The Distraction: Chapter 4
I.
Looking around the safe room/dojo, Dean Stoppable remembered all the times within its' walls. He remembered Ronnie trying so hard to do what Daddy wanted; he had been such a happy child, always trying to please. So happy and proud of the new friend he had made. Not understanding why he couldn't show his friend what he knew when she started her kung fu training, but trusting his Daddy when told not to. Hurt and sulking when his friend admired other martial students he knew he could take without breaking a sweat; but always believing a sympathetic but denying Daddy and Mama when told to play the fool.
Tears of pain for what he and Barbara had done to their son, tears of pride in the fine young man Ronald had become stung Dean's eyes. Ronald, a man a father could be proud of, a magnificent warrior for humanity. Pride stung Dean's eyes as he waited for his family to join him, and he remembered.
II.
Jerusalem 1984
HM1 Dean Adams Stoppable had come to the sacred city to try to find some peace for his soul. Walking the Villa Delarosa, standing in the tomb of Christ, listening to the hucksters and charlatans, had only made him question his faith. The peace he sought continued to elude him.
The padre and the councilor had helped him convince the CO that the trip might help him return to full duty. At the skipper's objections Dean had argued that no one would believe him to be what he was. After all, his non regulation hair, medium height, and, when clothed, average appearing physique did not fit the public image of a Budweiser bearer. The skipper had laughed, and then reluctantly agreed to Dean's leave. Cautioning his most non-descript troop to keep a low profile.
Sitting under a canopy at the open air café Dean still got a small smile remembering the skipper's worries. His team had never operated in Israel, and as far as he knew, none of those he had hunted were within a thousand kliks. The smile faded as he wondered whether this trip had been a complete waste of time. His gentle mother had advised him to put his faith in God, to trust the lord, but he had been unable to tell her the cause of his sudden lapse in faith. She thought he worked in a naval hospital. While she sympathized with what she thought was his overreaction to emergency room traumas, she really couldn't understand what she considered his inordinate response. Dean shook his head, whatever his answers were; he did not think they were with God, or this crumbling ancient city.
He was sitting pondering his next move over coffee when his training kicked in. The three young Arabs loitering just outside of the modish restaurant across the street were tickling something in his memory. "Got it! That one is the sonuvabitch that tried to gut Tommy in Tripoli. What the hell is he doing here? And his buddy, for somebody with such a skinny face, he's sure got a fair sized gut. Gut, Oh Shit!"
Dean grabbed two steak knives from the tables as he raced toward the street. "BOMB!" He screamed, trying frantically to remember the Hebrew. "Bomb, goddammit!"
The three men whirled towards him, two reaching into their jackets. Within ten feet, Dean palmed one of the knives, throwing as he had been trained. The Arab with the belly gurgled and dropped, hands grasping the knife handle protruding from his throat. People were running away, through the glass Dean could see the restaurant emptying out through the rear. Before he could get close enough to use his second knife, a bullet from a snub nosed nine millimeter struck him in the left shoulder, spinning him around and down. From the ground, he saw the terrorist sprint away, while the unknown knelt beside his dead companion.
Dean had forced himself to his knees, his useless left arm swinging, when he saw a slender young blonde woman racing toward the two terrorists. A quick glance told him she would never reach them before the live one could set off the explosives wrapped around the body. Lurching to his feet, he stumbled forward, intercepting her with a clumsy tackle that slammed them both into the wall, just as a concussion wave and noise washed over them. Dean felt himself lifted and flung forward, his arm still around the girl, and then he met the street.
III.
"Dad? Are you all right?"
"Just thinking, Ronald," Dean turned to smile at his son, "About ready to hear your summer vacation plans?"
Ron groaned, "Dad, if the actuary business ever goes down the tubes, trust me, travel agent is not a career option."
Dean grinned, "I'll remember that. In the mean time, your plane leaves one week after school ends, so enjoy your remaining time with Kimberly. From what he said, the program Sensei set up should be quite, ah, interesting."
"Four AM, why me?"
"Oh no, Ronnie," his mother corrected him, smiling, "the four AM wake up call is out this year."
"Really? Hallelujah!"
"I'm glad you think so, dear," Barbara smiled, "no four o'clock wake up. I understand you impressed Sensei so much he put you on the expedited program, three AM."
A horrified Ron stared at his dead pan faced mother, "Three?" he croaked.
"Three."
"Look at the bright side," Dean cracked, "This time you'll be too tired to complain about the sleeping mat."
Ron looked at his father with wounded, betrayed eyes.
"I don't know what you'll be doing the last three weeks," Dean said, suddenly serious. "He wouldn't tell me. But I don't think you'll be at Yamanouchi. That's all I can tell you."
"Ok, Dad, I think I'll go get some sleep now, I'm picking Kim up early for breakfast tomorrow before school."
"Go ahead, son, sleep good."
IV.
Tap…tap…tap….tap.
Kim rolled over and pulled the covers over her head.
Tap…tap…tap…tap.
Her pillow joined the covers.
"And she says I'm hard to wake up." Ron sighed. "Always the hard way, never the easy way."
He slipped the window up and slid into her bedroom. Easing over to the bed, he noticed one small bare foot jutting out from the cocoon.
His wiggling palm started to reach, "Noooo, better not." Ron moved up to the head of the bed, casting a regretful look at the extended foot. "But it is tempting. I ought to get some massive brownie points somewhere for passing this up."
Reaching down, he gently removed the pillow from his Kim's clutching fingers. Smoothing her soft hair back, he softly kissed her ear.
"Kimmie."
"ummugglela"
"Kimmie."
"lemeamougala."
"Time to bring up the big guns." He eased a large hand under the blanket, sneaking it under her top to her shoulders. His fingers began a light massage.
"Kiiimmee."
"Ummmm."
"Wakee, wakee.
"Don' wanna."
His fingers ceased.
"Ronnieee, don' stop." Her head turned toward him.
He resumed his massage. His lips moved to place a light kiss on hers.
"Kimmie."
Her eyes barely cracked as her arms came up around his neck, pulling him down. As he fell on the bed, a warm body cuddled close.
Ron eased his arm under her head; she smiled as her new pillow pulled her close.
"Kimmie, come on, KP, breakfast time." He whispered.
Her eyes never opened, but her lips came up and softly met his. She wiggled even closer.
"Ummm, stay here."
"Ok, KP, we'll stay." He nuzzled her ear. "Oh, hey, Mr. Dr. P."
The room exploded in tossed covers and pillows.
V.
Ron calmly ate his IHOP special as the redhead across the booth glared. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, OJ, and coffee were serious business.
"That was a dirty trick, Ronald Dean Stoppable."
"Eat your breakfast, KP."
"Scaring me half to death," she grumbled, "the payback is going to be massive."
Ron hid his grin in a mouthful of pancakes.
"You think you're so funny, but you wait."
Finished, Ron leaned back and sipped his coffee. "Love," Kim looked startled, "I agree with everything you've said."
"You…you do?"
"Yep, so tomorrow…"
Kim glared suspiciously. "What about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, we'll skip breakfast and I'll just join you."
Kim's mouth fell, "You wouldn't dare."
Ron just gave her his goofy grin.
"Would you?"
VI.
When they arrived at Middleton high, Kim's normally sunny disposition had reasserted itself. Her mood helped, in no little way, by a short make out session on the school bound trip. She bounced off the jet powered scooter, pulling her BF's arm.
"Come on, Ron, let's go."
"Ok, KP, I'm coming." Ron leisurely dismounted and allowed his girlfriend to haul him into the school, down the halls, to their lockers.
"Good morning, Wade, got a sitch?" She greeted her tech's image cheerily.
"Hi, Kim, maybe"
"What?"
"Think you can be ready for Dementor after school?"
"Sure, any more information?"
"No, just the usual, he's stolen some top secret gravitic inducer."
"We'll be ready, right Ron?"
"Whatever you say, KP."
"Just be sure and get us a ride, Wade."
"You got it, Kim."
"Dr. Dementor, he's the last one on Dad's list. What a perfect way to end the school year."