Hello peeps, I have returned with another chapter after many many months. Honestly I've just been busy, and haven't been up for much writing inspiration. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, carry on writing or just leave it. Mostly because if a story doesn't do well it's hard to be excited about it you know.

So this is kind of another trial chapter to see if anyone still cares if I progress or not.

Please let me know in the reviews if I should carry it on.

Please enjoy :)

A few more nights passed and nothing much had changed. Shadow sat by Sonic's bedside mindfully reading a book as the blue teenager slept peacefully. Being an agent and giving Sonic's age, Shadow was able to stay as long as he cared too. He was more careful not to leave when he was wanted and to not overstay his welcome. But as Sonic had yet to make a choice on whether he'd act as a witness against Eggman, Shadow was on hold from his duties until the matter was resolved.

Sighing, he closed the book after finishing the last chapter. Shadow briefly glanced at the clock on the wall, 1:45am it read. Sonic was resting well enough and it was now as Shadow stifled a yawn he decided to take his leave. He might need it as often, but he wanted to sleep as well. It would only take minutes for him to get home.

Despite appearing so however, Sonic hadn't slept all day. He kept his eyes closed and relaxed as much as he could but his mind raced with thoughts and worries so much that he couldn't drift off. He didn't want to be sedated either, he didn't trust a lot of these doctors. His surgery left him bitter towards the people that supposedly were helping him and he wanted to be out of this miserable place as soon as possible.

Sonic listened as Shadow stood up and quietly left the room, carefully closing the door as to not make a sound. It was almost a relief now that he had gone, and Sonic felt he could move around and get more comfortable. He was finally able to scratch his nose which had been annoying him for a while now. It was juvenile to pretend to be asleep, but he couldn't help himself. Ever since their argument he and Shadow haven't spoken more about the matter, mostly because he didn't want to. It was difficult to go over what happened in the past again and he kept worrying over what would happen if he did stay with Shadow. No matter what he told himself, he couldn't bring himself to fully trust Shadow. For the past three days they barely spoke, over then the tedious small talk of generic topics. He felt uncomfortable around the agent, especially after finding out he was willing to do anything to beat Eggman.

It didn't matter at the moment though, Sonic thought as he turned his head on the pillow. He tried to rest for real this time, happy to finally be by himself for a bit.

It was all short lived however as he heard the door creak open slowly.

Internally Sonic groaned in annoyance. He tried to look like he was still asleep but he already knew who it was. Shadow probably back for more baby sitting.

Why couldn't he just- "GAHH!"

Sonic's eyes widened as something cold and metallic clamped around his throat, blocking his ability to breath. In a panic he lashed out, hitting and kicking what had a hold of him. His version was blurred, but soon adjusted enough to see the man who held him down.

Immediately he tried to scream.

It wasn't just a person, it was a fully robotised person who he was formally imprisoned and tortured with a year ago.

"Eric!" Sonic choked, recognising the mindless machine for whom he formally was.

Hearing the name made no impact on the robot as it lifted the hedgehog and threw him down onto the floor. Sonic gasped for breath as he impacted against the floor, giving him no time to react as the robot arm transformed into a weapon and cracked against his spine. "AHHH!" he screamed out, reaching to his back, but he was soon stunned as the force of hammer like weapon struck him multiply times. It all happened so quickly yet it felt like an eternity. Help wasn't coming, and he only had a second in between punches to react. With an adrenaline rushing immediately kicking in, Sonic swung his leg around and knocked the robot from under his feet, with a powerful kick to the side, it was thrown to the wall, taking out several of the hospitals equipment with it.

Quickly standing, Sonic struggled balancing himself as his heart raced and head swimming rapidly. The missing arm threw him still as he had yet to adapt to not being able to use it, but he would have to learn quickly, the robot started to stand up. He had to get away.

Sonic tried to run to the door, but when he opened it it was bolted closed. The lock had been melted making it impossible to get through. He banged on the wood. "Help someone help me!" he cried out. To his surprise there were already several doctors and nurses trying to force their way into the room. He couldn't see them but he could hear their urgent cries and the hustled efforts to free him from the other side of the door. They were calling the police, but he was running out of time.

A metal hand grabbed his arm and dragged him away from the door.

"NO! Eric stop it, it's me!" he tried to reason, but he already knew the guy he once endured hell with was already gone. The robot restrained him, and without his other arm, Sonic struggled to fight back. His throat was grabbed once again and he was lifted off the ground. This time he knew the robot would finish him.

The door began to shake, there was enough noise to show it was almost broken down.

The robot had no time. With it's free hand it punched through the window then threw Sonic out with the glass.

Everything felt as if it were going in slow motion. He fell screaming yet unable to hear his own voice. His back would take the impact of the ground and the last thing he would see was the sky. He would never survive this. Twenty four stories high, this was how it all ended. Tears spilled as gravity intended them to. As he fell all he saw was a high explosion from the room he was thrown out off. Fire quickly erupting and faces watching from the windows as he fell.

He closed his eyes, tensing and waiting for death.

Finally the impact was made. Everything was silent apart from the ringing in his ears.

A sudden sharp gasp ripped from his lungs and he opened his eyes, realising he was alive. His mind went frantic, Sonic's eyes darted everywhere trying to work out what had happened. It took him a moment to realise it, but he wasn't lying on the concrete floor, but he was safely resting in someone's arms. His jaw lowered, unable to register nor believe the truth of what happened. With watery eyes, he began to cry, grateful just to be alive. His one arm wrapped around the neck of his saviour, praying more then ever that this wasn't another hallucination. "Are you real?" he asked fearfully, knowing this could be a cruel trick of the afterlife.

But the G.U.N agent carefully placed him on the ground and helped him sit down. "It's me" Shadow assured him, struggling to find his own breath in that moment.

Quickly doctors ran to them both, Shadow barely comprehended where they came from, his own mind was swimming from the horror he had almost witness.

This was the only night he decided to walk home. Every other night he ran and was there in minutes. But this one night, the only night, he decided to walk. He was barely at the end of the road when he heard the screams of onlookers, and the explosion that shortly followed. He barely registered what was happening before he leapt into action and managed to catch Sonic before he hit the ground. Literal seconds was all he had to realise what was happening and to act. His heart was beating like crazy, images now racing through his mind what would have happened had he not seen it, had he ran home like normal. It was something he couldn't comprehend at the moment, he needed to focus.

The doctors were trying to get Sonic back inside the hospital, trying to prey his grip away from Shadow's shoulders, but he kept refusing, a panic now setting in as soon as anyone else came near him. "Leave him alone" Shadow ordered, holding his hand out to keep anyone else away.

"We need to bring him in" someone said, Shadow didn't listen though.

He shook his head, still trying to make sense of it all. "What the hell happened up there?"

"W-we don't know. All we heard was the commotion, and then the explosion."

Shadow shook his head. This was so much to process. A large crowd had suddenly gathered around, and the police had quickly shown up. Sonic was now trying to hide from it all, hiding his face away in Shadow's arm. He trembled all over and looked as if he had completely shut off from reality. It was all too much, and whatever happened, Shadow wasn't going to get answers here. He grabbed the blue hedgehog and picked him up before running away at full speed, leaving all the nightmares behind. There was only one place safe enough to take Sonic now.

Sitting at his desk, the General watched the events of that early morning play out on the news from his tv. Photo's of the explosion had been taken and recording of the near sudden death of their thief had been played for all of the public to see while details were being retold by the news reporter. It ended with little information other then no one had been hurt in the event and Agent Shadow had ran away with the victim. The General immediately switched the tv off, angrily clenching the remote in his hand. Finally after waiting longer then he had said he would, the door opened and Shadow walked in.

"Care to explain this?" he ordered, holding up a newspaper with the headline of what happened in the hospital.

"You think I was involved?" Shadow questioned, not caring to be ordered or treated with disrespect. The General stood up and threw the paper down. "Where have you taken the thief Shadow? He should be back in that hospital being dealt with, but thanks to you there are now rumours that G.U.N was involved in the assassination of this stupid kid."

His eye lids lowered in annoyance, "I don't care what people are saying, it's your job to deal with that, not mine."

"Pretty soon you won't have a job" the General said, walking away from his desk.

"I was informed that it was a robot, likely one of Eggman's that was sent to kill this kid, self-destructing before anyone got a hold of it."

"Yes" Shadow agreed.

The General lowered his head and signed, "You realise that this completely compromises our case against Eggman right?"

Shadow narrowed his eyes and unfolded his arms, "How so?" he asked.

"Well Eggman can now argue that he wasn't in control of the robots as he was behind bars this whole time. Likely the robot targeted Sonic on the basis that he was helping us, if that's the case this explains why former victims refuse to speak out. But now I fear with the rumours of G.U.N's involvement in the event, it will be played against us in court and used to allow Eggman to go free. All they have to do is find someone to pin it on and likely knowing the mad man he'll choose you" the General explained.

"That's crazy, I took Sonic away because people kept getting too close. If I wanted him dead why would I save him? They have no case!"

"Shadow you were on that street when it happened. I've spoken to our lawyer and there's a strong case they can make against you. The fact that you were there could be twisted that you were waiting, and you saved him as a cover up."

The Agent shook his head, "This... this is madness, Eggman can't get away with this!" he shouted, blood quickly beginning to boil.

"And he wont" the General interrupted. "So long as Sonic testifies at court. Without him there is no proof, no witness statements and no chance of winning this argument now."

Shadow sighed, crossing his arms once again. "I won't force him" he said.

"Yes you will."

Shadow's eyes widened.

"Either he testifies or I will have him killed. And if he's dead, you will be the one taking the blame and have the Eggman empire fall onto your shoulders, as well as the punishment. I will not waste any more of my time on this nonsense."

"You can't do this!" he snarled angrily, teeth beginning to bare threateningly.

The General merely smiled as he sat back down in his chair, "Can't I? As I recall I've done it many times before, most of which I assigned you to."

Shadow balled his fists.

"Now tell me where you've taken him."

A silence quickly settled, and both men stared each other down. Shadow knew he could easily take this guy out, he had all the power and strength on his side, there was no competition. Yet, there was no point in the argument anymore. The General, as vile as a man he was, was not his enemy. It was Eggman that needed to be brought down, and as much as it pained him to admit it, attacking the General, or even defying him, would have it's consequences and Eggman could walk free.

He had no real options anymore. His hands relaxed by his sides.

"Fine. Sonic is at my house. Rouge is watching over him for now. I will get him to speak out, so long as my previous requests are met. Do we have a deal?"

The General smiled widely and held out his hand. "Deal."