The Distraction: Chapter 2

"Would somebody please tell me why God hates me" Ron screamed into his cupped hands. "I mean, why am I suddenly His favorite yo yo. Somebody please make some sense of this. Is this good news bad news? What?" He whirled and nailed the punching bag with a frustrated fist.

"Son, please do not take His name in vain in our home," Dean's sudden grin flashed at his sons' back. "Calm down and we'll try to sort this out."

"I'm sorry Dad, Mom, it's just so…wait, Mom, you were a girl…."

"Oh, thank you very much." His mother glared at him.

Ron stared at Barbara blankly; his eyes popping wide as he belatedlyrealized his faux paux. "Oh, sh….I mean, ah, Dad", a pleading glance, "a little help here, please."

He remembered too many times his father wore that stone face and twinkling eyes, 'you dug this hole, let's see you get out.' His father was a great believer in experience being the best teacher.

Meeting his mother's eyes again Ronsaw that her gaze could freeze Diablo sauce. He began stuttering, "Ah, not that you're not still a girl…at heart…just a, ah, mature…ah…experienced...no, no…ah beautiful?" His glance began ricocheting between his solemn father and icy mother.

Barbara broke first, giggles escaping her as Dean began laughing loudly. Both stumbled to the futon, collapsing in hilarity.

"I'm glad I can amuse you two," Ron humphed, "next time my heart gets torn up I'll try to remember to wear a clown suit."

Dean stood to hug his son, still chuckling, "C'mon, son, we all needed to lighten up a bit. To paraphrase Kimberly, 'so the drama'."

Ron snorted.

"Would you like a little fatherly advice on the care and feeding of women?"

"Please."

"Number one, never comment on her weight, and number two, never ask or question her age."

"That's the sum total of your advise on women, oh wise and experienced father?"

"That's it, anything else; you're on your own."

Barbara could no longer maintain the glare she had been holding on her two men and broke out in laughter. "If you two wannabe Lotharios don't mind, can a woman get in this conversation?"

"Of course, dear."

"Oh, please do, Mom, please."

"All right, there are a great many different reasons why Kim could have reacted to your declaration as she did. No, I am not going to discuss them or conjecture tonight. So, are you ready for orders?"

"I guess so, Mom."

"You are going to do at least two hours of katas and work out. At that time your father will finish you with some stick fighting. At that point you should be tired enough to sleep rather than worry all night."

"But…"

"If that's not enough, I'll take you on with daggers. As to your quitting or leaving, before we discuss that we all need clear heads and calm minds. Agreed?"

"Ok, mom, I guess 'Mother does know best'."

"Believe it," she smiled, "now your father will stay and watch your technique while I go upstairs and shut everything off for the night."

Dean stood and helped his wife to her feet giving her a kiss on the cheek and whispering, "Hurry back, Sicarri, "

She hugged him, murmuring, "Always, Hagana," then left the room.

XXXXXXXXXX

Dean barely got the coffee started when he heard a tapping on the kitchen window. Reaching over the sink to part the curtain, he found James Possible looking at him. Dean shook his head and waved his visitor to the side door into the kitchen.

"James, I thought we agreed you were going to call this morning?"

"I know, Dean, and I apologize for being here this early." Dr. Possible answered in the same low tone Dean used. "I just haven't been able to sleep, so I thought I would come over and wait for you to wake up."

"All right, James, coffee?"

"Please, black."

"Let's sit on the patio so we don't wake Barbara or Ronald."

"Fine."

After a few moments sitting and sipping, Dr. Possible asked, "What did Ronald tell you?"

"Ah, James, on a tangent, you do realize that your Kimmie-cub is now a young woman, right."

"As much as I dread it, yes, I do."

"Would you tell me what she said?"

"That's why I couldn't sleep. All her mother could get out of her was 'he can't and I didn't' and tears."

After a mutually thoughtful silence, Dean commented "James, you do realize that between the two of us we know diddly about women, especially teenage women."

A chagrined half smile was his only answer.

"So, with that on the table here is what I know. Kimberly took Ronald to the prom." James nodded. "While at the prom, they danced and, brace your self, James, they kissed."

Dr. Possible frowned.

"Ok, after they left the prom, Ronald hugged her, kissed her again, and told her he loved her."

James began sputtering.

Dean held his hand up, palm forward, "Calm down, at that point Kim said something about, 'no I can't no' and ran home. That's what I know."

James' mouth opened and closed and he took a swallow of his coffee. "Ronald has always been a truthful young man, but that doesn't make any sense!"

Dean held up both hands in a 'don't ask me' gesture.

"Got any more coffee?"

"Sure."

The two fathers sat drinking coffee, talking in a desultory manner about various topics until Barbara walked out on the patio. "Good morning, dear," she kissed Dean on top of his head, "Hello, James. I've made another pot of coffee, when you two get ready. I heard Ron moving around so he should be down shortly. James, it's all right to scare Ron a little bit, but don't you dare traumatize him. Anne is picking me up and we're going to get some coffee away from all the male and teenage angst."

Both men gaped at her dumbfounded.

"Dean, if Ron isn't down in thirty minutes, you go up and bring him down. If nothing else, he can make breakfast for all of you. James, the twins are taken care of, so you stay here, if you like, or go to the lab, but do not go home until Anne calls you."

They all heard a car pull into the drive.

"That must be Anne. I'll be back as soon as we straighten this mess out. We and our children have been close too long to let this cause a rift. Bye, dear."

Barbara kissed her husband and walked away, and around the house.

James finally broke the stunned silence, "I guess it's true, it's the quiet ones you have to watch out for."

Dean grinned back, "Not always so quiet, she has a temper you wouldn't believe in private."

"I'm married to a redhead, I have a redheaded daughter." James grimaced, "there's nothing you can tell me about women's tempers. Only difference is mine don't always wait until we're private."

Ron shuffled onto the patio wearing pajama pants, holding a cup of coffee. "Dad, I…Mr. Dr. P.!"

XXXXXXXXXX

"Mom! Would you please tell me what Mrs. Dr. P. or Kim told you?"

"If you don't pay attention I'm going to get out the edged weapons instead of these dulled ones you've been barely dodging."

"Yep, uh huh, hink"

"Shut up, Rufus, or I'll cut your cheese ration," Ron gasped, barely dodging a knife, "traitor."

"Slow boy." Rufus jibed.

"Let's see how fast you'd be if you had the day I …whoa," twisting to let a dagger slice behind him, "Mom, wrong weapons, that one cut my gi!"

"That's right. Random edged. Wake up or I'll increase the percentage. Don't worry, Rufus, your cheese is safe."

"Ok, ok, I'll focus. And you can quit with the razz berries, rat."

Twenty minutes and one paper cut shallow slice later, Barbara allowed a rest.

"Ronnie that should not have happened. You cannot allow your self to be distracted. You know better than that."

"Yeah." Rufus agreed, pressing a band-aid to Ron's shoulder.

Looking around the hidden dojo, Ron sighed, "Is everybody gonna bust my chops today? First Dad and Mr. Dr. P., then you, Mom, and now Rufus. And I still haven't got any answers."

Rufus patted his head in sympathy as his mother smiled at him. "Ron, you know I would tell you if I knew anything. Anne is on your side, and I think James is too. I know this is an emotion packed situation for you, but think. You know Kimberly better than anyone, so you tell me, what is she doing?"

"Excuse me," Ron rose and walked to a small refrigerator, "you want anything mom?"

"Water, please."

Returning with their drinks, Ron sat and rubbed his forehead. Taking a swallow of his energy drink, he answered his mother. "Ok, if KP thinks she screwed up, she's going to hide from me for a couple of days, and then try and set it up so I'll be convinced that I'm the one who messed up."

"And if she just thinks she hurt you?"

"You know, mom," Ron said slowly, "if she just thought that, she would have been over here today offering me an explanation and a naco. Hmmmm. Maybe there is some hope."

Dean walked in in time to hear Ron's' last statement. "Well, if there is hope, maybe we can now have a serious discussion?"

Barbara and Ron looked at him, nodding agreement.

"Ron, I haven't taken any action about you wanting to give it up and leave. Off the top of my head, I'd say it would take four to six weeks to set up for a permanent move."

"What about when…"

"Yamanuchi? Special circumstances. Besides, you were returning. This time you wouldn't be coming back. Ever. So think hard about it before you decide."

"Thanks, Dad. I don't really want to go, it was just temper and hurt talking. But, those restraints you and Mom have in my clothes to make sure I stand and walk slouched and clumsy... at the end of the day, sometimes, I hurt worse than when the henchmen give me a beating."

Barbara's' eyes were moist as she reached to hug her son, "I'm really sorry, baby, but when you started growing so strong and tall, we had to do something to keep your cover."

"I don't blame you," Ron said, returning her embrace, "It's just that some days I get so tired of the pain and the ridicule. I want to show those stuck up bastards and bitches what I can do."

Ron looked into his father's sympathetic, remorseful eyes, " Dad, some days I just want to take a few scalps, y'know?"

"I understand, son, I sympathize, believe me. Have I ever told you how proud of you I am, how proud both your mother and I are that you are our son?"

"D-dad, I…" Ron choked.

"Enough of that," Den smiled, brushing his eyes, "Ron, you have to continue with the missions, the information you bring back is just too valuable. So, if Kimberly hasn't settled this by after school Monday, you will go to wherever she is, and be your usual inept, embarrassed self. You will either apologize to her or kiss her…"

"Dean Stoppable!"

"Sorry, dear, necessary …kiss her or whatever it takes to make up. Are we clear on that?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Son, I know how much you love Kimberly, and I hope she returns that love, but…"

"I understand, Sir, whatever it takes."