Disclaimer: Surely you know I don't own Sonic the hedgehog but if you have any doubt I'm telling you again. I don't.

A/N: Yeah um.... no excuse really, sorry I haven't updated in years. Really I shouldn't even be doing so now. Just stalling... don't want to write my paper. You know thanks to all the people that put this story on alert, glad you believed it'd come back.

Chapter 10: Help In A Hurry

It was getting late and for many citizens of the city the world seemed to be tilting on its axis. People were calling in from work with symptoms of the stomach flu and opting to stay indoors rather than going out on the town. No one really knew what was going on, they just all felt like crap.

Knuckles had never been so annoyed before…

Okay, maybe that was a lie.

Carrying a deadweight hedgehog up a steep incline and towards the closest town was grinding on his nerves though. He had more important things to do. At least in his mind.

He had heaved Sonic onto his back and carried him down the narrow road to a small diner. It was a homey looking building, pots of flowers decorating the front and large windows displaying the conversing people inside. He moseyed on up to the counter shifting Sonic's unconscious weight to one shoulder. Knuckles reached up one hand and slammed it with a noisy 'thawk' against the wood surface.

The woman behind the counter jumped, missing the mug she was filling and spilling orange juice down her front. "Yes?" Skeptically she peered over the counter at the red echidna. For a split second she froze in this motion before Knuckles spoke.

"You have a phone?" He questioned flatly. At her nod he went on with impatience, "let me use it."

Knuckles pulled Sonic around the side of the counter taking the phone with an irritated snort. He took Sonic by the collar and shook him roughly. "Wake up dip shit." Sonic didn't stir so Knuckles turned once more to face the waitress. "Does this place sell chilidogs?"

The waitress pulled her eyes from the small tv screen in the far corner. It was repeatedly running through the news. Fires, disruptions in government, the search for Sonic the hedgehog…

"Chilidogs." Knuckles repeated pulling off one of his shoes and shaking it out. The woman almost protested if not for the small pebbles of gold that fell out. Knuckles picked up one and placed it on the counter. "Come on."

She hurried off in shock placing the steaming plate in front of him a few minutes later.

Knuckles picked up one of the greasy dogs and held it in front of Sonic's nose wiggling it back and forth. "Wake up Sonic. You're missing out." The hedgehog did wake up too. If for no reason other then to push the chilidog away and place a trembling hand over his mouth as he sat up.

Knuckles ignored his reaction. "What's Tails' number?"

The waitress retreated to the backroom of the diner and dialed the police.

The four hours were nearly up.

"Where's-" The whole sentence didn't make it out of Tails' mouth before he doubled over, his shaking hands clutching the low fence. His shoulders heaved and his tails curled as his stomach emptied itself and his head span. He stumbled forward keeping to the edge of the path as he moved towards the door.

He could hear a ringing, loud, annoying, he questioned for a moment if it was all in his mind before he stepped into his workshop. With a feeble groan he picked up the phone. "He-llo?" He brushed one palm against his forehead as he pressed the receiver to his ear.

Knuckles shook his shoes off with disgust and cast the staring customers a threatening glare. Quite simply it was rather embarrassing to get barfed on while making a phone call. "What?!" He spat. "You never been sick before?" Easy to say they all returned to their meals.

"Your idiot 'brother' is sick. So hop on in that flying contraption of yours and get your twin tail rear end over here." He pushed the plate of chilidogs away and shoved Sonic down with one foot when he tried to rise. "And hurry it up before he runs off."

Within seconds Knuckles expression became confused. "Why should I care if he has a whole bunch of shit with him." He scooped the bag away from Sonic who was grumbling something that Knuckles didn't understand. "Yeah. There's a bunch of shit- wait- what?"

Tails moved his way out back climbing up into the Tornado. "I'm coming right now, alright?" He squeezed one arm around his stomach with a cringe. "N-no." He stuttered from a short bout of dizziness. "Don't go anywhere. It won't take me long."

He started up the engine.

Knuckles looked at Sonic who successfully returned to his feet. Knuckles rose a brow at him as he listened to Tails blabbering on about the importance of them getting that stuff to Robotnik in a hurry. Which was more than a little confusing.

Sonic was tugging on the bag but it wasn't doing him any good; Knuckles' grip was easily stronger than him. That didn't stop him from doing it though. "Yeah, yeah. Suuure. I doubt he's gonna go very far at the moment anyhow." With that the call was over and Knuckles set the phone on the counter. He pried Sonic's grip off the bag and shoved him back onto his bottom.

Robotnik sat back and watched the screens stretched out before him.

He scratched his nose in puzzlement as Tails hopped in his plane. "Now where could he be going?"

He didn't ponder it too long, just snapped his fingers and called forth a few robots. "Bring me the girl." He demanded rather halfhearted at the silence that had befallen his base. It seemed to him that the pawns of this game were getting desperate.

The robots returned in minutes time with the pink hedgehog between them. "Let her down." Robotnik stated simply and they dropped her none to gently.

Amy's knees buckled beneath her and she fell down upon them. "Wh-what do you want?" She questioned stubbornly despite her crackling tone. She kept her arms out in front of her to keep herself from smashing face first to the floor as her vision swam.

Robotnik didn't answer right away. "I just don't think he'll make it on time. This time."

No need to say who.

Amy knew.

The police swarmed the diner. Moving cautiously through the front doors and cornering Knuckles and the semiconscious Sonic back against the wall.

They were glancing at the sack- that looked so much like the one Sonic had ran off with the diamonds in. Sonic whimpered as he straightened himself up in realization. He felt helpless and hated it, almost as much as relying on Knuckles for something as important as this. "Don't let them have the bag…" He whispered rather feebly.