Team Possible Inc. Recruiting and Recovery
Chapter 6: A Time To Heal
A Kim Possible Fan Fic by the Pharaoh Rutin Tutin
Kim Possible and all related characters copyright © Disney.
This is a work of Fan Fiction. I receive no compensation for this story.
Please do not edit, sell, repost, or redistribute without my permission.
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In the story "After Action", several friends, relatives, and acquaintances of Team Possible take a more active roll in the rescue / crime-fighting / save-the-world business while Ron recovers from serious injuries. And when the original members of Team Possible are back in fighting shape, the new members stand along side them. Together they create a force for justice and peace rarely seen outside cartoons.
These are the stories of that recovery, as well as the basic, average girls and guys of Middleton and what inspires them to save the world.
You can't stop them 'cause they're TEAM POSSIBLE, INC.
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The first time Kim Possible met Jocelyn, her cousin, was not long before she met Ron Stoppable.
Anne Possible had just found out that she was pregnant when they got some of the worst news they could imagine. James' sister in law, Nicole, had been killed near Butte when a drunk driver hit her car.
Both Drs. Possible immediately cashed in almost every favor they had and drove all night to the Lazy C. Stopping at the airport along the way to pick up James' mother who had flown to Montana from Florida.
Slim was devastated, but was pushing himself to do it all and be the pillar of strength everyone expected. After all, anything's possible for a Possible.
All that changed as soon as the family got to the ranch. Slim just collapsed on the couch, weeping silently as his mother held him. James went out to speak to the "hands", most of which were actually undergraduate interns on Slim's research teams. And Anne set about dealing with the household, after introducing Kim to her one-year-old cousin, Joss.
Kim immediately fell in love with this hungry, noisy, smelly blob of flesh in front of her. Helping her mom as Joss was bathed, changed, and fed. Playing with the child and seeing the pure emotion in her face. Experiencing the wonder of a shoelace or the marvel in the transition between a wood floor and carpet.
Kim had just found out that her mom was going to have a baby, although mom and dad didn't really say how this was going to happen. Now that she had met her cousin, Kim knew exactly what she wanted. Somehow, in her four-year-old mind, Kim knew that she was going to have a little sister just like Joss.
"Kimmie Cub? Are you still with us?" asked James Possible, drawing his daughter out of her reverie.
"Sorry daddy. I was just looking at the old photo albums."
"Those are the pictures from Nicole's funeral, aren't they?"
"That was the first time I met Joss. It's also when I told you that I wanted a little sister. But instead, you and mom brought home the tweebs."
"Now Kim, aren't you ever going to let that go?"
Then, from the back yard, they hear, "Hica-bica-boo?" "Hoo-sha!" BOOM!
"What do you think, daddy?"
Later, the Possible household was in a flurry of last minute preparations before the arrival of Slim and Joss. Ron had figured out how to keep his leg elevated while driving the riding lawn mower. Jim and Tim followed behind with the trim work and raking. Rufus even managed to deal with almost all of the weeds permanently, except for the Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy and Naked is NOT a fun combination.
After completing her rounds, Anne picked up groceries. They were going to get something better than brainloaf tonight, even if she had to carry Ron through the kitchen to do the cooking.
Kim went with her father to the school. As they met with Mr. Barkin, Dr. Possible explained to the overworked educator the sitch involving his niece. Steve Barkin was surprisingly sympathetic, but explained that there wasn't a lot he could do until he got her official transcripts from the Joseph City School District. Kim then suggested that he check his e-mail. In it, there were not only her transcripts, but also a complete Middleton High School schedule based on what Joss was registered for back in Montana. It also had her in four out of six classes with Jim, Tim, Ron, and / or Kim. All Joss and Slim needed to do was sign the forms Monday. As the Possibles left Barkin's office, Kim turned on her Kimmunicator and said "Thanks Wade, you rock like Gibraltar".
Just after six p.m., a pick-up with a horse trailer parked in front of the house.
In all the time she knew Joss, there was only one time Kim ever saw her cousin depressed. The time she broke Joss' heart by freaking over her "Kim" obsession. The picture Kim saw this day was infinitely worse. If Joss' spirits could have been raised to the level of merely broken-hearted, it would have been a vast improvement.
Throughout the picnic like dinner served on the big table on the deck, Joss barely said a word. She sat between Kim and Ron and directly across from her father because they all wanted to protect her. Even Rufus spent most of the meal on her shoulder, cooing in her ear.
Later that night, Joss was up. She just couldn't sleep. Kim was asleep, soundly, on her bed. And while she knew Kim wouldn't mind if she woke her up to talk, Kim wasn't the one with whom Joss needed to talk.
Slipping on one of Kim's old robes, Joss walked out of the loft and downstairs. She heard some noise from the den and wandered in to find "Ron."
"Hi Joss. You can't sleep?"
Joss just nodded.
"Rufus and I thought so, we've been waiting for you to show up."
"But how could you…?"
"That's not important," Ron said as he turned off the late night monster movie and motioned for her to sit in the big recliner by his wheelchair. "Now what's on your mind, buckerette?"
"How do you do it, Ron?"
"Do what?"
"You know, save the world, fight the bad guys, foil the plots, all that."
"Well, Kim really does most of that."
"Ron, you're right beside her every step of the way. She couldn't do most of what she does if it wasn't for you and Rufus. It's like you're her Tonto, kimosabe."
"Hey, we just do what we can. Right little buddy?"
To which Rufus answered, "Uh-huh."
"But you're scared every step of the way. How can you do all of that for her when you have so much fear inside you?"
"Your feeling afraid, aren't you?"
"Ron, I've never been so scared in my life. I lost mamma as an infant. Now, thanks to Draken and politics, I've lost my home and all my friends in Joseph City."
"How do you do it Ron? How do you find the courage when you're so overwhelmed with fear? What can I do to be more like you?"
"First of all, don't try to be like anyone but yourself. And as for my secret to bravery, I really don't know. Just an example, a few weeks before the Prom, sigh, I was in my basement, hiding under the blankets. The next day, I was trekking through the Amazing rain forest."
"Isn't that the Amazon rain forest?"
"And its Amazing! The point is I just do what needs to be done and try to make the best out of a bad situation. The fear is always there. The courage just hides until it's really needed."
"In many ways, my courage and fear is the opposite of Kim's. Usually her courage and confidence just bubbles over for everyone to see, but when her fears and insecurities finally do overcome her, she is completely debilitated. Has she told you about the time we were tied up at Bueno Nacho HQ during the little diablos incident?"
"Out there, in here? Is that really what you said to her?" Joss practically giggled.
"Ok, I admit it's no 'We'll always have Paris' or 'A rose by any other name', but it worked."
"Because it made Kim fall in love with you?"
"I'm pretty sure that she felt for me as much as I felt for her for a long time. We just didn't want to admit it to each other or ourselves. No, what I mean is that it gave Kim something to wrap her brain around instead of the cruel trick Draken and synthodud played on her. Once I helped her get out of that funk and Rufus helped get her out of those ropes, Kim lead us into battle against Draken, Shego, Eric, and the diablos."
"Were you scared then?"
"Yes, but I was even more scared later that night."
"What scared you after the battle?"
"Kim. At the dance I was able to look in her eyes and I saw her pain, fear, and insecurity. I saw gratitude, guilt, and anger for all that we had been and done to each other. I saw friendship. And I saw Love. It wasn't rebound. It wasn't moodulator. It was Love. And THAT scared me."
"She was the source of my pain. I was the source of her pain. She was the relief to my pain. I was the relief to her pain. That night, when we kissed, a whole New World opened up to us. And we're going to explore that world together, forever I hope."
Joss began to ask, "Do you mean…"
"Rufus, could you get me the box in Mr. Dr. P.'s yellow jacket?"
The naked mole rat saluted and scampered out of the room and into the hall closet. When he returned, he was pushing a large, for him, velvet box toward Joss.
Joss opened the box and nearly screamed when she saw the diamond on that ring.
"WOW!"
"I gave it to Kim's dad a few days before the mission when my leg was hurt. I wanted him to hold on to it while he considered whether to give his permission and blessing."
Joss closed the box, handed it back to Ron, and looked him squarely in the eye. "If Cousin Kim is fool enough to say 'no', y'all better come to me next. I want that rock."
"So? When are you fixin' to ask her?"
"As soon as I can do it right."
"Do it right?"
"It may be cliché, but I will be down on one knee when I ask her. Either that, or tied to a giant cactus."
Joss began to laugh. Then she got an annoyed look in her eye.
"Ron, y'all just pulled the sidekick shtick, didn't you? You distracted me, and made me think of someone other than myself for a while."
"What can I say? If you're willing to give me Tonto level billing, I better be able to pull off the "side kick shtick" at the drop of a hat."
Rufus then knocked Mr. Dr. P.'s fishing hat off the shelf.
Joss leaned over and gave him a hug big enough for all of Montana. "Thanks Ron. I needed that."
After a few minutes, Ron tried to break the hold only to find she had a grip that could pin half the GWA. "Uh, Joss. I think it's time to go to bed. Kim's going to take me to Temple in the morning. Would you like to come along?"
"All my nice clothes are still in the trailer."
"I'm sure Kim has something you could borrow."
"Would it be ok? I'm not Jewish."
"Neither is Kim. Besides, nobody's perfect."
For that comment, a pillow hit Ron. Hey, they're called "throw pillows" for a reason.
"See you in the morning, Cousin Ron."
"Back at 'cha, Cousin Joss."
As the morning light entered the window of the loft, Kim looked to new bed in her room and saw that it was empty. Kim jumped out of bed to look for her cousin, but didn't get far before Joss climbed back into the loft, her hair still in a towel.
"Mornin' Kim. Hey, Ron invited me along to Temple with you two today. Hope y'all don't mind."
"No, not at all. Joss, what happened? When you went to bed last night, I didn't think you would ever get up on your own."
"Remember when you and Ron were tied up on the giant cactus? Well, he did the same thing for me. So, have you got somthin' I could wear today? Or should I have ol' Tornado dig my clothes out of the trailer?"
In a little while, Kim and Joss came down to join the family for breakfast. Kim was wearing a white suit with a knee length skirt that she often wore in the summer. Joss was wearing the blue dress that Kim had previously worn when she went with Ron to his cousin's wedding. Ron rolled out of the guestroom in grey pants and a navy blazer with a burgundy tie.
The three teens stopped to look each other over. Soon the adults were also noticing the fashion shot.
"Damn! Ron sure cleans up nice" was the thought that went through the minds of all three Possible women."
"So, fashion boy," Kim asked, "when did you suddenly get stylish?"
"Don't blame Ron, dear" Mrs. Dr. P. answered, "I helped him with this one, after changing his dressing."
"Joss?" her father asked, "What happened? Not that I'm complaining, but why aren't you still curled up in bed?"
"Ron happened, daddy. In fact, I'm staking my claim. If Cousin Kim lets him slip away, I want him."
"Sorry to disappoint you, Joss. But that's not going to happen." Kim chimed in. And everybody laughed.
"So Joss, are you going to Temple with Ron and Kim?" Mr. Dr. P. asked.
"Yes Sir Uncle James. That is, if it's all right with you daddy."
"Jest don't be late for lunch."
"Uncle Slim," Kim answered, "with Ron along, that will not be a problem."
With a week of therapy sessions and doctor's visits under their belts, the Possibles had become pretty efficient in loading Ron in and out of the van. As Kim pulled into the parking lot of the Temple, Ron's dad met them. He then helped Kim unload his son. As they went inside, they met up with Ron's mom. She looked like that kid she was carrying would burst out at any moment.
Ron introduced Joss to his parents, and together, they found seats where Ron's chair would be out of the aisle. Of course, many other eyes watched as Ron introduced his female companions and wished for their own introductions.
During the service, Joss was alternately confused and intrigued by the proceedings. Then she saw something that got her attention. A cute boy (man, Kim later corrected her) a little younger than Ron stepped up front for a scripture reading. Whether it was the hottie reading it, or the message itself, Joss couldn't say. But it seemed to be just what she needed to hear.
"A reading from the Prophet, Jeremiah"Thus said the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, to the whole community which I exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there, do not decrease. And seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you and pray to the LORD in its behalf; for in its prosperity you shall prosper.
For thus said the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Let not the prophets and diviners in your midst deceive you, and pay no heed to the dreams they dream. For they prophesy to you in My name falsely; I did not send them – declares the LORD.
For thus said the LORD: When Babylon's seventy years are over, I will take note of you, and I will fulfill to you My promise of favor – to bring you back to this place. For I am mindful of the plans I have made concerning you – declares the LORD – plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a hopeful future. When you call Me, and come and Pray to Me, I will give heed to you. You will search for Me and find Me, if only you seek Me wholeheartedly. I will be at hand for you - declares the LORD – and I will restore your fortunes. And I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places to which I have banished you - declares the LORD – and I will bring you back to the place from which I have exiled you.
Jeremiah 29: 4 – 14, New JPS Translation- - - - -
fin
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Author's note
This ran a little longer than I intended. I just wanted to tell the story of Joss' arrival and her first night with Kim and Ron.
Sorry to tell you this Slim, but Joss won't make it home in time for lunch. Don't worry, you'll be joining her.
And thanks to cpneb for his assistance and permission to use some concepts that originated in his "BES / Jade-verse".
If you're reading KP FanFics, you probably have opinions about them. Why not share your opinion about which ones you think are best with the rest of the FanFic community?
Just go to ZARATAN's page at http://intbike(DOT)com/fannie2(DOT)html and get the whole story of the Fannies. Then tune in Saturday, February 17th and see who walks home with the Golden Rufie. I have been assured that Joan and Melissa Rivers will NOT be working that red carpet.