Chapter 6
Bound by Blood
-Two weeks later-
The two weeks since Kim's injury had been tense. Each day, she struggled to adjust to the limitations from the vision loss in her eye, and every little stumble or misjudged step only fueled her frustration. Shego tried to help as much as she could, but her patience was running thin too, especially with Kim constantly pushing her away.
Today, as Kim tried to pour herself a glass of water and spilled most of it on the counter instead, Shego couldn't hold back a sigh.
"Want a hand?" she asked, her voice clipped.
"Just let me do it myself!" Kim yelled, her fists clenched.
Shego's patience was slipping too. "I am letting you! But it's not a crime to ask for help, you know."
"I don't need your help every time I try to do something."
"Clearly," Shego shot back, arms crossing over her chest. "Maybe you wouldn't if you'd stop being so stubborn about every little thing!"
Kim slammed the glass onto the counter, water sloshing over the edge. "Do you even hear yourself? You think I like being this way? You think I'm asking for this?"
"No, I think you're taking it out on everyone else because you won't admit you need help," Shego retorted, stepping closer. Her frustration was etched across her face.
Kim's fists clenched, and her voice shook with barely contained anger. "You have no idea what this feels like, Shego. So stop acting like you do!"
"Maybe not, but I do know that lashing out at everyone around you isn't going to bring your eye back!" Shego snapped, her voice sharp. "If you'd just stop being so-"
But before Shego could finish, Kim lunged, throwing a punch that Shego barely had time to block.
"Oh, so that's how it is?" Shego challenged, blocking another swing, her own anger rising to meet Kim's. "Fine. Go ahead, hit me if it makes you feel better!"
Kim's teeth were gritted, her fists flying in anger. "Maybe I will!"
Each swing was fueled by weeks of frustration, but Shego blocked every one, her own eyes flashing with barely-contained irritation.
"You want to keep going?" Shego taunted, blocking another jab. "Because I'm not the one who's going to end up on the floor here."
"Oh, shut up!" Kim's voice cracked with fury as she swung again, but her aim was off, her depth perception betraying her as she missed by inches. The miss only made her angrier, and she came back with another wild punch.
Shego deflected it, still refusing to fight back. "Come on, Princess! Is this really all you've got? Where's the big hero now?"
"Stay still!" Kim yelled, but her voice was strained, her punches weaker as her energy wore thin. She tried another punch, then another, until finally, she stumbled, her fists dropping as her breath came in ragged gasps. Her energy was spent and her knees buckled as she fell forward, catching herself just before she hit the ground.
Shego knelt down beside her, catching her breath as she kept her gaze on Kim. "Feel better now?" Her tone was softer, but still edged with frustration.
Kim gave a shaky sigh, shifting to sit on the floor and rub the ache in her leg. She definitely over did it. "A little," she admitted, her voice soft, and a bitter, tired smile tugged at her lips.
Shego let out a dry laugh, placing a gentle hand on Kim's shoulder. "Good. Because you're one stubborn pain in the ass, you know that?"
Kim laughed weakly, nodding and turning away some to hide her blush.
Shego carefully lifted Kim up, guiding her over to sit on the bed as Kim's breaths evened out. She stayed close, making sure Kim was steady before taking a small step back. But before she could say anything, Erin appeared in the doorway, her eyes narrowing at the sight.
"What happened?" Erin's voice was sharp, her gaze darting from Shego to Kim. When she noticed Kim wincing, she crossed her arms, giving Shego a disapproving look. "Please tell me you two didn't just try to turn the room into a sparring ring."
Shego held up her hands, but her usual defiance was muted. "It wasn't like that. Kim needed to… let some things out."
Erin shook her head, exasperated. "And if she had hurt herself more?" She moved toward Kim, who had her hand pressed to her side, just below her ribcage, her jaw tight.
"Let me see," Erin said, her voice softening as she knelt beside her patient. Kim reluctantly moved her hand, revealing a red stain seeping through her shirt. Erin sighed, peeling back the fabric to see the stitches on her side, which had pulled open slightly, blood beginning to well up around them.
"Just great," Erin muttered, pressing a clean cloth to Kim's side and making her hold it there while she leaves and returns with a tray of medical items. "I told you that you needed to be careful, not in here throwing punches." She looked pointedly at Shego, who shifted, a flash of guilt passing over her face.
"Look, Erin, I know, but-" Shego started, but Erin held up a finger.
"You should've found a better way to help her vent," Erin replied, numbing the area before dabbing at the wound and pulling out her needle to add a few more stitches. "She's not ready for this much movement yet, and now I have to stitch her back up."
Kim glanced up, seeing the frustration in both women's faces. She felt her own guilt rising but kept quiet as Erin worked on the stitches.
After a few minutes, Erin finally finished, securing a fresh bandage and giving Kim a stern look. "You're lucky it wasn't worse, but no more, understood?"
Kim nodded, looking away with a soft, "Yeah… sorry, Erin."
Erin gave Shego one last look, her tone softening. "I get what you were trying to do, Shego, but just… take it easy. There's more at stake than you think."
Shego nodded, crossing her arms as she muttered, "Yeah… sorry." She let her gaze fall to Kim, a subtle apology in her eyes.
After Erin had patched up Kim's side, she took a step back and turned to Shego, her expression shifting from stern to curious. "While we're at it," she said, motioning for Shego to sit, "let me check those cuts on your back."
Shego blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, yeah… sure," She muttered. Kim averted her gaze when Erin lifted Shego's shirt, something Shego herself noticed with a smirk as she watched the pick spread across Kim's face. Erin, however, was surprised when she was met with smooth, unscarred skin. No cuts, no bruises. It was like she was never hurt.
Erin frowned. "They're gone already…"
Shego shrugged casually, pulling her shirt back down. "I healed up the first night. Remember the healing factor in my blood?"
Kim's eye widened, and she groaned. "Lucky you. Meanwhile, I can barely breathe without pulling a stitch." She shot Shego a frustrated look, but her tone held a hint of humor.
Shego smirked. "Hey, maybe if I gave you some of my blood, it'd fix you up too," she teased, making Kim laugh.
They both chuckled at the idea, but Erin stayed thoughtful, tapping her chin. "You know… that actually might not be a bad idea," she murmured, more to herself than to them.
Shego's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, you're serious?"
"Why not?" Erin replied. "You have type O blood, right? You can donate to anyone, and if your healing factor is in your blood, it could be… transferrable."
Shego shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know… I mean, it's one thing to have it myself, but pumping my blood into Kim?"
But Kim sat up straighter, her interest piqued. "It's worth a shot, don't you think? If there's even a chance it could speed up the healing process, it could save weeks of recovery."
Shego's expression turned conflicted as she mulled over Erin's idea, her gaze drifting to the wall. This was a line she hadn't crossed for anyone, not even herself. Memories surfaced—the time after she and her brothers had gained their powers, the government officials, the scientists, and the long stares full of intrigue and suspicion. They'd never understood what it was like to be treated like a science experiment, like something other than human. The thought of exposing herself to that again, even to help Kim, made her skin crawl.
Kim's face, however, was bright with interest. "Shego, It's just a little blood, right? If it's possible… It might make things… easier."
Shego's jaw tightened, then relaxed as she glanced at Kim, noting the spark of hope in her good eye. "Kim, it's not that simple," she said quietly. "This isn't just a quick fix. Messing with stuff like this…" She trailed off, struggling with the words. "It feels a little too close to being poked and prodded in a lab, you know?"
Kim's expression softened. "I get it, Shego. I wouldn't want you to feel like you have to do something that reminds you of that," she said, touching her arm lightly. "I didn't mean to push you."
Erin watched them both, sensing Shego's hesitation. "Sara, If you say no, it's no. I won't force you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable."
Shego hesitated, glancing between Kim and Erin. After a long pause, she sighed, trying to bury the discomfort. "Fine," she said, resigned. "Just this once. And if you try taking more than blood, I'm out."
Kim grinned, the excitement in her face impossible to miss. "Thank you, Shego."
Erin guided both Shego and Kim into her small operating room, her manner calm and professional as she moved around them, setting up supplies and disinfecting her hands. She nodded toward the examination table. "Kim, I need you to lay here. Sara, you can sit beside her."
Kim climbed onto the table, watching Erin as she prepped a needle. She looked down, catching Shego's eye. "Uh, Erin… why are you drawing my blood, too?" she asked, her confusion evident. "Aren't we just supposed to be using Shego's?"
Erin paused, giving Kim a reassuring look. "We will be, but there's something you should know. If I just add Shego's blood to yours without removing any first, you'll end up with more blood than your body can handle." She gestured with a small vial as she continued, "It's called hypervolemia. Your blood pressure would spike, and long story short, you could end up feeling a lot worse than you do now. We need to do this carefully."
Kim nodded slowly, her brow furrowing. "Oh… That…that definitely sounds like something we don't want."
Shego rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of nervousness as she glanced at the medical setup. "Yeah, I don't think exploding from too much blood is on anyone's bucket list," she muttered, attempting to ease the tension in her own way.
Erin gave her a half-smile as she disinfected the area on Shego's arm. "Don't worry, Sara, I'll only take what we need. If there's any chance of this helping, we want to be as precise as possible."
Shego sighed, her gaze drifting to Kim. "Guess you're getting a bit of me." She smirked, adding, "Let's just hope it doesn't make you want to dye your hair green."
Kim chuckled. "Hey, now that sounds like a good idea." Shego just shook her head, watching Erin get to work.
Erin worked with careful precision, drawing the first pint from Kim, making sure her vitals were stable. Kim lay quietly on the table, watching Erin's every move with a mix of hope and curiosity, though the slight prickling sensation made her shift uncomfortably.
When Erin moved to Shego, the shift in tension was immediate. Shego tensed as the needle found its mark, her usually unshakable confidence replaced by a tense, watchful look that only Kim seemed to notice. Shego kept her expression mostly neutral, but her grip on the edge of the bed was tight, and her gaze darted between Erin and the blood bag as it began to fill.
Seeing the discomfort that Shego was trying so hard to mask, Kim slowly reached out and clasped Shego's free hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze. Shego turned toward Kim, momentarily caught off guard, her surprise melting into something softer, almost vulnerable.
"You're not as tough as you think, huh?" Kim teased gently, her voice low enough to keep things between the two of them.
Shego gave her a defiant smirk, though her grip on Kim's hand tightened. "Don't get it twisted, Princess. Needles just…aren't my thing," she muttered, trying to look anywhere but at the bag slowly filling with her blood.
Kim raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you doing this for me?"
Shego held her gaze for a moment, her mouth quirking up in an almost shy, crooked smile. "Because somebody has to keep you from falling apart," she replied, her tone both teasing and sincere.
Kim chuckled, a sound that was half amusement and half gratitude. "Guess that makes us even, then."
Erin, adjusting the equipment, glanced up at the two of them with a slight, knowing smile. "It's rare to see Sara here so patient," she remarked with a faint smirk.
Shego rolled her eyes but didn't let go of Kim's hand. "Patient? This is the opposite of patience," she muttered, glancing at the blood bag as if willing it to fill faster.
Erin gave a small chuckle. "Almost there. We'll get this started in no time."
When Erin finally removed the needle, Shego let out a quiet breath she'd been holding, her fingers unconsciously squeezing Kim's hand tighter for a moment before letting go. She looked around the room, awkwardly brushing her fingers through her hair. "See? No problem," she murmured, though Kim could tell she was eager to change the subject.
Kim offered her a warm smile, appreciating Shego's effort. "You did great. Thanks."
Shego shot her a look, both teasing and fond. "Don't make a big deal out of it."
Once both pints were set aside for the transfusion, Erin approached them, explaining the next step. "Kim, once I start the transfusion, we'll monitor how your body reacts. As you can see, I don't exactly have a full blown lab here. It might take a while to see any effects, if there are any, so you tell me everything you're feeling, alright?"
Kim nodded, her eye flicking between Erin and Shego. She felt a strange mix of excitement and nerves as she lay back, glancing at Shego again. "Well…guess I just have to see what it's like being part-Shego."
Shego rolled her eyes, snickering. "Can't wait to see you finally master sarcasm."
Erin smiled at the exchange, then moved to start the transfusion. Shego stayed close, her eyes on Kim's as the process began, both of them holding a quiet, almost hopeful look between them.
Erin carefully set up the transfusion equipment, adjusting the IV drip that would slowly deliver Shego's blood into Kim. The clear tube connected the bag of blood to Kim's arm, and the steady drip started, filling the quiet room with the faint sound of liquid moving through the tubing.
Kim's body relaxed as she stayed still on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind was drifting and she was tired from having blood taken. The steady beep of the equipment was the only sound breaking the silence in the small room, and with her head resting on the pillow, she drifted into a deep, healing sleep. Shego wanted to wake her, but Erin stopped her hand.
"Just let her rest. A nap will be good for her." She stepped out, returning with a glass of juice. "Here, sip this while we wait." Shego took the juice and drank it, but her focus was on Kim.
Erin stayed by the bed, adjusting the IV bag with a small, excited smile on her face. The excitement was practically radiating off of her, and Shego was doing her best to ignore it. She knew Erin too well. The woman had always been full of energy, especially when she thought she was onto something groundbreaking.
Shego looked at Erin, a small, dry smile tugging at the corners of her lips. At least she's not evil. She'd make a hell of a mad scientist though, Shego thought, glancing back at Erin's gleaming eyes. She had to admit, for someone who'd once been an ambitious, goal-oriented genius, Erin was surprisingly grounded now. Mostly. Still…the idea of using her own blood to heal Kim, to experiment, felt dangerous.
Shego watched Erin's movements, her hands steady and assured as she made her way around the room. She was so focused, so absorbed in the task at hand, that Shego couldn't help but be impressed by her dedication—if not a little wary of it too. But Erin was good at what she did. She was always good.
The room grew quiet again, the soft beeping of the monitors the only sound. Shego shifted her weight from one foot to the other, glancing at Kim, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, the IV running into her arm. Her chest rose and fell with each steady breath, but there was still no sign that anything had changed. Shego's gaze lingered on Kim's face, her expression unreadable.
Erin, sensing Shego's growing tension, finally broke the silence. "You're thinking too much, you know? You just need to let this play out."
"I'm not thinking," Shego replied flatly. "I'm watching."
"I know," Erin said with a nod, her voice quiet for once. "But you've got to trust the process. It could take time. But Sara, if it works, this'll be huge for her."
Shego's gaze lingered on Kim again. "And if it doesn't? What if this doesn't do what we think it will? What happens then?"
Erin paused, her eyes flicking toward Shego, then back to Kim. She sighed. "We'll figure that out when we get there."
"I don't like getting her hopes up." Shego muttered, running a hand through her hair.
Erin reached for a nearby stool, sitting down with a soft creak. "I get it. But we're not promising anything. We're just trying something. And if it doesn't work… well, then we cross that bridge when we come to it." Erin makes Shego sit back down and pulls her own chair close. "I know you're worried about her, but whatever happens, I'll take care of her. Don't want anything to happen to your little girlfriend." she says playfully.
Shego shot Erin a sideways glance, rolling her eyes, but her lips curved into a small, amused smile. "She's not my girlfriend," she muttered, though the fondness in her voice belied her words.
Erin shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure, sure, you only share a bed every night and hold her while she sleeps."
"She doesn't want to be alone and it helps her sleep. I'd rather her get rest than be a pain because she's tired. I just want her to be okay. It's all I've been thinking about."
Erin's smile softened. "I know. And we'll do everything we can to make that happen." She reached over and gave Shego's hand a brief squeeze. Shego tenses a bit and gives Erin's hand a tentative squeeze before pulling her hand away.
Shego leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed as she watched Kim, her mind wandering. She had seen Kim go through so much already. But it wasn't just Kim's injuries that had occupied Shego's thoughts. Her mind drifted back to her past conversation with Erin. Maybe she did have some feelings for Kim. Very weird, very complicated feelings.
It had been two weeks since Kim kissed her on the cheek—an innocent, tender gesture that had caught Shego completely off guard. Kim had been so vulnerable in that moment, her eyes filled with quiet gratitude, and Shego hadn't known what to do with herself. It wasn't like she'd never been kissed before, but this was different. It wasn't the usual teasing or rivalry. There was something real behind it, something Shego couldn't ignore.
Shego shifted in her seat, her gaze still fixed on Kim. She thought about how she had grown to care about her. This fierce, stubborn, and determined girl she'd spent years fighting had become someone Shego couldn't imagine walking away from. She didn't want to admit it, even to herself, but the weight of those feelings pressed in on her.
Kim was strong. She was resilient. But she was also vulnerable. And Shego had always hated seeing that side of her—hated seeing anyone like that. Maybe that was why she'd spent so long denying her own feelings. But now, after everything, she wasn't so sure. It was possible that, after all this time, Kim might mean more to her than she was willing to admit.
"You look like you're trying to give yourself an aneurysm," Erin's voice pulled Shego from her thoughts. She hadn't even realized she'd been staring at Kim for so long.
Shego glanced at her, surprised. "I wasn't thinking about anything."
Erin raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "You've been staring at her for the last ten minutes without blinking. I know that look. You're thinking about something."
Shego huffed, rolling her eyes. "I was just.. never mind. What are you, a mind reader now?"
Erin chuckled, but there was a softness to her expression. "I'm not a mind reader, but I can tell when you're holding something back. You've always been good at hiding it, though."
Shego didn't answer, her focus returning to Kim. She didn't want to give Erin the satisfaction of admitting that she might be right. After Erin understood the root of her own jealousy, she'd been pushing for Shego to make a move on Kim.
Erin leaned back in her chair, her tone growing serious. "You know she cares about you. A lot."
Shego's shoulders tensed, and she kept her gaze on Kim, refusing to meet Erin's eyes. "Yeah," she murmured. "I know."
Erin's smile turned gentle. "Just… don't shut her out. Not now."
Shego let out a long, slow breath, feeling the weight of Erin's words. It felt like a blanket she wasn't ready to pull around herself. "I just want to wait," she said quietly. "See where things stand… and where I stand."
On the bed, Kim shifted, her brow furrowing slightly, as if caught in a dream. Instantly, Shego's attention snapped to her, and she moved closer, every ounce of her focus on Kim's face.
Erin watched her for a moment, a soft, knowing look in her eyes. "Oh Sara," she said gently, "you're already there."
About two hours later, Kim stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she tried to adjust to the room's dim light. She let out a quiet groan, feeling the usual soreness in her muscles and a familiar dull ache around her wounded eye. She blinked, adjusting slowly, and noticed Shego and Erin nearby, both watching her intently.
"How're you feeling?" Erin asked, moving closer.
Kim sighed, trying to sit up a little. "Honestly? The same. Still feels… off." She lifted a hand to her eye, wincing at the sensitivity there. "Not that I expected to wake up healed or anything."
Erin nodded, the calm professionalism she was known for kicking in as she began to check Kim's vitals. "I told you, if this works, it's going to take more than a few hours. But…" She hesitated, her expression softening as she glanced between Kim and Shego. "I also want you to be prepared if nothing changes. Sometimes things don't turn out the way we hope."
Kim took a deep breath, nodding. "I get it," she said quietly, but her gaze lingered on Shego. "It's just… it would've been nice, you know?"
Shego leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. She could see the disappointment flickering in Kim's eyes, and it made something tighten in her chest. She hadn't even wanted to get Kim's hopes up, but now that the possibility was there, she found herself silently hoping, too.
Erin finished her checks, her voice calm but encouraging. "We're not giving up hope. Just be patient. Sometimes, changes take time. We'll watch you closely over the next few days and see if there's any improvement, even something small."
Kim managed a small smile, though it was tinged with frustration. "Patience, right. I guess I've had plenty of practice these past few weeks."
Shego moved closer, reaching down to adjust Kim's blanket without meeting her eyes. "Well, if it doesn't work," she said gruffly, "you're still the same Kim. Vision or no vision, you're still a pain in the—"
Kim let out a genuine laugh, cutting her off. "Thanks, Shego. Glad to know I'm consistent." The laughter seemed to lift some of the tension from the room, even if it was only temporary.
"Yeah, well…" Shego's voice softened as she glanced back up at her. "Guess I'm stuck with you either way."
Erin carefully removed the transfusion lines, pressing gauze to Kim's arm before securing it with tape. She worked in silence, her usual chatter replaced with a sense of quiet focus, as if allowing Kim and Shego space for whatever might come next. Once Kim was patched up, Erin set about tidying the equipment and discarding used materials, her back turned as Kim's gaze drifted to the nearby mirror.
She leaned in close, fingers lifting the bandage ever so slightly to peer at her eye. It looked just as she remembered. It was swollen and bruised, though it had been healing slowly since Erin first tended to her. A flicker of frustration crossed her face as she studied the damage, almost as if expecting a miraculous change right there in the mirror.
"Leave it alone, will you?" Shego's voice cut through, low but firm as she stepped forward, placing a gentle hand over Kim's to keep her from fussing with it. "Give it a little time. Erin's right—it's not going to happen overnight."
Kim hesitated, then let out a sigh, letting go of the bandage and stepping back. "Yeah, I know. Just… wanted to check it…"
Shego softened, her grip easing. "C'mon, lay down for a while. You're still healing," she said, guiding Kim back toward the bed, her touch both gentle and steadying. Kim allowed herself to lean into Shego's support, feeling a strange comfort in it.
As they reached the bedroom, Kim settled back onto the bed, letting Shego pull the blankets up around her shoulders. For a moment, they just sat there in silence, Shego lingering by her side as if making sure she'd stay put. Kim glanced up, meeting Shego's eyes, catching the glint of worry hidden behind her casual, no-nonsense expression.
"Thanks, Shego. I… appreciate all this," Kim murmured, giving her a small, sincere smile.
"Don't get all mushy on me, Possible," Shego said with a slight smirk, though her voice was softer than usual. "Rest up. I'll be right here." Shego brushed a stray hair from Kim's forehead, her fingers lingering there for just a second longer than needed.
Her gaze softened as she looked up at Shego. "You've been… really great, you know? Not sure what I would've done if you hadn't…"
Shego waved her off, keeping her tone casual even though her eyes softened. "Yeah, well, don't go getting all sentimental, Kimmie," she joked, though they both knew there was more to it than that. There was a genuine warmth in her voice, something she couldn't quite hide.
As Shego started to stand, giving Kim some space, she felt Kim's hand drift to touch hers, fingers curling gently around her own. The gesture was small but warm, grounding them both in a way that caught Shego off guard.
"Don't go," Kim murmured, almost as if to herself, her gaze slipping away as a faint pink flushed her cheeks.
Shego felt her own face heat up at Kim's words, but she stayed where she was, settling back down beside her. This wasn't the first time they'd shared quiet moments like this, but tonight felt different. She carefully slipped an arm around Kim and pulled her close, fingers threading gently through Kim's soft, red hair.
"Wouldn't think of it, Princess," Shego murmured, leaning down to press a soft, lingering kiss against Kim's forehead. She felt Kim tense just a little, but almost instantly, she relaxed into the warmth of Shego's arms, her breathing evening out as she leaned into the comfort.
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in the quiet comfort of each other's presence. In the stillness of the room, without any need for words, it was a moment both understood.