Note: this is a companion story do my Dear Maria series, but can be read as it's own stand alone story (hence way it's not in the crossovers). Enjoy, and cheers to my 5th year of being on FanFiction!

"So this is the place, huh?"

Sonic and Shadow were crouching on a nearby rooftop, adjacent to their target building. It was late morning, about to become afternoon.

Shadow sighed heavily, and ran his hand down his face.

"Why are you still here Sonic? Don't you have something stupid to do elsewhere?"

"Oh, now you want to be the edgy hedgehog now? You never act this way when Pink's around-"

"Just answer the DAMN question Sonic."

Shadow had been on this case for more than 4 months, and because so, he was more than anxious about catching the kingpins, and cracking the whole operation up.

This particular case delt with a huge child trafficking ring around Metropolis. Shadow, Team Dark, and other members of G.U.N. had been busting their smaller bases of operation, and all evidence led to this abandoned hospital, a little ways out in the outskirts of the city.

Amy crime involving child victims made Shadow's blood boil.

So yeah, he was a little more than irritable lately.

"Okay, okay, geez. Well, one of your commanders asked me to assist you. Coincidentally, I stopped a robbery related to this case, and the high officer there recommended I should assist you with this bust, since Rouge and Omega are out on rendezvous."

Shadow exhaled sharply.

"..Okay."

Shadow motioned his head to the abandoned hospital in front of them.

"The children are probably being held either in the upper floors or the basement."

Sonic stood up, eyes wide.

"Wait, children!?"

Shadow sighed.

"So they haven't filled you in at all."

Shadow shook his head.

"All you need to know is that this will be a rescue and shut down operation. You'll figure out the rest."

The communicator in Shadow's ear abruptly beeped.

"Shadow the Hedgehog. ULF, come in."

Shadow brought his right hand to his ear to respond.

"This is ULF, to home base."

"This is home base, you and him are clear to enter. The squad is ready to go upon your request. Counting on you, Black And Blue, home base out."

Shadow lowered his hand.

"We're going to the basement first."

Sonic smirked as Shadow stood.

"Finally! I was getting tired of doing nothing up here." Sonic sped off, and Shadow growled.

He sighed, and followed.

"He can't stop for one second, can he?"

...

Sonic sped towards the the back of the abandoned hospital. A few guards stood near a two door hatch, guarding it's entrance. Sonic swiftly took the two out as Shadow came up behind him.

Shadow grabbed his arm, and dragged Sonic behind a few bushes. He spoke in a hushed but annoyed voice. "Sonic, this is supposed to be a low profile operation!"

Sonic groaned, leaning back on his heels.

"You're no fun."

Another gaurd began to walk to the knocked out guards' location.

"This job isn't supposed to be fun."

As the guard entered the scene and saw the bodies, Shadow quickly took out a small pistol-like weapon.

Sonic looked at the gun, then at Shadow with a 'really?' expression, sighing, putting a hand to his face.

Shadow loaded the weapon with a small needle filled with a unknown substance, and lifted to aim at the guard.

Sonic noticed, but before he could ask, Shadow pulled the trigger, and the needle penetrated the guard's thigh, making him quickly pass out, and fall to the ground.

"What was that?"

Sonic spoke as Shadow glanced left, then right before moving.

Sonic followed.

"A knockout agent. Makes the victim fall asleep in an instant. Luckily the dosage in these is not enough to cause death."

Sonic smirked, walking past the passed out guards, and around Shadow.

"You're not thinking of using one of those on me anytime soon, are you?"

Shadow smirked back.

"Only if I'd have to. And never for G.U.N."

Sonic gave a genuine smile.

"Good."

Sonic looked to the metal doors.

"I got this."

Sonic spin dashed into the doors, breaking them open, and landing on a ground of concrete. He looked up to watch Shadow jump down next to him.

"You're being slower than usual today Shadow. You anxious?"

Shadow rolled his eyes.

"You don't need to know."

Sonic looked forward, and saw that they were in a large corridor, with hallways splitting off into different sections.

Shadow looked to Sonic.

"You got the right?"

"Will do!"

Shadow brought his hand to his earpiece.

"Home Base, this is ULF. All squads are clear to enter. They know my rules."

"Rodger that, Shadow the Hedgehog. Additional arms are on standby. Squads are entering the upper hospital."

Shadow and Sonic started to run down the corridor.

"Now you make as much nosie as you want Sonic. That is, if you can handle the heat."

Sonic smirked at Shadow's remark.

"Are you kidding? I'm as cool as the icebergs at Ice Cap!"

The two split down separate halls, and raced to find the imprisoned children.

Sonic entered a room, and was stopped in his tracks.

The walls around him were filed with single cells, each one holding a child. They all looked quite beaten, and afraid. Their ages ranged from 5 to 17, coming in all types.

Sonic was shocked. His brow furrowed.

'What kind of hospital has prisoner cells built into their basement?'

Sonic exhaled sharply, and steadied his nerves.

Now was not a good time to let his emotions control him.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here to rescue all of you."

Some of the children recognized him, some didn't, but decided to trust him.

Sonic smiled for them, and turned to the first cell near him.

"You may want to stand back. I can get a little messy."

One by one, Sonic broke the cell doors open, setting free the victims trapped inside.

A little boy, about the age of 10, ran up to him.

"Oh thank you so much Sonic! It's scary here.."

Sonic suddenly heard commotion from across the compound.

"We're not quite out of the woods just yet kid."

Shadow suddenly teleported in. He walked up to Sonic.

"A small handful of drugs has been seized, and a small group of children are now being escorted out safely by a group of soldiers."

Shadow looked around, then to Sonic.

"Is everyone okay? Is this all of them?"

Sonic was surprised. He thought Shadow would be more distracted by how many children actually were here.

A girl, about 14, spoke up.

"There's someone else here too. They were walled up a day ago."

That news startled Sonic, and made Shadow grimace with anger.

Shadow sighed, calming himself.

"Where?"

Another kid pointed to a wall.

"Somewhere over there."

Sonic and Shadow walked together towards the wall.

"Disgusting. How can people even think like this..." Sonic spoke, shaking his head.

Shadow glanced at Sonic, putting a hand to the wall.

"It's one of the main things I have to deal with Sonic. Welcome to my world."

He knocked on a part of the wall, and a hollow sound came back.

"Here."

Sonic put an ear to the spot. He could hear someone whimper.

Shadow spoke loudly.

"Stand back. I'm going to break the wall."

Sonic heard shuffling.

"I suggest you get out of the way too Sonic."

Sonic and Shadow both took a step back.

Shadow readied his right arm and hand.

"Chaos Spear!"

The spear of energy pulverized the wall to dust.

Sonic was the first to get a look inside.

What he saw froze him in his tracks.

The room was as small as a hallway closet. In the corner of the room, was a girl.

She was no less than 17, and was badly bruised, cuts all over her arms and legs. Her hair was an ebony brown, and her eyes were green, watering.

She was shaking with fear, and holding her legs against her chest.

She also looked starved deprived, and shaken.

Shadow quickly came up to the girl, and kneeled down, examining the girl with his eyes. He whispered to himself.

"God..."

He reached out a hand to touch her arm. She turned away, terrified.

"It's okay. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to set you free."

Tears started flowing from the girl, and she quickly latched onto Shadow, with a fragile hug.

Immediately, Shadow returned her gesture.

Sonic was shocked.

'This isn't the first time he's done this, hasn't he?' For that, Sonic was amazed by.

Shadow scooped the girl into his arms, and walked out.

Sonic was now pissed, hands clenched, his eyes about to set aflame.

Shadow noticed.

"Calm down."

Sonic exhaled heavily. He stared at the girl.

"Who did this to you?"

His gaze went around the children around them.

"All of you?"

The girl in Shadow's arms found her voice. It was shaky, low, and tired.

"The... B-boss did. Gabe.. T-that's his name."

A boy from the group chimed in.

"He's probably on the other side of the compound. That's where he does the... Deals."

Sonic turned. He was going to run.

"Sonic."

Sonic looked back.

Shadow had told him this, as a warning. As if to say, "Don't take him on without me."

Sonic didn't listen.

He ran out of the room, leaving Shadow to escort the crowd of children out of the basement.

Shadow sighed.

He looked down to the abused girl in his arms.

"Can you walk?"

The girl shook her head.

Shadow sighed again.

"Alright."

He looked to all the kids looking at him.

"Follow me. I'll get you out of here."

...

The room Sonic entered was large, it held all the electrical systems for the hospital.

In the middle of the room, was a hodgepodge of desks, with papers pilled on them as well as small bags containing white and blue powders.

As quickly as he entered, he was surrounded by members of this gang.

Sonic got ready to fight. Out of the corner of his eye, He saw someone holding a shotgun at the desk.

The man was the most decked out in accessories, and in jewelry. He laughed.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Sonic The Hedgehog."

Sonic gritted his teeth. The man continued speaking.

"I didn't expect to see you of all people here. You work for the big dogs now?"

Sonic checked the members surrounding him.

"No, just helping out a friend."

The kingpin seemed to know who Sonic was talking about.

"Ha, that black and red rat? Not a chance."

Gabe seemed to be referring to himself with that last remark.

"Boys,"

The group raised firearms at Sonic.

Gabe grinned evilly.

"Take him out."

Sonic jumped, and the group started to fire at him.

Sonic proved too fast, and and he knocked them out one by one.

The last guy he spin dashed into was injured heavily by the impact.

Sonic landed next to him, and saw the man's forehead bleeding.

Sonic growled with anger. He looked up to Gabe.

"You."

Gabe indeed seemed to be fazed, and he held up his gun at Sonic. He was sweating bullets, and looked a little nervous. He was expecting the one liner dropping Sonic. Instead, he was facing someone else.

There was a raging fire behind Sonic's emerald eyes, as he marched slowly towards the kingpin.

His hands were clenched tightly, Sonic was starting to shake from the anger. He closed his eyes.

"How could you do this to those children..."

Gabe shook slightly. He attempted to gain composure.

"They're our sales. It's business hedgehog."

Sonic eyes flew open. They were glowing white.

"Business?!"

Sonic's quills and his blue body turned a bluish-black in a fiery fashion.

Sonic aburptly flew up to Gabe, and grabbed his neck with one hand. Gabe dropped his gun, and started to choke.

He was scared.

"There is no business in selling a child's life away! You're going to pay for what you've done..!"

He threw Gabe away from him, Gabe now trying to catch his breath. The kingpin slowly tried to sit up, and coughed.

Sonic raised his hand, and clenched his first. He was smiling with evil intentions.

"Chaos, I'm going to enjoy this..."

"Sonic!"

Sonic didn't turn. He knew who that was.

Behind him, Shadow stood, with eyes of anger and fear. Shadow blinked, and all that seemed to taper out to a stable level.

"Don't. Not this, faker."

Sonic glanced at Shadow, but he didn't move his head.

Shadow was reaching for something near his thigh.

"What he did is far worse than his death. Just let me have this..."

Sonic started to float closer to Gabe, Gabe's eyes now filled with fear.

Suddenly, Shadow grabbed Sonic from behind, bringing him down to stand on the ground.

Sonic yelled.

"What are you doing?!"

Shadow closed his eyes, wrapping his hand around one of needles he grabbed moments ago.

"I'm sorry."

Shadow stabbed Sonic in the neck, making Sonic scream. But as quickly as he screamed, his eyelids started to fall, and the energy around him started to fade. Shadow carried him to the floor.

Sonic was passed out.

The kingpin could not believe what he had just witnessed.

Shadow looked up, and started at Gabe.

He seemed even more terrified now, as Shadow walked up to him.

Shadow pulled out his actual pistol, and aimed it at Gabe.

"You're under arrest. I suggest you stay silent, for your own good."

Even though Gabe was terrified, he couldn't help but smirk.

"Please... You don't know who-"

Shadow didn't let him finish, and, emotionless, shot him in the knee.

Gabe screamed in pain.

'Ah! You motherf-"

"I said. To stay. Silent."

And with that, Gabe didn't say another word.

Now Gabe didn't know who he was more terrified of.

Dark Sonic, or just a normal Shadow.

A group of soldiers entered the room, and Shadow turned to look at them.

They noticed Sonic on the floor. They seemed surprised.

Shadow motioned his gun to the kingpin.

"Men, place this man under arrest."

A few of them walked past to the kingpin, as Shadow came up to Sonic. Shadow put his gun away.

One of the soldiers was just about to grab Sonic's arm when Shadow yelled.

"No!"

The soldier stepped back.

Shadow looked down to Sonic.

"He's with me. You're not taking him."

Shadow picked up Sonic, and sighed.

"If the commander needs me, he knows how to contact me."

Shadow teleported away, leaving the rest of the G.U.N. agents to clean up the operation.

...

It was the late afternoon.

Tails was walking through his living room to his workshop when he heard rapping at the door.

Tails was suddenly curious. He wasn't planning on seeing anyone today, except for maybe Sonic, who was supposed to hang out with him in the workshop during that evening.

He opened the door, and was surprised to see Shadow.

"Shadow?"

He then saw Sonic in Shadow's arms.

Tails gasped.

"What happened to Sonic?!"

Tails stepped aside, letting Shadow in.

"He's passed out. Do you still have that antidote for the knockout agent you made for me?"

Tails closed the door, confused.

"Uh, yeah, I do but, what-"

"Get me that treatment, And I'll tell you what happened."

Tails asked no more questions, and ran out of the room. Shadow placed Sonic down on Tails' couch.

There was a small coffee table in front of the couch, and a TV hanging on the wall.

Shadow shook his head, and crossed his arms, sitting down on the couch, next to Sonic's head.

Tails entered the room again, with a small bottle and a couple bandaids in his left hand, needle and a hand towel in his right.

Tails handed them to Shadow, who placed them on the coffee table. Tails sat near Sonic's feet.

Shadow opened the bottle, and extracted some of the liquid with the needle.

Shadow injected a small amount into Sonic's arm, near his wrist. He then put the wet towel over the site.

Tails finally spoke.

"What happened?"

Shadow sighed, looking at Sonic.

"He was coming along on a mission with me. And what he saw there was too much for him to take."

He looked up at the two-tailed fox.

"He turned dark, Tails."

Tails gasped.

"What? No way! How did you get to calm down, then?"

Shadow removed the rag, and placed a bandage on the injection spot.

"I didn't."

Tails suddenly realized what Shadow was saying. He gasped again.

"Shadow! You injected him with the sleeping agent?!"

Shadow raised his voice.

"What was I supposed to do Tails? This was the only way he was going to be subdued!"

Tails winced at Shadow's loud voice.

Shadow sighed, and shook his head.

"Sorry Tails. I just needed to get that out."

Tails nodded.

"I understand. Thanks for bringing him here Shadow."

Shadow gazed down at Sonic.

"He should be up in about 30 minutes, thanks to the antidote."

Shadow stood from the couch, his eyes on Tails.

"Tell him to be more mindful of his emotions next time."

Before Tails could respond, Shadow teleported away, leaving him with the unconscious blue blur. Tails gazed at the spot briefly before his attention went back to Sonic.

Tails sighed.

'Come on Sonic, you're better than this...'

Thirty minutes later, Sonic was fully awake, sitting on Tails' couch, drinking a glass of water Tails brought him. Tails stood in front of the coffee table.

Sonic talked as he set the glass down.

"So, Shads brought me here after that?"

Tails nodded.

"Yes. I assume it's because he trusts us more than the government to take care of you."

Sonic chuckled.

"That faker..."

He stood aburptly.

"I'll be back soon. I have someone to go see."

...

Shadow sat on top of a tall hill, looking over metropolis.

It was now evening, and he had finished all the paperwork for this one.

He was relieved to have finally cracked this case. It was one that took a big toll on him. Now he was just pleased with it being over.

He exhaled.

Shadow had his hover shoes resting next to him.

He needed a breather from walking and running around in them. This was something that had become common with him ever since that one baking day.

Shadow closed his eyes, and breathed in the fresh air.

"Is that the faker himself without his shoes on?"

Shadow opened his eyes. He turned his head to see Sonic smirking at him.

Shadow rolled his eyes.

"You'll never get tired of trying to sneak up on me will you?"

Sonic shook his head, smiling.

"Nope."

He started walking towards Shadow.

"But really Shads, you're seriously airing out your footwear?"

"It gives my feet air to breathe. Something you wouldn't know, faker."

Sonic laughed, and sat next to Shadow, on his left.

"Whatever."

"But, uh, for real Shads,"

Shadow turned to Sonic.

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck.

"Thanks for saving my butt back there."

"You mean thanks for stopping you."

Shadow looked out to the city briefly.

Sonic chuckled." Yeah, guess you're right."

Sonic looked out to the city as well.

There was a moment of silence between the two hedgehogs.

"You know you could have seriously hurt people Sonic." Sonic blinked, and looked to Shadow, who was staring at him.

"Do you seriously have trouble containing your anger?"

Sonic shook his head.

"You know me Shadow, I can keep a cool head. I guess today was just too much for me."

Shadow was silent for a minute, before smirking.

"You still have much to learn then."

Sonic scoffed.

"Sure, faker. And you need to live a little more."

Shadow shook his head, trying to hide a chuckle.

"Shut up."

Sonic started to laugh, and Shadow soon caved in to his laughter as well.

The two friends laughed it off, and watched the sky for a short time.

They continued, and still continue, to fight for the good of all.

Hope you enjoyed reading, I know I had a blast writing this. The Sonic/Shadow dynamic never fails to be entertaining. Happy 5 years, Write you later!