Sonic watched as everyone got ready out in the back through his window, flicking his tail sadly. He did feel ill now, but from depression and not from a virus. He sighed, knowing Chris wouldn't do anything with him; he would be in the pool all the time. It hurt Sonic to know that he couldn't swim, mentally. Most likely, Amy and Cream would be doing the same, causing an invisible wall between him and them. He didn't know how long he was staring at them working when a new, yet all too familiar face appeared. His fur prickled, but not in anger. "How does that fat bozo live being alone?" He asked, depressed. "I wouldn't be caught dead asking a few lonely tips from him!"

Of course, he had to go out now, sporting his wounded arm to the family AND Eggman. He slipped, almost unnoticed into the shadows. "Hey, Sonic," Chris' voice was like claws to a chock board to him. "Come here!"

The hedgehog slipped over, trying not to be seen. "What. I'm trying to be invisible."

"The sneaky route; trying to lure him into thinking you are not here…smart." Sonic just gave a blank stare. "Anyways, you want to watch me swim?"

He blinked, his ears twitching. "No thank-you. It'll remind me that I can't swim…I know! Let's sit in the shadows, and…sneak." But Chris was already underwater. His sighed, tucking his tail between his legs. "Oh…ok…I see…"

He chose to go over to Mr. Thorndyke and Mr. Tanaka, his tail lifting again. "Um…Sir…I was wondering if…" He jumped as Mr. Thorndyke stepped back.

"Not now, Sonic, we are busy!" He sounded angry, causing the hedgehog to go into submission.

"All I want is to talk to someone! Is it that hard to ask for?!"

"I'll talk with you, Hedgehog." Sonic's spin trembled, a voice from behind him echoed in his ears. Behind him…was Eggman. He turned his head, slowly, seeing him sitting in a beach chair, shaded by an umbrella. He gulped, his tail trembling underneath him. "That is…if you want to. I know we aren't in speaking terms…we never are."

Sonic slowly stepped closer to his enemy, gulping again. No one was looking, no one was telling him to stop. No one cares…. He sat down next to him, rubbing his wounded arm. "T-Thanks…" His gaze was off to the side, at the edge of the pool; his arm constantly rubbing the wound.

Everything seemed to stop in his eyes. Sure, Chris and the girls were still playing in the pool, oblivious to what was going on, and the men were cooking…but everything fell silent. "Well," He jumped, finally turning to the Doctor. "You wanted to talk, so talk!"

"I-I'm sorry…" He squeaked, lowering his gaze again. He began rubbing his arm again, shaking lightly. "H-How are you?"

There was a short pause as Eggman watched the hedgehog rubbing his arm, awkwardly. "I'm fine…Bocoe caught a Robotic flu, so he and Decoe couldn't come down…"

"T-That's too bad…" He still stared in the opposite direction, his tail shaking.

"Bokkun didn't want to come…he wanted to help out around the…house…" His eyes widen in shock behind his glasses, seeing what it was Sonic was rubbing. Gashes all over…and they looked only a day old. "What happen?"

Sonic froze, looking up at the man's glasses. "What do you mean?"

"What happened to your arm? D-Did someone hurt you?" That can't be, this is Sonic we are talking about…He gave off a genuine look of fear.

Sonic shifted, uneasily. He had no intentions on telling Eggman, of ALL people, that he was the one who gave himself the gashes. He tried to shrink, lowering his head along with his gaze. "Sonic, what happen!"

"I-I got bitten by a bee…" He stared at the wound, sighing. This looked NOTHING like a bee bite, let alone the original bee sting. He didn't even know if bees COULD bite. "It's fine…" He couldn't fight the tears, even though he really wanted to. "I-I mean it…I'm fine…."

He felt an arm wrap around him, his eyes widening in shock. "Hush now, it's alright. I'm not judging." He was pressed close to Eggman's chest, hearing a rather rapid heartbeat. He's scared… "It's alright now, I'm here."

Sonic closed his eyes, snuggling up to the bulky chest as if it was his pillow, tears falling from his eyes once again. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't be, it's alright." Eggman started to rock gently, putting Sonic into his lap. "Let it out, I'll hide you…"

Hide me…Hide my face! He was covering Sonic's face so he could cry in peace! "I'll not tell anyone, I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die the worst, painful death."

He knew what Sonic did, and he wasn't going to tell him. He continued to rock, humming lightly a jingle that just popped into his mind. The hedgehog snuggled closer, his injured arm resting on his belly.

"Don't go…" It was the first time in days that he felt loved and cared for. Someone finally saw him hurt and not sick. "Don't leave me…" He tried to lift his head, but his caretaker paced his hand on it before he could me, rubbing just under the ear. "You are the first person who noticed…They don't care…"

"Ah, don't say that, they love you!" Sonic lifted his head again to look at Eggman's face, only his eyes were still covered. "Trust me; they love you." He brought him close again, his rocking continuing. "Now hush…just relax…I'm here. I'll not let anything bad hurt you…alright?"

Sonic nodded, gasping for air. "A-Alright…"

"Now…I know this will sound…fishy…" The hedgehog grew fidget. "But promise me…if you feel hurt again, or lonely…or you just need to talk to someone…just come to me, ok? You know where my base is…well, I don't think you know my winter base."

The hedgehog lifted his head, looking at Eggman's face once again. "You have a winter base?"

"Well, yeah! Do you know how cold it is out there in winter?" He answered in a rather silly tone, making Sonic chuckle. "May I remind you I live out in the middle of the ocean! It's cold out there."

The hedgehog snuggled close, his ears folding back in a more relaxed state. "Thank-you." He mumbled under his breath. "You have no idea…how hurt I am right now."

He felt Eggman's mustache gently rub ageist his head, as an attempt to nuzzle. "Trust me…I know how you feel."

Sonic found himself drifting easily, his tail trying to curl up around his legs. The gentle rocking and sooth humming was lolling him to sleep. For the better, he believed.