I do not own the characters named herein from either Disney, or D.C., and am only using them for a tale meant for entertainment purposes only.

Kim Possible: Sacrifices

By LJ58

16

"You were lucky," Batman scowled as her when she returned to the cave.

He had dropped her off near her car, and after she changed, she raced back to the Stoppables, and feigned a late arrival.

"I thought you said what we did wasn't about luck," she shot back.

"Vixen," he swore.

"I knew it," a voice drawled as Dick Grayson walked into the cavern from the lift, in civilian clothes just then. "You are Kim Possible."

"And you're still a jerk," she spat at him, standing there in uniform, but without her mask just then.

"Hey, what did I ever do to you?"

She glared.

"One, you're too pretty," Alfred drawled.

"I'm what?"

"And I don't believe the young lady quite trusts you, sir."

"Why not," Dick turned back to ask her.

She just glared.

"I suspect you bear more than a slight resemblance to a certain synthetic life form that once almost killed her."

"I do," Dick frowned.

Kim just glowered.

"Pardon me, sir, but I was just informed the doctors are preparing to release Dr. Possible. Shego asked if she should wait on you, or arrange her own transportation."

"Tell her I'm on my way," Kim told him. "Or are you going to complain some more?"

'Whoa," Dick stared at her, unable to believe the little redhead would stand up to someone like Bruce when he turned 'the look' on her.

"You're still dangerous iwht that suit of yours," he started.

"If this is about Ra's, I never hurt him. Much. He was wearing his own battle-suit under that robe, if you noticed."

"I did."

"So, by clamping down the neck, I shattered the control interface, and he lost the only edge he had on me. Besides, if I had wanted him dead, he would be."

"he won't be bluffed by you for long," Batman started to tell her.

"Who said I was bluffing. That freak goes after my family again, and I will tear him into little pieces. He's been warned. Now, he can't complain if I take his head off next time."

Dick stared.

Is she talking about….?"

She shot a potent glare at him, and slapped her left gauntlet, and he stared as her costume seemed to come apart, fading with every step as she headed for the lift.

"I'm going to get my mother. Then I'll be back to pack."

Batman said nothing as he watched her go.

"She's still dangerous," he murmured.

"I have the feeling, sir, she always was," Alfred remarked.

"Yeah, you should have seen the way she took down…." Dick trailed off as the dour gaze fell on him. "Some other time," he grimaced as the look was turned on him.

KP

Kim was more than eager to see her mother, even after the doctor's continuously repeated warnings, suggestions, and advice as she had to keep herself from running down the hall after the elevator finally got her to the floor she needed.

She walked as fast as she dared as more than a few nurses and interns turned to stare after her, not used to seeing smiling faces around them.

Or, fairly famous ones.

She reached the room number where her mother had been moved after a third attack, which was likely why Ra's thought her mother was in his hands at the time. He obviously miscalculated if he thought a few of his assassins could take out Shego.

She pushed through the door, not stopping to knock, and froze in her tracks as she just stared at the sight before her.

Her mom looked good.

Very good.

She was even up, and dressed now.

She was also in a heated clench with Shego, and the two women were kissing passionately, with their arms wound around one another.

Then Ann broke the embrace, staring at her, and blushing.

"Oh, uh, hello. We were just….. Waiting for…."

"Ann, this is Kimmie," Shego told her, winking. "Your daughter. Hi, Princess. Took you long enough."

"I….."

"Yes," Ann asked.

"I….. Ah, I….. I'm glad you're better," she sputtered.

"We'll talk, Princess. Ready to go, Ann?"

"Sure," she smiled. "Maybe the doctor is right, and familiar surroundings will help jog some of my memory back," she said, smiling at Kim, but yet to do more.

"Uh, yeah. Listen, I need to stop at your cousin's house first. I've been staying there, and Alfred should have my stuff packed up by the time we get there."

"Okay," Ann agreed easily. "Does my cousin have a name?"

"Bruce? Bruce Wayne."

"Are we close," she asked, showing no hint of recognition.

"Give it time," Shego whispered to her as she picked up Ann's bags herself, and followed them out of the room.

"I know. Dr. Collins told me…..everything."

"Just tell me you guys put an end to that old man."

"he got away. But he's on notice," Kim said grimly.

"Heard that one before," Shego sniffed.

"Not from me," Kim said quietly.

"Look, me and your mom….. She's fragile, and I hope you know, I won't hurt her. I really am trying to help her, and….."

"So, you'll be staying with us?"

"As long as she wants me," Shego nodded quietly. "As long as she needs me."

Kim only nodded.

"That….actually takes a lot of pressure off. Thanks, Shego. I mean that. Thanks."

"You can thank me by keeping that loopy Cyclops off my back. You can tell her I'm out of the biz."

"You're….serious? I mean, you and mom are…..?"

"I don't know myself. But….we might have a chance. And, you should know, I have always preferred women."

"Is that why you always….teased me," she sputtered.

"Teasing you was fun," Shego smiled at her as they waited on the lift, Ann just looking around. "But let's face it, Kimmie, you're still just a little girl. Even I'm not that evil," she smirked.

"Just take care of my mom," she said, and they stepped onto the elevator together, and Ann, behind them, giggled.

"What," they both asked.

"You two. Shego was right, you are pretty mature. You're all grown up already, aren't you," she smiled at Kim.

"Even if she is still kind of a bubble-butt," Shego drawled.

Kim groaned at Shego's knowing expression as Ann burst into laughter.

KP

Ann stared at the graves, and shook her head.

"I don't even remember them. I mean, the pictures…..they feel…..familiar. But I don't remember," she said, looking at her family's graves.

"I'm sorry, Ann. You wanted to know everything."

"And the men that did this….?"

"I caught them," Kim said, but said no more.

"Is this why those men kept trying to attack us?"

"Yeah. The old freak is a sore loser," Shego told her, hugging her to her side as Ann looked more disturbed by not feeling anything, than actually seeing the graves after hearing the hard truth of her accident, and the near end of the Possible lineage.

"You okay, mom?"

"I'll be all right, Kimmie," she called her, and just kept staring at her husband's grave. A husband she didn't even remember any more.

Kim glanced to one side of the cemetery, and frowned.

"Take your time," she told them. "I see someone I need to talk, too."

"Yeah, I noticed her myself," Shego admitted. "Just keep her off my back, Princess. She has to know I'm behaving by now."

"I'll tell her. Don't worry," she told them both as Ann looked around, her gaze troubled. "I'm sure she's still just trying to get me to go back to work."

"School comes first," Ann informed her daughter as Ann eyed the woman in uniform standing well back from the family plot.

"Now that sounds familiar," Kim smiled back at her.

Ann returned her smile, and looked back to Shego.

"She really worked for the government?"

"I still have a lot to tell you, Ann," Shego told her, watching Kim all but stalk toward Dr. Director.

"I'm surprised you came in person," Kim said when she reached the one-eyed senior agent.

"Somehow, I doubt you would listen to Will."

"That's a given," she huffed.

"I understand you're back in Middleton."

"So far."

"Have you given any thought to…..?"

"Not yet. I still have to resettle into school, for however long I have left. A lot of Middleton needs help putting things back together, and….. I'm just not up to anything else just now."

"I noted Gotham had a new hero that showed up about the time you were there."

"I know. She helped me get away from Shego that first time, and then helped me talk her into watching mom. Who knew Shego was that fond of mom."

"I wondered how that attack fit in. I couldn't figure out what was going on at the time."

"It was her own ploy to try to draw out whoever attacked us. She was kind of….upset someone hurt mom."

"I was unaware she was that fond of her.

"She felt she owed mom after that whole Miss Go sitch. She took it personally someone went after us like that."

"I see."

"Anyway, she wanted me to tell you she's out. She's going to be staying with mom, and helping her. And watching her, just in case."

"I see," Betty remarked again.

"Yeah, so we'd appreciate it if you could work something out."

"I could promise something, and you likely think I'd make it contingent on your cooperation.

Kim stared hard.

"I won't. I'll be honest, and tell you we can still use you, whenever you're ready to come back. Meanwhile, I will do what I can. I like your mother, too. And I truly regret what happened to your family."

Kim only nodded.

"Like I said. Give me time."

"All you need, Possible. Just remember what I said before. The world still needs heroes. Even those like you. You inspire people. You're a symbol. Never underestimate that value."

Kim nodded again.

"I'll be in touch," she finally said in a quiet tone. "Right now, mom is my priority. You understand."

"I do," she said.

"And, Betty," she called her frankly.

"Yes?"

"If Sheldon gets out this time, I may kill him myself if I see him."

Betty said nothing to that as Kim walked away.

"Anything," Betty Director asked quietly as she switched on her radio.

"Voices do not match, ma'am," the tech told her. "And, while you were talking, your mystery girl showed herself in Gotham with the Bat. He's become even more visible of late, and she was with him when they took out a few bank robbers."

Betty frowned.

"And I was so sure….."

"Ma'am?"

"Never mind. I'm heading back. Advise Agent Du I need him in Monaco this week. I had a tip something was up, and we need to find out what."

"Yes, ma'am," the agent replied, and then Betty turned to head for her transport.

KP

"Thanks for covering for me," Kim called Batman later. "It helped."

"I don't doubt it," the grim voice replied over the private channel he allowed her to use. "Your friend's hard-light holograms are pretty convincing."

"I know," she admitted. "He can be nosy, but he knows his stuff."

"I've noticed. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call, Vixen."

"You, too. Suddenly, I understand why so many people wear masks," she said grimly.

"Sometimes, the hardest lessons are those we remember the most. Watch your back. Ra's won't be forgetting you any time soon."

"He'd better," she shot. "I'll be in touch," she told him. "And if you do need me again….."

"I think I can manage," the man shot back gruffly before the signal cut off.

Kim smirked, and eyed her 'watch.'

In a little while, Vixen would slowly fade from Gotham. Meanwhile, she was considering a redesign. Something more suitable. Something that keep anyone from ever looking at Kim Possible again when someone crashed into their lairs.

She'd talk to Ron.

If he still wanted to fight crime after this one.

For now, she had to take care of her mom, and, ironically, Shego.

She didn't know what was ahead, or just how she would pull off a 'return.' But she knew it was in her blood now. She couldn't turn her back, not when it was obvious that too many people could still get hurt if she did. So, yes, she was coming back.

Somehow.

Time would tell.

End…?