Author's note: On with the story! This chapter is a little shorter than the previous ones but sometimes that's how it goes. At least you were not left with the cliffhanger for long… technically you kinda get a new one instead I guess but… XD

Chapter 3

Coughing, Sonic rose from the ground on shaking legs. Dust had settled on a good portion of his fur and he shook his head in annoyance, pebbles and dirt flying off him. His mind was not yet fully back in action, but instinctively he looked over himself for any major injuries. A few minor cuts, nothing lethal. He had been exceptionally lucky. The explosion seemed to have started near the legs of the monster-like robot and the thick metal on the undersides of its body had protected him against the worst of it. Perhaps Eggman had put that in as a safety measure if Sonic attacked from below. Or perhaps it was just a design flaw. Sonic suspected the latter. He coughed and rubbed his arm over his face.

Most of Sonic ached, the pain centered around his temples, though a sore spot covering a couple of his ribs were doing their best to get his attention as well. Fortunately, nothing appeared to be broken. Relieved, he looked up around him to inspect the surrounding area, before his expression turned to confusion. He put one finger into his right ear as if to remove something stuck in there.

After the explosion was over and all appeared calm again, Tails jumped out behind the tree with a strangled cry. Was Sonic okay?! He sighed in relief when he saw the blue hedgehog carefully getting to his feet in the distance. Fortunately Sonic looked, all things considered, to be in pretty good shape. Just a few shallow cuts and a good deal more dust in his coat than usual, but that appeared to be about it. Still, better make sure.

"Sonic!" Tails ran up to his big brother. "Are you okay?"

Sonic didn't seem to be paying Tails any attention as he approached, busy putting his finger in his other ear instead and wincing slightly as he did so. He startled visibly as Tails grabbed his shoulder and turned to face the fox, a worried expression on his face. He saw the kitsune's mouth move, but no sound came out. In fact, he noted with increasing worry, he couldn't hear a single thing. No sizzling electronics, no wind among the trees. Nothing.

"Tails, I can't hear you!" he said, quite a bit louder than necessary, considering how close Tails was standing.

"Wha… What do you mean?" Tails stared at him in disbelief. And fear.

Sonic saw Tails' mouth move again and though he wasn't much of a lip reader, the message was clear in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, Sonic pointed to his ears.

"I can't hear a thing!"

Tails was dumbstruck. Sonic had faced many explosions before, not rarely at close range, and nothing like this had ever happened. That unbearably high screech followed by the explosion so close to him must have done something to his ears. They needed to look into this more, to know what action to take next. This changed everything, instantly. Tails begged to every Mobian deity he had ever heard of that Sonic's newly acquired deafness was not permanent and that he'd be back to normal as soon as possible. Right now, preferably.

"Tor-na-do" he told the hedgehog loudly, pronouncing each syllable as clear as possible as well as gesturing with his arms. Sonic understood what he was trying to say and nodded. His expression worried, he grabbed the fox and ran off at the highest speed he could muster in his current state, Eggman's whereabouts for the moment forgotten.

Once they reached the plane again, Tails brought out the first aid kit as well as his trusted laptop. Waiting for the laptop to start up, he took a few cotton pads and rubbing alcohol, treating Sonic's scrapes and cuts. There was nothing in there that would do anything for the hedgehog's ears, so he didn't bother to look at them. Sonic, normally prone to whining and moving through such ordeals, was oddly calm about it all, his mind elsewhere.

A couple of minutes later found Sonic leaning against the cool metal hull of the plane, arms crossed behind his head, ears flicking in every direction in an attempt to catch any sounds around him. His face wore a thoughtful expression and he stared ahead as if lost deep in thought. Tails meanwhile was desperately reading up on sudden hearing loss.

"Okay," the fox took a deep breath. He had read through various website. At this point, he'd seen enough. Sonic showed no reaction to his words, still staring ahead. Tails briefly considered how exactly they were going to communicate like this, finally settling for typing a brief message on the laptop's word processor. After entering his message, he stood up and handed the laptop to Sonic, who turned his gaze to the words on the screen.

It says hearing loss can be caused by a sudden loud noise. It could be temporary, or it could be permanent. Can you hear anything at all?

After reading the message, Sonic shook his head, his mouth a straight line. Tails sighed heavily before taking the laptop back and writing a new message.

We have to go back. This is far too dangerous now. You need to see a doctor. Maybe they can treat you. The websites said you usually have to wait and see what happens, but there are some potential treatments, too.

Sonic was given the laptop again and read the new message. He pursed his lips and seemed to consider his options, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Eventually he shook his head regretfully, turning his eyes to the fox again.

"Sorry kid. There's no time. We have to go on."

He spoke loudly and his words had a slightly unusual ring to them as he couldn't weigh them as well as usual, unable to hear them himself, but he still sounded as confident as always. Now it was Tails' turn to shake his head. He spoke, before remembering that Sonic couldn't hear him anyway.

"No way, Sonic. You can't!"

Sonic gave him a lopsided smile and handed him the laptop again. Tails repeated the message, this time on the word processor. Sonic put a hand on the young fox's shoulder, followed by a light rumpling of his bangs.

"Like I said, not enough time. You heard what he said. He could shoot those missiles now if he wanted. I have to go. I can handle anything ol' Eggman throws at me, you know that! I'm sure my ears will be fine again in no time, I don't need them to run, anyway. I'll just go there, smash his stuff and return. It won't take long!"

Tails didn't have the heart to tell Sonic that there was a good chance that his hearing was gone forever. Or that even if it returned, it could be severely damaged. He'd be lucky to not develop tinnitus in that case, too. His own ears, while still functioning, felt sore and very, very sensitive. There was simply no way he was going to let his big brother run off deaf. Sonic might have been certain he could outrun anything the mad doctor put him up against, but Tails knew that seeing something was only a part of fighting. Unable to hear any oncoming danger, Sonic would be at a severe disadvantage. It was simply too dangerous.

"Please, Sonic!"

Tails grabbed his big brother's arm, hoping against hope that he could talk… well, type, some sense into him. Their best option now would be taking Sonic to the hospital to try to find out if this was permanent or not. From there, they'd have to try to contact someone else to help them get this whole mess taken care of. Maybe Rouge could help them find someone suitable. Who could pull off a task like this he didn't know, but certainly there had to be someone! Where was Shadow right now? There was just so little time… but Sonic's safety had to come first.

Sonic looked down on the fox, an uncertain smile on his face as the fox typed a final message on the laptop.

Let's at least take a break, okay? We can eat, rest for a bit and discuss our next step from here.

"Alright buddy."

Relieved at Sonic's co-operation, Tails' ears perked up somewhat and he returned the first aid box to the plane's storage, exchanging it for their cooling bag and a bottle of water. They sat down together in the shade of the plane, each holding a sandwich.

They ate together in silence. Sonic appeared unusually deep in thought once more, paying little attention to the world around him. Ears that would usually flick at the slightest unfamiliar sound, always wary and ready for danger, were now held still and unmoving. Tails on the other hand was acting nervous enough to make up for the other one's unusual stillness. Partly due to the whole situation they were in, but even more so he was worried about the look in Sonic's eyes. Probably no one but him would be able to see it, as he was very much trying to hide it. But Tails knew his big brother's every look and he had seen that one before – Sonic was planning something, something he knew the fox wouldn't approve of.

Bringing his laptop back again, Tails soon was hurriedly typing into the word processor again, though he had trouble phrasing himself. What words could convince Sonic to do as he asked, to make him go back? Tails understood what this would mean for everyone's safety – it would give Eggman plenty of time to carry out his plan – but what other options did they have?

Sonic, meanwhile, was trying his very best at being his usual, innocent, self, though Tails wasn't fooled in the least. He had just finished off the last of the sandwich and was currently busy cleaning crumbs out of his chest fur.

Worried, Tails gave him the laptop.

Okay Sonic, time to go back. Jump onto the wing, please?

"Will do, buddy!"

Tails sighed in relief. Thank Chaos the hedgehog was co-operating. He had honestly expected him to disobey him. Jumping into the pilot's seat, Tails gave his friend a thumb's up. Sonic smiled uncertainly in reply as the fox checked the controls. Almost there… Just a little longer to be certain…

The plane started to take off, Tails fully focused on getting into the air without causing any harm to either the plane nor the surrounding forest. He tried not to pay attention to the rocks and pebbles moving underneath them as the plane uneasily climbed into the air. He was already contemplating which doctor's office was closest to their current position and considered trying to contact the scientific centre for additional suggestions.

The angry yell that followed once the Tornado was slowly starting climbing the air and Tails had his attention elsewhere, only to have the hedgehog jump off the plane, rolling to a stop before taking off with a sonic boom accompanied by a "Sorry buddy, there's no other way!" could be heard at least a kilometre away in every direction.

"SONIC! Come BACK!"