Author's Note: So, yeah, for once we see the furry characters deliver their own exposition. Mephiles could only pop into this part of the story for a short time because, like I said in an earlier author's note, I'm trying to keep up his mystique by not over-exposing him at this point. I don't really have much else to say about that last chapter.

"Sorry we couldn't help ya, Knux ol' pal. But I know someone who can hook you up with what you're looking for. Just go the old saloon near the coast and tell the girl in front that I sent ya. She owes me a favor, that one."

"Fine, but this better not be some trick."

"Oh, if we were trying to trick you all we'd have to do is wear orange mustaches," Charmy teased.

Knuckles growled at the buzzing twerp.

"All in good fun, right? Right?" Vector quickly added.

Knuckles left without a word.

"If you have someone who owes you a favor, then why didn't you call it in when we were about to lose our house?" Espio demanded.

"Well maybe if you reminded me of these things sooner we wouldn't get in these situations, did you ever think of it that way?"

Espio sighed.

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

Ordinarily Sonic wasn't the type to make these sorts of connections, but in a rare moment of clarity his synapses synchronized and a profound thought entered his head. This "Dr. Robotnik" had lived through a traumatic experience, became overly invested in his work and wound up emotionally scarred and mentally unstable. Tails' experience had certainly traumatized him, he too had become tangled up in project after project, and… Sonic shuttered to think of the rest. He knew all along that he had to talk to the boy, but only now had he realized just what was at stake. His uncertainty on how to approach the situation had made him hesitant in doing so, but now he knew that this couldn't wait any longer. Sonic was never reluctant when it came to his duties, and now was certainly not the time to start.

As Sonic had found out, it took a lot of effort on Amy's part to break Tails out of his workaholic attitude. Sonic knew that there was no way he could ever repay her for the progress she had made with Tails over the past few months. After abandoning his obsessive projects, Tails' problem had only metastasized into a sort of polite silence. He was out and about, but he dodged the issue just as vigorously as he had before. When she began to crack this facade, the volatile feelings bottled up inside of him began to trickle out in tearful outbursts. Now, ever since his encouraged relocation, Tails had undergone yet another change in his demeanor.

In this phase he had regressed to a more helpless and childish state. He had a soft-spoken whimsy towards important matters that didn't directly concern him. Oftentimes Charmy would relay questions that the Chaotix had about the house, but Tails would simply brush them aside and hope that they'd forget to ask again. Instead he focused on inconsequential motifs that were in his immediate surroundings. Like someone drained from illness, most of his interactions only consisted of asking for a glass of water or for someone to shut the window. He was too tired to think about other peoples' problems and almost too tired to beat himself up for not caring.

The guest bed had become his crib, his cocoon and his shell. Only two things made him emerge from his haven: the needs of his digestive system and the plant. He had considered letting someone else take care of the latter, but no matter how meticulous and obvious he made his instructions, he felt a constant terror in the back of his mind. What if I wasn't clear enough? What if they forget?

His thoughts rarely took the form of distinguishable words anymore. His analytical nature had deserted him. He simply stared at nothing until his eyes would start to water. He would close them, curl up and wrap his tails around himself. He'd pull the covers in tighter and drape them over his head. He tried to compress himself into the smallest shape that he could. He was hoping that the world would simply pass by without noticing him.

He threw the covers off and started to straighten himself up when he heard someone approaching.

"Can I come in?" Sonic asked politely.

"Sure." Tails didn't look at him. This was starting to become his kneejerk reaction to any visitors that he had.

Sonic sat at the edge of the bed next to his little buddy.

"How you holdin' up, big guy?"

"Fine," Tails muttered.

Bad question, Sonic scolded himself.

"You know, I'm gonna be spending more time around here. I'd really like to spend more of it with you."

"Ok."

"We could go for a hike, see what's new in town; maybe test out one of your new planes. Anything you want, pal."

"I guess. I should see what Chris and Silver have planned."

"Oh it won't hurt to let them sit out for a few rounds. After all, I only have one lil' bro," Sonic smiled.

Tails almost returned the expression, but suddenly became downtrodden. "I'm sorry, Sonic."

"For what?"

"I let him get away. I shouldn't have let my feelings get in the way, especially since he was so dangerous. You wouldn't have had to risk your life finding Chris and Cream if I hadn't let him go."

"You want to know a secret? I let him go too. I think Silver was exaggerating. This guy is just all talk. I can tell you that he wasn't so quick to say those things when I was standing right in front of him."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and whatever brains that Eggman has, this guy doesn't. He practically handed the chaos emeralds over. When he got a load of me, the emeralds weren't the only thing he lost."

Tails chuckled a little.

"Ha, you see? He's no worse than the other egghead. He made this big elaborate flying base, and it sunk in the ocean before it even managed to take off! This guy's got worse luck with water than I do. Someone like that couldn't possibly know what he's talking about. He'll just say whatever he thinks will get him out of a situation."

Tails was still reluctant to agree with this sentiment.

"I know he said some pretty terrible things. He said them to everyone he came across. His words don't mean anything; he practically told me so himself."

Now Tails was starting to think that Sonic was just making things up.

Sonic brought his impromptu bashing down a notch. "Look, don't let creeps like him get to you. He doesn't know anything about you, or me, or anybody. He may have history holograms or whatever it is that they use in the future, but that's no substitute for being there." He hesitated, feeling like a hypocrite. He amended this in a more somber tone: "I know I wasn't there, either… but what happened was just between you and Cosmo. Nobody can tell you how you were supposed to feel or act. And if anyone says otherwise, they can answer to me first."

Maybe this isn't what Tails had hoped for in consolation, but it was certainly more than what he had expected or felt that he deserved.

"Thanks, Sonic."

Sonic patted him on the back. "Why don't you get some shut eye and we'll go do something later."

"You know, I think I've been in bed long enough today."

Tails stumbled out of bed and followed his brother downstairs.