Wow my days you guys. First and foremost, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

I was not expecting so many reviews, I was pleasantly surprised by how much people said they lived this story, like seriously, it just makes me feel so happy knowing you guys like it and want me to carry on. So, as I hate to disappoint, here is a new chapter from a story I shall be continuing ^^

Thank you guys for reviewing, and I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

For an hour Shadow had walked through the streets of Station Square. He was tired, annoyed, and increasingly hungry; and it wasn't even 10 o'clock yet. There was too much to worry about before he could deal with that problem though. So many feelings clashed in his chest that his mind wouldn't make sense of it. The lack of sleep was obviously not helping. Had he not been in public he would have flopped on the floor and nodded off.

The problem he was struggling with however, was simple. Shadow made a mistake and he didn't know what to do.

Sonic wasn't going to do as he was told. He's going to fight to the bitter end until he's a free man, and no doubt go back to his criminal life, and it will all be Shadow's fault. The kid was unpredictable with his behaviour. Why did Shadow over look this? The blue teenager attacked almost everyone who has gone near him. The police, the doctors, Rouge, himself… what needed to happen for someone to have such a fear of people that you refuse to trust anyone? Always assuming everyone is going to hurt you, tear you apart in some way or other. Shadow wasn't stupid, he knew anyone working for Eggman would be messed up, just like the other suspects he had tried to capture but failed to do so. He didn't understand, what could make a person so afraid of every one around them that they would rather kill themselves before being brought in to speak against Eggman. What did Eggman do to them?

He stopped walking.

What did Eggman do to him?...

"Maria…"

"Shadow help me! Please…" all he could see was her face, tears spilling from her watery eyes. She was so innocent… She was innocent…

A chill ran through his spine, and Shadow shook his head vigorously. He had to get that image out, he couldn't think of it.

Eggman was the devil in his eyes, there's no telling how far that man will go to break someone. And Sonic must have only been thirteen/fourteen when it happened. Really, how could he have expected the kid to react any other way? As far as Shadow could tell, the young fox was the only person Sonic had in his life that he could trust. A child that needed him more then anyone else.

He sighed, raising his head up to the heavens after feeling the droplets of rain hit his mussel. Much as he expected, the clouds were grey and thunder was echoing from the distance.

This time two years ago, he didn't have a house to go back to to escape the rain. He didn't have food to satisfy his hunger, the showers from the sky was the only drinkable water he could get in a big city. Every day was a game; would he survive today, or would this be the end? With no dignity or pride left in him, he allowed people to make comments. He let the kids get away with throwing things at him, because what was the point? What did he have to live for?

Who would care about him?

South Hill was his home for years, but then it seemed the moment things went wrong, everyone forgot about him… all because of Eggman.

It was simple, he had given up. Now it was a matter of waiting for someone to find his lifeless body, cold and unrecognisable. He had no desire to help himself, nor did he have any desire to let someone help him.

But then that kid came along… the night he slept in front of the School.

The young blue hedgehog with too much innocence in his eyes, who waited for everyone to leave before he approached a worthless failure of a man. Shadow didn't want his help, he didn't want his charity, yet… Sonic didn't give up on him. He showed him… respect… something Shadow hadn't felt in such a long time.

The food was delicious, possibly the best he'd ever eaten. The water refreshed him so much, and when the rain poured, he didn't have to find newspapers with sauce or dirt from the trash to keep himself warm, he had a padded coat that only just fit him thanks to the weight he lost.

That night was the first time Shadow cried since it happened. He had grown so numb, he forgot how to feel. Then, it was like, that one act of kindness reminded him of his purpose, the reason he became an agent, why he wanted to protect people. He wanted to save them from villains like Eggman, so that kind hearted kids like Sonic never got hurt by him. He'd forgotten who he was, he became so self-obsessed with glory that everything was taken from him. Now? He simply wanted his freedom back, and to pay back what he owed.

He went back to the School the next morning, he wanted to give the kid his coat back, thank him for what he had done, and then get back the job he had walked away from. Only, the next day, Sonic wasn't there.

Shadow had waited the entire day, just in case he came late. He never did.

He came back the next day, again and again, but every time Sonic wasn't there. Shadow had asked people, but no one would talk to him. Eventually a week passed, and Shadow waited too long. He needed to build up his life, he couldn't keep waiting.

Since getting his job back, settling into a new home and receiving assignments across the world, he never had a chance to keep his promise. He never got to find the kid that saved his life and give him his coat back.

He never got to thank him… until now. Yet, all he has done is terrorise the blue hedgehog to the point Sonic wanted to stab him to get away. There was no question about his mental state being unstable, but at this point, Shadow wouldn't know how Sonic would take the news. Whatever happened to him two years ago, if Shadow had been connected somehow… would Sonic blame him?

It was far too complicated to deal with, and he was getting a headache. So, reluctantly, he turned around and headed back home.

With a bag of food now in hand, Shadow opened the door to his house. The first sight he was greeted with was Rouge, hand on hips, anger in voice and a glare in her eyes. "Where the hell have you been?" she spoke harshly, yet she kept her voice quiet.

Shadow didn't answer for a moment, too startled by the fact she was there. "Why are you still here? You were supposed to be at the office."

"Oh, you remembered that? Because when you stormed out, you forgot one very important detail. The criminal living in your house is supposed to be supervised at all time!"

His eyes went wide, "Oh…"

"Damn right "oh". Thanks to you I had to call in sick today, because had I told them you stormed out and left the prisoner by himself, you would have been suspended and the kid thrown in a cell. Is that what you want?" she snapped.

Shadow shook his head, sighing at the headache that was coming back. "No. I didn't think…"

"Of course not, you haven't had a shred of common sense since this whole thing started. Seriously Shadow, I'm getting worried, what is going on with you?" Rouge asked, her anger subduing as genuine concern took over. Even though they were blunt with each other and never had a kind thing to say, Shadow was her dearest friend, she didn't want to see him suffer the way he did before, but now things were getting worryingly similar, and she was fearing the worst for him.

He only disagreed however, "It's nothing like that, I'm fine. I just need to catch Eggman. Now where's the kid?" he asked, pushing past her.

Rouge watched him walk away, sighing to herself. The guy was hopeless.

"He's still in the living room" she answered, following behind. Just as she answered, Shadow opened the door to the main room of the house, and sure enough, Sonic was there, lying on the couch, fast asleep with a blanket draped over him. For a moment, Shadow just stared at him, debating whether to wake him up or not. That's when Rouge stood by his side and rested her elbow on his shoulder casually.

"Yeah the poor thing's been out for the past hour. Turns out he hasn't slept in almost three days, so I'd leave him alone for a bit, let him catch up on some sleep so he doesn't flip out and go crazy" she suggested firmly, more as in a 'don't-wake-him-up-or-I'll-kill-you' sort of way. But since when did Shadow ever listen to her?

The black hedgehog shrugged her off, walked over to the sofa and kneeled down. The bag he had in his hand, he placed onto the floor next to him.

Sonic was curled up into a ball, the blanket tucked around him up to his cheeks, clearly the work of Rouge. There were very light snores coming from the blue lump, and it was at this point the black bags under his eyes were visible.

He really should have left him alone, because the moment Shadow shook his shoulder and called out his name, Sonic screamed out in terror then automatically punched out his fist. Shadow flew backwards, the fist hitting him square in the jaw, which was probably going to bruise now.

"You son of a…" Shadow started to curse, stumbling to his feet and clutching his jaw.

Sonic instantly flushed red and nervously sat up, hiding behind the blanket, "I-I'm sorry, it's a reflex" he stuttered.

Rouge made herself useless, for she was laughing too much.