Happy Labor Day, that means we are about three weeks from the official end of summer. I know that many of us have had to watch 'social distancing' with the Covid pandemic and reading tales online is a pretty safe thing to do while allowing us writers a venue to communicate with people.
Soooo, thanks to the readers, now while we are at it thanks to the reviewers too and since we are doing that let's respond to those reviews: Bobtrumpet, Barkin's sweat is a little ripe dude. Alice Magrath may not know all the secrets but she wants to; shthar, GEDs are cool but getting the whole HS experience is a lot cooler in my opinion; Uberscribbler, I CAN say idiot 2 will try something and will experience the legal process. RICO will play a part in his life from here on out as for Barbara Stoppable…..this chapter.
CB73, Barkin is gonna go through some things, but it won't be clean. Ron uses the help he gets from his friends he does feel that he should be doing more; Gj agent, Missus Doctor Pea will not be in Middleton very long….she has to complete her training; Jimmy1201, yeah no drugs can't say that about this chapter though. Ernie wants Ron dead type gone he thinks our favorite buffoon really was just lucky and not so good.
Again, thanks to CajunBear73 for all the beta work he has done for the last number of years. I owe ya man.
Oh, before I forget…..this upcoming chapter is one of those where there will be character death soooo, if you need to make sure you take your meds.
Let's get this show on the road,
ST-103
The Hunter: Book Two
Chapter 24
The Stoppable house:
Ding! Dong!
The blond teen opened the front door with a large smile on his face. "Hey Dave, Liz…glad you guys could come over this morning."
The former high school QB asked his friend, "What are you wound up about Ron?"
"The hospital called and it looks like Mom's waking up.", Kim Possible's sidekick explained, "I, ah, need someone to babysit Hanna while I go up and say hi to Mom…I guess I coulda just put sis in the day care there…"
Liz stepped in and removed her coat, which Dave took from her, "No, you did the right thing, there is no telling how long you'll be at the hospital today."
"Uh yeah, but I left some cash on the kitchen counter in case you guys want some take out. I mean it's not much, but I uh…"
Dave Alberts laid his hand on Ron's shoulder, "We understand Ron, we really do. Take your time, it's Saturday and none of us are slated to be in school. Later, Liz has to be ready to go on that away basketball game at Mountain Side with the rest of the cheerleaders, but we'll take care of it don't worry."
"What Dave said Ron, get your butt to the hospital and see to your mom.", Liz ordered, "We'll take care of stuff."
Ron Stoppable kissed his sister on the forehead and threw his coat on before he went out to the garage.
Dave laughed, "I'll call Tank or Curt to see if they or their old ladies can come by if Ron doesn't get back by the time we have to leave."
"Dave, you don't have to go to the game…"
"I want to go to the game Liz.", Dave replied as he whipped out his cellphone.
XX
It was still snowing lightly as the blond teen pulled into the hospital parking lot. After entering the hospital, he went right to the gift shop and got some flowers and a stuffed bear. He paid for it and walked out, thinking to himself, 'It's not a Cuddle Buddy© but it's the thought that counts.'
Our hero (such as he is) walked to the elevators, got in and pushed the button for the floor that Barb Stoppable was currently residing in.
Less than a minute later:
Ron stepped out of the elevator with a huge smile on his face as he walked to his mom's room with a bounce in his step. He waved at the nurses' station as he walked by. One of them who knew Ron's face pointed to the room with a smile on her face.
Ron continued on to his mother's room, he knocked then went inside and asked, "Mom?"
"Ronald?"
"Yeah, how come your eyes are closed if you're awake?", the teen asked.
"They told me about your father…and…and I can't face it right now."
"Could you please open your eyes for me?"
"Maybe later Ronald, you're the man of the house now…"
"I know and it's scary, there is no way I'm ready for this, but I'm trying."
"I know you are Ronald, you're a good Son."
The younger blond put the flowers and their vase on a ledge in the room and then went to her bedside.
"Mom, I'm sorry about Dad, really sorry…but we had to have the service…I…I didn't know, and Bernie suggested we do it…I'm sorry." Ron then leaned over the bed and embraced his mother, "I…so sorry, if you guys hadn't tried coming to get me Dad would be alive, you wouldn't be in the hospital and Hanna wouldn't be half orphaned."
"Ronald, you have done well,", his mother told him, "it was not your fault that we had an accident. The car just wouldn't turn and with the ice…."
"Mom, it's best not to think of it right now."
"I know, how is Hanna?"
"She's been getting spoiled from everyone doing tag-team babysitting, right now Dave from the football team and Liz from the cheer squad are watching her.", Ron informed his mom.
"We left Hanna with Kimberly…oh how did you get home?"
"I uh walked."
"You should have taken a cab when we didn't show up."
"Mom if I can walk halfway across the state in a blizzard, through mountains, I can walk across the city in an ice storm. I just wished my coat was suited for it a little better."
XXX
The Stoppable home:
"The long relief is here Liz, you guys can head out.", Justine called out as she entered the house without ringing the doorbell.
"Thanks Mike, Justine, I have just enough time to get Liz home so she can change before going to school to meet the rest of the cheerleaders.", Dave responded as he held Hanna while Mike and the genius girl removed their coats, "She's been changed and is due for food in about an hour."
Justine rolled her eyes and held out her hands to Hanna, "Come here munchkin, the word is out your momma is waking up. And WE have Flippies® to dance to."
Mike shook Dave's hand and said, "Go!"
XXX
Wade Load scanned his recent hack job into the hospital's records and grinned, 'Now maybe we can get somewhat back to normal. Maybe I'd better notify Betty Director, too.'
Nonchalantly, the African American genius pulled up his 'contact' menu, highlighted the number he wanted, clicked on it and patiently waited.
"Doctor Load, it is a pleasure to hear from you on a weekend.", Betty Director's voice came over the speaker.
"Just thought I'd let you know that Ron's Mother is awake in the hospital and Ron's visiting her as we speak.", Wade informed the older woman.
"This is wonderful news Doctor Load, is there any prognosis for her release from the hospital?"
"No Ma'am, it's too early. Nothing is on file as yet.", Wade informed her, "I expect her to go through some rehab though since she's been in a bed for so long."
"I agree.", Betty Director replied, "Thank you for letting me know."
Both sides disconnected as Betty Director thought to herself, 'Maybe I'll see about having a roving security team drive by the hospital occasionally.'
She tapped the communications unit on her shoulder and asked, "Will, would you come to my office when you have the time?"
"Yes Ma'am, I am on my way."
X
"Come in.", Doctor Director responded to the knock on her door.
"Yes Ma'am, you wanted to see me?", the thin Asian inquired.
"Yes, Mrs. Stoppable has come out of her coma. And being the suspicious bitch that I am, I almost wonder if someone was trying to get to Kim Possible by sidetracking the Stoppable boy including through his family. I would like a roving guard around the hospital twenty-four seven and then when she is released, I want a stricter watch on Miss Possible and Mister Stoppable's homes."
"You think someone might be trying to get through to Stoppable Ma'am? Most bad guys don't even know who Stoppable is.", Du pointed out as Betty motioned for him to take a seat.
"True enough Will, but what better way to sidetrack Miss Possible then to cut off her support network? This would give the techno villains a leg up on her and us."
"I can rearrange some of the patrols, but it's going to take a couple of days Ma'am.", the 'Top' agent told her.
"That's fine, it's probably just my paranoid gene working overtime.", Betty laughed then asked, "Coffee?"
"Yes Ma'am, and thanks."
XXX
Middleton High:
The red-haired cheer captain impatiently tapped her foot as the white Ford© pickup truck pulled up to the waiting girls. "I'll see you at the game Dave."
As the pickup truck pulled away Kim's eyes narrowed, "Where have you been Liz? We've been waiting almost ten minutes."
"I was babysitting Hanna Stoppable…"
Annoyed with the answer, "You knew we had to be on the road, Ron could've gotten another babysitter…"
"Kim…"
"I don't want to hear it! Come on everybody, let's get moving or we won't have enough time to get stretched.", Kim told them loudly, "And I don't want anyone hurt because they are cold."
Liz Sours got into Bonnie's car behind Tara. The bubbly blonde stated, "Well Liz, that isn't like you and now K is ticked off at all of us. You must've had a good reason…"
Liz responded, "Ron called Dave this morning. His Mom woke up and Ron had to get there. Maybe he should've taken his sister into the nursery at the hospital, but Ron wasn't thinking I guess."
From the driver's seat Bonnie said as she followed the other cars out of the school's parking lot, "We'll have to send flowers. Liz, if Kim gets into your shit too much, I'll pull her aside and tell her I said it was alright to help a former member of the cheer squad."
"Bonnie,", Tara giggled, "you have done a one eighty with your attitude."
"You can't snark on someone who found you wandering on the streets and got her to the hospital…My Dad and I both owe him big time."
XXX
The ranch:
Tom Bridgestone grumbled as he walked up to his place on the range. Seeing the merc was annoyed, Otto asked, "What is wrong my friend?"
"The boy's mother woke up this morning.", Tom confided.
The older German frowned, "A little complication with our plan, then?"
Tom nodded, "No pneumonia, what I tried hasn't worked yet."
"We don't expect for everything to work on destroying the boy…"
"If I can get my hands…I have an idea Otto, but in doing it I will have to disappear for a while because there will be questions."
"Let me know when and I will get you out of town."
"I plan on tonight, she has been removed from monitoring devices and if I do it right no one will know for sure what happened and who did it, but it WILL be obvious. I may have a three-hour window, but I have to immediately leave the hospital, or they may apprehend me. Since the boy has worked with Federal authorities, I may end up in a federal facility if they figure this out and I'm not away.", Tom warned as he pulled his hearing protection down over his ears and motioned for Otto to move back.
XXX
Middleton Memorial:
"Ronald how did your father die?", Barb Stoppable asked her son lowly after they had spoken for a while.
The blond teen waited then, sighed, "They were doing a needle biopsy on something that showed up on an MRI. They went in a second time from what I've been told and then they hit something in Dad's chest…He was gone before they even knew…They tried to save him…they opened him up and were working on him…I saw his heart….", Ron began to break down, sigh "If I had only walked home from the airport…"
Barbara Stoppable patted her son on the arm, "It would have been foolish to walk home dear, it was not your fault. Anyway, if it didn't happen then, it would have happened eventually if Dean had something growing in his chest. If it happened in front of Hanna a couple years down the road then it could have traumatized her severely."
"But the accident you guys had was because of me…"
"Dear, the accident was because of the weather and road conditions, not you.", Barb patted her son's hand; someone who was clearly traumatized by relating his father's death to his mother.
(AN…of course neither of them knew that Kimmie's new boyfriend had the car sabotaged on purpose. The WX didn't help, but it wasn't the cause of the accident. Of course, you have to remember 'Eric' is the root of the problem with Kim being allergic to Ron and not remembering him as her significant other. Now everyone is going to ask 'when is Kim and Ron going to find out about all this stuff?' I CAN say that will get out to the public {of the story} in the first part of Book 3, so be patient.)
"I understand Mom, oh I meant to tell you…You were out when I said it, but the Little Intruder has some serious dance moves. I got her the third Flippies© video and we dance…so does Justine Flanner and Big Mike, but I'm afraid he's going to trip and squish her."
Barb Stoppable laughed tiredly. At that point a nurse's assistant entered the room and announced, "Barbara we have you scheduled for a series of tests for the rest of the day."
Ron rolled his eyes having been in the same situation more than once in both his football career (which was over) and his sidekick job when he was basically a clumsy oaf, "I'll be back around dinner, Mom. I gotta relieve the poor people who came over to the house this morning." The teen rose from his chair and kissed her on the forehead.
XXX
Mountain Side:
Blue eyes glinted as she waved at her parents and Josh Mankey. Tara told Kim, "I have to tell my folks something, I'll only be a minute."
The cheer captain nodded as she stretched.
"How was your drive over?", Abby King asked her daughter.
"It was fine, Bonnie has one those fancy all-wheeled-drive cars most of us would give our eyeteeth for, Liz was a little late to school however."
"Why was that honey?"
"Ron Stoppable's Mom woke up this morning from her coma and Ron forgot about the game and called Dave up and he was with Liz, so she went over to Ron's house with Dave while Ron was getting ready to go to the hospital…So Kim is a little perturbed with Liz at the moment. They left Ron's house as soon as Mike and Justine got there to relieve them."
Abby frowned at the news, "While I am glad at the news of Mrs. Stoppable now being awake, someone should clue Kimberly in as to the reason Miss Sours was late. I am sure that Miss Possible would be more forgiving if she knew the circumstances.", the school board member advised. (AN…everyone in Middleton was aware of the red head's famous temper.)
"I'll pull Kim off to the side when no one else is around to hear, Mom. I don't want to embarrass her."
"Good honey."
Josh rose, gave his very pretty girlfriend a hug and whispered, "How about we babysit the munchkin tomorrow morning? You don't have to work…"
Tara grinned and asked, "Would you set it up?"
"Yeah, I'll call Ron's phone before the game starts to see if I can get an idea if he wants us to come over.", Josh assured his girlfriend.
"You're a good boyfriend Joshie, Mom can I keep him?"
The older blonde smiled, "You may, but remember no babies until after college."
The artist's eyes bulged wide open like a deer caught in the headlights on a dark road, "I uh, ah…"
Bob King laughed, "Get used to it Josh if you're going to be in the family."
"Uh…yeah."
After Tara climbed back down the bleachers, Josh turned on his cellphone. Seeing he didn't have a signal, the artist said, "I have to go outside to make that call to Ron. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Three minutes later:
"Yeah, hey Josh, what's going on?", Ron's voice came through Josh Mankey's phone.
"We're here at the game and we heard that your mom is awake."
Now with a cheery voice Ron replied, "Yeah, heading home right now. Mom's undergoing tests and I haveta check on Hanna and see if Justine and Mike are surviving."
"So, you're going up to see your mom in the morning?", the artist inquired.
"Yeah, that's the plan…Oh I get it, Liz told you guys. Sorry, my mind is sorta in a happy place right now…maybe it's because my brain slipped a cog."
"Good with all that, Tara and I will be over in the morning for babysitting duty if you need us, Tara isn't working in the nursery this week. I wonder if that counts for some of that baby class we're supposed to take in our senior year?"
"Thanks, and I don't know. I think I have that class aced now.", Ron chuckled then added, "Listen, I'm driving, can I call later? I don't want Hobble to pull me over for distracted driving in crappy weather."
"Sure, and again, congratulations on your mom getting better. I'll spread the word."
"Thanks Josh, you're a cool dude."
"Of course, I am, all the ladies dig the macho artist façade.", laughed Joshua Mankey who then disconnected.
He walked back into the gym as both teams were finishing going through their warmups, he walked by the cheerleaders and gave Tara a smile and thumbs up.
The bubbly blonde in return flashed a massive smile as she walked over to where Kim was getting a drink of water. Then she leaned in to the cheer captain, "Come with me for a second 'K'." Tara's tone left no room for disagreement.
Kim nodded and followed Tara behind the bleachers, "Kim you need to know that Liz was late because she was covering for Ron, he hurried out of his house this morning because his mom had just come out of her coma, so give Liz a break."
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"You didn't give her a chance; you sort of chewed her out and blew her off Kim, it was a little harsh and was unusual enough where you should have asked her a couple of questions. I understand that we had to get on the road, but I think you need to talk to her after the half or after the game."
"Thanks Tara.", Kim replied as she blushed a little and thought, 'I'd better call Ron tonight when I get home from the game too.'
Tara on her part flashed a 'thumbs up' to her boyfriend to let him know that she took care of the problem as she walked back to her place and slid down into a deep split as she massaged her thighs to further loosen them up.
Joshua Mankey beamed that his girlfriend had stopped a confrontation before it could get out of control having heard that his one-time girlfriend sometimes went off the deep end without thinking because of her temper.
Both cheerleaders glanced at a very subdued Liz Sours stretching along with the rest of the squad. Kim leaned over the 'other' red-head on the squad and whispered, "I'm sorry for yelling out you Liz earlier, I was outta line. Can we talk at half time?"
Liz grinned and responded, "Sure Kim."
The world-famous heroine gave her friend a slight hug and then went about checking on the rest of the squad.
XXX
The ranch:
"Do you have the rest of Tom's documents and transportation arranged for one of our safehouses for later tonight, Otto?", Hans/Eric inquired, "I'd do it but I have a 'date' with Kim Possible."
"I caution you Hans, this will make us murderers and if the word gets out will make us targets…Killing innocents is usually bad for business.", the older German complained.
"I want to break the boy so, as the kids here say, 'can it' uncle."
"Dah Hans, yes two of the men will get Bridgestone away from here and send him far away. We will dispose of his auto and he will have to stay away until he changes his appearance enough not to be recognized. Just remember he will not be able to work in the hospital, or most likely, the medical field after tonight.", Otto warned.
"The only way it would be a problem is if we tried to kill the buffoon if he was in the hospital. But we could accomplish that task with a simple attack on him. I think we should do the attack on the woman now; we just have to make sure that Tom cannot be tied to us."
"Do you want to mute the assassin permanently?"
"No, if we do that our associates may start thinking that they might be next. We would soon have an armed revolt on our hands. We must be loyal to our employees.", Hans responded, "Not only that but we are already one man down with what happened to Barter."
Otto frowned, "How would someone like him fall asleep on railroad tracks…he wasn't even supposed to be close to any."
Hans thought for a moment, "Did the newspaper mention if Neil Barter have any weapons on him, his rifle was missing from the armory."
"No,", Otto shook his head, "and he always carried a pistol on him."
"You would have thought that the media would have mentioned him having a firearm on his person."
The older German frowned, "I doubt if we will ever know, and I do know that I don't want to call attention to us from the police by asking around."
"True Uncle, but I think we need one more man anyway to make sure we have enough assets to complete the contract successfully."
"I DO know a couple of people, one of which we might be able to use if they are available. Remember the men that we have are used to working with us. One thing which has not worked is that Gordon Johnson has not been able to teach one of the boy's classes. Mostly he teaches under classmen. It would be nice if the sidekick was in one Johnson's classes."
"Why is that Uncle?"
"Since Miss Possible cannot be tapped to provide day to day information about him, we need someone who can view him every day so that we will have a better idea on when to strike."
"I think we've done enough there Uncle. If we do too much, people may notice. With Stoppable being an orphan and taking care of his sister, and going to school while helping out Kimmie…I think that there will be enough pressure brought to bear on him to make him crack like we envisioned. We will be able to tell when he is cracking and we just have to make sure we get video evidence of the idiot's downfall to give to Kimmie when we leave.", Hans chuckled as he picked up his stein and raised it to salute the older man.
XXX
The Stoppable home:
Ron entered his house from the garage as he called out, "I'm home."
Immediately a raven-haired tyke slammed into him. Ron could hear the sound of the Flippies© soundtrack. A very large and puffing Big Mike followed Hanna as the former running back picked his sister up.
"Whoa Mike, are you alright?"
The larger-than-life lineman nodded as he caught his breath, "Yeah, Justine's taking a break. Your Sister is energetic…"
"School word Mike?"
"Justine has been helping me Ron, now that I work with Curt and Tank, I have ta get better if Justine and me are gonna make a life of it."
"Do you want a life with her, big guy?"
The super large lineman nodded.
"Then just do what Justine asks, she won't let you go wrong."
"That's what she says.", the big man chuckled, and his deep voice echoed.
"Hey Mike, how long have you known Justine?", Ron asked.
"We played together all the way from babies; our moms and Dads went to college together. I don't know what life would be like if Justine wasn't there.", Mike Little admitted.
"It looks to me that you might wanna set the date and pick out the china too.", Ron chuckled.
"Stoppable!", Justine's voice called out
"Yeah, smart girl."
"Leave Mikie alone, Stoppable! He's doing just fine."
"Okay." Then with an evil grin. "Oh, here comes the munchkin.", the former running back warned. Then he whispered to his sister, "Go get her."
Big Mike laughed lightly as Hanna sped off to find the other blonde in the house. "That's dirty, Ron."
From the family room there was a loud "NOOOOOO!" followed by an "OOOOOFFFF."
The former running back snickered as he followed the Japanese baby, "I'd better save your squeeze Mike."
The deep, rumbling voice responded, "I'm glad I'm not you Ron."
When Ron got to Justine he asked, "Need some help, smart girl?"
"Your Sister could play for the Broncos®.", the genius exclaimed to the former running back as the child was climbing on her. Then, "How's your mom?"
"Weak, but awake…I told her about Dad."
"How is she taking it?"
Ron shrugged as he picked up his sister off the almost squished genius, "Better than I thought she would. I ought to call my Rabbi and let him know Mom's awake. Maybe Bernie will have some words of wisdom for me."
Ten minutes later:
Ron smiled as he put the house phone down in its cradle, "Well Bernie is going up to see Mom this afternoon and then I am going up later to sit with her for a while tonight."
Then Kim Possible's sidekick rose from the sofa, "Can I fix you guys something?"
Mike asked, "A fried egg sandwich?"
Justine added, "Actually, that sounds good. I'll watch your sister."
"You take on the dangerous missions Smarty Girl. Anyway, I'll get her some grub too, then we can eat in the kitchen in the Stoppable family version of peace."
Justine knew she wasn't quite the disaster in the kitchen that Kim was, but she knew Ron was a lot better than she was too, so she picked up the rug rat and a children's book and began to read to Hanna. The raven-haired tyke clapped her hands in glee.
Ten minutes later:
"Come and get it…You too, short stuff.", Ron called out.
Justine arrived carrying Hanna with Mike behind her.
"There is Miracle Whip and pickles on the table and the fried eggs and toast. I got you guys sodas.", Ron explained as he told Hanna from Justine and set her in her highchair.
"What are you drinking Stoppable?", Justine inquired when she noticed the cup and the teapot.
"It's a special tea that Sensei provided for me to drink when I'm stressed out. It sorta…"
"Calms you?", the genius offered.
"Yeah, helps to keep me from punching Barkin's slimy ass out when he gets on my nerves. And you know how much I love him."
"Are there narcotics in it?"
"What? Uh, not according to the Japanese guys at Yamanouchi, just herbs and tea leaves.", Ron explained.
"And you're sure of this?"
"Yeah, genius girl, I even had Wade check it out and he'd jump my butt if I was doing something illegal."
"Okay, pour me and Mike a cup. If there's nothing wrong with it the tea should be safe for us too.
The former running back shrugged and pulled out two more cups from the cupboard and poured the tea into them.
Justine frowned as she brought the cup up to her nose and sniffed. Cautiously, the other blond in the house took a sip and grimaced. "Oh, that's awful."
"I didn't say it tasted good Justine, all I said was that it calms me down."
Mike Little raised his cup and basically just chugged it. The big guy hurriedly set his cup down and then quickly picked up his soda and drained the glass.
Ron stared at his friend, "You thought that your reaction to my tea would be different than your girlfriend's Mike?"
"No."
"Guys the only reason I drink this stuff is to calm me down. Now sit for a few minutes and try to think if it is doing something to your heads since you don't trust my friends in Japan."
Justine nodded and started building her sandwich. Finally, she said, "I feel better, not drugged, but calmer. I think even if I was mad, I wouldn't yell at people. Mikie how do you feel?"
"Like I wanna dance, Justy.", the big guy responded.
Ron glanced at the lineman then shrugged as he took another sip of his tea and then rose to make Hanna's food and heat up a bottle for her.
XXX
"Liz, I'm totally sorry that I flew off the handle at you earlier today. I'm a total bitch.", Kim Possible confessed in front of the other cheerleaders behind the nearly vacant bleachers.
"Kim, you just need to relax. We don't have a competition for a month, and I know that you're worried about Ron…We are too, it's just with the news everyone was so excited we kinda forgot about the time. We left Ron's house as soon as Justine and Mike showed up to relieve us.", Liz Sours explained.
"H…how is Ron doing?"
"Better now that his mom is awake, he actually looks happy now. Ron was going to tell her about Mister Stoppable…he was prepared to have her go into a shell.", Liz informed Kim.
"I should call my mom; I know she'd like to speak with Ron's Mom."
Liz inquired, "How's your mom doing Kim?"
"Well, she was home for a couple of days over Christmas, but she only gets into town for a couple of days a month. Frankly, it's getting a little old.", the heroine half-complained.
"Well according to what you told us; your mom will be back home right before the end of school. At least you'll have some of the summer with her before you go off to college."
Kim smiled wistfully, "Yeah, that's going to be great. But Eric and I are planning to leave about the end of July."
"Why so soon Kim?"
"I want to meet his parents and then get moved in to our apartment.", the heroine responded, "I need to get used to being over there. The English culture is a little different than ours."
"Yeah, oh, and the Mountain Side cheerleaders are here, we can talk more later.", Liz said as the other squad was arriving at the Middleton side of the court.
XXX
Later, on the drive back to Middleton:
"Wade?", Kim spoke into the speaker in the Sloth.
"Yeah Kim."
"Can you connect me to Ron?"
"Sure, wait a sec."
"Yeah, you got Ron. What can I do for you?", the blond teen's voice came through the stereo speakers.
"Ron, it's Kim. I heard your mom is awake."
"Yeah, me and the lil intruder are on the way back to the hospital for a few hours."
"You're using the nursery in the hospital?", Kim asked.
"Yup, I could see Justine and Mike needed a break and with everyone helping out with the babysitting, I just thought I should be doing my share."
"Ron you should let others help you…"
"I have been Kim, but Hanna is my sister and I need to be doing more."
"I can come over tomorrow…"
"I already have that covered Kim. Tara and Josh are coming by for the morning session and I'll bring Sis back up in the early evening. They said that they might let me bring her into Mom's room for a few minutes and if they do, I'm going to take advantage of it."
"I understand, but maybe next week I can come over with Eric and babysit Hanna…"
"No Eric Kim, we've already been over this. Eric creeps me and Hanna out. I don't want him near her…Now Mom may give the Okay, but until she does, I am going to close off Eric's access to my sister."
"Ron, you have to get over Eric. It looks like you're jellin' over him because he and I are dating. He isn't a threat to what we have Ron.", Kim chided her childhood friend.
Ron frowned as Hanna clapped her hands from the backseat as he thought, 'We don't have anything anymore Kim.'
"Ron, are you listening to me?"
"Huh? Yeah, had my hands full driving. Listen I'll talk to you later, but no Eric."
XXX
Middleton Memorial:
"Anyway Mom, I don't like Kim's new boyfriend, he creeps me out, let alone what he does with Sis.", Ron told her.
"Are you sure this boy is making you uneasy is not because he is dating Kimberly now?", Barb asked.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Anyway, I don't think I mentioned it, but Kim seems to have an allergic reaction to me when we are close to each other. So, we just aren't in close proximity to each other."
"Maybe it's her subconscious talking to her Ron. Maybe it will go away if she and this Eric breakup."
"I'm not looking to break them up Mom, Kim seems happy now and I'd like to keep it that way."
"What are you going to do after you graduate from high school, I know Kimberly wanted you to go to college with her."
"Plans have changed. She's going to college with Eric over in England, he's kinda sponsoring her to Cambridge or Oxford. He's lucky enough to pick between the two and he offered Kim and she accepted. I might go back to Japan, do you think you can get a transfer?", Ron inquired.
"I suppose, but we will miss our friends…"
"We can make new ones Mom; your company has an office there. Most of my friends are going off to college and," yawn, "they won't be around. I mean Tank, Curt and Big Mike staying…well Mike will be out of town somewhere for a while, he and Justine are an item now and he's going to follow her. Later, they'll be back in town. Anyway, Mike is in a partnership with Curt and Tank."
"Ronald it's getting late that's the fourth time you've yawned."
"I know, but you know I can't work in Middleton so I haveta leave town anyway or I'll starve, and I don't want to depend on anybody." Yawn
"Ronald, you go home. Take your sister and get her some food and a bottle, it's been a long day for her too and I'm a little tired."
"You're right Mom, I'll be up in the morning.", Ron informed her as he leaned in and gave her a hug then rose from the chair and grabbed his coat.
X
Tom walked back to the nurses' station carrying several charts. Nurse Maddy Charles, with a low voice, asked, "Will you be alright watching the floor, Tom?"
"Yeah, take an extended lunch, it looks like a quiet night for us. Nobody has come in to the ER and the floor is quiet so take my lunch period too.", the English accented male offered.
"Great, are you sure? You want something from the cafeteria?"
"I had a big dinner before our shift and I brought a snack in to tide me over till morning.", he told her.
"Okay, but page me if things liven up.", Maddy smiled as she got up from her chair and almost ran to the elevator.
Tom smirked as he rose and carried the charts back to the patients' rooms.
When he got to Barb Stoppable's (which was last) he looked up the hall and saw it was completely empty.
The former English soldier entered the room of the Matriarch of the Middleton branch of the Stoppable family and walked over to the bed.
He took a heavy plastic bag out of his pocket and placed it over Barbara's head and placed pressure on it.
Moments later:
Ron's Mom's eyes snapped open as she grabbed onto the hand. Bridgestone's eyes flashed at getting caught and he closed a fist and punched the woman in the jaw knocking her out he then applied more pressure.
Tom finally checked her vitals. Being satisfied, he removed the bag, then hastily left the room, went to the stairwell and went down to the main floor, leaving his coat behind him.
Bridgestone walked out a side door and over to where a car was waiting with covered license plates. He got in and the sedan drove away and immediately the driver turned a corner to make sure he wasn't being followed.
"Call Hans, the hit is done. The kid is going to fall apart now."
XXXXX
Okay the good guys lost one more today, things are going to get uglier for our blond hero from here on out. Yes, Tom Bridgestone is going to be a wanted man, eventually someone will take care of him….no I haven't decided who yet.
Kim Possible, Ron Stoppable, Hanna, Missus Stoppable, Tara, Josh and all the other canon characters from the show 'Kim Possible' belong to Bob, Mark and the Disney Corporation and not CajunBear nor myself…geeee we don't even get compensated….that means pay for these tales.
We'll see ya down the road,
ST-103