Author's Note: Wow. A lot of time has passed since my last update, and a lot has happened. I lost a good friend (rest in peace, cpneb), I flew abroad for the first time in my life and drove through the States meeting friends I've only talked to on the Internet.

I'm sorry for the huge delay. Once I sat down I was able to complete this chapter in a few hours, but don't expect it to happen again. I will make an effort to keep the story going, but I can't make any promises on regular updates. I will do what I can.

In anycase, due to obvious reasons I've had to switch betas. This chapter was beta'd by the lovely and talented neothesaiyanangel.


Chapter 8: Muddy Waters, part 2

≈O≈

The group of cheerleaders and their guardians made their way through the dark forest on an old path that was barely visible anymore. Their jittery mascot lead the way, jumping at every sound that managed to penetrate the loud chirping of innumerable crickets.

"This is a place of evil. Stay close and you'll stay alive," Ron said with his usual theatrics.

Kim rolled her eyes for the nth time since they had started following him. As scared as he was of being once again at the birthplace of most his childhood traumas, Ron was getting off on the whole leadership thing - and it was getting on Kim's nerves.

Before the redhead's patience ran too thin they finally found the phone – to her immense relief. Not really expecting much, Kim picked up the receiver.

Nothing.

"Out of order," Kim sighed.

"Place of eeevil," Ron sing-songed in a distinct I-told-you-so tone.

While Kim and Bonnie were mostly annoyed, Ron's fear fanning had the other girls spooked, especially Tara.

"This is just like those movies," the scared blonde said, "Innocent teens stranded at a camp in the middle of nowhere! Then some creepo starts to pick them off. One... by... one."

Tara froze as something touched her back, and began climbing up. She shrieked and jumped in the arms of the nearest person - Ron. Behind them, Bonnie was wriggling her fingers at them, grinning evilly.

"So not the drama, Tara," Kim said, trying not to smile too much at Bonnie's stunt, "this isn't a horror movie."

"Yeah, if it were a horror movie, there'd be more guys," Bonnie said. "And they'd be way cuter than him," she added, waving her hand at Ron.

Ron shook his head. "Oh, Bonnie, you remind me of the cruel kids at camp. Sticks and stones..."

Tara gasped. "They called you names?"

Ron cleared his throat nervously as he noticed Tara was still clutching on his arm. "Ehrm, yes... while hitting me with sticks and stones."

"Aww," Tara cooed, looking up at him with her wide blue eyes, "you poor thing."

Kim smiled. There was no way Ron could resist that. He was as good as gone.

She turned to face the others. "Well, looks like we have to stay for the night. We might as well make the best of it."

"Yes, right," Ron said and yanked his arm free. "Follow me."

Kim's shoulders slumped as she watched Ron start walking away, leaving Tara behind. She glanced at Bonnie who gave her a look that was somehow able to say "I oughta smack him", and "Are you sure he's not gay?" at the same time.

Ron lead the group to a clearing, which in the past had served as a campfire site. The place hadn't yet succumbed to the invading vegetation; in the center there still lay the fireplace circled with rocks, and around it, halved treetrunks serving as seats.

Accustomed to being in charge, Kim tried to take the lead of the camp organization. She never got the chance as Ron immediately continued calling the shots. He and Barkin went to get any remaining firewood from the shed not far away, Kim and Renee being left in charge of cleaning the campsite. They gathered up fir branches to lay on the seats for warmth and to provide clean place to sit.

Although Ron was still putting on the theatrics and was completely full of himself, Kim couldn't help but be amazed at his organizational skills. It was a completely new side to him.

Bonnie seemed to take notice, too.

"Did you guys switch brains again?" she asked Kim. She was leaning on a tree wearing a characteristically wry expression. Though she outwardly seemed disinterested in the activity, she was actually enjoying the view of Kim hustling about and bending over.

"I don't think so," Kim replied slowly as she walked past.

The other girls were just anxious to get a warm place to sit. They did not seem to pay Ron any attention, but Tara was positively entranced by him. Her not-so-furtive glances and looks at the other blonde's direction did not go unnoticed.

Renee walked up to Bonnie, her arms full of fir. "BonBon, am I seeing things, or is my little Tarball making eyes at the mascot?"

"Ren," Bonnie sighed, "you don't know the half of it."

"What do you know, my little girl's having a crush," Renee smiled.

"Sad, isn't it?"

"Why? He's no football player, but he seems nice. And the way he took charge... If he were just a few years older..."

"Ewww," Bonnie exclaimed. "You're just as messed up as she is. It's gotta be genetic."

"Oh, you're just bitter because you don't have anyone to swap spit with," Renee teased.

"I do too," Bonnie shot back, immediately regretting it.

Renee grew a truly evil cheshire grin. "Really? Do tell."

"Forget it."

"I have ways of making you talk."

"Oh, look," Bonnie said, pointing towards the welcome diversion, "the guys are back."

Barkin and Ron emerged from the woods, their arms full of firewood. When Renee turned back around, Bonnie was gone.

Barkin took to building the fire as the others began populating the seats. Already seated, Bonnie looked as Renee glanced at her giving her a mischievous wink. Before Bonnie realized what it was about, Renee walked into her daughter just as she was passing Ron who was already sitting on the treetrunk. Tara staggered, and fell into the surprised boy's lap. Tara began to slip off, causing both her and Ron to instinctively grab hold of each other. The two could only stare at each other wide-eyed.

"The ladies just keep falling in your lap," Renee remarked, followed by snickers from the other cheerleaders.

The two teens glowed so red they could have lit Santa Claus' way on Christmas Eve. Ron started tugging at his collar as Tara slid off him. She didn't go far; timidly she took a seat next to him. They kept giving each other embarrassed glances.

Kim and Bonnie couldn't believe their eyes. She's good, they both thought.

Soon, a fire was built and everyone gathered around to get warm. Much to everyone's chagrin, Ron continued with his horror stories from his days at Camp Wannaweep.

Not even listening to Ron's spiel, Kim and Bonnie shared a knowing, and anxious, glance.

Kim stood up. "I'm gonna go to the little girls' cabin."

"KP," Ron called after her, "Camp Wannaweep rule number one: use the Buddy

System."

"Ron, I don't need-"

Bonnie let out an exaggerated sigh. "I'll go. Anything's better than listening to the Loserbury Tales all night."

Barkin gave Kim a sharp look. "Watch those hands, Possible," he said without a hint of humor.

The other girls snickered as Kim got all flustered. "I wasn't-," she began, before throwing her hands in the air, letting out a loud, frustrated groan. She turned on her heels and stormed off.

Bonnie rolled her eyes, and followed Kim into the woods. She found the redhead waiting for her not too far away, leaning on a tree, arms crossed.

"I'm never gonna live that down, am I?" she asked sullenly.

"Nope," Bonnie said simply and walked right up to Kim, and leaned on the tree with one hand, bringing her face to face with other girl. "Now, why don't you live up to your rep," she grinned, and leaned in for a kiss.

"I have a rep?" Kim asked after a gentle starter kiss. "Does it come with cred?"

"Well, you are seeing the hottest girl in school. That's like instant über-cred right there."

Their kiss was interrupted by Ron's shriek: "Mr. Barkin, I swear I heard banjos!"

Bonnie groaned. "Come on, let's see if we can find the cabins. He's giving me a headache."

The girls waded through the woods until they came to the old dilapidated cabins. They picked one that didn't look like being on the verge of collapse.

Bonnie's loathing gaze scanned the decrepit interior. "It's so not the Ritz," she glanced at Kim. The redhead looked at her seductively, sitting legs crossed on a dirty bunk, her riding up skirt revealing generous amounts of leg. Bonnie's sneer turned into a lascivious grin. "But it'll do."

Back at the campfire, Ron was getting anxious - well, more so.

"What keeping KP? She doesn't usually take this long," Ron said, making the girls snicker at his curiously extensive knowledge of his friend's bathroom habits.

"Stoppable, stop being weird," Barkin said and turned to the only other adult. "Mrs. Williams, why don't you go see what's keeping them."

"Yay, tinkle duty," Renee said dryly, but got up.

Marcella and Liz had to go, so they tagged along.

They arrived at the restrooms, better described as outhouses, and there was no sign of Kim and Bonnie.

"Don't wander off, I'm gonna go and look around," Renee said. Having a decent sense of direction she didn't hesitate too much about stepping off the beaten path into the forest.

Renee wandered around the forest calling out for Kim and Bonnie. After a few minutes, she came upon a clearing with numbered shacks in various states of disrepair. She was about to call out again, when she heard silent creaking from a nearby shack.

"Girls, you in here?" Renee said as she entered the shack. Then she saw the two girls tongue-deep in each other. "I know we're short on guys, but jeez, Louise," she said, unfazed.

Kim and Bonnie practically jumped out of their skins.

"Ren!" Bonnie exclaimed. Kim was in such a shock she couldn't get a word out.

"BonBon, you've been holding out on me," Renee said with an amused smirk.

"No, we were just-," Kim struggled for an explanation.

Before Bonnie was able to let out a derisive comment about the jig being up, they heard a scream.

"Seriously, that boy really needs to relax," Renee said. She turned back to the girls. "Okay, let's get going. Bonnie," she glanced at the girl, "we'll talk later."

With that she headed back towards the latrines to check up on Liz and Marcella.

Kim turned to Bonnie: "She's not going to tell on us, is she?"

"I know Renee. She's not going to spill, but you better be prepared. She's definitely going to have some fun at our expense."

"Should I be worried?"

"Very."

Kim's shoulders slumped, and the two girls started trodding towards the camp. The whole time Kim spent beating herself up about her involvement with Bonnie. She had tried to be so careful and fight all the misgivings and doubts she had had about them, and now it suddenly seemed all the more complicated. All she could do is to trust Bonnie's judgment and hope Renee would not blow the whistle on them.

When they got to the camp, Renee was already there.

"Did you guys see Liz and Marcella?" she asked.

"No," Bonnie replied.

Kim took a look around. "Uhh, where's Mr. Barkin?"

"He went to look for some more firewood, and we haven't seen him since," Hope, one of the cheerleaders, said.

The sound of Ron's shriek caused everyone to turn and look at him. He was shaking even more than usual and pointing at the ground where Rufus was chattering agitatedly, also pointing down at something.

"That is not a human footprint!" Ron screamed.

And indeed, on the ground was a footprint that did not belong to a human being. It looked like it was left by something with webbed feet. And Kim sure didn't know of an animal that big with webbed feet.

"Okay, I'm getting a little freaked here," Kim said.

"Looks like there's only one place we can go," Ron said darkly.

Everyone turned to look at him.

"Cabin 13."

≈O≈

It was getting dark outside, and the only light in the cabin was provided by an old lantern they had found.

Ron paced back and forth in the middle of the cabin, looking important. The cheerleaders huddled on the floor around the cabin. Renee peered out the window.

"In this very cabin I was able to survive every evil Camp Wannaweep could throw at me," Ron told them. He shuddered visibly as he flashed back to the horrors he had endured.

Renee turned away from the window and approached the group. "Well, there doesn't seem to be any movement outside."

A distant wail carried from the woods. Everyone tensed as it came closer.

The wail soon became clear. "Possible!" someone kept shouting.

Kim cautiously stepped out the door, looking around for the source of the voice. With Ron in tow she walked in the woods following the sound. Finally she spotted movement, and out of the woods burst Barkin. Still yelling Kim's name, he ran up to Kim and Ron. Barkin's whole midsection was covered in some kind of slime that bound his arms to his body.

"It's, it's dripping and oozing muck," Barkin said, his face contorting in disgust.

"Mr. B, what exactly is it?" Ron asked.

"Freakish. It's, it's... makes me ill to visualize it."

"Oh, come on," Kim waved her hand dismissively, "I'm sure I've faced worse." She was already heading out to face the, whatever it was, but then took a step back. "Did you say oozing muck?"

Kim wasn't a big fan of anything oozing.

Suddenly there was a big crashing sound and they could hear the other cheerleaders screaming.

"And it's back there!" Ron exclaimed.

They took off running. As they reached cabin 13, it looked like it was about to burst. One of the walls flew out, breaking up into pieces, as a wave of green slime shot out of the cabin. A stray blob of the stuff got Barkin, sticking him onto a tree. The walls left standing held their fellow cheerleaders, glued in place with the very same green slime. Some had been bound to the bedposts.

In the middle of the cabin, panting heavily, stood a foul creature, green and oozing muck, just as Barkin had described it. He turned around, revealing his face to the moonlight. It was more amphibian than man.

"It's the Mexican Staring Frog from Southern Sri Lanka!" Ron screamed in terror.

"Watch it, Squeeb!" the creature replied as it turned to look at Ron. "Remember me?" it asked.

Ron squirmed, trying to avoid direct eye contact with the creature. "Not really. I think I'd remember."

"Oh, come on, Ronnie, think," the creature said and walked towards Ron. "We switched places. You took my arts and crafts, I took your swim time."

Slowly it dawned on Ron. "Gil?"

"Oh, I am no longer Gil, now I am Gill."

"Er, what's the difference?"

"I added an 'L'. You know, as in gill, as in these things that grew when I mutated," Gill said, flapping the slimy protrusions. He then inhaled - and vomited muck, nailing Kim to a tree.

"KP!"

"Step away, Ronnie," Gill said, stepping between Ron and Kim. "So, Ron, did you ever hear why they shut down the camp?"

"Er, no."

"It turns out - oh, you're gonna love this! - the lake had been polluted by runoff from the science camp."

"See, I thought the lake was funky. I'm glad I never went in. You, on the other hand, you practically lived in that water."

"While you made wallets."

"And lanyards. I ruled at lanyards."

"Look," Kim interjected, "we know plenty of scientists, maybe someone can cure you."

"Science! Science made me like this."

"So you used the equipment from telecommunications camp to jam our coms, and arranged the bus blowout, just so you can-"

"Take my revenge on Ron Stoppable!"

"A part of me is terrified, and yet a part of me is flattered."

"Did I mention that contact with the muck will turn you into a mutant? Just like me."

Barkin struggled against the muck. "This is sick and wrong!"

Bonnie moaned. "There is no way they're going to let a squad of mutant cheerleaders in the competition!"

"There is no competition! Don't you get it? It was all a trap," Gill raved. He turned towards Ron. "And guess what, Ronnie: you're next."

Gill made a move towards Ron. Ron ran past him and into the cabin, where he picked up a shaggy rug from the floor to reveal a trap door. He opened it and dove in, shutting it behind him and narrowly avoiding a volley of muck blasts.

"He is ditching us!" Bonnie yelled.

Even Tara looked at the trap door in disbelief. "That ditcher!"

"Ron does not ditch," Kim protested.

Gill ran to the trap door and crashed through without bothering to open it.

Bonnie struggled against her repulsive restraints.

"I sure hope Ron saves us soon. Green is not my color," Renee said. She had been stuck next to Bonnie on the same bedpost.

"That little weasel's probably miles away by now," Bonnie spat.

"Give the guy the benefit of the doubt. He knows this place inside and out. I'd bet my booty he's going to come back and save us," Renee said.

"Then you'd better kiss your booty goodbye," Bonnie said bitterly.

Renee sighed and looked over shoulder. "You okay over there, Sweetie?"

"I'm fine. But I so don't want to turn into a gross snot monster," Tara grumbled.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Ron will come back and save us."

There were a number of dissenting voices around the cabin.

Renee looked over at Kim. "Kim, can you do anything?"

"If I could reach my pocket I could cut myself free with my laser lipstick, but I'm wrapped up too tight."

"Cheerleading uniforms have pockets?" Renee asked, baffled.

"Mine does," Kim replied. "Just for the basic tools."

"Shh!" Barkin commanded.

Everyone quieted down. There was a faint sound of an outboard motor.

"Great! Ron found a boat," Kim cheered.

"Yeah, so he can ditch us," Bonnie said sourly.

"I already told you, he does not ditch."

"So, where's he going?"

"Uh..."

The fact that Kim couldn't come up with an answer, made the cabin go quiet.

Bonnie looked over at Kim, just visible outside the cabin. The redhead was struggling to get free, but to no avail. It seemed like she, as well as the rest of them, was destined to be turned into a mutated freak. Or be killed by one.

Just then, an inkling of an emotion tugged at her.

Fear.

Not the fear for her own life, but fear of losing things - people - important to her. She could die right here without having the chance to talk to her dad. Or they could all be turned into icky mutants, maybe end up locked up, studied, probed, and dissected. And she could lose K-

The thought shook her to her very core. She was in mortal danger and she was worried about Kim? It had to be the muck. Yeah, definitely the muck.

"Worried about Kim?" Renee asked with a lowered voice.

"What? Why would I-" Bonnie protested before noticing the knowing eyebrow-raise Renee was giving her. She lowered her head.

"It's okay to worry about people. Especially about ones you're involved with."

Bonnie was too tired to protest Renee's choice of words. Besides, she'd always been able to confide in her.

"It's not just her," Bonnie said.

Renee looked at Bonnie expectantly as she let the sentence hang in the air.

"I found out my dad's phone number."

"How long-"

"A couple weeks."

"Have you called him yet?"

"No," Bonnie sighed. "Every night I put in the number, but I never have the guts to make the call."

"Are you sure it's what you really want?"

"Yes! This can't be my life. With my bitch sisters and weirdo mom, this just can't be it. I need to know there's one person who loves me."

Renee thought about mentioning a certain redhead but knew this wasn't the time.

"BonBon, you know I'll always love you as if you were my own daughter. I know it's not the same, but-"

"I didn't mean-"

"I know, I know," Renee calmed her down. She saw Bonnie was on the verge of tears and knew how she valued her image. "Take a deep breath and think positive. We will get out of this, and you will be able to call your dad."

Bonnie gave the older woman a thankful smile and did as instructed; she took a deep breath.

Just then she heard Kim yell: "Ron!"

Shortly after they both ran in the cabin and started freeing people. Kim's first target was Bonnie.

"What happened?" Bonnie asked as Kim pulled out her laser lipstick and started cutting her free.

"Ron caught Gill in a net," she said, and smiled at Bonnie. "He saved us."

Just as Kim turned to Renee, Bonnie put a hand on her shoulder. "Kim."

Kim looked at Bonnie. She said nothing, but she didn't have to. Kim saw everything she needed in Bonnie's eyes - the worry, the relief. The love. She smiled back and turned to Renee.

≈O≈

After an exhaustive search, Kim and Ron had been able to find the jamming device Gill had used to block off their cell phone signals, allowing them to finally call in the authorities.

Gill was detained and placed into custody of a genetic researcher, who assured them that even though Gill was perhaps too far along to be cured, any effects the muck might have had on them would be reversed as long as they were properly cleansed of the substance.

Ron basked in the gratefulness of the cheerleaders. He was showered with thank yous and praise. Tara went even as far as daring a kiss on his cheek.

Bonnie watched as Ron held his hand on his cheek, looking longingly after the blonde. She couldn't take any more. Life was too short for them to keep doing this dance.

Bonnie walked up to Ron and snapped at him: "Okay, that's it. You go after her and kiss her right now!"

"Uhh, why?" Ron hesitated.

Bonnie groaned. "Because she wants you to, you dolt!"

"How do you know?"

"Because I'm her best friend, that's how. Now go!"

Bonnie pushed Ron on his way. He walked slowly and hesitantly towards Tara, who was standing just a few feet from the main group of cheerleaders.

"Uhh, hi Tara," he said timidly.

"Hi, Ron," Tara said, smiled coyly.

"Umm.. Bonnie had this crazy idea that.. uhh, you wanted to kiss me."

"She did, huh?"

"Yeah, crazy right? I mean look at me, who'd want to kiss me?"

"I would."

They kept staring at each other, until Ron managed to gather some courage and spoke up. "Maybe we could, uh, go on a date?"

"I'd love to. When?"

"Uh, can I call you later about the details?"

"Sure."

"Well, uh, be seeing you."

"You too."

Ron turned and walked off, his knees so weak he could barely stay upright.

"That was so sad," Bonnie derided.

"I don't think I have any feeling in my legs," Ron said, not noting the jab at him.

"Way to go, Ron," Kim cheered. She turned to Bonnie. "Uh, do you want to get together tonight?"

"I'll have to give you a rain check. I have something I need to do."

≈O≈

In her room, Bonnie entered the number in her phone, the process already a nightly ritual. This time, however, she pushed "Call".

A few rings later there was an answer.

Bonnie gripped the phone tighter. She choked out the word.

"Daddy?"


TBC...

Be sure to read my sidefic, "Renee". It does have slight spoilers, but nothing to do with the main storyline.