Chapter 16:
Possible Residence:
After dropping Ron off at home, and promising him that she would be safe, Kim and Shego returned to the Possible home. When they walked through the front door, the rest of the Possible family was surprised to see the dark haired woman.
"Shego, you're back. Where in the world did you go?"
Anne asked.
"I needed to do some thinking, so I left."
"Alright, well I'm glad you're safe. Come on into the dining room, you two, dinner is just about ready."
With that said, Kim and Shego followed Anne into the dining room. Once they were seated, Anne began to serve dinner.
The dinner consisted of a homemade lasagna, with a side of garlic bread. Shego looked down at the plate in front of her, and felt memories come flooding back.
"Lasagna. That's what my mom was making for dinner, the day I was taken."
Shego thought. As she continued to stare at the plate of food, the memories of that day began to play out in her mind's eye. As they did, she began to feel a weird sensation on her back.
"What the hell?"
Shego's back felt like it was on fire, and like it was tingling with pins and needles. After a few moments, the burning and tingling sensation increased, and Shego gritted her teeth in pain. This did not go unnoticed.
"Shego, are you alright?"
James asked. The rest of the Possible family looked at Shego, awaiting an answer. Shego took a few minutes to answer, as the pain in her back was making it difficult to speak. Once the pain had somewhat subsided, Shego spoke through gritted teeth.
"I'm fine."
Shego then got up from the table, and headed upstairs. Leaving the Possible family to wonder what was going on.
"I'll go make sure she's alright."
Anne said, heading upstairs as well.
Once she got upstairs, she found Shego lying on the bed in the guest room. Shego had her face buried in the pillow, but Anne could still hear her muffled cries. Anne then walked over to Shego, and took a seat on the bed.
"Shego, is everything okay?"
Anne asked, placing her hand on Shego's back. However, upon doing so, Anne quickly pulled her hand away.
"Jesus, her back feels like it's on fire."
Anne then went to lift up Shego's shirt to get a better look at her back, but was quickly stopped by a hand grabbing her wrist.
"What are you doing?"
Shego snarled, looking at Anne with bloodshot eyes.
"I just wanted to get a better look at your back, to see why it feels like it's on fire."
Shego continued to glare at Anne for a moment, before releasing her grip on her and turning away.
"I'm fine, don't worry about it."
"But She-."
"I said it's fine. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone."
Anne could tell that Shego's tone of voice was leaving no room for discussion, but still she pressed on.
"Shego, I understand you have your secrets and I respect that. However, as a medical professional I think it's best if you let me look at your back. I can tell by your face that you're in pain, and I just want to know why."
"I said I'm fine, now go away."
It was becoming clear that Shego's patience was wearing thin with the redheaded woman.
"Just let me take one quick look at your back, and then I promise I'll leave you alone."
Shego thought it over for a moment, then finally sighed in defeat.
"Alright. The second you're done with your little exam you leave, got it?"
"Understood. Now, I'll need you to remove your shirt and bra for me, then lay on your stomach."
Shego did as instructed, and Anne began her examination. Upon looking at Shego's, Anne could see why Shego was in pain. Shego's back was an angry red color, and was hot to the touch.
"Shego, on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst, how would you rate the pain in your back?"
"Four...maybe five."
Anne couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Shego, I know you're a very strong woman, but I can tell by the way you're gripping the sheets that your pain is more than four or five. That being said, what is your pain really at?"
Shego let out a small sigh, before answering.
"It's at a 9.5"
"Alright, that sounds more believable. I'll be right back, I'm going to go get my medical bag."
Anne then left the room, and returned a few minutes later with her medical bag. After donning a pair of latex gloves, Anne pulled out a tube of ointment.
"I'm going to put some ointment on you, that should help alleviate some of the pain. Afterwards I'll put a cooling pad on your back. I'd like for you to keep it on for at least an hour. Is that understood?"
Shego gave a nod. The pain in her back was once again making it difficult to speak.
"Alright, let's get started then."
With that said, Anne squirted a generous amount of ointment in the palm of her hand, then applied it to Shego's back. As she continued to massage the ointment in her, she could see that it was already beginning to work.
"The redness is going down, and her back doesn't feel as hot. That's good."
Anne thought as she continued to work the ointment into Shego's back. Once the ointment had been completely rubbed in, she removed her gloves and grabbed the cooling pad.
Upon having the cooling pad placed on her back, Shego shivered, so Anne placed a blanket gently over her.
"There, I'm all done now. I'll come back to check on you in an hour."
"Okay."
Shego mumbled, a yawn escaping her lips. Anne then gathered up her medical supplies, and left the room. After putting her medical bag away, she headed back into the dining room to finish dinner with her family.
"Is everything okay?"
James asked, watching his wife as she took her seat at the table.
"Everything is fine. Her back was really red for some reason, and hot to the touch. I put some ointment on it, and a cooling pad. She's asleep right now, but I'm going to check on her in an hour."
"You're sure everything is alright though?"
Kim asked, unable to hide the worry in her voice.
"Yes, Kim, I'm sure everything is fine. Let's finish dinner, then if you'd like we can go check on her."
Kim smiled at her mom, her words helping her to feel better. The Possibles then all got back to their dinner, with light conversation going on between them.
After finishing dinner, and wrapping Shego's plate up and putting it in the fridge, Anne and Kim headed upstairs to check on Shego. Meanwhile, Jim and Tim went down to the basement, to work on their latest project, and James headed into the living room to watch the evening news.
Back upstairs, Anne was once again checking over Shego's back. However, what she saw shocked her. On Shego's back was a strange symbol.
"Kim, can you call Wade and ask him if he knows what this symbol is?"
Anne asked, continuing to stare at the strange symbol on the pale skinned woman's back.
"On it."
Kim then pulled out her kimmunicator, and called Wade. A few seconds later, the computer genius answered.
"Hey, Kim, what can I do for you?"
"Hey, Wade, can you take a look at this symbol Shego's back and tell us what it is?"
"Sure, just turn the kimmunicator towards her."
Kim did as instructed, and turned the kimmunicator so that Wade could see Shego. A few seconds later Wade began typing away on his keyboard. After a few strokes of the keys, Wade spoke.
"Alright, well the symbol on her back is called an Ægishjálmur. It's also known as the Helm of Awe, and is supposed to be a symbol of protection. Only question now is, where did it come from and why does she have it on her back?"
"That's what we were wondering as well. Wade, tell me, does this Ægishjálmur cause people's backs to turn red and feel as if it's on fire?"
Anne asked.
"Hmm, I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"
"Well before the Ægishjálmur appeared, Shego's back was really red and it felt as if it were on fire."
"I see. Well I can do some research on the Ægishjálmur, and get back to you. Just give me some time to figure things out. Until then, I suggest just keeping an eye on her. Will she be staying at your home?"
"Yes, she will be."
"Provided she doesn't run away again."
Kim said.
"Speaking of her running away, where did she end up going?"
Anne asked. Kim was just about to answer, when Shego beat her to it.
"I went to Dr. D's lair."
Shego said, looking at the older Possible woman.
"Oh, and why did you decide to go there?"
Anne asked.
"Well, for three reasons. One reason was that I didn't feel like being here, the second reason was that it was cold outside and I didn't feel like wandering the streets, and the third reason was that there's no way I'd go to my brothers' place willingly. So, Drakken was the only option."
"I see. And what made you decide to leave her in the first place?"
Shego didn't say anything, and turned her gaze away from Anne. Anne had a feeling it had to do with what had happened between Kim and Shego.
"I still wonder what happened between the two of them."
Anne thought. She then turned her attention to Kim.
"Kim, may I speak with you downstairs?"
"Um...sure."
Kim said, wondering why her mom wanted to speak to her. Kim then turned her attention to Wade.
"Hey, Wade, I'm gonna get going. Will you let me know more about the Ægishjálmur, when you find out more about it?"
"Sure thing, Kim."
After saying their goodbyes, Kim hung up the kimmunicator and placed the device back into her pocket. She then got up and walked over to her mom.
"All set?"
Anne asked. Kim gave a nod, and the two women began to head out of the room. However, before they could make it out of the room, Shego spoke.
"What's an Ægishjálmur?"
Kim turned her attention to Shego.
"According to Wade, it's a symbol of protection. It's also known as the Helm of Awe. Oh, and it just so happens to be on your back."
Shego looked at Kim, like she had just lost her mind.
"Sure, Kim, whatever you say."
Shego then sat up, and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. After stretching a little, she stood up and headed towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
Kim asked.
"To the kitchen. In case you forgot I didn't exactly finish my dinner."
"Your plate is in the fridge, on the second shelf."
Anne said.
"Okay, thanks."
Shego then headed downstairs to the kitchen, leaving the two Possible women alone.
"Well now, shall we go into the living room and chat?"
Anne asked.
"Sure, but what is it you want to talk about?"
"I want to talk about whatever it was that happened between you and Shego."
"Shit, I was hoping I was going to avoid talking about that."
Kim thought.
"Okay."
Kim said, nervousness clear in her voice.
"Don't worry you aren't in trouble."
Anne said, giving her daughter a reassuring smile. Kim smiled back, beginning to feel a little less nervous.
"Now, let's go have a chat."
With that said, Anne headed downstairs to the dining room, followed by Kim.
End of chapter 16: