Author's note: I'm back for good now, after all the problems were dealt with. A hard and long run with the longest story I have posted on Fanfiction. There will be one more chapter after this one, after its posted, then will I finish my other story. Everyone will see the reason behind that.
Chapter 11: Is It True?
With the thoughts Shego was having, she wasn't sure anymore about her feelings for Merrick. To her, he was a great guy, but being with him kept her from true freedom in life. She loved him, there was no doubt it that, just she was too young to settle down right out of high school. So she thought anyway, and the appeal of being evil was becoming to much for her, which began the night after she left the auditorium.
She had to make an excuse for her leaving when Merrick called her that night after he got home. It amazed her that he believed her, which she could never do and that was fooling him. She hated to, but she knew if he found out about her dark ideas, he would have nothing to do with her. That was something she wanted to avoid and she made up her mind that if they broke up, she be the one to do it. At least she won't have worry about the burden of a broken heart the rest of her life.
It was still odd to her how she had changed in so little of time. The worries and fears she once had didn't bother her anymore, it was as if she had grown up many years while she was still a teenager. She was beginning to know what she wanted in life. To be able to do what she want when she wanted to without the fear of her actions hurting others. The only thing that still stood in her way was Merrick. He was the only thing that kept her on track and the very one that opened her eyes to a bigger world. A world for her taking, one that she could be part of or own.
The city had tied her down too long and it took her meeting Merrick to realize the city didn't need her. He was a god sent to her and if anything ever happened to them, she knew he at least changed her life for the better. While she had her mind set on leaving the city, the nagging feeling of leaving without Merrick scared her.
They had been together too long and now she couldn't think of a life without him. Just him giving her the hope, happiness, and love she always wanted, caused her to fear life without him. She knew her life be just like it was before she met him, only it would be more depressing and sad. She wasn't sure what she would do, but she knew she would grow to hate everything if Merrick was gone.
The only thing that snapped Shego's mind back to reality, other than being around Merrick, was his birthday, which was just around the corner. During the free time she had, when she wasn't thinking her dark thoughts or stopping crimes when her brothers were around, she was riding around the city on her bike, looking for a great gift for Merrick. She wanted it to be something special, but she could never find the perfect gift.
Everything she saw, she knew he would like but she wanted it to be something he would remember. After he helped her have no more money problems, she made up her mind to spend all the money she had to just to make his day. But alas, his birthday came up without her finding the gift she wanted to get for him.
The day before his birthday, Shego decided to spend the entire day with him, in a hope that the time spent would get her dark thoughts out of her head. But on the way to his house, she started to think about what it be like being evil. She was so involved with her thinking that she walked by Merrick's home without realizing it. The entire day she spent not at Merrick's, but wondering around the city and she finally came out of her deep thinking late in the night.
Her thoughts were getting the best of her and now she would have to think up an excuse for not showing up at Merrick's. This time on her walk to his home, her mind was running with ideas on why she didn't show up at his place. She had never lied to him, even the excuse for her early departure during the play was the truth, she wasn't feeling well, but for once she would have to lie to him, just to hide her dark thoughts.
However, when she got to his home, she didn't have to tell him a fib because he wasn't there, nor was anyone else. She chalked it up as him being out in the city somewhere on an errand, which she learned he usually did when she wasn't around. She didn't feel like waiting in his home for him because it would only make her anxiety worse. She would spend the entire time thinking about what she was going to say to him and how would she act if her dark thoughts returned. The only place she felt would keep her from lying to Merrick was at Go Tower. Only there could she not see him all the time, even after her brothers, namely Hego and Mego, started to like him some. Hego still wasn't allowing Merrick full access to the tower, but Hego would let him stand at the front door while he waited for Shego to get ready for their date.
When Shego got home, her younger twin brothers attacked her at the door with questions about what her and Merrick did all day. She told them was nothing because they weren't together any that day. This puzzled all of her brothers because they got use to her being with Merrick everyday and before she could leave the room, Hego stopped her and asked her to explain.
"None of your business and I'm going to bed. So, don't disturb me," Shego snapped at Hego before she started down the hallway to her room.
Her brother looked even more confused while she went out of sight and Hego shrugged his shoulders in defeat over not learning anything. While not understanding why Shego was acting strange, her brothers went back to what they were doing before she came into the tower. It was normal to them to see her come in the tower with different moods and they had learned not to pressure her into sharing her feelings. Hego and Mego have felt the blunt of her wrath too many times over trying to talk to her about her feelings.
Shego felt relieved about her brothers not asking for details while she walked to her room. For once, she might have told them what was on her mind and she knew it wouldn't go well with them. She could imagine it now, Hego and the Wegoes preaching endless hours against her wanting to be evil and their limitless attempts to change her mind. The only brother that will careless would be Mego and strangely, Shego felt she was more like him. It really didn't matter to her if they knew about her dark thoughts, she was starting to careless what happened to them. Not even her younger brothers were concerning her as much as her getting out of the city for good.
While Shego entered her bedroom, she heard the phone rang in the tower. It didn't alarm her that much, Merrick hadn't called the tower in a month, which was when he called to ask her why she left the play early. She listened to the muffled voice of Mego as he talked to whoever it was on the phone while she got dressed for bed.
If its you Mal, they'll let me know, but I'm heading to bed anyway, Shego thought to herself while she started to crawl into bed.
She laid in bed for a moment and thought over all the time she spent with Merrick. During the flashbacks of their time together, she realized it was the first time they hadn't saw nor talked each other since they got serious. For once, the dark thoughts didn't control her mind, but a thought of sadness and guilt for standing up Merrick that day. She knew she would have to make it up to him in the morning and she plan to make it the happiest day he lived, even if she had to tell him why she didn't show. The realization of how much she loved Merrick and what she done that day caused to her to burst out in tears, which didn't cease until she cried herself to sleep.
The restless sleep Shego had that night caused her to wake early, but awake enough to set out on her mission for the day. All during the night she had dreams about her life without Merrick in it. A lone, cold world where everyone hated her and hunted her because she was evil. It was the kind of life she didn't want and she hoped she could amend her mistake of the day before. Merrick was understanding, she knew that, but fear crept up on her while she got dressed. She knew she would have to tell him about her dark thoughts. She hoped he was as understanding as he made out to be because her dreams were still vivid in her mind and she hated life without him even more.After she got dressed, she slipped out of her room as quiet as she could and headed to the front door. The way she was feeling, if just one of her brothers asked her where she was going, she might share more than she needed to and she never be able to get to Merrick's on his birthday. She looked back into the room with the table, they sat at so many times, one last time before she opened the front door to leave. The second the doors started to open, a lifeless body, that had been sitting against the door, fell into the doorway. At the sight of the body, Shego stepped back in surprise and narrow her eyes at the body when she realized who it was.
Her worst fears were coming true before her eyes at the sight of Merrick's lifeless body laying at her feet. She couldn't figure out why he was at the tower to begin with, but that was unimportant to her at the moment. In an instance, she knelt down beside him and started checking him to see if he was still alive. She couldn't see him breathing nor could she find a pulse. Her worst fears rushed into her mind at believing he was dead and she began to cry while she started to holler back into the tower for her brothers.
While she kept screaming for them, she kept checking for a pulse and she was about to give up on any hope. He was dead, she thought, but right as she started to hear her brothers running to her, she felt a frail pulse. That small sign of him being alive gave her hope and her depressing state when to joy. She knew she had to give him a fighting chance, which there was only one way for her to do that. Without thinking, she yanked off one of her gloves and buried the bare hand under the bundle of clothes he was wearing. The second her hand was at the spot on his chest where his heart was, she lit the hand and held it there while she listened to her brothers getting to her.
Her brothers stopped dead still at seeing the shape Merrick was in and Hego ordered the other brothers to get their jet ready. While the younger brothers went to get the plane prepped, Hego ran up to his sister and Merrick. When he got to them, he knelt down beside them and stared at Shego's sad face.
For a moment he said nothing, but he finally asked, "Is he still alive?"
Shego shook her head at the question and Hego took that as a no, causing his face to turn grim.
He placed at hand on her shoulder, but she wretched away from him and stated in a quivering voice, "He's still alive, so don't worry about me. We need to get him help."
Hego only nodded to his sister and flamed up his hands. He scooped Merrick up in his hands and started to carry him to the jet while Shego kept her flaming hand on Merrick's chest. When they finally got in the plane, Hego laid Merrick on the floor between the seats and sat down the pilot's chair. While he sped down the runway located on top of the tower, Shego tried to keep Merrick as warm as she could with her powers.
Ten minutes later, Team Go had Merrick in the hospital and the medical staff was busy working on him. While the staff did what they could do, Team Go paced the halls in the hospital. Shego's brothers left her alone because they weren't sure to either talk to her or not. She was grateful that they didn't because of the state she was in, she could have lost it with them and unintentionally hurt one of them.
The only thing she thought about, besides if Merrick was going to be ok, was why he was outside the tower all night. He had no motive to be there and risked death for some odd reason. It was confusing her and she hoped he pulled through so she could find out why he was there.
While she walked the halls, something dawned on her, she had forgot what the day was because of the sight of Merrick frozen nearly to death at her doorstep. A small sad giggle came from her while she sat out in the miniature park that was located in the very center of the hospital. At first she couldn't believe Merrick ended up in the hospital on everyone of his birthdays since he was three, but now she saw it was true. During both birthdays since she known him, he had been in the hospital and now she wondered if he was cursed on his birthday.
Her giggle subsided and she thought to herself, He must be. One these days his birthday will kill him.
After it seems an eternity to Shego, the doctor finally came out of the room Merrick was in and the look on his face had the team worried about the news. But their fears eased at the positive news and the doctor told the team that Merrick had to rest for awhile. Shego let out a sigh of relief and returned to her pacing and thinking until she would be allowed to see Merrick.
Later in the day, while the doctor made his rounds, he allowed the team to finally see Merrick, but only one person at a time. Team Go stood out in the hall for a moment and Shego's brothers waved her into the room. She tried her best to keep from running into the room. She hadn't talked to Merrick in nearly two days and along with the worried fears and love she had for him, the silence was killing her. While she entered the room, she swore she heard her brothers chuckling behind her back. She smiled at the belief that they were laughing at her eagerness to talk to Merrick. At least that was the first true sign that her family liked Merrick now and accepted them dating one another.
The second she was in the room, she saw Merrick had his eyes barely open and that caused her worried fears to relax a bit. But she squinted her eyes at him when she saw the strange look in his eyes. She knew by that look alone that there was something on his mind and she was going to get to the bottom of why he was at the tower. Along her walk to the chair by the bed, she wondered what would be the best way to ask him what she wanted to know while she kept her stare on his eyes. They held their stare long after she had sat in the chair and the silence was starting to unnerve Shego. She had long ago learned to read Merrick's looks like he could hers and she knew he didn't want to share what's on his mind.
But she wanted to know and she asked him, "Mal, why where you at the tower," while she leaned forward in the chair.
For a moment, he remained silent and turned his stare at the ceiling. Shego watched him take a deep breathe and close his eyes. She thought either he was going back to sleep or didn't want to answer her.
But finally he answered her with a question of his own while he kept his eyes closed, "Were you at the tower last night?"
"Yes, all night…after I foiled crimes all day," Shego stated in her most convincing voice.
Merrick opened his eyes at her answer and shook his head before he said sadly, "I'm sorry, Sheila. I had another stupid moment last night. I got a phone call yesterday morning."
"Well, who was it," she questioned while she relaxed in the chair, she wanted to get comfortable in the chair, she may be there for awhile.
"I'm not sure who it was, but he said that you and Duncan were suppose to go out last night. I didn't think much of it and was gonna make fun of the rumor with you went you were suppose to show up---but you never did," Merrick said before he turn his head to look at Shego.
"Like I said, I was just busy," she stated while she propped up her head with one of her hands.
"I tried my best to think you got busy and that you couldn't make it. But, you never showed and I didn't hear from you. So, I got to wondering and I called the tower," he said before he flashed her a sad smile.
Without missing a beat, Shego said, "So, it was you that called last night. I was already in bed at that time."
"Melvin answered and said you weren't there. I made up my mind to see for myself. I had to swim the river to do that," Merrick explained while he lowered his head to his chest.
"So, you were at the tower to catch me in the act or to ease your mind," she questioned while she wasn't sure to either be mad or sad at Merrick for not trusting her, even though she just kept some truth from him.
It was one thing for her to fear the sharing of why she never showed up at his place, but for him to even think she was off with another guy that he knew she never date, hurt her.
"Yep, course I never planned to stay there all night in the snow and wearing wet clothes made it rough on me," he stated with a weak smile on his face.
Shego only shook her head at his silliness and finally decided to get mad over him not trusting her, "Mal, you should know better, Duncan was probably the one that called you. I was busy and I was at the tower last night. Ask Henry if you don't believe me, if you can never really trust me then its your problem, not mine."
Merrick chuckled at the look Shego had on her face and stated, "You're cute when your mad. Guess this makes us even."
"Even," was all she questioned while she wondered what in the world was he talking about.
Merrick chuckled again and said with laughter still in his voice, "Oh, you didn't believe this was the real me at first. Matter fact, you spied on me a few times while you patrolled the city."
"How did you know that," Shego asked with astonishment.
"A little bird---no, two little birds told me," he said with a smile.
"The Wegoes been reading my diary," she stated while she growled.
Merrick smiled ear to ear at her statement before it disappeared and he said, "Don't say anything to them about it, kinda promised them I never tell you. But like I said, this makes us even."
Shego looked at him for a moment and shook her head while she stated, "Oh, brother. Guess it does."
The couple laughed at not trusting one another and talked away the evening into the night. After it got dark, Shego's brothers came into the room and told her they were heading home. She waved them on and continued her chat with Merrick, who had to stay in the hospital for several days. The couple spent their second New Years' in each other's company while in the hospital and Merrick joked with Shego about his prediction of them spending the next one together too. She was sure it would happen, so as long as nothing happened between them.
On the last day Merrick had to stay in the hospital, Shego experienced another episode of his intelligence, which was odd to her because of the experience itself. She had left the room to go get Merrick and her something to eat. Right as she was about to reenter the room, she heard two people talking in the room and the odd part was they were speaking in French. She stopped at the door and listened in on the conversation for a moment. While she stood there, she realized one of the people speaking was Merrick and she was amazed at him knowing a second language, which was something he never told her.
She giggled at the notion of him keeping something from her and she entered the room. After she was inside, she saw a male nurse had came in the room after she left and was checking Merrick's vitals. The nurse and Merrick were deep in a conversation which Shego couldn't understand. She stood were she was and watched the two talking and laughing about something before they noticed she was standing there.
At noticing her in the room, Merrick smiled at her and waved her over to him while he said, "Je suis heureux de retour votre."
"Uh, Mal. I don't know French," Shego stated with a smile showing.
Merrick, however, narrowed his eyes at her before he questioned, "What are you talking about? All I said was 'I was glad you were back.'"
"Well, you could have said that in English and I would have understood you," Shego stated while she walked over to the chair beside the bed and sat down in it.
After she was seated, Merrick only said, "I did."
"Umm, no. You and the nurse over there were talking in French," she stated while she nodded to the nurse that was standing at the foot of the bed.
"Really," Merrick questioned with a surprised look while he snapped his head to the nurse, who only nodded to Merrick while he smiled.
"Yep, and I need to let the doctor know you need a brain scan. Its odd that you knew what I was saying while you didn't know the language. There has been cases of people being able to speak another language without knowing it, you may have tumors or lesions on your brain," the nurse said before he wrote something on Merrick's chart.
At hearing what Merrick might have, both the teens' smiling faces turned grim before Merrick stuttered, "B…b…but I feel fine."
"I'm sorry, son, but we have to make sure," the nurse said while he laid the chart on the table across the room from Merrick's bed and the nurse started to leave.
While the nurse left, Shego turned in her chair and watched him leave. She was worried sick for Merrick now, if he did have problems with his brain, it would explain the odd occurrence of him speaking to her in French while he didn't know the language. After the nurse was out of sight of the doorway, she heard Merrick sigh. She turned to look at him and his sad face made her feel terrible. The look alone made her want to make him feel better, but she didn't know really how to with her worrying about him.
"Mal, it be ok. You don't have what they think you have, you just were able to pick up on the language," Shego stated tenderly as she could in a hope to help him feel better.
Merrick let out another sigh at Shego's statement and nodded his head before he said, "I only hope so, but I been having headaches for years. Thought it was from me thinking too much."
"Oh," was all she said before she got out of the chair and sat on the bed.
"Yeah---ever since mom and Susie died---I had the headaches, some were mild, others nearly make me pass out," he said while he looked up at her sitting on the bed.
She flashed him a weak smile and crawled up in the bed to lay beside him. While her head laid on his chest, she listened to the music of his heart and she grew concerned for him. All the worried fears she have had over him would get to her eventually, it's the price she had to pay for loving him. Now she was worried sick over what might be wrong with him, it could very well cost him, his life and she didn't want to think about him being dead. The very idea scared her and she already knew what it felt like. He already came close to it days before when she found him outside the tower.
While she run through her mind what life without Merrick be like, she felt a tear run down her chin and she heard Merrick sigh again. When she looked up at him, she saw he was looking down at her and he looked depressed.
Before she could say anything, he wiped the tear from her cheek and he said softly, "Don't cry, I don't like to see you cry. Everything will be ok once they scan this brain of mine."
"But…," she started to say but she was silenced by Merrick pressing a finger to her lips.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine. I just don't want them to find out I'm smart---wonder if I could act dumb enough to fool them," Merrick said before he started to smile at Shego.
"I don't know, you could try," Shego stated after he took his finger off her lips.
He grinned ear to ear and said, "Nah, me couldn't ack dat stupid."
Shego busted out laughing at how he sounded and he continue to talk in his silly way which caused her sides to hurt from her laughing so much. She finally regained her composure once he stopped talking and she snuggled up to him. Even with Merrick acting silly, she was still worried about him, but she was glad he could still joke during serious times. It helped her feel better every time he did and she actually enjoyed his silliness. The silliness made her want to spend time with him, it was something she looked forward to because she never knew when he would become a clown.
The couple laid in the bed most of the day without speaking much and the only time they did talk was when they said their code for "I love you" to one another, which those three little words Shego hadn't heard Merrick say much, just the code. She didn't mind, the code still had the same meaning, but she enjoyed it when he did say the three words. He would only say the expression when she least expected it and she knew why she enjoyed him saying the words. It was him not over using the meaning of the words by just saying the them, but instead he only said them when she really wanted him to or when she needed something to make her feel better.
Their connection amazed her, she couldn't explain it and she knew he couldn't either. They both knew what to say or do to make the other feel better. However, they were now in the hospital waiting for him to go through tests which had them worried sick over and she didn't know what to say to help him feel better while he could make her laugh. Someday she hoped to be like Merrick and let nothing get to her, but for now, she was going to worry over what the doctor will tell them.
The long wait finally ended when the doctor came in and he told Merrick what kind of tests he was going to have done on him. Shego's anxiety worsen while she watched a nurse wheel Merrick out of the room in a wheelchair. She knew the eventual truth would follow him disappearing into the room where he would be tested.
Even Merrick's last words of, "Don't give up hope," before he went into the room, didn't help her while she went to pacing the halls of the hospital. She wished she was as calm as he was over going through the tests. But she couldn't and the more she got worried over what the doctor will tell them, the faster she paced the halls. The pacing caused her to get noticed by many of the staff in the hospital and many of the staff tried to comfort her over her worrying, though they didn't know what she was worried about. She didn't bother to play them any attention, she didn't want to be comforted at the moment. She decided on expecting the worse before it happened and hoped if it was true, she wouldn't be as heart broken. But she knew she would be saddest pain she ever felt and she might eventually be living a life without Merrick.
The worrying and pacing finally got to her and she went to find the darkest place she could find so she could be alone and cry her eyes out, but she never got a chance to do such. While she went by the room Merrick was in, the doctor came out with a clipboard in his hand. The second he saw Shego, he waved her to him and when she got to him, he gave her a grim look. She on most stopped in her tracks at his look, but he waved her on to him.
"Well, Miss, do you want the bad news or good news first," the doctor asked when she finally got to him.
She let out a sigh at hearing him asking her did she want the bad news, and she said, "I want the bad news, just to get over it first," before tears started to form in her eyes.
"I'm sorry to upset you Miss, but…there's nothing wrong with his brain," the doctor stated before a smile appeared on his face.
Shego grew anger at the doctor leading her on and making her fear what he was about to tell her, but she did sigh a relief at the news.
"And how is that the bad news," Shego spat at the doctor.
The doctor recoiled at her tone and said, "W…w…well, we're not sure how he was able to pick up on a language by hearing someone speak it. Our tests can't tell us, so there still maybe something wrong with him."
"But he's still ok, medically," Shego questioned while she started to feel better and she hoped the doctor told her yes to her question.
"Healthy as any other boy his age, course his brain waves are off the charts, which we can't explain why unless he's a genius, but the nut doesn't act like it," the doctor explained with a laugh after he stopped speaking.
Shego on most collapsed at the relief she felt and she wanted to see Merrick as soon as she could. When she regained her senses, she noticed the doctor was waving her into the room Merrick was in and she nearly knocked the doctor over when she ran by him. The second she was in the room, she saw Merrick's smiling face while he sat in a wheelchair and she smiled back at him.
"I told you 'don't give up hope'" Merrick stated while his smile continued to show.
"Guess I should listen to you more, genius," Shego said coyly while she sat down in a chair beside him.
"Shh…they don't know that I am one, I acted as dumb as I could while I was in here," he replied quickly when he noticed the door to the room open up and the doctor coming into the room.
Shego let out a giggle before she whispered, "The doc knows," while the couple watched the doctor walk to them.
"Aww, man," was all Merrick replied back in a whisper before the doctor got to them.
"Well, Mr. Lawson, seems we all got scared over nothing. Your brain is fine except you're a hidden genius, ever thought of getting you IQ tested," the doctor stated while he looked over Merrick's chart.
Merrick lowered his head to his chest before he said, "Not really, doc. I really don't want anyone to know I'm smart."
"Usted entiende lo que estoy diciendo," the doctor questioned in Spanish, which caused Shego to look up at him with narrowed eyes.
She turned her look to amazement when Merrick replied, " Sí, señor. Entiendo lo."
The doctor busted out with laughter before he said, "Well, kid, you're an amazing individual. I bet you could understand any language, which is hard for me to explain because there's nothing wrong with your brain."
"So, I'm I well enough to go home," Merrick questioned while he tried to get out of the wheelchair.
"Healthy as an ox, you be able to leave in a little while," the doctor stated while he laid the chart on the table beside Merrick and he started to leave the couple in the room.
After the doctor was gone, Shego looked up at Merrick and said, "Ok, Mal. What gives? I hope you're just messing with us about you not knowing more than one language."
"I'm not joking. I only know English and everyone I talk to is speaking English too. Everyone else hears me speaking another language…," Merrick explained before he held his head in one of his hands.
"Mal, you ok," Shego questioned with concern.
"Yeah…just got one of the severe headaches," he stated while he sat back down in the wheelchair.
"Mal, your full of surprises," Shego stated in a weak attempt to help Merrick feel better with her usual catch phrase for him when he would disclose something to her that she didn't know about.
Her slogan actually worked because he chuckled a bit while he continued to hold his head.
After a moment, he stopped holding his head and went back to talking to Shego like nothing ever happened. Shego thought this was odd, but she shrugged it off as Merrick wanted the day to be over with. Another example of her witnessing him not letting things get to him. Though the day was odd, she was grateful he was going to be alright and they were finally getting out of the hospital.
Merrick had pleaded with her to go home several times while he was in the hospital, but he learned how head strong she was and he gave into not pestering her about going home. She made the point several times that she wasn't going home until he did and not even he was going to make her go home.
Finally, after an hour, the doctor released Merrick and the couple caught a cab to take them to Merrick's home. When they got to his place, he opened the door for Shego and let her go in first. After Merrick was inside, he headed straight for the living room, where he spun around and fell back first onto the couch when he got to it. Shego followed him all the way and fell on top of him. They both laughed at her crushing him when she fell on him and he joked about her wanting to put him in the hospital.
The joke wasn't as funny as Merrick hoped it be, but Shego did laugh a little at it before she said, "I hope not, Mal. Once a year is enough for me, but you been in the hospital already twice this year. So, you can't get in there next year."
"So, you going to stay around to make sure I don't make it to the hospital next year," Merrick questioned while he wrapped Shego in his arms.
Shego only nodded her head while she snuggled up as close as she could to him. While she listened to his heart playing music, she thought over the life with Merrick and she wondered if he would worry her sick every year with him being put in the hospital for something. She didn't mind the worrying if he came out ok every time, just she wondered if they could be together forever. Before the sound of Merrick's heart sung Shego to sleep, she looked up at his face and giggled at the sight of him already asleep.
Some things never change, Shego commented mentally before she drifted off to sleep.
She woke startled later in the day and she noticed it was close to sunset. While she laid there for a moment, she realized the window in the living room gave her a perfect view of the sunset, which she always enjoyed to watch while she was out on patrol in the city. It always made her think about her life and how much she wished it would change. Now she wished it never changed because for once in her life, she was happy. The guy she was laying on, caused the happiness and she giggled at the idea of her not being sure if he was true when she first meet him.
But he was true and she was the one that had a problem with it because she long learn not to trust people. Now she never doubted anything he told her, even with him not knowing a second language, which was still odd to her. It was something new to her about him and she wondered what other secrets he had held from her. Him having headaches was one and she was curious how he was able to hide such pains around her. Him being a genius was the first secret she learned about him and that was by accident. She never realized how complex Merrick could be until she started to witness his secrets. It caused an aura of mystery which Shego was interested in now and she wanted to know all, especially if she was going to spend her life with him.
After a moment of thinking over what he could possibly kept from her, Shego's patience wore thin on not finding out more secrets about him because he was sound asleep and she slapped him on the chest in a hope to wake him up so she could hopefully learn more.
At the feeling of the slap, Merrick woke up while he almost jumped out of the couch and he nearly threw Shego onto the floor. She tried to hold onto him, but her weight caused her to pull him off the couch with her. They landed in the floor with him falling onto of her and Merrick began to apologize while he tried to roll off of her. He finally did and laid on the floor beside her while he continued to say sorry for falling on her.
"Why are you saying sorry for, I'm the one that caused it," Shego growled while she lifted her head off the floor and she began to rub the back of her head.
"I shouldn't be so jumpy," Merrick replied while he started to look depressed.
Shego stopped rubbing her head at the look Merrick was giving her and she let out a sigh before she said, "Mal, it's ok, you didn't hurt me."
"I know, just…" Merrick stated before he trailed off and went to staring at the ceiling.
"Just what? Mal, I hope keeping secrets from me doesn't become a pattern," Shego said while she rolled on her side and she saw he looked completely sad. "Mal, what's wrong?"
"I'm still afraid everyone I get close to, gets hurt because of me. I made the point of not letting my dad get close to me because of that fear," Merrick said with a depressed tone while he turned his head to look at her.
Shego only narrowed her eyes at his supposed hinting before she asked, "What are you getting at, Mal?"
Merrick flashed her a weak smile which relaxed her glare before he said, "No, Sheila, I'm not saying I don't want you close. Just, I'm afraid you'll get hurt someday because of me."
She on most busted out with laughter at him knowing her mind, which became something she enjoyed him being able to do and she stated, "Well, don't worry about me. Think I could deal with the bad luck you rub off onto people," which caused Merrick's sad look brighten and he chuckled before he cradled Shego in his arms.
"Sheila, I have no idea where I been right now if I never met you," he stated with laughter.
"Yeah you do, you be sitting here alone while you thought too much. An't you glad I came along," she replied back while she snuggled up to Merrick.
He only nodded his head before he said, "So, are we going to lay in the floor all day or are we going to get out of here and do something. Remember, we been cooped up in a hospital for over a week."
"Sure," Shego exclaimed while she got out of their embrace and got out of the floor.
While she stood over Merrick, she held out her hand to him and helped him out of the floor. She, however, didn't let go of his hand and led him out of the house toward any fun they could find for the night.
One week later, the couple entered their last semester of high school and Shego was grateful to see the end in sight. The events that happened during the couple's holiday vacation from school was never brought up since the day Merrick was released from the hospital. The couple thought it was better to forget about what happened and instead enjoy their last few months in school together.
They, however, knew their last few months of school would be like all the rest when they walked into the school because of very first person they saw looking back at them, which was Jimmy Duncan and he looked like he would explode at the sight of the couple. The pair returned his look with a smile and walked by him with the smiles showing from ear to ear. They could hear him cussing them under his breathe while they past him and Shego held onto Merrick's hand just to make sure he didn't get the idea to turn back and say something to the creep.
After they were out of hearing distance of Jimmy, Shego said, "Well, Mal. Looks like he's pissed about something."
"He sure looks like…oh no," Merrick said while he looked at his class schedule.
"What is it, Mal," Shego questioned before she started to look back at Duncan, expecting the creep to cause trouble.
Merrick held his class schedule up to Shego's face and said, "This," while he pointed at the French class Shego and he was going to have together, which was their first class for the day.
"Oh," was all Shego said while she thought over what was going to happen in the class after they were in it.
"I can't be in that class, the whole class would either learn how smart I am or I be laughed at," Merrick said sadly while he lowered the paper from Shego's face.
Shego let out a sigh and stopped Merrick in his tracks by holding onto his hand. She caused him to turn and look at her smiling face, which caused his sad look to brighten. Though she was happy she made him feel better, she wondered if the class would be funny with Merrick in it, especially him speaking French like he always knew it.
She giggled at the thought before she said, "Mal, I'm going to be in there and if anyone start to make fun of you, I could just blast them into the wall if you want me to."
"No, I be fine. Wouldn't be the first time I was made fun of in a class," Merrick said sadly while he went back to walking with Shego tagging along behind him.
Shego had to keep herself from laughing at how cute Merrick was when he got nervous. Course, she only saw him get nervous over two things and that was him speaking in front a group of people and now, him not wanting people to find out he was smart. Finally, before they got to the French class, she did bust out with laughter, which caused everyone in the hall to stare at her. They, however, stopped staring at Shego when she noticed them looking at her and she showed them a scowl. Everyone around the couple diverted their eyes away from the pair and went back to whatever they were doing.
After everyone went back to their own business, Merrick asked, "W…w…what…was that about?"
Shego tried her best to keep from busting out laughing again at Merrick being nervous, but him stuttering, caused her to start laughing again and she couldn't answer his question because of all the laughter. He only looked blankly at her while she laughed and he started to smile after a moment of her silliness. Her laughter died away when she saw Merrick wasn't nervous anymore and they went into the French class while they felt like fools, though everyone else in the hall still wondered what was so funny. But none dared to ask the couple about it, Shego's temper and not wanting to have missing teeth urged them not to say anything to the couple.
After the pair, along with the rest of the class, sat in the class room for awhile, the teacher came in and said, "Bienvenue, classe. Ce sera un passionnant pour vous tout."
All of the class but one looked dumbfounded at her, and before she could say anything, Merrick raised his hand. Shego tried to talk him into putting his hand down while she pulling on his arm, but he said something to her in French and she shook her head at not understanding him while she let go of his arm.
She only whispered a, "Oh, no," when the teacher pointed at Merrick and asked him, in English, what he had to say.
"Je suis juste se demandant pourquoi vous avez dit que ce soit un passionnant pour nous," Merrick questioned, which caused the entire class, except Shego, to look at him with surprised looks along with the teacher.
At the looks Merrick was receiving, he lowered his hand and went to staring at the desk. For a moment, there were snickers coming from some of the classmates, but they were silenced by the teacher.
After she regained order in the class, she asked, "Merrick, do you already know French?"
"No, ma'am," he replied while he continued to look at the desk.
"But you spoke it so fluently as if you always spoke it," the teacher said calmly while she sat in her chair behind the desk.
"I don't know it, ma'am," Merrick replied after a long silence.
"Oh, come on, don't be shy. How did you really know I said this semester would be exciting," the teacher asked but she never got an answer out of Merrick, who stayed quiet the rest of the class and stayed silent the entire day in school.
Not even Shego could get him to talk while they was in the school and she gave up on trying. She couldn't figure out why he was being so mute over the incident in the French class and even her threats of not going out that night if he stayed silent, had any effect on his silence, which was odd to her. Usually her threats of not going out would cause him to do as she asked, but he only nodded to her and would walk on to where ever he had to be for the day.
After her, all day, fruitless attempts to get him to speak, he finally spoke by saying, "I wish I knew why I can understand and speak other languages," while he drove her home.
"Don't worry about it, Mal. Look at it this way, you will ace the French class," Shego said coyly while she now attempted to make him feel better.
"I guess, but I want to know. I have spent the entire day thinking about it," Merrick explained before they got to the subway entrance she always used to get home.
"Is that why you been silent all day!? I thought something was really wrong with you," Shego stated while she looked into his eyes.
"Yeah, I was deep in thought, never notice anything around me when I'm like that," he explained while he pulled up to the subway entrance.
"Even too deep in thought to notice me standing there," she said with anger, but she wasn't mad, just joking with Merrick.
She always loved to trick him with how she was feeling. It was the one thing she did to really fool him since she learned he read her looks to know what she was thinking.
"No, nothing would keep you off my mind," Merrick said sadly, which caused Shego to smile at him because of her fooling him and her smile caused him to smile and say, "You little sneak."
"Yes, I am. But I got to get home and I see you later tonight," Shego stated before she gave him a goodbye kiss.
After she was out of his truck, Shego waved by to him and headed to the subway entrance. Though the new day of school wasn't fun for her, Shego enjoyed how it began and she wondered if every day would start out the same way. She hoped so while she went into the tower and in a few hours she be off somewhere with Merrick having fun like always.
However, as the days went on, school became like Shego always remembered. A boring and dull place which she wished she was out of already. She could see the end in sight and she only had a few months left. The only person that helped her make it through the days of school was Merrick, him being there made everything else unimportant, even the last vain attempts of Jimmy Duncan to break her and Merrick up, went unnoticed as long as she was with Merrick, who would talk anytime she wanted to unless he was deep in thought. He always told Shego after school that his meditation was on why he could understand other languages.
"I'm no closer to understanding why than I was the day I had that brain scan in the hospital," he explained one day while he was driving Shego home.
"I'm sure its nothing, just chalk it up as you being a genius or something," Shego stated while she began to wonder herself.
The events in which Merrick spoke French fluently in the French class, happened on regular occurrences whenever the teacher came into the class and addressed the class in the language. Shego began to notice a pattern with Merrick and his amazing universal language speaking. She happened onto the realization one night while they were studying for the French class. Even though he could speak the language better than the teacher after hearing her speak it, he couldn't speak it as fluently on his own. From that night on, Shego would make fun of him for not being able to learn the language but yet speak it like he always knew it whenever he heard it spoken. But it was Merrick who helped her in the studies because he would correct her in French whenever she made a mistake and the couple would laugh at the strange silliness which neither of them could explain. Still, Merrick continued his studies in why he was about to speak any language without knowing it, but he could never find out why.
"I tried searching the internet, every book I could think up that might help me, anything and everything, and no where did I find anyone smart like me, being able to speak a second language by hearing someone else speak it first without having problems with their brain," Merrick explained the second Shego got in his truck to go on their date for the night.
"Don't worry about it, the doctor told you nothing was wrong with you---even if you get headaches," Shego stated while she scooted across the seat to sit by him.
Merrick, however, only shook his head before he said, "There was only one case like mine, a boy my age, who could speak another language by hearing it, but the file never said he was a genius or not. So, me being a genius may not be causing this," Merrick said sadly while he made the truck take off down the street.
"Really!? So, where is this guy at, we might need to go see him," Shego stated with wonder while she feared something was wrong with Merrick that medicine couldn't explain.
"Lived in Germany, but he's dead now," Merrick said sadly which caused Shego to snap her head up to him.
"How he die," she asked while she tried to hide her fear.
At hearing the question and how she sounded, Merrick let out a sigh before he said, "Unknown causes."
"Oh," was all she said before she hide her face on his shoulder.
"I'm not going to die, Sheila. I have all the reason in the world to keep from dying," he said softly, which had no effect on Shego and her hiding her face.
For awhile, all that was hear in the truck was the motor and a sniffle from Shego. She had always feared the worst and now to hear Merrick tell her a boy his age had died while having the same strange universal language speaking skill, caused her to fear Merrick would die too. She didn't want that and even Merrick kind words couldn't help ease her feelings. They had gotten too close too soon for him to be taken away from her and there was nothing she could do to prevent his possible death. All she could do was spend every day with him like it was the last and she decided to start that on their date.
Before they got to where they were going to eat dinner for the night, Shego lifted her head from his shoulder and asked in a quivering voice, "Mal, what would keep you from dying," while tears streamed down her cheeks.
"My love for you," he answered softly while he pulled the truck over to the curb beside the restaurant.
His answer caused Shego to enclose him in her arms and for her to squeeze him as hard as she could. For all of her life she wanted someone to love her unconditionally, but to go beyond that was nothing she thought about. Now she had a man who would fight death itself to be with her and to see her happy. Though she wasn't sure how someone could fight death for love, she believed Merrick could by what she witnessed about him. He survived a night in the bitter cold while wearing wet cloths just because of his love for her, which was a miracle in itself that he didn't get a cold from the event.
She held her embrace for a long time and she didn't release any pressure in her hug until she hear Merrick gasping for air. While she finally let up on her hug, she giggled at him taking in deep breathes and she looked up at his smiling face. At the sight of his joyful eyes, if she hadn't truly loved him, she loved him now more than she ever did and she believed she couldn't love him any stronger. She made up her mind, that night while she sat in his truck and hugged him, that she wasn't going to become evil. The dark side didn't have the same appeal as being with the man who loved her for the person she was and she could never live the evil life without him.
While she studied his joyful face, she finally killed the silence by asking, "So, if you keep loving me, you'll never die?"
"Exactly, I promise that and only you can change how much I love you," Merrick said, which caused Shego to hug him hard again when she heard those three little words.
After she let up on her hug, she said happily, "Don't worry about that, I love you more than I ever thought I could."
At hearing her joyful words, Merrick returned her crushing hug with one of his own and they held their embrace long after the restaurant closed. After they realized that they couldn't go to dinner where they planned to, the couple finally came out of their embrace and they decided to go to a all-night diner that Shego knew about, which was on the outskirts of the city. It took Merrick an hour to find the place, which caused Shego to joke the whole time they hunted for the diner because of them continuing to get lost. Merrick's only response to him not being able to find a simple diner was because of Shego's bad directions.
"Hey! I use the rooftops to get to this place," Shego snapped before she folded her arms in front of her.
Merrick chuckled at her looking mad and apologized for the wise crack, but she continued to look mad. After he saw she wasn't letting up on being mad at him, he snuck his right hand to her ribs and started tickling her while he drove with his other hand. She busted out laughing at him tickling her and she crawled all the way to the passenger side of the truck to get away from his hand. While she sat away from Merrick, she smiled back at him while she dared him to try and tickle her again. He took the dare and tried to, but Shego grabbed his hand and her flamed up hers. While he started to chuckle at her heating his hand, Shego flashed him a smile and his hand started to smoke.
"Ok! Ok…I'm sorry," Merrick said with laughter while his hand started to feel like it was stuck in a fire.
"Good boy, now you understand what could happen to you if you say something smart again," Shego stated while she unlit her hands and let him have his hand back.
"Yeah, I get third degree burns on my hands," Merrick replied while he shook his stinging hand before he placed it back on the steering wheel.
"I meant you get burns somewhere else," Shego said with glee before she slid back over in the seat to sit by him.
"Ouch," was all he said while he laid his right arm on her shoulders.
She giggled at him tensing up when she started to stroke his right hand and she had to fight the urge to make her hands flame up again. She loved the silly arguments they have had and it always resulted in them making up somehow, which the making up was what made the fights fun to her. While she raised his hand up to kiss away the pain she caused him, she saw they were finally within sight of the diner.
They finally arrived at the diner past midnight, but they weren't concern about what time it was. It was normal for them to stay out on a date all night and come home early in the morning. Their favorite places were still the restaurant they met at and the field where Shego revealed her powers to Merrick, but where the date took place at, didn't matter to them so as long as they were together.
After they were inside the restaurant, Shego ordered them what she usually ate and while they waited for the food, the couple got into their usual chats that always was on whatever they had on their mind. They were deep in their conversation until they saw several men, dressed up is strange costumes, walk by the window. At the sight of the men, the couple stopped talking and watched the men come into the restaurant.
While they watched the men walk up to the counter, one of the men said to the waitress, "We are here on behalf of the Mathter. So, give us all the money in the drawer."
"The Mathter? Oh, crap," Shego whispered while she turned her head and looked out the windows.
"What is it," Merrick questioned back in a whisper when he noticed how scared Shego looked.
She let out a sigh at his question and peeked back at the men before she said in a whisper, "Those guys are being ordered around by another arch-villain of ours."
"Oh. So, you want me to help you knock them around," Merrick questioned before he started to dig in his coat for something.
"You stay here, but if I need your help, please jump in," Shego whispered while she started to crawl out of the booth.
Merrick gave her a salute with a now gloved hand before he said in his crime fighter voice, "Will do."
She gave him a smirk at him still not retiring Lawless and she slipped into the ladies bathroom while the men started to shove money into a bag. A moment later, she busted out of the restroom while she wore her Go jumpsuit and at the commotion she made, the men turned and looked at her. Before they could react, she blasted two of the men across the diner and they ended up underneath one of the booths. While the remaining men started to bolt for the door, they all were blasted by plasma shots, which Shego blinked at because she hadn't threw a single one at them and the shots seemed as strong or stronger than hers. After all the men were down for the count, Shego looked back at Merrick, who was now standing behind her and he had his hands glowing white.
She only shook her head at him and went back into the restroom while she smiled at him. Even after she told him not to interfere unless she needed it, she was thankful that he would willingly help her when she didn't need it. After she changed cloths and came back out of the bathroom, she saw Merrick was sitting at their booth again and he was enjoying his food.
"Mal, what happened to, 'if I needed help, please jump in,'" Shego questioned while she sat down beside him.
He stopped eating at the questioned and smiled at her before he said, "Well, I didn't want third degree burns."
His wise crack caused Shego to bust out laughing to the point that she couldn't even eat her food, which caused the teens to be noticed by the cops, who came into the diner, while Shego was in the restroom, and were hauling out the stunned robbers. Shego stopped laughing when she saw a couple of the cops looking at her and Merrick, who was trying to slip his gloves off his hands when he saw the cops walking to him and Shego, who went to pretending to eat and paying Merrick no attention.
"Cursed things," Merrick whispered before he noticed the cops standing at their table, which caused him to stop what he was doing.
"May we ask you two a few questions," one of the cops asked while he pulled out a notepad.
"Sure," Shego replied while she stopped her pretending.
"Were you two in here during the incident earlier," the cop with the notepad asked.
Shego nodded to the question and peeked a look at Merrick, who looked terrified at something.
"Is you friend ok," the other cop asked, which caused Shego to turn her head to him and for her to flash him a fake smile.
"He's just traumatized over the attempted robbery," Shego replied while she wondered why Merrick was looking so scared for, until it dawned on her.
"Yeah, lucky members of Team Go showed up," the cop with the notepad said before he waved the cop with him to head back to the front door. "Sorry to disturb you two, we'll just forget about the questions for the stake of your friend."
"Oh, thank you. Think its time I got him home, he needs some rest," Shego replied to the cop while he started to leave them alone and once he was back at the front door, she turned her head back to Merrick, who had went back to getting his gloves off his hands.
While she watched him tugging on the gloves and him trying to hid what he was doing, she whispered, "Ok, mister hero, you about blown our cover over your fear of people finding out about your intelligence."
Merrick only nodded his head while he finally got his gloves off and he stuffed them in his coat before he whispered back, "I couldn't help it. If they found out I was Lawless, I would be asked all kinds of questions."
"It's ok, and I think we need to get out of here before they change their mind on asking us questions," Shego stated while she eyed the cops, who had sat down at the counter and ordered something to eat.
While the teens started to slip out of the diner, the cops turned their heads to the couple and watched them leave. After the pair was outside, they bolted to Merrick's truck and the teen jumped into the truck as fast as they could. While Merrick started to pull out of the parking lot, he patted his chest and he looked around in the truck for something.
"What is it," Shego asked while she watched him in his search for something.
He only shook his head at her before he stopped the truck in the parking lot and he looked back at the front door of the diner.
"My gloves fell out of my jacket," Merrick said while he put the truck in reverse, but he didn't make the truck move because he saw the cops coming out of the diner.
While the teens sat in the truck and watched the cops, they saw the men stop walking at the sight of the gloves laying on the pavement and one of them knelt down at the odd looking gauntlets. When he picked the gloves up, he looked right at the red tail lights of Merrick's truck and stood up before he started walking to the truck with the other cop tagging along behind him. At the sight of the cops walking to them, Merrick put the truck in gear and pulled out of the parking lot. The cops shrugged their shoulders at the sight of the truck leaving and they headed back to the diner while one of them still held onto the gloves.
"Can't believe I just lost my gloves," Merrick stated sadly while he went to driving Shego and himself home.
Shego was happy over the fact because he showed her that he still wanted to be Lawless. Him losing his gloves was a blessing to her, even though she knew he could create a new set. She hoped what just happened back at the diner would keep him from trying again. But she knew she would have to persuade him from creating a new set of the gauntlets.
"Mal, I think what just happened was a sign that you need to forget about being Lawless for good," Shego said slyly while she cuddled up to him.
"I guess so---lucky no one knows how those gloves work besides me," he stated while he peered into the rear view mirror and he sighed at the now distant diner.
Shego only nodded to his statement while she started to fall asleep on his shoulder. Later in the night, she was woken by the movement of the truck coming to a halt. She snapped her head up with surprise and saw they were sitting beside the subway entrance she always used to get home. While she sat there in her sleepy daze, she looked up at Merrick and saw his depressed look. She knew why he was sad, which was because he lost his invention, and she wanted him to feel better because of her love for him.
"Sorry, about falling asleep, Mal. You need to be a more exciting date," Shego stated in her joking manner.
Merrick chuckled at what she said and he said happily, "Didn't even know you were asleep and if tonight wasn't exciting then count me out on trying to find something that would be thrilling for us."
"True, and you think about it because tomorrow, I expect the best date ever. Its my birthday, remember," she said cheerfully before she gave him a goodbye kiss.
After their lips parted, he said, "Trust me. What I got planned for tomorrow, you'll never forget," while he gave her a wink.
She only smiled at his wink while she gave him a hug and another kiss before she got out of the truck. After she was down in the subway, she heard him head home and she began to wonder what he had planned for her. She still felt guilty over not getting him anything for his birthday or for Christmas while he had her gifts, which he gave her after he got out of the hospital. He never asked her about gifts and she admired that about him while she still felt terrible over the fact. But now she wondered what he had planned and she could only guess because of his intelligence and access to countless money.
There's no telling, Shego mentally commented while she got ready for bed, even though it was early in the morning.When she rose the next day, she saw it was well after noon and she giggled at sleeping her birthday away. The only important event for the day was her spending time with Merrick, who she only cared to spend her birthday with. As for her brothers and being with them on her birthday, she only spent the first ten with them and ever since, she had found ways to avoid the family get together just for her birthday. She hated the fact that people celebrated her getting a year older and after her parents were killed, she spent the next three of her birthdays alone in the city. Now, however, she actually was looking forward to celebrating the day just because she was going to be with someone who she loved more than she ever thought she could.
While she got dressed, she made up her mind to go the next step that night if it came to it and she was sure it would be the right decision, but she knew she would have to think up a good reason just for Merrick and his ways. She hoped what ever he had planned gave her enough of a reason and she wouldn't have to think up one. Though, her decision frighten her, she knew the anxiety was only in her head and she had nothing to fear, but while she left the tower, she felt a nervousness she hadn't felt in a long time.
All the way, on her walk to Merrick's, she contemplated the next step and the more she thought about it, the more she felt nervous. But she was sure she would be doing the right thing, just the love she felt for Merrick told her she would.
"It's natural to think this way, I'm sure everyone thinks like I am doing," Shego whispered to herself while Merrick's home came within sight, but she sounded unsure with what she just said.
Being hesitant about her choice for the night, she stopped where she was and she stared blankly at the love of her life's home. She let out a sigh and decided to let what happen that night, happen, even if it involved something neither her nor Merrick cared about. But in the innermost part of her being, she was curious about what it be like and she couldn't believe how she was thinking while she started to make her way to Merrick's home. One these days, she knew her thoughts would get the best of her; the day before Merrick's birthday was a small example of her thinking too much, which would have turned out badly for her if her love wasn't so understanding. She would had to deal with a break up instead of her wondering and worrying how her birthday date with Merrick will turn out for the night.
Finally, after her sluggish walk to his home, Shego halted at the steps that led to the front door that led into the home she been in many times. She was still hesitate about her decision and it caused her to stare expressionlessly at the door. After a moment, she shook her head and headed up the steps. Before she could even knock on the door, it was swung open and she saw Merrick's smiling face on the other side. She returned the smile and waved him out of the house, but he motioned her to turn around before he left the home. This was odd to Shego and she did what he asked while she peeked over her shoulder at him. She only caught a glimpse of him stuffing something in a pocket of his coat before he left the home. When he was finally standing beside her and had the door shut behind them, she grabbed his hand and led him from the home.
After they hopped in his truck and were heading down the road, Shego saw they were heading to the upper class part of the city. She knew about the area, mostly because of the crimes Team Go had foiled there, but it was also where Merrick took her on their anniversary. It was her best hint that he was, again, going all out on impressing her, though she wondered still what he had planned. Her speculating wasn't a long wait when they pulled into a five star restaurant and she wondered if he rent out the entire place like he did the last one, but she got her answer when she saw people entering and exiting the place.
Once they got out of the truck, the valet gave the couple an odd look because of the sight of Merrick's truck, but his look melted into a scared one when he realized who the couple was. While the valet continued to look frightened, Merrick handed his keys over and he told the valet to go for a ride if he wanted. The man relaxed at hearing the offer and saluted Merrick before he waved them into the restaurant. After they were inside, the hostess stopped what she was doing and waved them to the front of the line. All along the way to the front of the line, the couple heard the other people in the line whispering about how two teenagers could cut in line, which caused the teens to smile at and nearly caused them to bust out with laughter. When the couple was to the hostess, she started leading them personally to their table, which caused an uproar in the line of waiting people.
"I'm sorry about that, Mr. Lawson. We could make those people leave if you want us to," the hostess stated while she led the pair through the restaurant and into a private room with only one table.
After they were in the room, Merrick commanded, "No need, Sandy. So as long as we're not disturbed."
"Yes, sir. I see to it, and your personal waiter be here shortly," Sandy said while she watched Merrick pull Shego's chair out for her and once she was seated, slide her to the table. "You two are a lovely couple, I kinda envy Miss Sheila for meeting you before I did, Mr. Lawson."
Merrick only nodded to her and sat in his place at the table before their waiter came into the room. Once he was in the room, Sandy left while she looked back at the couple and she looked sad for some reason. After she was gone, the waiter went to work with getting the couple's order, which Shego let Merrick handle and once the waiter left to place the orders, Shego smiled at Merrick because of his thought out plan for their date.
"Well, Mal. Will you tell me what you have planned for the night," she stated after a moment of silence.
"Not a single thing, it would ruin the surprise," he replied back while he propped his head up with one of his hands.
Shego wanted to know, but she knew he was right, though she begged by saying, "Please? Just a hint."
"Nope, I said you will remember tonight and I want that to happen," he said before the waiter came back with their orders and after he placed them on the table, he stood beside the door and waited for the time when he would be needed.
The couple when to enjoying their food and while they were doing that, Shego continued her pleading for Merrick to share his plan, but he never would reveal anything to her. Finally she gave up and decided to just enjoy the night while she learned his plan as it happened. After they were finished with dinner, Sandy came back into the room and told them, she would escort them back out of the restaurant. Her excuse was to keep the other patrons from bothering the couple, but Shego knew why because it was obvious. She had to keep from getting mad and laughing at the hostess for crushing on Merrick. But it was an enrichment for Shego to know she was dating a catch that other girls wanted to date. She admired Merrick for acting the way she wanted him to while she knew he knew the hostess was after him. When they were back outside, Sandy stayed with them for a moment before she left them and headed back into the restaurant with slummed shoulders.
Once she was out of sight, Shego said, "She has it bad for you."
"Yeah, I know," he stated with little concern over the matter.
"Oh, come on. You're not one bit interested in that fact," she said in her joking manner.
Merrick only shook his head before he said, "Most girls act like she does when they find out I have a little bit of money---wonder where my truck is?"
He got his answer a moment later when the valet, who he told to take a spin in his truck, came running to the couple with Merrick's keys in his hand. At the sight of this, Merrick chuckled and looked to Shego with a smile on his face. She couldn't get what was funny until after the valet was to them.
"I…I…I'm sorry, sir. I wrecked your truck. I'm so sorry, sir. I'd pay for the damages, but they said it was totaled," the valet stammered out while he held up Merrick's keys with a shaking hand.
Merrick only smiled at the man while he took the keys before he said calmly, "It's alright, no need in you spending your paycheck on something that can't be replaced."
At hearing what he said, the valet relaxed and stated, "Thank you, sir. If you two ever come here again for dinner, I'll pay the tab."
"No need in that either, just go on about your business like you never wrecked my truck," Merrick stated before he pulled his cell phone out and he called someone. "Hey, Jackie. Think you could run Lawless up here…well, I need a vehicle, kinda wrecked my truck beyond repair…yeah, I'm alright, but I'm gonna need a way around…just park it at the house and I'll pay for your ride back home…ok, see you then."
"Well, seems we're walking and riding your bike until next week, Sheila," Merrick stated while he put the cell phone back in a pocket.
"Seems so. Are we going on with our date or are we just going home," Shego said sadly while she wondered what kind of trouble they will get in once they start riding Lawless around in the city.
Merrick only chuckled at her question before he took her by the hand and stated, "I planned this day out for months. A single incident isn't going to stop me now."
With that said, the couple left the valet in his stunned state and they started walking to where ever Merrick had planned for them to be next, which caused them to walk through a park because Merrick said it was a shortcut. After they were in the park, they stopped at one of the benches in the park for awhile and they took in the sight of the night time city sky. While they sat there, Shego told Merrick about her plans after school, which involved either getting a job that would let her see the world or a career in childcare.
"Well, I'm with you on either one. What ever you decide, I'm for it and be with you every step of the way," Merrick replied while he pulled a small notepad out of his coat and started to write something down.
"Well thanks for the encouragement…what are you jotting down," Shego stated before she noticed Merrick writing something.
He didn't answer at first, but after he was finished writing and put the notepad back in his coat, he said, "Just making note of a few things."
"Like what," she question while she fought the urge to take the notepad out of his coat.
"It's a secret. You'll know about it someday, until then, I'm not sharing a thing," he stated while he got off the bench.
She only shook her head at him being a mystery and stood up beside him. After a moment, he took her by the hand and went on to leading her to where ever they were suppose to be for the night, which surprised Shego because he led them to the tallest building in the city. It surprised her because the building was used for banking and office work. She couldn't figure out why they needed to be at the place and oddly Merrick had a key to the front door, which he locked back once they were inside."Ok, Mal. Why are we are for," Shego questioned while he led her to the elevators.
He only pressed the button to summon the elevator before he turned to her and said, "You'll see."
Not telling what it is, knowing how you are, Shego thought as the elevator doors opened for them.
They rode the elevator in silence while Shego's felt anxiety, again over how she wanted the night to end. While her fear became too much, she felt Merrick let go of her hand and saw him looking at her with narrowed eyes. She didn't ask about the look because of her panic, but she realized she looked frightened over her plans.
"Sheila, you ok," Merrick finally answered after he studied her scared look.
"I…I…I'm just scared is all," she replied in a stammer.
He looked at her for a second before he looked around the elevator and asked, "What is so scary about an elevator?"
"Nothing is, I'm just thinking about how this night might end," she replied with a nervous laugh.
"Oh…" was all he said before he went wide-eyed at the realization.
"Yeah, Mal. Don't worry about that for now, lets just see how our date ends first," Shego stated nervously while she started to relax over letting him know what was on her mind.
"I just hope it ends the way I want it to…" Merrick said before the elevator doors opened, showing they were on the roof of the building.
"How do you want it to end," Shego questioned while she watched him walk out of the elevator.
Before he answered her, he stopped and waved her out of the elevator before he said, "You'll know that if it happens."
"Well, ok," was all she said while she followed him out of the elevator and onto the edge of the roof.
After they were at the edge of the roof, Shego propped herself up on the ledge and she took in the sights of the night time city. She had never seen the city in its grandeur from the height she was at and she loved the sight, even though she still hated the city. But she could see the entire city from where they were now and she wondered if there was a place in the metropolis she hadn't been to yet.
While she looked on at the city, she saw from the corner of her eye that Merrick was doing the same, but he would occasionally peek a look at her. She finally smiled at him when she noticed he was looking at her and she knew they were on the building for a reason other than just to look at the city.
"So, Mal. Why are we up here for," Shego questioned slyly while she turned her head and looked him right in the eyes.
He returned the look for a moment before he took in a deep breathe and stated, "Guess its now or never," before he pulled out his cell phone.
"Ok, its time," he told someone on the other end of the cell phone before he motioned her to look at the city.
The second she went back to looking at the city, it went completely dark and she was surprised by this. She even more surprised when she started to see windows lit up all over the city, one by one. At first she didn't notice it, but she finally realized the windows were making out a message. After the message was completed, she went speechless at what it said and she felt tears forming in her eyes. Merrick had told her she would remember that night and she knew now that she couldn't forget it.
While she felt the tears streaming down her cheeks, she whispered, "Will you marry me, Sheila?"
"Well, what you say," she heard Merrick say happily behind her.
At hearing his voice, she whipped around at the sound and saw Merrick kneeling on one knee behind her while the city lit up again. She couldn't answer him while he looked up at her with a smile, but his smile eventually faded into a sad look because she continued to be silent.
He lowered his head and nodded while he stated sadly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have I asked you that until we were sure of it," before he started to stand.
"No, wait! I'm the one who should be sorry. I was just surprised by it," Shego finally spoke up and said while she extended a hand to Merrick, who stopped where he was.
"And," was all he asked sadly while he looked down at the roof.
She shook her head at him and stated happily, "Mal, you silly thing. Of course I'll marry you!"
"Really," Merrick exclaimed while he snapped his up his head to her and jumped to his feet.
She only nodded to him while she flashed him a smile. He chuckled happily and ran to her. When he got to her, he wrapped her in his arms and hugged her while he picked her up off the roof. While he held her in the embrace and up in the air, he started to spin her around and she laughed at how happy he was. Finally, she got him to put her down and once she was back on her feet, she planted a kiss on his lips. They only held their kiss for a moment because Merrick's cell phone started to ring, which he dug out of a pocket.
Shego looked on at the happy man while he answered the call and he only said, "Yes," before he rung up the phone and put it back in a pocket.
After the phone was put away, he wrapped Shego back in his arms and nodded back to the city, which went dark again. A moment later, a new window message appeared, which only said, "She said yes!"
Shego giggled at the sight and said with glee, "Mal, your full of surprises," which caused him to picked her up off the roof and she squealed with delight at him spinning her again.
It took her a moment to settle him down and for him to stop spinning her. After he stopped his celebrating, he let Shego back down and knelt before her while he dug in his pockets for something. For a moment, he looked sad over not finding what he wanted to find, but he eventually pulled out a small, black box and handed it to Shego, who held the box up in the air and looked it over.
"What's this," she asked coyly while she studied box, even though she already knew.
Merrick smiled at the question before he stated, "Just open it."
"What if I don't want to," Shego said sheepishly, which caused Merrick to cock his head to one side. "I'm just kidding."
He smiled at the joke while she opened the box and once she saw what was inside, she covered her mouth with one of her hands and she started to tear up again. She became speechless for a second time and she couldn't even touch the ring because of all the happiest she felt, to the point she thought she was going to faint. After a moment of watching how stunned she was, Merrick took the box from her and slid the emerald ring off her finger and replaced it with the diamond one from the box, which he used to hold the emerald ring for her. She watched him go through the process of changing rings for her and after he was finished, she started to come out of her daze. Once she wasn't as stunned anymore, she pulled Merrick to his feet and she planted another kiss on his lips. This time they held the kiss and nearly started to make out, but Shego stopped them and suggested that there was time later for it, which Merrick nodded to and motioned for them to leave the roof.
But Shego's suggestion went unnoticed once they got back on the elevator because she started the making out again. Merrick tried to stop her several times, but she only shook her head to him and she would go back to what she was doing. Before they got to the first floor, she had Merrick breathless and she giggled at him gasping for air while she finally stopped kissing him. Once they were out of the elevator, the couple went to holding hands while they left the building and their laughter echoed through the lonely building.
After they were outside the building, Shego let Merrick lock the place back up before she wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder. They stood in front of the building for a moment before Merrick suggested they get home because he was getting cold. Shego giggled at his complaint and came out of her embrace only long enough to kiss him again before she started to led him back to his home. She was now on a mission that night and that was to be with the one she loved.
While they walked along in the frosty air, Shego said sarcastically, "Can't believe I'm gonna marry someone like you."
After her statement, she turned her look to Merrick just to see his reaction to her mocking joke. However, she narrowed her eyes at him when she saw he wasn't smiling but was frowning. That look alone told her either he was sad or angry about what she said and she saw something about his eyes. Right as they past a street light, which lit them up for a moment, Shego could have sworn the color of Merrick's eyes were red, but she only saw the odd occurrence for a second before his eyes were shrouded by the dark night. When they crossed another street light, Shego instantly looked at his eyes again, but they were sky blue. While she shook her head at her eyes fooling her, Merrick stopped walking and he started to hold his head. The sight of this caused Shego stop with him and for her to face him.
"Another headache," Shego questioned with sympathy while she rubbed his face.
He nodded his head at the question and rubbed his forehead some before he said, "Yeah…a severe one."
A moment later, the hand he was using to hold Shego's, tightened around her hand to the point that she thought he was going to squeeze her hand in half. Before she could even scream out at the pain she started to feel, Merrick's grip relaxed and he collapsed into the snow covered sidewalk. Fear crept in Shego at the sight of him laying in the snow and not moving, because she was terrified that what happened to the boy in Germany, just happened to Merrick. The fear gripped her so much that she froze where she stood and she stared blankly at Merrick. Reality finally set back in her head and she knelt down by him while she started to tremble. With shaking hands, she started to check his vitals and she let out a staggering sigh when she felt he was still alive.
"Keep loving me," Shego whispered while she made him bend at the waist and sit up right.
When she had him sitting up, she dug in his pockets for his cell phone, which when she finally found it, she realized she couldn't use it because of its battery being dead. In anger, she tossed the phone in the snow and she started to feel depressed over not being able to help Merrick, which caused her to fear he be dead before the night was over. Even with the fear starting to eat at her, she gritted her teeth and got Merrick into a fireman carry. She stood where she was for a moment and looked around to see if she could find any help, but there was no one in sight. While she let out a sigh at the task before her, she started carrying Merrick to the hospital and she hoped she could get him there in time. All her life as a crime fighter, not once had she been to blame for the failures arisen in helping someone. Now, however, she was the only hope for Merrick and she knew at the pace she was going, she was going to fail him. The harder she tried to keep the thought of him dying out of her head, the faster she tried to walk in the snow, which was difficult for her.
After she had struggled a couple miles, she collapsed to her knees from exhaustion and she lost her grip on Merrick, who fell face first into the snow. While she sucked in deep breaths and looked down at Merrick, she felt how helpless she was and she knew no matter how much she fought to get him to the hospital, she would never get him there in time. She let out a sad sigh at the thought and rolled over the, apparently out cold, love of her life. Her hands snapped away from him at the sight of his eyes barely opened and him looking back at her. She tried to smile at him, but the fear she was feeling caused her to look like she would break down in cry, which she finally did and she collapsed on Merrick while she buried her face in his chest. While she cried, she felt Merrick wrap her in his arms and hug her hard for a moment.
"Don't die on me," Shego whimpered before Merrick placed a hand under her chin and made her look up at his face.
He only shook his head before he said, "I'm not gonna die. I have had these episodes before."
"Really," she questioned sadly while she watched his eyes open wide and him starting to smile at her.
"Yes, now please stop worrying about me gonna die or not. I said I'll die the day I stop loving you," he stated softly while he started to stroke her face.
"But it hard not to thin…," Shego started to say but she was cut off by Merrick pressing a finger to her lips.
"Don't worry about it. Now let's get home before I have another headache," he said softly, which caused Shego to reluctantly to get off of him and he sat up right once she was kneeling beside him. "Since you carried me this far, I get to carry you the rest of the way."
"Do you think that is wise," Shego questioned while she was amazed at how fast he recovered and acted like nothing ever happened.
Without answering her question, he climbed to his feet and once her was standing, he held a hand out to her, which she unwillingly took at first because the hand she was going to use to grip his, was still sore from him squeezing on it. But she finally took his hand and he helped her stand. Once she was back on her feet, she winced at the pain she caused in her legs from exerting to much energy in getting Merrick to the hospital.
Before she could even say anything, Merrick spun around to look away from her while he asked, "Want a piggy back ride?"
She only nodded her head and climbed on his back. Once she was settled in place, Merrick started off to his home while she laid her head on his shoulder. She felt exhausted beyond any she ever remembered and she felt like she could fall asleep in the position she was, but she fought sleep for the stake of Merrick. The memory of what just happened was still to fresh in her mind and she felt scared over Merrick possibly dying someday. She knew that was life, everyone would die someday, but she didn't want the love of her life die so soon after just meeting him. But she was amazed at how he could act so calm about something most people in the world feared. She feared it herself and she had always wondered what her last second of life be like. But to see Merrick act like it would never happen to him, made her wonder if he actually thought that.
No one is immortal, Shego mentally commented to herself right as Merrick's home came into view.
When they finally made it to the front door of the home, Shego slid off Merrick's back and she heard him chuckle about something, which caused her to wonder what was so funny until she saw a black car pulling up to the home.
"Oh, Lord. We're gonna get in so much trouble now," Shego stated happily while she remembered the high speed chase they were in while they were vacationing in Toyah.
"Well, I kinda doubt Lawless can handle these roads right now. But we'll see if it can once the ice and snow melts," Merrick said cheerfully while the car pulled up along side them.
Once the car came to a stop, a man dressed in a cowboy get-up hopped out of the car and immediately handed the car's keys over to Merrick while he eyed the couple. He tipped his hat to Shego before he headed straight for Merrick's home, which once he was there, he unlocked the front door and went inside. Shego looked on with amazement at how quickly the man left them and went into the home without Merrick stopping him. Though she saw the family resemblance between Merrick's dad and the man that went into the home, she wondered again why Merrick didn't look like anyone in his family.
"Ok, Mal. Who was that," Shego questioned while she pointed a thumb at his home.
Merrick chuckled at the question and said, "That was my Uncle Jackie. He's the one that's fixing up my home back in Texas, course it seems he had nothing else to do for him to bring Lawless so soon."
"Well, ok---so it looks like he be staying the night," she stated sadly before she slummed her shoulders.
At hearing how disappointed she sounded, Merrick let out a sigh and said, "Don't be let down by him staying over for the night. The night still ended the way I wanted it to. Course, the moment on the roof caused me to want it to end the way you wanted it to."
"Don't worry about it, there's always time for that after we're married," Shego said happily, even though she was depressed over her plan for the night, not happening any time soon. "Anyways, I'm heading home. I had too much excitement for one night."
"Want me to walk you home," Merrick questioned while his face turned sad.
"I'll be fine. You go see what your uncle is up to and I see you tomorrow," she replied cheerfully before she gave him a good night kiss and she started to walk home.
"Well ok, if you say so," he stated to her back side before he slummed his shoulders and headed to his home.
When Shego heard him open the front door and went inside, she turned and looked at the home. She let out a sigh at the night not going the way she wanted it to, but she giggled at being engaged now. While she returned to her walk home, she held the ringed finger up to her face and became transfixed to the diamond glittering whenever she walked by a streetlight. She wondered how her brothers would react to the news, but she didn't care about their approval. It was her birthday and now she was old enough to make her own decisions. A day she had waited for since she was forced to be cooped in the tower with her brothers, even though she had made several decisions for herself since her siblings and her became Team Go. Now she only had a few months left in the city to endure along with tolerating her brothers. After Merrick and her were out of school, she hoped they leave the place and never come back.
When she finally got the subway entrance, she resisted the urge to turn and run back to Merrick's. She felt more comforted with him in one minute than she ever did a whole day at the tower. Now she wanted to be with him all the time just because of the ring he put on her finger, but she didn't run back to him that night. Instead, she slummed her shoulders and entered the subway entrance.
Someday, you won't have to use this thing again, Shego thought to herself while she made her way to the tower.
The days slowly moved on for the couple and they became the talk of the school because of Merrick letting out the secret of them being engaged. Shego didn't think much of what everyone was saying about Merrick and her, but it started to become annoying to her and she longed for the last day of school. It be the day she would leave the city forever and never to return. She would be free and Merrick was going to be with her everywhere she went. Even her brothers objected to her wearing the ring, but she didn't care about what they had to say. She made up her mind on the tower and that was what she wanted, not what her brothers and the people in school wanted. Even with the events at home and school over her being engaged, the couple still was able to keep their mind on the upcoming prom, which they looked forward to since Merrick was asked the one a year ago, which finally gave them the go ahead to shop for dresses and tuxes.
"So, what color you think I would look best in," Shego questioned cheerfully while she looked through dresses in a store located in the Go City mall.
"Umm, green," Merrick replied back nervously while he looked around at all the women clothes.
When she noticed him feeling uncomfortable, Shego giggled at him being nervous and she stated, "I need to take you shopping with me more often and green it is," before she pulled a light green dress from the rack.
"So, what you think," she questioned while she held the dress in front of her.
He smiled at the question before he said, "Can't say till you try it on."
"Way ahead of ya," Shego replied while she headed to the changing room.
Moments later, Shego came back out of the room with the dress on and she smiled at the look Merrick was giving her. She wanted him to look stun and he was more than stun. The very look he was giving her, nearly made her bust out laughing at how easy she shocked him, but she didn't and she walked to him seductive just to tease him more.
When she was to him, she pushed his bottom jaw back in place before she asked softly, "Well, what you think now?"
It took him a moment to answer and he finally did, after he shook his head, by stammering out, "T…t…that looks good on you."
She giggled at how he sounded and stated, "That's all I wanted to know," before she walked back to the changing room the same way she walked to Merrick.
She had to keep herself giggling at knowing she was teasing him and she entered the room to change back to the clothes she wore to the mall. After she changed and left the room, she saw Merrick was studying a dress on a rack just like the one she was buying. She thought it was odd, but she figured he was just killing time until she was ready to leave, which she was, after she bought the dress. With the dress in hand, she grabbed Merrick by the hand and led him out of the store.
While they passed by many other shoppers, Shego asked, "So, where we going to get your tux?"
"Done ordered it. Should be here before the prom," Merrick replied back while he looked through the windows of every store they passed.
"Well, leave it to you being different," Shego said coyly, which got a chuckle out of Merrick.
"I so love being different," Merrick replied back before he finally quit looking in the stores.
Shego stopped their walk and made Merrick look at her before she said, "And that's why I love you, because your different."
She caused him to smile with her statement and right in the middle of the shoppers, Shego planted a kiss on his lips. They only held the kiss for a moment because of a familiar voice saying something to them.
"Why don't you two get a room," the couple heard the voice say, which caused them to stop kissing and look at Duncan mere feet from them.
"Buzz off, Duncan," Merrick snapped while he let go of Shego's hand and he started toward the creep.
But he was stopped by Shego placing a hand on his shoulder, which caused the creep to flash them a missing teeth smile. Merrick looked back at Shego and saw her shaking her head at him, which caused him to slum his shoulders and back step to her side.
"What's the matter, Merrick? Sheila won't let you fight. It's so sad that she tells you what to do," Duncan said happily.
"I don't," Shego spat while she, herself, wanted to knock the creep senseless.
At her outburst, many shoppers stopped walking and look on at the teens. Though many of them didn't know what was going on, they became curious about the fuss fight happening before their eyes. It would be the excitement for them on that day.
Duncan busted out laughing at how mad he made Shego and he said, "Well, I never knew you were a control freak, Sheila. Glad I never dated you then, though it sucks for Merrick."
"That's it," Shego snapped before she dropped the package her dress was in and she charged the creep.
At seeing Shego coming at him, Duncan went wide-eyed and ran into the crowd of people, disappearing among them before she could get to him. After the creep was gone, Shego stopped where she was and felt a rage she never felt before building in her. She tried to calm herself down, but she couldn't and she felt herself losing control on her powers. At the realization of being found out of being one of the crime fighters, Shego ran back to Merrick and picked up the package she dropped.
She shoved the package in Merrick chest and stated, "Here! I come by later at get it. Right now, I need to get out of here."
"Why you got to leave all the sudden," he asked while looking confused.
"I can't explain right now, if I stay, something bad might happen. I tell you about it later tonight," she said hastily before she bolted to find an exit out of the mall.
The second she was outside the mall she saw a finger, on her right hand, involuntary lit up green, which she gasped at and she tried to unlit it. But it still glowed and she buried the hand in a pocket while she looked for a place around the mall parking lot to hid at until she could get a grip on her powers. Finally, she spotted a small cove beside the mall that was used for garbage bins and she bolted to the hiding place. However, while she ran to the bay her entire hand lit up and she started to freak over the thought of anyone spotting her right pocket having an eerie green glow. Before she could get to the inlet, her other hand lit up and she hid it in a pocket too while she ducked into the hiding place. After she managed to get behind the garbage bins, she looked around her to make sure no one was in view and once she saw the coast was clear, she took her hands out of her pockets.
Once she had her hands out of the pockets, she held them in front of her face and she tried to regain control over her powers. The way in which she usually shut her powers down, wasn't working for her and she couldn't understand why she lost control. It was as if the powers had a mind of it own at the moment and there was nothing she could do about it.
After it seemed an eternity to her, her hands finally went out on their own and she looked puzzled at the sight. She stared at her hands and wondered why the odd occurrence happened, but she was glad she could leave the foul smelling garbage bins. Before she left, she tried her powers, which worked like it always did and she was able to turn them off herself.
She let out a sigh at regaining control and she started to leave her hiding place to head back to Merrick's home. The second she started to leave, a stray cat jumped out of the garbage bin, landing at her feet and it startled Shego. As if upon instinct, her hands lit again without her wanting them to and the cat hissed at her. She slummed her shoulders at losing control over her powers and in the next instantaneous, she saw a flash of green and heard the cat make a frightened squeal. When her vision cleared, she saw the cat running over things while it tried to get away from her and everything before her eyes were shades of green. She narrowed her eyes at the sight and looked down at her hands. She gasped at seeing not only her hands glowing green but her entire body.
True fear crept in her at not knowing what was happening to her. At the sight of her entire body enclosed in her green glow, she tried to regain control, but it was no use. She went in a panic over the unknown and her mind race to find a solution to her problem. But she couldn't think of one because this was a first for her. She was only thankful that Merrick wasn't there with her. She might actually frighten even him with her new look and she felt herself tearing up over the fact. While she was bringing her hands to her face, she heard her hands make a charging up sound. She narrow her eyes at the sound and before she could react, her hands shot out massive plasma shots right into the side of the mall. Shego only went wide-eyed at the sight of the gapping holes she just made. While she became stun at the sight, she started to hear people in the mall screaming in pain.
What have I done, Shego questioned to herself miserably while her glow disappeared.
She looked at herself the second the glow was gone and she when back to staring at the holes in the wall. Tears started to stream down her cheeks at the realization of hurting innocence people and she bolted from the cove while she busted out crying. She ran all the way to the subway she used so many times without another episode of her losing her powers. The events at the mall made her want to hide in the darkest place inside the tower because of the shame and fear. But the second she was inside the tower, she stopped in the room with the table because of the news report that was showing on the big screen. She wanted to curl up in a ball and cry her eyes out over the anchorwoman saying that several people where killed in a massive explosion at the Go Mall. Shego only closed her eyes and lowered her head at the realization of her being a murderer. When she finally opened her eyes, tears rolled down her cheek and she spotted a note laying on the table, which she picked up and read with her tear filled eyes.
Shego,
We have left to go to Go Mall to assist in any way we can. When you read this, and if we're not back by then, will you please come to the mall and help us.
Hego
Shego only sighed and flamed up the hand that was holding the note, burning it to ashes. She wasn't about to return to the scene of the crime and witness the suffering she caused the innocent people. Instead, she went and got the bags she been storing for the day she finally left Go City. After she had the bags in toil, she wrote a letter to her brothers, stating she was leaving and was never going to return. Once she finished the letter, she went into her room one last time and slipped the diamond ring off her finger and left it on her night stand.
While she looked down at the ring, she whispered sadly, "I'm sorry, Mal. You don't want to marry a murderer," before she picked up her bags and left her room.
With the feelings of regret, she looked back into the room with the table one last time before she exited the tower for the last time. She was heading into a new world for herself and running from what she did. Her only hope was Merrick understanding why she left, even though it was the worst feeling for her to leave without him.
She let out a sad sigh when she sat on her bike. The cursed thing will always remind her of Merrick, it was a gift from him. Now it will take her to wherever she wanted to go while it would cause her emotional pain.
"Forgive me for this, Mal," Shego whispered sadly before she cranked the bike and started to drive it out of the city.