Chapter 10 – The Next Life

Sonic clapped a hand over his head for much-needed weight as he stepped toward the chest.

"Hhh-oly sh-" his short breath couldn't even finish, after which he broke into nervous laughter. "I think I'm starting to see why they call you the ultimate life form…!" His shock and humor quickly faded as he neared and realized that Shadow was straining just to breathe. Following a couple of feeble wheezes, his head slumped over the edge of the chest, and his final, largest quill tumbled down against its sides. Sonic shot a glance to Sam, who had just found his own composure. The shaken human curled an arm over Shadow and pulled him from the trunk barely conscious. Sonic grabbed for his arms to support him as his legs buckled under his weight. "I've got him," he assured Sam. As the black hedgehog's head tipped forward, a two-inch surgical scar was clearly visible where his primary quill had been. Sonic blinked at it for a moment before proceeding to assist him with his first few steps since his attempted execution. "You okay to walk?" Shadow continued to wheeze but managed a tedious, crooked gait.

"Get him upstairs," Sam directed as he hurried to Shadow's other side and assumed the brunt of his weight. It took a few minutes, but finally the three reached the kitchen on the main floor. Shadow leaned against a nearby counter as Sam filled a glass with cold tap water and Sonic stood watchfully by. "Drink as much of this as you can," Sam urged as he handed the glass to Shadow. After a single swallow, he barely got the glass set on the counter before vomiting the liquid out onto the floor. As he doubled over and continued to forcibly dry heave, Sonic backed off and observed with a slightly cocked eyebrow.

"Wow."

Shadow staggered and nearly toppled over after finishing, prompting Sonic to catch him again. "Whoop, don't wanna land on that!"

"This isn't good," Sam sighed, dropping a kitchen towel over the puddle. "He needs medical attention."

"What, the MRT?" Sonic speculated a reference to the Mobian Research Team.

"Anything. But first," Sam added, suddenly remembering his less than legitimate role in things, "we need to get him out of here."

With a crumbling breath, Shadow lifted his head and attempted to speak. Neither Sonic nor Sam made out the single word that escaped him.

"Say that again…?" Sonic prompted, his body still acting as a crutch. He and Sam stood motionless as Shadow pushed his voice past the pain.

"…M…Mercury…."

"Mercury…?" Sonic echoed through his surprise. Even on the brink of death, his son was still the first thing on his mind. "He's back at the apartment. I take it you wanna go see him." Receiving Shadow's nod, his eyes jumped to Sam. "Well, we know where to head to!"

After making their way out to the car, Sonic pulled open the passenger side door and leaned the seat forward. He then glanced to his left at Shadow, who had just noticed his reflection in the rear window. His crimson eyes narrowed as his hand slowly reached up and felt the back of his head. Sonic bit his lip and leaned into the car as Sam got in the other side. "Hey, Sam," he whispered, "you got anything that Shadow can cover himself with? It's gotta be embarrassing for him to be seen like that. I know I wouldn't want to."

"I think I have a hooded pullover in the trunk," Sam recalled, tugging the appropriate lever and climbing back out of the car. Sonic backed up and helped Shadow in, soon after which Sam returned with the shirt in hand, navy blue with a bright yellow SSPD pocket logo in block letters. "Get in the back with him and make sure he stays conscious," he requested as he handed it over. Sonic nodded and ducked in, quickly shuffling past Shadow to the other side. After Sam shut the door, the blue hedgehog offered the garment.

"Thought you might wanna…put this on…." he muttered. After eyeing it quietly for a few moments, Shadow accepted the shirt and lifted it overhead, letting its generous girth slide down over him. The hood came to rest on his ears, to which he tightened the drawstring until they were forced flat. Sonic knew at that point that he was grateful for the gesture. As Sam fastened himself in and started up the engine, Sonic pondered a topic to bring up to keep Shadow focused. "Uh…so, did you know that possum lady very long?" Shadow, whose eyes had drawn shut, reopened them with a wounded scowl. Sonic grimaced, sensing the topic was a bit too loaded. "I mean…is it true she tried to attack Amy?" He followed the question with a mental slap to the forehead. Yeah, way to lighten the subject….

"…She wasn't herself," Shadow rasped after a few seconds' silence. Sonic could only stare, amazed to find him defending her despite his predicament. Loyalty had always been one of his strong points, but something was different this time. He was different.

Sonic forced a swallow and turned away before continuing. "In any case…I appreciate your looking out for Amy…." Up until now it hadn't really sunk in that he'd saved her life, mostly because he hadn't wanted to believe it. His roots of hate had formed a tree too dense to allow Shadow to come under a positive light, but now that its ugly leaves were beginning to wither and drop off, things were starting to become much more clear. He cast another glance at Shadow, who had begun to slump forward, the drawstrings of the shirt dangling under him. The ailing hedgehog's face finally came to rest beside his lap. "…Shadow?" Carefully Sonic reached over and nudged his shoulder a couple of times, to no response. He lifted and leaned him back against the seat. "Uh, Sam, he's not doin' so hot!" Sam's eyes found them in the rearview mirror.

"Considering how he's supposed to be, I'd say he's doing pretty damn well," he remarked, accelerating nonetheless. Sonic worked to revive Shadow with a few stiff pats to the face.

"C'mon, wake up…you wanna see Mercury, don't ya?" The mention of his son's name caused his eyes to roll out from under their heavy lids. "Hang in there; we're almost there! Can't come this far just to let him down now!" The words rang in Shadow's ears with an air of familiarity. Amy had told him something along those lines just two days before. He dragged another shallow breath as he nodded.

Within minutes they'd arrived at the apartment complex. Sonic hurried out the driver's side and around to the other to assist Shadow, who was attempting to clamber out on his own. The hooded hedgehog pushed him away and staggered forth into the parking lot. Sonic quickly took hold of his arm again, and again he was forced back. The two soon wound up in a physical struggle, carrying on until Shadow was on the ground, glaring dazedly up at the hedgehog standing with his fists clenched beside him and his ears bent back. "Just let me help you, okay?!" he spat, his face flushed. "I feel bad enough as it is!" Knitting his brow at him, Shadow honestly wondered why he even cared, but he was in no mood or condition to further contend. He looked away as he offered up his arm, which Sonic hooked over his shoulders with a huff. The two advanced this way to the door marked 702.

Sam entered the apartment first. "Amy, Chris," he addressed them in the living room, "I have some…surprising news…." Before continuing, he scanned the room. "…Where are the kids?"

"They've taken to hiding when they hear someone at the door," Chris commented, gesturing toward the bedroom. Amy sat on the floor, still clutching Playskool evidence of the children's recent presence. Sam nodded.

"Maybe it's just as well. Come on in, Sonic."

Chris' and Amy's somber expressions simultaneously warped wide as Shadow was brought by Sonic through the door.

"H-he wasn't executed??" Chris stammered, to which Sam cocked his head.

"Oh, he was," the Speed King assured him. "He's just one tough bastard."

Having scrambled to her feet, Amy approached with decided caution, as if the hedgehog in the hooded pullover could at any moment deflate into a cruel joke. She stopped and stood before him, gazing into his eyes, until at last her disbelief was fully quelled. Following her faltering countenance, she enveloped him in her weeping embrace, leaving dark spots on the navy blue material with her elated tears. Shadow remained motionless aside from his labored breaths. Sonic blinked, frowning, but he allowed her this moment.

"Careful, Amy; he's not in the best shape," came Sam's caution just as her hands took initial note of his missing quills. "Let's let him sit down and rest. Do you have the number to the MRT?"

"Wait a minute," Chris interjected as Shadow was shown to the sofa, "what about that incident with Dr. Garrett? Are you sure you wanna call them?"

"What we need is someone who can keep this under wraps," Sam advised, his voice growing stringent. "If the wrong people find out about this, I am going to be fired to Kingdom Come. We need to call someone we can trust."

"Well," Sonic brought up, "Dr. Garrett keeps telling me and Amy and he owes us one, so maybe he would be the best one to call. Even with what Shadow did to him I think he'll be more than willing to cooperate."

As they'd stood around discussing their medical options, Shadow had taken a seat upon the couch and leaned over its spongy armrest for support. He finally drew a deep breath and spoke, straining to be heard over the other voices.

"…Where's Mercury…?" His face sank to the armrest as everyone turned to him.

"Oh, yeah, we need to give him some alone time with his kid," Sonic uttered, heading for the bedroom. "Are they in here?"

Amy blinked, stunned at Sonic's sudden supportiveness. "Y-yeah…." She hurried after him and seconds later returned holding Mercury's hand. "Somebody special's here to see you!" she informed him as they came around the corner. The child's eyes instantly lit up when they fell upon his father.

"Daddyyyyyyy!!!" was squealed all the way over. Shadow smiled and faulted at the same time, and the tears came fast as he reached an arm around his son and pulled him in close. Everyone else disappeared into the bedroom as he grieved into the boy's shoulder more bitterly than ever in his life. "What are you wearing, Daddy?" Mercury asked, confusion containing his excitement. "…Are you crying? Why are you crying?" Shadow could do nothing else for several seconds more.

"I…" he finally managed, "…I didn't think…I'd get to see you again…."

"Why not?"

He shook his downward head and pressed his eyes tight. "……I'm sorry...I'm so sorry…………I've done something horrible…."

Mercury furrowed his brow, comprehending only one thing. "Don't be sad, Daddy!" he urged with a hug. "I was sad when you was gone, but now I'm not!" Shadow nodded and struggled to catch his breath.

"How…how've you been? Have they…been taking…good care of you here?"

"Yeah…" Mercury replied slowly, "but can we go home now? I like it better at home. I like Mama's food…."

"We're……going to have a…new home soon…" Shadow breathed, "…but first…."

"I don't want a new home! I want the old one!" the boy interrupted. Shadow stared quietly for a long moment.

"……We can't go back there anymore, Mercury…. I'm sorry..."

The child abruptly turned away, his head bobbing in the telltale sign of grief. "…I…" he choked, "…I wish I didn't make that stupid wish!!" Squinting, his father gently turned him back around.

"What wish…?"

"For my birthday…."

"……What did you wish for…?" the question came out just above a whisper after a breathless pause. Mercury sniffed and rubbed his eyes.

"…I wished that…I could go to Earth…."

Shadow stared for only a second before forcing himself upright and grabbing his son by the arms. "Listen to me," he demanded in the strongest voice he could muster. "This…is not…your fault. Don't you dare blame yourself. Do you understand??" He gasped against the tears' suffocating return. Looking a bit frightened, Mercury nodded silently. Shadow released him and pressed a hand against his own chest. The stress was proving too much for his ravaged system; tremendous pressure seized his heart, and he could feel his consciousness waxing numb. As he lay down and curled himself up to ease the pain, his mind took comfort in knowing that, if he didn't wake again, at least he'd stopped Mercury from considering himself to blame.

----------------------------------------------------------

Amy's nervous voice echoed Dr. Garrett's recommendation. "A transfusion…?"

"It's his best chance," affirmed Garrett, who had come on condition of secrecy. "His blood is extremely unique and responds very differently to toxins from that of any other creature on Mobius or Earth. When the gas hit his system, his eukaryotic equivalent responded very aggressively and actually began to propel the blood themselves. I'm guessing based on what we've learned from Mercury's bloodwork that they also were able to continue performing cellular respiration despite the lack of sufficient oxygen. These two factors combined undoubtedly saved his life."

"Oookaaay," Sonic responded after a brief silence, "now could we get that in English?"

Chris cleared his throat. "He's saying that Shadow's blood started to move and breathe on its own…right?" His eyes fell back on Garrett, who tilted his head.

"Not quite. Respiration in this case refers more to the cells' ability to sustain themselves rather than actually breathing, but you are absolutely correct about the blood's movement. When I got here a few hours ago, his heart had completely stopped, yet his blood pressure was well above average." Everyone gaped. "Even after a dose of atropine it's still drastically exceeding his heart rate…which is where we have a problem. If the cells continue to function at this rate, and they most likely will, he's going to incur severe tissue damage to his major organs, which will certainly be fatal."

"So the same thing that kept him alive is killing him now?" Sam summarized.

"Unfortunately. When working with Mercury's blood we were unable to find a means of successfully treating the condition, so I believe replacement is our most promising option."

"Well then," Sonic took on an upbeat tone, "guess we'd better get started!" Amy blinked at him, then voiced the question pressing her mind most.

"How does this transfusion work?"

Garrett adjusted his glasses. "Basically what we'll do is start by removing a portion of Shadow's blood, which will then be replaced by that of a donor, in this case being Mercury."

"Mercury?!" Sonic and Amy both gasped. Garrett blinked at them.

"Yes, of course. His is the only blood that matches Shadow's."

"But," Amy's face began to pale, "w-what'll happen to Mercury??"

"Oh, he should fine," Garrett assured her. "It's much like when we collected the samples from you. There's very little risk involved, and we won't take any more blood than he can safely give." The hedgehogs breathed a sigh of relief. "The main concern will be to keep him calm and still."

Sonic snorted. "Definitely don't look at me, then!"

"I should also stress that this is an experimental measure," Garrett added. "We have no way of knowing how Shadow will actually respond to the blood, whether it will help at all. All we can do is try it and pray that it works."

After a tense sigh, Sonic turned to Amy. "Give it a try?" With her nod, he walked into their room and crouched to peer under the bed. "Come on out, kids." Misty crawled out first, after a timid scan for the humans. "Mercury, c'mon…your dad needs your help." Finally the boy emerged, blinking his puffy eyes. Amy soon joined them, bending to stroke her son's head.

"Your father is very sick, Mercury, but we think he can get better if you help us out with something. Do you want to help?" He nodded quickly, and she took him by the hand into the living room. "All right, we need you to do exactly what Dr. Garrett tells you to, and you need to stay very quiet."

Garrett opened the front door. "I'll bring the supplies from the van and get them set up."

Forty-five minutes later, equal amounts of blood had been pulled from both father and son. Mercury snored lightly on the cot beside the couch while Shadow remained unconscious, shivering as if cold despite being very warm to the touch. Garrett proceeded to remove the bag containing the hyperactive fluids and introduce that of the hopeful supply. Ten minutes into the transfusion, Shadow opened his eyes.

"It's an excellent sign," Garrett commented as the others gathered around. Shadow peered over his own body first, realizing the shirt was missing, then discovered all the eyes on him as he began to look for it. He blinked, sullen and speechless.

"How are you feeling, Shadow?" Sam spoke up.

How was he feeling? He, the ultimate life form, was lying there broken and helpless before those he'd wronged, who now stood beholding him in his naked shame. All that came out, however, was another question.

"……Why are you helping me…?"

The others exchanged odd glances.

"Because…we want to," Sonic sounded more like he was asking than telling.

"Because we care," Amy took it a step further.

"It's the right thing to do," Chris expressed wholeheartedly.

Lastly, Sam pointed out, "Your son needs you."

Shadow's eyes fell on the boy napping nearby. "…How am I supposed to take care of him now? I can't even help myself…."

"Don't worry; we'll help!" Amy offered. "You can both stay here until you get better!"

"Uhh…." Sonic lifted his finger but quickly dropped it at Amy's darting glare.

Sam tilted his head. "As far as the Mobian officials know, you're dead, and I'm not about to say anything, so this is a chance to make a fresh start."

"Yeah," Chris chimed in, "you can make a new life here. If there's anything you need to help you get back on your feet, just let me know!"

Shadow gaped at the offers of exceeding generosity. It'd been the last thing he'd expected. His stunned gaze jumped to each one of them, finding warmth and sincerity. Even Sonic cracked a smile and gave a reassuring nod. He turned away, embarrassed that the tears had come to his eyes once more.

"……I………promise you won't regret it…."