Chapter Thirteen
Team Possible was talking while standing outside the lair. Global Justice had left with the prisoners.
Tara gave more details about the Amulet, and for her part Jenny was happy to have her best friend on the team. Even if that wasn't entirely decided yet. But she was hopeful.
Then it was Jenny's turn to explain Drakken's plan.
"So that lens up on the station would have let you give huge areas of the ground bad luck?" asked Tara.
Jinx nodded. "Uh huh."
"Think it was destroyed?" asked Ron.
"Probably not," answered Wade, "The crystal is really tough and heavy. I can send you some info on Geissman lenses, if you want to know more."
"It's still up there in orbit, so I guess someone might be able to find it," said Kim, "But unless that happens, we'll leave it on the back burner."
"You know I never cared about ruling the world, but I did want to be known and feared," said Jenny, "That would have been a great way to do it."
"Jinx of the World!" said Tara with a flourish, and they all laughed.
Tara studied Jenny. "I can't believe you're wearing that," she said, referring to the copy of Shego's costume. "Those are so not your colors."
"I can," said Kim, "I got hit with a chip a few years ago, and Drakken made me wear one."
"It fits well and is comfortable, though," said Jenny. "I think I'll keep it just for laughs at Hallowe'en."
kpkpkp
They dropped Tara off at her house.
"I'll call you, and we can get together and talk some more," said Kim. "And Tara, thank you. I'm glad you talked me into taking you with us."
"I really want to help, Kim." She reached up and touched the Amulet.
"I'm sure you will. See you later!" her friends in the car waved.
"Okay. Bye Jenny, Ron, Rufus!" said the blond, returning the wave. Behind her, her mom had opened the door and was waiting with open arms.
kpkpkp
They dropped off Ron and Rufus, and Kim and Jenny were quiet for the rest of the drive. When they got home, there was a surprise. Felix Renton was waiting by the front door.
"Hi, Felix!" said Kim, "What's up?"
"Hi, Kim," he replied, but looked past her. "I need to talk to Jenny."
Cat eyes widened, and gray skin reddened just a bit. "Really? Why?" she asked, stepping up beside him.
"Come on," he said. He put an arm around her waist and tugged.
Jenny couldn't help but smile at the old familiarity, and sat in his lap. Like she had seen many times he pushed a particular button and the cyberobotic wheelchair snapped out the drive engines. It lifted into the sky.
Just before they left the Possible property, Kim gave Jenny a questioning look, and Jenny responded with a shrug and shake of the head.
kpkpkp
Felix was quiet during the short flight, which ended on the shore of Lake Middleton. Other people were there, but he had chosen an empty spot near the woods to land. Several people looked when they heard the noise, but nobody came over.
Once safely down, he moved his arms from around her, but she didn't get up.
"What are you wearing, by the way?" he asked.
"Long story. So what is it?" Jenny asked, looking at her friend with concern.
"Jenny..." he looked down. "Remember when you had to go back to your home universe and I told you I was glad we broke up because I didn't want the woman I love to be in prison where I couldn't see her?"
"Yeah...?" she answered.
"Well, turns out I couldn't stand it anyway. I was miserable the whole time you were gone. I was also lonely while you were in Japan," he said, looking her in the eyes.
"But we exchanged emails, why didn't you say anything then?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I couldn't be that selfish. It was important to you and your career that you three get better as a team, and if I said something then it would have been bad for your focus."
She started to reply, but he stopped her with a finger on her lips.
"Since you got back I've been working up my courage. Then yesterday on the news they said you were dead, and then that you were alive but kidnapped. And that did it. I can't stand it any more. Jenny, I love you. I want to try us being a couple again," he said.
She sat back, shocked.
"I know I said it was your missions that came between us before," he rushed on, "But since then I figured out that YOU are more important to me than worrying about danger. I've been there and done that. I want to support you. You help save the world. You have a great team. You're intelligent, brave, talented, and absolutely beautiful."
Jenny blushed redder, which showed easily on her gray skin.
"Not to mention bad luck," he added with a grin.
Jenny couldn't help but snicker. She did love his sense of humor.
"Whadda say? Can we get back together?" he asked, wishing he felt as confident as he sounded.
She gave him a wide grin. "I'd like that." Sitting in his lap, it was easy to give him a strong hug. "I love you too."
As he hugged her back, Felix gave a sigh of relief. It was followed by the realization of what she'd said, and his happiness grew manyfold.
kpkpkp
It was a week later, and to take advantage of the lull before college, the Possibles, Stoppables, Matthews, and Rentons all met on that same shore. Wade and his parents had another engagement, and Monique had to work.
It was near lunch, and Mr. Dr. Possible and Ron were manning the grill, cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. Mr. Stoppable was sitting nearby with a notebook computer, working on a actuarial spreadsheet. Mrs. Stoppable was nagging him to put it down and be sociable.
Kim and her mom were setting the picnic tables while keeping an eye on the Tweebs. They had promised not to pull any pranks, and so far were keeping that promise. They were collecting rocks from the shore and trying to identify the minerals using a handheld sensor.
Rufus was on the table, rubbing his little mole rat forelegs in anticipation of food.
Tara and her mom were sitting nearby, along with Dr. Renton. They were feeling a bit out of place with the easy familiarity of years the other families shared.
Jenny and Felix were out in the water. He had some motor control in his legs when swimming, and was using it to good advantage. It was also good exercise. He had asked his girlfriend to keep an eye on him, though. He didn't want to get too tired. That would be bad luck for both of them.
Finally the food was ready and everyone called to the table. As Jenny stood up from the water, Dr. Renton manipulated controls in the wheelchair. Two mechanical arms picked Felix up and carried him to the table and sat him down.
"Dr. Renton, I hope you have that kind of control over the ones at your house now," said Ron, "I'm kinda tired of losing my pants every time you use me for a guinea pig."
Everyone laughed.
"Sorry, Ronald," said the scientist. "I promise next time you come over it won't happen."
The lunch and the day was enjoyed by all.
kpkpkp
Late in the afternoon found everyone sitting in lawn chairs or on towels, taking some down time before packing to go home.
Kim spotted Jenny sitting on a flat rock back from the shoreline with Felix in his chair beside her. Tara was sitting on the other side. They weren't talking, just looking over the lake. She took Ron's hand, and they went over to them. Rufus was asleep in Ron's pocket, as usual.
"Hi, guys," said Jenny with a smile, "Pull up a rock."
"What's up? You're all so quiet," said Kim, sitting down. Ron sat beside her, still holding her hand.
"I was just taking the time to think." she looked at her not-sister. "Did you realize today is the second anniversary of me coming here?"
Kim's green eyes widened. "Really? Wow..."
Just then the Kimmunicator rang, and Kim answered. "What's the sitch?"
"Nothing, Kim," answered Wade, "We just got home and I wanted to check in."
"We're just having some quiet time. Too bad you couldn't be here," she replied.
"Yeah, that thing I got dragged to was boring," he said. "But I do have some news. Tara?"
"Yeah?" she asked as Kim handed her the device.
"Dr. Director approved you joining the team," he said with a grin.
There were brief cheers.
"BUT. She also insists you learn self-defense, in case something happens with the you-know-what," he added.
"Yeah, I figured that," said Tara, "So I'm going back to Yamanouchi to train."
"No college?" asked Ron.
"Maybe later, when I've figured out what I want to study," said the blond.
"Ooohhh, I get it!" said Jenny, "There's a certain ninja hottie who's name starts with "H" you want to see again."
"JENNY!" Tara looked down and blushed, but was smiling. Seeing the question answered affirmatively, they all gave her their support and encouragement. Then they grew quiet again.
"Hey, Jen, what's wrong?" asked Felix a few minutes later. He took her hand and squeezed it. He noticed tears running quietly down her cheeks.
The girl from another universe shook her head, the pink hair moving with it. "I'm just so lucky. I've got a family, a boyfriend, a best friend, and a great job. I'd never have had those things back home."
"It was luck you met us when you got here, but you earned everything else," said Kim. "It was luck for us too. Just think of where we'd be without you."
Jennifer "Jinx" Wheeler smiled and wiped her tears.
Kim Possible turned and looked over the waters of Lake Middleton, starting to grow dark as the sun neared the horizon. "And now, try to imagine where we're going." She smiled. "Together."
The End
Author's Note: This is likely to be the last one in the Kim Possible: Jinxed! series. But if inspiration hits, I will tell the story. Thanks for reading!
Robert Teague May, 2010