PoC: For the last time. GET. OFF. MY. COMPUTER!

Metal: Nope. It's mine! All mine!

PoC: Really now? Oh what's this? Metal's personal file?

Metal: How…how did you find that?

PoC: My my, I dare say your reputation is questionable after reading this.

Metal: STOP! Here's your computer and stories! Just give me that file!

PoC: Much obliged PenFullofChaos819 retains no ownership of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Metal: But I did send an email to your instructors saying you're a nursing student...

PoC: Which is true, so?

Metal: Who also happens to be a Sonic crazed furry! *Drops to the ground in laughter* Have fun in class!

PoC: I see…Then it's a good thing I read your file before I gave it back.

Metal: *Stops laughing* Dammit, I knew I should've kept quiet.

-l-

Deeper than Friendship

-l-

"Tails I'm fine. I think I can walk by myself." Sonic felt ashamed to make his buddy haul him around like this. The fox gave him a look of understanding, but refused to risk letting him collapse again.

"My place isn't very far from here, just hold on until then." he said. Still bleeding from his cuts, Sonic comprehended the danger of trying everything by himself. This was probably the only reason he listened at all. Once the trio had traveled past numerous hills of green, a small complex came within view.

"It isn't much, but hey it's home." Tails told the hedgehog. Sonic knew the place meant rest, but it also meant an explanation. More than that, he knew he was going to reveal everything, and not just a small part of the truth. Limping up to the paved sidewalk, the three were met with the stares of several residents.

"Tails man…they're watching us." Sonic was apprehensive about being surrounded without his speed. Being smothered and restrained was almost as bad as drowning for him.

"Don't worry about them." Tails noticed a man coming up "No questions please." he said before the man could say a word. The small crowd of people parted as the vulpine carried the hedgehog into the complex.

"Better bring him to my place." Amethyst said "They won't think to look for him there." Tails thought for a second before nodding. By taking a detour down a small gap between apartments, they avoided any prying eyes. Amethyst's place was certainly harder to find, but it also happened to be on the second floor. Tails' lips pressed into a flat line as he noted the troublesome stairs. Sucking in a breath, the fox held his friend as high as he could while ascending the steps. Sonic held on to the rail to give him some added balance, meanwhile Amethyst had taken Tails' heavy gear off his back. At last the two made it to the top. Getting out his extra card, Tails swiped it through the reader. Once inside, he carefully placed Sonic on the nearest couch, while Amethyst had already gone to fetch some necessary medical supplies. Sweating from the non-stop haul, the fox crashed in a large chair. Amethyst came back and immediately got to work on Sonic's wounds. Despite the little stabs of pain, Sonic could tell this girl knew what she was doing.

"You're really good at this." the blue hero said, getting a modest blush out of the vixen.

"This is nothing, you should see the crazy stuff he's been through." she shot a sideways smile at the tired fox "All things considered, you're very lucky. However, these wounds are very unusual."

"Hmm? How so?" Sonic didn't really understand.

"If you look at the wounds themselves, they seem to be common burns. Upon closer examination though, I can see a number of constricted blood vessels and muscles. The last time I saw something like this, was when a friend of mine was struck by a bolt of lightning. Even stranger than that, your skin looks like it's been torn from the inside out. It's like some strong energy forced its way in here" she pointed to a large wound on his chest "And then carved its way out." as soon as she finished explaining, Sonic let out a whistle.

"Whoa smart and beautiful, this woman is something else." Sonic thought, but frowned when he remembered what Tails said earlier "I guess I better watch what I say, and think for that matter. Still, I gotta admit my bud sure knows how to pick them."

"So who did this to you?" the vixen's question cut off his musing.

"I don't really know…" Sonic scratched behind his ear "He said his name was something like Maasawd, whatever that means." Amethyst briefly stopped what she was doing upon hearing that name "Let me guess, he's really bad news right?"

"You could say that." she replied.

"Got any idea why he'd be after the Chaos Emeralds?" Sonic asked.

"Mm-mm. We haven't known about him very long, so I'm not sure what to make of him. He demanded the emeralds from you huh?"

"Yup, and he also said some strange crap about me 'disappearing'. I don't know, I got a headache from just listening to the guy." Sonic rubbed his head to emphasize his point.

"Maybe it's better if you don't then." Tails spoke up "It's possible that he was just threatening you, but if not, I'm sure we'll soon find out what he meant."

"Why does that not comfort me…?" Sonic said mostly to himself.

The vulpine got up from his seat and headed for the door "I have something to take care of. Ame, do you mind-" but she interrupted.

"You don't even have to ask. Good luck Tails." she said supportively. Stepping outside, Tails gave one last smile and closed the door. Amethyst returned to treating the hedgehog's wounds.

Sonic on the other hand was a little surprised to see his friend act the way he did. Anyone from his world would think Tails had grown up too fast. Eager to know more, Sonic gave Amethyst questioning look.

Seeing the odd stare she was getting, the vixen said "Something wrong?"

"Ame huh?" the hero said suggestively, trying to get a reaction. To his surprise, the reaction he did get was one of dismay, rather than the cute embarrassment he was hoping for.

"He always talks fondly like that, but the truth is," she sighed "He doesn't really trust me, or need me for that matter. I don't even know how close we are anymore."

"Really? Why do you think that?" Sonic knew it wasn't like Tails to distrust others, well HIS Tails at least.

"Did you see how he smiled just then?" Sonic nodded and she continued "He hasn't done that since the day before you went missing."

"Aww…You mean he was that worried about me?" Sonic was touched by his friend's concern, but apparently Amethyst didn't feel quite the same way.

"If you call barely eating, staying up all night and hardly talking to anyone worried, then yeah." she said with trace amounts of bitterness in her tone.

"Wow I had no idea…" Sonic saw the vixen shifting uncomfortably "What's up? You look stressed."

"Well how would you feel if a person you really cared about never talked to you, or depended on you at all? I mean I tried to get him to stay in touch over and over, but I couldn't even manage to keep his phone on him. Worse than that, every time I tried to comfort him, he'd just up and dismiss me each time." she said dejectedly.

"Amethyst, I'm sure the guy just needed his space. I bet I'd act the same way if I lost my bro." Sonic spoke honestly. If he had lost Tails in his world, not even Amy would've been much comfort. Then again, Tails and Amethyst seemed to be a bit more than good friends.

"I know that…but sometimes I worry that he doesn't care much at all. At least...not as deeply as I do." she sniffled.

Geez…she's really down…" Sonic thought "I wonder if it'd be okay to comfort her? I mean, Tails trusts me enough to leave the two of us alone, so it's not like it would be a big deal, right? He wouldn't get…suspicious of me, would he?" Sonic hated himself for thinking this way, especially when he hadn't told either of them who he really is yet. Not able to just sit by and watch a girl tear up, Sonic decided to lend both of them a helping hand.

"Come on, don't say it like that. I'm sure Tails just didn't want to worry you, that's all." Amethyst dried a few tears as he spoke "Just give the guy a second chance. I'm sure he'll be more open this time. Take it from me, I know when Tails likes someone, and that someone is you."

"R-Really? You think so?" she asked hopefully.

"Absolutely!" Sonic gave his typical 'charming' thumbs up.

The vixen stared in wonder at the hedgehog's attitude "Hmm…Rouge was right." Amethyst mused "He does seem different. Is he more confidant and mature, or is it just me? He certainly acts older. How peculiar…"

L

*With Tails*

L

"This is not how I wanted to spend my day." Tails mumbled, while stitting down at his desk. He knew it would've been better if he had just visited their 'secret' hideout in person, but with Sonic wounded this was the best he could do.

"Okay, I can do this." he told himself. One click and his computer was linked to 'their' system. The screen fizzled for a second or two, but quickly re-tuned itself, displaying a very distinct image on the screen.

"Well here goes nothing…" he thought, before shouting "Vector!"

Snorting and swinging madly, the crocodile fell out of his seat. It took him a minute to notice where the voice came from "Who's there? Who the hell hacked my computer?"

"Hi!" Tails said waving at the screen. Vector snarled at the smug vulpine.

"Get lost, I've got nothing to say to you!" he spat, turning his headphones on full blast. This didn't last long as Tails somehow managed to disrupt his music files as well. Times like this made the croc curse his being too cheap to get a portable music player.

"Vector, I need some answers." the fox began, but was only flipped off for his trouble.

"Kiss my croc cheeks, fox-boy! You're the reason we didn't get paid for our last job!" Vector yelled. Tails snickered, as he couldn't help but imagine their client's disdain when they were given a fake Chaos Emerald.

"Ah…come on. We've been going at it for years, no hard feelings right?" but the croc only threw his drink at the screen "I'll take that as a no."

"Piss off ya freak of nature! Don't you have anything better to do with your time? Why don't you have that Amethyst slut make a man out of you already?" Tails had to bite his tongue at that barb.

"You know…I could easily put you behind bars if I wanted to. There isn't a single safe haven I don't know about, so why don't you just be quiet and do me this one favor?"

"Oh blackmail is it? I've been in the slammer before runt, and I'm not afraid to go back!" Vector puffed, but the fox knew it was all hot air. Vector was a tough guy, but he'd be sucking his thumb if he had to sleep in a shared cell again.

"Shall we test that? I have the G.U.N. right here with a heck of a price on your head. I bet I could buy myself better information with that reward." Tails grinned at the way color drained from the reptile's face.

"You wouldn't…turn us over to THEM…would you?" Vector had heard of the infamous 'Prison Island', and he never wanted to see if the rumors were true.

"I don't know, with all those credits left over I could easily buy something for my girl and still get the info I need." Tails was sadly enjoying himself.

"No WAIT A SEC! I'll tell ya whatever you want to know! Just don't get them involved, please!" Vector pleaded.

"Showing remorse Vector? I seem to remember someone calling my sweet Amethyst a…oh what was the word?" the fox asked in mock puzzlement.

"Oh shi- I'm so sorry! That girl of yours is the finest piece of-uhh I mean…the loveliest lass on the Mobius Isles!" the crocodile said, having a close shave with profanity.

"That's better; now, I need you to tell me two things: First, I need Knuckles' whereabouts, and fast. Secondly, I have to know the identity of a man named Maasawd."

Vector scratched his head "Well that second one might take some time. I mean Maasawd is the talk of the underground; no one knows anything about him. As far as I know, he's fairly new to the crime world. And Knuckles eh? We've never done business with his kind, got reputation to protect and all." Tails stifled a laugh at this "But, I hear the guy takes regular trips down to the Derelict Ruins. I've had Espio confirm that."

"Really…" Tails had heard about the ruins before. No one lived there as far as he knew, and that would make it ideal for a guy like Knuckles "That's a big help, thanks Vector."

"Yeah yeah, just don't forget our deal." the croc snorted.

"Of course. Say Vec, how much did your client promise to pay you?" Tails asked.

"What's it to you? It was like twenty-five thousand mobian credits or something, why?" he wondered.

"That's all I needed to know. Thanks again. Oh and tell Espio I haven't forgotten." Tails requested.

"What? Well sure, whatever. Just as long as you stop hacking us like this! If you've got something to say, get your yellow ass down here and say it." he growled.

"Will do." Tails said breaking the connection "Good. Now that I have a lead, maybe we can-" but his train of thought was interrupted by an incoming message.

"What's this?" upon checking who the sender was, his face turned sour "What do you want?" he seethed.

"Hello Tails…" a large man with a bushy beard greeted "I see I'm still not forgiven am I?"

"I've got better things to do than talk to you, Robotnik." Tails said caustically.

"Please Tails, it was an accident. Can't you find it in your heart to forgive an old man?" the doctor spoke in an earnest tone.

"Spare me, you sack of lies!" Tails pointed viciously at the screen "It was your fault that Chaos Control 'accidentally' malfunctioned to begin with, but somehow, I don't buy the whole 'accidental' part! You took Shadow and Sonic away from us!"

"But my dear Tails, that's what I've come to tell you." the large man said "I met Sonic earlier, and he's-"

"Alive and well? Yeah, no thanks to you! Amethyst and I are taking care of him, so you'll have to use something else to worm your way back into my good graces." Tails glared at the doctor with spite.

"I understand. Well, I just hope he's the same Sonic you used to know." Robotnik said cryptically.

Tails' eyes narrowed "What's that supposed to mean?"

The egg-shaped man sighed "You'll see soon enough. Goodbye Tails."

"Hey! Robotnik!" Tails shouted, but he was already gone. Slumping back in his seat, Tails' mind went back to his friend.

"You'll have to do better than that, if you think that'll make me doubt him. Sonic is much more than a friend. " Tails thought sliently "He's my best friend and brother. I know I can trust him." rising up, he left to go check on his two comrades.

"Hold on a sec." Tails returned to his computer "One last thing to do."

-l-

End of Chapter Ten

-l-

I remembered to take my laptop with me on vacation. Anyway, didn't update any faster because I was putting my time elsewhere (Labor day much). However, I have almost finished the next chapter, so expect a quick update.

DanceDream: Sir or ma'am (I don't want to offend, but I think its ma'am?), I hear you there. I've been home-schooled for most of my education (before high-school actually :\). It can really suck going from that to college, but I'm glad you're enjoying it : ). P.S. Yeah having too many quizzes can be troublesome, for me anyway *hangs head in shame*.

Ghostkid33: Thanks! And yeah, it is kind of tough being busy, but I enjoy updating this. Writing is just one of many ways I relieve undue stress (from school mostly, work isn't too bad).

Serenity: Just asking, how long would you like Metal's story to be, one-shot or full-length? Even with my other projects, I think I can take on one more full length tale, just saying : )

Infamousplot: Glad to hear from you! Thank you very much for leaving feedback on every chapter (instead of just the latest one). P.S. I didn't think anyone was going to catch that detail (SM), but I'm happy you noticed.

Until next time.