Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing. KP and all that good stuff belong to Disney.

Author's Notes: Wow, I really thought this story would only be one chapter long, but it's really becoming something a little bigger. Sorry, but I'll try and get the chapters beta-read and uploaded as soon as possible. I hope you guys will be satisfied with the amount of material in this chapter. I might re-read chapter 1 and work out a few bugs, so it might change just a tad.

Err, sorry if Ron seemed a tad OOC first chapter. First running around like a maniac and then just walking away calmly…? Well, he's got more guts than me.

Special thanks goes to cpneb, AtomicFire, and Zaratan for reviewing last chapter. The eNacos should be arriving in your inbox shortly!

Also, sorry this chapter's a little short. I try to avoid author's notes at the end of stories; I think it kinda takes away from the whole effect of it. Hope you enjoy the second installment, and don't forget to review.

Ave Atque Vale

Barkin's gaze was full of sadness, regret, and more than a little bit of despair. He took a deep breath.

"Kim Possible is dead."

The words hung in the air, echoing off of the walls of the gym and striking a chord in Ron's heart. His chest reverberated, and a cold chill crept up his limbs, froze his brain, and attacked his heart with vicious ferocity.

No. No way.

There was no way she was…

Ron Stoppable felt like he was going to vomit. There was no possible way in the entire history of infinity that this could really be happening to him. Kim Possible was bullet-proof. She was smart, athletic, a go-to gal; she always had an uplifting attitude and a "knock 'em dead" approach to everything. She had battled countless villains, foiled their schemes, and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with some of the most deranged and dangerous bad guys out there, all to come home in time for dinner and say that it was "No big."

She was… she was… invincible. Nothing in the world could stop her. Not even Death.

There were so many emotions swirling around in Ron's mind – he didn't know which ones to believe were real. He didn't know which ones he dared believe were real.

The only way to explain it was Ron's brain shut down. He saw nothing, he felt nothing.

"No. You're lying," he said. His voice was raspy and mechanical, like some robot. His brown eyes stared at Mr. Barkin, literally burning into him. His pupils were dilated, his irises filled with shadowy contempt that cast a dark silhouette over the blond's features.

Ron's freckles scrunched together as he squinted at Barkin. "You… I always knew you hated me, but this has gone way too far."

"What?"

Ron was in shock. That was the only way to explain it. To think, that his teacher had the nerve to go and tell him that his girlfriend was…

And all because of that stupid look freshman year.

Ron stomped up to Barkin, pulling him down towards him by the tie. Ron's eyes shot arrows through his teacher. "Don't you dare lie to me or act all innocent," he spat. "I know you're full of it and you're just making it all up—"

"Stoppable," Barkin growled, wrenching his vice-like grip off of his tie. "Watch it." His gaze was hard as steel, slicing through Ron with a hidden warning.

"I saw her this morning," Ron said. His voice was quiet, yet rock-solid and laced with venom. He shoved an accusing finger at the senior faculty member's chest. "This is all part of your sick little revenge plot. Well, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna ignore you. Yeah, that's right; Kim and I are cool. I'll still come to football practice, I'll still go to work at Smarty Mart, and I'll still spend all my free time with KP… and there's nothing you can do about it." Ron accentuated each word sharply, driving the point home.

And then his facial muscles relaxed, forming a smug grin. "Because Kim and I are cool."

And with that, Ron walked off, leaving Mr. Barkin alone beside the gaping crevasse. Steve sighed, and for perhaps the first time in his life hunched over to hold his head in his hands. He could barely feel the icy chill creeping through the air into his skin; nor smell the stench of mold; nor notice the dark, fetid puddle water soaking through his shoes.

"Now what am I going to do?" The question was spoken so softly that even Barkin himself didn't know he had said it.

He had told Stoppable the bad news, and the poor kid seemed to be in shock. No matter how much he shouted at Ron or gave him extra homework or detention, he never hated him. Ever. It was just his job as a teacher to poke and prod and get kids to do their work. The tough military man exterior was really a cover for something else – something that hated to see kids upset or failing. Something that forced guys and girls to stop slacking and live up to potential. Something that wasn't going to let Ron Stoppable get away in a state of mind like that.

Steve Barkin squared his shoulders and stood up. This was definitely going to be the most challenging case of his entire career.

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Ron Stoppable walked coolly down the empty hallways, his footfalls echoing through the semi-cavernous areas. He plodded quickly, confidently, ready to resume his search for Kim. He was still steaming after what Barkin had the nerve to tell him, and he couldn't help but frown. Clenching his fists, he stalked down the hallway when he heard the shrieking echo of a cry for help. It sounded exactly like the one he heard earlier, except sharper. Clearer. Devastatingly more painful.

Ron immediately collapsed on the ground, not even able to yell or cry for help. His body was paralyzed with a pain that felt similar to thousands of knives being shoved violently into his body. He tried to move his hands to cover his ears, but the screaming persisted.

And as soon as it had begun, it was over. Once again. Just like last time.

And just like last time, Ron had the eerie feeling something was not right.

The clock. He glanced up. Three-eleven.

Holy crap.

----------

Ron didn't know how long he lay there, staring at the hands of the clock. Could've been days. Hours. Just a few seconds. He didn't know.

But what he did know was that something was off. He—

"Hey, Ron." The tantalizingly sweet voice of his girlfriend met his ears.

"K – Kim?"

She still had her cheer uniform on, and she looked stunning as usual. She gave him a big smile and held out her hand. "What are you doing on the floor?"

"Uh…"

She held up a hand. "No, wait, don't answer that." Kim grinned again and picked him off the floor. Ron brushed off his clothes and gave her a questioning glare.

"Where were you, KP? You're freaking me out. Next time you decide to disappear, warn me, will ya?"

"I was dead." The words came out of her mouth, but her lips were moving and saying something else entirely.

Barkin's speech rushed through Ron's head. "Kim Possible is dead"…

Ron felt his heart jump into his throat. "Wh – what?" he croaked.

Kim gave him a strange look. "I said I was here the whole time. Are you sure you're OK?" She arched an eyebrow.

Ron cleared his throat. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I think." He added this last part under his breath, quietly enough so Kim couldn't hear him.

"Oh, Ron, I want to show you something. Come with me!" She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him down the hallway.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see!" was her cryptic answer.

They stopped outside the gym. The sign was still there, but something was different. Before, the sign was crumpled and battered, a small corner ripped off. Now, it was brand new. Just like when he first noticed it there…

Kim threw open the doors and stepped in. Ron followed, sniffing tentatively. No spoiled milk. No mold. The gym had been cleaned recently, and there were no puddles. Odd.

But then again, wasn't everything now?

The hole in the ceiling was still there, but Kim motioned for him to follow her to the middle of the gym. She stopped at the edge of the large crevasse and peered down into the pitch-blackness.

"Sooo, this is what you wanted to show me?"

Kim turned to him and nodded, smiling. "Watch this," she said. Kim tiptoed toward the edge of the pit, glancing anxiously down towards it. She teetered on the edge for a moment, danced the line, and finally jumped, executing a perfect swan dive.

Oh God… "Kim! KIM!" Not again. Good Lord in Heaven, please not again!

Ron practically jumped over to the edge of the crevice and stared down into it, his eyes welling with tears. "Kim, please!" he shouted. His voice echoed off the sharp walls, vibrating his eardrum fiercely.

A bright red head popped up a few feet away from him. She waved and smiled at him. "Hi, Ron!" she said. "Over here!"

"What the—?"

"I just found this yesterday. It's neat, huh?" Kim rocked back and forth, and for one panicked moment, Ron thought she was going to fall again. She didn't. She smiled again, showing off her perfect white teeth.

Ron swallowed and faked a smile. "Yeah, KP, it's great." He looked over the edge – he still saw nothing, not even a bottom.

"Wanna play?" Kim was grinning ridiculously, giggling and joking like it was all fun.

"Uhh… actually, I'm not in the mood right now, thanks. Maybe later—" That's it; KP's totally and completely off her rocker.

"Why not now?"

"Well, I uh… wanted to… ask you something! Yeah. That's it."

"OK. I'm listening." Kim folded her hands under her chin and rested her elbows on the edge of the gap.

Ron took a deep breath. "Well, I was talking to Barkin earlier… can't stand the guy, by the way… and he told me… he said—"

Ron choked back the urge to vomit right there. He turned his head so Kim wouldn't see him gag. Then he said, "He… he told me youweredead!"

Kim stared at him like he had grown a second head. "Ron."

No response.

"Ron."

He couldn't bear to turn his head towards her.

"Look at me!"

His head snapped to attention, his troubled gaze fixed on her.

"I. Am. Here." Kim motioned to her body. "I am not dead. Barkin is obviously a liar – and a bad one at that."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. But – but he's supposed to be a teacher. How could he say something so horrible?"

Kim shrugged. "I don't know, Ron. You've always complained that he had a 'thing' for you since the 'funny look incident' freshman year."

"Maybe… I never knew Mr. B would take it so far. I knew he was mean, but I didn't think…" Ron trailed off, and a smothering silence soon followed. They didn't look at each other for a few minutes.

Ron finally sighed and stretched, taking a moment to stand up. "Well, Kimbo, it was good seeing you again. Beautiful as usual. I'll see you tomorrow, OK? I think I'm going to skip on the obligatory Bueno Nacho trip. I'll just raid the pantry and catch some Z's, all right? This whole Barkin sitch is freaking me out."

Kim nodded. "All right. I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, and if you need me, I'll be right here."

Ron gave her a strange look.

She rolled her eyes and pulled herself into a sitting position on the edge of the crevice. "Night, Ron."

"Night, KP." He bent down and gave her a kiss.

"Hmm…" she sighed. "You know, I don't think I've had one of those since Prom."

"Yeah, I know. For some reason, we're always getting interrupted—"

"—mostly by Wade, too! Huh. Well, see you tomorrow, Ron."

"OK. Bye." Ron walked out of the gym, looking back once or twice to give Kim another little wave. She rolled her eyes and waved back as his silhouette finally disappeared through the doorway.

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Steve Barkin sat in his squeaky old computer chair, his eyes scanning over the information on the screen. He rubbed his chin, then clicked on the article. He skimmed through it when a phrase caught his eye. He hovered over the article link for a few moments before selecting it. A page entitled "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" popped up on the screen.

Coach Barkin sighed and went to the kitchen to pour himself a cup of regular coffee. He had to catch up on his reading.