Shadow staggered into Tails workshop, clutching the injury on his chest. His own blood dripped onto the wooden floor as he made his way further inside. "Hello?" He called out, his voice strained. No one was home, which he had expected after fleeing the scene.

He'd clean himself up, sort out the blood he'd spilled, and be in and out before anyone could even find out that he'd been here. He made his way across the room, pressing his free hand on the wall to keep his balance and keeping himself from falling. Feeling ready to walk on his own, he pushed himself off the wall and hurried over to the workbench in the centre of the room, his free hand outstretched once again, so that he would be able to catch something if his legs did give on him. Now that he had reached workbench, he used his limited strength to hoist himself onto it.

His breathing raspy, he slowly lowered his bloody hand to see the piece of metal that had been embedded into his side. Lifting his hand once again, he touched the piece of metal, which sent sharp shooting pains through his body. He groaned in agony.

He had to remove it.

Shadow wrapped his hand around the metal shard "This is going to hurt" he murmured, tightening his grip. "But it has to be done" he stated aloud. Bracing himself for the inevitable, he closed his eyes and-

"Shadow!" a voice cried.

A blue hedgehog stood in the doorway, staring wide eyed at his injured friend. "S-Sonic!" Shadow stuttered, glancing down at his wound and then back at his friend. "It's not as bad as it looks, trust me!"

"Not bad?!" Sonic exclaimed "You're bleeding!"

"I know that! But it'll heal on it's own, I just need to take out the shard, then I'll be fine" he replied, gripping the shard and pulling it slightly. He immediately cried out in pain. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought.

Sonic ran to his aid "Let me help you!" He pleaded.

Shadow slid off the workbench and backed away "No, I got this, I'm fine" he said confidently, waving him off.

"You're not fine!"

"Just leave me alone, I don't need your help" Shadow turned away from him. Taking hold of the metal shard with both hands, he went for another attempt. "Just a quick pull... And that will be it" he mumbled to himself. He counted down in his head.

3...2...1

"GAH!" He cried, the shard still embedded in his side, though he had managed to ease it out a little. Blood was seeping out the floor.

"Shadow please" Sonic whimpered.

Shadow ignored his pleas. This was it. This was the one. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and pulled. "AAAAAHAHAAAAAA" he screamed, the shard slipping through his fingers and clattering as it hit the ground. Blood spilled onto the floorboards, and Shadow momentarily collapsed.

Sonic rushed to his side, but the black hedgehog swatted him away, gripping his own chest tightly and wheezing in pain. "It's- it's over... It's over now" he whispered, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

"It should've been me" Sonic murmured, though it didn't seem like it was his intention for his companion to hear.

Shadow whipped his head around, tears in his eyes. He got to his feet and punched Sonic in an act of frustration with his only free hand.

Sonic fell to the ground, looking up at his wounded friend, his face masked with confusion "Don't you dare say that to me!" Shadow yelled angrily "If this had been you, then you would've died!" He exclaimed.

Sonic went to say something but Shadow immediately shut him down. He wasn't finished yet. "I was just trying to protect you! I couldn't let something like this happen to you!"

"You can't always be there to protect me!" Sonic barked back.

"I know! But you know what?! I can try! Cause I'll be damned if I ever let you end up like how I did today! I'm not going to lose you, I'm not going to let you become like Maria!"

The two went silent. Shadow was breathing harshly, pools of sweat dripping down his face, while Sonic was staring at him with a sorrowful look. "I'm sorry, Shadow" he apologised. "I'm not saying I'm not grateful for what you did... In fact I really appreciate it... I owe you big time... I didn't know you felt that strongly about me"

"Of course I do... You mean everything to me" he explained.

Sonic got back up and touched Shadow's arm "That can go both ways" he said fondly.

"I don't really know what I was thinking. In the moment, I didn't make a choice, I just acted on instinct... I just knew I had to save you"

"You did save me... I won't forget that". Sonic reached out and moved Shadow's hand, to take a better look at the wound. Shadow winced and inhaled sharply through gritted teeth. "How about we get you cleaned up?"

He nodded "Sounds like a plan"

Sonic wrapped his arm around Shadow as they made their way over to the bathroom. Together.