Chapter 4

"Tails…? TAILS?!" Mina cried out, shaking Tails.

'This… this can't be happening… No… not to Tails… anyone but Tails…'

Sonic, who had just arrived in time to see the end of the fight, quickly rushed over.

"Mina!" Sonic called over. "What happened? Is he…?"

"Sonic…" Mina said. "You have to hurry. He needs help, now!"

Sonic didn't need to be told twice, he gently scooped Tails into his arms, and quickly ran off towards the hospital.

Mina didn't follow. She just sat there, unable to move.

Shortly after, Sally arrived at the scene with Nicole. Seeing that Tails was gone, she figured that Sonic had taken him.

Deciding that Mina needed her, Sally crouched down and began hugging her friend.

"Shh… everything is going to be fine." She whispered, attempting to get Mina to calm down.

"He saved me… he saved me and now…" Mina could only mutter out.

"Tails is going to be fine. He's too strong to let something like this kill him." Sally tried to reason.

"Why… why does this always happen to the ones I care about? First Ash, now Tails…" Mina muttered out.

For once in her life, Sally had absolutely no idea what to say. It was clear that Mina was blaming herself, but Sally didn't think that she could convince her that it wasn't her fault.

"Let's go and follow Sonic, he's probably at the hospital by now." Sally said, earning a nod from Mina.

Meanwhile, with Sonic

He had just arrived at the hospital, and had left Tails in the doctor's capable hands.

Now he was left alone with nothing but his thoughts, and he honestly hated it. This day went from one of the happiest days of his life, to suddenly worrying if his best friend will be alive at the end of it.

He was no doctor, but even Sonic could tell that the situation was terrible. Tails had several scratches and bruises all over his body, with the worst one being a giant wound in his side. Tails' body was completely limp in his arms as he carried him, and his breathing was light.

Sonic couldn't remember the last time that Tails got seriously injured. In fact, he can't remember ANY time that he got seriously injured. He had gotten hurt occasionally during fights with Eggman, but never anything life-threatening, nothing like this.

That being said though, he had faith that Tails would be fine. He knew the guy more than anyone, and he knew that Tails was a fighter.

So he just sat there, and waited for the good news.

After a while, Sally and Mina had arrived. Nicole had stayed behind to repair the damage that Metal Sonic had caused.

"Any news?" Sally asked as they approached.

"Nothing yet." Sonic responded.

"How are you holding up?" Sally asked.

"Just fine. He's strong, so I know that he will make it through this." Sonic responded.

"Sonic, don't lie." Sally said sternly.

"Huh? What makes you think I'm lying?" Sonic asked, genuinely confused.

"Cause you have been shaking this entire conversation." Sally responded.

Sonic took a look down at his hands, and sure enough, he was shaking.

"Ok, I'm worried. But what I said was true, he is strong, he will be fine." Sonic responded. "… at least, I hope so."

"Hey, did he ever give you any reason to have any doubt?" Sally asked, trying to get her fiancé to calm down.

"No, but Sal, you didn't see him… hold him…" Sonic said. "He was in really bad shape. Like, Metal Sonic self destructing on Twan bad."

"Yeah, but Antoine survived that, and Tails will survive this. So have some faith in him." Sally explained.

"… Yeah, you're right. Thanks Sal." Sonic said, pulling her into a hug.

"Um…" Mina said quietly, gaining the couple's attention. "I'm sorry…"

"Huh? What are you apologizing for?" Sonic asked.

"Tails is like this cause he was protecting me… so…" Mina said.

"I am just gonna stop you right there." Sonic said. "Listen, none of this is your fault. Did you attack Tails? Did you make Metal Sonic? Did you even repair Metal Sonic?"

Mina just shook her head.

"No? Then none of this is your fault. So stop blaming yourself, and come over here and wait for the good news with us." Sonic said.

This seemed to do the trick, as after a moment, Mina walked over to the bench that Sonic was sitting on, and sat down.

"Thank you." Mina said.

And so they sat there and waited.

"Oh yeah! If what Tails told me is true, then I assume I have to congratulate you two, don't I?" Mina said suddenly.

"Oh! Tails told you about the plan, did he?" Sonic asked.

"Yeah, he let it spill that he was nervous for you, and when I asked about that, he kinda just spilled the beans." Mina explained.

"Whoa hold on… TAILS was nervous for me?" Sonic asked.

"Uh… yeah? Is that weird?" Mina asked.

"Well, normally I would say no, but this entire morning, he was the only one in that house that wasn't nervous!" Sonic explained. "I was the one freaking out, Amy was worried that the plan would fall flat, and Tails was the one trying to keep us calm."

This caught Sally's attention. 'So that is what he was freaking out about this morning…'

"Really? So if he wasn't worried about that, then what was he acting so nervous about?" Mina wondered.

"Well, you can ask him when he wakes up." Said a new voice.

The trio looked over to the source of the voice, and saw Dr. Quack in front of the doors to Tails' room.

"Wait, so does that mean…?" Mina asked.

"It was touch and go for a bit, but he is expected to make a full recovery." The Doctor explained.

Everyone just breathed a collective sign of relief at the news.

"So when can we see him?" Sonic asked.

"You can go in now, but I would like to have a word with you Sonic." The Doctor explained. "Also, don't expect him to wake up any time soon, it's probably going to be a couple of days before he wakes up."

"Alright, you two go on ahead, I will be there in a bit." Sonic said.

The two girls nodded their heads and headed inside.

"So, what's up Doc?" Sonic asked.

"You should really practice what you preach sometimes."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Sonic asked.

"Well, I heard what you said to Mina before, about not blaming herself." Dr. Quack explained. "It was clear to me, by the look on your face when you got here, and the look on your face now, that you feel responsible. I have seen it plenty of times when you are here for your friends when they got hurt."

"O-oh. Yeah, I guess your right." Sonic said. "I just… I wish I was there to help."

"Sonic, you are the fastest thing alive, you can get anywhere in a matter of seconds, but that doesn't mean you can be everywhere at once." Dr. Quack explained, causing Sonic to think back to the night that Mammoth Mogul took over Tails, Mina, and Mighty's minds. "What I am saying is, don't focus on what you couldn't do, and focus on what you CAN do. And what you can do right now, is be there for him when he wakes up with a smile on your face. Alright?"

After a moment of thought, Sonic took a serious look towards the Doctor. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Very good, now, I have other things to get to, like contacting the boy's parents. It is very unlikely, but please come and get me if he wakes." The Doctor said before walking away. "Oh, and one more thing! I don't know what the young lady was congratulating you for, but congrats on whatever it is!"

"Thanks doc! Don't worry, you will find out soon enough." Sonic called over.

"Looking forward to it, now be quiet! This is a hospital!" The Doctor called back.

And with that, the doctor was gone, and Sonic entered Tails' room.

When Sally finally got her first look at Tails, she immediately knew why Sonic was so worried. He looked like he was in terrible shape, even after all of his treatment. There were bandages covering the entirety of his torso, as well as around his head. He had a black eye and a couple of scratches on his face as well. Not to mention that both of his tails were in bandages, making it clear that he wouldn't be flying for quite some time. It was a truly heartbreaking site.

When Mina reached Tails' side, she pulled up a chair and just sat there next to him, not saying a word. It was clear that she was intending on staying for a while.

The two of them just sat there for a while in silence, neither really knowing what to say.

After a couple of minutes, Sonic had entered the room.

"So what did he want to talk to you about?" Sally asked him.

"Oh nothing special, just wanted me to go and get him if anything happens." Sonic explained.

Sally had a feeling that there was more to it, but she decided to leave it for now.

"So… how you holding up?" Sonic asked.

"Not well, I knew he was in bad shape, but this is just…" Sally started, but couldn't find the words to finish her train of thought.

"I know what you mean." Sonic responded. "When I was carrying him here, he seemed so weak… so fragile. I had to be as careful as possible to not make things worse."

"You did a good job. You got him here on time, and he is going to be fine now." Sally said, giving her fiancé a hug.

"How about you Mina, how are you holding up?" Sonic asked.

She didn't respond. She just continued to sit there, and watched Tails.

"She hasn't said a single thing since we came in here." Sally explained. "She must be really worried."

"Yeah, I can imagine." Sonic said.

For what seemed like hours, the three of them just sat there, hoping that Tails would wake up. Once visiting hours ended though, they had no choice but to leave.

"I know you don't want to leave, but we should let him get his rest. We will come back in the morning, ok?" Sally said.

"…ok…" Mina said before getting up.

"Come on, I don't want to leave you alone, so you can stay with me tonight." Sally said, to which Mina just nodded. Sally then looked to Sonic. "Are you going to be alright on your own?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just worry about Mina for now." Sonic said.

"Alright, I will see you tomorrow then." Sally said before pulling Sonic into a hug.

And with that, they went their separate ways.

End of Chapter 4

NGL, don't have much to say other than "Hey, Tails is going to be ok! Yay!"

Oh, and if any of you thought this was going to turn into a Mina staying by Tails' side until he wakes up kind of deal, I already did that with another ship. If you want that kind of story, please read "Within Reach" :)

So I will just say see you next time for Chapter 5 :)