Fury just stood and watched as Kim laid with Stoppable in his hospital bed. It had been almost a week, and Stoppable still hadn't woken up yet. Fury closed his one good eye and groaned to himself which sounded more like a growl. Thanks to Banner's little stunt, Rogers had a broken leg and several broken ribs, and extensive bruises over most of his body. He was lucky there wasn't any internal damage. Thor suffered a concussion and a few bruises. Hank – he was going to live and still have children. A small part of Fury still hoped his voice would remain an octave or two higher.
It was what they found with Iron Man that was interesting. Stark's suit protected him, but not that well. He still had a couple of hairline fracture's and only two bones that were actually broken. It was what they found in his chest that was interesting. Stark had been captured by terrorist a few years ago, and miraculously escaped. It was thought he escaped unharmed, but they had guessed wrong. There was a piece of shrapnel logged into his chest that was dangerously close to his heart. In fact, it might already be piercing it. Of course, Mr. Genius put in a sophisticated hi-tech pacemaker into his chest to keep his heart beating. He had to admit, Stark got on his nerves a lot; but, he couldn't deny that some of his inventions amazed him.
Ron was what was worrying him. Since what was left of their security feeds showed that Ross tried to stop her fiancé, she was off the hook and studying Stoppable's blood work. Banner on the other hand was currently sitting in a cell in the brig several floors below him. So far, Ross hadn't told him anything about why Ron hadn't woken up yet. From their initial tests, there were a few indications that he might be suffering from exhaustion. Right now, Fury hoped that was all that was wrong with him. After a while, the kid really started to grow on him.
"So how's he doing?" Shego asked as she joined Fury in front of the window.
"Still no change. How about you?"
"I can heal faster than normal people, remember? Besides, Steve's talking to his old girlfriend right now."
"Steve, huh?" Fury asked.
"Don't try to grow a sense of humor, Iron Pants. It doesn't suit you." Shego said to him. "When he wakes up, what are you going to do with him?"
"I don't know. He was a great asset in the fight. But he still turned on the Avengers."
"Because of Iron Butt. And the only reason he attacked the others was because they decided to fight first and think later. But you know that already, don't you?"
"Yes, I did. I just wish I knew what made him go from being in control to loose cannon."
"Well, all we can do is wait." Shego said a she turned and left.
"I hate waiting." Fury said as he followed suit.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you look a little like Samuel L. Jackson?"
"Damn it, not you too!"
Kim was brushing a few strands of hair out of Ron's face as he slept peacefully. Kim hated not being able to do anything while he was like this. The only time she ever left his side was to the bathroom and back. Ever since they put him in this room, she hadn't left his side. She also slept in the bed, with him. She wanted to be the first thing he saw when he woke up, and to make sure he was okay.
"Kim?" Ross asked as she entered the room.
"Dr. Ross? Is there anything wrong?" Kim asked, worried there was something else going down.
"I just wanted to tell you that I have test results, and I wanted to tell you before I told General Fury." The woman said as she stepped closer to the young agent.
"What's the diagnosis?"
"I went over every part of his DNA with a fine toothed comb, and it looks like Bruce did it. Ron's DNA is now stable. That means he can transform into the Hulk and back without him sustaining anymore damage." She said.
"I'm guessing there's something else, isn't there?"
"There is. I had to do several comparisons to our readings from the last time he changed into the Hulk. It looks like the formula did strengthen him."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. The Hulk's body mass has tripled, and you saw what he did to the Avengers, Kim. Especially with Thor."
"So – what does this mean?" Kim asked the older woman.
"Before Bruce gave him the completed formula, it looked like there was a limit to the Hulk's strength. But now-"
"Dr. Ross?"
"I'm only guessing about this. But it would seem the Hulk's strength increases with his anger. The madder he gets, the stronger he gets. If you hadn't stopped him when you did, there was a good chance that the Avengers would have never been able to." Ross told her.
Kim looked back at her sleeping boyfriend as a few tears began to fall.
"This is all my fault. If I didn't drag him on my missions, he wouldn't be like this."
"Don't start kicking yourself, Kim. How about I get you some coffee to help you calm down?"
"Coffee sounds really good right about now." Kim said as the doctor helped her out. If they had been watching the sleeping young man, they would have noticed the tears that were escaping his closed eye lids.
A few of the monitors and systems were online again. They had to work hand in hand with Global Justice in order to keep a tab on everything, but it would have to do. They needed to know if the Chitauri had really been stopped, or if they were still hiding out. They also needed to find Dementor. If the incident with Ron's pet mole rat was any indication, he was trying to recreate the Hulk. An army of Hulk's in control of that mad man made him cringe inside. One Hulk before Banner's interference was bad enough. Where could that little bastard be hiding?
"General?" Wade asked him as he cautiously approached the high ranking leader.
"Something on your mind?"
"I was just wondering about Ron."
"You mean, you're wondering what's going to happen to him now." Fury said, already knowing the question. He had been asking him that for several days.
"Yes, sir. I've been getting questions from his parents and everyone else. They want to know when he can come home." Wade said.
"That may be difficult, Mr. Load." Fury said. Fury was calling him Mister. Wade knew that this wasn't going to be good. "The Hulk's threat level has now greatly increased. Since Ron can't control himself when he changes, there's a good chance he won't ever leave SHIELD."
"General, you can't do that! His family, his friends! He has a life!"
"So does everyone else on the planet, Load! I need to think about what might happen to them, and if he looses it without Possible being anywhere near him. Could you imagine what might happen if the Hulk was loose?" Fury asked him.
He hated shouting like he did and getting in the kid's face, but he needed to get his point across. Ron himself wasn't a threat to anyone. But the beast within him was dangerous and too great of a risk. Ron's life just wasn't important right now.
"Isn't there any chance he might be able to leave?" Wade asked him.
"Only one of two ways. One is if he can control the Hulk, but I seriously doubt that."
"And the other?"
"The other is if Ross can find someway to cure him of the Hulk. And last time I checked, the lab was still destroyed." Fury said. "I'm sorry, kid. But Ron's life isn't going to be anything like it used to be." Fury said as he closed his one good eye, reminding himself that what he was doing was to keep everyone safe.
His eye bolted open when the general alarm began to sound all through the complex. As soon as it began to blare, everyone went into immediate action.
"What's happening?" Fury demanded.
"We're checking, General. Most of the internal sensors are still offline." One tech said.
"SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!" Fury shouted, growing more frustrated by the minute.
"Sir, we just got a report from Sick Bay! Stoppable's not in his bed. No one knows where he is!"
"Damn it to hell! I'm ordering SHIELD on a full lockdown now! No one gets in and no one gets out! I want every square inch of this complex searched now! Even if you have to move every single piece of debris from the attack. I want Stoppable found!" Fury shouted.
"Is everything alright?" Buck asked the SHIELD guard as he and his wife Gale reached Manhattan Island.
"We're on lock down, sir. I'm going to have to search your vehicle." The guard said as the other guard opened Buck's back seat and began searching.
"That's fine with us." Buck said as he popped the trunk. "But the only thing you're going to find is a suitcase with some photos and some of our medication." Buck said as the guard began searching the trunk.
"All clear, sir!" the guard shouted as he slammed the trunk shut.
"You can leave." The guard said, motioning for them to leave.
Buck drove the car at a steady pace as Gale looked at the city around here. Buck continued to drive, making sure nothing was going on around him. When they were a few miles away from the SHIELD complex, and out of visual range of their cameras, that's when Buck and Gale started to grin.
"You can come out now, son." Buck said.
"Man, it's hot under there!" Ron said as he pushed the blanket off of him and moved from the floor to the seat. "How did you know they would look under the blanket?"
"Something's don't ever change. They think they're smarter than you." Buck said to him.
"Is there anyplace we can take you, son?" Gale asked him.
"No. I've put you guys in enough trouble as is. You guys can just drop me off anywhere. Which way is West?" Ron asked them.
"Ronald, let us take you to our place first. You can stock up on provisions before you leave." Gale said to him.
"But won't they,"
"I'm not going to lie, Ron. SHIELD may come and search our home. But you saved Steve from those monsters, and it's the least we could do in return." Buck said to him.
"Great." Ron said to himself.
"There is no excuse for this. Just because we have a few systems down, you let a very high risk potential threat escape." Fury said to his crew as Shego stood by his side. "Ron Stoppable is a ticking time bomb, and it's only a matter of time before he changes again. I don't care what you have to do, or how long any of you loose sleep, but I want SHIELD back up and running before tomorrow morning. And I want Stoppable found this minute! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" Fury shouted.
"SIR, YES, SIR!" the crew shouted in response and immediately went back to work.
"Black Widow, get me Possible up here now. I need to know where Stoppable might be going." Fury said to his second in command.
"You don't need Possible for that, sir. I've known that buffoon for years, and I can tell you that he's going to be headed to one of two places." Shego said to him.
"Then where is he going?"
"He's either going to go to Bueno Nacho, but I'm betting he's a little smarter than that. So that leaves only Middleton." Shego said.
"What makes you think he would risk going back to his home?"
"Because unlike my family, they still get worried about each other. Trust me, he's heading to Middleton to let everyone know he's still breathing." Shego said to him.
"Then we have to monitor every possible route from New York City to Middleton; and have several agents checking out all the Bueno Nachos along the way."
"Do you think you can find him?" Shego asked him.
"If he's traveling on foot and by himself, maybe. If we're lucky, he probably isn't out of the city yet."
"Well, keep your fingers crossed, Fury. Without Princess, there isn't a lot he can do. Wait a minute. General, Where's Kimmie?" Shego asked him.
There were a couple of sandwiches, and several packages of juice. This should last him a little bit. At least until he could find a way to access all the royalty money his parents set aside for him to get better provisions. Thank God that Buck and Gale had some clothes for him. Of course, he had to admit that it was weird seeing himself in these clothes. A blue buttoned shirt, a pair of khaki slacks, and a beige jacket. Here's hoping would recognize him. He put the snacks in the backpack that also had several maps and other items to help him on his journey.
This was so strange. A part of him felt like he was running away, but he wasn't. He had overheard enough from playing possum and got the general idea. He was going to be a guinea pig for the rest of his life. And if his hunch was right, they might try to use the Hulk as a weapon. He couldn't risk that. But then, there was Kim. That was what was eating him up inside. He felt like he was running out on her. No, he wasn't doing that. He was – protecting her.
He felt his heart sink when the next thoughts came to his mind. She would find someone else later on. Someone better than him. Someone who wasn't some kind of – of monster. What would happen down the line? What if he turned on her? Oh God, what would happen if they had kids? Would they turn into what he was when they threw a tantrum? Kim didn't deserve to be damned like he was. She deserved –
"Going somewhere?"
Ron spun around to see Kim standing in the doorway, biting her lower lip as their eyes locked onto each other.
"KP? How did you,"
"Wade put another tracking chip in your neck while you were out. Only Wade and I know the frequency." Kim said to him as she stepped into the room.
"Are you going to take me back?" he asked her.
"No. But I want to know why you were leaving without telling me." She said to him.
"To keep you safe." He said to her.
"I find that hard to believe."
"Kim, don't you remember what happened? I hulked out and I beat the Avengers to a pulp. I mean, Captain America was in better shape coming out of the ice than he was with me. And look at Stark!
"Stark needed someone to kick some sense into him."
"But I almost put my foot through him, Kim! I even took down a sixty-foot tall man!"
"But they attacked you!" Kim said to him.
"AFTER I ATTACKED THEM!" Ron shouted, causing Kim to jump a little. "I'm sorry, KP. But I saw the video."
"How did you?"
"When you thought I was asleep. You were watching it in my room. Kim, I saw what I did. I threw the first punch when I hit Cap." Ron said to her.
"Ron, do you remember what happened after you slapped Steve away?" Kim asked, and saw him shake his head no. "You told them to get away. Ron, you didn't hit him out of anger. You were trying to push him away." She said to him.
"KP, I just can't put you at risk."
"Why? Why didn't you want me to come with you?"
"I'm not strong enough." Ron said.
"Do what? Not strong enough? So you think running away will make you stronger?"
"NO! Kim, I'm not strong enough to handle the Hulk!" Ron said to her.
"And running away from me is supposed to help you?"
"I don't want to loose you!" Ron said to her and saw her confused expression. "Kim, you were right. I'm not as dumb as I act sometimes. What do you think SHIELD and everyone else will want to do with me? Kim, if they figured out how to make someone into another Hulk; they'll use it as a weapon.
"And if I hulk out again and – and something goes w-wrong." Ron said as he began to break down. "If you got hurt because I was the Hulk." Ron said, but stopped. Any hints of an image of him hurting Kim that began to appear in his mind were quickly forced away. He didn't want to think about it.
"Ron, I know you."
"But you don't know it. You don't know the Hulk. I heard Dr. Ross, KP. He's stronger now. What makes you think he won't hurt you?" Ron asked her.
"Because I love you." She said to him as she held his hands in her own. "Ron, you have to learn to accept it. The Hulk is a part of you. He is you. And that alone tells me that he would never hurt me." She said to him.
"But Kim, you deserve someone better than me. I'm going to have to be on the run now. I can't even be myself anymore, and I'm not going to force that on you." Ron said to her.
"You aren't. I'm choosing that kind of life. Ronald, I love you. And I want to help you in every way I can." She said to him as she kissed his hands.
"Kim,"
"Ron, we've known each other all our lives. I can't imagine my life without you, and I don't want to know what it would be like. Even when I was with Eric and I thought he was human, I still saw you in my life. And when I kissed you, it felt so right" She said to him.
"It won't be easy, you know." He said to her.
"I know. But we can get through it." She said to him. "So where are we going to go?" she asked him.
"West. Once I get to California, I'm going to find a way to get to Japan." He said to her.
"Japan? You're going to Yamanouchi?" she asked him.
"I need to learn to control it, Kim. Until they find a cure. I remember Sensei telling me about meditation, and I thought he might know a way of helping me." Ron said to her.
"But why head west?"
"Because SHIELD's going to be looking for me, and I need to stay low. Plus, maybe someone will find a cure for me along the way." Ron said to her.
"All right then. We'll go to Japan. We better leave now though." Kim said as she picked up his bag and handed it to him.
"Why?"
"Because Fury has almost everyone looking for you. But I made some arrangements with Wade. He's thought of a way to keep SHIELD off of our backs for a little bit." Kim said.
"Okay." Ron said as he put the backpack over his shoulders. "KP?" he asked her.
"Yeah?"
"I love you too." He said to her. With a brief smile on her face, she and Ron quickly left the room, and out into the city.
None of them knew what the future held for them. It would be a rough and hard road ahead, but they would face it together. That was how Kim saved the day, and that's how Ron was able to control the monster within him. It was their bond with each other. They knew no matter what was out there, they would be able to make their way through it as long as they had each other.
HOURS LATER.
Wade was at his terminal, and making sure no one was looking at him. He had discovered that just about everyone is watching someone else in here. Since Wade had been putting the updates in their systems, he knew how to get around the firewalls and cover his tracks. He just prayed this plan of his would work. If it didn't, he knew he would have Fury all over him like a pack of dogs on a three legged cat. But this was for Kim and Ron. He just hoped that it would give them time to find whatever Ron was looking for.
Glancing one more time, Wade discreetly inserted the small flash drive into his terminal and began to upload. Every so often he kept glancing over his shoulder as he deactivated the key stroke monitors, tracers, and bypassed the firewalls. It was a little trickier than he thought. He would have guessed would have beefed up everything after he had installed it, he just didn't think it would be that much.
He had to calm down and think this through. He just needed a little more time. He was getting so close.
"Stop being so nervous Load. Concentrate and get this done. They need you."
With his nerves partially settled, Wade went back to work as his fingers flew at a pace that would make most people dizzy. Every time a problem came up, Wade's brain was able to come up with a solution to go around it or break through it. He took one more glance, and then hit enter. The data from the flash drive was now integrated into the SHIELD computer. Wade quickly covered his tracks and exited the system. He looked at his watch, and exhaled a small breath of relief. He just had to wait for the time delay to end, and hope that everyone bought the story.
"SIR!"
"What is it, soldier?" Fury asked as he walked to where the tech sat.
"One of our birds just found Stoppable and Possible, sir."
"Where are they?" Fury asked as everyone's attention changed.
"In New Jersey, sir. I've got an image coming up on the main viewer." The tech said as the large multiple monitors began to show one image.
It showed a little corner store with Kim and Ron stepping out of it and walking toward an old beat up Ford.
"How fast can we get a pick up team to their location?" Fury asked.
"Retrieval Squad is suiting up and heading out now." Another tech said as they saw Kim and Ron climb into the car.
"I want those two back here and in my office before,"
Fury was interrupted when the mustang exploded in a massive fireball, causing the car to fly into the air. As the car began to fall, a second and third explosion went off. As the smoking ruin of the car burned, everyone was frozen in place. None of them could believe what they had just seen.
"What happened?" Fury asked, but received no response. "I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED HERE! GET THAT WRECKAGE BACK HERE NOW! I WANT EVERY INCH OF IT EXAMINED WITH A NEUTRON MICROSCOPE!" Fury roared as his scar began to be come more noticeable.
As everyone went about their task, he turned to his second that was frozen in place.
"Black Widow?"
"I can't believe it. It can't end like this." She said to herself.
"SHEGO!" Fury shouted, finally getting her attention "You're in charge of the investigation. I want you to find out who the hell did this, and if that was really Possible and Stoppable in that car." Fury said to her.
"General, we just saw them blow up." Shego said.
"Looks can be deceiving, Black Widow. Especially in this line of work. MOVE OUT!" Fury shouted to everyone as he headed to his office.
"So that's your cover for us?" Ron said as he and Kim walked down the road.
"Just hope it fools them long enough." Kim said to him. "Too bad Wade couldn't give us a ride." Kim said.
"Look at it this way. At least we finally have some time to ourselves." He said as he firmly held her hand in his. A small smile graced her lips as they continued walking. With his backpack slung over one shoulder, Rom let his left arm hang by his side with his thumb sticking out to the side. Every so often as they walked, they would turn to see if someone would pull over for them. Even if no car would stop, they would still continue onward.
For now, Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable are believed to be dead. As they continue on their journey into the unknown future, they must continue to let the world believe that they are dead. At least until they are able to find a way for Ron to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.
Author's Note(s): Just to let you know, this isn't the last chapter. I've still got more ideas in my head for this story. So for now, I just hope you enjoy this chapter.