Shadow leaned against the bunker wall right at the bottom of the entrance ladder. He tried to breath softly as he rested his head down with his eyes closed and arms crossed. They had been down in the small, one to two person, fallout shelter for only ten minutes and he was already regretting insisting on coming. Give it had taken them three hours to drive to the site, that was located out in the middle of nowhere, so Shadow couldn't in good faith let his overly ambitious friend, Sandy, come to her newest consulting gig alone.

The new owner of the property had come across the bunker while looking to have some construction done, but found the hidden site so interesting he wanted to have someone look it over to see if it was worth keeping. So far Sandy hadn't said much that made any sense to Shadow. She had just been mumbling in awe to herself and giggling off and on like child that had just received a new toy.

This demeanor coming from her was nothing new to him. The two had known each other slightly over six months, and originally met on a job together. Shadow had come somewhat attached to the cleaver woman, despite her overly outgoing personality. She didn't seem to get him and he didn't fully understand her, but they both seemed to be alright with their shared confusion with one another. They both tried to appease the other's odd ways while they socialized several times a week. Sometimes Shadow found her presence irritating, but not near as much as he found others, but he would gladly put up with a bit of annoyance from time to time, at least from her, if it meant he wasn't totally alone again. She at least tried to let him be, as he was, for the most part.

Right now, after her talking almost nonstop for the three-hour driver there, he was more than thrilled that she was keeping herself entertained and letting him meditate in his own space. Given that he was enjoying his alone time, in his own mind, he still wasn't about to let her out of his sight. The small brown, female, squirrel definitely had a knack for getting herself into trouble. Despite Sandy's much smaller size, compared to the male hedgehog, she was definitely capable of holding her own during most situation, but he was fully aware her cocky demeanor made her far more likely to be the type to bite off far more than she'd be able to chew.

Shadow's head shot up, and his eyes opened, as he heard a loud slamming sound directly above him. His eyes looked up and he let more of a frown cross his face at the site of the hatch, they had opened to come inside, had seemed to find its way shut again. Sandy ran up next to him and also looked up at the now closed hatched seemingly worried.

"What did you do?" Shadow questioned as he turned his attention to his female friend.

"I didn't do anything. I was just looking at the different systems on the computer. I hadn't even opened 'em and looked inside any yet." Sandy stated defensively but still her voice was a bit shaken. "Don't worry none, Shadow. I'll have it back open before ya even need another one of yer disgusting death sticks."

Shadow sighed not really surprised something had went sideways, as most of her jobs usually did run into hiccups. "Fine." He again crossed his arms, but now watched her as she went back to the fossil of a computer and started typing franticly. Shadow had full confidence that she'd get them out, as she was by far the most intelligent person he knew, and by far the most determined as well. Besides, a hatch closing on an old tomb like this could hardly be a real problem, as it still had power. However, even if it didn't have power, between the two of them there was nothing that could lock them down. Shadow started to grin as he continued to watch his friend. He was very impressed with her far more often than he'd ever openly admit.

"Alright." Sandy said with a hint of hesitation. "Can ya try hatch now?"

Shadow climbed up the ladder that extended to the ceiling that was maybe 10 feet above the floor and gripped the circular locking mechanism. Shadow put quite a bit of strength in turning the control counterclockwise, in an attempt to open it, but found it not willing to budge. Shadow nodded his head in defeat to Sandy as she looked at him disappointed.

"I could just bash through this." Shadow knocked on the closed hatch getting a nod of disapproval from Sandy.

"Not really sure ya could, and in the process, ya might damage it causing us even more problems. Just let me try a few more things."

Shadow dropped back down to the floor, and walked over to watch her over her shoulder as she jumped through random text screens and kept typing in what he saw as gibberish. "What is that?"

"DOS." Sandy responded as if he should understand what she was talking about.

"Looks complicated." He started to squint as he attempted to make some sense out of what she was doing.

"I suppose it is ta most people these days, but I was exposed to it daily when I was younger, and still got the knack fer it. This system is well over 30 years old. We're lucky the hardware is still in working condition." She then stopped typing and looked at him with a grin. "I'm surprised a guy yer age hasn't used this. Ya are almost five years older than me, after all."

Shadow lifted one of his eyebrows before rolling his eyes. "I've never been a fan of computers."

Sandy giggled and went back to typing and looking through the bunkers control systems. "Are ya a fan of anything?" She teased.

Shadow just groaned in annoyance, as he knew fully aware, she had just brought up a fair point. He wasn't about to admit that to her though.

After sometime Shadow finally gave up watching her type and mumble to herself about her findings. He went and sat down on the lone twin sized bed in the corner of the isolated room. He looked around at the pushed together stacks of shelving full of canned, and boxed food, as well as basic hygiene items. The male started to rub his temples as he felt a stress headache coming on from the enclosed space. This truly brought him back to the days where he was locked in his room alone, in his youth, after upsetting his caretakers at the Agency. He didn't really consider himself claustrophobic, but this set up was far too close for comfort now that he knew he couldn't leave whenever he saw fit.

"Are ya alright Shadow?"

The question caused Shadow to look up shocked, as he wasn't sure if he had started to doze off, or went into a panic attack. He took a few deep breaths before standing up and walking back over to the entrance ladder and leaning against the wall again. "Just get us out of here." He sighed while looking away from her. He had no intention to ever come off as weak, but he figured now would be the worst of times especially considering he was in her precents.

"I'm working on it." She softly reassured him as she obviously noticed his unease.

Shadow become more ridged at her words and even started to clench his jaw and fists. They had only been down here for maybe 30 minutes and he had already started to let out a side of him he had never intended to show anyone… especially his only real friend. He knew her well enough that is she found out his reason for this melt down she'd feel pity and want to comfort him, but he in no way felt comfortable with someone acting that way towards him. Even her. He didn't want her to feel sorry for him. He only wanted her to be impressed with him, and find comfort for herself in his strength. That was how men were supposed to be.

"Ya know… if ya can't wait feel free ta have a smoke now. The ventilation system should be able ta take it." Sandy looked back at him and gave him a worried smile.

He looked at her and let out a sigh of relief. Maybe she wasn't onto him just yet? "I'll try to hold out a little longer."

"I'm really trying." She stated before looking at the screen in front of her again.

"I know." He responded a bit upset with himself that he had started to cause her to worry about his mood.

After sometime later, and Shadow getting so board he started to poke through the different items packed on the 3 large metal shelve, Sandy stood up uncomfortably grabbing his attention.

"I'm sorry Shadow, but I really need ta pee." She looked at him pleadingly.

He looked back at her blankly and then to the toilet in the open room a few feet behind her. "Ok."

"Could ya…. Ya know?" She begged as she started to press her thighs together in an attempt to hold off her natural need.

Shadow said nothing and turned his back to her. She thanked him as she ran to the toilet where she obviously took a seat, but he continued to wait as he heard nothing. "Is there a problem?" He asked getting sick of waiting for her, but unaware that this at least took is mind off of being trapped.

"I'm trying! I ain't use ta doing this in front of people." She shot back frustrated.

"You're behind me." He corrected.

"Ya know what I mean, Shadow!" She now scolded.

Shadow sighed tiredly. "Just hurry up, because now I need to go."

A few minutes later Shadow finally heard the trickling of her urine into the toilet as she let out a, far too happy, sight of relief. He waited a little longer until the toilet flushed and the sink water started to pour.

"Is it my turn yet?" He asked now finally starting to feel uncomfortable due to his full bladder.

"Yeah. Sorry." She breathed heavily as if she was still full on enjoying her long overdue bathroom break.

Shadow didn't even bother looking where Sandy's attention was as he unzipped his pant pulled out his simi-hard dick, due to his extra full bladder, and started to relieve himself in the toilet. He unintentionally let out a groan of satisfaction as he emptied the excess of liquid from his body. When he was finally done, he shook his penis a few times to dry it off and then put it back in his pants before washing his hands.

"Ya don't wipe?" She questioned.

Shadow looked over his shoulder at her as he turned off the sink. "Why would I?"

"Because ya just peed." She pushed looking at him still confused.

"Despite the fact I still have foreskin I'm still fully able to get myself clean with a shake. Unlike you women with your different… anatomy." Shadow replied while pulling his attention away from her.

"That was way more information than I needed ta know..." Sandy turned away from him, despite the fact he was looking away from her, as she started to blush a bit with the overload of personal information. "I just thought guys would want ta be clean too."

"I am clean." Shadow pushed back a bit offended.

"I jus-" Sandy stopped fast. "Sorry. I don't know much about men in that sorta way, so I just was shocked."

"So much for you being a know it all." Shadow chuckled as he made his way back to sit on the edge of the lone bed.

"I had health classes, so I know enough." Sandy folded her arms and looked at him with a half grin.

"Doesn't sound like you know much." Shadow pressed as he started to take off his shoes.

"I don't need ta know the extra personal aspects of men as I likely won't have ta deal with any on that level."

"You're a lesbian?" Shadow questioned knowing full well she wasn't.

"What?!" She yelled at him as her blood started to boil.

Shadow couldn't help but keep a small grin on his face as she reacted just as he expected her to. "You just said you're not interested in men."

"No I didn't!" She yelled back as she now stomped off next to the entrance ladder and crossed her arms upset as she looked at the wall. "I just…" She calmed down and now started to sulk. "I don't think I'll ever find someone."

"And here I thought you were smart." Shadow only grinned more, while still somewhat feeling bad for her. Could she really be so blind?

"Excuse me?" She protested as she took a seat, closer to him, at in front of the computer.

"I'm fully aware of more than a few men that are interested in you, and I can't blame them." The last part he didn't mean to let out, causing him to now have a straight face as she looked back at him annoyed.

Sandy placed her hands over her face as she walked back to the computer and leaned in against the keyboard. "Please don't lie ta me ta make me feel better."

"I'm not lying." Shadow continued. "You are very desirable Sandy." He let out a worried cough as he started to breath heavier as he continued to let far more out of his feelings than he intended to.

They both looked at one another questioning. Before Shadow finally broke the silence.

"Haven't you ever been sexually attracted to someone?" Shadow questioned knowing full well he shouldn't go there as he was riling himself up at the same time.

Sandy continued to look at him and stay silent for a while. "Why?" She finally managed.

"I'm just pointing out you aren't so innocent… you know full well what it means to be an adult." Shadow started getting a hurt look from Sandy.

"No. Not like that!" Sandy almost started to cry. "I-" She stopped. "I'll sure I'll never know." She hung her head in sorrow as she started to cry silently despite how much she didn't want to. She looked desperately into the clunkily CRT screen hoping that Shadow wouldn't notice how her emotions boiled over.

Shadow walked up and took her in tight grip in his arms. After a while he led her back to the bed where the both sat and held one another. "I'm sorry." He finally whispered. "I'm an idiot."

Sandy hugged him tighter. "Nah. Yer not." She kissed him on the cheek before nudging her head into his chest again.

"I am." He repeated again as he closed his eyes tighter. "I have no right…" He stopped himself before going silent.

"Hmmm?" Sandy questioned. "Yer my best friend, and have every right ta bug me about anything!" She reassured him.

Shadow opened his eyes and looked at the bed below them. "Anything?" He questioned again still knowing full well he shouldn't push things in the direction his mind was heading.