Here's Chapter 4. Its amazing how, when things are falling apart around me, I update even faster. I'm having a hard time with my family right now, and the whole thing just...drove me to write this next chapter. I don't know why. It was like a calling or something, to release stress and feel better...Oh well...

I'm actually planning on writing my own book, based on some of the things I've seen in my life. I don't know what the main cause or the plot will be, but I will come up with something. I'm itching to write it, believe it or not.

Anyway, here's Chapter 4. Enjoy. :P

Here

Chapter 4

The next few days, Sonic and Tails repeated their actions. They would go for a run in the woods, walks back, and then just sit around, talking, watching the sunset from their usual place on the cliff. For five days, they continued this, and after the first few, Tails found it easier and easier to not think about Sonics death. It was like a spark of hope had appeared, just knowing Sonic could go about his daily activities, and Tails was attempting to bring that spark to a bonfire. Because maybe it would be enough to keep them both alive.

But he didn't process the changes Sonic had every day, things he noticed, but just didn't add into the equation of his life.

With every passing day, Sonic began losing his breath faster when they ran. They would stop closer to home in the forest, continuing to walk. He seemed to limp more, to become more pale every day they walked. And it was getting harder and harder for him to stand, as he swayed more and more, nearly passing out by the fifth day. He was quieter, more solemn, and seemed to not be fully there, his mind and focus in another place. But still, Tails kept that spark, tempting it to grow, hoping that, maybe, it would catch fire, and build into that bonfire of hope he so desperately wanted.

But on the morning of the sixth day, Tails's spark of hope was diminished, washed out like a sudden bucket of water had been poured on it.

While running together, in the forest, Sonic stumbled once, then fell, and didn't get up. Tails had skidded to a stop, waiting a single, horrendous second for him to get back up. And when he didn't, Tails rushed over, flipping the hedgehog on his back. Sonic was unconscious, but to Tails's slight relief, still breathing.

"Sonic!" Tails cried, shaking the hedgehog roughly. "Come on, Sonic. Don't do this now!" He continued shaking him until Sonic's eyeslids fluttered, and he groaned gently. Tails inhaled sharply, holding it until Sonic's eyes opened. The hedgehog grimaced, reaching for his head, trying to sit up. However, he was too weak, and simply lowered himself back to the ground.

"What happened?" he asked hoarsely, blinking as the forest came into sight around him. Tails released the breath he had been holding, looking Sonic over quickly before answering.

"You just...passed out," he replied, sitting on his knees beside Sonic. Tails swallowed. "You fell and didn't get up." Sonics green eyes flickered to him, and they narrowed as Sonic attempted to sit up again. This time, he succeeded, holding himself up with his hands.

"I...fell?" he repeated, as if the idea was ridiculous to him. "I fell...running?" As if the entire past month had flooded back to him suddenly, Sonic's face twisted into a scowl, and he looked at his hand, making a fist against the ground. "Running?!" Tails said nothing, leaning away from Sonic slightly. The hedgehog continued to stare at his fist, his green eyes glowering in fury, almost glowing red instead of green. Tails felt nausea rising into his stomach, and he swallowed again. He hated this side of Sonic...It wasn't right.

Tails watched him a few moments, simply taking in the site before him. Sonic was shaking now, gripping his fist so tightly, his arm was nearly white. Tails hesitated slightly before reaching to the hedgehog, touching his shoulder gently. The hedgehog stiffened immediately, whipping around to face him with that same frenzied look in his eye.

"Sonic..." the kitsune said, trying to keep his voice steady. "You're...you're okay...I'm here...okay?" As if hearing his voice was all Sonic needed, the hedgehog's scowl dropped slowly, his fist loosening up just as slow. The frenzied look was leaving, and in a few seconds, Sonic the Hedgehog was back, sitting on the ground, staring at Tails as if he were his only lifeline.

Then, the hedgehog grimaced, closing his eyes and holding his head in both his hands.

"...It hurts," the hedgehog said quietly, bringing his knees to his chest as he held his head. Tails couldn't find anything to say. His mind was blank, his heart heavy. All he could do was squeeze the hedgehogs shoulder, letting him know he was there...he was always there...

"...Lets go home, Sonic," Tails whispered, not trusting his voice any louder. The hedgehog said nothing, simply lifting his head from his hands, opening his eyes, and looking at Tails. The strange look in Sonic's eyes caused Tails to freeze, simply staring back at him. Sonic was staring at him, and helplessness, trust, and something else glittered brightly in his eyes...And the third glittering frightened him. He was looking at Tails like...he was his last thing in the world, the last thing he could depend on...his lifeline and the only thing keeping him here.

A shudder passed down the kitsunes spine, but he offered his hand to his best friend, and Sonic took it, hauling himself to his feet. Blue and green met, and Tails felt his breath catch in his throat. Sonic swayed gently, nearly falling again, and Tails reached out to grab him, wrapping his arm underneath Sonic's and over his other shoulder. The two walked forward, Sonic leaning on Tails, and Tails leaning on Sonic, each in their own way.

xxx

The trip was silent; no words needed to be said, really. In that moment their eyes met, they exchanged everything they needed too. And every bit of it scared Tails.

Sonic needed him. Without Tails, Sonic would completely fall apart in these last few weeks he had remaining. Right now, Sonic needed Tails more than he needed anyone in the world. Tails was Sonic's physical support...and his emotional support. Knowing that Sonic depended on him so much scared Tails. He felt like hiding, never coming out again, until he woke up from this nightmare he dropped in.

The kitsune missed the times when he could look up to Sonic, depend on him instead of it being the other way around. He missed the days when they could sit around, carefree, not a single worry in the world. Now, everywhere Tails looked, all he could see were numbers, counting down the days, the hours, the minutes, the seconds Sonic had remaining.

And it was killing him.

When they arrived home, Tails and Sonic had both sat down on the couch, saying nothing still before they turned on the TV. The news rambled on the screen, but neither of them payed attention. Tails was too busy keeping himself from falling completely apart...and also wondering what Sonic was focused on. It took nearly all his concentration to not break down, crawl away selfishly to hide from the impending horror that was coming. He knew he had to be strong, no matter what.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Sonic turned to look at him, and automatically, Tails looked back at him. It was another silent second of communication, and Tails felt a jolt of pain. Five weeks...Five weeks. Sonic looked away, swallowing, and Tails quickly jerked his own head away, staring at the far wall as he concentrated on returning his erratic breathing to normal.

"So, I guess this means...I can't...run anymore?" the hedgehog whispered, almost so slow Tails couldn't hear it. The kitsune dared another look at him, and stopped breathing, blinking his blue eyes.

"...We just...need to slow down, thats all," the kitsune replied, his voice not much louder than Sonic's. He forced himself to look harder at the hedgehog, whose green eyes glittered in frustration. "We won't stop running, Sonic..."

The hedgehog sniffed quietly, looking away and back at the TV. He slouched in the sofa slightly, his green eyes reflecting the glaring from the TV.

"...I can't stop running, Tails," the hedgehog said quietly, and for a second, Tails wondered if he really did say it. "Giving it up would...would make everything...seem final...and I can't..." The hedgehog stopped, and Tails watched him bite his lip, seeming to fight for control. His eyes were still frustrated, confused, angry at the world for what he was going through. For a second, Tails watched him, then he reached out and gripped his shoulder tightly.

"I'm here for you, buddy," the twin-tailed fox said, a bit louder and more confident this time. The hedgehog looked back at him, his green eyes shining. "I'm always here. We'll keep running...everyday...I promise." For a moment, Sonic simply stared at him, then the same look from before entered his eyes, and Tails felt that familar shudder, just as Sonic closed his eyes.

"...I know, Tails," the hedgehog replied finally, before opening his eyes and looking back at Tails once more. "I know...And you have absolutely no idea how much that means...how much...how much I need you to be."

Sonic looked at Tails and smiled, and when Tails smiled back, for a moment, it almost seemed as if things were like they used to be, back when they knew everything would be alright.

End of Story