Chapter XIV: For emergencies only

Shego sighed as she heard Nicholas's communiqué. Ron and the rest need help. They were a few blocks from the mall and they could be there in a few minutes. Oddly though, Nicholas wasn't concerned.

"That sounded serious," Shego said as she looked at him, trying to find any semblance of worry. But he was calm, like he knew something she did not. Or that he completely trusted Ron to take care of it.

"When things start exploding, then I'd be worried," Nicholas answered her unspoken question. "But still, he may need back up. And I'm really looking forward to your lesson of seduction." Shego smirked and slightly blushed. She too wanted to seduce him to submission. She never met anyone that made her that hot. And it wasn't only in the looks department that she liked. She liked him as a whole.

"Well," Shego began as she ran towards the mall. She was surprised that Nicholas could keep up despite the weight of his weapons. "Before I could begin, could you do me a large favor?"

"Sure," he smiled as he matched her pace.

"Quite smoking," she was sure he would argue but he merely threw his cigarettes into the passing garbage can without hesitation. "That easily?"

"I can live without them," he smiled. "Don't think I could live without you." Shego almost stumbled as she heard him. It was a line, she was sure of it. But how come she felt that it was also true.

"Smooth, Cross-boy. Smooth. Keep that up and you're really going to score," she said seductively making Nicholas smile more.

"Don't want to score," he said seriously. "I want to earn something precious to you."

"And what is that?" Shego knew the attraction was there, so was the lust, what more could he earn?

"Your heart," he said as he added his pace. That mentioned organ began to beat loudly as she looked at him with a strong determination set into his features. It was almost he was sure that he would win her heart.

"Damn, you work fast," Shego recovered as she matched his pace. "And what made you think I would willingly give you my heart."

"Because mine's already yours to do as you please," he said with a small laugh, drawing out his pistol from his shoulder holster as they neared the mall. Shego blushed intensely at that confession. She only knew the man for a few days and he was already confessing his undying devotion to her. This was going too fast.

"I think the tweebs aren't forthcoming with their reports," Nicholas said, suddenly in his serious mode. Shego sighed as she turned up her plasma, she would ask him about it later but now, there was work to do.

Near the mall's entrance were about a dozen reptilian robots preventing anyone from leaving or entering. But Nicholas and Shego weren't just anyone. They were there to save their friends.

"I'll take the left you take the right," Shego said as she ran towards the six that were on the left. Nicholas only nodded and advanced towards the ones on the right.

"Weapons free," Nicholas said as he began unloading his bullets onto the robots. Three bullets struck the nearest robot and it went down when the bullet pierced its head. Shego, on the other hand, let loose her plasma, striking two of the robots on the chest, but it didn't even faze them. They only lost their balance for a moment and focused on her. She was surprised. Almost nothing could stand her powers, unless they were ready for her.

Nicholas had forgone his pistol as he saw that it had little effect on the robots. His first shots were a fluke. As the first robot went down, the others rallied against him. From his sleeves, a pair of short barreled shotguns came out just in time as one of the robots lunged. Nicholas sidestepped and aimed his shotgun at the robot's head pointblank.

The head exploded but he didn't look to see if it was not functioning, he immediately aimed his second shotgun on the incoming robot and fired.

Shego concentrated her plasma onto her hands. The robots may have shields against her plasma blasts but maybe a plasma powered punch could stop them, she hoped.

Charging in, she dodged the robot's attack and countered with her right fist onto its head. It may be cruse but it was effective. The robot's head caved it and the robot went down. She then struck the second robot down as it reached her. She was right. They were only shielded from normal plasma and not concentrated plasma.

She then went to dispatch the other two that were approaching. The two dodged her attack. It was like they knew how she would fight. Her next punched opened a hole in one robot's chest and her plasma powered kick sliced the other in half. When she was about to attack the remaining two she felt one of the robots arms grab her leg. It was the one she sliced in half. It was barely functioning but it prevented her from moving, just enough for the other two to attack.

Shego watched in terror as the two robots jumped and extended their claws. With the robot's hand on her leg, she could do anything else. She could still take out one but the other will still get her.

Then she felt it. A calm force that let her know that it would be okay. She chopped off the hand that was holding her and dove away, just in time for a beam of concentrated energy to strike both robots, making them explode from the damage.

Shego sighed as she smiled. Was this the feeling Nicholas got when he knew Ron would be all right? She looked at her savior who was walking calmly towards her holding two shotguns. The same ones she saw when he removed his coat earlier. But one of the guns was smoking, and… it looked like some of the metal extended outwards, probably the source of the beam.

"Thanks," Shego smiled as she nodded at the gun. "Could have used that earlier."

"Can't" Nicholas said as the metal retracted. "One shot only until it recharges. Don't want to broadcast it to the world though." He tucked the smokeless shotgun under his arm and offered his hand. Shego gratefully accepted and stood. Nicholas smiled as their touch lingered for a few moments.

"What is it?" Shego asked as she reluctantly pulled her hand away.

"Ion Particle Blaster," Nicholas blushed as he composed himself. "Good to have in a pinch. Hell of a recharge sequence though. Are you okay?" he asked as he reloaded his shotguns.

"Fine," Shego huffed as she brushed the dirt from her uniform. "But I think someone's gunning for me. These things were almost Shego-proof."

"I get the feeling its Kim-proof too," he said as he retracted both guns into his sleeves. He then reloaded his pistol that the picked up on the way towards her.

"Meaning they don't know about you?" Shego asked worriedly. If they were programmed to be Team Possible proof then they were expecting them to intervene. And that knowledge did not sit well with her.

"Perhaps. Let's check with the others. I wonder what this was about?" Shego wondered too as she and Nicholas entered the mall to find their friends.

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"It's good to see you guys," Ron said as he looked at his family.

"I missed you Ronald," Mrs. Stoppable said as she hugged her first born child. "When we heard you came back we came home. But when we reached there you weren't in."

"Sorry about that," Ron smiled goofily. "I stayed with KP. Had a lot of catching up to do."

"I'll bet," Mr. Stoppable smiled as he looked at Kim and Yori. "I hope you'll come home after it's finished. We have our own catching up to do."

"Hush, dear. He's coming home with us now, aren't you, Ronald?" Ron's mom almost demanded, obviously missing his boy.

"I'll be home this evening," Ron promised. "I have some things to do then we'll have a Bon Diggity family night, what do you say, little sis?"

"Booyah!" Hana cried out making Ron laugh.

"Looks like a happy reunion," Nicholas said as he and Shego neared the group. Ron smiled as he heard his friend's voice. Despite all the darkness that he had seen in Gunsmoke, Nicholas had the uncanny ability to see the brighter side of things. Although some of it came out as sarcasm.

But today, he was genuinely happy. Happy for his friend.

"Hey, CT. This is Hana," Ron smiled. "Hana, this my friend Chapel." Hana smiled at the man in blue.

"I go by Nicholas these days," he smiled and nodded respectfully to Ron's parents. "Your son keeps on telling me about you."

"Thanks," Mr. Stoppable shook his hand and was surprised at the firmness of the shake. A shake filled with confidence, he rarely felt one of those.

"CT, do you mind if I stay at my folks for tonight. We have a lot of catching up to do," Ron said.

"He wouldn't mind," Shego said, eying Nicholas like he was a toy. "I promised him a night he wouldn't forget." Ron smiled and held his hand on the man's shoulder.

"I will pray for your soul," Ron dramatically said making to women laugh.

"Keep it up, outlaw. I've got enough on you that you'd be red for years," Nicholas glared at the man in red.

"You wouldn't dare," Ron looked worried but Nicholas merely shrugged and looked at Kim meaningfully. Ron noticed the look and he was really worried.

"I don't get embarrassed," Ron said in false bravado.

"Maybe not," Nicholas smiled. "But it makes for a good story."

"What good story?" Kim asked, curious about their banter. From what she gathered, Nicholas had some stories about Ron that Ron wouldn't want to be known.

"Nothing KP," Ron smiled as he put down Hana. "Just some stuff."

"Riiiigggghhhttt," Shego smiled almost evilly as she wrapped her arm around Nicholas. "I have ways to make you talk."

"Is this way number one?" Nicholas said, liking her arm around him.

"Wouldn't you want to know?" Shego said in a soft voice that made him shiver in delight. Though he was much of a gentleman to outwardly show that he was getting turned on.

"I'll see my folks to their car," Ron shook his head at his friend's reaction towards Shego. It looked like he may have found what he was looking for on Earth. "By the way, you used it, didn't you?" Ron nodded towards Nicholas's arm which was slightly smoking.

"It was an emergency," Nicholas said softly as he glanced at Shego. Ron understood completely but still had reservations on him using that type of gun. "You used it, didn't you?" Nicholas nodded towards Ron's leather covered arm which made the blond smile.

"It was an emergency," he said as he looked at Kim and Yori. Both men only laughed making the others wonder what the hell was that damned funny.

"Could you get me some…" Nicholas motioned to his hair which Ron merely nodded.

"Later Preacher," Ron smiled as he, Kim and Yori walked the Stoppables to their car leaving Nicholas and Shego behind.

"Don't tell me they're leaving us to mop up," Shego sighed but smiled as Nicholas wrapped his arm around her.

"Never cleaned up after him," he smiled. "It got tiresome after the first one hundred shoot outs."

"So…" Shego smiled mischievously. "It's a pity that the shops are probably closed due to this."

"Can't you show me your old stuff?" Nicholas suggested almost teasingly.

"Doi. You don't know about women do you?" Shego huffed at his suggestion.

"There isn't a lot of diversity of clothes in Gunsmoke. And beauty products and trees and non alcoholic beverages."

"Really?" she looked at him curiously.

"Yeah. Everyone looks either looks like from the old west or the steampunk version of it," Nicholas said with a shake of a head.

"Really," she cooed rather sultrily. "Maybe we should add that you our lessons." Nicholas felt discomforted but at the same time liking the attention.

"What ever happened to taking it slow?" he asked as Shego laughed gaily as she pulled him with her out of the mall. All Nicholas could do was go with the flow.

End of chapter:

A/n: sorry for the delay. Thanks for your patronage. Please review. Thanks