A\N Hi! UPDATE! Sorry for delay, serious lack of time kept me away. Good thing that weekends exist. Anyway. According to mine calculations there are around 3 chapters of this story left. I hope i'll be able to finish it without any major delays.

And as always

READ AND REVIEW.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kim Possible.

Chapter 16

Shackles to remove

Redhead girl stood before him in her short black drees, in a middle of an empty street. She was looking straight into his eyes without blinking. He tried to say something but to no avail, no sound could leave his mouth. The longer he looked into her green eyes, the more fear grew inside him. He was waiting for something, something he doesn't want to hear. Redhead made a short breath and proclaimed:

"Liar!"

Ground below began to crack and he fell to the cold floor right between to isles filled with canned food. He stood up and noticed somebody standing before him. A girl with curly pigtails smiled innocently.

"You used me."

She told straightly and ran away. Feeling of guilt overwhelmed him. He decided to follow the girl and ran forward. Soon aisles disappeared and the room around changed. As he stepped on tatami another figure appeared. A man with monkey-like features angrily stared at him.

"Murderer!"

Man shouted as stone covered his whole body. Statue still looked at him accusingly, making both fear and guilt inside him to amplify. Stone turned into the dust, as well as walls, making an orange sky to appear above him.

Girl with curly pigtails appeared again, crying and smiling at the same time. He wanted to approach her but he couldn't control his body anymore. She started to laugh slowly, making him shiver.

"Monster!"

She said straightly and burst into the goo. Green liquid filled the whole space around. He floated on it, and looked around. It was a sea of green goo almost everywhere, except a small island no so far from him. As he swam closer and closer to it, he could see a black-haired slightly pale girl waving to him from there. As he swam even closer he noticed a sweet smile on her face. He was almost there.

"Liar!" two hands formed from goo held his legs, not letting to get closer to the island, making him stay in the sea of goo.

"Murderer!" another pair of hands grabbed his hands.

"Monster!" third pair of hands appeared and locked itself around his neck and they dragged him into the depth of goo.

Everything became darker as he went deeper and deeper. He can't breathe, he can't see. He only could hear three voices, telling him three words over and over.

"Liar! Murderer! Monster!"

Ron fell from the bed with a loud thud. His yesterday's wound started to hurt as soon as morning numbness went away several seconds after landing.

"Ouch Ouch Ouch!" Ron stood slowly, leaning on the nightstand with a healthy hand.

Rufus woke up from this ruckus and looked confusingly at his human pal.

"It's ok Buddy, just had a bad dream." Ron reassured Rufus and smiled.

Later that day, Kim was sitting on her bed, still in her pajama. She barely slept. Thoughts were coming one after another, making it almost impossible to get some shut eye. She managed to have some sleep as sun started to rise.

Kim stood from her bed and looked at herself in a mirror.

'I look like shit.' she sighed and fell back on her bed.

Those damn thoughts that harassed her head all night came back. Rica's words, Ron's lies, and many other small details gathered together to form a whole picture. And as Kim looked at it more and more, the clearer it became. If the situation is indeed as she deducted, then, to say the least, she would have some really awkward times in near future. And the worst thing, she didn't know how to feel about it.

Mobile phone's ringtone snapped her back to reality.

"Hello?" Kim picked it up without looking at the screen.

"Hey Kim." Shena's voice came from it.

"Oh, hey…"

"Did i wake you up?"

"No, no, i'm awake."

"Listen, i have something to tell you." Shena made a small pause and continued with an uneasy tone in her voice. "I've seen her memories again, and it kind of concerns you and Ron. Can i come over?"

"Yeah, sure. Should i call him now?"

"Uhm, no. In fact, i want to talk to you first, and call him after."

"Really? Why?" Kim was surprised by this.

"It's…it's better to discuss it face to face, i'll be in 30 minutes."

Half hour later Shena pushed the doorbell button. Kim opened the door and let her friend in.

"So, what's the problem? You sounded kinda flustered." Kim asked and sat on the couch.

"Yeah, i guess i did." Shena joined her. "Can i ask you one question?"

"Go shoot." Kim shrugged her shoulder.

"Have you ever put a chip in Ron?"

"Wha…how…" Kim felt panic inside. "Did Wade tell you about it?"

"No, wait…Wade knows about it too?"

"Of course he knows he invented and planted it… How do you know about it?"

"Her memories." Shena said with a little scowl on her face.

"And how does SHE know about it?" Kim raised a brow.

"Well… if i remember it correctly: you and Ron were in relationships in future, but it became rocky and after he discovered about the chip, accidently, you had a fight and basically broke up…sorry… After that he drove away from Middleton and became a mercenary, with my older counterpart as his partner…"

They just sat there, on a couch, in a pure silence for several seconds, as Kim's brain tried to process all given information. However, no matter hard it tried to do it, some pieces just refuse to find its place.

"So…" Kim broke the silence. "In a future, i dated Ron, and botched it up by keeping a secret about the chip."

"As far as i remember he said something about you two being drift apart bit by bit, and that that tracking chip was a final nail in a coffin."

"Flipping great." Kim put a palm on her forehead. "And he became a mercenary after that?"

"Yep."

"And the future You was his partner?"

"Pretty much."

"What kind of partner?" slight jealousy appeared in Kim's voice.

"Just a mercenary partner as far as i saw." she remembered last piece of memory again. "It looked like She and Ron became friends…"

"I see…"

"You need to tell Ron about the tracking chip."

"I know that." Kim sighed. "I want to tell him about it since the day i asked Wade to do it, but…i simply couldn't find right words to do it. You know, when i was 13 i thought that i was doing right thing. He always lost or accidently broke all devices that Wade gave him that could help to find him in case of something happened. And after one incident i joked to Wade that it would be neat if Ron had some kind of tracking device inside, so he couldn't lose it. Wade told me that he actually can make such thing … i agreed. It sounded like a good idea back then."

"How did you put a chip in Ron anyway?" Shena asked.

"Well, in that incident i mentioned, he hurt his shoulder, quite badly, and while Ron lay in hospital, stuffed with painkillers, Wade sent a little robot that implanted the chip in the open wound."

"That's really messed up."

"I know." Kim lowered her head. "In my defense that chip really helped when Ron were kidnapped couple times."

"Still messed up."

"You really think i should tell him?" Kim asked with slight pleading in her voice.

"Yes." Shena answered firmly. "Listen, i know how does it feel when someone close to you hiding something THAT important from you for years. Trust me, it's better to tore this band-aid off as soon as possible. Shit will hit the fan, and the longer you wait, the bigger shit becomes."

"You're right, thank you." Kim picked up her mobile phone to text Ron, but suddenly stopped. "Uhm, Shena, can i ask you a question too?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

"What do you think about Ron?" Kim looked at her eyes.

"He is a nice guy, funny, loyal, sometimes full of himself, but not to the level of annoyance, he is a good friend."

"Let me rephrase my question. What do you feel about Ron?"

"Weird question, but fine…I…He…"

Shena suddenly found herself in a strange state. She really didn't think, or, to say the truth, didn't allow herself to think about it. She knew that she felt something to the guy, but never tried to actually understand what it was. It was so comfortable to keep the status quo as their friend. And now this damn question hanged above her head like a double-edge sword. What does she feel about Ron? Should she feel something at all? Or it will only destroy their current relationships?

"I…don't know." Shena sounded frightened. "I… i can't answer. Why do you even asking me this Possible?"

"Just had something in my head since yesterday." Kim wrote a text message to Ron and sent it. "Sorry for a weird question. Ron will be here in five minutes."

"Are you ready for it?"

"Honestly. No."

Several minutes later, without doorbell or knock, a smiling blond teen entered the house, waving his hand to greet them. Both girls skipped a beat, for different reasons.

"Hey all!" Ron smiled to them. "What's up? Is there a new mission?"

"No, no mission." Kim smiled a bit nervously. "Shena saw some of her older self's memories and…well…i have something to tell you too."

"And it's better if Kim starts first." Shena added.

"Ok. What the sitch Kim?"

"Ron, it's…there is…" Kim took a breath. "You have a chip in your shoulder."

"What are you talking about? I think i'm a pretty much a positive person. " he scratched side of his head in confusion. "And isn't that phrase goes chip ON your shoulder?"

"No, not that…" Kim took another breath and stood from a couch, looking straight in his eyes. "I meant literally. There is a tracking chip inside your right shoulder."

An awkward silence appeared in the aired for couple seconds.

"Say WHAT?" Ron shouted panicky and put his left arm on that shoulder. "How did it happened? When? Drakken! Did he put it in my shoulder when i was knocked out? Oh man. Like all this bruises weren't enough…"

"It's not Drakken who put it." Kim interrupted him. "It was me and Wade."

"Uhm…come again? I think i misheard it. It sounded like you and Wade put it in me." he chuckled.

"We did…"

"No way…" smile disappeared from his face and confusion took its place. "Why? How?"

"Remember how you got lost in the forest when we were 13? We lost the device that Wade gave you and wandered through the area for a day, until me and forest rangers found you on a tree, with a grizzly under it and a gash in the shoulder? You must understand, we all were worried, i was afraid that we will lose you again like this."

"So you put a leash on me?" anger channeled through his voice.

"Not exactly, well kind off. It not that simple Ron…"

"Why didn't you tell me anything about it?"

"I was afraid you'll flip out."

"Of course i'm flipping out! You put a TRACKING CHIP inside my shoulder! How long is it there?"

"Pretty much since we brought you to the hospital after the forest incident."

"Three years? THREE YEARS? Holy marcel! Are you serious?"

"Ron, i…"

"All this time you kept quiet about it? Seriously! How could you Kim, i thought you are my friend!"

That hit the wrong note in Kim.

"Ow really, you are one to talk!" she snapped back at him. "Hypocrisy much, Ron?"

"Wha-…."

"I know you lied to me that evening…"

"Kim it's…" he started to panic.

"I know you had nothing with Rica…"

"Kim, just stop…"

"And now i know that all this time you liked Shena and lied to our faces!" she shouted at him and instantly realized what she have done. "I…i didn't…"

Shena, who was still in the room, on a couch, couldn't believe in what she just heard. However she noticed that Ron was evading looking towards her, and his face, that was red from anger second ago, started to lose it color.

"Ron." Kim said quietly. "I'm sorry, i…"

"I need some time…" Ron muttered and walked through the front door, closing it behind him.

Kim felt her eyes watering and dropped her butt on a couch.

"I blew it." she said, covering eyes with her palms.

"What…what was that?" Shena asked her, sitting nearby absolutely flustered.

"Something i had in mind since yesterday." she took hands off her face and looked at the ceiling. "Rica's words, Ron's reaction on your kidnapping, and to you in general. All other little details… Remember when i told you that it would be better if you were Ron's crush instead of Rica. Well… beware of your wishes."

"He has a crush on me? Why did he lie about that hussy then?"

"Probably because he is kind and an idiot." Kim wiped her eyes from the remains of tears. "Think about it, you were really new in our group, he turning me out in favor of you, things would probably go down quickly."

"So, he lied to protect me?"

"Yeah, pretty sure that how it was. Though the whole Rica deal is another can of worms that needs to be opened."

"Now at least i get why you asked me all those weird questions earlier."

"Pretty much."

Both girls sighed.

"So." Shena said. "What are we going to do with Ron?"

"Well, we know his feeling about you, so…"

"No! That not what i meant!" she interrupted her. "I meant about that whole tracking chip business. It's my fault that all went like that too, considering i pushed you to confess."

"It's ok, i hope." Kim hugged her knees. "Let's just give him time to think. That all we can do."

"You are probably right."

"Listen." Kim looked at Shena. "About Ron. I like him, as a friend, and as a guy. But since his rejection you helped me a lot, supported me. Now honestly i don't mind you being the one he likes. However i can't force you to be with him. I want my friends to be happy, all my friends."

"Kim i…"

"Just think about it, about him, that is all i ask. No matter what conclusion you end up reaching, you'll have my full support."

"Kim… Do you have an ice-cream?"

"I do… in a fridge…" Kim blinked from surprise.

"Let's just eat some and watch something stupid, something tells me that it will be more productive at this moment."

"Alright." Kim actually chuckled, felling just a bit better. "Chocolate or Strawberry?"

Ron meanwhile went towards the hospital. As he walked he kept thinking about what just happened. He was still pretty much pissed off with whole tracking chip deal, however with each step his anger went further and further away. He knew that what Kim did was wrong, both chip and keeping it secret for such long time. But she was right about him being hypocrite in there. He lied to her, to Shena too, kept secrets. And now everything was out. To the time he entered the hospital he pretty much calmed down and wanted to get back and talk to them normally, however there was one thing to deal with in here. Luckily, a certain red-haired brain surgeon noticed him.

"Good afternoon Ron." Ann smiled to him. "Everything's fine? How are your injuries?"

"As fine as injuries could be Mrs. Dr. P." he smiled back. "I'm actually was looking for somebody to look at my shoulder."

"Does it hurt?"

"No, but there is a small tracking chip inside and i wanted to remove it from there."

Ann blinked in confusion.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Apparently Kim planted it when we were 13 after the grizzly incident. She just told me about it."

"She did WHAT?" Ann raised her voice.

"Please Mrs. Dr. P, indoor voice, we are in a public place after all."

"This girl is unbelievable." Ann sighed deeply. "Follow me, i'll ask Doctor O'Reilly to help you with it."

Irish doctor with grey hair helped Ron to take an x-ray of right shoulder. He could clearly see a small spot on radiograph that appeared to be a foreign body. Since Ron's body was already covered in injuries, Dr. O'Reilly said to him to come back in a month for a check-up. Ron must fully recover himself before an operation on a shoulder to extract that little piece of technology.

Soon he was back at the door of his best friend's house. Without knocking, he just turned the doorknob and entered. In a living room two girls, with couple empty packs of ice-cream lying nearby, were sitting on a couch, and watching some program on TV.

"Hey, Kim." he entered the room, awkwardly raising his hand.

"Ron." she immediately stood from the couch. "Ron, i'm sorry, for the chip, for keeping it secret, for not keeping secret the other thing, i'm sorry, i'm…"

"Kim it's…it's ok…" he smiled weakly. "Let's just promise to not keep any more secrets like that. Ok?"

"I promise." she smiled a little too and gave him a small hug.

"I promise too!" Shena proclaimed from the couch, waving a spoon in the air.

"Thank you too." Kim chuckled and felt a little weak. "I need some rest, barely slept today."

"Let's all meet tomorrow at the mall." Ron suggested. "Catch some burgers."

"Deal." Kim smiled.

"Hey Ron, how about keep me company on my way back?" Shena stood from a chair.

"What? I'm…ah…" Ron tried to find the words.

"Come on Ron, be a gentleman." Kim lightly shoved his hand.

"Uh, yeah…Yes of course, i can keep you a company Shena."

Kim said goodbye to the other two and went upstairs to her room, and they went to the streets of Middleton towards Shena's house. Ron felt he was like sitting on a ticking bomb. She heard what Kim said, she knew that he has feelings for her, she knew about the lies.

"Do you remember when we first met?" Shena started the conversation. "I always wanted to ask you, why did you decide to walk to me and offer your help? Oh, and you have my permission to speak frankly."

"Honestly…" Ron kept looking on a concrete before him. "Partly because you reminded me Kim when i met her. It was in pre-k, she looked totally lost. Just like you in school corridor that day. And partly because…"

He murmured something.

"Because what?" she asked.

"Because i thought you were beautiful."

It made her smile.

"You know, my first impression of you as a villain-fighter was rather bad." Shena continued. "But as a person you were really unpredictable, intriguing even."

"Really?" he blinked.

"Yep. You are my savior after all. The one who will lead me off the way of villainy."

"Ow" he was a little disappointed. "I hope i helped."

"More than you think." she smiled. "Both you and Kim helped me a lot. Also Monique and Wade. You all are the only people i actually can call my friends since the day the comet fell. Especially you."

"Me?"

"Yes you. While i was sitting there with Kim, i thought about all things we've been through. How you met me, how you introduced me to Kim and later Monique and Wade, how you helped me to get into Team Possible, all the time we spent on missions or out of them, how all of you accepted me even with the fucked up situation i'm in, all the support you gave me, including the night in Go City. I want you to know how much i appreciate all that."

"Thanks." Ron felt a bit embarrassed by her kind words.

"You know, in her memories, the Other Me memories, i saw you, from the future. You were working as a mercenary in a team with her."

"I worked as a mercenary?" Ron barely could believe in it. "And also with you…neat."

"Yeah, She wanted to kick you out of that business after the month of work. Apparently the reason why you went for a mercenary is because you found out about the chip, broke up with Kim, and decided to prove that you can do something like that without her help. And end up working with Her."

"You mean broke up as…"

"In her future you and Kim were dating apparently. Also that's how i found out about the chip and persuaded Kim to tell the truth."

"Thank you." Ron smiled sadly. "It's better to found out now."

They reached Shena's house and stood on a porch.

"You know, after this set of her memories i started to understand why she told me to find you." she turned her body towards him. "You are loyal, kind, compassionate. You are everything i need in a friend."

Ron felt like his heart slowly crashes. He knew that 'just a friend' talk was coming. He thought he was ready, but still, every passing second was hurting him.

"But screw that." Shena grabbed his collar and kissed him.

Time stopped. He couldn't believe it happening. It must be a dream, a dream he doesn't want to end. After what feel like eternity, their lips separated, and she walked down to her door.

"See you tomorrow." she winked and closed the door behind.

Second later a word of happiness spread through the streets of Middleton:

"BOOYAH!"