Path to Home
Chapter 2 : Reflections
That night Ron took Kim…."Korey" home on his Harley. She was right about their neighborhood at night. Thugs and gang members could be seen walking about and lurking in the shadows along with the usual drunks, homeless people and prostitutes. To be honest the whole place sickened him but then again….he had been in worse places before.
As soon as Ron got to his apartment he removed most of his gear and shirt. He then went over to his lap top computer and stared it up and connected his private line to Global Justice. He quickly typed in a few commands and then both Will and Betty's faces popped up on screen.
"Hello Commander Stoppable….is there something we can help you with?" Will asked.
"Yeah." Ron growled, Will gulped and Betty looked a bit nervous. "First I want to know whose bright fucking idea it was to place Kim on this mission and second….why the hell wasn't I made aware of this? I don't like surprises and you both know it."
"I sent Ms Possible on this mission." Betty stated. "She was the only agent we had available at the time for it. As to why we didn't tell you….well we thought it would be best on both parts for you not to know and we hoped you two could work out your differences after the mission is completed."
"It is paramount that her identity remain secret." Will added.
"Don't worry about that." Ron said. "She has no idea who I really am and I will not blow her cover. I know my job and it will be done but I will stay on the job until her mission is completed as well. Stan Myers has now become my secondary target and he will be handled in the usual manner if need be."
"Understood Commander Stoppable." Betty said with a sigh, she should have known this would happen. "Do you need anything else or have anything to report?"
"Negative." Ron stated. "The targets weren't there tonight. I'll report as soon as something turns up….Ron out."
After cutting the main line connection to Betty and Will's office Ron began going through the Global Justice agent archives. "Access GJ agent profile and information Kimberly Anne Possible." Ron stated.
"Please give name, rank and clearance codes." The computer voice droned.
"Ronald Dean Stoppable, Commander…Project : Undertaker, code GJ6697-5." Ron said firmly. accepted…welcome Commander Stoppable. Requested files are coming up." The voice droned.
Global Justice Personnel and Agent file and information
Name : Possible. Kimberly Anne
Age : 21
Height : 5' 2"
Weight : 110 ilbs
Hair : Red
Eyes : Green
GJ Rank : Captain
Distinguishing marks : Several scars on wrists and a scar on the back of neck. Various small scars on body.
Date of Birth : May 28th 1987
Miss. Information : Joined Global Justice at the age 18, 2005. Last leave of absence was on June 14th, 2006. Maternity leave. Returned to duty August 4th 2006 as child was lost. Miscarriage. Father, Ronald Dean Stoppable via artificial insemination. Motive….to love what was lost. Agent Possible had Lost Mr Stoppable on April 15th 2004. Since that time Ronald Stoppable has vanished and not been seen since, believed to be M.I.A. or Killed in the line of duty. Ms Possible gave up freelance work after Ronald Stoppable's disappearance.
Since starting work for Global Justice Ms Possible has suffered numerous injuries…some near fatal, three separate rape attempts from targeted foes and a steady decline in mission completion.
Bio : Agent Possible is considered a wild card among her peers within Global Justice, a loose cannon. She is easily recognized by her red hair and green eyes and known through out the world for her exploits. Her nature of takedowns are sometimes brutal, known for getting in over her head and refusing the assistance of a partner. She states she doesn't want a repeat of the loss of her last partner Ronald Stoppable.
"Damn…..looks like she's had it rougher than I thought." Ron mused. "I can't believe she tried to have my kid like that. Why the hell would she do that….? Well…at least there is no chance of her finding my information….its not in this data base."
Ron let out a sigh and shut down his computer. Granted he had been keeping an eye on Kim for the past four years but there was allot of times he wasn't around. The information about the miscarriage and the scars on her wrists bothered him. Had she tried to commit suicide? Why did she try to have his baby? He needed more answers before he could decide on making any definite moves….that is if he was going to make any moves at all.
Kim had tried to check the GJ data base for a agent under "Clint Adrian Hunter Stone" but all she got was the "Classified Information" warning. She tried again using Ron's name and got the same only this time under the Ron-Factor project…which had been shut down and filed away over seven years ago.
Truth be told the whole thing bothered her. Clint reminded her so much of Ron that it was frightening. She was sure he was the other agent Dr. Director had warned her about but she wanted proof. It also upset her that all and any information regarding Ron in the data base was forbidden to anyone under Commander level…she was a Captain.
Kim had asked Betty Director many times if she had seen Ron over the years only to get a negative as a response. She just couldn't understand it…Ron had literately dropped off the face of the planet. She hadn't been able to find a single trace of him for the past six years.
That was what weighed heavily upon her heart. She wanted so badly to right what went wrong. She felt so alone. Ron had always been there for her and when she needed him the most he wasn't there anymore because she foolishly pushed him away. It was only in his absence that she discovered that her feelings for him far out stretched those of friendship…she had been in love with him. She had known it but denied it because she was afraid she'd lose him…but she lost him anyway and that made it hurt all the more worse.
Kim quietly put away her computer as tears began falling down her cheeks. Memories of the past was all that she had to comfort her as she curled up onto her bed holding a picture of Ron and wept into her pillow. Perhaps she was destined to be alone…or…this was her punishment for not appreciating what she had while she had it. In any case this was to be, like so many nights for the past six years, another lonely tear filled night…until her crying would send her into a fitful and nearly restless sleep.
One week later…
The weather in Middleton was had gone nasty for the past couple of days. The sky was grey and gloomy with clouds swelled with rain. Ron got out of his Avalanche and looked up into the gloomy sky as a few rain drops fell from the dark clouds.
"I hate this weather." Ron grumbled and tossed his leather jacket over his shoulder. Days like this brought back horrible reminders of events long passed…events that made him wish for deaths release from his torment. Few ever knew of his personal torment but that was how he wanted it.
As soon as he walked into the employee entrance he noticed that a ruckus was going on. Tony and Nick…another bouncer were standing between Kim and a dancer he knew as Teaser…who oddly enough looked a bit like Bonnie Rockwaller…except she had black hair and cold grey eyes.
"Alright." Ron said walking into the room and tossing his jacket on a chair. "What the hell is going on here?"
"Nick!" Kim exclaimed through gritted teeth. "You better get that tramp away from me before I get my hands on her." Kim growled.
"ENOUGH!" Ron growled. Both girls and the two bouncers stopped immediately and looked a bit nervous at Ron's unmoving features, his eyes still hidden behind mirror tinted shades.
At that moment Ron glanced over and noticed a frame lying on the floor, the glass shattered and a picture hanging out of it. It was the same frame Kim had made back in their years at Middleton high…the frame she put Josh's picture in. But now it was his picture sitting in the broken clay frame.
"Now…what happened?" Ron asked in a calmer tone.
"That tramp!" Kim growled and jabbed her finger at Teaser. "She was messing around with my personal stuff! She had NO RIGHT!" Kim all but yelled, her face flushed with anger and upset.
"Is that true?" Ron asked with a slight snarl in his tone.
"Well she needs to get over it!" Teaser whined snottily. "Apparently that guy never loved her or he would have stayed. She needs to grow up and stop acting like a sulky loser!"
Kim let out a growl and lunged at the other girl. Tears could be seen pooling in her angry emerald orbs. Ron swiftly but gently grabbed a hold of her to keep her from hurting the snotty dancer.
"Korey…you need to calm down." Ron said in a soft tone and then looked at Teaser. "And you need to keep you nose out of other people's buisness." Ron snarled in his usual intimidating tone.
"Oh c'mon Stony!" Teaser groaned. "The dude walked out on her six years ago…she needs to get over it and stop bothering the rest of us with her constant sniveling over it." She said haughtily.
Kim tensed and was bout to snap at the annoying girl in front of her but stopped when Clint let out a small growl. She didn't know him very well but he didn't seem to like others giving her a hard time over what happened.
"Did you ever happen to think that the situation might have been beyond his control at the time or perhaps something else was at work?" Ron growled.
Teaser made a snooty huff and stuck her nose in the air. "Well it still happened the same way so what is there to think about…it's not our fault Korey can't keep a man…he's not even that good looking anyways." Teaser snapped.
"NICK!" Kim yelled. "GET HER OUT OF MY SIGHT NOW!"
"Now listen DAMMIT!" Ron shouted. "What happened in Korey's past is her buisness not YOURS. Just like yours in NOT hers. Either leave her alone or leave this club...Got it?"
Teaser backed down but the superior look never left her features. "Yeah I got it." She snarled. "I'll go dress on the other side of the fucking room." She snapped and grabbed a red garment from the char next to her, knocking it over in the process.
"Grrrr…..what a fucking snob." Ron snarled.
"Stony….ratchet down bud." Nick said. "Your gonna blow your top to early in the evening."
"Sorry…" Ron grunted. "Brought up some bad memories."
Kim was now gathering the broken pieces of her picture frame off the floor with silent tears falling down her cheeks. It had been a white clay frame with pink hearts on the corners. At the very top it read "I Love" in pink letters.
Ron knelt down and began helping her pick up the shattered pieces. "Don't worry about the frame Korey…I can fix it later." Ron said and then looked at the picture that showed a younger and happier version of himself. "He must of meant quite a bit to you huh?"
Kim nodded and sniffed. "More than I can say…this frame…it's one of a kind…I made it myself."
"You did a nice job on it." Ron said. "Don't worry about it…I'm good with this sort of thing…I'll have it good as new by tomorrow."
Kim looked at him and her tears began falling harder. "Hey now." Ron said in a soft tone…one that he hadn't used in years. "No need for tears. Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked suddenly feeling like a heel, he knew that he was the cause of this pain and it was slowly getting to him.
"For him?" Kim asked looking at Ron's teenaged picture. "No…I haven't seen him for six years and…four years ago he just vanished without a trace…no one knows if he's even alive, but…but I won't believe that he's dead until I see his body…I know he's still out there…somewhere." Kim said through sobs.
Ron sighed, when this mission was over…he was going to have to talk to her. "Well, Korey, is there anything I can do to help you feel better?" He asked.
"Just…be a friend…nothing more." Kim said softly.
Ron nodded. "I can do that….I'll have your frame fixed by tomorrow…it'll be as good as new."
"Thanks…" Kim said in a quiet soft voice.
"Think nothing of it." Ron said patting her shoulder lightly. "Now go ahead and get ready for work and I'll put this in my truck." Ron said and gently placed the broken frame pieces in his jacket.
As Ron walked out to his truck in the rain his mind was flooded with thoughts and emotions he hadn't felt for a very long time. He gingerly placed the broken frame and coat in the back seat of his Avalanche. "Damn…she really did care for me…and now she hurting really bad. I remember that frame too…she only used it for people she was crushing on or was in love with. It was always kept taped to her locker door…I never thought my picture would ever end up in it. I…don't want to see her hurt like that anymore…"
These thoughts assaulted Ron's mind as he walked back to the club. His anger with her drained years ago. He realized that what she had said was in the heat of anger and had he gone to her with proof of what he caught Josh doing with Bonnie rather than attack him…then perhaps things would have been different. No matter the situation it always takes two to tango. He made several mistakes and so did she.
But now that was all in the past. They had both grown up and changed over the years. Although some things didn't change…his feelings for her never did…now matter how upset he had gotten. Hell he even tailed her on some of her more dangerous missions just to ensure her safety…and she never knew it.
"Once this mission is over…we really need to talk. It's about time that we put the past behind us where it belongs…I guess….I really do still….love…her…." Ron thought with a slight chuckle.
The night had gone slowly and Ron's targets had finally been off guard enough that he could plant tracker bugs on them. After the targets left Ron sent in the signal to Dr. Director to follow. He then took some time to talk to Tina…Kim's dancer friend. She was a nice and cheerful young lady and was worried about Kim's well being.
She had explained to him that this wasn't the first time Kim and Teaser…who surprisingly enough was named Bonnie Flowers, who had moved to Middleton from Arizona a few months ago. Tina then told him how much "Korey" missed the boy in the picture. "Clint" kept his face stoic as Tina told him his own name and then told the story of how things happened…even past the point after he left and how Kim had caught Josh Mankey and Bonnie Rockwaller having sex in the weight room.
Despite Ron's stoic exterior he wanted to go hunt Mankey down and beat him within an inch of his life. Of all the people to cheat on Kim with that bastard had to pick her worst enemy. Mankey had better hope he never crossed Ron's path…he knew things now and they would never find the body.
Ron had to shake himself of his old protective urges before they got the better of his judgment. He know had all the information he was looking for on Kim that he could get from others…now he just needed to get some from her before he made his final choice.
That was where he found himself at the moment…talking to Tina about the past in Paul's office. "So this guy…Ron Stoppable just vanished without a trace huh." Ron mused trying not to let the irony of talking about himself show in his face.
"Yeah…" Tina sighed. "The guy's a local hero here…but by looking at his picture you'd never think it. I mean he doesn't fit the stereo type of the average hero." She said with a slight giggle. "He is kinda cute though…Korey has good taste." She added.
Ron arched his eyebrow. "They usually never do…it's always the underdogs that rise up when they are needed." Ron stated.
"Yeah…ironic huh?" Tina asked.
Ron shrugged. "Indeed…."
There was a knock at the door. "Clint?" Came Kim's voice. "Are you in there?"
"Yeah…I'll be right out Korey." Ron said.
"Better get on your white horse, Stony, your maiden awaits." Tina teased with a giggle.
"Cute…very cute…." Ron said in monotone. "I'll talk to ya later."
Tina sighed. "Take care Stony…and…FYI…that was a joke…laugh at it."
Ron turned around and looked at the attractive young dancer through his shades. "FYI…Tina…I haven't laughed in years…it doesn't come with the job.
"C'mon Clint…you need to loosen up a bit and take some risks." Tina said trying to be upbeat.
Ron sighed. "I take risks all the time….and they keep me far from being loose. I'll see ya tomorrow."
Ron walked out the door and Kim was waiting there for him. "Urgent meeting with Paul?" She asked.
"No…just getting some personal information…you ready to go?" Ron asked.
"Sure…I got my stuff…let's go." Kim said.
As they were walking Ron noticed that Kim was wearing a familiar gold locket, one that used to be on a black ribbon and on each side of it was a class ring. The one of the right read Kim Possible and the one on the left read Ron Stoppable. He had forgotten that he left that ring behind six years ago. The thing that got him the most was the gold locket…he had gotten that for her nine years ago for her birthday…it still looked as good as the day he bought it.
"So Korey…you hungry, my treat." Ron offered as they walked to his truck.
"Sure…I could go for something right about now. There's a small dinner just down the road that stays open all night." Kim said.
"Sounds fine to me." Ron said simply and started up his truck.
They soon found themselves in the small dinner. Kim had ordered a salad and a small bowel of tomato soup with a beer. Ron ordered a salad as well with a club sandwich, a cup of hot green tea and a glass of orange juice.
Kim arched her eyebrow. "No beer for you, Clint?"
"No…they are fine for hot days when you've been working hard but other than that I prefer fine wines and imported liquors…like aged scotch, brandy and rum. Even then I don't partake much of them…don't like getting drunk." Ron stated.
"I don't either." Kim agreed. "Besides one beer is enough to give me a light buzz and that's as far as I go. I just need to vent a little from what happened earlier."
"Well…I have often found that Meditation can help sooth your nerves and calm your emotions." Ron offered.
"I've tried that several time…I can't get it." Kim said with a slight huff.
"It's quite simple really…all you need to do is clear your mind, gain your focus and find your center. Then let calm wash over you so you can better think about what is troubling you." Ron stated…he was after all a certified Sensei in many forms of martial arts.
"Well I can try that sometime…I have found that a nice cup of hot coco helps sometimes." Kim said.
Ron nodded. "I prefer a nice hot cup of green tea to relax me, it's my favorite, especially mixed with lemon or raspberry." Ron stated.
"That was Ron's favorite too…." Kim muttered.
"The young man in the picture?" Ron asked knowing the answer.
"Yes…you remind me allot of him." She said quietly.
"Yeah…you told me that a week ago." Ron said. "You remind me of a friend I once had too."
"I think you would of liked Ron…he was the kindest, sweetest guy I ever knew. He was a great guy all around…" Kim trailed off trying not to let her emotions get the better of her.
"I…I'm sure I would have…sounds like a great guy." Ron said feeling pretty low at the moment.
After a few awkward moments of silence Ron broke it by asking "Korey" how she became a dancer for what he referred to as a building full of perverts. She went on to tell him that after she graduated she had a difficult time finding work so she started being a dancer. Then she got a job at the Middleton Pickle works which had shut down recently and once again she found herself back in a club doing erotic dances to get money to pay her bills.
"Nice cover story Kim…you've gotten better." Ron thought. "It's a shame you have to work in such places…I would think that you could find better…but these are some hard times." Ron commented.
"No big." Kim said and noticed "Clint" giving her an odd look through his shades. "I…It was a saying a friend of mine used to use….her name was Kim Possible." Kim said nervously. "Okay…this is weird talking about myself in a third person perspective."
Ron nodded. "I heard of her." He said with a shrug. "She and your friend Ron Stoppable are quite famous." He then noticed several scars on her wrists. "Where did those come from?" He asked trying not to show his sudden concern.
Kim looked around nervously as her eyes filled with tears. "After….after he left….I was so lonely and miserable…I….I tried to end it….but I couldn't." She said softly. "I miss him so much, not a day passes that I don't think of him."
"I can relate…although I have never tried to take my own life." Ron said now straining a bit to keep his face emotionless. "I've gone through what you have before….twice. Both times hurt but I learned to let it pass and move on with my life. I know I may sound heartless but I guess that's the way I am now….I just try to help people when I can but that is as far as it goes, I usually don't keep friends or people close to me anymore." Ron said as if it was a perfectly normal thing.
Kim however could feel the pain behind his words; something really bad had happened in his past…something that affected him greatly. "What happened to you…could you please tell me a bit more about yourself?" Kim asked wanting to help.
Ron shrugged and took a sip of his tea. "There really isn't much to tell, Korey. When I was in high school I had a girl who was my best friend…please no names, I try to forget…I fell in love with her. As you can guess time and circumstances did their thing, we had a fight and that was that. She wasn't in love with me and it was something I had to accept. So after graduation I left home and began traveling."
"I took work where I could get it…legal of coarse and took some classes to become a private investigator and Bounty Hunter….a sort of mercenary if you'd like. I guess you could say I'm a jack of all trades…but that's another story all together. After spending two years away I returned and began living in San Diego. I met another girl, an old friend from my school days. We dated and I asked her to marry me. We had been together for nearly a year when she was taken from me….she died in a gang dispute just one week before we were to be married." Ron paused for a moment and noted the look of horror on Kim's face. "Well…after that I began traveling about the states again and went back to my old way of life. Paul is an old friend of mine and when he called me up to come here to work I took the job…that's my life…I go from place to place and sometimes try to help or protect people so they don't have to go through what I did."
"My GOD." Kim breathed. "I…I'm so…so sorry…I never meant to drag up such painful memories. I never would have thought…you're so nice and all…and…." Kim trailed off.
"There is no need to apologize Korey, I've learned to deal with the pain and it dosen't really bother me as much anymore." Ron stated. "You friggin liar…." The voice in his head grumbled.
Ron then asked about the scar on the back of her neck in hopes of changing the subject. It worked as she told him how her school was attacked by a height challenged criminal, which to her surprise he identified as Professor Dementor.
She then told him how after Dementor killed Bonnie Rockwaller, Mrs. Crabtree and Mr. Martin, their math and history teachers, that Kim Possible showed up, there was a nasty fight and in the end Kim ended up killing Dementor when she set his armored battle droid to self destruct.
"Well….that would explain the full face mask the little bastard was wearing when I ran into him a year ago." Ron mused.
"Huh?" Kim asked stupidly. "But how….that place was an inferno….almost half the school was destroyed by the fires."
"You'd be surprised what one can live through." Ron commented. "Not that it matters anymore…I finished what Ms. Possible started….Dementor had quite the bounty on his head by the government and I was more than happy to collect."
Kim just nodded and began eating her salad. It didn't much surprise her that "Clint" was a Bounty Hunter…he certainly looked the part. She was surprised that Dementor survived six years ago and with grim satisfaction she knew that "Clint" had finished what she hadn't been able to.
As she watched him eat she began to notice things. His mannerisms and gestures were just like Ron's. She nearly spit her beer out when he said his club sandwich was "Badical" a word that only Ron used. She had a theory but she needed proof…so tonight after she got home she was going to access the Global Justice main frame and use her Captain's status to get that information.
Disclaimer : We do not own Kim Possible
Authors : DragonMaster & Doug4422 aka Epic Quest INC.