Shadow's POV:
Silence. Pain. The throbbing that pulsated my head. The burning fever that coursed through my weakened, broken body. Struggling. I knew that I was alive, but did those who were around me know... what had happened? Did Rocha and Faron survive? Was everyone else okay? Some of them had to be okay... unless this was the sensation of death, my final moments, someone had to be alive. I strained, I wanted to open my eyes, to see. Nothing. I strained again, this time my mouth. I wanted it to open, to make a noise. Perhaps say something. Nothing. That was when I heard the softness of Rocha's voice, "Shadow, it's me baby, please don't die on us. Don't leave Faron and I." Faron. My mind eased a bit at the thought of my true Amore and my adopted daughter being alive. I blankly remembered anything. I only remembered those little facts about the two girls... and Maria. I strained and struggled again, almost gasping with effort. Nothing. I wanted them to know I was here. I am here... I thought, feeling a soothingly cold cloth being placed on my forehead. Soothing speech from Rocha, "it's okay Shadow, don't waste your energy. te need to come back for us." But I am back! I want te to know that I am here, with you. I strained tried to make a noise, a squeak, anything... how could I be the ultimate life-form... in this state. Unimagineable! Struggle, struggle, struggle! The blinding white lights of the room I was in filled my eyes as I opened them halfway. "Shadow!" feeling Rocha's arms avvolgere around me, "dad!" and Faron's hand take my own. Keeping my eyes open... just halfway.
Rocha's POV:
Nine days. It had taken nine days for Shadow to come around, but here he was... alive. He still looked horrible, but he was alive. That was all that mattered, "Faron!" I hugged the hedgehog that had come to be like my sister as she smiled down at Shadow who kept his eyes open... halfway. He couldn't speak, but I could tell through his eyes that he had so much to say and behind the pain, was warmth and happiness. "Faron, should we maybe get the others?"
"No, Shadow needs his time alone... I know what it feels like to be this badly injured. te don't want anyone really around you. Well, atleast not alot of others."
"Hey, can te maybe go tell them that he's alive and stuff? te know, to ease Sonic's mind. He's been feeling really low and guilty... he seems to think that this is his fault when it's not."
"Sure. te guys need your alone time."
"You will have yours... I promise." I smiled greatfully at her as she left the room, her long tail dragging behind her. I focused back on Shadow, "baby, can te talk?" I asked him sweetly. He closed his eyes again and let out a squeak that sounded like a pathetic mouse, at any other time I would've laughed, but now I needed to be serious, più than ever. "I-" I leaned my ear closer to his mouth as he rasped out faint whispers, "I'm h-here..."
"Yes Shadow, you're alive..."
"W-where-- a-am--- I?"
"In a hospital, baby."
"W-what's th-tha-that?"
"The humans are helping you. They're going to make te better."
"H-humans... l-like... m-Ma-Maria?"
"Yes, like Maria." I smiled at his effort. He WANTED to speak. It was nice to know that he was still here and breathing, da my side, "R-Rocha... I-I feel..." he broke off and his body shook with convulsions. I leapt back off the letto and touched his neck. He was shaking badly. The worry started again and just like that, all relief was gone. I tried to soothe him with the damp cloth, but he continued to shake. What was wrong? I paged a nurse who abruptly tried to help him, but stepped away from the letto shaking her head, "what? what? TELL ME!" I cried.
"He- you're going to have to wait this out... the convulsions will soon finish. I'm sorry."
"Will he live?" I felt bad having sent Faron out. If Shadow died I would never forgive myself! "Yes." the nurse answered, "I do need to talk to te though. te see, we are going to release him tomorrow. The convulsions are just from shock and trauma. I need to tell te how te are going to take care of him at your den... home... er... wherever te wierd talking creatures live..."
"You are just as wierd to us as we are to you." I mumbled.
"Sorry, it's just that I've never seen a talking animal before."
"Neither have I." I detto dryly, "now are te gonna tell me what to do with him o not?"
"Yes. Sorry. So here's what's gonna happen, here are the pills that he's gonna have to take, pain killers etc. te are going to follow the instructions, can te read?"
"Of course I can read!" I snapped.
The nurse continued calmly, "his injuries are healing well, but te are going to have to make sure that they don't get infected. They must be cleansed and re-dressed every day. Come and I'll mostra te what to do." I followed her as she went straight to the white bandages that were wrapped around Shadow's chest, "this is probably the worst injury on his body, so here's what te do. te need to carefully unwrap it," she began to gently pull the dressings away, revealing a painful-looking wound. I flinched, "is that his bone?" I shreaked, looking at sharp white thing protruding from the injury. The nurse nodded and my stomach churned. They were going to release him in a day? Were they crazy? My hands clenched into fists of fury, "are te seriously releasing him tomorrow?"
"Yes. He will probably be better taken care of da another animal." I growled indignantly. What did this cagna know? "Well, watch and learn how it's done." she detto to me. I pouted as she cleansed the wound then put some gel stuff on it. "Here, te need to learn how to re-wrap it." she handed me a long white bandage and I scowled, as she gently guided my hands to avvolgere it around his delicate, once-handsome chest. "There, see?" I nodded shamefully and the nurse left. "Only one più giorno Shadow." I whispered, kindly stroking his heated forehead. He shifted in pain but I knew that he had heard me. How could they release him tomorrow? Was he... dying?
Shadow's POV:
The pain was really intense. I heard that I was back at home. In my own bed. I sighed softly. My chest hurt as did the rest of my body. I only needed rest and time. I believe that it had been around 4 days since I had spoken and shown signs of consciosness. I felt heavy again. I tried to blink open my eyes. Taking in my surroundings as dizziness overtook me. "Rocha?" I rasped weakly and heard footsteps as she came into view, "how are te doing Shadow?"
"Pain." I whispered. A warm smile spread across her lovely, plump lips. The lips that mine had touched such few times. The lips that I wanted to baciare once again. "Your beautiful..." I whispered adoringly, reaching up with my arm that wasn't broken and placing my un-gloved hand gently on her cheek. Rocha blushed and bent her face down towards mine. Covering my lips with hers. Just what I had wanted. "I'm so glad te are alive Shadow." she placed another kiss, then another one. Jumping back as the door creaked open, "Rocha? Is he okay?" it was Faron. "Faron..." I called out weakly to my adopted daughter. Faron rushed to my bedside and smuggled me with a hug. Speechless. Then her eyes blazed with fear. I remembered. I knew exactly what she was thinking. This was the letto in which Mephiles, her real father had died. She gasped queasily and I heard a thud as she hit the floor. "Faron?" I rasped and Rocha silenced me. "Faron? Faron are te alright?" Rocha knelt to the ground and I heard her say something. Faron had fainted.
Rocha's POV:
"Faron! Please answer me! Shadow needs te too!" Faron blinked open her eyes and glared at me... "do te feel it?" she asked, fear filling her eyes. "Feel what?" I placed my hand on her shoulder as she lay on the ground, hyperventalating, "my father died in that bed! What if Shadow dies too?" she cried. "Shh, sweetie. He won't die. He's getting better already right Shadow?"
"Mhmm." Shadow purred from atop the bed, "see?" I asked, helping Faron into a sitting position. She cringed as I touched her arm. I looked her in te eyes. Grey met Green and I felt her pain as she thought about her father... laying down in that bed... dying... bidding his farewells... making peace. She shed a tear, "the vision... It's still so fresh in my mind. I... forgive my random fears..."
"They are not random!" I corrected her and she fell calm, "Shadow will live on forever! He's immortal, remember?"
"So was my father." she hissed coolly. I sighed and stood back up, taking her hand and helping her to her feet aswell. She looked at Shadow, "First my father, then my lover... now you! Why is this happening to me? Why can't I have it easier?"
"Faron. I know that te adore Shadow, but if anything ever happens..." I put my arm around her shoulders, "i shall have te know that I will always be here for you. We will stay together throught thick o thin."
"You're right Rocha... you're like my sister." she snuggled into me and I hugged her. Shadow watched happily. "Hey Shadow, I-I brought te some lunch... if you're hungry." we all turned at the sound of Sonic's voice, "yea faker..." Shadow sniffed approvingly at the tray of sushi, "I'll have some of that... only if you'll be here to eat it with me." Sonic smiled and came in, sitting down in the chair beside the letto and setting the tray on his lap, "I'm so sorry Shadow." he detto shaking his head miserably. "Du-ude!.. It's all fine..." Shadow rasped calmly as Sonic helped him into a sitting position. "It's all my fault."
"Faker. Listen to me... this is ALL the Doctor's fault... not yours."
"You're only saying that to make me feel good!"
"Faker." Shadow painfully took his friend's hand, "trust me... if this was your fault... I would be sure to make te feel guilty. That's just how I play. It was my choice to save your life. It was the Doctor who set this whole thing up." Sonic smiled and helped Shadow take a bite of the dragon roll. "Thanks buddy."
"No problem faker."
"And one più thing Shadow..."
"Mhmm?" Shadow mumbled, his mouth full of sushi.
"My name is Sonic... not faker."
"Alright... Sonic."
Silence. Pain. The throbbing that pulsated my head. The burning fever that coursed through my weakened, broken body. Struggling. I knew that I was alive, but did those who were around me know... what had happened? Did Rocha and Faron survive? Was everyone else okay? Some of them had to be okay... unless this was the sensation of death, my final moments, someone had to be alive. I strained, I wanted to open my eyes, to see. Nothing. I strained again, this time my mouth. I wanted it to open, to make a noise. Perhaps say something. Nothing. That was when I heard the softness of Rocha's voice, "Shadow, it's me baby, please don't die on us. Don't leave Faron and I." Faron. My mind eased a bit at the thought of my true Amore and my adopted daughter being alive. I blankly remembered anything. I only remembered those little facts about the two girls... and Maria. I strained and struggled again, almost gasping with effort. Nothing. I wanted them to know I was here. I am here... I thought, feeling a soothingly cold cloth being placed on my forehead. Soothing speech from Rocha, "it's okay Shadow, don't waste your energy. te need to come back for us." But I am back! I want te to know that I am here, with you. I strained tried to make a noise, a squeak, anything... how could I be the ultimate life-form... in this state. Unimagineable! Struggle, struggle, struggle! The blinding white lights of the room I was in filled my eyes as I opened them halfway. "Shadow!" feeling Rocha's arms avvolgere around me, "dad!" and Faron's hand take my own. Keeping my eyes open... just halfway.
Rocha's POV:
Nine days. It had taken nine days for Shadow to come around, but here he was... alive. He still looked horrible, but he was alive. That was all that mattered, "Faron!" I hugged the hedgehog that had come to be like my sister as she smiled down at Shadow who kept his eyes open... halfway. He couldn't speak, but I could tell through his eyes that he had so much to say and behind the pain, was warmth and happiness. "Faron, should we maybe get the others?"
"No, Shadow needs his time alone... I know what it feels like to be this badly injured. te don't want anyone really around you. Well, atleast not alot of others."
"Hey, can te maybe go tell them that he's alive and stuff? te know, to ease Sonic's mind. He's been feeling really low and guilty... he seems to think that this is his fault when it's not."
"Sure. te guys need your alone time."
"You will have yours... I promise." I smiled greatfully at her as she left the room, her long tail dragging behind her. I focused back on Shadow, "baby, can te talk?" I asked him sweetly. He closed his eyes again and let out a squeak that sounded like a pathetic mouse, at any other time I would've laughed, but now I needed to be serious, più than ever. "I-" I leaned my ear closer to his mouth as he rasped out faint whispers, "I'm h-here..."
"Yes Shadow, you're alive..."
"W-where-- a-am--- I?"
"In a hospital, baby."
"W-what's th-tha-that?"
"The humans are helping you. They're going to make te better."
"H-humans... l-like... m-Ma-Maria?"
"Yes, like Maria." I smiled at his effort. He WANTED to speak. It was nice to know that he was still here and breathing, da my side, "R-Rocha... I-I feel..." he broke off and his body shook with convulsions. I leapt back off the letto and touched his neck. He was shaking badly. The worry started again and just like that, all relief was gone. I tried to soothe him with the damp cloth, but he continued to shake. What was wrong? I paged a nurse who abruptly tried to help him, but stepped away from the letto shaking her head, "what? what? TELL ME!" I cried.
"He- you're going to have to wait this out... the convulsions will soon finish. I'm sorry."
"Will he live?" I felt bad having sent Faron out. If Shadow died I would never forgive myself! "Yes." the nurse answered, "I do need to talk to te though. te see, we are going to release him tomorrow. The convulsions are just from shock and trauma. I need to tell te how te are going to take care of him at your den... home... er... wherever te wierd talking creatures live..."
"You are just as wierd to us as we are to you." I mumbled.
"Sorry, it's just that I've never seen a talking animal before."
"Neither have I." I detto dryly, "now are te gonna tell me what to do with him o not?"
"Yes. Sorry. So here's what's gonna happen, here are the pills that he's gonna have to take, pain killers etc. te are going to follow the instructions, can te read?"
"Of course I can read!" I snapped.
The nurse continued calmly, "his injuries are healing well, but te are going to have to make sure that they don't get infected. They must be cleansed and re-dressed every day. Come and I'll mostra te what to do." I followed her as she went straight to the white bandages that were wrapped around Shadow's chest, "this is probably the worst injury on his body, so here's what te do. te need to carefully unwrap it," she began to gently pull the dressings away, revealing a painful-looking wound. I flinched, "is that his bone?" I shreaked, looking at sharp white thing protruding from the injury. The nurse nodded and my stomach churned. They were going to release him in a day? Were they crazy? My hands clenched into fists of fury, "are te seriously releasing him tomorrow?"
"Yes. He will probably be better taken care of da another animal." I growled indignantly. What did this cagna know? "Well, watch and learn how it's done." she detto to me. I pouted as she cleansed the wound then put some gel stuff on it. "Here, te need to learn how to re-wrap it." she handed me a long white bandage and I scowled, as she gently guided my hands to avvolgere it around his delicate, once-handsome chest. "There, see?" I nodded shamefully and the nurse left. "Only one più giorno Shadow." I whispered, kindly stroking his heated forehead. He shifted in pain but I knew that he had heard me. How could they release him tomorrow? Was he... dying?
Shadow's POV:
The pain was really intense. I heard that I was back at home. In my own bed. I sighed softly. My chest hurt as did the rest of my body. I only needed rest and time. I believe that it had been around 4 days since I had spoken and shown signs of consciosness. I felt heavy again. I tried to blink open my eyes. Taking in my surroundings as dizziness overtook me. "Rocha?" I rasped weakly and heard footsteps as she came into view, "how are te doing Shadow?"
"Pain." I whispered. A warm smile spread across her lovely, plump lips. The lips that mine had touched such few times. The lips that I wanted to baciare once again. "Your beautiful..." I whispered adoringly, reaching up with my arm that wasn't broken and placing my un-gloved hand gently on her cheek. Rocha blushed and bent her face down towards mine. Covering my lips with hers. Just what I had wanted. "I'm so glad te are alive Shadow." she placed another kiss, then another one. Jumping back as the door creaked open, "Rocha? Is he okay?" it was Faron. "Faron..." I called out weakly to my adopted daughter. Faron rushed to my bedside and smuggled me with a hug. Speechless. Then her eyes blazed with fear. I remembered. I knew exactly what she was thinking. This was the letto in which Mephiles, her real father had died. She gasped queasily and I heard a thud as she hit the floor. "Faron?" I rasped and Rocha silenced me. "Faron? Faron are te alright?" Rocha knelt to the ground and I heard her say something. Faron had fainted.
Rocha's POV:
"Faron! Please answer me! Shadow needs te too!" Faron blinked open her eyes and glared at me... "do te feel it?" she asked, fear filling her eyes. "Feel what?" I placed my hand on her shoulder as she lay on the ground, hyperventalating, "my father died in that bed! What if Shadow dies too?" she cried. "Shh, sweetie. He won't die. He's getting better already right Shadow?"
"Mhmm." Shadow purred from atop the bed, "see?" I asked, helping Faron into a sitting position. She cringed as I touched her arm. I looked her in te eyes. Grey met Green and I felt her pain as she thought about her father... laying down in that bed... dying... bidding his farewells... making peace. She shed a tear, "the vision... It's still so fresh in my mind. I... forgive my random fears..."
"They are not random!" I corrected her and she fell calm, "Shadow will live on forever! He's immortal, remember?"
"So was my father." she hissed coolly. I sighed and stood back up, taking her hand and helping her to her feet aswell. She looked at Shadow, "First my father, then my lover... now you! Why is this happening to me? Why can't I have it easier?"
"Faron. I know that te adore Shadow, but if anything ever happens..." I put my arm around her shoulders, "i shall have te know that I will always be here for you. We will stay together throught thick o thin."
"You're right Rocha... you're like my sister." she snuggled into me and I hugged her. Shadow watched happily. "Hey Shadow, I-I brought te some lunch... if you're hungry." we all turned at the sound of Sonic's voice, "yea faker..." Shadow sniffed approvingly at the tray of sushi, "I'll have some of that... only if you'll be here to eat it with me." Sonic smiled and came in, sitting down in the chair beside the letto and setting the tray on his lap, "I'm so sorry Shadow." he detto shaking his head miserably. "Du-ude!.. It's all fine..." Shadow rasped calmly as Sonic helped him into a sitting position. "It's all my fault."
"Faker. Listen to me... this is ALL the Doctor's fault... not yours."
"You're only saying that to make me feel good!"
"Faker." Shadow painfully took his friend's hand, "trust me... if this was your fault... I would be sure to make te feel guilty. That's just how I play. It was my choice to save your life. It was the Doctor who set this whole thing up." Sonic smiled and helped Shadow take a bite of the dragon roll. "Thanks buddy."
"No problem faker."
"And one più thing Shadow..."
"Mhmm?" Shadow mumbled, his mouth full of sushi.
"My name is Sonic... not faker."
"Alright... Sonic."