A short time later Knuckles found himself waiting in the living room of Carmelita's house. He leaned on the side of her car strumming his fingers along his arms.

Then he began to wonder how he ended up in this mess. He'd originally planned on going this alone but here he found himself teamed up with this as Vector would put it 'Bimbo' of a police woman. But if she could lead him to the pieces of the Master Emerald Knuckles didn't really have a choice.

And Carmelita didn't fell to good about this partnership either. But Sly had demanded Knuckles be there or else he wouldn't show and Carmelita wasn't going to miss a chance to catch Cooper.

"Ok." Said Carmelita's voice. "I'm ready to go." Knuckles looked over and saw her standing at the top of the stairs in a black dress. And when he did he couldn't helped but redden at the sight, luckily his fur was red. Then she prepared to walk down the steps but would have trouble since she was wearing heels. Knuckles sighed and then walked towards her extending out his hand to her." Thank you." She said as she took it and he guided her down the steps. Then she looked down to him." Are you alright?" she asked as she noticed he was looking her over.

"N-No." he replied looking away." It's nothing." She chuckled slightly at him." Let's be off." Then he turned and walked to eth front door.

"Do you want something?" she asked.

"Come again?" asked Knuckles as he turned back to her.

"It's a little cold." Said Carmelita." Do you want something to wear a jacket or a hat maybe?"

"No." said Knuckles." I'll be fine."

"No I insist." She replied. "Wait here." Then she turned and walked off. Knuckles waited several more seconds with his arms crossed until she returned with a brown Indiana jones like hat in her hands." Here." She said as she handed it to him. Knuckles was reluctant to take it at first but then by looking up at the reassuring look on her face he felt more obliged to. Then he put it on his head." See it's a perfect fit." Said Carmelita." You look very dashing." Knuckles went red in the face and grumbled something to himself but then replied

"Thanks." He replied.

"You're welcome." She replied." Now let's go." The two stepped outside Knuckles leading and Carmelita following. Then Knuckles jumped forward and was about to head into the air."Are you planning on flying there?" asked Carmelita stopping him.

"I can't fly." Replied Knuckles." I can only glide on currents of wind." Carmelita gave him a scolding look." But yes." He replied." I planned on it."

"Nonsense." Said Carmelita." We'll go together in my car."

"I don't much like that idea." Said Knuckles looking at her.

"Why?" asked Carmelita as she looked around for her keys." You're not afraid of me are you?"

"No." replied Knuckles." It's just I prefer to do my own thing."

"This is a partnership isn't it?" Said Carmelita." Shouldn't we agree on what we're going to do?"

"Yea." Said Knuckles." Why don't I just take you and fly us both over there."

"That'll never happen." Said Carmelita.

"Why's that?"

"I hate heights." Replied Carmelita.

"You can't be serious."

"If we were meant to fly we'd grow wings."

"Yes but-"

"No buts." Interrupted Carmelita. " We're driving there." Then she turned and walked over to her car." What are you waiting for?" she asked Knuckles when she turned around.

"Yes." He grumbled." I'm on my way."

Then he walked up and entered her car." Seatbelt" was the first thing she said to him when he got in. Knuckles grumbled and put his seatbelt on.

"YES MOM." He replied when he did so. Then once he was buckled in they drove off.

The car ride was quiet for the most part, the two sat in an uncomfortable silence. Knuckles kept his view outside the windows not looking over at Carmelita. Occasionally she would glance over and notice the scowl on his face.

"What's with the scowl?" she asked him. Knuckles looked over at her." You're so mad your turning red."

"I'm always like this." Replied Knuckles.

"Always, you mean 24/7?"

"Yep."

"There's no reason to be like." Said Carmelita as she turned the wheel making a right." How do you ever expect to meet a girl when you act like that?"

"Well that's none of your business is it?" replied Knuckles with a snort.

"So." Said Carmelita grabbing his attention again." What is it that you do?"

"I'm a guardian." Replied Knuckles.

"Yes I understand that." Said Carmelita." But what exactly do you guard this emerald you keep talking about?"

"Bingo." Said Knuckles as he pointed to her with the hat still over his eyes.

"I never knew a guy could love a diamond so much."

"This is no ordinary diamond. "told Knuckles." The Master Emerald is used to negate the power of the seven chaos emerald so they cannot be used for evil."

"Chaos emeralds, what?" asked Carmelita.

"Just think of my emerald as the ultimate power, as a Guardian I'm to guard the emerald and make sure it's used for good." Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out the piece he took from her before." Once I find all the pieces I can restore it, and fulfill my duties as a guardian."

Carmelita was truly baffled by this. Chaos emeralds, Master emeralds, power, the only part she really understood was the guardian part." You know." She said." I'm much like a guardian myself. As a police officer I'm sworn to uphold the law and protect the people."

"Then why didn't you arrest the raccoon when you had the chance?" asked Knuckles. Carmelita went silent for several moments.

"I was waiting for the right opportunity." She said.

"You love him don't you?" Said Knuckles casually as he leaned back.

"WHAT!" asked Carmelita as she turned to him nearly driving the car off the road, but then she regained herself." What are you talking about?"

"Just pointing out an observation." Said Knuckles." You two seemed very close."

"How'd you know what happened?" asked Carmelita." Where you spying on me?"

"I found the van with this picture on it." Said Knuckles as he pulled out the image of the raccoon that Espio had found." So I followed it and when I saw my moment I attacked."

"Just keep the temper low this time." Said Carmelita." I don't want any distractions when I grab Cooper."

"What's it like between you two?" asked Knuckles." This doesn't seem like a typical cops and robber's story." Carmelita fell silent and didn't look at him.

"Ah so you do love him." Said Knuckles as he crossed his legs.

"It doesn't matter." She said." He could never change, we could never truly love."

"No." said Knuckles speaking up." At least he's shown to you that you can love." Carmelita turned to him wide-eyed which put Knuckles off at first.

"What am I doing again?" asked Knuckles trying to break out of the uncomfortable feeling he had.

"Cooper's friend is a little pissed off you destroyed his van."

"Oh." Said Knuckles." Should I worry about anything?"

"He's very big." Told Carmelita.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall. I can fight no problem I'll just leave the dancing up to you."

"Why's that?" asked Carmelita looking over to him.

"I can't dance." Told Knuckles. Carmelita's jaw dropped.

"How's is that?" she asked." That's terrible."

"I've done fine without it."

"Maybe you'll let me teach you." Said Carmelita. Knuckles rolled his eyes and looked out the window." We're here." Was the next thing Carmelita said. They arrived at the restaurant which was located by a long river.

The two exited the car and went inside. They place was very luxurious with a high ceiling with golden chandeliers and a large floor open for dancing.

On the opposite side of the room was a disguised Sly and Murray.

"Are they here Sly?" asked Murray.

"Yea." Replied Sly." They just walked in the door."

"Where?" asked Murray as he jumped up.

"Get down." Said Sly as he pushed Murray down." Over there." He whispered." By the doors." Then he pointed it out to Murray. Looking over the two could see a well-dressed Carmelita with a rag tag looking Knuckles next to her.

"Alright." Said Murray as he pounded his fist together." Let's do this." Then the two separated.

"Alright." Said Knuckles as he looked around." But where's the thief."

"Ah." Said a voice attracting his and Carmelita's attention. Coming over to them was a well-dressed Raccoon." Madam Carmelita so glad you could make it." He said as he came up and kissed her hand. Then he looked down and saw Knuckles standing there." And you have brought your little friend."

"Where's my emerald?" asked Knuckles.

"Not tonight pal." Replied Sly." You've got another appointment tonight, in the boiler room."

"Why you." Said Knuckles as he jerked forward but was stopped by Carmelita.

"Knuckles just do as he says." She said. Knuckles bit his lip but then turned and walked off. Then in the aftermath of his leaving Carmelita turned back to Sly.

"May I have this dance?" he asked taking her hand. Then he led her onto the dance floor.

At that time Knuckles made his way into the boiler room. He grunted under his breath as he opened up the door and walked in. And when he did he noticed no one was around.

"No what the hell." He grunted. Then he moved to turn around but when he did he found that Murray was right behind him. Knuckles was about to say something but then Murray reached down and put his hands around Knuckles' neck. Then he pushed forward and rammed him into the wall. Knuckles struggled against him but could not free himself. Then Murray reared on fist back and then swung forward. But then Knuckles moved his head dodging the attack.

Then Knuckles reached forward and punched Murray in the face, then a second time. Then Murray let go of Knuckles and stumbled back. Once Knuckles was back on the ground he ran up and charged Murray.

Knuckles reached up and punched Murray in the face, then a second time. But then Murray reached down and punched Knuckles on the back of the head. Then Murray reached down and grabbed Knuckles. Then he twirled him around and then tossed him. Knuckles flew several feet and knocked over a table. When going over the table Knuckles smashed his face on the ground.

Knuckles stumbled to his feet an ach in his body and blood dripping from his lips.

"C'MON!" he shouted to Murray. Then the two engaged each other again.

Meanwhile Carmelita and Sly began to dance.

"I'm happy you came." Said Sly as they did." I was almost certain you wouldn't make it."

'I had to get ready." Told Carmelita." Plus I had to convince Knuckles to come along."

"Knuckles?" asked Sly.

"The red echidna I came with."

"Ah." Said Sly when he realized." Is he always angry?"

"It seems so." Replied Carmelita.

"Don't worry." Said Sly." Murray is taking care of him."

"What do you mean?" asked Carmelita.

"Let's not worry about that." Said Sly." Let's worry about the real reason why we're here."

At that moment Murray grabbed Knuckles and slammed his shoulder into a pillar. Knuckles hit the ground holding his shoulder. Then Murray picked him up and then punched him again. Then Knuckles stumbled back into a pile of boxes, Murray then walked over.

But then Knuckles jumped to his feet holding a broom. Then Knuckles swung it and hit Murray in the face, then a second time only this time it snapped. Then Murray went after Knuckles again. But when he threw a punch Knuckles ducked causing Murray to punch into the wall. Then Knuckles jumped up and punched him in the face, then a second time. But then Murray grabbed his hands and then tossed Knuckles away. Knuckles flew and hit the wall. Then Murray walked over and grabbed Knuckles then he picked him up and slammed him threw a table.

"What do you mean?" asked Carmelita." The real reason why we're here."

"Come with me." Said Sly. Then he led Carmelita off the dance floor and outside onto the balcony. Then he turned and spoke to her.

"I love you Carmelita you must know that." He said as he held her hands tightly.

"Yes Cooper." She replied." I know."

"And you love me don't you." He asked.

"Yes." She said as she rested her head against his neck.

"Then come away with me." He said. She was shocked by this statement and it took her several moments until she realized what he had said." What do you say?"

"I wish it could be like that Sly." She said." But we're too different people on opposite sides of the law."

"In another city." Said Sly." We could start a new life."

At that moment Knuckles squirmed around as he lay on a broken table. Then Murray picked him and punched him in the face once more sending him stumbling back into a boiler.

Knuckles now bleeding from his lip spit out blood and then looked up at Murray. The hippo walked over and stood over him. Then when Murray reached down to grab Knuckles. But then Knuckles reached up and grabbed Murray's head. Then he turned and slammed his head into the boiler behind him and then a second time.

Then Murray collapsed to the floor and Knuckles rose to his feet and began to stumble off. But then Murray rose up from behind and grabbed Knuckles. Then he ran over and slammed him into the wall.

Knuckles struggled against him as Murray wrapped his hands around Knuckles neck.

Meanwhile with Sly and Carmelita.

"It would be sweet for a while." Said Carmelita." But in reality our natural instincts would set in and you would start to steal again."

"Something's different about you." Said Sly.

"Nothing's different about me." Said Carmelita.

"Yes, yes there is." Said Sly." Do you have the emerald I gave to you?" Carmelita bit her lip in reply. "Well?" he asked.

"No." she said.

"You lost it?" asked Sly. Carmelita did no reply and continued to bite her lip." No." he said after reading her face." He took it didn't he?" asked Sly." That echidna, this Knuckles."

"No." said Carmelita as she jumped before him." I lost it." Sly looked down at her and read her face, it was full of desperation, fear, and something else.

"I would say." Said Sly." That is not all he took." Then Sly walked away.

At that moment Murray continued to strangle Knuckles. Knuckles kicked against the ground but couldn't escape. But then Knuckles saw something nearby, it was a glass plate. So Knuckles reached out for it as Murray continued to hold him down.

But then Knuckles reached out and grabbed the plate then he swung it up and hit Murray in the head with it. When he did he caused the hippo to fall to the ground. Knuckles quickly rolled out of the way before Murray could fall on him.

Then Knuckles rose to his feet, it was at this time that he noticed his right hand was bleeding most likely from being cut with glass. So he held the bleeding hand up and stumbled towards the door.

On his way to the door he stumbled around, falling over a few times leaving his bloody handprint on the wall. But then he managed to push open the door and once he did he sat outside the door.

Then he stood there panting trying to catch his breath. But then he began to hear something, the sound of footsteps as they grew closer and closer. Knuckles looked up to see the person's legs getting closer and closer to him until they stood before him. Then Knuckles looked up and saw the thief or as Carmelita called him 'Cooper; standing there.

Sly bent over and looked at Knuckles.

"So you're him are you?" he asked." You're the echidna."

"Come again?" asked Knuckles. His hearing and his vision was going in and out, Cooper being a blur most of the time and his voice very muffled.

Because his voice sounded muffled Knuckles didn't hear him when he said 'You're the one who took my love from me.' And upon not hearing Knuckles reply Sly leaned in and grabbed him.

"What's the matter?" he asked as he did so." Got nothing to say?" But immediately after that Knuckles leaned up and punched Sly in the mouth. Sly flew back and slammed against the wall hitting his head against the back of it, then he slowly began to slip out of consciousness with Knuckles as they last thing he saw.

Knuckles sat there for several more moments his hearing and sight slipping in and out.

Then turning the corner was Carmelita. She saw the two of them laid out on the floor and she quickly rushed over to them. Then she stood over the two looking down at each of them wondering what she should do.

Then she finally bent down over to Sly. But then when she rose away from him it appeared that she had handcuffed him." You're under arrest." She said. Then she looked over at Knuckles." Now for you." She said as she moved over to him.

She noticed he was bleeding from his head so she ripped her dress and addressed the wound. Then after it stopped bleeding she picked him up in her arms and carried him off.

Special Note: S.R.J.S. Fangirl from Pl if you're reading this private message me