I'm Fine

Shego coughed as she walked down the many stairs of their lair. She felt miserable. She'd even thought about calling in, but after the chaos of last time, she really couldn't deal with the aftermath again. She sneezed so hard she saw stars as she reached the final platform and had to lean against the railing for a few seconds. She blamed Junior this time. After putting off their Madrid weekend because of catching Possible's miserable cold, she'd finally felt well enough to go a few days ago. Unfortunately for her he was just starting his own cold via Stoppable, and the two's night of dancing had ended up with her getting sick of the good looking person she'd been dancing with and having to drag a sick and crying Junior all the way home. It turned out Junior was even more dramatic and demanding than a sick Drakken had been, and she'd booked it home after that in hopes of getting rest. She leaned against the doorway of the lab and took a deep breath.

"'Morning Shego," said Drakken, not looking up from the high density laser she'd helped him swipe before Madrid. "Have a good weekend?"

"Sure," she breathed as she sat down in her chair. "It was fide."

"That's good, because with these borrowed rubies we will be able to…Shego?" asked Drakken, "Shego!"

"What?" asked Shego, having drifted off. "I'm listening... Go...rubies...yeah."

"Shego? Are you sick again?" asked Drakken. He stood up quickly and reached in his drawer for a mask.

"I'm fide... Besides I'm only contagious the first forty-eight hours. Lucky you. I wasn't here then," said Shego. She waved her hands, "Continue. World take over. Ruby laser."

"As I was saying," Shego rolled her eyes as he put the mask on anyway. "With the cursed rubies that Cleopatra loaned us, we should be able to break down any metal..."

"Why...don't...we...use...the...curse," said Shego. In between each word she sneezed, and then blew her nose after. "Because...huh...does this look okay?"

"...I will not look at your tissue," said Drakken. She looked up at his raised brow and squinted eyes, and he shook his head. "Because we don't know if the curse is factual or how to tap into it. I'm not calling Monkey Fist, before you suggest it."

"Trouble in Bro-adise?" She chuckled at her own joke and then coughed. "Uhg."

"Shego, can you make it through today or do I have to call a replacement again?" asked Drakken with a dramatic sigh. "Honestly as much as I enjoy Killigan, three weeks in a row is a bit much. This time he'd have to fly here too because before he was still here from the party and..."

"I said I'm fide," snapped Shego. She waved her hand. "Let's do this."

"I'm fide!" snapped Shego as she stood in Drakken's office, Cleopatra sitting across from him reading a contract. "We can take over the world without help."

"Is she always so...charming?" asked Cleopatra as Shego began coughing into her tissue.

"This cold has really mellowed her out," said Drakken. "So, co-villains it is?"

"This is quite interesting, I've never tried the whole world-takeover thing. But if you're certain the rubies have that much power, I wonder what else I have in my tomb lair that could be as dangerous..."

"Well this seems like a delightful partnership then, so just sign here," said Drakken, handing her a pen.

"Stop...trying...to...uhg." Shego felt dizzy again with her sneezing. She waved her hand for a tissue, and was given a box.

"Excuse us one moment, Cleopatra," said Drakken. Shego felt his hands on her back as he hastily steered her from the office. "Shego, you're sick. Get some rest. I'll have a henchman bring you soup."

"I said...I am..." Shego began.

"Say fine without a D. In the end, I dare you," said Drakken, hands on his hips.

"...Fide... Fi-de... I'm okay," said Shego with a glare. Drakken rolled his eyes and went back in the room.

"So, you get Egypt in the event of world-takeover with your rubies or any cursed items used from your...tomb?" asked Drakken. He raised a brow, and she smirked.

"You'll have to come see it sometime. Made of gold because, well," she indicated to herself, "I have an aesthetic... Hello again, Shego."

"I thought you were getting rest," said Drakken with agitation as Shego sat in her usual chair.

"I'm good," said Shego. She crossed her arms and gave a smile at Cleopatra.

"We have to be very silent..." said Drakken as he set the laser settings.

"Achoo!" sneezed Shego, almost causing Cleopatra to drop the rubies she held in gloved hands. "Sorry."

"Shego, could you...maybe not stand so close to us?" said Drakken. Cleopatra had joined him in wearing a mask earlier.

"You two look like idiots, I'm not contagious," said Shego as she sniffed. She attempted to saunter away but ended up having a coughing fit.

"We'll play it safe, dear," said Cleopatra. She handed over the rubies as Drakken tightened the laser settings.

"In no time..." Drakken began.

"Phew!" Shego blew her nose, and sniffed.

"In no time, our laser will be ready to break into the most guarded vault of high powered..."

"Phew!" Shego blew her nose again, and Drakken threw his arms in the air. "I'm done."

"As I was saying, once we..."

"Phew!" Shego tried to be quieter, but Drakken's expression was blank.

"Let's just do this," said Drakken with a sigh as they began to wheel the laser towards the vehicle. Or rather he did. "Ohm, a little help here."

"Oh, I don't do that," said Cleopatra waving in a vague gesture. "I hold things, swipe things, flirt. I don't do…pushing and lifting."

"...Shego," sighed Drakken. Shego smirked as she walked over to help him push.

"Aren't you glad I'm here," said Shego with a loud sniff, though the laser was heavier than she thought. "How much does this weigh... A ton?"

"No," said Drakken. Shego groaned and looked to see him not even moving it, but looking at her. "Not even close."

"More," said Shego. She pushed again, but the laser barely moved. "A little help here... Hey!"

"Just...just stand there," said Drakken as he moved her away from the laser and pushed it himself, mumbling all the way.

"I'll have to try that sometime. Feigning weakness to get a man to do something for you. I mean, it is a classic," said Cleopatra. "Dated but I do like it."

"Once I get this loaded, it's just a drive away and the world will... Cleopatra, at least get the door..." groaned Drakken as he pushed the laser halfway up the ramp.

"Allow me," came a response. Drakken let go of the laser as Ron Stoppable closed the door, and the heavy device rolled over his foot.

"Ow! Kim Possible!" yelled Drakken. He looked around in his jump.

"Just me," said Ron. He looked confident. A sound came from his pocket and Rufus ran up his arm. "And Rufus. Sorry to say Dr. Drakken, I can't let you take over the world today. I mean I really am because it would get me out of my English test tomorrow."

"What are you doing here?" asked Shego. She sneezed and blew her nose.

"Someone...never-mind," sighed Drakken as he took a fighting stance.

"This is different," said Ron. He made a noise and took a martial arts stance.

"Isn't this your thing?" asked Cleopatra, gesturing to the fighting stance.

"I kind of want to see where this goes first," sniffed Shego. Her ear made a popping noise. "Ow, my ear."

"I'm really reconsidering this team up," said Cleopatra as Drakken and Ron began missing each other in their attacks. "Uhg, I hate getting my hands dirty."

"I've noticed," said Shego. She was about to interrupt when a familiar voice came from the entrance way.

"I was going to say that," sneezed Kim as she slid in the room. She looked at Ron. "I told you I was fide."

"If there's a D at the end, you're not," said Ron as Drakken landed a punch. "Ow!"

"Oh I'm sorry, were you not trying to stop me from taking over the world?" responded Drakken.

"Yeah, but it was witty banter time," said Ron as he kicked Drakken in the stomach. "Rude."

"Someone got the sniffles, Kimmy?" laughed Shego as she and Kim took a fighting stance.

"Won't stop me from wiping the floor with you," coughed Kim, giving her best smirk.

"I think we all need Lysol wipes," said Cleopatra. She saw Rufus on the laser. "Hey, get off those rubies!"

Drakken and Ron continued to fight it out, but it seemed to be the only fight making any headway. Shego's powers seemed to be on the fritz and her aim wasn't as good when fighting Kim, who in the same sense was mostly just moving a beat too short to keep up with Shego's fighting. Cleopatra was wrestling with Rufus over the rubies, and the laser was rolling away down the ramp. As Drakken and Ron fought, the sound of a splash caught their attention. Drakken's nose was bleeding, the laser had fallen into a small pond, Cleopatra was running away from Rufus, Shego and Kim were both having a coughing and sneezing attack while looking miserable, and then Ron slapped him in the face.

"That's it. I'm canceling it!" yelled Drakken as he got up, swiping at Ron as he did so. "World-takeover day is ruined. Everyone go home."

"What?" asked Ron. He thought as he looked at the scene. "We're taking the stolen laser..."

"Fine, sure, whatever," said Drakken, rubbing his head. There was a definite migraine coming on.

"Dr. D., I'm fide," said Shego angrily. Her hand fizzled, and she looked at it. "I am a little tired."

Drakken sat in his office watching the fire in bitter annoyance. The day had been a complete waste of time. Turned out, the laser wouldn't have worked either way. The rubies were fakes after all. Cleopatra was furious, and was going to be making a nasty house-call to Hermes later on. He'd decided to end their contract when she attempted to sway him to be her...and quote... Strong Arm. Yeah, her flirting and batting eyelashes may work with some, but it irritated him to no end. Perhaps the laser falling in the water and the punch from Stoppable had pushed him to that point... Nevertheless... His mind began mulling over the idea of what Cleopatra or others would do if they had to be honest in their intentions. He was no better mind you; he'd flirted with DNAmy to get help with his monstrous creations, but he hadn't really not been forward with what he wanted. Monsters. Stupid idea really, it was the synthodrones all over again. He should give them more personalities. He could cut back on henchmen costs really... An idea for later. He sneezed and groaned.

"Great," scoffed Drakken, which only was made worse when his nose started bleeding. "Stupid buffoon."

Drakken groaned as he finally got his nose to stop a few minutes later and began heading out of his office. He walked past his lab and glared inside. Maybe he should start working on his own projects again, though they haven't achieved results either. Even Shego and his many contacts couldn't track down a steady supply of some of the needed materials. He began walking up the dark metal staircase. They really needed a lair with fewer steps, honestly. He nearly tripped on something in the dark stairwell, and he heard a groan.

"Watch your feet," came the groggy reply of Shego. Drakken clapped his hands and the lights sprang on.

"We...have...a clapper?" asked a bleary-eyed Shego looking around. She coughed into her arm. A litter of tissues lay around her, and Drakken saw a trail from one landing to another. "How far did I make it?"

"Not even half way... Have you been here all night?" asked Drakken. He was concerned. The laser incident had been hours ago. "I thought you were going to bed?"

"I did... There...and there...and here," said Shego, indicating to the platforms. Her breathing seemed off. "I'll eventually make it... Why do we have so many stairs?"

"The elevator cost too much," said Drakken honestly. He watched as Shego pulled herself up and began making the steps. He slowed his walk to match hers. His hand found her back but she swatted it away.

"I can make it," said Shego. Her brows knitted together as she took slow steps up the stairs, her breath hitching with each one. Drakken was becoming more and more concerned.

"I don't think you have a cold Shego," said Drakken. "Your powers aren't even working."

"It does that when I'm sick sometimes, not a big deal. It's just a cold," said Shego. "I'm fi— good."

"You're fine?" asked Drakken with a smirk. She glared, but it wasn't as effective as normal.

"Yeah," she muttered, but as they reached the next platform, she sat down. "I need a small break."

"Uh huh," said Drakken. He looked up the two more flights of stairs and then to Shego and sighed. "Come on, let's go."

"I just need to take...a small break." She took deep breaths as she leaned back against the stairs and then began coughing. "I hate these stairs...and I hate Junior...and Madrid. And the fact I can't breathe without wanting to die... I'm not fide."

"Clearly," sighed Drakken. He leaned down and prepared himself to get a verbal whip-lashing as his arm slid under her legs.

"What are you doing? No, put me down. You're going to fall and the henchmen are going to find us dead at the bottom of these shitty, ridiculous stairs. We need an elevator," said Shego as she shoved him away from her, though probably not with as much force as she intended. "I just need a moment... Okay, I can do this."

"Shego," said Drakken as she stood again. She took two steps and leaned against the railing. "I'm tired and I don't really want to spend the next two hours trying to get up the stairs."

"Go to bed," said Shego. "I got this, I'll make it."

"Fine," said Drakken.

He walked up the stairs and down the hall to his room. He made it all the way in before turning around and heading back to the stairs again. He stood at the top and watched as Shego sat only two more steps up from where he'd left her. She was having a coughing attack and blew her nose on another tissue. He rolled his eyes and walked down the stairs towards her again. It wasn't like she could blast him really; she could barely make it up two stairs. He walked down and stood next to her. She was leaning against the railing and just looking at the ground.

"Fide, I need help," she breathed. She held up her hand.

Drakken slid her arm over his neck and began walking beside her up the steps. He said nothing, but aided Shego in their slow paces up, but as they reached the next landing Shego withdrew and leaned against the railing, taking a breather. Drakken held a mixture of annoyance and of concern at seeing her so out of it. Even when she'd been sick last time, she'd only been miserable and less snarky, not like this. Drakken knew this might come back to bite him or very well get them both killed as he looked down the stairs, but he didn't want to spend all evening there...or deal with leaving her. He put her arm over his neck again and when she went to take a step, he took the chance and swung his arm under her legs.

"Put me down," said Shego in a quick panic, "before you trip and take us both out."

"If you keep wiggling we will," said Drakken, and as he was about to put her down, Shego stopped moving and groaned.

"I think...I need...a doctor," sighed Shego, her breaths wheezy.

"I am a doctor," said Drakken.

"You dropped out," said Shego. He didn't have to look to see the eye-roll.

"I have a degree," said Drakken. He glared, and he heard Shego open her mouth. "Yes, it's real."

"I'm not a robot," said Shego after they reached the final step.

"Clearly, you'd be less lippy," said Drakken under his breath.

"The Bebes were lippy." He looked at her smirk. "What?"

"Do you have a roster of comebacks?" asked Drakken as they made their way to her door. "Want me to put you down?"

"For you... Yes," she smirked, and made no effort to move, her breathing more labored as they walked through her door.

"Get some sleep. I'll call the doctor in the morning," sighed Drakken as he helped her into bed.

"No need, I have one," sighed Shego as she sniffed and pulled her blankets close. "His credentials are questionable, but he's free."

"Who said I'm free?" asked Drakken with a raised brow. He smirked. "It might be pricey."

"Bill my boss, it's work related," said Shego with her eyes half closed and a half smirk on her face.

"I'll make sure to do that," said Drakken with an eye-roll. "Good night Shego."

"'Night Dr. D."

Patience for the Patient →