Kudos to those who noticed the reporter's resemblance to Rita Skeeter. I had a preview of the new Potter movie playing in the background, and it inspired me. Don't get me started on the "first" estate, most should be gagged and possibly burned at the stake.

I have tried to answer each review individually, but if I missed you, my apologies. To those who read, I hope you are enjoying this. Review, it's fun and only takes a minute.

With all that, Merry Christmas. Hope Santa was good to you.

The Gift: Monday Morning

I.

"Anne, honey, wake up." James gently shook his sleeping wife's shoulder. "You said you needed to be at the hospital early this morning."

Reluctantly opening her eyes, Anne raised up to kiss her husband. "Thanks honey, I don't want to get up, but I need to check Ron and get Kim up and to school."

James handed his wife a cup of coffee. "Andy, what do you make of this last note?"

"I don't know. I'm not even sure what it means. And how is Ron going to grow or metamorphoses or whatever. I just don't know."

"Is there any way I can help?'

"Find whoever did this. Find out why."

"We should know something today. Chief Steffer is almost as upset about this as we are. He's going to be building fires under bureaucrats this morning. What about Kim?'

"I'm going to make sure she goes to school this morning. If she sits and stares at Ron any longer, she'll either break her heart or mine. She needs a break."

"Are you going to tell her about the note?"

"After school. She would just worry about it all day if we told her now."

"All right, I won't mention it." James gave her a quick kiss, "I'll wake the twins, Hon, best get moving."

Anne groaned, "Moving, I'm moving." She swung her legs out and stood.

II.

"Kim." The red head sat up, glancing frantically at the blonde beside her.

"Ron? Is he..."

"He's just the same, Kimmie, but you have to get up. It's time for school." Her mother reassured her.

"School? I can't go to school. Ron needs me."

Mrs. Dr. Possible looked into her daughter's stubborn eyes... "Kim, I have the pattern figured out. You are going to class. No arguments."

"But, Ron…"

"No arguments, Kimmie. We should have fifteen to twenty minutes warning before he becomes fully conscious. I spoke to Mr. Barkin last night: he said he'll have you here six minutes after I call. You just do what he tells you."

"Mr. Barkin?" Kim reached to smooth Ron's hair. "How did he get involved in this?"

"In order for you to leave school, he has to know why. Now stop stalling. Go to my office and take your shower. I left fresh clothes there and your dad is waiting with your books."

With a small sigh of defeat, Kim leaned over to kiss Ron's forehead. "All right, mom, if you're sure, really sure?"

"I promise, honey, we won't let him hurt. Now, go on."

"Ok, mom, I'm going." Kim kissed her boyfriend and mother goodbye, then yawning widely, shambled out.

III.

"Possible!"

Kim whirled, startled, she hadn't made it three steps past the school door when Mr. Barkin pounced.

"My car is parked out front, Possible. Your mother sent me a pager that will go off when yours does. If she calls, meet at these doors, don't waste time, understand."

Kim was flabbergasted. Even trying to be helpful, Barkin sounded like a D.I. chewing on a raw recruit.

"Ah, yes, sir, Mr. Barkin; these doors."

"Right. I understand time is essential. Now follow me." Mr. Barkin turned and strode into his office.

"Do you drink coffee, Possible?"

"Yes, sir."

"Pour yourself a cup, sit down and tell me what is going on. I didn't believe that hit and run nonsense for a minute."

Staring unbelieving at what came out of the coffee pot, instantly deciding on five sugars and more milk. "Is that all you've heard, sir, a hit and run?"

"Just that, but I know reporters. They wouldn't know a fact if they got mugged by one. Now, if you can, I'd like to know what happened."

"Mr. Barkin," Kim hesitated, "I don't mean to be rude, but why are you being so helpful? I didn't think you even liked him."

"Immaterial, Possible, he's my student."

"Yes, sir, but…"

Barkin's upraised hand halted her, "Stoppable is in my charge, at least part of the time. Whether I like him or not doesn't matter. For your information only, I do like him. I just try to motivate him. He is normally not a self starter."

Kim smiled fondly, "I know. My 'potential boy' has to have a reason," she chuckled, "and for a lot of high school, he just can't find one."

A rumble of laughter surprised her. "Just between us, Possible, I can sympathize with him. But I don't make the rules or curriculum, I just enforce them."

Still chuckling, Kim absently took a large swallow of coffee.

"Possible, are you all right?"

"Fine," Kim choked, "Just fine, sir." "Must remember, six, no, seven sugars and triple milk."

"Good, now what happened?"

Kim related the weekend's events—"and that's why mom asked for your help, Mr. Barkin. I have to be able to get to him before he becomes fully conscious."

"Understood, Possible, I'll make sure you get there. First period is about to start, if you're late, tell Miss Farnsworth you were with me."

"Thank you, sir." At the obvious dismissal Kim set her cup down, smiled at the crusty teacher, and left for class.

IV.

"Bonnie, can we talk?"

"What about, Monique?"

"Ron."

"No. I don't think it's any of your business."

Monique flushed angrily, "They're my friends and I…"

"They may be your friends," Bonnie snarled, "but I don't think I'm in that club, so why don't you just run along?"

Monique started to argue, glared instead, and stomped away.

"What was that all about?"

"Just Monique being curious, Tara."

"About Ron?"

"Yeah, and speaking of Ron, why haven't you been by to check on him?"

"I can't," Tara looked ashamed, "you know me, Bonnie, if he's as bad as I've heard I'd probably freak and they'd have to put me in a room. I'll go when he's a little better."

"If I were you, I'd explain to Kim. Not that I think she's even noticed. She might even thank you for not joining the ghoul group."

"Bonnie, that's terrible!"

"Maybe, but you didn't see the crowd and those reporters."

"Bad?"

"I don't know how Kim stood it. I don't think I could have. Let's get to class; I don't want to think about that anymore."

"Bonnie, do you need to talk?"

Bonnie paused, "Probably vent, but you don't deserve that, Tara, and I can't do it, at least not yet. Come on." She walked away.

V.

"Is that all you're eating?" Monique glared at Kim's fruit cup and water.

"Don't start, Mo, I had this conversation with my Dad yesterday."

Frustrated, Monique sat down, "Ok, but Ron…"

"Wouldn't like it, I know. I just don't have any appetite."

The two sat in silence.

"What's up with Bon-bon?" Monique finally asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw her at Ron's window, last night."

"Oh, yeah, I have to talk to her."

"Hope you have better luck than I had."

"What happened?"

"Oh, I started to ask her why she was there when I saw her this morning and she just blew me off."

"Well, maybe she…" Kim grabbed her head, and collapsed to the floor. "RON!"

V.

The nurse had just finished taking Ron's noon vitals when Dr. Possible returned from her patient rounds.

"Good morning, Dr. Possible. Have you decided if you want to hang another whole blood?"

"How's his B/P?"

"110 over 65."

"I think we'll hold off. The lab has another unit ready if we need it. Just keep the dextrose running, we may need the vein. Anything else?"

"Understandably uncomfortable, but he hasn't regained consciousness. Some muscle contractions, but that's all."

"Good, good, I think we'll…"

Every monitor shrieked as Ron jerked upright.

"KP!"