Shadow looked at his lap as his physiatrist continued to speak. He wasn't really ignoring his caretaker so much as half drowning out his pointless psychobabble. Shadow drummed his fingers on his right leg for a moment before his physiatrist repeated his question. "How are you and your…" The large, older male, panther paused a moment before letting out his breath again. "Roommate?" He continued with too much enthusiasm on the question aspect of it.

Shadow was use to Dr. Archer pushing him weekly about his and Sandy's relationship; however… over the past few months he found it more and more annoying. Shadow responded with a distasteful growl while keeping his gaze always away from his current handler. "Things are fine." He responded while inadvertently clenching his fists.

"Have you two had a fight in the past week?" The graying, black, panther asked Shadow while he turned his attention to Shadow's tensing demeanor.

The hedgehog picked up on his therapist's focus and attempted to relax, but found it difficult on the current topic. Shadow decided to look Dr. Archer in the eyes, with hope he wouldn't give away his current frustration. "Yes." Shadow responded coldly before sighing heavily. "She has been…" He paused briefly while closing his eye for a moment. "… busy with her work."

Dr. Archer nodded in understanding while he and Shadow locked eyes again. "Why is her work a problem this time?" The panther mused while unsuccessfully trying to hide a small smile.

"She's always on the phone with…" Shadow scoffed while placing his hands on his knees and pushing himself up to stand. "She's neglecting her chores!" He shouted before clearing his throat, looking away, and taking his seat again.

"Oh." The old feline questioned while breathing out bristly. "So she's stopped contributing?" It was almost more of a statement than a quest. The elder man looked down at his note pad while writing some thoughts down before Shadow interrupted him loudly.

"NO!" Shadow shouted causing his doctor to look up at him with concern. Shadow ran a hand over his face and closed his eyes while he responded. "She's just cooking dinner late." He then tried to calm his breathing.

Dr. Archer's shocked face turned to amusement once again. "Who has she been on the phone with, again?" He asked.

Shadow looked back at his doctor with no emotion. "The men she is working for."

"Ah…" Dr. Archer laughed. "Men!" The panthers smile drove Shadow mad. He hated that the older man knew what he didn't even want to fully admit to himself.

Later…

Shadow was relieved as he pulled into his driveway. The old brown Oldsmobile he owned looked pathetic next to Sandy's new black Jeep Rubicon. He didn't mind that she had a nicer vehicle than him… in fact it made him happy. She was staying with him, and had extra money to spend as she saw fit. He smiled for a moment as he exited his car and admired their automobile parked next to one another. It was a short moment of happiness in a long annoying day.

His therapy appointment had run long, yet again. Three weeks before Sandy moved in he was moved to therapy once a week instead of two times a week. However, right after his handlers found out she was living with him… his life took a few steps back. He took a raspy sigh as he pushed open the front door of his house.

Shadow was shocked by the smell of dinner cooking and Sandy running up and hugging him around his neck. She smiled shyly as he continued to look at her in disbelief.

"Hiya, Shadow!" She giggled nervously as she let go of him and pushed back while continuing to look up at him. "How was yer appointment? I hope it helped ya build up an appetite, as I'm making yer favorite pasta!" She continued to smile just a bit overly infused with glee as she grabbing his hand and started leading him to the couch to sit down. "Can I get ya anything?" She questioned while running a hand over his quills.

Shadow's confused expression quickly went blank as he realized something wasn't right. "It's my night to cook…" He stated as he allowed her to take off his shoes and toss them aside.

"I thought it'd be nice to surprise ya!" She continued to smile but her face quickly gave way to worry.

Rune ran up to greet him, and they both stopped to pet him before Sandy stood up again to go back in the kitchen. "Give me just a minute! It'll be done in a jiff!"

Shadow's stomach was already turning. He could tell things weren't right, but he just had no idea why she was playing this game instead of just spitting out what was really going on. Was she leaving? Did she lose her work because of his protesting? Guilt crept up on him, as the thought of her leaving his life became more real. His anger and well…. Jealousy had been interfering in their life together for some time now.

The male sat petting his animal for a few minutes before Sandy strolled back to sit next to him on the couch. She leaned herself into him as he laid back on the couch. "Shadow…" She started unsure.

"Here it comes." He thought as she pushed her head closer into his shoulder. He placed a hand on her thigh and gripped it firmly, which caused her to jump slightly in shock.

"Sandy, please." He huffed under his breath. "Don't." He breathed as she pulled back and looked at him confused.

"Don't?" She asked bewildered.

His facial expression took on even more confusion. "Wait… What?" He asked while raising an eyebrow.

Sandy pulled back from him as she let her tail wrap around his back. She looked him in the eye as she grabbed his hand and frowned. "My brother showed up today." She sighed.

Shadow gripped her hand tight as his expression became one of absolute irritation. "Your drunk brother?" He growled as he felt his mood slipping again.

Sandy glared at him and let her lips pout a bit. "I never called him that!" She spat while pulling back from him even more.

"Might as well have." He continued to growl as he found his day becoming way worse than he had ever imaged.

At that moment the door to Sandy's room swung open and a lively, brown, male squirrel came out and approached them, in what almost seemed liked a strut. The smirk on his face began to piss Shadow off more than he thought possible. Despite how much he loved Sandy, He knew that there was no way in hell he wasn't going to end up kicking this cocky bastard's ass.