As with every chapter before and every to follow, Kim Possible and all related characters (other than those of my own creation for the purpose of this story) are the property of The Walt Disney Company. Everything else is all mine.

It's ten-twenty at the Possible house. Aside from the ticking of the clock above the sink, the only sound is the "Tap, tap, tap" of a Scrabble letter "A" on the Masonite table top in the breakfast nook.

"Dear, I believe it's your turn."

"Tap, tap, tap."

"Dear?"

"I know, I know. I'm just having a hard time concentrating. Having a naked mole rat perched above you like a vulture, watching your every move can be quite a distraction."

"Jim, you agreed to allow Rufus to climb up in the light fixture and watch us play Scrabble. Just try to focus on your letters and the board and you won't even notice he's up there."

"That's easy for you to say, Kate. You're a neurosurgeon. You have to be able to concentrate. Otherwise, who knows what might happen? Someone going into surgery as a mild-mannered accountant might come out thinking he's Napoleon. A shy little ballerina might come out a brawling roller derby queen. Heck, a life-long Democrat might come out a rabid Republican!"

"Jim, you've been watching too much of the Sci-Fi Channel again. Brain surgery can do some amazing, even miraculous things today, but we can't change a Democrat into a Republican or vice versa. Although I'll admit there are times that I wish we could."

"Oh, and it's still your turn, or do you want to pass?"

"No, I'll play." James Possible placed his "A" down below an "N" already on the board, then below that a "K", an "E" and finally a "D". "Mark me down for twenty points on that one."

"Now, see. Having Rufus around actually helped you with your word."

"Actually, Kate, the word isn't in reference to Rufus. It's referring to you", James said, looking across the table into his wife's big blue eyes with a grin and a wink.

"O-h-h, r-e-a-l-l-y. What's on your mind, Dr. Possible? As if I didn't know", Kate responded with raised eyebrow and a grin of her own.

"W-e-l-l, I'm just wondering, Dr. Possible, if you might consider raising the stakes a bit on our game, say turn it into "Strip Scrabble"."

"Out here, in the kitchen? What if the twins hear us or Kim and Ron walk in on us?"

"N-o-o, in our bedroom, of course. It'll give us a chance to dust off that travel version you gave me for Christmas years ago. It's magnetic, so the letters won't scatter if things get, well, a little active."

"Sounds fun! Shall we finish this game first? There's only a few letters left."

"Sure. It's your…. "

"Ayyyy!" Rufus, who had been trying to position himself for a better view of the game, lost his balance and came crashing down, landing right in the middle of the board. Letters scattered in every direction.

"…turn."

"Uh-oh! S-o-r-r-y." Rufus instantly realized he was in BIG trouble, or so he thought.

Kathleen did all she could to keep from laughing. "Looks like Rufus has made our decision for us. Shall we call this game a draw?"

"Yeah, that's fine with me. I'll gather up all the letters and put the game away."

"While you're doing that, I'll go freshen up." Kathleen walked out the kitchen doorway and down the hall to the master bedroom.

"Rufus, you are one very fortunate naked mole rat", said James. "Any other time this would have earned you banishment from our home for at least a week. I'll let you off the hook this time, but next time, don't plan on me being so charitable. Understand?"

"Uh-huh."

"Good. Now why don't you go back up to Kim's room and play on the computer some more until they get home."

"Okay."

Rufus hopped down off the table, scampered out the kitchen door and down the hallway.

Just then, the phone rang.

"Huh. Who could be calling at this time of the night? Probably Kim."

"Hello. Possible residence."

"Dr. Possible, can you and Mrs. Possible both get on the line? Something's happened and I think it's best you hear it together."

"Uh, sure, Wade. Hang on a second."

James walked down the hallway to the master bedroom and knocked on the door.

"Jim, I'm not quite ready. Can you give me a couple more minutes?"

"Kate, Wade's on the phone. He wants us both on the line. He says something has happened and it would be best if you and I hear it together."

Kate opened the door. "Is it about Kim and Ron? Is Kim okay?"

"I don't know. Get the phone from the bedroom and let's go out into the family room."

Grabbing the cordless phone from her nightstand, Kathleen clutched James' hand as they walked down the hallway into the family room and sat side-by-side on the couch.

"Okay, Wade. We're both on the line. What's happened?"

"Kim and Ron were out at City Park Lake taking a walk when they got jumped by three bouncer-sized thugs. Ron's okay except for a scrape on his forehead."

"What about Kim?" asked James. He reached around Kathleen's waist and held her tight.

"One of the thugs shot Kim with an ultra-high-voltage taser."

"Oh, dear God!" exclaimed Kathleen. James slid his arm up to Kathleen's shoulder and did his best to comfort her.

"Wade, how's Kim? What's her condition?" asked James.

"The jolt from the taser threw her into shock. An EMT crew rushed her over to Middleton General. She's just been taken into ER. I talked with Karen, one of the EMTs, and she said that Kim's come out of shock but is still unconscious. Her vital signs are weak but steady."

"Thank God she's still alive!" said Kathleen, tears running down her face.

Wade continued, "Ron's on his way to the hospital. He wants to be there when they bring Kim out of ER."

"Wade, I really appreciate you calling, but why didn't Ron call us?" James asked.

"Ron's pretty shook up. He blames himself for what happened to Kim", Wade answered. "Also, he was afraid if he called he might say something that would make you even more upset."

"Well, was it his fault?" asked James.

"Jim! That's not a fair question to be asking Wade right now! Besides, from what he's said and what I know about tasers, there probably wasn't anything Ron could have done to prevent it."

"You're right, Kate. Sorry, Wade."

"That's okay, Dr. Possible. My dad would have probably asked the exact same question."

"Wade, I'm going to head over to the hospital. Here's my cell phone number: 555-1437. Call me if there's any change in Kim's condition."

"Will do, Dr. Possible."

Wade ended the transmission. All that could be heard by James and Kathleen was a dial tone. They both turned off their handsets.

"Jim, I want to go with you."

"I know you do, Kate, but someone should be here with the twins and talk to them in the morning. I …"

The doorbell rang.

"That's probably the Middleton Police. I'll get it."

James walked quickly to the front door and opened it.

"Good evening, Officer. We know why you're here …."

He cut himself off in mid-sentence when he realized it wasn't a police officer. It was Rachel Stoppable.

"Jim, Ron called and told me what happened. I got over here as fast as I could."

James called out to Kathleen. "Kate, its Rachel Stoppable."

Kathleen joined James in the entry way.

"Rachel, I thought you'd be heading down to the hospital to see Ron."

"I was planning to when Ron told me what happened, but he said he'd be fine. He thought I should come over here instead and watch the twins so the two of you could go down and see Kim."

"Oh, God bless Ron. He always puts Kim ahead of himself", Kathleen stepped forward and gave Rachel a hug. "And God bless you too, Rachel."

James put his arm around Rachel and gave her a squeeze. "Thanks, Rachel. You and Jon have been so generous to us this year. There's no way we could ever repay you for all you've done."

"Yes there is, Jim. You and Kate can get down to the hospital and take good care of your wonderful daughter. She means the world to Ron. The day those two exchange vows will be the happiest day of my life. Now get moving!"

Ron received good news the moment he walked into Middleton General's ER entrance: Kim had come out of shock but she was still unconscious. The ER nurse told him that the ER staff had to insure Kim was stabilized, then run a series of tests to determine what if any permanent damage might have occurred as a result of her being hit by the taser.

Barring any further complications, Kim would then be moved out of ER into an Intensive Care Unit patient room, where he would be able to see her.

Pacing back and forth in the ER Waiting Room, Ron mentally went over and over everything that happened and there was one detail that kept bothering him. The three thugs had mentioned something about a "Wanted" e-mail and the reward was $100 million "dead or alive". Someone had put a bounty on Kim's head; someone with very deep pockets. He pulled out the Ronnunicator and called Wade.

"Sorry if I woke you, Wade."

"No, I was awake. I don't think I'll be able to sleep until I know Kim's going to be alright. What's up?"

"Do you remember those three thugs talking about getting a $100 million reward whether they delivered Kim "dead or alive"?"

"Yeah, I remember. It sounded like a hoax to me. I mean, if that sort of e-mail were circulating out on the Internet, Middleton would be overrun by now with thousands of criminals, from super villains all the way down to petty crooks. Also, I would have found out about it the moment the e-mail was sent."

"I don't know, Wade. They obviously thought it was for real. I don't want to take any chances. Could you call Middleton Police and have them set up a rotating 24/7 watch for Kim?"

"Sure, Ron, if that's what you want, but I think I might have something that would be easier to set up and, with all due respect to our men and women in blue, a whole lot more effective."

"What's that?"

"Remember that McHenry Laser Grid system that Mr. Paisley had set up in his mansion and Team Impossible duplicated at their headquarters?"

"Yeah. It'd be hard not to remember, even for me. Why?"

"Well, I've been working on a portable version of the system."

"A portable system? You're kidding me!"

"Nope. So far, I've managed to shrink it down to where the entire system, including the power source, fits inside a large rolling luggage bag. Eventually I want to make it completely modular, something that could be carried in a briefcase or backpack and set up by just about anybody."

"Wade, you truly are "The Man"! How soon could you get it here?"

"I'll need approval from Hospital Security and the Middleton Police, but that shouldn't be a problem. If there are no other snags, I should be able to bring it down there, set it up and have it operational in a couple of hours."

"Wait a minute. Are you saying you're bringing it down? In person?"

"Ron, if I was willing to leave my room when Team Impossible toasted my system, don't you think I'd do it now for Kim?"

"Yeah, I know you would. Sorry. It wasn't right for me to question. Oh, and thanks again for calling Kim's parents. If I had called them I might have said something just stupid as I did now."

"That's okay, Ron. Unless you hear from me otherwise, I'll be down there in about half an hour."

Wade ended transmission. Ron stuffed the Ronnunicator back in his pants pocket and went to find a soda machine.

Meanwhile, the Possible sedan was pulling into the hospital parking lot and James was backing into the space nearest to the ER entrance. Kathleen reached across and grasped his left hand.

"Jim, I know you're still upset with Ron… "

"Can't hide anything from you, can I, Kate… "

"Dear, the steam coming out of your ears and the indentation you're leaving in the steering wheel are rather hard to overlook."

"Huh?"

"Jim, I'm just joking. We're both worried and upset, but let's not make things worse. Right now Ron doesn't need you to threaten to send him on that Venus probe, even in jest. He needs your love and support, okay?"

"Okay, hon. You're right, as always."

"It's taken nearly twenty years of marriage, Dr. James Timothy Possible, but I'm glad you've finally figured that out."

James Possible exited the driver's side, came around, opened Kathleen's door and assisted her out of the passenger side. Closing the door, they kissed, joined hands and walked toward the ER Entrance.

Ron was coming around the corner from the soda machine when he saw Mr. and Mrs. Possible enter through the main ER doors.

Even though in the car ride he had rehearsed several times in his head what he would say, now that the time had come he just couldn't get the words out. "Mr. and Mrs. Dr. P., … I'm so sorry… for what happened… to Kim." Ron's throat tightened and tears began to trickle down his face. "It was my fault… I should have been… beside Kim… when she was…attacked." At last he could no longer hold it back. Ron broke down sobbing, his hands clutching his knees.

James Possible stepped forward, took Ron by the forearms and helped him stand up straight, then wrapped him in a loving fatherly embrace. Ron continued to sob in his arms.

Kathleen Possible stood beside Ron, placed her hand on his shoulder and tried to comfort him.

"Ron, no one is blaming you for what happened. We're certainly not blaming you. Wade says there was nothing you or anyone else could have done to prevent it."

Ron tried to respond in between sniffles. "I'm sorry... I didn't call. I was afraid if I called... I'd say something... really stupid."

"Frankly, Ron, I am disappointed you didn't call", James Possible spoke in a mildly scolding tone, "But now's not the time to talk about that and it's something you should first discuss with your parents.

"Ron, how's Kim?" asked Kathleen Possible. "Wade said Kim was no longer in shock but was still unconscious."

"That's the last I heard, too, Mrs. Possible."

As Ron spoke, one of the doctors emerged from the Emergency Room.

"Doctor, how is Kim?" asked James Possible.

"Jim, she's begun to regain consciousness. We'll be moving her to a room in ICU shortly."

"Any indications of permanent damage, Doctor?" asked Kathleen.

"Well, as you know, Kate, it's hard to tell for certain this early, but the preliminary test results show no signs of damage. We'll have to run more tests, of course."

Ron spoke up, "Doc', how long do you think Kim will have to stay here?"

"Ron, I'd like to keep Kim in ICU for observation at least through the weekend. I'll notify the ICU staff that you and Kim's family can visit, but I ask that only two or three of you be in with her at a time."

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another patient I need to check on."

"Thank you, Doctor", Ron, James and Kathleen said in unision.

"Well, I guess all we can do is sit and wait", said James.

"And pray", added Kathleen.

"Yes, and pray", agreed James.

Walking over to a row of chairs along the wall opposite the ER Nurse's Desk, Mr. Possible sat down with his wife to his right and Ron to his left, their hands clasped together, forming a chain. Bowing their heads, James led them in prayer.

"Father God, you know all that has happened and all that is on our hearts. Surround Kim with Your love. Heal her of any wounds she has received tonight, physically, mentally or spiritually. Make good out of the evil that has taken place, and bring us all out of this stronger in body, mind and spirit. In Your Name we pray, Amen."

"A-m-e-n", echoed Kathleen and Ron.

And you thought married couples who stayed home evenings and played Scrabble led boring lives. BTW, yes, there is such a game as "Strip Scrabble" and you can find rules for it on the Internet. Of course, the only version that gets my official endorsement, FWIW, is the one played by the Drs. Possible.