Ch.80
Yori was tired but she used her training to keep herself awake.
'Ron was determined brain dead but I can't seem to shake the feeling he will be okay. It's almost like he's here with me.' Yori thought as she waited by his and Shego's side.
Tara, Bonnie and Monique had only spent two hours in the room with Ron before their parents demanded they come home at which point they demanded to be notified if there are any changes to Ron. Yori easily agreed.
Then, as she waited the last two to three hours till morning Yori noticed that Shego seemed restless and started fidgeting in her sleep so she took her hand. This seemed to calm Shego but to be on the safe side Yori made sure that the sedative on the IV gave her another dose.
Then Yori let her mind wonder trying to understand her strange reaction to Ron's predicament. At first she thought it was shock but after so long and still feeling calm about his wellbeing Yori knew that shock was not it. 'What could it be?' She wondered.
As she was thinking, a wizened voice caught Yori's attention. "How are you?"
"Sensei!" Yori said before standing and bowing to Master Sensei who stood at the door. "You made it here far faster than I had expected."
"I knew both you and Stoppable-san needed me." Sensei explained and opened his arms for a hug.
Yori went for the hug whispering. "Grandfather."
As they are hugging Sensei asks. "What was the result of the surgery?"
"Dr. Possible, a leading figure in Neuro surgery declared Ron brain dead." Yori informed.
"Things are far worse than I imagined." Sensei says as he walks over to Ron's bedside.
Yori watches as Sensei takes a look at Ron's injuries for a while before going to a corner and assuming the lotus position. When his astral form becomes visible Yori watches as Sensei disappears into Ron's body.
~~~~~
After observing Ron's injuries Sensei noticed that they are healing at an accelerated pace even though that should be impossible. With hope now ignited, Sensei decides to enter Ron's body to inspect the cause.
Upon entering Ron's mindscape, Sensei notices that although it is shattered it hasn't completely disappeared like it normally would have with a brain dead person. Wondering around for a while Sensei spots a bigger piece of Ron's psyche and moves closer.
"Master Sensei." Xu Ming Yue greets from where she sits in meditation.
"Xu Ming Yue, is Stoppable-san current state thanks to your efforts?" Sensei asks hoping that Ron wasn't completely gone.
"Not in it's entirety, I'm merely aiding in his healing." Xu Ming Yue answers before adding. "It is unprecedented that someone has suffered such injuries and their psyche has not completely scattered."
"Do you believe there's hope for young Stoppable-san?" Sensei asks.
"Considering the time that has passed and that no more of his mindscape has disappeared, there is a chance he would heal but the process would be long and perilous if at all successful." Xu Ming Yue guessed.
"That's what I was hoping to hear." Sensei admitted and proceeds to talk with Xu Ming Yue for a while before excusing himself.
Now back in his physical body, Sensei looks at Yori and begins to explain the situation. When Yori heard his theory she smiled at the news and looked at Ron fondly before hugging him.
Master Sensei hugs Yori back for a while before they make plans for Ron and his potential recovery. They decided to first find his parents as they needed their consent to move Ron though they could have spirited him away it was best to follow procedure.
"Excuse me a moment." Sensei says to Yori and goes to the door, opening it. Giving a few instructions he closes the door and goes back to seating in an open chair explaining. "I have given instructions to track and inform the Stoppable's of what has happened to their son so that we may proceed."
Seeing Yori nod, Sensei had another question. "Yori, where is Rufus-san?"
"Oh!" Yori says and reaches for the drawer between the beds and opening the top one. There, curled into a ball is a seemingly sleeping Rufus though in actuality he was sedated and treated by Sae. "He was sedated so he could rest and receive treatment." Yori explains and lays Rufus onto Ron's chest.
Rufus seemed to know where he was as his paws grabbed onto Ron's hospital gown.
Yori talked with Sensei the rest of the night till Ann came in and brought Shego in for prep.
~~~~~
When Ann and her team saw that the chip implanted into Shego was just under the skin, they relaxed knowing that the surgery would be an easy one and like they expected they had removed it in under ten minutes with no complications though they felt the OR was hotter by the end point.
Ann went with Shego back to the room she shared with Ron and informed. "The surgery was done without complications and the chip was removed."
"Thank you for the good news Dr. Possible." Yori thanked her and added. "Where is the device that was around Ron's neck?"
"Not sure but I'll have a nurse bring it." Ann said taking a look at Ron with a complicated expression.
"He will heal though it will take time." Yori promised.
Ann absentmindedly nodded and excused herself, Yori's words echoing in her mind. 'I hope she's right.'
~~~~~
The next few days Ron was visited by his ladies again and again. Felix, Zita and Wade had also stopped by. Yori told each one of them what she told Ann, that Ron would get better in time.
When the Neuro Linker was brought back to the room Yori and Sensei had a surprised when Bebe communicated with them by hacking into Yori's cellphone.
"Position the camara so that I can see Ron." Bebe directed Yori.
"Not happening until you explain how you're doing this." Yori countered, worried that the Bebe was up to something.
"Please I just wish to see him." Bebe begged but it wasn't till she explained that she acted as life support for Ron through the Neuro Linker that Yori complied.
"What happened to you?" Yori asked in wonder at what could be mistaken for emotion coming from Bebe. 'It should be impossible.' Yori thought.
"There are data surges constantly happening but my programming has not been affected." Bebe assured. After looking at Ron for a while longer Bebe requested. "The Neuro Linker is low on power and is in need of charging. Can you help?"
"Sure." Yori agreed.
Also during this time, the team Sensei sent to track Ron's parents reported in. The news grim. They explained that Ron's parents had boarded a plain with Middleton as it's destination and that the plain crashed when a little Diablo toy grew to full size among the passengers. No survivors were found but among the bodies recovered Ron's parents were confirmed.
Feeling sad on Ron's behalf, Yori and Sensei went through the necessary things to move Ron, planning to bring him to Yamanouchi for his recovery. After informing Monique, Tara, Bonnie and Ann that Ron's parents had passed and they were moving him, the ladies all got on Yori's case each demanding they leave him where he is at so they could at least check up on him.
"I must apologize but the decision has been made.." Yori explained.
"I am supposed to be Ron's guardian if anything happened to his parents. How are you gonna override my decision?" Ann challenged.
"He is already eighteen and we have procured paperwork that Ron and I are married, granting me rights to make decisions on his behalf." Yori explained.
"Yori you can't do this, we have every right to be by Ron's side." Monique pleaded.
"I understand Monique-san but his recovery is my number one priority at the moment, so for his safety this is the way things will go." Yori says.
"You bitch!" Yelled Tara and threw a punch at Yori who simply took it. "You're just using this opportunity to take him for yourself, admit it!"
"You're free to feel that way." Yori simply stated.
"Will you at least notify us if he recovers?" Bonnie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course." Yori said.
"Okay, I'll hold you to that." Bonnie said and moved to Ron's side with tears in her eyes. Kissing him on the cheek she walks out of the room.
Monique followed Bonnie's lead and kissed Ron goodbye. Tara was fuming for a few minutes looking at Yori like she wanted to tear her apart before sighing and going to Ron's side. She whispered into Ron's ear for bit before kissing him on the lips and leaving, tears in her eyes.
Ann was still speechless even as the others accepted the situation.
"Yori, why?" Ann asked.
"Because Ron has enemies that will stop at nothing if they find him so vulnerable. The only place I can keep him safe is at Yamanouchi and that's what I'll do." Yori explained.
'I want to stay by his side, it's where I belong!' Ann's mind screamed at her but she couldn't muster the courage to put it into words.
"Okay." Ann sighed taking a long look at Ron before leaving.
~~~~~
Ann went to her office and after locking the door she finally allowed herself to cry.
Ann cried for a half hour before she calmed down and decided to head home (actually to the Stoppable's) to see her kids. Speaking of her kids, Ann couldn't help but sigh. Once she told them of Ron's condition the twins went ballistic and blamed their sister for being there and not helping Ron. As for Kim, she was taking it badly.
Ann didn't know when it happened but Kim had finally seen reason and understood that her view on her relationship with Ron was wrong. Then before she could try and make amends Drakken's plan was put into effect revealing that her boyfriend was a synthodrone designed to keep her distracted. Ron saved the world and then gets hurt saving their classmates. What's worse was that the twins were right and she was right there but still couldn't change a thing.
Ann had to admit she was worried about Kim. She hadn't seen her eat let alone walk out of Ron's room where she isolated herself after breaking into his house.
Ann decided that when she got home she would convince her daughter to see a therapist as that might help her deal with things. Afterall Ann was worried Kim would do something stupid in her grief.
With those thoughts in mind Ann ended her shift and grabbed a taxi home her car having been totalled during the Diablo incident. Once home, Ann used Ron's keys and let herself into the Stoppable's house and going to the kitchen to make Kim something to eat. Once she had a sandwich she went upstairs with it and a soda in hand. Upon seeing the door to Ron's room open Ann felt worried instead of relieved. Entering the room she confirmed her daughter wasn't inside and put the food on the desk.
"Kim I'm back and I need to talk to you." Ann called out as she stepped into the hallway and moved to check if she was in the bathroom. Finding the door locked Ann called out again. "I'll wait in Ron's room sweetie, we really need to talk. Okay?"
Recieving no answer Ann's worries spiked but she convinced herself that she was overreacting and went into Ron's room. Looking around Ann couldn't help but think of him and found herself tearing up.
Lost in her thoughts for a few minutes Ann realized that she had yet to hear a sound from Kim in the bathroom and started to panic. Running towards the bathroom she called out. "Kim, answer me or I'm coming inside."
Still, no sound so Ann tried forcing the door open with no success but saw something drop from above the door frame. Looking down she sees the pin that unlocks the door and nearly weeps with joy. Picking it up, Ann opened the door to find Kim unconscious in the shower with a few pill bottles by her side.
"Kim! No, please let me not be too late!"
Ann pleaded running to her side and getting into the shower ignoring the now cold shower pouring on her.
Checking Kim's pulse Ann was relieved to find it though erratic and weak. In near panic Ann turned Kim on her side and shoved two fingers into her mouth. Seconds later she got the reaction she wanted as Kim's gag reflex triggered causing her to puke.
That done Ann turned the shower off and grabbing a towel to wrap around Kim, she carried her back to Ron's room. Laying her on the bed Ann reaches for her purse pulling out her phone and calling an ambulance. She briefly explained what happened and gave them the address.
Five minutes later she could hear the ambulance arriving and ran down to let the paramedics in. Leading them to Ron's room Ann grabbed her purse and in minutes followed them to the ambulance. On the way to the hospital she called James and told him what happened and that she'll keep him updated before hanging up.
In the hospital they pumped Kim's stomach to remove more of the pills and put her on an IV to counteract their effects. Then the waiting began.