Author's note:

Right, chapter 3 of 3. And don't you lot even think about getting those pitchforks and torches back out!

Mother's going to keep you right here under her wing, rounds off our set of three Pink Floyd related chapter titles. This time, like chapter 18, it is another lyric from the song Mother, from their 1979 album The Wall. Like with chapter 18's title, it is another fairly self-explanatory reference to Ann and her attempts to look after Kim. So, without any further delay, let's get on with it. Enjoy.

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Chapter Twenty-seven: Mother's going to keep you right here under her wing

Kim sat in the passenger seat and could only watch as the garage door opened and her mother drove her own car inside. When it closed behind them, she had a sinking feeling that she had just lost her chance to escape from… whatever her mom intended to do to her now. God, I feel like some teenager who's just been picked up from the police station, after having been arrested for underage drinking. Granted, she couldn't have gone anywhere anyway. In her present condition, she'd be lucky to get out of the car and then up to her old bedroom without assistance. Not that mom's likely to let me do that, she thought bitterly, as her mom climbed out of the Sloth and wandered around to the passenger side.

The door opened and her mom reached in to turn the oxygen tank off. "If you need more, I've got some upstairs," the woman said and removed the mask from Kim's face.

She was about to respond with her usual, 'I'm fine,' but recalled what her mom had said she'd do if she did. While it seemed unlikely that the woman would get back into the car and drive her to the hospital now that they were home, Kim did not want to risk inviting some of other form of punishment. Great, I'm even thinking like a busted high school teen. Instead, she replied, "my breathing's a lot better now." While true, she doubted her word on the matter would spare her the examination to come.

"Ok, Kimmie, let's get you up to your bedroom," her mom then said, her tone still one of no-nonsense and no-argument, but with a dash of motherly kindness thrown in as a sort of goodwill gesture.

Before her mom could get to it, Kim unbuckled her own seatbelt. While purely a symbolic gesture, she would not suffer the indignity of having everything done for her. She hated feeling so weak… so vulnerable. With difficulty, she swung her legs out of the car and planted them on the garage floor. Come on, you can do this, Possible. It was a struggle for her to stand and she had to grip the door frame, to the point her knuckles turned white, in order to straighten up. Immediately, her mom was there to offer her support, which she grudgingly had to accept. Her legs shook as slowly, her mother helped her out of the garage. With each step, she felt a foreign fear that her legs would give way. I refuse to fall, I refuse to fall! When they entered the hallway, Kim's gaze darted around, searching for any sign of her dad or the Tweebs.

Her mom must have sensed her apprehension, for she quickly said, "your father and brothers went to bed about fifteen minutes before I left to come and pick you up."

"What time is it?" she asked, slightly confused.

"Almost midnight. Now, let's get you upstairs."

This came as somewhat of a surprise to Kim, the last she'd been aware it had only been half-past ten, but she quickly decided it was irrelevant. The important thing being that neither her dad nor the Tweebs were likely to see her in this state. It's bad enough that mom and Monique have seen me like this, not to mention Shego… damn that bitch! The mere thought of the green-skinned woman caused her anger to simmer once more. However, she chose not to let it boil over, electing instead to ask her mom, "why were you not in bed?" The answer came to her before her mom could respond and so she then queried, "were you waiting up for me?"

"Of course I was. I did tell you that you could call me for a lift home," her mom replied as she guided Kim towards the stairs. "And it's a good thing too."

She chose not to waste her breath on arguing, primarily since she still did not have much to spare, but also because her present condition served as more than enough evidence to counter any possible claim she could make to the contrary. However, she had a sneaking suspicion that her mom may have been expecting something untoward to happen. Does she seriously just assume that I'm always going to wind up in some sort of trouble?

If she had thought the trip from the garage to the foot of the stairs had been bad, it paled in comparison to actually having to ascend them. With her mom supporting her on one side and her other hand gripped firmly on the handrail, she slowly climbed one agonising stair at a time. When they reached the top, she was forced to ask, "can we stop for a moment," as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Take all the time you need, Kimmie," her mom replied kindly.

Kim felt her mom tightening her grip around her upper torso so that she now bore even more of her weight. Her brain immediately wanted to protest, to yell that she was fine and did not need help, but she forced herself to quell the thought. The reality of the situation being that she really did. She took a series of slow, semi-deep breaths, mindful to try and avoid a coughing fit that might draw her dad or brothers out into the hallway. After about two minutes, she nodded and said, "ok, I'm ready."

Pain stabbed at her ribs but Kim forced herself forwards and towards the wooden stairs that led up to her old attic bedroom. Unfortunately, they were not wide enough for both her and her mom to climb up side by side. But it seemed the woman had already thought about this problem, as she wasted no time in turning around and climbing backwards up one step.

"Grab my upper arms and put your weight down," her mom instructed, holding out her arms.

Kim didn't question her and complied. Her mom then did the same.

"Ok, one step at a time and don't be scared to put as much weight down into my arms as you need to."

They climbed the first step and she felt her leg quiver. However, her mom allowed her to pause before they tackled the next one. With each subsequent step, her legs buckled slightly more and it was perhaps only through her indomitable spirit or sheer stubbornness that she finally made it to the top without collapsing. However, that did not stop her mom from quickly wrapping an arm around her torso and taking a lot of her weight the moment her second foot touched down inside her old bedroom. The woman then hastily escorted her over to the bed and sat her down. It took great effort for Kim not to simply flop backwards onto the soft duvet.

"Right, Kimmie, I'm going to give you a brief check over just now, followed by some painkillers. Then you're going straight to bed, understand." It was not a question.

Only a brief check over? Who are you and what have you done with mom? "Ok," she replied watched as her mom fetched her bag of medical implements and sat it down on the bed. There is no way I'm getting off that light.

Like she had just read her mind, her mom then added, "I'll then be giving you a thorough check over in the morning, including a new set of x-rays."

I knew she wouldn't let me off the lightly.

Her thought process must have shown on her face as her mom then said, "believe me, if I thought you would be able to stay awake for a full exam and stand up for x-rays, I'd be doing the whole thing here and now." The woman then procured her auditory thermometer. "Hold still, Kimmie."

"Are you expecting me to go somewhere?" she said dryly, but received a reproachful look and the thermometer in her ear for her trouble.

"I'm not sure what to expect from you anymore," her mom admonished, as the device let out a high-pitched beep that Kim knew indicated that she was feverish again. Like with Monique yesterday, her mother looked like she had more to say on the matter, but had chosen not too.

Great, guess she's saving that for tomorrow as well. Her mom then forewent the penlight and tongue depressor but did give the glands at her throat a good once over, which caused her to wince. Kim then had her heart and lungs listened to as well as her pulse and O2 stats measured using the finger clip. After her ribs had been unstrapped and scrutinised, with some rather painful pokes, her mom then fixed her with a serious stare.

"Did Shego injure you in any way or did you have an unfortunate impact with the ground or any other surface."

For a moment, Kim did not say anything as she replayed the short fight in her head.

However, an intensifying of her mom's stare, followed by, "Kimberly Ann," forced her to respond.

"Shego knocked me down and I landed on my butt," she said bitterly, the memory of her humiliating defeat reigniting the anger inside her. As soon as I am back on my feet, that bitch won't know what's hit her.

Her mom then handed her a pair of pyjamas. "You can get changed and I'll take a look at your coccyx when I'm giving you your antibiotics."

"Aww, not another hypodermic in my butt," Kim almost cried.

Unfortunately, her mom's facial expression told her that there would be zero argument on the issue. "Your temperature is back up and your lungs sound far worse than they did this morning. Had you not stressed them out by chasing after Shego, I might have let you away without it tonight. Now, do you need some help to change?"

"No, I'm fi…" she began to say as she bent down to remove her boots, but stopped abruptly when the increased pain from her ribs caused her to wince loudly, "ahh!"

"That'll be a big yes then," her mom said and knelt down.

Urgh, this is so humiliating, Kim thought as she was forced to let her mom aid her in changing into the pink pyjamas and then help her into bed. However, the feeling of vulnerability far outstripped it. At the woman's command, she rolled over onto her side and felt a hand poke and prod at her lower back. Only if she felt any pain, it was drowned out by that coming from her ribs.

"Right, Kimmie, just try to relax and I'll make this as quick as I can."

Like with the previous doses of antibiotics, Kim screwed up her eyes and let out a muffled whimper as the remorseless hypodermic pierced her flesh and the cold sensation flowed through her butt-cheek. Only this time she felt a solitary tear roll from the corner of her left eye. A sign of just how worn down her body felt. When the needle was finally removed and her mom had covered the puncture site with a band-aid, she pulled her trousers back up.

"I'll be back in a moment with some water for you, so you can take your painkillers and then you can go to sleep," her mother the said.

Kim heard the woman stand up, cross the room to the stairs and then descend. She felt absolutely exhausted and it was even more of a struggle not to fall asleep, now that she had actually gotten into bed, than it had been when she had first sat down. A cough escaped from her mouth followed closely by another and then another. I feel terrible. It was no lie. In fact, she could scarcely recall a time where she had felt worse. At least not since she had suffered the horrific claw injury to her back from… Shego. Why does everything come back to her! She balled a fist and slammed it into the duvet. Even this is her fault! Her and that damn vortex throw! It was perhaps a testament to just how much anger she currently felt towards her rival, that her mind had conjured up such a thought. The injury had been her fault, for she had gotten too over-eager and not seen the vortex throw coming. And prior to their fight in the parking lot, she would have freely admitted it. But that had been then, before Shego had inflicted such a humiliating defeat upon her. In fact, everything is her fault! The pain I'm currently in. Being stuck here at mom and dads, instead of at home. Not being able to go out on a mission tomorrow. And the fact that I even questioned my sexuality… the memories from earlier that night with Matt, their dance and then ill-fated make-out session, filled her mind and for a brief moment, she recalled how it had felt before they had been interrupted. About how there had been no spark or magic to speak of and how it had eventually felt awkward… wrong… No, Kim spat viciously, that was just because I was nervous. Because I haven't been with anyone for eighteen months; not since Ron. It would all have been fine if Shego hadn't of set Matt's jumper on fire! I like boys! And I'm so going to make her pay for that… for everything!

"Ok, Kimmie, sit up so you can take your painkillers."

The voice of her mom from her bedside, cut through Kim's thought process and she jumped slightly; wincing at the jolt of pain from her ribs. She hadn't even heard the woman return. With difficulty, she sat up, leaned back against the headboard and took the glass of water that her mom held out to her. A set of three small tablets were then deposited into her other hand.

"Three!" she then said in alarm. A hazy fragment of memory, from when she had injured her back, played through her mind. I'm going to be completely out of it if I take all these! However, what she should have paid attention to was the small lump in her mother's trouser pocket.

"Yes, Kimmie, three," her mom replied, a no-nonsense expression covering her face. "I'm well aware of the fact that the pain from your ribs is a lot higher now than it was before you went out."

Given her mom's current disposition towards her, Kim knew that even the slightest hint of an argument would likely result in her being rolled over and a painkiller being delivered via hypodermic into her other butt cheek; not just a polite reminder that it could be done that way. Grudgingly, she tipped the small handful of pills into her mouth and swallowed them with a mouthful of water. "Happy?" she asked and set the glass down on the nightstand.

"I'll be happy if your pulse has come down, it was slightly high when I measured it earlier," her mom replied. "Now, hold out your wrist."

Kim rolled her eyes but didn't dare object. I thought she said only a quick check over. Her mom took her offered wrist and placed two fingers over her pulse point. Had she her full wits about her, she probably would have questioned why the woman was not looking at her watch and why her free hand had instead gone into her trouser pocket. She waited, noticing too late when her mom changed her grip on her wrist and placed something around it. Her eyes widened when she heard the click of an electronic lock and her gaze zeroed in on her right wrist.

"What the…" she exclaimed in shock, as she felt a metal bracelet, about an inch and a half wide, touch her skin and then quickly contract. Immediately, she brought her other hand across to claw at it and found, to her horror, that she could barely get a fingernail between it and her skin; much like when she'd been stuck wearing the centurion project. "Mom, what the hell is this!"

Her mom let out a light chuckle. "Another of your brothers' inventions."

"I could have guessed that!" Kim replied irately. "What on earth does it do?"

"According to Jim and Tim, it will trigger the relevant blast shutters should the wearer, in this case, you, go within four feet of any of the outside doors or windows."

"WHAT!" she yelled, a mortified expression forming on her face. "Why the hell would you…"

"Because after tonight, I can't trust you not to do something stupid, like wake up early and try to sneak off home. Or wait until your father and I have gone to work tomorrow and then simply walk out the front door. This way, I'll know that you'll be both safe and recuperating properly."

"Mom, you can't just keep me here against my will!" Kim exclaimed. "Take it off now!"

"Can't I? Remember, Kimmie, anything is possible for a Possible. So, until further notice, young Lady, consider yourself grounded."

The look she received told Kim that no matter what she said or did, which wouldn't amount to much in her current state, her mom was not going to relent. However, that did not stop her from saying, "Mom, you are being completely unreasonable."

"No, Kimmie, being completely unreasonable would have been me doing this yesterday afternoon," her mother replied sternly. "However, because of your blatant disregard for your own health and safety tonight, I cannot as your mother and in good conscience, allow you the freedom to decide what's best for you in your current condition."

Her mouth hung open as she listened to her mother's justification. "Mom!" she exclaimed again in outrage, "I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself!"

The expression on her mother's face did not soften one iota. "No, Kimberly Ann Possible, you're not. I really wish I didn't have to do this, but it is for your own good."

"You have no right to decide what's for my own good," Kim fired back hotly, however, she could feel her mind rapidly tiring and the siren-like call of the soft pillow and duvet. "In case you missed it, I'm an adult now, Mom. I can take care of myself!"

"You might be an adult, Kim, but you've made it abundantly clear that you can't look after yourself. Which, unfortunately, has left me no other option," her mom then said, her tone shifting to one that contained hints of worry, sorrow and regret. "Go to sleep, Kimmie. We can discuss what you might want to use this downtime for in the morning."

Kim huffed as her mom reached out, kissed her on the forehead and gave her a hug; she did not reciprocate it. Instead, she glared at the woman as she watched her walk over to her desk.

"I picked this up from your apartment to make you feel a little more at home," her mom then said and held up…

"Pandaroo," Kim exclaimed, happier to see her favourite Cuddle Buddy than someone her age perhaps should have been. However, she did not care as in that instant her irritation evaporated. She reached out a hand and took the stuffed toy from her mom and shamelessly embraced it.

"He should help you sleep."

It was only then that Kim actually looked at the pink pyjamas she was wearing and saw the small stain on the sleeve. They were not some random pair her mom had found; rather the ones that she had dribbled some satay sauce over several months ago. The woman had taken them from the wardrobe in her apartment. She stared at her mom in amazement, "when did you…?"

"I nipped back after I dropped you and Monique off. I also picked up some of your clothes; mostly loungewear," her mom replied before she had even finished asking the question. "I want you to feel as comfortable as possible while you're here. If there is anything else you want me to get for you, within reason, just ask me in the morning and I'll pick it up on my way home from work."

It may have been a result of the drugs in her system starting to take effect, or the fact she was now cuddling Pandaroo, but Kim could not help but feel grateful. "Thanks, Mom," she said and opened her arms out for a hug.

Her mom leaned over and they embraced.

"Goodnight, Kimmie cub," her mother whispered in her ear.

"Goodnight mom."

They parted and Kim watched the woman cross the room, turn out the bedroom light and then descend the stairs. When she was finally out of sight, she sat Pandaroo down and turned her attention to the bracelet on her right wrist. It had a small display and a few buttons on it, but pressing them did nothing. While her irritation at her mom had subsided for now, that did not mean that she was not going to try and get rid of the damn thing. After all, she was Kim Possible and this simply felt like another challenge for her to tackle. Futilely, she clawed at the bracelet from every conceivable angle but gained zero purchase on it. She let out a deflated sigh, damn those Tweebs for coming up with something like this and for giving it to mom. Unfortunately, in her current state, she could not test her mother's claim that it would close the relevant blast shutters if she went within four feet of a door or window. Come tomorrow, I am so figuring out a way around this blasted thing, even if I need to wring it out of those Tweebs necks!

Kim suddenly felt a wave of dizziness that she knew was the codeine kicking in and she became faintly aware that the pain in her ribs had lessened somewhat. Flopping back against her pillow, she cuddled Pandaroo close to her chest, closed her eyes and allowed her mind to become increasingly more addled before unconsciousness eventually took her.

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Author's note:

So, there we are for another update. Kim has been placed under house arrest by her mother and Shego has decided to let Ru-Ru stay with her. What is going to happen to these two laddies next? Answer, I already know as I've written the bulk of next week's update, but you lot are all going to have to wait until then to find out. Yeah, that'll teach you to chase me with pitchforks and torches, lol. FYI, I have no idea where the whole pitchforks and torches thing came from, I just ended up rolling with it.

Incidentally, for what is supposed to be a KiGo story, Kim and Shego have only actually been in the same chapter together, a grand total of five times out of twenty-seven (not counting the end of chapters 1 & 2). Just thought I'd share that little observation I'd made while posting this update. Moving forward, I really need to do something about that and I fully intend to. Maybe just not in the next update, lol.

While it may not feel like it, we've actually made some significant headway in terms of the character development in this update. Like Shego predicted in chapter 26, Kim is now very angry and it is going to be on like Donkey Kong the next time they meet. We'll also start to see how that anger towards Shego starts digging up the question of her sexuality next time out. In terms of our green-skinned goddess, I think the steps she took were even more significant, in that she is starting to realise that being Shego has its drawbacks, has started to let her own anger at Kim ebb and most importantly, is going to keep my favourite naked-mole-shark. I really do like writing Ru-Ru and the fact I was able to make his presence in the story serve as an important point of character development more than justified my desire to keep him around.

Looking at the big old picture, we are now getting closer to this mythical 'major' event and depending on how many chapters it'll take, we might actually get there in two weeks time. However, please don't hold me to that as we all know that my track record for adding in extra subplots and chapters is against me.

Anyway, that wraps up this update and I'll see you all next time out (preferably without the pitchforks and torches). Thank you all for continuing to read this story, for all your kind words in the comments and the Kudos and for putting up with my random rubbish in this week's author notes. Until next time, adieu.

Warmest regards

K1G0 (the slightly singed and poked author)