DISCLAIMER: I don't own Kim Possible. This story is just for fun. The characters of Firefly/Rebecca Shaw, Isabella Shaw, and Robert Gibbs are OCs I created for this story.

A/N: This chapter is named for the song "How to Save a Life" by The Fray.

Kim Possible

Red Flame

Chapter 21 – How to Save a Life

Middleton, Middleton General Hospital

"Mom?" Samantha asked, her voice actually displaying some nervousness. They were on their way to one of the operating theaters that had the observation deck looking down into it. Isabella had discussed, forcefully and quickly, the procedure she would be doing with the hospital staff. And she refused to have anyone observing what was going to happen; even though Rebecca was a human, an individual (and now a part of the world-renown Team Possible), she was still a classified Global Justice project (she and Betty had gotten a lot of flak from the UN about letting Project Firefly 'go public' but those old fossils didn't have a choice since Isabella did have sole authority over the project).

"What is it, Samantha?" Isabella asked as they walked into the theater, where two beds were already set up – and an unconsious and hooked up Rebecca was on one. She looked at her eldest daughter and saw the worry on her face – which was very telling.

"I . . . I'm scared," her daughter said. Isabella had gotten to know her daughter very well since the pardon and all, and had heard from Kim and Betty how she'd used to be. So hearing the green-tinted young woman actually admit to that told her more than the words did.

"I know, sweetie," Isabella said, stopping to turn around and pull her daughter into a hug. "I am, too. I had no one else but your mother for a long time, until I had Rebecca. They became my everything until I . . . I learned about you. And your brothers. I don't want to lose either of you."

Samantha had returned the hug when she felt her mom's arms around her. Now she said, "But if I don't try . . . more than just you and Mother will lose her." Her gaze drifted up to one of the observation galleries, and Isabella turned to look herself. In the one they were looking at, the two saw Ann helping Kim to a seat and Ellen sitting down next to her. "I've already caused enough grief for people. I'm not a hero anymore, but I can at least do the right thing here," the ex-villainess said. Isabella hugged her daughter again, a few tears running down her cheeks.

"No matter what happens, Samantha," she said, tightening the hug for a moment, "I want you to know that I regret all those years I wasn't around . . . and that, right now, I could not be more proud of the woman you've become."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Now, I'm afraid, it's time to get started," Isabella told her. She walked her daughter over to the empty bed and helped her done. "I have Kimmie's little computer friend making sure that what happens today won't be recorded. The last thing we need is for this to get out, especially to rest of Global Justice."

"What do you mean?" Samantha asked.

"If things turn out as I hope, then we won't have to worry about it," her mom replied. "But that's a discussion for a later time. Right now, let me explain what will be happening, and then what I am hoping will happen." She took a deep breath, and then let it out. "First, this isn't going to be a simple blood donation. What will be happening is that we'll hook you up so that the blood will flow from you, but it'll go to the device between the two beds where it'll be stored and kept at the same temperature it is in your body. It can't be flooded into Rebecca's body at the same rate it leaves yours; that could prove fatal to her. It has to be metered out so that her body can incorporate the fresh DNA as it comes in. The second thing is that you'll have to be unconscious for this, but normal anesthesia can't be used; drugs in your system would be metabolized too fast by your accelerated cellular regeneration, and high doses would have to be used. That would alter your genetic structure too much, since doses would have to be administered periodically. What we'll be using is actually something that Global Justice developed recently to use for non-lethal takedowns. It's officially known as the Sonic Load Electro Emulation Pod, or SLEEP." At her daughter's sour look Isabella smirked. "I didn't come up with the name. It uses ultrasonic waves to emulate the brain's electrical impulses to simulate sleep, which makes anyone subjected to it actually fall asleep and stay asleep until the device is turned off. I have a pair of, essentially, sonic jammers placed in my ears that operate at the same frequency as the SLEEP, countering it. Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but I want you to be aware of what's going on."

"I appreciate it, Mom," Samantha told her.

"The sonic waves will also, hopefully, help with the integration process of your DNA with Rebecca's," she went on. "The risk with using this procedure is if any kind of back-flow happens with the blood transfer system. Because you and Rebecca have a genetic match of ninety-three point seven percent, there is a high probability – though low possibility – of her blood flowing backwards into the machine, and the failing genetic code corrupting your own DNA and causing the same thing to happen to you."

"Are there other risks?"

"Yes, but that's the worst one as it would result in both of you dying. Second worst is that even the infusion of fresh genetic material direct from the original source does nothing. Which would mean that you will experience the symptoms associated with blood loss for a temporary period . . . and we'd all be attending Rebecca's funeral." She looked at her eldest daughter apologetically. "I know you're not fond of needles, dear, and I'm sorry about this."

"I'm not," Samantha replied. At her mom's look she added, "It brings back memories that I'd rather not recall, but it's the only chance Rebecca has to even have a hope of living." Nothing more was said after that, and Isabella proceeded to hook Samantha up to both machines. Once she was done, she reached over to push the SLEEP's activation button. She only hesitated for a moment, just long enough to look up at the observation gallery where both of her daughters' girlfriends waited, then pushed the button. A low, barely perceptible hum filled the room and, slowly, Samantha's eyes drifted closed. Isabella waited a few minutes to make sure that her raven-haired daughter was truly asleep before once again looking at the gallery window. She reached up to her collar and pushed a button that was on it, which was actually a small wireless link to the gallery's internal speakers.

"I'm about to start the procedure," she explained. "Once I activate the blood transfer/integration machine, everything will be up to hope and divine intervention." Taking a deep breath once more, she turned back to the machine upon which everything depended on. She closed her eyes for a moment, and whispered, "Please let this work," before opening them again and pushing the button.

Go City, Go Tower

It was actually quiet for once in Go City, much to the disappointment of Harvey Gibbs, usually known by his 'true' identity of Hego. It wasn't that he was unhappy with the fact that crime was currently at an all-time low in the city, but that without super criminals or even normal criminals the people of Go City weren't able to see how well and how heroically he led Team Go. He still had trouble dealing with the fact that Shego had betrayed them all by leaving the team; he was actually the only one who saw it that way as Mego (Mark Gibbs) didn't really care since it didn't involve him, and the Wegos (Walter and Westley) actually admired their sister for following her own path. He always saw the meteor strike as destiny, and becoming super heroes being the fulfillment of that destiny. He'd heard rumors that Shego was no longer evil, but he wasn't sure to believe them since she hadn't come back to the team. Hego had always believed that her 'fall to villainy' was the result of her 'deviant' relationship with that Ellen girl, and he believed he was right in breaking them up because shortly after that the 'not-right' girl had (in his mind) turned out to be a villain. It never occurred to him that he was actually the reason Shego had left the team, nor that he was the real reason Shego's girlfriend had become the super villain Electronique. Right now he was looking through various news channels, just seeing what was going on outside of Go City since nothing was really happening in the city. He heard a snippet that mentioned Team Possible and went back to the station; he remembered, somewhat, that they had been a little helpful back when the villainous villain Aviarious had stolen the team's powers.

". . . In recent news," the reporter from Middleton News 3 said, "it was learned that a student at Middleton High named Rebecca Shaw, one of the two members currently making up Team Possible, was immediately rushed to Middleton General Hospital following an unexplained collapse during a lunch period." An image flashed on the screen showing two side-by-side photos; one of a redheaded girl with olive green eyes and the name 'Kim Possible' underneath it, the other of a girl with hair that seemed both black and red at the same time without being either color at once and vibrant orange eyes with the name 'Rebecca Shaw' underneath it. Hego nearly choked on his own air when he remembered that his mom's maiden name had been Shaw, and that Rebecca Shaw looked almost exactly like Shego. "Though the cause has yet to be explained, it is said that Miss Shaw's parents – Doctors Betty Director and Isabella Shaw of Global Justice – are currently at Middleton General overseeing their daughter's care. Miss Shaw's sister, Samantha Gibbs – wait; it appears that about a month ago Miss Gibbs took her mother's maiden name and is now going by Samantha Shaw – is there, too, as is Kim Possible. Miss Possible is currently dating young Rebecca, and traveled with her girlfriend to the hospital. The people of Middleton send their prayers and good wishes to them all."

Hego cuts off the television in disbelief, his mind trying the process the fact that his mother wasn't dead, had married a woman, and now had a daughter who was also dating a girl. And also that Samantha was apparently no longer a villain and had taken their mother's maiden name instead of keeping her rightful name of Gibbs. He knew, though, that if Shego was back on the side of good then it was only right of her to rejoin Team Go. And if they had another sister that possessed super powers – he had no proof that she did or didn't, but believed that if she was a Gibbs (in spite of going by Shaw) then she had to have powers – then it had to be destiny, which meant that Rebecca was meant to join Team Go in their righteous fight to protect and serve Go City. He reached forward and pushed another button on the control console of Go Tower's main conference room.

"Mego, Wegos," he spoke (to him) authoritively into the microphone of the Go Tower Internal Announcement System. "Emergency team meeting in the main conference room. Immediately." After that, he used the external system to contact his father.

"Hello, Harvey," came the voice of Robert Gibbs. "You've actually called at a rather good time, son. My campaign for re-election is going very well, and I think perhaps a conference with Team Go to congratulate them on the fine job their doing of lowering crime in Go City would be a good way to cap things off."

"As Team Go's heroic yet humble leader," Hego replied, "I would be honored to help out the mayor of Go City, but I'm calling as your son right now, father."

"I see. What's wrong, son?" Robert asked.

"I just caught a news report from Middleton," the muscle-bound young man said. "And Mother is alive."

"That can't be right. She . . . she died years ago. Shortly after the divorce."

"That is what we were told, Father, but I can't imagine that the news stations would spread lies and falsehoods, as citizens rely upon them for accurate reporting." He hesitated, but went on. "I also learned from the report that Samantha is also in Middleton . . . and we apparently have a sister, too, who may or may not have the Glow."

"This is rather unsettling news, Harvey."

"I know, Father," Hego agreed. "Mother is now also married to a woman named Betty Director."

"That . . . woman . . . corrupted your mother in the first place," Robert growled. "Harvey, you are to get your sisters here, and on Team Go."

"Samantha may not wish to do so, Father."

"I will have a way so that they will be a part of Team Go, one way or another. I will not have any more shame on our name."

Flashback – Samantha, Age 10

"I want Mom back," little Samantha told her father, her face looking far too stern for a ten-year-old girl. It had been a few months since her parents had divorced and her mother had left, but the raven-haired girl didn't understand why she hadn't come back. After all, her mother had always said that she loved her, and if you really loved someone you didn't leave them. So, her ten-year-old mind had reasoned, if her mom loved her and would never leave on her own, then her father was to blame.

"She's gone, Samantha," Robert Gibbs said, a little sharply. "She wasn't a very good mother, as she never did what she was supposed to. Now, you will stop talking about this."

Samantha's emerald-green eyes narrowed, an expression that reminded Robert too much of his now ex-wife. Then his daughter crossed her arms, making the resemblance even closer; if she started tapping a foot, he'd have to discipline the child.

"You're a liar," she snapped, and received a slap across her face. Only her head moved with the blow, showing Robert that his wife's improper desire to instruct their daughter in martial arts had taken deep root. "That's the last time you'll hit me," she vowed. Apparently, his daughter was also taking her promise of never calling him 'Father' as his sons did seriously.

"Treat me with the respect I deserve, Samantha, and it will be," he told her harshly.

"I am," she replied in the same tone. "You made Mom leave, and you're trying to be a bully. Mom said that you should always stand up to bullies and not let them push you around."

"Your mother never really knew what she was talking about," Robert said. "She wasn't raised to be a proper woman, and has apparently corrupted you in the same way."

"Fuck you," she growled, before turning on her heel and storming out of the room. She walked to her room, but found her path blocked by her older brother, Harvey.

"You shouldn't talk to our father like that, Samantha," he said, his tone and posture indicating severe disapproval with her. "He's only doing the right thing."

"Like hell he is," she snapped. "He made Mom leave."

"You're only ten, Samantha," he reminded her. "You wouldn't understand grown-up stuff."

"You're just eleven, Harvey," Samantha growled. "You wouldn't understand it, either."

"I understand more than you do."

"You keep thinking that. Now, I'm going to my room to be alone."

"Apologize to Father, first."

"He may be the reason I was born, but that doesn't make him my father. Now, move!" she said, before punching him the gut. Clutching at his stomach, Harvey dropped to his knees and glared at his sister as she stalked by. Once up the stairs and in her room, Samantha threw herself onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow so no one would hear her crying. She would never show weakness to anyone, and believed that if anyone saw her crying they would think she was a weak little girl. She wasn't weak; her mom had already helped her master three different martial arts styles and had gotten her started on seven more. Samantha knew that her mom was a wonderful and amazing person. Not only could she beat anybody up she wanted to, she was really really smart, too. She always referred to Samantha as her 'Firefly' because – her mom said – she was a bright little light in the dark. She didn't fell like a bright little light right now, though; that man (as she thought of him) said the divorce was her mother's fault, but she knew better. She'd heard all of the arguments the two had had, and knew that that man was lying. Her mom just refused to cow under to that man's mistaken beliefs and he couldn't accept it. Couldn't accept that his wife had a far bigger pair than he ever would. Samantha looked up and saw a pink lion with a white mane looking at her. To the ten-year-old, he seemed to be asking her a question. With a nod, Samantha reached up and pulled him to her.

"Oh, Oscar," she said, hugging him tightly to her and trying to stifle her tears; Oscar had been a gift to her from her mom, who had told the (back then) seven-year-old girl he was a brave and friendly lion, who would always listen to her problems. "I wish Mom was still here. She didn't have to leave. I'm sure she could've made that man be good. I know that he wants me to be 'normal' girl – whatever that means – but I want to be me. Mom would tell me to be who I am inside. She always said 'I love you,' and always said it a lot each day. That man doesn't even give hugs. Not even the special hugs that Mom says are only for special people." She hugged Oscar tighter to her and sobbed again. "I wish Mom was here."

Middleton, Middleton General Hospital

Isabella watched as a few tears ran down Samantha's face, and reached over to brush them away. She wouldn't leave the theater until the operation was complete, one way or the other. She heard her eldest daughter mumble the word 'Oscar,' and knew that her Firefly was dreaming about her old lion plushie that she'd first gotten at the age of 7. While she knew that Samantha would never admit it, Isabella was beyond certain that her daughter still had the old thing; after all, that lion was probably the oldest friend she'd had.

Up in the observation gallery, Kim had fallen into a fitful sleep in one of the somewhat comfortable chairs in the room. Ann had retrieved a blanket for her daughter and covered her up. Ellen couldn't fall asleep just yet, though she was envious of the young redhead, so she stood at the window and stared down into the operating theater, even though nothing was visibly happening.

"She is a very brave woman," Ann said, coming up to stand beside the brunette.

"One of the bravest I know," Ellen agreed. "I'm still frightened of losing her again."

"Again?" the elder redhead echoed.

"Yeah. The first time I lost her, it was because of her older brother, Harvey, and my actions, too," the brunette admitted. "It's a bit ironic, though, that when she needed help – even though it was for a plan to get revenge on your daughter – she came to me first, in spite of what we'd done to each other in the past."

"People can surprise you," Ann agreed. She sighed, though it was a heavy filled with sorrow. "I'm really worried about Kim, though."

"You're afraid of what will happen if Rebecca doesn't make it," Ellen asked, though it wasn't a question.

"After the attack by those little robots, and after she'd gotten home from her junior prom, Kim was pretty down," the redhead explained. "And it got worse when Ronald, her best friend since she was really young, abandoned her after she'd discovered her sexual orientation. Then Rebecca came along." Ann looked at the younger woman. "I had never seen Kim so happy before; even back before her depression. She was a lot worse a little more than a week ago than she'd been near the start of summer."

"When she'd driven Rebecca away."

"Yes."

"You're worried that something far, far worse will happen if Rebecca dies," the brunette said. Ann just nodded. "Well, I'm not."

"Why not?"

"Because I know Samantha pretty well, and if Rebecca is anything like her she won't give up. Ever. In spite of how your daughter betrayed her, I know that Rebecca still loves her."

"I know you're right," Ann agreed, "but I still worry."

"It's a mother's job to worry about their children," Ellen said. "As much as Samantha denies it, I know that she's a hero. And heroes will do whatever it takes to save someone's life, whether it's the life of a friend, an innocent, or even an enemy."

E/N: I know this is somewhat of a short chapter, but I felt this was a good note to end it on. So the procedure to save Rebecca's life has begun, Hego learns about her existence, Ellen and Ann have a little heart-to-heart, and a flashback within Samantha's head reveals part of her past.

More flashbacks will abound to reveal even more of Samantha's past and how she became first a hero and then a villain in the next chapter of Red Flame, "The Past Returns."