Chapter 7
The ambulance soon arrived at the hospital. The driver immediately got out and helped the other nurse wheel the stretcher containing Sonic into the hospital with his friends right behind them, Tails informing the nurses of what had happened. After going up a lift the nurses soon wheeled Sonic in to a vacant room. Other nurses appeared from other rooms to help them move Sonic onto the bed. The driver then took Amy, Tails and Knuckles outside the room.
"We need you to wait out here for a bit while we sort him out," he informed them and promptly closed the door.
"What are they doing in there?" Amy asked tearfully, peering through the circular window.
"Just leave them to it Amy," Tails silently sobbed, a few tears running down his cheeks. Amy sighed and occupied the seat next to Knuckles.
"What's taking so long?" she cried impatiently, biting the nails on her right hand.
"I don't know… but I hope he'll be okay," Tails replied nervously.
After a few minutes the doctors left. One of them approached Amy.
"Can we see him?" Amy asked quickly.
"Of course, but we want to give you a quick check over for burns and smoke inhalation," he replied in a serious tone.
"Will he be okay?" she asked, dismissing the doctor's request.
"I'm afraid we won't know at this stage, he has inhaled a lot of smoke and has sustained some nasty injuries to the head," he informed them.
"I want to see him," Amy said instantly and made for the door. Tails quickly pulled her back.
"Amy, you were unconscious too, the doctor really should check you over," he mumbled in a concerned manner. His best friend was already injured; he didn't want a second friend to become ill as well.
"But I want to see Sonic!" Amy cried impatiently, trying to release herself from Tails' grip.
"Please, it'll only take a few minutes… Knuckles and I will be with Sonic," Tails insisted. Amy looked at the fox and saw the deep concern in his facial features.
"Oh alright, but make it quick," she sighed and moaned to herself as the doctor led her around a corner out of sight. Tails and Knuckles entered the room and sat on the chairs on the left side of the bed.
Sonic was still lying unconscious in his white hospital bed, his two bruises now covered by thin, white pads. There were burns all over his body, which were various shades of red underneath the blue fur. There were also some minor cuts along his left arm.
"Poor guy," Tails sobbed, tears flowing heavily from his eyes as he watched his old friend. It looked as though he were merely sleeping.
"He'll be fine," Knuckles responded, although he didn't sound reassured. Although he wasn't tearful, he had a pure look of sadness. He put his arm round Tails and pulled him in to a comforting hug. "He's a tough guy."
Half an hour later Amy burst into the room and soon cried at the sight of Sonic. About six tubes were connecting the blue hedgehog to various devices. An oxygen mask was covering his nose and mouth. Amy didn't know or care what any of these devices were. All she knew was that a screen was indicating a normal heartbeat and as long as it continued beeping, she knew he was alive.
"What did the doctor say?" Tails asked with concern in his voice.
"Said I'll be fine," Amy replied quickly and sat down in the last unoccupied chair on the other side of the bed.
For an hour nobody moved or spoke; they all sat gloomily looking at Sonic, hoping he would survive. Eventually Knuckles broke the silence.
"I'll go and get something to eat," he informed them and left in what seemed like a hurry.
"Do you think we should inform anyone else?" Amy asked. Tails looked up at his friend's blotchy face.
"No, I don't think we should worry them," he replied; he knew that Cream would be easily upset by the situation, Shadow would probably take pleasure in it and Rouge would not want to be interrupted from her jewel hunting.
Shortly, Knuckles returned with some crisps and handed a packet to Tails and Amy.
"Thanks," they both replied in unison. After quickly eating they resumed their silence, nobody really felt in the mood for talking. Soon the room grew darker.
Shortly, Knuckles spoke. "I better get going. The Master Emerald needs guarding, especially at night. I'll be back first thing tomorrow."
Tails and Amy gave a casual wave to Knuckles as he left.
"I'm not leaving his side," proclaimed Amy, not wanting to leave her hero in his time of need. Tails nodded in agreement.
'He may make some progress tomorrow,' Tails thought. He yawned and sat back in his chair.
"I hope so… I'll never forgive myself if anything happens to him!" Amy replied in a worried tone. She glanced up at the young fox whose eyes were shut, and small amount of drool was seeping out the side of his mouth which told her that Tails had fallen asleep.
Amy leant forward and planted a kiss on Sonic's forehead.
"Get well soon," she whispered quietly and she lay back in her chair, shortly falling asleep herself.
XXX
The next morning Amy quickly woke up, having slept uncomfortably in the chair besides the blue hedgehog's bed. She glanced around and, noticing that it was quite dark, deduced that it was very early. Yawning, she sat herself up and glanced at Sonic mournfully.
Amy tried to sleep again but she was consumed with worry and guilt. She was convinced the whole situation was her fault as she had caused the fire and had often wished she was in Sonic's position. The doctors did not have any good or negative news about Sonic's condition and Amy wished that they would make some progress soon. She, however, found herself glad that Sonic had a hospital room to himself because she didn't want any fans mollycoddling him.
Wiping her blotchy eyes she gave up on sleeping; she instead slowly stood up and walked over to the window on the opposite side of the bed. She leant on the window-sill and watched the sun slowly rising over the large car park which was practically empty. It was completely silent except for the frequent beeps from Sonic's heart monitor. Tails was quietly sleeping in a chair next to her. She lifted up his arm so she could see the time on his watch, having somehow misplaced hers. It was four in the morning.
Giving a deep sigh she sat on the edge of Sonic's bed and held his hand, tears filling her jade eyes again.
"Please wake up," she sobbed, knowing it would not help. She stroked one of his quills gently, staring upon the closed eyes that she wished would open. She lay on the bed next to him, putting one arm round Sonic's chest and sobbed quietly into his peach shoulder.
"He'll wake up soon enough," Tails groaned unexpectedly from his seat, startling Amy, who had momentarily forgotten he was there.
"How can you be so sure?" Amy asked, getting off the bed and sitting back in the chair. Tails frowned.
"I'm not… we've just got to hope for the best," Tails admitted, trying to keep Amy calm. He didn't want her worked up again.
"I just wish something would happen!" Amy cried, banging the arm of the chair with her gloved hand.
"I'm sure he'll be fine… we've just got to have a little patience," Tail's replied in a worried tone. He had a feeling Amy would end up breaking something if she became too stressed.
"I'm sorry, I'm just so worried!" said Amy tearfully.
"I know," Tails replied sadly. "We all are."
XXX
A few hours later a nurse walked briskly through the door carrying a clipboard. She examined the various devices Sonic was attached to and quickly scribbled some notes.
"Is he making any progress?" Amy asked hopefully, although she already knew what the answer was.
"Not yet," the nurse replied, just as Amy expected.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" Amy asked, desperate for Sonic to return to his old self.
"We can't do anything until he makes progress. We've done everything we can, it's up to him now," The nurse replied and she left. Amy sighed.
"Come on Sonic, do something!" Amy cried desperately.
Sonic suddenly and unexpectedly began fitting violently, shaking uncontrollably. The heart monitors beeps suddenly became more rapid.
"What's happening?" Amy asked, suddenly panicking. Tails shot out of his chair.
"He's having a fit!" he announced urgently, tears flowing from his eyes; he ran for the door.
"NURSE!" Amy screamed, she dashed for the door, shoving Tails out the way as she did so.
"NURSE!" she screamed at the top of her voice, tears splashing down her face.
As a nurse approached Amy screamed, "THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH SONIC!"
The nurse raced into the room, took once glance at Sonic who had stopped fitting, but the heart monitor had suddenly flat lined. The nurse immediately dashed out the room.
"Quick we need the resus unit in here NOW!" she commanded urgently to the other nurses.
"WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Amy cried, watching helplessly as the nurses wheeled in some sort of device which she prayed would help Sonic. As the nurses quickly entered the room, one of the nurses told Amy and Tails to wait outside. Amy and Tails cried into each other's arms as the nurses battled to save Sonic's life.