Author's Note: This chapter is not gruesome, but it is slightly depressing.

Chapter 5: Amy's Condition

"So, Sonic," Tails asked, "how are you feeling? Is it really bad?"

"Actually, I'm not feeling very good. And it's not because of me, it's about Amy. I got a good look at her before I went crazy and blacked out. Believe me, it was a total nightmare, I've never seen anyone so badly ruined in my life. Something tells me that she didn't survive, but I'm not willing to give into that feeling!"

"That's great to hear," a voice said just outside the door, "I wouldn't expect you to." Knuckles walked in and leaned on the doorframe with his arms crossed. "I figured that you could use a few visitors."

Rogue walked in, which surprised Sonic a bit. "Hey! What's she doing here?"

"Don't you worry," Knuckles said reassuringly, "I'm keeping an eye on her. Besides, she wouldn't miss the opportunity of seeing you in a hospital bed for anything. I'm not trying to be insulting though, that's exactly what she said to me."

"Well, now this is a surprise," Rogue said in an almost insulting tone, "I'd never think that I would actually see you lying down helplessly in a hospital bed. I'll bet your body is still very sore, isn't it?"

"Actually, I don't think his body is very sore anymore," a voice said behind Rogue. There stood another doctor, a bit older than the last one that visited Sonic. "My name is Dr. Carbana, I'm one of the trauma experts in this hospital."

"Hey doc," Sonic asked, "how long have I been out?"

"Three days," Tails answered, while the doctor nodded his head. "When I first arrived here, they wouldn't let me in because the doctors were still treating you and Amy. The doctors also said that they needed you for something. You were supposed to be out in just one day, not three."

Sonic was very shocked. "Three days! Hey, why was I here that long if I was coming out in just one day?"

"There's a reason for that," Dr. Carbana answered, "but I can't tell you right now. I need Amy's medical report, and then the answers will make more sense. Now let me check your injuries. Can you move your foot around?" Sonic moved his foot around without any pain in his ankle. "Now how's your head? Is there any pain at all?"

Sonic shook his head around and felt no more pain. "Well doc, I'm glad to say that my headache is finally gone."

"That's great," the doctor continued, "I'm going to remove the cast on your arm. After that, move your arm very slowly."

After his cast was removed, Sonic moved his arm and shoulder around and felt no pain or soreness. "Hey, I don't feel anything! I must be a fast healer."

"Excellent," Dr. Carbana said with satisfaction, "the doctors managed to pop your shoulder back in place, luckily you were still unconscious or we'd have to use up some of our anesthesia. Now if all of you will follow me, we can check up on Amy."

"Wait, doc," Sonic asked with lots of concern, "is she all right? I mean she was pretty messed up last time I saw her."

Dr. Carbana took a deep breathe, "I'm afraid I can't exactly answer that right now. Her medical reports should be complete by now, so we should be heading towards her right now."

Sonic and company followed Dr. Carbana to a nearby elevator and went up two floors. Along the way, Sonic and the gang all noticed that the doctor had a very nervous face and it seemed to be getting paler by the second. They finally arrived at the place where Amy was kept. Dr. Carbana told them all to wait at a distance while an assistant handed him a clipboard with Amy's medical report listed. Sonic and the others saw the shocked look on the doctor's face and he nearly dropped the clipboard. He then sent the assistant away and called over Sonic and the others. The doctor had a very pale look and seemed almost speechless just by looking at him.

"Um, I'd like you all to come in with me now." The doctor looked like he was about to throw up.

They all went inside Amy's room, but they didn't see her right away. The first thing they saw was a large glass cylindrical tank of water against the wall with lots of machinery around it. They also saw a large curtain that extended the length of the room, thereby blocking their view of the other side of the room. Dr. Carbana breathed in and out a few times to calm himself. He looked more worried than Sonic! Could it be that the doctor knows something that Sonic and the others don't?

The doctor finally spoke, "okay, what I'm about to tell you isn't for the faint of heart. If you don't want to hear what I'm about to say, then I suggest that you leave right now. Just wait outside in the hallway." He then pointed out the door, towards the hallway.

Sonic and company looked at each other confusingly. Sonic definitely chose to stay put, it was the least he could do for Amy right now. Rogue was actually very curious to find out what happened, so she also decided to stay. Surprisingly, Knuckles turn around and took a step to leave! But he quickly figured that this is being a coward, so he turned back around. He nervously rubbed the back of his head and smiled nervously, "uh, I was gonna use the restroom. I guess I'll just hold it instead, he he."

Tails was having a very hard time deciding. He couldn't tell if he should be there for Amy, or risk having nightmares from what the doctor says. Either way, Sonic decided to choose for him.

"Tails," Sonic said, "I want you to wait in the hallway."

"But, but Sonic," Tails complained, "I think I'm old enough to handle this."

"It doesn't matter," Sonic said more firmly, "I don't want to risk having you being affected and end up having nightmares!"

"Um, a-all right. Just say hi to Amy for me if you can." Tails slowly walked out into the hallway and found a bench to sit on.

"So, are you all done deciding?" Dr. Carbana looked at Sonic, Knuckles, and Rogue, they all looked ready. "All right. I must warn you though, in my twenty-eight years of working with trauma victims, I've never seen anything like this."

This didn't sound very reassuring to them. "Hey, is she at least alive," Sonic asked very anxiously.

"Oh she's definitely alive," Dr. Carbana answered, "her vital signs clearly show this." Sonic and the others gave a huge sigh of relief. "But-."

Sonic immediately became concerned again, "But what? What do you mean? Is there more?"

"Oh, there is A LOT more," the doctor answered while looking up and down the clipboard. "You see, her body has taken much more damage than I thought. In other words, she is alive, but not exactly in a way that you'd want her to be."

They didn't like that choice of words. Sonic started to feel sick, he was remembering the nightmare he had earlier, and was afraid that it might come true in some way. Knuckles and Rogue still didn't quite understand what was happening. Knuckles was starting to feel nervous though, it's because he has a slight phobia of hospitals. He's seen so much pain and suffering in other hospitals throughout his life that he developed this phobia. But he managed to keep it suppressed, until now.

Warning: This part may be depressing to some people!

Dr. Carbana continued, "okay, here are her injuries. Gosh, I don't even know where to start!"

"Just start at the top of the list so that you don't get lost," Sonic said almost impatiently. Dr. Carbana took a deep, nervous breath and finally spoke about her medical condition.

"When she arrived at this hospital, we found that she had lost more than 60 percent of her blood. 60 PERCENT! Anything that looses that much blood normally doesn't survive at all, maybe a few minutes if they're lucky. She still has some internal bleeding and hemorrhaging in various places.

Also, more than half the bones in her body were badly smashed. Both arms and both legs were broken, and most of her rib cage was broken and caved in. Her left lung was punctured by a broken rib, damaging it beyond repair, so it was surgically removed. Her pelvis had a few fractures and the damage to her skull was sickening. I'm sad to say that she has some damage to her spine as well, we don't know yet if her spinal cord has been affected.

What surprised me the most though is the mental damage. I'm very sad to say that she has some major brain damage. And worst thing on this list is she's in a severe coma. We have no idea how long before she wakes up, perhaps days, years, maybe never. Hopefully that won't happen though."

Sonic started feeling very guilty, the news was much more than he could bear. He wasn't the only one affected though. Rogue started to feel faint from all the things the doctor said. She couldn't imagine anyone with injuries like those. Knuckles was now starting to feel very nauseous and is starting to lose control of his phobia.

"Unfortunately," said Dr. Carbana, "these are only her current problems. We're not entirely sure about the long-term or permanent complications. We'll have to wait a while to find out."

Knuckles finally couldn't control himself anymore. "I, uh, I have to go use the restroom badly now." He quickly ran to the nearest restroom which he passed by earlier. Tails was somewhat surprised to see Knuckles rush in a hurry but quickly dismissed the thought, he didn't want to get involved with him at this moment.

Knuckles looked around to see if anyone was following him then slipped into the restroom. He ran up to the sink, turned it on all the way and stared into the mirror. A few seconds later, he threw-up into the sink and watched it get washed down the drain. Knuckles has never felt so sick in his life, and he wasn't even ill!

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Well, they don't seem to be taking the news very well! Do you think there's any hope for Amy now?