No…no…nonononono…

Kim opened her eyes very, very, slowly. It didn't help. She was, in fact, pressed up against Shego. Or, more accurately, pressing down on Shego, as Kim was on top of her, arms around her, and Shego's arms around Kim. Kim shifted nervously, with was a monumental mistake.

Those are NOT…yes, they are…and they're pressing into my…Shego, don't you dare…

"Mmm…Kimmie…"

God, kill me, please…

"G…good m-morning, Shego."

"A very good morning…"

"Shego…don't say another word."

Kim tried to move away, but Shego tightened her grip, pressing Kim against her.

"Shego!"

"Why?"

"W-why? Why what?"

"Why not sleep in? Just a little while?"

Kim blushed brighter than she ever had before. She turned to look at Shego, and realized her face was right next to Shego's.

"C'mon…just this once?"

"I…I can't…I mean…I just couldn't…I'm sorry." I'm sorry? Why am I sorry?

Kim felt the grip loosen, and she pulled herself up, straddling Shego, who was now looking off to one side, looking almost…

Disappointed…Hurt, even? How could she…she can't, alright? Right?

Perhaps out of do-gooder nature to want to help someone in trouble, or for a reason that was kicked from her mind just as quickly as it presented itself, Kim leaned back down and lightly kissed Shego's cheek. Shego turned back to look at her as Kim pulled herself back up, shock written all over her face. It was the funniest thing Kim had ever seen, and encouraged her, just a little.

"Two can play at that game, Shego."

Shego's hands shot out and her fingers dug into Kim's hips. Shego used the grip to pull herself up, and whispered into Kim's ear.

"Wait until I start playing for real, Kimmie."

Kim froze as Shego leaned back, her fingers still tight on Kim's hips, squeezing down. Shego was giving her a look Kim had seen a hundred times before, in the instant before the first punch was thrown when they fought. But now, it was even more intense. The fingers slid off, and Kim found herself falling back without the support, scrambling to get to her feet. Shego lazily pulled the covers off and stood as well, not minding that she was half-naked. Kim tried her best not to stare as she grabbed her clothes and stumbled out the door. When Kim was finished dressing, she found Shego making breakfast, and she was practically glowing. Shego had the biggest smile Kim had ever seen, and it was a real smile, not the usual arrogant smirk she wore.

Once they had finished eating, Kim and Shego began their warm-ups, enjoying the chill in the air while they sparred outside. Sparring, stretching, gossiping, and some movies mainly took up the course of the day, as well as one very scary movie right before bed Shego had picked out. Shego seemed to have a taste for horror that Kim wasn't used to, and Kim found herself jumping into Shego's arms more than once. Shego was kind enough not to comment on this and merely made little circles with her fingers on whatever part of Kim she was holding.

Once it was time for bed, however, Kim nervously sank into her side of the bed, and Shego quickly grabbed her, pulling Kim into her arms.

"Shego…"

"Yes?"

"Don't…"

"We're just going to end up in each others arm's come morning, so give me one good reason why not."

Kim opened her mouth…and under the look Shego was giving her, came up empty.

"Thought so."

Shego pulled her in tight, and rested her head on Kim's shoulder. Despite herself, Kim couldn't bring herself to pull away. Though she did grab a hand that had wandered onto her belly and held it tight…just to keep it from moving around too much.

Time passes…

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!"

"Hello, Kimmie-cub. How's the consulting going?"

"Oh, it was great. I think I'm…making great progress."

"Oh, Kimmie…"

"Yes mom?"

"Ahh…never mind…"

"…"

Kim's mother watched her from across the dinner table. She had been doing this consultation for almost two months now, vanishing every few weeks for a day or two. She left looking nervous, and came back looking happier than she had ever been. As time went by, she became anxious, almost jumpy when the Kimmunicator beeped, yanking it out of her pocket faster and faster as the time for her next job for this 'Kigo Enterprises' approached.

So, she's nervous. But Kim is never nervous when it comes to missions…in fact, the only thing I've seen that makes her this nervous is…boys. Maybe…there's someone she works with that she's taken a liking to? That would certainly explain it…but then…why hasn't she asked me for advice like she has before? Well, I suppose my little Kimmie just isn't that little anymore…

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"You're staring."

"O-oh, was I? I was just thinking about work."

"Ah."

Just a few minutes after dinner, Kim got a call from Wade while her mother watched out of the corner of her eye. They talked a moment, and Mrs. Dr. P waited for Kim's face to light up, for her to smile and practically dance upstairs to pack for the trip. Instead, she saw her daughter's expression wasn't even close to expectant.

She's scared…no, almost terrified…

"Kim, is everything alright?"

"Y-yeah! Just Drakken, up to the usual."

Kim hurried upstairs after calling Ron, and she was quickly back downstairs in her mission gear, looking even worse. Her hands were shaking slightly, and she looking like she was already beginning to sweat.

"Kim? Kimmie?"

"Y-yeah mom?"

"Are you alright?"

She placed a hand on her daughter's forehead. It felt clammy.

Symptoms point to emotional stress…

"If you're not feeling alright…"

"I'm fine, really."

Kim quickly ran around her and headed for the door and waiting transportation. Looking out the window, Her mother saw Ron lean over and say something, and was brushed off. The two jumped into the waiting car and were on their way.

What would scare Kim like that? Drakken isn't that big a threat, and there's Shego…but nothing Kim can't handle, right?

"What's the Sitch?"

"Umm…"

"What?"

"Drakken…and…err…Shego"

Ever since Shego had first dragged Kim away, Wade had monitored the two of them whenever Kim did her 'consulting,' and after satellites showed the two giving each other foot rubs on the beach and Kim receiving the odd kiss, and not resisting in the slightest, the implications were rather obvious. Wade had, of course, voiced his concerns, but over time, Kim seemed less and less worried. Still, while Wade had decided not in interfere, he still resolved to keep as close an eye on Shego's actions as humanly possible.

"Y-yes?"

"Shego…stole a new microchip that could supposedly bypass even high-level government firewalls and encryption programs…"

"And Drakken wants to use it to take the world, right?"

"Y-yeah. Ah…Kim?"

"What?"

"This isn't sparring on a beach somewhere…she's…back to being just another criminal…"

"I…yes, I know."

Wade caught the look on her face before she cut the connection, and had to take a moment to steady himself. Staring at the flickering monitors around him, he knew, despite all the information at his disposal, he had no idea how to handle a situation like this.

To the tune of Drakken's ranting, Shego was pacing back and forth inside the lair

I can't just leave…even Dr. D would notice something like that. But if I stay…it doesn't matter! I steal something, Kim tracks me down, same as before. We fight! Except…we won't just be sparring this time. I'm going to be trying to hurt her…and she's going to have to…oh damn…what have I gotten myself into? I can't just…but I have to…but then…what happens to…us?

"GOD DAMN IT ALL TO HELL!"

Henchmen scattered as plasma went flying, scoring deep into the walls and ceiling. Drakken stopped his work at the outburst and turned, only to dive under a table when he saw the look on Shego's face. The bombardment lasted only a few seconds, and henchmen slowly peeked out from behind cover to see Shego breathing hard, hands generating the biggest plasma aura they had even seen. One man accidentally set a fallen beaker rolling, and when it hit the wall with a tiny 'clink,' Shego whipped around and blasted it, putting a crater several feet across into the stone wall. Nobody moved for several minutes until her breathing slowed and the plasma faded, and then Shego simply turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

"Is she gone?"

Drakken poked his head out from under the table and looked to his henchmen. One particularly brave man peeked around the corner and nodded to the rest, and they began to climb out from whatever cover they had found. The collected men started muttering and sharing shrugs until Drakken started ordering them back to work, his gaze constantly going back to the hallway Shego had disappeared into.

"Will Du?"

"Hello again, Ms. Possible."

Kim looked around in surprise to see her transportation was a Global Justice jet, loaded with GJ agents.

"What are you doing here?"

"The chip that was stolen was being designed under GJ security. Higher-ups have insisted on an immediate recovery, to keep GJ from any…negative reviews. You've been called in…unofficially."

"So, I get the chip, you get the credit."

The agents all shifted uncomfortably.

"That is…essentially correct. Fortunately, the chip emits a very distinctive energy signature once activated, so we already know where Dr. Drakken's hiding it. Look on the bright side, Ms Possible. With our agents handling the henchmen, you can direct your full attention to fighting Shego."

"Yeah…great."

The red light of the intruder alert was the only warning, as the lair was stormed by GJ. Kim led Ron ahead with her, dreading the encounter she knew was inevitable.

We won't be sparring…we'll be enemies, fighting each other…but Shego knows we have to…it'll be all right…won't it?

Fighting through the few lackeys in their way, Kim and Ron burst into the main lab. Dr. Drakken was above them on a ledge, shouting and waving his hands at the screens that displayed the huge melee taking place. And there, sitting on a table in the middle of the room, Shego was filing her nails.

"Drakken! Surrender and things will go easy on you!"

"Ah ha! Kim Possible! Don't think you'll win just because GJ sent along a little help!"

"Actually, I never needed GJ to beat you before, so as I was saying, just surrender!"

"Never! Shego!"

Shego inspected her nails, but otherwise didn't move. Looking past her, Kim noticed the damage done to the room.

"Shego? Shego! Attack!"

Shego swung off the table and turned to face her. As she watched, Shego's hands lit up, a familiar sneer on her face.

"Hello, Pumpkin."

God, that's creepy…it sounds like Shego, but…her eyes…it's like when she was mind controlled…there's just nothing there…

"Shego."

Kim slowly raised her hands and flexed her legs.

"Ron."

"Yeah, KP?"

"Get Drakken."

"G…What?"

"Get. Drakken."

"But…"

"NOW!"

Ron jumped and headed for a ladder. Drakken, taken by surprise, stared at Kim long enough for Ron to close the distance. Drakken took off in the opposite direction, and Ron followed, the two running circuits around the room.

"Shego."

"That's my name."

The two circled each other, until Shego lunged forward, Kim grabbing the arm that swung at her.

"Been practicing, princess?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Shego twisted free, and Kim went on the offensive, starting slow. Shego didn't, her speed as fast as Kim remembered. Kim was taken by surprises and was tossed around for a moment until she focused and brought herself to her own real level. This was not like their sparring matches. Bone impacted bone with enough force to bruise both. Kim had to scramble to avoid Shego's plasma, as she hadn't used it during their spars, already earning several small burns from careless blocks as she worked to remember the changes she had to make to her fighting style specifically for fighting Shego.

"Shego! Help!"

The two looked up to see Drakken holding onto a ladder, swatting and kicking at the blonde boy who was trying to pull him off, between swats of his own. Kim looked back at Shego for a moment, and her eyes sparkled for a moment. Shego caught the look, and wanted to smile, to show that she saw it. But after another yell from Drakken, Shego quickly broke away and tossed a ball of plasma at the bottom of the catwalk, the metal crumbling under the attack. Drakken quickly climbed down the ladder while Ron nearly fell, scrabbling, digging his fingers into the metal grating, dangling over the side.

Kim watched Shego drag Drakken from the room, while he wailed and reached for the chip, which was on the other side of the room. She quickly drew her grapple and pulled herself to the catwalk, grabbing Ron by the shirt and yanking him to safety.

"KP, they're getting away!"

"Y-yeah, let's go!"

Kim swung back down to the ground while Ron fumbled with his own grapple. Running after Shego, Kim spotted her and Drakken at the end of a narrow corridor.

"Shego! Behind you! Blast her!"

Shego turned while Kim dashed forward, and without hesitating, lifted her hands. Then she smirked and pointed to the walls, taking huge chunks out of the stone and filling the hallway with debris.

"Shego, what are you doing?"

"Covering our escape!"

"Oh, good idea!"

Kim continued ahead, dodging the flying rock, looking for emotion, any emotion, on Shego's face. She saw only the sneer. Kim stopped and covered her face with her arms at the last blast, disappearing behind a cloud of dust.

"Good work, Shego!"

"Yeah, yeah…"

Shego tossed one more bolt of green plasma before she turned away, and saw out of the corner of her eye, Kim leaping out of the dust cloud, right into the path of the last shot, no time to even try to dodge. The plasma impacted the wall a few scant feet from Kim, and Shego saw her tossed back through the air from the force of the blast. She saw GJ and Ron charging down the hallway after her, and saw Kim, lying motionless, just as Drakken shut the door in her face.

"Now, maybe, Kim Possible will know not to interfere in my plans! Come, Shego!"

Back turned to her, Drakken missed the look of malice that twisted Shego's face as she nonetheless followed him into the hanger bay, into a hovercraft, and out into the night sky.

"Kim! Kim!"

"Unnggg…Shego?"

"Shego and Mr. Lipsky escaped, unfortunately, but we have recovered the chip. Are you injured?"

"I…"

Darkness swam at the edges of Kim's vision as she struggled to rise.

"Don't move, KP, you're hurt pretty bad."

"I…I'll be fine…Shego…"

Shego…

Kim sank to the ground, unconscious.