New tale guys so don't read anything into this because it doesn't go with anything. Book 2 of 'The Hunter' is being written so hold your horses. Anyway, this story is placed years after graduation from MH so take that with a grain of salt and is one of my 'what ifs'. It is also 14 chapters long so be patient.

As always, props to CajunBear73.

Let's get it on the road,

ST-103

So Not The End…..Maybe

Chapter 1

Lowerton, Colorado:

The forty something, brown-haired giant of a, man picked up the phone on the third ring. In a deep voice that seemed to come from the Earth itself he said, "Hello, Big Mike's Deli, how may we help you today?"

"I was told I could reach Ronald Stoppable here. Was I mistaken? This is Doctor James Possible…an old friend.", the voice inquired.

"Oh, Kim's Dad. I remember you from high school. One moment, please. He's in the back finishing something up."

Trying to put the name of the eatery and the name of one of his colleagues together, "You're Justine's husband, right?", James inquired.

"Uh, yes sir.", the large former football player told the rocket scientist, "I'll get Ron."

"Thank you Michael."

X

"How are you doing Doctor Possible, I haven't heard from you in quite a while.", Ron picked up after a few moments. He almost sighed as he had almost cut any connection off with the family he had known since he was a small child. Few people understood that the man who was on the phone with Doctor Possible had done some things on purpose to elicit certain responses from certain people. Of course, he had help, very potent and covert help…The kind of help smart people wouldn't talk about.

"You don't come around anymore, son and I see that you are working for Justine's husband since you left your last employment.", the semi-retired rocket scientist told him.

"Yeah, well sir, I've been pretty busy you know, with expanding the business opportunities for my boss and all. Running one takes a lot of time…Anyway with what happened, it's better this way, you know. After everything that happened, I don't think you want me around. Uh, it might cause some friction.", the former hero decided to leave out anything of his 'old' life until he found out what the scientist wanted.

"Don't you think you should try to re-connect with old friends? We haven't heard anything about you since you flew last. It's like you dropped off the face of the Earth for years…"

"Maybe that's not the best thing, considering…But yeah, about that, I had to leave the area a couple of times for assignments and other times for travel for some things I needed at the time. So for a while I was very busy with some things."

"You still seemed to have some time on your hands to pick up the slack after Kimberly retired when she and Josh started their family, before you dropped off the map. Ron Stoppable made a nice name for himself as a professional test pilot as well as some 'other' things over the years.", James paused. "You know you are pretty hard to get a hold of. I had to call in some favors from Global Justice in Kimberly's name and Wade Load to get this number, and if I knew you were here I would have called sooner. Anyway, how is your son? I think Tony, is his name.", James asked, knowing the child of Liz Fairbanks and Ron Stoppable had spent many nights at Kim and Josh's home with their children when they were younger.

"Hey sir, just trying to help out as I can. And I haven't seen the boy in years, he's taken care of now and should grow up nice and healthy and even have his college paid for. His Mother has moved on as should we all."

James thought to himself, 'He's changed, but nothing changes a person thismuch.' "I doubt if she would say that about you." The 'other' red head from the cheer squad was a regular at Kim's home and neither seemed to hold any animosity towards each other as a matter of fact. Though Liz did seem somewhat distant when conversations turned to Ron Stoppable as Kim had tried (though unsuccessfully) to steer them over the last couple of years. She wouldn't talk about him for some reason…not even to rant. Maybe it was the split, the second one he endured from Middleton High cheerleaders.

The blond male half-smiled to himself while thinking of the plan that he and a certain old man came up with when faced with the whole situation for the first time, and quite happy that James couldn't see him, "That was another life sir. Uh, how are you doing? I know you are a busy man…"

James continued to push his 'Father' agenda to make things better between the old friends, "You know there are two sides to every story, and we never really heard yours or Liz's…What happened? She never told my daughter."

Ron frowned, not wanting to have to deal with this again, along with everything else that was wearing him out, "Sir, whatever Kim said is what happened. Liz had her ear you know and if she didn't say anything then, it wasn't worth talking about. I don't wanna mess things up any more than they already are…"

"Are you sure? My daughter has been known to get a little hotheaded at times and has made some interesting observations…"

This caused Ron to laugh and cough again, "Not about this…She was right." Ron paused, then in a hoarse whisper, added, "She was always right."

"So, what happened son?", James really wanted to know since Kim had been making some interesting remarks lately.

"Sir, it's complicated…the situation is better this way…"

"It's not that complicated and Anne has been asking about you…so has Kim. She's been pestering Wade. He won't tell her anything."

"Wade's been a good friend and he really doesn't know anything…I wanted to keep him removed from this part of my life. Anyway, I wish I had a few more friends like him sir.", Ron coughed again, knowing that his old friend had orders from several agencies. Including one that was secret…The other? It was very secret.

"I think you have more friends than you know Ronald. But are you going to the class reunion? Kimberly and Doctor Renton wondered about it."

"Ah, no sir, I have no reason to go…I uh, have to work, so if you'll excuse me…", Ron made the excuse as he looked up and saw Big Mike frowning at him. Not at all happy, but the giant had been sworn to secrecy as part of their business deal.

Pausing before leaving as something that had been bothering him for a while was remembered, James asked, "And why do you not have a relationship with your Son? I thought, even if you cheated on Kimberly, you would be man enough to care for the child you and Liz had, and give him someone to look up to, or at least give him your name. She was one of Kim's friends too. They've even stayed in close contact while you have dropped out."

"Doctor Possible there's just some things I really don't feel we need to discuss even after all this time. Sometimes you should just let sleeping dogs lie. It won't do any good to bring them up. So, are you retired yet?", the blond former hero inquired trying to derail James Possible's line of inquiry.

"Ronald I am not quite near that time of my life. Anne only goes in a few days a week now. She's spending a lot of time with the grandkids and gardening."

"That's right. So, did Jim and Tim ever see the light and begin dating?", Ron laughed and coughed.

"Yes, they are both married, but Tim still hasn't figured out how to make them yet I guess.", James laughed along.

"I'll bet he knows more than he gives out Sir. I would think within a year or two you'll have another one or three to bounce on your knee."

"Maybe we will, maybe we won't, Ronald."

"Sir, ah, if you don't have anything more, I ah, have a lot of work to do and I really need to get back to it. It's been nice talking to you, but these loaves of bread are not going to bake themselves and the boss is looking at his watch."

"Ronald…please don't hang up. Something has come up and I need your expertize." The former hero suddenly worried that something had happened to his old girlfriend slash partner, who he had been getting ready to marry until events intervened.

Something in James tone got Ron to ask, "What is it Sir? What do you need?"

"I've done a little checking on the abilities that you demonstrated after you returned from Japan and I have an offer for you if you are interested."

"An offer for me after the way I treated my EX-fiancée…You know your daughter, how are you going to trust me? Anyway, what kind of offer?"

"The 'Where no man has gone before' kind of offer, Ronald.", James vaguely replied, "I uh, also reviewed your record as a test pilot. You flew some things that other pilots never thought you would get off the ground, let alone return with good data."

"Sir, if you are pulling my leg I could get very upset. I haven't forgotten how to fight aliens you know…"

"I…I understand, I would like to show you something that I have been working on, Ronald. You have been to space before haven't you?"

"Uh, yes Sir, fourteen times. You know that answer if you got a hold of my records somehow…I haven't been up there since fourteen years after the breakup. Why?"

"As a man who has never been there, I have come up with a mission for myself into deep space. I'd like to explain and show you what I have…I think that I need an experienced pilot. One who does not seem to be doing much at the moment…"

Ron mused as he knew the older man was scraping the bottom of the barrel if he was asking Ron…and this worried him.

"Doctor Possible, at your age, Mrs. Doctor P will chew you out for a month and I'm not sure I want to get in the way, I might not have much left I gotta hold on to what I have.". Ron mentally chastised himself for almost spilling.

James Possible didn't catch on, and replied, "That she might Ronald, that she might…but I am getting more feeble as I age and I have come to the conclusion that I won't get another chance at something like this…I uh, feel this is my last chance, so to speak. And Anne wouldn't understand my need to find out for myself what it is like out there."

"Ah sure Sir, I won't spill to her or Kim either. Anyway, I can't since I avoid them like the plague."

"Thanks, but I don't think you give them enough credit on how to squeeze information out from men. Uh, do you want to come over to the house to discuss this?"

"I'd better not for the reasons I have already mentioned."

"You should, Anne asks about your parents…"

"Sir, I didn't level with them about any of this either, so they don't know the truth about what happened between us and me and Liz and the kid, and Kim…I wasn't just going to not show up some Saturday for Temple with the boy to get their attention. So I haven't talked to them in years. The last time I saw them, they, including Rufus and my Sister, were on the way out of town in their cars following the moving van. They were really pissed at me for my antics. Not that I blamed them though.", Ron laughed hoarsely, "I would finally have the last laugh with that 'this is our way of telling you thing'." He paused to wearily sigh, "I assure you I'll talk to my boss to see if he can handle the business if I decide to go with you."

"Thank you Ronald."

"Could we meet at the Space Center tomorrow or Thursday Doctor Possible to discuss this mission of ours?"

"That would be great. And Ronald, could you call me James? … I think we have known each other long enough to cut through the formalities.", the rocket scientist suggested hoping he would relent and at least come to the house for the first time in years.

"Sir, you practically raised me for seventeen of my first twenty-one years…I don't think that I can use a first name basis for you just like I can't for Mister Barkin and my Dad. Anyway, if I hadn't screwed the pooch you would have been my Father-in-law and there is no way I could disrespect him…well more than I did…"

"Son…I…."

"Sir, let's just face it. Kim and I weren't going to make a serious relationship out of this. I came to that conclusion while I was in Japan. Anyway, you have a pretty good Son-in-law, you ought to take them all out for dinner sometime."

"Well I was planning something more on…

"So, about noon tomorrow, then?", Ron interrupted as he still chided himself about the things he had done upon returning from Japan while Kim was going to college in Europe, and how he had acted to get the results that he felt he needed at the time. The red head had finally had enough of it and broke it off nearly the moment she returned home after the media had hounded her about the topic.

Sighing in resignation, "Yes Ronald, noon would be fine. If you can make it."

"As long as your daughter isn't at the Space Center; yes. She might freak out a little and we don't want to have any blood of mine spilt or carnage there, now do we? We both know how she is and I just don't think she's gotten over my indiscretions yet."

"Why is that Son? Anyway Kimberly doesn't talk about you like that now."

"I uh, sorta have my reasons sir. So…she doesn't want to toss me into a vat of acid? Well maybe in other forty or fifty years she'll forgive me…if I don't screw up again."

"I'll leave word at the gate that you are supposed to have a pass and I will make sure my daughter isn't onsite. She's out of town until the weekend."

"Thanks Doctor Possible, I'll see you tomorrow at noon.", Ron hung up the phone.

Mike Little was looking on with interest at his longtime partner, as the conversation had been over the speakerphone. His voice rumbled when he talked, "Are you gonna leave with Kim's Dad, Ron?" He thought for a minute having heard the whole conversation then continued, "Justine isn't going to be happy about this, you had another bout of that cancer and you're still weak."

"Cancers, you mean Mike. Anyway, I might, buddy and if I do, then the deli belongs to you just like when we had the lawyers write it all up. Hey do you wanna take off early today? I can handle the evening rush. I'll bet Justine has something special planned if you get home before she does.", Ron avoided the rest of the comment.

"Yeah Justine might, thanks Ron.", the giant almost tore his apron off and headed to the door.

"See ya in tomorrow afternoon Big Guy.", Ron laughed as he got back to work knowing that he didn't have to explain things to his partner and his partner's nosy wife. They already knew and had promised to keep his secrets to themselves.

X

As he was driving home from work he called the duty desk of the agency he was retired from and had himself put through to Director Du.

The current Director of Global Justice immediately got his ongoing snark in, "What do you want Stoppable? I can't believe you're not dead yet."

"Sorry to disappoint you, prick, but I'm still drawing a disability retirement on your dime. But all social conversation aside I have something you might be interested in."

"Oh? Do you mean that you've decided on cremation as a way of disposing your sorry ass because you can't find more than one pallbearer?"

"You should be so lucky asshole; the agency still owes me a full funeral even if nobody comes…And I intend to collect, too. But I want you to know I had an interesting call today Willie Boy. Your guy Wade told someone how to get a hold of me.", Ron chuckled as he called the Director by his 'pet' name, "Anyway I think I'll hire a dozen professional mourners, that ought to set the tone. And just think, GJ will be paying for them."

"Bite me Stoppable! Now who got a hold of you?", as Du wondered if the memos he had received were true.

Ron wasn't listening to Will, "Kim Possible's old man. He wants to go into space on something he's been working on. Of course I suggested that you fly the damned thing since we both know that the best maneuver that you know is how to auger anything that has wings."

"Shit Stoppable! He can't do that!", Will ignored the snide comment about his 'skills', "It's too dangerous. He's not an expendable asset…You are."

"I know, I used to be one of yours remember."

"Yeah, that wasn't our fault…So what did he want from you Stoppable?"

"Get this, he wants me to fly the thing. Just the two of us, like we're pals or something."

"OK."

"What do you mean…OK?"

"You can fly the thing…don't let that old man go though, or make up an accident and use the escape pod. Anything to keep that geezer safe."

"Remember I'm medically retired. Things keep falling off my body."

"You are hereby reactivated."

"Get bent, Willie."

"No, I mean it…I'm serious. You are hereby reactivated and ordered to keep Doctor Possible on the ground one way or another. Under paragraph eighteen, sub-paragraph twenty-seven, part three. 'The Director can recall any former agent under the emergency provisions of standard agent contracts'.Sorry Stoppable, welcome back to GJ. You don't want me to recall Kim if you renege on your duties, do you? I'd hate to put her in danger….."

"Fine, just fine. I'll do what you want…just leave her out of this. I'll keep him on the ground…Somehow."

"I'm glad you see it my way. Now call my staff or Load when you find out more and…"

"Drop dead prick.", Ron angrily shut down his connection and tossed his phone into the passenger seat.

X

It was after midnight when the blond unlocked the door to his dark and quiet condo. He had stopped off at the twenty-four hour grocery store and picked up some essentials. He had planned for a more extensive trip, but with the Possible Mission looming he knew that buying a bunch of things would just be a waste of hard earned cash.

As he entered with the two bags he glanced over at the answering machine and saw the red LED blinking. 'Crud, now what?' The former hero placed the bags down on his kitchen slash dining room table, including a bag from the deli. Even though Ron could afford fancier digs, he didn't care to the waste money that he had set aside for his heirs. If he ever found them again. After he put the perishables away into his small refrigerator, Ron went over and pushed the button on the answering machine as he glanced around his main room, admiring some art work he had invested in and was covertly buying at auction through an intermediary.

Doctor Wade Load's now very deep voice soon came on, "Hey Ron how are you doing? Uh, GJ has heard that Doctor Possible is trying to find you. We haven't notified the Director yet." The voice paused then continued.

"Doctor Possible actually called me up and got the deli's phone number…Sorry, but I was afraid he was gonna sic Kim on me. Anyway I also contacted the Space Center and they think he wants to take a joyride on that damned enhanced Kepler deathtrap that he's been working on. And Kim has called too. Anyway give me a call when you get in if you still have my number."

'Great I got a delusional old man who wants to go into space…He probably wants to send his favorite target into the closest black hole and that jerk Du wants a guy in my condition to make it all good in the end. Kim will probably want to help him…Anyway who cares? Maybe someone will put a bullet in my brain to stop all this.', Ron mused as he pulled a beer out to get some calories into his system so that his body would at least have something to burn other than the muscle that he desperately needed, since his weight was at its lowest in twenty years.

The blond looked at the deli's food that he had brought home with him, as one of the employees had implored him to take something with him. With disdain he tossed the bag from one of the best delis ever to grace the Earth (or at least west of the Mississippi River) into the garbage before he opened the bottle of beer, not caring if he had anything to eat. Just hoping the beer would stay down unlike almost everything else he attempted to consume in the last five years.

With a sigh, Ron lifted the receiver and dialed a memorized number. "Hey Wade, pick up, its Ron."

"Ron! Hey it's a good thing I got a hold of you.", the former tech guru of Team Possible told his friend after a few seconds of waiting.

"Yeah buddy…So, what do you need?"

"Uh Kim's Dad got a hold of you, didn't he?", Wade asked. "I couldn't just say no to him…Kim and I are still friends."

"Yup. It's good to have friends Wade. I'm glad you have some.", Ron took another sip of his cold brew, wondering if he ought to even look up the channel master on his TV to see if there was anything good on before going to bed.

"Well what are you going to do? Kim is worried…She left me about three messages too, but she doesn't have any idea of what her Dad wants to do."

"So, she's been worried before."

"Ron you don't sound like a hero…"

"That's 'cause I'm not…I'm a medically retired sidekick, remember? Not that the reason why is in my files, though. Anyway you'll find out in the morning that your boss unretired me tonight."

"Uh I didn't have anything to do with reactivating you…Anyway that wasn't her fault…"

"You're right, it was mine and I took full responsibility for it too, if you don't remember.", Ron sniffed to himself, "She had nothing to do with it, it's all on me."

"Well you're acting like it was Kim's fault…"

"No, I'm not…Anyway she's happy with two and a half kids, or whatever, from what James Possible told me today. At least she's able to have kids."

"And you're not?", Wade shot back. He had been blocked from reading Ron Stoppable's medical files, leaving out that Kim had three children. One of which he was the Godfather to.

"Nope. So we're batting .500 for the old team. If we were in the majors that would be worth millions a year.", Ron snarked, "If we'd stayed together we'd be batting a big fat zero, unless she cheated on me. Then not only would there be no more Stoppables we'd have to count on Jim and Tim to get Possibles…Ya know, now that I think of it, Jim already has one so that is wrong…" And was hit with a coughing fit.

"Ron are you…"

"I'm as fine as can be Wade, thanks for asking…Now from what you were saying.", cough, cough… "Kim is worried about her old man going into space."

"Well Ron, Kim doesn't know and the Space Center doesn't want him to go, but with everything he's done over the years… they just can't say no to him."

"Then they should just ground him. That's easy enough. They can lock him to his desk.", cough, cough-hack, "Hold on a second, be right back."

Two minutes later Ron returned, "Thanks Wade, at least there was no blood this time."

"Ron? How often does this happen?"

"It's easier to count the number of times it doesn't happen, Wade…"

"Uh Ron…"

"Yeah, Wade buddy."

"How long has this been going on?"

"Since that time, I…", cough-cough, "killed Demento…that ray that hit me completely saturated my body with radiation and it started killing all sorts of good shit that I need to live with. The only good thing was I able to shield Kim completely." Ron paused realizing he had just spilled something to his friend that most people including his parents didn't know, "Anyway the hacking and coughing is just a recent development…again."

"If you were hurt why didn't Kim take over and subdue him?"

"She was knocked out and I became enraged. It was like I was outside of my body watching it happen. I smashed his ass….flat. I killed that pigmy Napoleon Complexed shitball."

"Ron?"

The blond muttered, "Shit! Me and my big mouth…" Then louder, "OK…you gotta swear not to tell anybody…Only my partner Mike and his squeeze know, it was part of our deal that they keeps their mouths shut. Du doesn't know any of this so you can't reveal any of this Betts and I made a deal back in the day. Anyway, all he knows is that I'm screwed up beyond belief…"

"Ron?"

"You WANNA know? If you do you gotta swear…not to tell…anyone.", Ron grit out as his stomach rumbled again.

"Yeah.", Wade told his old friend.

"OK…the truth. I'm dying…I have been since that mission. That kid that Liz had ain't mine…You can check the DNA, but then, mine is screwed up."

"Then how…"

"She got careless and got knocked up. I found out after….", cough, "when I got back from Japan, she needed help and I needed a cover…a plausible reason to give Kim an out from us getting hitched. I didn't want to screw up her life." Ron coughed again. "Funny thing is, she has no idea she was 'played' by her dumb-assed former boyfriend and his buddies. Her Dad told me just today that she's not mad anymore."

"Ron…what happened there?"

"The Docs had to remove them both…The cancer was spreading too fast. So there's no way that kid was mine. I paid the child support…", cough cough, "for him and support for his Mom…I think she finally found a guy now. I look like the proverbial asshole to them and I got Liz to agree to not say anything, just that the kid is mine although it's a damned lie."

"Ron you gotta tell Kim…"

"Why?"

"She thinks you hurt her…that you cheated on her."

"I know what she thinks but, if you think what she has going on about me is bad now, try…", cough, hack, cough, "try this Wade. I took a lethal dose of radiation for her and have had to have some operations over several years to remove cancerous organs…Which one is gonna hurt her more, huh? I like my way more…Less pain to her. She can place the blame on her ex, that way and before she even knows or cares to know…I'll be long gone. Only the damned MMP is keeping me alive, it's fighting the cancers in my body…but it can't win, I lose a little bit every day. All that I'm left with is pain and I don't want to get hooked on any drugs so I haven't been taking any."

"Shit Ron! You have to tell Kim and her Mom. They won't give it up and then they'll be trying to take the blame all for themselves. You gotta tell them what's going on. They have a good hospital in Middleton."

"…I'm a big boy Wade, I can handle my own problems." Ron paused for another round of hacking, "Anyway screw me…it's your damned boss's fault he reactivated me."

"Ron, I hate your ass…"

"Get in line.", the blond rubbed his hair (or what was left of his hair) and muttered, "You're not old enough to have developed a good hate…I know, I hate my stupid body. The only good thing is that there's less of it every year."

"Well, we should keep James Possible from getting on the Kepler. Even if you couldn't help."

"Yeah, I know, I'm working on an idea…"

"What are you thinking about?"

"It's a surprise, Wade.", Ron coughed and hacked again.

"What is it then, Ron?"

Cough, "If I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" Ron coughed a few more times, "Listen buddy, it was nice talking to you, but tonight is a school night and I gotta get my beauty rest. I'll call you again after I meet with Doctor Possible tomorrow."

X

"Master?", Ron called as he had calmed himself while seated in the Lotus Position…well half lotus position since his left leg was in Japan (Ron had removed the titanium prosthetic limb and set it away from him, he couldn't meditate with it on).

The ancient human inquired, "Yes my friend, how are you feeling?" (Sensei had years before turned over teaching to others at Yamanouchi...AN)

"Not well, but that was expected. Enough news about my worthless self, Sensei. You told me before if I thought that if I could no longer wield the Lotus Blade, you would be honored to have it back in its ancestral home…I think the time has come to take action to make sure that the Blade returns to Yamanouchi. Its caretaker understands the path he must travel…Finally."

"Ah, and what makes you think it is time, my friend?"

"Sir, events are moving for which I cannot guarantee the outcome, it would be better to have this out of the way and be safe.", Ron informed the red robed ninja master who was nearing his own retirement.

"I see, I will send assets to Middleton to obtain the honored weapon from you. You will be honored in the eyes of Yamanouchi."

"I didn't really do it for all that, but thank you Master, it is a weight off my soul. Good night Sir."

"Sleep well Stoppable-sama. May the Kami guard your honored soul."

"Thank you, but it is too late for me and they already have too much to worry about. I must find a way to give it back."

"Then it is near?"

"Yes. Farewell Master."

Ron opened his eyes and sighed knowing that one more obstacle would soon be overcome. He had to reach for support as he rose from his position on his one leg, so that he could take a shower and go to bed.

XXXXX

Ron Stoppable and the rest of the cast of the show 'Kim Possible' belong to Bob, Mark and the Disney Corporation and not myself not CajunBear73, we just do this to mess with our readers to make sure they take their meds.

We'll see ya down the road,

ST-103