Hey there. Listen, thanks for staying with me and some of you for your reviews. Sorry this chapter took a while, but I've been kinda busy, and I had short-term writers block.

Hope you like it!

Chapter 13

The Tornado landed in front of Sonic and Tails' house at around 10:30. Shadow was already there. He had gotten there about ten minutes earlier, and was leaning against the front door as the others arrived.

He looked up as the plane taxied closer, and then stopped. Knuckles jumped off the wing, and Amy followed. She looked a little tired and shaky, but not to bad for her first trip on the wing. Tails, still in the cockpit, gestured for Shadow to come over to him. The black hedgehog hurried over. The fox leaned down and spoke. "Help me get Sonic inside. He needs to rest."

Shadow nodded. He jumped and landed right in front of Sonic. He undid the straps, took the unconscious hedgehog into his arms, and jumped back off the Tornado. Then he ran inside and carefully laid Sonic on the living room couch.

Amy and Knuckles walked in. Amy anxiously glanced at the blue blur. "It's like déjà vu," she said quietly. Knuckles nodded. "What is wrong with Eggman? Why does he always target Sonic?"

Shadow had been kneeling on the floor next to the couch. Now he stood up, exasperated. "Seriously? Isn't it obvious?"

Knuckles looked blank. "What?"

"Oh, come on!" Shadow growled. "It's simple. Eggman's the villain. Sonic is the hero. Ever since the beginning of the war, Sonic has thwarted plan after evil plan, and Eggman hates him to his core for it. He would do anything to break his main rival." he waved a hand in Knuckles face. "Is it clear now?"

The echidna swatted his hand away. He looked like he wanted to say something, but then Tails came in, his face blank. He walked right up to Shadow, and... hugged him.

Hard.

Shadow looked down at the fox with great surprise. He put a hand on Tails' shoulder and pushed him back a little. "What was that for?" he asked softly. Tails looked into his ruby eyes, and smiled.

"That's for getting my brother home, safe and sound." He sniffled a little as he looked at Sonic. Shadow had to remind himself that Tails was still a kid. He was such a genius that he tended to forget.

Amy was all smiles. "Come on, Tails. I'll take you up to your room." She took Tails' hand and they walked up the steps together.

Shadow and Knuckles stood in silence, all the while watching Sonic for any movement. None came.

Knuckles broke the silence. "What's changed in you, Shadow?"

"What do you mean?" Shadow asked.

"Well, ever since Angel Island, you've been a less dark and mysterious. More open and caring."

"Hmph."

"Seriously! It's like, all of a sudden, your trying to help and protect him." He pointed at Sonic.

"Maybe."

"I know it's true. First, you helped with his gunshot wound. Then, you came up with the plan to break him out of Eggman's fortress. Finally, instead of fighting, you ran in order to keep him out of harm's way. Your like a brother to him now."

Shadow nodded slowly. "Yeah. I guess I am."

"And just now, when Tails hugged you. You accepted it, and when you talked, you sounded like a completely different person."

Shadow just shrugged.

Knuckles smiled. After a moment a silence, he said, "I'm assuming you want to sleep in here for the night?"

Shadow nodded again. "Yeah." After a moment, he added, "And Knuckles? You keep quiet about this. The others will eventually figure it out."

"Okay. Good night."

"Night."

After the echidna went upstairs, Shadow turned off the lights and settled down on the love seat. He looked at the ceiling in the dark and thought, Is he right? Have I changed? Now that I think about, I have been trying to help Sonic.

A little bit later, he fell into a deep sleep. Over on the couch, Sonic smiled in his sleep, as if he had heard everything.

Sonic woke up late the next morning. He sat up, opened his eyes, and closed them again. Am I dreaming? he wondered. Am I still in the Egg Fortress? He opened his eyes again, and took in his surroundings. He was sitting on a couch in a room that looked familiar, but he couldn't place it at first. Then it hit him, and he broke into a smile. I'm back home! This is the living room! And...and... Then he saw Shadow, who was still sleeping. In a rush, memories of the night before entered his mind.

Sonic swung his feet onto the floor. He stood up, but immediately a wave of dizziness knocked him to his hands and knees. The movement and the noise woke Shadow up, who saw Sonic on the floor and shot to his feet. He ran over and helped the cobalt hedgehog back onto the couch.

As Sonic laid down again, he saw something he'd never seen before: Shadow the hedgehog was smiling.

"Shadow...are you okay?" Sonic asked tentatively, his voice rusty. He blinked, and then the midnight hedgehog was gone.

Shadow sighed in relief. He had chaos controlled himself into the tree that was outside the living room window. He could see Sonic, and watched him fall asleep again. He still looked tired, and Shadow knew how hard it was to rest completely after going through something like he had.

The black hedgehog thought about himself. Ever since Sonic took a bullet meant for him, Shadow had felt like he owed the hero. And when he was kidnapped, Shadow had known that he would do anything to rescue him. Just now, when he had seen Sonic awake and okay, he had felt like he would burst with happiness. Knuckles was right. Sonic had changed Shadow without even trying to.

That's what made Sonic special. That's what made people like him, and Shadow had followed suit. Now he felt like a brother to the hero.

Shadow decided to let his friends find out for themselves. If he told them straight out about his new, softer side, they might forget about the original part of him. He was one of the best fighters. Mr. Dark and Dangerous. The Ultimate Life Form. He didn't want them to think of him as a big softie.

Who am I kidding? They'll always know the deadly side of me. But this new part of me, I like it. And, judging from Knuckles reaction, they will too.

Shadow decided to clear his mind. He jumped down to the ground and took off running, creating a sonic boom.

Kay ya'll, hope you liked it. Shorter than my norm. So, tell me. Do you like this softer side of Shadow? I hope so, 'cause I do. And I'm probably gonna stick with it, unless everybody hates it (do you?). I think next chapter will just be making a plan to invade the Egg Fortress (spoiler!), and after that I'll get to the action. Think I should finish up the story soon?

Please review! I want to know what you think.