Training Table Blues
Disclaimer/Author's Notes: Kim Possible and all the characters of the show are owned by the Disney Company. All other characters can be blamed on the author (he, however, is not responsible for all of their actions at all times, being barely responsible for himself most of the time….).
This is a strictly not-for-profit, just-for-fun work.
You can read this without reading the background stories, but I would highly recommend (shameless plug) Black Hole Deep, version 2.0 and BE, S 1: Blue Eyes, Shining. You'll enjoy this story even more, and this story will make more sense if it's read in context.
To everyone who has read thus far and continues to read and review: thank you: your reads and reviews continue to fuel me.
A/N Forward:
Questions:
What's a premature funeral?
Answer:
Plan for someone's death, and they screw up and live.
Donna hasn't told Wade, yet: she's been waiting for multiple series of tests, but they're almost finished.
Fletcher Benge expected to die, twice, because people kept trying to kill him, and they haven't succeeded, yet.
Becky Barlow expected to die when she was shot, but she needs some answers: what was that blue thread?
These discussions, and several others, are underway, both good guys and bad, in chapter seven of Training Table Blues: Premature Funeral Celebration Blues
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Chapter 7: Premature Funeral Celebration Blues
(Information release authorized from the following sources:
Archives and logs of Mr. Ronald Dean Stoppable, Esq.
Archives and logs of Dr. A. Jocelyn Possible-Load
Diary of Rebecca (Becky Barlow) Benge
Archives and logs of Dr. Melisandretti Claremore, Former Attorney-General of the Great State of Montana
Archives and logs of Dr. Wade Load
-----
(Mr. Ronald Dean Stoppable, Esq.)
Every male in the parking lot knew that sound.
Heck, every male in Middleton knew that sound and coveted it (sorry, Bug Guy, but we do…).
We all lusted after one of those cars and would almost trade their girlfriends for one. I knew it was a definite "almost" in my case: when you had had the most beauticious, badical fiancée in the world for the last five months, you wouldn't trade her for all the Nacos and extra cheese in the world!
But, it was the last week of school, and the sound was turning into the school parking lot.
Jet-black with chrome down the mid-line on both sides.
It was a Jedi 5000: only the most badical car that Gourd or anyone else had ever made.
And, it even looked like the Special Edition!
Oh, man….
It pulled up to the sidewalk, and the purring of its engine stopped. The driver door gull-winged, and out stepped:
"Mankey-boy! DUDE! This is yours?" Five voices asked at the same time. Joss Mankey stepped out, a custom black Meezod shirt, black leather pants, and black high leather boots, the whole outfit topped off with a pair of shades that had to have cost $500.00.
"Not mine: it's hers," as he opened the door, and a drop-dead gorgeous pair of legs in fishnet stockings and what had to be 4-inch heels came out.
Tongues were burning on the asphalt: mostly male, but some female, as well….
The rest of the body exited: a black leather micro-skirt, a spray-on white blouse showing a wonderfully inordinate amount of cleavage ('Gotta be a cheerleader,' was the thought of most of the guys.), and the platinum-blonde hair fell to the chest and framed the girls wonderfully.
Guys all around wanted to be that hair.
The face was hidden for a moment by the hair and a matching pair of shades, and then she lifted her beautifully-manicured hands (1-inch silver nails) and removed the shades.
"TARA?"
"Hi, Ron," she purred like the Jedi engine. "You like the car?"
"A lot less than what just stepped out of it," was the truth.
"RON!" and she giggled. "You're already taken by a gorgeous redhead, and I'd never, ever, consider trying to take the man of a member of the cheer-sisterhood," and she giggled, again.
"But, thank you for the compliment, Ron," and she leaned over and kissed my cheek, "You're sweet," and she then turned and looked at Josh, who immediately smiled.
"Josh, park me somewhere safe."
"Yes, Tara," and he closed her door, ran around the car, and jumped in, his door closing as he started the engine. He peeled out like a potato, looking for a parking space like a pile of French fries looking for hot grease to jump into.
"Tara, when…how did you get that car?" My jaw was still on the ground.
"I've been working on the side, Ron," and she took my hand in hers.
I giggled: her hands were beautiful, but they weren't as lovely as the rest of the package.
"RON!"
oops…
"Hey, KP," but I was safe because KP and Monique were staring at Tara.
"Tara! GF, that outfit is TDF!" came from Monique, and Kim nodded vigorously.
"You like?"
"It's not Banana, but I like."
"Actually, Mon, it is: Club Banana Custom, the line that you can only get in Dallas, Go City, or New York."
"Girl, that outfit had to set you back some heavy Claude. How'd you pull that outfit and the car off?"
"Teaching," Tara said simply and winked, and both Monique and Kim looked perplexed for a moment, then had an A-HA moment, and all three girls laughed uproariously as they all walked into the building.
"Rufus?" and my favorite Naked Mole Rat popped up, munching a Mini-Corn Dog.
"Do you know what just happened?" and he stared at me like I was an idiot, and replied:
"NUH-UH!" and went back to his Mini-Corn Dog.
"Me neither, little buddy," and I walked into the building.
"Wait! Where'd you find that corn dog?" I asked, and Rufus grinned and dived back into my pocket, and I could still hear him munching.
Then, the empty stick flew out of my pocket with 5 siblings, all empty, and there was a giant "BUUURRRRPPPP!" that emitted from my pocket, followed by a tiny "sorry" and an equally-tiny giggle…
…and I walked into the doors for one of the last times in my high school career.
"RONALD!"
Oh, man.
"Yes, Mr. Barkin?"
"You're on time: Good
"Come into my office.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Ran thru my mind as I followed him into his office, and he closed the door behind me with a SLAM!
"Stoppable," he growled as he sat down, and then he-
SMILED????
"This is for you," and he handed me an envelope and indicated to me to open it.
I looked on the front: the return address was Middleton Institute of Technology.
I opened the envelope and pulled out the huge package of material.
I knew what that meant, even before I read the letter:
"BOOYAH! The Ron-Man's in the House!"
Then, I read the letter to myself:
Mr. Ronald Dean Stoppable, yada, yada, yada, thank you for applying, yada, yada, yada, Congratulations on your acceptance to our new Culinary Program, yada, yada, yada, looking forward to having you here, yada, yada, yada, 100 per cent scholarship, room, board, fees, and books included, yada, yada, yada….
WHAT?
I looked up at Mr. Barkin, and he was grinning worse than Rufus at the ranch when he found that full Cheddar Wheel (HEY!).
"Congratulations, Ronald: you've improved more in the last year than any other student I've ever had the pleasure of working with," and he stood and extended his hand. I shook it, still in shock.
"And, thank you for all that you've done, for your country, for Colorado, for Brick's school in Montana, for Middleton," and he drew back his hand and saluted me.
I snapped a return salute, and he grinned.
"Now, get to class: I've still got chances for you to have more homework," and I headed out of his office post-haste.
I would have sworn I heard him say "God speed, Ronald," when I closed the door, but I wasn't sure because I let out a yell and slung my fist to the sky in triumph:
"BOO-YAH!" And, several people looked, but just walked away, grinning.
Time to get me some KP….
-----
(Dr. Melisandretti Claremore, Former Attorney-General of the Great State of Montana)
I had gone by to see Carl Butler before the high school incident; he was smug and cocky.
I came by a few days afterwards; his attitude was significantly subdued.
I got a report that he had been attacked by one of the survivors of the high school action, and was now in the prison hospital. I went by to see him there, and his lawyer was, of course present.
He had been beaten and stabbed with a shank and kicked and bitten: you name it, they did it to him, trying to get rid of him.
I decided to play dumb, even though we had a video of the action.
"Carl! My goodness, what happened?"
"You know: your plants tried to kill me," he responded.
"Not mine, Carl: buddies of yours, most of which are at the morgue now."
"So I heard.
"It took GJ to take us, huh?" and he smirked.
"A mixed GJ and DCI force took them."
"Was 'he' involved?" and I knew who he was talking about: Wade.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss actions until I receive the appropriate orders from the judge, Carl.
"Hope you're ready: they release you back to the general population in three days," and Carl got agitated.
"I ain't goin' back there!" he rattled his handcuffs against the bedrail.
"What will it take to get me somewhere safe?"
"My client does not know what he is requesting, Agent Claremore, so I believe this has to stop, now."
"Fine," and I turned to walk away.
"NO! WAIT!" Carl yelled out.
I turned, and he was crying.
"I don't want to die," he moaned, and he waved his lawyer to the side.
"What do I have to do, Agent Claremore?"
"Your attorney has the offer, but he told us you turned it down.
"I did before; I'm taking it, now."
"NO, CARL!" his lawyer was livid.
"Get me some paper and a pen, or you're fired and I'll have my next lawyer file for your disbarment.
"How much?" he asked when he got the paper.
"All of it," and I produced a tape recorder that I started and provided a disclaimer as to contents and described the suspect's mental and physical condition, then let him talk.
-----
(Dr. A. Jocelyn Possible-Load)
I'd spent a lot of time with Becky's mom; she took the shooting real hard, but she never told anyone but me. Why she decided to confide in me, I'm not sure…maybe it was a Wade thing….
"Jocelyn, when they came to the door and told me what had happened, I knew that my daughter was going to die. I just knew it, and I couldn't do anything about it, so I just got myself ready for her funeral," she told me one chilly mid-April afternoon over a hot chocolate at MoonNickels'.
"How were you so sure that she was going to live, Jocelyn?"
"I had seen her and Fletch together, Mrs. Barlow, and I knew that she would be there for him no matter what.
"'Check my name:' anything's possible for a friend of a Possible," I told her, and she laughed and cried at the same time, reaching across the table and taking my hand.
"Bless you, child, and bless Wade, too," she whispered, trying to hold the tears in.
"I called the hospital and asked how much the charges were so far, and the lady at the other end told me:
"Mrs. Barlow, Dr. Load left explicit instructions that we were not to tell you the cost of your daughter's care. He told us that he expected that you would call, more out of curiosity than anything else, and he gave us this message for you:
"'Mrs. Barlow: it's only money, and it's nowhere near as important as your daughter. Don't worry about it, and call me or tell Joss if you need anything. This is my way of taking care of Stephanie's brothers and sisters.'"
I started to cry: he hadn't told me that he'd left a message or anythin'.
'Wade, you've been a'holdin' out on me,' I thought with a big inside smile as my tears came down outside.
"Who is Stephanie?" Mrs. Barlow asked, and I held up my hand until I could stop crying my tears of joy.
"Mrs. Barlow, I can tell you a little about her. She was a young lady, not much older than Becky and me, and she met Wade when he was nine. She killed herself," and she gasped, "after she was sexually molested by drug dealers and users and became pregnant," I didn't tell her that it was her own foster father, "and, she had been staying with Wade and his parents, part-time. She was working on her PhD at 15, and her foster parents used her living expenses as their money so they could get drugs and alcohol. She decided that she had no other way out, and Wade, at nine, had to confirm her identity to the police in the morgue.
"He's a supergenius, Mrs. Barlow, and he's lived with the belief that he couldn't help her on his heart for all these years. He knows that he couldn't do anything about it then, but he can do something about it, now.
"He truly does have a heart of gold for everyone; everyone, that is, except drug dealers," and I grinned.
"He'll tell you 'I'm part of Team Possible: this is what we do,' but that's the real reason, Mrs. Barlow, he'll help Becky regardless of what she said to me or about him.
"That, and one other thing," I smiled real big. "Wade loves me, and he'll do just about anything for me and my friends, Mrs. Barlow, including Fletch and Becky."
"Fletch?" she looked confused for a second, then she got a real big shocked look on her face, and I nodded.
"Your young man's an angel, Jocelyn," she stated, and I agreed with her.
My hero.
-----
(Dr. Wade Load)
I hadn't talked to Dr. Donna in months, so when she called me that Tuesday in mid-June and told me that she needed to see Joss and I that Saturday at noon in her office, dressed in business attire please, and she wouldn't tell me why, I thought the worst.
I spent the rest of the week worrying and panicking: what had happened that she couldn't or wouldn't tell me?
I was worried about her, her husband, her children…they were all far too nice to be without a wife and mother.
I was afraid it was a discussion of her will, or worse.
I was afraid that she was saying goodbye to her office; she had made it longer than the dates that she had given me, before, when she told me about the cancer….
I called Joss, and she came in on the last flight Friday night before (in my active mind, at least) that dreaded day.
We worked some more that night (yes, we did something besides cuddling!) on the business plan, financial estimates, and projected people needs, and we also worked some more on Joss' idea for her name:
She had narrowed the choices down to 5 options, but I still liked her first choice. We talked some more about, bounced it off Mom and Dad (Mom liked the active visual that my favorite gave, and she offered to do a prototype design for it! I love my mother…and her mad artistic skills, among all of the thousands of reasons!), then we called Slim and Betty (for some reason, when Joss told her dad that she was leaving for the weekend, Betty's schedule miraculously changed to allow her to spend the weekend with Slim…hmmm; but, that's not important: NOT!).
We had talked to Kim and Ron during the year about the idea that we first floated with them the past summer, and they told Joss that they were also working on an improved logo and establishing a non-profit corporation for what Team Possible did and will continue to do (with some new faces: Jim and Tim had turned out to actually interested in what their big sister had been doing, even after all the abuse that they gave her and Ron: the few missions that they had gone on had fueled the taste for excitement as much as the J-Series of rocket fuels that their Dad had brought home). They were actually pretty good, too, but don't tell them I said that: their heads were big enough, and I'd have to bring out Joss' IQ to bring them down a notch or 10….
Kim had asked me not to tell Joss what Team Possible was doing, and I struggled a long time with that. I understood why, but I was still conflicted for a few weeks until I talked it out with Kim, and then I talked to Joss.
Joss and I worked it out between us (it only cost me two dozen red and yellow roses; a small price to pay for my Queen's happiness and favor). Joss understood; after all, she was there when we all agreed to the parameters of my efforts on both teams, but she still threw the book at me, I think (hope) more out of her frustration for not realizing it than for actual anger (literally…note to self: if you're going to make Joss mad, make sure that all removable and heavy objects are out of her reach).
We took the tube in to Donna's office late that morning, and we arrived promptly at noon. Shelly, Dr. Jackson's nurse, wasn't there (It looked like she had just left for the day, considering her computer had just powered down when we walked into the office.
I looked at Joss. She smiled, kissed my cheek, took my hand, and we were ready.
I knocked, and the door swung open to darkness.
"Hello, Wade," I heard Donna's voice, raspier that before, and I cringed and squeezed Joss' hand.
I heard a click, and someone lit a candle. The light flickered in the room, revealing shapes sitting behind Donna and a large empty space where her desk had always been.
I smelled something, but I wasn't sure what it was.
"Donna?" My voice cracked.
"Wade," and she moved towards me, and I could hear her chair rolling on the floor.
"Wade," she repeated, and she STOOD!
I heard several clicks, and the room was becoming aglow in candlelight.
I saw Donna's conference room table (now sitting in her office!), covered in food and candles.
I saw Donna's husband, their kids, and Shelly all behind the table, standing behind the just-lit candles, and they all had huge grins on their faces.
"What…?" and Donna walked to me and hugged me.
"It's over, Wade," and Joss giggled.
"It's all gone: the cancer is gone, Wade," and I tried not to cry (I'd told myself that I wouldn't cry!), but this was not what I expected, and it escaped: I cried for her pain, now gone.
"When…?"
"Christmas Morning. My doctor called me and told me that it was gone, Wade, and I blame it on you," she smiled, and Joss giggled, again.
I finally figured it out.
I turned to Joss.
"YOU KNEW?" and she gave me a sheepish grin and nodded.
"How do you think I got the ticket so fast, Wade?
"Donna and I have been planning this for two months, Wade.
"Besides, payback for the Team Possible holdout, guy," and she gave me an angelic smile with horns on it.
Music came on in the room, and Donna held out her hands.
"May I have this dance, my hero, because you saved me…seriously," and we laughed, and I took her hands and danced with my therapist.
She dances divinely.
I looked around her, and I saw her husband dancing with Joss, and she was enjoying it based on the huge smile on her face.
Their kids were dancing with each other (sorta!), and the candle flames were dancing along with us, as well.
"I'm so happy for you, Donna, and so mad at you for not telling me!" I whispered as we danced.
"I wanted to get in shape for this moment, Wade: this is your preparatory dance for your wedding, and I had to see if you inherited your Dad's dancing skills.
"You're not doing too bad, guy," and I twirled her (not an easy feat when she was three inches taller than me).
"Show-off," she replied to the twirl.
"What happened to your desk?"
"I'm moving into new digs, closer to the house and the airport; I'm getting more and more GJ business for prospective agents, and the office there will be a lot more secure and more convenient to the airport.
"Plus," she grinned as we ended the dance, "I'll have a tube connecting directly to my waiting room: no more outside trips," and I bowed to her when the music stopped.
"Let's have lunch," A voice behind me stated, and I turned around to see-
"Aww, man, Donna, you even told Kim and Ron before you told me?" and the two of them, standing and framed by the doorway, smiled and nodded.
"Wade, it's all about you," Ron grinned as I pouted.
"Come on over, Wade," and Donna pulled me to the table. "I made all of your favorites: crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice, blackened trout, Cajun mud salad, and, of course, for dessert," and she lifted the lid of the platter, and I groaned.
"Joss- and Wade-shine," and everyone laughed.
"and sparkling grape juice, Jocelyn," and it was my turn to laugh.
"Juice lush," I whispered, and she hit me.
"Kim," Donna smiled as we went to the table, "I understand you had a really good Christmas, also," and Kim smiled and flashed her ring.
-----
(Dr. Melisandretti Claremore, Former Attorney-General of the Great State of Montana)
I had finally finished all of the paperwork from the school attack and the resultant shootings of the drug dealers; the four that survived, the ones that had been at the barn, pled out as soon as they could and were up for sentencing in a few months.
The drugs that we found at their homes and storage buildings were more than double the amount that we had recovered in Justin-1, and the cash, automatic weapons, and plastic explosives were more than enough to get the AG's attention.
I had no problem doing what Wade had asked; in fact, I'd already started to float the idea before he contacted me.
This is when I love this job.
-----
It was mid-July, a hot, sticky day, when I went up to the hospital to see Fletcher Benge and Becky Barlow. They had had their 15 minutes of fame: Girlfriend who is willing to die for her boyfriend and throws herself in front of a hail of bullets: I loved the press; really, I did.
"Hello, Melisandretti," and it was Wade and Kim and Ron and Joss, all together. Their presence alone in the state should take the crime rate down 15 percentage points.
"Hello, y'all," and I herded them to the door.
"You got it all, Mel?" Wade asked, and I nodded.
"Spankin,'" was his response, and Joss and Kim both giggled as we rode the elevator up.
-----
I knocked, and entered when I heard a faint 'come in.'
"Hello, Becky, Fletcher," I smiled as Fletcher stood when I came in. He's been sitting on the bed next to Becky, and there were mussed clothes and hair, and Becky was smiling way too much.
"Hello, Agent Claremore…JOSS!" and Becky held out her arms, and Joss ran over to hug her.
"Wade, my man!" Fletcher shook his hand, and then realized who else was with them.
"Kim! Ron!" and he tried to hug them both, and he partially succeeded.
"Wade," Becky said with a smile, and she held out her arms. Wade walked over and leaned forward a bit.
"That's not gonna do, mister," and she pulled him into a tight hug.
"Thank you," she whispered, and he almost made her laugh when he responded,
"'No Big,' Becky."
"If I may interrupt for a moment," I cleared my throat as I watched them all separate and look at me, "I did come here for a reason," and I pulled a folder out of my carry-bag and opened it.
"Fletcher, I have a check for you from CrimeNabbers: they heard what you did, and they wanted to reward you," and I handed the shocked young man a check.
"Unfortunately, it's not a real check: the money's in a trust account for you that your parents can access, but I don't think that you'll have any problems," I grinned as he opened the envelope, pulled out the check, and fell back onto the bed.
"Careful!" Becky yelped, and Fletcher fell into her lap, grinning like an idiot.
"What's wrong, Fletch?" and Becky took the check from him, read it, and almost choked.
"One…Hundred…Thousand…Dollars?" and Joss gasped, and then she whacked Wade, hard, on the arm.
"OWW!"
"Because you knew, that's why," she answered before he asked, and he rubbed his arm as Kim laughed with Joss and Ron.
Oh, yea, married for at least 25 years, already.
"I have another package; this time, Becky, it's for you," and I handed her a large manila envelope stuffed, it seemed, with papers.
Becky opened the envelope and pulled out the letter on the top of the stack.
"Who are Victims of Violence?"
"It's an organization in the Northwest that helps people that are victims of violent attacks, Becky," and Joss knew it as well as I did as she answered Becky.
Becky read down the letter and dropped both the package and the letter into her lap, and then she started crying, hard.
"BECKY!" Joss hugged her.
"What is it, BB?" Joss asked, and Becky picked up the piece of paper.
"I'm…some…sort of…hero, Joss, and they want me to speak around the state against violence, and they've given me a free ride four-year college scholarship if I do it!" and she started crying, again.
"I'm no hero," Becky finally was able to get out after she was finally calmer.
"Wrong, BB: you're my hero," Fletcher corrected her, and he kissed her tenderly.
"Gee, where have we seen that before?" Ron dead-panned, and Kim laughed and pointed at Wade and Joss. Joss, now of the full-blush brigade, did the only logical thing to her:
She kissed Wade, and I think she curled his toes and his hair, even more than it already was.
"Fletch, would you do me a favor and take Mel downstairs? I need to ask Kim and Ron something personal," Becky seemed more aware, more alive now than she had been a few minutes before.
"Sure, BB. Mel?" and he offered me his arm, and I took it.
"How long?"
"At least 30 minutes: call ahead for reservations," she smirked, and he grinned, kissed her forehead, and we left the room to a confused Joss and a very-worried Ron and Kim and Wade.
-----
Rebecca (Becky Barlow) Benge
I wanted an explanation to the dreams that had been haunting me.
I could see the wide blue band connecting and enveloping Ron and Kim, a second, slightly narrower blue band, connecting and enveloping the two of them and Wade and Joss, and a third wide band connecting and enveloping Wade and Joss, and a final blue band that connected all of us.
"What is it, BB?" Joss asked,
But, before I hit them, they had to understand where I was coming from: I owed them that much….
"I haven't told anyone else this, ok? Mainly because no one would believe me," and I took a deep breath, and started….
"After I passed out, I didn't remember anything until I saw a real bright light.
"I reached for it, and the next thing I knew, I was on the ceiling in the operating room. That hunky doctor was just masking up, so I know it was him, and then I went thru the ceiling and was over the school!
"Joss, I say you fire your grappler and the leg sweep that you did to take that guy out," and Joss gasped.
"I saw Stephen take the lady out with a punch, and I watched her fall into the hay bales.
"Then, I was back in the hospital and saw Wade run into the closet, and then I saw what happened in the closet," and I heard Ron suck wind, big time.
"I felt a warm, loving feeling; love, itself, was wrapped around me, and I heard a voice tell me that it wasn't my time, yet, that I had a long time, now, before I would be called Home. I don't ever want to lose that 'lovin' feeling,' again," and I saw Wade wince
"I was back in the operating room, and I heard the surgeon say that he swore that my spinal column was ripped, but it was intact."
And then I grinned and tossed the hand grenade into the waste treatment plant:
"What did you do, and why are there all of these blue bands connecting all of us in different ways?"
Jaws dropped from Joss and Kim, and Wade and Ron looked like they had been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
Wade started.
"Becky, do you have any ancestors from Asia?"
"None that I know of; my mom's great-grandparents were full-blood Cherokee, but that's all I know about them," and Wade pulled out his handheld and hit several buttons, then looked at Ron.
"One more thing, guys: why do I keep having this dream of Ron, floating?" and Ron nodded, and Wade hit one final button, and the lights went out in my room and revealed the blue bands.
Enough light came back on, and Ron was holding a sword, but his pants had fallen to the ground, and his KP boxers were cute! Even cuter: Ron was blushing!
Fletch, if it wasn't for you….
"oh, man," came from Ron's mouth as Kim reached down to pull his pants up, but she spent an awfully long time around that zipper.
I grinned: I'd wanted to try that with Fletcher….
"How much have you read about what KP and I have done, Becky?" and he held the blade like it was an old friend.
"I've read some of what you and Kim have done, Ron, but I was lots more interested in what you were doing," and Ron's face turned red. "No offense, Kim, but I had a huge crush on Ron for the longest time. I wanted him to leave you and run away with me," and, now, Ron's ears were turning redder, and Kim and Joss both grinned.
Must be a common problem: Ron-Worship….
"Why, Ron?"
"Becky, this is the Lotus Blade," and he held the blade at chest-level.
Man, look at those abs….
"What can I tell her?" He asked the air, and the air responded!
"She has partaken; she may hear; she will not tell," came from space in front of Ron's face.
"Becky, are you sure you want to know?"
"Ron, from you, anything," I smiled, and Joss giggled, and Kim looked like she was jellin', big time, but that disappeared in a matter of seconds, and she smiled and touched Ron's arm.
"Becky, you were going to die."
Well, that answered that question. Thanks for the direct approach, Ron. I sniffled back tears of fear, gladness, relief, joy for life, and for new friends
"What you did for your boyfriend was the key to your living.
"You were healed, but I couldn't do as much as I wanted to do," and Ron looked sad.
"Why, Ron?"
"Because it would have cost him his life, and self-termination is not allowed," the voice responded to me, and I couldn't stop the tears, now.
"Ron…you were willing…to die…for me?" I barely got out before I lost it totally, again.
"It's what we do at Team Possible, Becky: Kim and I put our lives on the line all the time; it's just that most people don't know it.
"You weren't supposed to know, Becky, and I hope you don't hate me for what I did."
"RON!" Now, I understood why Mom would get so mad at Dad sometimes….
"How could I hate you for saving my life?"
"I couldn't heal you completely, yet, Becky," ad Ron looked down at his feet: he was ashamed of what he'd done!
"Ron, c'mere," and he walked over to me, slowly.
I reached up and pulled his face down to mine and kissed Ron Stoppable on the mouth!
In front of his fiancée!
"Ron, I owe you so much more than that, but that's all I can ever pay," I said when he finally escaped. "I'd give you the world if I could, but you're engaged, and I'm still jail bait," and I grinned through the attempted tears, "but that's all I can pay you, Ron, for my life," and I teared up a little.
"Thank you, Ron, for my life," and the water started.
"Why do I keep hearing that same phrase whenever Ron's around?" Wade sounded exasperated, but one look at him told me otherwise: he was prouder than proud.
"Applies to you, my hero," Joss grinned and took Wade's hand, and the blue band connecting them glowed magnificently.
Kim took it all extremely well: she didn't toss me from my bed; to the contrary, she came over and kissed my forehead!
"I'm just glad you're here, Becky, and I'm glad we could help, but you did most of it, yourself," she smiled.
"How…did?"
"Your selflessness, your willingness to put yourself in front of Fletcher Benge, saved him: that act of giving was the payment for your recovery, Rebecca Benge," came from the voice.
"Rebecca…Benge?" and I smiled real big, and Joss giggled.
"Soon you will be, Rebecca," and the voice gave me a peek into my future that I treasured then and still treasure now.
I couldn't get the smile off my face, now.
"So, are you ready to go to work?" Wade asked, and I looked at him, more than a bit confused.
"You've got those books to catch up on, young lady, and we're here to get you back on schedule, among other things," he smiled, and Joss squeezed his hand, again, and the blue was almost blinding.
"Geez, can't y'all get a room?" I pouted (because I wanted what they had!), and all four laughed!
"Not until we're 18, Becky," Wade responded, and I wiggled my finger at him.
"Wade?" I purred, and Joss got the green-eyes!
"Yes, Becky?" and he came over to the side of the bed….
I KISSED WADE LOAD ON THE CHEEK!
I KISSED A BLACK MAN!
Gosh, he's cute! I never noticed before…now I knew what Jen meant when she said she wanted one of him, and I grinned as Wade looked surprised and shocked at what I'd done.
"Wade, I apologized to my mother and my grandmother for rejecting my heritage, rejecting my Native American past.
"I owe you an apology, too. Wade, I'm so very sorry for everything I did and said.
"I owe you as much, if not more, Wade, than I owe Ron, but that's all I can pay, as well.
"Can you ever in a million forgive me?"
"They apologize to my BF, and they kiss my BF," pouted Joss.
"That's what you get for having the best dark chocolate there is," Wade dead-panned, and I nearly spit water all over them: my mistake of getting a drink for my throat.
"Works for me," Joss replied and pulled him to her and kissed him.
"Works for me, too," Kim added as she did the same to Ron.
"HEY! What about me?" It was my turn to pout, and I felt a brush on my cheek.
"How was that?" the voice laughed, and I looked at Ron and Kim, who now were laughing.
"Hey: we have an understanding of your emotions," the voice added.
"Yes, Becky, I forgive you. I told you before, I'll help you because you're a friend of my Joss, and that's good enough for me.
"Anything else is gravy," Wade grinned and then yelped when Joss smacked his arm, then kissed his cheek.
Then, I had a thought:
"What do I tell Fletch?"
"Tell him all, Rebecca. You and he are joined," and I noticed the faint blue line leading out of the room.
"But no others must know," the voice warned, and the lights snapped back on, and the blue lines faded into nothingness.
I noticed the beeping, now.
"Won't Mel and Fletch be worried?"
"Look at the clock, Becky," and Wade pointed.
Less than a minute had ticked off the clock!
-----
(Dr. Melisandretti Claremore, Former Attorney-General of the Great State of Montana)
Wade wanted to talk to Becky: even I could see that.
I could also see that Fletcher Benge was busying watching his girlfriend and me.
'Damn, girl, you still got it, if a high-school guy finds you attractive!' and that brought an internal smile.
"How about lunch; something besides cafeteria food?" I asked him, and he got a big grin.
"Sorry, can't do that, but I can do the next best thing," and I popped open my phone and dialed a number.
"This is Agent Claremore, Montana DCI."
Silence.
"Yes; the usual, and to drink?" I looked at Fletcher, and he mouthed 'root beer,' and grinned.
"Two big root beers."
Silence.
"Ten minutes? Thank you. I'm at the hospital in the cafeteria," and the laughter almost flushed my eardrums.
"Thanks," and I closed the phone.
"It's a surprise," I told him, and I patted the chair next to me, and Fletcher sat down.
"Mrs. Claremore," he began, and I headed him off at the pass.
"Mel."
"Mel," he said back to me, and smiled.
"Mel, I have to tell someone besides the shrinks, and I think you'll understand, being in law enforcement and all," he started, and I nodded for him to continue.
Fletcher took a deep breath, then another.
"Fletcher," and he cut me off.
"Fletch," he smiled.
"Mel, I almost lost her," and his face wound up tight, real fast. I knew who he was talking about, and was ready for his next statement: I knew it would be his hardest.
"She pushed me to the ground and took two bullets in the side, and she stood there for the longest time, looking at her sweater turning red, and I wanted to die, right then.
"I wished I had died that night when you first found me, Mel, because then she wouldn't have been shot, she wouldn't have almost died, and she'd be able to walk," and he fell into me, sobbing likely for the first time about his own shooting and hers, as well.
"It's all my fault, Mel, and she apologized to me!
"She apologized for pushing me to the ground!
"She apologized for getting her blood on me!
"Mel," and he lost it, again, and I held him tight.
"How?"
"'How,' what, Fletch?"
"How can I tell her how much she means to me, Mel? I'm just a kid full of 'hornmones,' as my dad tells me, but I know that she's my 'only.'
"Well, Fletch, the first thing a girl wants is for you to pay attention to her; so, not checking out my butt would be a great first start," I smiled, and Fletch turned Joss' hair color.
"Thank you, though, Fletch," and I kissed his cheek, "for making me feel like I've still 'got it.'"
"Oh, Mel, you most definitely still 'have it,'" he grinned, and it was my turn to blush.
Luckily, the food came:
"OH, WOW!" and he opened the pizza box to sniff the jumbo pepperoni, onion, and double jalepeno pizza, and he grabbed a slice and almost inhaled it.
"Oh, wow…I'm sorry, Mel, but I've wanted Charlie's Pizza for weeks!
"Would you like a slice?" and he pulled out one of the paper napkins, draped it over his arm, and stood and bowed deeply.
I couldn't help it:
I giggled.
"Yes, sir, I'd like a slice," and he reached in and handed me a slice supported by a napkin.
I bit into the slice, and felt sauce slide down my mouth. I wiped it with the napkin, and looked up to see Fletch smiling real big.
"What?"
"I was just envying that napkin, Mel," he grinned, and I could feel my face turn red.
"FLETCH!" and he looked hurt, but that changed when I smiled.
"Bad Fletch," I mock-scolded, and he pouted, but that disappeared when he dove into another pizza slice.
We got about halfway through the pizza when Fletch was ready to talk, again.
"Mel, have you ever been so scared that you wet…you know," and he got real embarrassed.
"Yes, Fletch; anyone who's ever been shot at or been beaten who tells you otherwise is lying through their ass, because their mouth knows better," I replied, and Fletch shot pizza crust over my blouse.
"I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" and he wiped my chest, then stopped suddenly when he looked up at my face and suddenly realized where his hand was, and he drew it back like it was burning.
"I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" and he blushed even more as I brushed the crumbs off.
"It's all right, Fletch," I smiled. "Just don't try that brushing with my husband or Becky around: either might take some fingers from you," I reminded him as I handed him a cold root beer and another napkin, and he grinned.
"I've done it a few times," I told Fletch, "and I've seen bigger men that you stand there with a large wet spot appearing when they realized that the bullet missed their skull by millimeters."
"When they beat me, Mel, I was so scared that I did it, and they laughed at me.
"When Becky passed out in my arms, Mel, I did it, again, only I was in a hospital gown.
"They wanted to kill me, Mel, and I wasn't going to die: I wanted to see BB again.
"I wanted to die, Mel, when I thought she wasn't gonna make it.
"I didn't want to live without her, Mel.
"I couldn't live without her.
"When she came out of surgery, I stayed up with her and talked to her.
"I told her I loved her, and that I wanted us to get married when we went to college, and I'd figure out a way to make it work, even if I had to work while she went.
"I barely slept; my doctor had to order me to bed once so I could git strong enough to sit with her, again, and I went willingly with the nurse when he gave me that logic.
"Then, you came in today, and you-" and he stopped and tried to compose himself…
"You came and took that weight off of Becky's shoulders about college. Thank you, Mel."
"Fletch, how about you; after you got shot?" and he became stoic.
"I don't remember much, Mel; I remember talking to Becky, and I remember a bad pain in my chest, and then I guess I blacked out.
"BB told me what Wade did, Mel," and he stopped again to compose himself, "about having Dr. Anne flown in; I remember, after I passed out, hearing singing.
"Singing?"
"Singing," he repeated.
"A beautiful brunette-haired angel was singing 'O, Holy Night,' and I was watching her from some spot high above her; she had an eye patch, I remember that. I cried at the wonder of her voice, her message, her love that she gave that song.
"And, then, another beautiful angel, a redhead this time, and younger than the first, started singing the next verse. I couldn't help myself: I cried, again, because the love in her voice was so wonderful, so open and honest.
"A voice behind me told me that it was not yet my time, but I could stay and hear all of the song of praise until it was time for me to go back, and I stayed and heard the two angels sing together.
"My God, I had never heard anything so wonderful, and I cried, and I didn't care who saw me.
"The voice told me, 'Fletch, it's time. Go back, and take care of Rebecca: she a special young lady, and she's going to be with you for a long time,' and I was above my body when the last shock hit me, and I jumped back in.
"Mel, am I crazy?"
'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,' I thought, and I answered him.
"No, Fletch, you're not crazy.
"And, I doubt you were dreaming, either. I've seen some strange things in my time in DCI, especially involving members of the tribes, so nothing surprises me.
"But, I've got good news for you, Fletch, and it has nothing to do with car insurance," he winced at the horror of the poor joke, and I laughed at his response..
"You never heard the last 'goody,' Fletch." And it was my turn, Wade, to spread the joy….
"The Montana AG took an interest in your case, especially after he saw the results of the drug bust from your 'encounter' and the results of the latest drug bust involving the kidnappers at the school," I added.
"He talked personally with your counselors; and, if you're interested, he'd like to offer you a Founders' full-ride scholarship to Montana Eastern to study law enforcement," and I thought Fletch was going to pass out.
"Deep breaths, Fletch, deep breaths," I coached him, and he began to breath regularly after a few minutes.
"Me?" his voice squeaked in surprise, and I nodded.
"You've helped us take over five million dollars worth of drugs off the streets of Montana, Fletch. The AG thinks you might have a future with us, if you're interested in it," and I smiled, again.
"Did you tell me this to take my mind off of my fear?"
"Pretty much; that, and my boss wants to know, and so do your parents."
"My parents know?"
"For a few weeks."
"I'm a'gonna kill them," he mumbled with a grin.
"Not a good start to a law enforcement career, Fletch," and we laughed, together.
"You better, Fletch?"
"Yea, I am, Mel.
"Thank you, Mel," and he took my hand and kissed it.
Now, I was blushing, big time.
"Shall we go back and see what your girlfriend's done to Wade, Fletch?" and I stood, and he offered me his arm, and I took it, and took his root beer and mine in the other hand.
We were a sight: a young man, walking with a cane, escorting a woman in a tailored pin-stripe suit and very low heels, carrying two partially-consumed root beers.
-----
(Dr. Wade Load)
I was pleasantly surprised for several reasons.
One: Becky Barlow had kissed me.
Two: Joss hadn't strangled either of us.
Three: Becky had just heard enough to send the average person screaming from the room (well, she couldn't get up, but that's not important), and she'd embraced the whole idea of the Lotus Blade and its avatar.
I had suspected that she was part Cherokee (ok, I'll admit it: I'd done her genealogy and knew it, but I hadn't known about her rejection); I wasn't surprised that she had rejected her own heritage (saddened, but not surprised), but I was very pleasantly surprised that she'd apologized to her mother and grandmother.
I hadn't expected the kiss.
It was nice, but it wasn't Joss-shine….
"Becky, I'm so happy that I have my friend back," Joss smiled, and she went over and hugged Becky, and she leaned real close to Becky and whispered something to her.
It must have been good, because both she and Becky laughed hard and long.
"Well, did y'all have a nice talk?" Fletch asked when he entered the room with Mel, and they saw chairs pulled around Becky's bed: Joss sitting on the end of the bed looking as if she's just finished saying something important (she had that little wrinkle in her brow when she did that, I'd noticed before: after all, I was hers, and I paid attention…most of the time), and Kim was sitting in Ron's lap: both of them were laughing.
"It was an accident!" Joss almost shouted, and Becky was laughing hard, and Kim and Ron were…well, let's say they had decided that something else was more important than laughter….
"A-HEM!" Mel cleared her throat, and Kim jumped off of Ron's lap, blushing dramatically, and now Ron was laughing.
"Kim!"
"Mel!"
Josh yelled and motioned for both of them to come over, and the four ladies huddled, giggled, then laughed out loud, and Joss reached back and pulled out her PosComm.
"Guys, we have a date back here, same time tomorrow, so you need to leave, now!" Joss announced, and Becky and Kim nodded their agreement.
"Mel, we need you to stay," Joss added, and the three of us (Fletch, Ron, and yours truly) left the room like dogs leaving a full bowl.
As the door closed, I heard the start of a Bonnie Tyler tune…
-----
I talked to Joss after she got back to the hotel and wormed what was happening out of her, and, as usual, I super-sized the idea. A couple of calls to the ladies and the gentlemen and the hospital, and we were set for one week from Saturday.
I called Gregory Claremore and asked him to meet us at our hotel, and he came over for the evening while the ladies were occupied elsewhere. We had burgers and fries and beer (well, for Ron and Gregory, anyway: Fletch, who we'd sprung from then hospital for the evening, and I had NIC's Draft Root Beer, cold, from the bottle).
I told them my idea and had them listen to the song that the ladies had picked out.
It wasn't on their top 10 lists (Gregory actually knew it and had a copy at home that was his ('I admit it, I like the song, but Bonnie is hot!' he explained, and Ron almost choked on his beer when he laughed. At least, it wasn't a spit-take….), but Ron and Fletch, they actually liked it, and they liked the idea of the show.
We all agreed on what to wear, and we even got an outfit for Fletch that fit him perfectly.
I'll never be that tall and slender, but I'm not him….
-----
We all reappeared at the appointed time (well, for Gregory, it was appeared) and Ron knocked on the door.
"Oh, Boyz?" came from Kim, and I was glad I wasn't Ron: that was the mating call of the Kimila beast. Ron opened the door to the dressing room (well, the room they'd converted), and Kim Joss and Becky and Mel were all in there, grinning.
"You look like a million, US, Fletch; are you ready?" Becky asked Fletch, and he responded by walking over to her and kissing her.
"Next question?" And, after hugs and kisses all around, we all headed to the hospital cafeteria converted into the performance hall.
We opened the doors to flashing strobe lights and groups of doctors, nurses, and patients sitting in the room, grinning.
"We're sure glad y'all came," Becky called out, and the audience applauded.
We all went to the front, and we guys all got our first really good look at what the ladies were wearing, and Fletch was now working a Felix-to-Monique full drool spool.
I looked away and went the same was as Fletch when I saw Joss: full drool in 3…2…1…drool!
She was wearing a little emerald green number, similar to the LBD, but longer, and she had the tall boots on.
When I finally turned my eyes, I saw that Becky, sitting in her wheel chair, was wearing a similar outfit, only her dress was a gorgeous shade of lavender.
I caught Ron's face out of the corner of my eye as he moved to Kim and took her in his arms.
"Lookin' badical, KP," and he kissed her.
When he finally released her, I saw that her dress was like Joss' as well, only a lighter green that looked stunning on her.
Gregory cleared his throat, and he walked up to his wife and almost devoured her with his kiss.
I knew that Mel was tall (almost 5'10), but Gregory was a full head or two taller than her, even with her in heels.
And, Mel was in the LBD.
Oh, man, those legs….
Did I mention that they ladies not in tall boots were wearing what looked to be 2 or 3-inch heels?
'All those legs…' was my thought, and I'm sure it was the thought of every male in the room.
Fletch went over, hugged Becky, and told her she was gorgeous.
He was rewarded with a chaste kiss on the lips.
"A-HEM…" someone was clearing her throat, and I went to her.
"Frog down there?" I asked, and I kissed her tenderly.
"Not that you'll get to, big boy," and the male doctors and nurses and patients all 'OOOOOOOOOOO'ed, and the female doctors and nurses and patients exchanged high-fives.
"So, just why are we here?" I grinned, and the audience groaned.
"Three reasons, Wade," Becky answered:
"One: to give the patients some fun for an evening;
"Two: to thank our doctors and nurses for what they've done for Fletch and me, and
"Three: to tell you and Ron and Fletch and Gregory 'thank you' in a way that we could share in public," and she grinned, and I heard a gurgle come from Gregory and a laugh from the audience...
I looked at Ron.
"'Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?'" I asked, and he replied,
"I think so, brain, but if none of these doctors will 'carve this turkey' tonight, are there any fava beans around?" and everyone groaned.
"You first, guys," and we proceeded to slaughter three songs, much to the delight of the audience and the ladies. We got cheers, jeers, and groans as we left the makeshift stage.
"Your turn," and Kim stepped forward, and a Christmas song started vamping an introduction, and I saw Fletch flinch.
"What's wrong, guy?" I leaned over and asked.
"Just bringing back a memory, Wade," and the back door of the room opened and Betty walked in.
She winked at me when she walked up and stood with Kim; she introduced herself and explained that this song was a special song to Kim and her: after they sang it, they each received a proposal, and became engaged!
The audience loved it, cheering before they even began to sing.
Betty waited for the cheers to die down, and she began to sing, as she and Kim had, on Christmas Eve.
- - - - - - -
(Betty) O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
- - - - - - -
I was watching Fletch because he had appeared agitated, but now he was breathing hard, and Becky grabbed his hand.
"What's wrong, Fletch? She whispered.
"It's my angels.
"They're the ones I saw and heard singing when I thought I'd died," he whispered back to Becky, and tears began to stream down his face.
- - - - - - -
Fletch made it through the whole song in one piece, but he was the first standing and applauding along with the rest of the audience.
One little girl, she must not have been more than 4 or 5, came out carrying a bouquet of flowers for both Betty and Kim. They each took them and kissed the little girl on the cheek, and she scampered back to Momma and Daddy.
It was time for the grand finale
I leaned over to Joss and asked, "BT's 'Total' song?" and she looked miffed.
"Great minds, oh strawberry-holic," she stated loud enough for the audience to hear, and chuckles ensued.
"We wanted to say 'thank you' to the doctors and nurses that helped my friends," Joss spoke as we all assembled on stage, "as well as say 'thank you' and 'we love you' to our husbands and fiancées and boyfriends. It was going to be a surprise: from the ladies to the gentlemen, but someone," and she pointed at me, "'spilled the beans,' and you know how men are, ladies: they have to put their touches on everything," and the ladies all laughed and the men mostly booed, "and this is what we've ended up with, now," and she stepped back into position and hit a preprogrammed set of controls on her PosComm, and the introduction vamped four times, and then Mel and I began:
(Mel/Wade) Turnaround:
(Joss) Every now and then I got so very lonely 'cause you had not yet appeared
(Mel/Wade) Turnaround
(Joss) Every now and then I got a little bit tired of listening to my heart all alone
(Mel/Wade) Turnaround
(Joss) Every now and then I got a little bit nervous that the best of everything had gone by
(Mel/Wade) Turnaround
(Joss/Becky) Every now and then I got a whole lot terrified and then I saw the look in your eyes
(Wade) Turnaround, blue eyes:
(Joss) Always in the past I fell apart," and I pointed at her:
(Joss) Turnaround, brown eyes:
(Wade) Always in the past I fell apart
Josh pointed at Ron and Kim, and they took the next one while we kissed and hugged:
(Ron) Turnaround:
(Kim) Every now and then I got a little bit restless and I dreamt of someone wild
(Ron) Turnaround:
(Kim) Every now and then I'd feel so very helpless and I'd wind up like a child in your arms
(Ron) Turnaround:
(Kim) Every now and then I got a little bit angry and I knew I had to get out and cry
(Ron) Turnaround:
(Kim) Every now and then I'd get really, really terrified but then I'd see the look in your eyes
(Ron) Turnaround, green eyes:
(Kim) Always in the past I fell apart," and he pointed at her:
(Kim) Turnaround, brown eyes:
(Ron) No, I never knew just where to start
And, they sang together, Kim on melody and Ron in harmony (I never knew that Ron could sing more that TVTrashHeap songs!)
(Kim/Ron) And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever"
Ron took Kim in his arms, and they sang face-to-face to each other:
(Kim/Ron) And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong
Together, we can take it to the end of the line
Your love makes me your shadow on you all of the time
I don't know what to do 'cause I'm never in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and shooting off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
(Ron) Once upon a time I was falling apart
But now I've only love in my heart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of my heart
(Kim) Once upon a time light was gone from my life
(Kim/Ron) But now there's always love in our hearts
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of our hearts.
Kim and Ron danced to the interlude music, and Joss and I watched them, and then we all looked it Becky, sitting and swaying dressed to the nines in her wheelchair, looking lovelier that I had ever seen her and looking up longingly at Fletch. Fletch was standing by her, holding her hand and staring into her face as Mel and Gregory sang their intro:
(Mel) Turnaround, blue eyes;
(Gregory) Turnaround, blue eyes;
(Fletch) Turnaround:
(Becky) Now that we've been here, I know you'll always be the man that you said that you would be
(Fletch) Turnaround:
(Becky) Now that we've been here, I know you'll always be the only man who wanted me the way that I am
(Fletch) Turnaround:
(Becky) Now that we've been here, I know there's no one in the universe as magical and wondrous as you
(Fletch) Turnaround:
(Becky) Now that we've been here, I know there's nothing any better and there's nothing I just wouldn't do
(Fletch) Turnaround blue eyes:
(Becky) Always in the past I was an ass," and the audience laughed,
(Fletch) Turnaround blue eyes:
(Becky) Now I know I need to not be crass
Then Fletch and Becky kissed, and Mel and Gregory, standing in a rigged spotlight, were singing to each other:
(Gregory) Turnaround:
(Mel) Always in my life I've known you'd always be the man I needed by my side
(Gregory) Turnaround:
(Mel) Always in my life I knew you'll always be the only man who ever wanted me for his bride
(Gregory) Turnaround:
(Mel) Every day and night I know there's no one in the universe as magical and wondrous as you
(Gregory) Turnaround:
(Mel) Every night and day I know there's no one any better and there's nothing I just wouldn't do
(Gregory) Turnaround silver eyes:
(Mel) There was so much baggage in the past,"
(Gregory) Turnaround blue eyes:
(Mel) Now I get to stare at your great (Gregory) MEL! And the audience laughed
(Becky) But I need you now, tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you'll only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever.
(Fletch) And we'll only be making it right
Cause we'll never be wrong
(Becky / Fletch) Together, we can take it to the end of the line
Your love makes me your shadow on you all of the time
(Mel / Gregory) I don't know what to do 'cause I'm never in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and shooting off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
(Becky / Mel) Once upon a time I was falling apart
But now I've only love in my heart
There's nothing I can do
You totally captured my heart
(Fletch / Gregory) Once upon a time there was light from my life
(Becky / Fletch / Mel / Gregory) But now there's always love in our hearts
There's nothing I can say
A total eclipse of our hearts.
(Becky / Joss/ Kim / Mel) I now know what to do 'cause I'm never in the dark
We're lovin' in a powder keg and shooting off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
(Becky / Joss/ Kim / Mel) Once upon a time I was falling apart
But now I've only love in my heart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of my heart," and we guys all looked at each other and grinned,
(Fletch / Gregory / Ron / Wade) Once upon a time there was light from my life
But now there's always love in our hearts," and, then was all sang, together,
(All) Nothing I won't mind:
A total eclipse of our hearts.
And the audience cheered, and the little girl came running up out of the audience and hugged Kim's leg.
The crowd laughed and cheered, and Kim smiled and knelt down and hugged her, and Ron knelt and joined the hug, and the crowd cheered even louder.
"One more demon gone, My Wade: this time, though, it was Kim's," Joss whispered to me, and she hugged me.
I looked out into the crowd after that hug, and I noticed Slim, sitting in the back, with a big grin on his face. He gave me a thumbs' up, and I nodded to him
I then saw both Becky's and Fletcher's parents: they saw me look at them and mouthed 'thank you.'
"I love you, Andrea Jocelyn Possible," and I kissed her tenderly, and she grinned.
"I love you, Dr. Wade Load, and I'm a'gonna git your middle name before our wedding if'n it kills me."
"oh, man…."
-----
Author's afterward:
A very special set of thanks go out to the following:
Several writers have encouraged me during the writing of this chapter, not knowing what was happening in my life: the 18-year-old son of a very good friend just spent Christmas in a cancer treatment center, and the father was apologizing to me for not returning my calls. This is life, folks, and what true friendship can do….
Twila Starla: your idea for the brain-switching concept underlies much of this chapter and the closeness that Joss, Wade, Kim, and Ron have developed. This intermezzo special, "oops…," will be coming in the next few weeks, definitely after the Fannies.
CajunBear73, KP's #1 Fan, mkusenagi2, Pharaoh Rutin Tutin, and whitem: for allowing me to float ideas off of them regarding MMP and revelation of its secrets (and some of the people-to-people interactions, as well). The mysticism, at first, made me uncomfortable, but I embraced it after their overwhelming support.
Pharaoh Rutin Tutin for his reaction to Tara (Haminahaminahamina!) that showered my desktop with liquid and told me that I'd hit the mark. Thanks, also, PRT, for 'getting it,' and for continuing to challenge me to improve with your North American-style buffoonery and humor.
King in Yellow for taking me outside of my comfort zone and helping me trust my instincts that there was so much more to the relationships than just the smuff (granted, the smuff is nice….); and, good luck to you, also, in the Fannies.
Thank you, to all of you, for continuing to support me and provide me with a sounding board.
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Preview:
An early, unexpected, and long-lasting fierce snowstorm strikes the Rockies in both Canada and the US in October and November with a vengeance.
People are all right, people are hurt, people are dying, and some cannot be found.
Joe, of Canadian Intelligence, gets a call from an old friend that he never expected to receive….
Canadian Avalanche Blues, Eh?
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For all of you Jade fans:
Thanks for your continued support, and PM me if you have any questions about the JadeKimVerse. I respond to all PMs, emails, and reviews.
And, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank all of my readers for their support in the Fannies. The awards will come out, soon, and I am in for two possible awards! Well, it's really we, because I couldn't do it without you.
Thanks again for reading, and please review.
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The Fannies are over, but who won? Stay tuned for the awards ceremony…
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