A/N:I'm putting these chapters in to make later storytelling easier. I realized if I jumped from where it was to where I want to go that there would just be too much back and forth. And I had a brain worm about how to do it so I am. This is shaping into one of my better ones here. Clearer and cleaner. Or at least I'm trying. As always R/R. Everyone needs some criticism good or bad. Bring it.

Bonnie slowed. Daylight had broken and they had loped on. It was near noon and she slowed further to a walk. Kim caught up with her panting heavily. Bonnie stopped and Kim gripped her arm and urged her to keep walking. "Cramps." She stated between heavy breathing and Bonnie complied resuming walking. Bonnie watched Kim drop the extra pack and interlace her fingers on top of her head trying to catch her breath.

Bonnie started breaking dry looking twigs and branches off passing trees to build a fire. Despite the cold sweat was saturating their acquired coats and they needed to be dry to survive another night. Kim began following suit.

In short order they had a small campsite built with a small crackling fire. Coats stripped and drying they sat before the fire eating another ration back. Bonnie looked across at Kim and their eyes met and they shared the same half hearted smile. "At this pace it looks like two more days." She pulled out the map. Now marked with charcoal from yesterdays camp.

Kim took a deep swig from a canteen. "Mind taking pack mule next stretch, my arms are dead?"

Bonnie sighed. "Sure." She handed over the map. "We need to go a couple miles out of the direct path to avoid… however the hell you pronounce that towns name, but after that we can follow that stream's valley all the way to Maleficent's gates."

Kim nodded echoing Bonnies need to avoid people in any concentration. She looked up. "I would rather get there sooner rather than later."

Bonnie grimaced. "Really?" Bonnie stared across at Kim with veiled anger. "Keep running, no sleep, seriously?"

Kim looked at the map frowning. "At the pace we're going, sure it's two days, but its two days since we have to stop before the town to round it at night. If we don't sleep today we can keep going and be around the town before dawn tomorrow and from there its a sprint."

Bonnie couldn't fault the logic. She could be snotty. "As my Mistress commands."

Kim huffed. They stared at each other for several seconds before Bonnies laugh tore itself free infecting Kim. Soon the laughter died down. "Two men died the other day. How can I laugh?"

Bonnie only shook her head and settled back inclining herself with her hands. She stared up at the sky. "Kim, we have two options." She brought her head down to look at Kim. "Be sad, angry and weepy." She leaned forward. "Or put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward till it doesn't hurt so bad anymore."

Kim rubbed her eyes. "You know Barkin would have some Marine quote or something for this."

""SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP!"" Bonnie impersonated the tight laced principle pretty well and despite herself Kim laughed again. Bonnie pulled a ration from her own pack and opened it. She sobered back up. "Kim eat another pack. We'll need the calories to stay awake."

Kim only nodded as she did so. The rest of the break was spent in silence and by an unheard signal they stood as one to get back to the trek.

break

They slowed their lope as the great gates of Maleficent loomed ahead of them. Bonnie in a daze ran into Kim's back. "Hey!" she yelped before the took in the massive iron gates. "Damn."

They both were startled by a voice to their left. "Not accepting visitors, go away."

Bonnie felt fear jangle its way down her spine. Her glance at Kim said she felt it too. They waited, but no crack of rifle fire and no blossoming of blood ended the mans indifferent perusal of the paper. Then it dawned on her. He was speaking english.

The realization hit Kim as well and she straightened up. "Open the gate." Bonnie was shocked at the imperious tone in her voice and the guard was not impressed as he carefully folded the paper.

"Why?"

Bonnie watched as Kim deflated. Bonnie just shook her head. "Fuck it." She walked to the gate studying it briefly before leaping to get a hand hold. She heard Kim following as she made her way up the gate.

"You can't do that!" The guard cried indignantly as he scrambled out of his hut. "Get down or I'll shoot!"

Bonnie turned her head to see the guard had drawn a small firearm and was shakily aiming it at them. "I'm tired, hungry, thirsty, and so full of don't give a fuck that I don't give a fuck that I don't give a fuck."

Bonnie heard Kim below her add. "Call Mr. Bundy and tell him we have arrived. He will want to know."

Bonnie vaulted the top of the gate and in a controlled set of hops landed on the ground with a thud. Kim landed on her feet beside Bonnie and helped her to her feet.

They looked around and started walking down the single paved road. "Looks like they're not going to kill anyone inside the school bounds." Bonnie commented.

Kim nodded. "I want to know who took the shot."

Bonnie put an arm around Kim's shoulder. "And when you find out?" Bonnie felt Kim tense then relax just as suddenly. "Thats what I thought."

"I just need to know." She turned her head to face Bonnie. "You know?"

Bonnie could only nod in agreement.

It was over an hour later that they finally saw Maleficent school proper and its ancient looking stonework was breathtaking. Mr. Bundy and an entourage met them at the end of the road. Bonnie felt Kim stiffen as they took in the cast surrounding his leg. "I still think he deserved it."

"No he didn't Bonnie. He was just following orders."

Bonnie lifted her arm from Kim's back and loosed the double pack from her shoulders. She felt the icy claws of rage reach her face as she hurled the pack at the group. "Unless you have a bed and a hot meal waiting I suggest you move so I can find one."

As one Kim and Bonnie stopped. Mr. Bundy cleared his throat. "Congratulations."

Bonnie looked at Kim and back. "I'm sorry that didn't sound much like, "This way to your bed bath and meal." Did it Kim." She turned to see the matching anger on Kim's face.

"No it didn't." Kim stated.

Mr. Bundy's lips pursed. "If you'll follow me we will begin your entry paperwork."

He indicated the school behind him. Bonnie watched as Kim's eyes darkened. "Who took the shot?" Kim almost growled.

"Excuse me?" Mr. Bundy asked.

Before Kim could reply a middle aged man took one step forward. "Those were my men covering you. My orders, ma'am."

Bonnie wasn't even aware she had moved until she was atop the now prone form, the knife levered so hard on his throat his bobbing adams apple drew blood. She spit in his face. "Give me one reason not to end you."

Bonnie felt a feminine hand on her shoulder. "B. Neither one of us planned on killing the shooter."

Bonnie felt her rage crack at the edges. "But I really really want to, now that I'm here."

"So do I Bonnie, so do I." Kim reached down and grasped Bonnies wrist holding the knife. Almost imperceptibly she felt Kim's hand push forward then pull back gently.

Bonnie began breathing heavily. She looked at her hand with the knife in it and she started to tip it to drop the knife, but she stopped herself and gripped the hilt harder. With her knuckles white she closed her eyes tightly and stood. Taking a steadying breath she folded the knife and pocketed it as she stepped over her victim. "Ok." she opened her eyes and noded. "Okay."

Bonnie felt Kim's hand rest on the back of her neck and direct her to follow Mr. Bundy.

break

Ron dumped his backpack on his couch in passing. Passing the kitchen he waved at his mother who nodded back. "Ooh, Ron. Wait a minute." She grabbed a letter off the table and Ron met her at the fridge. "This came today for you honey."

He grabbed a soda from the fridge with one hand and with the other took the letter. He looked at the return address and saw it was from Norway. He smiled to himself. "Thanks mom. I'm going to be in my room."

She turned away from him. "Dinner at five."

"Thanks mom." He walked up the stairs and on the way opened the letter. It was regular lined paper with several splotches on it and he frowned. Carefully he settled into his desk chair to read.

"Dear Ron.

Hey its been what, two weeks now? Sorry its taken me so long to write. The instructors here are throwing us into the deep end so Bonnie and I are run ragged. Oh, yeah. Bonnie came with me. Both of us are enrolled in kind of an advanced program here. And I'm not telling my parents this so you shouldn't either. The training is hard. Harder than any mission we've been on. Bonnie is doing well. Physically she's just as good as I am, but she has some rough edges academically. We're working on it though.

Anyway. We're doing fine and I hope you are too.

Take Care.

KP"

Ron sat back. He looked down at the sheet. And pulled one of his own out.

"KP

Its good to hear from you. I won't say anything but why even tell me then? I'm not the greatest at keeping secrets you know. And Bonnie? I didn't even know she went. She just dissapeared from school and the only thing we got was that her parents pulled her out. And even with a handwritten letter you still can't lie to me KP. Next time if you don't want me to worry you shouldn't cry on the paper. If you need out Kim just say the word and the Ronster will be there. You know it.

You too.

Ron"

He pulled out an envelope and carefully transcribed the address from Kim's letter to his. Sealing it up he set it on the desk and watched it. "I shouldn't send it." He said softly to himself. "I should write another one. One thats not so dark." He was startled out of his thoughts by his Ron Com. He had turned it on when Wade had blocked all but his own connection.

Ron opened it to find Wade staring back at him. He looked nervous. "Whats the matter Wade?"

Wade smiled. "Nothing much. You free tonight?"

Ron raised an eyebrow. "I am?"

Wade looked like he made a quick decision. "Okay. I've been offered a job."

"Congratulations my main man!"

Wade shook his head. "I haven't accepted it. See its on that line of quite possibly shady."

Ron stared at Wade. "So ditch it."

Wade grimaced. "Its so close to not being shady I don't know. I want you to meet with them and just hear them out. If you think its okay than we'll see. Can you do that for me?"

Ron shrugged. "As many times as you've helped me? Its the least I can do, but why me?"

Wade shrugged. "You and KP are tight. If you don't have a problem with it I doubt she would."

"I see, I see. But you do recall that I did almost take over the world right?" Ron smiled.

"You just have a better sense of these things. If its evil in any way you'd know it wouldn't you?"

"Yeah I would. When and where buddy?"

"Bueno Nacho in a half hour."

"Aww, mom's going to be mad." His grimace disappeared as quickly as it appeared. "At least they have good taste."

Ron cut the connection and stared once again at the letter. He picked it up on his way downstairs. His mom was still in the kitchen. "Hey, mom, sorry but I have to bail on supper. Wade needs some help with something."

She barely turned. "Leftovers in the fridge." Too used to having her son jet out to save the world.

Ron thanked her as he made his way to the door.