First thing, I want to apologize to all who have read and reviewed this story. This update and my others have been way too long in coming, work and travel are to blame, but my apologies are still sincere. I'll try not to let it happen again. Now, on to the reviews.
To those who asked about the mental link, or questioned it. Comes from personal experience. When I was shot, my father came out of a sound sleep, knowing something had happened. I was over a thousand miles away at the time. True story.
kpandron: sorry it took so long.
Mattb: My heart isn't getting any warmer.
Monitor Supreme: It will get worse.
Conan98002: Cliffies keep my typing fingers from wearing out. :-)
qtpie235: If I haven't said it before, your reviews are greatly appreciated. ope this clears up the Kim thing.
Surfrost and Harufu: thanks for the feedback. Always enjoyed.
As you may be able to tell, this story is winding to it's end. I promise in the next chapters to clear it up. Or, maybe a sequel. Hmmmm
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The Gift: Monday Afternoon
I.
Monique fell to her knees beside her hysterically sobbing friend. "Kim, what is it? Are you hurt? Kim?" Her hands fluttered indecisively before reaching to pull her girlfriend into a tight embrace. Rocking Kim, she tried to calm her. "Kim, tell me what the matter is, talk to me."
"It's, it's Ron," was all Kim managed between sobs.
Mr. Barkin heard the scream and whirled in time to see Possible fall to the floor. He strode quickly toward her. "Make a hole, people, back up." He ordered the curious students. "Jenkins, what happened?"
Monique looked up, "I, I don't know sir. Kim was fine, then she grabbed her head, screamed 'Ron', and fell to the floor."
The assistant principle knelt beside the two teens, cupped Kim's cheek in his rough hand, ignoring the tears that ran over his fingers, "Possible, what happened, is there anything we can do?" He asked in a voice of gravelly sympathy.
"Ron, its Ron." Was Kim's answer as she wrapped her arms around herself, rocking in grief.
"Possible…" the teacher began when the pager at his belt went off. A second later, the Kimmunicator sounded its' tone. "Something's happened to Stoppable." The ex-marine lifted the girl in his arms and ran for the exit.
II.
Ron collapsed back onto the bed, sightless eyes staring at the ceiling.
"Oh, my God, call code!" Mrs. Dr. Possible reached for Ron as the nurse reached for the emergency call. A charge knocked both across the room. The lights were extinguished, the machines silenced.
"Dr. Possible, Dr. Possible, are you all right?' The woozy nurse managed.
"Getting there," Anne managed, "did you call code?"
"I'm not sure; whatever that was seems to have knocked everything out."
"I'll see to Ron, go get help, run." Anne forced herself to her feet. The nurse staggered out the door.
Approaching Ron, Anne could feel a field of energy that grew stronger as she approached. At five feet, she could feel the hairs on her arms standing, the hair on her head lifting. She stopped, then backed up. She stood until the nurse returned with the crash crew.
"Stay there, don't go any closer. Do you have a flashlight?" One of the techs handed her a light from the cart. "Thanks." Flipping on the light, she again approached Ron. At five feet, the flashlight went out. At three feet, she could smell the energy. At two feet…the ICU nurse had to help her up.
"Dr. Possible, are you all right? What just happened?"
"I don't …I don't know." Anne's muscles quivered from the double shock. "Get some lights, floodlights if possible, on the bed. Shine them through the window. If I can't approach him, I at least need to see him."
Two spare flashlights from the cart were shone on the bed. One of the crew rushed out to search for better lights. In the dimness, Ron lay motionless, unblinking eyes staring straight up.
"Is he dead?" The nurse asked softly.
"I don't know, I don't know what's happening," Dr. Possible managed, "but look at the IV. If he's not dead we'll have to change it promptly or he'll have air in his veins and he will be dead."
"How? We can't get close."
"I don't know, but get another liter ready anyway."
III.
James, Barbara, and Dean sat in the cafeteria with coffee, waiting for Chief Steffer to arrive. Dean finally broke the desultory conversation by asking sharply, "All right, Jim, what does Steffer want? Do you know?"
James Possible rolled his cup between his palms. "Yes, I think so. He said he had positive ID on the owner of the house. He also has some other information he didn't tell me. I think it was the man I thought, but I just can't believe he would have done something like this."
"Jim, don't you think it's about time you gave us a name?"
"I suppose so," James grimaced, "I just hate…"
"Dr. Drexler to room 412, Dr. Drexler to room 412."
Barbara jerked, "That's Ron's room."
"And there is no Dr. Drexler." James face was grim as he stood. "That's the emergency code."
The three parents ran from the room.
IV.
"Possible, snap out of it." Mr. Barkin growled at the sobbing teen curled into the passenger door. "We'll be at the hospital in a couple of minutes and you won't be able to help Stoppable in your condition."
Tear drenched eyes raised to the teacher. "It doesn't matter, sir, not any more. Ron's dead."
"How do you know?"
"I…I felt him, I…heard him."
Barkin cut into the hospital parking lot and screeched to a halt. "All right, Possible, before we go in there, you are going to get control of yourself. Now, slowly, tell me what happened."
Taking deep breaths, Kim finally calmed enough to speak. "I was speaking to Monique and I felt…it just…I never…" She began to sob.
Barkin reached in his jacket pocket and handed her a handkerchief. He waited patiently, he had seen others lose it, and had hoped he never would see it again. "Whenever you're ready." Was all he said.
"Yes, sir," the weeping teen finally managed, "anyway, I...I just…it…Mr. Barkin, I have never felt such pain. And…and then I heard Ron scream KP and then he just…stopped. Like someone had turned off a switch. I knew," new tears rolled down her cheeks, "he was gone. Ron was dead." She buried her face in the handkerchief.
Barkin reached to pull Kim into a clumsy embrace. He said nothing, just patted her back until she began to pull away.
"All right, Possible, two things. One, you do not know that Stoppable is dead." He held up a silencing hand. "Two, if he is, there are other people to think about. What about his parents? Your parents? I know it's hard, but you have to think about them."
Kim attempted to dry her eyes with the damp handkerchief. She raised puffy tearful eyes to her teacher, "All right, sir, I'm ready."
V.
"I demand to see my son, this moment." Barbara Stoppable snarled at the desk nurse. "Now either take me to his room, or get the hell out of my way."
"I-I'm sorry Mrs. Stoppable, but you can't go in right now, procedures are being…"
The slender mother grabbed the heavier nurse's shoulders, shoving her out of the way. Without speaking she stalked past the still staggering obstacle.
The two fathers stared at each other in shock.
"Maybe we ought to follow her." James managed.
"I think we better." Dean replied, hurriedly following his wife.
VI.
Kim and Barkin ran past a stammering nurse. "You can't, come back here!"
Kim glanced back at the attendant, eyes hard.
The nurse quickly put her hands up, stepping back, "No way, not again, they don't pay me enough."
Ignoring her, the two hurried through the swinging doors toward the commotion they could hear from the hallway. Barbara Stoppable's voice rang out.
"Get out of my way." The orderly barring her suddenly grabbed himself and collapsed to his knees. The other two grabbed her arms as she stepped by him. "Let go of me."
Kim saw her father and Mr. Stoppable charge forward. Mr. Stoppable's fist was clenched and drawn back as he went to his wife's aid. James snatched one nurses' collar, jerking the man away from Barbara as Dean's fist flattened the orderly's face.
Barbara didn't hesitate, without a word she stormed toward the observation window, coming to a shocked halt in front of the window. Her hands flew toward her face, holding in a horrified scream.
Kim ran past the battling fathers, Barkin went to their aid. "Mrs. Stoppable, what…"
Barbara wordlessly pointed at the window.
In the dimness, Kim saw her mother leaning against a table, a flashlight in her hand. Two others stood against the wall, staring at the bed. On the bed, her love's body floated two inches off the bed, surrounded by a flickering blue glow.