Chapter V: The Desire to Protect.

Nicholas "C.T." Wolfwood II woke at the slightest sound. It was already sunrise and his new found friends retired at about two o' clock in the morning. After talking about how he met Ron, Mrs. Possible called it a night. Grudgingly, all went to bed leaving Ron and himself to bunk in the living room.

Quietly, he crept towards the kitchen, where he heard the sound. He was still unsure how safe this world was and how he would adapt to the changes. The weather was soothing, if you'd lived on a desert planet for years it was like paradise, though a little cold. The people were nice, that was, the people he had met so far. But he knew people better than anyone. He did not become a preacher without meeting different types of people and he survived by avoiding people that would harm him. But there were times that he would not run for the souls of the innocent called to him.

Peering into the kitchen, he saw a figure walking about. At first he though it was an intruder but when the figure moved at a habitual pace, he knew that it was one of the residents of the Possible home.

He almost chuckled out loud when the figured grumbled and he recognized the voice.

"Where's that coffee?" an irritated female said as she looked into the cupboards. Quietly, he walked towards the kitchen counter and took a bag of coffee that was near the coffeemaker and cleared his throat. The reaction was instantaneous.

Nicholas suddenly found himself lying on the kitchen floor, pinned and with a glowing hand poised to scratch his face off. Even though he was surprised by the move, he kept his composure.

"I see that you're not a morning person, Ms. Shego," he said risking pain and mutilation. Suddenly, the glow disappeared and Shego growled in irritation.

"Don't do that!" she hissed as she straightened up. Nicholas saw, for the first time, what she was wearing. Shego was wearing a short silk robe that had her colors and pattern. Looking at her, he saw that one of collars was off, revealing the pale, smooth and interestingly clear skin of her shoulder. Moving down, Nicholas also noticed that she, in her pounce, was straddling him in an intimate manner, not that he was complaining. He was unsure if he should point it out since he knew how volatile her temper could be.

Also, he could not help but see her creamy legs that, in his opinion, could kick his ass easily. His gaze returned to her face and saw that she was irritated. By him creeping up to her or by his gaze he did not know. But her bedraggled hair took his notice more. Though some of it was straight, the rest cascaded all through her head and part of her bangs covered half her face. To him, it made her alluring.

Taking a deep breath, and ignoring the heat he was feeling from her from the part that they were joined, though extremely difficult, he composed his feelings and desires. It was a good thing that she straddled him on his abs and not below his waist for he could not control that part of his anatomy. He thanked God that she had not notice it or he will rue the consequences.

"Do you mind if I make coffee?" he asked as if nothing had gone wrong. Shego looked at him in scrutiny and sighed.

"Do you enjoy pain or are you one of those 'I won't quit types'?" she asked, still keeping him down.

"Pardon?" he asked. "Though the answer to your question is no to the first and yes to the second, what does that have to do with asking you that if you mind that I make coffee?" A tint of a blush colored her cheeks as she finally stood up and offered a hand. Nicholas took the offered hand and she pulled him up.

Nicholas was surprise as her strength. It took her no effort to lift him up and as soon as he was up, she smirked and grabbed the bag of coffee from his grasp.

"I make my own coffee, thank you very much," she proceeded towards the coffeemaker leaving him to wonder what that was all about.

"Fine, I'm making breakfast," he said as he raided the fridge. The two worked in silence, though Nicholas worked more. After setting the coffeemaker, Shego turned and watched him cook. It was rare for a man too cook. Kim told her that Ron cooked like a chef and by looking at Nicholas, he seemed to know his way around the kitchen.

Nicholas was frying eggs when a thought occurred to her. "Where did you learn how to cook?" she asked.

"I lived in an orphanage that I helped run," he said, not loosing a stride. "The kids take turns in the chores and I learned from different people who helped in the orphanage."

"I'm sorry," Shego said softly and to her surprise, she found that she meant it. She knew how it was to be alone since she left her family. Though, at least she knew her family. "It must be awful living without parents."

"I lived with my mom," Nicholas said with a smile when he saw her confusion. "I get that a lot. People think that I'm an orphan since I lived in an orphanage."

"How?" Shego asked, surprised once again to find herself wanting to know more about him.

"My mom and her friends ran the orphanage," he explained. "When I was born, they were saving an orphanage that my… father helped ran. He would wander through the lands and bring back unfortunate souls. Until I took the job, Aunt Meryl and Uncle Vash help the children find themselves."

"Aunt Meryl? Uncle Vash?" now she was intrigued.

"I just call them Aunt and Uncle since they are like family to me," Nicholas said as he started with the bacon. "I call my mom Aunt Millie in front of the kids since they might think that 'mom' is her name. I only get to call her that," he smiled as he went about with his work. "French toast?"

"Please," Shego said as he showed her the bread. "You don't seem like a normal preacher to me."

"I lived in a different world," he reminded. "So my methods are a little unorthodox. I get the job done."

"Most people here aren't that religious," Shego said as she adjusted her robe. Nicholas almost cursed but was relieved that she did. There was too much skin for him to concentrate at his task.

"Neither are those in Gunsmoke," he sighed ruefully. "But a soul's a soul and every soul needs saving." The way he said it surprised her. It had a deeper meaning than what he was saying."

"Every soul needs saving," Shego said as she looked away. "Including mine?"

"Especially ours," Nicholas said as he turned to face her. "We must not give up even though the light seemed dimmed."

"You sound like a person who tried to save his own soul," a small smile crept on her lips.

"Still trying," Nicholas smiled at her. "Harder than walking in hell but the rewards are worth all the work."

"You're not making sense and yet I understood what you're trying to say," Shego sighed as she smelled the fresh scent of brewed coffee.

"Not many does," Nicholas said as he gave her a plate filled with delicious morsels, which made Shego ravished just by looking at it. Accepting the plate and giving him a smile, which he found to be pleasant, she walked towards the breakfast table and sat down.

Nicholas filled his own plate and poured himself a cup of coffee before following her.

Shego took a sip from her coffee and began to eat. Nicholas was about to drink his when he noticed the strong aroma of the coffee. He placed the cup down and looked at his companion with a questioning look.

"Rough night?" he asked making her look at him in confusion.

"A bit," she was trying to determine how he figured that out. She didn't have any symptoms of sleep deprivation and she though she could pull it off. "What gave me away? I look like I just got out of bed. I checked. No dark circles and my eyes are clear."

"The mere fact that this coffee could unclog the sink," he said as he tapped the coffee mug. "I only drink coffee like this when I get foxed."

"Foxed?" Shego blinked at the word.

"Wasted, hammered… drunk?" he smirked as he got up and got a carton of orange juice from the fridge. He returned with two glasses and poured the juice. "This thing would wake up an entire town just by smelling it."

"I like it strong," she said with a smirk. "It helps when you have a giddy female for a roommate. I swear, with the all the giddiness, I was about to smother her with my pillow!"

Nicholas laughed as he pictured it in his head. "Fine, you may laugh now but when you see how happy she is, you'd want to strangle her yourself."

"Ron never mentioned her to be… giddy," he said in an amused tone.

"I didn't know either," Shego sighed as she stretched like a cat making Nicholas stare at her assets. Shego noticed this and smiled wickedly. "Like what you see?"

"Very much," Nicholas admitted. It was the only way to control his embarrassment. Shego was stunned at his frankness. She could not believe that he would admit that so openly and his tone was without malice, though she was sure that he was embarrassed one way or the other.

"Let me see," Shego frowned in thought. "You drink, I'll bet you smoke, and you chase around women. What kind of priest are you? The next thing I might find out about you that you kill as well." There was an empty look in his eyes that she barely noticed when she said the word 'kill'. But he quickly recovered and smiled at her.

"One; I'm a preacher, not a priest and definitely not a monk. Two; I don't chase after women. In fact, I never found a woman in Gunsmoke that I like very much to be intimate with."

"Intimate, as in…" Shego prodded curiously.

"As in settling down," he said ruefully. "If you lived in that planet, settling down is harder that one might think. The bandits are ruthless as they come. We tried to make it a better world… but it's taxing in the mind, body and soul."

"Why are you here, anyway?" Shego asked. She felt for him. She knew what he was feeling. The man in front of her was tired. World-weary. Like he went on a crusade and lost but still he kept on fighting.

Fighting an endless battle.

"A new start," Nicholas said as he drank his juice. "And I thank God for the opportunity to do so. But…"

"You feel that your past will creep up behind you and ruin everything?" Shego had guessed correctly. It was also her fear. She may lose everything and for some insane reason, she didn't want him to know about her past.

For a while, the kitchen was silent. Neither one had nothing in mind to say though the silence spoke volumes.

And in silence, they continued to eat their breakfast.

………

By ten in the morning, Ron Stoppable was wearing his red coat as he prepared to venture out in the world he had called home. Actually, he was happy since Kim had promised to take them to Bueno Nacho. It was hard to convince Nicholas to come with but as soon as he had heard that all of them would be going, he changed his mind.

Looking at the mirror, Ron fixed his hair and with a smile, exited the bathroom where he met the gaze of a rather bemused Preacher.

"Trying to impress her?" Nicholas teased. "Don't bother. She's satisfied that she could see you breathe." Nicholas was wearing his blue suit, which, to Ron's intrigue, was clean. It was cleaner than what he wore the day before. Nicholas never wore his suit that clean before, why the sudden change?

"More than I could say about you, Chap," Ron said with the same teasing smile that Nicholas gave him. "It looks like you're trying to impress someone." But Nicholas wouldn't rise to the bait.

"So, finally. I get to see this Bueno Nacho I've been hearing about," Nicholas said as he and Ron went to the living room.

"Hey. It's a change from all those donuts we've been eating," Ron said and suddenly stilled when she saw Kim.

"Gunsmoke makes great donuts," oblivious, Nicholas rattled on until he saw… her.

Kim was wearing a black dress and a red blazer. To Ron's opinion, the dress was one size too small for her but he wasn't about to complain. Shego, on the other hand, was wearing a tight black mini and a green halter, wearing something more daring that Kim.

"God have mercy on our souls," Nicholas mumbled as he took out his shades from his pocket and wore them.

"Amen to that," Ron mumbled back despite being Jewish. Though, he really needed HIS help to stay focused.

"The girls went on ahead," Kim said, blushing at the intense look Ron was giving her. Shego noticed that Nicholas was staring at her but was covering it so smoothly, except from the first few seconds, that he seemed disinterested. If she hadn't seen his earlier reaction, she would be miffed.

Shego caught herself. Why would she care what the preacher thought of her? They simply had a meaningful conversation earlier in breakfast and she told herself that it would be dangerous to pursue something with him.

"Uh… right," Ron said, still gaping like an idiot until Nicholas nudged his ribs with his elbow. "OW!" Ron said as he rubbed the offended part of his torso. "So? Shall we?"

"We'll meet you outside," Kim said, bemused that she could get that expression from him.

"Outside then," Nicholas smiled, practically pushing Ron into motion.

"That was so cute," Kim said in a murmur to Shego. "And I noticed that Nicholas had his eyes glued on you."

"Naturally," Shego said haughtily though Kim could hear in her voice how pleased she was.

"You're not trying for the preacher, are you?" Kim teased and smiled as she saw a faint blush on her cheek. "You are!" she said in realization.

"Don't be ridiculous," Shego sneered. "Why would I want to have anything to do with him?"

"Lie to yourself but I know the truth," Kim said, smiling. Shego was about to retort when they heard a crash by the front door. Since the door was visible where they stood, they easily found out, much to their mirth, what had caused the crash.

"Watch where you're going, you klutz!" Nicholas shouted as he reprimanded Ron, who apparently crashed on to the closed door.. And judging by the scene, Nicholas crashed right behind him.

"You're the one to talk," Ron said as he rubbed his nose. "You bumped into me. And besides, I got distracted."

"Yeah, distracted," Nicholas glanced to where the two ladies were standing, laughing at their expense. "My friend, I need to teach you about maintaining your composure."

"Better practice what you preach, Preacher," Ron said, smiling at his friend for even though he may be slow on the uptake, he could see that Nicholas was affected by a certain raven-haired woman's charm.

"Let's get that Naco before I loose it," Nicholas said as he opened the door and pushed Ron outside. Smiling, the ladies followed them.

………

Professor Dementor searched for Kim Possible in the streets of Middleton. He had a tip that her friends were seen at Bueno Nacho. The fool Drakken failed to dispatch their adversary the night before but he vowed that he would finish what he had started.

And he was going to start with her friends.

………

"That's a Naco?" Nicholas asked as he looked at Ron's creation. He never thought it to be covered in cheese.

"That's Ron's version," Kim said as she looked at her beloved in disdain. "I can't believe you didn't warn him."

"I told him about the Naco," Ron said defensively.

"You never mentioned that it was supposed to clog my arteries," Nicholas grumbled as he glared at the man seated in front of him. Ron, Kim, Shego and Nicholas shared a booth while Tara, Monique and Yori occupied the booth next to them. For some reason Nicholas couldn't comprehend, Kim deliberately sat beside Ron leaving Shego to seat with him, not that he was complaining, of course.

"Come one C.T.. You've got to risk some to feel alive," Ron said, smiling widely. Shego noticed that Nicholas cast a sidelong glance towards her with an expression of intrigue.

"Funny you should mention that," Nicholas whispered to himself. However, Shego heard him. "Listen, Outlaw. I have use for my heart and I don't need it to be clogged up by carbon cheese."

"You have use of your lung yet you smoke," Ron argued with a wicked smile. "You have use for your liver yet you drink."

"Keep that up and I'll make Ms. Possible here an unhappy lady," Nicholas glared at him as he toyed with the table knife.

"You are not going to kill him," Kim frowned at the Preacher but for some reason, Shego was amused. "What is it?"

"Sometimes you are thick, Princess," Shego said as she chuckled.

"What do you mean?" Kim asked.

"Girl, Nicholas is going to do a Lorena on your man," Monique said as she peered from behind her seat.

"A what?" Kim was still clueless.

"I am afraid that I could not let you continue on your plot," Yori said as she looked at Nicholas warily. It was like she was prepared to fight the Preacher. "I have yet to determine if the rumors are true."

"What are you girls talking about?" Kim said, confused by the mixed messages her friends were giving her.

"She mean's Kim, that Nikki here is going to take away your happiness by taking away Ron's… how could I put this delicately…" Tara thought for a moment and then smiled. "Grande Burrito."

"I know Ron would be upset but he knows he could get another one," Kim said making the girls laugh.

"For crying out loud," Shego rubbed her temples as she looked at the redhead. "He's going to castrate him." Finally getting their meaning, Kim blushed but then composed herself but found it hard to do so.

"Mr. Wolfwood," Kim started in a deceptively calm voice. "I still have use for that… burrito so I'll say this once…" But Nicholas cut her off.

"You have my promise, Ms. Possible," he said with a smile. Kim looked at him warily and decided that he had let it go, for now.

"What kind of preacher are you?" Shego asked.

"I always ask him that," Ron said with a smirk. Nicholas stretched his body and stood making the others wonder.

"I'm going to take a look around," he said, smiling at them. Sighing, Shego stood as well.

"I'll come with," she said. "He might get himself lost."

"I thank thee for thy kind offer," he made an exaggerated bow much to the other's mirth. With a growl, Shego walked away and with a smile, Nicholas followed. When they left, the three girls occupied the vacated seat and looked at Ron.

"So, Ron," Monique smiled. "Nice threads."

"This?" Ron looked at his coat disinterested. "A friend gave it to me."

"Not a lady friend?" Tara asked as she looked at Kim for a reaction. To her dismay, Kim gave none.

"No," Ron said sullenly. "He gave me this to make me promise not to kill."

"Kill?" Kim asked, shocked that he could take a life.

"It's a wild world, KP," Ron said sadly. "Fortunately I haven't killed anyone yet. Can we talk about it another time?" he asked and Kim knew that he would tell her when they were alone. "So? How are the missions coming?" the change in subject had not gone unnoticed but they let it slide.

"Good," Kim said but Ron detected something more. "Actually, it's getting harder."

"How?" he asked.

"Our enemies had become… how do you say… more violent?" Yori said with a sigh. "We have our own share of close calls." Ron frowned at this? What had the world come to? When he left, their foes were easy to predict. But now… violent?

"To say the least," Kim said in a whisper. "Take Drakken for instance. He's hell bent on taking his revenge that he doesn't care who gets in his way. Global Justice lost good men the last time, the time before last night, that we fought."

"Revenge?" Ron remembered four years ago that Drakken had become unstable.

"He blames me for Shego's defection," Kim explained. "He gathered all our foes and established a league of crime. So far he's got Dementor, Monkey Fist, Killigan and DNAmy. Some of the others help along but Drakken considers them… low class to be in the league."

"Why are you still doing it?" Ron asked worriedly as he searched her face. There was a sad smile carved in her delicate feature that Ron almost regretted that he asked.

"I'm not anymore," Kim smiled at him as she leaned on him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm quitting the missions, closing the site."

"But why now?' Ron asked quietly. He knew that the site was important to her and he knew she was hurting when she decided to quit.

"Because I don't want to lose anyone. Especially you," her confession rocked him. Truth be told, he wanted to get away from it all. Just the two of them, alone and living in peace.

"Are the missions really that dangerous?" Ron asked Yori, who watched with a small smile on her lips.

"Very dangerous, Stoppable-san," she said. "Our enemies had become ruthless."

"How ruthless?" he didn't get an answer for a loud thunderous explosion rocked Bueno Nacho, the shockwave trembled around the store.

Suddenly, Ron noticed a large object hurling towards Bueno Nacho and it was heading towards their booth.

"DOWN!" Ron shouted, pushing Kim towards the ground, using his body as a shield. All happened too fast for the next thing Ron saw was the wall exploding and the ceiling crumbling. But all he thought that he must keep Kim safe.

………

"Success!" Professor Dementor shouted in glee as he controlled his giant robot. The robot was about fifteen meters high and it was bulky. The cockpit was located between the shoulders, acting as a head. Where the right arm was supposed to be was a winch and cable, which retracted the enormous arm and fist that he had used to destroy Bueno Nacho.

"Kim Possible is Dead!" he laughed but when the arm was back in place, he noticed something about it.

There was graffiti drawn with black marker on the back of the hand and he was surprised what it had said.

There was a drawing of a goofy man with pointy hair mocking him with its tongue sticking out.

You Missed, the message said and as soon as he finished reading the message, the rubble that was once Bueno Nacho began to move.

Dementor was stunned at what he saw. From beneath the rubble, a man in a red coat emerged, holding an unconscious lady with red hair. A black marker pen was suddenly tossed in the air and the man caught it.

He then waved his finger at him provocatively, like scolding a child that he had done a bad thing. Dementor was shocked at the display.

Gently, the man in the red coat carried the redhead to the establishment's parking lot where there was no debris. He then walked towards the rubble and carried another body.

Dementor was confused and then fascinated. Who was this man who acted like he, one of the greatest criminal minds in the world, was inconsequential. Still he watched the man's movements.

A crowd was gathering but Dementor pain them no mind. He came for one reason and he was determined to finish it.

When the man in the red coat had lain on the ground what seemed to be the last occupant of the building, he then walked towards the redhead and kissed her forehead. Dementor recognized the redhead even covered in dust as Kim Possible.

The man suddenly walked towards the building as is he had all the time in the world. Dementor saw him took out a pair of sunglasses and donned them while he stopped at the middle of the debris and faced the robot.

"You are a fool," Dementor said. "You cannot stop the inevitable! What makes you think that you could stop me?" but the man didn't answer. "Very well. If you care about them so much, try to save them!" Dementor aimed at the injured and fired the massive hand.

……..

Kim groaned as she felt the warm lips on her forehead. Waking up, she saw Ron walking towards what was once Bueno Nacho. Immediately, Kim looked beside her to see that her friends, as well as the other occupants of the building were safe.

Then suddenly, she saw him, standing as if he was one of the western heroes in a showdown. What came next was unthinkable.

A massive hand was hurling towards them. She had no time to react but something much faster did. What she saw was a blur but she knew right there and then that it will be all right.

………

Ron's eyes grew as Dementor shot the arm at Kim. As quickly as his feet could carry him he had towards his beloved. Quickly, he drew the AGL from his thigh holster and aimed at the fist. He leapt sideways as he fired. To him, it was like he was in slow motion. He fired one… then another… then another… then another… then another before he hit the ground. All struck the very center of the fist, causing it to shift its course and send it careening towards the empty cars in the parking lot, missing Kim and the others with a lot to spare.

"That's impossible!" Dementor screamed. "You redirected the fist's heading by using six shots?" in a calm menace, Ron got up and ejected the spend casing, holding one finger to stop the single bullet he did not use in place.

"No," Ron said in a calm that chilled Dementor's spine. "I only used five," he spun the chamber and Dementor was starting to perspire. "I left one for you," he closed the breach and fired. Suddenly, the robots controls went haywire causing the massive hulk of machine to collapse.

The crowd that had gathered suddenly cheered as they saw the robot collapse. Kim and the girls, after checking the injured and found them not seriously harmed rushed to his side.

"That was awesome!" Monique cried out as she hugged him. Letting go, she saw a humbled smile upon his lips.

"That was amazing Stoppable-san," Yori said as she bowed in respect.

"You were great!" Tara complimented as she hung to his arm.

"No," Ron smiled sadly as he holstered the gun. "I'm not great. Not great at all."

Hearing his soft voice Kim felt what it had cost him to draw that gun. In his eyes, he wished for peace but then the reality of it is that there would be no peace for him as long as he had cause to fight.

The look he gave when he faced Dementor was nothing like she had seen from him before. It was a serious and determined look. One would think that he was enraged.

But Kim, even if they had not seen each other for four years, knew Ron better than anyone. Ron was angry that someone he loved almost got hurt. And by the look he gave when the girls gave him praise, he was repentant that he had drawn his gun and fired.

It didn't matter that he owned the gun, much to her surprise, I didn't matter what life he had though it would help her understand his newfound skill.

What mattered that Ron was there, protecting her, watching her back. Though in his eyes, he wished to care for her.

Kim smiled and kissed his cheek. Startled, Ron looked at her in confusion and saw the understanding within her. And with that, he smiled.

"Thanks KP," he said as he wrapped his free arm around her.

"That was impossible!" Professor Dementor said as he was led by members of the Global Justice away. "You haven't seen the last of me!" Ron smirked and walked towards the diminutive man. Suddenly, Dementor's courage left him, leaving him shaking in fear.

"Why the hate?" Ron asked as he goofily smiled. "You've got to learn is to respect…" Suddenly Ron thrust his hand forward with his fingers crossed and goofily said.

"Love and Peace!"

The girls laughed heartily as they saw Ron's expression and Dementor's confused look as GJ took him away.

"That's an interesting concept," Kim smiled as Ron gave her a serene smile.

"That's what we're fighting for," Nicholas stepped beside her, startling the girls. Shego appeared beside Kim, checking if she was all right.

"Fighting for what?" Shego asked, satisfied that the girls were okay. Nicholas stood beside Ron with a knowing smile and then smiled at the ladies.

"For Love," Ron started.

"And Peace," Nicholas finished. Shego felt the intensity of Nicholas's gaze and looked away, hiding a blush. Smiling that at the knowledge that he had that affect on her, Nicholas looked at the remains of Bueno Nacho. "Trouble always follow you around, Outlaw."

"As I remembered, you had your share," Ron said as he led the girls away. Looking at their retreating backs, Shego smiled in amusement.

"Who knew the buffoon had it in him?" she said. Nicholas simply smiled at her and offered his arm.

"Shall we?" he asked. Growling, Shego quickly followed her friends, leaving him standing there with a look of challenge in his eyes.

"The battle has begun," he said as he slowly walked after them.

Before Shego could catch up with Kim, she smiled. Things would be different with those two around. And certainly much more interesting. Shego's smile widened and she thought that they had something in common.

She wished for something he did.

Love and Peace.

Next Chapter: Team Possible must recover a stolen jewel but the only way to get it back was to get it by chance, luck and skill.

All in the war for love and peace.

Chapter VI: Quickdraw