Thanks for all of your support through this tough time, I really appreciate it. Your condolences prove that KP fans are the best of the best!

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There is a natural defense instinct that most humans have wired into them. Scientists call it the "fight or flight" response. The body produces an extra amount of drug called adrenaline when the body is under stress so the human can either fight the threat or flee from the threat, depending on the individual's personality.

Shego's response was to fight no matter what the odds. War Hawk's was to take flight, literally if at all possible.

War Hawk was so used to just thinking about unfurling her wings and there they came, purple feathers right out of her skin, that she had tried to when she saw Tigress. By the time she remembered her handicap, Tigress had taken advantage of the moment and stole her away.

She was still strapped in the car seat Tigress had locked her in. Her bum was numb after driving for so long, she had to go potty, and she was too scared even to close her eyes. Tigress hadn't spoken a word to her, just occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror.

Now they were at some lair she had never been to somewhere deep in a forest. War Hawk was kicking herself for not paying attention to where Tigress was taking her, but now it was too late. Tigress had taken the carseat out but kept War Hawk strapped in, throwing her in a corner of a large room across from a kitchenette.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue? You tired?" Tigress laughed.

"Kim wouldn't let me have my green tea." War Hawk said very quietly. Maybe she should try being Shego to stall.

"She doesn't know that much about you, does she?" Tigress made her way to the kitchenette.

She opened a drawer and started sorting through its contents.

"I think it's childish why you became a villain. You couldn't handle someone being better than you and when people started realizing what a true hero is, you ran off with some man twice your age. How sleazy can you be?"

Tigress pulled out a butcher's knife and held it up to the light, examining it.

"Kim does a better job than you in every aspect and you can't stand her because of it. Don't try to argue; I know you. You become jealous at the drop of a hat. Face it; you're even jealous of me."

She made her way towards War Hawk, butcher's knife in her right hand.

"You're nothing; you never were anything. You're better off dead." Tigress pressed War Hawk's head against the wall, butcher's knife poised.

War Hawk, unable to contain her fear any longer, sobbed. Hard and loud.

"Dddon't kkkkill mmmmeee. PLEASE!" Tigress paused.

This wasn't Shego. Shego had never pleaded for her life to anyone. Even as unstable as a toddler was, she still wouldn't plead. Tigress inhaled. She smelled like Shego.

Tigress leaned in closer and breathed in more deeply. An enraged yowl echoed in War Hawk's ear. The butcher's knife fell onto her lap.

Tigress paced around, hands balled into fists, using every cuss word in the book, tearing at the wall. This was typical Tigress, War Hawk thought, and as mad as she is she'll be raging for a good half hour.

If there was any courage in her, now would be the time.

War Hawk squirmed out of her restraints in a way that defied the laws of physics. She tiptoed away, thinking rationally for the first time in a long time. She couldn't get out of here in her current state. If only she could find the Juvinator and somehow figured out how to work it, she could have her wings back.

Tigress took in a deep breath.

"This isn't getting me anywhere." She reminded herself, almost hearing the school counselor's voice saying softly how her anger should be used productively.

Productively, how to use her anger productively... She needed to think clearly. Her goal was to kill Shego. Now she needed new steps to get to that goal since her old plan didn't work. Call Kim and ask to switch. That sounded rational. Yeah, set a few traps so there could be no backfire, set up a location far from her current lair.

She retracted her claws out of the couch. But what time was it in Middleton? What time zone was she in? Was her time zone ahead or behind Kim's? She should just call now.

She looked up Kim's number, which she had put in her directory knowing she might need it. She dialed it and waited.

&&&

Kim had almost fallen back asleep when her phone started going off. What could possibly be worse? She picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Kim." A purr came from the other line.

Kim jolted up.

"Tigress!" She yelled. Tigress laughed.

"You've been expecting me. Well, let's cut to the chase. You've got Shego, I've got War Hawk...wanna trade?"

"No, I want both of them and the Juvinator."

"Sorry, but I've got a lifetime grudge to murder. Now, you meet with Shego in Go City by the end of the week or I'll just kill both of them. I'm not there now, but I know that we both know how to get there." Kim hung up, agreeing to the plan.

"What'd she say?" Shego asked, sitting on Kim's bed. Kim sighed.

"Meet her in Go City by the end of the week, exchange you for War Hawk." Shego shook her head.

"Unacceptable. She'll eat War Hawk by then." She looked at Kim.

"What are we going to do?"

"We? So you went from you can take care of yourself to we?" Kim snorted.

"I can take care of myself. I just thought you'd feel better if you thought you were in charge."

"Shego, this is serious." Kim snapped.

"Because I'm taking my friend's kidnapping so lightly." Shego rolled her eyes.

"Drakken gave me you and your friends until we can turn you back to your normal ages. If you had accepted this, then you would've woken me up so we could've tracked them down if not caught up with them."

"I don't need you! Golden Arrow and I were doing fine until we ran that stoplight!"

"Give your ego a rest. Look where it's gotten you. Because of you, War Hawk's life is at stake and if she dies, it'll be your fault."

Shego's lip stuck out. She had always tried really hard to keep her friends out of any danger she could. She was just trying to help by immediately tracking Tigress instead of waiting for someone. A wave of guilt flushed her cheeks red. She started to cry.

"Oh knock it off, will you?"

"I hate you!" Shego screeched.

"I wish Tigress had just killed you!" Kim confessed at the same time. Shego ran out of the room, tears streaming down her face.

&&&

"I wish Tigress had just killed you? Harsh much?" Ron asked, leaning against the row of lockers.

Kim bit her lip, putting her lab journal away.

"I guess I've just had it with her. I mean, she was out on the road driving putting not only herself in danger but also Golden Arrow because she was too stubborn to tell me about Tigress."

"Kim, I've never taken parenting classes, not even human developement, but I still know you never blame anything on a kid. Their little forming brains can't handle it."

"Shego's an adult. She can tell I said that in a fit of anger. She won't hold it against me; banter like that's our relationship."

There was a short silence as they walked down the hall.

"You meant what you said, didn't you? You really want Shego dead, don't you?"

"Bye, Ron." She kissed him and ducked into her third period class.

Maybe she did want Shego dead a little bit, Kim thought guiltily. But it seemed like Shego ruined everything just by being involved. She probably meant what she said about hating her, though.

She should apologize anyway, she realized as Mrs. Pehl rattled on. Thoughts like that shouldn't be spoken, meant or not.

Halfway through the period, Mrs. Pehl's lecture in full swing, the door slowly opened. Mrs. Pehl turned, annoyed, to the guest and her mood changed rapidly.

"Hello there, sweetheart. Are you lost?"

"Kind of, ma'am. I'm looking for my mommy." Kim's eyes widened at the voice.

"And who would your mommy be?"

Oh, Shego, please. I'm sorry about this morning, just don't say-

"Kim Possible." Everyone in the room did a double take. Kim sank down in her desk.

It took Mrs. Pehl a minute to recover.

"Yes, she, she's in here." Shego came in, acting shy.

Her whole face lit up and she rushed down the row of desks.

"Hi, mommy!" Shego jumped right into her lap, grinning from ear to ear.

"Why are you here?" Kim groaned.

"I wanted to go to school with you." She said innocently, her legs swinging, hitting Kim's.

Kim looked to Mrs. Pehl.

"I need to go take her home."

"No, Mommy! I promise to be good! Ever since Daddy left, I've been so alone." Oh, she was good. Kim would give her that.

"She...can stay. So long as she doesn't disrupt class again." Mrs. Pehl had always been her favorite teacher. Shego made a zipping motion across her lips and Mrs. Pehl smiled.

Oh no. Shego had just found out Bonnie sat behind Kim.

Kim somehow managed not to crack between Shego cuddling with her like she was her mother and Bonnie cooing to Shego and keeping up with the notes they were taking in class. The bell rang and Kim took Shego over one shoulder.

"MOMMY DON'T BEAT ME AGAIN! I'M SORRY, I'LL BE A GOOD GIRL, I PROMISE!" Shego shrieked, making sure she had everyone's attention.

Kim laughed nervously.

"She's being silly. I don't beat her." Not yet, anyway.

"What's your game?" Kim hissed, trying to get to the cafeteria as soon as possible.

"You leave right away whenever Ron gets kidnapped. Why am I any different with my best friend?"

"We have no clue where she is!"

"At least Drakken's trying." How, with a gaggle of girls...? Never mind.

Kim set Shego into Ron's usual seat.

"I'm going to go get lunch. Stay put and we'll discuss War Hawk over a cookie or something." She told her.

"Actions speak louder than words." Shego sang.

Ron's eyes were the size of Killigan's golf balls.

"Shego's here?"

"I need to learn not to underestimate her." Kim murmured.

She never wanted the line to end, but she knew she had to get back to Shego. Monique and Felix were watching Bonnie, sitting in Kim's seat, chatting it up with Shego.

"Isn't Dr. Drakken her arch nemesis?"

"Yep."

"And, like, ancient?"

"Old enough to be my grandfather." They turned to Kim and Ron.

She noticed for the first time how Bonnie and Shego had the same evil glint in their eye and the same way of smirking.

"She has your eyes, Kimmi...and her father's hair." Kim glared at Shego.

"Talking about Daddy, huh?" It was useless trying to explain to a simpleton such as Bonnie about deaging. Hopefully, her reputation would cover this whole incident over.

"Yeah, he wants me to go live with him and his girlfriend Shego."

"Girlfriend?"

"It's unofficial." Is this how she felt about Drakken? She'd have to remember that...

Bonnie took her tray and stalked off to a flock of preps just waiting for the scoop. She'd deal with the rumors tomorrow, but today's problem was Shego and her vengeance.

"Okay, you've gone to three of your classes. Can't you go now?"

"Shego, it's not that easy."

"Sure it is. Me and my brothers played hooky so many times to save the world, we were practically part time students." Shego giggled.

"I'm all for missing health." Ron cheered.

Felix leaned over to Monique.

"Who's the little girl again?" Monique cocked an eyebrow.

"Have you not been listening? She's Drakken's and Kim's love child who Kim abuses and neglects."

"You actually believe that about Kim?" Felix snorted.

"No but it makes life interesting." Monique shrugged, draining her milk carton.

"Ron, Shego, stop begging. We'll wait until after school, see what Drakken's uncovered, and come up with a logical location where we might find Tigress and War Hawk before they go to Go City."

With that, Shego's mouth closed. Her bottom lip trembled. Her nostrils flared, her breathing becoming deeper and heavier. Her hands balled into fists. Darkness clouded her eyes.

"Hit the deck!" Monique shouted, dragging Felix under the table.

Shego opened her mouth to its full size and let out a screech that made the lights shake. It was long. It was unbroken. It was annoying.

She threw herself down, continuing her screeching while kicking and pulling at her hair and banging her head against the floor.

"TELL HER WE'LL GO! GIVER HER ANYTHING SHE WANTS JUST SHUT HER UP!" Ron begged.

"NO! GIVING IN WILL TEACH HER THAT THIS IS HOW TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS!" Kim yelled back.

"YOU'RE JUST BEING STUBBORN!"

"WE CAN'T LET HER THINK SHE CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

"SHE'S TURNING BLUE!"

Actually, with her black hair, scrunched up face so you couldn't see her eyes, and purplish-bluish pigment, she did sort of look like Drakken's illegitimate child.

Ron hoisted Shego up under his arm like a football and used his other to stiff arm the student population. Shego's screech bounced up and down as Ron sprinted out the door.

"I'LL BE BACK IN FIFTEEN!" He promised.

The cafeteria was quiet after observing Shego and Ron. Finally, Bonnie spoke up.

"She's got your temper, K."

"She's not mine, B."

&&&

"So, what did you do with the brat?" Kim asked as they were driving home from school.

"We need to swing by Smarty Mart real quick." Kim failed to see the connection, but stopped by anyway and went in with him at his insistence.

"Oh my gosh...I can't believe you." Kim gaped. Ron shrugged.

"You do what you have to." He said.

Shego was rocking her wire cage from side to side, gnashing her teeth. The animals around her scooted as far away as possible (even the wolverines). Mr. Barkin walked by, surprised that the shipment on rabid sisters had come in so quickly.

"Stevie." She called. He paused and looked around for a customer.

"In the cage." He looked behind himself.

An evil grin slowly crept up her face.

"Let me out, Stevie." She cooed.

"How do you know my name?"

"We knew each other once upon a time. Let me out."

"You're scaring me."

"Stevie, if you ever loved me, you will set me free."

"Though you do remind me of a woman I loved very deeply once, that woman broke my heart. Plus, you'd come out of my paycheck."

"Okay, Shego, time to go back to Kim's house to play with your little friends." Ron grabbed the handle.

Shego nipped at his fingers.

"SHE'S GONE BACK TO HER PRIMAL INSTINCTS!" He shrieked.

"Let me out. This isn't fun pretending to be an aminal anymore." She whined.

"After what you did at school?" Shego looked to Kim.

"You'd do what you had to do to save Ron, wouldn't you? Including to claim to be..." She shuddered.

"...Drakken's daughter."

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"How could you let Shego out of your sight?" Kim chewed Drakken out.

Drakken turned off the television and turned to her. Ron took a step back.

"She asked for a ride and I gave it to her."

"Why?"

"She told me what you said to her." Kim groaned, rolling her head.

"You'd be mad at her, too, if you heard what she said about us."

"I found out why Tigress is after Shego. It's about some villainess vanity contest that she's been winning and Shego won this year. But more importantly, neither I nor your computer nerd can trace Tigress."

"Why not?" Kim's tone changed from angry to concerned.

"First of all, she has this new Hench Co. gadget that diverts the signals of the calls she makes to a different location. Shego has it on her cell phone and has the funnest time of having me come and find her. Second, Tigress doesn't buy lairs, she creates them. After the lairs are found, she abandons them except for two; the one in Go City and the one you went for at the first sleepover in the Amazon. I've checked both. There's no signs at either."

"All this while babysitting? Extra credit for Dr. D." Ron said.

Kim felt a tug at her shirt. She looked down and saw Shego staring up at her.

"How, how, how did you, how did you-?" Kim stuttered, looking over at the cage.

The bars had been weakened by constant sudden freezing and melting. Artica glared at Kim.

"Putting peoples in cages is a mean thing to do." She said.

Kim examined the facts. They didn't know where Tigress was. They didn't know when she would be in Go City. They didn't know the exact trap she was setting. They didn't even know if War Hawk would survive or how long.

One thing Kim knew was if she missed so much as a class, she would have to apply for her credits. If she was denied, she would fail the classes.

She had to send someone to spy in Go City until Tigress appeared there. In the meantime, she would have to find someone who had known Shego as a toddler and had found a way to calm her down.

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