The Sonic Suite is a private room in the Station Square Plaza Hotel for the heroes as an apartment. It is gifted to Sonic the Hedgehog as a thank you for saving the city so many times in the past, and the noble, blue hedgehog couldn't be anymore thrilled with the present. Of course, the Suite is too big for one person alone, so he let Tails, Knuckles, and Amy stay over to fill in the empty rooms. Even so, there is one room extra, and Sonic can now put it to use after bringing the girl in from the sudden rain. As Amy fluffs the pillows, Sonic tucks in the sheets. Tails watches by the door like the abandoned son.
"Isn't this nice, Sonic?" the pink hedgehog questions, batting her eyelashes. "It's like playing house. I'm the mother, you're the father, and this cute, little thing is our daughter."
"Can I be the son then?" calls Tails, waving his gloved hand.
"Amy," Sonic beings. He takes a deep breath, making Tails back away from the door to avoid the conversation. "Just because I'm starting to adapt to the idea of holding hands and such doesn't mean I'm ready to pretend to be your husband."
Amy scoffs. "Sonic, don't be silly. You don't have to pretend when you're already doing a decent job."
The blue hedgehog's mouth hangs agape. "Are you serious?"
"Guys," the fox butts in, "Knuckles is back."
The hedgehog couple stops arguing and return to the center of the Suite, which the main door leads from the hotel's hallway. Knuckles's body drips extra rainwater onto the tile floor as he trudges across the room to fetch a towel.
"So it was you that started the third rainstorm this week," Sonic finally says once the echidna starts drying himself off.
"Pipe it, Sonic. That creep shot one more rocket at me, and it had to go somewhere," Knuckles growls. "Anyway, how's the girl holding up?"
"She's sleepin' in the spare room."
"We finally put it into good use, Knuckles," chirps the fox kid.
"At least she's okay now," Knuckles says with a sigh following.
Amy starts to shiver. "I feel bad for her, Knuckles. Her parents are probably outside looking for her. She's just a little girl."
Sonic scratches the back of his head. Geez, I haven't thought about that until now. Amy's right."
The stern member heavily sighs. "We'll go out looking once she's in better condition. After that fight, we all need to rest."
"Then, I say we eat?"
"How about scrambled eggs and bacon?" suggests Amy.
The boys, "Mmm," delightfully. "We're in for that."
"Just give me a few minutes."
"Well, I'll watch over our little guest," Knuckles informs, pointing to the spare room door. He pokes his nose through the opening to widen it. The light from the kitchen shines onto the head of the bed, where the girl's face can bee seen. His breath heavies as he watches her mouth open and close. "Hey, princess," Knuckles cooes, petting her hair with his fingers. "You're okay now."
The girl groans, turning from her side to her back. "Who's there?" she asks weakly.
"A friend. The name's Knuckles. My friend, Sonic, was the one who brought you here for safety."
"Knuckles? Sonic? Interesting names."
"Well, thanks…I guess. What's your name, princess? Or if you like to be called that, fine by me."
She giggles a bit. "Jamie Reese."
"Jamie. That's cute."
Jamie's cheeks blush pink from the paleness.
"Well, your last name's going to help me though." Knuckles pulls the nightstand drawer open and grabs a phone book. "I'm going to look up your parents' names, so I can…"
"What parents?" The interruption is faint.
"Excuse me?"
"My parents died when I was little. I don't live anywhere except where I'm accepted."
The echidna purses his mouth into the shape of an "o" and bows his head. "I'm really sorry. I didn't realize."
"It's not your fault. I've grown used to it."
"How old are you?"
"Seventeen. I'm starting my last year of school next week."
His heart stops out of surprise. "Wow. You're quite a lady, huh?"
She chuckles again. "Oh, thank you. I'm nothing much really."
"Oh, you are. Everyone has a reason to be who he or she is."
"You were the one on the robot, aren't you? You're the one that destroyed it. You did destroy it, right?"
"Good as gone. Everything's back to normal."
"Good. It was scary to have that thing shooting lasers, bullets, and rockets at you for an hour. Imagine a kidnapping!"
"Well, good thing you're here now, Jamie. I think Amy's done with breakfast. Want some?"
"Thanks, Knuckles."
"Anytime." He closes the door to the point where the light can't get in for Jamie's benefit.
"How is she?" Amy questions, pushing a plate of eggs and bacon towards him.
He replies, "Jamie's doing just fine. Weak, but she can make conversation."
"So that's her name," says Tails.
"Jamie Reese. She's an upcoming third year in school and an orphan."
Sonic coughs up his milk. "Orphan?" he exclaims. "How come you didn't mention that first?"
"You didn't even ask."
"That doesn't matter, Knuckles. She doesn't have anyone to look after her. Imagine not having someone to take you to and back from school."
"Who cooks your meals morning, noon, and night," adds Amy.
"Cheers you on through your successes," points out Tails.
Sonic: "Buys your clothes."
Tails: "Toys."
Amy: "Celebrates the holidays with you."
Sonic: "Heals you when you're sick."
Amy: "Sings you songs."
Tails: "And kisses you goodnight."
Knuckles turns away without giving anyone a look. "Don't you think I know that? Do I want her to have a normal life? Of course, but what can we do?" After deeply breathing, he asks, "Can I have an extra plate?"
Without questioning, Amy hands the last one to Knuckles. "She'll be grateful."
"I'm sure of that." Knuckles slowly pushes her door open again. "Jamie. I got breakfast."
No response.
"Jamie? Are you alright, princess?" He widens the opening, and the light casts her pale face, which has gotten whiter than a few minutes ago. Her chest bounces as short breaths escape from her mouth. "Jamie!" Knuckles drops the tray near the door and rushes over to the bed, cupping her face in his hands. "Jamie! Princess, can you hear me?"
"Knuckles, what happened?" Sonic questions, quickly poking his head into the room.
"It's Jamie. I don't know what's wrong?" The panicking echidna places the back of his hand on her forehead. "She's very warm, and she's struggling to breathe. Sonic, we need a doctor!"
After the news breaks out, Sonic dashes to the Station Square Hospital with Jamie on his back. The rain doesn't make the journey a lot easier, but the hedgehog can't afford to skip a beat. As sick as Jamie already is, the cold, morning rain will only worsen her condition, which is the reason for the blanket that Knuckles supplied.
Sonic's abrupt appearance at the hospital startles everyone in the lobby. He gasps for breath as his knees hit the floor. "Please," he begs uncovering Jamie's body from the soaked blanket. "Get me Doctor Bernstein. She's sick!"
No one budges, for the head doctor, Wolt Bernstein, walks into the lobby, also startled. "Sonic," he says, "its' been awhile."
"Doc, we have a bigger problem than my last visit here."
"Indeed, we do. Claire, get the gurney out here. She needs to be examined now."
A moment later, Jamie is strapped to the gurney, and two nurses push her down the hall to an empty room. The medics disappear into the back without a trace.
Knuckles runs past the automatic doors and asks, "Did they take her?" gasping for breath.
"Just now," Sonic responds, "Bernstein's looking at her as we speak."
"Thank goodness for that."
"She'll be fine, Knuckles. The doc knows what to do more than we do."
The doctor returns to the lobby, and his lips form an "o" at the sight of the other hero in the lobby. "Oh, Sonic, you're still here. Good, and you brought a friend."
"Of course. What's the verdict? That was a very quick observation even for me."
Bernstein rubs his hands together as he explains, "From the extreme fatigue, fever, breathing struggle, and very sudden coughing she's been having after bringing her into the room, I've diagnosed her with pneumonia."
The creature boys gasp, cupping their mouths.
"She's lucky though. Back in the day, many died from this disease. Today, we have the medicine we need to at least get the bacteria out of her system.
"How long will that take?" Knuckles questions.
"The medicine? Shortly. Her getting back on her feet? A few days. Not long. As long as she's here, Jamie's staying in bed rest. She'll be fine, you two. We've taken care of worse."
"That's reassuring."
Sonic nudges his friend's shoulder like a light punch. "Stop being sarcastic, Knuckles. Jamie is going to be fine under the doc's care. Everyone comes out of this hospital looking better than before."
"And I will be relieved if the pattern continues to stay like that."