Okay we're back. Yeah, not going to be a lot of feel goods in this tale SOOOOOOOO, you guys who need to take your meds please do so. Again, refer to the first three chapters of book 1 for the total disclaimer.
Again, I want to thank CajunBear73 for all his work. Let's get right to the reviews: Uberscribbler, remember what I said about taking your meds. Anyway, I'm working on chapter 24 right now and most things are going according to plan….who's plan? Well I can't tell you that and ruin your fun; CB73. Yeah Rufus is gone, and Ron has to read the riot act. Again, not all of Eric's plans are going to work, the question is if enough of his plans DO work; Jimmy1201, Rufus went out a hero who craved cheese. Yes, Ron caught a break with the insurance Jimmy. The Kleins were one of the original Middletonites. As for Wade and Kim…for the most part Wade isn't happy keeping secrets and not revealing to Kim about what has been done for her; Bobtrumpet, Dean Stoppable picked a good guy for his agent.
Okay thanks to everyone who has read, faved, followed and reviewed, I DO appreciate it.
Let's get this show on the road,
ST-103
The Hunter: Book Two
Chapter 5
Middleton, Colorado:
A totally exhausted Ron Stoppable finally pulled into the driveway alongside the van that was parked. 'Why is Josh's van here? I wonder if he and Kim hooked up again…If they did, I sure feel sorry for Tara…Josh is better for Kim than that snob Eric. Oh well, I have more important things to worry about right now.'
Ron rolled his eyes as he got out and then reached inside and picked up the towel with it's precious contents. Slowly he walked to the front door and entered while calling out not wanting to give any hint of something else being wrong, "Honey, I'm home."
Josh appeared while Ron could see Kim on her Kimmunicator. "Hey Ron, we were worried about you and we're sorry about your folks. And if there's anything we can do…"
"Did something happen to Kim? Or my Sister?", the former mascot inquired, not seeing the Asian baby.
"Nah, Tara and I dropped by. Kim saw there weren't any bottles and she didn't know about Hanna's food so Tara did that for her. While Tara was working in the kitchen Kim got a hold of her tech guy and he is supposed to get hold of you."
"I already talked to Wade about something else…And thanks for keeping an eye on the intruder. I'll be back in a couple of minutes…I gotta stay away from Kim, if I get to close to her she starts sneezing.", explained Ron half-smiled while still carrying the towel in his hands.
Josh noticed Ron was holding something and reached towards the towel and pulled the top off that was covering Rufus. Then it hit him and he lowered his voice knowing what Rufus meant to the sidekick, "Is that…"
"Yeah, but don't say anything. There's enough angst in the house already and I need to get my mind right before I can really talk about it…it's been a crappy twenty-four hours.", Ron whispered.
Kim looked over her shoulder and waved in Ron's direction. The blond teen nodded in return as Josh said, "Sure, but you should tell Kim…"
"I will, but right now I have a lot to deal with. Somebody pulled a prank on Mom and Dad with the insurance policies, but I think we have that taken care of. Now, where's Hanna?"
"Oh, she's with Tara in the kitchen…"
"I'm going in there and give your girlfriend some relief, Josh.", as Ron made to carry his little package into the kitchen.
"You don't have to hurry Ron, Tara likes to babysit. She loves kids and works at the daycare at the hospital.", the artist chuckled.
"I didn't know…or maybe I did and forgot. Anyway, life's been a little hectic lately.", the former mascot blew a sigh of relief that Kim wasn't trying to anything in the kitchen because he didn't know if he could have dealt with that disaster considering what had hit him in the previous twenty-four hours.
Then to Kim, as he kept his distance, "Kim, I think I have it now. Thanks for coming over. Do I owe you anything?"
From across the room the red head replied (since Wade had told her that, somehow, she had become allergic to Ron), "Ah, no Ron. Hanna was cute as always…it was a pleasure to take care of her while you checked on your parents and did all the other stuff you had to do."
The heroine then grabbed her coat and headed for the front door, "Ron, I'll talk to you later…"
The former footballer half-grinned, "Yeah, the streets are clearing off, they're a lot better than they were yesterday. See ya."
With that a now smiling Kim Possible exited the Stoppable homestead and walked home.
Josh could see the uneasiness between the former couple and inquired after the door closed, "More problems, Ron?"
"Seems like Kim is allergic to me now. It's not like we're a couple anymore…We're not even exes now since Kim doesn't remember we were dating…"
Josh advised his former competitor for the heroine's attention, "Harsh, but you could've told her…"
"Doctor Possible, well both of them, wanted to keep it hush hush until Kim remembers on her own. I agree, I suppose. Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore.", Ron replied as he walked into the kitchen and held out his hands after setting the towel and its contents on the counter.
The artist frowned, not liking where this was going, "Why is that Ron?"
Sighing in resignation, "Kim has her hottie like she always wanted. Just like she tried with you."
Josh countered, "We were not compatible. You were always closer to Kim than I ever was…"
Ron chuckled, "It didn't turn out that way…", he trailed off.
Then the blond continued, "Hey Hanna, whatcha doin?"
The raven-haired child, contentedly sitting in her highchair and munching on some banana slices, raised her hands. With a small grin Ron walked up to the highchair and lifted the child out of it. Then to Tara, he asked, "Was she much trouble?"
"No Ron, Kim was half out of it, something was bothering her. Anyway, everyone knows what she's like in the kitchen…so you owe me a cooked meal.", the bubbly cheerleader said with a large grin, "How are your Mom and Dad?"
Sigh "Still in ICU…as of this morning. Had some problems with the insurance…it was a hell of a time for someone to play a prank on Dad…"
Josh asked as he sat down at the table, "What kind of prank?"
"Someone called and canceled all the insurances. The company sent the forms out and got them back, but the signatures on them weren't Dad's and Mom's.", Ron informed them as Tara checked the bottle on the inside of her wrist to make sure it wasn't too hot for the Asian toddler, then offered it to Hanna.
Josh looked worried, "That's a good thing…"
"Yeah, we don't have scads of cash and I'd hate to have to pay for the accident and Mom and Dad's medical bills without insurance…"
Josh shook his head, "You are not responsible…"
Ron stood straight and squared his shoulders as he countered, "By my religion, according to my Rabbi, I am an adult and since I am also the head of my household at the moment, till Mom or Dad get back on their feet, it's my responsibility to make sure that everything is taken care of. So, I sorta have ta, you understand."
The artist frowned, "Having to make sure your parents are going to be alright along with taking care of your sister…that's going to be a drag Ron, are you sure you don't need help?"
"I have to admit Josh, yeah, it's going to be tough. I'll find help where I need it I guess. Right now, I really can't count on Kim really being able to help out you know, between missions and her being allergic to me now.", Ron informed the couple.
"Ron, you really need to level with Kim about what you had and you need someone else close as she was in your life to help you though these things even if she doesn't want you back in her life as you once were.", Tara suggested, although more forcefully.
"GF, I don't have the time or the energy to get into a relationship or back into a relationship at the current time…but, you know, thanks for offering…also Josh might be put out here and want to kick my skinny tail…"
"Ron, focus.", Tara snapped, "I am not leaving my steady just to make you feel good."
"Damn, and I thought I was gonna to get lucky with one of the cutest girls in Colorado…"
Josh snorted as he saw through the mascot's distraction, "He's breaking the tension, Tara. I think if you peeled off your clothes he'd freak out. I'm guessing he'd equate getting lucky with you the same as getting lucky with Kim."
"Huh? Oh shit, how many know now?"
Tara grinned, "Liz told me and I told Josh. That's all other than who Monique and Brick told…But, I have one question to ask."
Ron felt like he wasn't going to like this inquiry and said, "Go ahead."
"Did you like it?", the platinum blonde asked as Josh began to turn purple.
Ron shook his head, "I am so gonna get killed over this."
The bubbly blonde smirked as she began to pull her sweat shirt over her head. At this point the other blond in the room had his eyes almost pop out of his head as he spun around. "Gawdddd, Tara!" Ron lamented, "You might put somebody's eyes out with those…But the bra is nice."
The cheerleader giggled, then pulled the garment back down, "I could find you someone to be with every bit as much as you and Kim were, Ron. I've talked to cheerleaders from other schools, including that nice one from Mountain Side who wouldn't think twice about taking the plunge if you were available."
"Tara, just like I told Josh before, I don't have time on my hands right now to even think about a relationship, considering what is going on right now, so I couldn't even be interested. So, thanks for all the help on the romance front, but I really am in no position to do anything with that right now.", the former mascot replied as Hanna took the bottle out of her mouth and bonked him on the head with the plastic container. She giggled and then put the nipple back into her mouth.
"Retarded Sister.", Ron griped as he rubbed the booboo on his noggin, "I hope you have six kids that do that to you in twenty years."
Josh reached over and took Hanna from Ron, displaying to the blonde cheerleader in the room that he was comfortable with toddlers and their antics. The blond sidekick asked, "Have you guys eaten yet? I mean I need to repay you for stopping by and giving Kim a break."
"It's early enough Ron, do you want us to pick anything up for you?", Josh inquired.
"Nah, I'll whip something up…"
"Okay, then we are going. You should tell Kim about Rufus, she'll want to know…"
"Rufus?", Tara asked, "What's with your pet?"
"He, ah, he died in the car crash. I have him in the towel on the counter.", Ron informed the cheerleader.
"Oh, I'm sorry, but I agree with Josh, you should have told Kim…."
Ron shook his head, "Not right now, she has enough on her mind and I can deal with my problems by myself for once. Anyway, Josh wanted you to come over to the place where he does his art work to show you something, but considering all that's going on with your parents I think it can wait for things to calm down."
Ron asked, "Why is that?"
Josh frowned not wanting this out, "I did a couple of things and I want your opinion of them."
"Why me? I'm no art critic. Heck, I watch 'Bricks of Fury' and you have ta check your brain at the door to get through that.", Ron told them as Tara began giggling.
"What's with you GF?", Ron inquired at the giggling red-faced blonde.
"So, you quietly agree with Kim?"
"Yeah, but don't tell her. 'Bricks of Fury' was cool our freshman year and it so incensed her that she went to the premier, I had to keep it going.", Ron informed the cheerleader, "Just like I mess with Barkin, there's a code of honor there you know.
XXX
The Possible home:
"Dad, I'm home.", Kim called out as she entered the house.
James Possible came in from the attached garage, wiping his hands on a rag, "How did it go Kimmie?"
"Hanna was fine till Ron got home, but there weren't any formula bottles made up and you know how I am in the kitchen. Luckily Tara and Josh showed up so I didn't burn the house down while trying to make some up."
James chuckled at the running, although not too far from the truth, gag, "You should buy Tara some chocolates. Umm, how are the Stoppables?"
"Ron said that they were still in ICU. So, I guess not really well."
"That's too bad Kimmie, I might go up to see them later tonight. Did you find out anything on why you were sneezing when you got close to Ron?"
"Wade thinks I developed an allergy to Ron so I have to watch how close I get to him. Wade's going to contact a few places and see if we can find anything to allow us to at least work together on missions. And Wade is going to scan me again with my unit while I'm in my room for an in-depth analysis of my new condition. I think he wants to send some other sensors to the house tonight so he can do the scans.", Kim informed her scientist Dad then paused, "Wade's gonna do Ron too…"
"Speaking of your friend, did Ronald find anything out about his pet?"
"Rufus? Not yet, I hope he does soon. Mole rats aren't really designed for cold weather like we have here and I'm a little worried about him."
"Right Kimmie, I'll keep an eye out for him if he shows up here."
"Thanks Dad, I'm going upstairs and take a shower. Eric and I aren't going out tonight so I'll be home. He has something planned with the guys that traveled to Middleton with him. I'm going to call Monique and then get a hold of Wade, then maybe watch a movie or something."
James chuckled, "Did you forget to eat anything Kimmie?"
"Yeah, I did."
James suggested, "How about we have a pizza night? That might bring Rufus around…"
"Great idea Dad. Ruffie likes lots of cheese on his.", Kim laughed as she headed for the stairs and her bedroom, not knowing that the valiant rodent had already met his maker twenty-two hours before, in the accident.
XXX
The 'Ranch' outside Middleton:
Micky Robertson frowned as he raised the beer and took a sip. He knew he had to let Hans know about this part of the plan, "Boss, we have a problem."
'Eric' shrugged, "The plan is going well so there cannot be much of a problem. But out with-it Micky. Did Miss Possible walk in front of a bus?"
"Yes sir…I mean no sir, she is supposedly fine. However, at the insurance office they now know the cancelation of the Stoppables' insurance policies are fake. The target came to the office today and they told him the policies had been canceled. Anyway, I didn't know the kid's old man and my boss go way back; like all the way to college and had been friends for all those years since. Hell, he had already paid for the year on all the policies. Both spotted the fake signature and Mister Klein is sending the evidence to the auditors and the state for inspection. We might have called the heat down on us.", Micky observed, "We may just have to off him right away if that happens."
Otto frowned that the investigation might lead to Micky and then to them so inquired, "Should we get Robertson out of that office Nephew?"
"No, not yet. We can keep an eye on any investigation if it develops this way. If a 'problem' arises then we can take appropriate action to ensure that no one comes to our doorstep.", Eric/Hans shrugged, then raised his glass.
After the fake teen set his beir back down, "So, how are our favorite patients doing today, Tom?"
Sighing, "I was not in the ICU today,", Bridgestone enlightened them, "I do not have seniority at the hospital and have to go where they send me at this time. All I could do was inquire about their welfare as someone who is concerned and had cared for them previously, as a curiosity. If I showed too much concern, then people might look to hard at me which would end up putting our little mission in jeopardy. As you have stated; the payoff is our top priority."
"It is and you did the right thing Tom, just keep your ears open unless you get a chance to work in that department again.", Otto patted him on the shoulder.
"Thanks Otto, I hope this is well worth the trouble. I still say a seven millimeter through the cranium at eight hundred meters would do better than anything else to make sure the sidekick isn't a continuing problem."
Hans/Eric chuckled, "That is too easy. I want him to suffer and beg for his death for days…And, I want my girlfriend to have a recording of it for her viewing enjoyment. It will keep her warm and give her something to think about until the guilt drives her to commit suicide, because she couldn't fix her friend…And in the end, she finds out that she gave herself to the guy who orchestrated the idiot's demise."
"Hans, you are enjoying this too much.", Otto warned, "Remember, we need to be professional about this."
Hans/Eric countered, "Women do not ignore my advances Uncle, let alone jest about me. To do so leaves them and their loved ones open to my retribution. I fully intend to break the girl and kill her best friend after I break him as well. AND I will use any method at my disposal to accomplish my desires."
Otto slapped his nephew on the shoulder and raised his glass, "Well you are accomplishing that at the moment Hans. You know, while we are at it, we might want to expand on the intelligence gathering part of our enterprise to further increase our profits."
"What are you saying, Uncle?", Hans half-grinned, and having a few too many, wasn't catching on.
Otto had been around a lot longer than the younger German, "That communications unit has some interesting features that may be useful to some of our friends. Also, I wonder what Miss Possible's scientist father has in that head of his?"
"I think we will take this slow Otto. I think we have time. If events push us to move up our timetable, we can easily grab Doctor Possible and get him into the machine. Then, we can record everything and turn that over to your friends.", Hans told his uncle. He then raised his beir and took a large gulp.
XXX
The Possible home:
James Possible shut the door and called out, "Kids! Pizza is here."
"Hicka bicka boo!"
"Hoo shaw!", was the refrain.
"I'll be right down, Dad.", Kim called from upstairs. Moments later the teen heroine bounced down the steps with her hair up in a towel.
James Possible asked, "Should I call Ronald over to see if he wants some? I ordered enough…"
The cheer captain's eyes opened wide, "Ah, maybe another time, Dad. Tara and Josh were over at his house and it would be bad manners not to invite them too."
"Yes, you're right Kimmie, they might have something else planned.", James Possible conceded as he opened the pizza boxes. "I'll talk to Ronald tonight to see if there is anything we can do."
"I'm sure Ron would appreciate that.", Kim said as she grabbed four plates out of the cupboard.
XXX
Josh glanced over at Tara, "We could have stayed...Maybe we should go out had get some takeout for Stoppable…"
"We should Josh, but at the moment I think Ron wants to be alone. He needs to keep busy and babysitting his sister should keep him busy enough."
"Well, we start back up at school in seven days, so maybe by then his parents will be out of the hospital and take some of the stress off Ron. He looked like crap today."
"If he went to the hospital last night after getting back in from Japan, then taking care of his sister and then going back to the hospital today…I'd say he has a lot on his plate.", Tara said after she thought for a moment.
Josh replied as he pulled into the restaurant parking lot, "I hope Ron doesn't blow up. There is a lot of stress on him at the moment."
"Yeah,", Tara said as Josh pulled into a parking place, "he can use some real friends right now. Kim won't be able to help out too much since she has some kind of reaction to Ron when they get close together…"
"Yeah, we need to let some of Ron's friends know about this. I don't think he'd ask for help on his own since he thinks that a 'man' has to do it all on his own.", Josh pointed out, not very happy at all as to where his former girlfriend was in her relationship to the blond football player.
As they (arm-in-arm) entered the eatery, Tara saw a flash of orange hair along with five other people. "There's some room over there. Let's see if we can eat with Liz and her boyfriend."
The artist and the bubbly cheerleader walked over to the large corner booth the other six people were in. Tara inquired, "Want more company?"
"Sure.", Liz said for all, "Friends of Stoppable are friends of ours."
Liz and Dave scooted further in as Dave told Tara and Josh, "Stoppable's back in town."
"We just came from there. We stopped and Kim was babysitting Hanna when Ron got home."
"How does he look?", Tank Woodson asked.
Josh frowned, "Tired. And right now, he isn't happy…He found Rufus…"
"Good," replied Dave, "Ron was worried about him."
Tara looked down, "I don't know how he's going to handle it?"
Curt raised his eyes, "Yeah, with his parents in the hospital…I hope they're better…"
Tara's blue eyes narrowed, "Rufus is dead…"
The linebacker tried to get up from the middle of the booth (which means to say; there was no place to go), "What the hell?"
Josh nodded as he informed the other six, "Ron brought him home in a towel. He thought his pet was dead before, but he took him into the vet. That's one reason he was so late getting home today."
Ansel 'Tank' Woodson lowered his head and told Curt and the two Mels, "I have ta drop by the Stoppable house after we get done eating, Stoppable has to be feeling like he has a blow torch in his belly right now. Somebody had better help watch the baby. We have ta talk."
Melanie Woodson grabbed her husband's hand and made him sit back down, "We'll go Tank…"
Curt looked over at his wife and nodded, "Families stick together and help each other out. The team is a family just like Mike Little said and he's right."
Liz took Dave's hand, "I'll call home and tell them why I'll be late tonight…"
"You don't have to Liz, I can go over there after I drop you off…"
"He was my and Tara's teammate before he was yours, Dave. Ron needs all his friends around him right now.", Liz Sours' stare towards her guy almost froze him.
"Okay, we'll all go, then. You know there's enough of us, we could make a schedule on making sure Ron wasn't doing everything by himself. Raising a kid and going to school is going to be rough."
"There's fifty of us on the squad and a lot of guys have girlfriends, we can make it so Ron doesn't have to take care of his sister by himself.", Curt told them then added, "Family is family."
Everyone nodded and reached to the middle of the table. Josh stood up and also reached in and announced, "Family is family. Ron won't be in this alone if we can help it."
"Josh?", Tara asked, "You're not a cheerleader or a jock…"
Tank nodded, "He made a commitment, I think he should be in if he wants to. We need numbers and commitment to make this work, Tara."
Curt nodded in agreement, "We'll spend some time getting other guys on the team to help out. You know, I wonder about Possible getting creamed on a mission if she's allergic to Stoppable…"
"I'll call her tech guy and see what he says.", Woodson offered as he took out his cellphone.
Everyone was quiet while the older man spoke for a few minutes. After Tank closed his phone he said, "Okay, Possible does have an allergic reaction to Stoppable right now. In a few minutes, he's going to rescan Possible and send those readings off to several institutions for study. He has already contacted one of his support agencies and together they will work on a way to keep Possible from having 'fits' as he calls them."
Curt frowned, "I wonder what they have planned? You know if I was a devious kind of guy I'd have to think that someone is pulling some strings on this."
Melissa punched her guy on the shoulder softly and pointed out, "Conspiracy theorist. You know there isn't anyone who could come up with that."
Tank frowned, "Possible and Stoppable go after bad guys all the time and I'm telling ya that English dude is creepily like that syntho guy Ron talked about."
"Creepily? Is that even a word Woodson?", Liz Sours got out before she broke out in a giggle.
Even Tara smiled, "I don't know either, I'd have to look it up in a Thesaurus."
Dave finally laughed, "Does it really matter?"
"Dave,", Liz admonished, "these are the types of discussions you have in college…."
XXX
The Stoppable home:
Ding! Dong!
Ron carried his pajama clad sister to the front door. He opened it and saw a group of his friends, with more showing up, "Hey guys what are you doing here?"
"You gonna invite us in?", Tank asked.
"Uh yeah sure, come on in.", Ron replied as he stepped back away from the door.
After Dave entered, Ron followed his friend into the house, "Do you guys want anything to drink?"
"Sit down Stoppable.", Woodson ordered as Melanie took the baby from Ron's arms.
"What are you guys doing?"
"We need to help you out, Stoppable.", Liz told him as she thrust a bag into his hands, "And believe it or not, you are going to need help. You went up to see your parents earlier today. When are you going again?"
"I'll put Hanna in her seat and drive up there in a few minutes…What's in the bag?"
"Take out. And you're welcome. Now eat the food and when you're done, leave her here. Dave and I will watch her until you get something to eat and get back from the hospital."
Ron frowned, "I can watch my sister while I eat and I don't want to impose…"
"You already did that when you went out for the football team, Stoppable.", Curt told his team mate, "If guys need help, they're supposed to ask other guys on the team to help…And we do."
Sighing heavily, "Oh alright. Can I make something for you since I'm gorging myself?", Ron inquired.
Dave chuckled, "We already got something. Tara and Josh told us what was going on."
"Yeah…"
"And they told us about Rufus too. Are you going to be alright?", Tank inquired.
"Yeah, it will take a while…He could have ended up being killed a number of times on missions…I guess we all could have and now…I don't know."
Melisa asked, "Who knows?"
"You guys, the Vet and Wade.", Ron replied not looking directly at anyone.
"Doesn't Possible know?", Dave asked since he knew that Ron and Kim were thicker than thieves.
"I didn't want to burden her. She's dating that dickless wonder, Eric, and that's enough for anyone to be loaded down with.", Ron informed them.
Liz giggled at Ron's use of a part of a male's anatomy to describe the English teen.
Ron then rose and went into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with bottles of soda and a plate with a burger and fries on it. He set the sodas down on the table and said, "It's the least I can do for you guys helping me out…"
Tank replied, "Family is family…Okay, we are making an exception for the artist so he's like an equipment manager for us now…"
"Like Reiger?", Ron snorted.
"Yeah, but a lot better. Reiger's a dork. We can build Mankey up a little…"
"Hey I take karate now, have for a couple months.", Josh laughed. Then to Ron with a more serious tone, "You don't ask for help even if you need it…I figure I'm paying forward for that guy that saved us when we got mugged this summer."
"Yeah,", Ron said as he took a bite out of his sandwich, "you told me about that…All that we need around here is a vigilante. I guess I shouldn't harsh cause some people look at Kim that way and I guess me too. But she doesn't do it to stomp people, she does it to help people."
X
"Okay Dave, you have my phone number and I'll try to be home in about an hour or two. Sis gets her bottle about eight thirty and then she gets changed right before she goes down…Oh, I hope you like reading kids stories…she likes them.", Ron Stoppable informed Dave and Liz, "Watch anything and eat anything you want. If I'm late I'll call the home phone to give you an idea…"
"Stoppable, just go."
"Liz, what if Hanna…
"Egad, you clown! I've babysat before and between me and Dave we have it covered.", Liz literally pushed Ron out the door while Dave stood behind her holding the Asian child.
Silently the former mascot got into his Mom's car for the trip to the hospital to check on his parents again.
XXXXX
Yes, there is a Kim Possible 'real life' movie out there and no I haven't seen it all yet, just the trailers and Ron still looks like a dork from what I've seen. There are other good tales out there, Daccu65 and Jimmy1201 are examples.
Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Rufus, the Doctors Possible, Wade and all the other 'canon' characters in the show 'Kim Possible' belong to Bob, Mark and the Disney Corporation and their army of lawyers and not myself nor CajunBear73. We just do this little ole hobby to pass out ulcers and get people to drink…still trying to get kickbacks from the liquor distributors.
We'll see ya down the road in a couple weeks,
ST-103