STANDARD DISCLAIMER:The characters of Kim Possible, Dr. James Timothy Possible, Dr. Anne Possible, Jim and Tim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Wade Load, Steve Barkin, Bonnie Rockwaller, Monique, Tara, Felix Renton, Rufus the Naked Mole Rat, Drew "Dr. Drakken" Lipsky, Shego, Dr. Dementor, Lord Montgomery "Monkey Fist" Fiske, Señor Senior Senior, Señor Senior Junior, Dr. Betty Director, Special Agent Will Du, Global Justice and any and all other minor characters/locations from the television series Kim Possible are the sole property of the Walt Disney Corporation, and are used herein without permission or contest to their ownership for the sole purpose of personal, non-profit entertainment. Any and all minor characters that have not appeared in the television series, and this storyline, are the sole creation and property of the author and may not be reproduced without prior consent (if you want to post it, just ask).

A/N: Well, after much consideration and re-writing and editing, here's Chapter Two for your reading and reviewing pleasure! Since I forgot when I posted the last chapter, I'm going to take a second and recognize those that took the time to read and review up to this point: Katsumara, KP's Man, Sentinel103, Screaming Phoenix, CajunBear73, shana elmsford, XanQenadius, Slipgate, jkrust78, Old Soldier, Reader101w, Yamal, bmwrider, Motofan713, AidanPryde001 and slightlyobsessedHaylz; thank you all for your kind words and for taking the time to post your thoughts. Your continued encouragement are just what this author needs to carry on with the labor of love this story arc has become.

Now that the touchy-feely stuff's out of the way; on with the story!

CHAPTER TWO

"I still don't know how I let you talk me into watching The Memopad," Ron groused as he stuffed a handful of popcorn into his mouth and sunk a little deeper into the couch in the Possible den. "You've seen this one already."

"What's wrong with that?" Kim countered as she took a couple of kernels from the large bowl in her boyfriend's lap. "I went to see it with Kate when she was Miss Go, but I still wanted to watch it with you."

"I missed Bricks of Fury: the Final Brickening because of that," he whined, "why can't we watch that instead?"

"Because I told you when we saw Bricks of Fury IV that I was never watching another one," she replied airily, taking a sip of her soda and snuggling closer to him. "Besides," she whispered huskily in his ear, "it could be worth your while later." For added effect, she nibbled seductively on his earlobe and sucked it gently before letting it slip from between her lips.

"Oh, really?" he managed to respond, his breathing and heart rate both accelerated by his girlfriend's actions.

"Mm-hmm," she hummed as her left hand slowly traced down his chest, coming to rest at the top edge of the waistband of his cargos. "It's been almost a week since the last time we spent the night together, and I sleep so much better when you're with me."

"Me too," Ron agreed once regained control of himself. Squeezing his left arm a little tighter around the lithe redhead's shoulders, he kissed her on top of the head. "I guess I can handle watching The Memopad if it makes my KP happy."

"That's my 'Potential Boy'," she giggled, reaching up to caress his cheek. "Now shush; it's just getting to the good part." Both teens fell silent as they returned their attention to the film playing on the massive television before them. It was the first time they'd had a chance to spend some real "alone" time since the night Drakken had been captured and both of them hoped to capitalize on it with dinner (the couple had finally managed to have their date at Muddrakker's after Ron's shift ended) and the movie they were in the process of watching before retiring for the night.

Before either of them knew it, the end credits had started scrolling on the screen. "See, baby?" she said, turning to look up at him again. "That wasn't so bad, now, was it?"

"The movie? There's not enough brain soap in the world to wash that memory away," he answered before looking down to meet her gaze, his trademark lopsided grin on his face, "but two hours of sitting here with you like this more than makes up for it."

"Nice save," she deadpanned as she leaned up to kiss him tenderly. "I think I'll keep you around, despite your horrid taste in movies."

"Booyah," he whispered as he bent down to kiss her again, this time a bit deeper than before. Before they got any further into what could easily have turned into a heavy make-out session (which, in turn, could have turned into the two of them heading for Kim's bedroom), though, they were startled apart by the front door opening and Kim's mother entering.

"Hey Mom," Kim said with a grin as she extracted herself from Ron's grasp and went to meet her mother at the door. "How was your night?"

"Full of unexpected yet pleasant surprises," Anne replied as she kicked her shoes off. "Lacey and Barb couldn't make it, but I ran into Kate and we made a night out of it."

"I would almost pay to see that," the teen heroine chuckled as the two women returned to the living room and sat down; Kim with Ron on the couch and Anne in the easy chair normally occupied by her husband, "my mother and one of my best friends having drinks together at a bar."

"Neither one of us drank that much," the neurosurgeon said, "we were too busy dancing most of the night."

"Well, at least you managed to salvage your night," her daughter said with a grin.

"This is true," Anne agreed with a nod as she pushed her hair out of her face, "but I think the night went better for Kate than it did for me."

"Oh, God," Kim moaned, slapping a hand over her eyes, "please tell me she didn't…"

"No, no; nothing like that," Anne interjected with a wave of her hand as she realized what Kim probably was thinking. "She ran into an old friend she'd fallen out of touch with before she was hit with the comet radiation; when I left they were on their way to a diner up the street to catch up more."

"Didn't they spend all night catching up at the bar?" Ron asked.

"They didn't have much opportunity to talk while we were at the bar; he was with the band."

"So she still left with a guy," Kim surmised with a scowl.

"Kimmie, you have to remember that Kate's a grown woman and can make her own decisions," her mother chided gently, "and considering she described him as 'her Ron', I don't really think there's much to worry about."

"Yeah, I know," Kim sighed as she raked her right hand through her auburn mane, "but she's my friend and I still worry about her… even though I know she's the last person I have to worry about when it comes to that sort of thing."

"Yeah," Ron chimed in, "any dude that tried to put one too many moves on Kate, they'd be one hurting unit by the time she finished with them."

"I think that's a fair assessment, Ron," Anne laughed, "even without the comet powers."

Kim nodded with a pensive expression on her face as she considered something her mother had said. "You said Kate described this guy as her Ron," she finally said, "did she explain what context she meant that?"

"Kind of, but not exactly," she replied with an understanding grin. "I'm paraphrasing, of course, but she basically told me he was her voice of reason when they were teenagers until he moved away, not long before she and her brothers were hit by the comet. She seems to honestly believe that if he hadn't fallen out of touch with her, she never would have taken up the villainous henchwoman lifestyle; she figures he would've talked her into doing something more productive."

"So she wouldn't have left Team Go?"

"Well, that's what I thought when she said that, too, but apparently they were just as hard to live with before they got their powers as they are now," the physician replied. "Don't get me wrong; from what I gathered when she talked about them, I think she still loves her brothers, she just can't handle them for any great amount of time."

"Between Hego's constant prattling about the responsibility they took on when they got their powers and Mego's bloated ego, I can't really say I blame her," Kim said wryly. "The Tweebs are bad enough to deal with, but at least they're not prone to ego trips or speeches about only using their powers for good."

"To be fair, though, the Wego twins aren't that bad," Ron interjected. "They just seem like typical teenagers that just happen to be able to copy themselves."

"Oh yeah, they're definitely easier to handle than Ego and Blowhard," Kim agreed with a nod, "and Kate's said as much, but I don't think they're enough to offset the other two."

"KP, I don't think Mother Teresa would be enough to offset the other two."

"Probably not," she agreed, turning to face her mother again. "So she probably means he's her Ron in the best friend context."

"That's what I gathered, yeah," Anne nodded. "Even though they've been out of touch for ten years, it was obvious they had a special connection; they were talking like no time had passed between them when I left."

Kim cast a loving glance over her shoulder at her boyfriend. "I don't know about you, but I don't want to find out what it would be like to not have you around for ten years," she said, reaching back and placing a hand on his knee.

"Me either," he replied, taking her hand in his and giving it a tender squeeze, "but I think it would probably be the same thing."

"I'd still rather not test that theory," she said dryly, settling into his embrace. "I have every intention of keeping you around for a long time, Mr. Stoppable."

Anne smiled fondly at the two teenagers that she'd watched grow up and together over the years. It never ceased to warm her heart to see the two of them sharing tender moments such as the one she was currently witnessing; she would never admit it to either of them, but she'd always hoped she would see the day when her daughter would recognize how much of a man she had right before her, and she silently rejoiced when that fateful night of the junior prom came about and finally brought them together.

Her moment of reflection was interrupted by Kim's voice. "Hey Mom, are you okay?" she asked.

Blinking, the elder redhead chuckled softly as she met Kim's gaze. "Sorry, Kimmie; got lost in thought and zoned out, I guess," she said. Stifling a yawn, she rose from the recliner and approached the two teens, bending down to kiss each of them on the cheek. "I'm gonna take that as a hint and go to bed now; I'll see you both in the morning?"

"You bet," Ron replied with a grin.

"Good," she said, smiling warmly at both of them. "Good night, you two."

"Night, Mom."

"Night, Anne."

As the two of them watched the elder redhead's receding form, Kim turned to Ron with a bemused smirk. "I still have a hard time grasping the fact you're on a first-name basis with my parents," she said with a shake of her head.

"What's so hard to grasp about it?" he asked as they rose to their feet. "She's the one that started it, after all; besides, Mom and Dad want you to start, too."

"I know," she sighed, "but your parents have been Mr. and Mrs. Stoppable to me for so long, it's a hard habit to break."

Ron nodded as they made their way to the staircase. "Yeah, I still have to remind myself, but the look on your mom's face every time I call her by her first name helps."

"Just wait till she asks you to call her 'Mom'," she quipped, pinching his backside with a mischievous giggle.

An almost horrified expression crossed his face, stopping him cold halfway up the stairs. "What're you getting at? Did she say she was gonna ask me to start calling her 'Mom'? I'm not ready for that yet!" he babbled, overreacting in his own unique way. "You're not supposed to call your girlfriend's mother 'Mom'!"

"Ron, calm down," Kim said, placing a soothing hand on her boyfriend's cheek. "She made a wisecrack about it when I asked her about you being on a first-name basis, but she wasn't serious; even she said it was too early for that."

The towheaded teen exhaled a sigh of relief as they continued up the stairs, side-by-side. "Guess I kinda overreacted there, huh?" he chuckled wryly.

"It's okay, baby; I'm used to it," she replied with a teasing wink as they climbed the wrought-iron staircase to her loft bedroom. "Now, come on; let's go to bed."

Responding with only a smile, Ron followed her the rest of the way up the wrought-iron staircase and into her bedroom, pausing just long enough to close and lock the trap door while Kim went into the adjacent bathroom and started brushing her teeth. That done, he peeled his shirt over his head and draped it over his shoulder as he stepped up alongside her and retrieved his toothbrush from the cup on the edge of the sink.

Kim couldn't help but watch her boyfriend's reflection in the mirror as she continued brushing. While there was nothing overly sexy or arousing about somebody brushing their teeth, the act of sharing that moment with him, standing side-by-side at the sink, just seemed that much more domestic; the sort of moment she could easily see the two of them sharing just about every night for many years to come… provided, of course, things kept going the way they appeared to be. Smiling to herself, she finished brushing and rinsing before leaving Ron to finish as she returned to the bedroom to get ready for bed.

Ron finished not long after Kim and returned to the bedroom, just in time to see his girlfriend remove her underwear and toss them into the clothes hamper, climbing into bed wearing just the gold chain and locket he'd given her for her birthday. Blinking a couple of times, the young man merely stared at her, unsure of what to say. "KP?" he finally managed to stammer after a few attempts.

Kim smiled both lovingly and just a little seductively at him as she watched him slowly digest what he'd just seen. "Ron, I know you gave me your football jersey and one of your red jerseys for nightshirts, but after the last night we spent together, I only want to feel you against me," she whispered, "not cotton or polyester."

Her voice seemed to snap him out of his trance as the deer-in-the-headlights look he wore slowly morphed into a smile. "And here I thought I was the only one," he murmured as he tossed his shirt into the hamper, the rest of his clothes soon joining it before he slid under the covers; Kim immediately snuggling tight to him before he'd even had a chance to settle in. "Yup, could definitely get used to this," he commented as he wrapped his left arm around Kim's shoulders and pulled her that much tighter against him, their bodies seeming to mold together perfectly.

"You and me both," she replied softly, settling her head on his shoulder and running her left hand tenderly across his chest, letting it come to rest on his deltoid muscle. "I love you, baby."

"I love you too, Kim," he whispered, turning to gaze into the shining emerald orbs that stared back up at him.

"Then come here and kiss me," she said as she gently pulled on his right shoulder, rolling him onto his side to face her and claiming his mouth with hers. He responded by wrapping his arms around her and drawing her close, their legs intertwining as the kiss slowly deepened. Rather than stop when he was facing her on his side, Ron continued to roll them over until he was lying on top of her, supporting his weight on his elbows but keeping his body in contact with hers; Kim responded with a low, soft moan as she ran her hands through his unruly hair.

Before long, the two had to break the kiss they'd been sharing in order to catch their breath a bit. Ron leaned back just far enough to gaze into Kim's eyes, his right hand brushing a couple of stray hairs from her face as he rested his forehead against hers. "Hey there, beautiful," he whispered, kissing the tip of her nose lightly.

"Hey yourself, handsome," she replied, smiling warmly at him as she ran her hands along his back and sides before slipping her right hand between their bodies and gently curling it around what was quickly becoming one of her favorite parts of her boyfriend's anatomy; one that was very obviously reacting to their present situation. "And just what do you plan on doing with this?" she teased with a playful twinkle in her eye, squeezing just a little for emphasis.

Ron's eyes almost involuntarily crossed at the pressure she applied. "Um, well…" he stammered, unsure of how to answer her question.

"I have an idea," she whispered huskily as she adjusted her position beneath him and raised her hips slightly, allowing him to easily join with her.

"I like the way you think," he replied as he followed her lead.

Kim responded with a long, low moan and opened her eyes again as the union was completed, gazing deeply into Ron's dark-brown ones with a desire he'd never seen before etched on her face. "I thought you might," she murmured, cradling his face in her hands as they started moving together. In complete contrast to their first time, they had no trouble finding a pace that was comfortable for both of them; their movements much more natural and relaxed as they enjoyed each other.

One lesson they'd learned from their first time was the fact that the journey is every bit as important as the destination; maybe even more so. With that knowledge, they were able to find ways to make their voyage that much more enjoyable; their hands, mouths and voices all contributing to enhancing the overall atmosphere.

Afterwards, the young lovers lay cuddling; again with Ron on his back and Kim nestled against his left side, her arm draped across his midriff and her head resting on his shoulder, their bodies covered in a light sheen of sweat. Kim purred contentedly as she settled into his warm embrace, lightly kissing his neck as he squeezed his arm gently around her shoulders. "I love you, baby," she whispered softly, snuggling just a little tighter to him and closing her eyes.

"Love you too, KP," he replied as his eyes slowly closed. Before long both were sound asleep with content smiles on their faces.

While two life-long friends were settling in for peaceful slumber, two reunited friends were catching up on lost time over coffee and a light snack at an all-night diner. Even though it had been ten years since they had last seen each other, neither Kate nor Jake had any problem picking up where they left off. The biggest challenge—for Kate, anyway—was explaining what led her to her old life and how she finally managed to extract herself from it, make a clean break and start fresh legitimately.

"…so I finally had enough of Kieran and his idiotic sense of righteousness; without Mom or Dad around to help me keep my sanity, I just kinda went into a tailspin and made it on the news for all the wrong reasons," she said with a shrug and a hint of regret. "Thanks to Kim and her connections, I was able to pull out of it and go straight and, well… here I am today."

"Wow, Katie… I'm sorry about your parents; I had no idea," Jake said, shaking his head sadly. "What happened?"

Another sad sigh escaped Kate's lips as she remembered getting the news. "It was their anniversary," she said, "and they decided to go see the Go City Philharmonic and have a nice dinner. They were walking home when a guy Dad put away thirty years ago recognized him and jumped them; it was all over the Go Gazette when it happened: 'Released Criminal Murders Arresting Officer and Wife'."

Jake just shook his head again as he looked at his sandwich. "I know it's been the better part of ten years, but I'm gonna exercise my best friend license and say this: it's no wonder you went down the road you went down."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean, Jake?" she snapped, mildly offended by his comment. If it'd been anybody else besides him—and maybe Kim, now—that made the comment, she likely would've punched them between the eyes right there. As it was, she shot him a dirty look; mildly impressed when his gaze never wavered. Even after all this time, I still can't give him the stink eye and make him flinch, she thought as she watched him take a bite of his sandwich.

"Katie, we both know your older brothers are idiots," he began once he'd swallowed his mouthful of smoked beef on rye, "and I'm sure your parents were the only thing that kept you sane when you moved into that monstrosity on the lake. Without them around, it was only a matter of time before you had to get out of there; hell, I'm surprised you didn't kill Kevin on your way out."

"If he hadn't shrunk down to the size of an ant and hid somewhere—he still hasn't told me where—I think I would've," she replied with a wry grin. "Jake, I know I've said this before and it's been too long since the last time I did, but you know me too well for my own good; you know that?"

He laughed as he picked up his coffee and took a sip. "Yeah, I know," he said, putting the last of his sandwich into his mouth.

"So tell me something," Kate said as she watched him chew, "what've you been doing these last ten years? I mean, you know pretty well everything I've done—if you don't, there are enough news articles online you can fill in the blanks with—but you haven't told me what you've done with yourself."

"I was wondering when we were gonna get to that," he chuckled, sipping his coffee. "Well, it goes without saying that my life hasn't been anywhere near as eventful as yours—"

"No kidding," she interjected.

"—and, since there aren't any news articles about me, I guess I should probably fill you in," he continued, ignoring Kate's outburst. "We moved to Upperton from Go City and I graduated from Upperton High School; I took a year and worked while I thought about what I wanted to do for a living and started college the next fall."

"So what're you doing now? When you're not playing in a bar band, that is."

"I decided to major in Forensics when I was a freshman—thought I wanted to be the next Nick Stokes and the CSI kick was in full force at the time—but by the time graduation day came around, I decided that wasn't for me."

"You always were the science nut," Kate commented with a nod, "but if you didn't go into Forensics by trade, what else could you do with a Bachelor's degree in it?"

He chuckled as he swirled his coffee cup around, watching the liquid slosh about. "I decided I wanted to be closer to the action, so I signed up to the Upperton Police Academy… I'm a cop."

A confused expression crossed Kate's face as she registered what he'd just said. "Hang on a minute," she said, holding a hand up in a "halt" gesture. "How does the son of a business exec and an accountant come out as a cop?"

Jake gazed for a long moment at his rediscovered friend across the table before he answered. "Your dad," he finally said softly. "I remember how much we both looked up to him when we were kids; out there helping people, catching the bad guys and putting them where they couldn't hurt anybody anymore… I wanted to have a part in making the streets of my town that much safer."

"Are you still uniform?"

He shook his head in the negative. "No, I went plainclothes about three months ago; one of the detectives took a desk job and I moved up on merit," he replied, shrugging slightly. "Only difference is I get to wear blue jeans to work instead of a uniform and a slightly bigger paycheck… just enough to make the IRS love me that much more."

"I bet," Kate laughed as she drained her coffee cup and put it down in front of her. She was silent for a moment as she stared at the white porcelain mug; when she finally spoke again, it was in a low voice that Jake almost had to strain to hear. "Y'know, before everything went to shit and I ended up on the wrong side, I wanted to be a cop like Dad, too," she said, her fingers idly toying with the handle of the coffee cup.

"So what's stopping you now?" Jake countered, his gaze never leaving his friend, even as she kept her eyes diverted from him, taking feigned interest in the cup before her. "Katie, I can tell you first-hand that any force would love to have you carrying their badge."

"That ship's sailed, Jake," she said, shaking her head as she looked at him. "Sure, a chief or a captain would love the idea of having somebody like me on their force, but what's to say one of the officers didn't suffer because of something I'd done? Or worse, what about the civilians in that force's jurisdiction? How many of them would trust somebody that's been on the news actively breaking laws without any sign of remorse or guilt? I'd be lucky to only have to deal with one lynch mob a night."

"I see your point," he said, nodding. "So if that career's off the table, what other options do you have?"

"One thing I did manage to do between leaving my brothers and teaming up with Drakken was get a Childhood Development degree with a Psych minor; when Electronique zapped us and turned me into a simpering goody-goody, I used it to hide from the boys as a teacher in Middleton."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"In a way, yeah; I have an interview at Middleton High tomorrow afternoon to teach algebra and introductory trig in September," she replied with a lopsided grin. "Quite a switch from global domination, huh?"

Jake could merely gape at his dearest friend for several heartbeats, after which he erupted in hearty laughter. "As long as I've known you, the last thing I would've ever pictured you doing was teaching high school!" he gasped, running a hand over his face as his laughter subsided. "I'm sorry, Katie; I'm really not laughing at you, it's just 'teacher' is not a career that comes to mind when I think of you."

Despite his reaction, Kate laughed, too. "It's okay, Jake; if you'd asked me fifteen years ago what I was gonna do with my life, teacher was definitely not an answer I would've given," she said, running her left hand through her hair. As she did, she glanced at her watch, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw the time. "Holy crap, is it really four AM?" she exclaimed.

"It is," he confirmed, looking at his own watch. Rising from his seat, he withdrew a rumpled wad of bills from his pants pocket and looked at the single check the waitress had left on the table. "As much as I'd like to sit here and catch up until the sun comes up, I should really get home and try to get a little sleep; I've got second shift tomorrow… or today, depending how you look at it," he added, stifling a yawn.

"Okay, now you're just trying to make me feel bad for keeping you out all night," Kate teased as she slid out of her seat and started rummaging in her purse. "Well, it ain't gonna happen; you're a big boy and you can make your own decisions."

"No guilt trips, Katie; unlike some people, I take responsibility for my own actions," he replied, peeling a couple of bills from a rumpled wad he'd taken from his pocket. "That'll cover the check; you got the tip this time?"

"Only if you stick to that instead of insisting on paying every time we go somewhere," she groused as he squared up the bill with the waitress. "I'm pretty sure I missed about six turns if you count when we were kids."

"I'll try to remember, but only if you promise it won't take another ten years for the next time to come," he replied as she put the tip on the table.

"I don't think that'll be a problem; just remember to give me your phone number," she said as they made their way to their vehicles.

Reaching into his jacket pocket, Jake withdrew his phone and passed it to her as he fished his keys from another pocket. "Here, just program your number into my phone and give me yours," he said. "That's just as easy."

"Fair enough," she replied, pulling her phone from her purse and handing it to him as she accepted his. The two quickly added their information to each other's phones and returned them, each with a broad smile on their faces. "There; now there are no excuses to fall out of touch again," she said as she returned her phone to her purse and extracted her car key, "unless I keep you out too many nights when you have to work the next day and die of exhaustion."

"I'm a cop, Katie; getting through a shift on willpower and caffeine is nothing new," he replied, unlocking his pickup and opening the door. "It just means I have to super-size when I get my morning coffee."

"Either way I'm gonna try to not make a habit out of it."

"Greatly appreciated," he chuckled. "So I'll give you a shout after I get off work?"

"I won't forgive you if you don't," she replied with a twinkle in her eye. "Now, I just have one last question before we part ways for the night."

"Ask away."

"King of the Hill?" she asked with an eyebrow quirked incredulously, her arms folded across her chest. "You open your encore with the theme song to King of the Hill?"

"It's called 'Yahoos and Triangles', Katie; and yes, we open the encore with it," he said. "It was one of the first songs we played together as a group and we decided it would be a neat way to open the encore… not to mention it's always a crowd pleaser."

"I noticed," she replied dryly, remembering the cheers from the crowd. "Anyway, you look like you're about dead on your feet and you have to work later; come here and give me another hug and go home," she said, holding her arms open and approaching him, "we'll talk again later."

"Okay, Katie," he said as he accepted and reciprocated the hug, "drive safe; I'll talk to you later."

"I'm looking forward to it," she replied as they separated and he climbed into his pickup. Going around to the driver's side of her car, she stood and watched Jake's late-model Ford pickup pulled into traffic before finally climbing into her car with a grin; one that was quickly overtaken by a yawn that threatened to dislocate her jaw. Guess he's not the only one that's beyond tired tonight, she thought as she started her car and made her way back to the Global Justice complex.

Savannah Tucker's mood was certainly not one anybody would mistake for cheerful as she was escorted between two guards from her cell at the Colorado Springs detention center. Clad in a stereotypical orange jumpsuit and fitted with handcuffs and leg irons, the twenty-six year old woman was on her way to a date with a team of US Marshals tasked with the assignment of transporting her from her current temporary lodgings to a more permanent home at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, where she was slated to await trial.

She barely noticed the path they took as her escorts guided her through the corridors of the holding facility; the myriad twists and turns from her cell to the prisoner shipping and receiving area all blending together as they traversed them. It was only when they crossed the threshold of one door and outside that she bothered taking notice of her surroundings… namely the unmarked, black Chevrolet cargo van that stood by itself in the yard and the two US Marshals waiting by the side doors.

All in all, it was a pretty standard prisoner pickup; as soon as they noticed the prisoner being led through the doors, the male marshal opened the van's side door and withdrew a set of aluminum steps designed to allow a shackled prisoner to climb into the vehicle without removing the restraints. Meanwhile, the female marshal approached one of the guards and handed him a clipboard that bore a release form, transferring custody of the prisoner from the Colorado Springs Detention Center to the US Marshals; at the same time, she signed a form the guard passed her to confirm that custody had been transferred and the prisoner had been collected by the marshals, thereby clearing the Colorado Springs jail of any responsibility concerning the inmate in question.

The entire handover from the prison guards to the marshals might have taken a minute and a half; probably less, by Tucker's estimation. Once the forms were filled out, the female marshal took her by the elbow and led her to the van, where she helped her board before climbing in behind her; her partner put the steps back into the van and closed the door as soon as the way was clear. Turning to the two guards that stood and watched them, he touched the bill of his cap and went around to the driver's door and climbed in. Moments later, the vehicle pulled away, through the compound's gates and into the early morning traffic.

Barely five minutes out of the prison, the marshal sitting beside the prisoner smiled. "We're not who you think we are, Miss Tucker," she said mysteriously.

Tucker glared balefully at the woman and scowled. "What the fuck are you talking about?" she snarked. "You're a marshal and I'm headed for Dublin; sounds pretty straightforward to me."

"See, that's who you think we are," the woman replied. "In reality, we're your ticket to freedom… or, at least, we can be."

"I'm listening," Tucker said warily.

The "marshal" adjusted herself in her seat before speaking again. "Well, you probably knew that you actually were scheduled to be moved to Dublin this morning, but we—diverted, if you will—your scheduled escorts for this morning and replaced them; we feel that your talents would be better served helping our organization than they would locked in prison."

"And just what 'organization' do you represent?"

"All will be answered when we arrive at our destination, but first we have to get you out of your less-than-fashionable jumpsuit and those horrid accessories," the woman said as she left her seat and approached Tucker, a handcuff key in her right hand.

"So how do you know I'm not gonna turn the tables on you as soon as you take my jewelry off?"

Her mysterious benefactor merely smirked. "You're outnumbered and outgunned three to one and in a van traveling seventy miles an hour on the interstate… you tell me how I'm sure."

Tucker chuckled as her ankles were freed. "Fair enough," she said, "but just out of curiosity, what happened to my 'scheduled escorts'?"

This time the woman actually laughed as she removed the handcuffs. "Our technical department hacked the US Marshal's assignment department and re-assigned them to patrol a flight to Boston; they should be sitting at Logan right about now, trying to figure out why they haven't got a return-flight assignment."

"Nice," Tucker laughed as she rubbed her chafed wrists. As she watched the other woman start withdrawing items of clothing—which she assumed were for her to change into—from a duffel bag, she voiced the next obvious question that was weighing on her mind. "So now for the sixty-four-thousand dollar question… why would anybody go through all this effort just to spring me from the Crowbar Hotel? I know you don't work for anybody I know or associated with."

The other woman smiled sympathetically as she handed Tucker the clothes and closed the partition leading to the cab area of the van, effectively giving the liberated prisoner some privacy. "Afraid I can't answer that one for you either, Miss Tucker; you'll just have to wait until we get to where we're going and your questions will be answered then."

"Nothing like keeping a girl in suspense," Tucker proclaimed flatly as she quickly changed from her jumpsuit into the surprisingly-stylish jeans and blouse she'd been supplied.

"Yeah, that's how it was when they picked me up, too; stuck in the back of a van for a six-hour drive to an office building in Albuquerque where some dude that you don't know from Adam gives you the choice to either work for him or go back to prison."

"Weird place to set up shop," Tucker commented wryly as she re-tied her sneakers and settled into her seat again. "What's in Albuquerque that makes it so appealing?"

"Absolutely nothing, which is exactly why it's so appealing. Aside from having to worry about illegals getting across the border from Mexico, pretty much the entire state is one big snore… but then again, you knew that; having been right on the border with your old employer."

Tucker's eyes narrowed suspiciously at the woman seated across from her. "How did you know about that?" she asked.

"Oh, we know all about you… Peregrine," she answered with a knowing smirk. "Why else do you think we picked you to join us?"

"You've certainly got me at a disadvantage," Tucker said with a scowl. She knew she shouldn't have been surprised these people knew who she was and why she was in prison, but it still rattled her to have the woman seated beside her address her by her pseudonym. "I don't have the first clue who you are or why you want me; but it seems like you know me right down to my blood type."

"O-positive," she retorted with a smirk before turning serious again. "I'm sorry we can't tell you more right now—like I said, it was the same when they picked me up—but trust me, the end will justify the means; both for us and for you."

Understanding how less-than-mainstream organizations sometimes worked, Tucker nodded and leaned back in her seat in an attempt to get more comfortable. "Just wake me up when we get where we're going," she muttered as she closed her eyes, settling in for the trip ahead.

A/N: Okay, I know this chapter's pretty short by my standards, but I figured this was a good spot to end it. Not much happening here aside from a little reconnection between reunited friends and the return of someone that I don't think any of our heroes will be happy to see; if and when their paths cross again.

Oh, and for those that are wondering; the theme song to King of the Hill is really titled "Yahoos and Triangles."

As always, leave a review and get a response!

Cheers,
Deuce