A/N: Hope you guys are enjoying this. Sorry the chapters are so short. ^^;

Chapter 8

Once they were well out of sight of the agents, Knuckles took Rouge into his arms. Lilly ran to keep up with his pace. "Knuckles how did you...why'd you find us?" Rouge was trying to talk but not doing so well.

"I followed your trail." He looked at Rouge. "You never told me how you go that injured wing and you never explained Lilly or anything else. You owe me an explanation." He said as he carried her deeper into the forest. Knuckles was lucky enough to stumble onto a creek. He gently lay Rouge against a large rock base. "Try to stay still." he looked at her injured wing and then began to reach for it.

"No, I'm fine." She said blocking his touch with her hand.

Knuckles was confused at first but then he noticed that Rouge's eyes were on Lilly. "Lilly can you go to that thicket over there and see if you can find something safe for Rouge to eat?"

"Yes I can do that." Lilly ran off quickly.

Rouge sighed in relief and dropped her hand from Knuckles. "Thank you..."

Knuckles reached again for her wing and began undoing the old bandages that were already red. The flow of blood only got worse as he undid the bandage. "You didn't want her to see how bad it was."

"No, I don't want her...t-to be any more scared than she already is..." Rouge gritted her teeth as she felt Knuckles press something cold against the wound.

"I knew it was too soon for you to try to leave." He had an annoyed tone of voice. "You always think you know everything." He had some bandages with him that he began to fix her wing with once more. "You're so damn hardheaded." He said as he ignored the blood flowing on to his hands. "And don't think I'm gonna feel sorry for you." He said coldly. "The only reason I'm saving you is because it's the right thing to do and on top of that Lilly would never forgive me if I were to let you die like this."

"You don't have to keep talking for me Knuckles." She was in a lot of pain but somehow she was managing a smile. "I know it's bad, and I am scared, but you don't have to force yourself."

Knuckles face was a bit red. "Who's forcing anything?" He said hotly as he cut the bandage.

Rouge just nodded. "Sorry, guess the loss of blood is going to my head." Her head was beginning to feel light despite the throbbing.

"Rouge." Knuckles looked up at her and realized she was dazing off. "Rouge!" He shook her softly. "You have to stay awake! Open your eyes, Rouge look at me!" He said holding her face up. Her blue eyes barely opened and stared up into his violet ones. "Come on stay awake. You have to stay awake until the blood stops." He said gently but with a since of urgency. He pressed his other hand as tenderly as possible against Rouge's wound to suppress the bleeding. "Stay with me just a little longer Rouge. It's almost stopped." He had been focusing on Rouge's wound but suddenly his right hand caught him off guard. He looked form her wing to his hand only to see that she was griping it tightly. He looked up to her face. "Rouge..."

"I'm...afraid..." Rouge said in a whisper.

"You're not going to die. I promise." He said trying to comfort her.

"No..." She looked to the side. Knuckles was confused at first. "Not of dying..."

"Then what are you-"

"Lilly." Rouge looked back to Knuckles. "I don't want her to be alone."

Knuckles had never seen her like this. She was lying there possibly dying and all she could think about was that little girl. "She won't be alone, because you are not going to die." He wouldn't let her die, not like this, not when he could save her. "Now stay still."

A few hours past and Lilly had come and gone back and forth. Knuckles had been able to keep her occupied with little task until the brunt of Rouge's bleeding had stopped and he had had a chance to tend to her other superficial wounds. "You did it again." Lilly sat next to Knuckles as she looked at Rouge. "You must really like her." She smiled up at him.

Knuckles fur bristled. "Haven't we been through this already?" He objected.

"But you didn't just save her, you came to her rescue." She was referring to Knuckles sudden appearance in the earlier battle. "You're really brave."

"I was pissed off." He looked at the fire they were sitting in front of. "Those agents were a bunch of cowards. They fought dirty and without honor. I stepped into teach them a lesson."

"I guess I might get what I wanted after all." Lilly smiled brightly.

"What do you-" Knuckles was cut off by a hushed whisper.

"Water." Rouge was barely sitting up as she looked at Knuckles and asked again. "Water."

"I'll be right back." He got up and walked down to the creek.

"Rouge!" Lilly hurried over to sit close to her side. "You're awake." She looked up at her with a smile.

"Of course. I just had to rest a bit after that fight." She tried to sound confident.

"Well I'm just glad Knuckles was here to help."

"Me too." Rouge then noticed a yawn escape Lilly's jaws. "Looks likes someone's sleepy." She smiled.

"Well maybe a little, but I can't sleep." She said rubbing her eyes.

"Maybe I can do something about that." She lifted her arm slowly and put it around Lilly to bring her into her side. She began to hum a tune and then softly began to sing.

"You are my sunshine.

My only sunshine.

Knuckles was filling a big leaf with water when he stood from the creek he heard a song. He blinked looking back toward the fire's glow, as he made his way closer he could just make out the sight of Lilly laying against Rouge, who was looking down at her as she gently sang. For some reason Knuckles felt his heart skip a beat as he looked at the white bat.

you make me happy,

when skies are gray.

You'll never know dear,

how much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away."

Knuckles had waited for her to finish singing before reentering the light. "Do you always sing that to make her sleep?" He asked as he knelt down and offered her some of the water.

Rouge took a few thirsty gulps before answering. "Only when she can't sleep." She said looking back down at Lilly. "It's the only song I know."

"It's nice. You have a good voice." He tried to sound casual with his compliment.

Rouge could have took the opportunity to make fun with the echidna but instead she simply smiled softly and nodded. "Thanks Knuckles."