Chapter V: Kim's Guardian

Middleton Hospital

Kim's Room

Kim moaned as she stirred awake. The last thing that she remembered was the worried face of her best friend as she lost consciousness. And after that… nothing.

She opened her eyes and saw an unfamiliar ceiling. She was not in her room, she realized. She also realized that she was warm and strangely comfortable. As she breathed, she smelled the scent of Ron, which soothed her more. And when she heard a slight snore, her eyes widened as she searched for the source of the snore.

Ron was beside her, sleeping comfortably. His arm was around her waist and his hand was intertwined with hers. He was wearing a pajama bottom but his chest was taped in bandage. What had happened to him? she wondered. He seemed fine before she lost consciousness.

She looked at her body and noticed that she was wearing a patient's gown and an I.V. unit was attached to her hand.

"No worries, KP," Ron mumbled in his sleep and she smiled. There was something about his position that suggested protectiveness. And for that moment, she felt safe.

Snuggling closer to Ron, Kim closed her eyes and comfortably went back to sleep.

Unaware that they were being guarded by a lone figure leaning on the far wall, his arms crossed and a cane tucked in the crook of his arms.

Sighing softly, their guardian smirked and shook his head.

"Lucky fool," he said softly as he continued to guard his charges.

…. ….

Drakken's Lair

Shego's Room

Shego sighed as she tried to file her nails. Frustrated, she simply couldn't get the man who called himself the Wraith out of her mind. His voice still echoed through her head as she set the file down on her dresser. A glimmer caught her attention and when she turned she saw the trinket he gave her. She had borrowed Dr. Drakken's scanners and found out that it was just a diamond. No poisons, no trackers and no explosives. Just an ordinary diamond.

Shego snorted at the thought. If it was just an ordinary diamond then why did it feel otherwise? It felt… special to her.

Even though it was given to her by practically a stranger.

A rather dangerous stranger.

Shego turned the TV on in an attempt to clear her mind, scanning through the channels searching for a good program. She finally decided to leave it on the news as she got up and began to dress for bed.

"High Tech Superteen Kim Possible had just been admitted to Middleton hospital after being poisoned by the simian villain known as Monkey Fist," the reporter said making Shego turn towards the TV. Her top was half undone when she heard this news. She immediately buttoned her top and listened more.

"Currently, Kim Possible is out of danger and now recovering from the wound. The doctors expect Ms. Possible to be on her feet in a few days…"

Shego turned off the TV and frowned in confusion. "You're getting sloppy, Kimmy," she said as she sighed. Seeing Kim as sloppy was weird for Shego. For some reason, she had to make sure she was all right.

… … …. ….

Middleton Hospital

In front of Kim's Room

"I thought we are going to be discreet?" Vincent was outside Kim's room as he held his cell phone away from his ear as he listened to one of the doctors apologize for the mistake. Quite frankly, he was getting tired of it. "Never mind. She will be released tomorrow anyway and I don't care about keeping her here for observation. That is all, doctor," he turned of the phone and sighed as he massaged his temples. They ache whenever something happens out of plan. Now that the whole world knew that Kim was confined and where. He did not want anyone knowing.

Especially Monkey Fist.

He took a deep breath to steady himself. He didn't like his plans ruined especially if it may cost Kim and Ron's life. The safest place he knew was Credible manor. But with Monkey Fist's skill, he might enter the building with ease.

He needed to stop Monkey Fist before he could get his revenge. Vincent had already returned the Crown of Goku but Monkey Fist didn't know that. He needed to get to a safe place before anyone else would get hurt.

As he quietly paused to open the door to her room, he immediately noticed that there were three sets of heartbeats inside where there should only be two.

In an instant, Vincent extended his cane and charged inside. Their midnight caller turned, clearly surprised at his attack. In the darkness of the room, the intruder could barely make out Vincent as the intruder leapt away before he could strike.

Undeterred, Vincent heard where the intruder had landed and immediately attacked. The intruder snarled and countered, blocking Vincent's cane with bare hands, but he was sure the intruder's hands were not bare.

As the intruder tried to punch him, Vincent dodged the fist but caught a whiff of the intruder's scent. From all the antiseptics, it was hard for him to determine the intruder's scent but before he could make sure, he blocked the kick the intruder gave him that should be directed towards his gut.

Vincent slammed on the wall but immediately searched for the intruder. Using the darkness as an advantage, he crouched and waited for his prey.

He heard a glowing sound, one that he heard before. One he was certain whom it belonged to. To Vincent, it was like she was using the glow as a torch, lighting the room, searching for him.

And when the intruder neared, he pounced. Caught unaware, the intruder gasped as Vincent tackled the intruder, pinning the intruder to the ground.

One of Vincent's legs held one arm while the other leg pinned the intruder's legs. His free arm held the intruder's arm while he pointed his cane menacingly at the intruder's face. From his touch, he knew that the intruder was tensed, also that the intruder's skin was softer than silk.

Even in an odd position, Vincent was limber enough to touch his nose on the intruder's hair and took a deep breath.

"Stop that," the intruder growled, disgusted at what Vincent was doing, although for some reason, she relished to have someone smell her gently. She was perturbed at the familiarity.

Straightening up, Vincent sighed while keeping his prisoner still.

"State your purpose?" he asked and heard the intruder sigh.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," the intruder said.

"Try me," the intruder was aware that she had lost, but then, she was at a disadvantage.

"I wanted to see if Kimmy was all right," she said although her tone indicated that she did not relish the fact that she admitted that.

"Behave and I will let you go," Vincent said as he quickly retracted his cane and stood without hurting the intruder. He then held out a hand to help her up and dejectedly, the intruder accepted. "I am sorry, Miss Shego."

Shego growled as she dusted herself while looking at Kim and Ron sleeping together sweetly in a single bed. "How come they didn't wake with all that racket?"

"I asked the nurse to dose them with sedatives," he said in explanation. "They needed the rest."

"How did you know who I was?" she asked curtly but Vincent just smiled

"Your scent never changed in four years," he mumbled. When he felt she was still waiting for an answer, he gave a plausible one. "Your glow."

"And what's with the hair? Do you get some perverse pleasure by sniffing everyone's hair?" he realized that she was angry but smart. She knew he had the advantage and she did not press her luck.

"Only yours," he said calmly that it made her wonder whom she was talking to.

"Are you flirting with me?" she asked slightly annoyed. Annoyed that she could not see his face due to the darkness of the room. Vincent smiled as he evaded the question with another question.

"Why would you want to see if Miss Possible is all right? I thought you were her enemy?" that was a pretty good question, Shego realized. Looking at Kim, bathed in the glow of the moon, she felt helpless. It was like a part of her life was taken from her. For all the battles and bickering, Shego realized that she liked Kim Possible.

She loathed admitting it but she if the circumstances were different, she would like her to be her friend.

"How did she get this way?" she asked warily. She did not let her guard down for she knew that Vincent could attack when she was unaware. But she slightly relaxed when she really thought about it.

The man beside her was an honorable gentleman.

"Didn't you hear the news?" he asked slightly confused.

"It said that Monkey Fist poisoned her, but how? Kimmy's the most careful girl I know," Shego felt the disbelief in her companion and she sighed. "Okay, maybe most of the times."

"Poisoned dagger," Vincent answered her as he closed the window which he concluded is where Shego entered.

"And who are you?" she finally asked. Vincent sighed as he took a chair and brought it where Shego stood. Turning on one of the desk lamps, the light brought enough brightness for Shego to see Kim and Ron clearly and not him.

"Please sit," he gave her the chair and she smiled in thanks as she did. "I know you wanted to flay me right now…"

"That's an understatement," Shego said but something in her told her that it was a lie.

"You'll fail so forget it," he said as he leaned on Kim's bed. "I'm truly sorry for the attack but I thought…"

"That I was Monkey Fist and came to finish the job," she finished for him.

"I was expecting him and I have no doubt he will attack."

Silence stilled between them as Shego looked at Kim. Kim looked so peaceful when she slept and somehow, Shego guarded her like a big sister would.

"I've envisioned Kim Possible fall in my mind at least a thousand times but never like this," Shego said as she finally stood. "Monkey Fist will pay dearly for this."

"If Miss Possible were awake she would ask whether what have you done with the real Shego," Vincent said as he sighed. "I am here to guard her against any assailants."

"You?" Shego snorted as she looked at his silhouette. "No offence but what would you and your little stick do against a master of monkey kung fu?" Vincent touched a bracelet on his right wrist and smiled.

"I did all right with you," he countered gently.

"That's because I cannot see in the dark," she said as she went towards the window.

"Welcome to my world," Vincent said as he stood to see her out. Shego was baffled as to why his world was dark but shrugged it aside for a while.

"What's with them, anyway?" she inclined her head towards the sleeping teens where Ron had his arm protectively around Kim's flat stomach. "I've never guessed that opposites do attract. The dweeb and the princess."

"Love chooses none but eternal fulfillment of the souls of two," Vincent said much to her surprise and confusion.

"Yeah," she frowned and exited the room through the window. "By the way, how did you know I was in there? I barely made a sound."

"Good ears," he said. Shego was startled when she heard those words. Looking at him, she tried to see his face but he kept inside the shadows. "Good night, Miss Shego. I suggest you leave. I think Global Justice had just sent a squad over to ensure the safety of Miss Possible."

"Do you think we can see each other again?" she blurted quite accidentally but she felt his amusement as he chuckled.

"I would like that very much," he said and with a nod, Shego left the hospital.

….… …

Drakken's Lair

Shego's Room

A little while later

Shego slumped on her bed confused at to what was happening to her.

First it was the elusive Wraith that beat her in stealing King Solomon's Diamonds.

And now, it was the guardian of Kim Possible, her enemy.

Two different men and both intrigued her.

She decided to let the matter rest until the next day for the moment, she decided to rest.

"SHEGO!" Shego sighed as she heard Dr. Drakken's call. So much for rest. Sighing, she got up from bed and walked towards his den.

As she walked, she couldn't help but notice the henchmen looking at her shocked and surprised. She ignored them as she continued on. What was it with her appearance that made them gape like idiots?

"You called Dr.?" Shego entered the room expecting the usual outburst and when Dr. Drakken looked at her, his eyebrow raised in puzzlement.

"Shego! Since when do you adorn yourself with flora?" he asked.

"Flora?" Shego asked in bewilderment. Touching her hair, she noticed something stuck just above the ear. It was placed so that she would notice it until someone pointed it out to her.

Or, at least, when she looked in the mirror. And that what precisely she did. Walking towards the den's mirror she noticed a red rose tucked within her tresses. She didn't know how it got there but she had a good idea who placed it there.

The man in the hospital.

"So? Who's your date?" Dr. Drakken asked however, Shego heard a tinge of jealousy within his tone.

"I was not on a date," she glared at the mad scientist for making such an assumption. But he did not believe her.

"Fine, fine. I'll find out if you're lying to me anyway," he said as he smirked.

"Puh-lease," she huffed and looked at him cynically. "This from a man who just waltzed inside a highly guarded government facility."

"It was their lunch break," he frowned as he turned his back towards her. "Anyway, I, with my brilliant mind, have devised a plan that would make me the ruler of the world."

"Not again," Shego sighed as he resigned herself to listen to another boring plan. The only comfort she had was the knowledge that he had two men to daydream about.

/… …

Middleton Hospital

Kim's Room

The next day.

Quietly as his ninja skills could attain, Monkey Fist entered Kim Possible's room to finish what he had started a few night ago. He was weighing the threat a specter gave him and blatantly ignored it. Who was it to tell the great Monkey Fist what to do?

Monkey Fist was not afraid of a ghost.

As he crept towards the hospital bed, he saw Kim Possible and her monkey phobic friend lying on a single bed. This pleased Monkey fist for it would be easier to kill both at once instead of finding the other later.

Slowly, he took out a dagger and tip toed towards the bed. When he poised to stab them, he suddenly noticed a singular beep from opposite the windows.

"Oh bollocks," he said as the entire room exploded, ejecting all of its contents towards and out the shattered windows.

Monkey Fist screamed as he was hurled away from the hospital. He crash landed on the middle of the hospital's parking lot shaken and disoriented.

What had happened? he questioned as he saw the smoke coming from the room where Kim and Ron were recuperating. Screaming in anguish, Monkey Fist cursed whoever killed Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable before him. That right was reserved for him and him alone, or so he believed.

But his grief was halted when he heard the slow drawing of a sword from its sheath coming from behind him.

Monkey Fist's heart stilled as he slowly turned around only to find a cloaked man holding a katana with his gauntleted hand standing menacingly behind him.

Shaking with fear, Monkey Fist tried to pose for attack but could not find the courage for he knew it would be a hopeless battle.

But he would die trying.

With a monkey cry, Monkey Fist lunged the cloaked man only to find darkness within.

… …

/End of 5/

Next: What truly happened when Kim's room exploded? Shego tried to find out more on the Wraith but alarmingly tried to find out more about the man she met at the hospital.

Chapter VI: Shego's "Ghost"