion followed by a piercing scream...the scream of Tara. Scott shot to action, he could mourn after he saved the woman he loves.

As he entered the living room he saw non other that himself...or rather a demonic winged and tailed version of himself. He had his clawed hand thrust through Tara's mid section as he ripped out her neck with his razor-like teeth. A spray of crimson and then the dull thud of Tara's lifeless and mangled form hitting the floor filled his vision and hearing.

The demonic doppelganger looked at him with glowing violet eyes with black reptilian slits, his fangs glistening with fresh blood as he licked it off hungrily. "Look at your future Scott Keith Storm!" The monster growled in his own voice. "Behold what you shall become! Behold the Dragon within!" The beast said grabbing Scott's throat. "Release me...and we shall make beautiful carnage together...RELEASE ME NOW!"

"NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Scott cried out as tears continued to stream from his dual colored orbs. Then a flash and all went white.

Scott jerked up in bed, his breathing labored, sweat covering his scared and nude form. He could feel tears falling from his eyes as he shook off the ghastly nightmare. His face quickly melted back to its usual stoic look, but his eyes held within them the true horror he had just been through. Sitting up he sighed and lit a Marlboro, taking a deep pull off it like he always does after one of his...dreams.

As he sat there in silence a pair of silky soft hands snaked around him gently, a single finger tracing one of the many scars that littered his muscular form. "Have another nightmare hon?" Asked the worried yet angelic voice of Tara.

Scott sighed again and ran his fingers through his golden mane. "They're getting worse." He replied softly.

Scott felt Tara shift in bed as her soft nude form melded into his back, her plump breasts pushing into his upper back, she laid a soft kiss on the back of his neck. "It's all in the past honey, please come back to bed." She said in whispered tones, tickling his ear.

Scott turned and looked into Tara's baby blue orbs. "Tara...My past is..." He was silenced by the soft feather touch of her finger.

She gave him a sad smile; she could feel through their bond how horrible these dreams were. "What's in the past is in the past, it can't hurt you or anyone else from there." She said in a comforting tone.

Scott put out his cigarette and smiled at his love. "How did I ever get so lucky to find a woman as wonderful as you my love?" He asked as he took on a kind and gentle look that very few knew.

Tara smiled seductively at him. "The right time." She kissed his neck softly. "The right place." She added before kissing him passionately Scott returned the kiss with all the passion and love he could muster as his hand reached out and turned off the bedside lamp. He then turned his attention to the woman who held his heart and proceeded to show her and make her feel just how much he truly loved her.

The next morning Scott woke and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he winced as he did so a little to roughly on the shiner he sported on his right eye. Yesterday had been interesting after the others left. Doug finally let out his emotions from what had happened the previous day at the Barron's. Scott had walked into the kitchen as Doug tossed a mostly empty bottle of Jack Daniels into the trash bin and then proceeded to shove his fist into and through the brick wall of the kitchen.

Scott had walked up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder in hopes of calming him down. Instead he must of startled Doug because he got a fist to the right eye. Scott recoiled a bit but returned the favor to Doug's left eye, which seemed to snap him back to reality. After apologizing furiously to Scott the two long time friends had a chuckle at the shiners on their eyes and sat down and talked. After getting Doug reasonably calmed both friends went on with their day, though some things would have to be explained to their friends when they dropped by today.

Scott looked over at his sleeping girlfriend and smiled. Words could not describe how much he loved her but he would happily spend the rest of his life trying to prove how much he did. With quietness and movements born from a lifetime of martial arts training he got out of bed with out disturbing her and walked into his bathroom for a shower and morning relief.

Ron yawned as he walked into what had become another home to him and Kim, it was once again the weekend and he had brought Josh and Felix, Brick was busy with Hope, with him to start adding modifications to Doug's and Scott's cars...Team Possible modifications. Ron had been pleasantly surprised when Doug had offered his home as a resting and planning base for the team. Then he, Doug and Scott all chipped in and put a large two story building on the outer edge of Doug's massive property for the main base of operations, it would be up and running within a few weeks.

Ron grabbed a juice from the fridge and as he passed the steaming fresh pot of coffee he looked at it and let out a slight shudder. The familiar sound of Kim's Hummer pulling into the drive alerted him to her and Monique's arrival. His eyebrow twitched as he looked at the hot dark fluid again, he quickly grabbed the coffee pot up and dumped it. No way in hell was Kim touching that Mississippi mud water again...she nearly killed him the last time.

"Ron?" Kelly's voice asked from behind him. "Why did you just dump out my fresh pot of coffee?" A mixture of annoyance and mirth in her tones.

Ron sat the coffee pot down and turned towards the girl that had come to be like a sister to him, a crimson flush splashed his freckled cheeks. "I...uhh...do I really have to explain it?" He asked rubbing the back of his neck as he noticed she had a cup of coffee in her hands.

Kelly cocked an eyebrow. "I was here the last time remember?" She stated.

"Well." Ron said with a weak chuckle. "Caffeine kills."

"Kills what?" Kim asked as she trotted up and placed a kiss on Ron's cheek, a devilish smile then formed on her lips. "You're not referring to your "Pocket Rocket" are you Ronnie...what's wrong run out of fuel?" She asked with a giggle while Ron remained silent but turned beetroot, Monique and Kelly joined in her laughter.

"And here I thought you'd have some coffee ready too." Monique said with a slight yawn.

"Talk to Ron, he's the one that dumped it." Kelly said before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Well...I thought it was more of Doug's" Ron said in his defense.

"More of my what?" Doug asked walking in the kitchen.

"Kelly, where's the coffee?" Scott asked as he walked in with Tara.

Kelly's eyebrow twitched with annoyance. "I wish people would stop asking me that." She grumbled.

Josh then trotted into the kitchen from the garage, a pleasant smile on his lips. "Hey Kel! I was hopping that you were..." He trailed off as his eyes nearly bugged out; he let out a loud gulp. "Oh shit! That's not Doug's is it?" He asked eyeing her coffee cup nervously. Doug let out a snigger along with Scott who was doing his best to keep his composure.

Kelly downed the last of her coffee and stormed out of the room in a huff, it was too early to deal with this sort of thing. It was then that the others noticed the fist sized hole in the wall, Ron wasn't surprised but the others were.

Kim walked up to it and then noticed the broken bourbon bottle in the trash. "Might I ask why there is a hole in the wall and a broken bottle of Jack in the trash?" She asked cocking an eyebrow. She then got a good look at their faces and noticed matching shiners. "Alright you two...spill it." She stated crossing her arms

Scott remained stoic and Doug flushed as Monique gave him a glare that said "Spill NOW". He sighed. "I...kinda...sort of...lost control after you all left yesterday, and tore through the place." Doug said as a look of shame crossed his features.

Scott sighed as well and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them back up the sheer emotion within them betrayed the stone-like look on his face. His eye mirrored Doug's and then some, pain, torture, anger, greif and a host of others swirled in his haunted orbs. "That's not all you tore through last night." Scott said, his voice soft but held no emotion within. "Doug was real tore up about what he had to do on the mountain...so he vented...on the Jack Daniels, the wall and me." Scott stated.

Everyone but Ron had a look of shock across their features. "DOUG!" Monique shouted. "You promised you'd let it go...that you wouldn't take it out on anyone else." She said in a worried yet motherly tone.

Doug bowed his head. "I know hon...I'm sorry."

"Leave it be." Scott said in a sudden stern tone. "Everyone needs to vent sometimes to help get past what is weighing on them, I knew he didn't mean to hit me and the only reason I returned the favor was to bring him to his senses. What's done is done."

"No harm, No foul." Ron chimed in with a haunted look of his own that startled Kim. She had no idea of just how well Ron could relate to Scott and Doug on certain situations...and he hoped she never had to either.

"You need to understand, Monique...all of you actually." Scott said not meeting Ron's eyes as he scanned the group. "Doug absolutely hates to kill and that night he was forced to do it repeatedly or he would have died himself. And from the reports I got from GJ the body count was easily thirty maybe more."

"What do you mean by...maybe more?" Kim asked suddenly feeling ill.

Scott looked out the window, not meeting the others eyes. "More body parts than actual bodies." He said softly.

Tara let out a gasp along with Monique and Kim. "What did you do to them?" She asked.

"I'd rather not talk about it." Doug said in a soft tone.

"Well, the chateau was leveled, I'm guessing that Doug placed a few charges around the foundation, and brought the building down, not to mention they found the Baron in pieces, in what was once his study." Scott answered.

"Yeah." Doug said darkly. "He had a bad case of indigestion."

"You made him eat a grenade, didn't you?" Scott asked.

Doug only nodded with a sad look on his face, a single tear fell as he turned and walked out of the room. Monique quickly followed. After a few moments the entire group followed except for Ron who turned and teleported out of sight. When they walked into the living room they found Doug and Monique on the couch, Doug's eyes were closed and he held Monique in a tight embrace as she tried to comfort him.

"Monique...?" Kim asked softly.

"Leave them." Scott said. "It's...better this way." With that he walked out of the room. Kim and Tara sat down on the other couch and watched their friends while their minds wondered and worried when or if they would have to go through this as well.

Scott walked outside to get some fresh air. He spotted Ron standing over by the lake staring off into the distance, a troubled air about him. Scott walked over to him; since they had met Ron had come to be as great a friend as Doug had to him. As he got to Ron's side he pulled out a cigarette and lit it with his chrome Zippo, he was shocked to see Ron do the same with a jet black one...since when the hell did Ron smoke?

"You know those will kill you." Scott said.

Ron exhaled through his nose, his line of sight never leaving the lakes crystal waters. "You are one to talk, bud." Ron said.

The two went silent again and Scott let out a sigh, he knew all to well what was weighing on Ron's mind. "The demons bothering you again?" Scott asked.

Ron nodded. "Yeah...Doug reminded me of how I always feel after killing. It brought back memories of the "Tests"...memories that I'd rather be without."

"I hear that my friend...I hear that." Scott echoed.

"I'm sure you do, only you and Doug know the truth...I've never told KP or anyone else." Ron sighed. "Not that it matters the bond of the "Lotus Warriors" let the two of you see my past, the prophecy and you know what will be expected of me in the future."

Scott nodded. "Yeah...sucks doesn't it. I just wish we could help with the last part."

Ron shook his head. "Neither of you can...no one will be able to help me when the time comes. It is my fate...my destiny, as my power is my gift and my curse." Ron paused for a moment. "Just do me a favor and don't say anything to Kim, I'll do that in my own time."

Scott shook his head and sighed. "Well you'd better step on it...Kim isn't one that likes to be left in the dark and that is just what you are doing."

"I know." Ron said with a frustrated sigh. "Whenever I try to tell her...I...I just can't." He said as he kicked a stone into the waters and watched the beautiful ripples it made on the shimmering surface.

"What's holding you back?" Scott asked in hopes of helping his friend.

"I...I'm afraid I'll lose her if she ever found out." Ron answered, neither his face nor eyes betrayed any emotion but his voice was laced with it, well hidden but Scott could still catch it.

Scott arched an eyebrow. "How can you lose her...dude she's your soul mate, it's utterly impossible." He said shaking his head in disbelief.

Ron let out a mirthless chuckle. "You don't know KP very well then, he family motto is anything is possible for a Possible. If she wanted rid of me...she could find a way."

"You really should sit her down and have a heart to heart with her, if she really loves you...she will love all of you, not just the parts she chooses to." Scott said knowingly, Tara had tought him much.

"I guess your right." Ron said with another sigh. " Otherwise I might lose her and I can't picture my life without her in it...I don't want to either." Ron said the last part with a shiver.

"Do what you have got to do my friend, there is no one stopping you." Scott stated. "She might not like what she hears but she'll learn to live with it...trust me...I'm living proof. I never thought I'd ever find someone to love until I met Tara." Scott said the last part with a small smile and soft voice.

Ron gave his friend a nod in understanding before looking into his friend's eyes. "You should also practice what you preach bud." Ron said putting his hand on Scott's shoulder.

"I too need time." Scott said. "The skeletons in my closet are hard to get cleaned out." Scott sighed and put out his cigarette.

Ron shook his head. "Look Scott...I know your childhood...hell most of you life was far from a walk in the park, but you need to learn to let it go buddy, it'll kill you if you don't." Ron said with a hint of concern, he knew all to well how Scott held everything in.

"Thanks for the advice." Scott said dryly. "It won't go unnoticed but I still need time, it's not as easy as it sounds. Doug has only just vindicated his past...I've still yet to myself."

Ron's eyes showed understanding but a need to get his point across. "It will come in time." His voice had a knowing tone. "All demons and monsters must eventually meet their maker someday."

Scott let out a slight shiver as memories of his nightmare flashed across his mind. "I know...and that is what scares me." Scott stated in a soft tone.

"When you learn to face that fear and harness that power...then you will truly be the master of your true full power." Ron said sagely.

Scott cocked an eyebrow. "Since when did you become such a "Confucius" Ron-man?" Scott asked with a slight smirk.

Ron smirked as well. "Simple...I lived it." He answered.

Scott's eyes widened slightly. "What! You lived it? Damn...there's more to you than meets the eye." Scott said in slight awe.

Ron chuckled. "I get that allot these days." He turned serious again. "I had to become that which I feared most and master it. There will be time for a more full explanation some other time. For now we should get back to the house, can't leave the others waiting for us and I have something that needs to be done." Ron said as determination rang clear in his voice once again.

Scott smiled. "Now that's the Ron I've come to know and respect. Let's go my friend and I too shall work on facing what I need to." Scott said feeling a bit better from the talk. The two friends walked back towards the mansion together, both feeling much better than they had a while ago.

After talking with the others for a while Ron asked Kim if they could talk in private. She obliged and followed her bond mate up the stairs to the room that Doug had given them for their stays at the mansion. Kim took a seat on the small couch that was in the sizeable bedroom, she could tell that Ron had something on his mind that really needed to be let out and she would help him with whatever is bothering him in anyway she could. She had an idea of what was bothering him but wouldn't be sure until he said something.

Ron walked over and sat down next to the woman he loves and took her small hands into his large ones. She gave him a tender love filled smile that he could only return before the troubled look crossed his face once again. "Listen...KP...I have to tell you something." Ron said quietly. "It's something that I'm not very proud of and I should have told you when I returned from Japan...You see I..." He was silenced as Kim put her finger on his lips.

She gave him a soft smile, it was a bit sad yet filled with all the love she felt for him. "It's alright Ron, I already know." She said in a comforting tone.

"But how?" He asked slightly confused.

Kim let out a small giggle at his confusion. "It's the bond link silly. I can see and feel your nightmares and thoughts." She said softly. "That was a really bad time for you wasn't it?"

Ron nodded. "Yeah KP...it was." He looked into her emerald green pools and found nothing but love and acceptance. "You really don't have a problem with what happened?" He asked.

Kim answered him with a passionate kiss. She ended it reluctantly and looked at the glazed look in Ron's eyes and smiled. "I'm not thrilled with what happened but it didn't change who you really are, that's what counts and that is the person I fell in love with. No matter what happens you will always be my Ron." She said and kissed him again. "Now why don't you let me ease some of your pain." Her voice turned seductive as she placed his hand on her breast and continued the kiss.

Kim let out a moan of pleasure as Ron's skilled hands responded and went to work. Within moments both lovers were nude under the satin sheets of the king sized bed of their room. As they made love Ron could not help but wonder how he had gotten so lucky? How had he gotten such a wonderful woman as his bond mate? Perhaps destiny and fate were not always cruel bed partners. For what ever reason though he would cherish her for as long as they both lived and beyond.

Later that day everyone was gathered in the living room and the atmosphere was in much higher spirits than it was earlier. As everyone talked the doorbell went off signaling a visitor. Kelly went to get the person while the others sat wondering who could be visiting. As Kelly walked back into the room everyone's jaws dropped at the sight of who followed her in, Doug even felt an unpleasant shiver go down his spine.

Bonnie Rockwaller stood before them in a pair of tan slacks and a purple tee, she was shifting nervously from one foot to the other and her face held a nervous look rather than it's usual scowl.

Ron arched a brow and looked at Bonnie, Kim could however feel him tense at her presence...like he would rather be someplace else. She too would rather be anywhere but here right now but the strange way her school nemesis was acting piqued her curiosity.

Monique and Tara sat closer to their bond mates in a possessive manner that actually made Doug and Scott break out in a nervous sweat. "What do you want Bonnie?" Kim asked with disdain in her tones.

Bonnie shifted nervously about and stuck her hands in her pockets to fiddle around with the contents; she refused to meet anyone's eyes. Felix at this point was getting rather annoyed with the whole silent bit. "Oh come on!" He said in a frustrated yet amused tone. "You never have problems spouting off any other time so spit it out...yeesh!"

Bonnie flushed crimson. "Sorry Felix." She squeaked and looked at him with a look that confused him as shocked the others...was that lust they saw or just nerves?

"Anyway...I...err...I came to...to a...apologize t..to all of you for how...I've acted in the past...especially to...to you K...and you to...Ron." Bonnie stuttered out with her head bowed. "I just want all of you to know...that...I'm sorry...I...now I don't deserve forgiveness for my actions or the things I have said but I ask it anyways."

"So just what brought on the sudden change of heart Bon-bon?" Ron asked still refusing to believe her. "It's not like you haven't tried to pull shit on us in the past." Ron added as an after thought.

"I deserved that." She said. "I'm not expecting any forgiveness, I just wanted to apologize...that's all." Bonnie paused for a moment. "As for the change...let's just say I woke up in the morning a couple of days ago and didn't like who I finally saw in the mirror." She said in a defeated tone.

"Took long enough." Felix snorted and rolled his eyes. Bonnie only bowed her head further and he suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for her...but only a bit.

Ron sighed and glanced over to Doug. "Well...is she telling the truth?" Ron asked, his arms crossed.

Doug's eyes flashed crimson for a moment as he peered into Bonnie's thoughts. "Well Ron-man...she really is telling the truth, she is honestly sorry for her past actions." Doug said in a surprised tone.

"How do you know that?" Bonnie asked in a very confused tone. "It's not like you can read minds or something."

Doug cleared his throat but remained otherwise silent. Ron just shrugged. "Well guys should we show her?" He asked.

"Why not." Scott answered without emotion and shrugged.

Bonnie got an even more befuddled look as Scott, Ron and Doug stood up and walked to the center of the room. Her eyes then shot wide as Purple, Blue and Red auras surrounded their bodies and their eyes glowed to match their aura colors. She swayed a bit and then feinted from the shock. Felix shot over and caught her before she could hit the floor.

"Well she took that well." He chuckled. "She's out cold."

Disclaimer : We do not own Kim Possible

Authors : DragonMaster & Doug4422