Chapter 21: Recovery

T.J. had been listening to the familiar sound for some time now. He soon decided his curiosity was greater than his pain. He slowly opened his eyes. He saw the ceiling of his house. His house. He attempted to say something, but four areas of pain in his chest made him stifle and catch his breath. He started to sit up despite the pain. After the difficult task, he took a look at his bearings. He was in his normal blue T-shirt and brown pants. He had no visible injuries.

"What the...what am I doing home", he asked himself, after realizing he had been snoozing on his living room sofa. He rubbed the soft red velvet. He knew it was his house. After following the simmering sound to his kitchen, he found a brunette cooking merely at his stove and humming a happy tune.

"Sonia? Is that you", he asked. The girl turned around, it was indeed Sonia.

"Yep, who else has a key to your house, silly*", she said.

"If you're here, and I can feel everything, then I must have finally have reached my limits, I'm dead", T.J. said flatly, with a grim tone. He sat in a chair, in his dining room, which was directly across from the kitchen.

"You're not dead, T.J., now why don't we talk about this over breakfast*", Sonia said. T.J. chuckled slightly, she and Speedy would have gotten along well. She set a plate full of food in front of him. Bacon, eggs, toast, and waffles, covered the top of it. He picked up a fork and started to eat, realizing his hunger.

"So, where does it hurt", Sonia asked.

"I think I should be asking the questions here", T.J. replied.

"Fine, but first answer my question", Sonia said.

"My ribs mostly, but my legs and arms hurt too", he said, rubbing his left arm with his right.

"Hmmm, you must've broken them", Sonia said.

"Then how can I can walk", T.J. asked blankly.

"Because, this is a dream, T.J., remember, my powers*", Sonia said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah, always messing with my dreams", T.J. said with a grin, "but, what about that night...how can you still...", he continued, his voice trailing off.

"Just because I'm dead doesn't mean that I still can't talk to you", Sonia said moving over to him and taking his hand in hers.

"So, I guess...you really did...go to heaven. You belong there", T.J. said, with his eyes tearing up.

"No, silly, I'm not there yet, I still have a purpose here...ooops, look at the time, I'm afraid the time to say farewell is at hand, but don't worry, we'll talk again", Sonia said. Everything started to fade.

"No, wait, Sonia I have to know, what is your purpose, SONIA", he yelled. His vision was now once again blurred. When it focused again, T.J. tried to move, but the searing pain sent through his body made him stop. It was dark and he couldn't see. His right hand was able to move and he reached up with it. It hit a dome-shaped glass, it was then he realized where he was. In one of the critical condition capsules. He started to say the override code, but his chest made him think other wise. Still he soon would get bored and would have to get out anyway.

"Override code 629476", he said over the pain. He heard the hissing of hydrolics as his pain subdued. The glass lifted and slid back. He sat up ignoring the pain, even though it made him grit his teeth. He looked around. He was surprised to see that he wasn't in the critical condition room, but in one of the single rooms that was for privacy and observing a patient. In a chair in the corner of the room was a girl, a pink girl. Amy. What is she doing here, if anybody, Sovia should be here, he thought.

She was quietly sleeping in the chair. Her chest moving in and out with each passing breath.

"Amy, what are you doing here", he asked rhetorically. She shook her head and yawned, he had forgotten she was a light sleeper.

"It's about time you woke up", she said stretching her arms and walking over to him.

"Ehhh, Amy, that's really close...what are you doing", T.J. asked nervously, and slowly backing his face away from hers.

"Just a little gift for saving my Sonic", she said. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. He was lucky it was dark, because his face was pinker than she was. He was grateful that Sovia wasn't there, because...it wouldn't have been pretty*.

He got out of the capsule and his legs collapsed under him.

"T.J., you can't just walk out of here you're hurt", Amy said.

"Then can you turn the lights on and get me a chair", he replied, with a grunt. He pushed himself up as he did as he requested and he took a look at himself. His armor was gone, he was wearing his brown pants, nothing else. His upper body was wrapped in bandages, as was his legs and left arm. He felt his head and it was wrapped to. Sitting in the chair, conjured a thin wall of ice, and a wall of water. The ice was closest to him and the water was farther away.

"What are you doing", Amy asked, cocking her head to the left, slightly.

"With my cryokinesis, I can see through things, to help me see my internal injuries the water will act as a mirror", T.J. explained.

Amy watched as the two walls moved opposite of each other.

"Two broken legs, four broken ribs, one broken arm, and one fractured skull. Nothing too serious, I can get out of here*", he said, getting up, he was used to pain 100 times more painful than what he was experiencing now*.

"Wait, T.J. you're hurt, you can't go anywhere", Amy said, almost pleading for him to stay.

"Watch me", he said sternly.

When the door raised a white-haired girl, was just entering.

"T.J. get back in that capsule, now", she ordered, without so much as a "hello".

"No, I have things to do", he said, pushing passed her. He limped through the hall.

"T.J. you need to rest, you're too injured to leave", Sovia said, with more anger than sadness, she was in charge while he was injured and would not stand for him to injure himself further being stubborn.

"I don't care, I have things to do", he said, repeating his previous statement.

"Sorry, T.J., but this is for your own good", Sovia said. She raced in front of him and he saw black as her fist connected with his face*.

He woke up sometime later and the lights overhead told him he was back in the capsule room and that it was day. A new pain was now occupying his left eye. He once again used the override code and sat up. He was the only one in the room. On a counter, to his left was a bowl of water. It was probably there to help with his swelling.

Perfect, he thought. He didn't dare say it, for the pain in his chest was worse now, he must have face planted when Sovia had hit him. Raising his right hand he manipulated the water out of the bowl. Closing his eyes, T.J. concentrated, and the water burst into vapor. It entered his body through his pores and made its way through out his circulatory system. With careful concentration, he made the water heal his wounds from the inside. His fractures started to thin, and his bruises and cuts started to heal. He looked at his left arm after the procedure was complete, they hadn't given him J.E.E.V.E.S. back. He removed the water from his body and dropped it in the sink, next to where he saw the bowl.

He unwrapped his bandages and left the room. Sneaking through the halls*, (he didn't want to be caught until his armor was back on), he quickly made his way to his room. Just as he was about to turn the last corner, he heard talking. Putting his back against the wall, he crept as close as he could to the corner of the wall.

"He'll have to come through here, all of his things are in here", he heard a female voice say.

"Alright, but make sure you don't look away", a male voice replied. T.J. dared to peek around the corner, it was Timmy and Tootie. Sovia must have found out he left and sent everyone to hunt him down. He knew he wouldn't be able to distract their attention empty handed, he trained them too well. He looked around for something to throw, but there was nothing. He didn't bother looking up, since he knew he designed the Carrier without a ventilation system, besides, he wasn't James Bond, and ventilation shafts aren't his direct way of approach. Quietly, he started back down the hall, to the wreck room*. When he got there, he looked for something to use. He soon found what he was looking for, a ping-pong ball.

Now back at the corner, he peeked back around at the two guards, they were facing away from his door, looking straight ahead. He used the ping-pong ball and threw it further down the hall he was currently in, his room was located on an intersecting hall. It flew and hit just what he was hoping, a bell hanging over the door of Cream's room.

"What was that", Timmy asked, turning his head to the sound.

"Probably him, let's go", Tootie said hurrying to where T.J. had thrown the ball. T.J. hurried into a utility closet to his right. His plan worked, Timmy and Tootie rushed after the sound, leaving his room exposed. He hurried around the corner and just as Timmy and Tootie came back around the corner the door closed silently.

He sighed a breath of relief, he was safe now. He found his things on his bed*, with a note.

Amazing by Janelle

"A note? Who left me this", he asked himself.

It read:

Dear T.J.,

If you're reading this you got past everyone. I should have known better than to leave two guards stationed at your room. Hmmmhmmm, I really do love that about you. Tails and I cleaned and shined you're armor. I don't exactly know how you could have lost that much blood, but that's not important, the only thing that is important, is that your safe, my little love-bug*. Well, when you get ready, I'll be on the flight deck or in the hanger. Don't forget to find me.

With lots of love, flowers, hearts, hugs, kisses, and affection*,

Your love-bug,

Sovia 3

P.S. I'll probably be on the chat room so, if you want to talk without leaving your room, you know what to do.

T.J. blushed, at her new nicknames, and her closing. He took the note and put it next to his PC. He quickly changed into his battle dress. He looked at his custom made PC* and thought about what Sovia's note had said. He started up his computer, he dusted it off since it hadn't been used since he lived Tootie.

When the desktop finally came up, T.J. dragged the cursor over the "chat icon" and double clicked.

He typed his username and password. The display was somewhat like this.

Smash Carrier chat and communications. Please login.

Username: SmashCarrierLeader

Password: ***************

Available Chats: 1

WhiteHairedAngel*

T.J. clicked on Sovia's username.

SmashCarrierLeader: Hello, my love-bug.

WhiteHairedAngel: Hmmhmmhmm, thank you for using my new nicknames.

SmashCarrierLeader: Where are you, so I can find you easily.

WhiteHairedAngel: I'm on the flight deck, see you soon.

SmashCarrierLeader: Wait, one more question. Where is J.E.E.V.E.S, he's not here?

WhiteHairedAngel: I thought you would bring him up, if you want him, come and get him. Hmmhmmhmm.

End

They both logged off and T.J. left. Timmy and Tootie were now gone, probably back on the flight deck.

He got to the flight deck to find Sovia, Timmy, Tootie, Cream, and Vanilla waiting for him.

He was greeted by a hug and kiss from Sovia.

"Welcome back to good health", she said.

Tootie formed a wall of ice in front of him.

"He doesn't have any fractures anymore", she said.

"Wait, you guys don't seem that surprised, what's going on", T.J. asked suspiciously.

"We're not, we know about the things our kinesis powers can do, after Sovia hacked your database*", Timmy said.

"Here, T.J.", Sovia said, handing him J.E.E.V.E.S. T.J. slipped him on his arm.

"Alright, let's-", T.J. started. Their conversation was cut short by a sharp vibration in the ship and the the alarms, which started to sound.

Facts: 15

1. Sonia frequently used childish names and giggle at foolish mistakes, especially if they were made by T.J.

2. Sonia loved food and would often eat as Speedy does.

3. Sonia discovered her powers before T.J. even started to study his kinesis powers. She had special telepathy and light powers.

4. Sovia is a really jealous girl, she can't even stand it when another girl talks to T.J.

5. T.J. doesn't know pain, because of the amount he has experienced.

6. T.J. has been crushed, slashed, burned, poisoned, and frozen. He shrugs it off as luck, but there seems to be nothing that can take him down. He wonders if it is a forgotten ability of his past.

7. When Sovia is concerned about T.J.'s health, a simple black eye is a price to pay to keep him well.

8. T.J. is an infiltration expert, and is great at not being seen.

9. To keep boredom at its minimum, T.J. installed this room. It has several arcade games, a ping-pong table, air hockey, and more.

10. T.J.'s room has a "nuetral" mode for when he is not experiencing a concentrated feeling.

11. Sovia had come up with over 50 love names for them.

12. When Sovia writes, she loves to show her absolute true vocabulary.

13. Most of T.J.'s belongings are hand made by him.

14. Of her nicknames, White Haired Angel is Sovia's favorite.

15. Sovia is the third best hacker on the Carrier, second bes is T.J. and first best is Tails.