It was the only other place she could be. Drakken rapped on Shego's door and waited. When she didn't answer, he called, "Are you in there? I've been looking all over for you."

Another moment of silence, and then, "I need tomorrow off."

"You can't just … Shego it's nearly midnight! How am I supposed to –"

The door swung open, and Drakken took a step back. Shego wasn't in her uniform, but a black tank top and sweatpants. Her eyes were red-rimmed and glassy. But Shego didn't cry … At least, not when she didn't have an emotion-altering chip stuck to her neck. Or when she was blackout drunk.

"Are, um, are you ok?"

"My mom died. Funeral's tomorrow. I need the day off." She went to slam the door shut again when Drakken caught it again.

Shego sighed and took her hand off the door. "Dr. D –"

"Do you need a ride?"

Silence hung between them, thick and palpable. Neither one of them had been entirely themselves around each other since the Moodulator incident nearly a month ago. Both of them had been cold, standoffish. But that might be my fault, Drakken thought. I started it.

After all, it wasn't Shego's fault she didn't love him.

"Why do you care?" she asked.

Because I love you. "Because you're my friend. And I want to make sure you're ok."

Shego looked away for a moment, gathering her hair up in her hands and letting it fall again. At last she said, "Ok. Yeah. A ride would be great."