A\N HI! UPDATE! Welp…I'm a bit scared. Last chapter got only 3 reviews (by the way, thank you 3, i really appreciate your comments). Usually i got at least 4-5 reviews, look at them, noting to myself what you readers think about it. Either half of the people were too busy to leave a review for a past 3 weeks (which will not surprise me by the way, i barely got free time myself recently), or some of my readers abandoned the story (i really hope it isn't the case). I know this story goes rather slowly, but i think it's necessary since in AU i have a whole new world and new statuses for characters to describe and develop.

And, as always…

READ AND REVIEW.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kim Possible.

Chapter 5

Food for thought

Loud music, a potent smell of alcohol all around, a big crowd of people crammed into the walls of the suburban house. House party, social event of connectivity and debauchery. A night full of expectations and impressions, hopes and disappointments, highs and lows.

With a red plastic cup, filled half-way with beer, Carl found himself an open spot to rest on. A couch in the room still had a space for him, right nearby a couple, who fell asleep on top of each other. He sat carefully, he didn't want to spill the beer, and looked around. Some familiar faces caught his attention. Jason, who clearly drank too much of a beer, were moving his blocky body out of the tact of music, but clearly was having a time of his life. Couple cheerleaders danced nearby, with their respective boyfriends at their side. And, what appeared to be the most interesting, Daemon, near the snack table, having a pleasant conversation with one of the prep girls. She was clearly flirting with him, down to getting really close to the guy, and putting her hand on his chest. After a quick peck on a cheek from her they are parted their ways. Daemon, with a smug smile, went toward the couch, and leaned his back to the wall near it.

"Having fun" he asked his friend, taking a good gulp from a bottle of beer in his hand.

"More or less." Carl answered. "So far the most interesting thing was Jason's drunken attempted to dance."

"He got wasted already?" Daemon laughed. "The guy can't hold a drink at all. At least he is having fun."

"I see you are not wasting your time here either. It's like you are asking for a trouble."

"What are you talking about?"

Carl raised a free hand and pointed towards a scantily clad girl, the one Daemon just talked to.

"I am talking about that." he stated. "Don't you think Kim will not be pleased when she'll hear about it?"

"Come on, man!" Daemon scoffed. "It was a meaningless flirt, that is all. This is how that kind of girl communicating. Nothing for Kim to worry about. And it's not like she is here today anyway."

"Rumors spread fast." Carl finished his cup of beverage. "And i would advise NOT to make Kim angry, if you treasure your health."

"Why is that?" Daemon was baffled by that statement.

"Because she could kick your ass into Sunday if she wants."

"I think you had enough bear for today." Daemon scoffed again.

"I'm telling you. She had a black belt in middle school. Once she put a creeper to the hospital."

"How do you know all that?"

"We were in the same classes in a middle school." Carl answered. "Come on, she is your girlfriend and you don't even know stuff like that."

"She looks good, she kisses good, that is what i know." Daemon took another gulp of beer. "Though it would be much more fun when she will let me into third base. Getting tired of being stuck on second."

'What did she finds in this asshole?' Carl thought bitterly. 'Not that i'm much better since i still hanging out with him. I need more beer.'

In a midst of a loud party, drunken and disoriented Jason was looking for a bathroom. His bladder refused to wait long. Staggering through the hallway he finally found a door conveniently marked with WC sign. However door was closed, and upon trying to force it to open he could hear girl's moaning on the other side.

"It's occupied…Bug off!" some guy's voice came from the closed room.

Getting a hint Jason moved away, thinking of an alternative. An idea came into his cloudy head. He dragged himself out of the house, towards the bushes near it. He smiled victoriously, watering poor plant.

"Dat's…better." He zipped his pants and came out of the bushes.

A low growl came from nearby. Jason turned his head toward the source of it, and instantly became paralyzed with fear. Shadows of the night, combined with blurry vision from drinking too much, didn't allow him to look clearly at it, but even in this condition he noticed how massive it was, and bright, shining, even in the dark, red eyes. Before Jason could make a single sound or move, he was grabbed by the side and, with enormous strength, thrown into the white wooden fence. His body broke through it and flew couple yards after that, smashing and rolling to the cold ground. The creature took a glance on him and ran into the shadows, fleeing from the scene.

"The hell was that ruckus?" tipsy teen went outside a moment later, and noticed broken fence, with the guy laying on a neighboring house. "Geez man, drank too much?"

Getting no response, boy decided to check on Jason. As he approached him, bleeding wounds became visible under the light of the moon.

"H-hey, dude…Dude?" teen started to panic and ran back to the house. "HEY! CALL 911!"

Couple days later, the news of the accident spread through the town like a wildfire. News reports collectively agreed that attack was made by a large animal, most possibly a bear. The victim, Jason, was in a state of shock and could barely explain who or what he met that day. The only description he could give is that it was large and had bloody-red eyes.

As soon as classes were over, Daemon, Carl and Kim went to visit Jason in the hospital. After asking at reception about their friend, they were led to his ward. Despite bruises, the biggest one being on his side, several broken ribs and concussion, he looked really relaxed and peaceful.

"Hey guys!" he smiled weary as he noticed them enter.

"Hey man! How are you here?" Carl asked, as Kim put a fruit basket on the nearest stand.

"Not so great at first." he answered. "But they gave me a shot, and now i'm feeling so great."

"They drugged you?" Kim raised a brow.

"I don't blame them." Jason shrugged. "I was screaming, shouting, also the amount of pain."

"Was it really a bear?" Daemon asked straightly.

"I don't know what it was." Jason's voice began to waver slightly. "All i remember that it was big and….red eyes…bright red eyes…"

"Hey, man, coach said that while you healing Mike will play instead." Carl immediately changed the topic, seeing a distress creeping on friend's face.

"Ah, Big Mike. Yeah, ok. He is good. But i'm better." boy calmed down again.

"We know, so don't worry and get better, buddy."

Kim tagged her boyfriend by the sleeve couple full steps from the bed.

"What the heck are you doing?" she hissed at him quietly. "Don't ask him about it! He is still in shock."

"First locker, now this. I don't believe it's a coincidence." he said back. "I bet that blond newbie is involved in this somehow."

"For the last time Daemon, he has nothing to do with this! Look at Jason! Ron isn't fit to do this damage."

"Ron?" Daemon looked in her eyes with a puzzled expression.

"It's his name. Heard it during the class." Kim added quickly. "Jason just has a really lousy luck at the moment, that's it."

"But…"

"Daemon…" she cut him off. "I understand that you are riled up, he is my friend too, but don't do anything rush, do you understand?"

"Yeah, i get it." Daemon breathed out.

"Good." Kim smirked.

They spend some time with Jason until nurse asked them to leave it, since patient needed some rest. Boys left the hospital, Kim however stayed. She thought about visiting her mother, since she is here anyway. By the memory her legs walked to the staffroom. After knocking politely, Kim slowly opened the door, entering the room. She smiled as her eyes noticed Ann Possible, slouching over pile of papers.

"Hey Mom!"

"Kim?" Ann turned her gaze from papers to her daughter. "Honey, what are you doing here? Have you hurt yourself?"

"No, no, just visiting a friend." Kim found a place to sit on a soft sofa.

"Ah, yes, you mentioned you were going to." Ann rubbed her eyes.

"Mom?" Kim noticed a tired look on her mother's face. "Are you feeling alright? You don't look so good."

"I'm fine Kimmie." Ann pulled a soft smile. "Just a bit tired, there is a lot of work recently. Not surprising since i took a leave for a month, must suffer the consequences now. By the way. How is Ron doing at school?"

"Ron?" Kim felt flustered. "Good, Pretty good."

"Kim." Mrs. Possible raised one brow.

"Well, thing is…we don't speak much at school. More like, don't speak at all, actually." Kim shrugged at shoulders a bit.

"Why? Did you quarrel?"

"No, not really. But i might said something bad to him."

"Oh Kimmie." Ann sighed.

"I know, i know. I'm working on fixing it. And it's not like he lacks a company in school anyway."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He found a friend, so, my help won't be needed, i think."

"A friend, huh." Ann smiled lightly again.

'And here was worried he would have trouble getting along with people after moving. Silly me.' Ann thought.

"Needless to say, i'm disappointed in you Kimmie." she said in soft tone.

"Sorry... I just..."

"I know, it's hard for you to adapt so fast to changes."

"Y-yeah." Kim blinked in surprise.

"It's hard for all of us, including Ron, Especially for Ron."

"Is it really that hard for him?" Kim asked. "I mean, he doesn't even look upset, or depressed. From the appearance of it he is taking it quite fine."

"Despite how much i want that to be true, sadly i knew his parents too well. Ron is much like them in this regard. I'm sure he doesn't want to bother us, or makes us worry. Trust me, after all that happened, no one can get back to normal life so fast."

Kim felt worse after hearing that. She didn't just called him a loser, or shunned him out of her social circle, she actually mentally kicked already wounded person in the gut. If she came clean that day and introduced him to school as a friend, Ron wouldn't get in trouble with Daemon and guys, and would start his life anew. But, because of her, it was no longer possible.

'Tara was right.' she thought and sighed. 'I am such a bitch.'

"Mom, i''m really sorry." she hanged her head.

"It's ok sweetie, i'm glad you understand now."

"I think i'll go now."

"See you at home." Ann gave a tired smile a wave her daughter.

After Kim waved back and left the room, Ann stood and went to the coffee maker. She still had a bunch of paperwork to revise before leaving home. All this talk about Ron shaken up a memory. How she ran inside his ward at Lowerton, and saw the boy. His head was bandaged, mild wounds on face and arms. Nurse notified Ann that poor boy didn't said a single word once they told him that his parents died in the car crash, and that he was the only survivor. When she entered the ward, he was just looked blankly at the wall. However once he noticed her, his face changed. Tears appeared in his eyes, and he opened his mouth trying to say something, but words refused to go out. Ann immediately ran to his side and hugged him, letting him sob on her shoulder.

"It's going to be fine Ron, you are going to be fine." she told to him, trying not to burst in tears herself.

"...fault" he barely spoke.

"What?"

"It's...my fault!" he said louder, still crying uncontrollably on her shoulder.

Ann took coffee mug in her hand and made several large gulps. Caffeine spread through her system, giving her a kick of energy, enough to survive the rest of a work day.

"Well." Ann moved her head from side to side, stretching her neck muscles. "Back to work!"

Meanwhile, in the Possible's house, James was going to kill 2 birds with one stone. He went upstairs and knocked couple times and, after hearing muffled "come in", opened door to Ron's room. Boy was sitting at the desk, with clearly chewed up pencil in his hand and a trigonometry book open before him.

"Am i interrupting?" James asked.

"No, Mr. Possible." Ron answered immediately and put the pencil down. "I just stuck a bit on one problem here. That's it."

"Let me see. Which one?"

"№ 34-5."

James looked over boy's shoulder, reading the problem from the textbook in his mind.

"Hm, this one is tricky, but not impossible." he nodded to himself. "I can help you with it."

"Really?"

"In return of a little favor."

"Sure!" he agreed, that problem messed with his brain for far too long.

"You see, Ann recently started to work extras, and she warned me she will be late today. At first i thought about ordering pizza, however, wouldn't it be better to make a dinner ourselves?"

"So you want me to help with dinner? Sure i'm in!"

"Good, nut before that we need to get groceries. And, we will have to drive there, is it ok?"

"It's..." Ron stalled a bit.

"Ronald, i know it's not easy for you to get in cars since the incident. But it won't get better unless you at least try to do something. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Ron nodded slowly.

"By the way, what i just said doesn't imply just to cars." James smirked slightly, seeing confusion on boy's face. "Anyway, let's go get some groceries."

A little more than hour later Kim, now at home, noticed as her father and Ron appeared inside, holding a full grocery bag. James explained to her an idea of surprise dinner for Ann. Kim agreed to help in a heartbeat. They considered inviting twins onto their little gig, but the fear of potato salad bursting in fireworks was too strong. Together they managed to cook everything just before Ann parked her car outside the house. As she entered her house she could smell a freshly made dinner even at the front door.

"What in the..." Ann entered the kitchen, laying her eyes on different dishes on the table.

"Welcome back Ann." James appeared at her side.

"Honey." Ann still stood with dumbfounded expression on her face. "Am i hallucinating?"

"Nope. Me, Ron and Kimmie made a dinner for you and all of us."

"Wait, you all did it?" Ann saw Kim bringing plates to the table, while Ron was washing his hands in a sink.

"You work so much recently, you deserved it more than anyone else." James sad lovingly.

"Thank you all." barely keeping her happy tears she smiled at them widely. "Thank you so much."