Author's note: This is the chapter that will reveal how Merrick knows Hamlet: Prince of Denmark. Another long chapter.
Chapter 9: These Are the Best Days of Our Lives.
The one week later, the couple entered their senior year of school. It would be their last year at the place and Shego was thankful to have to endure one more year of a place she so hated. On the very first day of school, Duncan made the mistake of spreading yet another rumor about the couple and Shego took care of the matter in the first few minutes of school. After she found Duncan in the empty halls of the school, she grabbed him by the hair of the head and plummeted the side of his head with her fists. The only reason she stopped pounding his face in was him begging her to stop and him promising he would never cause anymore problems. His promise and pleas satisfied her. She left him laying in the hall after she finally let go of him and she went to her class while she felt good over finally showing everyone that bothered her about dating Merrick to leave her alone about the subject.
She didn't mind the school as much now because Merrick was there and he had some classes with her. One class in particular was an elective class Merrick dreaded all day because of the only fear Shego knew he had. That class was the drama class and Shego laughed at how nervous Merrick got before the first day of the class. He feared the idea of having to perform in a play for the school. She tried to reassure him that everything would be ok and he should settle down. But he couldn't and she watched him go into a panic over their teacher talking about the upcoming senior play. She never knew his fear of large crowds was so severe and she tried to comforted him while he sat in his seat and took rapid, deep breathes. His panicking caused all the other students to turn in their seats to look at him. When the other students started to joke with Merrick about his fear, he got out of his seat and left the room. He only returned to the class after the teacher left the class and talked to him. After that episode, Shego spent the rest of the time she was around Merrick that day, comforting him and assuring him. However, even her words didn't ease his fear.
During the first day in the drama class, the teacher outlined what play the class was to perform before the Christmas holiday. The play was Hamlet: Prince of Demark by William Shakespeare. After the class learned what play they were to be involved with, the teacher told them that the entire class would audition for parts for the play the next day of class. Shego didn't want to be in the play as much as Merrick but she knew she would have to help with the play in someway because the teacher added that anyone who didn't pull their weight, would fail the class. Though Shego never planned to go on to college, her perfect grade point average was in danger if she didn't help out in the drama class and she hated to fail at anything. It was one of her faults, she felt less of herself if she failed at something. Her only concern was Merrick, who refused time and time again during the rest of the school day to try out for the play. He even went as far as tell Shego that he would skip the class everyday if the teacher gave him a part in the play. The only thing Shego did during his statements was shake her head and try to comfort him. But she gave up at the end of the school day because he was still showing his fear while he drove her home.
Before she got out of Merrick's truck, she tried one last vain attempt to calm him down but it was no use. His fear had a grip on him and he couldn't get rid of the fear. The only thing she wondered about his fear was, why was he so scared to begin with. She knew him being alone most of his life was partly to blame but he had been around hundreds of people since he moved to the city. It also confused Shego over why Merrick never got over his fear. She hoped he would before the next day of school but she doubted he would. After she tried to calm him down, she let him leave after she gave him a goodbye kiss while he still felt scared and she watched him drive out of sight. For some odd reason, she loved seeing him actually scared of something. She loved seeing the nervous and scared side of Merrick she never seen before and she wanted to see more of him scared of large crowds. She didn't know why but she wanted to and she even planned to make it happen, which caused her to giggle at wanting to see Merrick scared. After the giggle over the way he acted all day and about her plan, she went down into the subway while she looked forward to seeing him up on the stage tomorrow.
I wonder if he be the same way as today, Shego thought while she made her way to the tower.
The next day of school was the same as the day before for the couple except now Merrick was completely terrified of the drama class. Shego actually had to drag him to the auditorium where they were to try out for the play. After she had him in one of the seats, she had to hold him in place and she finally got him to settled down when she threaten him with refusing to go out on any more dates if he didn't stop acting like such a baby. That worked but the threat only got him to stay seated without Shego having to hold him. When the teacher came into the auditorium, Shego grabbed Merrick by the shirt and told him she meant what she said about no more dates. He didn't resist her and while she held onto him, he watched the teacher walk up on stage.
The teacher walked right up to the podium and started the class. She gave a brief introduction to the play and started calling out the students' names from alphabetical order of the last names. At hearing how the teacher was calling out the students for their try outs, Shego heard Merrick let out a sigh of relief but she felt him shaking. She couldn't believe he was to terrified of such a simple fear but she liked him scared and giggled as quiet as she could in a hope Merrick didn't hear her. But he did and he looked right at her with a look of terror before he looked back at the stage.
"It will be alright, Mal. Just relax," Shego whispered while she and Merrick watched another girl in the class, walking up to the stage.
Merrick let out a weak chuckle and he stated, "Sheila, I would run out of here if you let me."
"Mal, I can't say anything to help how you're feeling, but I'm here if that helps you any," Shego stated while she listened to the teacher getting closer to her name.
With her last name before Merrick's, Shego knew she would have to go up to the stage before him and she hoped by her showing some bravery that Merrick would too. But she was doubtful that anything would change how he was at that moment and finally her name was called out. She patted him on the shoulder and told him, she would be right back. After he only responded with a slow nod, Shego left his side and went to the stage. Though she still didn't want to be in the play, she wanted to out do any of the other girls in the class. It was a simple competition Shego was looking forward to, just to prove to others she was better than them. She had picked out a part for the play that dealt with the least lines and she chose a simple line for the part. She opened the play manual, the teacher gave to everyone of the students, while she walked to the stage and she flipped through the pages until she found the lines she remembered reading over the night before.
After she was up on the stage and stood in front of the entire class, she cleared her throat and said, "My lord, I have remembrances of yours, that I have longed long to re-deliver; I pray you, now receive them."
The teacher tried to make her continue on with the reciting but Shego told the teacher that she didn't have any other lines picked out to read. Shego hoped that would deter the teacher from giving her the part. But her plan backfired, the teacher gave her the part of Ophelia because no other girl in the class wanted the part. After the teacher gave her the part, Shego let out a soft growl while she left the stage and now she would have to remember a part she didn't want. She would have been happy if the other girls wanted the part. Shego would have gladly given it to them.
She decided not to worry about the play for now; she was going to enjoy a show when Merrick had to go to the stage. She was curious about what part he was going to try out for. He never told her and deep down, Shego hoped he wanted to be Hamlet but she doubted he would pick something that would cause him to be on stage more than anyone else.
After she was sitting with Merrick again, she asked him what part he was going to try out for but she didn't get an answer out of him. She realized after a moment why he was silent, the teacher had skipped several names, who were all girls, because all the parts for girls were already given out. The next name the teacher called out was Merrick's and she was looking right at him because he wasn't coming to the stage.
Shego nudged him in the side but even that didn't thaw Merrick's petrified stare. He just sat there looking back at the teacher. Shego let out a sigh and whispered in Merrick's ear that she loved him and if she had to, she would drag him to the stage. Finally, she got through to him and he nodded slowly to her while he stood up and left her side. She watched him walk into the aisle and slowly make his way to the stage while he had his head lowered to his chest. He didn't open his manual until he was up on the stage and he fidgeted while he stood on the stage in silence. After a moment of silence, the teacher asked Merrick was he ok and the only response the teacher got out of Merrick was a loud sigh before he started speaking. Shego had to keep herself from busting out with laughter at him being nervous because he was cute to her when he was.
When he started to speak finally, Shego had to listen close to what he was saying because he was only speaking above a whisper while he kept his eyes glued to the manual. After she listened to the first few words Merrick said, she realized he was reciting Hamlet but he would stammer and stutter while he spoke. Before he could even finish his reciting, several of the students started laughing at him, which got the whole class, except Shego, to laugh at him. While he was being laughed at, he closed the manual, stopped speaking, and lowered his head to his chin.
The teacher came to Merrick's aid and hushed the class. After the class was quiet, Shego saw the teacher whisper something into Merrick's ear before he nodded his head and left the stage. Shego felt sorry for him because of the other students making fun of him and his worst fear but she was curious about what the teacher told him. She knew the teacher wouldn't have given the Hamlet part to him unless no one else tried out for the part.
When he had made his way back to Shego and was sitting beside her, she tried to get him to tell her what the teacher told him but he continued to be quiet. She gave up on trying to get him to talk to her and she laid an arm over his shoulders while she went back to watching the auditions. After the Hamlet part was given to another guy in the class, it dawned on Shego that she would have to be in a scene with the guy that she wasn't sure Merrick would be ok with. She opened her manual with her free hand and flipped through the lines until she came up on the scene.
While Shego laid the opened manual in Merrick's lap, she asked, "Mal, are you ok with this scene?"
Merrick looked at Shego for a second before he read over the scene and said in a sad whisper, "That's up to you. I'm ok with it unless you like another guy laying his head in your lap."
"Mal, you know better than that. You're the only person I would enjoy doing this scene with," Shego said sternly while she was grateful she got Merrick to talk again.
Merrick let out a sigh at hearing how upset he made Shego over what he said and he stated, "I'm sorry, Sheila. I can say some stupid stuff when I'm not myself."
"It's ok, Mal, and I mean it. I rather it be you instead of Mikey. I might end up decking him when we practice this scene. Still, you're ok with us doing this scene," Shego said while she saw a sad smile appear on Merrick's face.
"I am because I know it will take more than a guy laying his head in your lap to make you like him," Merrick said while he looked back at the other students still reciting.
Shego let out a soft laugh and said, "Mal, I started liking you after I fell in your lap but I started loving you because you were different than all the other guys in this school. That be hard for any other guy to top. I promise this be the only time I let another guy touch me but your the only one who can lie in my lap."
"I been doing that a lot lately," Merrick said slyly while he started holding Shego's free hand.
Shego snapped her head to Merrick and whispered out in a stammer, "Mal, be quiet. People might hear you."
Merrick let out a quiet chuckle and winked at her. She shook her head at Merrick feeling better and she squeezed his shoulder with a hand. She was glad he wasn't nervous anymore, which had her puzzled. Shego knew he was calm again over whatever the teacher whispered to him and she knew it had something to do with him not having to be in the play.
"Mal, will you answer what I ask you earlier," Shego questioned while she laid her head on Merrick's shoulder.
"Miss Dunbar said I didn't have to be in the play. Instead, I could be a stagehand so I still be helping with the play and get my grade," Merrick explained right as the auditions were wrapping up.
While the other students started to file out of the auditorium, Shego whispered, "So, you get to be at every one of the rehearsals?"
"Yep," was all Merrick stand while he stood up and looked down at Shego.
"Well, good. I would really hate it if you weren't at the rehearsals with me," Shego replied while she followed Merrick out of the auditorium.
For over two weeks, the senior year for the couple fly by. The only noticeable change, at school, for the couple was the new freshmen students showing the seniors respect. They would make way of any senior they seen except Merrick, who scowled the freshmen for getting out of his way. Every since that day, the freshmen guys tried to become buddies with Merrick but he only told them that they didn't have to show him respect because he hadn't earned it. That caused the freshmen guys to show him even more respect and they followed him around like groupies.
During those two weeks, Shego asked Merrick every day what did he have planned for their one year anniversary, which was coming up soon for them. He would only respond with evasive answers that kept Shego from guessing his ideas. She knew he was full of surprises and she gave up trying to figure out his plan. But she continued to ask Merrick about his plan, even when they would practice Shego's lines after school.
Shego was again amazed by how intelligent Merrick was. Whenever they went over her lines and she made a mistake, Merrick would correct her or help her with the line without ever looking at Shego's manual. The first few times he did this, Shego was surprised and she wondered if Merrick had the entire play memorized. She even tested him with lines and she proved her own wondering thought true. She would read a random line from the play and Merrick would be able to tell her who was to speak next and he even would say the lines.
"Mal, do you have a photo memory or something," Shego questioned one time after she couldn't stump Merrick with the lines.
Merrick only chuckled and stated, "Yep, I have read the play ten times since the first day of school."
Though, it seemed the couple couldn't be separated by anything, Shego knew deep down Merrick wasn't ok with the one scene even she didn't want to be on stage doing. Her assumption was proven true the first time the scene was to be rehearsed. On the very week of the couple's one year anniversary, Miss Dunbar called out Shego and Mikey Cole to rehearse the scene. Shego took her time to the stage. While she sat down in the chair that was on the stage, she noticed Mikey was as hesitate as she was over performing the scene.
While Mikey was knelt down in front of Shego, he whispered, "I really, really, don't want to do this scene."
"Why is that," Shego whispered back.
"Because your dating Merrick. I'm afraid he'll go crazy on me, I heard about what he did to Duncan. I like to keep all of my teeth," Mikey said with actual fear in his voice.
Shego let out a laugh and whispered, "He would only knock your teeth out if you try anything."
Shego's statement caused Mikey to laugh too and he began to smile before he looked off stage. His smile turned into a frown and he whispered in fear, "Oh, no."
She was puzzled by Mikey's fearful statement and she turned her head to see what frightened him. Standing just off stage was Merrick while he held a clipboard in his hands. He was looking right at her and Mikey while he glared at Mikey. Before she could say anything, Merrick slammed the clipboard into the chest of the guy standing beside him and he stared at Mikey one last time before he stormed into the back stage. The second he was out of sight, Mikey turned his look to Shego, who was still looking toward where Merrick disappeared at.
She narrowed her eyes at where Merrick disappeared at and she wondered what was that all about until it dawned on her. She didn't have time to think over knowing why Merrick acted the way he did because the teacher got her attention and told her and Mikey to get on with the rehearsal. However, Mikey refused to and left the auditorium while he mumbled about losing teeth. The teacher asked Shego what happened and she only said that Mikey felt sick, which the teacher believed and she excused Shego for the day.
Shego had to walk all the way home because Merrick was nowhere to be seen. He had left his truck at the school but he wasn't there. She started to get upset over the way he acted while she walked home. Sure, she was laughing with Mikey but it wasn't like they were joking and carrying on. The more she thought about the misunderstanding, the more she got mad at Merrick. She thought he was completely understanding but he proved to her, he could overact sometimes. She shook her head at the notion of her flirting with Mikey, even when she knew from Merrick's eyes she was. But she wasn't and she became enraged by the idea. She was a one man, woman and she loved Merrick. She told him several times, he was the only one she could love and she meant it.
Before she went into the subway entrance, she made up her mind to settle the misunderstanding one way or another that night. She left the subway entrance and went straight to Merrick's. When she got there, she knocked on the door but no one ever came to the door. Her mind was set on speaking to Merrick and she planned to do just that. She unlocked the front door and shut it behind her before she went though the home looking for Merrick. He wasn't there either and she decided to wait up in his room. They were going to have the talk even if she had to wait all night for him to show.
Her wait wasn't long so she thought because she heard the front door open and closed moments after she sat down in the office chair. A moment later, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. While the footsteps neared the door leading into Merrick's room, she folded her arms in front of her and make the most angry face she could. Her angry face, however, relaxed at the sight of Merrick's father coming by the doorway. The second he caught a glimpse of Shego in Merrick's room, he stopped and looked back into the room with a puzzled look. He looked straight at Shego then around in the room. He narrowed his eyes in confusion and entered Merrick's bedroom.
"I'm waiting for, Mal," Shego explained in an angry tone while she watched Merrick's father come into the room.
"I see. So, you two are going to have a talk about something," Merrick's father said calmly while he walked over the bed and sat down.
"Yes, D.L," Shego stated while her angry look gave way to a sad one.
D. L. chuckled at Shego saying only the initials for his name and he said, "Let me guess, he did something to upset you."
"You better believe it. Right as I was about to rehearse the one scene in the play he said he was ok with, which I know now he wasn't, he stormed off and disappeared. He didn't even show up to drive me home," Shego explained while she slummed down in the chair.
"I figured something like this would happen eventually. Let me guess again, either something happened during the scene or before that Merrick saw a different way that wasn't true," D. L. questioned in a fatherly tone.
Shego cocked her head at Merrick's father. It was odd to her, it was like the man was trying to be like a father to her. She was actually feeling better by venting to the man and she decided to let it all out.
"Yes, me and the guy that I suppose to do the scene with, were laughing before we seen Mal looking at us. We weren't flirting but were laughing over how Mal was," Shego explained while she felt herself tearing up.
To her surprise, D. L. made a sad look and held up a hand to her before he commanded, "Sheila, don't cry."
"The way Mal making me feel right now, I just might," Shego managed to say before she felt a tear running down her face.
"Sheila, don't. I want you to be strong. Merrick was wrong for storming off and leaving before you had a change to explain yourself. He's at fault, not you. When he shows up, I want you to let him have it. I don't care how heated it gets, make him feel sorry---if he's not already," D. L. said calmly before he rose from the bed and started to leave the room.
"Oh, I will," Shego said while an evil smile etched across her face.
"Well, good. If something happens tonight that causes you two to break up or whatever, make sure you're the one that does the dumping. Merrick deserves that. I thought I taught him better," D. L. said before he got to the doorway.
"I'm not sure we'll break up over this," Shego said sadly while she hoped what she said was true.
"I hope not either because I can tell you two are happy together. You can't have a relationship if there's not fights, the fights just make you love the other more," D. L. said before he slipped out of sight and headed to his room.
Shego watched the doorway long after D. L. disappeared in it and she thought over the coming fight. It was going to be their worst one yet and she was going to do as Merrick's father asked her to do. She wasn't going to hold anything back unless Merrick was already feeling sorry for how he acted. Maybe if he was, she might be able to hold off her anger. She still loved him but she wasn't sure what Merrick was feeling at the moment.
While she sat in the office chair and waited for Merrick, she got the idea to surprise him. She got out of the chair and flipped off all of the lights in the room. After it was dark in the room, she returned to the chair to continue the wait. Before long, the tedium of waiting caused her to nodded off to sleep.
Shego was woken up around midnight by the sound of the front door opening and closing. She held her breathe at the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. After a moment, she saw Merrick limp into the room and begin to get undressed. She was puzzled over why he was limping until the light of the hall showed to her how he was dressed. At the sight of Merrick in his 'Lawless' suit that was now covered with the white pads from a dirt bike suit, she knew he had been prowling around the city alone. She continued to watch him in silence while he got undressed and she blushed at the sight of him in boxers. But she stopped blushing and became angry again when she remembered why she was there. She let him limp all the way to his bed and lie down before she turned on the lamp that stayed on the nightstand beside his bed. The second the light came on, Merrick snapped his head to the light and he frowned at the sight of Shego being lit up by the light.
She stayed silent for a moment before she questioned sternly, "Do you want to start or me?"
He, however, didn't answer her and stayed quiet while he stared at her. She shook her head at him not answering her and she stared back at him for a moment before he diverted his eyes away from her.
"I take that as me starting this. Mal, what you seen at the school wasn't what you thought it was. I have told you countless times that I only love you and no one could change that. If you stayed around long enough after what you saw, I would have told you what we were laughing at. You, we were laughing at how you were. We weren't flirting even if you're still thinking that," Shego said while her eyes tried to bore holes into Merrick.
Even with what she said, Merrick still didn't say a word and kept his eyes from looking at her. After a moment, Shego let out a growl and shook her head at him not wanting to talk.
"Aren't you going to say anything," Shego questioned with a raised voice.
Her statement and tone caused Merrick to cut his eyes back to her before he said, "What can I say? You're mad at me because of me being stupid. Not even saying I'm sorry would help. But how would you react at seeing me laughing and carrying on with another girl while you didn't know what we were talking about? You would have did like me, thought we were flirting."
"Maybe, I might have but you don't flirt with any of the other girls because you shown me you wouldn't. You acted very stupid, which is unlike you. Mal, I said I love you and you should believe that. I wouldn't dump you for anyone else nor would I let another guy flirt with me without me decking them to the floor," Shego said while her anger started to lift.
Merrick lowered his head to his chest while he looked away from Shego again before he said sadly, "I know, I know. Just what I saw, made me feel like things were happening again. I have had two girlfriends stolen from me in my lifetime. I couldn't stand there and watch it happen again before my eyes. That's why I left and those memories I have, caused me to go into a rage. I went into the city looking for a fight to calm my anger, which I found one but it didn't help with my anger."
"Why didn't you fight for those girls," Shego question softly while she began to understand why Merrick stormed off.
"Because, Sheila, if that was what they wanted, I wasn't going to stand in their way nor would I stand in your way either," Merrick explained while he sat up in bed.
Shego shook her head at Merrick not letting go of the past and she got out of the chair to sit on the bed. After she was on the bed, she looked away from him while she thought over what to say next. She wanted to make him feel miserable for him thinking she was flirting but she couldn't will herself to. She loved him too much to hurt him, especially after she learned he had girlfriends stolen before by other guys.
Finally, Shego spoke up while she peeked back at Merrick, "Mal, that's the past. You really need to let things go. What you need to be concern about is the present. No guy is going to make me stop loving you. I'm still wearing the ring you gave me and I haven't taken it off once. If anything can ease your mind, it should be you knowing several guys had asked me out before I met you and I didn't go out with them. You asked me out once and we went out. That's a major difference. None of the other guys at school nor in this city can make me feel the same way you do."
He looked at her for a second before he turned his eyes from her and lowered his head to his chest. Shego knew he was already feeling terrible about how he acted long before he came back home. It was odd to her that even after the misunderstanding that made her angry at him, she wanted to make him feel better. She knew it had a lot to do with her loving him and she couldn't stay mad at him unless he acted in a way that she didn't like.
"I know, I had time to think about how I acted. I'm sorry even if you can't forgive me. I'm sorry for being jealous, sorry for over reacting to something I shouldn't have let bother me. I should have known better because I know every thing you ever told me was true," Merrick said sadly before he looked back at Shego.
"Mal, I forgive you and stop being hard on yourself. That's my job. At least you showed me how much you loved and cared about me. If it bothers you that much over me acting in the play, I could quit and help you back stage," Shego said while she turned and faced Merrick.
After hearing what she said, Merrick let out a sigh and shook his head while he said, "No, don't do that. I have to learn to trust you completely and there's only way for that to happen. To let you be involve with something that will let you be in contact with another man."
"So, you're ok with the scene now," Shego questioned with a smile before she slid on the bed and sat by Merrick.
He didn't answer her question for a moment and looked at her before he said, "I thought I was when you first asked me but I just proven I wasn't. Sheila, all I can say is I'm going to try to be ok with it. Maybe by the time of the play I won't be storming off like an idiot."
"That will work for me. Just trust me, I love only you and don't forget that," Shego stated while she wrapped her arms around him.
Merrick let out a sad chuckle and laid back down while Shego held onto him. They laid on the bed for a long time without say a word while Shego thought over how easy it was for them to argue without losing their temper. Though the fight didn't get as heated as she thought it would get, she felt what Merrick's father said last before he left her in Merrick's room. The simple fuss made her love Merrick beyond what she felt for him before it. Now she knew how much he loved her, he would willingly let her dump him for another guy without trying to change her mind. She let out a sigh at the idea of dumping Merrick. She hadn't ever planned to nor would she want to even if they had a major fight. Merrick was her dream come true and she wanted him to stay in her life.
After she got tired of the silence, she leaned her head up to Merrick's ear and whispered, "Mal, time we made up," before she nipped his ear with her teeth.
The couple did make up that night and before the next day of school, they acted like nothing ever happened. Merrick ran into Mikey during one of the class changes that day and Mikey about ran the other way until Merrick stopped him. He politely told Mikey everything was alright and he wasn't out to get him. Merrick's statement caused Mikey to relax and they went on to their classes without any crossed words. Mikey, however, made up excuses when the drama teacher tried to get him and Shego to rehearse together. They never got to practice any scenes together. Shego had to rehearse alone or with Merrick. She knew he was happy to help her with the rehearsing because he never would have to see her rehearse the one scene she knew he would hate to see her perform with another guy. She didn't mind, she and Merrick both got what they wanted, which was being happy together while Merrick helped her with the very scene that he wasn't yet ok with.
Two days after the simple misunderstanding and fight afterwards, the couple celebrated their one year anniversary together. Shego was surprised at how well Merrick planned the event. Before they went on their date, he waved her into his home because he said he had a surprise for her. She knew something was up because of the way Merrick was dressed. He had dressed in a suit and tie that seemed to be made for the occasion. After she got over the near faint of seeing him dressed up like he was, Shego admitted to herself that she liked the look because it made him look older and more handsome to her. She hoped to see him dressed up more often like he was while she followed him into the home. It was the only time she ever saw Merrick comb his hair and she wondered what other surprises he had in store for her that night.
After they were inside his home, Merrick led her to his room and once they were in the room, Shego saw he had bought her an exquisite dress along with all the accompaniments to make her look like the most gorgeous woman around. At the sight of Merrick spending so much money on her, Shego shook her head and walked over to the dress and diamonds. After she looked at the gift for a moment, Merrick chuckled from behind her and rushed her into his bathroom to change. She spent her time getting ready just for Merrick. It was the least she could do for him after he spent time planning for their anniversary. Finally, she was ready and the second she stepped out of the bathroom, she giggled at the look Merrick was giving her. His wide-eyed, dropped jaw look was priceless to her and she waved a hand in front of his face after she was standing beside him. After a moment, she succeeded in snapping him out of his daze. He shook his head and smile sheepishly at Shego before he took her by the hand and led her out of the home. For Shego, how the date was going so far, she couldn't even begin to guess what to expect next, which she didn't have to wait long for after they got in Merrick's truck. Again he pulled a rose out of thin air and gave it to her. She had gotten several from him since the first one but every time she got one, it had been during a special time. Those times were the cause of her remembering him giving her a rose and she enjoyed every single memory of a rose.
While she held the rose and smelt it, she felt grateful for her still being with Merrick. He was too good to her, she knew, and they even made up from the mistake two days ago. She knew no other guy could be like Merrick. He was a one of kind to her, not even his friend in Toyah could match him. Now they had put what happened behind them, they were enjoying the special day together and Shego, finally, started trying to guess what was next.
When they got to a restaurant that they never been to, Shego only let out a sigh at knowing the place and asked Merrick how were they going to get inside. Merrick only chuckled and got out of the truck. He went around the truck and opened the door for her while he actually bowed to her. She shook her head at him acting like a gentleman and climbed out of the truck. Once she was out of the truck, he held an elbow up to her and he escorted her like a gentleman would have to the front door of the restaurant. The man at the front desk waved them into the restaurant and led them to their table that was lit by candlelight. Shego lowered her head and about cried at the romance Merrick possessed. While they walked to the table, she realized something was odd about the place. Not another soul was there except Merrick, the waiter and her. After the couple was seated at the table, the waiter left them for a moment and with her and Merrick being alone, it gave her a chance to ask Merrick what was going on.
He chuckled and explained, "I have gotten us reservations to the most expensive restaurant in the city and had booked the entire restaurant for ourselves."
"Mal, you didn't have to go to such great lengths," Shego stated while she felt happy about how much he wanted to show his love for her.
"Yes, I did. I wanted to make this day special for you and to show how sorry I still am for the other day," Merrick stated before the waiter came back.
After Merrick went silent, the waiter handed the couple their menus and stood at attention, as if waiting for the couple's order. While Shego looked over the menu, she couldn't believe what some of the items cost and she flipped the menu to the side of her head to hide her face from the waiter. She whispered to Merrick and told him she couldn't believe the cost it took to eat at the restaurant. Merrick, however, chuckle and assured her money was no issue for their date.
"Sheila, it's been taken care of, all you got do is order what you want and Joe here, will fetch it for you," Merrick stated before he went back to looking at his menu.
She finally picked out one of the least expensive meals in a hope to spend less of Merrick's money but he stopped Joe from taking the order. The waiter nodded to him and suggested the most famous meal the restaurant had. Shego reluctantly agreed to the suggestion and the waiter nodded to her before he took Merrick's order. After the waiter left with the orders, Shego stared at Merrick while she smiled at him. She was starting to see the good qualities of him being stubborn. On this date, she wouldn't be able to change or alter anything in his plan for the night and she was there along for the ride while he showed her how much she meant to him. Though, she had already forgiven Merrick for his misunderstanding of what happened two days ago, she liked him still feeling sorry. He would shower her with affection just to prove how sorry he was. She didn't mind, she was enjoying herself at his expense. It was the least he could do after he made her feel terrible.
The couple spent their time waiting for their orders, talking about what it be like after they were out of school. The talk ended up with the discussion of wedding bells and Shego shared her ideas of her perfect wedding. While she talked about her ideas, she giggled at Merrick pulling out a notepad, that he would scribble notes on, while she shared her thoughts. After she was finished with the sharing of her thoughts, their orders were brought to them and the couple's talk ended before they started to enjoy the meals, which Shego was glad that she went along with the waiter's suggestion. She took her time with the food because she wanted to relish the moment. It was romantic to her; the candlelight that lit their faces in a dim glow, the person she loved sitting across from her, the rose she had laid on the table, and even the soft music that was playing in the restaurant. She knew Merrick had to pick out the music for the occasion because of the way he seemed to have planned for everything and she could tell he had planned it all well in advanced. She was loving the moment and she would peek a look at Merrick across from her while she slowly enjoyed her food. The look on Merrick's face was something she would always remember and she knew he was truly happy as she was to be sitting in the restaurant together as a couple. It seemed to her, nothing could separate them and she hoped that was true. While she thought over the sad life without Merrick, she finally finished her meal after Merrick did and he escorted her out of the restaurant like he escorted her into it. After they were outside, she asked him what was next and his explained they were dressed up for more than just dinner.
"Oh, really. Well, I gave up trying to figure out what you got planned next," Shego said happily while Merrick escorted her to his truck.
Merrick let out a chuckle and stated, "Tonight anything's possible. Even when we are finished with my plan, we can still go do anything you want to do."
She smiled at the possibilities while she laid her head on his shoulder and let him led her to his truck. After they were back in the truck, Merrick drove them to their next destination, which was a fancy ballroom Shego knew about, but she was never was the type to dance to classical music. She figured the inside of the place would be something she would hate. She, however, was surprised by the looks of the inside of the ballroom. Along with wonderful room, the white columns around the ballroom covered in roses stood out to Shego and it was beautiful to her. She knew Merrick had planned even the look of the ballroom because they were the only ones there. She started to feel joy over how much expense and lengths Merrick went to just to make her day. It was enough to prove to her, he loved her beyond what she thought. That realization caused Shego tear up while she lowered her head to her chest. She was truly happy while Merrick started to led her out onto the dance floor.
Yes, this is a very special day for me, Shego thought while she felt a tear stream down her cheek.
After Merrick had them out on the dance floor, he had Shego take her hand off his arm and he walked in front of her. He stood in front of her for a moment and looked confused at seeing a tear stain on her cheek. She noticed the looked he was giving her and she assured him the tears were happy ones. That statement lightened his puzzled look and he positioned them to slow dance. After a moment, a song started playing that Shego said from the start would be their song but she never told him it was. When she realized what the song was, she fought to keep from breaking down crying at the joy she was feeling. She didn't know how he knew about the song but she loved him knowing.
Right as they started to dance, Shego asked while she fought off the tears, "How did you know that was to be our song?"
"By the look you made the first time you heard it," Merrick explained with a smile.
"Oh," was all Shego could say before she broke down crying and hid her face in Merrick's chest.
While they danced, she heard and felt Merrick chuckle while he started to nuzzle his head against the top of hers. Hearing how happy he was, Shego let out a sigh of content. While they continued to dance. He had made her day as much as she did his without trying. While she enjoyed the slow dance, she made up her mind to go the next step that night. All she needed now was a good excuse for Merrick to persuade him to go that step. But before she could think up the excuse, the song stopped and a fast dancing song started. Shego let out a giggle at her kind of music being played in a fancy ballroom. She shook her head and the couple started dancing the way Merrick had to learn the first time he ever danced. Shego enjoyed the dance and saw Merrick had improved. Before they could get in the full swing of their dance, the song stopped and a lull of silence filled the ballroom before another fast dancing song started.
The couple danced the night away well past midnight and the only reason they stopped was Shego saying she was ready to call it the night. In reality, she wasn't tired but nervous over the idea of going the next step. She had to stop dancing to calm down her nerves and to give her time to think up her excuse. The break helped on her nerves a little and by the time they left the ballroom, Shego was looking forward to Merrick taking her to his place.
They laughed happily while they walked out of the ballroom and headed to Merrick's truck parked at the corner of the city block. Right as the couple neared the corner of the building the ballroom was in, three individuals came walking around the corner of the building and stopped dead still at the sight of the couple, which caused the couple to stop too. The only reason Shego stopped walking was because Merrick did. Seeing people on the street this time of night wasn't unusual to Shego. She figured the girl her age and the twin guys with her, were out in the city just like Merrick and she was. But after a second, her crime fighting instinct kicked in because of the looks the three individuals had on their faces. While the girl looked mad, the twins had the opposite looks of happy and sad. It was odd to Shego that after the first sighting of the trio, that they held the same looks. It was like that was how they were feeling at that moment and Shego was about to get ready for a fight because of the mad girl staring right at Merrick.
Before Shego could get in a stance, the girl exclaimed in anger, "Lawless," which caused Shego to freeze with surprise.
At hearing the name for Merrick's crime fighting persona, the twins stammered out in unison, "Where," while one of them said it happily and the other sounded depressed.
"Right there you idiots," the girl said with angry annoyance while she pointed at Merrick.
"Oh, come on sis. If he was Lawless," the happy twin said while he peered at Merrick.
"He would have attacked us the second he seen us," the sad twin said while he finished the other twin's sentence.
"His eyes are like Lawless'. I know those eyes. It's him," the girl stated with anger while she went down in a stance like she wanted to fight.
At the sight of the girl getting ready to fight, Shego started toward the girl but she was stopped by Merrick holding an arm in front of her. She looked at Merrick for a second and she was about to push by his arm until she heard him say in a whisper under his breath that everything will be ok. This confused Shego as much as why three people would be arguing over Merrick being Lawless or not. Just the statement about his eyes, told Shego that he knew the three individuals for some reason. Shego reluctantly relaxed against Merrick's arm and watched the trio in silence, just like Merrick was doing.
"Sis, you're so jumpy tonight," the gleeful twin said while he laid a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"It won't help us by you drawing attention to us," the depressed twin said while he looked like he was about to cry.
"Because we just broke out of the asylum Lawless threw us in," the cheerful double said while the girl shook his hand off over her shoulder.
"And we don't plan to be thrown back in there an hour after we just got out," the cheerless doppelganger said while he walked in front of the girl.
"Alright, fine. You two idiots made you points. But I'm telling you that guy is Lawless. If we let him go and he's Lawless, you two are to blame for Lawless getting away," the girl stated with anger after she came out of her fight stance.
She looked Merrick straight in the eyes for a second before she waved the twins to follow her and she slipped out of sight around the corner of the building. The twins watched the girl go out of sight and looked back at the couple before they too went out of sight around the corner. After the trio were gone, Shego heard Merrick let out a sigh of relief while he lowered his arm out of Shego's way. She looked up at his face and saw he was scared. She didn't know what the strange event was all about but she was going to get answers.
"Ok, Mal. You got some explaining to do. Who were they and why were they talking about Lawless," Shego questioned after she made Merrick turn to face her.
Merrick let out another sigh and said, "They are the ones I got in a fight with when I went looking for one the other day. They're siblings. The girl's name in Tanya and her brothers, the twins, are Tim and Tom. Their last name was Brock. Now they are only known collective as the Trio.
"What's the deal with the looks they had," Shego questioned while she looked at the corner of the building.
"They are unstable mentally due to their parents abusing them as kids. The looks are what emotional state their always in. Tanya is the self appointed leader of the group and she's the most dangerous," Merrick explained while he hinted pity for the Trio.
"How did Tanya know you were Lawless just by your eyes," Shego asked while she felt sorry for the Trio being abused, especially since it made them go mental over the ordeal.
Merrick let out another sigh at the question and explained, "I ran into them one night while I was prowling around the city. I have stopped their crazy rampages time and time again but they always manage to break out of the asylums. They are most dangerous together and strangely they are dormant alone."
"So, shouldn't we go stop Lawless' arch-enemies instead of just standing here," Shego questioned before she started to run to the corner of the building.
She was stopped by Merrick taking her by the hand and he shook his head while he said, "No, their stable minded for now. If we went after them, they may snap. Their unpredictable when they go crazy. They may act friendly, but in an instance they may try to slit your throat. That's why I wear protection on my suit now. As long as they are looking for Lawless, everyone's safe. I'll go stop them later and get them thrown in another asylum---hopefully this time the docs can keep them there so they can get the help they need."
"But---," Shego started to plead but she was cut off by Merrick laying a finger to her lips.
"It will be ok. I have dealt with them before. After our date tonight, I'll go deal with them. Some things are more important than throwing nut cases in an asylum," Merrick stated which caused Shego to frown.
She had other plans for the night and now it looked like they would be cancelled. Her plans; she would have to wait on because he was going after the trio after their date. She knew that was more important to him at the moment even though he stated the opposite. There was no use in her trying to persuade him to stay nor for her to tag along. His stubbornness had negative sides that he showed that she didn't like as much as she liked the positive sides. She let out a sigh at Merrick's statement and nodded to him. While Merrick led her to his truck, her perfect day ended for her. The last detail was going to be important to her, especially after she got over her nervousness.
We'll get another chance, another day. Isn't like its that important, Shego thought sadly while she climbed into the truck.
All the way to the subway, Shego remained silent and felt sad. She knew Merrick had an idea that something was wrong with her and she wished he would ask her about it. Maybe she could persuade him to go to his place and for them to go the next step without her having to give an excuse. But Merrick never asked her what was wrong all the way to the subway and she continued to be silent.
After they sat in the truck in silence, long after they were at the subway entrance, Merrick finally asked her what was wrong. His question caused Shego to be nervous again. She knew it was pointless to share her feelings along with how she wanted to end the special day. But she decided to be brave and tell him. She slid across the seat and wrapped her arms around him before she said a word.
While she hugged him, she said, "Mal, I wanted this day to end different. I wanted to stay with you tonight."
Merrick narrowed his eyes in confusion for a second before he stated, "Well, you could sleep in my bed with me if you want to."
Shego let out a sad giggle while she said, "I didn't want to just sleep in the bed."
Her statement caused Merrick to widen his eyes at getting her meaning and he acted nervous for a moment before he stammered out, "I...umm...Sheila...you know how...I feel about that."
"I know. Just I felt it would have been the perfect way to end such a romantic night," Shego said in defeat over knowing it wouldn't have happened, even if they didn't run into the trio.
He let out a sigh at Shego sounding sad and he softly said, "Sheila, I understand. It would have and who said it can't still happen. It's still up to you because your reason is good enough. Tonight was just for you and if it means going the next step to keep you happy, I'm all for it."
Shego shook her head and said, "It's ok. We don't have to. I'm happy with just what went on tonight---except the encounter with the nut jobs. Forget about going the next step for now. We'll have other chances to later. If not, we'll get all the time we want after we get married."
Her statement caused Merrick to let out another sigh but he nodded to her and kissed her on the forehead while he wrapped her in his arms. Shego buried her head in his chest and smiled at how gentle and kind he was to her. She was actually afraid of his reaction to her plan. For him to be ok with her wanting to go the next step, proved to her that he didn't mind her wanting to. She knew he still didn't think like teenage boys because she still had to cause anything that happened between them. It was her place and time to chose what went on behind closed doors. She liked that kind of deal and she never had to worry about Merrick pressuring her. She had to pressure him and she enjoyed that. Just to have control over something intimate was something she really enjoyed.
After a moment, Shego let out a sigh and reached a hand up to Merrick's face. She stroked his face for a second before she pulled him down to her to kiss him. Her kiss caused them to make out for a moment and Shego finally stopped the kissing after she knew Merrick needed some air. She smiled at him and told him she had a great time before she gave him one last goodbye kiss. She slid out of his arms and stepped out of truck. Before she shut the truck door, she said she would see him in the morning before school. He nodded slowly to her and watched her walk into the subway after she shut the door.
When Shego got back in the tower, she sat down in her chair at the round table and thought over the perfect night. She got all she wanted in one night it seemed. The final step was just a notion that hit her at the end of the date. Other than that not happening, the date caused her to love Merrick to the point that she wanted to take his offer of just sleeping in the same bed with him. She missed him just minutes after she last saw him. She knew that was the price she had to pay for being in true love with Merrick. Ever since they came back from Toyah, she had made the point of being around him as much as she could, just to keep from missing him. She finally decided to go to bed while she wondered if Merrick was going out on the town to find the Trio. Her last thought for that night before she drifted off to sleep was a hope that he would be ok and she would see his loving face in the morning.
The next morning, Shego waited outside the subway entrance to nearly the time for school. Merrick was never late for school and for him to be late for once, worried Shego. She hoped he had just over slept and she would see his truck coming up the road at anytime. However, his truck never showed and she became worried sick with what might have happened during the night. She was about to head to Merrick's but the Wegoes pleaded with her to walk them to school. They were still young and didn't like to be in the city without any of their older siblings. Now that Shego was the only older child still in school, it was her duty to see them to school. She let out a sigh and waved her brothers to follow her to the school while she kept looking down the road, hoping to see Merrick's truck in the distance. She never did and walked her brothers to the school while she fought the urge to leave her brothers where they were and run to Merrick's. The only thing that kept her from leaving her brothers was them being family and they needed her. Someday she hoped to sever all connection to her family. But she couldn't for now because of her younger brothers needing her and of all her brothers, her younger brothers were the only ones she really cared about.
When they got to school, her brothers left her outside of the school and ran inside. After the twins went inside the school, she stood outside of the school for a minute, hoping still to see Merrick's truck pull up in the parking lot. She never did and went into the school while she slummed her shoulders. All day long, she looked for Merrick, hoping her worried feeling was just her missing him. In every class she had with him, he wasn't in and at every class change, when she would see him, she didn't. She already knew something happened to him after the first class. During her last class for the day, Shego made up her mind to skip the play rehearsals and head straight to Merrick's after school.
Her plan, however, never came to be because after her last class, the drama teacher caught her in the hall and made her go into the auditorium. Shego pleaded her case that she had something important to deal with and she didn't have time to rehearse anything. The teacher didn't want to hear anymore excuses because she had heard enough from Mikey over not wanting to practice any scenes with Shego. She made Shego walk up on the stage to begin the rehearsals with Mikey. Shego let out a sigh and hoped that Merrick would show up soon. He never did and Shego had to go through all of the scenes for her part in the play. The very last scene was the one she didn't want to perform and she knew Merrick would hate to see her do. While she and Mikey got ready for the scene, the drama teacher said she had to leave for awhile and she hoped by the time she got back, that Shego and Mikey could do the scene with out her directing. After the teacher left, she left Shego and Mikey alone in the auditorium. Shego was uneasy about the idea of being alone with a guy who was to put his head in her lap.
While she reluctantly sat down in the chair on stage, Mikey asked her, "So, where's Merrick at? I didn't see him anywhere today."
"I don't know," Shego stated with sadness while she rubbed her face with one of her hands.
"Maybe we can go through this scene without him scaring me to death," Mikey stated while he knelt down in front of Shego.
She let out a weak laugh at what Mikey said and they went through their lines. Shego had trouble focusing on her lines because of her worrying over what happened to Merrick. She was so deep in thought over the possibilities that she didn't even noticed Mikey had laid his head in her lap. When the realization hit her of him doing this, she tensed up which caused him to chuckle.
"Sheila, you really nervous about this," Mikey stated while he looked up at Shego.
"It's just making me uncomfortable is all," Shego said in a tone that hinted her dislike of Mikey having his head in her lap.
"Why is that, never had a guy's head in your lap," Mikey questioned with a smile while he continued to look up at Shego.
"No..I," Shego stammered out before she blushed.
Mikey let out a laugh and said, "You have!? Must have been Merrick, he's lucky. A lot of the guys in our grade have tried to guess why you started to date him."
The embarrassment was too much for Shego and she turned her head away from Mikey. She only looked away from Mikey for a second before she snapped her look back at him because of him rubbing his head in her lap.
"What in the world are you doing," Shego questioned with astonishment.
"Oh, you don't like that? Well, we can go back to my home and see what else we can do alone that you would enjoy," Mikey said happily while he continued to rub his head in her lap.
"Do what!? Get off of me," Shego screamed before she grabbed Mikey by the hair of the head and tossed his head off of her.
After Mikey hit the ground, he let out a laugh and stated, "Yep, your a feisty thing. I like them that way," before he climbed back onto his knees and wrapped his arms around Shego.
She tried to fight out of his arms but his bear hug kept her arms at her sides. He shifted his weight and brought Shego down on the floor with him. Before she could get any balance with her feet to push away from Mikey, he rolled over and pinned her to the floor by straddling her. She continued to struggle but it was no use. The guy on top of her was stronger than her and had her arms locked in place. Even if she used her powers, she wouldn't be able to aim her hands right to blast the creep off of her. She was at his mercy until he let go of her arms. After a moment, it seemed Mikey gave her a chance to use her arms when he unwrapped his arms but she froze in shock at him groping her.
Before she got her senses back, Mikey grabbed her hands and pinned them over her head. She tried to fight out of the grip but it was no use and she stopped the struggling when she saw Mikey leaning his head in to kiss her. Her eyes widen and she moved her head side to side to try and keep him from kissing her. But she failed because his lips met hers when she was turning her head away. His held the kiss only for a moment until the sound of one of the large doors leading into the auditorium was heard opening then slamming shut. Shego was frozen with fear at the guy on top of her and she realized he had a scared look on his face too while he looked toward the sound of the door moving.
While she got over her shock, she turned her head to the door that moved and saw Merrick standing at the door while he held his side with a hand. Right as he started limping to the stage, Shego felt Mikey let go of her and got off of her. She rose up and wiped her mouth with a hand while she watched Merrick. She wasn't sure how to react because she hadn't learned to read his looks and she was still in shock over what Mikey just done. While she let out a skipping sigh, she decided to let what happens, happen even if Merrick over reacted with her and misjudged what he saw with his eyes. It was what she expected Merrick do, especially after the last misunderstanding but he saw her kissing another guy. She wasn't kissing him back and if Merrick over reacted to what he saw, she made up in her mind for the first time to dump Merrick. Only he could change her mind with the way he would react.
At the sight of Merrick acting beat up, she knew why he had been absent but she was grateful for him showing when she needed him. When she saw how mad Merrick looked, she looked back at Mikey, who looked terrified and was looking for a way to get out of dodge before he back stepped from the steps leading off the stage when Merrick got to them.
Mikey stammered out with a squeaking voice, "Merrick, we were just, umm, rehearsing a scene for the play."
His statement caused Merrick to cock his head and shake it before he limped up onto the stage. When he was on the stage, Merrick stared at Mikey for a second before he limped over to Shego. After he was to her, he held a hand out to her while he asked her was she ok. She only nodded her answer while she took his hand. When she was back on her feet, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his chest. He was acting like she wanted him to; he understood what happened. While she nuzzled her head in his chest, Mikey started to slip off the stage.
However, Merrick pointed a finger at him and said in an enraged tone, "I'm not done with you yet," which caused Mikey to stop moving and look at the couple still in their embrace.
"Hang on a minute, Merrick. She came onto me," Mikey said with fright while he waved his hands in front of him.
Shego lifted her head from Merrick's chest and shook her head while he said, "Is that right? Mikey you need to be a better liar than that."
"Look, Merrick. I know I was wrong, ok. I'm sorry," Mikey pleaded with Merrick when he saw Merrick place his hands on Shego's shoulders.
"You'll be sorry for it when I'm through with you," Merrick said while he made Shego take her arms off of his shoulders.
Merrick turned from her and faced Mikey before he started limping to him. Mikey backed away from him and balled up a fist. At seeing the fist, Merrick stopped just out of reach of it and chuckled. The second Mikey narrowed his eyes at him, Merrick flipped him off with both of his hands and kicked him in the gut. The kick caused Mikey bent forward while he started to gasp for air. Him bending forward left him open to the uppercut Merrick threw at his face. A sound of something cracking came from Mikey and the motion of the punch caused him to reel back. He fell straight onto his back and looked up at Merrick standing over him. Mikey spit pieces of teeth and blood out of his mouth so he could continue his gasping for air. While he took the deep breaths, Merrick knelt down beside him and grabbed him by the throat. He made Mikey stand back up straight and look at him. When Mikey looked into Merrick's eyes, he flinched at the enraged eyes and he continued to fearfully gasp for air.
"You're not wise to wanting to fight me. Duncan was more of a challenge. If you don't want to feel serious pain, I advise you to get off this stage and get out of here. Never come back here and bother Sheila again. Do you get me," Merrick said while he started to squeeze Mikey's neck.
He could only nod to Merrick while he tried to swallow between deep breaths. The nod satisfied Merrick it seemed and he led Mikey by the neck to the steps leading off the stage. He let go of Mikey and shoved him down the steps. When Mikey finally came to a rest at the bottom of the steps, he picked himself up and ran up the aisle while he looked back at Merrick staring at him. Once he was out of sight, Merrick turned his look to Shego and grabbed his side while he winced at pain. At the sight of him in pain, she rushed to him and wrapped him in her arms. She was glad she did because he about went limp in her arms.
"Mal, what happened to you," Shego questioned fearfully while she fought to keep him standing.
"I ran into the Trio last night, they gave me a beating but I got them locked up, nice and tight, at an asylum they will never get out of until their better," Merrick explained while he laid an arm on Shego's shoulder.
"Oh, I was worried sick about you. I wished you were here, what happened earlier might not have. I'm sorry for letting that guy kiss me," Shego said sadly while she helped him down the stairs.
He let out a sigh at her statement and said, "You don't have to say sorry for that. I knew by the look on your face that he caused the kiss and you wasn't liking it. I trust you, Sheila. Don't think he'll cause anymore problems."
"But I should have fought more, it might have kept him from kissing me. He did other things too...he...he groped me," Shego said with anger while she stopped walking and looked Merrick in the eyes.
She watched him start to take deep breaths and look angry again. He said nothing at first and nodded Shego to continue walking. By the way he was acting, she could tell he was about to burst from the anger.
Finally he did with the outburst of, "That sonna bitch! If I knew that I would have did more!"
His explosion of anger surprised Shego. She had never seen him so mad in her life but she knew he was mad at Mikey defiling her. As much as Merrick wanted to hurt Mikey more, she felt the same way and she would get revenge the next time she saw Mikey, that is if Merrick didn't beat her to it. After his outburst, Shego snuggled up as close as she could to him and she saw that helped his rage.
"Mal, I'm sorry for what happened. I said you were the only guy I let come in contact with me but I let Mikey when I should have known what he was after," Shego said sadly right as they left the auditorium.
Merrick shook his head at her words and said, "Sheila, don't say your sorry for something that you weren't not a fault---well your good looks were---but not you actions. I know you didn't cause it and it was just like what happened with my ex. Please let it go, he won't get away with what he done once I'm better, I'll make him sorry for what he did."
"Who be sorry for what," the couple heard a woman ask behind them which caused them to go silence at knowing the voice.
The couple spun around and saw the drama teacher was standing right behind them. Miss Dunbar was staring at the couple like she expected an answer. After a moment of silence, the couple sighed in unison and Merrick answered her question.
"Miss Dunbar, Mikey abused Sheila earlier," Merrick explained without hiding his anger over the event.
The teacher folded her arms in front of her and she said, "You mean that sweet boy tried to harm Sheila."
"Yes, ma'am. He's not as innocence as he makes out to be," Merrick said while he adjusted his weight on his legs.
"Is this true, Sheila," Miss Dunbar asked Shego while she looked at her.
Shego only nodded sadly at the question and the teacher then asked sternly, "Where's he at now?"
"I ran him off when I showed up. Miss Dunbar, may I request him not to be in the play nor anywhere close to Sheila," Merrick stated while he leaned a shoulder against the edge of the door that led into the auditorium.
"Oh, you certainly will get that wish fulfilled. Mikey's going to get a expulsion once I tell the principal about this and Sheila could press charges if she wants. But now I'm going to have a problem to deal with after this one. He was Hamlet and none of the other guy students want that part," Miss Dunbar said before she left the couple to go to the office.
The couple watched the teacher nearly go out of sight before Merrick yelled out, "I'll do it."
"Are you sure," Shego whispered with surprise while their teacher stopped in the hall and looked back at them.
"Merrick, you don't have to, I can find someone eventually that will do the part," the teacher said softly.
"I want to, just to keep the same things that happened tonight from happening again," Merrick said sadly while he stopped leaning on the door.
"Well, alright. You want to be her knight. You better start practicing then, Hamlet's the hardest part. I see you two tomorrow for rehearsals, maybe now those Ophelia and Hamlet scenes can be rehearsed without excuses," Miss Dunbar said happily before she continued on to the office.
The couple watched her leave and Shego started giggling over Merrick being in the play now. She was going get to see him being nervous several times. Though, she still felt sad and angry at once over what happened that night, she was grateful for Merrick coming to her aid. It was special to her for him to come and save her when she was in trouble. The first day she met him, he saved her and that was before they were dating. Now he did it because they were dating but she knew he would save her even if they weren't in love. He was too kind and honorably good.
She helped him out of the school and would have helped him to his truck if she saw it but it was nowhere to be seen. After a moment of searching, she asked him where his truck was and she got a response of a chuckle out of him. When she gave him an annoyed look, Merrick explained that he drove her bike.
"You kidding right," Shego asked with astonishment while she looked over the school grounds for her bike.
"Nope, somebody has to drive it before it sets up and stops cranking," Merrick said while he pointed out the bike for her.
After they were to the bike, Shego asked, "So, how are we both going to ride on this?"
"You drive and I ride on the---bitch seat," Merrick said with laughter.
Shego busted out with laughter and asked, "That would make you my bitch, wouldn't it?"
Merrick could only nod his head while he laughed. She shook her head at the silliness and climbed onto the bike, which she only driven once. The only reason she hadn't drove it more was that one time, scared her to death. Sitting on the bike actually made her nervous but she relaxed at feeling Merrick's arms wrapping around her waist. She let out a sigh and cranked up the bike. Before she put it in gear, she looked back at Merrick with uncertainly. He only grinned at her and whispered to get going.
"Besides, this bitch seat hurts," Merrick added with laughter.
"Well, who said you could have comfort, my bitch," Shego said with a smile before she winked to Merrick and shifted the bike in gear.
All the way to Merrick's, Shego took it slow because of her still fearing the bike, but she smiled at Merrick continuing to joke about the seat. She would return the jokes with her own. Before she had him back home, her sides hurt from all the laughter and she couldn't laugh anymore while she helped Merrick up to his room. She laid him in bed and laid down beside him for awhile. After a long silence, she told him about how worried she was when he didn't pick her up for school and how she nearly went into a panic at school. When she finished her tale, Merrick assured her, she didn't have anything to worry about. She wasn't sure about that but she snuggled up to him for a moment before she caused them to make for a minute.
"I would do more to thank you for coming to my aid earlier but you're in no shape tonight," Shego said slyly after she stopped kissing him.
Merrick chuckled at the thank you and said, "Yep, you would have to do all the work anyways."
"And what fun would that be, none. No fun for you if I have to do all the work and I got to go now. I hope to see you tomorrow, my bi...Mal," Shego said softly before she gave him one last kiss for the night.
He chuckled during the kiss because of what she nearly called him and he watched her get off the bed to leave. While she left she looked back at him waving bye to her while he smiled at her.
You're such a silly thing, but that what makes it fun to be around you, Shego thought while she left his home and head to hers.
On the walk home, Shego felt ashamed of what went on that night. She was grateful for Merrick acting like she wanted him to because she was actually afraid she would have to dump him over the ordeal. But she should have known he was full surprises and she learnt to never guess what was going on in his mind. Only he knew and he had joked with her once that even he didn't know what went on in his head. The incident still made her feel bad; she knew she was feeling just like Merrick did the day he came back from his Spring break trip. She didn't like the feeling and she wanted pleaded her innocence to Merrick. He didn't have to forgive her because there was nothing for her to say sorry for, she knew that but it was the guilt that ate at her. She made up her mind on two things. If she ever saw Mikey again, she would put him in a world of hurt and she was going to show how much she loved Merrick anytime she was around him. That was the most important thing to her now. To forget about what happened that night and just love the guy who comes to her aid anytime she needs it while he loved her without question. Their anniversary showed her how much love he possessed even when he doesn't say it or show it any other time. When Shego finally laid down in her bed to sleep, the guilt was still with her but she knew after time it would disappear. All she needed was to hear Merrick say he loved her to change all her feelings to just two. Love and happiness.
The days passed on for the couple without anymore incidents. Mikey was kicked out of the school for the rest of the year and he wouldn't be able to graduate for another year. The couple saw that was fair but deep down they both wanted to beat the guy into a pulp. It seemed they would never get that chance and they let their anger subside while they continued to enjoy their life together. Shego got joy out of Merrick rehearsing with her up on the stage. It amazed her that he could go through the lines and scenes with no trouble. He even amazed their teacher but deep down, Shego knew it would be a different story once they were on the stage with hundreds of people looking at them. She couldn't think of a way to help Merrick with his fear and she hoped by the opening night he would be completely fearless. But she doubt he would.
Before the couple knew it, they were three months into their senior year. They couldn't understand how the time flew by but the excuse they gave was them having fun. One such event where they had fun at was the second school held Halloween dance they went to. But after the dance was another story.
Shego decided not to dress up but Merrick dressed up like Lawless and all of the students kept asking him who he was suppose to be. He would laugh at the question and explained that he was the unknown teen crime fighter running around the city. Shego was amazed at how he bluntly told the truth but the students thought he was just messing with them. He actually got sad over them not believing him and Shego had to make him feel better by explaining to him that all the other students were just idiots. That eventually helped him and he went back to joking with everyone the rest of the night.
While they were enjoying themselves and dancing, a girl their age showed up at the dance wearing a jumpsuit just like the ones Team Go wore. The only thing that was different about the suit was the colors, instead of black with a color that stood out, it only had the color white along with the black. This caught the couple's attention and they watched the girl walk around the gym talking to anyone she walked up to. Shego nor Merrick had seen the girl before and it didn't help that she had half of her face painted white and the other black, which hid her real face. They weren't sure who she was and they wondered if she even went to the school. Finally, the curiosity got the better of the couple and they danced closer to the girl just to eavesdrop on what the girl was saying. They heard her talking about her brothers and was asking the other students had they seen two guys dressed up just like she was. No one she talked to said they saw her brothers but she eventually asked everyone in the gym, except the couple, the same question. After a moment, the girl stopped talking to other students and started to leave the gym. Before she did, she looked right at the couple and gave them a scowl while she clenched her fists.
"Oh, crap. That's Tanya," Merrick whispered with amazement while the girl slipped out of sight.
"I thought you said they couldn't get out again," Shego questioned while they stopped dancing.
Merrick let out a sigh and said sadly, "I thought they couldn't. They are a resourceful bunch. Looks like they are getting worse. That's the first time I ever seen any of them dressed up like she was."
"Let me guess, you're going to drop me off and go after them," Shego stated while she headed to the door.
"Yes, because if they are truly unstable there's no telling what they will do," Merrick explained while he followed Shego outside.
When they were outside, they looked around with caution and head to Merrick's truck. At the sight of the truck, the couple saw that all four of the tires had been slashed and the motor had been ripped out. This was a frighten sight for the couple and their heads acted as if on swivels while they looked around them. After a moment, they heard a happy and a sad laugh come from behind the truck. A moment later, two guys dressed just like Tanya walked around the truck. While they came into view, the couple saw the trademark sad and happy looks on their faces which told Shego and Merrick who they were. The twins walked within reaching distance of the couple and stopped after they saw Merrick's hands flame up.
"Look, brother. Lawless is mad," the happy twin stated calmly.
"And he wants to fight," the depressed twin said while he finished his brother's sentence.
"I don't know how you three kept getting out but someday I'll make sure none of you can escape," Merrick said in his Lawless voice before he pointed his flaming hands at the twins.
Before the twins could react, Merrick blasted them into the side of his truck. They slid to the asphalt and laid in heaps where they landed at. Shego was amazed at Merrick showing them no mercy and she got ready to fight in the same matter because their sister was still around somewhere. She never showed and Shego followed Merrick to the twins, who were still laying on the asphalt. They never made a sound nor movement. After a moment of seeing the twins out cold, Merrick's hands went out and he knelt down between the twins.
"I wonder where Tanya is at," Merrick question right before he got his answer.
The couple was surprised by an inhuman growl that came from the other side of the truck. In the next instance, Tanya flipped over the truck and kicked Merrick in the head. He landed flat on his back and gasped when the air was knocked out of him. Shego stepped back from Tanya when she landed in front of her. She flashed Shego an evil grin and spun around to attack Merrick, who was still struggling to get back up. Before she could attack Merrick, she was blown face first into the side of Merrick's truck. He watched her fly into the truck then look back at Shego, who had her hands flaming.
"No girl gets away with hitting my man especially when she turns her back to me," Shego screamed while her hands went out.
Merrick let out a painful chuckle and rose to his feet while Tanya fell onto the asphalt. He looked down at the Trio out cold and knelt back down to bind their hands and feet with zip lines he started pulling out of the chest of his suit. After he was finished, he stood back up and rubbed the side of his head Tanya kicked.
While Shego walked up to him, she stated, "They don't seem as hard to fight as you put on."
Merrick chuckled again and stated, "Well, try a three on one deal. They usually ambush me if they know I am around. What they did tonight is unusual. Maybe it's because they have about lost it."
Shego let out a laugh and said, "Maybe. So, what do we do with them now?"
Merrick only responded with him pulling out a cell phone and pressed a speed dial number. He told whoever he was talking to, where they could find the trio. After he was finished with the call, he called a wrecker service to pick up his truck and told them to fix his truck. When he was finished with his calls, he told Shego it looked like he would have to walk from now on until his truck was fix. She let out a giggle at the idea of him using his car from Toyah as a spare. That would be a sight for her, for them to get into a high speed chase while in the city.
That would be fun, Shego thought while they started walking to the subway.
School and play rehearsals continued for the couple long after the incident with the Trio on Halloween. No more incidents happened to them for nearly a month and the holiday season was coming up soon for them. Shego made Merrick promise that if he was going to be alone for any of the holidays, he would tell her and she would either stay with him on those days or maybe persuade Hego to lift the barring of him from the tower. Though, Hego hadn't lifted any part of the ban, he hadn't said another bad thing about Merrick since he learned who Lawless was. That was a major improvement for Shego, at least she didn't get annoyed to death by all of her brothers over Merrick. Mego was still the last hold out and she over look what he said. She even got a laugh out of Hego for coming to her aid anytime he was around when Mego said anything about Merrick.
Things seemed perfect to Shego; other than being on the lookout for the Trio, who she saw as a dangerous and unpredictable threat to her and Merrick's safety. Her life seemed complete, though at times she wished she didn't live the life she was living now. If her life was different, the only thing she would like to still happen was her meeting Merrick. He caused her to see her life and even the world differently. She still longed for adventure and to see the world. With the ways things were going for her now, she saw that someday after she was out of school, she would get to travel and Merrick was to come with her.
She told him about her plans after school one night after their date while they sat in a park bench and looked at the stars. It amazed her that Merrick was thrilled with her idea and he promised to come along with her. He even added that he would flip the bill for her. She didn't like the idea of him paying for her adventures but with him having more money than her, she knew it would be better if he did. After the discussion of what they would do after school, the couple spent their time between rehearsals, planning their eventual trip to every place in the world. Merrick even started booking flights for them that would take them to places Shego never heard of. She wondered why he was getting plane tickets for their trips when he could fly them around himself. After the realization of Merrick not going to be their pilot, Shego asked him about it and he only replied that he wanted to spend every minute with her, not flying them to places then spending time with her. That statement caused him to have his breathe taken away by Shego because she nearly suffocated him to death with kisses.
When the second Thanksgivings came up for the couple, Merrick made good on his promise and told Shego that he was going to spend it alone. She kept her promise from the day after the last Thanksgivings and spent it with him. Hego didn't budge from his ban. So, Shego spent the entire daylight hours with Merrick on that holiday. She was glad she did. It showed her more of the life with him all of the time. The night of that holiday, the couple had to go to the school for more play rehearsals. They didn't mind, they were enjoying each other company. However, right as the rehearsals were wrapping up, their holiday spent together made a turn for the worst.
While the other students were filing out to go home, the couple stayed on stage and were finishing the play within a play scene. Right as Merrick said, "As woman's love," an explosion occurred in the roof of the auditorium, causing the building to shake and it sent pieces of the roof crashing down onto the audience seats. When the couple got up from the explosion knocking them down onto the stage, they looked up at the gapping hole in the roof. After the dust settled in the opening, Shego was surprised to see three faces painted black and white faces appearing through the opening. A moment later, she heard Merrick growl and she turned her to look at him. He was nowhere to be seen and she heard the Trio laughing then talking. She peered back at the hole and the three gothic faces still were seen through the hole.
"Oh, look brother," Tim said while he smiled happily.
"We made Lawless mad again," Tom whined sadly.
"You two just shut it, we're going to stick to the plan. Got it," Tanya stated with anger.
Shego narrowed her eyes at the Trio because the mention of a plan. She snapped her head to look behind her when she heard footsteps running to the stage from the backstage. The second the footsteps got to the stage, she saw Merrick had put his Lawless suit on and she knew he was leaving her to go fight the Trio again. She was about to stop him or at least plead to go help him. But he seemed to pay more attention to the Trio peering down at him. He stopped running at the edge of the stage and without saying a word, rose a hand up at the hole. A flash came off the top of his hand and Shego saw a grapple attached to a chain streak toward the opening.
Well, Mal's got upgrades, Shego thought while she watched the grapple bury into the ceiling of the auditorium.
Before she could say anything, the chain started to retract, lifting him off of the stage. She watched him being lifted to the opening and she peeked a look at the hole. The Trio weren't there anymore and she resisted the urge to call out Merrick in a hope to make him stop. But she knew it would be no use because of him being stubborn. The second he climbed up into the hole and disappeared, her brothers stormed into the auditorium. This surprised her as much as the Trio blowing a hole in the place.
Before any of her brothers got to her, Hego yelled out, "We got major problem."
"If it's the Trio, Lawless is already after them," Shego stated while she walked down the steps leading off the stage.
"Who," Mego questioned with a puzzled look.
Shego stopped walking and looked back at Mego with a puzzled look of her own before she asked, "You don't know who they are?"
"We don't. Our problem is Aviarius," Mego said while he waved Shego to follow them.
She hesitated for a second and took off running behind her brothers while she asked, "What in the world is going on?"
"Aviarius contacted us and said he was going to destroy the city if his demands aren't met. He told us where to meet him if we decide to talk the terms," Hego explained as they left the auditorium.
When the team was outside, Shego's brothers boarded their multi-colored jet but she stayed outside of it until she made sure no one could see her boarded it too. After she was inside the plane, she went in the back compartment of the jet to get her make-up off and to get into her jump suit. She came into the cockpit after she got ready and she piloted the jet to where Hego instructed her that Aviarius wanted to meet at. It was odd to Shego that their arch-enemy wanted to meet right on Broadway Street. It would be open in some places but it was mostly enclosed by skyscrapers. She smelt a trap and an idea was eating at her over the Trio showing up at the same time. It was too much of a coincidence. They said something about a plan and she wondered if they meant the problem with Aviarius was part of the plan.
If so, then our and Mal's worst enemies have allied for some reason, Shego mentally said to herself while she started lowering the plane right in the middle of Broadway.
The second the team was out of the plane, a storm set in over the city and the team started to get drenched. When the rain started to pour down, they ran to a canopy that hung over the front door of one of the building that surrounded the street. While they stood out of the rain, the team watched for the arrival of Aviarius. A few moments after the rain started, the team felt the ground shake and their heads began to swivel in every direction to see what was causing the shaking. Finally, one of the Wegoes spotted something massive moving up the street. Shego pushed through the twins and pulled out her binoculars. After she peered at the enormous object plodding along up the street toward the team, she let out a sigh at seeing Aviarius piloting the machine.
While she lowered the binoculars from her eyes, Shego stated, "That's one big turkey."
She told her brothers who was driving the machine and the team ran out into the street to wait for the coming battle. Shego's brothers saw the deception as much as she did, though Hego hoped the talk would still happen. She shook her head over his statement. She knew the only talk would be Aviarius running his mouth about his plan then the team hopefully stop those plans from happening. When the massive mech got to the team, Shego tensed up at the sight of it towering over them. Aviarius caused the machine to stop walking when its talons were mere feet from the team and the cockpit opened up, revealing him inside of it.
"Team Go, my demands are simple. Let me crush you and the city will be spared," Aviarius stated with laughter.
"Don't think so," Shego replied back before she rushed the mech.
Her rush caused her brothers to follow suit and when they got to the mech, a green wall appeared in front of the mech. When the team met the wall, they were thrown back and they landed on their backs then bounced before they came to rest. The impact with the road caused the wind to be knocked out of Shego and she could tell her brothers got the same results. They were gasping for air just like she was. While the team struggled to their feet, they saw strange rocket packs pop up on the wings of the robot turkey. The team braced themselves the best they could and got ready to defend themselves. While they were doing that, they saw three individuals walk up from behind the mech and stood under it. At the sight of the three, Shego knew they were the Trio because of their colors being black and white. She was taken back and wondered what happened to Merrick. If they were still running around, she knew that meant he was either captured or worst. She didn't want to think about the possibilities while she watched the Trio speaking to Aviarius.
"So, is the nut case out of the way," Aviarius asked while he started to press buttons on the console before him.
"Yep, he's taking a nap down at the dock," Tim said happily.
"And he won't hinder the plan," Tom said while he looked like he was about the cry.
"What about those five there," Tanya questioned when she pointed at Team Go, who were still in a daze from what the green shield did to them.
Aviarius let out a laugh and said, "Homingbirds, Attack!"
His statement caused the team to snap their looks to the launchers and they saw hundreds of the mechanical birds flying from the rocket packs. Shego and her brothers still weren't ready to fight because they fought for air. All they could do was cross their arms in front of their eyes and wait for the end. It was odd to Shego that she gave up so easily before she even began to fight. But in her condition, she could only manage to stand.
Right as the birds were about to reach the team, they were blinded by a white light that flashed all around them. When their vision cleared, they saw a black and white figure in front of them while his hands were held up in the air at his sides. They could tell he was the source of the flash because his hands were causing a white sphere to surround all six of them. Shego let out a sigh of relief at knowing Merrick was ok but she could tell by his suit that he was in a major fight. The suit was ripped and tattered while he shook and fought to keep the sphere around them.
"Lawless, what are you doing here," Mego stated with amazement.
"Good...to see you...too, Mego," Merrick fought to say while the team saw he was getting weak from holding the sphere in place.
While Merrick fell to one knee, the team heard the homingbirds exploding against the white orb. With each explosion, the team saw Merrick had to fight harder to keep up the white globe. He started to groan that eventually turned into a scream and his arms started to relax while they continue to shake.
Before his arms dropped to his side, Merrick managed to say, "There's...an alley...to our right...move there...the second I release...the Pallid shield."
The team nodded to him and he dropped his arms at his side a moment later. Once the shield was gone the team took off running to the alley after Hego and Shego grabbed Merrick by the arms and lifted him up in the air. While they ran to the alley, the homingbirds landed behind them the whole way to the alley and stopped attacking them once they were out of sight. After the team was to safety for the moment, Hego and Shego sat Merrick against one for the walls for the alley. Shego let out a sigh out over seeing how beat up and tired Merrick was. He laid against the wall and took deep breathes while he lowered his head to his chest, revealing a gash in the top of his head. Shego pulled his mask off and knelt down in front of him to examine the wound while she heard her brothers debating their next move behind her.
"Mal, are you alright," Shego question sadly while she looked over the rest of his body for wounds.
While she started to probe other cuts and scraps, Merrick let out a weak chuckle and stated in a tired tone, "I'm good. All I need is a few days rest."
"So, what's the deal with the Trio with Aviarius," Mego asked while he showed how grateful he was for Merrick to show up and help them again.
"They are the ones I been fighting, just like you all been fighting Aviarius. I don't know why their helping one another but it seems they want all of us out of the way," Merrick stated while he tried to stand up, only to give up and flop back down where he was sitting.
"I wonder if there's a way around that shield," Hego was questioning himself out loud while he rubbed his chin with a hand but everyone else heard him.
Shego looked at him for a second before she went back to tending Merrick while she said, "Doesn't look like it. Think it has something to do with our powers. Didn't you notice the Trio walking up to the turkey without the shield coming on."
"I have an idea. Hego, how good is your throwing arm," Merrick spoke up and said with a tired laugh.
"Pretty good, why," Hego said while he looked down at Merrick with amazement.
Merrick let out another chuckle and managed to stand before he said, "Well, I might be able to get through the shield with my shield. If your throw and aim is good, I might be able to get close enough to that robot to shut it down," while he dug in the chest of his suit.
A moment later, he pulled out a small circular device that had a blinking blue light on it. The team looked at the device and nodded to him. Hego motioned him to him and they started easing to the street. Once they were just out of sight of the street, Hego flamed up his hands and grabbed Merrick by the waist. Once they stepped out into the street, the rest of the team followed them out and watched the mech before they looked back at Hego and Merrick. Hego had picked Merrick up off the ground and was spinning around while he held Merrick vertically in the air. A moment later, he released him and Merrick shot straight at the mech. When he got halfway to the mech, he shot his arms at his side and disappeared in a white sphere. Shego giggled a little at the sight of Merrick becoming a streaking comet.
When Aviarius saw the white light coming toward him, he closed the cockpit hatch and activated his shield long before Merrick even got to him. When the comet struck the shield, it slowed down and grinded against it. The team about gave up hope at Merrick not being able to get through the shield, but they cheered when the white comet disappeared through the shield.
The team bolted toward the mech after he was through and they hoped by the time they got to the mech, he had shut it down for them. Their hoped was granted because when the green shield went down, they saw Merrick was standing on the head of the mech, riding it down to the street. Once the head of the bird struck the asphalt road, the impact slung Merrick off of it and he went into a roll once he hit the street. When he came to a stop, he was laying at the feet of Team Go. They were laughing and cheering for him while Shego knelt down to help him up to his feet. He only stayed on his feet for a moment because Tanya blinded him and the team. Once she got to Merrick, she kicked him in the ribs and the strike sent him back to the road. While he fell to the ground, Shego flamed up her hands and tried to blast Tanya, but the girl dodged out of the way and back flipped to her brothers, who were standing in front of the downed mech.
Tanya let out a laugh and said, "Oh, you can't backstab me twice."
"Twice," Hego questioned while he looked at Shego with a confused look.
"Yeah, me and Lawless fought these three before," Shego explained while she got ready to fight.
"Yep, and we had to deal with sis," Tim said cheerfully while he and Tom matched Tanya's fighting stance.
"Getting mad at us because she was right about that guy being Lawless," Tom said sadly while he finished his brother's statement.
"Lawless helped us, Team Go, we're going to help him to return the favor," Hego said while he flamed up his hands and the other brothers followed along behind him in getting ready to fight.
"No," Merrick said weakly while he struggled to stand, "They're my problem. Only Shego can help me. She can deal with Tanya."
"My name isn't Tanya, she's dead! I'm Tack," Tanya screamed out in rage.
"Tack," Shego questioned with confusion.
"Yes, and don't forget it Shego," Tanya said with anger.
"Let me guess then, Tim is Tick and Tom is Tock," Shego stated while she mocked the Trio.
"That's right" was all Tanya said before she rushed Shego.
Shego didn't waste anytime and ran toward Tack. Before the girls met, Shego tried to blast her but Tack dodged out of the way and laughed angrily at Shego's vain attempts. Right as Shego spun to attack Tack again, she snapped her head back at seeing Tack mere inches from her face. This surprised Shego and she flashed Tack an evil smile because the girl was a real challenge. Though it seemed they were each other's true challenge because Shego flipped away from Tack once she tried to kick her. Once Shego landed back on her feet, she got ready for Tack while the street was brighten by a white flash behind her. She looked back for a second and saw Merrick was in trouble with the twins. Before she could turn to help him, Tack came out of the sky and struck Shego in the chest with a foot. The strike sent Shego right on her back and she grabbed her chest because of the pain. Her eyes widen when she saw Tack was in the air again and was coming down at her with her knee aimed at Shego's head.
Oh, no you don't, Shego thought seconds before she raised her hands up and blasted Tack with both of her talons.
The blasts sent Tack higher up in the air and she came down with a thud and bounce. Shego thought it was over but she saw what Merrick meant by the Trio being dangerous once they go unstable. Even with what Tack just received, she got back up to her feet to fight some more like nothing was wrong with her. This amazed and frighten Shego at once, the girl seemed invincible and even when she took two blasts at once, she could still stand. Shego had never seen anyone do such a thing. None of the criminals she dealt with were as tough as Tack seemed.
Emotions are driving her now, Shego thought while she took aim to blast Tack again.
Before Shego could knock Tack down again, she saw Merrick fly backwards beside her and land between her and Tack, who laughed at seeing Merrick getting a beating. The sight of the Trio hurting the one she loved caused Shego to go into a equal rage as Tack. She let out an inhuman growl that could match any that the crazy girl could let out. At the sound of this, Tack back stepped from Merrick and waved her brothers to leave. They never got a chance to because Shego spun on her heels and blasted the twins into the side of the mech. Once the twins were out cold, Shego returned her look to Tack, who looked just as angry as Shego was. The girls rushed one another again but this time Shego dropped down and slide to toward Tack. The move confused Tack and before she knew what happened, Shego had knocked her feet out from under her. When Tack hit the street, Shego pounced on her and straddled the girl. Before Tack could defend herself, Shego started to rain blows against the girl's head.
While Shego punched her in the head, Tack strangely talked to her like nothing was going on, "Why...ouch...do you help...ouf...people who don't...ach...care about you?"
It was strange to Shego, she was listening to the girl while she continued to punch her in the head. Her punches slowed down because she began to wonder what she was meaning about helping people who didn't care about her. She looked back at Merrick still laying in the street and she wondered if that was what Tack meant.
No, she's lying. Mal has proved to me countless times that he cared about me, Shego thought she stopped attacking Tack and looked down at the girl's bloody face.
Shego grabbed the girl by the collar of the shirt and pulled her up to her face before she stated sternly, "You better not be talking about Lawless."
Tack flashed her a evil grin that showed she had blood in her mouth and she said, "No, not him. But this city, why do you help these people. You could be a good addition to the Trio."
"I would never join such a insane bunch," Shego stated while she released her grasp on the girl's collar.
"Oh, me and you are the same. You hate your life as much as I hate mine. You want adventure and the only way you'll get that is to be the opposite of what you are now," Tack said before she slipped into an unconscious state.
Shego stared down at the knocked out girl. It was odd to her that the girl knew she wanted adventure and hated her life. She had the strangest feeling that the girl was right about her last words. In order for her to get her yearning for adventure she would have to be the opposite of what she was now. This made Shego wonder what she meant by the opposite, was it not helping people or was it for her to become something other than a good person? She didn't know but her mind started to work in over drive over the answer while she got off the girl and went to Merrick, who was still laying on the ground. When she was to him, she knelt down beside him and saw he was in a worsen shape than before.
"Mal, you still with us," Shego questioned softly while she lifted his head up.
He only responded with a weak, "Yes."
She nodded to him and waved over her younger brothers while the others went and got Aviarius out of the mech. When the twins got to her, she got them to help her get Merrick to his feet and onto her shoulders, so she could carry him to the jet. Once she was on the plane, she sat him in one of the chairs in the cockpit of the plane. Once he was seated, she had the twins get him undressed to nothing but his boxers while she went into the back compartment to find him some of Mego's clothes he usually kept on the plane. After she came back out with the clothes, she knelt down in front of Merrick and looked over his wounds. She tried her best to close the wounds and she succeed for the most part but some wounds she knew he would have to have true doctor to work on.
After she had him doctored the best she could, she started to dress him in the clothes she got while her older brothers started to carry Aviarius and the Trio onto the plane. Once she was finished clothing him, she piloted the plane off of the street while her brothers got seated. Since Aviarius needed medical attention, she saw it was best to leave Merrick at the hospital too. She was going to come back to the hospital after she got the plane back in the tower. While she flew the plane to the hospital, being worried sick over Merrick's condition was a understatement to her right now and she caused the jet to fly at its top speed all the way to the hospital.
Once they were to the hospital, the team left Aviarius and the Trio under police watch while they received their medical attention. As for Merrick, the team explained he was caught in the crossfire of the battle. The medical staff believed the lie because the team had brought injured people to the hospital before. Team Go left him at the hospital while Shego's brothers had to persuade her to come back to the tower with them. While she was leaving the hospital, the doctor that treated Merrick on his birthday was coming out of the ER room. He saw Merrick receiving stitches across the hall from him and he shook his head at knowing the boy. Before he entered the room where Merrick was, he caught the glimpse of Shego leaving. He called out to her, which caused her to freeze in her tracks before she turned around to look at the doctor.
"Yes," Shego finally questioned after she stared at the doctor for a moment.
The doctor didn't answer her at first and walked to her. She wondered why the doctor made her stop but she had the strangest feeling that he remembered her from before. She hoped he didn't because her cover be blown over her altered ego. It started to unnerve her while she watched the doctor walk to her with a grin on him face.
When he got to her, he whispered, "I'm glad to see you two are still together."
"I'm...not," was all Shego could stammer out at the doctor knowing but his smile relaxed and he looked behind him for a moment.
When he saw no one else was in the hall, he looked back at Shego and held a finger over his lips.
"Don't worry. I appreciate what you kids are doing, so don't worry about me telling a soul. But some advice for you, make sure your boyfriend stays away from dangerous things. He'll end up killing himself," the doctor stated in a whisper before he left her standing at the exit door.
She watched the old man walk down the hall and entered the room Merrick was in before she could get over her shock. For her, the night had given her too many surprises. She felt like she needed to go home and just rest but she couldn't. Now that someone besides her man knew who she was when being Shego or Sheila, she worried who else would find out as long as she was seen with Merrick. She didn't want to think about it because she already had too much on her mind.
One thing in particular was what Tack said to her. Those words ran through her head since the girl said them. Deep down, she knew what the crazy girl meant. For her to be the opposite of good, which was evil. She already had thought about the idea because she hated to be just like her brothers. It would be the one thing that made her different. But her ideas were put on hold because of her running into Merrick. He showed her a life were she could get thrills and adventures without being different than her brothers. But even with him being in her life, Tack's words played in her mind. She liked how the crazy girl seemed to be freed from all the things from her life except the emotional state she was in. That was her only vice just like Shego's was her brothers and the city. The only thing that amazed Shego about the girl, other than knowing she wanted adventure and hated her life, was how similar they were. She knew it was odd thinking but she felt if they ran into one another in a different time in their lives, they might have became friends. The odd notion caused Shego to shake her head and she finally left the hospital, knowing she would return later that night just to drive Merrick home. It was the least she could do for him after he risked life and limb for her and her brothers. Besides, she was still worried about his condition, which didn't help matters with her loving him.
Early the next morning, Merrick was released from the hospital with orders, from the doctor who knew who Shego was when she was either her crime fighter self or Sheila, to stay in bed and try not to move around much. Shego assured the doctor he would abide by the orders even if she had to make him. The doctor got a laugh out of how she sounded and asked the couple was they sure they weren't a married couple. His statement caused the couple to laugh too and Merrick added that it might happen later if he didn't end up killing himself.
The thought of him being dead caused Shego to frown and let out a sad sigh before she wheeled him out to his truck, which was like brand new again. She didn't say a word all the way to his truck nor did she when she and the doctor helped Merrick get out of the wheelchair. Once he was inside the truck, the doctor took the chair from Shego and turned to head back to the hospital.
Before he left, the doctor stated, "Miss, he's one crazy fellow but I never seen any teenager act like him. It's like he's older than his age."
"Tell me about it and I'm holding you to your promise earlier," Shego replied while she walked in front of the truck.
"Don't worry, I'll take your secret to my grave," the doctor said just within ear shot of Shego.
While she climbed into the truck, she still felt depressed over the thought of Merrick being dead. She had gotten to know him and get close to him in a short time span. The thought of him no being there for her was a painful feeling and the love she had for him made it worse. She couldn't shake the feeling and she knew he could read her look. Though, he continued to be silent to her while she cranked up the truck and drove him home, she wished he would ask her what was wrong. Now that they were as close as they would get before the eventual marriage, she wished he would pressure her to tell him what was on her mind. But he didn't like he always did when something was bothering her. She respected that kind of space he gave her but she wanted him to learn when to ask what was wrong. A trick she would have to learn him someday. At least then she could share her thoughts sometimes when he wanted to know.
Before they got to Merrick's place, he let out a weak chuckle and stated, "Its time Lawless retired from the life of a crime fighter."
"Oh, why is that," Shego questioned half-hearted because of her still being depressed.
As if picking up her feelings, Merrick said sadly, "Well, for two reasons. It bothers you anytime I get hurt and if I keep up my pace as Lawless, I might get killed over trying to help."
Her face etched a sad smile at him reading her looks and she nodded without saying a word. It amazed her with his gift of knowing what she was thinking, he didn't have to ask her what was wrong because he already knew. Though, she was curious at why he let her share her feelings sometimes, she like how he was about to help her feelings without her ever sharing some of them. All it took was his kind words to change how she felt and she felt better over him not prowling the city as a crime fighter.
Him being a crime fighter was the one thing she worried about the most, especially since she learned he had been prowling around the city alone. Though, she wasn't sure why he was, she was grateful he was now hanging up that persona. He was right about it being the death of him, that if the Trio kept coming after him. Shego hoped he stuck to the retirement, one she was glad to see coming. She was grateful for all the times he showed up to help her or her brothers out of a jam but she was in love with him. One these days, she knew either she would see him get killed or visa versa. It was an image she would never get over and she knew he wouldn't either. Besides, after they graduate, she made up her mind to quit the crime fighting and move away with Merrick. The words Tanya said to her was still running though her mind but if she got adventure with the one she was going to married someday, becoming evil would be one thing she wouldn't have to worry about. She wouldn't have to because she and Merrick had already planned their trips and adventures.
After she pulled up to Merrick's home, Shego thought how odd it was for her to be driving him home a second time after his encounter with the Trio. She hoped this was the last time she would see him take a beating from the nut cases, especially since her brothers suggested to the police what they should do for the siblings, which was the one thing Merrick overlooked. They were dangerous together but dormant alone. The siblings were to be broken up and sent to different asylums far from one another. That way if one managed to escape, he or she would have to go on a intense hunt for the other members of the Trio; which the authorities would hinder by erasing all trace to where the siblings would be located at to keep one of the others from finding his or her siblings. It was a sound plan to Shego and she helped it along to keep Merrick safe, just to ease her worrying over him running into the Trio again.
Now with him safe, the only thing left for her to do was help him into his home. After she turned the truck off, she climbed out and ran around to the passenger side of the truck before she opened the door for Merrick. He had some trouble getting out and had to brace himself on Shego to keep any of his wounds from hurting. Him acting tender with every movement caused Shego to giggle. He was acting cute to her while she tried to help him out of the truck. Finally, he was able to and the couple walked slowly up the steps to the front door. The painstaking walk slowed down farther once they got to the stairs that led up to the second floor, which Shego would have to move up a step ahead of Merrick before he could follow her up the steps. After it seemed an eternity, Shego got him into his room and helped him ease in bed. When he was finally settled in bed, he let out a sigh which caused her to giggle at him again.
"Happy now," she asked coyly while she climbed in bed with him.
"Uh, huh," was Merrick's response while he sounded like he was drifting off to sleep.
Shego shook her head at him nodding off to sleep and she stated, "Well, I let you catch some sleep. I feel like I need some too."
"The meds…the doc…gave me…are causing me to be sleepy," Merrick said as if he was talking in his sleep.
"Oh, well you need them and you would think so too if you saw how messed up you were," Shego stated while she turned over on her side to look at him.
At the first sight of him, she let out a giggle at him fast asleep and before she knew it, she was nodding off to sleep. For a minute, she fought the drowsiness but she gave up and drifted off to sleep beside Merrick. He needed her until he was able to walk on his own again and she gladly fell asleep in the bed with him. She would get her wish to spend more time with him and it would give her a chance to prove how much she loved him. Even though she didn't have to prove her love to him, she was going to and her last thought, before she slipped into the dream world, was of her being like a nurse for him. The idea caused her to giggle, which started off strong for her but eventually tappered off to silence.
Author's note 2: This the only chapter in this story that the Trio will appear in, I finally got the characters thought up for Tick, Tock, and Tack. So no more of them until I think up the story for them. Also, some personal issues had came up and this story is to be put on hold until those issues are resolved but I will finish this story eventually. Just will take some time is all.