Sorry but I've been rewriting all of this and most of the past chapter, so it's taking me longer to update. Anyways, here's the first chapter of part two, so leave any comments, criticisms, etc. Thanks! Anne
Part Two: Purgatory
1942: Recovery
The doctor continued to screech at him. Shadow wasn't listening, however, choosing to instead focus on how much his head hurt because of the noise. He stared off with a blank expression on his face while Scarlett stood frozen in the corner. Shadow tried to make eye contact with her, to ask her to help him, but she seemed to be purposefully avoiding him as she shifted her eyes in the opposite direction with an indignant frown. For a few more moments, Shadow stared intently at Scarlett, wanting more than anything for her to acknowledge him.
Abruptly, Robotnik became silent. Shadow glanced toward him expectantly but Robotnik only glared back reproachfully. "I would assume that he is not listening," Scarlett said dryly.
"I cannot deal with this!" Robotnik declared, throwing his arms up. "Did you not hear a single word I said?" he cried, exasperated.
"No, he wasn't paying attention- you can't expect him to with this concussion," Scarlett said.
"You have been babbling on, making excuses for him with this damn concussion since I arrived here! I'm sick of it!"
"Then leave," She replied shortly. Robotnik threw an angry glance at Scarlett and stormed out. As soon as the door shut she walked over to Shadow, still indignant. "He was actually saying something important," she said and sat down. Shadow shrugged in response. "Were you listening at all?"
"No."
"You're going to be taken back to London tomorrow- to the base. There will be a hearing shortly after to clear this all up," she said and leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees.
"A hearing?"
"A hearing before a judge," Scarlett said with a nod.
"Not a trial?"
"You're lucky to be getting anything at all. That's entirely doctor's doing- you should be grateful."
"Did he mention that as well when he was yelling at me?" Shadow asked spitefully.
Scarlett laughed, "Not quite sure- I actually stopped listening half way through."
"Hypocrite," Shadow grinned.
"Do as I say- not as I do!"
"How long until I can run again?" Shadow asked.
"You're joking right?" Scarlett said, appalled, "You're not even going to be leaving the base until that hedgehog is locked away!"
"What? That's ridiculous! You don't think I can handle him, do you?" Shadow snapped.
"Well you didn't before," Scarlett said dryly, "He beat the living hell out of you, and even worse: you lost your emerald!"
"I won't let that happen again," he muttered.
"You're down for another six weeks anyways, so it's a moot point," Scarlett said and leaned back and crossed her legs.
"No it isn't- I can't let him beat me!"
"Honestly Shadow!" Scarlett cried, "Letting your ego get caught up in this! He's at least eight years older than you!"
"That isn't an excuse- I should have been able to handle it and Edward Smithhart is now dead because of it!"
"I don't know what to tell you, Shadow, but you're not leaving the base."
One week passed and Shadow was still stuck inside. He could manage to hobble around using a crutch. Since he had arrived back at the base, the only company he had was Scarlett, who spent most of her time worrying about her upcoming hearing with GUN. Shadow had been told a GUN judge would not see him until at least November. Until then, he had to wait inside the base.
With his stinted leg propped up on a wooden chair, Shadow sat up on his bed, flipping through the previous day's newspaper. The door swung open and Scarlett walked in stiffly, carrying a tray of bandages, tape and surgical scissors. "Come on," she said as she placed the tray on his bed.
"Can't it wait?" Shadow asked, throwing his head back.
"No," Scarlett replied dryly, "You don't want it getting infected do you?"
"Fine," Shadow grumbled and turned his body so that his bandaged shoulder was facing Scarlett. Shadow stiffened as she immediately began to cut the bandages off. The cold metal of the scissors pressed up against a bruise and Shadow winced.
"Hold still and it won't hurt," she said sharply.
"I am!" he snapped and faced away.
"My hearing is the day after tomorrow so I won't be here to do this," she said and delicately pulled the shell of bandaging off Shadow's shoulder, "but, it looks much better. Nevertheless, you will have to ask one of the doctors to wrap your shoulder from now on."
"Warum?" Why he asked, "you will be back."
"When did you become so optimistic?" Scarlett laughed darkly, "I will probably go to prison. Hold your arm up."
"There hasn't been anything written about Flash," Shadow said, glancing toward the newspaper scattered across his desk.
"That's not surprising. It would be quite controversial you know. It's probably better that way, though."
"Have you heard if he's been arrested?" Shadow asked. He felt Scarlett rub a cool ointment across his shoulder blade.
"The doctor seemed to think that he had been arrested in Italy," Scarlett said and began to rewrap the lesion on his shoulder.
"How'd they manage to arrest him?" Shadow asked, surprised.
"I don't know what happened, but I imagine that he realizes that when you stand out like we do, you cannot run forever. He's arrogant anyways- probably doesn't think anything will happen to him."
"Nothing will happen to him," Shadow mumbled.
"I'm not so sure. If GUN thinks he's unstable, they'll fear him. Then they'll want him out of the way. That's probably why they're trying to keep this out of the news. He's a hero, convicting him of anything would be hugely unpopular," Scarlett said and gingerly lowered Shadow's arm and began to tape the bandages down.
"A hero? What has he done anyways?" Shadow asked spitefully.
"You must admit he was quite helpful in North Africa," Scarlett said matter-of-factly.
"It was probably overstated," Shadow commented, "He's just a shiny new toy for everyone. They'll become bored with him eventually. If his popularity was all about his ability- then they would value you even more! Why didn't you make them notice you?"
"The Lord taught humility," Scarlett said simply.
"And he was crucified."
"For our sins," Scarlett finished, "Something for which you should be thankful, especially after all your little adventures with crime."
"Adventures with crime? I think my 'adventures with crime' improved my English at least," Shadow replied with a grin. Scarlett then pulled off the tape and yanked the bandages back. "Ow!" Shadow cried.
"Oh- I'm sorry," Scarlett said sarcastically, "Did that hurt?"
"No, not at all," Shadow said, matching her sarcasm.
"It does look much better though. How does your leg feel?" Scarlett asked and readjusted the bandages.
"It still hurts," Shadow said shortly.
"Just remember to put as little weight on it as possible."
"It's so boring, though, just sitting here," Shadow said and threw his head back.
"If you behave yourself, I'll return your emerald and you may practice with it," Scarlett said and Shadow gave an annoyed sigh.
After much trouble Shadow had managed to drag his desk chair over to the window so he could watch for Scarlett's return from her hearing. Even though she had said that it was likely that she would not return but rather be sent to prison, Shadow still waited. While waiting, Shadow had fallen asleep and was slumped against the cool window pane. He hadn't been able to find a comfortable position for his leg the night before and so had only gotten a couple hours of sleep.
When Shadow finally woke up, the sun was already down. He rubbed his eyes and looked around his room. The clock said 7:15. He reached over for his crutch and almost fell out of the chair in the process. He hobbled out to the hall and peeked into Scarlett's room, but the light was still turned off with no sign of Scarlett. Slowly, he managed to climb down the stairs and into Robotnik's library.
"Doctor!" Shadow called and pushed the door open with his crutch.
Inside, Robotnik sat at a desk facing the door. He glanced up, reading glasses slipping down his nose and said, "Don't scratch the door with that thing!"
Shadow ignored him, "Where's Scarlett? Is she back yet?"
"You do realize she was going to her hearing," Robotnik said slowly as he continued to scribble notes with a fountain pen.
"Yes, of course. How did it go?"
"Better than I thought…she was excused because she was never technically obliged to stay. Neither of you are human, so legally you are treated differently than humans."
"So where is she?" Shadow pressed.
"Another charge has been brought," Robotnik explained, folding his hands neatly on his desk, "she apparently attacked Flash when he confronted her in Guadalcanal. Right now she is being held while waiting for another trial."
"What? This is ridiculous" Shadow groaned, "Have they at least caught him yet?"
"Actually," Robotnik said without looking up from what he was writing, "He was caught on Guadalcanal after he had been smashed into a tree."
"Why am I always the last to hear about these things?" Shadow said in an aggravated tone.
"I was just informed today at Scarlett's hearing. Now if you don't mind, I have already wasted enough time on you two today. I do actually have other obligations," Robotnik said and waved his left hand in a shooing motion. Shadow huffed, spun himself around on his crutch and hobbled out of the room.
